Phoebe Killdeer and the Short Straws – Jack

“Even though you make me melt, you are just like dynamite”. The song describes itself. Wonderful for waking up the hazy Monday morning – better than good coffee. The band does a wonderful job of creating a fresh sound that makes promises of a great and fulfilling week of joy. Shoutouts for Paranoia, a fun wake-up dance piece, and a gorgeous mood piece called Let Me (“let’s go now far from here, where the air is fresh and clear.” Phoebe Killdeer

Kate Russell - Table 32

Nothing better on a Sunday afternoon than to be slapped with guilt for pre-judging situations. Kate does this by telling the story of a waitress observing a couple at table 32. As the waitress thinks about the guy, she observes the girl looks “half your age, why don’t you go on back home to your wife, but some things you can’t say.” The story continues and is worth seeking out. Kate then starts a party rolling with the shoutout Kick Down The Door, with stick-kicking musicians enjoying their moment of country rock flavors. The songs have a good combination of ballad and texas two-step happiness. To be released soon, watch her Myspace site: Kate Russell

Duffy – Serious

“I’m a trophy on your arm,” she sings with soul. “An accessory that suits your new suede boots. I get a feeling deep down inside that something is just not right.” The narrator is looking for the guy to open up and talk. The draw to this song is the slow, afternoon on the veranda dance quality done with exquisite taste. Sure, there’re things wrong with the relationship, but the musicians rise to the occasion and still keep the dance alive. The first shoutout tune, Mercy, heads in another direction – 1966 girl group soul. The other shoutout is more of a torch song to be performed in a smoky nightclub, Syrup & Honey. Very nice combination of flavors! Duffy

The Lions Rampant - 70-30

Texas 1965. “And I don’t got time to waste on you.” Okay, I’ll be straight, these guys aren’t from Texas. A three-piece group that plays loudbluesrockpunk with a sound circa 1965, which was being done great in Texas 43 years ago. Sure, the Texas groups were imitating the Stones, but so be it. What’s scary to me now that I live here in Texas is that all those albums I collected by Texas punks from 1965-1967 were not as well known in Texas as they were elsewhere in the world. I mention some of these great groups and get blank stares. Guess Texans like to believe the young folk here were never rebellious. Whatever.

Am I off-track? Maybe not. These guys are loudbluesrockpunk and certainly proud of it. They even claim to play “rock and roll”. Who says that anymore? And, the good news is their claim is true. They aren’t from Texas, but the next best place – Ohio. “You can’t get what you want, you gotta take what you need.” I don’t want to guess what the title means. Google said it could mean anything from an insulin treatment to a partnership plan. A funny business page said that 30% of the people in this world do 70% of the work. As anyone in high school could tell you – they’re way off, the truth is about 10% of the people do 100% of the work. The rest party and buy the answers. So, the internet lies. What else is new?

The Lions Rampant are solidly behind the concept of 100% of people having a good party on Saturday night, and are happy to be on the bill. Shoutouts include Cryin’ All The Time, another fast blues; Skin ‘N Bones (“you don’t like the way I live my life”); Shotgun Shells, which bleeds texaspunkblues; and Need A Man (“you need another trophy for your shelf”). The Lions Rampant

Davide Ravera - Sonya Yana Meme Komba

“Driving 100 miles an hour down the land where dreams are sold, hands of the devil are going to keep me on the track.” It’s unfair to review someone who has inspired me to write songs of my own, as well as sing his songs whenever I perform, but such is life. I can handle unfair as long as it’s honest. What’s really unfair is that Davide is not on the cover of the Rolling Stone and People magazines this week in honor of the release of this new album of good old songs. “Eyes of my baby going to tell me no lie, she’s a killer in love with a suicide.” Davide sings his heart and experience through the eyes of a surrealist poet seeing every hidden truth in what others perceive as reality. Shoutouts for Big City Blues (“Everyone’s a liar, everyone’s a cop”) & Wind From Seattle. You might have to ask this shy guy where the heck you can order an album from, but it’s truly worth the effort. Very tasty Friday night party, with spicy Italian accented flavors! Davide Ravera

Strangers Die Every Day - Safer In The Ground

A string trio with a bass and drum tells a powerful story without words. We are traveling to parts unknown simply to explore possibilities and understandings. For me the sound is progressive rock without the hired singer destroying the moment. I can’t count how many times I’ve thought ‘I wish that guy would shut up so I can hear the music’. These players & the composer wisely chose to let us take our own journey through the soul without interference from someone else’s dream. The electric bass and drums accent the music and do not overwhelm. I feel they are an integral part of the mix and enhance the flavors of this delicious meal. Strangers Die Every Day

The Handcuffs - Car Crash

“Practicing zen on a tilt-a-whirl.” This line alone would earn the song a place on my top-ten list this month, but add the fantastic music & the rest of the lyric and I am enjoying this hump-day party with total excitement. I never try to guess where the writers are coming from, I put myself in the lyric. This one is talking about the pills folks take. In my line of work, my friends are forced to take pills by society, because when they don’t “everything’s a car crash”. Their days are horrible for themselves and everyone around them, and law enforcement is often called. There is an interesting related problem that’s a frustration – sometimes, many times, often, drugs are used as a replacement for therapy. So, the drugs become a long-term situation that eats livers for breakfast. Think of your liver being slowly eaten for 20 years and you see the future of too many young people who don’t “fit in” to the expected behaviors. I have no answers, just prayers. Shoutouts for several more powerfully group-based songs, played expertly by the drums, bass and guitar – with an exciting vocalist; I'm Not Laughing, Don't Be Afraid and the blondie flavored First Class Bossa Nova. The Handcuffs

FileFactory.com

Jack Bruce & Robin Trower - Perfect Place

“Take away the blindfold and hold your head up high!” This album brings up an intriguing question. If the artists are the real thing can they be considered retro? "Don't think about the past or you're gonna burn out way too fast." Doesn’t matter, this is good, old fashioned rock and roll with a perfect taste of blues power. "Don't shift the blame on somebody else." Shoutout for the cream-flavors of Bad Case of Celebrity & Come to Me. Tasty. Jack Bruce & Robin Trower

DigJelly - Time Is Up

“Nothing stuck but needles, there you chose your way.” Blast me out of bed straight back to the 1980’s with this song. It’s unfair to say that, because most of this album sets itself directly in 2008, but this song I’m using to wake my Monday up is the one that is an immediate introduction to a most interesting band. And this is truly a band in the sense that the sum is greater than the parts. All of the instruments are perfectly played for each song, but the sound is pure heaven despite that. I know that sounds odd. But try to think of the Doors without Jim Morrison. Really. They were great with him, average without him. How about Jim Morrison without the Doors? Well, we will never know for sure, but the few things I heard have a similar reasoning – together the musicians outshone the individuals. That’s what’s happening here - the band is feeding off each other beautifully. The guitar is fabulous, the singer a pure joy to hear, the bass perfect, and the drummer – well, it’s a cliché to bring up Keith Moon, so I don’t bring him up, but I mean it – the drummer is accenting everything without overwhelming anything. A band in the true sense – where everyone is feeding off each other’s energy. Shoutouts for Losing Grace (“Children with the dying who bleed blood into their world”) & Deal (“I woke up in hell, it was a jail cell. She got incarcerated, give me some details”). Extraordinary noise! DigJelly

Dionne Warwick - I'm Going Up

“There’s no regrets in this world, I’ve found.” I love this little line tuck in the middle of a beautiful gospel song. I have a few regret, and one of the largest was when the church went from being Jesus-centered to anti-Moslem centered. I regret that the church decided to fly the American flag higher than the banner of love. I regret that albums like this did not come out during the first Bush administration, the Clinton administration, nor during the current administration. From Kosovo to Somalia to Waco to Iraq, our country has shed blood, needless blood, in the name of Christ. I regret that happened, because I love what Christ stands for. Dionne Warwick, I thank you for being bold enough to sing so freely for Christ and against the so-called heroes in Iraq and the politicians who are keeping this masquerade afloat. When the church turned its eyes toward Bush and away from Christ, a huge gulf emerged between the “church” and I. Not between Jesus, and I, thankfully. I just knew that the Jesus I believed in was not the same Jesus who was carrying an American flag to foreign countries to kill people without any provocation whatsoever, except greed for the resources these countries gave us access to.

My regret is that this music, and sermons like these, were not preached till now. Now, back to Dionne’s song. When you listen closely, she is saying that she is sad that individuals do not feel regret or shame for the hideous acts they have committed, and because of that she is “Going Up” to see the face of Jesus, and allow herself to feel the shame. Beautiful song, exciting sentiment. Let’s hope the album gets lots of play. And, by the way, the voice is as strong and beautiful as ever. Shoutouts for Old Landmark & Rise, Shine And Give God The Glory. Dionne Warwick

Adele - Right As Rain

The dance excitement night full of honey flavored organ and drums and a soul voice eternal deep with love and the power to reflect a year or two of life filled with joy and youth and still managing to sound fresh. “Go ahead and steal my heart.” Yep, my heart is gone into a past filled with today. I’m loving everything here and praying it never ends. I’m rejoicing loudly and smiling a silly grin thicker than every thought I’ve ever been capable off. When it does finally end, I’m okay, because the shoutouts are Crazy For You and a cool cover of Make You Feel My Love. The moons of Saturn are singing with me “getting into my favorite mood.” Thanks, Adele! Adele

Sergio Mendes – Encanto

This album is a party wrapped in a box. It’s not often I write about an entire album here at eartaste. I’m sure I’ve done it, but I can’t recall when it was. And, to be absolutely honest, as much as I praised Timeless when it was released, I seriously did not expect it to be anything more than a fluke. It was simply so good that I thought it a beautiful little blip on the screen of my life.

Well, Sergio returns with the same energy and some of the same artists to keep himself relevant in 2008 better than most artists ¼ his age. His is not afraid to rediscover his past with modern flavorings. If he had not thought of the projects himself, I’m sure someone else eventually would have; but I know from experiences with hundreds of “tribute” albums that most fall flat and add no taste in the world. Sergio beats them all to the punch and produces his own tribute, with his own energy & creates party albums that will keep us dancing all year. Timeless has not left my party stack since it arrived, and I already know Encanto will be a very close partner in the small pile.

The party sneaks in with a noodling keyboard sounding like a fancy hotel lobby with wine being served as we all check each other out – the noodle tune is “The Look Of Love.” It doesn’t take long, probably about 20 seconds, before the beat picks up and the dance starts, with Fergie adding some hip-hop Sergio-tinged lyrics to the melody. Kittens are purring throughout. Funky Bahia follows with percussive realities heating up the dance floor. The guests on this dance groove are will.i.am and Siedah Garrett “dancing in the ghetto”, where “music is the potion.” The beats pick up even more for Waters of March sung perfectly sexy by Ledisi. The hip-hop flavors have disappeared, but the dance doesn’t stop, and the break at the end returns to earlier jazz vocalizings that hip-hop grew out of. Odo-Ya by Carlinhos Brown is pure world-music flavored hip hop – no rest for these feet.

Somewhere In The Hills is a jazz-tinged search for reality that rests my feet long enough to finish the wine & re-fill my glass as Natalie Cole gives Friday a whole new meaning. Jovanotti brings everybody back to the dance floor with Lugar Común, perhaps with a few clichés, but extremely flavorful ones. Next, just for fun, Sergio invites a singer from his first mega-smash album and her husband, who helped make Mendes a household name 40+ years ago, to favor us with a 1966 sound. Nice, slow dance while Lani tells her “sad little dreams to the soft evening air.” Herb sounds better here than ever and makes me wonder when his new record will ever appear. It’s cool to hear voices remaining so strong while Sergio makes us fall in love all over again. A whistle brings the party back to a Morning In Rio with an extremely lively mood. Cool-down was quick, but worth it because my feet are loving this. Of course, I have to apologize to several people because my wildly swinging arms tend to brush against their heads.

You get the message by now, this is a party album filled with many types of dances and flavors, and wonderfully arranged to be sure there is always action on the floor for an hour. The DJ can throw this on and get some dancing in himself. A quick shoutout for Acode by Vanessa da Mata & a quick note to let you know you can pre-order this album directly from Concord. Be ready to party all summer! I know you'll love Zap Mama as much as I do.

Sergio Mendes - Encanto

Contest: How good are you with song lyrics? [CONTEST OVER]

This contest is sponsored by Organic Entertainment and Digital Music Marketing. They have supplied a copy of a new CD release Small Town by Wind Cries Mary.

The first winner, Mike from Essex, will receive that plus 10 other CDs from my pile.

The second winner, John from Milwaukee, will receive a second CD from Organic & Digital entitled A Sentimental Education by Anton Sword, along with 10 assorted CDs from my pile.

The third winner, Ruth from Redding, will receive 10 assorted CDs from my pile.

Here are the answers. If you recall, I mentioned that they would be from Hit songs. The first group were the ones selected by Mike, which matched mine. John found a few others, which were acceptable, but Ruth obviously listens to a different hit radio station, but since she also sent proof the lyrics matched, she is the official third winner.

Thanks for helping me clear off my desk & enjoy your disks! -Rich

The winning entries:

01 wailing guitar: Hoyt Axton - Greenback Dollar/Townes Van Zandt - Loretta/The Hollies - Out On The Road

02 capture moment: The Association - Windy/Bon Jovi – Bed Of Roses

03 desert rain: America – Horse With No Name/Iced Earth - Desert Rain

04 green play: The Lemon Pipers – Green Tambourine/Shakin' Stevens - Green Door/Jim Croce - Charlie Green Play That Slide Trombone

05 sponge bake: Jimmy Buffet – Margaritaville

06 never recipe: Richard Harris – MacArthur Park

07 sweet bassman: Jerry Jeff Walker – L A Freeway

08 spit wind: Jim Croce – Don't Mess Around With Jim

09 porch radio: Bruce Springsteen – Thunder Road/The Comforters - Transplants

10 gray leaves: Mamas & Papas – California Dreaming/Sentenced - Dead Leaves

11 love funeral: The Doors – Light My Fire/9 Days - Funeral For A Love

12 rattlesnake utah: Bruce Springsteen – The Promised Land

13 disappearing ruins: Bob Dylan – Mr Tambourine Man

14 please sneeze: Ringo Starr – No No Song/Crash Test Dummies - Aching to Sneeze

15 caviar daydream: Pink Floyd - Money/Exies - These Feeling Lo-Fi

16 Candy Island: Lou Reed – Walk On The Wild Side

17 landslide reality: Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody

18 job older: Hoyt Axton - Bony Fingers/Garth Brooks – Big Money

19 broken gloom: Elvis Presley – Heartbreak Hotel/Quimby - At The Table Of Gloom

20 twist requests: Sam Cooke – Having A Party

21 fire imagination: Rolling Stones – Satisfaction (I Can’t Get No)/Laura Branigan - Imagination

22 ragged pants: Pete Seeger – Battle Of New Orleans

23 diesel rained: Kris Kristofferson (or Janis Joplin) – Me And Bobby McGee/Jackopierce - Bringing On The Weather

24 slip dreams: Rolling Stones – Ruby Tuesday/Lindsey Buckingham - Cast Away Dreams

25 interested teacher: The Temptations – Ball Of Confusion

Soko - The Dandy Cowboys

The song begins tenderly, with just the right amount of emotion, “I just can’t be myself when I see you because you’re very cute tonight”. These junior-high school emotions will always be present, because for whatever reason – people keep having kids. And, I’m glad. Keeps me employed, and keeps adding to our pile of extremely creative ways of looking at relationships. This one will be my favorite for a long time to come. “I still want you, but not as a friend because you’re the man, I’m the girl, we look good together! You with your hat, me with my boots, we are the Dandy Cowboys!” Fun, fun, fun. The honest emotive peek into a young girls diary continues with the outstanding shoutout tune, Sh*tty Day. Soko

REM – Airliner

A high-energy instrumental power taste for a super Wednesday party. Surf meets indie-alt-rock with a vengeance. The surf is pounding, the bombs are dropping, the margaritas are spiked extra heavy. Excitement is the rule, and everyone is smiling bigger than their face. A new song that fits our old parties just fine. Shoutout for Supernatural Superserious – another song filled with excitement, promising that the new album will be one of the top 5 REM albums of all time. 20 plus years and the ability to reach the rock behind the roll is still blossoming! “Everybody here comes from somewhere that they would just as soon forget.” That’s why God created hump day parties! “Enjoy yourself with no regrets.” Easy to say type of platitude, but the narrator even shares some words of wisdom of why this philosophy works for him, “nobody cares, no one remembers, and nobody cares”. I can add an amen to that – my time on this planet shows this truth to be self-evident – that most folks are just visiting the earth to get what they can for themselves. “You don’t have to explain.” REM

Star Anna - Five Minutes To Midnight

The music is good, but the taste that engulfs the senses here is the fine vocal. “Count it down, count it back, count it right.” I don’t feel like Star Anna is singing to me, but to “all the clouds that hide the moon tonight.” And, that’s alright – because the emotion comes through and convinces me that anticipation is important. What we’re waiting for doesn’t matter, simply the tension of knowing we’re waiting is enough. The shoutout tune, Wait, takes it a step further and gives a hint that I’m waiting for the light to come back to take away my pain. “Sadness hangs on our front door just like it has many years before, and I pray to God it isn’t here to stay.” A spiritual exploration where salvation is offered, but not immediate gratification. Beautiful performance. Star Anna

Dive Index - For Centuries

Can a mind float? Mine seems to be floating above and beyond time. The percussion is the key – both timeless and borderless, but it doesn’t end there. The bass playing is subtle, the synths and guitars holding my visions on unseen strings high above the atmosphere. As the singer reminds me, we are “bound by the skins with eyes that look out and barely ever can see in” – but the arrangement of the voices and the instruments allow me to overreach the boundaries and see both inwards and outwards at the same time. Extremely cool – almost dreamlike. The actual poem, for me, speaks out against current world leaders (“senseless crusades”), but goes deeper and explores the truth that we are all an integral part of whatever the leaders have done (“the pulse that beats behind rib cage, from your restless sleep, awake!”). Today’s shoutout is Sole Fisherman (“he plays loud hip hop to drown out a lonely life”). Dive Index

Polydream - Catch Me If You Can

“Here we are another space and time” introduces a musical sphere of emotion that allows the dreamer to easily escape into the intellectual arena of pure thought introduced by the narrator. “I can’t tell you anything will be the way we were promised it would be.” He’s speaking to the nexr generation, as the children join him in the background and beg for acceptance of each other’s humanity, “if we don’t learn to live as one we won’t outlive the sun.” The cynic may accept that’s going to be true anyway, but there are those of us who can imagine humanity moving out and beyond the earth without the need to consume to create wealth, merely to live and explore. The music is composed in a fashion to encourage dreaming of a positive future. Rock and roll with philosophy driving its function. Beautiful. Shoutout for In The Daylight (“I connect every dot between all the stars and the moonbeams and I watch them fade till all the world is blue again”).
Polydream

Rodney Parker & Fifty Peso Reward - A Knife Beneath Your Pillow

“What are you gonna do when they play you for a fool?” Good question. Loud, dancing and thoughts about the “diesel fumes get in your head.” Sometimes we have to wonder about these things, but hey. Let’s dance – it’s Saturday, and this band knows how to have a good time. The singer is threatening “something’s going to happen to you” like he means it, but the band knows the truth is all that’s going to happen is that we’re going to have another beer and dance to the great music. I love the way Rodney is willing to enunciate all his fears, but allows his friends and neighbors and listeners to let his spirit move their feet. The shoutout, 11 Hours, is more reflective, but effective. I am definitely drawn into Rodney’s meanderings and thoughts about life and the power of relationships. The band, wisely, keeps itself in the background as the folks that pull the story forward for my pleasure, not showing off their skills for their pleasure. Of course, as mentioned about, Rodney allows the 50 Peso Reward lots of other places to show off their craft on this album. Nice work. Rodney Parker (to be released in March, click here to stay tuned)

Dr. Dave & Mr. Haze: Author's Notes

Davide has been working on this album awhile, and you know it'll be mentioned here on Eartaste when it's released. In the meantime you can see what he says about the songs on the album here.

Animal Liberation Orchestra - Empty Vessel

“Heart full of pain, head full of doubt.” Fun way to start this Friday party. These things happen at a tough week at work. “I do believe I’ve had enough. I tell myself it’s all in my mind.” Yep, you’re right. Grab a beer and after 3 or 4 of ‘em join us on the dance floor. All these feelings will come out with the puke at some point in the evening, but it’s all worth it because it’ll prepare us for another wonderful working week next week. Don’t sweat the small stuff, you’ve got a whole weekend to lose the hangover. Besides, the guitar palyer is wonderful enough to lead you to some personal liberation. “To the left of right, a line has been drawn.” Get it out on management while you’re drunk, cause they’ll still eb there Monday. “I’m gonna leave, I do believe I’ve had enough.” Yep, eight beers is probably enough. At least you didn’t mix your drinks. Shoutouts for Monday & All Alone (“I’m contradicting myself, I’m stealing from the past”). Fun party album! Animal Liberation Orchestra

Bayard Russell - Just Feel

Space is never far from my mind, and I am disappointed when there is an eclipse of the moon yet the clouds cover it. I had high anticipations for this party. So is there good news? Of course. The good news is the music I chose still manages to eclipse our brains even though the clouds obscure our vision. The instruments are glad to take us on a trip beyond our senses. “You took my breath, my love. You took my breath away.” My mind prepared this soundtrack to coincide with the sight of the earth crossing the moon. My mind had to accept the music itself as honest, as real, as empowering despite the clouds. And, it worked. Bayard does not overpower , but empowers my emotions. “If I could feel once more, I would feel anything at all” he intones as the bass player and synthesizer enable depths in me to “just feel again.” I am alive, I am one with the percussion, I travel on a plane with the harmony singer encouraging me to “feel.” The shoutout tune is, well, just plain fun, Crazy For You (“We should have a dozen kids and name them all after you”). Having been involved with these wild emotions once or twice in my life, I can readily identify with the guy who says “maybe going insane is what you’ve got to do when you’re in love”. And, lets face it, the synthesizer production at the end of this cut is insane. Fun insane. Bayard Russell

The Handcuffs - All Shine On

It’s party day! The week is half over, can you believe it? I can't. “Where do we begin? At the beginning or the end?” Good question. Since you’re asking, my opinion is, let’s start at the beginning. But, thanks for asking! Not many people do. Most people pretend they know me before talking to me, and then simply decide it’s not worth the effort to talk to me because they already know who they think I am. And perhaps they’re right. Who really knows? “Where do we go when the going gets too slow?” How about the dance floor? The band has a great beat going, and the song is fun. “Can someone answer the call?” You don’t have to ask this guy twice if you’re calling for the dance floor to fill up. Once The Handcuffs get this party shaking, they continue with “Can't Get The Girl,” which is melody-filled advice as to exactly what it takes to get the girl. All packaged in good, old fashioned cynical rock and roll. The cool-down song also offers some insights to the mysterious, Sex and Violins: “Stradivarius positions in his head.” Those with a twisted mind like mine may swear the vocalist is saying “she loves sex and violence, string quartets and discipline.” But, maybe not. Great fun! The Handcuffs

FileFactory.com

Willie Nelson - Always Seem to Get Things Wrong

“I’m stuck here looking back where I lost the thread. So ashamed sitting here thinking back how I lost my head.” This album is a soundtrack of a life. I’ve never seen the movie, and don’t really need to, the album stands with a life of its own, enjoyable to listen into the private thoughts of the narrator as he travels down the dark roads. Lots of shoutouts here: Brad Mehldau, Feist, Cat Power, Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, M Ward. Movies for the head. “I hear the wail of people crying alone.” Special mention for Black Keys for managing to say more with two instruments than many people do with a stage full.
Jesse Harris – The Hottest State

Rodney Parker & Fifty Peso Reward - Tell Me What

“I was mending fences, I was knee deep in the mud and I was dying in suspense. My knuckles caked in blood, now tell me – where were you?” First off, this song rocks. It wakes me up with a great feeling, cause the players shake every bone of my being awake. Second off, wow those lyrics! A song about unheralded reality we all have to deal with from time to time. I’ve been there too many times to mention – all done with the job when the person that was supposed to help shows up & adds the last nail. At the end of the day that fool gets as many or more beers than me, but who did all the real work? You know it – the person who does all the real work is never given credit, but at least we have a song now! A song written for the underdog! The song tells a few other stories worth listening to – a lotta fun. The first shoutout, Firefight, is a faster rocker – moving along the freeway at 85 while singing “everything’s easy, everything’s slow”! HA!! LOL!!! The second shoutout is a slower song about “lessons” the narrator has learned, I'm Never Getting Married. The entire album is steeped in Irish Whiskey flavors. Rodney Parker (to be released in March, click here to stay tuned)

Putumayo Presents - Euro Groove

Spring is returning to South Texas, without the rain we need. But the air is clear. It is great to have change, and Putumayo snuck in some mind-changing attitudes on me this week. Nearly always when I get a Putumayo album I’m expecting a dance with the moon and the planets in my backyard, with lots of sweat and pleasurable discussion. This time out, the discussion is still pleasurable, the dance still apparent, but the sweat has disappeared. This is cool jazz, with the dance centered more around the stars deep in Andromeda instead of our solar system. Still grounded, but with a weightlessness only musicians of deep thought can accomplish. The flavors are from many countries, and like all Putumayo products, the flavors defy boundaries. Most Americans associate curry with India, when in fact it is used all over the world. Samba, Brazil. Ha! Now we can samba on the moons of Saturn without blinking. Music is indeed universal. And Putumayo helps us reap the benefits.

Toufic Farroukh is living in France, but pleasures us with middle-eastern flavors with Destins et Désirs, featuring the singer Jeanne Added. Jazzamor shares their South American flavors from Germany. Fiamma Fumana checks in from Italy with the acoustic flavors that both Spanish and New Orleans tinged, with a slight touch of bagpipes to keep the pleasures joyful. !DelaDap borrows from the smooth jazz flavorings of the US and Brazil while adding instrumentation that spices the music with gypsy romance. Mystic Diversions, like their name, is not claiming any precise flag to comfortably wrap themselves around but find themselves chilling out in Italy while Pati sings the song in French. It’s obvious the cultural “melting pot” the United States likes to brag about without any truth or proof is truly alive and real in Euraope, even though they don’t talk about it. They simply live it. Thanks, Putumayo! Putumayo Presents - Euro Groove

Sally Anthony - Your Way

A few weeks ago Sally had me dancing all over the place on Saturday night and telling you all about her spirit. Now she’s telling me “Baby you could be anything at all.” Alone with a guitar. “If you believe in love you can take on anything.” Sally has. On this album she rocked me, she hip-hopped me, and now she is ballading me with sincerity and conviction. Shoutout for I Could Be Great. Sally Anthony

Snake & Jet's Amazing Bullit Band - Ten Cities Beyond

Saturday night just wouldn’t be right without some dancing, so the parties continues loud and proud! This largely instrumental dance step has some shouting going on to let you know there are real humans behind all the fantastic retro60moviessoundtrack flavors on this disk. Did I say cowbells? Farfisa sounding organs? Sounds like he’s shouting “chocolate garden,” but it doesn’t matter. The dance continues with a dylan-flavored harmonica played through the nostrils with the organ player and drummer hamming it up with a fuzz-bass sound on Wicky. I’m glorying in heaven with a long-lost garage party band. The important thing to mention is that these folks are alive and well here in 2008, demanding our attention. Irreverently. They are not copying the sixties sound. I hear them creating their own sound to fit their own dance moves. Their 2008 credentials come full circle with the shoutouts This City Got The Better Of Me & Doom City. Snake & Jet's Amazing Bullit Band

Sky Cries Mary - Small Town

“I live for the silence when the snow shuts the city down.” We don’t get snow here in South Texas, but last year we had an ice storm that shut everything down, and I have to admit the beauty was spectacular. 12” icicles hanging from eaves trees, ice completely covering the leaves on the fig trees, and wow – entire 17’ high oleander bushes were beyond magnificent. Hearing a few folks in a recording studio capture the feeling that induced is something to marvel at. The point of the narrator is that the snow turns a huge city into feeling like a small town – in the sense that the snow has stopped traffic and other city noises. “Even silence has a voice.” Excellent composition, with a perfect match of instrumentation and lyric. Shoutout for Your Head. Sky Cries Mary

Adele – Tired

“Hold my hand while you cut me down. It had only just begun, but it’s over now.” The love story is fun, and I love the way the melody is exciting despite the title and the obvious blues of the lyrics. Sounds like the narrator is feeling complete freedom in her life by exorcising the demons that were dragging her down. The vocalist has a raspy sound that could be taken as a blue thought, but the bass player and synthesizer player won’t let her get away with it, and the drummer doesn’t help with the playful diddles. “Never mind, said your open arms.” Shoutouts for Cold Shoulder and Chasing Pavements. Adele

Wolfkin - Brand New Pants

Hump day dance with a vengeance. “You’ve got money in your pocket.” Instrumentation is interesting here, lots of fine flavors to move the feet. “It’s all about ego, it’s all about self. Everybody’s trying to make it to the top shelf.” The music never settles in one place for long, making the dance all the more intriguing. “Playful children make a lot of noise.” Gotta play this for those teachers who insist the kids need to be quiet while eating lunch in the cafeteria. Shoutout for Adore Toi (“When you speak language rude and foul, I enter the room wearing nothing but a howl.” LOL!!!) Wolfkin

Willy Deville - So So Real

“I ain’t no rocket - I’m a shooting star!” This album was extra fun to listen to. The album sounded like it was by a fresh, exciting recording band, though well-traveled on the bar scene it seemed to me. I have 6 albums by Willy in my collection, and am intimately familiar with the music, especially the first few when his band was called Mink. I danced to his music a lot in those days, and once upon a very very long lifetime ago opened for him in a gig in California in a band I was with at the time. There was always one of his songs played on my radio shows. But like everything else that pops in around here, I did not look at the cover before throwing the CD in the player. I immediately loved the record – sounded like the next great new band that I’d be writing about for many years to come. The only other thought that came to mind while listening & dancing is that this would be a very special group to see live because it’s real obvious the band can stretch these songs out for some wild and crazy solos.

Well, I knew I was going to write about this album, I was falling in love with one song after another. There were things happening on some cuts that were a bit retro, but in a powerful 2008 bar band type of way. After the last cut I checked out the artist & well, as you can tell, I’m blown away. Willy is still rocking my socks off by seeking out a new way to present his visions even after 30 years in the business. I did not recognize his “style” simply because he did not rely on his past glory to tell me about his new thoughts. I am thoroughly impressed. Shoutouts for Been There Done That & When I Get Home. Willy Deville

Lenny Kravitz – Confused

Last Monday Lenny woke me up with a spiritual quest – to turn my life around and look toward Jesus. Now, a week later he’s waking me up with a tasty 2008 version of the blues, telling me that he’s confused. And I love him for that. We can be so sure of ourselves at certain crossroads, only to be revisited by doubts and concerns and realities that cannot be fully explained by simple words. And the beauty of all that is this song about confusion has a deeper spiritual depth than the one he shared last week. Good work, Lenny. Shoutouts for the light reggae flavorings of Uncharted Terrain, and the rock spices of I Want To Go Home. Lenny Kravitz

Ruby Jane - Sweet Georgia Brown

Take a warhorse like this and get something new out of it? I have to admit my expectations were pretty low. As soon as I heard the first chorus, I knew this was a first-rate player with excellent chops. But you’re not going to get eartasted because you can do a fantastic cover of a song performed to perfection by so many before you. So why am I writing this? Ah, the second chorus had scale runs that tickled my ears with primitive pleasures, not to mention that the backing group has my ears dripping with dangerous excitement. Shoutout for Cripple Creek. A simply dreamy Sunday afternoon set. Ruby Jane

Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles - The Day We Met

A radio ready guitar riff introduces the narrator, “Ready or not, baby here I come, I’m going to throw my big white arms around your neck!” Enthusiasm abounds, along with a fun dance beat. “How many ways can I say I love ya?” Okay, perhaps a bit normal as far as narration, but some gets awfully fun – they oughta declare a holiday for the day we met “to commemorate all the things we said.” LOL!!! Shoutouts for Open Up Your Back Door & False Eyelashes Sarah Borges & The Broken Singles

Norah Jones - The Story

“I don’t know how to begin ‘cause the story has been told before.” The narrator exudes confidence, a commanding presence, and a distinctive voice. “I will sing along, I suppose,” she says, as the bass player and percussionist impel her forward with sensuous warmth. “I don’t know how it will end, with all those records playin’.” Sway through the night with some delicious bass runs, and reminiscent flavored piano meandering.My Blueberry Nights (Soundtrack)

Karli Fairbanks - I Could Arrange You

“You’re too free to hide.” Optimistic? Perhaps you’ll think that by the end of the poem where freedom is transformed. In the meantime, banjo & steel guitar pleasure my ears with an understanding that I am not listening to any form of country song. Karli has arranged the tune in a completely post-modern flavor without any hint of irony. I am impressed with the instrumentation, but the icing on this delicious, bittersweet dessert is the poetry. “Darling, if you want a broken soul, I could find you some blue.” The story opens veins and locates memories poured into salted tears and saved for very special reveries. “You’ll find your cross soon enough. Just hoist it on up. Your shoulders will bleed, but you’ll finally be free.” Karli Fairbanks

The Details - Reunion Souvenirs

“I can’t wait to calibrate all the things we find have changed since the last time when the distance wasn’t greater than the connection that we had.” Sounds like a mouthful, but imagine this – it’s not just a poem, but a song. Yep, the narrator gets this out intelligibly. And, the story makes sense. There’s distance put between families and friends in this “modern” world. For what purpose? Ah, the question we all wish had an honest answer. The poets here have the ability to face these issues and put them into terms we can use to start our meditations with. No answers, but clearly stated questions. Nice work. Shoutouts include Underground (“I wrote a clever song. I always dreamt the crowd would sing along to my empty thoughts and kill the poets to save their dying art.”), Capture and Develop (“Only the boldest admit what they can’t defeat.”), and Hit Parades (“there are million dollar price tags that come with my million dollar friends.”) The music complements the intelligence of the poetry. The Details

The 50th Annual Grammy Awards Quiz

UPDATE: John G has won, with full list of artits, titles, as well as years and awards! Lots of work - great job! Complete set of 5 CDs on the way! Here are the answers:

1 - Downtown - Petula Clark 1964 [Best Rock & Roll Recording]

2 - Monday Monday - The Mamas & the Papas 1966 [Best Contemporary vocal Performance by Group]

3 - Light My Fire - Jose Feliciano 1968 [Best Contemporary Pop Vocal Performance, Male]

4 - Everbody's Talkin - Harry Nilsson 1969 [Best Male Contemporary vocal performance]

5 - Up, Up And Away - 5th Dimension 1967 [Record Of The Year][Best Performance By A Vocal Group][ Best Contemporary Single]

6 - I'll Never Fall In Love Again - Dionne Warwick 1970 [Best Contemporary Female Vocal]

7 - Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tenille 1975 [Record Of The Year]

8 - At Seventeen - Janis Ian 1975 [Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female]

9 - How Deep Is Your Love - The Bee Gees 1977 [Best Pop Vocal Performance By A Group]

10 - What A fool Believes - Doobie Brothers 1979 [Record Of The Year][Song of the year][Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocals]

11 - This Is It - Kenny Loggins 1980 [Best Male Pop Vocal Performance]

12 - Rosanna - Toto 1982 [Record of the year][Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal][Best Vocal Arrangement]

13 - Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) - Phil Collins 1984 [Best Male Pop Vocal Performance]

14 - Higher Love - Steve Winwood 1986 [Record Of The Year][Best Male Pop Vocal]

15 - King of the Road - Roger Miller 1965 [Male Country Vocal Performance][Best Country & Western Song][Best Country & Western Single][Best Contemporary (R&R) Vocal Performance - Male][Best Contemporary (R&R) Single]

16 - Harper Vally PTA - Jeannie C. Riley 1968 [Best Country Vocal Performance, Female]

17 - Stand By Your Man - Tammy Wynette 1969 [Female Country vocal Performance]

18 - (I Never Promised You a) Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson 1970 [Best Female Country Vocal Performance]

19 - When You're Hot, you're Hot - Jerry Reed 1971 [Best Male Country Vocal Performance ]

20 - The Devil Went Down To Georgia - Charlie Daniels Band 1979 [Best Country Vocal Performance by a Group]

21 - Black Hole Sun - Soundgarden 1994 [Best hard rock performance]

22 - Runaway train - Soul Asylum [as David Pirner, songwriter] 1993 [Best Rock Song]

23 - Give Me One Reason - Tracy Chapman 1996 [Best Rock Song]

24 - Run-Around - Blues Traveler 1995 [Best Rock Performance by Group]

This quiz was sponsored by Chip Schutzman, President of Mile High Productions. He has supplied this wonderful 5 CD set of Ultimate Grammy Collections for the winner of this quiz:

Contemporary Pop
Contemporary Rock
Classic Pop
Contemporary Country
Classic Country

Thanks to everyone who entered!!! Keep watching for our occasional contests!

Bayard Russell - Living At Moms

Steady bass beat, almost an eerie sound coming out of my speakers. Perhaps haunting is a better word. “Sometimes I think I’m a record in reverse, ‘cause I get déjà-vu each time I do the dream-like thing that I do first. Then I concede the second time is worse, when I finally remember all the things I had remembered.” Okay, I admit I feel like I’m walking through a Stephen King novel backwards, but I think that’s Bayard’s point. The melody is whisperingly fascinating, and the lyrics, which I thought might be funny, really aren’t. “I tend to shoulder all the blame.” Excellent composition. The instrument that lays the break has a fascinating sound. I’d guess some sorta synthesizer, but it could be a guitar being run through a synthesizer. Doesn’t matter – it fits, and adds to the overall ambience of the song. “These days are so defeating, not ones that bear repeating.” Shoutouts for I Know, a slower thoughtful piece & Uh-huh, a pop-centered light hearted look at a life. Bayard Russell

Lenny Kravitz - If You Want It

Sing it, preacher. “If you want it, you can change your evil ways. If you want it, just break free and walk away.” Okay, so there’s no true enlightenment here, but the music is outstanding – guaranteed to wake me up on a Monday morning.And there’s nothing wrong with starting my week on a spiritual note, shallow or not. Shallow depths are better than no depth at all! Huge shoutout for the funky dance power of Will You Marry Me? “You are the light and the passion that never goes out of fashion.” Don’t worry, when you’re dancing your heart out the lyrics won’t be on your mind. The guitarist, the bassist, and the percussionist are the stars here. And to keep the day moving with a stones-like groove, another shoutout for Dancin' Til Dawn. Lenny Kravitz

Scott Campbell & Friends -Still Making It Up As We Go

The title sounds a lot like my life. Every day a new situation pops up, how to deal with this? Dunno, make something up, just try to act like you know what you’re doing. Scott captured this emotion, along with some friends who must have caught the spirit – and I’m betting the reason is as simple as – we’re all making this life up as we go along. Good stuff to think about on a Sunday afternoon while most people in our country claim to be thinking about God, taking a day off just to do that. Yep, people lie especially when it's a choice between contemplation and the Superbowl. The spiritual me tell me the superbowl helps their relationship with God. Said between beers, of course. That’s what makes this song special, no lies. The lyric goes pretty deep, Scott is talking about relationships, and if I’m listening carefully, it’s the most sacred of all relationships – that between a husband a wife. Rocking his heart out!

“You didn’t come with instructions. But then, what good would they be?
You’ve always been a moving target with a fresh scheme up your sleeve.
Though I’m sometimes skeptical, I help you play them out,
Cause your vision of the two of us is one I never doubt.

We seek, we plan, we leap, we land.
It’s the bends in the flow, where we lend and we owe,
Still making it up as we go.

Nobody gave us a manual, it would have gone out of date anyhow.
I look at that kid in our wedding pictures and he’s a stranger to me now.
So in another twenty years I don’t know who I’ll be.
But the one thing that I’m sure of is, you’ll still believe in me.

We shift, we turn, we drift, we learn.
It’s the bends in the flow, where we lend and we owe,
Still making it up as we go.”

The shoutouts add deep flavors to the musical textures. I Want A Woman With Some Miles On Her is a blues-flavored rocker, Blue Ivory introduces a psychedelic spice, and When Hearts Are Broken is a story ballad that tears deep memories out of my soul. “When hearts are broken they still beat, but they don’t mend.” Thanks for sharing your soul Scott. Scott Campbell & Friends

Sally Anthony – Goodbye

Tonight’s party starts off with some irony. Who starts a party with Goodbye? Welcome to my world. Weirdness reigns supreme. With your dancing shoes on, of course. The song is kind of a send-off for a friend who needs a send-off, at least in the opinion of the narrator. So, while dancing through the stars be prepared for some down-to-earth lyrics. Intermingled in the anger is some really cool lines, like “it’s a beautiful thing for me to know that you hear this on your system while driving in your car.” Good, sassy way to start off this dance, which continues loud and proud with the lively Don't Fall in Love (With Me). Every song has its own flavors, which makes for great variety and an enjoyable evening. Sally is obviously in this business to entertain, while keeping her unique personality intact. Sally Anthony

Wampus Multimedia seeking submissions for 2008

Wampus Multimedia is currently seeking submissions of music and ebooks for 2008. If you are interested in expanding your audience through the orchestrated marketing and distribution of your work, consider Wampus Multimedia as your media partner.

Music: singer-songwriter; postmodern rock; indie pop; modern folk.

eBooks: literary fiction; creative nonfiction; expert guides; travelogues.

Deadline for submissions: Friday, February 22.

Materials to: Wampus Multimedia, 4 Weems Lane, #300, Winchester, VA 22601.

--- Q&A with Mark Doyon ---

Q. What is Wampus? How can it help me with my work?

A. Wampus is a media company -- a music label, media shop, sound studio, ebook publisher, and marketing communications group. We have marketed and distributed more than 50 records and books, in the United States and around the world, since 2002. We serve as a creative partner in design, production, manufacturing, promotion, and distribution.

Q. Can't I do that stuff myself?

A. Maybe. But it's better if you have the resources of a company dedicated to doing it. Partnering with Wampus gives you expertise in image, branding, and strategy. Most importantly, you get people who will either care deeply about your work or recommend other options.

Q. How do I know if I'm a good fit for Wampus?

A. Visit the Web site, explore the things we're doing. Ask yourself: Is my work unique? Am I unwilling to change it for commercial reasons? Do I want to maintain creative control of it? If you're nodding "yes" to these questions, you're in the ballpark. We're not in love with mainstream appeal. We're looking for originality.

Q. Don't you need mainstream products to stay in business?

A. We focus on niche products, not blockbusters. A distinctive release, marketed well, has greater staying power than a typical mainstream one. We would rather market a release for decades than just during the first month. It's about building something over time -- an idea, an ethic, a community.

Other questions? Contact us at mail4(at)wampus.com.

http://wampus.com

Andy Juhl - Down The Lane Pt 2

The guitars blast my daydreams and head nodding from a long week to slam-dunk wide awake jumping up and moving across the floor. The drummer doesn’t hurt – his incessant beat brings a huge demented smile across my ears as they take in this instrumental meal of hunger-depleting energy with a perfect moon scraping melody. Thanks to modern technology I can put this cut on repeat repeat repeat, otherwise I’d complain about how short it is. Andy Juhl

Strix Vega – Tides

A lone garage style guitar starts this slow tune on one string. As the rest of the band joins in, I feel like I’m standing right in the middle of the garage as the poet intones that he is “watching the bay as it recedes and feeling the void that it leaves. Eyeing the ridge of happiness and watching the truth undress.” I love the fact that these guys have the confidence to put their wonderful melodies to tape without feeling the need to overproduce and add unnecessary sheen. They are able to maintain this lively garage feel throughout, especially on the shoutout Mrs Loveless. The music matches the intensity of the emotions. Excellent. Strix Vega

Lenny Kravitz - Love Revolution

A hump day dance party song, with a great beat, and some fresh retro-sounding licks. Soul beat with rock guitar leads. Life feels great – “it is time for a love revolution! It is time for a new constitution!” I feel like Woodstock Nation has returned, with a vengeance. Shoutouts for the bass driven Bring It On. Hurray for folks who make music for dancing fools! Lenny Kravitz

Sheryl Crow - Love Is Free

“Money’s got no hold on me”. Easy to say when you’re making music this good. Folks are bound to play this song. A lot. And that’ll make Sheryl lotsa money =:-). And there’s nothing wrong with that. Been a long time since I’ve heard a sonically open-sounding song like this from Sheryl, and I am very happy to hear it. Shoutouts for Out Of Our Heads (And Into Our Hearts), the happiest anti-war song I’ve heard this year, Detours & Beautiful Dream. Powerful, fun, and exciting back to roots album. Sheryl Crow

Willie Nelson – Worry B Gone

After First I have to admit to being wrong wrong wrong. On his 50th anniversary in the recording industry Willie Nelson released Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond Of Each Other & I felt for sure that was his crowning achievement. Well, the man hasn’t quit, and he’s still singing and playing with enthusiasm & hilarity.

My mother first bought a Willie Nelson “Long Player” in 1961. She was a huge fan of Patsy Cline, and read the magazines, so she scouted around and found the Willie Nelson record. At some point in that year or the next she scrounged up a version of Rainy Day Blues b/w Nightlife. And I never got around to asking where she got a copy of No Place For Me b/w Lumberjack, but it still holds a place of wonder in her collection. What I’m saying is that Willie has been a part of my eartaste adventure for 47 years, and my mom obviously had good contacts before that. We had about 15 albums that were released in the 60’s. Willie covered an early Joni Mitchell song in 1970. In 1971 he was covering James Taylor. I remember my mom swooning when she heard Willie singing Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain in the mid 70’s. He seemed old then!

I remember my mom’s favorite advice, “if you don’t have something good to say…” Well, you know the rest, and regular readers know I only pick on the best songs for that reason. So, let’s talk about the two good songs here.

“Give me just one more sip of that worry be gone. I plan on feeling much better before too long!” Guy Clark lyrics to a tune that’s Willy 100%. Coulda been recorded in 1968, 1978, or any year till now. “Got a world of trouble that I need to forget, I’m on my way, but I ain’t there yet.” Good, vintage eartasting, with lotsa bluesy licks to dance the night away. “Well I can’t suffer fools wasting my time. Don’t give me no advice that rhymes. Just give me one more puff of that worry be gone.” If you love your Nelson undiluted, this is the perfect antidote. The co-singer, Kenny Chesney, does not distract one bit. Classic Willie! The shoutout is You Don’t Think I’m Funny Anymore! “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Willie Nelson

Shauna Burns – Bloom

“When Stella decided that she would stay, we both decided that it was time to fly.” Ethereal. Not a common word in my vocabulary, but that’s where the music takes me. Delicate, floating on another world. The language was one I was unfamiliar with till I pulled out a lyric sheet. English. Shauna focuses on the vowels, and the story becomes unimportant compared to the melody. The keyboards float toriamos-like high above the percussive beat that grounds my feet. The bird-like flavors add to the quality of the scene. Subsequent hearings start to bring out the language and allow me to hear the story with more clarity as I float higher and higher. “When thunder hits, it’s our cue to run as fast as you can.” Shauna Burns

Santana - El Fuego

My Spanish is not great, so this is extremely rough, which doesn’t matter, ‘cause I love the tune. “Thank you for the fire, for the intense heat that’s grown inside my heart because of you. You’ve given me the freedom to search for the truth. You’ve shown me your face and your love unconditionally.” Hot, fiery guitars, keyboards & percussion accenting a beautiful melody. There’s no more precious way to spend a Saturday evening as the sun sets quietly beyond the horizon. The scene here is very much worth praising God for, and I have a more than passing suspicion that Carlos is directing this tune toward the one who is the light of the world. Shoutouts for Hermes and Da Tu Amor (“No hay razón para la guerra” – roughly, there is no reason for war). Santana

Herbie Hancock with Santana & Angilique Kidjo - Safiatou

Listening to Herbie this week took me to my cd closet. I spent many hours with this cd today, so you get to re-visit it with me. Santana and Herbie worked in tandem to create a wonderful opening to this friendly samba. Reminds me of the close relationship of Mies and Trane on their collaborations. Angelique sings beautifully, and we are treated to a whole slew of musicians who work together to bring joy to those with ears to hear. Shoutout for When Love Comes to Town with Joss Stone & Jonny Lang Herbie Hancock

Jack Johnson – Hope

“Your shadow walks faster than you. You don't really know what to do. Do you think that you're not alone?” A steady close to jimmybuffetrasta beat makes you think about life and love and wonder if this guy knows more than you about all that stuff? “The shadow is on the move and maybe you should be moving too, before it takes away all that you learned to love. It will defeat you and then teach you to get back up ‘cause you don't always have to hold your head higher than your heart.” Sounds profound enough. You can decide if it is or now while I dance around the room happy for the happy music. Shoutout for Enemy (“I picked up the pieces when I woke
Put them in a boat made of things that I don’t want to see”) and What You Thought You Need (“We can park the van and walk to town, find the cheapest bottle of wine that we could find and talk about the road behind. How getting lost is not a waste of time.”) Jack Johnson

Radiohead – Nude

A space walk, for a good, slow, meandering hump day with chicken wings chased through weightlessness. There must be a way to capture that margarita while floating. Does it matter? The mood is set by the music, and it’s easy to flow with it. “Don't get any big ideas, they're not going to happen. You paint yourself white and fill in the noise, but there'll be something missing.” Shoutout for another type of mood, Jigsaw Falling Into Place. Radiohead

Herbie Hancock – Solitude

Dave Holland on bass pulls me through the eye of the needle as I visit the heavens with Herbie and Vinnie Colaiuta. It’s so great to see Billie’s eyes sparkling as she listens to this piece with Duke by her side. We are all in agreement, that no performance could out classic her own, but Herbie manages to take it beyond the realm of classic into the realm of peace and distinct awareness of our need to contemplate our purpose without interference from others. Perfect solitude is a necessity. Wayne Shorter joins ont party on the shoutout tune, Both Sides Now. A fine visit to beat-era stylings rounds out this tasty treat with Leonard Cohen intoning The Jungle Line. Herbie Hancock

Bob Mould - Stupid Now

Strong voice starts the CD with a guitar banging in the background. “Please listen to me and don’t disagree.” I get the idea he’s going to smash my face if I dare say he’s wrong. Lots of anger, convincing, and makes for a smashing Monday morning wake-up call. I’ve no doubts that he’s absolutely serious. Great entertainment. Like Nicholas Cage playing a drunk in Leaving Las Vegas. Couldn’t figure out why/how he could make another movie after that. Didn’t he die? Horrible movie that sticks in the brain way too long afterwards. That’s the same way this album is coming at me. That, along with the dance beat. The drummer makes sure his part of the anger moves my feet. Shoutouts for Who Needs To Dream and New Highs New Lows. Bob Mould

Kate Nash - Merry Happy

“Watching me like you never watched no one.Don’t tell me that you didn’t try to check out my bum, cause I know that you did, cause your friend told me that you liked it.” Caught. But the fun is just beginning. Now that he’s caught, the narrator goes along with the truth and they hang together long enough to create a situation where she now says, “I know now that we were not the people that we turned out to be.” Seems she was willing to give the bum-watcher a chance at what he was lusting for, and she even muses about the fact that she was pleased for awhile; “you make me merry, make me very very happy.” This story, alas, does not have a perfectly merry happy ending, and I’ll even give it away – “but you obviously, you didn’t want to stick around.” I gave away the ending because the music is the important aspect to this song, and very much worth paying attention to. It starts out with a piano hitting 2 keys. Very simple, just like the lyric. But as the story deepens and the plot thickens, so does the music. Very nicely arranged & performed superbly. Kate Nash

Coral – Cobwebs

“There's a place where the creatures play, I'm going there at the end of the day. Who knows what I'll find in the cobwebs of my mind?” I’m drinking warm peppermint tea, eating ensaimadas, and contemplating the hectic pace of the day, glad that it’s over, and even further pacified by the narrator of this song who’s admitting that there are creatures playing in the cobwebs of his mind also. Gives comfort to know others are experiencing this. Maybe it’s the peppermint, maybe it’s the cinnamon, or perhaps it’s the sweet guitar playing through this song, but I’m feeling good despite the hectic creatures. And, yes, there is more news. “There's a place where the music plays, I'll meet her there at the end of the day. Who knows what she'll find in the cobwebs of my mind?” A fellow wanderer willing to explore the cobwebs alongside the narrator. Beautiful picture of a mature relationship. “She knows where I hide. In the cobwebs of my mind.” Coral

A Putumayo Music Trivia Quiz

Putumayo is sponsoring this quiz, and has offered up a great set released last year, Tango Around The World.

I woke up this morning to 8 emails, and the first had every answer necessary. Will be sending the other 7 folks a used cd from my review pile.

Here’s the “world-music” story and quiz: In 1978 this Jamaican artist’s 3rd solo album was released on a British label owned by a rock band. One of the band members sang a duet on the first single that was written by a songwriting team in Detroit, and had been a hit for an American soul group. Obviously, there are world-wide roots for this single from the album.

For your copy of Tango Around The World, email the name of the artist and the song. Extra credit if you can also name the singer who sang along.

THE WINNER IS:

mike c. (UK) to me 4:56 AM

Hi

The answer to the trivia quiz is:

Artist - Peter Tosh
Single - (You Gotta Walk) Don't Look Back
Album - Bush Doctor
Guest singer - Mick Jagger

All the best
Mike :-)

The Putumayo connection to the song =:-)

Putumayo Presents: Latin Reggae

There is a oneness in the world that is held together by musicians and poets. Last night a blustery winter entered south texas and has blended with my heating system in such a way as to make it ineffective on the material plane. No problem, I’ve been listening to my collections of 60’s bluesoul all day to keep warm. Then it came time for the eartaste party to start, and the spirit of knowledge of my needs made itself known. Oneness. The first envelope opened today was sort of cheating. Putumayo has a distinctive envelope, so I knew a party was enclosed.

I wasn’t wrong. This entire album moves my body and my soul. The very cool thing is it’s dance, but not sweat-inducing dance. With the cold air enveloping every square centimeter of my surroundings, the last thing I want to do is sweat. But move to a beat and feel the warmth of the spirit moving within and without, perfect. Absolutely. The editors have chosen some fabulous musicians, none of which I recognize as household names in the United States.

Muchachito Bomba Infierno opens with enough ska on Conversaciones Incompatibles to let me know this album means business. Macaco takes over with Mulata Descolorada and offers up some excellent jazz. Next up is Charito Va by Radio Malanga, willing me up from under a blanket covering my body to allow the messenger to warm my understanding of true warmth, along with extended jazz-tinged reggae spirits. And on it goes. The bands are from Barcelona, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and more, with musicians from Nigeria, Netherlands, Chile, Montreal, in short, true to Putumayo tradition, this is a taste of the world through the ears of reggae. Sweet.

Latin Reggae

Steve Forbert - Middle Age

It’s always great fun when Steve drops by for a chat. He’s been coming around for short visits since way back when I was in the middle of a first marriage, still living and playing in San Diego. The days when punks sorta ruled my ears, but he tickled me in a completely different way. Tonight he’s talking about the joys of middle age and how you need to “laugh at what you used to think you knew.” He’s slyly smiling as he sings this, and encourages me to tap along with his enthusiasm. “Middle age is hectic, much less time for fun. Clearly it’s a good think youth is wasted on the young.” Wise guy. He shared some fun things he’s been learning about north Jersey, and some of the things he’s been studying about the life of Spalding Gray. Somehow we get on the subject of the past, and he tells me flat out, “Man, I Miss That Girl.” There’s a few I really miss, too, so nostalgia reigns here for a brief period, but then we agree, “there ain’t a lot to say” on that subject.

Then he starts telling me about this new girl in his his life in a poetic way, “those laughing stars, those talking trees. Was just a dream we shared that no one else could see. You’re on my mind so tenderly, as time goes by, you’re meant for me.” Then he livens up a bit and shares some cute moments with her, “there’s something special in your arms, there’s something magic in your kiss, there’s something wondrous in the words you say to me.” Steve gets around to telling em why he’s driving through these strange sounding city names in Jersey – turns out Diane lives in what he’s calling “Springsteen land.” He’s wry enough about it.

Of course, whenever someone spends more than 30 minutes in my home the subject gets around to politics, and he waxes on a bit with his opinion on Baghdad, but then he hits below the belt and starts reminding me that he’s the same age I am, smirking that “the geometric days are gone and earth is still a sphere, objects in the mirror may be just as they appear. We spin around the sun and call each trip we make a year, 30 more years of this and friend, I am out of here.” I was kinda thinking 25 years, but he’s a bit more optimistic than I am – he believes we’ll live till we’re 80. Then he strums his guitar for a little bit, not talking at all. It’s not a hard tune to play along with, but it’s pretty. Then, he stands up and puts his guitar down and acts like he’s gonna leave. We ask him to stay just awhile longer, so he pulls out his harmonica, picks up his guitar and sings an oldie but goodie for us. Then he says he really has to take off because we’ve been “lost in talk and I waste my time because it’s all been said before.” Hate to see him leave, but he’s right. And I have to get up in the morning. It was a pleasant evening, tho, and I’ll be inviting him back to get “lost in talk” a lot more this year. Everything’s all right.

Steve Forbert

Cascada – Runaway

Some hump days you just need to drink and sweat and not think. Cascada makes that possible by digging out an 80’s disco beat and keeping it running away all night long. It’s hard to believe anyone wants to make neverendingstorymusic anymore, but there are times when I just need to let the sweat pour out and clean all my pores. I’m even going to shoutout a few tunes, not that they’re different than the headline here – in point of fact, they all have exactly the same beat; think dance for aerobic principles. So I need at least 20 minutes of keeping my heartbeat up. I know, some smart crack will let me know that I’m supposed to do this every day, and once in a blue moon ain’t enough. I’ve heard it all before. Once in a blue moon is enough for this old guy, and exercising to fluff can be fun. The shoutouts are all fluffy versions of hit tunes. 1 is Because the Night (Bruce), 2 is Sk8er Boi (Avril) & 3 kept me laughing all the way through, Just Like A Pill (Pink). Cascada

Remi Nicole - Rock And Roll

“They say, ‘You’re not normal, why don’t you sing r&b?’ I said, ‘I got not rhythm, and I got no blues, I’m as happy as can be.’They said, ‘How can you not bop to hip-hop?’ I said, ‘I most certainly do! Did you not see me dancing the other night like the girls on channel two?’” The dance party keeps up with a steady beat, but more variety in tone. “I can dance like the girls in the video, but for me they’re much too slow. I prefer rock and roll!” Fun stuff. Shoutout for Dates From Hell. “Is it too much to ask for something decent, something that will last more than an evening?” Remi Nicole

Brokenkites – Resonator

The truth is never far behind the past, it’s all here in the midst of a concerted effort to remember. I sometimes have the freedom to consider the sounds made by a klystron resonating in orbit around us, to desire the ability to ride alongside and feel the throbs of its inner burnings. Brokenkites, in this hour of intense meditation, has brought to the surface some of these depths. The joy is the fact that there is no longer a pain related to the things left forgotten. No regrets have disintegrated in measures of belief and understandings of this belief. All these moments are both present past future and beyond in a single chord repeated and explored in conjunction with doublestringed chords and thoughts. Shoutouts for Epiphora & Escape Velocity. Special shoutout for the neoprototype Prelude. Brokenkites

SPIN VS. SPiN

Readers know I seldom print press releases, but this one is important. I hate crap like this, and a few of you know that this sorta bologna is what forced me to finally simply stop the podcast. Trying to help people get their music heard was not enough. For some stupid reason companies with deep pockets feel everyone else out there is super rich and has money to spend on lawsuits. There is no income coming into Eartaste from Eartaste endeavors. I'm sure SPiN, as an indie band, is putting out more than is coming in financially. I've been in enough bands to know that's very common.

If you recall, I reviewed a track from the new album on December 15, click here.


Anyway, read & comment:

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WELL KNOWN MUSIC MAGAZINE RECOGNIZES THE PHILLY BASED, JAGERMEISTER SPONSORED INDIE BAND IN A UNIQUE WAY—A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER CLAIMING THE BAND’S NAME CONSTITUTES TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT

* * *

SPiN, Whose Single Debut Single “Home” Recently Catapulted Into The Top 20 on FMQB’S AC40 Chart, Dismisses The Claim As Ridiculous and Vows To Fight Any Legal Action

The edgy Philadelphia based, Jägermeister sponsored pop rock band SPiN wrapped 2007 with the exciting news that “Home”—the debut single from their self-titled EP helmed by Grammy winning producer/engineer David Ivory—had hit the Top 20 on FMQB’s AC40 chart (now #11 on chart). After several years of major East Coast success that included over 100 shows a year, the hardworking group was finally breaking through on a national level.

The well-known national music monthly Spin magazine took notice—but not in the way the four musicians would have hoped. On January 3, the band received a letter from the attorney for the publication’s parent company Spin Media, LLC, claiming that the name “SPiN” constitutes trademark infringement “of the famous and valuable” SPIN brand.

The letter claims that since the band SPiN is using the “SPIN mark” for music, there is a “strong likelihood of consumer confusion”; it says, “your clients’ unauthorized use of the SPIN mark is likely to cause confusion, mistake or deception as to an affiliation, connection or association with Spin Media and its SPIN mark, and as to the origin, sponsorship or approval of your clients’ goods and services.”

The letter goes on to threaten that the magazine will pursue “civil remedies to the fullest extent of the federal and state law” unless SPiN immediately ceases to use the name!

SPiN the band’s simple response: “Ridiculous!”

No matter how you spin the story, the 23-year-old publication is hardly living up to its philosophy of being “Music For Life.” In fact, in what’s shaping up to be a classic David vs. Goliath battle, they’re trying to suck the life and career momentum out of SPiN just when lead singer Eric Rothenheber, keyboardist and vocalist Jim Vacca, guitarist Hank Cieplinski and drummer Lou Chudnofsky are achieving the kind of success every indie artist aspires to.

Vacca says the band has worked too hard to build its name and reputation over the last few years to give into this ludicrous demand. Eager to fight the media company, SPiN is currently exploring its legal options.

“Seriously, how is our use of the name ‘spin’ likely to cause confusion for anyone?” he adds. “You see a band play a show, is that a magazine performing onstage? I’m confused, am I reading a magazine or listening to a rock band on my ipod? C’mon! We’re not calling ourselves Spin magazine or writing articles about music, and we’re not music related media. We’re just a rock band out here struggling to get our music career going. We finally caused a little ripple and got a small taste of success, and now this? We’re not trying to hurt anyone or steal anyone’s “famous and valuable” name. We’re currently figuring out just how to fight this accusation without going futhur into debt in legal expenses.”

Cieplinski also wonders what happened years ago, when the situation was reversed, and Rolling Stone magazine shared its name with a famous band and the title of a Bob Dylan song. “We’ll have to look into the legal precedents,” he says. It would be nice if magazines like Spin would be supportive of hard working bands like ours rather than try to stifle what we’re doing as soon as we start to catch a glimpse of success.”

Ironically, the part of SPiN’s history that the guys are least likey to mention may play the most important part in proving that its name wasn’t deliberately lifted from the title of the magazine. Before SPiN was SPiN, and the guys were making their living—and funding the recording of original material--as a cover band, the group was known in Philadelphia as “Spin The Bottle.” That name was deemed too corny to keep once they developed their original sound, but so many people knew them as “Spin The Bottle” that they decided to simply shorten the name rather than change it completely.

“No matter what happens, we’re going to keep plugging away with continued touring to support the radio release and heading back in the studio in 2008,” says Rothenheber. “We’re hoping this situation doesn’t take too much time away from our primary goal, which is making music. Chudnofsky adds, “maybe they’ll back off once they realize that as of right now, there’s exactly $7.28 in our bank account!”

Ringo Starr - Gone Are The Days

“Sometimes you lose yourself, nobody’s there when you cry for help.” The song title may make you think this is a nostalgia song, but that’s just a ruse. Musically this is 2008, and rocking with a feeling! Sure, there’s fun along the way, wouldn’t be Ringo if it weren’t fun. Let’s face it, you can’t be 67 years old traveling from town to town singing for a bunch of folks who think you’re still a Beatle 38 years after they split up if you don’t have a wry sense of humor. Like the folks who still don’t accept Ron as a Rolling Stone. Weird people, fans.

Anyway, the music is hot, and there’s a sly reference to one of his earliest 70’s hits – “I know you will believe me when I say ‘It Won’t Come Easy.’ ” Another song references Choose Love, his album from 2005. The album makes me smile the same way all Ringo albums do. He wasn’t shy to attack standards in 1970, now even Rod Stewart does that, with no sense of irony. He talked C&W next, then pop & rock of all flavors, from Back Off Boogaloo to Photograph. He never shies away from a genre, just puts it out there, acting naturally. On this album he & his mates wrote all the songs, but they’re willing to tackle jazz flavors, gospel flavors (with a twist in the lyric), and pop, along with some burning rock. A fulfilling album. Shoutouts for Now That She’s Gone Away & For Love.

Ringo Starr

Norah Jones – Easy

“It’s only love, and oh how it feels. Feeling is easy. When I was young, you know it was real.” Beautiful melody surrounded by flavors not usually associated with Norah. Of course, this is not her album, this cut came from the album of her half-sister, Anoushka who adds special tastes of sitar and percussion. The entire album makes for a comforting Sunday afternoon in some sort of ethereal space that’s occupying my brain. I’m loving it. Shoutout for Ghost Story. Anoushka Shankar

A second Norah shout-out for another stray cut from an older album, Angels. This song, like Easy, is not typical of the songs from her solo releases.

Jesse Cook - Matisse The Cat

Lively percussion and a wonderful guitar player. Many flamenco-type flavors, with a touch of what was termed neo-flamenco flavorings there for awhile. What sets this one apart is the dynamic energy. Shoutouts for Havana, La Llorona, and Alone. Jesse Cook

Dax Riggs - Demon Tied to a Chair in My Brain

“Blackbird a-tapping on the windowpain. Sick man smiling at a stray dog in the rain. Demon tied to a chair in my brain.” It’s not often I’m completely taken over by an entire album. This one starts with Demon Tied To A Chair and never lets up. Each song is a unique individual musically, but lyrically we enter into a poetry that is seldom explored in popular music – the inner recesses and depths of a person seeking for spiritual truths. I’m excited by the arrangements and the vocal energy that carries my thoughts into the heart of another person’s vitality.

1/2 way through the album, this line is intertwined with the music to cause deep meditation on my part, "Have mercy on the devil, he's a friend of mine. . .sometimes."

Shoutout for the whole album. I’ll simply share from the final cut, Dethbryte:

“All this fades and reappears
and we will always be everywhere everything
dreams tonight
don't bleed it so white
the fragile waves of days
they break against the shore
of all these years
don't scream and bite
don't bleed it so white
if all death is as bright”

Dax Riggs

Not My Day - Jaffa Del Mar

Clean sound. I love hearing a rock band that is careful to let me hear every instrument clearly, and this guys succeed. I can hear the bass in the middle, the guitar off to the left, and the drums just right of center. I’m standing in the garage with these guys, amps blasting, drummer having a field day in the corner. The bass player works with the drummer to keep this Friday night rock dance party pleasantly loud and steady. I have no idea what Jaffa Del Mar is – sounds like a beach. Apparently it’s something one thinks. Main thing is it really doesn’t matter, to me at least. The vocalist has a fine instrument and I can hear every word clearly, but I’m allowing the words to wash over me as my body gets caught in the wave this band is exerting. The retro lead guitar work is refreshing. Shoutout for It Matters! Not My Day

Title Me Wrong – Ejit

I had to look Ejit up. If google has any validity, it’s an Irish slang for ‘idiot’. Couldn’t figure that out from the lyric. “The future is bright only of there is a light, and let me tell you there is a light.” The guitars are set to drone hypnotically. The drums are set to excite, but there are cool eartastes sliding in and out of this song. At one point the drums stop and the voice wrangles with a piano “finding the good in in life”. The instruments are well-recorded, a band worth seeking out. The vocalist seems to prefer running his voice through a machine. As the band grows and prepares to conquer America, I hope he’ll change his mind. Shoutout for She’s So Pretty. Title Me Wrong

Jackson Taylor - Outlaw Women

Spending my hump-day in a down-home honky tonk beer bar, and Jackson is on stage pulling it off without a hitch. Could be 1958, 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998, or 2008. Traditions. His fiddle player stroking his 18” woman under his chin with a 24” long horsehair collection. Not dancin’ is not an option. A few beers and everyone is on the dance floor slippin’ on the suds. “Here’s to the smoking hot mamas. . .they come in so many shapes and sizes, and every one’s a perfect fit!” Amen to that. Got some BBQ in the back to go along with the shout-outs Dark Days (“I ain’t afraid of the devil, and I ain’t afraid of losing you”), She’s A Real Good Girl (“Hey bartender I’d like to buy the house a round, cause I just quit my job”), and Honky Tonk Heroes (“gullible losers and no-account boozers”). Jackson Taylor

Deborah Cox – Misery

Blue guitar, blue brushes, blue bass and blue piano work together to introduce a beautiful blue voice. A voice with the personification of misery. “Thoughts of you should bring me joy, but they only bring misery.” The guitar break is a perfect lamb shank with peppers and prosciutto, tasty. Shoutout for New Blowtop Blues. “I used to be a sharpie, all dressed in the latest style. But now I’m working down Broadway wearing nothing but a smile. . .I’m a gal that blew a fuse ‘cause I’ve got them blow-top blues.” Deborah Cox

Shine - Soulful Music

I’m by a lake, with wildflowers speaking a language of soul longing for innocence. The sun sets, the stars come out and the music breathes deep in the lake awakening the life beneath the surface. I’m warm, seeing new life dancing in the brisk wind coming from the gulf, some 300 miles away. I wonder how the breeze can travel those distances with the music intact. I’m pleased. In the Midlife Zone leads smoothly into Rest Your Head on Me. I’m quiet. Shine

Hidden Beach Recordings

Hidden Beachis a soulful jazz label that has made this Sunday afternoon a pure pleasure to participate in. Dry red wine in a slow dance mood.

Leigh Jones is first up, “the first to be willing to compromise”. The song titles weren’t provided, as this is an album that will still be coming out. “I’d rather have it your way than not have you at all. Leigh wraps herself deep into the club scene, sparring with excellent partners on keyboards, guitar, drums, bass, and especially the trumpet player. Definitely worth keeping an eye out for on the Hidden Beach web site. I’ll guess the song title to be Love Is Pain.

Cornel West – Bushonomics. “Revolution requires participation, but sometimes people be hesitatin’. The government must respect the will of the people.” Dream on is the easy thing to say; I’ve felt this way all my life and even when I see those who agree with us find their way over the hill and into the system, they soon become a part of the rot. Tom Hayden is the first of many that comes to mind. Jesse Jackson. Right down the line. But there’s still a part of me that hopes there’s young people out there still willing to hear the call that the government is here “to serve the people, the people don’t serve the government.” Well, that’s the way it’s supposed to be. “It’s like a jungle sometime, I’m at the front of the line. I ain’t tripping, but I stumble sometime and I get right back up.” The background to Cornell’s lyrics is tight, jazzy, and strong. My wish is that this would be heard by all Americans, “we go from the bling bling to let freedom ring.” My bet is this will be censored from all popular media sites. Because we live in a land of free speech, we cannot let people speak the truth. Shoutout for Mr Man.

Keita Young – Thinkuboutmi. The Sunday Party continues a bit more funky with Keita getting me on the dance floor and going all free-form with my arms and legs. “It ain’t about me.” Party on slystone style. Excellent.

Jeff Bradshaw - Happi Feelings. Round out the afternoon with something a bit stronger, perhaps some pina coladas to fill our glasses with this smooth jazz guitar returning the dance floor to those of us who need to slow down. Just a bit. Extra tasty instrumental, and I don’t know where you can purchase this album. I can only suggest that you keep your eye out on the Hidden Beach web site. I like seeing a label that calls its own shots, and Hidden Beach has found a way to do that, even in 2008. Nice work.

Jose Feliciano - Dancin' And Romancin'

It’s Saturday night and I’m being serenaded by the best. Jose maintains his soulful vocals and ability to make people dance without thinking. Lay out a few candles in the backyard, throw on this album, and you are no longer responsible for your actions. Dance becomes necessary. For the other half of the equation I recommend finding a more private spot, however. The guitar is hot hot hot. The brass section adds to the heat. “How was I to know the rhythm would get me?” Shoutout for the fine instrumental Baker's Thing. Jose Feliciano

Brooks & Dunn – Tequila

The organ plays, the drummer sways, then the rockin’ starts. Got my dancing shoes on & am ready to party. Been practicing these lyrics all day. “One shot, two shot, three tequila, four - cowboy bouncers ‘bout to throw me out the door.” Sound like elementary rhyme? You betcha! “Got me mumbling – that worm’s got a kick like a Tennessee mule.” You know how it is. Texas mules have better kicks, but they don’t match the syllabic necessity of shakesperian bar songs. “You’d think by now that a workin’ man would learn – you don’t go toe to toe with a little bitty worm.” This one is a goodie, lotsa fun & perfect to pull out for your Friday night partyin’. “Great big buzz in a little bitty glass.” Shoutout for Drunk On Love – “I’ve danced on the bar doing my very best cowboy ballerina”. Brooks & Dunn

Dave Gahan – Miracles

“I don’t believe in miracles. And they happen every day.” As Pete Townsend would say, I can’t explain. But I can love the music. This is a slow tune, with slow meandering synthesizers. I like the way the seeker attitude. “I want to know the truth, I really do”. But, the narrator, like most people, is afraid of losing their friends if they commit to salvation. No sweat, there’s no easy answers here, but lots of eartastable food for thought. Dave Gahan

Alex Arrowsmith - Pass By Palestine

Kinda funny. Alex put out this record, and then 7 years after forgetting about Palestine, I stuck a teeny tiny mp3 player with a built-in speaker under Bush’s pillow with this song looping on it. The President wakes up and says “wait, I don’t want to forget Palestine”. So the past few weeks Bush made some noise about Palestine for the first time in his life. Not that he’s being real about it, but at least that teeny speaker we stuck under his pillow worked on his subconscious in a very small way. Of course, it could just be true he has a very small subconscious. We know he has no conscience whatsoever. Oops, giving away state secrets when I’m supposed to be talking about music. Wonder that.

“I’ve lost all the blood flow to my heart. And on top of this, the lawn mower won’t start.” Funny the things we thing about when our blood doesn’t run smooth. “I’ve been the same since the day you married. You wanted a life so quite unburied. It’s no surprise to me that I’m dead, and on top of this the cats are overfed. And if I ever leave earth I have to remember life like this. Don’t want to forget to pass by Palestine.”

Alex has allowed me to keep my sanity for over a year now. Thanks, bud. Don’t know what I need it for, but I’m thankful to be able to tell folks that this album, which I discussed way back two months ago is finally available for your consumption. If you don’t buy a copy today, what can I say, you’re a loser. Alex’s last album was in the top 23 of 2007, and unless a bunch of really cool people suddenly become musicians, I have no problem guessing that this new album will top the list of 2008. How can I say that so early in the year? Well, listen to these shout-outs - Going Insane For The McCain Campaign & a song you BETTER NOT play while driving - High Speed Chase (I got my 3 cylinder 30 HP Geo up to 90 while listening to this)! Oh there’s more cool stuff on this album, but just in case you can’t find your credit card to order from CD baby at the moment, I’ll tell you about a few more songs on a few weeks. Keep that wallet closer to your computer, loser. If you clicked on the link below & bought your copy before reading this far, you are an excellent person.

Alex Arrowsmith

FileFactory.com

Motown Complete Singles Vol 8 (1968)

I can’t think of a better way to start off a new year than to listen to music from 40 years ago. 1968 was a banner year for music. The Moody Blues were fooling around with adding a symphony to rock and roll, psychedelia had become mainstream. Pat Paulson was running for President. And Motown was just as caught up in this madness as everyone else. The songs themselves were still fairly conservative musically and lyrically, it’ll be another year before Motown joins the political fringe; and I’m sure that was a backlash to an idiot running as vice-president who swore puff the magic dragon was a song about marijuana. That kind of idiocy drives all creative people nuts. The most risqué song on this set is Love Child. I’m seeing 1968 as the last year of innocence. There’s Gospel music (His Eye Is On The Sparrow by Marvin b/w Just A Closer Walk With Thee by Gladys) and Christmas music (Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer b/w Silent Night by the Temptations) released this year, along with instrumentals by Eivets Rednow that fooled no one because the harmonica work was so distinctive.

In every way possible 1968 was a banner year for Motown. Temptations, Four Tops, Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Supremes, Marvin & Tammi, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Night, Martha and The Vandellas, Billy Eckstein, Jr. Walker & The All Stars, Jimmy Ruffin, The Spinners and much more (does anyone remember the poweful soul of Blinky?). Even Shorty Long scored a top 40 single with Here Comes The Judge b/w Sing What You Wanna. Brings back memories of Rowan & Martin + The Smothers Brothers. Edwin Starr was still singing love songs. One of my favorite B-side song titles came out from Smokey: When The Words From Your Heart Get Caught Up In Your Throat. The radio was pleased to entertain us with Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day by Stevie.

This brilliant set contains every single released by Motown in 1968, so we hear every hit and every B side, as well as the ones that coulda made it but were squeezed out by great songs coming out of Stax and many other great labels owned by people, not conglomerates. It takes 7 hours to listen to this set straight through, but trust me – you’ll spend much more than 7 hours with it. So many songs beg for a second listen even as I’m listening. Plus, this set will stay very close to my turntable, along with its brothers and sisters listed below. Rocking soul is a sweet way to breath in any day, and in this case an entire new year.

Motown Complete Singles Vol 8 (1968)

Previous sets:
Motown Complete Singles Vol 1
Motown Complete Singles Vol 2
Motown Complete Singles Vol 3
Motown Complete Singles Vol 4
Motown Complete Singles Vol 5
Motown Complete Singles Vol 6
Motown Complete Singles Vol 7
Motown Complete Singles Vol 8