A Bit O' Everything (photos, mp3s, blahblahblah)

The past weekend’s happy musical surprise – I stopped at the Tyson’s Corner Borders to browse the music racks (not quite Tower Records, but it’s got integrity) and to look for a copy of NME (the new issue has a free red vinyl White Stripes single!, but they’re still selling last week’s) while waiting for Grace to finish her Japanese lesson. Lo and behold, the store is preparing for an afternoon performance/signing by Judith Owen, a fine singer/songwriter (and wife of the brilliant Harry Shearer) who is in town for a show Sunday night at the IOTA. I’m bummed to realize that I can’t stay for the actual mini-set, but delighted to hear the sounds of an electric piano soundcheck. Lucky me, Owen arrived more than an hour early, so I got to say hello again, having met her briefly after a show last year at Jammin Java.

I didn’t expect her to remember me, but she recalled how much she enjoyed that performance and is warm and gracious and seemingly happy to have a genuine fan appear during the pre-show. We chat about her area appearances (she’s taping an NPR interview as well), her trading of musical favors with Richard Thompson (they appear on each other’s most recent CDs) and I am inspired anew to make an effort to revisit the IOTA. (I was there just a few days ago, which we’ll get to in a moment). I picked up the new CD and get it autographed, no jaded critic I. Which brings us to:

My Own Cash Money
1.JUDITH OWEN – Happy This Way (Courgette)
Besides Thompson, Owen’s guests include Julia Fordham, Ian Shaw and Cassandra Wilson, which should give the uninitiated a hint at the classy, jazzy, mature material she’s doing. Piano-based pop with a nod to the great American songbook of love and longing. My one reservation on this CD is that there are fewer up-tempo songs and there isn’t a clear indication of how wryly funny this woman can be.



2. SIGUR ROS and HILMAR ORN HILMARSSON ORCHESTRA - Angels of the Universe
Precisely why I still love browsing a real music outlet – I didn’t know anything about this release. It was in the 2 for $22 section, and I was sorely tempted to bundle it with an older Rilo Kiley selection, but I had the Owen purchase, too, so I used my handy emailed coupon that took 20% off list price. Listening in the car, I discover it’s grander and orchestral, less self-consciously bizarre than the usual Sigur Ros. Nice stuff.

Got home from meeting the lovely Ms. O and found the new
3. RICHARD THOMPSON – Sweet Warrior (Shout! Factory)
Owen is indeed, as she mentioned, “all over it,” providing harmony vocals on nine of the 14 tracks. She’s not on “Dad’s Gonna Kill Me,” the anti-war track that’s getting a lot of well-deserved attention, but she does get to sing “shame, shame on you, you Bad Monkey” from the song of the same naughty simian name.
Also from the promo peeps:
4. The WILDBIRDS – S/T (Universal Republic)
The press kit says the CD will be called “Golden Daze” when it comes out on August 14th, but the advance generic CD has the band name and title as one and the same. The lyricist/vocalist/rhythm guitarist frontman cites Cheap Trick, Humble Pie and Tom Petty (with the Heartbreakers) as influences, and the band will be touring with Jesse Malin this summer, so the claims of straight-ahead rock seem truthful.
5. SIPPY CUPS –Electric Storyland (Snacker Disc)
The packaging is so packed with colorful cartoons that it becomes its own trip-toy, but the music is aimed at the young and drug-free - I think. Titles like “Little House of Jello” and “Drinking from the Sky” could be hallucinogenic, and the group’s live repertoire includes cover tunes from the Beatles, Velvet Underground, Pink Floyd and the Ramones (not, we assume, “Beat on the Brat”). Coming to play at Jammin Java on July 13th.

Anyway, listening to the Owen CD reminds me how much I like her style, so I get my musical gal pal Sally to agree to a night out and we head for the IOTA on Sunday night. Alas, most of the region has stayed home to watch the “Sopranos” finale (sounds like they got screwed), a fact that Owen makes a running joke throughout her nonetheless impassioned set for the 30 or so patrons. She talks more than I remembered, but it’s funny, knowing and moving, as are the songs. (Funny applies to her covers of “Smoke on the Water” and “Eye of the Tiger.”)

At Borders, I mentioned that I’d like to bring my camera, to which she replies, “yes – and take all the pictures you want!” The (small) trouble is, her songs are so quiet and the mood so vulnerable that every “CLICK!” screams out, so I limit myself mostly to the patter moments.



Opening act is

6. EREN CANNATA – Blame It On the City (Brown Dog Records)
One of the first students enrolled in NYU's Clive Davis Department of recorded music, he’s also the son of Billy Joel’s saxophone player Richie Cannata and has a bit if a rep as a swoon-inducer of the young ladies. I think he’s got a cuddly, Jack Black look – and I’m charmed by the fact that he plays barefoot. Nothing in his set called out to me with a “gotta-hear-that-again” urgency, but when I chatted with him afterwards, and he gave me a free download card, his eager roadie-type asked urgently, “Would you like to buy an album? It would really help us out.” For $10, I did. Support your touring artists and all that.

It’s been a good week for welcome surprises in the mailbox. All sort of stuff that I was glad to get:
7. The POLYPHONICE SPREE – The Fragile Army (TVT)
I doubt if anything from this group will recapture the magic of that debut with its joyous, big ensemble optimism, and I’m a little sad to see the choir robes traded for military-style uniforms, but there’s still an upbeat bigness to the sound, and a touch of Devo-esque electronica, as if some helpful robots joined the gang.
Out June 19th
8. MIKE ERRICO – All In (Tallboy 7)
Brother to a Broadway star (Melissa), helper on Leslie Gore’s recent comeback CD, editor at Blender.com, Errico wears many hats, including being a singer/songwriter on his own material. You could play tracks from this one between the latest by Maroon 5 and John Mayer and not drop a beat.
Out June 11th
9. The ALIENS – Astronomy for Dogs (Astralwerks)
Former Beta Band-ians present more smiling, slightly twisted beats.
10. VARIOUS ARTISTS – CMJ Presents…Phase Five NZ Music (NZ On Air)
Not sure how I got on this mailing list (signed something at last year’s CMJ maybe?) but delighted to get a cute little puffy envelope covered in stickers, stamps and official stuff to show that it came from overseas. Inside, a cardboard sleeve with CD/video material from New Zealand, including Tin Finn, Die! Die! Die! and a “Flying Nun Box Set Bonus” (the label, silly, not the TV show).

Recent Post Previews:
Celebrate Fairfax festival, featuring Smash Mouth, Eddie from Ohio and a cast of dozens.
Great Lake Swimmers, Eleni Mandell at IOTA
Saw the show and greatly enjoyed both acts, though I’ll admit that GLS has even more power when you sit in a dark room and let the CD wash over you. In pushing the material forward, appropriately in a live situation, a bit of the gossamer magic is lost.
Here’s lead singer/songwriter Tony Dekker…


And Eleni Mandell…



Why I Prefer to Read about Metal Rather Than Listen to It.
From a PR mailing with the subject line: “Watain’s stench of death lingers in America” –
“...you might not smell the animal carcasses and foul bloodstench from the stage, but surely still a testament to the band's superior blackened war tactics…
Interviews via email are ongoing... the filth must be spread.

Sharing the Love – as in free MP3s!
Thanks for hanging in there. Here’s your cookies…

For fans of indie chamber pop, some selections from
LOST IN THE TREES , the name used by Ari Picker, of The b-Sides and The Never, for his solo project, with quiet melodicism, the occasional spurt of baroque goth, and elaborate orchestral arrangements.
The instrumental ”I’ve Always Loved the Fall”
comes from the EP “Time Taunts Me.”
From the same EP, here’s “Tall Trees” – with a touch of tango!
And finally, the previously unreleased
“Walk Around the Lake”, which Picker gave to a compilation for Esopus Magazine, dedicated to art, poetry, essays, pop culture and music.

LOVE AS LAUGHTER have been on tour supporting Modest Mouse and posted a free download of their song “Coconut Flakes”, recorded live in Toronto.

Louis Schefano, leader of late-90s bedroom pop-makers, Regia, has returned with an EP, Freak Show Revenge under the simple moniker, LOUIS. As recently as last year, tracks from Regia’s 1999 release, The Art of Navigation (spinART), have been re-recorded by Saddle Creek recording artist, Maria Taylor. Superphonic Records will release the five-song EP, but here’s one track, ”My Own Good”.

In The (Trivial) News:
The US Air Guitar Championships kicked off their 14-city tour last weekend in DC. According to the press release, these musical mime kings have an actual tour bus that pulls an empty equipment trailer. I’m still not sure whether that’s funny or stupid.

Visit Close Personal Friend on MySpace! And if you see me listed as a bisexual swinger who doesn’t want kids (not that there’s anything wrong with that, I suppose), please refresh your page! I was totally mis-profiled for about three minutes on the day I attempted to update my profile (some AOL-Mac-MySpace glitch) and am now happily back to being a straight, married, proud mother of two.

O/CD YTD: 235

Phantom CD Store Syndrome

Medical people speak of "phantom limb syndrome," in which people who have lost a limb still feel it or move to use it after it's gone. I mean no disrespect to those who have suffered such a horrific injury when I say that I have a vague inkling of it - in recent weeks, while driving around doing errands in various neighborhoods in and around northern Virginia/D.C., I've been near the sites of many now-gone Tower Records stores. Each time, I've made a quick mental note to stop in and browse the racks. Then the sad realization hits that they are no more.

I think of the old-skool pleasure of walking into a genuine music store - not a Best Buy or Target hits-heavy secion of a big box outlet - and I worry that those days are numbered. Thankfully, I still have the lovely little local CD trade-in store where I turn my unwanted discs into wanted ones (and sometimes get enough cash to buy lunch on the way home). But that's like visiting a funky deli, and sometimes you'd like the full inventory of a supermarket.

I know, I know - it's not a pain that's gonna kill me (or make me stronger, either); just life in the modern world.

Anyway, at the last visit to said small music emporium, I scored thusly:
1. PANIC! AT THE DISCO - A Fever You Can't Sweat Out deluxe edition (Fueled by Ramen)
I'm a sucker for creative packaging. Back in the fun days of writing promo and ad copy for Elektra Records, the then-pres of the label, Hale Milgrim, was a devotee of innovative ways to promote and box new albums for maximum impact. I do love when artists make the package something special, tho' I can't afford to buy them all. This still-sealed copy of the Panic! CD set came with a mini-poster, an eye-covering carnival mask, a set of B&W band boy photos, a set of colorized tarot-style lyric cards, a spinning wheel optical toy, a mini tour program, bonus DVD and blank diary book, all in a weathered looking cigar box with flocked interior. Grace (I pretend I bought it for her, but I couldn't resist at $20 to see all the goodies myself!) was smitten by it. Listening to the album again on the ride home, I give the band credit for trying. It's not their fault that success made the songs ubiquitously annoying for a while there. Heard again now, some are quite clever, in fact. Or maybe I'm just blinded by the toys?
2. R.E.M. – R.E.M. in the Attic: Alternative Recordings 1985-89 (I.R.S.)
A reminder of how much I loved this band Back In the Day. Maybe it was just a record label cash-in, collecting alternate tracks, live bits and B-sides, but it was a fine season for the Athens boys and fun to recollect now in a CD that must have slipped through the cracks when it first came out.
Cool $1.99 Clearance:
3. SIGUR ROS – Baba/TiKi/DiDo
Starts out quiet and gentle, almost childlike. And then gets noisy and a little weird. Why am I not surprised?
4. The REAL TUESDAY WELD – Lucifer (Six Degrees)
Just the day before , I heard a great song on "Morning Becomes Eclectic," a little ditty with a jaunty Noel Coward air, entitled "The Day Before You Came." I looked it up on emusic and was able to pick it up from a Six Degrees label compilation. I considerd it a sign that I should try a full CD.
5. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Music Is Love: 15 Tracks that Changed the World (Mojo Magazine)
Unusual cover tunes: Robyn Hitchcock doing "Like a Rolling Stone," the Dream Syndicate's version of "Cinnamon Girl," Big Star's take on "Femme Fatale" and a whole bunch of stuff I can't tell about yet.
6. HOLLY RAMOS – Racehorse (Ford to City: Drop Dead Records)
Sometimes you can score new release advances in the clearance bin, especially ones that come in cardboard or generic jewel boxes. This woman is coming to town to open for Jesse Malin, so I grabbed it as a way to preview.
7. CAROLINE RHEA – What Is It That You Can’t Face? (self-released?)
A funny female is a good friend to have.
8.MORCHEEBA - Big Calm (Sire)
Actually, I picked this one up at the thrift store for $1.50, but forgot to include it before.

Some of the new stuff sent recently:
9. ROCKNOCEROS – Dark Side of the Moon Bounce (self-released)
Clever kid rock from a lovely local trio.
10. ELDAR – Re-Imagination (Masterworks Jazz)
I put the CD on after a long morning of mom taxi-ing and promptly fell asleep. And that may not be a bad thing.
11. ARMY OF ME – Citizen (Doghouse)
More local boys making good. Back when these guys were known as Cactus Patch, they were barely out of their teens. Now they've grown into cool hipsters (but no attitude, thanks!) who take a modern swing at classic rock sounds. The CD's first song, called "Perfect," is just about that - a sweet slice of pop/rock heaven. l hope these nice guys can finish first.
12. VARIOUS ARTISTS - Anchored in Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash (DualTone Records)
A duplicate, the full jewel-box edition of an advance I got earlier.

We Get Out:
Anyone who knows me well or has read more than a few of these bloggings will know that I adore Elvis Costello, so getting tix - and a photo pass! - to see his show last month at the intimate (for him) 930 Club was a thrill and then some. The heartbreak moment came and went quickly - my Big and Important Looking digital camera totally screwed with my head and didn't get a single usable shot. Hell, except for a few of the blank stage before Elvis came out, there weren't any shots that weren't near-solid black! For an oh-so-brief two songs, I was five feet away from my hero, torn between trying to get the %$#@ing camera to work and just basking in his presence as he raced through "Working Week" and "Shabby Doll." Having to leave the pit was hard, but I couldn't pretend anymore. My camera was kaput (at least until I read the damn manual and figured out what I had done wrong). Luckily, I couldn't dwell on this failure for long, since Elvis is celebrating his 30th year in the biz by revisiting his classic early output. Over the course of two hours, a good 85% of the material was from the sterling albums up to and including my favorite, "Imperial Bedroom," so I was in new wave/post-punk/whatever-we-called-it-then hog heaven.

On a trip late last month to NYC, I had the chance to see the British band Fields at Mercury Lounge, a sweet little rock spot that lets you get up close and personal. After a pair of drunk dudes played with my (smaller, cheaper) digital camera to get a shot of Shari and me, I turned the lens to the stage and took these...

The band has a jumpy (in a good way) guitarist/vocalist..


...and a foxy female keyboardist/vocalist...


and with the drummer, other guitarist and bassist, they make a much bigger noise than their studio work would suggest.


YTD: 225

Happy Birthday, Grace! ("she was just 17...")

New in the Post:
1. ELLIOTT YAMIN – S/T (Sony/ATV Hickory)
Post preview appearing at the Birchmere on May 17th.
I admit – I did this Post previewagainst my will. I had no desire to talk to an American Idol also-ran, and didn’t think any of his ilk needed my boost to get attention (I had my eye on the Todd Snider/Dan Bern show that week), but my editor is a fan and wanted a story. Yamin gave me a perfunctory interview and I wrote the story with a sense of obligation, not enthusiasm. And then the show sold out before the preview appeared anyway (I was afraid that would happen), and I got an email from a reader whining about it. So, a loss all around.
And then there was this problematic preview .
Good music, glad to be a part in promoting it, but I got the %$#&ing date wrong! Don’t ask how; it was just sheer distracted stupidity on my part, and I hung my head and begged forgiveness from the editor, who accepted my apology and didn’t rub it in. Curious note: before I realized what I’d done, I’d forwarded the link to one of the act’s publicist, who wrote back a gushing thank you. So she didn’t catch the problem either – or was too kind to mention it. I like to think that maybe people read the story and called for tickets, learned of the error and went anyway. But I still felt like a jerk. The acts who deserved better:
2. BRETT DENNEN – So Much More (DualTone)
When I got a copy of this awhile back, it was in a jewel case, but now it’s a digi-pack.
3. ALO – Roses & Clover (Brushfire Records)
In the world of Dead-inspired jam bands (are there any other kind?), this group stands out for having a gentle lilt and a total lack of self-indulgence (at least from what I hear on the CD).
4. LUCAS REYNOLDS – The Space Between the Lines (self-released)
Reynolds is in the band Blue Merle, and his solo EP is a pleasant affair, though he stumbles on“100 Different Directions.” It’s a sweet acoustic number, but he sings “100 different erections” repeatedly in the chorus and the joke is over the second time he does it.
5. MAGGIE SANSONE – Mystic Dance (Maggie’s Music)
Sent in connection with her appearance – and Post preview - at a free outdoor arts series.
And finally, the second annual Throwdown local music festival.

So far, far behind in the O/CD tally, so here’s a slew of recent acquisitions:
My Own Cash Money:
6. BJORK – Volta (Elektra)
Still crazy after all these years, god bless her.
7. RUFUS WAINWRIGHT – Release the Stars (Geffen)
Still gay and grandiose, god bless him.
8. WILCO – Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)
When Terry gets stuck on an album, we hear it at least once a day. God help me, I hope I like this one, too, ‘cause it’s day one and it’s on its third go-round. Relieved to say that, so far, I do like it.
ELTON JOHN
9. Elton John (Island)
10. Tumbleweed Connection (Island)
11. Madman Across the Water (Island)
Three discs for $12.oo? How could I resist? Costco strikes again. “Tumbleweed” is one of my all-time EJ classics.
12. BRAZILIAN GIRLS – Talk to La Bomb (Verve Forecast)
This month’s your music $6.99 automatic shipment.
13. WONKAVISION Magazine Presents the T-4 Project
A beautifully designed and generally well=written magazine covering artists I know next-to-nothing about.

Fun finds at the thrift store for $1.50 each:
14. VARIOUS ARTISTS – From Gdansk to Krakow: Songs and Dances of Poland (EPM Musique)
I married a Pollock.
15. ELIZABETHTOWN – Music from the Motion Picture, Vol, 2 (RCA/Vinyl)
The movie was a mess, but the second volume of songs – with Tom Petty, Ryan Adams, Pinback, The Concretes and more – proves again how much care Cameron Crowe puts into his soundtracks.
16. NUSRAT FATAH ALI KAHN – The Day, The Night, The Dawn, The Dusk (Shanachie)
Ages ago, I interviewed the late Jeff Buckley and, when I asked him about musical influences, he mentioned Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn. I though he was being pompous, having never heard the name (and this was way before Eddie Vedder, “Dead Men Walking,” etc.). I owe them both an apology, and later (because of Eddie Vedder and “Dead Man Walking”) realized who and what Buckley was talking about. Terry and I even went to see the great (and big) man in concert and it was surreal and wonderful – Indian families dressed to the nines, men having near-possessed dance fits in the aisles, people throwing dollar bills at the stage. Yeah, we love Nusrat in our house.

Coming to Town:
17. GREAT LAKE SWIMMERS – Ongiara (Nettwerk)
Glad to make this band my pick for the next Post preview. A lovely, plaintive album that’s reminiscent of “After the Gold Rush”-era Neil Young and a touch of My Morning Jacket. Coming to the IOTA on June 7th at which show the opening act will be:
18. ELENI MANDELL – Miracle of Five (Zedtone Records)
Because I was too lazy to get up and find the CD for the correct label info, I did a quick Google search and discovered the she has nine (!) CDs to her credit. And here I thought she was a new artist.
19. The INNOCENCE MISSION – We Walked in Song (Badman)
They were supposed to play Jammin Java tonight, but had to reschedule. I hope all works out with whatever the problem is, but I’m selfishly glad ‘cause I couldn’t go tonight and I really want to see them, This is a lovely, restive CD, and reminds me of a band I miss a lot – remember the Sundays?
20. The NIGHTWATCHMAN – One Man Revolution (Epic)
Jammin Java on June 23rd
21. ARI HEST – The Break-In (Columbia)
The Birchmere on May 30th
22. PINK MARTINI – Hey Eugene! (Heinz Records)
These guys have been bubbling under like tasty bargain champagne for years now and this summer they’ll headline at Wolf Trap Filene Center on June 18th.
23. BEBEL GILBERTO – Momento (Ziriguiboom/Six Degrees)
This is perfect Sunday brunch music and you can hear it yourself at Merriweather Post on June 23rd with Thievery Corporation and Manu Chao.
24. ADRIENNE YOUNG – Room to Grow (Addiebelle Music)
Young was green before green sounded good, and she’ll be at IOTA Club and Café in mid-June.

Kids Korner:
25. STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE – World of Friends (KOCH)

Good First Impressions:
26.LUKE BRINDLEY – S/T (self-released)
Local guy makes good (music). Co-owner of the lovely Jammin’ Java venue and frequent collaborator with his brother Daniel in the Brindley Brothers band, Luke creates salt-of-the-earth pop rock with a slight alt. country tinge.
27. OF GOD and SCIENCE – S/T (detach records)
The PR compares them to Elbow, Spoon and Doves, mighty high standards indeed. I haven’t put them in that echelon just yet, but I’ll be back to listen again.

Advances:
28.TIGER ARMY – Music from Regions Beyond (Hellcat)
June 5th
29. JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN – Real Life (Cheap Lullaby Records)
Glad to see this in the mail – the buzz from Britain has been strong - and it comes with a second disc of B-sides.
June 12th
30. BOTTOM OF THE HUDSON – Fantastic Hawk (Absolutely Kosher)
June 19th
31. TENDERHOOKS – Vidalia (Rock Snob Records)
PR compares them to Wilco, Gram Parsons, Big Star.
June 26th
32. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Oxblood Records First Blood (Oxblood Records)
June 26th
33.MUSTANGS and MADRAS – La Lechuza (Latest Flame)
Too much random noise for my taste. Out July 10th
34. RAUL MALO – After Hours (Universal)
At first, I thought this was a bit of a novelty number – cover versions of country chestnuts like “Welcome to My World,” Buck Owens’ “Crying Time,” Roger Miller’s “Husbands and Wives.” But about halfway through, my sniggering gave way to a feeling that hey, these are good songs!
Out July 17th
35. The MASONS – Let You Down Easy (75orless Records)
July 24th

Come and Gone (in concert)
36. BRIAN VANDER ARK – Angel, Put Your Face On (self-released)
37. JAKE ARMERDING – Walking on the World (self-released?)
38. COLIN HAY – Are You Lookin’ At Me? (Compass Records)
39. RICHARD SWIFT – Dressed Up for the Lowdown Secretly Canadian)
40. MATT MAYS & EL TORPEDO – S/T (00:02:59)
41. SONS of WILLIAM – S/T (self-released)
42. CHRIS TRAPPER – Hey, You (Starlit Records)
43. WILLY MASON – If the Ocean Gets Rough (Astralwerks)
Pleasant but Teflon singer/songwriter – as in nothing stuck for me.

And just a big ole list of recent mailings…
44. BETWEEN The TREES – The Story and the Song (Bonded Records)
45. ECCODEK – Voices Have Eyes (White Swan)
46. CORNELIUS – Sensuous (Everloving Records)
47. BRITTANY SHANE – S/T (self-released)
48. The PIERCES – Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge (Lizard King Records)
49. The CLIENTELE – God Save the Clientele (Merge)
50. 1997 – …A Better View of the Rising Moon (Victory Records)
51. RODDY HART – Bookmarks (Compass Records)
52. MARIA McKEE – Late December (Viewfinder/Cooking Vinyl)
I like the carnival notices on the inside packaging: “See what the belly dancer does on her day off”
53. SHAKES – Sister Self Doubt EP (IamSound Records)
54. ALL OUT WAR – Assassins in the House of God (Victory)
55. LEIANA – No Going Back (Page Records)
56. VULTURE WHALE – S/T (d’Elegante)
57. LOU RHODES – Beloved One (Cooking Vinyl)
58. PARIS BENNETT – Princess P (TVT)
Another American Idol also-ran!
59. MAVIS STAPLES – We’ll Never Turn Back (Anti-)

By Request:
60. (Yoko) ONO – Open Your Box (Astralwerks)
16 remixes of classic Ono – three of “Walking on Thin Ice” alone.
61. (Yoko) ONO – Yes, I’m a Witch (Astralwekrs)
17 tracks, all of them collaborations with a who’s who of the Current Cool Kid Scene – Cat Power, Peaches, Le Tigre, Polyphonic Spree, Flaming Lips and more.
The most telling thing about Yoko these days is how NOT strange she sounds. In a world of Bjorks and such, it is apparent how she broke down the barrier so that women with unconventional voices can take their rightful place in the CD bins. You Go, Yoko!

62. LISA GERRARD – Sanctuary DVD
Director/producer/stalker Clive Collier does a disservice to this revered artist by presenting her in a humorless, hagiographic documentary, full of ponderous statements and slow-motion worship. He as much as says so in one of the DVD extras, admitting that he didn’t want to use clips of her laughing or showing her great sense of humor since he though it would disrupt the flow. So instead, he are left with thinking that Gerrard is a sourpuss who takes herself entirely too seriously. Interviews with Brendan Perry (only a little though he’s there in concert and documentary footage) and Russsell Crowe and others are part of the coronation. Collier should have let the music do the talking, as the concert pieces and moments from “The Insider,” “Gladiator” and “Whale Rider” show that she is a talent worth heading.

Here’s one Gerrard quote that left me scratching my head:
“Brendan and I have had conflicts from the beginning because we’ve both had an equilibrium of passionate synchronicity whether it be in unison or in diversity or division of [thought?]”

For contrast, palette cleansing and going out on a happy note, I give you a quote from KT Tunstall, in Q Magazine after winning Best Track at the Q Awards for “Black Horse and Cherry Tree”:
“Getting an award for making music is like having a job eating cake and then getting an award for eating more cake than anyone else.”

Who would you rather hang out with?

YTD 213

Thanks for hanging in there. Here’s a reward, like staying until the very end of the credits at the movie (do it at the new “Pirates” movie and you get an extra scene!)

Download "High Times" from "New Moon"
by Elliott Smith
Kill Rock Stars

• Buy at Kill Rock Stars Pre-order

Third Time's a Charm

Between the back-and-forth with Best Buy, seeking an external hard drive that didn't have a broken firewire port (finally did it on the 4th try) and losing track of the Blog because of Blogger's new deal with Google, it was a time of computer anxiety, but I think I've finally got it going on again...

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

Let's Start a New Week and Let's Make It Better

It was a bad week for Virginia, and if we ever needed Kurt (by which I mean Vonnegut, not Cobain) it was in these recent days of mourning. “So it goes” can’t begin to cover it. In the wake of one of my absolute favorite author’s passing, I heard one tribute mention an epitaph Vonnegut said he would like:
“The only proof he needed of the existence of God was music.”

As usual, he said what I felt. So let’s resume our musical musings and hope that the future offers some reason to hope. Going, going, Gone-zales, perhaps?

Catching up with some recent Post previews, these are new in the Archives:
Austin rock hero Bob Schneider
NPR news quiz host Peter Segal
local roots masters Dead Men’s Hollow
uber indie guy Andy Zipf

And resuming the O/CD Project, here are (some of) the recent acquisitions…
My Own Cash Money:
1. BRIGHT EYES – CASSADAGA (Saddle Creek)
Hands down the coolest CD cover of the year, possibly the last decade, and a Top Ten for all time. After I pulled the clear logo/title sticker off the plastic wrap, I noticed the smudgy lines on the textured gray cover. Inside the fold-out digipack is a “Spectral Decoder” which, when you hold it over the smudgy spots reveals beautiful lenticular, nearly holographic images. So freakin’ cool!
And, so far at least, the music is leaving a solid first impression. Though I’ve never doubted Conor Oberst’s talent, I’ve thought him a bit overwrought in the past, but this time he seems to have found a sense of balance to match his ambitions. I’d probably be playing this CD a lot more if it wasn’t for…
2. PETER BJORN and JOHN – Writer’s Block (Almost Gold)
…which is in permanent rotation in my car. And it’s not just “Young Folks” (a.k.a. “The Whistling Song”) and no, I don’t care one bit that it was used on “Grey’s Anatomy” ‘cause I don’t watch the show (I tried, but my daughters kicked me out when I started calling Lizzie a psychopath). No, this song got me for its own wicked, gimmicky charm and then convinced me to stay ‘cause it’s just too much fun to ignore. And, happy surprise, the rest of the album is catching fire, too. The trio echoes other acts I love, like Eno/Bowie (“Amsterdam”) and uses unexpected instrumentation (are those steel drums on “Let’s Call It Off”?) and harken back to the better acts of the synth-pop era without the bad hair. Catchy, catchy stuff that’s growing with each listen.
3. BEYONCE – B-Day (Sony Urban Music/Columbia)
To the left, to the left…my husband can’t ask for directions anymore without Grace and I using every opportunity to sing his next turn. I put the album in the queue at my YourMusic account (one CD per month via automatic delivery for $6.99, shipping included) just to have “Irreplacable.” And so far, I’ve barely touched the other songs there.
4. The ACADEMY IS… - Sante – (Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic)
Purchased for High School Girl. Produced by Bruce Walker. No impression yet, though I’ve seen – and enjoyed – the band twice in concert with HSG.
5. MODEST MOUSE – We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (Epic)
The combination of Brock and Marr is hereby declared a success. “Dashboard” is such a great song, so I’m surprised it’s not the first single, and the rest have unfolded slowly, surely and quite deliciously. It made the grade for our long car trip, satisfying me, the hubby and HSG all at once, and we listened from beginning to end, rare for us in our car-induced ADD.
6. KINGS OF LEON – Because of the Times (RCA)
I love this band so much that I’m surprised I haven’t listened more than once since getting it the week it was released. No smack to the Kings; I just haven’t had the time.
7. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Have You Heard the New Sound of Alternative Rock (EMI Music Special Markets)
$2.24 at Target, so I couldn’t resist.
8. CECIL B. DEMENTED – Music from the Motion Picture (RCA)
Six bucks at the Andy Warhol Museum gift shop (a great shop stop the next time you’re in Pittsburgh). I haven’t seen many John Waters movies (I’m a wimp, not a prude) but I love his writings, his general persona, and he always does right by the music in his films.
9. The GOOD, The BAD & The QUEEN – S/T (Virgin)
You could call it a “super group" with Damon Albarn (Gorillaz), Paul Simonon (The Clash), Tony Allen (Fela Kuti) and Simon Tong (The Verve) and Danger Mouse in the mix, but the results have proven to be not-so. Each time I put this CD on, I’m initially intrigued but lose interest as the songs roll on and nothing seems to develop. By the arrival of the Big Important Long Song at the End, I’ve stopped caring.


Thrift store steals ($1.50 each)
10. The CARDIGANS – First Band on the Moon (Mercury)
Worth it just for “Lovefool” and “Your New Cukoo” and I’m curious to heat the rest.
11. JACK’S MANNEQUIN – Everything in Transit (Maverick)
This is on Madonna’s label? I wouldn’t think she had enough taste to sign an act this good. Grace and I both know this music real well from a CD burned for us by the College Girl, but I like having the official release.
12. VARIOUS ARTISTS - That’s Squintertainment (Zondervan Interactive)
I bought it because it offered “The best digital clip art for your youth ministry publicity” so I figured it might have some Jesus fun, and then I discovered it had music as well, so it makes the list.

Missing from the last CD trade-in store visit:
13. WBCN Naked Too
Unreleased live performances, mostly by those I don’t care about (Creed, Scott Weiland, Eve 6, Jewel) and a few I do (David Bowie, Barenaked Ladies). Actually, most of them are drips, but I can resell on ebay.

Sent by the PR Peeps:
14. POKEMON X: 10 Years of Pokemon (KOCH)
15. The WIGGLES – Racing to the Rainbow (KOCH)
16.UMPHREY’S McGEE – The Bottom Half (SCI)
17.JOSS STONE – Introducing (Virgin)
18.FAVORITE SONS – Down Beside Your Beauty (Vice/Atlantic)
19.DANIEL LEE MARTIN – On My Way to You (ChinMusic)
20.ANTSY McCLAIN and the TRAILER PARK TROUBADOURS – Trailercana (DPR Records)
21.UTAH CAROL – Rodeo Queen (self-released)

Advances:
22.RAY’S VAST BASEMENT – Starvation Under Orange Trees (Howells Transmitter)
July 3rd release for this “folk of the retro-future.”
23.SUZANNE VEGA – Beauty & Crime (Blue Note/EMI)
Out July 17th

I know I’m keeping:
24. CORINNE BAILEY RAE – S/T (Capitol)
The newly issued double CD version of the fine young singer’s debut includes a second disc of new tunes and a few covers, including a wonderful take on one of 2006’s best songs, The Editors’ “Munich.”

Good First Impressions:
25. READYMADE BREAKUP – Isn’t That What It’s For? (self-released)
26. JE SUIS FRANCE – Afrikan Majik (Antenna Farm Records)
All around the block and then some, starting with an energizing instrumental (“Sufficiently Breakfast”) and sprawling on through a highly entertaining and invigorating mess o’ styles. The PR kit called it, “Here Come the Warm Jets as played by Pavement.” I’ll buy that.
27. SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU BORIS YELTSIN – Broom (Polyvinyl)
28. GRUFF RHYS – Candylion (Rough Trade)
29. The ALTERNATE ROUTES – Good and Reckless and True (Vanguard)
30.The SAPS – C’mon Already – Start a Fire (self-released)

Coming/Came to town:
31. BALKAN BEAT BOX – Nu Med (JDUB)
32. BOB SCHNEIDER – The Galaxy Kings (Shockorama/Vanguard)
33. BOB SCHNEIDER – I Have Seen the End of the World and It Looks Like This (Shockorama/Vanguard)
34. BOB SCHNEIDER – The Californian (Vanguard)
35. BOB SCHNEIDER & MITCH WATKINS – Underneath the Onion Trees (Shockorama/Vanguard)
36. The NIELDS – All Together Singing in the Kitchen (Peter Quince Productions)
37. DAGMAR and the SEDUCTONES – Come Back to Me (TYM Records)
38. CATIE CURTIS – Long Night Moon (Compass Records)
39. The WAYBACKS – From the Pasture to the Future (Compass)
40. 41.PAM TILLIS – Rhinestoned (Stellar Cat)
Actually, I got two copies of this; one, an advance some weeks ago, and a second in conjunction with the show, at Wolf Trap.
42. DAVID VANDERVELDE – The Moonstation Mouse Band (Secretly Canadian)
43. MATT WERTZ – Everything in Between (Nettwerk)
It was sent in a generic cardboard envelope that label info but no other identifying information, so I’m always forgetting what’s inside. A simple omission that always works against the artist. Where’s my sharpie?

YTD Total: 133

Road Trippin' in the Twilight Zone

We took a Spring Break drive out to the midwest to show High School girl some colleges, Try as we might to listen to local radio on the ride, there was little to amuse us - too much country, Jesus music and overplayed oldies. So we played CDs and the ipod. David Mead's "Indiana" was a natural as we passed through the state of the same name, but it got rather freaky when we were headed through Illinois, listening to an unmarked CD (I was using the road hours to make up track lists for a pile of blank mixes) and Jack's Mannequin came on with "I Woke Up in a Car." We heard the line, "She wrote me a letter as we passed through Rockford," just as we...literally passed the sign for Rockford, Illinois. Freaky!

In (not so) recent past concert news, I saw Of Montreal at the State Theatre in early March, following a Post preview. Kevin Barnes is one snazzy dude in his fishnet stockings and coy, Peter Pan-style tunic. The music is appealing in a ADD'd pop-lover's carnival way, but nothing has stuck since numerous listenings to the CDs. Still, it was a show that kept me staring at the stage from beginning to end, if only to enjoy Kevin's lovely legs.


The following week, Husband and I went to DAR Constitution Hall to see the Shins (got the tickets at a not-unreasonable mark-up though ebay) and, while we had a perfectly lovely date, the band is at a crucial tipping point that may well expose their limits. The albums are great (the new one isn't holding up as well after these first weeks of intense play) but the hall was too big for the band. Opening act, Viva Voce, made a good first impression - a White Stripes in reverse with a hot shot girl guitarist/singer and a passive guy drummer - but the effect wore off quickly. By the time they got to "We Don't Fuck Around," the novelty was wearing thin, as were the lyrics.

And then Grace and I had the supreme good fortune to be offered tickets to see The Decemberists and My Brightest Diamond at the gorgeous Strathmore Concert Hall, courtesy of MBD's label. I knew Grace was into it when, two songs into MBD's set, she turned to me and asked, "do we have this album?" (Yes, courtesy of my emusic subscription). In fact, it was the rare case when you wished the opening act had more time to stretch out. After a half hour, we were just getting into it.
And oh, Decemberists...! You are a literate college geek's musical joy. And though I may not love "The Crane's Wife" as much as the previous two CDs, it still has wonderful moments, like the propulsive Talking Heads-ian rhythms of "The Perfect Crime." Though I had seen the band in concert before, Grace was enjoying the theatrical pantomime of "Mariner's Song" for the first time, and her joy, like the band's, was contagious. Well played, Decmeberists. Well-played. I had just my little camera, so the pic (TK) is for souvenir purposes only.

And now back to the O/CD Project, long fallow...
Paid Actual Cash:
1. ARCADE FIRE – Neon Bible (Merge)
The rarest of purchases for me – preordered online. I don’t like risking that I won't have a long-awaited CD on the day of release, but the Merge site had such a good deal - $15 for the deluxe edition, free shipping, plus some bonus stuff (the poster and label sticker weren’t such a big deal when I saw them). Better yet, the CD actually arrived on the Monday before the album hit stores. And yes, you can believe the hype. So good!
2. The HOLD STEADY – Boys and Girls in America (Vagrant)
This month’s $6.99 auto-delivery from yourmusic.com. I could swear that Springsteen’s keyboard player was on this album, and the lead singer/songwriter certainly channels vintage Boss with his storylines of young love among the American lower middle class. Hearing all the songs in one sitting can be exhausting (which Bruce never was) but there’s some fine material here.
3. MOJO Presents Love Will Tear You Apart
It’s subtitled “15 hand-picked songs of hurt, pain & despair” and yes, I was in a bad mood when I bought the magazine. Nina Simone, Sparklehorse, Jarvis Cocker, Elbow, Elliott Smith, Galaxie 500.
Also, given away at the Best Buy store:
4. The KILLERS – Read My Mind (Island)
Three remixes of the single, including one by the Pet Shop Boys.

The local thrift store charges only $1.50 for its used CDs so, if they’re not scuffed and scratched (do people treat their music so badly, or is it the rough shelf life on a thrift store that takes its toll?), you can take a chance on just about anything. Then, at the checkout, I discover that it’s half-price on everything, so here’s my 75-cent specials:
5. The PROCLAIMERS – Sunshine on Heath (Chrysalis)
6. TAKE THAT – Nobody Else (Arista)
Robbie Williams is listed in the credits for vocals, but not in the list of band members or on the cover, where there are just four brooding pretty boys. Now it appears that he may be rejoining the band for a reunion (ka-ching!) tour. “Back for Good” is a song that the girls sing out loud – and with deliberately overwrought emotion – in the car when they’re trying to drive us crazy. We pretend to be annoyed, but we actually find it endearing.

Back at the CD trade-in store:
7. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Shop (Patio Music)
The cover caught my eye – a crossword puzzle grid with the name of the artists worked into it. And since those names included Joe Strummer, Annie Lennox and The Rapture, it seemed like a safe bet for $2. There’s a couple of slicksters – Chris Botti and Steve Tyrell – but the overall Adult Alternative vibe makes it a good dinner-with-friends compilation.
More from the under-$2.oo discount pile:
8. ECHO & the BUNNYMEN – S/T (Sire)
I took it as a sign that I was grooving along to a “retro-future” remix of “Lips Like Sugar” as I drove to the CD trade-in store. Sometimes it’s fun to get into the WayBack machine and recall the days when Terry and I were young, together, childless and somewhat mad, living in New York City.
9. BJORK – Venus as a Boy (single)
99.9% sure I have this already, but I couldn’t take the chance to miss out on six tracks, including two unavailable on the full-length CD.
10. BJORK – Big Time Sensuality (single)
75% sure I have this (who can keep track of all Bjork’s remix singles?!) but there’s five tunes, including rarities and remixes. Cheaper than a cup of Starbucks!
11. BJORK – Hyperballad (single)
This one I’m pretty sure I don’t have, which is good since there’s only four tracks here (those longer EPs spoiled me).
12. OF MONTREAL – 7-track sampler (Polyvinyl)
Purchased in prep for the band’s appearance at The State Theatre on March 6th (yep, that’s how far behind the list is!).
13. MIXEL PIXEL – Music for Plants (Kanine Records)
Released in October of last year, but sent as part of my research for the Post preview. They cite Influences – Pink Floyd, Velvet Underground (they say VU), The Flaming Lips and (who can tell me about…?) Quinton & Mrs. Pussycat.

What once were advances are now imminent:
14. CHUCK BROWN – We’re About the Business (Raw Venture Records & Tapes)
15. RYAN SHAW – This is Ryan Shaw (Columbia)
16. SON VOLT – The Search (Transmit Sound/Legacy)
17. KLAXONS – Myths of the Near Future (DGC)
18. RODDY HART – Bookmarks (Compass Records)
19. UMPHREY’S McGEE – The Bottom Half (SCI)
20.MIDNIGHT MOVIES – Lion the Girl (New Line Records)
21. BLACTOP MOURNING – No Regret (T-Recs)
The band was discovered on myspace and signed by Counting Crow Adam Duritz for his new Tyrannosaurus Records label. He also sings on four tracks. Angsty lyrics, rockin’ rhythms, quite at home in our Panic! At The Disco/Fall Out Boy world, though with a bit more of a classic rock sound.

Recent Releases:
22. FULTON LIGHTS – S/T (Android Eats Records)
PR compares them to Massive Attack, John Cale, Grizzly Bear and the Tindersticks. I saw a variation of the band play in NYC last year and was mightily impressed. Also liked the main guy’s previous outfits – John Guilt and Maestro Echoplex. Great sample lyric (from “The Sound of the City”): “New York is the city that never…shuts up.”
23. SIA – Lady Croissant (Astralwerks)
24. The STOOGES – The Weirdness (Virgin)
25. DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER – More Behind the Picture Than the Wall (Rounder)
A duplicate, official version of a CD I got in advance form a few weeks ago,

YTD Total: 90

"The Evening Was Purely Orgasmic"

A publicist sent out this posting from a blog...
He's promoting the upcoming release from a former member of Savage Garden, an act referred to in my home as the Koala Boys, since their music had as much edge as a marshmallow.

"The concert was amazing! Darren has a way of interacting with the audience that makes you feel like you are his best friend; he shares the most intimate, energetic, blissful, and painful experiences of his life through his music. His first single to be released Step Into the Light features the lyric "I've never been in love before" which paves they way into the emotional and personal journey of his new album. His dance singles are incredible, one in which he mixes Rock me Amadeus -- a excellent throwback into the 80's synth revolution. But perhaps my favorite was How to Build a Time Machine -- the title alone gives me tingles. Words, another track from his new album, ripped my heart out in a way that only he could. But the absolute best was Me Myself and I which, let me tell you, has to be played in every dance club come the release in August. One of my favorite moments was when Darren was speaking to the audience and accidentally introduced the wrong song. "Forgive me, I don't have my glasses on. I have glasses now ... and I'm gay." This is met by thunderous applause, followed by "Yes, I look quite nice in glasses." The evening was purely orgasmic, followed by Vicki and I meeting Darren. He was sooooo sweet and his husband Richard is adorable. Let me tell you, this album is going to be Insatiable. And can I just brag once more, I hugged Darren Hayes tonight!!!! :)"

Clearing the Decks...

Just a quick hit tonight, while I enjoy "30 Rock," in an effort to bring things up to date.
Here are the latest Washington Post previews:
Alexandria Symphony Orchestra
Of Montreal
Liz Carroll and John Doyle

And the next one resumes the long-lost CD Aquisition Year-to-Date tally.
The show in question - two local acts at the Barns of Wolf Trap - Fighting Gravity and the Niki Barr Band
The management for these two acts is really on the case. Prompt reply to my emails, overnight delivery of the CDs – some of them including bonus discs of additional press materials. Funny, though, only B&W pics sent digitally.
1.NIKI BARR – Lush (Self-released)
Extra CD with reviews, photos, and video materials
2.NIKI BARR – Go (Self-released)
Bonus DVD of her Armed Forces Entertainment Tour in 2006
3.FIGHTING GRAVITY – Blue Sky & Black (self-released)
4.FIGHTING GRAVITY – Blue Sky & Black (self-released)
Different edition, this one with a CD of acoustic tracks from the band’s archives and demos of the studio CD, plus an electronic press pack.

Next week's Post previews (you heard it here first):
5. UNCLE EARL – Waterloo, Tennessee (Rounder)
Out next week (March 13th) as will be my interview/preview. The all g'Earl string band is playing the Birchmere on the 16th, promoting a lovely new CD that was produced by Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones. An odd pairing, but we had fun talking about how four strong women related to the former heavy metal wild man.
6. BOX - Just a Phase (Boy Dog Records)
"The band of busy beavers" is playing a show at the Firehouse Grill on St. Patty's Day. I woder how many members of the audience will really hear the words of "Lezzies for the Lord"?

Also coming to town (though I didn't preview):
7.LOS LOBOS – Acoustic En Vivo (Los Lobos Records)
Appearing at the State Theatre tomorrow night, March 9th.

Two new winning additions to the shelves:
8. AIR – Pocket Symphonies (Astralwerks)
Played this one two times in a row last week on an evening drive home from the Jacks Mannequin show and loved the spacey vibe.
9.SANJAY MISHRA – Chateau Benares (Akar Music)
A good companion to the Air album, in a mellow “Music from the Hearts of Space” way. It’s chill without having that sleepy new age feel.

Stuff that just didn’t do it for me:
10. UNCLE MONK – S/T (Airday Records)
Tommy Ramone goes all acoustic country on your ass with Claudia Tienan.
11. KATHIE BAILLIE – Love’s Funny That Way (Aspirion)
Country pop shlock.
12. PORTER BLOCK – Suburban Sprawl (Engine Room Recordings)
I got a second copy of this CD, slightly different than the one that came last year (single mixes of two tracks, and a new one), but it doesn’t impress the second time around. The PR people stress comparisons to XTC and Fountains of Wayne, but not this is simple pop at best, not to those higher levels of either melody or cleverness.
13.MATTHEW RYAN - From a Late Night High Rise (00:02:59)
Written in response to the sentencing of his brother to 30 years in prison (there’s no mention of why) and the death of a good friend, the vibe here is pretty much as downcast as you’d expect.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I don’t have anything to say about these albums yet, so let’s just make some lists...
Advances:
14. RICKY SKAGGS & BRUCE HORNSBY – Self-Titled (Sony Legacy)
Out March 20th.
15.MIDNIGHT MOVIES – Lion the Girl (New Line Records)
oops, sorry. Not sure of the release date.
16.DOYLE LAWSON & QUICKSILVER – More Behind the Picture Than the Wall (Rounder)
Out March 27.
17. PAM TILLIS – Rhinestoned (Stellar Cat)
Out April 17th.

Various Artists:
18.VARIOUS ARTISTS – Valentine’s Sampler (Arista)
Skews country with Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, et al. I think I’m getting soft, but I kinda like Paisley’s “Little Moments.”
19.VARIOUS ARTISTS – Find It. Try It. Buy It. Trade It.
Record & Tape Traders 3-act sampler of local music including The Sketches, who didn’t impress me live, but I’ll give ‘em a shot to prove me wrong.

And finally:
20.ADRIENNE YOUNG – Room to Grow (self-released?)
21. Q-BURNS ABSTRACT MESSAGE – Agave Nectar, Vol. 1 (Agave Records)
22. PAULSON – All At Once (Doghouse Records)
23.LEEROY STAGGER – Depression River (Boompa Records)
24.ANNE McCUE – Koala Motel (Messenger Records)
25.JESSE SYKES & The SWEET HEREAFTER – Like, Love, Lust & the Open Halls of the Soul (Barsuk)
26. ELISABETH AMES & the COUNTRYPOLITANS – Anytime (Ultrapolitan Records)

YTD Total: 65

You Say It's Your Birthday?

It's my birthday, too, yeah!
My dear friend and web/book designer, Eric, created this image for me. It's Marcia the Martian, my mascot and alter-ego. Her/our motto: the pen is mightier than the ray gun!

I was trying to post all day yesterday, but blogger.com was giving me all kinds of error messages. Now that I'm older and wiser - and signed up (reluctantly) for their new Google-associated service - I seem to be back in business. So let's get to it! (We're not getting any younger!)

Time to clear the decks of accumulated musical miscellany. For one, we’ve been out a few times in the recent past, and have pictures to prove it.

After doing a Post preview about the Guggenheim Grotto, which included a lovely phone call with percussioinist/producer Shane Power, I saw the band at Jammin Java and was impressed again with the Irish trio’s quiet power.

They’re also effusively friendly folk, each offering a hug and easy chat to all comers, including yours truly.

Took Grace to see British pop sensation Lily Allen, and she didn’t disappoint at the 930 Club. A bundle of sassy energy, Allen’s live show stressed the reggae rhythms that flow more quietly throughout her debut CD, but the real fun is in her takin’ no BS from nobody lyrics, that are tough but charming and full of playful, cheeky humor.


Grace and her two-teen-pal posse were also smitten with Andrew of Jack’s Mannequin, whom we caught on the second of two nights, also at the 930 Club. He’s a talented, literate emo boy with a piano and a surprisingly big stage show (big but unobtrusive lighting rigs, a confetti explosion at show’s end) that underlined rather than undermined his melodious, heartfelt tunes. He also did a credible cover of Tom Petty’s “American Girl,” which scored well with the parental guardians there with their teenage daughters.

Thanks to the tall, wool-hatted dude who was helping clear the stage, I scored a set list from the show – Andrew’s own, pulled from his next-to-piano bench and still moist from his spilled drink. The girls were mightily impressed.

Openers Head Automatic had a sound designed to appeal to old Costello fanatic like myself – angular melodies, tight rhythms, snarled lyrics – but lead singer Daryl Palumbo put me off the band with his arrogant and f-bomb laden stage patter.
Grace thought he was drunk.

If Music Be the Food of Love...

We were snowed in on Valentine’s Day, second day in a row. Time to get warm by the fire and sort through all the new music that’s come my way in the last few weeks…

Here’s where I spent my own cash money:
1. The SHINS – Wincing the Night Away (SubPop)
Terry plays this just about every day, and it’s a tribute to this band that I haven’t gotten sick of it yet. Terry also tells me that he’s read a number of reviews slamming the Shins for getting big and experimental. I can hear that the sound’s a bit more polished, and there are more strings and keyboards than before, but it still sounds like the Shins to me, and it still sounds pretty damn good,
2. NELLIE McKAY – Pretty Little Head (Hungry Mouse/Sony/BMG)
I was surprised to see the Sony designation on the label. Didn’t those corporate weasels try to shut this release down? I bet I would really love Ms. McKay in concert – she’s a smartass, and I like that in my female singers (see Lily Allen). But this second release, like her debut, is a 2-disc set, and a lot of the songs sound like little throwaways, fun to entertain the concert crowd, and maybe they’re here as a souvenir of great night out, but a lot of them drift by without feeling fully formed.
3. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Different Strokes by Different Folks (Epic/Legacy)
From my yourmusic.com queue, and they’ve raised the price to $6.99 per, which just seems like so much more of a commitment than $5.99 somehow. Having seen this collection in the overpriced Starbucks racks, I will accept that this is still a deal and Terry was delighted’cause he’s a huge Sly fan. I thought he’d find the idea of redoing these classics blasphemous, but he loved it.
4. OF MONTREAL – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? (Polyvinyl Record Co.)
This band will play the State Theatre in Falls Church on March 6, and I have my editor’s permission to preview the show. The CD, on first listen, had me grooving along and laughing out loud at the clever lyrics – for about the first half. And then it just got kind of annoying. I will revisit for the story, and hope to see the show. This release is just the tip of the iceberg for a band with a half dozen releases, so I’m betting they can put on a good show.
(After buying this neatly packaged CD at Best Buy for $10, I got a promo copy in the mail, but I will only list it once as I still have the purchased copy in the original shrink wrap, and intend to exchange it.)
5. JOHN MAYER – Continuum (Aware/Columbia)
Subtitled “Music by John Mayer” which adds a layer of pretense to the enterprise, but I will give the guy credit as a guitarist and occasionally great songwriter (“My Stupid Mouth”) with horrifying lapses in taste (“Daughters,” Jessica Simpson). Another yourmusic.com purchase.
6. SUFJAN STEVENS – Presents Songs for Christmas (Asthmatic Kitty)
Yeah, I know I’m far behind to be listing a Christmas CD now, but it is was, indeed, a 2007 purchase. I tried to special order this sweet little boxed set from my local Barnes & Noble in time for the Cool Yule compilation, but the store never got it in. I wound up buying it in early January through amazon.com so as not to miss out on the initial edition, with all the cute stickers and stuff. So it will be the first out of the box next November….

Traded for at the CD Cellar:
7. BREAKING and ENTERING – soundtrack (V2)
Music by Gabriel Yared and Underworld. At first listen, this seemed so soft as to be inconsequential, but I trust these artists to grow with time, and so they had in the second listen. A surprising change of pace for Underworld, known around our kitchen as the high NRG go-to act for boosting our lazy asses, but successful in its quiet grace.
From the $1.99 clearance bin:
8. HOPE OF THE STATES – Winter Riot Dust Rackets (Epic)
I may already have this CD single, but I couldn’t risk it. I have such fond memories of the band’s performance 2 years ago at CMJ, I’m hoping they will return sometime.
9. SHELBY LYNNE – Epic Recordings (Lucky Dog/Sony Music)
Having totally missed the point when they had her on the label, Epic trades in on Lynne’s hard-earned post-Epic credibility by reissuing some early tracks. They didn’t even bother with a nice cover shot or design above the clip art variety. A few keepers, but mostly generic tunes.
10. SPIRALING – Transmitter (Brizmuzik)
Wrote about this band many moons ago, working from a cheap advance, so I picked up this nicely designed official release.
11. VARIOUS ARTISTS – The Best of Broadway: The American Musical (Decca/Columba Broadway Masterworks)
No cover, so I didn’t know what was inside, but it turned out to be a 20+ collection of tracks of singalong fun, and it’s easy to skip the song from “Phantom of the Opera.”

INTERMISSION
This is all you need to know about this:
DIE HUNNS are about to hit the road in support of their new Volcom Entertainment album, “You Rot Me.”

Most of the albums sent to me are done so to pitch upcoming shows, so here’s a sampling of who’s coming to Town:
12.NANCI GRIFFITH – Ruby’s Torch (Rounder)
She’s written some lovely songs, but I’ve never been a big fan of her reedy voice, and it gets particularly squeaky on some of the tracks here – a collection of covert tunes. It’s a fans-only event as far as I can see. How can you not prefer the gruff contrast of Tom Waits’ grizzled voice on the original “Ruby’s Arms”? Anyway, for those who like this kind of thing, she’s playing the Birchmere on March 17th.
13. The BROKEN WEST - I Can't Go On, I'll Go On (Merge)
Yet another fine indie band and there are two chances to catch ‘em soon opening for other fine indie bands - March 23rd with the Walkmen, and
April 3rd with the Long Winters, both at Rock and Roll Hotel.
14. SHAW-BLADES – Influence (VH-1 Classics Records)
So here we have Tommy Shaw (of STYX) and Jack Blades (Night Ranger) and they, too, have recorded an album of cover songs, done in frighteningly similar style to the originals. Wasn’t the first version of Seals & Crofts’ “Summer Breeze” enough to last a lifetime? There’s a serviceable version of Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work,” but I still don’t get the point.
Playing at the Birchmere on March 26th.
15. RICHARD BUCKNER – Meadow (Merge)
Buckner will be appearing at the IOTA on February 19th, part of a US tour with Kent, OH's Six Parts Seven. Frankly, it’s the latter that’s got me intrigued. 6P7 just released Casually Smashed To Pieces (Suicide Squeeze Records) and will serve as both opening act and Buckner’s backing band. 6P7 creates instrumental music that has often been used in music beds for their syndicated programs) and has had friends like Modest Mouse, Iron and Wine, Pedro The Lion re-working some of their older songs. Here’s one called ”Stolen Moments” Coming to Jammin Java February 20th.

16. ERNIE HALTER – CONGRESS HOTEL (Rock Ridge Music)
His press bio says he’s got 72,000 friends on his MySpace and a live "tour van cam" with nightly webcasts of his concerts across the US. He also rounded up some choice players for his album, including Pete Thomas (from Elvis Costello's Attractions).
17. TONY LUCCA – Canyon Songs (Rock Ridge Music)
He’s a veteran of the Mickey Mouse Club, and was heavily inspired by the classic folkies of the Laurel and Beachwood Canyons, where most of this album was either written and or recorded. The trouble with being a singer/songwriter these days is finding a way to stand apart from the pack. How many James Taylors can there be? Lucca strikes me more as a Livingston Taylor – not a major talent, but capable and pleasant, sure to show the audience a good time.
And BTW...
THE YOUNG KNIVES CD “Voices of Animals and Men” was listed here before, and gets a US release through RykoDisc in March. And here’s a heads-up on them coming to town – the Black Cat, March 5th. Suprisingly, they’re playing the back stage.

Promos, but no tour dates ‘round here just yet:
18. CHUCK E. WEISS - 23rd & Stout (Cooking Vinyl)
Subtitled "Deranged Detective Mysteries," this is one for the offbeat, pseudo-jazz Tom Waits fans, of which I am one.
19. 8-BIT OPERATORS - The Music of Kraftwerk Performed on Vintage 8-Bit Video Game Systems (Astralwerks)
Sounds like a gimmick, right? And yeah, it kinda is, but it also zips – and blips – by with a bright bounce. Not something I would have rushed out to buy, but fun to have,
20. FUTURE CLOUDS & RADAR - S/T (??)
You gotta have balls to release a debut CD that runs across 2 discs, but this “polychromatic art-pop” band from Austin, TX makes it worth the listener’s time investment. Frontman and founder Robert Harrison's was in a garage rock band called Cotton Mather, and now he’s heading a group that brings out the Beatlesque harmonies and hooks, “Revolver” era.

YTD Total: 39

It's Pazz and Jop Time Again

The annual Village Voice Critics Poll came out this week, and – as this is the one poll I’ve participated in for the past 15 years or so - it’s always fun to see what their broad selection (dozens, maybe even hundreds) of music writers considers the best of the year. You can see the overall results here and, if you like, my personal ballot.

Part of the fun is seeing where my picks stand as regards the top ranked CDs. Am I still plugged in? Am I hip to what’s happening? What’s my street cred, dawg? As usual, I’m on the softer side of Sears.

While I was part of the herd for albums like The Decemberists (I still feel bad for leaving them off my list last year), The Thermals and Regina Spektor, all of whom placed in the Top 50, there’s two discs in the Top 10 that I wouldn’t know if they licked my face (more likely they’d just call me names) – Ghostface Killah andClipse. No, I’m just not the hip-hop type, and since I have to buy the majority of my mainstream market CDs, I don’t hear a lot of that brand of buzz stuff. Only 9 other critics joined with me in giving props to Josh Ritter, and no one else at all placed Matt Nathanson, World/Inferno Friendship Society , The Cat Empire or Teitur
in their Top 10.

I was more in tune with the pack on the singles, since those get airplay in the general marketplace. I was in on the #1 single with everybody else –Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy.” But the success of that group really reinforces my position in a way. It’s a rare hip-hop record indeed that reaches across the demographic (even more than racial) divide to grab me. The single I stood totally alone in praising was The Editors’ “Munich,” but the tally says that a few people had chosen it in 2005.

Does this all mean that, ultimately, I’m more of a pop girl than a rock chick? Nah. I just like what I like.

Things I Learned This Weekend

Even when I'm not "working," music is everywhere, and stuff I want to share/learn more about sneaks up on me, as it did throughout this weekend.

Last night, killing time while waiting for "Saturday Night Live" (wanted to see Lily Allen, and she was worth it), I pulled an old promo VHS out of the box to watch while doing other tasks and grabbed "Swing," a British film starring pop thrush Lisa Stanfield in a "wildly hilarious" (not) movie that also featured the E Street Band's Clarence Clemons. It wasn't much of a plot - guy gets out of prison, puts together a swing band, and wins back the girl who married the cop who put him away. Stanfield has a nice voice, and the soundtrack offered some Louis Jordan, too. Must remember to check into some old swing sounds...

Speaking of soundtracks, am on the lookout for the score to "Babel," a wonderful film the hubby and I caught up with on Friday night. Not as depressing as I feared, and full of heart-breaking moments to remind us of our common vulnerability in this fearful modern world. Beauitful music throughout.

Today, I reached back into the video box and found a promotional tape from the Sundance Film Channel with three episodes of the series "Keeping Time," about American roots music. The first episode had a long look at Nickel Creek, including a great live cover of Nirvana. Another band I need to find out more about. Also fun to see a segment on small labels with plenty of shots from SXSW, which I would like to attend some day.

And now, I've got "Extras" on, with Chris Martin taking a fine piss out of himself to promote the new Coldplay greatest hits collection. Since I've been attempting to organize the photo collection this weekend, I have handy two shots of Mr. Martin, taken at a long-ago HFS-tival. One is a stage shot....



The other picture is, for me, testimony to his good guy-ness. I was in the backstage bowels of RFK Stadium when the band came running by, headed for the stage, about to perform in front of a crowd of 50,000, previewing new material from the "X &Y" album, which was still weeks off. One of the young teens I was with took off after the band, running alongside them and trying to say hello. I tried, but couldn't stop her, and was steeling myself for some kind of negative response - which I could see as deserved, given the high anxiety of those last pre-stage moments. Instead, Chris Martin noticed my young friend, stopped in his tracks and asked "would you like a picture?" And she quickly passed the camera off (to me? to my daughter?) to capture a golden Kodak moment. So here's to you, Chris Martin. Maybe I didn't think "X & Y" was a riveting piece of work, but you've still got soul in my book...



Can't talk about this weekend in music without mentioning Prince at the Super Bowl. Points for a trooper who will put it all out there even with in a downpour - which made "Purple Rain" all that more effecting. And while we didn't get the butt-less trousers, that little trick he pulled, playing behind a scrim which made his guitar even more of a phallic symbol, kept alive the tradition of "WTF?!" Super Bowl musical moments.

Another piece of music news I discovered tonight, upon perusal of the James Brown memorial issue of Rolling Stone, is that my hands-down favorite contemporary music writer, Rob Sheffield, has a book out. This guy is laugh-out-loud funny in his regular columns for the magazine, and the one time I met him - at a CMJ conference a few years back - he came across as a genuinely friendly, no-pretense kind o' guy. The book is called "Love is a Mix Tape," an ode to his late wife, the equally charming Renee Crist, whom I had one delightful dinner with ages ago on a visit to LA. I can't wait to read it - going to Barnes and Noble tomorrow. (Flirted with amazon, but want Rob to get every penny he can.) His column ends with what appears to be an emal link, but it actually just takes you to the RS web site, so I couldn't send him a cyber note of congratulations.

Actually, I did take care of a little bizniz this weekend. Updated the closepersonalfriend web site to include the latest music previews for the washington post:
The Guggenheim Grotto at Jammin Java
Lennex, HumanRoom, et al at Arlington Cinema ‘n’ Drafthouse

I'm way behind on the O/CD tally, but here's a few new ones, with more to follow soon (they're piling up!)
1. SONDRE LERCHE and the FACES DOWN - Phantom Punch (Astralwerks)
Much as I love Lerche, his latest (fourth) full-length album, isn’t doing it for me. He recorded with his Faces Down band, several songs captured live in one take, and he’s clearly going for a more aggressive sound. And that’s the trick. “I didn’t want to be subtle this time around,” he says in the press kit, “I wanted every song to jump out of the speakers.”
Producer Tony Hoffer has worked with Beck, Belle & Sebastian and Marianne Faithful, but here he's more in his Supergrass mode. The problem for me is that Lerche is so charming and distinctive in his classic songbook pop mode, why would he want to trade it for a dime-a-dozen rock sound?
Due February 6th
2. LOST IN THE TREES - Time Haunts Me (Trekky Records)
This is a solo CD from Ari Picker, leader of The Never, who released a storybook album, “Antarctica” (with artwork by Picker), last year. It was quite lovely - as is this one, a compilation of songs, written over the last 7 years, that tends toward the more solemn and personal. A guy who’s spent time at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Picker has a classical flourish to his songwriting and used a 9-piece backing orchestra for this, including violins, viola, cello, upright bass, trombone, melodica and banjo. A nice change of pace. Here’s a link to the track ”Tall Trees”
Due March 20th.
3. The GUGGENHEIM GROTTO - ...Waltxing Alone (UFO)
The afore-mentioned Post preview was one of those I pushed a bit harder for since I really wanted to cover the band. They'll be at Jammin Java this Wednesday and I expect to be there, camera in hand.

YTD Total: 19

OMG! MTV is playing music videos again

Back in The Day, Sunday night was when you heard all the good stuff. Back in NYC, there was Vin Scelsa's "Idiot's Delight" radio show; here in DC, HFS played local music and new releases and true alternatives. And MTV had "120 Minutes," where you could watch the more interesting new stuff from the American indie and underground scenes, plus breaking British stuff. But now, thanks to the teen in the house, I've found MTV2's "Subterranean," where I've just seen videos by The Shins, Postal Service, Beck and now, Interpol. Awright!

I haven't put up any photos in a while, so let me get out these few from the England trip.
It turned out that our artist's sublet was not only in the hipster territory of Hoxton Square, but also literally around the corner from a live concert venue. We didn't realize it the first night, when Terry and I went to the bar for a few drinks, but behind a curtain past the bathrooms was a square room with space for about 100 people and a raised stage. I knew something was up when I saw five guys sporting guitars and teased hair leave with a rowdy entourage. Terry came out of the men's room a few moments later to tell me about the boorish boys he'd just encountered, comparing the size of their manhoods (boyhoods?). I immediately went on a fact-finding mission and discovered the venue area, where the bartender told me that the band in question was "crap" (he didn't know their name), but Amy Winehouse's brother (posters for Ms. Winehouse were all around town during our visit) had also performed that night and he was pretty good.

So, I checked into my copy of Time Out London and lo, the next night was a triple feature of Ghosts, Jesus Licks and Arthur Brick.
(Ooops. Perhaps I spoke too soon. This video station just played Fergie's "London Bridge" nonsense and now there's a trashy Latino pop video. I'm outta here.)

The way TO described the acts it seemed like a good way to spend a night, so we left the kids in the apartment (they had a chance to come, but were tired. HA! Let the old-timers show the kids how it's done) and headed over to the bar, where a mere 5 pound cover got us in.

Can't say much about Ghosts, since we arrived during the last song, but Jesus Licks was almost comically bad. Two men, who seemed to know how to play, and two women - the world's most listless drunmer, plus a "lead singer" whose voice was so fragile that I was reminded of my daughter's vocal recital, where most of the audience held its breath nervously for fear the singers might break and leave the stage crying. The sound - a wannabe Fairport Convention-style folk-rock - and its pained execution seemed better suited to an afternoon arts and crafts fair than a professional music club. Chances are, you'll never hear of them again, but here they are:


After the awkwardness of Jesus Licks, we toyed with leaving, but chose to give the headliner a chance and I'm glad we did. Arthur Brick was everything the other band wasn't - confident, accomplished, interesting. Made up of two older guys - one on stand-up bass, the other a Jack of many trades, mostly intriguing folk-y instruments - and two young snappers - one on drums and occasional rappy vocals, the other a keyboard/sampler and theremin wizard - the Brick (is there an Arthur in the bunch?) veered from a punky. somewhat Pogues-ian, tradtional sound to beat-dominated grooves that reminded me and hubby of Talking Heads. All in all, a happy discovery, and a band I'd like to know more about.



A visit to the band's not-very-intuitve web siteoffers links (if you can find 'em) to some sound samples.

One Pound = Two Dollars

And finally, for the O/CD project, here's the musical acquisitions from the Trip Across the Pond:

From the newsstand at the tube station:
1.VARIOUS ARTISTS - The Playlist Vol. 3 (Playmusic Magazine)
I thought I would load up on all my favorite British magazines and save money doing so, but with the awful dollar value, I would save very little $ and have to lug the extra weight, so I grabbed only this one, which I haven’t seen in the U.S. Grace immediately fell in love with the cute band on the cover, so I picked up the CD for her later in the trip.

At the TESCO Express across from Liverpool Station:
2. VARIOUS ARTISTS - NME: The Essential Bands
Why is it that the British do such good compilations? This 2-CD set cost me almost $25, but it is jam-packed with all the names I’ve been reading about, and offers genuine hits (now I don’t have to buy the only Killers single worth hearing from the new CD) and great new discoveries.
3. PAOLO NUTINI - These Streets (Atantic)
He’s young and he’s Scottish and he’s cute, so when I saw a good write-up – with nice photo – in a magazine some time ago, I “gave” him to my teenage neighbor/cat sister as her new boyfriend and promised to find the CD in our travels. He’s not bad – bright pop/rock with a bit more credibility than the usual pretty boys.
4. The AUTOMATIC - Not Accepted Anywhere (B-Unique/Polydor)
The cute band Grace spied on the cover of Playmusic magazine. The single “Monster” is silly rock fun.

At the HMV store in The Oracle, Reading:
5. GET CAPE. WEAR CAPE. FLY - The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager (Atlantic)
LOVED the band name, and the sticker promised a sound (Billy Bragg-ish) that I might like, so I took the chance.
6. LILY ALLEN - Still, Alright (Transgressive)
She’s a big star in Britain, and is about to launch her U.S. assault next month. Grace immediately took to her, and I like the sassy female vibe. She sounds bright and poppy, but listen closely and she’s telling off the boys in no uncertain terms, while celebrating a sunny day in London, watching crack whores and granny thieves at work. We like our ladies sweetly subversive.
7. The FRATELLIS - Costello Music (Drop the Sun Recordings)
Grace took to their song on the NME compilation, and the buzz was good, so we took another chance, and it paid off. Goofy but talented, with a distinctly British dance hall theatricality and juvenile (in a nice way) spunk, kinda like The Faces’ little brothers. Songs with whistling and engaging singalong ‘na-na-na” chorus and titles like "Vince the Loveable Stoner" and "Got Ma Nuts from a Hippy." What’s not to love?
8. SPIRITUALIZED - Amazing Grace (Sanctuary)
I've followed this band for awhile, but like them more in theory (great packaging) than in practice (I rarely listen through an entire CD). Since this title was on super-sale (2 pounds), I took another chance, but can't say a first listen changed my mind. Elements I liked, but not consistently.
9. The YOUNG KNIVES - Voices of Animals and Men (Transgressive)
When Terry came back from a trip to England last Novemeber, he said this was the band he kept hearing about. I found a single of theirs in the Tower records clearance and was quite taken with it, so the band was top o' the radar for this trip's music search. And the full CD lives up to my expectations - plenty of spiky hooks, odd detours and angular rhythms - real alternative rock.

10. DOCTOR WHO - Radio Times freebie (BBC Audiobooks)

Gifts from my British friends
11. JAMES BROWN - Funky Christmas (Polygram)
I have a variation of this album in another form – probably just the American release.
12. VARIOUS ARTISTS - In the City - Unsigned
Three discs of new alternative rock. Will be a challenge to know who’s who, since the iTunes playlist print-out stopped with disc one.

Virgin Records store at airport:
13. SCOTT MATTHEWS - Passing Strangers (San Remo)
Heard this playing in-store at the HMV in Reading, and thought it sounded neat, but the price was close to $20 American, and I had plenty of others to buy. Luckily, saw it again at the airport store for about $15, and am glad I brought it home. A soulful voice and a sweet vibe.
14. BASEMENT JAXX- The Singles (XL Recordings)
Gracie’s choice, and a great car album, full of fist-pumping fun. Favorite tracks: “Romeo” and “Where’s Your Head At?”

YTD total: 16

The Latest Links

Today was a day to update the Close Personal Friend web site archives with the most recent articles I've written for the Washington Post. And, while I finish off the list of new music acquired in England, and that which was waiting for me upon my return, I share those links here, for your one-stop reading pleasure...


Bottle Rockets at IOTA Club and Cafe

Steep Canyon Rangers at State Theatre

Jimmie's Chicken Shack at Fat Tuesday's

The Grandsons at Clarendon Ballroom

And this one, from last year, 'cause it was fun to catch up with the man who once Blinded Me With Science:

Thomas Dolby, BT at the Birchmere

Greetings from the U.K.

Well, it's been six great days in the U.K. and we leave tomorrow. I have photos (on another computer) and stories to share, but there's no time now! Just wanted you all (whoever you are) that I haven't forgotten you.

Tune in later this weekend for on-stage pics of Jesus Licks (didn't like them), Arthur Brick (liked them quite a bit) and a list of cool new music collected abroad....

cheerio!

Get The Party Started

I'm leaving for London tomorrow, for a week, to see the College Girl settled into her sping semester abroad. I tend to go into a nesting ritual before such trips, trying to put the entire house in order while I figure out what to pack. But I don't want to leave before dropping a few lines here.

I wanted to start the New Year off on the right foot, with something positive, but there wasn't a lot happening in my musical world the past few days, 'cept for being annoyed at the promo pic for the new Rolling Stone reality series, in which one of the two female wanna-be reporters is posed sitting up on the desk around which the male candidates are gathered, showing off her leggy, mini-skirted journalistic credentials. Perhaps I can plan to be out of the country every Sunday night.

But, as I said, it's too early in the year for bitchery. Thanks to an email from the PR folks at Tell All Your Friends, I found something much more fun to share. In touting a new act, Fujiya & Miyagi, whose "Transparent Things" comes out February 6th, the group included a link to a video of a dude named Charles dancing to the track, "Photocopier".

The link takes you to the YouTube collection of said Charles Dancing, a beefy young man who just lets his groove thing go in front of a camera, with "costume" (jeans and t-shirt) and "cinematography" that make the OK Go clip for "A Million Ways" look like "Lord of the Rings." He's loose and natural and throughly appealing, and I can see bands submitting songs to him just to see how he interprets them. Is Charles Dancing the next Viral Video hit?

In other press mailing news, the lovely people at Team Clermont have announced their new Digital Delivery service, and so will not be sending out hard copies of new CDs. Instead, they sent a link to a download of the new CD by The Couch and Four (I don't think I'm authorized to share it). As they said it:
" While there are certainly some drawbacks to moving away from sending physical promos, we can't help but be excited by these facets of our Digital Delivery plans:
* Cuts down on the expense and time it takes to mail
* Eliminates a substantial amount of waste from bubble mailers, bios, and the like
* Does not contribute to cluttering your office/apartment/house
* Allows for delivery of audio and biographical content in a convenient package"

I'll check it out, but I may still take them up on the promise to send physical copies to those who ask. And no, it's not a way to beef up the stack of stuff I sometimes take to the trade-in store. Call me old school - or just call me old - but as much as I love my iPod, I have a hard time keeping track of even those digital files I buy for myself out of genuine interest. I keep a stack of the new promo acquistions near the stereo and rotate a few each week into the car, so that I can just plug 'em in and test them out. And I still like looking at the covers, reading liner notes and gleaning what I can from the packages before/as I hear the music. Digital direct is the way of the future, sure, but that doesn't automatically mean it's always better.

Case in point, takes me to the first new musical acquisitons of the new year:
1. Arthur Dodge - The Perfect Face (Remedy Records)
An unexpected, but most welcome, surprise from YARRR! PR. A singer/songwriter with a a definite young Dylan vibe, less obstuse, more romantic and initially quite impressive.
2. Hero Pattern - The Deception EP (self-released?)
A little hint of early Elvis Costello rhythms and attitude (always a good thing) in a relatively generic alt-rock package.

And so, the Year-to-Date total (at least until I test out the Team Clermont offering) is...
YTD: 2