Good Sounds from Toronto, eh?

We drove into Toronto yesterday shortly after sunset. The rain and fog made the city seem unworldly, the lake barely visible and some of the buildings shrouded in clouds, unmoored from the earth. It was cool.
After a busy day touring the city, mostly in the college district, we had a great meal at a Portuguese restaurant and then walked right past an HMV store. Well, we didn't walk past it until after we'd gone in and helped the local economy a bit. To wit:
DARK WAS THE NIGHT - Various Artists (4 AD)
A two-disc set (I like how they’re marked “This Disc” and “That Disc”) from the people who do the Red Hot AIDS benefit CDs. This one is jam-packed with new tracks by people I really like - David Byrne with Dirty Projectors, Feist with Ben Gibbard, The Decemberists, Spoon, Arcade Fire..and there are plenty of other artists I may not know as well, but am curious to learn about. I had already pulled a few of the tracks from the emusic site, but wanted the whole thing and, while I could have found it in the US, this will make a great driving music for the looooooong ride home on Sunday. Beautiful letterpress printing, too, although it can be tricky getting the also-classy lyric/art booklet out of the center section of the digipack. I just know I’m gonna rip that sucker someday. ($18 CA = $14.50 US)
TRAGICALLY HIP - Live Between Us (Universal)
As the saying goes, this band is huge in Canada, and can barely get arrested in the US. The group is about to release a new CD and has a big promotional push underway up here, with an entire endcap devoted to them, including a few albums at the unbelievable price of $5 ($4 US). I compared the ones at that point, loved the one with the control board cover, but liked the song titles better here - “Grace, Too” (for obvious reasons), “Nautical Disaster,” and “New Orleans is Sinking” (a song I’ve heard and liked before, in my limited exposure to their catalog). The price sticker obscured the fact that this is a live album, which may make me regret putting the other one back, but it’s a small price to pay to hear these local heroes.
The ANNUAL SPRING 2003 - Various Artists (Ministry of Sound)
Another two-disc set, this one just $4 ($3.20 US) culled by the dance beat label. I barely registered who was on it, blinded by the price (not a Springsteen song). The first track is “Boys of Summer,” as presented by DJ Sammy with a pop princess style vocal. Could be cheesy all the way through, but there’s also Moby, Laylo & Bushwacka, Royksopp and Moloko among the three dozen names I don’t recognize.
The SCRIPT - self-titled (Epic/Phonogenic)
I had a handful of discs that were under $10 and asked one of the store dudes to rate them for me. He wasn’t crazy for the Constantines or Company of Thieves and walked me over to another part of the store to tout the debut CD of the Arkells, whom he swore were the next big band from Canada, having recently conquered SXSW. It’s not that I didn’t believe him, but the disc was $15, and I had to watch the budget. I told him, “I could get these two [other] CDs for the price of that one,” and he said sagely, “You get what you pay for.” I still declined, but I have checked their myspace page and will keep an eye and ear out for them.
During that discussion, however, he saw this Script CD in my hand and said they were pretty good, and another customer, clutching the new Pet Ship Boys, expressed his interest in them as well. THIS IS WHY WE NEED RECORD STORES, PEOPLE! Education. Community. Sales.
In the few songs I’ve heard while typing, I find The Script to be quite to my liking - melodic, thoughtful, pretty but not without edge. A bit Police-like in spots, Coldplay in others, some Maroon 5 vibe, too. I think I will find it a good use of my $9(=$7.25). The sticker says “Includes “We Cry,” “Before the Worst” and “The Man Who Can’t Be Moved,” for what it’s worth. The display said that this trio is from Dublin, so that’s as good an excuse as any to toss in my picture of the Irish pub I saw during our morning walk.

As any Pogues fan will tell you, the band took its name from the Irish slang for “Kiss My Ass,” which is an odd name for a pub...!
WAR CHILD PRESENTS HEROES - Various Artists (Musicor)
Another benefit CD, this one I believe is being distributed in the States by Starbucks, though I haven’t seen it in the shops yet. 16 artists, many from my personal A-list (Beck, Elbow, Franz Ferdinand, Rufus Wainwright) covering songs by classic elders (Dylan, U2, Blondie, Brian Wilson, respectively), all for the good of kids affected by international armed conflicts. More great car listening and only $10 ($8).

And so the (now) International O/CD YTD Tally: 102

CORRECTION - Previous Entry Posted on Tuesday, March 24

I forgot that Blogger tags a post's date on the day you begin writing it, not on the day you hit the "post now" button.
So, what I said about the White Lies being on Letterman and playing live related to yesterday. not Saturday.
Grrrr....sorry 'bout that.

How Many White Lies? - and Freebies!

Hot Brit trio the White Lies are listed as playing the Black Cat in DC tonight and appearing tonight on Letterman. Yeah, they’re good, but are they spectral spirits who can be two places at one time? I suspect that Dave, perhaps on his honeymoon from his surprise marriage last week (congrats, my favorite 11:30 talk show host!) taped tonight’s episode a day or two ahead.

Anyway, I was lucky to get a copy of
WHITE LIES -To Lose My Life (Geffen/Fiction)
as a zip file last night, and said I would blog, and offer a free mp3, but I couldn’t extricate the sharable title track single from the rest of the album. Sorry.
But there seems little doubt we’ll all get a chance to hear White Lies again soon.   The band already performed at Lollapalooza last August and have headlined Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York as well as festivals across Europe. The buzz from SXSW is at a low roar. You didn’t hear it hear first, but I’ll add to the chorus.

But I can offer some other good freebies.
NPR is offering a free SXSW sampler featuring some fine artists, old and new, people like David Byrne with Dirty Projectors, Thao (good track too: "Bag of Hammers"), Blitzen Trapper, something from the new Decemeberists album, and one of my new favorites, Blind Pilot. It comes via iTunes, so you'll need to have/create an account, but then you also get album art and all, easy peasy.

A nifty bonus, too - the list of artists included on the sampler has many clickable links to shows that the acts played in Austin, and you can listen to them, too. Given that these were SXSW shows, they tend to run on the shorter side - 30 minutes or so - so you get a quick sampling featuring key tunes. A great way to catch some of the other, musical, March Madness. And speaking of the latter, even for someone like me, who isn't a big b-ball follower, watching Obama do his bracket is just too cool! (I had a link ready to go to the video here, but the site pulled it. Sorry. Again.)

Amazon also regularly offers freebies. And today they, too, have a nice SXSW sampler featuring Sub Pop artists like Flight of the Conchords, Fleet Foxes and Iron & Wine.

And while you're at amazon, especially if you have kids, grab Dan Zanes’ 7-track CD, “Smile Smile Smile”.

ALL IN A DAY’S MAIL (yesterday's booty):
CRACKER - Sunshine in The Land of Milk and Honey (429 Records)
I was only a few songs in when hubby arrived home from a long work day and asked if he could have some quiet time, but I liked what I heard, especially “Show Me How This Thing Works.” That title, and others like “Hand Me My Inhaler” show that Dave Lowery is still a smart ass, god bless him. And now’s a good excuse to post some of the pics I took at the band’s January show at the State Theatre.


SARIAH - The Lethal EP (Rock Ridge Music)
Two copies in two envelopes, addressed identically (someone should check with the fulfillment company to make sure they’re not wasting lots of money). Six tracks of generic female-voiced urban dance pop, the kind of stuff that washes over me when I hear it driving on those days when Grace picks the stations. Give props to the girl for making a point of writing her own material, but tis stuff rarely makes an impression on me, even when Beyonce is singing it. And one song is titled, “Let’s Bump Tonight.” Oh dear.
EILEN JEWELL - Sea of Tears (Signature Sounds)
A duplicate of the cardboard advance I bought last week at the trade-in store,sent in conjunction with Jewell’s upcoming IOTA date, Saturday, May 9th.
23 RAINY DAYS - Wonderful Disaster (self-released?)
I requested this when I saw a press release with a Herndon, VA reference. That’s the town right next door, so I want to hear what the local guys are up to. Self-described “post-punk indie dance metal,” the trio has a bit of a Goth-y look and made their live debut debut opening for 10,000 people at a Live on Penn (Ave) show featuring the Violent Femmes. Lead singer/guitarist Ian Kaine MacGregor gripes in the press kit that local bands get some radio play in DC, ” I’ve always felt that good rock music has been ignored by the local printed press.” Well, now that I have some music and a contact, maybe I can prove him wrong.

MY OWN CASH MONEY:
FRANZ FERDINAND - Tonight (Domino)
It’s all Apple’s fault - again! I kept hearing “No You Girls” on the iPod Touch commercials and had to have the whole song for my own. I can’t say yet that FF is tilling breaking new ground, but they till their trademark angular pop turf with skill. A wildly successful band that doesn’t make you feel stupid when you listen to them.
The WHO - Who’s Next (MCA)
I had no intention of buying music on a visit to the Richmond Rite-Aid during a visit to pick up College Girl, but there we were, picking up a prescription, when I spotted a small racj of CDs marked “Special Sale.” Of course, I had to flick through them. R.E.M.’s “Accelerate” for $5?! There were a few others that I would have grabbed had I not already got them, but this Who classic was a piece of vinyl that could stand replacing. What’s more, it was the version with extra tracks. On the ride home, I popped it into the player and found myself stunned again at some of the amazing moments in this (dare I say it?) seminal set. The slow-burn build of “Baba O’Riley,” the always relevant suspicions of “Won’t Get Fooled Again,” the road-worthiness of “Going Mobile” and the still utter lameness of “Love Ain’t for Keeping,”...all good reminders of what the Who could do when they set their mind to it.
And I was glad to be reminded, having just watched the live DVD that came with “Endless Wire” and finding Daltrey’s performance a sad echo of his former self. He was even wearing a T-shirt and baggy cargo shorts, like he’d just wandered onto the stage from a hackey-sack game. Dude, you’re a member of the Who, not the Dave Matthews Band!

And so, adding up the downloads and promos and purchases, the new O/CD YTD Tally: 97

More Bad News for Music Store Geeks

Not another one?! I just read a depressing piece of news for those (so few?) of us who like to buy our music in actual record stores. From Salon, here's a nicely done history of, and lament for, Virgin Records which is closing down all of its American stores.

I want to get up to NYC before it goes, both to pay respects and (I'm ashamed to admit, but let's be honest) scour through the racks for bargains.

I think I'm gonna go hug my LPs...

Post-ed and Purchased - And a Giveaway!

Yesterday was the day that my latest regional previews for the Washington Post were published. I was particularly pleased with these, as I interviewed two really nice, really talented guys. And I'll be going to both shows. So here they are and see you there.

Gabe Dixon at Jammin Java, next Wednesday, March 18th.

Clem Snide, Heligoats (that's the one-man band of Chris Otepka, formerly of Troubled Hubble) at IOTA Club and Cafe, TOMORROW NIGHT! (Saturday, March 14th). Which means I'll have to catch the Will Ferrell (Letterman's talking to him as I type) HBO special On Demand.

Today included yet another visit to my favorite CD trade-in store. I don't know if it's a sign of the hard times, or if my collection of cast-offs, which had a bunch of soundtrack CDs and CMJ compilations*, was weaker than usual, but the friendly cashier rejected more than half of the bag, and I got $20 in credit for what they took.

[*Okay readers, here's today's giveaway. Submit a comment, tell me why I should send you the half-dozen or so CMJ compilations that the CD trade-in store didn't want, and I'll send them to you. USA mailing addresses only, please. If there's more than one request in the next 5 days, I pick my favorite, so have fun with it!]

I put back the Wilco live CD, not sure if I had already replaced the copy Terry lost during a road trip, and opted instead to take advantage of the Clearance Section Special - $1.99 each, but 10 for $15.99. I gave in and got this two-fisted count:

1. KAHLUA B-52 ‘70s PARTY MUSIC - Various Artists (Rhino)
Cheesy packaging with alcohol brand name-themed cheesy graphics and cheesy music, too - “Hot Blooded,” “Smokin’ in the Boys Room,” “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” (I’ll give you a hint on that last one - BTO). But this is one of those Cheaper Than-iTunes ways for me to cook up a cheesy sampler now that I’ve got a Music Reference Hard Drive that I can load up with music while dumping the actual discs. So, this cheese won’t add weight!

2. ROCKFOUR - Memories of the Never Happened (Anova Records)
I vaguely remember hearing and liking this band do an in-studio set for KCRW way back, so now’s the chance to revisit and review.

3. The RUMBLE STRIPS - Girls and Weather (Gigantic Music)
There’s no copyright date on this plastic envelope release, so I’m hoping it's an advance of the group’s stateside debut. I heard a few tracks one night when I was checking out the UK version of iTunes, trying to snag a UK-only release (by whom? I recall not). I was able to sample the band, and liked what I heard. But that was months ago, and I haven’t heard anything about them since. Time to Google....!
[back from the Googling] Ah, the album was released in the US last fall, and the band did a short tour. Now the band is working on a new CD, with the venerable Mick Ronson producing. Ok, so it's still a fairly current release.

4. NEW RADIANT STORM KING - Drinking in the Moonlight (Darla)
Strange but cool digi-pack design - a naked redhead hanging off a bicycle with birds pushing the pedals (it’s actually classier than it sounds) and the disc looks like a moonscape. And I like the way the title can be interpreted in two ways. And I’ve always liked this band’s name when I’ve heard them referenced in the past, tho’ I know nothing about them. The cover sticker says they’re “Northampton, MA/NYC indie rockers.” All signs point to something I could like so, at $1.60, it's a no-brainer.

5. VERVE REMIXED Vol. 4 - Various Artists (Verve)
Another naughty NPR employee (whose name I will not reveal, but I’ve heard it on-air) is cashing in his watermarked advance discs at the store. Considering it’s in the discount bin, he probably got a buck (credit, not cash) at most for it; I wouldn’t take the chance. But his risk is my gain - 12 tracks of easy listening with a groovy, hipster beat.

6. EILEN JEWELL - Sea of Tears (Signature Sounds)
Her first name rhymes with “feelin’” - so she told me when she and the band came by my mother’s summer house for a part veggie BBQ before a gig in the lake town where she lives (I know the band’s publicist, so it was an easy invite). A lovely lady with a lovely voice and a sure handle on slightly wistful Americana, she’s coming to play at IOTA on May 9 (ooh, when I looked it up, I see the venue web site has her name as “Eileen”...), so I’ll get a taste of the new music in prep for a possible preview, a show, maybe even houseguests!

7. GLENN TILBROOK and the FLUFFERS - Pandemonium Ensues (KOCH)
First, you just gotta love this title. I always check the slimline generic cases - that’s how I scored this advance by the former Squeeze co-leader, who is also coming to town, Saturday, March 21st at the State Theatre. I would be there, but a friend is having a Tiki party. Wait...! the soiree starts at 4pm, so I might be able to do both!

8. ADVANCE WARNING - Various Artists (MTV)
The package caught my eye first - orange and red, in the manner of the titular (snicker) theme. Only seven songs on the disc that I either have (“This Love” is one of the few Maroon 5 songs that helps me overcome my dislike of Adam Levine) or don’t care about. Except for The Format! - a track entitled “The First Single.” And since the fold-out inner sleeve has both a photo and a mini-bio of this beloved duo, whom I know zilch about, I had to have it. And then I saw that there are actually two discs in the package. Is one a DVD? (oh boy, do I get to see the Format?) But no, it’s labeled “Word of Mouth CD” and I guess it’s intended to be shared. Nice idea, but I’d rather see a Format vide).

9. FICTION FAMILY - S/T (ATO Records)
A generic advance, listing a street date of January 20th just passed. FF is made up of Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek, and that sounds like a recipe for unforced, goodtime music. That’s what I heard on the few tracks playing while I drove home. If those first impressions hold up, I will be kicking myself soon for not catching them when they played town recently.

10. JUDITH OWEN - Lost and Found (Century of Progress Productions)
I’m sure Judith Owen is sick of hearing about how people first encountered her through her husband, Harry Shearer. But he’s a cult hero, a radio favorite of mine (you can stream his weekly “Le Show” through various internet outlets), a Simpsons regular and damn, he’s got good taste in music. So when he plays her songs on his show, there’s not a whiff of nepotism. And that is how I heard her, and that’s why I sought her out at live shows, and when I’ve spoken to her, she’s just a doll. The natural beauty of her voice and the sometimes ponderously slow arrangements she prefers on disc don’t always reveal just what a great sense of humor she has. Her live shows are well worth catching. This is another slimline generic advance, and I kinda wondered if I might have the CD already in another, different form. Don't recognize the cover. But again, we’re talking less than a cup of coffee, and so I rounded out my ten-fer collection.

and that brings the O/CD YTD Tally to 86

This Day In Blog

Keep an eye/ear out for IDA MARIA. This ultra-cool "Norwegian force of nature" (I don't know who said that) is coming to the US - next week at SXSW, Coachella in April, and here in D.C. at the Black Cat on March 26th.

I saw Ida Maria at a small show two years ago during CMJ. I went in with no knowledge of her whatsoever, and became a fan within the space of just a few songs. Born and raised in Norwegian territory of the Arctic Circle, she's cool in the literal sense of the word and all others. Yeah, you could make some Bjork comparisons in her origins and dark-haired beauty, but she's more of a rocker, and has a more earth-bound attitude. And I loved the way she wrote her set list on her forearm with a sharpie.

Her first single, "I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked," has already been a Top 15 hit #13 in the U.K. I've been hearing it/liking it muchly on KCRW. Another track, "Oh My God" is being used in “Gossip Girl” promos this season. (But we'll excuse that.) The album, Fortress Round My Heart, is set for a March 24th digital release in America.

Here are two neat facts pulled from the 24-year old Ida (pronounced ee-dah)'s press pitch:
1) She grew up in Nesna, Norway, a university town of fewer than 2000 people north of the 66th latitude.
2) She has a benign variant of synaesthesia, a rare condition in which perception in one sense mode arouses imagery from another, so that one can see sounds or hear colors, for example.(My dear Emma has that, too, which makes her a monster at Sudoko.)

Audio of "I Like You... and other goodies are available at her myspace site.

I have a few more freebies, courtesy of the nice people at IODA Promonet, who give me permission to share mp3s here on the CPF blog.

BLUE GIANT is a project started by the male/female duo who make up Viva Voce (I saw them open for The Shins and wasn't too impressed; they sounded like White Stripes wannabes) and features members of The Decemberists and Swords. The group’s new EP offers six tracks, one of which is a duet with Sleater Kinney’s Corin Tucker.
Blue Giant
"Target Heart" (mp3)
"Blue Sunshine" (mp3)
(Amore!Phonics)

Buy at Amore!Phonics - buy direct from the artist.


And here's a trio of tasty blues tracks from Burnside Records, who released the first Kelly Joe Phelps full length back in 1994 and have offered a few tracks to promote that the new version of the CD adds two previously unreleased songs from the original masters.

"I've Been Converted" (mp3)


"Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues" (mp3)

"Lead Me On" (mp3)
Buy at iTunes Music Store

Thanks, and you're welcome!

U2, Take 2 - Yeah, a Beautiful Day!

OK, so we’ve been listening to the new album and tonight the hubby and I had a TiVO replay of the last three nights’ live performances - plus the wonderful Top Ten list (was Edge’s Sting ad-lib his own idea? bravo!) We’re feeling good about it. But then, Terry is a total fan-boy, and when he’s a fan, it’s hard for his heroes to lose their luster. Me? I’m a little tougher. I lost touch with Springsteen during the Tom Joad era, lost patience with R.E.M. for “Around the Sun” (it actually annoys me when Terry plays it) and wasn’t keen on the Costello/Bacharach collaboration (although it did feature some of Elvis’ most compelling vocals).

So, while I’m still not sold on the idea that we need FIVE DIFFERENT VERSIONS of the new album, I’m pleased to see that amazon.com is offering the mp3 download of the full album for $3.99. That’s a hopeful sign that money isn’t everything. And as I type this, the sit-down interview is rolling along merrily and they’re showing that Irish charm. Oh, and they're playing one of my favorites, "Beautiful Day," so it isn't only about playing the new tunes. Yet, I do want to hear "Boots" tomorrow night, so the album must be taking hold...

In other music news, Terry and I had a great time at the Bird and the Bee show last night at the Barns at Wolf Trap. There was a glitch at the beginning - the label PR guy said he would put me down for tickets, but it didn't appear that he did. (Rule One: always print out the email that confirms you have been approved for press tickets). Luckily the kindly box office staff was nice enough to take my word on the matter (I dropped the name of the guy who does venue PR who knows me pretty well) and they let us in without making me feel foolish. I've had other times when tickets weren't where they were supposed to be and there was no such happy ending.

And I do love me the Bird and the Bee!
Opening act, Obi Best, was a pleasant diversion but the two-woman set-up didn’t allow much diversity in the sound. The opening song of both the album and the show -“Nothing Can Come Between Us” - is also my personal favorite on the disc, but had an inexplicable distortion guitar break live. I love to watch women play guitar, but this came from nowhere for no apparent reason and, alas, I can’t say that the guitarist was the most confident player. Singer Alex Lilly has a good voice and a gracious manner, but the songs tended to plow the same ground over and over.

And then Inara George came bouncing out in her go-go outfit - white micro-mini and tights with a plastic overdress of brightly colored dots - and the evening was totally in her capable hands. The Obi Best ladies came back out, plus another back-up singer, in color-coordinated outfits and added vocals and the occasional extra instruments to round out the very cool keyboard/synth work of Greg Kurstin. The total effect, with just enough choreography to show they’d thought it over, but not so much to make things feel controlled, was poptastic. And “Love Letter to Japan” is still one of the best new songs of the new year!

Today’s PEP (Puffy Envelope Promo) Squad:
DENGUE FEVER - Sleepwalking Through the Mekong (Nail Distribution)
A 2-disc set - one being a DVD of the film, a documentary about the band's visit to the Cambodian homeland, the other being its soundtrack.
The band is coming to town, playing at the State Theatre on Friday, April 17th.
CLEM SNIDE - Hungry Bird (429 Records)
Next week’s Live! preview, along with wonderful musician (and pal) Chris Otepka, of the late, beloved Troubled Hubble, who’s touring in his Heliogats mode.
Here’s a little inside twist - when Clem Snide’s publicist sent a high-res jpg to run with my story, it was a highly colorized photo of three guys. The CD arrived with a color photocopy of the same picture, not as colorized and featuring four guys. Has one of the band members already dropped out?! (By the credits, Pete Fitzpatrick is M.I.A.)
ROCCO DELUCA and the BURDEN - Mercy (Ironworks)
A duplicate; here's the full commercial version following up a generic advance from weeks back. Coming to the State Theatre on Monday, April 6th.

CIRCUIT CITY, R.I.P. (My Own Cash Money)
Another one bites the dust. I certainly won’t mourn Circuit City’s loss the way I did Tower Records. CC had a music department, just not a very good one. But browsing the racks is still browsing the racks, so losing yet another retail outlet makes for a sad sigh.

I actually went into the Sterling store a few days ago looking for a cheap external hard drive and only remembered the music “department” as an afterthought. The pickings were slim - do I want Duran Duran’s “Red Carpet Massacre” even at 70% off? (No.) And why are there so many copies of Janet Jackson’s last CD?
But I came home with three discs:
U2 - The Best of 1990-2000 (Interscope DVD)
Got one already, but this was a freebie sampler (okay, it cost 1 cent) and may come in handy.
SPOTTED - Various Artists
Another one penny sampler but since I can’t find it now, I can’t tell you who’s on it.
COLD WAR KIDS - Loyalty to Loyalty (Downtown)
I liked the first album and we’ve got tickets to see them opening for Death Cab (Ra Ra Riot is on the bill, too!) so this was a no-brainer, considering it was less than $4.

And speaking of Death Cab...when I heard about a presale for the April 8th show at D.A.R. Hall, I jumped online to see what I could do. It was one of those deals where only members of the fan club would get the presale code, so I took the plunge. It was $30 (cheaper than scalping tickets later) and last week, I got the goodie package with a nice T-shirt, sticker, fake concert access pass/membership card and
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE - I’m Going Home/Girl You Want (self-released)
7" vinyl. I won’t know what the one song is ‘til I crank up the turntable, but the flip is a Devo cover, which is cool. BUT, the fan club site said this would be color vinyl, and the color is black. Bummer. Still, we got pretty good seats - orchestra floor, less than half-way back.

Hit another Circuit City Thursday and there was a slightly better selection to pick through. And now they were 80% off!
BRIAN WILSON - That Lucky Old Sun (Capitol)
($13.99 = $2.80) Don’t know a thing about it, but even if I hate it, I can trade it in later...
WHO’S GONNA FILL THEIR SHOES? - Various Artists (Twin Pack Music)
Begins (the title track) and ends (“He Stopped Loving Her Today”) with George Jones, and in-between, there are many tracks I like and have (I think), like “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Take This Job and Shove It” and a few more I think I need (“D-I-V-O-R-C-E” and “Mama Tried”). ($9.99 = $2.00) Like stealing from iTunes!
SIA - Some People Have Real Problems (Monkey Puzzle/Hear Music)
Okay, so this was a stretch, since I bought the mp3s from emusic ages ago. But I came thisclose to buying it at that previous Circuit City; held back by the fact that the package was damaged. And this one is all about the packaging. I hate the cover - Sia drawing on her own face with markers makes her look like she should be riding the special bus, but when you open up the slip case, there’s a set of nine crayon-colored cards with art and info, that makes for a pretty cool thingy. ($13.99 = $2.8). Again,I can always get almost full value back for it at the trade-in store if/when the package loses its appeal.
And I did put back the copy of Beck’s Odeley that I was sorely tempted to buy as a duplicate just for the free album cover iron-on. See? I can be reasonable!
MARY J. BLIGE - & Friends (Geffen)
Blige is one of those artists whom I don’t really know but, whenever she shows up on some tribute show or TV special, I’m thoroughly impressed with her style and voice. The other CC store had dozens of this CD, so I held off, thinking I’d return as the prices dropped again (or forget, which almost happened) and sure enough, this store had a small handful. So I saved $1.00 when the price dropped another 10% ($9.99 = $2.00)

YTD O/CD Tally: 76

Since this is a very price-conscious posting, here's a money-making tip: if you have a copy of the 2000 soundtrack of “What Women Want” on cassette, check out amazon. The asking price for the one that’s available is $295.99. WTF?

STARBUCKS Jumps the Gun On U2 Release Date

Hey, doesn’t the new U2 come out tomorrow, as in Tuesday? I was in my local Starbucks today and there were a stack of them on the counter. The price was actually reasonable ($12.95) and $1 of that was going to the (RED) gobal charity and I have a Gold card which gets me 10% off, so yeah, I bought it.

U2 - No Line on the Horizon (Interscope)
BUT, I have a bone to pick with Bono and the boys.
FIVE DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THIS RELEASE?! Really?!
I’ll accept a regular and a deluxe edition, and OK, a vinyl release. But FIVE DIFFERENT VERSIONS?! When you know you have a loyal following that wants to get all your releases, isn’t just greedy to make them fork out for FIVE DIFFERENT VERSIONS?!
And I bet there’s going to something that you can get only if you buy it on iTunes, too.

I'm gonna watch Letterman all week (which I generally do anyway) and I’ll probably re-up for the fan club since it gets me a good shot at tour tickets, but I want to ask U2 to stop and ask if the art is taking a back seat to the commerce. (Response to the actual music soon).

And speaking of MY OWN CASH MONEY...
Last week, I returned to the CD Cellar with another small bag of cast-offs (it’s becoming a regular weekly date since I’ve been taking Apple training sessions in the area) and had just enough credit to come home with:
JEFF BUCKLEY - Grace (Columbia/Legacy)
Yep, they still had the 2-CD/DVD edition of the album that I mentioned before, so I scooped it up.
And even though it took me a few bucks over my credit, I got a few things from the $1.99 bins:
LOW VS. DIAMOND - (Epic/Red Ink)
Don’t know much about the band, but I’ve heard the name in all the right places, so I’ll check ‘em out.
BELL X-1 - Blue Lights on the Runway (Yep Roc)
Have known and liked these guys for some time. Enough so that, even though I’m pretty confident their PR people will send the CD eventually, I didn’t want to wait. At first listen, I think I’m gonna like this one a lot. There’s an intriguing new quality to the arrangement, with touches of electronics.
SUMMER Of GLACIERS - These Last Days (self-released)
This CD caught my attention because of its lovely packaging - a craft cardboard folder with letterpress printing (I’m a sucker for letterpress printing). There was something homemade and thoughtful about it, an impression confirmed when I opened the folder up to read “Thank you for taking the time to listen.” And yet, I wonder if it hadn’t been a mere $1, would I have taken the chance?
Glad I did. When I played it in the car, I found that this band makes lovely instrumental music, the kind I would use in my independent film if/when I make one. The group’s web site calls it “San Francisco based epic instrumental bummer rock.” Just three tracks, but one runs over 12-minutes long, so I got my money’s worth and then some.

AND NOW, A FEW RANDOM LINKS
The latest pair of previews from the Washington Post:
David Bromberg, Angel Band at the Birchmere .
The Bird and The Bee at the Barns at Wolf Trap.
Rather than pull up another of my limited concert shots, here’s an official press pic (credit: Autumn DeWIlde)

In preparation for the story, the opening act’s publicist sent me a copy of their CD
OBI BEST - Capades (Social Science Recordings)
Didn't know when I wrote the preview, but the lead singer for this act has also done backup vocals for the Bird and the Bee. The CD is in a very compatible vein, poppy but not pappy. (Counted twice as I received a digital copy a few days before the actual disc.)

Here’s a neat little film - the audio track consists of a short taped interview conducted by a then-14 year-old John Lennon fan when he met his idol...
“I Met the Walrus”

AND BREAKING NEWS...
The FORMAT is a band that College Girl turned me onto, and we were both sad to hear they broke up. Now I hear that the band's former singer, Nick Ruess (and he has a disarming, distinctive voice), has joined with singer/keyboardist Andrew Dost from Anathello and Jack Antonoff, still in Steel Train, in a new band called Fun, signed to Nettwerk. The three are working with producer Steven McDonald (Red Kross) and arranger Roger Joseph Manning Jr (Jellyfish) on a debut, hopefully coming this year. You can hear a track, "Benson Hedges," streaming on the band’s MySpace page.

O/CD YTD TALLY: 65

Aw...Dave’s got U2 shoveling snow outside the studio...cute.

Hail to the Chief

It wasn't the State of the Union, but it sure felt like one and I sure liked hearing Obama speak just now. It's so nice to have someone in charge who appears to understand complex issues and can speak intelligently about them.

We now return to our regularly scheduled music blog...

Last week, I was at Ye Olde Thrift Store and thought I had posted new acquisitions to the Tally. But now I realize I only started writing them up and hadn’t finished. As usual, these are great deals, only $1.50 per:
The NIELDS - Gotta Get Over Greta (Razor & Tie)
This regional act keeps popping up in the area, and I’ve had the cassette version of this album hanging around in case I wanted to write about them. Kudos for the design department; this CD has cool, colorful graphics.
The WOMEN of WWII - Various Artists (Quality Audio/DSSP)
I found volume 1, 2 and 3 of this set and liked the variety of performers and song titles from a period I don’t know well, but want to learn more about (I owe it to my dad, the purple heart veteran). It says right here that these original recordings have been “meticulously restored” and, when I popped one in to listen at home, the songs did sound fine for their age - a little less than digital brilliance, but a nice audio version of “sepia tone” that makes me all nostalgic (miss you, Henry!) There are two addresses listed on the cases - one in Quebec and another in Plattsburgh, NY (a hotbed of musical innovation!). It was only when I looked up the compilation on amazon.com that I found out there’s a missing 4th volume - a new challenge for the crazy completist.
JUST PASSIN’ THRU - Various Artists (WHFS)
From 1996, the first volume of the popular series of in-studio live sets from the late, lamented local radio station. This one has Catherine Wheel, P.J. Harvey, Jeff Buckley (great version of “Last Goodbye”!) and Radiohead (“Street Spirit”). But I never have to hear Better Than Ezra’s “Good” or Jewel’s “Who Will Save Your Soul” again.
OASIS - (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (Epic)
I’m pretty sure I already have this somewhere, or maybe Post-College Girl has it in her collection, but when I saw those titles - “Champagne Supernova,” “Wonderwall” and “Roll With It,” and saw that the disc was in perfect condition, I figured that, for less than a cup of coffee, I would buy this copy and know exactly where it is!
The IDIOT’S GUIDE to CLASSICAL MUSIC - Various Artists (RCA Victor)
Another album that looks familiar, but I was suckered in by the concept - 99 tracks, snippets of well-known classical themes along with a handy chart to tell you where you might have heard it and where you can get the full work (on RCA, of course). For instance, Puccini’s “Turnadot-Nessun dorma” is cross-referenced to both “Witches of Eastwick” and a Delta Airlines/1990 World Cup commercial.

Year to Date O/CD Tally: 58

All Will Be Well

What a lovely thing came in the mail today - a hand-written card from Gabe Dixon, thanking me for naming his band's album (self-titled) one of the last year's Top Ten in my Village Voice Pazz & Jop ballot.

It's not often that anyone takes the time or makes the effort to write me about something I've had published (did his publicist, who knows me, give him my home address?) and even more surprising to hear from a major label (Fantasy) musician who no doubt has recording and touring issues to deal with, doesn't know me personally and yet bothers to reach out with a simple thanks. He's a Southern boy (the return address is Nashville, TN) and I think his mama raised him to be a gentleman.

The card he sent was marked from a company called coolpeoplecare.com, a neat little East Nashville group whose site says it makes cards to "communicate to the recipient that you hope their world is one that’s full of hope, peace, love, faith and a better tomorrow." They offer a limited sampling of other products "for your lifestyle of caring." I pass on the good vibes to you.

All of these shiny, happy feelings come to play as well in Dixon's album, which I played in the car when I went out today. I stand by my recommendation for the disc. If you like melodic, piano-based pop-rock in the classic mold of early Elton John and Billy Joel, with a playful (but not cynical) Ben Folds modern touch, check this guy out. "All Will Be Well," BTW, is one of the many optimistic songs on the CD, and couldn't we all use a bit of that sentiment these days?

Grab Some Free Tunes!

Just a quick heads-up, loyal readers (and how are both of you doing?)

amazon.com offers free and discount music downloads on a regular basis, and the ones up there today are pretty sweet.

There's a single track featuring David Byrne and Chuck D, among others, called
"Money"
and a four-track sampler from Stax with a track from Isaac Hayes called "Buns O'Plenty" (worth it for the title alone).
and an especially generous 14-track collection
This is Daptone with a trio of tracks from Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, among others.

You have to use the amazon downloader, but it's free and easy to grab and works with iTunes or (if you insist) Windows Media Player.

You're welcome!

Feelin' Bjorky!

I’m back to pruning the bonsai again, meaning I’m looking to trim my music collection, which I do in a slow, determined (many might say obsessive) manner. Of course, all things are relative in the mathematics of the collector. After a few sessions of cross-checking the potential value of unwanted CDs on amazon.com, I took a bag with a few dozen discs to ye olde CD Cellar and, with about ten deemed not worth bothering about, I had $39 in store credit. Determined not to spend any of my own funds in these recessionary times, I put back the Legacy Edition of Jeff Buckley’s “Grace” (it was $20 and I figure I can find it again down the road) and was able to bring home a goodly bunch without spending a penny of my own money.

I was looking for, but couldn’t find, new releases by Animal Collective, Lily Allen, Franz Ferdinand, and an obscure Canadian band named Pilot Speed that Terry once heard on a Starbucks compilation. But I have the artists I usually check out - David Byrne, Elbow, Elvis Costello, et al. - looking for remixes and imports, and I hit paydirt with the Queen of Iceland.

There were so many Bjork CD singles, a good half-dozen at least. She’s a maddening artist to collect since she releases multiple versions of most singles and seems to record/release almost very concert and video she’s done. I’ve given up on getting everything and I’m perpetually challenged to remember which ones I have, so I let the pricing make up my mind. Most of the discs here were $3.oo and even a few of those were in funky condition, so I took this one
BJORK - Bachelorette CD single (PolyGram/One Little Indian)
which was only $2.oo and offers six tracks. Plus I liked the cover.

And now that I’m home, I’m glad to see that the other single that I was tempted by - “Violently Happy” - is tucked happily in the all-Bjork box.
READ: INTERPRETING BJORK - Various Artists (Hush Records)
($3.99)
More proof that online shopping will never replace browsing in a real music store. In all my Bjork-bound travels, I’d never heard of this tribute CD, from a small label in Portland. I’m not sure who/what READ is or how this 2003 compilation came to be. But when I saw that Ben Gibbard was featured on one track, and that the Decemberists were doing “Human Behavior,” I had to have it. The latter track isn’t world-shaking (perhaps I want too much!) and I know nothing about the other acts here, but it’s still a great exercise to hear songs I know and like so much put through a new filter.
And that brings us to
TRAVIS SULLIVAN’s BJORKESTRA - Enjoy (Koch)
I had heard of this one before, as the Bjorkestra played in NoVa last year and were almost a Live! pic. Billed as “visionary pop meets cutting-edge jazz,” the big ensemble sometimes meanders off into the improv wild woods, but its strong female vocalist, Becca Stevens, keeps things grounded. There’s lots of live audio streaming available at the band’s web site so you can see if you like it, too.

GEORGE GERSHWIN - Gershwin Performs Gershwin (Music Masters)
($5.99) It’s subtitled “Rare Recordings: 1931-1935” and who can resist hearing a genius interpreting his own masterworks?
ROKIA TRAORE - Tchamantche (Nonesuch)
($1.99) Hubby heard this Malian woman on an NPR and asked me to keep an eye out for her album. When searching through the slim plastic cases and cardboard envelopes that indicate advances, I found it, though this album came out last year. First listen revealed a rich voice and fluid guitar, plus a Cassandra Wilson-like cover of “The Man I Love” (and that ties it back to Gershwin!).
M.C. YOGI - Vote for Hope (Ursa Minor)
($.99) Will I. Am got the major media attention, but this song was another great moment in the Obama musical march to victory. Wish this disc had the video, too.
DAN HICKS & The HOT LICKS - Tangled Tales (Surfdog)
($.99) A genuine advance, which comes out March 24. Hicks is playing at the State Theatre on April 11, so this single buck is an investment in my actual work as a possible preview. (IRS, take note!)
PROJECT JENNY, PROJECT JAN - The Colors EP (Might Records)
($.99) Another advance, this one out on April 14. I know nothing about the band, but I keep hearing about them - more from persistent PR mailings than actual press - so I’m curious.
RICHARD GOODE - Beethoven: The Complete Piano Concertos (Nonesuch)
Three discs at a great price ($2.99) so I can pretend to be cultured, made more attractive for coming in a plain plastic envelope that can hold four discs. I'm gonna re-house this set and use the casing as a lightweight travel case.
BEN KWELLER - Special Occasions (RCA DVD)
($1.00) “...the making of his highly anticipated album ON MY WAY” which “hits stores April 6, 2004.” And it was still sealed!
MUSIC FROM THE FILM - Playfully Abrasive (self-released)
This one was a freebie, four of them stacked up on the freebie table, near the concert fliers, stickers and other cheapie promo swag. I wasn’t entirely sure which was the name of the album and which was the band, but then there was a myspace reference to clear things up. The CD is printed with a photo of the inside of a Lysol green-tinged outhouse, so I have my worries about what lies within.
And since the word “film” came up anyway, I won’t tally, but will tell that I also picked up
The ROCKER (20th Century Fox DVD)
($11.99) Maybe it looks stupid, but I gotta trust Rainn WIlson to not entirely betray my trust. And, having written my own rock-themed comedy film (never produced, but always available to the interested reader) I’m just a sucker for rock and roll movies (also got 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE last week. Highly recommended).

YTD O/CD Tally:53

Sunday Service

Today I went to the church of my choice - a music venue. In this case, it was a local restaurant, The Tortilla Factory in Herndon, which generally hosts folk music on Thursday nights but was having a special event today, presented by The Truman Show (the name used by a dynamic older couple who present house concerts in their home). The informal music promoters had arranged for a visit by Tasmanian-turned-Nashvillian singer/songwriter Audrey Auld, and it was deemed too big a deal to do in their home.

I had written about the show for the Post and the promoters - and I! - were surprised to see such a good turnout in the Mexican restaurant's back room (capacity about 75, I’d guess) that people had to be turned away when they couldn’t allow any more chairs brought in. (I’ve attended plenty of shows that I’ve written about where the audience could be counted on four hands, so I won’t let the power of the press go to my head.)

The opening act was the duo of Eric Brace & Peter Cooper, the former an acquaintance from his days as writer for the Post, and as occasional subject matter for his well-regarded alt. country band, Last Train Home. Eric had sweetly sent a copy of his latest CD, ERIC BRACE & PETER COOPER - You Don’t Have to Like Them Both (Red Beet Records), a few weeks ago, so it was nice to be able to fold a mention therein to the piece.

The guys are fine players and harmonize beautifully. I am not the fiercest of folk fans, and the sports references whiz right past me, but they made for a good warm-up and a gracious quick conversation in the break. Alas, my bigass digital camera is giving me trouble these days, and most of the shots came out pure black. This is the best I can offer...

And then came Audrey Auld, whose CD arrived right after I finished writing, but thanks to a robust selection of music on her web site, I was good to go.
AUDREY AULD - Lost Men and Angry Girls (Reckless Records)

Auld’s not just a good tunesmith but a smart, funny woman with a charming Australian accent. I didn’t know her stuff well (the merchandise table behind me offered about a half-dozen CDs to show her strong catalog) but I was carried away by pretty much everything she did, from the funny stuff (a song about turning 40, another about living the poor life) to the wistful (“And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda,” Fred Eaglesmith’s spare but affecting “Alcohol and Pills”). She played her own guitar, but extra props to her sideman, Cole Bruce, who had a strong, bright yet bluesy touch on his guitar parts.

Her personal warmth came through again after the show when I introduced myself to her and she gave me a hug (as did Eric). You can question my journalistic distance, but I didn’t write anything about them that I won’t stand by. And I like hugs.

While we’re on Post-y stuff, here's an addition to the archives, a Change of Pace preview for an evening out at a local movie house, which was offering a "Princess Bride" Valentine’s event with a live comic and wine tasting along with the film screening.
(Hubby and I went to the movies for Valentine’s Day ourselves - “Coraline.” I highly recommend seeing it on the Big Screen, as the visuals are quite stunning. The story meanders in a way that would have traditional Three Act film students rip out their hair, but I think that’s ultimately a good thing, even if it also meant logic suspension on my part.)

A Whole Bunch of Good People Coming to Town:
COMPANY of THIEVES - Ordinary Riches (Wind-Up Records)
Chicago-based piano-pop trio made more interesting by the presence of singer Genevieve Schatz.
Appearing with
THRIVING IVORY - THRIVING IVORY (Wind-Up Records)
on Saturday, February 28th at the IOTA.
Beware - according to this San Francisco piano rock quintet’s press bio, vocalist Clayton Stroope has an awesome power that (according to something called DecoyMusic.com) “literally melts you away with his ability...” That means you will actually, really melt away if you hear him! (Look in the dictionary and learn.)

Also on the bill is Barcelona, a similarly melodic, but not always mellow, band from the Northwest. Or maybe not. In fact-checking where the band I think I’m talking about is from, I learn from Wikipedia that there is a local band that has the same name. All bets are off. I don’t know which one is playing this show. And if you try Googling combinations of the words “tour,” “band” and “Barcelona,” you’re still not going to get to the bottom of it.
BTW, Juana Molina’s set that same night, at the same venue, is actually a separate, early show.

TOM RUSH - What I Know (Appleseed Recordings)
Yep, he’s still got the urge for going...on the road, this time to support his first full-length recording in 30 years. At first listen, I'm pleasantly surprised to hear that his voice is as rich and warm as ever. At the Barns of Wolf Trap on Saturday, March 14th.
CARRIE NEWCOMER - The Geography of Light (Philo/Rounder)
I keep getting this Carrie confused with Carrie Underwood. But this one is not an American Idol and has more of an MOR/folk sound. And probably wouldn’t wear a barely-there dress to perform on the Grammies. This Carrie will be at the Birchmere on Saturday, March 7th.

My 'Don't Miss' Show:
The BIRD and The BEE - Rayguns Are Not Just The Future (Blue Note)
I loved this electronic/Tropicalia-tinged pop duo when I saw them in Philadelphia last year and am going to make their March 3rd date at the Wolf Trap Barns a key part of my birthday planning this year. Their publicist sent a zip file of the new album as an advance early in the new year, and a commercial copy came in the last two weeks, so I count it twice in the tally.
“Love Letter to Japan” is in my personal heavy singles rotation, producer/collaborator Greg Kurstin is riding high as knob-meister of the new Lily Allen album, and I’ve been playing Inara George’s solo 2004 CD, “All Rise,” to keep psyching myself for the show. By the Power of Three, this is the tipping point.


Looking back at my notes, I see that February 2 was a day with a nice handful of puffy envelopes. Here’s the Booty Haul for one particular day:
SPECK MOUNTAIN - Some Sweet Relief (Carrot Top)
KINKY - Barracuda (Kin Kon Records)
Also coming to town - opening for Modest Mouse (oh, yeah!) at the 930 on Friday, March 13th (hey, that’s two Friday the 13ths in a row! Not fair!)
CAZALS - What of the Future (The Hours/Fontana)
DAVID BROMBERG QUARTET - Live: New York City 1982 (Appleseed Recordings)
The Bromberg album I love and remember and still have on vinyl is “Reckless Abandon” from 1978, with the wonderful “What A Town.” Gonna go grab me that on iTunes...
ANGEL BAND - With Roots & Wings (Appleseed Recordings)
Bromberg is coming to the Birchmere on February 27, with the Angel Band opening and providing back-up for his set. (I think the publicist said Bromberg is married to one of the Angels.) Produced by ever-reliable Lloyd Maines.
I’ll be previewing Bromberg show but it’s the same night that those wild Philly boys of Marah will be at the IOTA. If I am to get myself out of the house, I’d be more prone to see the latter.

O/CD Tally to Date: 42

Escaping Into Sound

I’m back in upstate New York.
While the reason for the trip is a tough one (rest in peace, Muriel), there’s a sense of family love all around and a life well lived (95 years of adventure!) to take away the sting.

As is my wont, I turn to music for happy distraction and stopped in at the local F.Y.E. (it used to be a Coconuts) to lose myself in browsing. And what I found was:
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Working on a Dream (Columbia)
“Don’t you have a thing about Bruce Springsteen?” is a question I get from people I haven't seen in a while, especially when he has a new album or makes the news.
Yeah, there was a time when I followed the Boss religiously, had every album and single and remix and import, and wrote a paperback bio labor of love for Ballantine books. We had a serious thing going but around the time of “Ghost of Tom Joad,” we grew apart. I was in love with the fun-loving (but still so smart) gypsy rocker, not the somber Poet Laureate. I didn’t even buy “Magic” (the cover shot was so typical of downer Bruce) but simply copied a friend’s and even then after it had been out for months.
And now the new CD is getting mixed (at best) reviews and The New York Times reviewer said the Super Bowl halftime set was “unimaginative.”
WTF was he watching?! That was a great show, (even if Bruce dropped verses on some of the songs and the chorus was a bit of overkill) and I got some of those warm and fuzzy feelings back. He rocked the joint, and he looked damn fine doing it.
So, when I saw the deluxe edition of the new album for only $13.99 in the used section, (plus my 10% frequent buyer discount), I decided it was time to reconnect.
I had a chance to watch the DVD today and while it’s clear that Bruce still takes his work seriously, in the very first moments of the studio footage, he’s telling Max how he wants the drums to be sloppy, like they’re on the verge of falling apart. Is my shaggy Bruce back? During “Kingdom of Days,” he turns and gives the camera a sly smile like the guy I loved so well in the past.
I’m not a fan of the bandana headband or the little chin hair thing but it’s fun to watch Bruce direct the band and the song for Danny Federici features some footage of classic young Bruce. C’mon, Columbia. There have been so many live Springsteen DVD’s in these later years - let’s have one from the “Rosalita” era!

Also grabbed:
SEQUEL’S SIXTIES CHRISTMAS - Various Artists (Sequel Records)
This 30-track British holiday collection includes only a few names I recognize (Petula Clark, Morecambe & Wise) and tons I don’t (Wally Whyton?) but I couldn’t resist finding out what Joan Regan’s “Will Santa Come to My Shanty Town?” or Clinton Ford’s “Miss Hooligan’s Christmas Cake” sounds like. (About $2.50 with my discount.)

Gifties:
The WHO - Endless Wire (Universal Republic)
That same night, my brother, the super shopper, gave me the physical copy of this set which he got for an outrageously low 3 bucks online. The 3-disc set includes the titular (giggle) CD, with the mini-opera “Wire & Glass,” plus a bonus live CD and DVD recorded in Lyon, France in 2006.

Today (Saturday), was a day for exploring. We started with a visit to the Lake George Winter Carnival and got there just in time for the Outhouse Races, the kind of sophisticated entertainment that we don’t have enough of in the warmer climes down south.




After that, we had a coffee break at the non-chain java joint in the heart of the downtown Glens Falls, and then visited the book sale at the beautiful new Crandall Pubic Library. There wasn’t much to choose from in the CD collection - of the dozen or so on display, I was tempted by a Aaron Copeland compilation but it was scratched and in a blank, generic case and didn’t seem worth $2. (I did, however, get a beautiful illustrated copy of a Max Beerbohm novel and a DVD starring Aaron Eckhart and Helena Bonham Carter).

Elsewhere, the library has a few racks of CDs for borrowing (we saw another big pile on the way out, so it seems they’ll be adding to the collection soon) and that’s always good for a browse. If I lived here, I could use my OCD for good by offering to help organize the collection - I found The Wedding Present’s “Bizarro” in the pop “B” section, and Elvis Costello split between the pop and rock areas (in the former case, it was the Bacharach collaboration, so I guess it could be argued for).
Having added the discs into my iTunes library, I’m counting these in the tally:
BRIAN ENO - Another Day on Earth (Opal)
I thought I had pretty much all the Eno albums of the early/mid era, but somehow I missed this one. When I popped it into the computer, iTunes listed it as “electronica” which seemed wrong at first, but the more I think about it, I can’t think of a better alternative.
JACKSON BROWNE - Saturate Before Using (Asylum)
I almost picked up Browne’s recent acoustic solo hits set, but then this one caught my eye. (I didn’t realize at the time that there was no limit to how many CDs you could borrow - “as many as you can carry” was what the librarian said when I asked). lt will be fun to revisit this album and having it in digital form, but l won’t ever give up my original burlap textured LP copy.
MICHAEL BUBLE & FRANK SINATRA - The Kings of Swing (DRG)
We borrowed this for my mom, who loves Buble, but I copied only the Sinatra songs. It seemed odd to have seven tracks by each artist, alternating on the same CD, so I looked up its origins online and discovered that DRG recorded Buble early in his career, but only had seven complete tracks in their vaults. So, since it appears they had rights to some Sinatra as well, they decided to do a different kind of mash-up.

And then we topped off the day with a return visit (for me, not Tom) to F.Y.E., who had kindly put a coupon for 40% off any used CD or DVD in the day’s mail. I immediately headed for the used box sets, and found:
MOODY BLUES - Time Traveller (Polydor)
Musical kismet! Earlier this week, I heard some MBs on the radio and was reminded of how much they meant to me back in the college dorm days (and that’s not enhanced perception talking). Here is pretty much all of the band’s best on five discs, with nice historical background, all for $18, thanks to the coupon and my frequent buyer’s card. Played a few tracks while hanging out with Mom - thought it would be something she wouldn’t mind hearing - and while the schmaltz is there, so are a lot of neat memories. When I return home, I will cross reference with all that old vinyl and lighten the load there.

and one more..
The BLACKJACKS - Midnight on the Floor (self-released)
I’ll toss this one in, since it gives me an excuse to post the Post preview for same.
I also wrote about the English Beat and Bad Manners show at the Birchmere but, for some reason, the Post’s online service never got around to putting it online where I could share it. That’s the first time it’s happened in over five years of writing for the paper, so you can image how it upsets my completist’s nature.

Year to Date O/CD Tally: 29

Digital Delights and Actual Discs

After the previous mentions of preferring actual to virtual albums, I gotta admit I was pleased to discover an email with an offer to download a zip file containing
PETE DOHERTY - Grace/Wastelands (emimusic)
In March, Britain's drug-fueled Peter Pan will turn thirty years old. And days later, will release his first solo album, after tabloid- and chart-topping adventures with the Libertines and Babyshambles. The record was produced by Stephen Street (The Smiths, Blur, Kaiser Chiefs), features Blur guitarist Graham Coxon on all songs except one, plus Scottish singer/songwriter Dot Allison sings on "Sheepskin Tearaway" and the other Babyshambles help out.
VAN MORRISON - Astral Weeks Live (emimusic)
This download came my way early in the new year, but the process hit some speedbumps and I couldn't get to the file right away (another reason I prefer real CDs).

And today, after a training session and workshop at the Tyson's Apple store, I dropped the previously mentioned bag of misfit CDs at the CD Cellar. The guy didn’t want one third of the bunch at any price, but I got enough in credit to bring home the following (and a Looney Tunes DVD):

The LAST SHADOW PUPPETS - The Age of the Understatement (Domino)
In-store play works. As I was browsing the racks, searching in vain for the new Animal Collective and a band called Pilot Speed that Terry has wanted me to find ever since he heard them on a Starbucks compilation, I was hearing a fine sound from the store stereo. One track reminded of the kind of grand pop fun of a James Bond theme song, another had a Kinks-ian vibe. I checked the Now Playing display and found this 2008 release. It had been described well in the press, and I think Alex Turner is a talented cutie, so the tipping point had come. Listening in the car on the ride home, I think I’m gonna like it.
PHANTOM PLANET - S/T (Epic)
The girls like these guys, and I've always enjoyed when they pop up in the car rotation, so I grabbed this 2002 production by Tchad Blake and Mitchell Froom for a mere $1.99. And it's actually a double, with a bonus disc of unreleased tracks like "California" done live.
NSYNC - I Want You Back (RCA/BMG)
50 cents for a 4-track single that I might enjoy and might just sell off to an ebay Justin Timberlake fan. No risk.
RANDY NEWMAN - Harps and Angels (Nonesuch)
Just read an interview with the great Mr. N in a British magazine and wanted to hear the full, uncut version of “A Few Words in Defense of Our Country.” I played that track in the car but decided that listening in the car with the window open (I was sneaking a smoke) wouldn’t allow me to hear the lyrics with the clarity and attention they deserve.
MICHAEL BUBLE - S/T (Reprise)
Mom loves this guy, but has only one other album by him (the one I gave her for Christmas) so I chose this 2003 release based mostly on the appearance of an older song that I’ve always liked, “The Way You Look Tonight.” Mom was delighted and we put it on during dinner, but I wasn’t thrilled with the way he did the song. Fred Astaire still owns that one in my heart.

Oh, and after the in-store system played The Last Shadow Puppets, the counter dude played the new Killers. I liked the first song but that "are we human or are we dancer" one is truly annoying. I still have some love for the first CD, but it's been downhill ever since.

And we end the night with The Gaslight Anthem ripping it up on Letterman. I downloaded "The '59 Sound" from emusic late last year, based on a Rolling Stone Review and one track heard on WXPN during an NYC road trip. It was late in the game, but they came close to making the year's Top Ten. A good job, boys, but the sound mix was lousy. Even my mom asked, "does he have a microphone?"

O/CD Tally: 21

More on CDs vs. MP3s

I spent a large part of the day organizing the overflowing stacks and boxes of CDs that were blocking the area around my desk. It had gotten to the point that, after I'd trip and curse, I still couldn't find things I wanted to hear even though I knew there were in there somewhere and what's the point of that?

I tried to be ruthless in deciding what I really wanted to keep, and filled a grocery bag's worth of various discs - mostly from 2008 press mailings - to take to the trade-in store. Maybe half of them I had a chance to listen to, and I apologize to the rest. But I need to make space for the new year's bounty. As it is, I'm falling behind in tracking many fine new albums that have come in so far this year.

My facebook status for today: "Marianne has too many CDs (cry me a river)."

Yeah, it's a nice problem to have. And then there's all the downloads I've been pulling in, too. As I mentioned in the last post, the Village Voice didn't run my full comments about preferring physical CDs to zip files and audio streaming.

To which my delightful cousin-in-law posted (I'll repeat it so you don't need to refer to the comments area):
"Physical vs audio files debate. Hmmm, you get more quality in the plastic disc version until you scratch it. I always find it annoying that only a handful of CD's contain the encoding that has the track data on that. The great power of ripping them on the computer is the power to search, organize and cook up your own playlists. I'm such a picky person that I love the ability to download a single 99 cent song from an album from Amazon (with no DRM nonsense) rather than cough up $15 for an album. If they really wanted plastic to be competitive they would create encoded CD's that can play on multi-speaker arrangements (like concert DVD's today). Wait a minute, already have that with Netflix streaming in..."

Which gives me a great excuse to post what the Voice didn't use:

I miss CDs. In 2007, on my blog (I gave them the URL, hoping for some hits!), I tracked the number of CDs that I purchased or got in the mail from publicists or bands, plus a handful of full-lengths that I downloaded from press sites or bought through iTunes and emusic. The grand total was just over 1000.

In 2008, I stopped counting, but I know there were many fewer physical CDs sent - the preferred delivery system became zip files and streaming. That makes sense when time is of the essence for a story, but it doesn't when it's pushing a new band I know nothing about. I get a half-dozen emails a week asking me to download a new release to check it out.

I know...I'm complaining about being offered free mp3s (cue the world's smallest violin as I assume the martyr pose) but I miss liner notes and band photos and a better sense of who these new artists are - just the kind of thing I get from CDs. And I don't have the time, bandwidth or hard drive space to store dozens of albums that I may or may not want to reference. I honestly try to give everything that comes through the door a fair listen and it's easier when I can grab a few CDs as I head for the car or the office.

I know I’m a dinosaur in the digital world. And I still love me the vinyl, too.

--------
and that's where I'll leave it for now.

Look, Ma - I'm in the Village Voice!

Didn't realize that the Village Voice Pazz & Jop Poll went up this week, so today's easy-peasy post is a link to my ballot for same. Yes, I know I put this list up some time ago, but it looks so much better in its official form.

Part of the fun of the poll is to see which other critics chose the same albums or singles I did. And seeing those cases where I'm the only person to pick a particular title. This year, I was all alone in mentioning, on the full-length side, Johnny Flynn's "A Larum" and the Gabe Dixon Band's eponymous (always liked that word) debut.
As for singles, I stood solo in singling out Ben Folds and Regina Spektor doing "You Don't Know Me." (odd, I just noticed that the Voice misspelled Spektor!)

And though I wrote a longer piece about still preferring physical CDs over zip files and audio streams, the editors chose a shorter clip about my waning way of life.

And while I was pulling this together, I dropped into my emusic account and downloaded two new releases that, given the track record of the performers, have an excellent chance of getting on next year's list:

ANDREW BIRD - Noble Beast (Fat Possum)
BON IVER - Blood Bank (Jagjaguwar)

which brings us to the O/CD Tally: 14
(I have other CDs, both sent, purchased and found, that I will add on soon)

And, BTW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMMA!

Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part One

From Salon.com:

Change comes to inaugural concerts

On Sunday, a concert celebrating President-elect Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration featured -- as our own Joan Walsh, who was on the scene, has documented here -- quite a lineup. Bruce Springsteen was there; so were Beyonce, Bono, Pete Seeger, Garth Brooks, Jamie Foxx and many others. What a difference four years makes: The list of performers at a concert celebrating George W. Bush's re-election reads quite differently.

From Bush's remarks at the "America's Future Rocks" concert, as released by the White House:

Listen, I want to thank all the entertainers who were here today. How about Hilary Duff. She was fantastic. (Applause.) Thank you, Hilary. JoJo -- JoJo is here -- yeah. (Applause.) Rubin (sic) Studdard -- you talk about a success story. (Applause.) Ryan Cabrera, I appreciate Ryan being here. (Applause.) How about Three Doors Down? (Applause.) Pretty cool guys, right? Seem cool to me. (Applause.) Fuel -- I appreciate Fuel being here. (Applause.) Jason Sehorn -- I'm honored that my friend, Jason -- and I'm really proud and pleased that he brought his wife, Angie Harmon. (Applause.)

I want to thank Steve Baldwin for being with us today. I'm honored that Steve was here. Erika Harold, Miss America 2003 -- what a fine person Erika is. (Applause.) How about Kelly Purdue, the "apprentice." (Applause.) Next thing you know, the guy will be running for President. (Applause.) Nancy O'Dell -- I'm honored that Nancy is with us. I appreciate you all coming.

― Alex Koppelman

"Squish Squash Applesauce"

The impeccably dressed military woman on the Metro train heading into DC on Inauguration Day eve was explaining to her two charges - the 10-ish black boy (I believe he was her son) and the 12-ish white girl - that there would be "squish squash applesauce" when they left the train on the way to the Kids Inauguration Ball, where the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus and others would be performing.
I thought of getting out at that station to see if I could score a ticket, but opted instead to walk the mall and feel the vibe there.

Having attended the Clinton Inauguration (even with tickets, I could barely make him out in the distance) - a great but retroactively "OMG-I'm-claustrophobic!" experience - I wanted to touch the hem of this great event and then enjoy the Big Day from the comfort of my basement TV zone.

It wasn't S-S-A on the mall this evening, but there was a happy buzz - smiling faces, street fair vendors ("Can a brother get a dollar for an Obama decal?") and TV crews filing live reports. (One lonely guy kept asking, "Anyone here from Philadelphia?" but got no takers while I was there.)

MSNBC had the biggest news presence, and I saw Chris Matthews broadcasting "Hardball" while I wandered past to get to the Capitol.

And on the way back, I watched "our Keith," as another stylish black* woman put it, walk from the NBC make-up trailer to the NBC potty-trailer and then into the broadcast booth. Would have loved to see Rachel, too.
(*I'm not Stephen Colbert; I see color, and I love seeing all the color coming together. That's why I bring it up.)

And then, on my way to walk past the White House ("nah, nah, nah, nah, hey, hey, hey, goodbye...") I met a nice guy who seemed to be enjoying the evening as well...

Waiting for a Lame Duck to Waddle Away

I am preparing a tally of a new batch of used CDs and the tale of a visit from one half of the late and lamented indie wonders Troubled Hubble, but right now I'm watching Saturday Night Live and marveling at how great Fleet Foxes sound, and how nervous they look (maybe this is really Frightened Rabbit?). And sloppy, too. It's not that I mind that guy bands wear jeans and don't comb their hair, but any woman who appears on a live musical stage has got to look sleek, polished, clean and great half-naked or she will not be allowed to get on that stage in the first place.

Sorry, I just had to get that out. And I still blame Madonna.

But generally, I'm in a fine mood, awaiting the new era. Here's a fun email invite I got recently:


No reason; I just dig the graphic.

"We are all going down..."

I couldn't help but think of Laurie Anderson, deadpanning the words of a calm pilot in the face of disaster, as I see TV clips of a commercial flight landing (safely!) on (in?) the Hudson River. Oh, New York City, you always have such amazing stories to tell!

As for me, it's been a day. Things got done, choices have been made (good ones, I think, though I won't go into detail here) and the momentum of the new year remains strong. And as we watch the lame duck waddle into the sunset, I say yea.

But we're here for the music, so I drop by briefly to add two new Post previews to the assembled archives:

Dave Ihmels (local singer/songwriter) at FireFlies

Bill Emerson and Sweet Dixie (bluegrass) at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

I have an exit strategy - Say my piece and get out.

Tally Ho!

Let the Obsessive/CD counting begin!

Today I took a few bags of cast-off items to my local thrift store and, of course, spent time looking through the shelves of CDs, being sold for just $1.50 each! I talked myself out of some that were in less than ideal condition, plus a few that I may well already have at home (such doubts are an occupational hazard of the obsessive collector). Still, I got a dozen:

PRACTICALLY EINSTEIN - I Want To (Oddman Records)
This local NoVA band’s name pops up occasionally when I’m searching venues for shows to cover for the Post. Might as well have a copy of the disc on hand so I can consider them. Uh-oh. Just noticed - this is a 1998 recording!? I wonder if the band sounds anything at all like this anymore. It would probably be a bad sign if they did.

POISON - Poisons Greatest Hits 1986-1996 (Capitol)
Insert joke here about how this full-length should be an EP. My first thought was simply to get it as a joke for Birthday-Coming Girl (Jan. 24), with whom I wasted many hours watching the deliciously wretched “Rock Love” in a perversion of mother/daughter bonding. But then I saw the title “Unskinny Bop” and realized I actually want one of these songs! Also contains two previously unreleased tracks for which I hold out little hope.

U2 - War (Island)
No, it’s not one of the new deluxe reissues, but jeez, it was only a buck and a half! I wonder what my vinyl copy might fetch on amazon...?

CAN YOU SAY HOBOKEN? 6 - Various Artists (Brave Entertainment Group)
I wouldn’t have bothered with another compilation of obscure artists from the hipster enclave, but then I saw the name of an old pal, Chris Butler (late of the Waitresses) doing a song called “Keith Moon!” (love the exclamation point), so I had to check it out.

SWING AROUND THE WORLD - Various Artists (Putumayo World Music)
“A global swing dance party that’s fun for the entire family!” I recognize the Squirrel Nut Zippers and Oscar Peterson, but that’s not the point here. I want to be taken away to exotic lands where I don’t know the language but can still feel the beat. Anybody else remember when Putumayo had a store in Soho with funky, fun fashion?

IMMORTAL BELOVED - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (SONY Classical)
I almost passed up this CD when I noticed that the contents read “excerpts from...” a list of Ludwig’s best-known numbers. Then I realized I need Beethoven for Dummies.

MADELEINE PEYROUX - Careless Love (Rounder)
I know I have a Peyroux CD somewhere in the house. And I know I like her voice. But is this the title I already have? Oh, heck, it’s still sealed, so I can probably get my money back at the trade-in store if it’s a dupe.

The BLACK CROWES - Greatest Hits 1990-1999 (American)
Back in the summer, I interviewed Grace Potter, who was opening a show for the Crowes at Wolf Trap, for the Post. I really wanted to go to the show, and bought this CD at Best Buy to psyche myself up for the show. But I never broke the shrink-wrap and didn’t get to the show and wound up returning the CD for credit. So now we come full circle.

JOHN MAYER - Room for Squares (Aware/Columbia)
I have a copy of the album with a different cover and, I believe, a few different tracks. That one is, I believe, an earlier (collectible?) release and this is the one that made him a huge star. Want to make a comparison.

BARENAKED LADIES - Everything to Everyone (Reprise)
Slowly but surely (and relatively cheaply), I am working towards the full catalog of this fine, funny band, whose charms I discovered rather late in their career (‘round “Stunt”).

OUTKAST - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (Arista)
Remember how huge this album was? “Hey-Ya”? “The Way You Move”? “Roses”? At the time, a teenage neighbor burned me a copy, but I like to have the real deal, especially for an album with such a lasting pedigree. Funny/sad note re this once invincible act - even the used CD store wasn’t interested in a copy of “Idlewild” last time I was there. And BTW, while the Korean cashier in the back of the thrift store examines every CD to count the discs, the younger woman at the front cashier doesn’t, so buy your 2-CD sets from her!

American Eagle: AN ESSENTIAL MIX - Various Artists (Warner Bros.)
Except for PM Dawn, Olive and Muse, I don’t recognize the artists on this 10-track compilation, but the latter is a favorite of College Girl’s ex, a nice guy who she’ll hopefully stay friends with, and I’ll pass this one to him. Of the eight tracks I’ve heard so far, only one’s a keeper - “Sunbeam” (as in “Jesus wants me for a...”) by Submarine. I haven’t gotten to the Muse track yet, but I’m not sure ex is gonna want it. Everything here is totally jacked up with hyper dance beats, to numbing effect.

And so, the first O/CD Tally of the New Year: 12

Tonight: Camper Van Beethoven at the State Theatre.
Tomorrow: photos of same (I hope)

Thinking 'Bout the Best of '08

Midnight tonight is the deadline for the Village Voice's 2008 Pazz & Jop Poll. I finished my ballot about 9 pm, so I felt good about being so early. (Last year, I was pushing the 'send' button as the minute hand was slowly ticking to the day's end).

It's always hard to settle on the final 10 albums/singles and there are always a few late acquisitions that are hard to judge in context against those that have had months to make their mark or fade from attention.

For instance, I've had TV ON THE RADIO CD's “Dear Science” for just the last two weeks and am very much liking it. It’s a little late in the game to consider it for the year’s best, but it slipped past me before and the publicist was kind enough to send it along. Sometimes, the best criteria I have for what makes the list is which albums I would like to run away with and explore fully. This is one of them.

Anyway my Top Ten CDs for 2008, starting with the runaway winner for Best Album of the Year:
Elbow - Seldom Seen Kid (Geffen)
and a close runner-up:
Vampire Weekend - S/T (XL)
The rest are in somewhat descending order:
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (Columbia)
Johnny Flynn - A Larum (Lost Highway)
TV on the Radio - Dear Science (Interscope/4AD)
Flight Of The Conchords - S/T (Sub Pop)
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges (ATO)
Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs (Atlantic)
Gabe Dixon Band - S/T (Fantasy)
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar)

and my Top Ten Singles (in alphabetical order, by artist):
Coldplay -Viva La Vida (Capitol)
Duffy - Mercy (Mercury)
Ben Folds & Regina Spector - You Don’t Know Me (Epic)
Flobots - Handlebars (Universal/Repubic)
Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire (RCA)
M.I.A. - Paper Planes (XL/Interscope)
Pretenders - Boots of Chinese Plastic (Shangri-La)
Thao and The Get Down Stay Down - Bag of Hammers (Kill Rock Stars)
Ting Tings - That’s Not My Name (Columbia)
Will.i.am - Yes We Can (streaming video)

Comments?

I leave you with a freebie:
Filter magazine online is offering a gratis mp3 from the forthcoming Bell X1 CD, Blue Lights on the Runway, which comes out March 3rd. (That’s the same day the new U2 is supposed to arrive, too, pitting two Irish faves against each other.) Click here for ”How Your Heart is Wired.”
Ooooh, says here that the band has done some “reshuffling” and is now a trio. Last fall, when Bell X1 was promoting its “Flock” CD, I had drinks in a DC Irish bar with lead singer Paul Noonan (mentioned in the Filter note) and Dominic Philips and Brian Crosby. I just went off to Wikipedia and they say that Brian is gone. Awwww....

And Thus, We Begin Again

So here we are once more, facing the blank pages of a new datebook and hoping to fill in the days of 2009 with fun events, fine music and happy thoughts.

And my resolution is to blog better and more often, so hold me to it. (A few comments would be nice, so stop lurking and let's get interactive!)

The morning began in a nice New Year's way with the morning papers and late breakfast. And there, in the Washington Post, were two new regional section previews:
1. Camper Van Beethoven at the State Theatre
2. and a local band of veteran blues players,
The Deacons at Cowboy Café.

In pulling those pieces up, I saw that the last pair of previews was never posted here, so I'll add them, too:
The Lee Boys at the State Theatre
Levine School of Music Holiday Concert

While I did such bookkeeping, I watched a new DVD from one of my longtime favorite bands
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE: No Better Place – Live in Chicago DVD (Shout! Factory)
To be released on February 24.

The concert was recorded for a Chicago TV show called "Soundstage," in a beautiful old theatre that gave the band a big stage area and some nifty video screens upon which to project images that related, however tangentially, to the songs.

I have been to a handful of FoW concerts and have always had a great time being in the audience to hear the band’s catchy, clever songs played well. But as much as I love this band, no one’s going to mistake these guys for Aerosmith in terms of presenting a riveting live show. These are not showy people; there’s no rock star attitude, no posturing or long solo indulgences. And in this particular show, shot in 2005, there’s no material from 2007’s wonderful “Traffic and Weather”album.

But you can’t take away from the music that is here – “Radiation Vibe” still makes me smile after all these years. And things lift off to an almost Real Rock Show rousing degree with a fine rendition of “Bright Future in Sales” but they censor a word in the line, “I gotta get my shit together.”

If all you know about Fountains of Wayne is “Stacy’s Mom,” you’re missing out on one of pop’s true pleasures. This DVD can serve as a souvenir for hardcore fans, a pleasant live almost-best-of for newbies, but you can enjoy the music as an audio experience without needing to stay glued to the screen.

According to the Shout! Factory web site, the DVD also features an “all new, never-before seen acoustic mini-set filmed live in the recording studio.” But that wasn’t on my promo advance. ;-(

Two more side notes:
1) FoW's Adam Schlesinger (who has earned Oscar, Tony and Golden Globe nominations for his film, television and theater work outside the band) recently joined with David Javerbaum, executive producer of “The Daily Show,” to write some of the original songs for "A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift Of All."

2) Fountains of Wayne is coming to the Birchmere next month for a rare full-band acoustic set, during which I hope Adam and Chris will open up a bit and talk about their songwriting partnership – and not mumble (the little moments of stage patter on the DVD are barely audible). That will be way better than any video concert.

And that’s all for this first day of the new year. Cheers!