I have a secret that's been tearing me apart: I own every album Enya has put out. Ahhhh, now that I've admitted it, I feel so much better. I hope that others, too, can come out and live true to themselves. You shouldn't have to justify your taste in music. And yet, most of society looks down on New Age as a freak of musical nature, that it's but the first step that leads eventually to crystals and weird health care choices, and will put them to sleep. I knew, though, since I was little that something was different about me.

I Blame My Parents

Simon & Garfunkel performed the soundtrack to my earliest memory, which is still a vivid one. I'm in the back of our blue Buick station wagon, cruising through west Texas. Scarborough Fair is playing on the radio. I see it clearly: desolate countryside, the road bending off to the left in a wide arc.

Are you going to Scarborough fair?
Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme

The key here, I believe, is memory. This song was burned in early, it fires off pleasurable neurons whenever I hear it, kept me listening so that later in life, I grew to appreciate the story the lyrics tell. I have found that this song is frequently covered by both new age and folk artists, but it is just one of many great songs on the original album, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme, which includes Homeward Bound, The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) and a mix of other good folk and sixties pop tunes.

Rock-and-Roll is the Root of all Sin

There are a number of Rock songs that were gateway drugs for me. Without realizing it, these songs were preparing my mind to accept New Age music through a combination of mood and the story telling. Don't get me wrong; this is still Rock & Roll.

The first is Nights in White Satin by The Moody Blues. I'm certain I didn't hear it when the album Days of Future Passed first came out in the late sixties, probably when it was re-leased in the seventies. I'm afraid to look up the lyrics for fear it might kill the spell. I fully understand that how I interpret songs frequently differs from the writer's intent or even how normal people understand them. Let's just accept the fact that the haunting tone fires many of the same neurons as Simon & Garfunkel. And, yes, I know there is no "k" in Nights, but I'd like to think there is. I was just a pre-teen at the time.

Then there is the greatest album in Rock history: Led Zeppelin IV. OK, greatest for teenaged boys of the 70s who played Dungeons & Dragons. The Battle of Evermore is a classic that was on the play list for most gaming sessions, but it was Stairway to Heaven that caught my imagination. Again with the haunting notes, this time an acoustic guitar, great drum into and an enthralling story. Who is this woman and why does she want to buy the stairway? (My imagination came forth only in gaming, I tended to be a literalist in everything else.)

But what sealed my fate was 2112 by Rush. Every song on this album is good, but it was side A with it's 20 minute opera that gives the album its name that is the kicker. The third movement — Discovery — with the acoustic guitar playing while a brook babbles in the background convinced me that music can be so much more than something to dance or sing to. Here I could put my headphones on, lay back and escape while I imagine what it would be like to lead a rebellion in a galactic empire. (Perhaps, also, this is where I get my fear of political priests.)

Everyone's Done It, and not Just in College

We're surrounded by New Age music without most people realizing it. It's frequently piped into public places and is background music for many commercials, but it's at its best on soundtracks. This is how most people discover it and become fans. When it's done well, it makes for an album worthy of everyone's collection. It's rare, though, for a soundtrack to qualify as New Age. Obviously, the pop track laden entries from movies like the Wedding Singer don't count, but a large number of others are no more than recycled classical music. Not that this makes for bad music, but familiarity with its context outside of the movie kills the mode for me.

The soundtrack from the Last of the Mohicans is a popular example of how well the New Age approach can work. This makes you feel like you're running through the woods with a rifled musket, chasing deer or evading enemies. The movie itself has an end-of-the-world feeling common to my favorite stories and the soundtrack helps establish that. I can understand, though, if some feel that there's a lack of depth to this album. There is a certain amount of sameness to the songs, but if you have seen the movie, the visuals that are evoked help make the listening experience a little richer.

Even better, though, is the soundtrack from the TV series Firefly. This album conveys a wider range of emotions in an equally wide range of styles. I think this is a particularly good example because it showcases this kind of music at its best: a little bit, um, New Age-y as well as just enough of something else (in this case, a wee hint of country music in line with the Western-ish genre of the TV show). OK, OK, I might be a bit biased here since this is also my all-time favorite TV show.

First Steps

So, what about Enya? How did I come about to own every one of her albums? I can tell you that it's NOT because they're all good. In fact, there's a steep curve of diminishing returns for each successive album you get, to the point where the last one sounds like all of the previous. I strongly recommend that you do not follow my path, which I chalk up to an OCD-driven desire for completeness in certain areas [cut to camera angle showing Bill toeing a box with a full set of Revenge of the Sith minis out of sight].

Don't ignore her completely, though. I do recommend her album Watermark. I count this among my favorite of all albums. There are some seriously dark tones on a few of the tracks (from the title track Watermark on the sad end to Cursum Perficio on the slightly menacing) that you don't hear on her later stuff. Of course, this album also includes her insanely popular Oronoco Flow, which is a good song. I feel like you get a full journey with this album, something more than just background music.

But Enya doesn't have to be your entry into this world.

Loreena McKennitt, like Enya, is one of those rare artists who ply these waters to have achieved popular fame. Mummers' Dance did catch my ear in the late 90s and led me to her album The Book of Secrets. Unlike Enya, though, Loreena tells more of story with her music. You feel like you're on a Night Ride Across the Caucasus and wonder what truly will come of The Highwayman. She does this with an eclectic approach to style: She'll use Celtic, Spanish and a variety of other Mediterranean influences in varying decrees. She can make you feel like your relaxing in your tent with the cool night-time desert breeze ruffling the flaps or searching for the landlord's black-eyed daughter.

Branching Out

There are a fair number of artists that straddle the margins between New Age and other genres as Loreena does. Use this borderland as a staging ground for forays into uncharted musical territory. My personal journey followed many such paths. Through both Enya and Loreena, I discovered other music. I learned that Celtic music is not something you need hear only around St. Patrick's day while imbibing large quantities of beer. I was exposed to music from the Middle Ages, the chants and canticles deep. I made forays into South Asia and the Far East. I came back home and listened to former Rock-and-Rollers dive into these waters

Enya got her start in the band Clannad with several family members. They're not a bad mix of Celtic and Pop, but I prefer The Chieftains. While they are more folksy, their work with other artists provides for a greater variety. Tears of Stone has them pairing up with the likes of Sinéad O'Connor and Bonnie Raitt. Even better is their pairing with Ry Cooder on San Patricio, which is a collection of songs about the Irish solders who deserted the American army and fought for Mexico in 1846. If you want to go out on another Celtic limb, give the Afro Celt Soundsystem a try. Their fusion sounds works well and provides for lively music. Their first album, Volume 1: Sound Magic gives you a good feel for their music.

Oddly enough, Gregorian chants became popular in the early nineties. The band Enigma got some mainstream airtime with their hit Principles of Lust from their album MCMXC A.D., which fused the chant style with ambient tones and hip-hop beats. Even the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos got some airtime. They're all men with similar voices, so the album feels like one long, but enjoyable song. My personal favorite, though, is A Feather on the Breath of God, composed by Hildegard von Bingen in 12th Century. For both albums allow me to close my eyes and enter the comforting darkness of a Gothic cathedral, and that's all I'm really looking for here.

My love of Medieval religious music brought me to Chant: Spirit in Sound, a collection assembled by Robert Gass from around the world, literally circling the globe. I like all of the tracks, but Om Namah Shivaya by Krishna Das, an American who performs Yogic chants, caught my ear with this classical Indian mantra set to music. Further exploration led me to Sheila Chandra, who perfectly mixes a traditional South Asian sound into a modern tempo for the best of both worlds. Her Shanti, Shanti, Shanti, from the album Roots and Wings, transports me to another world.

Serendipity played a role in my musical journey. While playing a chant CD at work, my cube neighbor said I surely must be familiar with Dead Can Dance. I wondered how I could not have picked up on this Duo. They changed my musical world. Brendan Perry is a musical genius, able to play many instruments and is quite lively in concert. Lisa Gerrard is more reserved, but has an amazing voice. You may know her from the movie soundtracks she's done, like that for Gladiator. Their sound is a mix of Medieval and Celtic influences. As with all bands mentioned here, only more so, my imagination is fueled by their work. I suggest Toward the Within, a live performance that covers the range of their sound.

However you go about your personal journey, you must do so with an open mind. A willingness to listen to something that appears to not be something of interest may lead to discoveries that open your musical horizons.

Resources

Here's a variety of tools to help you on your journey, as well as follow along with mine.

Web Sites

AllMusic

This is a movie version of IMDB. Probably one of the worst website designs I've encountered, but the content is extremely valuable. Many other music related sites license their content, so you might as well go to the source.

iTunes

I'm not an audio-snob, so I have no problems with material downloaded from iTunes. I find their prices reasonable, but even better are the suggestions offered up for related music.

Amazon

When I can't find something on iTunes, it's usually here. This is another great site for providing suggestions.

Wikipedia

There are entries for artists, albums and even some songs. This is a great place for learning the background to the music.

Album List

• Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme by Simon and Garfunkel
• Days of Future Passed by The Moody Blues
• Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
• 2112 by Rush
• Last of the Mohicans by Trevor Jones and Randy Edleman
• Firefly by Greg Edmonson
• Watermark by Enya
• The Book of Secrets by Loreena McKennitt
• Tears of Stone by The Chieftains
• San Patricio by The Chieftains and Ry Cooder
• Volume 1: Sound Magic by Afro Celt Sound System
• A Feather on the Breath of God composed by Hildegard von Bingen
• Chant: Spirit in Sound compiled by Robert Gass, performed by many.
• Roots and Wings by Sheila Chandra
• Gladiator by Lisa Gerrard (among others)
• Toward the Within by Dead Can Dance

:flick:

It's a simple act, turning on a light.

"What are you doing? Turn that off!"

"Why? It's dark in here, I can't see."

"See how high up that light is?"

I've lived in this house for years, walked through this foyer countless times.

I look.

"We don't have a ladder high enough to reach it. If that bulb burns out, we'll never get it changed."

"If that's the case, why don't we use it until it does burn out?"

She looks at me like I'm a stupid child, one that may not make it past the 6th grade.

I turn off the light.

UPDATE: 3 August 2010: Added a photo album and map. Also, it appears that the Barracuda Grill has ditched its website.

I've decided that any beach in the continental U.S. is just not worth visiting. My last hope perished in the kitsch of the Florida Keys. You have to actually escape the land in order to feel like you've left behind your every day life: the fishing and diving opportunities are exceptional. That said, I did enjoy the trip. The Keys are great when you have kids. The beaches (yes, there are some) are kid friendly in that there is little surf and the shallow water goes out quite a distance. There is also some great eating. I highly reccomend the Barracuda Grill (try the calamari or snail appetizers and the rare tuna entree) and the Keys Fisheries (try the lobster reuben and the lobster bisque is exquisite). The hunt for a good slice of key lime pie lead, after forays through frozen and fried pies, to the Blond Giraffe. Don't bother with anything other than the key lime pie.

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

Theodore Roosevelt, 1918

The Bush Adminstration has been presenting the Iraq issue as a choice between war or voluntary disarmament by Saddam. Since everyone knows -- even the French -- that Saddam will never voluntarily disarm, then that means war is the only alternative. Or is it? I happen to think that inspections are going well. They've turned up those missiles and some chemical artillery shells. At the very least, Saddam can't develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD) while foreigners are cavorting all across Iraq. Sure, it will take time, but if the real goal is to prevent the use of WMD, then war is the last option you'll want to take.

And that, I believe, is the crux of the issue: George W Bush doesn't really care whether WMD will be used. He wants war because it will further his goals. What those are, I can only guess: increase his poll numbers, distract the public so his tax cuts and other domestic initiatives can sail through un-opposed, or perhaps he is just a trigger-happy cowboy. I don't know, but it scares the crap out of me.

This was a year for me that would have spurred Winston Churchill to oratorical heights. My mother passed away. I was not particularly close to her, we had our issues. But her death has struck me hard. We set our greivances aside towards the end. It wasn't a reconciliation, more of a cease-fire. I alternate between feeling angry at and sorry for her. Things I have learned:

1. I will appreciate what I have in life, no matter how dark it gets. And I do. Although this year was a tough for me, I'm glad I lived it. I got to spend more time with my wife and kids than I normally do.
2. Document everything you have and make sure people know where it is. It is NOT enough to have a will.
3. Just be honest. Enough of the games and stupid manipulations. Don't fear rejection or the idea you might owe someone if you ask for something outright. Life is too short to keep track of such an intricate web.

UPDATE (29 July 2010): Added some links and a map, but content is as I wrote it eight years ago.

I just got back from 2 weeks on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed myself. I'm just not into sitting on the beach and soaking up the rays. I enjoy a good pounding surf, but I'm not much into swimming for recreation. I'd rather be hiking. And there's not much of that to do at most beaches.

There are trails on the Outer Banks and nearby parks. The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge has some, but the bugs are evidently immune to repellant. It's really hard to enjoy a walk when you're flailing away with your arms. It makes it difficult to view the scenery. And there were other trails on Pea Island, Buxton Woods, and Jockey's Ridge, but none longer than a couple of miles.

One pleasant location is the Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve run by the Nature conservancy. They have about 4 trails totaling just under 10 miles, but I found them to be pleasant, with a surprising amount of elevation change. I also walked away with a good ghost story which I can tell you over a beer sometime.

View Nags Head in a larger map

I'll be honest with you. I'm compelled to see every single Star Wars movie they make, no matter how bad it is. But why does it have to suck? Are they truly only concerned with making money? Is the only purpose of the movie to act as an extended commercial for all of the other product lines? I'm hoping that it's just a slump.

If George Lucas was sitting next to me, I would have punched him if I saw one more character with a leering face whenever Anakin Skywalker did anything bad. Enough already. We know that he's going to turn into Darth Vader. And what's with the outdated tactics? Armies on all sides are using technologies that are centuries ahead of us, but they insist on using tactics from Alexander the Great's time. C'mon, spread out!

So, when does the next movie debut?

I've been volunteering a lot at my daughters' elementary school. Nothing too intellectually strenuous: making photocopies, assembling handouts, and cutting out shapes. School has definitely changed in the decades since I attended. The school makes excellent use of computers. They are using machines that are 5+ years old, but they do exactly what the students need and, I imagine, are so much cheaper to maintain. The cafeteria food has changed as well. OK, we're not talking haute cuisine, but it doesn't taste bad and it is good for you. It's heartening to see that they've moved beyond the days when ketchup was considered a vegetable.

But something strange happened to me one day. I'm waiting in The Office. For what, I don't remember. The chair I'm sitting in is about 4 inches too short. I'm waiting. The clock audibly clicks with each passing minute. And I'm waiting. I feel as if 30 years of personal history have just vanished and I'm about to account for some scholastic sin to my principal who is 10 times my height and talks in a deep, booming Texas drawl. My knees begin to shake. I'm glad I'm not in school any more.