Cute Little British Jazzman

Saw Jamie Cullum last night at the 930 Club. What a cutie! Very upbeat, energetic show, so don’t take the album’s MOR sound at face value. My favorite shots from the show (although I should have tried harder to get a better angle – lots of rejected shots of the back of his head!) are available on my mac.com site.
Brandi Carlisle opened and, while I still don’t get exactly what all the fuss is about (in recent days, both a local club owner and a singer/songwriter I was interviewing for a story gushed about her), she also is better live than the CD would lead you to believe. Good night of music all around, and there's beaucoup d'new additions to the collection…

Before we recap, the latest Post previews are:
1.Seven Nations and Black 47 at the State Theatre
Casiotone for the 2. Painfully Alone, the Donkeys (one show) and The Echoes and Brainfang (the next night) at the Galaxy Hut
BTW, these are not being touted as among my most creative works, since they were written while I was still recovering from the “London Lurgy” (a Brit friend says that what an undiagnosed sickness is called). Next week will be better – interviews with area singer/songwriter Lisa Moscatiello and film composer/leader of the Cinematic Underground Nathan Johnson.

Saturday, March 25
1.LIVINGSTON TAYLOR – There You Go Again (Whistling Dog)
It has to be frustrating to be a reasonably talent singer/songwriter whose older brother just happens to be a God of the Genre. Livingston is coming to the Wolf Trap Barns in a few week, so this came as a pitch.

Friday, March 24
A visit to the mall scored a few sweet surprises in that some of the regional Sam Goody stores are going out of business (I have stories from years ago, when I was manager of the Woodhaven Blvd. Goody’s 7” vinyl singles department) and there were some bargains to be had among the wreckage.
2. INTERPOL – Antics (Matador)
The remix and video added version, for just $9. Wonder how much credit I can get for the original, single disc version I already own?
3. VARIOUS ARTISTS – One Kiss Could Lead to Another: Girl Group Sounds Lost & Found (Rhino)
At $35 for 4 discs, not a super-bargain, but you can’t beat the packaging – like a girl’s hat box – and this label always does such a great job with compilations. I think it would be a creative music fan’s dream job to work on these packages – gathering up cool, obscure tracks and then coming up with the concepts to box ‘em. Anyway, this one makes you perk up as soon as you put one of the discs on – the driving beat, giddy harmonies, the delicious ‘get away from my boyfriend’ or ‘I love the jerk’ lyrics that let us think we may have progressed somewhat in the gender wars. Though most of the tracks are B-sides and regional favorites, there are some true classics here – “Oh, No, Not My Baby” by Maxime Brown is an all-time favorite – and I bet you’d be surprised at how many bring back memories or make you say ‘I didn’t know that was a girl group song; I though so-and-so made it a hit.”
4. BARBRA STREISAND – The Television Specials (Rhino)
My steal of the night – the stylish boxed set of all 5 CBS specials for $30. Contemporary singers like Mariah Carey, Christine Aguilera and Barbra Streisand (Mach 2) should be made to watch these and learn that beating the notes into submission is not as good as singing the song with simplicity and sincerity.

Saturday, March 18:
5. ARCTIC MONKEYS – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (Domino)
Believe the hype. Damn fun CD, and the band rocked it on last week’s SNL broadcast. Grace was excited to hear that we were stopping at Circuit City to take advantage of the $7.99 sale on her new boys.

At the CD Trade-In store:
6. DAMON ALBURN and EINAR ORN BENEDIKTSSON -101 Reykjavik soundtrack (EMI)
Bought for hubby, who has developed quite the retroactive fondness for Blur, thanks to Gorillaz and “Think Tank.” Includes a rinky-tink instrumental version of “Lola” which made Terry and me chortle at exactly the same moment. Otherwise, somewhat appealing if generic odd-world music.
7. BJORK – Family Tree (Elektra Entertainment)
Greatest hits, as chosen by Bjork, plus five 3” CDs in little gatefold sleeves, plus a booklet of typically strange artwork and words. A fetish object for completists like me (since I must have almost all the actual music on her original releases) but finally on sale at a price I can justify ($30) – especially since I had more than enough store credit.

$2.00 CD single finds:
8. U2 – Stuck in a Moment You Can’t get Out of CD single (Universal International)
Two tracks here seem to be rare – a song called “Big Girls are Best” (I like the sentiment!) and a nearly eight-minute mix of “Beautiful Day.”
9. HOPE OF THE STATES – Winter Riot Dust Rackets (Epic)
I saw and loved these guys two years ago at the CMJ fest, but they never seemed to cross the pond,
This single offers four tracks – one a demo, one previously unreleased, and a video for “Black Dollar Bills.”
10. HOPE OF THE STATES – The Red The White The Black The Blue (Epic)
Three audio tracks and a video for the title song, in a spiffy die-cut digi-pack.
11. The AMERICAN ANALOG SET – Updates (Tiger Style)
Six songs, nearly 30 minutes of remixes for this band that I don’t know well, but like for their generally chill experimental vibe. Good deal.

The 50-cent CD single finds:
12. WILL YOUNG – Light My Fire CD single
It wasn’t until after I saw “Mrs. Henderson Presents” and was thoroughly charmed by Young’s portrayal of the gleefully gay male ingénue in the stage-show-within-the-film that I realized this was the British Pop Idol winner. That may ruin his credibility in England, but I like the guy, even with his toothsome CD cover and ersatz Latin jazz (copied from Jose Feliciano?) take on The Doors hit, plus what can assume are very Pop Idol renditions of “Beyond the Sea” and “Ain’t No Sunshine.” Nothing daring, just smooth pop fun.
13. KATHRYN WILLIAMS – No One Takes You Home CD (CAW Records/Warner Music)
2002 3-track single by the sweet-voiced singer/songwriter I discovered in London.
14. PEARL JAM – Alive CD single (Epic)
Sticker notes: Not To Be Confused With More Expensive (Identical) Import Version.
I like that Pearl Jam warns its fans not to overpay. And one day, I will put all these collected PJ singles in a lot and sell them on eBay. Is that against the philosophy?
BTW, purchased tix for the band’s upcoming show at Verizon Center in DC. I bet it hurst them almost as much as it hurts me to buy tickets through Ticketbastard.

Friday, March 17:
15. ROSANNE CASH – Black Cadillac (Capitol)
When will the music industry realize the magic of the $10 price point? Ever since hearing about this CD, in which Cash addresses the loss of her father (I can relate), mother and stepmother (Ouch! What a year!), I have been curious about it and, when Borders offered me a coupon to get it for $9.99, I was there. The somber sentiments and restrained playing are beautiful, but my favorite song so far is the slightly pissed-off “Burn Down this Town.” I once attended a delightful press dinner with Rosanne – about 10 of us, back when she first released another bittersweet beauty of an album, “Interiors,” and remember as a classy, gracious lady.

Other recent mailings:


16. WASHINGTON SOCIAL CLUB – Catching Looks (Badman)
Not sure why I was sent this CD, which came in a hand-addressed puffy envelope with no note, no press notes, no clues. I have already written about them, seen them live and bought a copy of the CD from one of the band members after the show. The last time I contacted them, it was to ask for a photo pass to a recent gig, a request never responded to. Great young band, a bit disorganized?
17. SONYA KITCHELL – Words Came Back to Me (Velour)
The official version of a CD I received in advance form last year. She, too is coming to town, and this is a pitch. Nice bluesy vocal style, perhaps the mid point between Norah Jones and Joss Stone. The official release is a nice digi-pack with a little booklet; the advance is a jewel case with front and back cover, but no added graphics. Ah, the decisions I have to make!
18.TEDDY GEIGER – Underage Thinking (Columbia)
This one got some squeals from Grace, who has been smitten by the pretty dark-haired boy’s video. I liked the stuff I heard him sing when he played the fictional musician Warren or Wayne or Whatever? on the short-lived “Love Monkey” TV series, which I watched more out of obligation than actual enjoyment (jealousy).

Bountiful booty – a jazz package from the nice publicist at Concord, celebrating the release of a new series - the RVG Remasters - assembled from the archives of Rudy Van Gelder.
I confess that I don’t know a lot about jazz, but I love learning and, from what I’ve heard so far, these are sessions from a fertile period for a style I like very much!
19. MILES DAVIS – Relaxin’ With the Miles Davis Quintet (Prestige)
20. RED GARLAND – Red Garland’s Piano (Prestige)
21. JOHN COLTRANE – Lush Life (Prestige)
22. The MODERN JAZZ QUARTET - Django (Prestige)
23. SONNY ROLLINS – Saxophone Colossus (Prestige)
24. KENNY BURRELL & JOHN COLTRANE – S/T (Prestige/New Jazz)
25. ERIC DOLPHY – Out There (Prestige/New Jazz)
26. COLEMAN HAWKINS – The Hawk Relaxes (Prestige/Moodsville)
27. GENE AMMONS – Boss Tenor (Prestige)
28. KENNY DORHAM – Quiet Kenny (Prestige/New Jazz)

29. MINMAE – le Grand Essor de la Maison du Monstre (Greyday Records)
Titles to love: "Everyone Knows Jesus Wore a Chain," or "I Was at Johnny’s and He Played Phil Ochs."
30. NICK COLIONNE – Keepin’ It Real (Narada Jazz)
Every piece of press included in the package uses the term “smooth jazz” and it’s the phrase as it describes the worst of the already suspect style – lame, “liquid” guitar that screams late nights in a sleepy, sad airport lounge or misguided romantic ballads for people with no tolerance for a challenge. Colionne’s coming to town, but thankfully, the package arrived late and the week’s already spoken for, so I don’t have to consider him. Sometimes I think I need to write about music I don’t personally care for, to mix things up, but it’s really hard when I actively dislike the act I’m telling people to see.
31. WILLY MASON –Where the Humans Eat (Astralwerks)
Buzz for this young wunderkind, tho’ friends whose taste I much admire didn’t care for him recently when he opened for Aimee Mann (but then, I’ve never been a huge Mann fan, so maybe I’ll respond differently).
32. VARIOUS ARTISTS - SUK on This: British Music at SXSW 2006
K T Tunstall is huge in England – front page stories and quite the acclaim. For a while, I was confusing her with Brandi Carlisle in the Next Big Female Thing stakes, until I realized I didn’t think much of Carlisle’s lyrics. Also on this collection – Editor (also saw a lot about them when I was in London)s, Brakes, The Feeling, Jim Noir (lots of ads for him in the UK, too, and I like the scruffy track here) and The Kooks (love the name).
33. JONAH MATRANGA – There’s a Lot in Here (Jade Tree)
A CD/DVD set, from “the Desire Line Series.” Very low-fi; sounds like it was taken from a fan’s audience recording. That technique worked well for the Replacements’ classic, “The Shit Hits the Fans” semi-legal bootleg, but here I lose the thread. Maybe the DVD will clue me in,
34. The SHARP THINGS – Foxes & Hounds (Bar/None)
Love the titles “The Most Dangerous Man in the Living Room,” or “I’ll Always Be Your Loser, Honey,” but a first listen felt a little lounge limp to me.
35. STEPHEN YERKEY – Meta Neo Nature Boy (The Echo Label)
Intriguing backwoods, front porch sound.

YYD Total 192
course correction: I found a mistaken double entry, so I subtracted one from last entry's total. (Trying to keep it honest here.)