Dec 31 Eartaste Podcast Ready For Download

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McFly - We Are The Young

“Listen!/We got a situation/You’re always putting us down/We are the generation/Can’t keep us underground!” Anthem-like. Picture a full stadium. Full of great-tasting drums and guitars! “We are the sunshine nation!” My eyes picture a sea-full of young folks (young in heart, of course) from all nations and climes dancing full-bore into the future proud of humanity and it’s ability to accept all humankind as vital to this earth! “We’re the young/We’re Alright!.” Shout-out for Lonely. Fine album. McFly

Dr Pants - Sarsaparilla Girl

Keeping the beats moving today. “Sarsparilla Girl is coming out with us tonight!” This is a new year’s party song to keep all the feet in the house moving – with handfuls of chips moving wildy through the air. Hard to reach the dip when dancing so hard, but who cares? Fun fun fun. A shout out for When You Come Back! “Love Me Love Me Love Me” Fantastic! Dr. Pants

Plain White Ts - Our Time Now

“There will be no rules tonight/If there were we’d break them!” Alright!!!! “Turn up the music!!!” Double alright!!!! “These are the times that we’ll remember!!” With the great dancing continuing, this will definitely be a breaking into the new to remember! 2007 is looking bright bright bright with eartastes like this to keep me swirling. These guys are total and extraordinary party enhancers! Dropped the chips, stepped on them, and I don’t care. Can vacuum tomorrow! Shout Out for You And Me: “You and me like the same kind of music!” Plain White Ts

Vanessa Hudgens - Let's Dance

The drums announce Vanessa. “It’s so hot/I can’t stop/The music fills the room” She doesn’t try to do anything except convince us to keep the party going! And the pumping music makes sure her words fill our feet and arms with energy. Tasty tasty.“Don’t hold back/Get crazy on the floor!” Shout Out: Never Underestimate A Girl Vanessa Hudgens

Fatboy Slim - Wonderful Night

“Come on and break it on down.” Keeping the power of feet chewing on the best party chips. Grind ‘em on in! He manages to slip in the word “synergy” while making my butt shake all over the house. This one was most recently featured in “Flushed Away”, but don’t let that scare you away – definite fun in this song. And it sure keeps this party upbeat - enjoy! Fatboy Slim

Khalil - I'll Give All My Love To You

We’re getting close to the hour we’re all awaiting, so let’s slow the party down. Beautiful song from a voice that makes my ears taste romance in this swaying dance. “You fill the emptiness in my life with love so pure.” Shoutout for Picture This. Khalil

Kimmy Kearse - I Give You Me

Perfect segue into another romantic slow dance. The saxophone in the background meanders around the wineglasses as we are in the middle of the floor excited about the wonderful year we have in store for us! “With all my love/I give you me.” Kimmy Kearse

Dec 30 Eartaste Podcast Ready For Download

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Seven Day Weekend!

Okay, not really – but we have two days to party before the new year this year, and I plan to let my ears take full advantage. And, my feet, because all parties need some dancing along with the good food & snacks!

Carol Martini – Come On, Come On

“Come on, come on/and let your spirit start dancing/to this love beat.” Starting a wild and woolly party with a wild and woolly song is always a great idea. Perfect little snack to begin the musical feast. “First your toes start to tap/and then your fingers start snappin’/then there’s a sway to your hip/Don’t be afraid of the movement you’re making!” Carol Martini

Neil Carswell - Walking Out On You

Neil Carswell - Walking Out On You “I don’t have time for your cheating and lying!” Okay, a kinda weird thought for a party atmosphere – but the music is cool, and the dancing is fun. Neil’s voice is a wonderful saxaphone of chicken taco salad. “I don’t have nothin’ but scars on my heart/from all the crazy things you do.” Oh, yeah, he’s walking out and swearing he’s never coming back – but we know he’s lying to himself, which makes it all fun. The guitar work definitely warms up my ears for a really taste-filled party. Neil Carswell

Katie Todd Band - Wonder Woman

“Breath deep/in light of what is all around you./But don’t speak/words are becoming your worst enemy.” A slow dance to move us deeply. A bit of wine to perfect the palate. “Seize the day until you have something you can sink your teeth into!” Words to delight my ears. Scrumptious. “At the end of the day you just aren’t the same.” A good day – some growth every day is great for the soul. Katie Todd Band

Therése Neaimé - Keep It Up

“Lost/you try to keep your dreams alive”. Okay, you have the right to ask – what kind of party is this? “Heartbroken/you’re losing everything you’ve found.” Let’s call it a drain out the old party. Drain these feeling out and get ready for a new year!!! And, best news is you can dance to this while draining. Good warm fresh bread with even fresher butter. “Keep it up now, don’t worry!” Then Therese adds these words of eartaste wisdom “you might surprise yourself tonight.” Dance the blues away! “Living in a crowded world/it’s hard to get our voices heard.” Therése Neaimé

Head Set – Enemies

“Your enemies are my enemies.” Not true. “I’m in no shape to play along.” The aerobics here will get your heart rhythms happily moving around the floor. “Never mind – I’m outta time!” Perfect 3 minute record. Shout-outs for Hollywood & Modern Class. Tasty album!Head Set

Tenacious D - Papagenu (He's My Sassafrass)

“Baby let’s go!” I have no idea if this is supposed to mean anything. But it sure livens up the party. Someone put peanut butter on the popcorn! I’ve left 2006 behind forever and I’m flying out there where the sasquatch hides. The cool acoustic lead at the end of the song makes all the fun even more fun to listen to. And although you have to wait till all the sensitive types leave, it’s great to listen to the fun included on Classico & The Government Totally Sucks.
Tenacious D

+44 - Make You Smile

“Last I saw you turned away (I couldn’t hear with your voice ringing in my ears).” Perfect dessert for this seven-eartaste party. “I only want to make you smile/if you’d only stay with me awhile”. A shoutout for Little Death – cool harmonies. “None of us are strangers anymore”. Great eartaste album. “Sleep darling sleep”. +44

Dec 29 Eartaste Podcast Ready For Download

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ism - Beside The Sun

Rhythm guitar melts into the lead. Steady drums accented by bass. Vocalist working on being a perfect saxophone in a bar that serves thick chicken fried steaks with their bourbon. “Fingernails scratch their conditions into me.” A shout-out for another eartaste – “Crazy Dream.” ism

Dick Prall - Barely Moving

The drummer starts the rhythm on a cymbal, but we quickly get into the story “I couldn’t leave you.” This cerebral dance changes beats enough to keep my feet excited and trying to think ahead. “I cruise the alleyways back home but no one noticed.” And that’s okay. Almost. I kinda want the guy to move on, but then I’m glad he didn’t long enough to write this stuffed jalapeño song. Dick Prall

Easy Tiger - Slight Hesitation

“The difference between no and yes.” Lots of acoustic guitar. “I’d say a prayer for you/if I only knew how to pray/so I’ll sit and wait for you/I know how to wait.” Serious sounding voices with a taco salad beat. “What a pity such a slight hesitation makes all the difference between wrong and right.” We’re glad there wasn’t a slight hesitation about releasing this song for eartaste to be nourished by. Easy Tiger

Dec 28 Eartaste Podcast Ready For Download

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Dave Holt Band - Congo Square

“That’s when the people gathered and they played their drums at night in Congo Square.” The percussion prepares the horns for a fine New Orleans cayenne gumbo. “They had that mojo in motion/and I seen them dancing trance in Congo Square.” Yep, and I’m dancing trance up here in the hills. “I respects tradition!” Ten extra points for the trumpet player for the red beans and rice! Keep your trance shoes on with “Roll Mr Jelly.” Dave Holt Band

Coran Ivanovic Group - Blacksmith's Dance

Guitars, percussion and woodwinds bring out a full cabbage roll meal, fresh with hot bread and butter with a taste of feta. A meal to please the diet of any music lover. Good old fashioned ouzo will round this off perfectly as you listen also to “Balkan Healer.” Coran Ivanovic Group

Bumpus - All The People

“Running fast/but you miss/where you came from.” Keyboards strum slowly till the groove starts this superb after dinner aperitif. Put on your boogie shoes and “take a drink/another round.” As your feet move in rhythm along the floor and the tastes move in a sociable way down your throat you can ponder the question Bumpus asks, “When was the the last time you did anything for the first time?” Bumpus

Dec 27 Eartaste Podcast Ready For Download

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The Histrioniks - Mood Swinger

The post-Christmas sales are in full swing, and our eartaste friend is ready with a power taste acoustic guitar. “I see shoes and I go crazy/had to shop until I drop!/I was full/and then I’m empty/never knew just when to stop.” To be honest, the song is really not about shopping, but then, what does shopping symbolize? I love this: “try and feed me/try and need me/I might let you lick my plate.” Some of this poem is pitch blackberry eartaste: “I sit outside on a cold winter night/all alone in the dark”. Some of the poem is light fluffy cool whip eartaste: “Sun and earth revolve around me/my tattoos have left a scar.” But these mood changes only make sense as we recall the title of the song. We met the Histrioniks through their second CD a few weeks back, but is a great pleasure to dig in and find satisfaction in their first CD as well. The Histrioniks

FileFactory.com

Evan Page - Next Ex

Yes! “Just another day/forgot your name again/you’ve all become a part of me/Can’t remember when it turned out right for me/the story is always the same/Kinda sick/you agrivate/it’s getting late/and now you’re crowding my space/You are always hanging round my door/just like the guy before/Do you want to be my next ex-boyfriend?” Wake up and smell the refreshing flavors of honesty. Ordinarily I wouldn’t review this, because I can’t find out where the heck anyone can buy this CD, so why waste your time? But this is worth seeking out. I’ve checked all the usual places, as well as the website of the artist. It’s probably hidden there somewhere, but my cursory search couldn’t find it. Take the eartaste and see for yourself – power eating, lots and lots of humor with a large pineapple jalapeno tamale with lots of cheese waiting for you on the other side. I did receive a note that a video of Next Ex is available on you-tube. When you find the CD you’ll also find enjoyment tasting “Ordinary Girl” (Hey loser! I don’t need you anymore!). There’s some hints in various places that her band is now called “The Screaming Mee-Mees”, but I couldn’t find web mention of them either (yet). Evan Page

O’Neill & Wean – Mona

“Your name escaped me. . . can I get you a rum and cola?” Hanging out during this vacation in Aspen on Daddy’s bear-skin rug in Daddy’s cabin complete with whirl-pool tub. “But I’m forgetting your name. . .what can I say?” Can I get you a rum and cola? Rock and Rolla! The singer is the dumb male chauvinist that the evan page was shouting about, but this guy is pleasantly oblivious to what a jerk he is and makes some fun music while he’s at it. “Let your walk do the talking and the time will fly.” O’Neill & Wean

Dr Pants – Donuts

Can’t let hump day pass without a little white powdered R&B dance humor, even if I am on vacation. “I eat donuts for breakfast/donuts for lunch/donuts with beer/and donuts with my fruit punch”. Let’s face it, I’m a sucker for eartaste that mentions food. “If I don’t live long, yo/at least I ate well/sure hope I go to heaven/ain’t no donuts in hell!” Donuts! I’m leaving the best laughs for you to discover J Dr. Pants

Dec 26 Eartaste Podcast Ready For Download

http://eartaste.podbean.com

Mike Cullison - Come Around To Me

“I’m spending money, honey, that I don’t even have.” Rocking around while dismantling the Christmas tree, with plenty of gingerbread cookies and popcorn balls to go around. “I got a red-headed sister who knows everybody in town.” Perfect to get the clean-up party started. “I’m gonna feed the jukebox/see what kind of song it takes/to keep you out on the floor/Lord, you’re making my whole world shake.” The dance continues with a piece of pumpkin pie called “Big American Car”. Mike Cullison

Joan Osborne - Who Divided

We get out of Mike’s car and jump on over to Joan’s car and “turn the radio on.” A romance that lasted a few Christmas seasons, now it’s time to face the reality of life while lacing an eartaste hangover with some good strong coffee and wondering who it is that “divided up the days into hours/the hours into minutes?” Joan figures anyone with this kinda time on their hands “musta had a broken heart”, and identifies deeply; “When love is over/you’re gonna learn about time.” The emotions don’t pick up too much, but the music is hopeful with “Dead Roses (Are Still Beautiful To Me).” Joan Osborne

Johnny Neel - Cross My Mind

The theme of lost loves memories at Christmas continues with Johnny allowing the power of the past to cross his mind. The music actually flows like a good healthy helping of mashed potatoes and green beans with fried onion rings. Round and round the dance floor this song takes me, and by the end the memories are pleasant, if unrequited. Also noteworthy is the heavy on the prayer “Gun Metal Blue”. The party continues full-bore with “I Found It”, a harmonica based dance treat about a kitten found on the side of the road. Johnny Neel

Joe Stuckey - My Sociology

The drummer introduces the sax player with perfect precision, as clean as the front room that we’ve been sweeping the pine needles off. Everything is put away, wine is poured, and we smile at the memories we’ve allowed to walk over the neurons while we eartasted deeply. “She carries the cross of the burning road” while the piano and bass accent the dream. “I’m going to cut a slice off my woman’s heart/give me the salt and pass me a knife.” Traditions run deep in the soul. Pain becomes pleasure in the hand of a powerful drummer that knows when to accent, when to vamp and when to pound the skins off. Joe Stuckey

Dec 25 Eartaste Podcast Ready For Download

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JJ Cale & Eric Clapton - When This War Is Over

“When this war is over it will be a better day/but it won’t bring back those poor boys in their graves.” A Christmas prayer for some sanity. With a lot of tasty guitar flavorings. Keep the eartaste spirits moving this day with “Don’t Cry Sister Cry”. JJ Cale & Eric Clapton

Ten West - Washington Way

“Send out our boys to die for the cause/ reasons they know so little of.” A dance meditation on the government to keep this Christmas dinner satisfying. Some great bumpety bump to help lose a few calories. “Send out our boys now/straight to their graves.” Ten West

Yusef – Maybe There’s A World

I have dreamt of a place and time
where nobody gets annoyed,
But I must admit I’m not there yet
but something’s keeping me going

Maybe there’s a world that I’m still to find
Maybe there’s a world that I’m still to find
Open up a world and let me in,
then there’ll be a new life to begin

I have dreamt of an open world,
Borderless and wide
Where the people move from place to place
And nobody’s taking sides

I’ve been waiting for that moment to arrive
All at once the palace of peace will fill My eyes.

Yusef

Monkees - Riu Chiu

It’s important to have some traditional sounds for Christmas eartaste, and the Monkees provide the grace this year. Mincemeat pie for the soul. Monkees

Five For Fighting - Policeman's Christmas Party

“Welcome to the first day of the rest of my life/the tension is so thick you can cut it with the knife/something happened it will never be the same/there’s blood on the carpet/I’m re-wiring my brain.” Dancing this day out with the police this year – “have a coupla beers, get funky on the dance floor.” And eartaste loves this beautiful Christmas dessert - “Gonna have a good time the rest of my life.” Add a bit of holdiday nostalgia with “'65 Mustang”. Five For Fighting

Dec 24 Podcast ready for download

Eartaste's re-written 2001 A Space Odyssey soundtrack is ready for your taste buds at http://eartaste.podbean.com.

Tooth – Harmony Brew

If 2001 A Space Odyssey were made today, I’d bet this would be on the soundtrack (and would probably be renamed 3001 due to the lack of present interest in space travel). This is an album worth seeking out if, like me, you enjoy traveling through your mind. Many images are effectively conjured up. Very cool stereo effects. Would go very well with an oak soaked chardonnay. Shoutout: The Last Kiss – a space-tinged Duane Eddy guitar with a visit from Pete Fountain on a mellow day. Tooth

Radium88 – Astronaut

Our new soundtrack theme for A Space Odyssey continues with an organ guiding our way outside the ship. A piano joins in as we look out toward the sky jam-packed full of stars. Then the guitar joins in as we take out a tube of chocolate pie for lunch. Shoutout for Nostalgia For A Time That Never Was & Weird Pink Radiation. Merry music! Radium88

Snow Patrol - I Am An Astronaut

Continuing our Space Odyssey theme with a fun vocal about Astronauts. “Daddy is away and mum’s asleep and I am an astronaut/I am a polar bear/I’m anything I want to be when nobody else is there.” This is a great party album for a walk in the zoo holding cotton candy. Supposedly for kids, and I’m sure some kids will love this album. But, not any more than I enjoy it. “I’m in a super time machine, and I’m on my way to Mars.” Fun flavors coming from artists like Franz Ferdinand, Jonathan Richman, and Kathryn Williams preparing dessert by Night-Baking. A particular shout-out for Belle And Sebastian singing “Monkeys Are Breaking Out Of The Zoo”. Colours Are Brighter

Sunday McFly - Star Girl

No soundtrack is complete without an end-credit roll song. This roll is baked to a perfect crunch and covered with poppy seeds, extremely delicious, and a fun way to leave the theatre bopping. McFly

Welcome To The Working Week!

Since this is the final week of the year, and I have a backlog of great material to share, and I want to ready my ears for the great sounds of 2007, I am going to try my best to share at least three songs every day this week as my gift to all my eartaste friends. 2006 has been a great year for music – I know the mainstream hasn’t caught on yet. I’m constantly watching the Billboards hoping for some movement toward more pop on the radio. It’ll happen, but it’s going to take folks like you and I purchasing the music and making requests to make the change. I’ve nothing against the US Billboard choices – but the folks that run the show seem to feel we cannot enjoy more than one or two new songs per week. And those one or two have to sound very similar to the ones they’re replacing. They have computers telling them what people want to hear. Folly folly folly. Oh well, what we can’t get on the radio, we’ll get on the internet! I keep hearing music biz folks complaining about the lack of sales. Well, the problem is – IMHO – that the music they’re exposing us to is simply not exciting people enough to want to purchase it. Here at eartaste we’ve found that there is a lot of exciting music being produced! We simply need a place to hear it. Hopefully you’re hearing some great flavors here that is enticing you to pull out that wallet and purchase a CD or two every month! Anyway, let’s get this week going. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s start!

Dec 23 Blog ready to download

http://eartaste.podbean.com

Skies Of America - She's That Kind Of Girl “She’s that kind of girl/she’ll hits you where it hurts/she’s not afraid of showing that’s she’s strong” – complete with very cool harmonies, sorta like a good spinach and portabella pizza. Special shoutout for another song on the album - Move! “Gonna find out what this life is all about!” I’m guessing that’s something like the pursuit of happiness. So is this song – “get it in your mind to move! Yeah Yeah.” Skies Of America

Roc - Just One Thing

“Well there is one thing I think that you should know/is that you have to let your feelings show.” No prob in this case, even though the lyric is a bit of a generalization. My feelings on this song are pretty strong – I love it. Great production, plenty of whipped cream, and very pretty harmonies. The break is pure joy – guitars weaving a smile into the pie under all the thick cream. A loud shout out for Princess, which shows another side of this delightful band. “Nothings going to spoil this perfect day.” Roc

Catman Cohen - Sounds Of Love

“I know love very well/awesome joy/and godless hell.” This cut is great fun – a sorta mini-opera. We learn that you time teaches how love sounds – “no nouns.” I’m not about to try to explain the sounds the singer comes up with – mashed potatoes and turkey with lots of gravy all in the mouth at the same time. Would fit well on a Saturday Night Live skit, let’s put it that way. We used to call these things “novelty songs”, but I keep them in a folder called “oddio”. Shoutout: Dancing With Mr. Daddy
Catman Cohen

December 22 Podcast ready to download

http://eartaste.podbean.com/

Liam Frost - The City Is At Standstill

Perfect pop song. “And how will they speak of us when the night is gone?” Who cares? “So let’s dance!” With this power dance there’s interweavings of the truth that war creates loss. Deep loss. But sometimes we just need to forget about the fact that for “every crooked politician there’s a thousand more” that do their best to keep our lives in constant upheaval, and from time to time we need to “forget about the loss that a lifetime brought our way” and enjoy the moment. It’s great how Liam is able to pack all this with joyous sounds and a choir-like flavor of good old fashioned southern comfort. It’s both exhilarating and scary to see how well he’s able to capture the truth about why people need to escape. Perfect Friday song where we “drink till we both feel numb/and lie down to sleep/I feel like I ran all day.” Liam Frost

The Fratellis – Henrietta

“Come on!” Pogo, swing, whatever you want – the vocalists provide a melody that accents the fantastic drummer and good old fashioned distorted guitar to skatelize your feet to a marshmallow beat. “Come on! Crazy times down at Costello Music.” This is just pure fun, nothing more, nothing less, and fun is great to feel! Come on! And keep the flavors happening with Whistle For The Choir. The Fratellis

My Chemical Romance – Teenagers

Rock and roll power! “They’re gonna clean up your looks/with all the lies in the books/to make a citizen out of you.” This tell-the-truth story addressed to teenagers used to be considered “revolutionary”. But, as grown-up as teenagers become, why not expose the truth. What is school all about? It’s definitely not to allow you to learn, it’s to make you a member of what others perceive as “society”. So, this extremely flavorful meal will let you dance to a truth that we all know but we don’t want to talk about: “I learned more from a three minute record than I ever did in school” (Bruce Springsteen). The song continues: “They’re going to rip up your heads/Your aspirations to shreds/Another cog in the murder machine.” I hate it, but it’s the truth. Even if you choose not to actively participate in the murder machine, you are still brought up to pay taxes and purchase goods so you become a full accomplice to the murder machine. Love this song, love it’s beat. Even if you think you are the one who has found a way to escape what society is really doing to you, you can still enjoy dancing to Teenagers. Keep dancing with dessert from MCR with The Sharpest Lives – fun guitar solo! My Chemical Romance And, if you need to not focus on philosophical dancing, it feels great to continue this humpday party with a full taste of Los Lobos wailing out Chuco's Cumbia, which keeping the dance party pleasurably romantic.

Freddie Cruger - Over The Ocean

Tympanis encourage me to “Sail over the ocean/and over my God’s sea/sail over the mountains/far as your eyes can see.” Tasty guitar, sweet bass, scrumptious percussion, lovely trumpet, and voice – oh, what a voice – I’m ready to sail. “And your body/so smooth/makes me want to/get rude.” Of course, we don’t. We just move sailing, flying, disappearing into movements so smoothly jazz with Freddie sharing his dream qualities. Piles and piles of dream whip over lime jello. Delicious. Freddie Cruger

Ben Folds - There's Always Someone Cooler Than You

“I know that’s hard to believe/but there are people you meet/they’re into something that is too big to be/expressed/through their clothes/and they’ll put up with all the poses you throw/and you won’t even know”. LOL!!! And yes, the music aides in the laughter. Nicely crafted natural vanilla ice cream with swirls of butterscotch syrup. Ben Folds

Duke Special - Everybody Wants A Little Something

A guy with a piano starts off with “I don’t love you, everybody knows”. Well, so be it, but it’s so much fun. “I don’t get those pop and idol shows”. Me neither. But what fun, and the break is much joyous fun. And, of course, there’s a happy ending J. A little pop apple bubblegum to brighten up a day. Any day. Every day. Everybody wants a little J. Duke Special

Histrioniks - Fingers In The Rain

“lamppost leaning solitude/nighttime falls like sin” – poetry. Aural adventure. With rock tale flavor. “short dress black with ruffled edge/tight against her waist/every stitch of inner strength/is nowhere upon her face.” And you’re wondering – can one move, dance, sway with poetry? Yes. Doubly so. Five Seven Five Haiku Rhythm swaying in the rain. “The dreamer and the dreamt upon/play an unreal game/the sender and the sent upon/never are the same.” Still not convinced? “In the kitchen hell broke loose/lovers they became/showered down with hope and tears/like fingers in the rain.” Have a second helping of fine tiramisu with maple topping while listening to Woman Of The Tunes.The Histrioniks

FileFactory.com

December 15 Podcast is ready for download

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Christmas Podcast Uploaded (reminder)

http://eartaste.podbean.com/

It's hard to resist listening to a CD produced by a church whose pastor is Charlie Parker =:-) This isn't one of those big hi-falutin' churches with a website to order from, so you need to find that little piece of paper we used to call a check and order direct from the church if these little ear tastes please you as much as they did me. The album includes 15 songs by various members of the congregation.

CD available for $15 from
New Fountain Church
2980 FM 2676
Hondo, TX 78861
(830) 426-4219

Badly Drawn Boy - The Time Of Times

A good Friday wake-up song. “Oh, sweet morning/is your hair not right/did you heed my warning/this is the time of times//and your head feels like your body/your mind is close behind/there’s a teardrop on your shoulder/says this is the time of times.” The two acoustic guitars upfront keep a steady rhythm to keep us moving toward the coffee even with that slight knowledge that we need to go to work even feeling like this. The synth in the background sweetly adds the cream and sugar. We’ll make it. It is, after all, the time of times. Badly Drawn Boy

Black Angels - Better Off Alone

Well, I won’t lie. I was attracted to this cut because of a great voice that, yes, reminds me of someone else’s voice. But I don’t mind. The voice fits just perfect with the wandering guitar and steady drums. The organ sounds in the background are slight, but accent the sound perfectly. The imagery even reminds me of the imagery I’ve come to expect from the voice. “Punish yourself on the weekend/Sneak into the bar/Open up that bottle/All that whiskey’s gone//I’m better off alone”. Great tribute. Black Angels

Skid Row - When God Can't Wait

If Johnny Cash had been born in 1989 I have a sneaky suspicion that this is what country & western music would sound like. “The only way to heaven is straight through living hell.” Lots of great country guitar warbling through the “bullets” that “make us dance” and lead me “to freedom”. My whole body moves with this – I’m thinking a full vegetarian pizza with jalapeños. Skid Row After dancing to the bullets, pop open a hump-day beer and enjoy a round of good-time pogo dancing with The Histrioniks singing Whiskers A Go-Go, a happy treatise of what a girl feels when her guy “forgets to shave”.

FileFactory.com

Luke Haines - Off My Rocker At The Art School Bop

80’s pop art rock disco. Retro, sure, but with plenty of heart-felt realism. Return to the dance hall with Bowie’s China Girl and you are in the right place to move your hips back and forth for a full flavored triple sundae with strawberry, butterscotch and chocolate with tons of nuts and whipped cream. Luke Haines

Holloways – Generator

“I can get a record player and a generator/Generate the music that makes you feel better!” Great Monday wake-up song. Expresso with a beat. Guitar riff has me on my feet in seconds. “I don’t live in poverty/I got a little bit of money/I got a healthy body.” The lyrics are a lotta fun – reminds us that what the industry calls “piracy” has always been a fact of life. “When I was a young boy/I got a stereo/taped my favorite songs right off the radio/Sounds that the bands made/and the melody/was all I need to make me feel free.” Skalicious. Double the taste with &uck-ups, the last cut on the album. Holloways

Girls Aloud - Love Machine

It’s Christmas season, so I’m guessing these greatest hits albums are to be expected. No matter. I’m loving hearing Love Machine over and over. “Come make my dreams, honey/hard as it seems/loving me is as easy as pie.” Yep, sugar coated music with sugar coated lyrics keeping me dancing. Who woulda figgered? “A little education/to give you motivation.” Girls Aloud

Christmas Podcast Uploaded

http://eartaste.podbean.com/

It's hard to resist listening to a CD produced by a church whose pastor is Charlie Parker =:-) This isn't one of those big hi-falutin' churches with a website to order from, so you need to find that little piece of paper we used to call a check and order direct from the church if these little ear tastes please you as much as they did me. The album includes 15 songs by various members of the congregation.

CD available for $15 from
New Fountain Church
2980 FM 2676
Hondo, TX 78861
(830) 426-4219

Amy Winehouse - Rehab

“They tried to make me go to rehab/I said no, no, no.” It won’t take long reading my notes to know I’m a sucker for a great rock voice. And that is what Amy has. The background music, a taste of Motown, is almost incidental here. Sure, you need background music, but it doesn’t matter, I think, if Amy sings with Motown tracks or with big brother and the holding company, her voice will get you on your feet. It’s enough to make me want to call this feet taste, but my ears are also happy, so we’ll keep it eartaste. Mashed potatoes with gravy. Amy Winehouse

December 8 Podcast is ready for download

http://eartaste.podbean.com/

Josh Pyke - Middle Of The Hill

A coming of age short story with a beat. You need to hear the whole story, but here’s how it sucks you in: “I still remember where I cracked my head/in the vacant lot/there’s a row of tiny houses there now/and we used to light fires in the gutters/and I could comb my hair on the concrete steps/but the girl down the street hit my sister on the head with a stick and we hid behind my father as he knocked on the parents door to tell them what she did/but the parents we drunk so they really didn’t give a. . .” and so on stream of consciousness to make Virginia Woolf proud, but the real kick is it’s done to a beat. Good and tasty smorgasbord. Josh Pyke

South - Up Close And Personal

He whispers “When did you get in?/I didn’t hear a thing.” But the whispers stop and not very soon we hear some good old fashioned shouting “Don’t be so damn crazy baby/Stop the fuss!” With the xylophone accents in the background, this makes for a good healthy taste of brain food. A short story of a lyric with music that keeps beckoning the ears to listen listen listen. Yum. South

Skye - Jamaica Days

“The ships they sail on/on my wallpaper walls/I don’t know why.//London rains fall/Jamaican days call/I don’t know why.” Hmmm. I don’t know why either, but I’m certainly glad that Skye chose to ask these questions in my ear. Very tasty hors d'oeuvre, especially with a cocktail of Sleepy Brown bringing us a round of Margaritas for hump day. Skye

Little Axe - Rockin' Shoes

Praise with a dance beat! I know there are those who think that praise belongs in the Sunday slot. Not me, no way. Praise is a daily activity. And with Little Axe directing this day, I plan to put on my rocking shoes and sing along. “I know my name has been written in the kingdom”. The chorus singing “Hallelu” and the guitar meandering beautifully through this chocolate fudge cake with strawberry icing makes for a beautiful way to start a day. It's tasty enough to return to the cake dish several times during the day. Special shout-out for a second slice of dessert on this disk: If I Had My Way. Little Axe

Kultur Shock - God Is Busy

ROTFL!!! “God is busy, may I help you?” Huge sounds – taste a lot like eastern Europe gypsy. The sad prophecy here is “I know you will never hear this song on the radio.” My initial thought was – why not? This is great music, fun voice – and very twirlable dance-wise? The songwriter is tuned into a truth I hate to admit. Radio is dead. Long live the internet! When blasphemy is this much fun, it deserves an ear. Another one you need to taste for a really rambunctious evening is Gino Loves You. Party down! Kultur Shock

Paolo Nutini - Jenny Don't Be Hasty

Fade in with rhythm guitarist prepping a good dancing drum beat. “You said you’d marry me if I was 23.” Then he goes on to admit he’s only 18, and he wants to know “who makes these rules?” Timeless questions with a timeless sound. Love it when he begs “Don’t treat me like a baby” and then says “I was calling you my baby”. LOL!!! Great fun from a great rock voice. Paolo Nutini

David Hasselhoff - Jump In My Car

How about Jump Back to 1975? This wouldn’t feel off next to Ringo Starr & T-Rex Boogalooing across the stage, but it sounds real good today. My first question was – “Is this the David Hasselhoff?” Turns out – yep! Well, it doesn’t matter – he’s sounding great. My next question was – is this really a new song? Turns out it was a hit in New Zealand 30 years ago by someone else. Well, I never lived in New Zealand, so I’m glad that David & his friends rescued it from obscurity for my ears to enjoy. Great music with a really funny lyric. Timeless sound. David Hasselhoff

Dec 1 Podcast is ready for download

http://eartaste.podbean.com/

Bedouin Soundclash - When The Night Feels My Song

“Hey! Beautiful Day!” Okay, I’m not supposed to compare to other groups, but this singer reminds me of a young and lively Smokey Robinson or Boy George – voices I can listen to for hours. I guess what I’m thinking is that every generation deserves to have voices this wonderful sweetening the ears. The arrangement is classic summer dancing in the moonlight scrumptiousness – which tastes even better in December in front of the fire. “When the night feels my song/I’ll be home!” Bedouin Soundclash

Jerry Lee Lewis - Travelin' Band w/ John Fogerty

The 50’s return with a vengeance. One of these guys has been performing over 50 years, and the other dude has been performing about 40 years. Put them together and you have a coupla 15 year olds traveling around the world keeping other youngsters on their feet – you’ll really want to move when you hear the piano here followed by a sax right outta 50 years ago!!! Juicy Fruit in my mouth and Brylcreem on my hair – I gotta move! Jerry Lee Lewis

Click Five - Good Day

Cymbals begin by sprinkling accent over this meal – “you’re looking for something you can’t find/if you give up you’ll lose your mind/there’s always something in your way/but what can you say?/You’re gonna have a good day!” Positively optimistic – and with this kind of beat, why not? The couplets are hilarious – with extra spice added by the guitar followed by a twist of synth. And the dancing doesn’t stop here – loosen your belt up to “Just The Girl” for dessert – she’s bittersweet but just the taste I’m looking for. Click Five

Hot Club De Paris - Snitches Get Stitches

Popcorn. Bouncy, buttery, tasty, quirky and fun. Perfect for summer – especially these special December summers. Just for a bit of extra slavor, they added a slight bit of cheddar with a snitch of Silent Night. Not too sure what all they’re singing about – something about burning the disco down, but each refrain ends with a big Smile. Cool drums, by the way. Another tasty morsel on the album is called Bonded By Blood. Hot Club De Paris

Luna - California All The Way

An old tune re-released on a greatest hits album gives it a new lease on life – a fine California Sauvignon Blanc aged to perfection – light on the tongue, but takes the brain to other worlds of fine remembrances. “And if you’re going to read your poetry aloud to me/I’ll have to show you to the door.” The fun flavor is the garage-band lead guitar. Luna

Bluetones - Wasn't I Right About You

“I hate to be wrong. So lucky for me I’ve always been spared that particular indignity. It’s kind of a gift, and kind of a curse – but it’s the single certainty in a random universe.” What can one add to such universal feelings? Except, of course, to mention that the music is as hilarious as the music. Excellent touches of perfectly placed garnish. Bluetones

Freestylers - Hard To Stay

Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes, let’s dance all night to young Aretha flavored vocals with pots and pans with covers taken from every hidden cul-de-sac in the kitchen! Fun rhythms, perfect angelic voices. What a night for sunshine! “Leaving you’s the best thing I’ve ever done – feeling kind of free now my life has just begun. Doing it my way and heading for the sun or being caged in your arms – there ain’t no comparison…” Freestylers

New Podcast Is Available

Another marvelous treat for hungry ears: Nov 24, 2006

Trivium - The Crusade

Okay, so I’m not too sure what this crusade is so I’ll guess - it’s a crusade to travel through my brain and revisit some really great instrumental guitar playing with a glass of tang in my hand. Why tang? Well, it was the drink of astronauts when I was a kid, and this exploration through my universe is quite a tour-de-force. The guitar player skillfully keeps me excited, and the drummer works with the bass player to keep the ship that carries this passenger from ever wishing this track was over. In fact, as it fades off I can only wonder where the space capsule will end up – I’m kind of sad realizing that it actually returned to earth. Fun track that runs a bit more than 8 minutes, but is worth drinking many many glassfuls. Trivium

Cinematic Underground – Bullet

Are you ready to party??? What a great traveling vision through the mind. This one makes me dance AND tries to make me think. There must be 10 people in this band (as mentioned in my very first post – I don’t investigate bands – I just listen to music). Lots and lots of rhythm accented with trumpets, synths, and I’m assuming guitars. The music is so exciting it’s difficult to consider the words – having too much fun listening to think although I want to think – that’s the kind of song this is. Like razzleberry pie. You want to consider what it’s made of, but at the same time it’s too much fun to eat to really think about, and by the time you start thinking it’s all gone. And like razzleberry pie, I’m ready to jump right back and have another slice! Great party song. Cinematic Underground

Chris Nesbitt - Your Song

A simple song of praise – but that’s the best kind when singing in the shower. No deep thoughts, no great deepness to marvel at to keep me distracted from cleaning behind the ears. Just a swaying, hypnotic beat to make the smiles that consume love even happier. The best part is some of this doesn’t even make sense (“sing over me”)– great pop! Chris Nesbitt

Sonia V. - Tell Me

“I’ve got a funny way of thinking and going about things. I’m not an ordinary girl – I’m just a little extreme.” Well, I, for one, am glad Sonia is extreme in the music field. Great fun to listen to. Loud, fluffy pop with plenty of beat. Not a full short story – there are no problems – just full-fledged throwing food in the cafeteria fun. Sonia V.

Muffy Nixon - On Top Of The World

“Get ready” for a great dessert! You’ll be dancing with me on top of the world for 3 minutes with this treat in your ears. “If you’re looking for a drama queen you better find somebody else.” Love the horn arrangements, but the vocals rule in this full-bodied pudding. Muffy Nixon

Neal Fox – Pigeonholes

OMG!!! LOL!!! This has got to be the funniest song about the music industry – ever! Talent is simply not enough. “Along the way we lose our souls – stuck in a pigeonhole.” This has everything – Billy Joel, Dire Straits, Bjork, Eurythmics, a great Dylan joke, a joke on the whole industry, really. Love it!!! This is an entire Smorgasbord – though the laughter may help you lose a few calories. Great job, Neal! “The kid is good/he’s another Barry Manilow/Just get him to change the words/and the melody and the chords must go.” ROTFL!!! Neal Fox

Milburn - Cheshire Cat Smile

“Pass me the book and I’ll read you a sonnet.” With a beat – “here we go again” – mango peach yogurt with whipped cream – “you’ve got to realize that she’s indifferent” – the guitars yumming up the dance – “just want love!!!” – wake up, dance and keep on swinging with a spoonful of fruit flavored sweetness – “here we go again!!” Another cut worth savoring on this album is Showroom.Milburn

New Podcast Is Available

Hear small tastes of the songs that were eaten this week: Nov 17 Podcast.

XPress 2 - Witchi Tai To

“Water spirit's feet are swinging 'round my head.” Definitely bubblegum, the good old-fashioned double-bouble kind. I loved this song way back when I was 14. I probably heard it first by Harper’s Bizarre, who had a single out of it. The group Everything Is Everything first released it as an almost reggae single, which I didn’t hear until after the Harper’s version, but loved just as much. It’s funny dancing to songs we danced to with a different beat 40 years ago, but at the same time since I love this new version just as much I am feeling younger now than I was then. There was a funny version put out by Brewer & Shipley a year or so later – funny because it was a folk version done to the chord changes of Sweet Jane. In other words, this song a a perennial goodie and if you ain’t up and dancing within 20 seconds you’re much older than I am. The whole album is fun – another stand-out cut is Light My Soul. XPress 2

God Is An Astronaut - Fire Flies And Empty Skies

An instrumental dance through many spheres of whipped cream sandwiches – just the right amount of psychedelia for the ears to remain good friends with the brain as I swirl and swirl and swirl – feels like a starry night with the moon just coming over the horizon – the dream keeps dreaming on it’s own. God Is An Astronaut

Finn Coren - Riverboatman

A guy and his piano with some violins smattering little pieces of licorice on top of this plain lettuce salad. A good combination. “Riverboatman - row me over to the times when the world was not crazy”. Not easy to find, but worth the trouble. You may have to order this CD directly from Finn Cohen.

Lloyd Cole - Anti Depressant

This song is definitely an anti-depressant – lots of good fun. “With my medication I will be fine.” The story is about a coupla friends, and I love the honesty between them. “You’re doing nothing, I’ll come over, we’ll watch 6 Feet Under & then we’ll maybe get around to your condition.” Another songs worth wallowing in is Young Idealists. Lloyd Cole

I’m From Barcelona - Rec & Play

“Please press my rec & play/Cause I want to save this moment/This will be my favorite song/This will be my favorite album.” What can I say? I was hooked by the music, the words turn out to be prophecy. Go through 20 albums a day and have something as fun as this pop out – makes all the wading worthwhile. This is definitely a dairy queen flavor – a twirly vanilla cone with pure chocolate sprinkles – fun worth savoring. I'm From Barcelona

Ray Lamontagne - How Come?

“How come I can’t tell the free world from a living hell?” “How come all I see/the child of God in misery?” “Man killing man killing man killing man killing man – I don’t understand it” “Love can be a liar and justice can be a thief” I’m not giving away everything. The steady rhythm digs the words deep into the heart & soul of these ears beautifully. My questions are the same as Ray’s and I have as many answers as he has. A cut that will stay right alongside Fisherman on my player for many months to come. How come? Because the music works for the ears that understand. Ray Lamontagne

Sophia Ramos - Girlfriends Ghost

The voice is the great flavor here. The powerpop guitars just adds a dessert to a great meal. “I want love, I want laughter, I want you to recognize divine in me.” This voice keeps my ears very very pleased throughout the album. Hard driving voice that has blood pouring out from the well-singed outside by merely touching it lightly with a fork. No light fluffy potatoes here. Esperanza is another standout taste treat. “Time will hold me still and stern while my skin melts as I start to burn.” Sophia

The Eartaste Podcast

Now ready for your listening pleasure, so you can taste with me. These are tiny tastes - about 30 seconds each song:

From the week ending Nov 3, 2006
The Mars Volta - Vicarious Atonement
Pama International - Fisherman
The Panic Channel - Lie Next to Me
The Motorettes - Baby Come Home
Some Girls - Social Control
Brother Luke - Amplifier
Transplants - Gangsters And Thugs

From the week ending Nov 10, 2006
Azure Ray - Sleep
Charlie Fletcher - Angry Now
New Found Glory - Too Good To Be
Babybird - Lighter N' Spoon
Scott Andrew LePera - In Harm's Way
Day Traders - Out Of My Head
Crud - Reality

Crud – Reality

“Your mind is not your home/And it’s such a thrill to be a stone cold killer/Are you surprised?/This is not reality.” Maybe not – but the sound sure has a lot of rare steak flavor bbq’d to perfection with just the right mix of 120 proof rum. Twist and turn that steak, mix it with the rum-flavored sauce and try to keep the rest of your body from moving. Impossible. Great ear dreams for a bright sunny day or a dark night threatening hurricanes – or anything in between. A meal that fills in a brief 2 minutes and 43 seconds! Crud

Day Traders - Out Of My Head

“I’ve been to hell and back - I just can’t cut the cord/And all the crap and pain it was enough to make me mostly okay bored.” Fine. Wear your heart on your sleeve. “I want you far away/And please don’t ever call.” Cut out our hearts – just try. Ain’t going to work with this cool music. The flavors here keep my heart happily not worried about this guys angst. Happy poppy taste that will keep these ears happy for hours after hearing it. Thanks guys! “I don’t really know if I’m going to try to get you out of my head!” Day Traders

Scott Andrew LePera - In Harm's Way

Starts off with a neat little slide through the brain – love that sound. He speaks of danger with such love that I’m hypnotized out of fearing the peril ahead. “You’ve been this way since the day that you could walk/You put your ear to the ground to hear the insects talk/So unsteady, yet so eager to try/Put your fists up in the air to catch a bird flying by.” The best part about this song is it can’t be categorized – folk, easy, adult, Americana? Does it matter? Scott Andrew

Babybird –Lighter ‘n’ Spoon

“Lying here complaining that nothing’s ever changing/Can’t get off my butt to save my life”. Complaining - with a watermelon bubblegum dance beat. “Half alive on the sofa/Like a hungry little gopher/swallowing all the stuff I know isn’t true”. A lighthearted sound all the way through the album, even with titles like Divorce Song. Other pieces to chew on with gusto are “Dive” & “Too Much”. Babybird

Promoting Your Music:

I found all the places that reviewed my personal indie releases in "The Indie Bible" edited by David Wimble. Some of those reviewers have become personal friends. It's difficult to tell whether or not it affected sales deeply. I do mention the reviews in ads for live gigs, so it's very possible that draws a few more people than would have otherwise showed up. Most sales are made at live gigs, though I made several interesting sales in Europe thanks to the reviews.

New Found Glory – Too Good To Be

Melodies are all over this album – very singable, but this one stands out on this cake because of the acoustic guitars and hand-clapping. The garage-band lead guitar is just icing on the cake. It may keep the happiness off the radio, but it will keep it adding flavors to my ears. Another cut that’ll stay on my player for awhile reminds me of the way her hair swings over her eyes while she’s bouncing to a record from a late 70’s group that emulated the sex pistols playing buddy holly (it’s called Hold My Hand). New Found Glory

Charlie Fletcher - Angry Now

I feel like I just read a good book. This story about a neighborhood, anywhere USA – big city, small town, doesn’t really matter – includes characters we all know or are. “neighbor Harry doesn’t like neighbor Malcolm – plays his music much too loud.” Intelligent writing alone would make this worth hearing, but the ear is also pleased with the melody and harmony that seems to fulfill the promises made by artists like Michael W. Smith back in the early 80’s. While Michael stopped playing interesting stuff in the mid-80’s to lean over toward the more wealthy over 40 crowd, Charlie hasn’t become that cynical yet and let’s hope he puts out a few more this flavorful before turning it all in for a few bucks. Charlie Fletcher

Azure Ray – Sleep

Cool song on The Devil Wears Prada Soundtrack. It’s a tiny tone poem lullaby. The narrator can’t sleep, but puts you to sleep while saying this. Well, I guess that makes it sound awful, but if you’re like me and you just like tasty little ear nibbles, check this one out. It’s on the self-titled 2001 record if you don’t like soundtracks. Azure Ray

Transplants - Gangsters And Thugs

Jake and Erin had a wedding in California. We traveled ½ way across the country to watch this beautiful day. We heard this song on the radio. Richie and I were so happy. We were singing at the top of my lungs while on the road to Lake Tahoe. There’s no radio stations in this part of Texas that play anything near this cool. Finally found the album – and found some other songs that I’ll listen to over and over: What I Can't Describe and Doomsday. The rest of the album is fine, but these are definitely stand out ear pleasers. “Some of my friends sell records/Some of my friends sell drugs”. Transplants

Brother Luke – Amplifier

This one has been around, but it’s still worth talking about because it's still exciting these ears. The noise level is energetic, the song fun & the overall spirit is spin around and around for 4 minutes and 20 seconds. The singer will be the president, a beauty queen, or the homeless man sleeping on my streets – he’ll even be the ring around the bathtub that I don’t want to clean as long as I let him sing. And, I’ll let him. Over and over. He’ll be my peace of mind or my tattooed ass. In other words, let’s have a good time! Brother Luke

Some Girls - Social Control

The runaways still have a spirit in the night. And my hungry ears are happy for that. “Free people need social control/and I’m trying to teach it to him”. Cool. Want more? He “spilled beer in my cleavage/so I slapped him in the face”. This will be on my player for a long time. There’s some dessert on this one called Stars In My Dreams – “she loves motorcycles/she loves open water/she loves the wind in her hair//crawling around in the grass/I will defend our freedom.” The cherry bomb is a small pleaser called Rock or Pop “are you writing for an audience/or are you writing for yourself”. We don’t care as long as it sounds this good. Some Girls

The Motorettes - Baby Come Home

This great cut has only really one purpose – can you remember 1976 & all the fun groups that made you dance at cbgbs??? A big, greasy cheeseburger for your ears made at one of those joints that looked like busses stripped of their wheels and left stranded with a grill and bright lights so people passing by could actually see the oil dripping off your chin as you tried your best to keep from bopping while eating – an impossible task with music this fun. A punk-flavored take on Springsteen is simply adding a milkshake to the meal. The Motorettes

The Panic Channel - Lie Next to Me

“Space/seems like it’s organized against me/but I/victim of gravity/can fly when you lie next to me.” A very cool cut – especially after doing their best for 11 cuts to attempt to tear every cell out of my ear and shred it through a black hole hidden deep inside a “dream worth remembering”. I expect Adam Sandler would use this in if his next movie if he heard it. The untitled cut that follows feels like it could easily fit in the old movie – 2001 A Space Odyssey. The Panic Channel

Pama International - Fisherman

"I need to feed my family" moves the beat until I am no longer dreaming but dancing with this plea for being sure the wealth of the nations reach down to those in true need. The reality, sad but true, is the fisherman has to stop thinking of making wealth for himself so he can pay more taxes so more poor people can be exploited. Of course, this song is an allegory to all 'businessmen' whose sole purpose is to exploit and think they are earning wealth for themselves, when in reality they are making the government rich and starving their fellow earth dwellers. Very cool song worth tasting many many times. Pama International

The Mars Volta - Vicarious Atonement

Traveling though inner space is a great way to experience music. This track flows everywhere and anywhere in and out and through. Definitely an experience worth seeking out. Can't figure out what the heck the singer is on about: "Maybe i will always haunt you/Mark the somnolence with truth", but for the eartaste it doesn't matter. The music works. Mars Volta

Intro

I plan to simply comment on a track that has caught my attention. I will not include a history of each band, etc - there's plenty of that on the web. Just want to let anyone gliding through here know about music worth seeking out. Won't talk about crap. Not worth eartaste's time.