HIGHLY RECOMMENDED W/ JON BERNSON (from HIGHER LOWS)
* Providing the A's to the 5 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED Q's today is Jon Bernson from Higher Lows — a music-making project out of San Francisco who has a sweet self-titled album coming out on June 25th (and you can catch the track ‘People Of The Sun’ on the HI54 Mix CD ‘EVENINGS’).
#1 - WHAT IS THE ONE ALBUM (OR EP OR SONG) THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE VERY NEXT MUSICAL THING THAT EVERYONE PRESSES PLAY ON THE NEXT TIME THEY FIND THEMSELVES THINKING “WHAT SHOULD I LISTEN TO NOW”?
Mort Garson - Plantasia. "What's not to like?" is my typical description of this album. It was reissued last year by Sacred Bones, but the vinyl rip has been out there on YouTube for a long time.
Technically it was composed to be 'music for plants,' but it works equally well for people who enjoy plants. And for what it's worth, I know people who don't like plants, but like this record anyway.
#2 - WHAT IS THE ONE MOVIE OR TV SHOW THAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE NEXT IN EVERYBODY’S NETFLIX QUEUE (OK, DOESN’T HAVE TO BE NETFLIX, WE’RE ALL INTERNET ADULTS HERE AND KNOW HOW TO FIND ANYTHING ONLINE, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER)?
As a Casio aficionado, I highly recommend this sales video from 1987.
Using a variety of poignant metaphors, it explains my favorite cutting edge features. The video is a stunning example of customer service and receives bonus points for slick costuming and bold interior design choices. The tunes and tones are top notch as well.
#3. I (AND BY “I” I MEAN “THE PERSON THAT IS READING THIS”) AM GOING TO THE LOCAL BOOK STORE (OK, MAYBE THE LOCAL LIBRARY FIRST) TO FIND THE VERY NEXT BOOK THAT I WILL BE PUTTING SOME EXTREMELY VALUABLE ‘ME-TIME' ASIDE FOR. WHICH BOOK WOULD YOU GET, IF YOU WERE ME (AND, I SUPPOSE, YOU HADN’T ALREADY READ WHAT YOU’RE ABOUT TO SUGGEST)?
The Butterfly Effect. Marcus J. Moore is one of the best music writers in the business and, after reviewing albums for years, he authored a biography of Kendrick Lamar which is great.
The book is painstakingly researched and a real page-turner. Moore lays out the hip-hop / jazz ecosystem surrounding Lamar, which sheds a lot of light on all the talent around him too.
#4 - WHAT IS THE ONE WEBSITE (OR JUST ANY OLD INTERNET THING: APP, GIF, SERVICE, WHATEVER) THAT YOU WOULD GET REALLY DOWN IN THE DUMPS ABOUT IF IT WERE TO SUDDENLY GO AWAY?
Department of Defense Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force Newsroom. I've been keeping a close eye on Department of Defense press releases about Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. Many smoking guns to be found here, proving without a doubt, that we are not alone.
Word on the street is that they will be publishing tons of footage in July so stay tuned.
#5 - AND FINALLY… PLEASE GIVE ONE COMPLETELY UNAIDED RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU THINK EVERYONE SHOULD START DOING / USING / WATCHING / EATING / THINKING / QUITTING / ETC-ING TO MAKE THEIR LIVES A LITTLE BIT MORE BETTER AND/OR BEARABLE.
The Space Program. This is a relatively new residency program in San Francisco where I recorded the vocals for the Higher Lows album and then, when the album was done, returned to screen print the vinyl record covers.
TSP is all about creating a true home for artists and supporting the creative process. Can't say enough about these folks!
OK folks, there you have it. Things that Jon Bernson from Higher Lows thinks you should consider incorporating into your day/life. Before you log off and go check the skies for unidentified phenomena, make sure to follow Jon on the Instagram / Twitter and then also give ‘People of the Sun’ a listen below…
