Finally Getting Better

Today was my first full day at work in over a week. I'm finally feeling well enough and have enough of my voice back to handle an entire work day. I started feeling sick on Tuesday of last week, and one week later, I was feeling bad enough to give in and go to the doctor for antibiotics. I usually try to ride out a cold or flu without medications, but I'd had enough and it was time to address the problem. I was given a "new" antibiotic called Azithromycin, which I started taking 2 days ago. I guess it's kicked in, but I was already feeling a little better by the time I started it and I've noticed no dramatic improvement. Anyway, it will only work if I have a bacterial infection- if it's a virus, it won't do anything. At least I'm doing something. I'm hoping I'll feel almost completely better by Monday.

Although I've felt really lousy over the last week, I did enjoy the opportunity to have some extra time at home. Having free time to enjoy life outside of work is so important. I'm thinking of what I can do in the future which would allow me to have that priceless free time I value so much. Teaching is something I always have in the back of my mind as an option, but I would most likely have to go back to school for either a credential or a master's degree, depending on what level of education I'd like to be involved in. I've considered freelance design or photography gigs as side jobs, which I've done on occasion, but I think I'd like something a little more steady. There are a couple of other ideas I've kicked around, but I need to make some decisions about what else, if anything, I'd like to pursue.

On a different topic, I sometimes think of adding regular "features" to this blog, like "CD of the Week" or "Web Site of the Week". But, I'd rather keep this blog less structured and more spontaneous than that. If I have a CD I'd like to review, or I find a cool web site, I'll just post it when I'm compelled to.

I'll start with a CD. Once in awhile, I'd like to discuss a CD that I recommend- perhaps an album that went under the radar, or some forgotten classic, or simply an underrated little gem that deserves some praise. And although it won't be a weekly occurrence, CD of the Week has a nice ring to it. So, without futher delay...

CD OF THE WEEK

Long Gone Before Daylight
The Cardigans

I got into The Cardigans in late 1998/early 1999 with their album Gran Turismo. A five-piece band from Sweden, The Cardigans had been putting out sugary pop for 3-4 years by that point, mostly stuff you'd hear on KROQ or 91X here in SoCal. "Lovefool"- a cute, syrupy little number- was probably their most recognized song up to this point, and it seems the band was hugely popular in Japan for whatever reason. Most of their stuff was sweet, disciplined, fun yet respectable, happy guitar pop.

With the release of Gran Turismo and it's single "My Favourite Game", a super-catchy, riffy little tune, I checked them out live at the Glass House in Pomona (a great venue). The show was excellent, and lead singer Nina Persson had an impressive stage presence to go along with that beautiful voice of hers. I bought the album, which was a little darker and serious than previous efforts, and it was an instant regular in my CD player.

For five years, that was the last I'd heard of the group. I found out they had released an album in Europe in 2003, but it had not been released in the U.S. until March 2004. That album is Long Gone Before Daylight, of which I learned as of only about 6 months ago. I asked for it for Christmas (thanks, Miles) and it's the best album I've heard since Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head from 2002. The album exudes warmth and maturity, with simple yet often poignant lyrics. Warm, melodic and understated guitar work abounds, along with smart bass, restrained drumming and subtle keyboard work. But the star of the album is Nina Persson's beautiful, rich and womanly voice. You can hear the experience and wisdom in her mature tones, and the band provides just the right backdrop for her in almost every song. The album is mostly quiet, often slow and sometimes melancholic. This is not the pop fare the band served up in the mid-90s; this is a reflective showcase of their growth as musicians and people. Each song is very good to excellent, the last song "For the Boys" being somewhat of an exception (it was an add-on for the U.S. release and doesn't quite fit with the rest of the album).

I've played this album almost daily since I got it. The band has since released Super Extra Gravity, which is still available only as an import. I picked it up yesterday based on the strength of Long Gone, but I'm sorry to say it's somewhat disappointing. Stick with Long Gone Before Daylight- needless to say I highly recommend it.

Key tracks: "Communication", "You're the Storm", "Live and Learn".