"What's in a name?", Shakespeare asked rhetorically. And so do I, as
I consider the resonance of the name Manishevitz. Not the
musician, of course, whom I've only just encountered, but the products
of my childhood, and, on rare occasion, my adulthood. First
the wine, sweet enough
to send you into sugar shock, but still capable of a good buzz if
you're young, curious and determined. And then all the other
kosher foods, which I buy
now and then as comfort food or for their nostalgia value. (Betcha
didn't know the winemaker and the food people are two different
companies! No, I didn't either. It's a licensing thing.)
Anyway, this is yet another Manishevitz. With a V, which I
didn't actually notice until this very moment. Which says something
about how observant I am. And I don't mean as regards kashruth,
although I'm not observant about that either.
Damn; there I go again. Focus, please! Right, the music. It's a
sort of blend of R&B and folk, much in the style of
Leonard
Cohen. If you're familiar with Cohen's own performances, as
opposed to other people's more demonstrative cover versions, you'll
have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Detached. Serious. Maybe
a little bit haunting. And no danger of a sugar rush.
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