
'The Accordian Swingsters'
Originally uploaded by letslookupandsmile



From letslookupandsmiles' Flicker Photo Set Favorite Record Covers
April 19, 2008 in flickr favs, Music, the past | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Here's a repost of last year's Chanukah podcast...
December 03, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity #94 - WhyFi on Broadway
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September 28, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 93 - Hey, Eleanor Rigby!
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September 20, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
This time out WhyFi takes a slight
detour from our usual musical course to present this eclectic group of
more recent tunes - some of them less than 20 years old! These
selections may rock a bit more than our usual offerings but there's
great fun to be had for the open minded musical connoisseur.
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Playlist
September 13, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity #91 - Hello Streakers!
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September 05, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity #90
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August 20, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
A special thanks to Why Fidelity supporter RobertO! Thanks to Robert's generous donation Why Fidelity sails on though August!
Why Fidelity 86 - Globetrotting
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If you enjoy Why Fidelity and/or Senses Working Overtime please consider making a small donation through PayPal or making a purchase through one of the many Amazon.com links you'll find throughout the blog. Clicking our Google ads also helps put a few pennies in our pocket. The more support we receive the more podcasts we can produce.
August 08, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity #85 - That Summer Feeling
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Playlist:
August 01, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 84: Kookie Little Paradise
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Why Fidelity 83 - The WhyFi Bestiary
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July 19, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity #82
I couldn't think of any, less than unforgivably rude, way to integrate Yodelin' Organ into a show title so this episode of Why Fidelity is 100% theme and clever title free. However our 110% commitment to bringing you nothing but the best in under-listened-to music remains in full effect!
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Playlist:
July 06, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
New (free) album out now from ookworld's M.Ace...
"...Frowning In Happyland is a new album under my credit, three seemingly endless years in the making — though most of that was in a dormant state. Acoustic guitar-based, it is a dozen dark songs — it seems I had a few (many) anxieties to vent. It features sterling support from some superb musicians: Dean Sabatino on drums throughout, accordion by Karen Schmidt on five songs, electric guitar by Chris Unrath on one song, and a cameo on kitchen crockery by Hugh Hamilton. I cannot thank these people enough. It’s another free album for your ears to hear. If it makes you cry, my job is done."
Download track by track or grab the whole wonderful thing here
July 05, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 81: A Summer Place
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July 04, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity #80 : Swingin' Spies & Private Eyes
June 29, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Here's the latest edition of Why Fidelity!
Show 79 - Download | Visit Archives
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If you enjoy Why Fidelity and/or Senses Working Overtime please consider making a small donation through PayPal or making a purchase through one of the many Amazon.com links you'll find throughout the blog. Clicking our Google ads also helps put a few pennies in our pocket. The more support we receive the more podcasts we can produce.
June 19, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Here then is Temporary Anthology : Raymond Scott - a not entirely random selection of works by, or in tribute to, Raymond Scott.
Wikipedia opines thusly on Mr. Scott:
"...an American composer, orchestra leader, pianist, engineer, recording studio maverick, and electronic instrument inventor. He was born in Brooklyn to a family of Russian-Jewish immigrants. His brother, Mark Warnow, a conductor, violinist, and musical director for the radio program Your Hit Parade, encouraged his musical career. Though Scott never scored cartoon soundtracks, his music is familiar to millions because of its adaptation by Warner Brothers in over 120 classic Bugs Bunny and Daffy DuckRen & Stimpy episodes (which used the original Scott recordings), while making cameos in The Simpsons, Duckman, Animaniacs, The Oblongs, and Batfink..."
Included in this collection...
A Little Bit Of Rigoletto
Swing, Swing Mother in law
Powerhouse [Rehearsal]
from Raymond Scott Quintette : Microphone Music
County Fair [Instrumental]
'Portofino' #1
Sprite 'Melonball Bounce'
from Raymond Scott : Manhattan Research, Inc.
Sleepy Time
from Raymond Scott : Soothing Sounds For Baby: Electronic Music By Raymond Scott, Vol. 1, 1 To 6 Months
Little Miss Echo
from Raymond Scott : Soothing Sounds For Baby: Electronic Music By Raymond Scott, Vol. 3, 12 To 18 Months
Tobacco Auctioneer
War Dance For Wooden Indians
from Raymond Scott : Reckless Nights & Turkish Twilights
Snake Woman
The Girl at the Typewriter
The Toy Trumpet
from The Beau Hunks Sextette : Celebration on the Planet Mars: A Tribute to Raymond Scott
If you dig it, and I know you will, please support the artists and labels by picking up a few at Amazon or your favorite source of quality audio delights.
...and from YouTube some Scott to watch while you download...
The Raymond Scott Quintette - War Dance For Wooden Indians
]
Raymond Scott Twilight in Turkey 1937
Link: GISELE MacKENZIE: Heartbreak Hotel - Adams Family style (Scott Conducts)
June 16, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
June 11, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Up for a very limited time here's a comp I picked up a few years ago featuring some sweet soundtrack/library goodness. Thanks to the original ripper/compiler...
Groovy Soundtracks - it's a Hip Thang (128kbps - 31mb)
and some tangentially related videos...
Dave Grusin - An Actor's Life (Tootsie)
plus check out Dave Grusin, w/ Michael Brecker, Something's Coming
Michel Legrand - Les Parapluies de Cherbourg
Legrand - Windmills of Your Mind
My Name is Trinity - Italian Intro (Franco Micalizzi)
June 10, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
says EM...
"Holy Mary, mudderagawd; never woulda thought I'd've seen (let alone heard) this 'un. The soundtrack from a Mexican crime drama—his second to last release before heading north to the States. Vocals on five of the tracks by Columba Domínguez, Elsa Cárdenas, Carmen di Lirio, and Kitty de Hoyos.
I am a little conflicted about sharing this; not because I'm greedy but because I originally promised not to spread this around when I got it. I'm going ahead and doing it anyway..."
* Musical Office *
* Kitchen Symphony *
June 08, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
There are few artists recording today who are able to maintain such a distinctive, consistent and instantly recognizable sound while remaining fresh and relevant . Richard Thompson is at the top of that very short list.
New release Sweet Warrior is more of the same and in Thompson's case that's a very good thing indeed. Long time fans will slip this right into thier heaviest rotation while newcomers will be hooked into the Thompson cult by the fourth track.
Go buy Sweet Warrior now and if you're a Thompson rookie save yourself the time and anticipation and grab Action Packed, a pretty good best-of collection, 'cause you're gonna need it too.
June 02, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Here's the latest edition of Why Fidelity!
If you enjoy Why Fidelity and/or Senses Working Overtime please consider making a small donation through PayPal or making a purchase through one of the many Amazon.com links you'll find throughout the blog. Clicking our Google ads also helps put a few pennies in our pocket. The more support we receive the more podcasts we can produce.
Why Fidelity 77 - Green Eggs and Haggis
Recipe For My Love - Danny Janssen
Cornflakes- The Boston
Aunt Matilda's Double Yummy Blow Your Mind Out Brownies - The Two Dollar Question
A La Carte - James Holloway
It's A Gas - Alfred E Neuman
Azucar, Azucar - Lorraine
English Muffins and Irish Stew - Sylvia Syms
Cooking School - Severin Browne
Green Eggs And Ham - Dylan Hears a Who
Cool Whip - Benny Golson
Snap Crackle Pop
Peanut Vendor - Billy Mure
The Haggis Song - Krankies
and now for some tangentially related videos...
Green Eggs and Ham
June 01, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Mr. Dante Fontana has compiled a veritable cornucopia of rare musi-visual happiness from the past. Tons of youtube clips from the rather over ambitious and occasionally too cool for the room "Night Music" (aka Sunday Night). Go Here for the goodness
Instead of stealing DF's thunder by including a couple of the clips he found I'll rather go with a throuple of clips of the show's hosts in other action. First Jools Holland...
Jools (and his Big Band) and Jamiroquai
Jools with his old band Squeeze
and David Sanborn with Chicago Song
May 30, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Jonna Gault at The Record Robot
"...So anyway, and then there was the dawn of Symphonopop, a phrase so
catchy the music it represented couldn't help becoming the next big
thing. Or at least that's what the over the top liner notes from this
album would have you believe. So sure was RCA of Jonna Gault's
impending success, they spared no adjectives in a futile attempt to
sell America on this talented young lady. But alas, it was not meant
to be..."The Shelly Taylor Touch at Pastor McPurvis
"Our latest offering brings us the musical stylings of Cordovoxist/Singer Shelly Taylor. Although somewhat of a mystery, Mr. Taylor seems to have been active in the nightclubs of Florida sometime during the last century..."
May 30, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
The RIAA (Robotic Intergalactic Astro-Artists) has released a collection of mash-ups blendifying classic electronic music with all sorts of other audio diversionality. While I've pretty much had it with the whole mash up genre you can't deny the source material is sweet. Here's a sample of what's sampled...
" 1. Sun Ra "Outerspaceways, Inc," Four Tops "I Can't Help Myself," David Bowie "Space Oddity," Sun Ra Moog solo
2. Mort Garson "Walking In Space," Eric B & Rakim "Follow The Leader," "Planet Man" (old-time radio)
3. Moog Machine "Jumpin' Jack Flash," Tom Glazer "Why Does The Sun Shine?," Earth Wind & Fire "Shining Star"
4. Joe Meek & The Tornadoes "Telsar," Celine Dion "The Heart Will Go On," Devo "Whip It," Dazz Band "Let It Whip"
5. Kraftwerk "Antenna," Queen "We Will Rock You," Dick Hyman "Strobo...'...and so on. Go HERE to download...
May 27, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Today's tunes of limited availability come from the sadly under-rated Frazier Chorus. In my ever changing list of all time favorite albums there are a couple of never changing constants - The Ian Broudie produced Frazier Chorus album Ray in always in my top ten and it's always the one nobody else has ever heard of. Damn shame that because this is the stuff - dark humor, crafty arrangements, brilliant songs, it's all there.
Frazier Chorus - Typical | Prefer You Dead | Anarchy in the UK
and here's a treat that should please the retro-modern crowd as well.. a nifty look at the promised Dream Kitchens of the past using the Frazier Chorus's wonderful Dream Kitchen for a soundtrack (whatever happened to my jet propelled omelette pan anyway?)
May 26, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Kasey Chambers
Americana-tinged singer songwriter goodness.
Here's more Kasey starting with a homemade Sims video for The Captain, then another homebrew effort for Not Pretty Enough ...
and a clip for Surrender...
Adrianne
Folky fresh songstress
Videos and more tunes on Adrianne's Myspace
Here she is live with Shout it Out..
and the wonderful New Kind of Cool...
May 25, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 76 - Twisted
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Twist around the World with this groovy collection of dance floor gems...
May 24, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 75 : International Pop Overthrow
This episode of Why Fidelity brought to you by the generosity of listener JeffP who did WhyFi a solid and helped to bring you another month of Podcasts.Thanks Jeff!
Today on our 75th official edition of WhyFi we take a magical musical mystery tour across the globe.... pop goes the world!
Download Why Fidelity 75 | Visit the Why Fidelity Archives
May 17, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Wilco - Sky Blue Sky : Never a huge Wilco fan. Always known they're a terrific outfit, quality goods all round, but I've never caught myself thinking "gosh, I could really go for a dose of Wilco right about now". Sky Blue Sky just might be the album that wins me over. Lovely craftsmanship, a gem. Recommended.
Elliot Smith - New Moon : Fine posthumous collection of Smith rarities. I usually suggest newcomers give rarity comps a wide berth - better to start off on the tried and true - but even a Smith neophyte will come away a true believer after a few spins. Recommended.
Rufus Wainwright - Release the Stars : Wonderful stuff. Highly recommended.
Keren Ann - Keren Ann: Lovely as ever. Recommended.
Maximo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures : T'riffic '80's informed Britpop. Recommended.
Hats Off to the Buskers -The View: Shambolic but worthwhile debut from rockypunkers The View. Worth a spin.
Feist - The Reminder: Familiar in a good way. Not much new ground broken but who needs a broken garden. Recommended.
Warren Zevon - Prelude : Remember what I said about newcomers steering clear of completist comps - here's a perfect example. Zevon fans need to hear these previously undiscovered rough gems but the uninitiated should look elsewhere .
Rush - Snakes and Arrows: Better than we could have possibly expected after all these years. Fans should love it.
schole compilation - Odd and beautiful Japanese import featuring Akira Kosemura, Dom Mino', haruka nakamura, Lullatone and others. Highly recommended.
Rebecca Martin - Middlehope : Sultry, sweet, smart, quirky femmejazz. Lovely. Recommended.
May 14, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 74 - Tastes Funny
May 12, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 73 - Cars and Girls
May 06, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 72 - Baby's Gone Bad
May 02, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Patti Smith - Twelve : Critical darling (over rated hack) Smith delivers a long awaited (entirely unnecessary) covers album. Her take on Tears For Fears "Everybody Wants To Rule the World" sounds like a Patty Smythe b-side, and bloodless re-workings of classic rock gems like "Are You Experienced?", "Gimmie Shelter" and"Smells Like Teen Spirit" may sound okay piped through coffee shop or Gap but I can't imagine really sitting down and listening to them for pleasure.
If you are a Smith fan you'll be pleased to hear she sounds much the same as she ever has, and while the concept is hack the production is solid.
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare: This is not your father's Sigue Sigue Sputnik! Last year's fave flave UK chartbusters are back with a solid follow-up disc of 21st century brit-pop. Not as good as the hype but still pretty damn good. Recommended.
A Tribute to Joni Mitchell - Now here's a covers album worth your headphone time. Lots of talented folk (Surjan Stevens, Prince, Caetano Veloso, Bjork, James Taylor, Annie Lenox) performing selections from the Joni Mitchell songbook.
Pjotr Leschenko - 1935 - Tangos, Foxtrots & Romances - Stirring compilation of tracks from "the King of Russian Tango" Highly Recommended.
Nick Marsh - A Universe Between Us: Well crafted cinematic singer/songwriter fare from Flesh For Lulu frontman . Mature and atmospheric, a perfect soundtrack for your next Lost weekend. Cover of Some Velvet Morning should give some senses of the direction Marsh travels in here. Highly Recommended.
Castle Project - Diaries of a Broken Heart : Better than average alt rock offering from White Whales Castle Project. Give it a spin.
Diaries Of A Broken Hear @ Amazon
April 30, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 71 - Someone Else's Songs
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April 27, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn Thing - Potty mouth mall punk done about as well as it can be. If I were ten (okay twenty) years younger I could listen to this in a fast car or a noisy bar but at my age it feels slightly creepy. I guess I'll stick with Lavigne's elders Joan Jett, Deb Harry and the Go-Gos. My daughter, on the other hand, is probably rockin' the suburbs with Avril as we speak. Recommended.
Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero - NIN is the kind of band I admire for doing what they do as well as they do it. I'm just not angry enough to want to listen to it on anything approaching a regular basis. Year Zero is a fururistic "concept album". Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto. I'm sure this'll go over gangbusters in the freshman dorms.
Bebel Gilberto - Momento - Perfectly formed soft sweet gently swaying Brazil-pop. Highly Recommended.
Just Added:
Miles Davis - Return of the Cool
Dinah Washington - September Rain
Minor Threat - Out of Step
Oyster Band - Meet You There - First rate preachy crossover Celt-rock.
The Apples - Tribute to the Beatles - Just like the Beatles but with half the talent! Actually these couple of dozen Beatles coves aren't all that bad in a power-poppy way but that's no excuse.
Wonderboys - Stronger Than You - One of the great things about a subscription service like Rhapsody is the ability to hear "import" albums without having to shell out "import albumk" prices. Wonderboys are a Swedish group - an offshoot of the Trampolines (who were Big in Japan apparently) who do a nice job with their Americana influenced sound.
The Sammies - The Sammies - Promising alt-rock from N.C. combo . Worth a listen.
Blue - Sitting on the Sofa - Another Swedish import. Fine collection of mod influenced soul stompers. If you miss the Jam then this is the album for you, Highly Recommended
.
April 22, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 70 : Around the World with WhyFi
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April 15, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 69 : Naughty Bits
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April 10, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Another batch of recent releases/adds from Rhapsody. Keep in mind the Just Added stuff may not always be a new release or re-issue but simply Rhapsody adding an album (or even individual track) to thier library.
Nothing earth shattering this time out...
Alison Krauss : A Hundred Miles or More - Various odds and sods from blue grass chanteuse Krauss includes crossover friendly duets with John Waite, Brad Paisley, Sting and James Taylor. Recommended.
Corinne Bailey Rae: Live in New York - Polished, if not particularly necessary, live set. Good for what it is.
Martina McBride: Waking Up Laughing - Another batch of way above average country goodness. Recomended.
Kings of Leon: Because the Times - Recommended.
Guster: Satelite E.P. - Fine collection of indie pop extra bits. Nice.
Not my cup of tea but also out now...
Hilary Duff : Dignity
Chevelle : Vena Sera
From the Just Added bins...
Suphala: Blueprint - Tabla-licious set featuring guests Edie Brikell, Vernon Reid and Vickter Duplaix
Melanie Hammet: Under the Same Sky - Modest collection of contemplative girl-folk.
Rick Mester: Wallpaper Sky - Haircut 100 meets the Postal Service on this understated collection of low-fi alt-pop. Nothing brilliant but worth a listen.
Mia Sable: Propeller - Above average collection of grrl pop (a genre where the line between super star and also ran has always been fairly thin quality-wise).
Michael Perry: I Got it From the Cows - Bovine themed monologues... sounds atrocious but it's fairly compelling stuff. Check it out (and don't worry it isn't all cow related)
Larry Gallagher: Can I Go Now? - TMBG meets Bruce Cockburn - or somthing.. worth a listen.
Laura MacLean: If the Shoe Fits Wear it Out - More above average Lilith Fair friendly femme folk rock pop whatever.
Late Tuesday: Drowning Out Love - See Above.
Marilyn Rucker: Everybody's Somebody Else's Weirdo - Sassy, silly folk comedy.(Grandma Tell Us About Your Tattoos, Spoiled Rotten White Girl Blues)
Leaving Rouge: Elsewhere - Decent Westerberg-ish alt-rock.
and finally a trio of albums from Love Camp 7. I remember hearing LC7 do a live set on FMU donkey's years ago and spent years trying to find their albums. Well now I've got three - my sentimental fave is Conspiracy of Flowers' Brian Wilson obsession but all three are worth tracking down. Highly Recommended!
Love Camp 7 - Conspiracy of Flowers | Where the Green Ends | Vacation Village
April 09, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 68: Outta Space
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March 29, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Here's another cherry picked selection of recent new releases / just added albums at Rhapsody. Nothing too deep, just a quick rundown of the most significant new albums and under hyped gems you might otherwise never hear of. Just one man's opinion.
Links take you to Rhapsody - it'll ask you if you want to launch the service (assuming you already have it installed) or want to sign up and give it a try. I get no kick backs if you do so remember if you're not into the Rhap you can probably find streams or samples of most of this music at iTunes, Yahoo, Napster or Amazon
Tim McGraw : Let It Go - Wokmanlike mainstream country. Too good to dismiss but still too pedestrian to make many converts.
Good Charlotte : Good Morning Revival - What McGraw's album is too suburban country so is Good Charlotte's fourth release to generic pop punk/punk pop.There's nothing bad here but there's nothing exceptional either.
Elliott Yamin - Being blissfully ignorant of all but the most earth shaking American Idol news this debut collection of blue eyedsoul from AI short lister Yamin came as a pleasant surprise. On the other hand I can't imagine ever wanting to voluntarily listen to it again.
Jack Ingram : This is it - A far more satisfying slice of country than McGraw's offering if only for unexpected Hinder cover.
Kaiser Chiefs : Your's Truly, Angry Mob - Now this is more like it. Tight, melodic and clever songwriting, polished production and passionate performances. The Good Charlotte's of the world could learn a lot about the craft of Rock & Roll from the Kaiser Chiefs. Highly recommended.
June Tabor : Apples - The definitive woman's voice of British Folk. Exquisite song selection and gorgeous performances. Highly recommended and be sure to delve head o into Tabor's astonishing back catalog.
Silent Sun : Dad's Weird Dream - Sweet slice of artsy brit pop. Fun and highly Recommended
Michael Cashmore : The Snow Abides - If Tiny Tim had actually been talented he might have sounded something like this. Especially if he'd hooked up with The Divine Comedy.Different but worth a listen.
Frank Vignola : Vignola Plays Gershwin - Swingin' set of Gershwin greatness from guitarist Vignola. Nice.
Cannonball Adderley Quintet - In San Fransisco - Smokin' live set augmented by a pair of alt. takes.
Warren Zevon Reissues:
The Envoy (4 bonus tracks)
Stand in the Fire (Monumental live album with 3 restored LP tracks)
Excitable Boy (Classic now served with 4 bonus tracks) -
Robert Plant Reissues - Not a patch on Zep but Plant's solo work has
had it's moments.
Pictures at Eleven
Shaken 'n Stirred
Stevie Nicks : Crystal Visions The Best... - Greatest Hits package featuring a few recent live cuts that might be of interest to Stevie's more ardent admirers.
80's/90's Completists:
Information Society : Peace & Love Hack
Kincaid: Good Citizen of the Month
The Fall : Reclamation Post TLC - Well, it The Fall innit?
David Ball : Heartaches by the Number - Strong set of trad-country twangers.
Daphne Loves Darby : Good Night, Witness Light - Better than average Emo offering. Worth a listen..
Breathing Room : Coming Clean - Think a less cod celtic Corrs gone CCM. Not bad for what it is...
Lester Chambers - It's Time: The Blues - Pure & Simple.
Alexa Wilkinson : Lullaby Appetite - Competent girl-pop that would probably be a monster if it were s by a major.
Glowfriends : A Farewell to Fair Weather - Decent indie-pop offering
What you really should be listening to...
Maggini Quartet : Malcom Arnold - String 1 & 2, Phantasy for Quartet " Vita Abundans"
John Tomlinson: Batok's Bluebeard's Castle
Well that about does it for the moment - after sampling about a quarter of Rhapsody's new additions for the week I'm burnt out by the mediocrity. Look for an update in a day or two.
March 28, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
March 27, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Hundreds of albums released every week and hardly anything worth listening to. If you're not part of a peer group that endorses, usually fairly reflexively, specific albums and songs based on marketing cues then you probably have a hard time sorting the wheat from the chaff when presented with huge assortments of unfamiliar music. Luckily I'm here to help with a quick rundown of interesting new releases each week or so available from the Rhapsody music service.
(Why Rhapsody? - well, I'm a subscriber and they offer easy to use lists of new releases and just added albums. I also subscribe to Yahoo's music service but finding new releases there is far less intuitive. iTunes has a terrific list of new releases but doesn't offer subscription streaming.)
Select New releases:
Modest Mouse: We Were dead Before the Ship Even Sank - The Mouse could be this centuries REM but thankfully they've decided not to cash on on the Kidz Bop friendly Float On and return with a typically idiosyncratic offering. New Mousekateer Johnny Marr adds yet another layer to the already inventive MM sound - his mark is instantly felt on tracks like Dashboard (which could be an Electronic cover). First rate stuff...
Panda Bear: Person Pitch - So this is what happened to that Jesus and Mary Chain Beach Boys Tribute Album. They needn't have bothered.
LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver - Dancey Punky Dancey Punky Dancey Dancey Punky Dance. Meh...
Floyd Thursby - Never heard of Thursby before but this 5 track offering of sparsely produced folky singer/songwriter styled tracks impresses from the first listen.
Kate Mann : Devil's Rope - Effective mildly countrified New Folk offering. Check out standout tracks Cowboys are my Weakness, Fall Or Fly and Polly's Song.
Darryl Read: Bleeding Paradise - Beat is Dead. Long Live Beat. Ray Manzerek joins in on this collection of post-modern Beat poetry. I'm not a huge fan of this stuff but Read and Manzerek do a good job of elevating what usually ends up as cringe worthy suburban coffee house poetry slam dreck.
Byron Nemeth: The Force Within - Capable hard rock guitar instros. The lead track name checks Joe Satriani which gives you a pretty good idea of the direction things take.
Dan Beahm and the Invisible Three: Amplifier - Well crafted acoustic set. Check out Stupid Girl and Seperate But Equal.
Goodbye Elliott: Running to California - Well crafted album of slightly artsy modern power pop. Check out Ticket to Love, Running to California, Kamikaze Love Machine.
Jinx Jones: Rumble & Twang: Rockabilly goodness.
Buva: All That Humming - One of my favorite new releases this week - tasteful and melodic singer/songwriter fare.
Andrew Norsworthy: Horizon City - This one almost missed he cut but luckily I left it streaming while doing some other stuff and it really grew on me. Somewhat rootsy folk rock. Good stuff.
Doug Adamz: Guitar Solos: This collection of songs for solo guitar is already in Sunday morning heavy rotation around here. Gorgeous stuff.
John Legend: Once Again - You already know this really good right?
Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby - Fine Bluegrass offering from a pair of wily veterans.
Joss Stone: Introducing Joss Stone - For every killer track like Girl They Won't Believe It or Tell Me 'bout It there's a slab of generic dance pop or weak pseudo soul that totally waste Stone's obvious talents.Still a worthwhile release...
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists: Living with the Living - More PoMoPunkyFun with Ted Leo. Elvis Costello/Jam/JJackson fans should Go for it...
Chantal Kreviazuk: Ghost Stories - Hey, I liked Lilith Fare and this is a pretty good album of angsty girl pop.
Low: Drums and Guns - Low are the rare band as good as they are cool and while this may not end up being my favorite release it's definatly worth more than a casual listen.
A Toys Orchestra : Technicolor Dreams - Decent Indie reminiscent of Modest Mouse, Of Montreal and others. Worth a listen...
Just Added
Jethro Tull: Aqualung - Tull are likely the least appreciated 70's rock behemoth. Despite massive sales and a huge following of devoted fans they still seem like underdogs. This deluxed-up edition of the classic Aqualung album outshines pretty much every else released so far this year. Listen without prejudice and discover an exceptionally weel played, well written and well produced example of classic rock. The classic rock label may be cliche by now but there is a timelessness and quality to this stuff that nothing released these days can match.
Jethro Tull: The Best Acoustic - For fans of Tull's softer side this collection brings together the best of the band's folkier moments.
Graham Coxon: Love Travels at Illegal Speeds -Terrific mod influenced album from Blur guitarist Coxon.
Andre Previn/ David Fink - We Got it Good and That Ain't Bad - Sweet and tasty Elligton songbook. Niiice...
Alan Parsons Project: I Robot Eye in the Sky Vulture Culture - Classic original LPs with bonus tracks
Mac Davis: Best of - Cheese? Perhaps but perfectly aged...
Dexter Gordon:Clubhouse - '67 vintage Dex remastered.
The Joe Meek E.P. Collection - Features crucial cuts from The Tornadoes, John Leyton and more.A New World indeed...
For 80's completists - The Danse Society: Looking Through
What you really should be listening to...
Fretwork: William Lawes Consort Music - Rockin' the six string viol old world style
Tonu Kaljuste: Arvo Part Choral Works - So good they invented a time machine to send it back to us from the futire (Rhapsody release date 31 Aug 2029
Tragicomedia: Biber: The Mystery Sonatas
March 23, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 67: TV Party Tonight!
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March 16, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
March 14, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Why Fidelity 66: That Bouncy One
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Playlist
March 09, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
New Addition: Heavenly Grooves
March 09, 2007 in Music | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
JAMES LILEKS: Interior Desecrations : Hideous Homes from the Horrible '70s
Jock Elliott: Inventing Christmas: How Our Holiday Came to Be
Susan Waggoner: It's a Wonderful Christmas: The Best of the Holidays 1940-1965
J. Lindemann: Season's Gleamings: The Art of the Aluminum Christmas Tree
Jeff Kurtti: Walt Disney's Legends of Imagineering and the Genesis of the Disney Theme Park