National Anthem (2006). Drew Baker /the piano as granite outcrop/

Alex Ross gives a shout out to the recent (and excellent) Drew Baker album:

 I've also been listening heavily to New Focus's Drew Baker record, with Marilyn Nonken — the piano as granite outcrop.... 

Drew Baker on his National Anthem:

The tone of National Anthem is intended to reflect a general sense of loss and confusion that emanates from the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These events have revealed, among other things, the deeply unsettling effects of blind patriotism. As a result, I chose to create a work that "resets" our national anthem, adapting it to appropriately portray the aforementioned sense of loss as opposed to a fanciful and idealized self image

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best of today's listening:

• Drew Baker. Marylyn Nonken - Stress Position. National Anthem.
• Harry Partch. Enclosure VI. Exordium - The Beginning of a Web, Act II: Treats with Life and with Life Despite Life.
• Led Zeppelin. Dazed and Confused.

links

• Drew Baker/Marilyn Nonken: Stress Position (Capsule Reviews) (popmatters.com)
• Wagner-free miscellany (therestisnoise.com)