All Hands on Deck

One of the things I try to do in order to avoid getting into a rut in life is listen to new music. It's music I might not look into, left to my own devices, so I'm grateful that my sons, Trevor and Coleman, who love music at least as much as I do, send me links to music they think I'd like. Without fail they're right, because even if it's not what I'd continue to listen to, I like knowing I've at least been introduced. Both of my sons are big fans of a man named Maynard Keenan, the genius behind the group Tool. Yes, genius. He may not be Dylan or Cohen to my age group, but for many in the younger generation, he fits easily into that category.

Although Tool, being a metal band, is not necessarily to my liking music-wise, I do appreciate reading the lyrics and developing an understanding of what this generation is relating to through music. Maybe three years ago now, Coleman and I agreed we'd each buy a CD we knew the other liked in order to discover music through the others eyes and ears. He asked me to buy "10,000 Days," by Tool and I asked him to buy "Modern Times," by Bob Dylan. I listened to it as I drove from Santa Fe to Minnesota in one of my visits home. It was an interesting opportunity for me as a mother to get inside my kid's head and see what was going on there. I was very happy with what I found. And although I did not convert him with the Dylan, I'm glad he gave it a try. He did like several cuts and what mother could ask for more?

Keenan is one of those multi-talented people who has developed a life around his passions. He has two other music projects, which create an interesting mix: A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, both of which are more alternative, rather than metal.  No matter which one he is speaking through, he has some solid ideas around what's happening politically and culturally, as well as some very intriguing thoughts on metaphysics and spirituality. Then, there's his wine company, which I'll get to.

Last week sometime, Coleman sent a youtube video to me from Puscifer's new album, "Conditions of My Parole." The first time I watched and listened to it, I liked it. There's something about it that drew me in and, like many music videos, it has a nice visual payoff at the end, an ending that left me wondering even more about Maynard Keenan and his perspective on life. Sort of a Mad Max meets Noah and the Ark. At least, that's what I saw. I've promised myself I would do better at keeping an open mind and gaining some measure of understanding around those things that mystify me. This man might, at first glance, be dismissed as an odd duck, to say the least, but that would be an injustice. He has a lot to say, has chosen a variety of ways to say it, and I admire that.

Now, the wine.  Keenan has developed a vineyard that has been producing consistently good wines, which have received high ratings from wine connoisseurs. I'm no connoisseur, but I'm thinking about ordering a bottle or two. I love what he's created in his site, Caduceus. Once you enter, you see a "book" that looks like an ancient script. After the introductory pages, you'll find several  pages dedicated to the different wines he offers. Click on the corners and turn the pages. The descriptions are almost poetic and the whole thing is a fun read. It's  accompanied by his song, "Indigo Children." www.caduceus.org    I think it's just a very cool site.

See, wasn't that fun?   Now, here's "Man Overboard."  May I suggest you click on it and watch it in HD (720p) on youtube itself?  Oh, come on, give it a chance. You never know, you might surprise yourself....