The World of Marty Stuart

I'm becoming more and more impressed with the world of Marty Stuart. Most people haven't a clue who he is, but he's been involved in a ridiculous number of recordings over the years. He's played with Johnny Cash and Lester Flatt. He even helped to turn Billy Bob Thornton's Private Radio into a half-way decent effort. He really is an understated presence. I mention this because I just picked up a copy of Merle Haggard's The Bluegrass Sessions, and guess who was on it...Marty Stuart. He plays a mean mandolin, and he's positively brilliant on it -- as is Haggard who has really come back from nowhere land in the past year or two. According to the All Music Guide, Stuart w'll turn 50 in September, which means he has a lot more time to make great music, and hopefully obtain more recognition for his work.

Where Does the Time Go?

Good grief. Nothing like getting really sick for awhile to put your plans to write on hold. It's been a weird few months, to say the least. I don't really want to talk about that though....So, let's move on....

Friday Night Lights recovered somewhat, but it never got up and running quite as well as the first season. I'm glad it's returning in the fall though. It's still a great show, despite the problems that crept in during the second season. I'm going to chalk it up to a sophomore slump that was compounded by the on again, off again, will it or won't it return that led things off as well as the writer's strike that brought everything to a screeching halt. Season three will be back to normal. I'm sure of it!!

Kudos to CBS for picking up Dexter. What a wickedly good show it is. If you missed it rent it, and stick it out the grisly first half hour of the first episode. It's all kind of morbid and twisted, but Michael C. Hall from Six Feet Under fame is perfect for the role. He is so able to play this seriously disturbed serial killer and make him into a likeable person. Who ever dreamed up the idea of a serial killer stalking serial killers (that would be Jeff Lindsay, author of Darkly Dreaming Dexter) really needs to get checked out. I just may have to get Showtime, so I can watch the second season right away.