Charles Bukowski's "Dostoevsky" can be found a few posts down (March 4, 2004).

Big City Secrets was a music show (named after Joseph Arthur's most-wonderful debut album) hosted by Judah Morford on Houston's KPFT 90.1 fm from April 2002-March 2004. I've left this blog up for curious music-seekers out there looking for certain songs. Feel free to email me if you have any questions or would like to get in touch: streetoftreesATyahooDOTcom (obviously, substitute the appropriate symbols where I have all caps).

Thanks for stopping by.

PLAYLIST
12:02 Joseph Arthur-Redemption's Son-Live in Bern
12:09 PJ Harvey-A Place Called Home-Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea
12:12 The Stills-Still In Love Song (12" Extended Remix)-Rememberese ep
12:19 Junetile-Daydream-Unreleased demo
12:24 Interview with Jonathan Relph of Junetile
12:28 Junetile-Dreamaway-All Things (Un) Clear
12:30 more interview
12:39 Jay Kieper-Hot for xmas-Unreleased demo
12:43 Patty Griffin-Forgiveness-Living With Ghosts
12:48 Denison Witmer-Forgiven-Ghetto Monk
12:52 Barzin-Past All Concerns-Barzin
12:58 Bjork-An Echo, A Stain-Vespertine
1:00 Four tet-As Serious As Your Life-Rounds
1:05 Joseph Arthur-Crackerjack Box-Junkyard Hearts IV
1:08 Beth Orton-Beautiful World-The Other Side of Daybreak
1:12 The Damnwells-Get Out While You Can-PMR +1
1:18 Evan Dando-Waking Up-Baby I'm Bored
1:22 Valley of the Giants-Whaling Tale-Valley of the Giants
1:31 Sigur Ros-hvalir í útrýmingarhættu (endangered whales)-Hlemmur Soundtrack
1:34 Under Byen-Det Er Mig Der Holder Traeerne Sammen-Det Er Mig Der Holder Traeerne Sammen
1:39 The Cure-Ocean-The Fiction Years
1:44 Sun Kil Moon-Pancho Villa-Ghosts of the Great Highway
1:49 Nina Nastasia-Oh, My Stars-The Blackened Air
1:52 Bonnie 'Prince' Billy-The Way-Master and Everyone
1:55 Joni Mitchell-A Case of You-Blue
2:02 Joseph Arthur-Ian Curtis-Live at Stubbs Austin 4/24/03
2:05 Michael Linnen & David Wingo-Hottub-All the Real Girls Soundtrack
2:07 Over the Rhine-Latter Days-Good Dog Bad Dog
2:11 Nada Surf-Blonde on Blonde-Let Go
2:19 Radiohead-A Punchup At A Wedding-Hail to the Thief
2:24 Mum-We Have a Map of the Plane-Finally We Are No One
2:29 Death Cab For Cutie-Passenger Seat-Transatlanticism
2:33 Cat Power-Metal Heart-Moon Pix
2:38 Mojave 3-Starlight No. 1-Spoon and Rafter
2:43 Pinback-Loro-Pinback
2:49 Denison Witmer-Remember the Things You Have Seen-Philadelphia Songs
2:52 Joseph Arthur-Big City Secrets-Live at the Gypsy Tea Room, Dallas

So, tonight is the last show. hmm. It will be 3 hours, and during the first hour, I'll be playing an interview with Jonathan Relph of Junetile that was conducted two weeks ago. If you have anything you'd like to hear this last night, by all means, let me know.

The end of things always brings reflection, and this week I've been thinking about a poem. A few years ago, I was driving to work early in the morning listening to Writer's Almanac. The poem for the day was called "Dostoevsky" by Charles Bukowski. Dostoevsky was a hero of sorts for Bukowski, but the poem works many ways. For me, it makes me think of music and the musican(s) that have saved me from so much. I think we all probably find or seek out earthly things that reveal more of what and whom is behind it all. Maybe music does that for you too. I hope so. Thank you for listening and reading.

Dostoevsky

against the wall, the firing squad ready.
then he got a reprieve.
suppose they had shot Dostoevsky?
before he wrote all that?
I suppose it wouldn't have
mattered
not directly.
there are billions of people who have
never read him and never
will.
but as a young man I know that he
got me through the factories,
past the whores,
lifted me high through the night
and put me down
in a better
place.
even while in the bar
drinking with the other
derelicts,
I was glad they gave Dostoevsky a
reprieve,
it gave me one,
allowed me to look directly at those
rancid faces
in my world,
death pointing its finger,
I held fast,
an immaculate drunk
sharing the stinking dark with
my
brothers.

by Charles Bukowski from Bone Palace Ballet (Black Sparrow Press)

No new releases to report today, but since this will be the last time I'll be updating new releases, look forward to next Tuesday when Mary Lou Lord and Franz Ferdinand release their newest material. On March 23, Iron and Wine follow up with the amazing Our Endless Numbered Days.

PLAYLIST
12:01 Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Maps-Fever to Tell
12:04 The Postal Service-Clark Gable-Give Up
12:10 Cameron Dezen-Gulf of Mexico-Mary's Daughter
12:15 Nada Surf-Inside of Love-Let Go
12:20 Arthur Yoria in the studio
12:25 Arthur Yoria-Call Me-Live in the studio
12:36 Arthur Yoria-Trash Bag-Live in the studio
12:52 Arthur Yoria-Here to Stay-I'll Be Here Awake
12:57 Endochine-Key to My Heart-Day Two
1:00 Morrissey-Everyday Is Like Sunday-Viva Hate
1:05 Of January May (We're Marching On)-Knowing the Troubles-Of January May
1:11 Junetile-Oohooh-Unreleased demo
1:15 Devics-In My Room-The Stars at Saint Andrea
1:22 Joseph Arthur-Eyes On My Back-Live In Bern

Up for tonight:Arthur Yoria and Tody Castillo will be joining me for a live performance and talk. They're performing Saturday night along with Matt Hammon, Cameron Dezen and Endochine at Fitzgeralds on White Oak and Studemont.

and more unreleased Junetile. and Joseph Arthur. and Patty Griffin.

and you.

A day late, but alas...new releases yesterday from Will Oldham and Grant Lee Phillips.

A new, independently published music zine called 20/20 Proof is just out featuring a really wonderful article about Joseph Arthur. A portion of the article can be read online; the remainder including an interview is available for purchase through the website.