Mo' Money, Mo' Music

Tuesday, March 7

This morning, I spent over $400 on four U2 tickets – two for DC, two for NYC, and they weren’t even the most expensive seats in the venues. But I was happy and consider the $20 I spent to renew with the band’s online fan club as a great bargain - it allowed me to buy tickets in a presale that nearly guaranteed I would get in, even if I couldn’t buy four tickets in the same city. So, one of us will take the live-at-home teenager to the MCI Center show and one of us will travel to NYC (any excuse to go back is fine with us) to take our NYU girl to Madison Square Garden. That’s what we consider a proper musical education.

The mail came, and there were no packages. Sad.
But then the Fed Ex man arrived, and there were four. Happy.

Two were from a film company, promoting upcoming DVD releases – but no screeners within, just press releases. Why does it say "Extremely Urgent" on the packages? Unless there’s a cure for cancer inside, or a check made out to me, there’s no urgency that I can see (ooh, I like that rhyme).

Anyway, the music:
1. ASLYN – Lemon Love (Capitol)
I requested this advance CD when I was working on a preview story about her show with Ryan Cabrera and Kyle Riabko click here, which ran almost three weeks ago. It’s not all that helpful now. At the show, knowing nothing about the act except what I’d read online, the kids and I saw Aslyn’s set as a chance to grab something to eat. That’s no slam to her music, but a simple example of how delay created a lost opportunity for both of us.
2. DAFT PUNK – Human After All (Virgin)
Here’s something I didn’t know was coming but am delighted to get. Heard a great song that sampled/paid homage to Daft Punk on WXPN, Philly, when I was driving up to NYC a few weekends ago (saw the Gates; loved ‘em). I think it was LCD Soundsystem's "Daft Punk is Playing at Me House." I consider it a sign. Must. Listen. To. Daft. Punk.

Monday, March 6
3. THIEVERY CORPORATION – The Cosmic Game (ESL)
Local boys made very, very good. International jet set lounge sounds, and now they’re working with David Byrne (a personal hero), Perry Farrell and other cool cats.

Saturday, March 5
4. L.P. – Suburban Sprawl and Alcohol (Light Switch Records)
5. LOVE TRACTOR – Black Hole (Fundamental Records)
6. WONDERFUL SMITH – Hello, It’s Wonderful (Fundamental Records)
7. BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA – Atom Bomb (Real World)
8. CHRIS CHANDLER – Collaborations (Prime)
Next weeks’ Washington Post pick click here, this guy is a verbose street poet type who’s hooked up with a pretty impressive array of helpers, as the title suggests - Catie Curtis, Dan Bern, Dar Williams, and others. Trouble (for me, at least) is that density words and intensity of Chandler's anger at the Powers That Be, even if I agree with him, makes for tiring, uneasy listening.

Friday, March 4
Purchased:
9. DONNA SUMMER – The Journey: The Very Best of (UTV/Mercury)
$10 in a nice velvety box, with a hard-cover copy of her autobiography (which I skimmed and put in the bag for the used book store). Why so cheap? I confess, I wore a "Disco Sucks" button back in the day, and still think "Love to Love You Baby" is soft-core crap, but some of those other songs - "Dim All the Lights," "She Works Hard for the Money," and "On the Radio" - have grown to be real dance anthem classics. Yes, I was wrong.
10. ROCK ON Universal Records free sampler
Who needs radio when you can grab a pile of free or cheap samplers and hit the road, tasting a potpourri of new offerings? And, if you hear something you like, there's the song title and artist, which most radio stations still make it hard to find out. When You Play It, Say It, people! This one has already won me over to Kaiser Chiefs.

Sent:
11. The MARS VOLTA – Frances the Mute (Universal)
I came thisclose to buying this CD yesterday at Target for $7.00; even though I can’t name a single song of theirs or hum a fragment of melody, the press has been so good for this band that I’ve been feeling compelled to find out what the fuss is about. To have the CD arrive, unsolicited, in the mail is one of those simple joys of writing about music.
12. ELVIS COSTELLO and the IMPOSTERS– The Delivery Man (extended version) (Lost Highway)
Elvis, I love you, but I can't buy every new reissue of albums I already bought, even if there's new tracks included. Luckily, this one came out on my birthday and, when the publicist sent an email reminder of the fact, I was able to request one as my gift of the day. (Thank you)
There's one sad note in trading in my old copy of the disc, which this one makes irrelevant. The new one doesn't have this disclaimer on the back, above the FBI anti-piracy warning:
"This artist does not endorse the following wanring. The F.B.I. dosn't have his home phone number and he hopes that they don't have yours."
Elvis, truly, is king!
13. MATT BIANCO featuring BASIA – Matt’s Mood (Decca)
"Cruisin' for Bruisin'" was a great song by Basia, but her stuff overall leaves me cold. This is more of what i don't dig - washed-out ersatz jazz.

Thursday, March 3:
14. The REVEREND AL GREEN – Everything’s OK (Blue Note)
Was this guy not amazing on Letterman, and adorable on the Daily Show?! Skip over the cover of "You Are So Beautiful," though. Not worthy of the great man.
15. The DISSOCIATIVES - S/T (Astralwerks)
16. DOVES – Some Cities (Capitol)
I asked for it; I got it; so far, I love it. Doves are such a great mix of dance grooves and rock muscle. And there's something upbeat about them in a world of sadness. They're coming to town in May. Terry and I will be there.
17. BILLY GILMAN – Everything and More
18. THE CLICK FIVE – 4 song sampler for Greetings from Imrie House (Lava)
A second copy, sent by request (hey, I didn’t know the first was in the mail!) as a possible story, tied to the upcoming Ashlee Simpson tour. (see entry far below about Pepper's Ghost, also sharing the bill).
This copy came with two blue jelly bracelets, the now ubiquitous fashion accessory, though the only charity here is the band’s website. First listen – boy band pop in nice suits. Grace will have to be the final judge, but the opening guitar riff, to “Catch Your Wave,” is either custom-made to be an MTV show theme, or was stolen from one. (out this summer)

19. ROBOTS – soundtrack (Virgin)
Official release of the soundtrack, previously sent as a slim-line advance. On this one, Fountains of Wayne is listed by its full name, whereas the strange appellation F.O.W. appeared on the advance, hinting at naughty rap group. Nice selection – besides F.O.W., there’s James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire, Gomez and Fatboy Slim’s “Wonderful Night,” my favorite track on the otherwise erratic “Palookaville.”