We (by which I mean I) Get Out
Saw Todd Rungren at the State Theatre. Been a fan since I met some of the members of Nazz in a Pittsburgh airport and became an early adapter of their music, earning me cool swag (autographed pics and such) in exchange for my fan letter and promise to tell 16 magazine they were fab. Todd is, as the album title goes, a Wizard, a True Star, and the audience was filled with boomers who still like to watch guitars being shredded. Me, I'm a sucker for the Runt/Ballad of Todd Rundgren stuff myself, and the only thing he sang that was anywhere near that period was "I Saw the Light." Still, it was fun to see him again. Alas, my camera is acting strange, so I was very disappointed in the shots I got. Here's one of the few OK ones...
As for the woefully behind O/CD tally, here are some of the latest...
Adavances:
1. VARIOUS ARTISTS - Anchored In Love: A Tribute To June Carter Cash (DualTone)
Produced by JCC's son, John Carter Cash
I was hoping Elvis Costello’s version of “Ring of Fire” would have an anxious, “Pump It Up” vibe, but he’s into his slower emotional thing here. Still, an impressive outing of performers - Emmylou Harris, Sheryl Crow & Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Patty Loveless & Kris Kristofferson, Rosanne Cash, Ralph Stanley, et al. If I can’t stop picturing scenes from “Walk the Line,” is that so wrong? It was a great crash course in how important Johnny and June were to us.
Out June 5th.
2. ROCKY VOTOLATO – The Brag & Cuss (Barsuk Records)
Out June 19th.
3. NICK LOWE – At My Age (Yep Roc)
Lowe is about to be 58 and has a 2-year-old son. I could be his slightly younger wife (I've always thought he was sexy) but I wouldn’t want to be chasing a toddler around. Nick is on his mellow side here, too, and he’s got a nicely burnished voice for crooning. Still, couldn’t he put in a few more rockers, just to prove that there’s feisty after fifty?
Out June 26th.
Spending My Own Cash Money:
4. MOJO - Sgt. Pepper…with a Little Help from his Friends
Another one of those "all-star" (not really) collections that revisits a classic album in its entirety, with varying results.
5. GRETCHEN WILSON – Here for the Party (Epic)
Picked it up at the CD trade-in store, cheap (I think it was $3.99) - long-box sized cardboard with DVD/EPK and CD.
Good First Impressions:
6. CARY BROTHERS – Who You Are (bluhammock music)
BTW, it’s a him, not a them.
7. PROTEST HILL – The City Echoes Our Hearts (Latest Flame)
Heavy Rotation:
8. The FORMAT – Dog Problems (
First discovered by a single song on a mix CD a friend made for Grace, and now a HR Favorite. Pop rock with smarts and wryly funny lyrics.
9. TRACY THORN – Out of the Woods (Astralwerks)
If she had never done anything but that Massive Attack song, “Protection,” she’s sill be a classic voice, Deceptively gripping in her quiet power.
Not My Bag, Baby:
10. The AUTUMN DEFENSE – S/T (Broadmore Records)
They’re being pushed as a Wilco-offshoot, but this band sounds like CS&N wannabes. The harmonies are beautiful, but the lyrics are lame and the arrangements have a hippy dippy vibe that seems to blow patchouli out of the speakers with the music. By the end of the album – if you can hang on that long – your teeth hurt.
I’m Getting Too Old for This…
11. SKULL TIME – S/T (Latest Flame)
Billed as “classic rock lovers whose music requires the throwing of devil horns,” it was just too noisy for me.
Burnt Offertings:
12. VARIOUS ARTISTS - Crush on You (Hear Music)
How many times do I have to say that Starbucks samplers are overpriced? I had no qualms in copying this disc that a friend brought over to share during dinner. Some great stuff here, but I either already have it, or will explore it at length on my own dime in full-lengths.
13. Dylan Hears a Who
Oh, no! This extremely well-done parody - Dr. Seuss rhymes as sung by a spot-on Dylan imitator - has been removed from the web, citing Seuss Enterprises as having made the request. The power of the Google, however, will take you to other places where you can hear this great effort. I feel lucky, indeed, that I was able to get it all when I did, including the make-it-yourself jewelbox art which mimics vintage Columbia releases down to a slightly cock-eyed logo.
Why I Pay Emusic $9.99 every month:
14. The KAMINSKY EXPERIENCE, INC. – The Power of Suggestion (ESL/18th Street Lounge)
Heard a track on KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic” and loved the hokey spoken word-over-electronica beats - so I bounced right over to emusic.com to see if it was available. Yay. Same thing happened last week with...
15. BEN KWELLER – S/T (ATO Records)
He performed "Penny on the Train Track" on Letterman and his contagious energy and rousing pop vibe won me over right away. So, laptop on lap, tappity tap, I had the entire CD downloaded almost by the time he finished the song. That's entertainment!
16. JARVIS COCKER – Jarvis (Rough Trade/World's Fair)
While I was at the emusic site, I searched for this one, too, since his Letterman spot - "Don't Let Him Waste Your Time" - was good, too. The label has also released a free download of "(C--Ts are Still) Running the World" and, while I never liked that word (the English can only barely get away with it, but I hate hearing it in the US), I can't disagree with the sentiment, so I
share it with you.
17. The MYSTERY JETS – Diamonds in the Dark (Dim Mak Records)
Discovered this band was I was in England in January, and it seems like they may finally get an American release and tour later this year. Likeable rock with shades of pop and psychedelia.
18. OF MONTREAL – The Gay Parade
Burned this one off as research for the Post preview I did in March. And that's a good excuse to throw in another live photo, from a night when my camera and I were getting along...
And speaking of downloads, I have been accepted into a groovy service that lets bloggers share mp3s with readers. I'm going to do a but of musical browsing and bring back some cool stuff, but this one grabbed me right off the bat. A trip back in time to a great One-Hit-Wonder of the Punky/New Wave Life. I give you
"88 Lines About 44 Women" (mp3)
from "Corpus Christi"
by The Nails
Safe House
Buy at iTunes Music Store
Buy at DownloadPunk
YTD: 151
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