Uninhabited Spaces

Throughout their career U2 have made some surprising cuts to the final track listings of their official album released, relegating some great songs to the B side of singles or, worse, to the great and mysterious archives we hope will one day be opened by proclamation of the Irish government. And so it was with great pleasure I learned today that members of the U2 fan club will be getting a special 2-cd set of rarities and b-sides in the mail shortly. Here's a sample, a fun track called "Levitate" that never made it onto their 2000 album, "All That You Can't Leave Behind". More to come...   

Despite living just a block away Mark and I finally went to our first show at the 13-month old K-ROCK Centre this past weekend to see "So You Think You Can Dance Canada" tour. While the show was clearly designed for girls aged 12-16 (the men spent most of their time without shirts on and all dances lasted no more than 45 seconds) it was a fun time, with a handful of stunning routines amidst a cacophany of screeching teens. As it was the last night on the tour the dancers were a little sloppy but the winning dancer, Nico, was truly the star. You not only missed him when he was not on stage you were electrified when he was. There may have been better dancers in the competition but Nico is an extraordinary entertainer with grace and power on stage. Unlike the U.S. verson's Benji, for example, he is not campy and silly but a virile and sexy yet eloquent dancer. He deserves the praise heaped on him, and his good looks and charisma certainly help his star quality. I am so very ...

Here is a picture of me circa 1976. It's my favourite picture of me as a child. I am sitting on the grass in a park in Ottawa with some sort of sailor outfit on. Not sure why my mom had me in this get-up, but I love that she took this photo in black & white. There is something timeless about b&w photography, and this image is a lovely sign post in my story.  When I look at this little guy I can't help but think of that time of my life. I lived alone with my mom in Ottawa and I remember these as very happy times. Of course, I was a kid so my memory of things may have been skewed but I remember her happy and I remember her music more than anything else. My mom had a fantastic record collection and she had great taste in what we now call classic rock and pop. So in a moment of nostalgic reverie I thought I would share the soundtrack of that 1-bedroom apartment in Ottawa in the mid-70s. I can smell Jiffy Pop on the stove top and I can hear some of the following songs: ...

U2's forthcoming album, "No Line on the Horizon" is out worldwide on 2 March. I've been scouring the net for reviews and here's what the critics have to say: Neil McCormack, Telegraph ( London ) “It is a great record, and greatness is what rock and roll and the world needs right now. From the grittily urgent yet ethereal title track all the way to the philosophically ruminative, spacey coda of ‘Cedars Of Lebanon’ it conjures an extraordinary journey through sound and ideas, a search for soul in a brutal, confusing world, all bound together in narcotic melody and space age pop songs.  It certainly sounds like U2 (as do a lot of groups these days) but in its boldest moments is as fresh and ambitious as the work of first timers, not veterans 33 years on the road. But what a place for a band to be, in orbit around their own myth, making music that bounces off the inside of a listeners skull, charged with ideas and emotions, groovy enough to want to dance to, melodic...

After 42 years of service to legions of LGBT folk the world's oldest gay & lesbian bookstore, Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop , will close March 29 due to the financial recession. This store was not only an important piece of modern queer history but also a beacon for countless people searching for books and stories about their lives and identities. Founded in 1967 by Craig Rodwell the bookstore served as a much-needed meeting place, activist hub, and resource in those decades before the internet.   In his recent article in  New York magazine  on the legacy of the bookstore David France writes,  " In 1967, two years before the Stonewall riots, when most gay activists still used fake names to avoid arrest, [Rodwell] took his savings from cleaning Fire Island hotel rooms and opened the nation’s first gay bookstore.   Not that there were many gay books then. The real action was in the cramped back room, where Craig and his staff—he hired men and women in equal numbers—plotted a...

Recent conversations have had me reflecting on  how complicated language can be , with its built-in meanings and assumptions. Nothing seems to me to be more complicated and more political than names. What we call things is so entrenched with power relations that it can be confusing and even absurd. To wit, a fascinating article called " From Negro to Black to African American: The Power of Names and Naming" by Ben L. Martin (1991). 

The 1946 short film "Despotism" provides a scale by which you can judge your community and nation for signs of despotism. It's rather fascinating to apply the author's 63 year-old model of respect/power and economic distribution/information onto the nations of our time. I encourage you to watch the film and think about Canada and the United States with this assessment at hand. You may find some unsettling results...

Christian Lander's satirical skewering of white American taste is not only hilarious bad sadly accurate. The pseudo-liberal pretensions, desires, and aspirations of the white middle class are put on trial here in a disarming manner. This has been met with some offense but I think Lander uncovers a great deal of truth through this list. Obviously, some of this is based on stereotypes and generalizations, but this is indeed the very point of the book. You can have a look at the list of 120 things white people like here . For best results make sure you read his astute comments on each category by clicking on them.

My high-school years were 1984-1988 and I have such fond and powerful associations with the music of the era. I thought I would sharea few of what I consider to be the best '80s songs, those worth bringing to the desert island in the sky... When in Rome- "The Promise" (1988) Simple Minds- "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (1985) OMD- "If You Leave" (1985) Cindi Lauper- "True Colors" (1986) A-Ha- "Take on Me" (1985) Tears for Fears- "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" (1985) U2- "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (1984) Stevie Nicks- "Stand Back" (1983) Michael Jackson- "Billy Jean " (1982)

I always knew my degree in Philosophy was a worthwhile pursuit. It has served me very well in my career. But don't take my word for it. Check out this great article (scroll down to view). [ Illustration: Stephanie Wunderlich]

A few scenes of a very snowy, wintery Queen's University, my alma mater and workplace (photos by Greg Black)

Ms. Murray will be speaking at the Kingston Boys & Girls Club on February 3, sharing her incredible and inspiring story. You can learn more about her story here .

I stumbled across my 1988 high school graduation photo, and had a good chuckle. Thought I would share it with my faithful reader(s). Not sure what is growing out of one side of my head there...I think we called that a style back then. Check out the pretentious blurb alongside the photo. Ugh! Most folks actually thank and shout-out to people. Not me. I was much more interested in quoting Stephen King and Tennyson. Ah, the arrogance of youth.  I find it fascinating to study that photo, only because I don't recognize the face whatsoever. He is what I used to see in the mirror every morning, as I applied my mousse (no, grasshopper, I really didn't see the signs). He's a handsome little guy though, I'll give him that. But the eyebrows...are they really that big?  None of us are seers, of course, and as I look into this face it's tempting to want to whisper a few pieces of widsom his way. He really has no idea of the adventures and misadventures he will be facing. He has ...

Forgive me, U2...I don't really like your new single all that much. I know, I know...unbelievable. But I've been a hardcore fan for over 20 years so I think I am allowed to stray from the faith once in a while. Don't be too upset. It's happened before, actually, with "Elevation" and then "Vertigo". I really dislike those songs and always skip them when I'm listening to the albums that house them. Don't fret. I'm just more of a "Gone" and "City of Blinding Lights" kind of flock member.  "Get on Your Boots" sounds like a demo of four different songs stuck together with a cliche U2 bridge. It pains me to say this to you, because I simply adore you. Perhaps it's ok for a fanatic to question those s/he follows...? I guess you are allowed a throw-away song, especially since you've given so many crystalline and enduring notes, but not for the first single in nearly 5 years. I would have accepted a slightly e...

U2's first single off their upcoming album is now available at  http://goyb.u2.com/ . (Turn up the volume and turn out the lights. You'll need to listen to it a few times to catch all of the layers and nuances)

For your pleasure, the stunning performance of "Pride" & "City Of Blinding Lights" from yesterday's "We Are One" concert at the Lincoln Memorial is available here .

U2 has announced the track list for their new album,  No Line On The Horizon , and revealed the album cover today, too. (click image for larger version) The track list is as follows: 1. No Line On The Horizon 2. Magnificent 3. Moment of Surrender 4. Unknown Caller 5. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight 6. Get On Your Boots 7. Stand Up Comedy 8. Fez – Being Born 9. White As Snow 10. Breathe 11. Cedars Of Lebanon  "Get On Your Boots", the first single, will be world-premiered by Dave Fanning on 2FM on Colm and Jim Jim's morning show on Dublin's 2FM on Monday just after the 8 a.m. news. The album cover is a Hiroshi Sugimoto image. Update: read the first review here

According to Statistics Canada, Kingston's job market jumped by 3,700 full-and part-time positions from December 2007 to December 2008. Employment growth in Kingston was a strong 4.8% -compared to just 0.6% nationally.  Kingston showed significant gains under certain categories of jobs and losses in others. Apparently there was a 2,700 increase in educational services, including universities, colleges and school boards, as well as private services such as language and fine arts schools. The accommodation and food sector was up 1,400 over the year. Yet retail showed a decrease of 2,200 jobs. Professional, scientific and technical services experienced the second-highest rise at 2,000 jobs--although local firms are having trouble substantiating this last figure.  These figures, if accurate, have come as a pleasant surprise to the Kingston Economic Development Corporation as well as local business leaders. 

Our top headlines today... Ryan Seacrest high-fives a blind man Skier bares all at Vail Man wearing ski mask waits in line to hold up bank McDonald's leaves part of Morocco off map Couple withdraws $175K bank error Canadian woman had no idea she was pregnant 6 year old boy drives car to school, mom asleep Man throws chickens at people Girl calls 911 to snitch on herself

I was interviewed on Queen's Radio CFRC on January 8. The program is called "Gender Bender" and I was invited to speak about the Queen's University Association of Queen's Employees which I have been involved with for the past 2+ years. You can now listen to a podcast of the interview (begins at 4:40, there's a commercial break, and then it continues)  here .

From "Q" magazine, an insider's peek at the new songs (click on photo to enlarge image)...

" Q", the world's finest music magazine, was recently granted an exclusive preview of U2's upcoming album No Line on the Horizon . Described as a bolder, more testing collection more in keeping with Achtung Baby (1991), Brian Eno and The Edge say this could be U2's greatest album. Q previews many of the new songs as follows: "Magnificent" Classic U2-isms, echoes The Unforgettable Fire (1984) opening track "A Sort Of Homecoming" in its atmospheric sweep.  "Crazy Tonight" Straight-up pop. "Stand Up" Swaggering, wherein U2 get in touch with their, hitherto unheard, funky selves - albeit propelled by some coruscating Edge guitar work, a signature feature of a number of the tracks.   "Get Your Boots On" Instantly striking, a heaving electro-rocker that may mark the destination point the band had been seeking on Pop (1997) "Winter" Featuring a fine Bono lyric about a soldier in an unspecified war zone, surr...

We hosted our annual holidays party last night. This year's theme was "Fa La La La La" and we had a wonderful turn out of friends and colleagues that made for new frendships and great conversations. Here are some photos...