Leonard Cohen was humming in the background through old speakers. It was an LP. The hisses and pops competed with him.
“You like Simon?” Alex.
“Simon?”
“You know, Paul Simon. On the record?”
Mary Ann smiled, faintly. She got up and walked to record player. “Not really- it came with the record player.” She lifted the needle and placed it in its holder.
“I kind of dig him. I like that _Graceland_ song he did.”
“Yeah, that was a good one.”
“Great album.” Alex.
“Oh yeah, classic. Reminds me a lot of _Life After Death_.”
“You mean spirituality?”
“No silly-” Mary Ann lifted herself from her seat by pushing gently on his shoulder. She walked to the kitchen. “The album by The Notorious B.I.G.”
“Oh? Isn’t that rap?”
“Oh; yeah, I guess it is. But it’s really the same.”
“I guess.”
“Well- look at it like this- they’re both _heavily_ dependent on beats.” She handed Alex a drink. “And, both have an assortment of instruments- some by sampling, some live, but all blend into beautiful harmony on _both_ albums.”
“Yeah, I guess you have a point.” Alex took his drink and gave a half-cheers. “Not to mention how they’re both albums trying to make sense of sudden loneliness- divorce in Simon’s case, and fame in the Notorious B.I.G.’s case.”
Mary Ann walked to Alex and planted a kiss on his lips with both hands.
“Wait a second- wasn’t that Leonard Cohen? I guess you don’t know him. He’s really amazing.”