Liner Notes

Soundscape #111: “The Mass Of Men Lead Lives Of Quiet Desperation” – Henry David Thoreau

Edward Hopper. 11 a.m., 1926.

There are many ways of describing the same situation that most of us face, some more prolonged than others. Themes of isolation and loneliness permeate throughout popular culture: from music to literature to philosophy to art. It seems that no man is an island but pack enough of them into one place, they’d feel like one anyways.

What is it about urbanity that makes us feel so alone? Well, the simple explanation is that everyone is so busy with their work and city folks have adopted an instinctive distrust of strangers. They close up upon themselves and then whine about not having anyone in which to confide in.

When Thoreau came up with that particular quote, he had reclused himself to nature. It’s not so easy for us to fuck it all and move out to the country now, is it?

Playlist:
1. (0:00) The Delgados - Aye Today (The Great Eastern)
2. (4:52) The Weakerthans - This Is A Fire Door Never Leave Open (Left And Leaving)
3. (10:06) Voxtrot - Long Haul (Raised By Wolves EP)
4. (14:12) The Mountain Goats - So Desperate (Heretic Pride)
5. (17:31) Alexi Murdoch - All My Days (Time Without Consequence)
6. (22:28) Wilco - Someday Soon (Being There)
7. (25:05) Yo La Tengo - Big Day Coming (Painful)
8. (29:16) Bedhead - Living Well (What Fun Life Was)
9. (33:40) The National - Gospel (Boxer)
10. (38:12) Mogwai - 2 Rights Make 1 Wrong (Rock Action)

Soundscape #110: “If You Let Them Kill You, They Will” – Charles Bukowski

Humans are funny things. We all trudge along as best (or worse, depending on what you want) we can, all thinking that we are somehow truly unique in the world. If we look up at a flock of birds and struggle to differentiate one from another, isn’t the reverse true of us as well? Of course that is not a fair statement to make. After all, there are many things that distinguish us from animals.

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Soundscape #109: “Just Cos You Got The Monkey Off Your Back Doesn’t Mean The Circus Has Left Town” – George Carlin

The ancient philosopher, Epicurus, posited that “the purpose of philosophy is to attain the happy, tranquil life characterised by the absence of pain and fear, and by living a self-sufficient life surrounded by friends.”

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Soundscape #108: “I Have A Dream”

With the media going nuts about the new history-making President-elect, it’s easy to get swept up in the ecstasy. We are a million miles away from the action but even here, I feel that a change is in the air. Everywhere it’s “Not since JFK this, not since Bill Clinton that”. It’s a free American history lesson!

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