WEEK SIX
Live: The return of D’Angelo with all his skills intact if not indeed improved, for the opening night of his “The Second Coming” tour would make a believer out of any of us. At the Apollo Theatre, D’Angelo unveiled the sort of show that he can travel with for months, years, decades. A career spanning 150 minutes of funk and soul (neo-soul? Eh?) and the best 20 minutes, “Really Love” followed by “One Mo’ Gin”, you may ever hear.
Recorded: A bad week with a couple of highlights, indie folkies Kids Rich Coast and new singles by Young fathers and Girlpool and Houndstooth is basically it.
Awards: Musicares gave Bob Dylan an award and he returned the favor by giving Musicares the greatest speech in his career which, given Dylan’s Grammy speech is definitely saying something.
Television: The Grammy Awards are now a radio station’s Christmas show writ large and not bad really, though not particularly thrilling either. I agree with the anointing of Sam Smith (it is live Sam sucks, not on record) though I went back to Beck’s Morning Phase and I really can’t hear it. Imma etc, but Beyonce did deserve album of the year.
Theatre: David Ives extremely disappointing seven one act plays “Lives Of The Saints” is as surprising as it is depressing. Apparently “All In The Timing” will never happen again.
Politics: ISIS pouring petrol on a Jordanian pilot in a cage and putting him on fire while people cheered pissed off King Abdullah, now let’s see what if anything he can do about it. King Hussein would’ve gone ballistic.
New York Politics: Any bets on just how different New York State Government will be without Silver? Anyone?
Sports: A-Rod meeting with the Yankees, Phil apologizes for the Knicks, Rangers are winning but Islanders are better, Tiger is over.