Which reminds me – “Perfect” appears on my Summer ’07 mix, so I’m gonna list the full playlist here as an example – to anyone who cares – of what rocks my socks, musically:
Rehab – AMY WINEHOUSE
Chelsea Dagger – The FRATELLIS*
Underdog – SPOON
Numbers with Wings – BONGOS (Cooking Vinyl reissue)
Someone to Love – FOUNTAINS of WAYNE
Dashboard – MODEST MOUSE
No Cars Go – ARCADE FIRE
Impossible Germany – WILCO
Green Eggs and Ham – DYLAN HEARS A WHO
Perfect – ARMY of ME
Young Folks – PETER, BJORN & JOHN
A Case of You – PRINCE
Going to a Town – RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
Munich – EDITORS
Girls Who Play Guitars – MAXIMO PARK
Atlas – BATTLES
DysFUNKtional – ANDY McCLAIN and the TRAILER PARK TROUBADOURS
“He’s so cute!” my mother is still gushing over Craig Ferguson – and I agree.
• Speaking of The Fratellis, I never put up shots that I took when I saw them, last time through upstate NY, when they appeared at the Albany Empire Plaza (home of The Egg theatre). They were good, but not quite great, and I think they missed an opportunity to get the crowd fully going with the singalong vibe they promise on record. Later, while driving home, I heard a broadcast from another outdoor festival, when one of the DJs commented that the sunny outdoor setting can undercut bands who need the sweaty club atmosphere – “no roof, no rock” is how he put it. I think that may be the Fratellis’ issue.
The Lemonheads were also on the bill, but it appears that Evan Dando's day has passed. His hair left more of an impression than his songs...
And now back to the O/CD tally:
1. MINNIE DRIVER – Seastories (Zoe Records)
“Take Russell Crowe and Keanu Reeve’s Dogstar – please!” The editor cut the Rodney Dangerfield homage out of the Post preview I wrote for Driver’s appearance at the Birchmere recently, but the point was, she is a credible actor-turned-rocker (pop department) – and I’m not just saying that because I would love her to star in the movie I wrote about a suburban mom/former punk icon who is lured back into the bizniz by her guitar-god-wannabe teenage son. Also features Ryan Adams and Liz Phair (the CD, not my movie, though I’d be happy to have them contribute, too).
2. JENNY OWEN YOUNGS – Batten the Hatches (Nettwerk)
I interviewed Jenny Owen Youngs for a Post preview and – since I had to scribble my quote notes, having no recorder with me in my NYC hotel room – the phone conversation had a slight lag to it, as if we were speaking over a bad cell connection (which was also happening). But she’s a smart, funny young woman who really bonds with her audience...
and her CD is much more interesting than a featured track called “Fuck Was I” (as in what the…was I thinking?”) would lead you to believe it would be. And her ability to take songs from other genres and turn them into pretty folk rock is uncanny. On the CD, she does it to “Hot in Herre,” with some comic effect, at the concert she did it to Death Cab’s “The District Sleeps Tonight” – with gorgeous harmonies added by her support band.
A gracious, generous performer (“you’re money’s no good here!” she told me when I went to pay for some buttons, stickers and a nifty ipod skin from her merch table; tho’ I insisted she take cash for the autographed CD), she did a hootenanny encore with openers Jeremy Fisher – who is also quite amusing on stage, more so than his moody CD photos infer - and Sanders Bohike (obviously a popular guy, but I missed his set).
And here's a shot of Jeremy Fisher (who had two nights on Ferguson's show, BTW):
Other recent Post Previews:
P.M. Dawn
Planet Arlington World Music Festival
The Pietasters
Rocco DeLuca & the Burden, The Midway State and The Last Goodnight
Slapsticon film festival
Brother Shamus
And back to the O/CD Project:
Advances:
3. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Sowing the Seeds: The 10th Anniversary (Appleseed Recordings)
The record label was founded by former consumer advocate lawyer Jim Musselman 10 years ago, and so became home to the likes of Pete Seeger, Donovan, and David Bromberg. This 2-CD, 37-track album offers “sociopolitically relevant songs” from the roster and nine exclusive tracks - including the first recorded collaboration between Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen.
Out September 11th,
4. VARIOUS ARTISTS - Give Us Your Poor (Appleseed)
Another anniversary release, this compilation offers 17 exclusive tracks and the second recorded collaboration between Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen (maybe the latter is making up for the fact that his “Seeger Sessions” release didn’t actually include any songs that the former wrote) as well as songs from Jon Bon Jovi, Bonnie Raitt and many others.
Out September 25th
My Own Cash Money:
4. ART BRUT – Bang Bang Rock & Roll (emusic download)
The band’s second full-length, “It’s a Bit Complicated,” came out recently but when I went looking for it on emusic, I was distracted by the desire to get the first one, with the wonderful track, “My Little Brother.” A good sense of humor is a rare thing in rock, so let’s hear it for the Brut.
The band will open locally for the Hold Steady at the 930 Club on Novemeber 20th. Great double bill!
5. The SHARP THINGS - Foxes and Hounds (emusic download)
This one was another emusic purchase, made in preparation to see the band perform at the IOTA earlier this month…
6. The SHARP THINGS – A Moveable Feast (Bar-None Records)
…and this one I bought at the show, wanting the 10-piece band to make a little more scratch than the club could offer on a night of limited attendence. The sound is big, the emotion strong and lead singer Perry Serpa is a Real Deal Good Guy in the bizniz, better known as a PR pro from the Good Cop group.
From the last visit to the CD trade-in store:
7. The NARRATOR – Such Triumph (Flameshovel)
I don’t think this is the most recent release, but it was only $3.99 and I had just read about them in CMJ, piquing my interest.
8. KEITH URBAN – Be Here (Capitol)
I’ve been curious about this guy since seeing him on a James Tayor tribute concert show, and then he sealed the deal with a great set at the Live Earth event. Better guitar rock – and sexier – than Bon Jovi.
9. VARIOUS ARTISTS – This is Music (Uncut Magazine)
10. VARIOUS ARTISTS – Swatch Together (George V/Stefano Cecchi Records)
11. WES TUCKER – Tradition (self-released?)
It was only a buck and he was on the short list (ultimately didn’t make it) for a Post preview so I thought I’d get it just for the research value.
12. CHRIS GARNEAU – Music for Tourists (Absolutely Kosher Records)
While I wasn’t overwhelmed by his set opening for Joan as Police Woman,
I thought his quiet piano ballads might play better in studio versions – and again it was only a buck. Listened to the album last night and, while it made for lovely background music for my computer noodling, the songs tended to blur into a new age wash. I suspect there are one or two songs that would hold up on a “Morning Becomes Eclectic” style mix – if you don’t fall asleep looking for them.
13. VARIOUS ARTISTS – This Is Next (Vice Records)
With a line-up including Cold War Kids, Ted Leo, and the Shins, this seemed like some kind of promo label sampler and – even though I had half the songs already – for $4 it was a no-effort-needed ready mix for the car. When I saw it on sale at Target later for more than double that price, I felt I had scored a deal.
Coming to Town:
14. VHS OR BETA – Bring On the Comets (Astralwerks)
Act quickly - They play the Rock N Roll Hotel tomorrow night (September 1st).
15. ROCK PLAZA CENTRAL – Are We Not Horses (Yep Roc)
Playing the Black Cat on September 5th.
16. KIM RICHEY – Chinese Boxes (Vanguard)
Playing at the IOTA September 23rd.
17. JOHNNY IRION – Ex Tempore (Rte 8 Records)
Playing September 25th at Jammin Java.
18. YOU AM I – Convicts (Yep Roc)
Oops, I think this show has come and gone.
YTD Total:682
Fun with Press Releases:
I’ve been getting e-press releases from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment even though my days writing for VIDEO magazine are long gone. I scan them for reminders of things I might want to rent and to enjoy such writing as this, from the MGM Midnight Movies Double Feature collection…
Yeah, I Hate When That Happens Dept:
“Bat People” (1974) – After being bitten by a bat in a cave, a doctor undergoes an accelerating transformation into a man-bat creature, which ruins his vacation and causes considerable distress for his wife.
The Great Lost ‘Friends’ Episode?:
Gorilla At Large (1954) – At the sinister carnival, The Garden of Evil, the main attraction is Goliath, Barker Joey Matthews is about to enter the gorilla act when a man is found bead of a broken neck. Was is Goliath or someone wearing Joey’s gorilla suit?
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