Sasky, I Love Thee

Listening to: Stevie Wonder - Innervisions

Sometimes I forget about Saskatchewan, and after taking a trip to the fabled province of gold, it seems that sometimes Saskatchewan forgets about itself as well. The transition between Alberta and Saskatchewan was hardly noticeable, except for one glaring problem. Well, actually a non-glaring problem, I suppose. You see, all of the signs on Saskatchewan's highways have a problem with their reflective material wearing off, so if you happen to be driving through at night, any pertinent information you may have required (where to exit, how fast to go, how long 'til you're out of the province, where the hell you are) is pretty well impossible to decipher. You have about a 1/32nd of a second in which to read the sign, when you are almost perfectly parallel to it. Needless to say, we missed several exits on our way to the lovely metropolis of Moose Jaw, but we made it in the end.

Part of me thinks that they have not updated their signs in 50 years or so because it's a secret ploy to get people to stay in their province. People drive around getting further up and further in and eventually are forced to settle down in Regina because they can't get out. I wonder what percentage of Saskatchewan residents were displaced from their previous province, forced to sell their home via their new Saskatchewan land-line, and have all their possessions driven to them (which would take weeks, and eventually the movers would end up moving in with them). I'd bet it's close to 50%, because really, between that and being born there, why else would anyone live there?

Nah, I'm just kidding. All love, Sasky.

I've never really listened to Stevie Wonder, partly because in my youth I assumed he and Ray Charles were the same person and I'd listened to Ray Charles, so I was good. Turns out they're different people. It's embarrassing to admit that, but I was fairly ignorant in regards to jazz, funk, soul, and pretty well any music that wasn't made by middle to upper-class white folk. Which I think can be attributed to negligent parenting. Right? Right? Anyway, this is the first Stevie Wonder album I've owned and listened to, and I chose well. This is a fantastic album. Stevie, where have you been all my life? Oh, that's right, your greatest success was all before I was born. Mr. Wonder runs the proverbial gamut as far as song topics go, bouncing from drugs to hard city-life to Eastern religion to political corruption all in the span of 9 songs and 45 minutes of music. But what a delicious ride along the gamut it is. The musicianship that this guy possesses is pretty mind-blowing, considering he plays virtually every instrument, has a voice of liquid gold, and has been blind from birth.

Hooray, Stevie!

P.S. The album art for this is glorious as well. Hooray, Stevie!



Stevie Wonder - Innervisions ★★★★★★★★★✩

Favorite Tracks: Living for the City, Golden Lady, He's Misstra Know-it-all
Least Favorite Tracks: All in Love is Fair

1. Too High
2. Visions
3. Living for the City
4. Golden Lady
5. Higher Ground
6. Jesus Children of America
7. All in Love is Fair
8. Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
9. He's Misstra Know-it-all