John Paul Davis

The Sign Is Not The Signified johnpauldavis.org/photography/... #photography

Since RFK brought up Nobel Prize-winning Muslims, I'm here to recommend Children of the Alley, a novel written by Nobel-winner Naguib Mahfouz, a gorgeous novel about the tension between faith & reason I chanced upon in a library in the 90s. Here's a bookshop.org link: bookshop.org/p/books/chil...

#morningcoffeelisten Elbow’s 2003 album Cast of Thousands. Setting aside the anomie & cynicism of their debut, the band returns with an album about togetherness whose deftly poetic lyrics & meet arrangements are damn near revelatory. Listen: https://johnpauldavis.org/url/listen329 #nowplaying

How About This? https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/how-about-this/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten the Microphones’ 2001 album The Glow Pt. 2. Experimental approaches to recording, playing & production help songwriter Phil Elverum process a romantic breakup & face change by seeing it in the natural world. Listen: https://johnpauldavis.org/url/listen328 #nowplaying

In The Middle Of It https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/in-the-middle-of-it/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten T Bone Burnett’s 1992 album The Criminal Under My Own Hat. Probing mortality, guilt & accountability, the producer/songwriter gathers talented collaborators for a wry, lively, spirited set of well-played, well-written tunes. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen327 #nowplaying

I know it's disappointing news, but I will not be appearing in Avengers: Doomsday.

Foraging https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/foraging/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten Bruce Springsteen’s 1973 album Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ. The legend's debut contains all the ingredients of his later success - catchy melodies, hooky riffs, an eye for detail, empathy, a sense of humor & wonderment. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen326 #nowplaying

If This Happened Year-Round Would We Love It So? https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/if-this-happened-year-round-would-we-love-it-so/ #photography

New episode of my podcast #theuncomputable : The Edge, guitar solo, “Love Is Blindness,” Zoo TV tour, August 30, 1992 https://johnpauldavis.org/podcast/the-edge-guitar-solo-love-is-blindness-zoo-tv-tour-august-30-1992/ #podcast #poetry

#morningcoffeelisten Steve Reich’s 1978 album Music for 18 Musicians. The composer brings his continued fascination with polyrhythms, pulses, & iteration to a larger ensemble, resulting in a composition that's much more than the sum of its parts. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen325 #nowplaying

You Were Saying? https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/you-were-saying/ #photography

Unexpected Windfall https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/unexpected-windfall/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten Fontaines D.C.’s 2026 album Dopamine Chamber. Pushing their sound to include more synths & honing their songcraft, the band paint a magnetic, enticing, apocalyptic portrait of there precarious, absurd times. Listen: https://johnpauldavis.org/url/listen323 #nowplaying

Talismans https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/talismans/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten Bruce Cockburn’s 2026 album The Blood of Others. In his seventh decade of making music, the sing-songwriter releases an album of covers featuring just his vocals & acoustic picking, a callback to his beginnings in the 1960s. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen322 #nowplaying

Every Year It Feels Like A Brand New Idea https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/every-year-it-feels-like-a-brand-new-idea/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten Steve Earle’s 2011 album I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive. The troubadour teams up with T Bone Burnett & a cast of celebrated session musicians as he reflects on mortality in these gritty, grizzled, generous songs. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen321 #nowplaying

Prodigy https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/prodigy/ #photography

New episode of my podcast #theuncomputable : The Legislature Unanimously Voted My Beard State Beard https://johnpauldavis.org/podcast/the-legislature-unanimously-voted-my-beard-state-beard/ #podcast #poetry

#morningcoffeelisten Brad Mehldau Trio’s 2012 album Ode. Mehldau balances his talent as a composer & his & his bandmates' skills as improvisors on this eminently enjoyable set that showcases the trio's endless wealth of fresh & memorable ideas. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen320 #nowplaying

Extra Drama https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/extra-drama/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten Emmylou Harris’s 2003 album Stumble Into Grace. The singer-songwriter gathers her live band & talented friends to record intimate, tender songs in which she reflects on love, faith, & family over lush, delightful playing. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen319 #nowplaying

Homo Sapiens Extended Phenotype https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/homo-sapiens-extended-phenotype/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten Solomon Burke’s 2002 album Don’t Give Up On Me. The legend teams up with producer Joe Henry on songs penned for him by Dylan, Waits, Morrison, Costello, over spare, hallowed arrangements showcasing his matchless voice. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen318 #nowplaying

It's The Same But Never The Same https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/its-the-same-but-never-the-same/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten Over the Rhine’s 2011 album The Long Surrender. At the beginning of the polycrisis era the band re-ups on faith, hope & love simultaneously serious & playful in a perfect blend of traditional song structures & modern production Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen317 #nowplaying

Sixteenth Notes https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/sixteenth-notes/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten Björk’s 2001 album Vespertine. Writing about family & the tension sexual attraction & long-term love, Björk builds microbeats from sampled household objects, pairing these with choirs, strings & her otherworldly lyrics. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen316 #nowplaying

Crowned https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/crowned/ #photography

New episode of my podcast #theuncomputable : Illegal https://johnpauldavis.org/podcast/illegal/ #podcast #poetry

#morningcoffeelisten The Sundays’ 1992 album Blind. Harriet Wheeler's growing confidence as a vocalist & lyricist alongside the band's more atmospheric & layered approach drives the songs into new, moodier, more introspective territory. Listen: https://johnpauldavis.org/url/listen315 #nowplaying

Brooke's Commute https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/brookes-commute/ #photography

Jon Hassell’s 2026 album Music is Invisible. This posthumous release captures the trumpeter, samplist, & ambient pioneer's gorgeous final live performance, in which he explores themes, motifs & riffs from his previous 2 albums. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen314 #nowplaying

Three Sisters https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/three-sisters/ #photography

No I do not want to watch or listen to the companion podcast.

#morningcoffeelisten JD Allen’s 2026 album SÖWT. Fascinated with Moroccan Gnawa music, the tenor saxophonist assembles a quartet that includes the guembri, & explores rhythmic & melodic possibilities resulting in a pulsing, spiritual, hypnotic set. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen313 #nowplaying

Pillar of Cloud https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/pillar-of-cloud/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten R.E.M.’s 1986 album Lifes Rich Pageant. The band explore new studio techniques & technologies while embracing more melodic songcraft & writing that is more vulnerable & political, a portrait of a people at a moral crossroads Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen312 #nowplaying

Halvsies https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/halvsies/ #photography

New episode of my podcast #theuncomputable : Afterlife https://johnpauldavis.org/podcast/afterlife/ #podcast #poetry

#morningcoffeelisten The Walkmen’s 2012 album Heaven. On their final album, the band celebrate the joys in their own lives in this tight, pretty, melodic, & expertly-crafted album of gem after gem. Listen: https://johnpauldavis.org/url/listen311 #nowplaying

Two Kinds of Glory https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/two-kinds-of-glory/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten Donald Byrd’s 1973 album Black Byrd. Inspired by Curtis Mayfield & Isaac Hayes, the saxophonist enlists Motown producers to help him craft a left turn into funky, grooving, celebratory, highly melodic, genre-smashing songs. Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen310 #nowplaying

Ladder to Heaven https://johnpauldavis.org/photography/ladder-to-heaven-2/ #photography

#morningcoffeelisten Leon Bridges’s 2026 album Happiness Anytime. Aiming to be a balm in dark times, inspired by Afrobeat & 60s soul, collaborating with members of Jungle, the singer-songwriter sings about joy & love with sweetness & deep feeling Listen: johnpauldavis.org/url/listen309 #nowplaying