Five musical things that have made me happy lately:
1. Listening to the Argentine jazz pianist Guillermo Klein’s new album, Domador de Huellas. The album can be streamed for free on NPR until the official release on the 10th, and it’s worth the time. Klein is a great player.
2. Rediscovering Sleater-Kinney. Such a freaking great band. “Dig Me Out” is like aural caffeine, with a shot of pissed off.
3. Finally learning the lyrics to AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” the perfect metal song. This tune is so good, I think someone should do an album of covers in various styles: a country “Back in Black,” a power ballad “Back in Black,” a chanteuse-y “Back in Black,” a disco “Back in Black,” a rap “Back in Black.” I would love this.
4. Initiate, the recent (more or less) instrumental album by the guitarist Nels Cline (and his band “the Singers”), lately of Wilco. I suppose it’s mostly accurate to call the album “free jazz,” but much of it is close to the wide-open rock sound of Wilco, too.
5. Watching Steve Earle sing his classic “I Feel Alright” – and enjoying the wonderful interview afterwards.