Scattered Work

Free Jazz Hour: Jul 27, 2009

Tonight was a rerun of the Apr 13 playlist, cause I love it so much:

1. Doo-Dooettes – “Live on Close Radio” (LAFMS box set) – Close (198?)
2. Last Exit – Last Exit – Red Light (1986)
3. Painkiller – Execution Ground – Parish of Tama (Ossuary Dub) (1994)
4. Derek Bailey – Mirakle – This Time (2000)
5. Last Exit – Last Exit – Voice of a Skin Hanger (1986)

Tags: Free Jazz Hour, set lists

Hooked

For some reason, the New York Times style section published an article on marijuana addiction a few days ago. It starts by chronicling some stories of addiction, trying to break through the myth that marijuana is not actually addictive, which arose in response to the myth that marijuana is actually very addictive. I don’t think the article is factually wrong: marijuana is addictive, and marijuana abuse has adverse effects on peoples’ lives. As the article points out, this addiction is not nearly as severe as dependence on alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, methamphetamine, Xanax, Valium, Codeine, etc. Still, it is habit forming.

But at the same time, this article, and most of the discussion around drug abuse, glosses over a fundamental point. Addiction is not merely a function of ingesting substances for a thrill and then becoming hooked. We’ve all seen people become compulsive about eating, gambling, (video) gaming, shopping, or fucking, to name a few. There are underlying mental disorders that lead to compulsive behavior, and it’s counterproductive to try to separate that discussion from a discussion of drug addiction. This is especially true with marijuana, which, like some of these other compulsions, is not physically addictive. Marijuana withdrawal very often causes loss of appetite, insomnia, and/or anxiety, but not vomiting, diarrhea, uncontrollable shaking, or death as with some other drugs. I’ve seen numerous habitual smokers walk away from pot without treatment or counseling, having minimal withdrawal symptoms and no relapse.

For these reasons, I think it may be more helpful to think of habitual marijuana use as analogous to compulsive behavior more generally, as opposed to the physical addiction of other substances. There is some research to suggest that drug addiction is neurologically similar to any other compulsive behavior. The question is, if there is no physical addiction involved, would we be better served by treating marijuana abuse as a compulsive behavior than as a substance addiction?

Tags: addiction, marijuana, nuerology

Free Jazz Hour: Jul 20, 2009

Last night’s show explored some songs by “rock” bands that I consider to be squarely within the “free jazz” framework:

1. Sonic Youth / Jim O’Rourke – SYR 4 – Invito al Cielo (1999)
2. Can – Tago Mago – Augmn (1971)
3. Faust – 71 Minutes of Faust – Knochentanz (1971-73)
4. The Stooges – Fun House – L.A. Blues (1970)

Tags: Free Jazz Hour, set lists

Free Jazz Hour: Jul 13, 2009

Tonights set list got into some pretty deep grooves after a little warm up:

1. Dedalus – Pezzi Inediti + Meteriali 74-76 – Saxolanota (1976)
2. Don Cherry – Brown Rice – Degi Degi (1975)
3. Jon Hassell – City: Works of Fiction – Mombasa (1989)
4. Miles Davis – The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions – Little High People (Take 8)
5. Material – Memory Serves – Square Dance (1981)
6. Moebius + Plank (+ Material) – Rastakraut Pasta – Missi Cacadou (1983)
7. Don Cherry – Brown Rice – Brown Rice (1975)
8. Last Exit – Last Exit – Catch as Catch Can (1986)

Tags: Free Jazz Hour, set lists

Free Jazz Hour: Jul 6, 2009

Tonight’s playlist was pretty proggy (and, I must admit, based on the set list from Dec 1, 2008):

1. Arturo Stalteri – André Sulla Luna – Alba ancestrale (1979)
2. Arturo Stalteri – André Sulla Luna – Il prisma magico (1979)
3. Arturo Stalteri – André Sulla Luna – Viaggiando tra i riflessi (1979)
4. Arturo Stalteri – André Sulla Luna – Verso la luna (1979)
5. Saint Just – La Casa del Lago – Nella Vita, Un Pianto (1974)
6. Debile Menthol – Emile au Jardin Patrologique – Tres Amusant, Major (1981)
7. Jean Cohen-Solal – Flutes Libres – Concerto Cyclique (1973)
8. Franco Battiato – Fetus – Meccanica (1972)
9. Brainticket – Cottonwoodhill – Places of Light (1972)

P.S. Brainticket is from Germany. I don’t know why I thought they were American.

P.P.S. A couple of these albums are long out of print, but you can download them on Mutant Sounds: Andre Sulla Luna, Emile au Jardin Patrologique.

Tags: Free Jazz Hour, set lists