Virginia is for Vinyl Lovers

Greetings from Richmond, VA, final stop on the College Girl Farewell VCU Tour. Her last test was Thursday afternoon and I’ve come down to help her celebrate, pack up and come home. Tonight we had a festive if not delicious (too salty and rich for my taste) meal at the Can Can Brasserie in the fun-store area of Carytown, where there is a Plan 9 music store, a genuine 2-story independent vinyl and CD outlet. It’s like going to church; I have to stop in and pay a visit. We didn’t have much time before dinner (maybe we can return tomorrow?) but in those few minutes, I was smitten with all the racks of cool stuff brought in for last week’s Record Store Day.

Most of it was vinyl - a full set of Radiohead reissues, lots of 7” singles (most going for $5 and $6; there was a time when I could get them for under a buck each, after getting a slice of pizza and a can of coke for 25 cents!) They all looked stunning, and I was sorely tempted by the rich red vinyl Pretenders’ single and the double 10” My Morning Jacket EP, but even with the latter offering a CD in the package, I didn’t have a spare $20 and I can’t justify collecting more vinyl until I get the USB turntable up and running. My old skool vintage (read: old) turntable was acting weird recently when I was testing some maybe-to-sell records - it probably balked at having to play an old Fleetwood Mac bootleg.

Speaking of vinyl (yes, I digress) check out this
news report - Best Buy is going to start selling vinyl! And a few days ago, I opened an email from fye music, offering a discount on vinyl purchases, which I didn’t even know they stocked. The more things change...

But before we get too excited, I also read that overall sales volume for vinyl as a format is slightly more than 1,300,000 units a year (from 2007 RIAA sales reports). Overall. So, all the vinyl records sold in the entire year would just beat a single platinum CD by U.S. standards. We’re talking cult status for sure. But I’m still in the cult, on the fringes.

Anyway, much as I loved handling the vinyl, I was basically window shopping, not buying, though I figured I might have to get the $3 Costello 7” just to pay my tithe/respects to the store.

And then I saw a cardboard box marked “Freebies” next to the cashier desk. Of course, I peeked in. There were some CD singles from acts I didn’t know, except for Erin McCarley (I have her full-length); stickers, so I grabbed a bunch of Depeche Mode for one of the Apple store gang; and some postcards. And then...one most amazing discovery!

STEVE GOODMAN - Live Wire (Red Pajamas Records)
I elaborate on what I told College Girl in explaining what finding this disc means to me:
Back in my college days, bored and lonely, I went to a free concert at a neighboring dorm to see this guy perform, knowing nothing about him except that his show was free. He was wonderful! By way of comparison, I would cite Matt Nathanson as his modern contemporary - solid songs, a hilarious stage presence with rambling stories and odd cover tunes, a damn nice guy who gives his all whether the audience knows and loves him or has no idea who the hell he is.
After that first night at Stony Brook, I saw Steve Goodman about half a dozen times, including a memorable show at NYC’s Bottom Line where I saw both Glenn Close and Jeremy Irons in the audience. They were appearing together on Broadway but sat at separate tables; Irons at the table just next to us, which caused us “Brideshead Revisted” fans to go fairly mental, though we tried to hide it. Steve Goodman was loved by Those In The Know.
I even got to interview Steve once (he’s the kind of guy you can’t help but address by first name) and he was a doll; genuinely pleased to hear that I was a true fan, and not just going through the promo motions. And then he died at age 36, in 1984, after living with leukemia during the entirety of his recording career.
Most of the obituaries made mention of the fact that he wrote “City of New Orleans,” and the royalties from that was probably what fed his family, but it was playing live that obviously fed his soul.
What the hell was this year-2000-dated live album from an obscure Chicago folkie doing in the 2009 freebie box of a Richmond record store? And why did I, a longtime fan of the man who thought she had every album of his, miss it when it first came out? It’s kismet, I tell you, and listening to it before I started writing this took me right back to those marvelous shows. And the set list is so much better than the live album I did have - 2006’s “Live at the Earl of Old Town.” That one was good, but this one is definitive. I still can’t believe it was just sitting there, waiting for me to find it.

I also pulled these two dsics out of the box:
The COOL KIDS - The Cake Sale (Chocolate Industries)
Just looked this one up on Google and found out it’s a hip-hop duo from Chicago and Detroit. If I’d known that, maybe I wouldn’t have grabbed it, but the graphics are so neat and the sticker says “The Highly Anticipated Release Featuring ‘Black Mags,’ ’88’ and Other Unreleased Material.” And it was free, remember? Can’t go wrong and might learn something.

PASTE NEW MUSIC SAMPLER 51 (Paste Magazine)
I often buy the magazine, but don’t have the March/April issue, so this is a nice filler. There’s a Beirut track (College Girl saw them/him last month and loved them/him), one from Asobi Seksu (finally! I have been reading so much about them?/him?), and a frighteningly high percentage of people about whom I have not a clue. It used to be that I could forgive myself for not knowing all the acts on the CMJ samplers ‘cause they include all sorts of rap and metal that I don’t follow, but Paste is my demographic. Isn’t it? Or have I aged even out of that one?

I took my delicious discovery freebies to the counter, along with
ELVIS COSTELLO - Complicated Shadows/Dirty Rotten Shame (Specialty/Hear)
It was Elvis. It was only $3. It was a way to celebrate Record Store Day. It was a way to pay Plan 9 back, in some small part, for the gifties. And for still existing. Yeah, that's what I'll tell my husband when he asks why the hell I'm buying vinyl!

Time for bed, as I don’t think I can bear staying up for Craig Ferguson’s interview with Matthew McConaughy (love the former; can’t stand the latter). But since Animal Collective is doing a most bizarre (WTF? with those dancers? and I mean that in a good way) and infectious performance on Letterman’s show, I will add to the tally a digital download, care of emusic, from awhile ago:
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino)
I haven’t had much time to spend with this CD, but anytime I hear a song from it, I am reminded to get back on the case - this could well be one of the year’s best. A MGMT-style sleeper that grows and grows and takes over the world.
CRAIG FERGUSON - A Wee Bit O’ Revolution (Image Entertainment)
I may end up buying/renting the DVD of this, as I just love the guy’s cheeky monkey expressions, but it was cheap to download through the service and fun to listen to. Sent a copy to mom, who loves him, too, in her Mother’s Day package, but I wonder how she’ll react to the track called “My Giant C***” (the astericks are used on the contents). Actually, I am surprised that the whole album isn’t more blue, since I bet this guy can go wild when he’s not worried about TV standards, but he’s cute enough to get away with it. I feel I owe it CF to buy his stuff since he gives me so much free fun every night. In a strictly platonic way. (Damn.)

YTD O/CD Tally: 148

Some Days Are Like Christmas

I’ve gotten a lot of zip files lately, and will get around to mentioning those albums soon (?), but there’s still something so satisfying about sitting at the table with a pile of new CDs, popping open the shrinkwrap, trying to peel off the identifying stickers and placing them somewhere appropriate on the cover, and otherwise man-handling actual discs!
There were a number of Puffies waiting for me when I got home today - and since I had been to the CD trade-in store, that means even more for me! So much music! So much joy!

So, remember back last Friday when there was trouble at the Patriot Center box office and I missed The Walkmen?
Turns out, the nice guy at Tell All Your Friends PR had tried to warn me that there would be a problem (because the band was bringing in lots of family members), but his email got lost in the ether and didn’t show up in my mailbox until this week. Even before knowing that I went to the show and almost got shut out, he wrote another (delayed) email and said he felt terrible and was going to send me a bunch of CDs. He didn’t need to, and I told him so, but of course I’m glad he did. The booty arrived today, in two nice chubby envelopes.
MILES BENJAMIN ANTHONY ROBINSON - S/T (Say Hey Records)
“Debut Album by the Brooklyn Songwriter feat. members of Grizzly Bear and TV on the Radio.” That sounds promising.
PASSION PIT - Chunk of Change (Frenchkiss)
This is one that made me say “ooh!” Heard a single by these guys on a mix CD that College Girl’s music-loving and well-versed boyfriend made for her and was taken by the sound, wanted to hunt them down. Score! A bit of Go! Team/Black Kids vocal pep crossed with the electronic burblings of Death Cab. This is the band’s debut EP;the full-length, “Manners,” comes out May 18th.
HARLEM SHAKES -Technicolor Health (Gigantic Music)
The Shakes opened for Bell X-1 a few weeks ago, but we missed the set because it was an early show that started even earlier than the web site had mentioned and we were stuck in traffic. Glad to check ‘em out here.
The Pit and The Shakes play a double feature on June 9th at the Black Cat. Sounds like a winner.
The bands have a lot in common, in fact. Both are following EPs with full-lengths recorded with producer Chris Zane (Les Savy Fav, The Walkmen, White Rabbits).
FUJIYA & MIYAGI - Lightbulbs (Deaf, Dumb & Blind Recordings)
Another band I have heard mention of many times before; looking forward to jumping in.
DRAGONS OF ZYNTH - Coronation Thieves (Gigantic Music)
Heard the name before, but no idea what to expect; from the packaging, I’m a little afeared it’s gonna be loud and annoyed, if not annoying.
The WALKMEN - You & Me (Gigantic)
Yeah, I already have the download (actually, I remember I bought a first copy digitally some time ago when Amie Street was having an advance/charity sale; even before the PR guy sent the zip) but this is a spiffy four-panel fold-out digipack. Not a lot of info, but cool, arty photos that speak well of the band’s lofty intentions.
So, many thanks to Tierney - fun to open and, I’m hopeful, fun to get to know.

I didn’t spend as much time as usual browsing the CD trade-in store aisles today, but once I’d found a few goodies in the $1.99 clearance section, I had to go the distance -they drop to 10 for $15.99. And thus I got:
K.D. LANG - Watershed (Nonesuch)
I used to have a (non-sexual) thing for k.d., but lost track of her last few.
RHETT MILLER - S/T (Shout! Factory)
Generic paper envelope sleeve and, without my glasses, I couldn’t see the copyright date. Got it to the car and see it’s 2009. Score again! I have an advance by the darling Skinny Boy Rhett, as he is referred to by me and the friend I dragged along to see him. She didn’t know note of his going in, not even Old 97’s stuff, but she left smitten.
The FIREMAN - Electric Arguments (ATO Records)
Why did I buy another copy of Paul McCartney’s rather cool electronic dabbling with Flood? One word - swaptree (and we’ll get back to this in the days to come.
FINDING NEVERLAND - Soundtrack (Decca)
The whole family loved the flick; if older daughter doesn’t want to keep it for the music, younger will like the pictures of Mr. Depp.
The REAL TUESDAY WELD - The End of the World (?)
Subtitled: TRTW presents The Clerkenwell Kid Live.
I fell in love with one track by this band (it’s basically a one-man show, right?) months ago, “The Day Before You Came,” and since then, have kept grabbing the CDs whenever I see them in the cheap bins. Sooner or later, I have to formulate a real opinion, but I love the die-cut packaging and the band’s cinematic web site .
STEVE REICH - Daniel Variations (Nonesuch)
STEVE REICH - You Are (Variations) (Nonesuch)
Two separate plain cardboard advances. Reich just won the Pulitzer prize for music and is always a reminder of what we miss about NYC.
MUSIC IS LOVE (MOJO)
I broke the habit of buying the magazine ‘cause it’s too damn good to throw away without reading, but I have piles of older issues still waiting. So I just keep it clean(er) and buy the samplers. When I can remember which ones I don’t already own.
REBEL MUSIC: SONGS OF PROTEST AND INSURRECTION (MOJO)
Yeah, I had skipped this one. I think.
Were you counting? Where’s CD number 10 you ask? The 10th item was actually a DVD, the film “The Last of the Blonde Bombshells,” staring Judi Dench.
BAD SEEDS: NICK CAVE: ROOTS & COLLABORATIONS (MOJO)
This was actually $3.99, in the “regular” bins, but I picked it up for College Girl’s (afore-mentioned) Boyfriend who has quite sharp musical tastes and is a huge Cave-man (sorry, couldn’t resist). I kinda doubt he knows of its existence and since he rarely buys physical discs anyway.

And then there were a few more in the PEP (Puffy Envelope Promo) SQUAD:
ERIC HUTCHINSON -Sounds Like This (Warner Bros.)
Bright, catchy poppy singer-songwriter whose name I’ve been seeing for ages. Coming to the 930 Club. The easy grooves and slightly soul-tinged vocals of the first two tracks made me think he could be Stevie Wonder’s little white brother. I’d not heard the single, “Rock & Roll” before, but it’s fun; reminds me of Jason Mraz’s easy breezy style.
TIME and DISTANCE - Gravity (NotAlone Records)
Cardboard advance cover says the album will be out on July 14th. The trio’s leader, Greg McGowan, is from West Virginia, so he’s practically local, and there are some amusing song titles - “First Time Caller, Long Time Listener,” and “Horseshoes and Hand Grenades,” so if it lives up to its cute bio notes(I like the part where they did the piano parts on a laptop in a hotel bathroom and used a cigarette pack amp for some guitar parts), could be a winner. One part that I don’t think was meant to be funny: “...this is the album that Time and Distance have been waiting their entire careers to make.” Can a guy who looks about 18 have that much career behind him? Oh, wait, this is their third album. I feel so old...!
 
Year to Date O/CD Tally: 142

Thank You, Proud Walkmen Parents

As previously mentioned, I wrote a Post preview about the Walkmen and Kings of Leon. The former's PR person said I'd be on the guest list to see the show but, when hubby and I got to the Patriot Center box office, after being stuck in traffic, the band was already onstage and the BO ladies had no record of our tickets. Luckily, I had printed out copies of the online version of the story, and had the PR email to back up my story. While they didn't seem to care about the article, they took my personal story seriously (one benefit of being older and not looking too groupie-like) and made some phone calls.

Through the open door, I could hear the Walkmen playing, and what I heard I liked a lot, which made it all the more frustrating to be stuck just outside the lobby. I heard a fast-tempo song I really like that I am trying to track down as I write, and heard someone onstage "thank the parents for coming." I assumed he meant the parents who had dutifully driven their kids to see the show.

But no. I had forgotten that The Walkmen is made up of guys who grew up in the DC area and formed the band after moving to NYC. (I also forgot that a few of them had been in Jonathan Fire*Eater, too.) After the band's set ended, the BO woman finally called me back to the window and out comes a good looking young guy wearing a "Support Act" laminate and profusely apologizing for the ticket mix-up. I tell him I liked what I heard, and ask how he's associated with the band. "I'm the keyboard player," he answers, and I think he said his name was Peter (as in Bauer? as best as I can tell via Goolge image search, that was he). Oops. Again, I said I liked what I heard, and again he apologized for the ticket mix-up. "Do you still want to see the show?" he asked, and yes, we did. So, he hands us two tickets, which he says are his parents'. I protest that I can't take his parents' tickets, but he says they left right after the band finished their set. And that's when I realized that the band had been thanking their own parents for coming! Such nice boys!

As was Peter, who then walked us past the ticket guards, explaining that he was in the opening act, that we were his guests and, when the guards went to re-zap the tickets, faked them out (since the tickets had already been scanned) by saying we had left without knowing there was a no re-entry policy. So, a Walkman scammed us into the show. That was a new one for me.

The band's family gets pretty good seats, too, in the same section that I have sat in many times before as a press person. This not-so-great shot, still using my daughter's cheapie cast-off camera, shows our position vis-a-vis the stage.


As for the Kings of Leon, after having seen a most amazing, intense show at the 930 Club around the time of "Aha Shake Heartbreak," this larger venue would almost inevitably be a disappointment to us. The band is as sharp as ever, and the songs still prowl/growl with great, pounding rhythms and prickly hooks, but that other time the band seemed practically feral ("They scared me then!" Terry said, with admiration). And that was awesome.

So now was good - the band deserves to play larger venues and does so with cool panache, including restrained/engaging lights and video - but then was better. You're only that lean, mean and hungry once.

Cool Off the Presses

It would have been Hot Off the Presses if I had told you earlier, but here are today's two Washington Post previews:
Wes Tucker & the Skillets at the Evening Star Cafe.
Kings of Leon, The Walkmen at the Patriot Center.

Here's an odd bit of editing. The Kings/Walkmen story ends with these lines:
"The Walkmen are well into a career and show no signs of losing the power to surprise, engage and stir up a crowd. And isn't that what classic rock is supposed to mean? "
But I wrote that BOTH band were into careers with no signs of blah blah blah.
Why would the editors change that?

And, just to pretend that I'm still keeping a tally,
The Walkmen - You & Me (Gigantic Music)
A digital download was sent as story prep. (I already had the KOL CD from last year.)
WES TUCKER & the SKILLETS - The Scorpion and the Dove (self-released)

And so,
O/CD Tally YTD: 124

If I Lived There, I'd Be There

Meaning that if I were closer to Ashland, VA, I would definitely check out this Thursday night show...

"Audrey Auld is performing in your area this week. We would love a
mention in your cool blog. I understand you have come out to see
Audrey before and we really appreciate it! Her guitar player on this
run is a super talented Australian artist, Anne McCue. Thanks again!"

Since the nice PR person called the blog "cool," I gladly mention it - not just because of the nice adjective, but because this concert is a great double feature by two female singer/songwriters I have seen and enjoyed in the past. And it's only $7 (in advance)/$12 at the door to get in:

AUDREY AULD & ANNE McCUE
ASHLAND COFFEE & TEA
100 N. RAILROAD AVE 23005
ASHLAND, VA
Thursday, April 23, 8:00 PM
http://www.ashlandcoffeeandtea.com
804-798-1702

If you go, let me know how you liked it!

A Good Day Out...

...includes a learning session at the Apple store where the smart, friendly trainer gave me lots of good tips for making movies and storing music. And then I stopped at the CD Cellar to trade in a bag of unwanted discs. They rejected about half of them (times are tight all over) but I left with coffee money in my pocket and a small bag of new acquisitions.
BOB DYLAN - DYLAN (Columbia)
I’m a sucker for packaging. I had enough in-store credit to buy this 3-CD set in the red cloth box with the booklet and collectable postcards, still sealed, $23. Good deal.

The clearance section gets bigger all the time, $1.99 each or 10 discs for $15.99. So, once I’ve picked up four or five discs I’m curious about, I might as well go for the double handful. I wasn’t successful in my search of all the thin cases and cardboard envelopes for advance discs, but found some fun stuff anyway.
TOP of the POP HITS - Various Artists, Disc 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 (Collectables/SONY)
Where is Disc 2? Dunno, but these were al nestled together. A lot of stuff I already have, but some choice nuggets: Oliver’s “Good Morning Sunshine” (it’s a running joke that Hubby sings it in the morning when he wants to drive us mad), “Sugar and Spice” (name that band? The Cryin’ Shames), “Flowers on the Wall” (Statler Brothers), “Laugh Laugh” (Beau Brummels), “Who Put the Bomp?” (Barry Mann) and “1, 2, 3” (Len Barry.
As I rip the collection into mp3s so that I can recycle the discs back to the trade-in store or the thrift shop, I am struck by the wastefulness of these series. Only one disc (number 5) has more than 10 songs on it; Disc 4 has only 9 songs! It would be so easy to condense the whole lot down to three discs, and that’s exactly what I intend to do when I make oldies mixes for my family. The only reason to spread the music out so thinly is to make an excuse to charge more for the series. And it’s not like to money is gonna go to songwriters and artists. Bah.
DONNA REED’S DINNER PARTY - Various Artists (Nick at Nite/550 Music/Sony)
Pretty sure I have this already, but I was smitten by Andy Williams’ “Can’t Get Used to Losing You” (until I saw it was on one of the collections above) and Linda Scott’s “I’ve Told Every Little Star,” the obscure chestnut with which I used to bore the second grade class when I did my impromptu show-off performances. Add Shelley Fabares’ “Johnny Angel” and by the iTunes Rule (if there’s more than two songs you would buy for a buck each, an album for $2 is definitely worth it) and it’s a no-brainer.
BETTE MIDLER - S/T (Atlantic)
Back in the day when the Divine Miss M didn’t sing syrup like “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
TOM WAITS - Real Gone (Anti-)
I may have these songs already from a long-ago downloading, but I couldn’t resist the 4-panel fold-out digi-pack.
ERIN McCARLEY - S/T (Universal/Republic)
Generic plastic envelope advance. She’s opening for Matt Nathanson and Jack’s Mannequin on May 5th in Richmond and, on the off chance that I might be down there for the show/picking up College Girl, I want to know what she’s about.
SPIRITUALIZED - Meltdown Festival, Royal Albert Hall, July 1, 1998 (?)
Black slimline case, paper insert, not quite CD-R, not quite official. There was another live Spiritualized CD in the rack, a 2-disc set, but that one was marked as an audience recording, Grade A- whereas this one was “Quality: FM Broadcast, A.” No track listing.

And, from the freebie table:
TYRONE WELLS - Remain (Universal/Republic)
3-track sampler from the album, including the title track.
ANONYMOUS - The Handout (self-released)
5-tracks, including a cover of “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).”
The band is performing at the State Theatre on May 8th (it says here on the sticker on the back).

YTD O/CD Tally: 122

The Hills Are Alive...

...with the sound of people making art that makes people smile.

Alas, I am not the artist in question, though I volunteer to take part if such an opportunity presents itself.

I am busy working on the next round of previews for the Post - Kings of Leon and The Walkmen at the Patriot Center, plus Wes Tucker and the Skillets at the Evening Star Cafe - so I say a quick hello and offer my favorite new video clip.

I'm not going to spoil the fun by explaining it; just click on and prepare to be reminded that we need this kind of thing more than ever:
Central Station, Antwerp.

Shame is Me

I've been bad. No excuses. Just gonna jump back in, quickly.
First up, a cute picture...

Next, the most recent Post previews, with accompanying new CD acquisitions, where appropriate:
Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks at the State Theatre
DAN HICKS and the HOT LICKS - Tangled Tales (Surfdog)
Here’s an odd thing - I previously mentioned finding an advance copy of this CD at the trade-in store, and bought it in anticipation of a possible preview. When I tried to play it, it was a blank CD, even though it had the same printed label as this one I just got. (I used it to make a “sloppy copy” of some soundtrack songs for the car). Was a little nervous when I popped this new copy in, but it played fine. And it’s fine fun to listen to, too, including cool covers of “Subterranean Homesick Blues” and a real oldie that I remember fondly from long ago kidtime, “Ragtime Cowboy Joe.”

And I got two copies of the debut CD by the opening act (in separate mailings from different people):
CARAVAN OF THIEVES - Bouquet (self-released)
here's how the band looks in full roll...

Keller Williams at the Birchmere
KELLER WILLIAMS - Live (Sci Fidelity)
I had a nice chat with Williams, who seems like a mellow dude, and I'm pretty proud of how the story turned out, but this kind of musical noodling is not my bag, baby. This double CD, with DVD extra, is not Williams in his solo act, but appearing in a group setting with bassist Keith Moseley (from the String Cheese Incident), Gibb Droll on guitar, and Jeff Sipe on drums.
Crisis in Hollywood, Westbound Train, et al. at Fat Tuesday’s
CRISIS in HOLLYWOOD - Safe and Sound (Financial Records)
I played this one in the car with College Girl as we were driving her back to VCU, but she was unimpressed. Borrows a little too heavily from the play-by-numbers emo songbook. Not bad, but nothing highly original.
EULOGIES - Here Anonymous (Dangerbird)
Last year, the band's publicist sent me the band's ultra-spiffy "VinylDisc" release. One side is a CD, the other has actual vinyl grooves for playing on a turntable. (Don't lose that little adapter!). In prep for the band's appearance at IOTA, I got a zip file download of the new full-length:
Blind Pilot, Eulogies, Middle Distance Runner at the IOTA
BLIND PILOT - 3 Rounds and a Sound (Expunged)
One of my favorite new bands of the not-so-new-anymore year. Lovely sound, recommended to all you Fleet Foxes fans. And here's a sample that I'm allowed to share -“Go On Say It."

Which makes the YTD O/CD Tally: 109
And, finally, the best to all for a happy Easter, Passover and/or Spring!

Another Country, Another World

Nothing musical to report, but wanted to share my favorite billboard from a walk tonight in Toronto.

We were on our way to Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar, and that is not the comedian from MTV.

It was a good day for food. During a most excellent brunch at Frank, the restaurant in the Art Gallery of Ontario, my dear Terry took a picture of me that I really like, so here's me, too.

Back to the USA tomorrow.

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