Sunday, April 7, 2019

My Life in Pictures


It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of dirt track racing. Pictured here are the two NOSA sprint cars that I follow fairly closely throughout each season. The Buffalo Wild Wings #13 car is driven by my third cousin, Mark Dobmeier. The multi-sponsor #27 is driven by Chris Ranten. I also keep good track of how Jordan Adams is doing each season in the 20A car. Obviously, family loyalty has made Mark my favorite racer since I was a kid. Ranten and Adams are two drivers I've seen from their very first seasons, and it's been fun to watch both of them develop into drivers who, if they can make enough races each season, are often finishing in the top 5, and hopefully snagging a few feature wins here and there. Folks, if you aren't watching local sprint car racing, you're missing out. 


My dad and I took a narrow road through some hills last summer. Northeast North Dakota is not flat at all if one knows where to go. This was fun. Had the road been in better condition, I think we might have returned in the fall when the colors were changing. 


A street stock driver whose name I can't recall had himself a pretty scary wreck. His car came partially through the fence. While I'm sure he knew he'd stop, it has to be nerve-wracking to see fans not 20-30 feet from the car after a wreck. 


Kristin Hannah has been one of my favorite authors over the past year. Even her lesser novels have sections of truly moving narrative. Pictured here is Magic Hour, which is my second favorite Hannah novel so far. If you're curious, give her books a chance. You won't be disappointed. 


I can't honestly tell you what this is without asking someone with more knowledge of antique farm equipment. It's a beautiful piece. I'm always happy to pass it by when I'm fixing fence in the summertime. 


This picture struck me because of the evil mushroom shadow. The middle top bag is actually a different variety from the two outside toppers. Thank goodness a co-worker caught this because I hadn't noticed. We were able to re-locate it to its proper place. 


Yes, I was that guy when Pizza Corner changed their packaging. Side by side. The old packaging was significantly better. The new pizzas freezer-burn faster because they aren't airtight. It's still darn good frozen pizza if you watch for when it's on sale. You just have to eat it sooner. 


When we are busy, we end up with temporary help who are sometimes forklift qualified, so we have them pass our necessary tests and then have them operate lifts in a pinch. They are usually decent operators, but I prefer not to have them stack bags, and here is a prime example of why I usually keep them to simpler tasks. Some newbie placed a bag about 6 inches past the front of the bottom bag. There was another bag on top of this. What could go wrong? Thankfully somebody pointed it out to me and we were able to break the stack down and fix it. 


Dolly (left) and Porter (right) can both behave much better than they usually do. Especially if you have treats in your hands. Brats. I sent this picture to a friend with a caption that read, "230 pounds of utter chaos somehow behaving long enough for me to take a picture."


This is the most recently born calf at the Dobmeier farm (4/7/2019). Cute little bugger, eh?


I haven't studied stoic philosophy all that thoroughly, but I do find their general way of thinking to be very beneficial for my everyday perspectives. Life is bigger than one thing, be that a partner, a job, or even a passion. Don't let emotion rule your life. 


I stumbled across this picture one day and it moved me very deeply. I love the song "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" by Alan Jackson, so obviously this caught my attention. 


Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Ruston Kelly's Dying Star is the Essential Album of 2018

Every year a seemingly random artist releases a monster album in the underground country scene. In the past 10 years, the first album that comes to mind is Jason Isbell's 2013 classic Southeastern. A close second to Southeastern is definitely Cody Jink's 2015 masterpiece Adobe Sessions. Jinks would double down on such an honor with 2016's I'm Not the Devil. Country music has its list of independent mainstays--some follow a non-traditional multi-genre sound like Isbell, and then there are stubbornly traditional artists like Jinks. In 2018, the best album released under the Country umbrella goes to an artist more in the vein of Jason Isbell. Ruston Kelly's Dying Star is an introspective masterpiece.


There's a bit of context to establish here--not everybody knows that Ruston Kelly is Kacey Musgraves' husband. He's one half of a very  talented musical household. Kacey Musgraves made quick, easy work of the 2018 Grammy awards with her own excellent album in Golden Hour. I reviewed that record and, while I don't personally like it as much as some critics, its expansive reach was obvious and the success it brought to Kacey Musgraves wasn't in any way surprising. And most importantly, it was well-deserved, which just isn't the case with every Grammy winner. Readers can fill in the blanks for themselves, there. 

Dying Star is dark yet hopeful, moody but controlled, not too short and not too long. "Blackout" is one of the two best songs on the album, and perhaps the darkest of the bunch. It speaks to how a failed relationship can spark substance abuse without making some sort of moral statement. In a refreshing way, "Blackout" also doesn't condone that kind of behavior. 



The other standout has to be a fan favorite entitled "Mockingbird." Kelly has been playing this song for several years now. Everything is perfect, from the emotions conveyed by the  harmonica in the intro and bridge, to the cleverly written lyrics throughout. For guitar nuts like myself, there's a well-written finger-picking lick played in the intro and at different parts throughout the song. As far as I'm concerned, this song has everything.

 "Mockingbird" is definitely my favorite tune from Dying Star, and I don't think I can find any more words to do it any real justice. 

The remaining songs on the album don't necessarily come up short of "Blackout" and "Mockingbird." Those two just happened to be the songs that most connected with me as an individual listener. A very close third is "Jericho," which might have the cleverest chorus on Dying Star, even if "Blackout" carries more punch. If I had to name 3 essential songs from this album, those 3 would be it, no doubt about it.

Kacey Musgraves provides backing vocals on several songs, most notably "Just For the Record." Unsurprisingly, her voice blends very nicely with Kelly's.  Musgraves and Kelly are very dynamic on the same stage--live videos on YouTube showcase as much. I almost feel unfortunate for the fact that I knew it was coming. I think listeners unfamiliar with Kelly and his marriage to Kacey Musgraves will find it to be a nice surprise.

The sound of the album is what most strikes me aside from the lyrics. One song can be a traditional sounding country standard with steel guitar.  The next sounds like a classic Ryan Adams-esque Americana song.  Despite those sonic differences, Dying Star has a very nice, cohesive structure. 

The praise I could heap on this record is endless. I feel blessed to have heard it. Do yourselves a favor and listen to it. 

I've got no criticisms of this album. 10/10

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Winter 2019


An early winter sunset. I think this was in either November or December. Every North Dakota sunset is unique and worthwhile. If you're outside and you aren't finding yourself a view, you're missing out.


This Bull Moose was sunning in a field east of Donaldson, Minnesota. We came upon this guy on our way to look at a truck West of Greenbush. We called some friends who were heading up that way for different reasons and they got to see him, too. Nature only allows a handful of sightings a year. We have to appreciate them when they happen. 


This was the west overhead door at my workplace after the biggest snowfall total of the year. This drift went out a good 50-100 feet from the building. We had to wait for snow removal to even try to clear the door. Backs were aching, swear words were said. It's been a tough winter. 


Here's a midwinter sunset. As you can see, I have a world class view from my family farm. Those three pines on the right always add a little extra character to my pictures.


Calving season is upon us. This little guy wanted up out of the snow and manure. Thankfully we saw him before we re-filled the feeder. Small calves love to lay in feeders--you can't be too lazy to check or you'll kill a young animal and hurt your pocketbook come time to sell. 


Dolly is a very friendly dog, but she's very strange. She rarely lets anyone pet her unless she's inside or she knows she can get away. She doesn't like to be put on a cable--that's for sure. Here I am, scratching her ears, which she is only allowing because there's a cattle gate between us. 


A recent sunset. Gone are the dulled colors of frigid winter. I think we've finally turned the corner (knock on wood).

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

The Return of the Hayloft/Wade Bowen Review

What can I say? It's been a long time, which is compounded by the fact that my last 3-5 posts/reviews have had such large gaps between them. Life happens, I guess, but that's just an excuse. Now and in any other context that it's used. Life happens.

The purpose is much the same now as it was at this blog's origin. I'm here to write about things I'm passionate about while also hoping that it jump-starts my short fiction writing. It worked the first time, so why not try it again? 

I'm going to attempt to incorporate other aspects of my life into The Hayloft, not just music reviews. Be on the lookout for pictures from life in Rural America, work in the agriculture industry, beautiful places in northeast North Dakota, and opinion pieces. Sometimes all a person needs to quiet their mind is a place for their thoughts. I'm going to give it a try. Also, I will be reviewing albums from any format and from any time period. There will still be some new releases, of course. If I feel passionately about an album, I want to review it, and so I will. 

Thanks to everybody who has read and will happily continue to read, as well as any others who will begin to read as I try to get this thing going again. Your support and interest means a great deal to me. I'll be the first to admit that the review format is more rigid than I like to work with, but there are a handful of my reviews that I am truly proud of (American Band by Drive-By Truckers, I'm Not the Devil by Cody Jinks, and Fighter by David Nail, if any of you are interested in looking at my better pieces). I'll improve over time, and I need to start again somewhere. 

On to the review: Wade Bowen's Self-Titled Album


Wade Bowen is a generational songwriter, as far as I'm concerned. Luckily for us fans, we've been allowed to witness his growth in the art form. From his early days in college to the prime of his career, which I can happily say he is still in, especially after the release of his most recent album, Solid Ground. The great road block in my review process happens to be Solid Ground. I cannot find sufficient words, and every time I attempt to write the review, I fail to do the album justice. 

So here I am, retreating to Bowen's prior album, which is also fantastic. "When I Woke Up Today" opens the album on an upbeat note, and was also the lead single. It's a grower. I wasn't a huge fan right away, but over time it became one of my favorite Wade Bowen tunes. Lyrically, the song discusses the balance of highs and lows that life presents to all of us. The narrator maintains a glass half-full perspective while acknowledging hardship. "When I Woke Up Today" is dark despite its sunny arrangement, and yet light at times to counter that darkness. Much like life itself.

"Sun Shines on a Dreamer" acts as justification for the continuous effort of chasing one's dream. It's airy and cheerful and so strange to hear from Wade Bowen. Nevertheless, it's a great song, and one I'd certainly want to hear live. At track three is "My California," the first classic Bowen ballad on the album. This song, paired with "Hungover" at track 5, perfectly represent what Wade Bowen has always excelled at. Clever lyricism and grade-A hooks in each chorus. You can't go wrong with either song.

"Watch Her Drive" is an interesting left turn at six and a half minutes. Bowen continued this tangent on Solid Ground with more long songs, and he and his band are really quite good at it. "Watch Her Drive" is never boring and doesn't seem as long as it is. 

5 songs in and I'm absolutely hooked. Just like 2014 when it came out, there's no stopping once the record is playing. 

"West Texas Rain" is another standout and seems to have become a fan favorite in a live setting. "When It's Reckless" follows and is another upbeat song with a great chorus. Listeners will be replaying this one--it's easily one of my favorite upbeat songs from Bowen's catalog. At track 8 we find the album's best song. "Long Enough to Be a Memory" covers a lot of ground, from the initial move from one's hometown to the place where they'll begin to chase their dream, to the eventual road-life of all touring musicians. In each case, the narrator is a "stranger in a strange town," and yet, he concludes that each place is similar enough to "give me all I need." Bowen finishes each chorus with "and I just hope I stay long enough to be a memory." The song discusses how, even in the process of change, the cyclical nature of life always resurfaces. It's a truly great song. 

Unfortunately, that's where the album hits its peak. There's nothing wrong with the four remaining songs--they just aren't nearly as good as "Long Enough to Be a Memory." Many artists strictly follow the album format that places the strongest song either at the end of the album or near the end. It's hard for listeners to stay interested when they have four more songs to listen to after an album's best song. Nevertheless, this is my only criticism for this album. The last four songs are still good, but by default they're forgettable. 

I'd give Wade Bowen's self-titled album a solid 7/10. The follow up record, Solid Ground, is better, and hopefully I can find the proper words for it at some point.