Album Covers That Grab You

I noticed and then started obsessing over the album cover of Linkin Park's A Thousand Suns... previewed all the songs just for something to hear while I stared at the picture you can't focus on.  I loved what I listened to and wound up buying the album.  Great songs: When They Come For Me, Wretches and Kings, Iridescent. Some of the previews have me wondering if it's really the same band on the entire album, so I'm looking forward to hearing the whole thing through. All because of a bird.

FYC

I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that She Drives Me Crazy by the Fine Young Cannibals is simply the world's most perfect song.

I Got Mine

...but since I'm mentioning the Black Keys, this one is my favorite.

Ohio

This song came out for purchase this week on itunes - it's a good one for all you Ohio folks out there.

Song of the Day

Sean Paul, Get Busy...  not with work, ok?

Sullivan Hall, New York

Had a great night on my birthday at Sullivan Hall in Greenwich Village.  Walked through the arch, lit up beautifully, on the way there.  The staff at the hall were fantastic and friendly, dancing with the crowd and giving us a free coat check and the offer of a free drink for my birthday.

We saw Ikebe Shakedown (great horns!), the High and Mighty Brass Band (more great horns!) and George Porter.  Wow!

The crowd was as lively and friendly as the staff and the bands were just excellent.  Music truly is the great people connector.

oh high and mighty...

...how you have fallen, to Locksley, whose album Be In Love is so addictive.

Locksley

best most totally awesome tv theme song you can't buy on itunes, but can find the download here: (happy listening girl)

High and Mighty

I've been listening to the High and Mighty Brass Band non-stop for two weeks now. I can't get enough! It even got me through bumpy air flights without getting motion sick - how I don't know.

Remember Graceland?

Ran across it on my ipod and had to jump out of my top-rated shuffle to play the whole album. I had forgotten how consistently good it is. It was a long time ago that I was listening to it on tape cassette. I have a tendency to rate albums by whether or not they have the "interrupt" problem - all good songs except that one excruciating sucker that interrupts your listening pleasure by forcing you to skip over it every time. Graceland doesn't. And every song to song transition just fits.

Of the many albums that succeed in that department, I've still got Rodrigo y Gabriela's 11:11 on top of my list. The album starts by hitting you over the head with a brick (Hanuman) and moves through every song to an ending so unearthly that when it has faded away you wonder what happened and where you are... it releases me from a dream every time.

But back on topic, anyone know what Paul Simon's doing now? Maybe it's time for a google search.

That Brass Section!

Just got the album Round I by the High and Mighty Brass Band. Was meandering through show listings and ran across their site. A minute of Lil' Mary was enough to seal the deal. Now I need to remember to synch my ipod for the morning commute. Deliciously groovy is my pronouncement on this one.

Jets Overhead

The album is No Nations. Excellent. Mellow, atmospheric, not moody.

Irish Punk Rock from LA?

There's nothing like a great movie soundtrack to introduce you to new music. This time it was Leap Year, and a blurb of a song on a cassette tape in the movie. All it takes is a minute to tell you love something. So as is my way, I replayed the end credits multiple times until I had all the songs written down, then hunted through them on amazon and iTunes.

The end result was finding Within a Mile of Home by Flogging Molly. The song itself is fantastic and the album totally worth buying. Awesome!

On an Island in the Sun

Yesterday I had a Weezer Day, rode my bike past the ballparks in Pittsburgh all the way to Washington's Landing. I made it up all 3 levels of the ramp and over the bridge to the lookout without stopping. Felt very good about that because hills are not my thing. A beautiful blue sky on a bright sunny day, and Weezer on the ipod. I played Island in the Sun because I was on an island, in the sun. Relaxed and enjoyed the river view for a few moments before heading back to the office. Seven miles round trip, not too bad for a lunch hour.

Weezer

Just got Weezer's green album. We had the blue (Buddy Holly is awesome, and of course my favorite the classic Undone), and got Pinkerton from a friend. But I had forgotten about the green, and the fun of Island in the Sun and Hash Pipe!

I'm told they've been on Yo Gabba Gabba, which my kids love, but I've never noticed. I'm somewhat programmed to tune that stuff out, but I should start paying attention...

Rodrigo y Gabriela

Two nights ago at the Byham Theater in Pittsburgh. Left work on the North Shore, zigzagged past Heinz Field and the ballpark, then over the Sixth Street bridge and cheap parking right across from the theater. Five minutes to drive, and five dollars to park. Supper and cosmos at Olive and Twist.

Then across the street to hear first the Alex Skolnik Trio. What a great electric bass, tall and skinny, with the body ending inches beneath the bridge, on a 3 foot spike. Played by a tall thin floppy haired guy who looked like a peanuts character. They played a "little jazz tune by Judas Priest". I could listen to everything produced by Judas Priest and never recognize that song.

But the evening revolved around the utterly fantastic music of Rodrigo y Gabriela. I don't even know where to start in explaining how amazing it was. So I won't. Another few days to recover my senses, and I'll try again.

Back to Franti

Yeah, I'm back on Michael Franti & Spearhead again, still remembering how their show was totally worth the 3 hour trek to Coumbus. A Little Bit of Riddim just rocks.

Ten Days Later

... and I'm still listening to Empire nonstop. How many albums are out there where you don't skip over any of the songs? Not a lot for me, there's always at least one I don't want to hear. And what a strong finish to the album - Anybody Listening? Fantastic.

My friend Michele talked a friend of hers into driving us out to Hershey Stadium from Philly when we were in college. I remember her dragging me through the crowd, climbing over chairs, to get up to the second row for the opening band that she loved. They didn't make much of an impression on me other than a lot of long blond hair, but the rest of the concert, wow.

I had a Mia Hamm-style shirt removing moment during Jet City Woman, screaming like crazy because a black and white slideshow of shots of Seattle started flashing behind the band. It began with pictures of sidewalks, and I went nuts yelling that it was Seattle. Michele was asking "what the f***, it's a sidewalk". But it was Pioneer Square, you can't mistake it. Then on come the shots of the Space Needle and other parts of the city. Maybe I missed home more than I realized, who knows. Either way, one of the best performances ever.

They were great in their heyday, and I'm thrilled to finally have Queensryche digitally. Even after 10 days non-stop.

Forgotten Favorite

Queensryche, Empire, one of those great albums where there isn't a single song you skip over as you listen. They're just all that good. Nearly forgotten favorite because I had it on, yes that's right, tape cassette.

I Don't Know

This is Lisa Hannigan on youtube - thanks to Chuck for posting the link on Facebook - it's absolutely lovely.

An Upcoming Show

... is Rodrigo y Gabriela at the Byham Theater in Pittsburgh. March 3rd, I think. I'm psyched to have tickets and just heard this news from Al:

"You are seriously in luck! I just found out the Alex Skolnick Trio is the opening act, with Alex sitting in with RYG."

Time for some serious preview listening!