Long title, I know . . . .  Now that we’re a couple weeks into the new year, I think it’s a better time to get perspective.  Every new year, in my opinion, should be an opportunity to not only look back on the year but several years back (decades maybe).  From that point on you figure out where you want to go.

Over the past decade, I think that the entertainment industry (especially music) has been unduly restrictive in the name of “playing it safe.”  Unfortunately, we have lost some artists who have arguably pushed these boundaries in the commercial area most successfully.  Prince and David Bowie released what could be considered among best their albums.  Prince’s Hit and Run Phase One could be considered his Sgt. Pepper’s.  David Bowie once again confounded expectations musically while making his farewell album.  In this age of political unrest Paul Kantner’s death leaves a very large empty space.  A shining light of potential hope was snuffed out in a bizarre accident (even more bizarre, the casual handling by Swedish authorities).  We will never know what Viola Beach could have achieved.  I still have to finish my series of entries about Blackstar and I will be writing remembrances of the rest.  I really think we should forget the notion of original as opposed to unique.  To be oneself and travel to the path you see artistically should be the way instead of thinking “in comparison.”

I believe we should be thinking less about New Year’s resolutions and more about New Year’s plans.  Our politicians seem to be really good at complaining and shouting about problems instead of talking about solutions.  The few times they do talk about solutions, they are knee-jerk reactions which are not thought out carefully and are ill-advised.  “It is time for you to decide whether you are going to be part of the problem or you are going to be part of the solution,” so begins MC5’s Kick Out the Jams album.  Solutions do not come from picking a side and staunchly opposing the other.  Solutions come from thinking about the issue and using good ideas from wherever they come.  It doesn’t matter what party these ideas come from, the soundness matters.  This means our lives, folks, it’s not a football game.  Division can only healed by talking and listening, not from shouting over each other.  Bill Hicks, Robin Williams and David Foster Wallace would nice to have around at this time.

Looking back, these are the great musical treasures I discovered this year.  Most were not released 2016 and it is by no means comprehensive.  I like lists and I like recommendations.

F.E.A.R. -Marillion (thanks for the suggestion Rudyard)

Saturn’s Patterns- Paul Weller

Blackstar-David Bowie

Viola Beach

Hit and Run Phase One- Prince

The World is a Ghetto-War

Inevitable Western-The Bad Plus

Derek Bailey

Curved Air

A Moon Shaped Pool- Radiohead

A longer list could be made but I’m stopping here.  Oh, and I mentioned Donald Trump in the title.  Actually, I shouldn’t have mentioned him at all.  He was a big occurrence of 2016 but too much has been, is and will be said.  All that comes to mind is “Ozymandias” by Percy Shelley and the expression “where angels fear to tread” . . . we hope for the best . . .  .