Dust (Another Go) ( #BOTB )

If at first you don't succeed then try again or just give up.  Well, I don't like to give up...

Almost Like a Dream

       As I compose this post, it has been one week since my wife and I returned home from another epic road trip.  During the course of 23 days at the end of May and beginning of June we travelled about 7400 miles through seventeen states with destination points in Florida, New Jersey, and Tennessee. These rounds gave us pleasant visits with many friends and family members.   Considering the scope of this trip, everything went very smoothly in all respects.  The weather was a bit cooler than we had expected, but it was quite pleasant compared to the hot temperatures we have typically encountered when we took this trip in July and August.  And now, this near perfect vacation is behind us with summer just beginning.   Now how do we top this for the rest of the summer?

      Looking back the whole adventure seems like a dream.  My wife and I have both been rather tired since our return and it has felt good to be resting in our own home.  But we sure did have a great time.  It's been mostly cloudy and cool here in Los Angeles since our return.  That's fine with me.  If we don't see a day over 80 degrees the rest of the year I wouldn't be disappointed. Now if only it would rain.  Of course, it never rains in Southern California--or so that song says.  Let's forget about that song for now and move on to another as I present another...

Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.

Dust (After the First Dusting)

       In my June 1st Battle I used the 13th Floor Elevator song "Dust".  If you missed that Battle then you can hear the versions here.  Those of you who did participate in that Battle will likely opt not to hear those versions again, but being the contrarian that I can be I've decided to use the same song again with different versions.  I'm not sure how many visits I'll be getting on this Battle so maybe it doesn't matter what I use or whether I do a midmonth Battle or not.  If nothing else, I'm just practice writing.  I've got to get back in the swing of things in respect to writing because I want to do some other writing in the coming weeks.  And damn!  I'm lazy of late.  So rather than wallow in the dust, I'll have another Battle for the song "Dust".  

        Although I have long considered The Elevators album Easter Everywhere to be one of the greatest rock albums of all time (and one of the most influential), I was never particularly enamored with the song "Dust"--it was one of my least favorite songs of the album.  Now after having immersed myself in the song and actually understanding the lyrics, this song is now perhaps my second favorite song from that album (after the incredible "Slip Inside This House").  I think "Dust" is a beautiful song with such poetic lyrics.  I'm standing by my opinion of the greatness of this song.  It took many close listenings to come to this appreciation, but now it plays in my head with frequent regularity if I'm not actually listening to it.  

        To attest to my argument that the song requires several hearings to fully appreciate, I played this song often during our recent road trip.   My wife, who is not much of a rock music fan, having been subjected to my obsessive playing of the song begin to like it quite a lot and by the last leg of the trip home would sometimes ask me to play the song.  Now she too is a fan of the song.  I do think this song is somewhat addictive.  It's worth the addiction in my opinion.

         I hope you will consider the following versions carefully and let us know which version you like the best.  I think you will appreciate this Battle more than the previous one.   

 

Tommy Hall Schedule  "Dust"   (2006)

         I'm not sure if Tommy Hall actually has anything to do with this band that carries his name.  And if you are wondering who Tommy Hall is, he was one of the original members of 13th Floor Elevators and the one who wrote most of the lyrics on their albums.  His namesake band seems to be primarily a 13th Floor cover band, but I didn't find too much detailed information about the group.  However they have several videos on YouTube of them covering the Elevators songs.  I like that the lyrics are very easily discerned which what attracted me to the piano/vocal cover by TW that I used in my earlier Battle.  Do you like this version any better?

Misty Lane   "Dust"   (2020)

      As best as I can determine this band comes from Australia.  I don't find much about them other than they do psychedelic pop music.   Their version of "Dust" is mostly about production.  The lyrics are somewhat muddled behind an array of synthesizer sounds and backing vocals and sound effects.  Whatever it is they are doing, I like it.   I think they have a cool sound and despite the lyrics not standing out, they capture the sound of pop psychedelia well.  What do you think?

Time to Vote!

           I don't know how much participation I'll get for this Battle, but I do hope you vote and tell all your friends to do the same.  Just listen and see what you think.  Which song version do you prefer?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours. I don't know if anyone else will be doing a Battle this time around, but you can still check out these sites.


Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Landmark Sounds (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Battle Results on Wednesday June 21st

   

       I plan to be there.  Hope you will too.

        

The Massacre ( #BOTB Results )

 I've been away for an extended stay, but I got back home today

Just in time for my results of the Battle of versions of  a song called "Dust"...

Battle of the Bands Results

          Okay--so my Battle got 10 votes that were all for The Brian Jonestown Massacre.  Maybe it was a massacre, but it was not a shut-out because I cast my vote for TW.  And I'll tell you why.  

          The Brian Jonestown Massacre perfectly captured the spirit of the Elevators original version done as a post punk emo style delivery and I really liked the sound of it.  But I was searching for a stripped down version where the vocals were most clearly performed and TW gave me what I was looking for.  I can tolerate his vocals because I like singers like Neil Young, Bob Dylan, or a whole panoply of rock vocalists.  I also liked the subdued piano background arrangement.  TW omitted my favorite lines from the song, but most listeners would probably not pay attention to such a thing. Someday I hope I find just the arrangement I'm looking for, but for now this will fulfill a certain musical desire.

      And for now I'm done with this post because I just came in from a nearly 7000 mile road trip around the U.S.   Maybe I'll have more on that later, but for now I'm going to give you a vote tally and lay down for the night.

Final Vote Tally

Brian Jonestown Massacre     10 votes

TW                                            1 vote

Next Battle on Thursday June 15

        We'll see how many votes I can get for that one.  

Could You Replace Air and Water? ( #IWSG )

      Life is amazing.  Every day is another adventure.  As long as I am physically and mentally capable I can always find something to amuse me.  Then there are the things that I sometimes feel compelled to do.  I'd rather keep doing those things...

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog. 
     The co-hosts for the  June 7 posting of the IWSG are Patrcia Josephine, Diedre Knight, Olga Godim, J. Lenni Dorner, and Cathrina Constantine!

June 7 question - If you ever did stop writing, what would you replace it with?

      Probably looking at the way I write these days it might seem like I have quit writing.  Nevertheless I'm at least writing some blog posts and that is writing.  If the question is more specific, like writing stories or books then I'd never stop thinking about doing it.  And most likely if I did totally lose interest in writing then I'd probably replace it with watching television or just doing chores and the like.

      I guess I could do that.  But, nah, I don't think I'd ever absolutely give up on a writing dream and now and then jotting down an idea or posting something on my blog.  It's a habit I guess.

      How about you?

Dust ( #BOTB )

     Here again in a sense.  Isn't the modern computer age amazing!  Later in the month I'll have something more to say, but for now it's that musical extravaganza that we know as...

Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.

Dust

      During the month of April I was reading the book Eye Mind: The Saga of Roky Erickson and the 13th Floor Elevators, The Pioneers of Psychedelic Sound  by Paul Drummond (which I wrote about on my E post for the A to Z).  During this time I went back to immerse myself in the band's music and discovering many cover versions of their songs.  I've done several blog posts in the past on a couple of my sites and even used their song "Slip Inside This House" in a 2015 BOTB match.  

        Of late I've had a particular fascination with the song "Dust" from The Elevators album Easter Everywhere.  I think this is such a beautiful song with thoughtful lyrics.  It's almost like a hymn.  Since this is a unique song by a group that most people haven't heard of I will offer the original version.  Please save your votes for the two artists that follow this first video.  So listen if you wish or just skip on down to the first of the two competing videos. 

Don't vote on this first video please!  It's the original version for comparison if you wish.

13th Floor Elevator   "Dust"   (1967)

Vote on the Following please!

Brian Jonestown Massacre  "Dust"  (2015)

       I couldn't resist using a band with this name.  They're described as "a musical project and band" who have been around since 1990 with a slew of albums behind them. Sounds good to me. The sound of this version is growing on me as I listen to it more and I get where they're coming from.  I think it's an interesting cover of the song.

TW   "Dust"  (2021)

      I don't know anything about this artist, but he really has a lot of videos on his channel and they all look essentially like this video.  His performance reminds me of some of Neil Young's work.  I think he takes a nicely peaceful creative approach to the song.

Time to Vote!

           Dust off your musical appreciation skills and open your mind   Just listen and see what you think.  Which song version do you prefer?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.


Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Streampebbles (Diedre Knight)

BATTLE OF THE BANDS BY DEBBIE D

Battle Results on Thursday June 8

           

            I do hope I can get to everyone's Battles without too much problem.  I'll hopefully have more info and updates on the 8th,  Right now though...