Rosanne Cash “The List”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#1029 in the Series) is Rosanne Cash, The List When Rosanne Cash was 18, she was spending most of her time on tour with her famous father, Johnny. One day, Johnny was checking out what she was listening to. Most of her tastes, like most teenagers, were towards the music of the day. He thought it was time to teach her a little bit about music. So he brought her into the tour bus, sat her down, and wrote out a list of, what he felt, were the 100 most essential country songs of American music history. She held onto that list. She would look at it year after year. She became quite...
John Doe and the Sadies ‘Country Club’
Song Of the Day by Eric Berman – “Stop The World And Let Me Off” by John Doe & The Sadies I got an email a few weeks ago from Yep Roc Records alerting me to a $5.00 CD sale they were having for a limited time. Well, since I may be one of the last few hold outs in music for physical product over downloads, I couldn’t pass up a look see to find out what they had to offer. Well, several of the featured titles were interesting to me, and at that price I figured how could I go wrong, so I took the plunge and ordered myself a handful of semi-new music. The $5.00 treats that...
The Mumlers ‘Don’t Throw Me Away’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#827 in the Series) is The Mumlers, Don’t Throw Me Away Don’t Throw Me Away is release number two from The Mumlers. What impresses me about this album is its uncanny ability to feel old and fresh often at the same time. It is difficult to label their style as there are elements of jazz, folk, and psychedelia all mixed together. If I had to pick something I would say folk with some creole jazz backing. A lot of the vocals have a lo-fi sound which fits perfectly into their retro sound. Their style isn’t to force the music onto people or to catch you with one or two catchy guitar...
Eels ‘Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire’
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “That Look You Gave That Guy” by Eels Eels are capable of bone-chilling, howlin’-at-the-moon, terrifyin’ rock and roll, and when they are in that mode, they are at their very best. But Eels also have a tender side too, as exemplified by this superb ballad from the 2009 album Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs Of Desire. For those that don’t already know, Eels are the handiwork of one Mark Oliver Everett (aka “E”), and whomever he chooses to work with at any particular time. For Lobo, Everett’s co-conspirators were Koool G Murder on bass and Knuckles on drums. The album came after a four year layoff, and was the first (and...
Eddie Holstein ‘Eddie Holstein’
Today’s Cool Album of Day (#802 in the Series) is Eddie Holstein, Eddie Holstein When Eddie Holstein sings “I’m goin’ down to Morton Grove, baby do you want to go?” the answer is yes. And that is just how it is, after all these years and clubs and sing-a-longs and tributes, Eddie Holstein still makes you want to go. The slightly fat sound of his free finger picking style on the folk guitar and the weathered but still potent voice takes you back to the days when folk singing was the bomb. Or, against the bomb. But he isn’t singing strident protest tunes on this set; no full-throated, head back sincerity ala Bob Gibson or Joan Baez....
Steve Earle “Townes”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#662 in the Series) is Steve Earle, Townes The year was 1971 and singer songwriter Joe Ely, Texas National Treasure, and once considered to be the musical heir apparent to fellow Lubbock resident Buddy Holly, was driving on the outskirts of town when he spotted on the horizon a straggly Howard Hughes looking dude, wearing a back pack, wandering on the shoulder of the main road leading into the city. Ely pulled over and offered the travelling stranger a ride to the other side of town. As a kind gesture to thank him, the stranger reached into the back pack, pulled out one of the fifteen albums that resided there, no clothes...
Transatlantic “The Whirlwind”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#572 in the Series) is Transatlantic, Whirlwind My kids used to be amazed when I told them about how Yes put out a record with only three songs (Relayer), with each song lasting 10 minutes or more. They were more amazed when I told them about Tales From Topographic Oceans, a double album with only one song per side, they didn’t believe me. Well they are older now and interested in their own music, so they would probably yawn at the idea of a disc containing one 77 plus minute song, as this massive, colossal epic has. It is the 3rd offering from the supergroup of prog rock music all-stars. (Metal v....
Monsters of Folk “Monsters of Folk”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#190 in the Series) is the self-titled debut from Monsters of Folk. The Monsters of Folk consist of four gents who are moonlighting from their day jobs. Conor Orberst and Mike Mogis are members of ‘Bright Eyes,’ M.Ward is the Him of ‘She and Him’ while Jim James (aka Yim Yames when solo) calls ‘My Morning Jacket’ home. This 2009 release wasn’t an overnight project by any means. The four of them had actually been trying to get this project off the ground since 2004. Time restrictions kept pulling them apart until late 2008. They actually put a good amount of this together playing backstage while on tour with their other bands. Sometimes...
Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel "Willie and the Wheel"
Today’s Cool Album of the Day is Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel’s, “Willie and the Wheel.” Which 2009 release sat in my CD player the most? It easily was Willie Nelson and Texas swing band Asleep at the Wheel teaming up for Willie and the Wheel. This was such a fun record. Short, only 36 minutes in length and just a bunch of fun. They covered ‘Hesitation Blues’ (Hot Tuna used to do a great rendition of this) and also ‘I’m Sitting on Top of the World.’ Some of my favorites included ‘Sweet Jennie Lee’ and also Oh! You Pretty Woman.’ One of the most accessible records I’ve heard in a long time. I real easy listen....
White Lies "To Lose My Life"
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...
