SOTD by u/RedMosquitoMM

Aug. 22, 2022

• Brush: Zenith B36 "Copper Scrubby!" 28x50mm Boar
• Razor: GEM Micromatic Open Comb
• Blade: GEM SS (22)

• Lather: Stirling Soap Co. - Lime - Soap

• Post Shave: Porter's Lotion, WSP - Neroli - Cooling Aftershave Balm

• Fragrance: Olympic Orchids - Red Cattleya

• Passes: WTG, XTG

• Coffee: Peru, Cajamarca - v: Caturra, Typica, Pache - p: Washed
• Music: Au Suisse
• August 2022 SOTD Photo Album

#GEMsOfWisdom / #RawHoggin

I'll admit, I'm at that time of the month where I'm running out of things to say. The Zenith brush still has plenty of break-in left, but is a lather monster as is, and robust copper patina makes the handle one of my favorites. The Stirling soap continues to be a reliable performer, though I'm pretty much sick of this Lime scent. I'll enjoy putting it aside after August and killing a bunch of samples. And the MMOC continues to give me very close shaves. As ever, it's a little more aggressive than I'd choose for a daily driver, but I appreciate how close the shave is.

Date	Soap Before (g)	Soap After (g)	Usage (g)	Loading
8/1	235.5	232.5	3	◊
8/2	232.5	228.0	4.5	◊
8/3	228.0	227.0	1	◊
8/4	227.0	223.3	3.7	◊
8/5	223.3	220.3	3	40 seconds
8/6	220.3	218.8	1.5	30 seconds
8/7	218.8	217.9	0.9	40 swirls
8/8	217.9	216.5	1.4	40 swirls
8/9	216.5	215.9	0.6	40 swirls
8/10	215.9	215.6	0.3	50 swirls
8/11	215.6	213.9	1.7	60 swirls
8/12	214.7	213.0	1.7	60 swirls
8/13	213.0	211.5	1.5	60 swirls
8/14	211.5	210.5	1	60 swirls
8/15	210.5	209.0	1.5	60 swirls
8/16	209.0	207.2	1.8	60 swirls
8/17	207.2	205.9	1.3	~62 swirls
8/18	205.9	204.4	1.5	60 swirls
8/19	204.4	203.3	1.1	60 swirls
8/20	203.3	202.8	0.5	70 swirls
8/21	202.8	202.0	0.8	60 swirls
8/22	202.0	◊	◊	60 swirls

⁂

#sidetracked u/Teufelskraft

I rarely listen to Gospel music, but I do have a few favorites. Presented in chronological order:

Sam Cooke's voice remains one of American culture's great gifts to music, as is his profound influence on what would become soul music. "Touch the Hem of His Garment" is one of his very best recordings with the Soul Stirrers and it profiles his range, tone, and charisma.

Written in 1939, "There'll Be Peace in the Valley for Me" was covered by a wide range of gospel and country singers through the '50s and '60s, and Red Foley's 1951 version was one of the first million-selling gospel recordings. Sam Cooke recorded an almost barbershop-esque take on the song in 1950; it's vocal harmonies remind me a bit of the Mills Brothers. My favorite version will always be Elvis Presley's 1957 recording. I've always liked how spare and mournful it is—Presley's voice wavering down in the lower octaves—but the movie Frailty reminded me just how haunting this song feels in the right context. It's hopeful, but ultimately about how hard things can be in the present.

Judee Sill wrote and performed Laurel Canyon folk music with an unusually religious and occult flavor (think "Twelve Thirty" trappings) and her song “Jesus Was a Cross Maker” is a nice companion to my other two selections. Sill wrote the song for her 1971 debut and it's one of her most well-known compositions. Unfortunately, Sill's modest voice and upbeat tempo made the song too sunny and twee for my tastes, and I’ve never connected with her original recording. The Hollies version is wonderful, and probably the most well-known, but Frida Hyvönen's 2009 take feels like the canonical version of this song to me. Recorded for the Judee Sill tribute compilation Crayon Angel, Hyvönen's “Jesus Was a Cross Maker” shows what a great song can become in the hands of a skilled vocalist, and minimal piano chords put all the attention on Hyvönen and her angelic harmonies. It's an emotional, dramatic performance that sounds like it was recorded in a place of worship. It's stunning.

• YouTube: Sam Cooke - "Touch the Hem of His Garment"
• YouTube: Elvis Presley - "There'll Be Peace in the Valley for Me"
• YouTube: Frida Hyvönen - “Jesus Was a Cross Maker”