Holiday time has returned, and I want again to do a post devoid of an ERISAn theme. In the past I've focused on my own favorite Xmas songs and have even tried to create my own version of a Holiday season.* Now, once again, back to music.
This year, Dave Grohl, working with Greg Kurstin, has bestowed upon us a Hanukkah gift: The Hanukkah Sessions! I honestly think that Grohl may be the single most all-around talent that rock has ever seen.** One can only wonder whether he would have emerged like he has were it not for Nirvana's tragic and untimely demise.***
Anyway, check out the eight offerings. In particular, I'd commend you to Sabotage and Rock and Roll, which bookend the presentation. I'm blown away that he included those on this short list. Sabotage is a Top-10 song for me, and Rock and Roll is a Velvet Underground treasure that more people need to hear.*****
Thank you Dave Grohl, for this***** and for everything else you do.
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* What? The David/Seinfeld team can do Festivus and I can't do Snohanumas, just because they're creative and talented and I'm not?!?
** And I guess that Kurstin is the latest Mark Ronson. Guys like that are just incredible.
*** My own personal Grohl faves are All My Life and No One Knows. For me, the SNL performance of All My Life is as good as anything that's ever been, and the drums on No One Knows are as good as it gets. And the way he brings up audience members to play at his concerts is flat-out sick. See, e.g., the "Kiss Guy" performance.
**** Check out what I think is the song's best treatment on the incredible Rock n Roll Animal. And while we're on the topic of the VU's Rock and Roll, let's review the Best of . . . Amputee Songs. Here are three songs, in no particular order. Rock and Roll is clearly on the list ("Despite all the amputations, you know you could just go out and dance to a rock 'n' roll station."). Yet another Lou Reed song appears here as well: She's My Best Friend ("Ah, here's to Mullberry Jane (here's to Mullberry Jane). She made jam when she came. Somebody cut off her feet. Now, jelly rolls in the street."). Then there's a song with what I think are phenomenal lyrics from its beginning to its end, Harvey Danger's Flagpole Sitta ("They cut off my legs, now I'm an amputee God d**n you.").
***** It's fitting that maybe the two best rock poets - Robbie Zimmerman a.k.a. Bob Dylan (not a big fan, but there's no denying his status) and Lou Reed (the ultimate urban poet?) - would wind up in the same compilation.
****** So this Hanukkah treasure joins the unsurpassed Chanukah Song by Adam Sandler for non-Xmas Holiday fare. And while we're on the topic of Sandler, you must check out his tribute to Chris Farley, if you haven't already. I don't care if you don't even know who Farley (maybe a Top-5 physical comic of all time?) is - if this heart-felt memorial doesn't bring tears to your eyes you're a tougher soul than am I.
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