Stephen Mejias

The AZ9345 is on right now. And it sounds pretty damn good to me. I’m listening to Smog’s latest album, A River Ain’t Too Much to Love, and god, I love it. I love it. I don’t even know exactly what it is. I keep wondering, “What is it? What’s so great about this album?”

And when I can’t come up with an answer, I try not to question.

All I know for certain is that I have a hard time not listening. It’s the kind of album—I’ve been comparing it to Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska—that shushes you and leaves you shaking your head at the beauty and at the sadness and at the happiness.

In “I’m New Here,” Bill Callahan sings:

No No No No
I did not become someone different
I did not want to be
But I’m new here
Will you show me around?

No matter how far wrong you’ve gone
You can always turn around

And, right now, that seems—to me, for me—to be very true. And a good, good thing to keep in mind. Things do come back around. Sometimes. About half of the time, maybe more.

Things might be different now. I could be living in San Francisco now.

Well, despite everything, I’m actually happier than I’ve ever been. Here: living alone in Jersey City; working with wonderful, intelligent, fun people in New York City; listening to the music.

I’m new here. Will you show me around?