Professor Penguin: Past

In music, a repeat offender is the kind of person that person that gets fixated on one track. Most likely, that track is just one on an entire album of good songs. Repeat offenders are dangerous people and their taste should not always be trusted because of their natural proclivity to obsess and become hopelessly biased.

Nevertheless, this morning I became a repeat offender while listening to Past from the band Professor Penguin. Previously, I have written about the band and you can find those articles here. However, today while washing the morning's dishes I was revisiting the album and got struck by this rather simple tune in a way that never happened before. 

Read on to find out what about Past got me all hot and bothered. Then leave us a comment on the board about a song which has hung you up before. We love to hear from the readers and it's been far too long since we had a chat.

Professor Penguin: Past

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Dave Holland Solo: Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

Goodbye Pork Pie Hat or the "Theme For Lester Young" as it was later renamed, was composed in 1959 by jazz juggernaut Charles Mingus. The song was composed as an elegy for the then recently deceased saxophonist, and was originally recorded on the landmark album, Mingus Ah Um. Since it's debut, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat has stood as a monument; it's musical worth cannot be overstated. It is a track and a composition that always strikes to the core of me.

Recently, I found this performance of the incomparable Dave Holland performing the tune on solo bass. The composition's evocative and sentimental melody takes on a powerful new life in the hands of Holland. If this performance inspires you to hear more, you can find his studio recording on the album One's All, but good luck trying to find a digital copy of the record.

I don't know where it is you are reading this, but in Baltimore, this performance is perfect for an evening such as tonight. You dig?

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The Mobbies 2012

This year is the fourth for Maryland's Outstanding Blog competition lovingly called The Mobbies. The idea is that registered users of BaltimoreSun.com can vote once per 24 hour period for their favorite MD area blogs in 22 different categories.

Voting began Oct. 29th and will continue through November 5th at 5 pm. The announcement of winners, as well as prizes, and general good time partying will be had at the Mobbies Bash November 14th at the Creative Alliance. It's free to reregister and vote, and Those Who Dig couldn't be more pleased to be in the fine company of the other blogs in the Entertainment Category.

Read on for the full contest rules.

Bob Dylan: When The Ship Comes In

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Macklemore & Ryan Lewis: The Heist

Released on October 9th of this year Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's newest album The Heist was welcomed with a number 1 spot on the US ITunes download listing. However, before it's release, The Heist was getting major love from NPR and as recently as today, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis were given the Ellen DeGeneres bump with a performance on her show.

The current wave of success the hip hop duo is enjoying may have been kick started by the viral explosion of their infectious song and video Thrift Shop, but the message the duo wants you to hear is marriage equality. Their newest single, Same Love, addresses the issue.

In the duo's native state of Washington, voters will decide the fate of this issue on the November ballot with Referendum 74. As a Marylander, I know that we will be looking forward to a similar decision on our ballot in Question 6, and nationwide the issue is a major talking point of the election.

Read on and check out the video for Thrift Shop, my thoughts concerning The Heist, and it's newest single Same Love. Get the album, get informed, and vote. You dig?

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Chase King

As part of the release of Digcast VIII, the second episode to focus on NYC music, I'm posting on each band in the podcast. Today is the final feature of this latest installment and it's on the great music of Chase King. Also, he plays tonight at the Mercury Lounge. (Info here and tickets are available here).

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