One of the first things that has been slowly taking over my Zune and my musical interests is the Blues; Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf to be specific. I recently watched Cadillac Records and was instantly grasped by these two artists, mainly because their music was so emotional and real. It didn't feel like they were making music because it helped them become gods amongst men, it felt like they made these songs to embody their lives and emotions. I am no movie buff so I'll leave the film review of Cadillac Records to someone more inspired to write about it, instead I'll focus on what the music did to me. Muddy Waters' music is perhaps some of the most catchy and inspiring music I have heard since I began listening to broad types of music. Every single one of his songs can be manipulated to prove that someone else used his music to make their song. Innovation does not even begin to describe what Waters did for music as we know it. However, for every one of Muddy's songs I fell in love with there was a Wolf song I couldn't stop listening to.
The methodical approach towards every note, the voice that no one else can copy, the harmonica solos that captivate anyone willing to listen, and of course the lyrics (mainly thanks to Willie Dixon) that tear at your heart and then stitch it back up. Howlin' Wolf is something that I have never experienced while listening to a musician before, a combination of true emotions along with music that anyone can enjoy. Maybe it is just my strange and often random addictions to different musical types but there is something special about Howlin' Wolf. Give his songs a listen and let me know what you think.
I suppose I'll end this post a bit abruptly as the game has finished its downloading but I'll end with...a book! Yes I read too, it's incredible. As of now I've been getting my nerd on with George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. It is quite possibly the most interesting series of books I have ever had the absolute pleasure of reading. The story focuses on a land filled with strife and conflict that spans many miles and many families. The interesting points come in when Martin kills of main characters that the reader was following. Instead of that instant feel good "everyone lives because they're the good guys" feeling you get a sense of confusion that no author has instilled in me before. Knowing who is good and who is bad is not always as simple as it has been with other books like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. There is no clear line drawn between characters and it makes each scandal, battle, murder, and back stab seem that much more powerful. Go read the first book entitled A Game of Thrones, it won't be a waste if you're able to keep up with the changing point of views and long character lists.
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