The Supreme Court nominee faces sexual assault allegations that throw his confirmation, once seen as inevitable, into turmoil.
Listens
Playlist of posts listened to, or scrobbled
🎵 The Revolution Begins: The Flying Dutchman Masters by Gil Scott-Heron (BGP, 2012)
The three albums that Gil Scott-Heron recorded for Bob Thiele's Flying Dutchman label are among the most important in black music history. They showed a multi-talented artist coming to full fruition with his first efforts on wax. The Revolution Begins contains every piece of music he released for the label from 1970-1971. In recent years Gil has become a lauded as one of the all-time greats. This music is the reason why.
It includes classic performances, including both the spoken word and band versions of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Home Is Where The Hatred Is, Lady Day and John Coltrane, Pieces Of A Man, Whitey On The Moon and Free Will.
It’s been ages since I’ve sat and actively listened to music for its own sake rather than simply having it on in the background as “noise”. I’m glad I chose this one tonight. It’s refreshing to sit and just listen to music like this again.
Whitey on the Moon, Who’ll Pay Reparations on My Soul, and No Knock are my new favorite songs. What a stunning collection this is. I’m reminded again how highly relevant The Revolution Will Not Be Televised still is almost 50 years later.
If you’re not familiar with Scott-Heron’s work, then carve out some time in your life.
🎵 I’m New Here by Gil Scott-Heron (XL, 2010)
I'm New Here is the 13th and final studio album by American vocalist and pianist Gil Scott-Heron. It was released on February 8, 2010, by XL Recordings and was his first release of original music in 16 years, following a period of personal and legal troubles with drug addiction.
The record was produced by XL owner Richard Russell, who was influenced by the 2009 self-titled debut album of English band the xx.[1] I'm New Here is a post-industrial blues album, with spoken word folk songs and trip hop interludes.
I'm New Here received positive reviews from most critics and debuted at number 181 on the US Billboard 200, selling 3,700 copies in its first week. It was promoted with the single "Me and the Devil", an adaptation of blues musician Robert Johnson's "Me and the Devil Blues" (1937). A remix of the album, titled We're New Here, was produced by the xx's Jamie xx and released by XL in 2011.
You can’t spend a chunk of the afternoon reading about Gil Scott-Heron without jumping into his work.
I liked the nod of the Kanye West sampling of Flashing Lights on the song On Coming from a Broken Home as a reverse homage to a generation of hip hop artists and rappers sampling Scott-Heron.
🎵Revolution Will Not Be Televised by Gil Scott-Heron
🎧 The Daily: An Unexpected Upset in Florida | New York Times
After a surprise outcome in the primary, the Florida governor’s race is shaping up to be a litmus test for 2020.
🎧 The Daily: An Execution in Nebraska | New York Times
State lawmakers repealed the death penalty in 2015. Why didn’t that last?
When I grow up I want to be Ernie Chambers.
🎧 The Daily: The War Inside the Catholic Church | New York Times
Vatican intrigues usually remain behind the walls. But a new accusation levied against Pope Francis has laid bare ideological rifts.
🎧 The Daily: The Paradoxes of John McCain | New York Times
“The Daily” looks at the senator’s complex legacy through his half-century of public life.
🎧 The Daily: Special Episode: The Last ‘Year of the Woman’ | New York Times
We speak to Senator Dianne Feinstein about why 2018 has been called the Year of the Woman, a moniker that comes from the historic elections of 1992.
🎧 The Daily: The Man Who Wrote Mueller’s Rules | New York Times
The regulations for investigating a president were devised with checks and balances in mind. That’s why Congress may have the final say.
🎧 The Daily: Implicating the President | New York Times
One former confidant entered a guilty plea. Another received a guilty verdict. Both events may have significant consequences for President Trump.
🎧 The Daily: ‘Divided,’ Part 2: The Chaos of Reunification | New York Times
The U.S. government denied that it had planned to separate migrant families. It also had no plans to bring them back together.
🎧 The Daily: ‘Divided,’ Part 1: How Family Separations Started | New York Times
“The Daily” examines the repercussions of a U.S. policy that led to more than 2,000 migrant children being separated from their parents.
🎧 The Daily: Robert Mueller’s Unlikely Witness | New York Times
Concerned that he was being set up to take the blame for possible acts of obstruction, the White House counsel started talking to investigators.
🎧 The Daily: Nancy Pelosi’s Dilemma | New York Times
Under fire from both parties, the longtime House Democratic leader faces an uncertain political future.