Seven Sweet Sunday Singles

Greg Copeland - Diana & James b/w The Only Wicked Thing
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
Mason Jennings - I Love You And Buddha Too b/w Fighter Girl
The Bittersweets - My Sweet Love b/w When The War Is Over
Verra Cruz - Put The Weapon Down
Fog In The Shell - Thin Line Vibrations
The Blow Monkeys - Travelin' Soul

Seven Salty Saturday Singles

Reel Big Fish - Nothin' But A Good Time
Donavon Frankenreiter - Life, Love And Laughter b/w Sing A Song
Eva Cassidy - Ain't Doin' Too Bad b/w Won't Be Long
Good Old War - Coney Island b/w Weak Man & Stay By My Side
Henry Priestman - What You Doin' With Me
Jenny Lewis - Next Messiah b/w Pretty Bird
Stereo Deluxe - Favorite Radio

Ian Gillan - One Eye To Morocco

“I don’t know where I’m going. I don’t know what I’m doing. But it feels alright.” The narrator croons with a beatlesque string quartet with the pure flavors of a psychedelic dream state. “Your lips are moving but I hear no words.” The mind is traveling and experiencing Morocco through the third eye of the soul while “sitting alone in my room waiting for no one to call”. Tastily crafted music. Shoutouts for the rock blues of Change My Ways (if we don’t get moving we’ll be roasting in hell”) and Texas State Of Mind (“ain’t this the life, sipping rum in the middle of the day out in the sun”). Ian Gillan

Ian Gillan on eartaste

Charlie Winston - Tongue Tied

Charlie gets extra points for making me laugh. The narrator is tongue-tied trying to say love words, I guess. And he rambles off in several languages, convincing me that a guy who can usually ramble on non-stop for hours is actually tongue-tied in the face of intimacy. “I got a whole lotta loving on the tip of my tongue.” Fun. Shoutouts for Generation Spent (“everybody is someone else’s opinion”) & Like A Hobo (“what would life be like without a few mistakes?”). Charlie Winston

Bell X1 - The Ribs Of A Broken Umbrella

Dancing with a short story, very cool. The beat is perfect for dancing while ordering a hump-day margarita and some chips with very hot salsa. The story is an old one presented with fresh imagery making for a delicious meal. We are introduced to a guy carrying around a photo in his pocket of an old lover he knows is somewhere, and he’s holding out the dream of meeting her again to regain their intimacy years later. In the tale he’s afraid to go to sleep, and he calms himself by tying a string to his toe while he sleeps in case she stumbles in while he’s sleeping. The string is pulled from a broken umbrella in a bin near a door, across the room to his bed, giving the title image life. When awake, his mission is to keep his mind and eye open for her. “He wondered how close he'd ever been to her in this ebb and flow of the distance between us. Maybe she got the same bus.” The narrator does not romanticize, and in fact tells us of the deep self-deception of the character when he says “if I could only make her smile, then she’d be mine.” The narrator shares a thought that the character is “bare, stripped of his skin.” Shoutouts for the slower dance beats, but just as intriguing prose of Amelia and the pure pop fun of The Great Defector. Bell X1

The rock & roll side of the dance band:

Ben Kweller - Fight

“You gotta set your sight on the Lord in your life.” Doesn’t matter if it’s 1949 or 2009, some music styles never go outta fashion. And getting the Lord involved in the nitty gritty of your life has always been the fun way to approach music, love, and gambling. Especially if you have the Lord, a truck driver, some cards and grandma in the same song. Great fun. “I'm like my grandma, short but I stand tall, playing every single card that's dealt to me. You know some days are aces and some days are faces, and some days are twos and threes.” Shoutout for the different flavors Ben and the band offer up in the gentle awareness of the inner life of a child with Hurtin’ You. Ben Kweller

Fernando Viciconte - Word From The Inside

“You can sleep, sleep, sleep. Sleep all you want. Don’t worry now, I won’t wake you up!” You gotta be kidding me! You going to sing this loud early Monday morning & not wake me up? Give me a heart attack why don’t you? A good, jolly, dance out loud screaming rock and roll heart attack of music! I love it – no better way to start the week. “I hope you don’t think that I don’t know what you’re doing!” Joker, this guy. What I was doing was sleeping till the dance started! “The word from the inside is that you fell down!” Pretty close, I jumped up, and fell outta bed. But only for a second. Was up on my feet dancing within seconds. Well, as much as you can dance without any coffee when the alarm goes off and the music starts blasting. “You can spend all my money, if you want.” No thanks, the dance is fine. “When you talk, all I hear is a whisper.” Ha! No wonder, I could shout and you couldn’t hear me past the guitars. Great fun! Even if the song is really about the “saddest girl in town.” My bet is he’s outside singing on the sidewalk to put a smile on her face. Shoutout for the polar opposite flavors of a modern take on Angel Of Death, the great Hank Williams tune. And the best news? Fernando is sharing these with his fans for no cost until the hard copies are available. Remember, tho – although no financial cost is involved, nothing is free. Be prepared to become a lifetime fan by listening to these cuts. You’ll find yourself dancing, crying, laughing, and singing along. Downloads available at: Fernando Viciconte

FileFactory.com

Many thanks to Alex Steininger for the introduction.

Teddy Pendergrass - Oh Happy Day

Easy listening gospel for a Sunday. The vocals are great, and the choirs superb. Teddy’s contribution to this CD is sublime. The brief appearance by his grandchild is comfortably distracting and keeps in mind that sharing love is truly a family experience. Teddy Pendergrass

The Oxygen Ponies - Love Yr Way

“I sold my soul for education, every day I pay the debt. My entire generation better find a tourniquet.” A reminder, but a powerful one, of what young people are facing these days when the government bails out the rich, It can only get worse, unfortunately. “I don't know why I even bother, one black sheep can't kill the herd. Now I understand why father drank and drank without a word.” The narrator reminds us that times have been rough before, and he can see is father through new eyes. Is there any hope? “I'm alive and my hearts still beating, should have stopped so long ago. I'm so tired of retreating, all this movement takes its toll.” That’s slender hope, but as the poet says, “at least my heart’s still beating.” Wait! Wait! Is there more? Can it be? Is there a person who can bring the narrator out of the depths of despair? “Then there's you Miss Sugarsunsmile, coating me in heaven's light. Almost makes it all worthwhile.” Ouch! Keyword, “almost”. But that almost speaks volumes. “I don't know how to build no palace, if I did you could be queen. You and I would raise a chalice to everyone who dared to dream! God I love your way - it brightens up my day! Will I ever say the words to make you love me?” The narrator, though still not quite reaching unconditional love in his plea, at least recognizes that love will see us though whatever financial straits the rich and the government force upon us from their lofty heights. Because there are loftier heights they will never know that we are able to experience because our love is not of money. Can I hear an amen?

The party continues with lots of great shoutouts. The Oxygen Ponies delight with Fevered Cyclone (“we live like clones in our suburban homes substituting plastic to get by”), The War Is Over (“if God made models of his best creations you'd be on display”), Harmony Handgrenade (“nothing's worse than a land where the free are enslaved”), and Grab Yr Gun (“Faith, she's the mirror I lose myself in. As the image gets clearer the struggle begins.”)

The CD won’t be out for awhile yet, but I couldn’t wait to tell you about it. It’s definitely one to add to your wish list or simply pre-order. Oxygen Ponies = rock and roll with a message of love for the world. “Grab your gun, choose your side. Let your love be your guide.” The Oxygen Ponies

FileFactory.com

Sweet Soul Music - Just Because - Enjoy!

Lisa Hannigan – Lille (Sea Sew CD)

"He went to sea for the day. He wanted to know what to say when he's asked what he'd done in the past to someone that he loved endlessly...now she's gone, and so is he..." A bit melancholy, but the beauty with which it’s presented makes this a pleasure to listen to. The song is delicious. Four short stories which resemble each other in tone and mood – for me the thought is of walking along the beach and sharing stories with four different people. The final story in this treasure trove is "We went out to play for the evening and wanted to hold on to the feeling and the stretch in the sun and the breathlessness as we run to the beach endlessly as the sun creeps up on the sea..." Delicate wordsmithing. I love admiring the poetic craftsmanship evidenced by comparing the verses.

This entire album is filled with very listenable stories, and is definitely one I would highly recommend purchasing this first solo CD by an artist who has found the perfect medium for sharing her poetry. I am shouting out the entire CD, which has been moved to my stack of best CDs of 1009 so far. I plan to listen to it a lot. It has helped solidify my spring break plans. Though I prefer the rocky beaches of the Big Sur area, I will more likely end up at the gulf of Mexico in the next few weeks just so I can play this on my headphones while walking on the shore. Lisa Hannigan

Michael Zapruder – Ads For Feelings

“Couldn’t sleep. I was watching the night throwing little pebbles at the back of my head.” Little vignettes of life, short stories really, put to music. Written in an existential stream-of-consciousness manner, it’s fascinating to peek into the minds of the various storytellers. The narrators of these anecdotes are people who populate upper class drama and share details we mere mortals would never be privy to were it not for the occasional rebel willing to share the lurid details. The marvelous thing is Michael brings some fun music along to develop the tension in the tales. From light acoustic operettas to full blown psychedelia, he finds sounds that add perfect spices to the words. Shoutouts for the worlds of Black Wine (“there were half-hearted gestures like really weak tea, they intensified the chips and the dip”), Happy New Year (“I felt like a small, mistreated pet”), Harbor Saints (“may the tango of your footsteps lead you where you feel at home”), Bang On A Drum (“it’s hard to make paradise, killing people is good business, it’s just a drag”), and Second Sunday In Ordinary Time (“the hot suits and the fashion crimes, it’s you and me somehow”). Michael Zapruder

Raquel Bitton - Toda una Vida

”Toda una vida estaría contigo. No me importa en que forma ni como ni donde, pero junto a ti.” Bolero is pure romantic dance, and was fairly popular in the 50’s and 60’s. Popular enough that the Beatles even made a few boleros, as well as rhumbas and cha-cha-chas. This song is especially romantic for a Wednesday break from the working week because of the fantastic back-up band, especially the guitar player who enhances the romance in Raquel’s voice. The guitar work is by Ramon Stagnaro of Peru, with a shoutout to Rebeca Mauleón, with the lightest of flourishes on piano keeping the erotic flame burning here on earth rather than traveling through the stars. The CD pays tribute to several Bolero writers, and the composer being focused on in this cut is Osvaldo Farrés, native of Cuba. Beautiful. Raquel Bitton

Rebeca Mauleón on KQED TV

The Nocturnal Flowers - Waterfall

So many official releases sound like demos nowadays that it’s refreshing to receive a CD clearly marked as a demo. I’m writing about this set because of the innocence so proudly on display, and because when these guys fine-tune their music and release it officially I’m betting some of the innocence will disappear from the performances. On this cut an acoustic guitar is soon met by a violin to introduce a narrator mournfully describing his thoughts on love. “I used to be in love like you, like a waterfall disappearing into nowhere.” He’s joined by a chorale of angels describing the waterfall “so high”. Shoutouts for When I Believed In You (“it’s really no great surprise that the look on your face is just a disguise”), and Why Don’t You Tell Me (“rain will was away those memories – secrets in my heart”). A copy of the demo is available to purchase. Contact the band at their MySpace page: The Nocturnal Flowers.

Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown

The poetry is fully American. This could have been from the pen (blog?) of Walt Whitman were he alive today: “I am a nation, a worker, a pawn - my debt to the status quo. The scars on my hands are a means to an end, it's all that I have to show.” The musical composition starts with an acoustic piano soon joined by a drummer, until a wall of guitars blasts me out of bed and say shout wake up! It’s a new week! The promise of a new world is still reverberating in the air, though quickly diminishing. “My generation is zero. I never made it as a working class hero.” It’s hard to even think back a few generations ago when people could actually work at a job long enough to retire and be working class. That position in society is no longer there, it’s difficult to find a business that’s been around 30 years, much less a job position that will be around that long. And to be honest, I’m glad I don’t have to live long enough to deal with the bills and horrible pain that today’s deficit spending will create. I feel really bad for my children and grandchildren – and hate the fact that my fellow boomers, who used to be peace loving hippies, want everything NOW – bail out the rich and give them future taxes NOW so they can keep their bonuses at $500,000 a year and dribble pennies ($65 a month according to Obama) to keep the poor ‘pleased’ with the fact that we’re robbing the future to enjoy ourselves today. “I once was lost but never was found.” Optimistic pessimism reigns. “From Mexico to the Berlin wall – homeland security can kill us all.” Symbols, yes; but relevant ones. The military industrial complex uses crisis and threats of crisis to keep the wars moving on. I’ve been alive 54 years, and realized when Obama announced he’s changed his mind about bringing the troops home (well, to be honest, he’s saying that he never really said that), that there has never been one day since I’ve been alive that my country has not been at war somewhere in the world, declared or not. In truth, since I’ve been alive Congress has never declared war. It’s always the “commander in chief” who does it Clearly against our constitution, which means it’s clearly illegal. And all the artists can do is declare their angst loudly. Keep at it Green Day. Maybe we can’t change the path the military has chosen for us. But we can keep on rocking and rolling and shouting along with you. “I think I'm losing what's left of my mind” Thanks! PS I love the break. Bring on the revolution of being able to think critically, even if you must express it ironically! “Oh dream, American dream, I can't even see the rainstorms 'til dawn. Oh bleed, America bleed, believe what you read from heroes and cons.” Green Day

Jordi Savall - Jerusalem: City Of Two Peaces (CD)

Two and a half hours of bliss. Travel through the history of the musics presented by Jordi Savall. The journey is the length of a good religious service. As I listened today, many thoughts went through my head, as usual; but the one that stood out is exemplified by the irony (at least in English) of the two peaces (two pieces) of Jerusalem. Jordi has focused on the literal meaning of the literal peace of the heavenly Jerusalem and peace of the earthly Jerusalem. That doesn’t stop my wandering mind, and I started wondering what if every religious person around the world sat and listened to this instead of a hate sermon – all on the same week? With millions of minds focused on peace instead of hate, can you just imagine what would happen? Neither can I, but we must dream, and we must dream that our dreams can become reality. I don’t think there’s an individual Jew, Christian, or Muslim who seriously want to destroy the earthly city of Jerusalem. It’s when they go into their separate church buildings, mosques and temples that the religious people begin hating each other. Without doubt they are all looking forward to the ‘heavenly’ city of Jerusalem, so it doesn’t take much imagination to envision them loving each other here on earth. Thanks Jordi! Jordi Savall

Another beautiful presentation with Jordi featuring Rolf Lislevand. Arianna Savall, & Pedro Estevan:

Saturday Night Singles Party

Jim Suhler – Poor Lightnin’ b/w I Could’ve Had Religion & Deep Water Lullaby
Brenda Boykin – Freedom b/w Moaning & Rockabye Me
Cotton Jones – Up A Tree b/w Gotta Cheer Up & Blood Red Sentimental Blues
Emmy The Great – First Love b/w City Song
Joe Bonamassa - Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter
The Soul Of John Black - Black John b/w Thinking About You
Miranda Lee Richards - Dandelion b/w When We Go Walkin'
Squares On Both Sides - Pripyat
Sad Day For Puppets - When The Morning Comes b/w Shiny Teeth And Sharpened Claws
Jim Suhler –The Devil In Me b/w Sunday Drunk & Chaos In Texas

U2 - Magnificent Preview on Rooftop (video)

Shoutouts for Magnificent, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight, White As Snow and Breathe.preorder U2’s new album

See also: U2 on Eartaste

Get On Your Boots



Magnificent

Thirsty Thursday Singles

Elvis Perkins – Shampoo b/w Hey You
M. Ward - Rave On b/w Oh Lonesome Me
Eleni Mandell – Don't Let It Happen b/w In The Doorway
Laura Gibson – Sweet Deception
Gutbucket - A Little Anarchy Never Hurt Everyone b/w Lucy Ferment
Jo Mango – Tea Lights
Justin Townes Earle - Midnight At The Movies b/w Mama’s Eyes
Chris Isaak - We Lost Our Way b/w I Lose My Heart
Dan Auerbach - Real Desire b/w When The Night Comes & Goin’ Home
The Joy Formidable - Whirring

Wicked Wednesday Singles

Dan Auerbach - Mean Monsoon b/w My Last Mistake & When I Left The Room
Chris Isaak - Cheater's Town b/w Baby Baby
M. Ward – Jailbird b/w Epistemology & Blake's View
Eleni Mandell – Artificial Fire
Schuyler Fisk – Hello b/w Miss You & You're Only Lonely
Brenda Boykin – Be My Lover b/w Ride Rich Rhythm & Chocolate and Chili
Camille - Home Is Where It Hurts
Emmy The Great – 24 b/w History Of Britain

Tasty Tuesday Singles

Elvis Perkins - I Heard Your Voice In Dresden b/w Doomsday
Dan Auerbach - Trouble Weighs A Ton b/w Whispered Words & Street Walkin’
Chris Isaak - Mr. Lonely Man b/w Very Pretty Girl
Bat For Lashes – Sleep Alone b/w Two Planets
Neko Case - People Got A Lotta Nerve b/w Fever & Don’t Forget Me
M. Ward - Never Had Nobody Like You b/w Fisher Of Men
Eleni Mandell – Personal b/w Needle And Thread
Jenny Wilson - Like A Fading Rainbow b/w Wooden Chair, Only Here For The Fight & String Of Grass
The Guystorm - Count On Us b/w Heart Of Grass

Single Minded Monday

The Lodger - Good Old Days
Magnet - Lay Lady Lay
The Idle Hands - Loaded
The Color Bars - Id Incinerator
Rosabella Gregory - Elodie
Kelsey Brown - I'm A Creep And I'm Proud
Rachael Yamagata - Accident b/w Pause the Tragic Ending
Her Space Holiday - I'll Believe In Anything
Robyn Hitchcock - Saturday Groovers b/w Hurry For The Sky & Up To Our Necks

JJ Cale – Who Knew?

The jazz bassist excites the way this album begins. JJ Cale is best known for his guitar skills, but here we get to focus on his writing skills. “Who knew our life would be so complicated? Who knew that we would be so automated? No time to think! On the brink! Who knew?” Good questions to contemplate and try to understand. Technology has automated most of my life, yet I’m busier than ever. Go figger. Trying to figure out ways to simplify even more has become more stressful than simply accepting it, but it is strange when I take time to think about it. But, like the man says, no time to think, we’re on the brink. I love the way he puts it because a brink can go two ways – we’re either on the brink of disaster, or the brink of a revolution. Of course, we won’t know till we’re on the other side, but these can be looked at as exciting days. “Be ready to fabricate and navigate your personal fate.” LOL! Great line that could mean many things, but to me he’s saying – be ready for a job change soon. And yes, the guitar does sneak in some tasty licks. Shoutouts for Strange Days (“there is no meaning”), Fondalina (“it’s a story as old as Jesus, Fondalina has a void to fill”), and Roll On (coulda been called Rock and Roll On – lots of tasty guitar duels & jerry lee piano licks). JJ Cale

Broken Kites – Wall Of Impossibilities

Ambience music. Mood music. Meditation music. Take your pick. Today I am enjoying the Alps, Nels Cline and Broken Kites.

Wall of Impossibilities is a soundtrack of travel into some of the unknown recesses in my mind. I feel I am looking through a wall of water at a dream of people not at peace, but moving slowly, exaggerating their power of destruction. Revised Euth clarifies the picture a bit, with percussion focusing my thoughts on the movements. The wall is moving faster, and the people behind the vision are involved more in a dance than a fight. They travel around each other fluidly, without falling. They slowly get taller and taller and are reaching up toward the sun for strength. Techtonics moves the people away from each other as they reach toward each other. The plane I am observing the action from is also moving, backwards. We drift away and the seas begin moving our small islands up and down so I see one set peaking then receding while another set reaches up. We start swirling, and come closer, crossing, almost able to reach each other through a mist of a waterfall. Still silent. Not quiet, but silent inside. A beautiful ride. The questions remain but no longer have meaning. Meaning is not necessary. This album is the instrumental landscape called Flight School, and is available from both the net labelHollowscene and from the band website Broken Kites. Individual tracks are available at AmieStreet.com.

Brokenkites on eartaste.com

Broken Kites – Resonator:

The Alps – Morning Light

A guitar gently breaks into my thoughts and fastens itself onto my steady unhurried heartbeat. I am pulled toward thoughts of clouds drifting on the horizon first grey, then orange, then blood red. Slowly slowly pink then white visions of new breaths over the cabin almost warming the atmosphere. Big Sur continues the journey, with the guitars strumming the tops of the pines before gliding down toward the rocks being performed by the ocean. The fog comes in with siren voices in Night Whispers and the cool ocean breezes call for heavy jackets and a fire on the shore. I turn back toward the path to the cabin and light the Heathen Candle that completes my mediation with a peaceful thought. The Alps

Nels Cline – The Liberator

Nels breaks into my reveries and wakes up every neuron in my mind with the reminder that life continues to pound in on me from all sides and it’s my purpose to recognize that every moment has the intention to awaken my senses. It’s so easy to fall into a trance of absolute peace and forget. Thankfully Nels allows that ease to return with the spiritual wisdom of Cymbidium and the incense of Prayer Wheel. Nels Cline

Putumayo Presents India

India has many flavors of music, and we are often treated to the frantic side of Bollywood flavors here in the US. Putumayo has decided to focus on the jazzier and smoother side of music from India on this release, and have even used a food metaphor themselves to discuss this collection. “A captivating musical masala.” Like many of Putumayo’s collections, this one includes a recipe for a scrumptious pilaf that I made while listening to the CD several times. The entire CD is engaging, with special shoutouts for Bombay Jayashris, Sanjay Divecha, Kailash Kher, and Deepak Ram. The poetry adds a full dessert to this party. I love this, from Naino Sey: “She speaks to me. Teases. Then hugs and languorously sighs. All this with her eyes.”

Many thanks to Kaveh Sarfehjooy for continuing to share the world of Putumayo with the eartaste family of readers. Putumayo Presents India

Putumayo on Eartaste

The video is by Niraj Chag, featuring Swati Natekar on vocals. The lyrics sing "Is my essence just a delusion? How long to I submit to a night where dreams are shattered, and mine forsake me?"

Rosemary's Garden - Flower Song

The guitar opens full chord and dreams up a very cool life philosophy; “don’t wait till the flowers die before you put one in your hair.” It’s so easy to neglect the little things around s, because even the school yards will sport signs that say ‘don’t walk on the grass’. Only a little bit off the subject is my favorite thing to hate – school playgrounds that say: ‘no children after school hours.’ Like whose tax money paid for the playgrounds? My personal belief is every public school should be open 24/7, and when students are not there the adults in the community could be using the classrooms for instruction of all sort, while their children played. Nuff soapbox, back to the music. “Time won’t wait for anyone, so you better be prepared.” Want a bit of true religion? How ‘bout “imagination is creation, so love thy neighbor as thyself.” Slow rock and roll. Shoutouts for the coming of age song about a 13 year old in the American world, Forever Lily (“don’t ever change, we like you that way”), and Hard Times (“use oil from a planty instead of oil from a fossil - there’d be no use in fighting”). Thanks to Laura Hamlett at Big Fat Cat for introducing us. Rosemary's Garden

FileFactory.com

India Arie - Better Way

On the surface this song is about New Orleans, but in reality it goes so much deeper. We’ve had a president who was elected on the power of hope who has managed to break every promise he made to us in the space of a month. Sure, he limited a few rich people to a bonus of $500,000 a year. Doesn’t seem to compute to the rest of us who elected him on the promise of a better way. Good song with a great beat, perfect for a hump day dance party. Shoutouts for River Rise (“I would sit for hours and listen to the sky”), and Beautiful Day (“I’m gonna do my part and make this a positively beautiful day”). India Arie

Ryebender - I Was Wrong

A tale of sad discovery, built up slowly as we discover along with the narrator a story of what happens when we don’t listen to each other. And when we wait too long to apologize. A story of the ages, giving voice to millions of heartaches. What makes this different? The rocking guitars and vocal harmonies on the chorus. These guys know how to take the mundane parts of life and bring them to a point where we’re willing to listen to them over and over. The shoutout Whiskey and Caffeine introduces us to “another barroom disaster.” This story includes a scene where “I watch the TV with the curtains drawn, and I’ll hide from the sun till it sinks from the sky.” Again, daily life placed against a canvas of music. Another shoutout, Your Time Has Come And Gone tells me to “shut your mouth and bite your tongue.” Good advice. Great fun to listen to. Many thanks to Maria DeFelice of Powderfinger for introducing Ryebender to Eartaste. Ryebender

FileFactory.com

Johnny Bennett - World On Fire

The rock breaks into this Monday morning. “You speak your mind and you’ll end up dead!” Sling that slide guitar across your shoulders and Bash those drums and thump that bass – we’re tasting some blues in our rock this morning! “Rich man spilling the poor man’s blood.” Yep, bail out the old greedy banks and let the young fight the wars. Great way to start the week – gives me just enough anger to want to teach the young to think for themselves and not toe the party line. Special thanks to Jeffrey Smith at Crash Avenue. Johnny Bennett

FileFactory.com

U2 – No Line On The Horizon 2

"I know a girl who's like the sea. I watch her changing every day for me." Clever line, but what it has to do with the chorus is anyone's guess. I'm thinking it means either that love has no borders, or his new girlfriend has no tan lines. Or maybe both? Good Monday morning up-beat rocker. Lyrics may have meaning, may not. They're not in this to make us think. 2nd rockin' single from U2 in a row, a bit more upbeat than the album version. The single is available from Amazon UK. Shoutouts for Stand Up Comedy & Cedars Of Lebanon. U2

See Get On Your Boots.

Live a month ago:

Mike Moreno - Gondola

I chose this tune to talk about off this fine jazz album because I could feel the gondola riding along the rivers of my mind without much effort at all. The percussionist evokes the sounds of soft waves. The composition is a perfect soundscape that fills me with intense dream-filled pleasure. I am floating on the seas of emotion with the musicians parting the waters. The dreams take on a different rhythm and strength in the shoutout Between The Lines. Mike’s name is here as the session leader and major composer, butrest assured this is a jazz album where each participant is allowed to stretch. Mike’s guitar shines, to be sure, but all the group members have equal say in this party. The saxophones are played by John Ellis and Marcus Strickland, the piano by Aaron Parks, Doug Weiss on acoustic bass, and Kendrick Scott on percussion. Beautiful early Sunday evening travels to netherworlds. Thanks Mike! Mike Moreno


More from Mike Moreno on Eartaste.

Madeleine Peyroux – River Of Tears

“Stop all this talk.” Sunday afternoon drifting. “Open up another bottle, send those people home. Let it get real quiet, turn that lamp down low. I want to flow down this river of tears.” Drifting through memories. Dreams. “Close the blinds, mute the sun, there’s no place left to run.” Pains. “Dashed hopes and best intentions.” And, in case you thought the spiritual dimension was missing, Madeleine graciously informs us “he could sit and drink the way a monk could pray.” I have very much enjoyed the ride, and can say for certain that I will return to this path many many times in my life. “Watch me rage down this river of tears.” Delicious. Shoutout for To Love You All Over Again (“an empty glass, an unmade bed”). Madeleine Peyroux

Gretchen Peters - If I Had a Gun

“If I had a gun you’d be dead. One to the heart, one to the head. If I had a gun I’d wipe it clean, my fingerprints off on these sheets. They’d bury you in the cold hard ground, fist full of dirt would hold you down. They’d bury you in the cold hard ground, it’d be the first night I sleep sound.” Powerful words. The presentation is as serious as the content, and beautifully presented. Hard to imagine dancing to, but a lot of women will love singing along with Gretchen. “No one will cry. No one will mourn the day you died.” Shoutouts for Prairie In The Sky (“I carry all I own in the pouches of my saddlebag”), and Guadalupe (“there are ghosts out in the rain tonight”). Gretchen Peters

Tom Russell’s demo of Guadalupe:

Christine Ledoux - Honey'd Out

“Your love’s like too much sugar! Too much sugar for me to eat. Nothing wrong with a little sugar, but too much sugar’s too damn sweet.” A day after Valentine’s party song, great fun. “Nothing wrong with a little candy, but too much candy make you sick.” Shoutout for the walkin’ song Wandering (“hang out all day with my mother, sit around with my good friends.”) Christine Ledoux

Ben Lee – Surrender / I Love Pop Music

“I can’t promise much at all, but when you call me I’ll be there.” Surrender is a joyful call and response pop tune for Valentine’s Day. The band and sing-a-long mates bring the party atmosphere alive and help Ben express the truths of love in an honest relation. I Love Pop Music is a fun way to express the power of words and music melded into our neurons. “Politics you can romance to. . .Philosophy that you can dance to.” Shoutouts for Yoko Ono (“it’s not an easy job to be the one who says yes when the whole world always says no”), and Song For The Divine Mother Of The Universe (“your love is everything”). A really fun cover of ‘Ben Lee’ from the movie That Darn Punk is included for a great giggle. Ben does manage to return to a romantic mood for Valentine’s Day with a beautiful cover of Throw Your Arms Around Me. Blue Denim is, quite simply, vocal humor.Ben Lee

The original version by Hunters And Collectors:


The original version by The Ataris:


The original version by John Lennon (explained):


The original version by Ben Lee:

Ruthie Foster - Truth

Ouch! The guitar reaches to my depths and pulls me up to move. “Truth ain’t hard to find, you know truth is hidden down inside.” Ruthie sings it, but Jesus said it (“the kingdom of god is within”). And Ruthie sings this gospel truth with a power that raises the roof and pulls the heavens down into the depths of my reality. Robben Ford’s guitar work adds spices that fill my ears with flavors meant to perfectly enhance the experience. Powerful song. This entire album is worth picking up, but I will shoutout two songs here that show off the versatility of Ruthie’s powerful vocal artistries: Love In The Middle and Joy On The Other Side. Ruthie Foster

Marvin Gaye - Free Download for Valentine's Day

Ruthie Foster – Stone Love

A gospel soul filled Thursday is empowered b the band Ruthie put together, complete with horns and backup singers filling my ears with a precious stax experience. “You see, your worries, they’ll be alright.” Amen. The stax party continues with Thanks For The Joy, which is sure to be a live crowd pleaser; but works well for me as I prepare my thoughts for Valentine’s Day. “I forgot to give thanks for the joy of living my life with you!” The song works beautifully on two levels, an artist singing to her audience, and a lover singing to their loved one. Excellent deep south home cooking by the band! Thanks for the joy you’ve filled me with this evening! Ruthie Foster

Solo acoustic at the CD release party:

Maus Haus – Rigid Breakfast

Fun dance tune for Wednesday hump day. “People here are so lazy, they stay inside and watch shows.” The cure? Dance. Maus Haus manages to create three different rhythms to dance to in 3 minutes. A good workout to clear the strawberry margarita toxins from the blood. A decent swirl of emotional highs. Shoutouts for the fast dance Reaction (“I don’t need a cat, I don’t need a dog, I need a reaction”) and cool down dance We Used Technology But Technology Let Us Down (“everything seems to disappear lately without you”). Cool shoutout to Charlie Parker when the music is played loud. Maus Haus

Chat - Harmony

Sneaking around the corner of the dance floor Chat is quite willing to tingle our ears with wild French stories about life. The piano travels through the songs with an abandon that is usually reserved for rock and roll, but works with joy on this quirky pop album. The piano and vocals are equal in their ability to fill my ears with special flavors of love. Shoutouts for Mon Corps & It’s So Cold. Chat

Steve Martin - Pitkin County Turnaround b/w Hoedown At Alice's

I used to watch this guy with the banjo and arrow through his head and be amzed at the licks he threw out at random, but never finished. I looked around helplessly for an album of him simply playing without being silly because I was impressed with his technique. I’m not sure, what it this? Something like 37 years later? I remember a member of one of the early bands I was with doing a Steve Martin impression, so it must have been 72 or 73 when the arrow through his head was his schtick. Someone will know. Anyway, I finally found the album! And it’s filled with songs that Steve wrote himself, and produced by Jim McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band). Sounds – well, it sounds like old-time banjo picking. But his banjo chops are great, and the production is such that it doesn’t matter if the CD was released in 1955 or 2009, it’s great fun to listen to. Thanks Steve! You have made my day brighter. Steve Martin

Title tune of album (Crow):


Playing banjo back in the Arrow Through The Head era:

Vince Bell

This will be an exciting year for us Vince Bell fans. His autobiography is being published in April, and a new CD, possibly a double CD set is being released this year. If you get a chance, tho, he has put together a live show that is actually a one-man play. For sure he has two performances in Houston coming up April 24 & 25 to celebrate the release of his newest book, One Man's Music: The Life And Times of Texas Songwriter Vince Bell. Vince's Myspace page will let you know exactly where and what times, and also if any more shows will be added. In the meantime he is sharing this video to help us all mentally prepare to be moved by an entire evening in his company. Thanks to Kevin Avery for keeping us updated!


Vince Bell in One Man's Music from Jim Barham on Vimeo.

Astronauts Of Antiquity - Soup Du Jour

“A peaceful moment”. A slow dance for Monday. I have to do something different once in awhile. I usually start of my week with a loud blasting rock tune. This week I’m starting off a bit jazzy, but wow, so many flavors in this stew. “I’m so hungry.” Banjos, hip-hop, jazz percussion, sexy voices, a satisfying meal of mixed genres and dances. “Resilient like a seedling growing in concrete.” Starting off the week with deliberate slow movements made for a different day. It actually slid by really fast, and I haven’t had time to contemplate the effect. Of course the true effect will not be known till Friday – will this different approach toward the week end wonderfully? “Waiting for an epiphany swirling up from a driftin’ sea of sighs.” I’m guessing yes – today is still a blur, but no trauma. Getting out of my comfort zone has left me guessing. I usually reserve this type of dance for humpday or Saturday night, so I had a sorta party mood all day. Those I interacted with seemed to pick up on it. I won’t do this a lot, obviously, but it is good to force oneself into a new space from time to time. Shoutout for Strangest Places (“I first saw you in a red room. You wore a patch that was a Coltrane tune”). Stream of consciousness jazz – very cool. Astronauts Of Antiquity

FileFactory.com

Tom Rush - Too Many Memories

”Once a future so bright seems distant and cold.” It’s good to hear Tom’s voice again. He picked up a song from 15 years ago and has brought it back to mind with a powerful performance aided by Emmylou Harris. The funny thing about this song is how I used to listen to it thinking about how old I was. Ha! Here we are 15 years later still feeling younger than I ever was and able to lie better than I ever did. Well, most people seem to believe me when they ask 'how ya doing' and I say 'fine'. “The shadows grow long and your eyes look so old when there’s too many memories for one heart to hold.” Incredibly tasty. Tom Rush

FileFactory.com

Henry Priestman - Old

“I tried to run a mile today. I maybe should have walked. My head had the ambition, but my body was all talk. While I’m trying to make some sense of it, the laughter takes a hold, I’m the same age that my father was when I first thought he was old.” Henry has the ability to take the mundane, like growing old, and make it fun. I still remember my dad telling me 20 years ago, “don’t grow old.” Last year he died. 20 years of pain. Well, like Henry, I’ve reached the age when my dad first said that, and boy can I feel it. The presentation is like a friend stopping by for a few beers and playing his latest songs on guitar, down-home & friendly.

I also love It’s Called A Heart, a wonderful observation of how those who run businesses treat their employees and the rest of the world. “They say the bosses’ bosses’ bosses are worried about the shares. There’s no traction in the market, and it’s kicking off upstairs. Let’s get keener, let’s get leaner, let’s get meaner from today. We can buy up all the little guys and push them out the way.”

He’s Not Good Enough For You could be taken on several levels – an ex-husband singing to an ex-wife, or a dad singing to a daughter. “The thing that’s really frightening is I think I was just like him, and it hurts.” Ouch. Self-reflection always hurts. So does the recognition that all people are really the same beneath the façade.

The album is called The Chronicles Of Modern Life, and Henry takes a keen, lean, mean look at the substance we call life. Henry Priestman

Jerks of Grass - Frank's Reel b/w Twin Peaks

It’s always a joy to hear folks who play well together, and this expedition into Irish flavored bluegrass is a dessert worth enjoying. Like Beethoven and Mozart the players take a short theme and play variations on it, and like modern composers they throw different titles on them instead of the old way of simply saying “variation”. These folks have a fun way of dealing with it, though. Frank’s Reel becomes Twin Peaks – the twin is close, but there’s enough of a different that they are discernibly different personalities. I couldn’t pick a favorite, so both are shouted out here as equals. They sound amazing played back-to-back, as Frank grows into his twin. Jerks of Grass

Van Morrison – Astral Weeks Live (CD)

Look at the smile on Van’s face. Same one is on mine. It’s always intriguing, but usually useless to try to imagine the work of an artist performed live 40 years after you first heard it. No longer. This is not an “oldies” show. Nor is it a “copy note for note” show (not that Van Morrison has ever done that in his life). This is the real jazz/soul thing. Full of 40 years of life and love. I’m flattered, because my personal dream has been fulfilled. And, even better, the blurb at vanmorrison.com promises a live DVD of the show is in the works and will also be available soon. This album was given to me for my birthday some 40 years ago by a fellow budding songwriter, Sam. For the next week or so I’ll be caught up on Cypress Avenue again. It is great fun being in heaven, and I plan to relish the moment over and over. Thanks! Van Morrison

Shemekia Copeland - Sounds Like The Devil

“A bunch of real smooth talkers got people under their spell. If that’s what it takes to get to heaven, somebody save me a cool spot in hell!” Blues for Friday night dance. Shemekia takes them all on – politicians who say they talk to God, preachers who sell salvation for $$$ with a toll-free phone number, and anyone who has anything to sell that reeks of false spirituality. Even the local burial salesman has a place to sell for our final resting place. “I can’t even afford to die.” It’s easy for anyone with the least bit of honesty to identify with the words of Shemekia, but the reason she’s featured on eartaste tonight is the absolutely tasty music her bandmates have embellished her excellent voice with. Great combination. Shoutouts for Dirty Water, Never Going Back To Memphis, and Black Crow. Shemekia Copeland

Melinda Doolittle - Fundamental Things

“I’ll whisper Bible quotes and you can read my lips.” Soul-funk dancing with thought provoking lyrics – a perfect way to join the Friday night party! “You can sit in your room and worry, you can contemplate the end. Well, if your house burns down behind you, run with me through the streets again.” The power of this song is Melinda’s call to ‘get back’ to the most ‘elemental’ thing we have – living life to its fullest! And, while doing that you might as well dance along. A very cool rock & roll version of the classic Dust My Broom makes for a shoutout extraordinaire! “I believe my time ain’t long!” Superb soul-filled flavors with a life-affirming performance! Thanks! Melinda Doolittle

Six Singles

Natty - Badman
The Blakes - Vampire
The Levellers - The Cholerawell
Sam Phillips - Can't Come Down b/w Little Plastic Life
Little Jackie - The Stoop b/w 28 Butts & One Love
Leona Naess - Swing Gently b/w When Sharks Attack

Lily Allen - 22

“When she was 22 her future looked bright. She’s nearly 30 now and she’s out every night. I see that look in her face, she’s got that look in her eye. She’s thinking ‘how did get here’ and wondering why?” A hump-day dance with lyrics to contemplate. Or not. A glass filled with daiquiris will let me dance without thinking about how “society says her life is already over.” Lily has a poppy way of letting us know it’ll all be alright. Society be damned. Let’s get on with the dance! We’re really 22 forever in our head anyway! Shoutout for the wonderful composition that starts out with a musical quote from the Carpenter’s (“so you say it’s not okay to be gay. Well I think you’re just evil.”) More humpday shoutouts include Who’d Have Known and Him – a really fun and thoughtful song about God (“I can’t imagine he’s ever been suicidal. His favorite band is Creedence Clearwater Revival”). Lily Allen

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - Going Up The Country

Teenage sisters from North London are willing to tackle old country blues? With a passion. All for one and one for fun! “No use in me runnin’!” Rock and roll with a youthful attitude – with harmonica treats! Worth seeking out. Kitty, Daisy & Lewis

Willie Nelson – Willie and the Wheel (CD)

Texas rules! There’s no way to pull one of these songs off the CD and praise it – every song has its place in the mix, and gives a taste of the fine musicianship of Asleep at the Wheel. I know this entire CD will be sitting right next to my player for months to come. It’ll be like a glass of wine to share with family, friends and neighbors, and those times I need some company with myself. The mix of Willie with the band is a perfect fit. Sounds like they’ve been working together for 50 years. Lots of room for instrumental virtuosity to shine forth. The only thing that would improve this would be some harmony from Don Walser. As much as I love the concept, it is funny that my absolute favorite is an instrumental called South. It’s heartwarming to know that everyone has enough self-confidence to allow this moment. It's also kind of gratifying to know both my mom & dad would have loved this generation transcending album. Willie Nelson with Asleep at the Wheel

Vetiver – Rolling Sea

The guitar is playing lovingly like it’s out in my back yard. “Wouldn’t you like to be out on the rolling sea?” I’m a landlubber, but the invitation is appealing, especially with the promise that my “friends are there.” I’d be willing to try it once on a Sunday afternoon, maybe with some crackers, beer, and a few fishing poles. The song takes it’s time to develop, lazily warming up to make a few points about lifestyles and habits we seem to develop that are out-of-synch with our psyches. “Whenever we make plans you tell me you’re a busy man.” The playing brings down my heartbeat, and calls out for a slow dance on the bay. The production is done in a loving manner, sounding very much like some friends jamming in the living room, with the lead guitarists amplifier placed in the bathroom so it doesn’t interfere with the acoustic flavors. Sweet. Shoutout for the rockier love smiles of Everyday (“everyday I’m away from you shakes me up inside”). Vetiver

Balmorhea - Remembrance

I love this set. Take a group of people from Texas. Give one a guitar, one a banjo, one a stand-up bass, another a fiddle, and add some percussion. You already know what it’s going to sound like. Think again. I’m not sure if there’s a genre for what we have here, besides beautiful. It’s not really jazz, because there’s not really improvisation involved. Some might call it classical, because it’s composed. Perhaps, I might even buy that, except most people have when they hear the word ‘classical’ already have pre-conceived notions. If forced to categorize, I would say Rock and Roll, for the reason that Pink Floyd is often categorized as Rock and Roll.

Remembrance has a special feeling of digging into my memory and allowing me to experience past feelings and thoughts again. My main modus operandi is to always look ahead, but I appreciate looking back from time to time and seeing where I’ve been and analyzing how I came to be where I am today. Balmorhea allowed me to experience that. Reason enough to pick up the album. A shoutout for a faster, but just as beautiful composition, Elegy.

I haven’t gotten permission to stream the songs, but the band has made a live video from KUT available, so you will get to experience some of what the album is like. Give it a chance. The vocals are a bit more subdued on the album, but listen in and you’ll get a very good taste of the spirit these folks evoke. Balmorhea

Boney James – Send One Your Love b/w I’ll Be Good To You

Soft, romantic saxophone released just in time for Valentine’s day. Candlelight, dinner, some wine . . . music in the background setting a mood much like a warm fireplace. We all need a few peaceful albums like this in our collection. Boney James