Wednesday, May. 07, 2008

Holidays a time to hear music you didn't expect to, well, hear

By Jeremy Dutton

Something inherently changes in you when you get married. It's been a full two months since the wedding, and I haven't struggled with these changes any more than right now.

It's not that all the new stuff we're getting from friends and family is the only thing I seem to want to talk about. Or that there is this new cloud of responsibility hanging over every decision I make. It's something far more serious.

I'm going to see Marie Osmond. And get this -- floor seats.

I know.

Now I know that inherently there's no reason I should be embarrassed about this. Marie is an incredible entertainer -- didn't you watch Dancing With the Stars? Oh, wait, neither did I.

Every time I target someone that I think may have the slightest interest in going, I'm quickly shot down and have to come back with a sarcastic, "I know! Ha! I wouldn't be caught dead there!"

But I will be there. And I'll probably even wear a red sweater.

And I'm not alone out there in saying/doing things that single guys wouldn't dream of.

In a story in Tuesday's Herald, some Dad just took his daughter to a Hannah Montana show -- and actually had the nerve to say that he'd seen the Rolling Stones and U2 and neither of those shows had anywhere near the energy this one did.

No. Even if true, no.

My willingness and even excitement about going is what bothers me the most. I'm a huge music fan. Concerts are my thing. But this? This is cute, packaged, family-oriented entertainment. We'll sing along and probably even take home a candy cane from Santa Claus.

This isn't me … or is it?

For now, I'll decide that it is. Because my wife really wants to go and her enthusiasm has rubbed off. This is the season of giving, after all. And maybe I'll be the one laughing when Marie's overwhelming personality amps my holiday spirit up to 10.

I wonder if she'll do the doll routine she did on Dancing with the Stars to the tune March of the Toys. Did you see that one?

Nope, me neither.

Holiday music picks

- If you're looking for the perfect gift for the music lover in your life, The Brit Box should be at the top of your list. It's got tracks handpicked from the top of the crop of Brit-pop artists across 15 years and four discs.

You'll find The Smiths, Jesus & Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, Blur and even that band that was "bigger than the Beatles" -- Oasis.

- Another quality pick is the seven-disc set of Pearl Jam at our backyard Gorge. I was at all three shows over the two years packed onto these discs and will say that the set lists rival just about anything the band has done. Wash, Corduroy, Hail Hail back-to-back-to-back? Yes. And the recording quality is outstanding.

- Jeremy Dutton: 582-125, jdutton@tricityherald.com