After tapping into the pulse of South African and Brazilian styles on Graceland and The Rhythm Of The Saints, and then mixing Latino doo-wop with conceptual fire on Songs From The Capeman in 1997, Paul Simon assumed a more simple and reserved stance on his 2000 album, You’re The One. The essence behind this offering reaffirms the fact that, after all these crazy years, Simon still stood head and shoulders above the rest as one of music’s quintessential songsmiths. Even with some exotic touches here and there, You’re The One is an undemanding portrait of a man on the quest for self-discovery and redemption. After 12 albums, perhaps it was high time for Simon to get reflective and expose his innermost thoughts on record. With most artists, that seems to be par for the course. The intimate and world-flavored “That’s Where I Belong” sets the pace for an intricate musical odyssey that ceaselessly weaves and flows. “Darling Lorraine” is a dandy little romp, tactfully tapered by a spot of guitar sustain while “Old” is a be-bopping poke at the aging process as it relates to someone of Simon’s generation. The jazzy strains carried by the Latin backbeats of the title track show that Simon doesn’t want to let go of the distinctive world-flavored gallop he adopted in the early 80s. You have to tip your hat to the flamenco flair of “Senorita With A Necklace Of Tears” that toots such optimistic lines as “That’s the way it’s always been and that’s the way I like it” while championing frogs as the cure for pain. Or the percussive sparseness swimming in an acoustic river in something like “Pigs, Sheep and Wolves” or “Hurricane Eye.” And then, as if to say good-bye, Simon asks for “Quiet” while he settles into a solitary mood to finish off the album. Without the headiness or Artie Garfunkel taking up half the marquee, Paul Simon delivered one of his most eloquent pieces of work in years with You’re The One. The early 2000s was an active time for the singer, dotting the countryside with small and intimate performances and honored as 2001’s MusiCares Person of The Year. He could take comfort then and fore years to come that his music is as timeless and valid as it was when it first burst onto the scene in the 1960s. That’s a track record anyone would be proud of. ~ Shawn Perry

When guitarist Steve Howe came aboard the good ship Yes in 1970, the wind caught the sails just right and a chemistry began to coalesce. Together, they recorded and released 1971’s The Yes Album to great commercial and critical acclaim. To move forward with a more progressive sound, another changing of the guard occurred when keyboardist Rick Wakeman replaced Tony Kaye. Yes quickly hit the studio and cut their second album of the year, Fragile. The stakes were most definitely raised for the prog rock crown with this album. “Roundabout,” the album’s single, became a Top 20 hit single in the States. It provided a peak into an extraordinary piece of work, where each player gets a chance to show off when they’re not all together, creating future progressive rock standards. The flow of Fragile is like two bottles of fine wine on a Sunday afternoon —  with a chaser thrown in at the most unexpected moment. Remixed and repackaged numerous times, Rhino’s four-CD, single Blu-ray Disc Fragile (Super Deluxe Edition) redefines the album’s prominence and place in the Yes story. Along with a remastered version of the original album on both CD and vinyl, there’s two discs of Rarities, mostly outtakes and alternate versions of the songs, previously unreleased nuggets like “All Fighters Past” and “The Dean,” and some live leftovers. For audiophiles, the centerpiece of the collection are the Steven Wilson remixes — in stereo, 5.1 surround, and Atmos on the set’s Blu-ray Disc. Instrumental mixes by Wilson without vocals are on the second CD and the Blu-ray Disc. Fragile (Super Deluxe Edition) deserves a deep dive. The surround and Atmos mixes open newly discovered portals into the soundscape and immerse the room in a sonic bath. “Roundabout,” “South Side Of The Sky,” “Long Distance Runaround,” and “America” are as illuminating and fresh as they were in 1971, with an added boost in depth and dimension. The Rarities discs offer early arrangements of every song, with takes of “Roundabout” and “South Side Of The Sky” giving listeners a glimpse into each song’s development, as well as the group’s process recording them. The booklet that accompanies the set includes an essay by Syd Schwartz filled with additional info, anecdotes, and context around the album’s creation. When it was released, there was little doubt about Fragile and its potency. The solo bits may have confused the critics, but when the five players came together, it addressed all their concerns. The album’s fantasy-laden, space-age cover by Roger Dean, his first for Yes, was emblematic of the music. The complete package for the 1970s, Yes became a headliner because of Fragile and never looked back. The epic “Long Distance Runaround” and “Heart Of The Sunrise” reamin in regular rotation on the setlist. “The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)” and “Mood For A Day” have served as gateways for both bassist Chris Squire and guitarist Steve Howe to exploit their talents for audiences worldwide. “South Side Of The Sky” is occasionally rolled out in concert for prosperity. Of course, the current lineup of Yes can’t leave the stage without playing “Roundabout.” When it came to naming the album, singer Jon Anderson stated it derives from “being in a band was a very fragile experience for everyone…” Despite the connotation, Fragile is very much a cohesive and consistently satisfying listening experience that’s withstood all that’s shaky and about to come unglued in rock and roll and beyond. ~ Shawn Perry

According to the New York Times, a call this week with Kamala Harris and about 300 donors, as well as several listeners, was described as unproductive. Sources told the Times that they found the meeting to be of little value and even, at times, condescending. They believe “the message ignored donors’ legitimate concerns about the Biden-led […] The post Laughing Kamala Held a “Ludicrous” Call with Donors appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

ABC News reported in December 2022 that Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s security in D.C. was equivalent to a “mini-state” visit. Hundreds of law enforcement and intelligence officials were activated. We can provide security for a foreign leader but not a Republican political candidate. The Secret Service now admits they denied added security for Donald Trump for […] The post Looks Like the Democrats Do Want Donald Trump Dead appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Former President Donald Trump appeared on Saturday at his first rally since he survived an assassination attempt one week prior. This campaign event took place in the critical swing state of Michigan and became the first time Trump appeared at a rally with his new running mate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) following the Republican National Convention. Below are five highlights from the rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan: “Bullet for democracy” The crowd erupted into cheers after Trump rebuffed Democrats who have called him a “threat to democracy.” He harkened back to the shooting at his rally last weekend in Pennsylvania during which a bullet ripped through his ear. “They keep saying, ‘he’s a threat to democracy,'” Trump said. “I’m saying, ‘What the hell did I do for democracy?’ Last week, I took a bullet for democracy.” TRUMP: "They keep saying, 'He's a threat to Democracy.'" "Last week, I took a bullet for Democracy!" pic.twitter.com/g0Es9Em0FN — The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) July 20, 2024 Project 2025 In the moments leading up to his quip about democracy, Trump distanced himself from the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” that offers a policy agenda for a conservative administration that reportedly involved people who worked for him. As previously reported by The Daily Wire, Democrats — including President Joe Biden and his campaign — have sought to link Trump to the project in hopes of painting him as a political extremist. “I’m a person with great common sense, I’m not an extremist at all,” Trump said. “Like some on the Right — severe Right, came up with this Project 25, and I don’t even know, I mean some of them I know who they are, but they’re very, very conservative.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP He added, “They’re sort of the opposite of the radical Left, okay? you have the radical Left, and you have the radical Right, and they come up with this pro — I don’t know what the hell it is. ‘It’s Project 25! He’s involved in Project…’ and then they read some of the things, and they are extreme, I mean they’re seriously extreme. I don’t want to know anything about it.” Trump went on to accuse Democrats of spreading “misinformation and disinformation.” Trump: I don’t know what the hell it is this Project 25. I don’t know anything about it. I don’t want to know anything about it. pic.twitter.com/A6XqLeQ70R — Acyn (@Acyn) July 20, 2024 Elon Musk Trump lauded Elon Musk, who endorsed the former president’s campaign shortly after the shooting last weekend. “I love Elon Musk,” Trump said before mentioning that he read Musk had committed to giving a new super PAC supporting Trump $45 million a month. Trump spoke about electric vehicles, which are a big part of Musk’s company Tesla, saying he’s “totally for them, but whatever the market says. And if it’s 10% of the market, 12%, 7%, 20% — whatever it is — it’s okay. But you can’t have 100% electric cars.” Trump also talked about how he called Musk and said the reusable rockets created by another of the tech billionaire’s companies, SpaceX, were the “coolest thing I’ve ever seen.” Trump joked about how the government would need several decades to come up with such an innovation. He also said, “We have to make life good for our smart people … and [Musk is] as smart as you get.” TRUMP: “I love Elon Musk” pic.twitter.com/xFitVckyqd — ALX ?? (@alx) July 20, 2024 Pelosi turns on Biden Trump alluded to reports that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is among the growing number Democrats who have pressured Biden to consider dropping out of the 2024 race after his poor debate performance a few weeks ago spurred concerns about his age, health, and electability. “Did you see Nancy Pelosi is selling out Biden now? Did you see? She turned on him like a dog. ‘I don’t know if he should continue’ — all of a sudden. Where did that come from? She was 100%, all of the sudden she’s not sure. ‘Not sure’ means he’s gone,” Trump said. TRUMP: “Did you see Nancy Pelosi is selling out Biden now? She turned on him like a dog. ‘I don’t know if he should continue’ — Where did that come from? She was 100%, all of the sudden she’s not sure” pic.twitter.com/4134bvazYT — ALX ?? (@alx) July 20, 2024 Combover It wasn’t just his political adversaries who got mocked. Trump won some laughs by poking fun at his own combover. “I have to just interject, if you would turn off those cameras ’cause I don’t want this, see the screen up there of me?” Trump asked. “That’s very severe, that combover, that’s a severe sucker! What’s with that one? It looks okay from the other side. But that is very severe, I apologize. Man. I looked over, I said whoa. Look at that. Wow. That’s like a work of art.” A self-deprecating Donald Trump making fun of his own comb-over could be the wild card his campaign needs to secure a landslide. pic.twitter.com/Zoh6o94ZD9 — L A R R Y (@LarryOConnor) July 20, 2024

A top House investigator shared on Sunday a sneak peak of what sorts of questions will be asked when Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle testifies about the security failure underlying the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania last weekend. Set for 10 a.m. ET on Monday, the hearing “will serve as the beginning” of the “process to get answers for the American people as to what went wrong with an agency that has a no-fail mission,” House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) told “Fox News Sunday” anchor Shannon Bream. Comer, who subpoenaed Cheatle to appear for the hearing, noted how a spokesperson for the Secret Service denied reporting that claimed the Trump campaign requested more resources, but The Washington Post “confirmed” that the former president’s team asked for more. Lawmakers have “a lot of questions as to how they’re [the Secret Service] managing their money,” Comer also said, adding there have been “lots of investigations” of the Secret Service over the years “and reports issued that they lacked proper training, that they did not efficiently spend their funds.” Questions have been raised about how a shooter, identified as a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man named Thomas Matthew Crooks, managed to get onto a nearby rooftop and begin shooting with an AR-style rifle roughly 150 yards away from the stage in Butler, Pennsylvania, before the Secret Service could stop him. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP A bullet ripped through Trump’s right ear, causing blood to pour down his face. The shooter also killed one rally-goer and injured two others. A Secret Service sniper reportedly shot and killed the gunman from another building while other personnel rushed to protect Trump and escort him off the stage. Multiple investigations into the incident have been opened, including an expansive inquiry in the GOP-led House. Part of the hearing on Monday will likely focus on whether Cheatle should remain as director of the Secret Service amid calls for her to resign or for President Joe Biden to fire her. “Our question for Director Cheatle is: are you competent to run the Secret Service? We want to know who is at fault for what happened,” Comer said. “Every American can tell that there should never have been allowed anyone on that roof.” Comer said the “fact that there are videos showing that people were trying to notify the authorities, that there was a person on the roof with a gun and nothing was done about it and that shooter was allowed to get that many shots off at President Trump. That’s unacceptable.” He added, “Not only do we need answers, but people need to be held accountable. And that’s what the director is going to have to answer tomorrow. She’s going to have about a six-hour hearing and she’s going to have hundreds of questions that she’s going to have to answer and the American people will be watching that hearing.”