There is a House on a Lake

In upstate New York, there’s a beautiful 33-mile-long lake that my family has been visiting every summer since before I was born. And now I am sitting there, on a screened-in porch with a great view of said Lake George, after having a grilled steak meal with daughters, mother, brother, cousins and friend, eating homemade brownies and watching a spectacular fireworks display over the water. Yeah, life is good.

And the music is, too. Listening as I type to
PURPLISH RAIN - Various Artists (SPIN magazine)
It’s a free, nine-track album celebrating the Purple One’s seminal (I rarely use that word, but with him it fits, especially the double-entendre) album. The download was offered free to SPIN subscribers. All I had to do was answer a few questions, based on the current issue’s cover story. I would tell you the answers here and now, but that seems unfair and I bet you can easily find out elsewhere. Go get it, and you, too, can enjoy the mariachi style version of “I Would Die 4 You," Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings’ take on “Take Me With U,” and Apollonia, Prince’s one-time protege and film co-star, on a cover of "When Doves Cry" recorded with Greg Dulli and his band, the Twilight Singers. Good stuff.

Last Monday, before hitting the road for this trip north, I had a great time at Gabe Dixon Band’s show at Jammin’ Java (my last entry had a photo of me and Gabe, and I forgot to give photo credit to the steadfast Sally. Sorry!) Anyhow, you’d probably rather see a photo of Gabe in concert.

I had seen the band previously at Jammin’ Java in March, after writing a preview for the Post. As previously mentioned, I named the trio’s eponymous Fantasy CD one of my Top Ten last year, after which Gabe himself sent a note thanking me. Then I interviewed him for a Post preview and then, with hubby’s permission and through our mutual friend, the band’s publicist, I offered the band a place to crash after the show.

The show lived up to my expectations, but it was a truncated 45-minutes set as openers for pop (and maybe Christian?) rocker Dave Barnes, who is amiable and funny, but not quite as compelling in his songwriting. Barnes and Dixon are friends, sometimes even writing partners, so there were times in the former’s set when the latter sat in, including a nice ending number in which the band walked in among the crowd for maximum OMG-ness from the predominantly young and female Barnes fans. (Last time I saw him, he opened for Hanson.)

There was plenty of post-show breakdown and pack-up to do before Gabe and Co. were done for the night, so I headed home and did some computer play until they rolled in around 1 AM. There was some quick socializing, but everyone seemed kinda beat, so I showed them to their accommodations (with two daughters’ bedrooms empty and the pull-out couch in the family room, each got his own room) and said goodnight.

The next morning, over breakfast, we had a real chance to chat and I got to know more about these lovely guys. It was hugs and good vibes all around when they left in their van the next day, with promises to stay in touch.

Sure enough, when the band came around again, Gabe called to invite me to the show and I invited them to stay at the house again. But this time, they were staying in one of those luxury touring buses, courtesy of another act on the bill, a singer/songwriter named Roy Jay who had made a killing on the web and could afford to travel in style and share the bounty (no wonder his album is called “Lucky Guy”).

It was great seeing Gabe and Jano Rix (his longtime drummer/percussionist) again. It’s a duo, not a trio touring this time; bassist Winston Harrison is concentrating on a duo of his own with his wife Julia. Actually, he gave me a copy of the CD last time around.
WHAT BIRD - Good Night, Good Riddance (self-released)
Here’s a little background: while Winston toured with GBD, Julia attended graduate school at CalArts in Valencia, CA and her 30-mile drives from LA and back, many at night through the winding, mountainous freeways, meshed with Winston’s ambient recording efforts to create what they call “late-night driving music," influenced by the likes of Everything but the Girl, Kristin Hersh, Eric Satie and Arvo Part.
She writes the lyrics and sings the original songs, plus there’s nice cover of “Under the Milky Way.” My own hubby summed it up best when he was listening, not knowing the source, and said, “there seem to be a lot of women lately singing in that key and tempo.” Where What Bird stakes its own claim is in some intriguing arrangements.
The GABE DIXON BAND - Live at World Cafe (Reprise)
This live recording predates the trio’s Fantasy debut and is sold at shows. But I got mine for hosting the band. I may never have the money it takes to build a museum wing, but stay overnight in my basement and give me an autographed album and I feel like a real patron/matron of the arts!

So, back at Jammin’ Java on Monday night - Gabe gave Sally and me a guided tour of the luxury bus and, while I didn’t think to take photos (damn), it’s all filed away as research for the music-based screenplay and young adult novel (the first is finished, the second underway) that I’ve been working on. And as for the show, you probably think I’m gonna tell you it was great but...yeah, it was. GBD headlined this time and was able to stretch out, showing just how versatile and melodic two talented guys can be. And since you may question my critical judgment based on my fondness for the individuals involved, I just spent 20 minutes trying to upload a video clip so you could see for yourself how good these guys are, but blogger is bagging on me again. (I need to move this thing to another blog platform, I fear). So instead, I'll tell you that Sally, who’s a skilled musician, will back me up. She even bought the band’s eponymous CD when she could have easily asked me to share songs.

It was a multi-act bill - besides Roy Jay, there was Jay Nash, Joey Ryan (try keeping those three names straight) and Madi Diaz. (Here's Jay Nash.)
I didn't see the latter, and only a few songs of Ryan's set, but he and Nash were both fine singer/songwriters and they often came onstage to support Gabe and Jano, along with Nash's bassist, giving the songs full, powerful readings. I bet that bus is a rolling hootenany.

Madonna, Gabe Dixon and Me

It's late and I need to get to sleep, but I meant to post a picture from last night's 11 o'clock news report all day and never got around to it. Anyway, I had the TV on, tuned to USA Channel 9 to hear the weather report while I was working on the computer. I wasn't paying much attention during the sports segment until I saw the word "Madonna" out of the corner of my eye and heard a woman's voice talking about the Nationals game (they lost). Thanks to the miracle of TiVO, I was able to capture this screen shot:

Hmmmm...maybe the divorce is taking its toll?

As for the other two names in tonight's headline, Sally (my loyal Plus One) and I were at Jammin' Java Monday night to see the Gabe Dixon Band perform. For now, I will simply say they were great and post the next picture, of me and the lovely, talented GD.

More shots from the show and tidbits of news from same ASAP. (I'd say "tomorrow" but there's a crapload of stuff to do before we depart Wednesday for upstate NY, so I'm trying to be realistic.) Until then, sleep well and play safe.

Disasters Big and Small

OK, so I exaggerate. The first thing on my list is not that big a deal. But it is the alternate Thursday when my previews run in two regional sections of the Washington Post. I like to link to them here and on the CPF web site, and send copies to the various PR people and/or musicians who helped with info, music, interviews, etc.

Well, I can give you only one today - the Alexandria/Arlington edition story about the Red Cross Waterfront Festival featuring an array of (mostly local) acts like Luke Brindley, Virginia Coalition, Pat McGee Band and some national types like Stephen Kellogg and Ivan Neville with his touring outfit, Dumpstaphunk.

But where is the Fairfax edition story, an interview with Dave Cousins, leader of the classic prog rock band, The Strawbs? It can’t be found on the Washington Post Extras home page, where it usually shows up, nor will the search engine call it up. It hasn’t been put online in any form!
This is only the second time that’s happened and like the first - an interview with Dave Wakeling of the English Beat - I thought it was one of my better pieces. Maybe someone in the Internet division has a thing against reformed “vintage" bands? But the Bangles preview of a few weeks ago ran. So whassup? Looks like I may need to drag out the scanner.

Freebie Time!
The hip Canadian indie label Arts & Crafts is (or was?) offering a free 15-track sampler on Amazon.com but now I can’t seem to find the direct link. I’m listening to it as I type and liking it a lot - The Bell Orchestre’s “Icycles/Bicycles” is as endearing as its title, Gentleman Reg has a bit of a Boy George/Antony vibe (in a good way) and you can taste the Constantines and the Stills, too. Sorry I can’t be of more help, but ARTS & CRAFTS SAMPLER VOL. 6/2009 is worth hunting down.

And here’s a single track that made a good first impression. It’s the MGMT remix of “Doomed,” from the band Violens. It’s a perkier sound than you might expect from the MGMT team, but the carefree pop bounce is what makes it great early summer fun.

Another track I like enough to pass on is from The Rural Alberta Advantage, whose debut full-length, “Hometowns” drops July 7 from Saddle Creek.
It’s called ”Don’t Haunt This Place."

And hey, it’s time we got the O/CD Tally-ometer to push to 200, so let’s add a few new CDs.
As part of the sysiphusian task of clearing out the Excess Stuff of my life, I took another few bags of clothing and housewares to Ye Olde Thrift Store today and, while I didn’t really expect that there’d be (m)any new offerings in the CD bins since the weekend, damn if I didn’t find three good ones:
The ROLLING STONES - Stripped (Virgin)
Another of those times when I wondered if I had this live CD already, but I felt like hearing it ASAP and, since it was in pristine condition, could always trade it off down the road. I’ve lost a lot of respect for the Stones over the past decade (Time to tour, boys! Mick has a lifestyle to support, so we’d better record something to give us an excuse to gouge fans in stadiums) but there’s no denying a time when they were the greatest touring band around.
Popping this disc in the car stereo, my worst fears seemed to be confirmed; the opening “Street Fighting Man” was anemic. But then, a cover of “Like a Rolling Stone” and a few of the band's early, bluesier tunes came up - “Not Fade Away,” “The Spider and the Fly” and I realized that the Stones always suffer when they have to compete with their own glory days. Better to do the deeper cuts (“Love in Vain,” “Sweet Virginia,” “Dead Flowers”) and cool covers (Willie Dixon’s “Little Baby”) to keep the comparisons away. By album’s end, I was with them again. But I still doubt the next new album will be worth a damn.
TRAVIS - The Invisible Band (Epic/Independiente)
“The Man Who...” was one of the best albums of its release year (and I’m just too tired and lazy to google that right now) and I remember Travis being the more enjoyable act when they toured with Oasis many years ago. And Fran Healy seems like such a likable guy. So why did I stop buying Travis’ albums? Perhaps this will show me what a fool I’ve been - or confirm that likable doesn’t necessarily mean compelling.
LONE JUSTICE - This World is Not My Home (Geffen)
I have a friend who’s mad for Maria McKee and frequently tells me to give her a try. All I really know about McKee is that the cover of her first album with Lone Justice imitated the Monkees' debut - and that’s a point in her favor. I will give this CD a fair listen and check with my bud to see where it stands in the McKee catalog. And if my pal doesn't have this CD (she might just have the vinyl), she can have this copy. (So stop lurking, Mark, and tell me whether I should walk down to give it to your wife!)

And here’s where I just toss off a few things that have been gathering dust. They didn’t make an impression, so they're destined for some other shop’s bins, where they can be happily adopted for a new home.
MOYA BRENNAN - Heart Strings (NA)
The voice of Clannad, a band I loved in its prime, sings in both English and Gaelic, but now it’s more of a new age-y sound than the soaring Celtic rock of those days.
Live with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, which adds a wider range of instruments, but still to rather drowsy effect.
ASHLEY DAVIS - Down By The Sea (Daisy Rings Music)
Despite being born in Kansas, she beat out over 400 women, most of them Irish, to win the lead vocalist slot for Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance” show. Also features Moya Brennan, Paddy Moloney of the Chieftains, and Cathy Jordan of Dervish.
Why I got these: Brennan and Davis performed at the Birchmere back in May and my press contact at the venue reached out, sending this pair of CDs with a note asking if I might write about the show for...the Fairfax column? I’ve written previews of his shows dozens of times in the past five years, always in the Alexandria edition, ‘cause that’s where his venue is. Does he not realize this?
The SHIN - EgAri (JARO)
Tried a couple of tracks on a long drive, but got restless after four songs. The group hails from Georgia - the country, not the state - and sings in their “consonant-heavy” (says the bio) native language with some South Indian and flamenco accents. Good in theory, I suppose, but too agitated for my taste, Includes a video, but it’s for PC only - bah!
FEDERICO AUBELE - Amatoria (Eighteenth Street Lounge/Fontana)
It would be cool if this guy became famous just so we could see Andy Samberg impersonate him; based on the cover pics, they look so much alike. I could do without the artsy naked babe torso on the disc.

So, drumroll, please! The O/CD Tally is now: 200

Oh, and the big disaster...Have you seen the trailer for "2012"? Awesome!
And I'm not usually the action movie type. Looks like Big Dumb Fun!

They Don't Make 'em Like That Anymore

"You opened heaven's portal/here on earth for this poor mortal."
So sings Gene Kelly to Debbie Reynolds in "Singin' In the Rain," and it's totally corny and totally wonderful. The girls, College Girl's Boyfriend and I drove to the AFI Theatre in Silver Springs, MD for a delightful afternoon in the beautifully refurbished deco film palace to see a color-saturated, great sounding, clean print of the classic musical on a nice big screen. A splendid time was had by all.
Punk, classical, Broadway show tunes...it's all good music to us.

Yesterday included a visit to the Thrift Store, dropping off two bags of castaway clothing and housewares as an excuse to browse through the $1.50 used CDs. Some excellent choices to be had. If I didn't already have those Fountains of Wayne CDs in such nice condition, I would have swept 'em right up. I put back the Foo Fighters with the surface marks, and the double Indigo Girls live set (I know I owned it once; if it's not still with me it means I didn't care for it) and limited myself to the following:

HARRY NILSSON - Nilsson Schmilsson (RCA)
How nice to find such a classic, older album in such great shape! Listening on the car ride home, I was reassured to hear such bouncy singalongs as "Gotta Get Up" and "Moonbeam Song," the tender hit, "Without You," the goofy "Coconut" and the surprisingly forceful "Jump Into the Fire." R.I.P. Harry. You are fondly remembered.
RELIENT K - S/T (Gotee Records)
A 2000 release (their first?) in a cute digipack, to be passed on to College Girl. These guys have a charming way of making Christian pop/punk ("Benediction") sound like non-Christian pop/punk ("My Girlfriend" name checks Marilyn Manson to comic effect). Not preachy, just punchy.
JIMMY BUFFET - Songs You Know By Heart (MCA)
There isn't enough money in the government bailout to pay me to sit through a Jimmy Buffet concert. I'm sure I'd be in a fist fight with a drunken Parrothead before the night was over. But I can store these greatest hits on the hard drive for the time when I want to hear "A Pirate Looks at Forty" or make a joke tape with "Why Don't We Get Drunk," but I can't imagine I'll ever want to hear "Margaritaville" again as long as I live. And then I can sell/trade off the actual CD and no one will ever be the wiser.
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL - Walking Wounded (Atlantic)
Ben Watt creates the gently throbbing soundscapes, Tracey Thorn provides the heartbreaking vocals. I don't always remember the melodies, but the effect is still somehow soothing and invigorating at the same time. This is from 1996 but still rather timeless.
The ROCK 'N' ROLL ERA: 1963 (Time Life)
I needed only see a few titles - "Easier Said Than Done" (The Essex), "Walk Like a Man" (The Four Seasons, and a recent family joke), "If You Wanna Be Happy" (Jimmy Soul) and "Tell Him" (The Exciters) to know that I had to have this one. 22 songs, not like some of those other, cheapie compilations and a source to be tapped for the Definitive Massive Oldies Compilation I plan on making. Someday.
ALISON KRAUSS & UNION STATION - New Favorite (Rounder)
The case is cracked - will need to replace it if I decide to Rip & Recycle. I'm not that big on old timey traditional songs like "The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn," but Krauss has such a lovely voice and light-handed style that she helps me crossover to bluegrass lite.

And speaking onf bluegrass, when I got home, there was a much appreciated package in the mail:
ELVIS COSTELLO - Secret, Profane Sugarcane (Hear Music)
I passed on requesting tickets for the Wolf Trap show last Thursday, having attended two shows there in the preceeding five days and being a little unsure of how much alt. country/bluegrass I could take, even from my beloved EC. Listening to the new CD didn't make me regret my decision, but not because I didn't enjoy it. Elvis is in fine vocal form here and the players are, as to be expected, impeccable. But I have such fond memories of his last, Early Greatest Hits tour, and the many times before that, and haven't yet given this new material, or the last("Momofuku") the attention they deserve. So I'll take a break and catch him on the next go 'round.
BTW, an album that needs to be purchased as a package, not a digital download, both for the great illustrations by Tony Millionaire, and the booklet of lyrics and intriguing subtitles. Example: "The Crooked Line: The Bough of the Family Tree Bends Near the River of Rough Damnation."

And now, a little reward for hanging in there,
Today's Freebie
The nice people at Six Degrees Records are offering a free digital download of a full album - your choice from 14 releases if you fill out a simple feedback form. I chose
EDEN: A COLLECTION OF GLOBAL CHILL (Six Degrees)

YTD O/CD Tally: 192
I have to write tomorrow, if only to carry this over the 200 mark!

Technical Difficulties

I was planning the "Matt and Dave Video Show," where I would share clips shot at the recent Matt Nathanson and David Byrne concerts at Wolf Trap, but every time I try to upload via Blogger, the thing hangs indefinitely. While I explore the options of setting up a You Tube account or rolling forward with my Apple account for iWeb (vote early and often if you have a preference), I will revert to the O/CD tally for a bit.

Today's Topic - CD swapping.
After I check to see if a CD I no longer want is worth anything on amazon, I take the cast-offs to the trade-in store. The ones that they don't want, I've been putting up for trade on SwapTree.com. (Look for comment from cousin John to follow soon, touting his preference for lala.com; tho' I've signed up there, too, I haven't really explored it.)

In the course of the last few weeks, I have sent off about a dozen CDs I didn't care to keep, got a few DVDs in the bargain and was pleased to receive the following Wanted Music:
RADIOHEAD - I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings (Capitol)
Replacement for a CD stolen from Hubby's suitcase during a business trip.
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL - Soundtrack (Disney)
2-disc special edition, the second being instrumentals for karaoke. I still haven’t seen a full movie from the HSM series, though I’ve enjoyed the You Tube mash-up of Zac Efron's golf course scene with “The Sound of Music.” The daughters and I saw “17 Again” for Mother’s Day and all agreed that Efron is adorable - but I think Grad Girl would take Matthew Perry first.
The SECOND WAVE - Various Artists (Hear Music)
Great compilation of new wave songs from the Costello/Heads/Madness hey dey from the Starbucks people. While I have most of the songs already, it's a great car CD for days when I want to relive the NYC Glory Days.
LOGGINS & MESSINA - Mother Lode (Columbia)
Doesn't hold up as well as I remembered it, but the band is doing the reunion tour thing later this summer, with my dear Gabe Dixon Band opening, so I'm prepping for the show.
POSTAL SERVICE - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Sub Pop)
Nice little EP I didn't know existed until I saw it on the swap site.
PILOT SPEED - Into The West (Wind-Up)
First CD from a Canadian band that Hubby and I are just getting into. The sound is very Coldplay/U2, and the band has yet to prove that they have their own musical vision, but there's catchy material here and real potential that starts to show in the second CD, which a press rep sent about the same time (will have to check whether I tallied that one yet...)
BRIGHT EYES - Lifted, Or The Story is In the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground (Saddle Creek)
Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band will be opening for Wilco at Wolf Trap in July - whoa! - so I'm boning up on my Bright Eyes catalog. And once again, the packaging is great - a 30-page booklet and classy slipcase.
DEL AMITRI - Change Everything (A&M)
Replacing a cassette from times past; includes some great songs - “Be My Downfall,” “Surface of the Moon,” “Always the Last to Know.”
LOUIS ARMSTRONG - At Pasadena Auditorium (GNP/Crescendo)
A 1986 release from a swinging show that was light on vocals but high on fine rhythm.
ANNIE LENNOX - Songs of Mass Destruction (Arista)
My first-ever swap. I love the woman's voice and vibe, tho' I've yet to have a song from this one stick to me.
The MONKEES - Self-titled debut (Rhino)
My most recent swap. Disappointing, not for what it contains - the 1994 reissue of the original 12-track album plus 3 bonus tracks - but for what it doesn't. The swap listing said this was the Deluxe edition, but it doesn't include the second disc with unreleased alternate mixes, demos and a Kellogg's jingle that comprised the 2006 reissue. But since all it "cost" me was a reused puffy envelope, $1.90 in postage and a Sesame Street CD that I'd already ripped to a hard drive, c'est la vie.

and thus, the O/CD Tally: 184

This is Matt Nathanson. We Love Him.

Such a busy day - and so much music to discuss - that I can't get to it now. But the girls and I went to Wolf Trap to see our dear boy open for the Indigo Girls. Summaries and videos (and I have Byrne to revisit, too) and tales of emails with classic rock heroes when I catch my breath again.
In the meantime, some pics...

Same As It Ever Was - Wonderful

This past Saturday, David Byrne played at Wolf Trap. It was a beautiful early summer night, the venue is gorgeous, and our Renaissance Man was in fine form, appearing with a 10-piece troupe that included three dancers, whose interpretive moves added a new element to the always-intriguing music.

I plan on posting more about this show but, for now, here is one of the clips I shot during the concert.

Tonight, on "Dancing With the Chairs....!"

I do love Wilco - Really! (?)

Scanning the globe and surfing the web for fun stuff to share with you, loyal reader (note the singular noun - gotta get moving on putting in a counter!), here’s a free remix of British Sea Power’s “Carrion/All In It” by a dude (or maybe dudette?) who goes by the name Pressbutton.

And, just when I got used to the idea that I wasn’t gonna beg for tix to the mighty fine triple bill of Decemberists/Andrew Bird/Robyn Hitchcock at Merriweather Post this Monday (I have two other shows in the next five days, and the venue is a bear to get to), someone posted this great video of the Decemberists’ covering Heart’s “Crazy Over You”, which it seems is a regular feature of their set. Now I'm wishing I could be there.

In other news(papers), here are this week’s Washington Post postings, which ran in the regional editions of the paper yesterday:
1. Vive Voce and Cut Off Your Hands at the IOTA.
Would have made plans to attend this show, having seen COYH at CMJ some years and really liking them, but I have a friend arriving tonight from NYC and I think the travel time, from subway to Amtrak to Metro, is going to wipe her out.
2. David Byrne, Pink Martini and the Indigo Girls - with the adorable Matt Nathanson opening - in a Wolf Trap sampler.

Here’s where that headline comes in. I wrote the following in the intro of my first submitted copy:
“This year's summer season at Wolf Trap is busting out of its generally predictable selection of featured artists (Wilco?! Really?!)”...

I meant it to indicate that I was excited about Wilco as a antidote to the predictable acts, but had second thoughts that the "Really?!" might appear to peg Wilco as one of them, with a Seth-and-Amy sarcasm. So, I asked the editor to change it to:
“The 2009 summer season at Wolf Trap is busting out of its generally predictable selection of featured artists and offering some real excitement (Wilco?! Awesome!)”

He didn’t answer my note (he rarely does unless he has to) but he made a different change I requested at the same time, a correction about the Indigo Girls’ new CD. Someone also cut my last few lines, which made a joke about there being so many good shows, I’d have no time to see my family. I’m less concerned about the joke than I am about possibly appearing to dis Wilco.

That is a writer’s lot. But as I’ve said before, when I screw up, unlike when doctors do it, nobody dies. Although, if I hurt Jeff Tweedy’s feelings, a little bit of me would.

Yeah, I know...I haven't been doing Five a Day. But at least there's something.
And, we'll end with a "Today in Music History" factoid: on June 5, 1962, the Beatles auditioned for George Martin.

Living in a Rockwell Painting

Cotton candy, ferris wheels, funnel cakes and fireworks. Alas, with the entire family doing a South Beach diet, I can't partake of the food, and I have no patience to wait on the long lines for the rides, but I can admire the pretty turning wheel and the man-made shooting stars.

The annual Herndon Festival - in the town next door to mine - is one of those small town affairs that reminds me that, even though I live about 25 miles outside American's Seat of Power, I have a pretty idyllic life. Families and teenagers mingle side by side, enjoying the balmy night with rides, food and rationally consumed beverages.

I am rather perturbed, however, by the kiddie slide that looks like the deck of the Titanic. In 100 years, are our great-great-great (how many "greats" do I need?) kids going to play on some inflatable Twin Towers?


That lapse of taste aside, the festival always has music, and there are usually a few acts that pull me in to check out. One year, the mighty Matt Nathanson (coming to Wolf Trap on June 10th, opening for the Indigo Girls) killed on the smaller "Depot" Stage while the Association played oldies on the bigger Town Green.

This year didn't have that much excitement. Last night, Lenka was on the schedule but heavy rains drowned it out. Tonight, I wandered over to see Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, a band that passes through town on a regular basis and was recommended to me by one of the principals at my dear Jammin' Java.

I got there in time for the band's last set, about 30 minutes of mid-tempo, slightly Tom Petty-ish rock that didn't make a major impression. Leader Murphy mentioned that the band has recently been doing a lot of Dylan covers, and they offered a credible cover of "Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again." Here's a taste:


And there was one original song, "In Her Own World," that worked a nice bit of a Beatles song into the break, so maybe the band could do more in a longer set when they get to stretch out a bit. Based on this evening's snippet of a show, I wouldn't necessarily race out the door to see them, but they could offer a reasonable way to kill a night and some beers.

Leaving GM&TSCoD, I checked out the smaller stage near the entrance of the festival, where a guy named Glen Burtnik was doing some power pop material with a decent beat. He was an older dude, and I kept thinking I had heard his name before. The Wikipedia just informed me that he used to be a member of Styx! Wonder if he did any of their stuff earlier in the night? I would have enjoyed that in a post-modern ironic way. As it was, he also did a respectable job on a cover of a better-known artist, The Police's "Synchronicity." And here, too, a sample:


And then the town shot off fireworks and the Big Night was over, all before 10 p.m.
Cause that's how we roll out here in the sticks. (Styx?)

Oh, got my laptop back today - it's purring like a new kitten.
And Happy 100th Birthday, Benny Goodman!

Friday Night Video! and such

I am suffering from Phantom Limb Syndrome. My laptop is in the shop at Apple, getting a new logic board and hard drive - all within three weeks of its warranty running out, so I was lucky it went in just in time. But I miss my baby; it's like an extension of my arm and All My Stuff is there, 'cept for what I tossed onto a thumb drive before they pried it from my hands.

So, I'm working on Hubby's computer and can't access all the standard blog files. It's a good time to dig back to some oldies that I never got around to tallying Way Back When. Here's a batch of My Own Cash Money purchases from Ye Olde Thrift Store, where CDs are $1.50 all the time!
2001: A Space Odyssey (Rhino)
Always good to get a mix of classical favorites and soundtrack bits from a classic film.
OUTKAST - Hey Ya! (Arista)
Sure, I have the mp3 - which is still damn catchy - but the CD single comes with the video, also damn catchy.
HOT CHOCOLATE - You Sexy Thing (EMI)
A CD single which also includes “Every 1’s a Winner," two great disco-era songs that go great together. Taken from the "Full Monty" soundtrack.
MADONNA - Hollywood (Maverick/Warner Bros.)
I bought it cheap, thinking it might have some resale value, but it wasn’t worth enough to post on ebay or amazon, and it wound up back in the bag to go to the trade-in store. I am not a Madge fan. Don't get me started.
DESTINY’S CHILD - This is the Remix (Columbia)
Greatest hits, redone. But does not include the amazing mash-up of "Bootylicious" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit." That would have shown that Beyonce has a great sense of humor.
HEAR MUSIC: Volume 8: Between Stories (Hear Music)
I would buy every Starbucks sampler they made if they were priced more reasonably, and not like new releases from major artists.
YAZ - Upstairs at Eric’s (Sire)
Fun to revisit the sound of classic new wave (we didn't dare call it disco then) like "Situation" and "Don't Go." A chance to replace vinyl. Also made for a nice little treat to share with a rabid Depeche Mode fan-friend at Apple.

YTD O/CD Tally: 173
(I added one more for the previously mentioned Cloud Cult DVD)

And, as a reward for letting me indulge in easy catch-up, here is a link to a wonderful new addition to the hopefully ever-growing Literal Video Library (the only other one I know of is "Take On Me." Please tell me if you find others!)
"Total Eclipse of the Heart," as good as it ever was, maybe better:


Once upon a time I was falling in love, now I'm only falling apart...

It's the CPF Blog Bicentennial!

According to whatever Blogger uses to track these things (the technical term might be 'counter'), this is the 200th Close Personal Friend Blog posting! (cue the virtual confetti)
Thanks for sticking with me.

A quick one today - the two most recent Washington Post stories:
The Bangles at State Theatre
Celeste Starchild at FireFlies, Evening Star

And a very Happy Birthday to Grace (a.k.a. College Girl)!
19 today, and seen here from an Inauguration week visit with Josh Miller (left) and Nate Lanthrum, formerly of Troubled Hubble and currently of (respectively) Picture Books and Kid, You'll Move Mountains.

I want to run away and join the Cloud Cult

CLOUD CULT - No One Said It Would Be Easy (Earthology/Rebel Group)
I first heard of this band during a trip to Minneapolis a few years ago. They were getting play in the local press and so I made a custom mix CD at a Sam Goody store (a great service that died an early death) to learn more. But it wasn’t until “Take Your Medicine” popped up on a College Girl mix that I was pulled in by Craig Minowa’s high-pitched, vulnerable voice and the band’s unforced yet forceful groove (think of Conor Obert fronting Poi Dog Pondering).

The band played in DC earlier this year and, though I didn’t get my lazy butt in gear, College Girl did and came back with a glowing report. And now, after seeing this beautifully made, emotionally effecting documentary, I am salivating for the next opportunity to see Cloud Cult live. I want to hug them.

As you might expect from a sprawling ensemble that’s as much an art collective as a touring act - they play with two painters on stage, creating canvases as the band performs (our boys Troubled Hubble did that on one tour, too) - Cloud Cult’s DVD is a well-considered mix of the musical and visual. At first, it plays as a straight-forward well-constructed rock doc - nicely shot live footage and backstage moments, home movies, and thoughtful interviews. Skillfully directed and edited by John Paul Burgess, with artwork and illustration by CC’s own painter-member Scott West, it’s stylish, coherent, informative and fun.

But about midway through, a bombshell drops in Minowa’s otherwise standard tale of trying to get a musical career going while also working as an organic farmer and environmental activist. I won’t say what happens so as not to spoil the emotional impact for those unfamiliar with the tale, but Minowa’s talk of community and spirituality and the healing power of music and art (he considers live shows “sacred territory”) suddenly takes on literal life-and-death importance.

Don’t get nervous - there’s no preaching or self-righteousness, just an engaging, inspiring example of nice people doing good things in a manner that makes you wish you could hang with these wonderful musicians. And, for the 100-minute length of this engrossing DVD, you can.

Bonus features include two music videos (“Everybody Here is a Cloud” is especially fun) and two live songs. And there’s also a digital download of 5 live tracks included, printed on plantable seed paper. (The band’s own Earthology Records is an intensely environmentally friendly company, using recycled jewel cases and paper, soy inks and geothermal energy at the studio to put real-world muscle behind their Utopian vision.)

I can’t recommend this band, its music and this DVD highly enough.

Go for Five, See What Follows

I think it's working. I say I'll write up just 5 discs and then a few more sneak in. It's a random selection for you, but it keeps me focused. As Ben Folds once sang, "I'm crazy but I get the job done."

The daughters and I took a trip to the CD trade-in store. I’ll add theirs in later (since I paid for ‘em and get to copy ‘em). And I just got two:
FRANK SINATRA - The Capitol Collector’s Series (Capitol)
20 tracks for $1.99? Even if I may already have this one (haven’t found it yet), it’s worth it to have a car copy.
The 60’s COLLECTION - Various Artists (Koz Records)
60 tracks over 3 discs (not the cheapie 10-12 per) with a good mix of stuff I know I love/want - Sandi Shaw, Tremeloes, Dave Davies (I've got all the Kinks’ tracks, but it’s always a joy to hear “Waterloo Sunset”), Foundations, and some oddities that I don’t think of as hits - Long John Baldry, Flowerpot Men (?!), Overlanders.
My external hard drive collection will eat ‘em up, yum.

TIME and DISTANCE - Gravity (Not Alone Records)
The PR group sent a second, cardboard-jacket advance copy of the CD, due in July, and I finally got a chance to listen to it. Can’t say that it strikes me as anything special in the getting-to-be-unwieldy glut of pop/punk/emo bands, so I passed it on to College Girl and asked her to get back with her opinion. As someone who can tell New Found Glory from Motion City Soundtrack, she would know if they’ve got stand-out quality.

Catching Up with Some Digital Downloads.
I said it before and I’ll say it again. Zip files are easy to send/receive but easy to forget. Maybe that’s why I never got around to mentioning
The DECEMBERISTS - The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
I was over the moon, as the saying goes, to get a digital advance of this one, as I consider the Decemberists one of the best bands extant. And yet, even after a few listens, one being an all-attention-paid long car ride, I still can’t be sure whether this is Colin Meloy’s masterstroke or major folly. The concept is so audacious, the prog-rock forays so blatant, I can’t be sure what to take seriously and what's intended as giddy irony. And yet, since it has that unmistakable Decemberists sound, I delight whenever a single track comes up in my shuffle mix or on the radio. Just not sure about the Whole Grand Thing. The band is playing at Merriweather Post on July 8, with Andrew Bird and Robyn Hitchcock opening. That's a helluva show. I think I need to be there to make a final call. Whatever the verdict, I still <3 this band. And, as I type this, I am downloading the digital booklet from the band’s artfully antiqued web site. Thanks, guys. I will feel better getting a more tangible hold on this.
(PR photo)
The PAINS of BEING PURE at HEART - S/T (Slumberland)
On the band’s myspace page, this NYC-based mixed-gender (one girl) quartet lists its influences as The Pastels, The Ramones (I don’t hear that kind of propulsion), Teenage Fanclub, Black Tambourine, Dear Nora, Rocketship (I confess - I don’t know the last three), Kurt Cobain (they’ve issued a 7” called “Kurt Cobain’s Cardigan”) and My Bloody Valentine’s "Paint a Rainbow." To that, I would add Stone Roses and Belle & Sebastian, and I can’t believe they’re not British. I can’t recall now how I got this download (probably emusic) but I’m glad I finally caught up with it. I expect to return soon.
SPRENGJUHOLLIN - Bestu Kveðjur
What do they have bubbling in that hot spring water in Iceland? This Icelandic quintet throws it all in the blender - catchy 60’s style pop hooks, spacey keyboards, brass blares, some over-the-top diva-esque backing vocals. I can’t understand a word they’re saying, but I dig it. When the 8 tracks (out of 15) that I grabbed from from the emusic site ended, the next song that came up in my iTunes set was Dusty Springfield’s “Mama Said There’d Be Days Like This” and it segued just fine, which is a good sign. An emusic feature says the band’s “songs are like novellas, with misbegotten characters stumbling dumbly around empty ideologies and taking long trips with no destination in mind.” How do they know? Whatever, it sounds cool. There are two frontmen - Snorri Helgason and Bergur Ebbi Benediktsson - and I can cut-and-paste their names and titles like “Deus, Bóas Og/eða Kjarninnto” to make me look like smart, but I am clueless. Maybe the lyrics would be totally lame in translation, so I’m just gonna bob my head and enjoy ignorant musical bliss.

Okay. So we've been up late and around the world.
YTD O/CD Tally: 165

Today's Five (+1)

Okay, I can do this thing. Just five CDs each day until such time as I catch up with all the stuff that's coming in the door and over the network.

Today's a "My Own Cash Money" edition:
BOB DYLAN - Together Through Life (Columbia)
Grad girl was spending an amazon gift certificate and needed a few more dollars in goods to get free shipping. At a killer price of $16 for the deluxe 2-CD and 1-DVD set, the new Dylan was a no-brainer. The one negative review I read said the album is a downer, but I disagree. As usual, Dylan has surrounded himself with brilliant but never flashy players and this time he’s doing straight-ahead southern blues with a touch of N’awlins swamp. Simply produced and simply gripping.
The second CD is a sample of his Radio Hour with the theme of Friends & Family. I haven’t played it yet, but am looking forward to it. Satellite radio is one of those ideas that sounds great in theory, but I have no time left, after my Internet streams, download offers and puffy envelopes to even consider paying for more musical options.
LANDON PIGG - Coffee Shop EP (RCA)
A former Apple associate gave me a $15 iTunes gift card back on my birthday and I finally got around to redeeming it. Inspired by the commercial for a product which I now can't remember, the one that starts with the gentle male voice, “I think that possibly, maybe I’m falling for you...,” I googled to find the title and then zapped to iTunes and bought this guy’s 5-track EP. Good stuff. The full song from the ad (turns out it's for Zales diamonds) is as good as I hoped it would be, there’s a cover of the old Sinatra standard, “Young at Heart,” and he even sings in what I think is Italian, or perhaps Portuguese: “Magnetismo (Magnetism)."

And I had a visit to the Thrift Store today. Three bags of donations in, four CDs brought home. Not much time to sort through the offerings - and there appeared to be some new stuff in fine condition - but I’m content with these:
BEN LEE - Breathing Tornados (Grand Royal)
Actually, I only realized after popping this in the car player that I mixed up my Bens - I was thinking of Ben Kweller when I grabbed this one. Not that I don’t like Ben Lee. Saw him open for...hmmmm - was it the other Ben (Folds)? - at Wolf Trap a few years ago and thought he was cute, if somewhat inconsequential. But even on the first listen, I found something I like here - “Nothing Much Happens.” And there’s a song called “Cigarettes Will Kill You” that my kids will no doubt haunt me with. Wow. I just checked the cover and this has a 1999 copyright. He was just a kid then!
BARENAKED LADIES - Rock Spectacle (Reprise)
I feel like I come home with a new, used BNL CD every time I visit the thrift store. Is someone slowly depleting a collection? But it's always good to catch up with what I’ve missed of the Canadian smartypantses' early work. This one has stuff I know - “Brian Wilson,” “The Old Apartment,” and a favorite, “If I Had $1000000” - along with stuff I can discover for the first time.
BLUES TRAVELER - Four (A&M)
I am not a Blues Traveler fan. Too much jamband noodling, and John Popper has the exact opposite of sex appeal (sex repeal?) for me (it’s his attitude as much as his weight). But this album has the one song of theirs I can hum (“Runaround”) and they’re headlining the Celebrate Fairfax! Festival in a few weeks. I may be writing about it so, at a mere $1.50, this saves me research time and I can trade it off down the road.
YO-YO MA - J.S. BACH: 6 Suites for Unaccompanied Cello (CBS Masterworks)
Just reading the title gives me goosebumps. Ma! Playing Bach! All solo cello! A 2-CD set in excellent condition! Only $3!
Life is good. I think I’m taking this one up to bed to listen to as I fall asleep.
And that will be soon...

Oh, and I even got more than five in!

YTD O/CD Tally: 159

That’s What She Said

So...I was looking at the ever-growing collection of CDs that have come in since the year began, wondering how I let myself get so far behind in the O/CD Tally and I asked myself, Why not just list five each day? How Hard Can It Be? [fans of “The Office,” there’s your headline.]

So, let’s try that, at least for now.
Today’s Five:

DAVID WILCOX - Open Hand (What Are Records)
I bet David Wilcox is a damn nice guy. He’s a stalwart touring singer/songwriter who plays nice with others. I saw him once at a sparsely attended Jammin’ Java where he hopped on stage to sing with the band (I think it was Monk) and then faded quietly into the background, even though he probably could have sold out the same venue four times over on his own. And this new CD is beautifully designed - a 5-panel fold-out ecologically pure cardboard cover that folds and unfolds like a neat little puzzle. But what of the music, you ask? I listened to this one all the way through on Saturday’s drive to a Maryland party and found myself impatient for the music, not the drive, to end. Wilcox is sensitive and earnest and has a nice voice. I could see why many people probably think of him as a new James Taylor. But he leaves me restless, missing Sweet Baby James’ humor and playfulness and his ability to be sweet without being cloying. Sorry, DW.

And now we’ve got the My Own Cash Money group, purchased earlier this merry month of May when Borders was having a 50% off clearance sale. It was hard to resist deluxe editions from The Replacements, Justin Timberland and Beck, but even at 50% off, they were gonna break my budget. Still, I got some goodies (the first two for less than $7 each):
BRIGHT EYES - Motion Sickness (Team Love)
Here’s a guy who goes the extra distance to make albums that you want to buy in physical format. This one, a live set, includes a thick booklet with lots of photos and extended liner notes. I saw Bright Eyes a few years back at DAR Hall with a sprawling band and, while I didn’t always like what Conor Oberst did, he was totally intense doing it. Much the same can be said for this CD. Oberst has a tendency to jump into his higher, angry register at the 3/4 mark of just about every song which makes the dynamics predictable, but he always gets crack players to support him and knows how to use a trumpet like nobody’s business. “Mushaboom,” a song I associate with Feist, was a pleasant surprise here, especially as it shows a sense of joy that’s absent in much of his work. And “When the President Talks to God” always makes me want to throw something, but thankfully, we now longer have that particular Cowboy King to worry about.
SEU JORGE - The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions (Hollywood)
Where do I file this? Under Jorge’s name? Or under soundtracks? (He did the music for the Wes Anderson film of the title.) Or under David Bowie, since every song save one was written by him? If you’ve ever wanted to hear Bowie songs sung in lilting, acoustic arrangements with just a breezy voice and a guitar, here’s the album for you. And if you don’t speak Portuguese, the language in which all these songs are sung, that’s another layer of chill.
YEAH YEAH YEAHS - Gold Lion EP (Interscope)
Got the new CD on my Get List, but this will tide me over for now - a 4-track EP with a sticker on the cover promoting the (then-) upcoming “Show Your Bones” album. Three versions of the title track and a demo of “Let Me Know” - one single buck after half-price discount.
AMY MCDONALD - DVD Sampler (Melodramatic/Decca)
A freebie - 3 videos from her “This is the Life” CD.

Okay, so this makes the YTD O/CD Tally: 153

In Other News....Counting Crows have cancelled two shows (so far as I know) in their current British tour due to illness. We’re a Crows fan household, so Get Well Soon, Crow-dude(s) from all of us here.

The Lost Art of Fact Checking

Seems like I'm just posting about errors lately, but when I hear something that's just plain wrong, it inspires me to type...

Was just watching the local news (WUSA channel 9) when my ears perked up to hear a cute a little story about a local music school, "from Bach to Rock" (don't know if that's the name or a description) that held a Battle of the Bands at the 930 Club. I thought it was nice that the station was giving exposure to the club and to the local bands, made up primarily of teenage kids, who were getting a chance to play on the revered venue's stage.

And then the talking head behind the news desk said that it was great to see the kids on stage because "many of them are too young to get into the club" on a regular night,
The thing is, the 930 Club is an all-ages club. My youngest started going there with us when she was about 8. So that was a good line to end the story, but a lazy one. And incorrect, too.

I did a story more than a year ago about a similar amateur kids' band show at Jammin' Java, where the most fun was taking pictures. So, strictly to add some photo illustration to this otherwise skimpy posting...

Other People's Mistakes

Having just posted about messing up in one of my articles, I'm not going to dwell on the following; just sharing an email I received today about a young actor/musician who's coming to town.

It started with...
"Bryan would love to have his show featured on your website, newspaper and would love to be interviewed about his album, concert and his new HBO series."

and ended with...
"Bryan is excited to be visiting ___ where last time he was there he played to a sold out crowd!"

Remember, kids - proofreading is important!

Good News, Wrong News

Aarrrggghhhh. I hate when this happens. And I am glad to say that it happens rarely. But still, I made an error in one of my two stories printed in yesterday's Washington Post.

The preview that ran in the Fairfax section, for Natalie MacMaster at the GMU Center for the Arts, was fine.

But today, when I got back from the Richmond trip, I saw an email from my contact at the Birchmere, thanking me for the preview of Dr. John/South Memphis String Band but alerting me to the fact that I got the ticket price wrong and listed the show as happening in the Bandstand (all standing) instead of the Music Hall (seated). My bad.

I know how it happened - I pulled the block of details copy from a previous Birchmere preview and didn't crosscheck it with the info on the web site. In four+ years of doing Post previews, this was a new one. Which neither excuses it nor makes me feel better.

The show was tonight, so a correction would appear after the fact, which doesn't do the confused audience any good. So, I apologized profusely to the Birchmere guy, and will do so to my editor (luckily, he's a pretty mellow guy). And I will ask for a correction, as per the contact's request so that people know that the error was my fault and not the venue's.

These are the days I am glad I am not a doctor. Nobody dies when I screw up.

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