Bob Mould releases new album

My musical hero Bob Mould has released a new album called District Line. Bob Mould is an institution in modern popular music, and more info about his new album can be found on his website. On this website you can also listen to clips from the new album.

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Best music of 2007

Allmusic.com has selected the best music albums from 2007. Be sure to check it out.

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Albert Ellis the Creator of Psychology's Cognitive Revolution, Dies

Dr. Albert Ellis, the controversial psychologist who revolutionized the field of psychology when he created Rational Emotive Therapy in 1955, died at home on July 24, 2007. His wife, Debbie Joffe was with him. He was 93. He had been seriously ill for more than a year.

Dr. Ellis was born in Pittsburgh on September 27, 1913, and was raised in New York City. He received his M.A. (1943) and Ph.D. (1947) degrees in clinical psychology from Columbia University. He practiced psychotherapy, marriage and family counseling and sex therapy for over sixty years. He was the founder of Rational Emotive Therapy, the first of the now-popular cognitive therapies. In later years, he called his creation Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, REBT.

Recognizing the slowness and frequent ineffectiveness of Freudian psychoanalysis, Albert Ellis broke away from it in January 1953, calling himself a rational therapist. He presented REBT to the psychological community in 1955, starting a revolutionary paradigm shift in the way psychology thought about human problems and changing the way psychotherapy is practiced around the world.

REBT is a comprehensive approach to psychological issues and problems that deals with the emotional and behavioral aspects of human disturbance, and places emphasis on how people think. REBT reminds people that they control their own emotional destiny according to whether they think in healthy, rational ways or unhealthy, irrational ways. It teaches people how to forcefully analyze and change their self-defeating thoughts and behaviors. A major aspect of REBT is unconditional acceptance of self, others and life.

His influence extended into areas other than psychology, including education, politics, business and philosophy. He wrote extensively on the problems the world currently faces, such as terrorism and nuclear weapons.

Dr. Ellis received the highest awards from professional societies, including recently the New York State Psychological Association's Lifetime Distinguished Service Award. In a 1982 survey, American and Canadian psychologists rated Albert Ellis as having more influence on psychology than Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung or B.F. Skinner. Psychology Today called him The Prince of Reason. The New Yorker Magazine reported that in the off-Broadway play "Trumbo", Dr. Ellis was called "the greatest humanitarian since Gandhi."

He shall be deeply missed, and remembered for his contributions to humanity.

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Thoughts about Progressive Rock

I have found out this after 10 years of listening to rock'n'roll and lately been very fond of progressive rock. Not all of you may agree on these ones:

- Yes was really best in their pop-period in the late 70s to the mid 80s. Trevor Horn rules indeed (the best producer ever? Maybe).

- Asia is better and more interesting than Pink Floyd ever was. So what if DSOTM and WYWH are very good albums. Asia is fun and listenable. What is wrong with good songs, you rock critics?

- John Wetton is under-evaluated. In other words check him out. This guy has been participating in so many influential bands, in addition to a nice solo career.

- With perhaps a couple of exceptions Genesis has not made any bad albums. In other words Genesis is indeed great.

- The best progressive rock bands are: Genesis, Camel, King Crimson, Rush, Barclay James Harvest, IQ and Porcupine Tree.

- Brian Eno is one of the most important figure in popular MUSIC history. More important than Dylan. Dylan was always more important in other things than the music.

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Tim Finn with new album

Tim Finn, the exceptionally gifted singer/songwriter from Te Awamutu, New Zealand has announced details of his new studio album, Imaginary Kingdom. Imaginary Kingdom will be preceded by the first single Couldn't Be Done, released commercially in September. Finn has enjoyed a varied and remarkable career, from his days as founder of legendary 70's/80's art-pop group Split Enz to his time in Crowded House with brother (and former Split Enz band mate) Neil, as well as an outstanding solo career, an eclectic album project (ALT) and two Finn Brothers albums...all have which have well and truly cemented Tim Finn's position in music folklore. Imaginary Kingdom was recorded in Nashville...not the Nashville that instantly comes to mind, think more in the deep, cool underbelly of this musical city. The band Tim and producer Bobby Huff (Julian Lennon, LeAnne Rimes, Jordan McCoy) assembled for this album consisted of Huff on drums/keys/BV’s, engineer John Painter on bass and brass and school friend Dale Oliver on guitars.

The standard version of IMAGINARY KINGDOM released 14 OCTOBER 2006

Source: Eventfinder.so.nz

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REBT Podcast

REBT is a framework for persons who want be as effective as possible to pursuing their life goals and limit their hassles and problems. Now the psychotherapist Micah Perkins has launched a podcast for people who want to get to know the principles of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Visit his site to get to know more.

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Great TV-Memories: Highway to Heaven

Unfortunately, much of today's TV World presents us with more and more speculative and wastable non-sense TV entertainment. Sex, violence and disposable images of utter irrelevancy seem to becoming the trademark of large sections of the American TV entertainment industry. In these times it therefore was a heartwarming experience to 'return to the 80s' and a series which presented edifying values and integrity; The series I am talking about is Michael Landon's 'Highway to Heaven'. Here we have America's own 'pater familias' Michael Landon with full creative control (as executive producer, often director and writer).

What he accomplished was to make a series which in a honest way advocades genuine kindness, human warmth, friendship and love. Landon plays the angel Jonathan who together with his earthly buddy Mark (played by actor Victor French) travel around with just one mission; Help people and remind them to care about each other. Although the series sometimes is both sentimental and melodramatic, it doesn't matter because it does not overshadow the genuineness and utter sincerity in it's message and relevancy. In a credible and intelligent way it reminds us of the things that our society and people ultimately need; Caring, love, friendship, forgiveness and understanding. Therefore, do yourself a favour and check out this fine American TV series.

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Dave Davies in Oslo

I had the privilege to watch Ray Davies live in Oslo this weekend; and I must say that I am impressed beyond belief by the passion, dedication and aliveness of this rock genius who, believe it or not, is in his 60s and have played rock & roll in more than 40 years! Ray Davies actually manages to be cooler and rocks harder than young musicians who is 30 years younger. His latest soloalbum "Other People's Lives" is a rewarding experience and he played quite a few fine versions of the songs from that album. To satisfy the somewhat mature audience he also played quite a few early Kinks classics. I only wish he could have played a few more songs from the Kinks' 1970-1990 period, a period where Kinks actually made many of their best songs. In that effect he could have downplayed the 60s hits, and focus on his entire Kinks career instead. Still it was a wonderful experience to see Ray play his fine music in such an inspiring and dedicated fashion. A top performer and an audience charmer, Ray Davies is even more than before: my musical hero.

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Experience Rush

I would like to recommend everybody to check out the band, Rush. In their career they have explored a vast array of musical genres, but have always been faithfull to their own unique style. All exquisite musicians, Rush has always been making innovative and genuinely interesting music .. What strikes me thought, is how they have maintained their creativeness and enthusiasm throught their very long and varied career. So therefore it's just for me to recommend any of their albums for an interesting and valuable experience.

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Scott Walker out with new album

4AD has announced that the pop music legend Scott Walker has completed work on his first album for the label. The album is going to be called called "The Drift" and will be Scott's first since "Tilt" was released in 1995. 4AD will release the album worldwide in May. 4AD also announces that a documentary film about Scott's music - including the making of "The Drift" - is being made by the New York -based director Stephen Kijak. The documentary is going to be titled "30 Century Man", and it will also be released in 2006.

This is a good news to all of us who appreiciate good pop music. If you are not familiar with Scott Walker, you can in the meanwhile read som more about him on the Allmusic website (see link).

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The Underrated Dave Davies

Dave Davies has always lived in the shadows of his brother Ray in the Kinks. Althought he is not nearly as talented songwriter as Ray, he still has written quite a few brilliant songs for the Kinks. "Living on a thin line" and "When you were a child" is Kinks as brilliant as ever. I will also recommend all of his soloalbums. Especially his two first soloalbums, AFL1-3603 and Glamour are creme de la creme. The song "Imaginations Real" has perhaps become one of my all time favorites songs. So do yourself a favour and check out Daves catalogue.

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