The Crossroads

At the top of my personal chart this week is this gem from the land down under.  With a grittiness not unlike the Black Keys but a sound that is their own, this is The Blackwater Fever.  If you like it, check out their website and get a free download: http://www.theblackwaterfever.com/.  Maybe if we get enough plays, we can convince them to make the jump for a tour of the states so we can all hear them live.

I have been whistling this song for so long, I don’t even notice when I’m doing it anymore.  Usually its when I’m walking down the street but it can pop into my head anytime.  There is a lot of good music in this Spike Lee joint.  If you play this song a couple times, you’re going to have a hard time keeping yourself from whistling it too, I bet.

We’re going to check out Martin Sexton tonight so here’s one of his songs that I really like- “Where Did I Go Wrong?”  I’ve asked myself this question so many times that I’m getting familar with the range of answers that seem to repeat.

It’s been this kind of of week…”Rotten Apple” by Alice In Chains.

shizn:

Wild Rover - Dropkick Murphys

Oh yeah.  It’s getting green up in here.

Happy St. Patricks Day!  Lots of great music ahead today and although its sure to be a good one, I wish I could climb into a time machine and go back to O’Donoghues pub in Dublin to listen to the Dubliners playing live in the corner by the window.  Listening to this track with a hearty pint in hand- ah, life is good! Sláinte!

Lot’s adding up over here, day after day…the entire first album by the Violent Femmes still sounds great 29 years later.

Bjork adds so much great color to the canvas of the world that so often seems to be passing before my eyes at blazing speed.  This is one of my favorite tracks that she has put out there…the lyrics are like a vivid pre-awakening dream to me.

I recently saw that Aretha Franklin had a serious crush on Sam Cooke way back in the day.  I’m sure she wasn’t alone in that regard.  There are a special few male soul singers in the pantheon of excellence and Sam Cooke is right up there with Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding and James Brown.  He died at only 33 years old under suspect circumstances when he was shot by a hotel manager (who claimed it was self-defense although others believe he was murdered).  Dying so young robbed the world of more great music from Sam Cooke that should have continued for decades longer.

I’m loving this song by Patrick Sweany.  It looks like he’s in the Austin area for South By Southwest so if you are heading there, try to check him out.  Here’s a link to his website:  http://patricksweany.com/home.htm

If you like this song check out “Hotel Woman” also by Patrick Sweany.

I’ve been listening to a lot of Leonard Cohen lately so it seemed appropriate to share some of it.

A little Duke Ellington laying down the perfect soundtrack for a lazy Sunday.

Going to see Van Halen tomorrow night (with Kool And The Gang to boot!).  Here’s a little taste to whet the palate.

shizn:

Oh My Lover - PJ Harvey

“oh my lover

don’t you know it’s alright

you can love her

and you can love me at the same time

much to discover

i know you don’t have the time

oh my lover

don’t you know it’s alright

oh my sweet thing

oh my honey thighs

give me your troubles

i’ll keep them with mine

take at your leisure

take whatever you can find

but oh my sweet thing

don’t you know it’s alright”

…you had me at ‘oh my lover’!

Up till now I have concentrated my Sunday jazz selections on American artists (although many of the tracks were recorded abroad).  Today, I’m going with Richard Bona who is a jazz bassist from Cameroon.  I’ve seen him play a variety of African string instruments that look more like pieces of art to be observed…yet he makes them come alive with the beautiful songs he creates.  This song, like some of my favorites from Stevie Wonder, covers a lot of ground sounding like different songs at times but all the pieces come together with brilliant precision.