Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#156 in the Series) is The Decemberists, The Crane Wife. The Decemberists are one of the more current bands that I’ve written up here on Cool Album of the Day. They have been a band since 2001 and actually began getting known about 2005. This coinciding with their move to a major label. They hail from Portland, Oregon.  The band’s name refers to The Decembrists revolt in Imperial Russian.  Many, including band leader Colin Meloy view the 1825 revolt as a communist revolution. The Crane Wife album was inspired by a Japanese folk tale.  And you thought Rock and Rollers were shallow people! This was the band’s first album for Capitol Records.  It...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#146 in the Series) is Material Issue, International Pop Overthrow. One of the finest rock and roll albums to come out of the Chicago area in 1990s, Material Issue, International Pop Overthrow. Material Issue was a three piece power pop band that wasn’t around very long.  They did put out some wonderful music while they did. They were led by Jim Ellison. He was Material Issue.  He wrote most of the songs, sang the songs, played guitar on the songs and found a record label to release the songs, etc. When Jim Elison died in 1996 so did Material Issue. Ted Asani and Mike Zelenko made up the rest of the trio. International...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day is The White Lies ‘To Lose My Life…” I was starting to think that everyone thought I only listen to things that were recorded years ago. For that reason, I’ve decided to go with something current today. Why you ask? Well, because it reminded me of something that was recorded years ago! This is called To Lose My Life by The White Lies. If you were a fan of bands like The Cure, Ultravox, Echo and The Bunnymen, Joy Division etc, then I think that you would like The White Lies. Track listing “Death” “To Lose My Life” “A Place to Hide” “Fifty on Our Foreheads” “Unfinished Business” “E.S.T.” “From the Stars” “Farewell...

Today’s Cool Album of The Day is Fanfarlo’s “Reservoir.” I was not familiar with this act until seeing them yesterday on Late Night With David Letterman. A little guitar here, a little mandolin touch there. All served on a bed of harmonies and melodies. Good stuff. London based. Keep your ears out for the song called, ‘Harold T. Wilkins, Or How To Wait For a Very Long Time.’ Personnel Amos Memon – drums & percussion, vocals Cathy Lucas – violin, keys, mandolin, glock, vocals, musical saw Justin Finch – bass, vocals Leon Beckenham – trumpet, keyboards, glockenspiel, melodica, vocals Simon Balthazar – vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, saxophone, clarinet Track listing “I’m A Pilot” – 4:31 “Ghosts” – 4:18 “Luna”...