I Get That Feeling When She Drives On By

There's a lot of really great albums coming out right now, but my ears are all tuned into 1980. Marshall Crenshaw's debut Marshall Crenshaw hearkens back to the bouncy sunshine pop-rock of the 50's and 60's. Crenshaw's music isn't anything new, but still manages to sound fresh, even after much of the conventions of his pop stylings have gone stale. Crenshaw reminds me of a happier, American version of Elvis Costello, or an updated Buddy Holly. Crenshaw's light pop is the perfect antidote to the heavy August air.

Marshall Crenshaw- There She Goes Again
Marshall Crenshaw- Cynical Girl

**

Fresh Links:

-Aquarium Drunkard posts some amazing Flying Burrito Brothers and offers a post on T. Rex, who I have been digging lately

-Benn Loxo Du Taccu is truly amazing, here he offers up yet another gem from Africa

-Discobelle has a remix of the worst song of the summer, which actually makes it sound decent, and another great remix

-Funky 16 Corners continues to floor me, this time with Stones covers

-Happy Birthday Soul Sides

-Weiss posts on Wild Style, which I had never heard of until now, I have been watching the documentary NY 77: The Coolest Year In Hell all week, and it talks about the birth of hip hop and guys like Grandmaster Caz and Grandmaster Flash as well as the grafitti culture, so Weiss's post was a gift and an eye-opener

-The excellent Car Stereo (Wars) are about to release an album and were featured on both Stereogum and Gorilla vs Bear

-And finally, Stylus has the top 10 alt-country records not by Uncle Tupelo... uh, where's the Whiskeytown?

Soaps, Powder, and All That Other Shit

The Last Waltz, one of my all-time favorite movies was on tv this morning when I woke up. I really can't think of anything more pleasant when waking up than the pairing of The Band and The Staples Singers on the song, "The Weight." I had the pleasure of seeing Mavis Staples sing "The Weight" on the Sunday of Bonnaroo, and I was blown away by the power of her voice.

Neil Young's performance of the song "Helpless" with Joni Mitchell and The Band reminded me of a Whiskeytown cover of the song that I love. Whiskeytown opened up a 1998 show in Eugene, Oregon with a hilarious cover of "Helpless," but the lyrics of the song were changed so that the whole song was about a laundromat in North Ontario and doing laundry. Ryan Adams fucking around doesn't always yield great results, but Whiskeytown's cover of "Helpess" is excellent.

Neil Young with The Band and Joni Mitchell- Helpless
Whiskeytown- Helpless

Beneath the Bebop Moon, I Wanna Croon

Well I moved back to my hous in Baton Rouge a few days ago, thank God. Just being back causes me to be 100 times lazier, thus explaining the lack of posts lately.

I caught couple of concerts over the weekend, and neither really lived up to my hopes, but that's not to say that they were bad.

Gregg Gillis aka Girl Talk played The Spanish Moon in Baton Rouge last Friday night. I saw Girl Talk at Bonnaroo and had an incredible time, so I was looking forward to this one for a while. Unfortunately I drank entirely too much before the show and was way too fucked up and really don't remember much from the actual concert. I still remember the Bonnaroo performance vividly, and if it wasn't for that, I'd be mad for not remembering much of the show. Oh well.

I went Sunday night to see Neko Case at The Republic in New Orleans. It probably would have been one of the best shows I had ever been to if it wouldn't have been for the fucking insanity of traffic on I-10 going into New Orleans Sunday night. You'd think traffic would be a breeze at 8:30 or 9:00 on a Sunday evening, but no, they were doing road work and all traffic was merged into one lane. We didn't realize what was going on until too late and ended up missing the first hour of Neko's set and only caught the last 45 or so minutes. Despite that, Neko was absolutely wonderful. Her voice is absolutely enchanting. I've seen few performers as fixating on stage as Neko Case. Her backing band, led by Jon Rauhouse, and backing singer Kelli Hogan were hardly outshone. The band's sound was clinically precise, and their sound filled the club better than any band I've seen in a venue that small (with the exception of My Morning Jacket). Despite the disaster of missing the first hour, the Neko Case show was excellent.

I first listened to T. Rex's Electric Warrior back in February. For whatever reason it didn't really catch my ear. I put on "Hot Love" earlier today though, and all of the sudden it clicked. I've now listened to Electric Warrior all the way through three times in a row. Its funny how sometimes music works like that.

T. Rex- Hot Love
T. Rex- Mambo Moon

Got A Box Full of Letters

Yesterday I mentioned Wilco's debut album A.M. It seems like people either love or hate A.M. I know people who think everything after A.M. is druggy crap, and people who barely even acknowledge that A.M. exists as an album. Rarely is A.M. ever judged fairly. Too many people expect to hear either Uncle Tupelo or the Wilco of the Summerteeth/Yankee Hotel Foxtrot days.

A.M. was the first Wilco album I ever heard, and I really liked it. It didn't blow my mind, but it was still really good. It certainly had nothing that compared with the first time I ever heard "A Shot In the Arm" or "Poor Places," but as an album it was still very strong.

A.M. is not an album that is going to blow your mind over and over again, but it really isn't supposed to be. There's a few duds ("It's Just That Simple") but the album rebounds with undeniably catchy country-rock. "Box Full of Letters" and "Pick Up the Change" caught my attention immediately. Both are examples of a precise merging of pop rock and country, something that Jeff Tweedy began to do in the later days of Uncle Tupelo.

Wilco- Pick Up the Change
Wilco- Dash 7

The Summers Here Are Hot

It wasn't until last summer that I really jumped into alt-country/Americana/whatever. I had been a fan of Wilco for a few years, but besides A.M., I had never went back into Jeff Tweedy's past songwriting. At the beginning of last summer though, alt-country really clicked for me. Immediately I ate up as much Uncle Tupelo, Whiskeytown, and Jayhawks as I could.

Last summer I worked in the kitchen of a local restaurant, and for the most part the radio in the back was playing either classic rock or club rap. Now classic rock was cool with me, that's what I had cut my teeth on, but the club shit annoyed the fuck out of me. When the nights were closing down though, or when the afternoon came and business slowed down, I took over the radio.

For me closing time always meant playing "The Long Cut," "Gun," and "Chickamauga" as loud as was tolerable. At the end of the night I wanted something to push me all the way to the end (a 12-14 hour day was not uncommon). The afternoons were sleepy time though.

My co-workers always hated my afternoon stuff. Sometimes it was folky acoustic Dylan, but most of the time it was Whiskeytown. The kitchen manager once complained "I feel like I'm in the high hills of Tennessee" as Faithless Street played in the background. The days were long, and incredibly hot, and became increasingly defined by Whiskeytown songs. When "16 Days" came on I would sing the number of days of work I had left in place of 16, and I always felt Ryan Adams's loneliness in "Black Arrow, Bleeding Heart" and "Desperate Ain't Lonely." For whatever reason though, it was the Ryan Adams-Phil Wandscher collaboration "Factory Girl" that became my defining song for the long afternoons. "O the summers here are hot, and all she seems to do is work and sleep and wish that she was still with you."

Man, that was my summer, and it sucked. Thankfully this summer was a lot easier. Today was my last Monday of work, and Friday is my last day until I move back.

The songs below can be found on the Faithless Street reissue. For more Ryan Adams and Whiskeytown info check out Answering Bell.

Whiskeytown- 16 Days
Whiskeytown- Factory Girl

Sunday Selections

Today we have some sweet soul from Etta James.

Etta James- Tell Momma
Etta James- You Got It

Funky Rebels

Few bands come to get down like the Soul Rebels Brass Band. The New Orleans jazz/funk/hip hop group has been entertaining the city for over a decade now at clubs, house parties, and festivals. Soul Rebels are self-releasing their latest album, No Place Like Home. Their 1995 album Let Your Mind Be Free has been a staple of the weekend cd rotation at my house for 12 years now, and more recently, has become a regular on my mixes. Ultimately what is music for? To entertain and to enjoy. Few bands are as entertaining or as enjoyable as Soul Rebels.

Soul Rebels Brass Band- Santa Cruzin'
Soul Rebels Brass Band- Culture In the Ghetto
Soul Rebels Brass Band- Flowing and Flying

Goombay Soul

In order to make up for my lack of posting yesterday (too drunk to blog) I am posting doubly today.

Two of my favorite releases of the summer have come from some of my favorite crate diggers. The folks over at Numero Group offered up new releases in their Eccentric Soul and Cult Cargo series.

Numero Group's Cult Cargo: Grand Bahama Goombay is an exploration of the soul and funk of the island of Grand Bahama. Jay Mitchell, who once toured with my main man, Otis Redding, is the undisputed star of the compilation. Nearly half-an-hour alone is devoted to Mitchell's four tracks. Mitchell's covers of "I Am The Man For You Baby" and "Mustang Sally" are the two standout tracks on Grand Bahama Goombay. "Honesty Is the Best Policy" by The Gospel Chandeliers is also a gospel gem that can't keep you from smiling. Another standout is "Don't Touch That Thing" by Silvia Hall. The track is a funky lesson in life, and reminds me of The Dixie Cups legendary "Iko Iko."

Numero Group's Eccentric Soul: The Prix Label showcases the Columbus, Ohio Prix label. The compilation is a combination of brilliantly vibrant soul and funk. The fast-paced soul of Eddie Ray is the highlight of the record. "Wait A Minute" opens up the album at a blistering pace, and the rest of Ray's tracks are equally superb. Even though Ray steals the show, my heart goes to Joe King's excellent "Speak On Up." It is the type of catchy, bright soul music that makes people listen to soul in the first place.

Jay Mitchell- Mustang Sally
Joe King- Speak On Up

Live in August

Here's a rundown of what will be playing live in the south Louisiana area over the next month.

Aug 3- T.I., Ciara, T-Pain, Yung Joc- New Orleans Arena- New Orleans
Uh...

Aug 6- Talib Kweli- House of Blues- New Orleans
Kweli is mostly past his prime, but I bet this will still be a good show.

Aug 7- Daniel Johnston- House of Blues- New Orleans

Aug 10- Girl Talk- The Spanish Moon- Baton Rouge
Count me in. I caught Greg Gillis at Bonnaroo and what can I say... the man does his thing.

Aug 11- Girl Talk- One Eyed Jack's- New Orleans

Aug 12- Neko Case- The Republic- New OrleansI would really love to make this show. Fox Confessor Brings The Flood was one of my favorite releases of 2006.

Aug 15- Ben Kweller- The Parish Room (House of Blues)- New Orleans

Aug 16- Centro-matic and Jason Isbell- Chelsea's- Baton RougeYou have to be 21 to get into Chelsea's. I turned 20 in June. Centro-matic is one of the most consistent bands around, and it sucks that I will likely have to miss them.

Aug 26- Bloodkin and Daniel Hutchens- The Maple Leaf- New OrleansI believe this is another 21 and up bar. If it is, then fuck them, I would love to see Bloodkin.

Overall we have a pretty good slate for August. I'll definitely be at the first Girl Talk show, and I'd love to make it to the Neko Case show. If I can somehow make it to the Centro-matic/Jason Isbell show or the Bloodkin/Daniel Hutchens show, well that will be great.

Girl Talk- Too Deep
Neko Case- Lion's Jaws

50 vs. Kanye vs. The Go! Team

September 11th is shaping up to be a big day for the music industry. 50 Cent and Kanye West are both set to release their latest efforts. The two have been chest thumping in the press lately, each vowing to hold steady on their release dates, and both vowing they will top the charts. Also releasing a new album on the 11th is Brighton, England's The Go! Team.

50, while mostly being completely shitty, isn't completely devoid of talent. One day last spring when I was bored out of my mind I actually watched Get Rich Or Die Trying, and... it wasn't terrible. The soundtrack isn't terrible either actually. I mean, there are times when "Window Shopper" is an enjoyable song. I don't have very high hopes for 50's Curtis.

Kanye West is in the unfortunate position of being the least likeable person in the music industry currently. However, as much as I hate to say it, the man can drop some beats. College Dropout was mostly overbearing and annoying, just like Kanye, but did contain the outstanding "Slow Jamz." The song itself isn't that great, but the line "I'm gonna play this Vandross, you gon take your pants off" alone makes College Dropout a decent album. Due to the fact that Kanye is pretty good at beats, Graduation won't be terrible.

The Go! Team's Proof of Youth will be one of the best albums of 2007. I haven't heard any of it except for "Grip Like A Vice," but knowing Ian Parton and co., this one will at least be exciting. Fuck 50 and Kanye, if you want to have fun, throw on some Go! Team.

50 Cent- Window Shopper
Kanye West- Slow Jamz
The Go! Team- Ladyflash
**

Bonus 1: Lily Allen- Nan, You're A Window Shopper
Bonus 2: The Go! Team short documentary:

There's Somethin 'Bout Mondays

Hate Mondays? Hate your job? Yeah me too. As Steve Earle would say, "There's somethin 'bout Mondays that always makes me blue."

Rocking out to Steve Earle's workingman's blues in "A Week of Living Dangerously" doesn't cure the Monday blues, but it does feel pretty damn good.

Everybody needs a week of living dangerously every now and then if you ask me.

Bonus: This footage of a young Steve Earle from Heartworn Highways is incredible.

Steve Earle- Someday
Steve Earle- A Week of Living Dangerously

Camp Lo- In Black Hollywood

Yesterday evening in the midst of spinning the new Camp Lo, "In Black Hollywood," my 13 year old brother hit pause and put on his iPod. I reluctantly allowed him one song before putting the Lo back on. He went ahead and threw on "Sky is the Limit" by Lil Wayne. About halfway through the song I asked, "How the fuck do you actually like this?"

He said, "I dunno, I just do."

With that I went on trashing the beat, the verses, Lil Wayne's vocal style, and Lil Wayne in general. When the song ended I said, "Check it out, best hip hop track of the year so far, '82 Afros' by Camp Lo."

I may have been exaggerating, but "82 Afros" is pretty damn good, and besides it was released last year on Fort Apache. Anyway, Camp Lo's new release sees the duo at the top of their game once again. There has been some pretty good hip-hop released in 07, but nothing that has really grabbed me the way "Posse From the Bronx," "82 Afros," "In Black Hollywood," and "Sweet Claudine" grabbed me immediately.

Camp Lo- In Black Hollywood
Camp Lo- Sweet Claudine

Sunday Selections- Otis & Carla

One of my alltime favorite albums, especially for Sunday morning, is King & Queen, the duet album recorded by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas. King & Queen was not Otis's best record, but the fun of "Tramp," "Knock On Wood," etc. keeps it at the top of my personal Otis favorites.

Otis & Carla- New Year's Resolution
Otis & Carla- Ooh Carla, Ooh Otis

Turn Your Watch Back About 100,000 Years

The B-52's quirky art-funk never fails to get me grooving. The Athens band's revivals of old 50's dance crazes merged with the art-punk of bands like Talking Heads helped create the New Wave era of the late 70s and early 80s. Bright colors, nonsensical lyrics, and bouncy bass lines defined the band, even before their "Love Shack" pop heydey.

The B-52's- Mesopotamia (remix from Time Capsule)

***

Also On The Interwebs:

-Captain's Crate gets funky

-Floodwatch Music with an excellent post on new jazz records

-Weiss reviews a Chromeo show

-Soul Sides posts on one of my favorite records of the year

Edwin Starr- Agent Double-O Soul

"I dig rock n' roll music. I can do the twine and the jerk. I wear strictly continental suits, and a high collared shirt. I've got a reputation for being gentle but bold. That's why they call me 'Agent Double-O Soul.'"
-Edwin Starr


Edwin Starr- Agent Double-O Soul
Edwin Starr- I Am The Man For You Baby

The Whip- Divebomb

One For The Bossman

Before my iPod reached its death a little more than a month ago I never worked without my iPod. When you are a student stuck at a shit job cutting grass at a golf course between semesters, you aren't listening to the poppiest stuff all the time. For me the music I listened to at work was split between Drive-By Truckers and Widespread Panic (with a little Steve Earle, Uncle Tupelo, and Tea Leaf Green thrown in there too). When work sucked it was the boys from Alabama. When it was going alright, I was listening to Panic.

I like my boss a whole lot (he's my roomate's dad after all, and jokes that I'm a part of their family), but whenever "Nine Bullets" came up on my iPod, I couldn't help singing along to "One for the bossman ridin' my butt again..." Fuck work indeed.

This past Friday I was changing a tire on a boat trailer (one of my numerous non-grass cutting duties), and instead of actually changing the tire I started spinning it around on the axel to procrastinate. I looked at where the flat was and saw a huge brown spider. Intrigued by its size, I caught it in an empty water bottle. Only 15 minutes later while moving cinderblocks (oh boy!) I looked down on one and saw another interesting looking spider. It wasn't full grown, but I caught the red-and-black spider anyway. Not long later I confirmed via the wikipedia that the brown spider was a Brown Recluse and the other was a Black Widow.

Drive-By Truckers- Nine Bullets
Drive-By Truckers- Box Of Spiders

I've Got a Halloweenhead

I've had a month now to sort out my thoughts on Easy Tiger, the new release from Ryan Adams. Easy Tiger is probably the safest record Adams has ever made, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes you don't want Dead-soaked jams as in Cold Roses or throwbacks to vintage country like in Jacksonville City Nights.

Anybody who listens to Ryan Adams is distinctly aware of how much talent is just oozing from him. The man is beyond prolific. This is why its so disappointing when you stumble on songs that are just plain mediocre. Easy Tiger has a few "bleh" moments, but no real duds, and of course a few gems that remind you how talented Adams is.

On a related note, I put this cd on at home one day, and my Mom happened to be around and asked who it was. When I told her it was Ryan Adams she said, "Oh yeah, I saw they were selling his cd in Starbucks."

Dig the video for "Halloweenhead" and listen to two of my favorites, the folky "Pearls On a String" and Heartbreaker-esque "Two Hearts."

Ryan Adams- Pearls On a String
Ryan Adams- Two Hearts

Sunday Selections

For me no Sunday morning is complete without a little soul, reggae, or gospel to wake me up. Sunday should always be an upbeat, laid back day, and a little soul with your coffee never does you bad. Otis Redding or The Staples Singers are usually my go to choices on a Sunday morning, but today I went for a little taste of the Caribbean.

"Spiritual Healing" comes from The Very Best of Toots and the Maytals, and the excellent "Honesty is the Best Policy" by the Gospel Chandeliers is on Numero Group's Cult Cargo: Grand Bahama Goombay. I can't get this song out of my head at the moment!

Toots and the Maytals- Spiritual Healing
The Gospel Chandeliers- Honesty is the Best Policy

Freaky Cauldron

In 1968 San Francisco psychedelic act Fifty Foot Hose released their first and last album. The album, entitled Cauldron, is a whirlwind of spooky acid rock layered behind what is sometimes blues, sometimes country, and sometimes jazz. The experimental freak outs miss the point sometimes, but on tracks like "The Things That Concern You" and "Rose," Fifty Foot Hose play some of the finest music of the 60's San Francisco scene.

Fifty Foot Hose- The Things That Concern You
Fifty Foot Hose- Rose

I Got Scottish In My Family

Until I heard Camp Lo in Black Hollywood, Andre 3000's freestyle at the beginning of UGK's "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You)" was my favorite slice of hip hop in 2007. I'm not as hot on the rest of the track, but the Willie Hutch sample is absolutely perfect. 3000's guest appearence and the Hutch sample both made "Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) my favorite hip hop song of the first half of the new year.

That new Camp Lo is good shit though, and I'll get into that later.



Willie Hutch- I Choose You

Hey Ladies! Yeah! 1980s!

So I'm pretty excited about this new blog, and I'm pretty excited about the "Grip Like A Vice" video from The Go! Team.



More to come later!