Dan Craig – Afterglow

“Taken less for-granted, you’re a knot that’s worth untying, you are featureless but flying, you are whole among the pieces, you are one.” Spiritual meanderings for my Sunday afternoon. The music is pretty much an acoustic flavored meal with just enough beat to keep these ears tuned in to the message Dan’s sharing. “You’re not alone. Sometimes I don’t believe it either, but it’s been shown that it’s the hurt that makes the healer feel like home.” Definitely thought-provoking. Dan’s voice has the ability to make me feel at home and glad to be listening. “Flying back, but slowly, there’s an ardor to your armor, holy rain you thought you’d die for. Through the cracks I see the hope of afterglow.”

The shout-out tune, Cherry Moon, is an intriguing look at those who protest, presented as a character named Pamela. While I disagree completely with Dan’s assessment that only middle class folks who want to rule protest (let’s face it, the huge underclass would protest of they had enough time in their day – but with both mom and dad working two jobs just to make ends meet, it’s tough to muster up the energy needed to even think about what has put them in this position), I do respect the way he’s able to put the thoughts of a capitalist into poetry and song; plus I always remember the songwriter may be describing the thoughts of another character. Also, I happen to agree about the fruitlessness because there’s truth in this: “This machine doesn’t mind your rage/You know you’re just a snake in a cage.” I feel that way a lot. I love these lines also: “There’s a cherry-flavored moon that’s out tonight, so I guess we’re alright.”

Dan Craig

Porsche Smith – Bebop

“Feeling good tonight down in my soul.” Yep, and the music certainly doesn’t hurt this feeling. Funk, complete with horns. Good tasting, wonderfully flowing dance around the spaces in my head and the entire living room at the same time. The vocals are just as exciting as the music, complete with scatting deep deep down in my soul. “You gotta be-bop.” Although everything has absolutely marvelous flavors, my favorite part of this cut is that Porsche allows the musicians to stretch a bit. Shoutout for Crazy – a truthful prayer.

A very special shoutout for Neglected, a slow burner that had me thinking of my own relationships with my children. “Daddy, if I passed away would you know who I was?” What are their dreams, their plans, their ambitions? Do I truly know? And, when do I ask? Thanks, Porsche, for pulling these thoughts out into my consciousness. Porsche Smith

Putumayo Presents – Israel

I am extremely impressed. A compilation named Israel could go wrong on so many levels – think about it. This one doesn’t. While not the high-energy dance music that Putumayo often compiles, this is still dance music. And while one would expect many traditional sounds from Israel, Putumayo wisely chose to include that only as relevant to 2007.

If you look at Israel on a map, it is a hinge on the Mediterranean between Africa and Europe, with lots and lots of Mediterranean sea splashing up on its shoreline. Even though I have never personally been to Israel, I would expect its popular music to reflect all these truths, not the Hollywood flavors one usually hears when the term Israel pops up in entertainment circles in the US.

So we are filled with the ear-pleasuring flavors of Persia, Africa, Turkey, Europe, a bit of Jazz from the US, even some pleasurable tastes from Brazil and Jamaica. Israel is, after all, a modern nation that invites visitors from all over the world, and thus is influenced by flavors from all over. And, in good, pluralistic (in the good sense) fashion, there is music represented by folks who are Muslim, Christian, Jewish and undeclared. Not enough? How about the regions? Yep, music from Palestine, Tel Aviv, Galilee, Jerusalem, and more. If there’s any prejudice to be seen it’s in the fact that everyone is welcome as being completely human and relevant. How often can you feel this truth when your daily exposure to Israel is only the “news”? (”News” = only that which media outlets want us to know.)

You’ll notice I am not choosing a favorite cut. That’s easily explained – every cut on this album stands out and is filled with flavors I cherish. I was only familiar with two of the artists on this compilation before, but I now have many new artists to seek out and learn to know better: Etti Ankri, Itay Pearl, Hadas Dagul, Rona Kenan, Mosh Ben Ari, Moshav Band, Zafa, Sheva, David Broza, Tea Packs, Amal Murkus, The Idan Raichel Project. The diverse nature of this music is lovingly held together by one common theme – excellence. A wonderful evening of joyful movement is in store when this cd hits the laser. Deeply delicious.

Shoutouts for Tea Packs (Vehap'am Shir Ahava), Amal Murkus (Ta'alu), Hadas Dagul (Seret Eelem), Rona Kenan with Gidi Gov (Ha'rikud Ha'muzar Shel Ha'lev), and The Idan Raichel Project (Mi' Ma'amakim).

Putumayo Presents – Israel

Ruarri Joseph – Patience (Live – free download)

A few weeks ago I raved about the cuts on the Ruarri Joseph album, Tales Of Grime And Grit. My focus was upon Ruarri as a songwriter because he is a powerful, interesting songwriter and singer. He’s currently on tour, and his record label has released a performance from one of his live solo gigs, and I’m sharing it here because it helped me focus on Raurri the musician. The guitar playing on this live cut blew me away, and I know you’ll enjoy it. It’s definitely worth hearing once or twice, and if you really like they’ve made it available as a free download. Click here: Ruarri Joseph

You can also purchase the whole album here: Tales Of Grime and Grit.

McDermotts 2 Hours – Molloy

“No man can destroy the road to take you home.” Take a very cool Irish-flavored folk song, fix up the lyrics about a man named Molloy, and spice it all up with a rock feeling and you have a very interesting meal. Molloy’s story covers the last part of the 20th century. “The land is made to roam.” The musicians do not overwhelm with virtuosity. Shoutout for Crusaders – “Onward Christian soldiers marching toward the holy land, you crude-eyed crusaders – there’s blood on your hands.” McDermotts 2 Hours

Soweto Kinch - Good Nyooz

“One truth.” Some hump days need a good, high powered jazz album to go along with the beer on a hot hot afternoon with leftover hurricane rain clouds hovering on the horizon, and Soweto Kinch fits the bill perfectly. “I got good news in the midst of a discouraging day!” Lots of cool scat for this cut, and lots of straight-ahead jazz for the rest of the album. Shoutouts for Conversations With The Unseen, Elision, and Mungo's Adventure. Soweto Kinch

Kate Nash – Play

A fun hip-hop beat introduces “I like to play, I like today.” A sixties organ and cheap garage guitar enter the mix, and the message is clear. Let’s play and have fun. Love it. The vocals fit the theme, and we know not to expect depth, simply joy. Shoutouts for Mouthwash and Skeleton Song. Pleasurable eartastes. Kate Nash

Molly Johnson

Some albums are simply too perfect to take apart and select favorite eartastes from. If pushed to the barbed wire I’d holler out “Sticks and Stones”, but if there was a great meal set and candlelight I’d whisper gratefully “Tonight” with “If You Knew Love” for dessert. The band is hot and right on. There’s a Cole Porter Song, a Gershwin Tune, a Springsteen Tune, with the rest written by Molly and the band. Sunday afternoon jazz with flavors of Detroit, Brazil, New Orleans, Paris and Berlin. The blues scream without a voice being raised, the mature voice tingles my spine all the way through - this totally satisfying 50 minutes of bliss. “Lord have mercy on the virgin ears.” Molly Johnson

Sean Kingston - Me Love

“Why’d you go away from home?” The question opens the song & we are pulled onto the dance floor to enjoy the beats despite the the lyrics that try to pull us down into the depths of the ocean. “I’m missing her, and I know she’s missing me” the singer says as we rasta around the parquet in wonder and romantic dreams of heavenly lights in the sky. The music elevates powerfully – thanks! Shoutouts for Got No Shorty, There's Nothing & Change. “I wish I had the power to change the world, but I’m just one man trying to do it on my own.” Sean Kingston

Twisted Charm - Happy Alone

“You say that you love me. You want to settle down. But I do not need anyone. All I need is my freedom.” Joyous music, with largely persussion/bass background to make the dancing as free as the lyrics. While the percussion rules the beat, there are lots of horns accenting the vocalist for a full-baked eartaste meal. “No conversation can explain all of these thoughts inside my brain.” Delicious and bouncing. Shoutouts for Boring Lifestyles and Television Nation. Twisted Charm

Neutrinos - Girlfriend's Got A Gun

“My ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend’s got a gun.” Well, we live in a violent world, so the story is easy to believe and presented in a manner that could either be heard as deadly serious or tongue-way-down-in-the-cheek hilarious. I guess it depends on my mood. What’s important to me is the presentation – the music here is perfect for the lyric and moves the story along with the suspense it deserves. The build-up to the climax is wonderful. Very cool pop song. “My ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend’s got a guitar. She don’t know how to use it but she thinks she’s gonna be a star.” Shoutouts for Kiss Like Killers, Donkeywork & Corpse. Each song has it's own distinct flavor, putting emphasis on the lyrical content while allowing me to dance freely. Neutrinos

Tiny Masters of Today - K.I.D.S.

You all know my style by now. Throw away the packaging, listen to the music. I loved this CD from cut one all the way through 3 times non-stop. It’s truly great playing. The only thing throwing me off was the voices. I figured it to be a coupla adults who figgered out a way to synthesize their voices to sound like kids. I didn’t have a problem, because the overall energy affected me like other major life-changing albums have done for me. I can tell you exactly where I was sitting when I heard those albums for the very first time – the tingles that went through my body when I heard them are not tingles that happen every day. Well, this album caused those tingles, even when I thought it was adults.

Excitement gets to me, so I did a little research on these guys. It’s still tough to believe. I work with kids their age every day, and in 27 years have never pulled of a decent political discussion with any of them. Once in awhile I can find a kid who can offer a real decent challenge in chess. But politics? These are some rare kids, I tell ya.

After accepting that this wasn’t a cartoon, but real life, it was doubly hard to think these kids were playing. Their ages are 12 and 10??? It takes most people 3-4 years to sound this good on one instrument, much less all the instruments they profess to play. I’ll have to accept that people have seen them play live, and they are apparently this good. I read one note that said they are influenced by White Stripes. Well, that’s easy to say – the White Stripes are especially unique, and no one else I’m aware of has been able to pull off a two person group this loud and energetic, much less kids this age.

Okay, I’ve accepted this is real, back to the music, the main thing. Yes!!! This music is great energy, great fun, and a lot of times very political. "Kids don't make no atom bomb, Kids didn't start no Vietnam." + “Kids don’t run the government, kids don’t run for President. Kids don’t run the government, kids don’t like the President!” Then there’s a verse that implies they know if they talk this way that the government is going to find them and shut them up. Luckily for us, even with all the censorship in the major media (do not show caskets coming home, etc), that people aren’t yet put away for speaking their minds. Squelched a bit maybe, but not put away. Yet. The kids are feeling that time coming, and that’s eerie, because kids have a way of sensing the truth that adults are blinded to.

Do yourself a favor. This album is set to be released next week. Buy one & enjoy the music, even if you’re not a political person. These are some special kids. Not your garden variety Disney-fed kids, but talented, extremely talented kids who are far beyond the “high-school musical” world America lives in. And, to be quite honest – I wouldn’t be surprised someday to find out the kids didn’t really play the instruments on the album. I’m feeling this – if they did, great for them! If they didn’t – still great for them. It’s a great album either way. No one got upset when it was revealed that Ringo didn’t play the drums for the Beatles early records or that the Byrds didn’t play the instruments on their records or that the Monkees weren’t playing the instruments on their first few albums. It’s still great entertainment, and Tiny Masters of Today is truly great entertainment. Shoutouts for Hey, Mr. DJ & Hologram World. Plus, you can bet I’ll be talking about other cuts from this album in the weeks to come. Fantastic job, and kids – if you ever get to read this – don’t let your high school teachers squelch you. That’s their job, but you do not have to submit! Tiny Masters of Today

Architecture In Helsinki - Heart It Races

The musical rhythm on this cut is a heartbeat, and it stands out immediately as a fun, danceable listening pleasure. “And we're slow to acknowledge the knots in the laces.” I’m not sure I can intelligently say much about this. My mind goes to a pair of racing shoes and I try to make sense of it from there. I’m not super successful at understanding the entire story, but for some reason find this bit hilarious: “I sold it to a man and threw him out the window, he went boom dah dah dah dah dah, boom dah dah dah dah. Made his wife a widow.” Okay, seriously, it’s not funny, but I can’t stop from laughing. Call the men in the white coats if you must. I have this picture in my head of a man buying a fast beating heart and splatting on the ground several stories down. And I know it shouldn’t be funny, but with the music! I can’t help myself – this is fun. “I bought it in a can and stirred it with my fingers singing boom dah dah dah dah dah, boom dah dah dah dah.” Shoutout for Lazy. Architecture In Helsinki

GoodBooks – Leni

The keyboards meander for 2 bars then BANG – wake up! “I cannot see the day for night, I feel the clouds closing in.” The song continues to build, with more instruments joining and pushing the story forward with just enough psychedelia 2/3 through to push the cut from interesting to intriguing. “You bring me down, you push me around, you kick my face into the ground. And I'll tell you because I was there.” The type of feelings the narrator has for Leni are not healthy, by any means, but are common adolescent feelings very much worth exploring and sharing. “There are times when I will need you, there are times when you're not around. And I'm losing my patience - I will love her from the grave.” Vivid confusion; when matched with the music makes for excellent eartaste flavors. GoodBooks

Newton Faulkner - I Need Something

It’s hard not to notice the superb guitar work, so let’s get that outta the way. This guy plays some mean guitar. Now, to the song. “I need something to believe in cause I don’t believe in myself.” Perfect for a Sunday song – some 30% of the world use Sunday to meditate on this thought. “I’m sick and tired of getting nowhere. Guess it’ll all work out.” He chooses to take the easy way out, philosophically. Instead of digging deeper and finding meaning, just sit and wait. And for Newton, it will probably work cause this music should attract many ears - with a sound this clean, and playing this slick, it’s easy to see this on the top of the charts for many months. Newton covers many different flavors of music, with all of it sounding fresh and delightful, despite the morbid meditations of the cut I chose to talk about. When I see someone so obviously reaching out beyond his own ego for faith I’m excited, and when it’s played with honesty and great music I’m doubly excited. The band plays along quite fluently. Shoutouts for To The Light and Gone In The Morning. Newton Faulkner

Amy MacDonald - Mr Rock 'n' Roll

Sneaky song – starts like a ballad deep in the woods, and roars into life with “So called Mr RockNRoll is dancing on his own again, talking on his phone again to someone who tells him that his balance is low. He’s got no where to go, he’s on his own again.” Great fun, with lyrics reminiscent of “how does it feel to be on your own with no direction home?” The music keeps the beat moving along at a fast clip as Amy keeps up with her tasty mouthfuls of lyrics. “And there’s a happy ending.” Always, as in movies and books. “And they’ll meet someday somewhere far away.” Shoutouts for This Is The Life and Let's Start A Band. Amy MacDonald

Entice - Contest Winners

14 entries, but only 2 correct. Those two folks were contacted & they've sent their addresses - Beth in California, and Jonathan in Texas. The Entice CD's will be in the mail tomorrow morning. Just saw a few more entries pop in - sorry folks.

FYI - the "wrong" entries gave me the song title that was reviewed, not the shoutout song as requested. Read a bit closer next time! Thanks! -Rich

Olivea Watson - All's I Want

The stars are visible tonight, and this song sounds so perfect floating through the dark humidity. A swampy guitar intro. It’s a definite after-dinner song; a delicious slice of pecan pie warmed up and topped with vanilla ice cream actually. The band is playing a type of country blues that originates in a city, if that makes any sense. I think it’s the drums that make it feel that way. That, and the fact these guys all play in tune. No matter, the electric fiddle gives us a beat that makes the Texas stars shine brighter. The song makes me look up and wonder where the lone star moniker even came from. There’s at least half a million visible stars up there. More than I can count anyway. Olivea’s vocal chords provide a beautiful instrument not available in any music store. “My emotion stays inside and I know we’re afraid our worlds may collide.” Olivea Watson

An Enticing Contest!!!

Entice has sent several copies of their new EP for me to give away to the first two readers who can tell me the name of the Entice song I shouted out this week. Send the name of the song to eartaste @ gmail . com (leave out the spaces) & I’ll contact you for your address.

EDIT NOTE: Winners announced. Contest over.

Koopa – The Crash

The kings of 3 minute pop songs are “just getting drunk and having fun.” Two vocalists keep the excitement rolling and rocking – the interplay is great. “Get out of your shell and taste a bit of freedom!” There’s a sorta love song intertwined in the fun – you have to hear this to appreciate it – “she brings me up up up up up and down again.” I know, it doesn’t look smart on the page, but neither did “she loves you yeah yeah yeah”, and that excitement led to many years of eartaste pleasure. Watch Koopa’s website for a release date – you can pre-order the single. It appears the strategy of this band is to have a ton of downloads the day of release to make a dent on the music charts. With a song this exciting, that should be no problem. Definitely should be receiving lots of airplay: Koopa