Friday, May 16, 2008

One Song Lost Recap ∞ There’s No Place Like Home (Part 1)

The song for this week’s episode, There’s No Place Like Home (Part 1):

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole ∞ Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World

"Dreams really so come true"


"I see trees of green, skies of blue"

"Why oh why can’t I?"

8 From ’08 ∞ Ryko Ryko Unday


Back in the late ‘90s, early ‘00s, Rkyo tinted their CD gases green. This made it SUPER EASY to find good music in music stores. Whenever you spied a green case, bingo – good music.

Fast-forward to 2008 where digital music is king. No more green cases. In fact, you don’t even need cases anymore. But Ryko is still putting out good music. Here are 8 songs from the 2008 Ryko catalog broken down into = Band ~ Website ~ Album Title ~ Genre (using food as a metaphor) ~ Release Date. Some of the songs you’ve heard elsewhere but hopefully some our new to your ears.

Matt Duke ~ Website ~ TBA ~ turkey and artichoke heart panini ~ August
Sex And Reruns

James Jackson Toth ~ Website ~ Waiting In Vain ~ dark roast coffee with a Cinnabon~ June 24
Beulah The Good

Will Hoge ~ Website ~ Draw The Curtains ~ a midnight snack consisting of microwave popcorn and lukewarm beer ~ Out Now
Draw The Curtains

Justin Currie ~ Website ~ What Is Love For ~ Thanksgiving feast ~ Out Now
No, Surrender (Part 1)

The Crash ~ Website ~ Pony Ride ~ Windy City hot from a street vender ~ May 20
Grace

Elf Power ~ Website ~ In A Cave ~ pizza with portabellas ~ Out Now
Paralyzed

The Takeover UK ~ Website ~ Running With The Wasters ~ fish and chips with malt vinegar ~ September
Ah La La

Rusty Truck ~ Website ~ Luck’s Changing Lanes ~ chicken-fried steak ~ June 10
Cold Ground

More:
8 from ‘08s

Use some of your 50 FREE DOWNLOADS from eMusic to get more great music released in 2008.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Actors Who Sing & Singers Who Act ∞ Sarah VonderHaar


You may recognize Sarah VonderHaar from America’s Next Top Model. Or maybe you know her photography from Forbes. Or possibly, you saw her in the movie Dimension. But you probably have never HEARD Sarah’s music.


She takes her competitive drive and tosses it into her music. Which is a poppy rockish kind of thing. Fellow Chicagoan Alice Peacock helped pen the single from her debut album – Are You Listening Now?

Listen:
Sarah VonderHaar ∞ I Got Sunshine (that single I mentioned)
Sarah VonderHaar ∞ It’s Not The First Time
Sarah VonderHaar ∞ Sing Me To Sleep

Further study:
Website
myspace
Facebook
Wiki
YouTube
IMDb

More MP3s:
Hype Machine
Elbows

More:
Actors/Singers

Use some of you 50 FREE Downloads from eMusic to get more actors/singers.

(Mostly) Instrumental Thursdays ∞ Going Back To Africa


I needed something to post for Instrumental Thursday (as it has been a while). Enter the invisible hand of serendipity.

Coconut (of the soon-to-be famous Coconut & The Duke) saw Leni Stern the other night in NYC. He said it was “frickin amazing”.

Her 2007 release was a collaboration with some of the best instrumentalists in all of Africa. She said, "I want people to hear what Africa sounds like. Africa deserves our respect, not just our mercy. And out of respect for the music, I felt compelled to record the album in Africa."

Listen (from Africa):
Leni Stern ∞ Simbo
Leni Stern ∞ Forest Song

Bonus song:
Leni Stern ∞ Carolina

Further study:
Website
myspace
Wiki
YouTube

More MP3s:
Hype Machine
Elbows

Buy it!

More:
Instrumentals

Use some of you 50 FREE Downloads from eMusic to get more instrumentals.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Guilty Pleasures For Humpday ∞ Pop(ovic) Goes The Weasel


I hate to say it, but Ana Popcovic could play any type of music and I would listen as long as I can look at her while she plays. What does she play? Mostly hard rocking blues. As the weather heats up, her music matches the climate.


Click links to download:
Hungry (mp3)

Calendars (mp3)

Is This Everything There Is (mp3)


Further study:
Website
myspace
Wiki
YouTube

More MP3s:
Hype Machine
Elbows

What is your guilty pleasure this week? Leave a hullabaloo.

Buy at eMusic

More:
Guilty Pleasures

My Favorite Song This Week


As stated here and here, I am loving Ben Sollee’s album “Learning To Bend”. It comes out in less than a month. Comparisons to Andrew Bird are inevitable as he is a string player and has a mellow voice.

The album is chalked full of great songs, great instrumentation, great lyrics, it’s just freakin’ great.

Listen:
Ben Sollee ∞ A Change Is Gonna Come

Further Study:
myspace
YouTube

More MP3s:
Hype Machine
Elbows

What is your favorite this week? Leave a hullabaloo.

More:
Weekly Favorites

Use some of your 50 FREE Downloads from eMusic to get more favorites. Or not.

Sizzling songs
Oasis - Nothin' On Me Lyrics
Great Big Sea - Walk On The Moon Lyrics
Ashanti - Body On Me Lyrics
Jon McLaughlin - Beating My Heart Lyrics
Alicia Keys - Teenage Love Affair Lyrics
Lloyd - Heart Attack Lyrics
Weezer - Pork And Beans Lyrics
Jason Mraz - Details In Fabric Lyrics
Kardinal Offishall - Dangerous Lyrics
Hilary Duff - I Want To Blow You Up Lyrics
Get your free list here.

While The Days Of The Week Get All Hodgepodged

One of the reasons I stick with weekly features here at The Late Greats: it helps me keep track of which day it is.

Posts of note:

music is art posted a covers mixtape.

XPN posts about Ben Sollee, who’s 2008 release “Learning To Bend” is quickly climbing to the top of my list of favs from this year.

To The Dogs has more proof that Australians are the coolest people in the world.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Compare & Contrast ∞ Funkytown

Duke Jr.'s belly is still a little "funky". Maybe some rollerskating disco will help...

Lipps, Inc. ∞ Funkytown

Zen For Primates ∞ Funkytown

Which version do you prefer? or did I leave about your favorite? Leave a hullabaloo.

More:
Compare & Contrast-s

Party Tunes Tuesday ∞ Heathen Party


The Band of Heathens are like The Band. Are like Little Feet. The three frontmen all share vocal responsibility. Their sound is rootsy. Their drummer – John Chipman – won Best Drummer at the 2008 Austin Music Awards.

If you want to party down and dirty, these are your songs. Their first studio album - self-titled - hits shelves on May 20. Add it to next week’s shopping list.

Listen:
The Band of Heathens ∞ Don’t Call On Me
The Band of Heathens ∞ Jackson Station

Further study:
Website
myspace
YouTube

More MP3s:
Hype Machine
Elbows

More:
Party Tunes

Use some of you 50 FREE Downloads from eMusic to get more party tunes.

Inbox Artists ∞ Not Your Average Joe


(photo by Amber Meairs)

You know how sometimes a song resonates with you? If Joe Pug’s songs don’t, I think you might be a zombie. Simple in their production, complex in their lyrics. Comparisons to other acoustic guitar strummers are inevitable: Steve Earle, Josh Ritter, Dylan.

His Nation Of Heat EP is out today. Pick one up, or else…

Listen:
Joe Pug ∞ Hymn #101

Further study:
Website
myspace
Wiki
YouTube

More MP3s:
Hype Machine
Elbows

More:
Inbox Artists

Use some of your 25 FREE downloads from eMusic to more songs by these musicians.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Album Review ∞ Kris Delmhorst: Shotgun Singer w/ a side of Homonym Monday ∞ Oleander


I love artists who aren’t afraid to try new things, whether it is making a cover album with two friends (one would become husband/father of soon-to-be-born child) or recording an album using other people’s poetry for the lyrics. Kris Delmhorst isn’t afraid to take a chance.

Some might be shocked at the amount of production on her fifth studio album. The instrumentation is more varied, the drums more percussive, the backup kids choir, the handclaps, the string sections, the kitchen sink. Even though the sound of the 12 tracks that make up Shotgun Singer are kicked up a notch when compared to her earlier work, the overall effect is still the same.

These are well-written songs sung with boat-loads of emotion.

Rating: Da Capo Al Fine =
Siamese Dream
(Confused about the ratings scale? Check out my sidebar.)

Listen:
Kris Delmhorst ∞ 1000 Reasons


Musical Homonym:
Kris Delmhorst ∞ Oleander
Sarah Harmer ∞ Oleander

Further study:
Website
myspace
Wiki
YouTube

More MP3s:
Hype Machine
Elbows

Buy from her store.

You can use some of you 25 FREE Downloads from eMusic to get this album.

More:
Album Reviews

More:
Homonyms

Why The F*ck Is No One In America Blogging About ∞ David Myles


I wish talent = music blogoweb exposure BUT it doesn’t. In my opinion, a lot of terrible bands get WAY too much attention on the blogs (ex. Coldyplay). AND the folks with the skills to pay the bills, actually struggle to pay the bills. David Myles is that kind of artist.

This Halifaxian musician leans on the folk side of the genre spectrum. But he is not afraid to pepper his well-written songs with gospel, jazz and rock. He won the 2008 Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, the 2006 International Songwriting Contest and his 2007 release – Things Have Changed – earned him two Music Nova Scotia awards and the East Coast Music Award for Galaxies Rising Star Rerecording of The Year. That is a lot of accolades.

He released a new batch of tunes last week called On The Line, which includes other talented Canadians like Old Man Luedecke, Meghan Smith and Matt Mays. More proof that 2008 Is The Year Of Canadian Music.

Listen:
David Myles ∞ Cape Breton
David Myles ∞ Holy Man

Further study:
Website
myspace
YouTube

More MP3s:
Hype Machine
Elbows

Buy here or from iTunes.

More:
Underexposed Canadians

Use some of you 50 FREE Downloads from eMusic to get more Canadian music.

While You Overnight’ed The Flowers For Mom

Bag O’ Songs is full of Mother’s Day material.

As does To The Dogs.

Cover Lays Down with Folk Moms (gee, that sounds a little dirty, doesn’t it?).

Setting The Woods is taking a little hiatus.

Ick Music beats me to the punch about Band of Heathens!

Friday, May 09, 2008

One Song Lost Recap ∞ Cabin Fever

The song for this week’s episode, Cabin Fever:
Super Furry Animals ∞ Cabin Fever

"Welcome back my friend
Where the hell have you been"


"It's nice to know you’re here and we got there in the end
The future is now wide open and clear"


Extra special bonus song:
Casey Dienel ∞ Cabin Fever

"And talking about leaving we'll know it's time"


Obligatory recap of The Recaps:
The Beginning Of The End
Confirmed Dead
The Economist
Eggtown
The Constant
The Other Woman
Ji Yeon
Meet Kevin Johnson
The Shape Of Things To Come
Something Nice Back Home

8 From ’08 ∞ Covers


If there is one truth about the music from 2008, it is this: 2008 is a good year for cover songs. From the early year release from Cat Power to this week’s EP released by Laura Gibson.

in no particular order:
Thao ∞ You Really Got a Hold On Me (The Mircles)

Lando Pigg ∞ Young At Heart (Frank Sinatra)

Shelby Lynne ∞ Just A Little Lovin’ (Dusty Springfield)

The Watson Twins ∞ Just Like Heaven (The Cure)

Laura Gibson ∞ All The Pretty Horses (trad.)

Adele ∞ Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan)

Caroline Herring ∞ Midnight On The Water (Kate Wolf)

And a special cover chosen by Cover Lay Down:
Dala ∞ A Man Needs A Maid (Neil Younng)

Extra special bonus cover:
Caroline Herring ∞ All The Pretty Little Horses

More:
8 from 08s

Use some of your 50 FREE DOWNLOADS from eMusic to get more great music released in 2008.

While The Family Straw Deals With The Flu

Yes folks, The Duke took the day off from The Late Greats yesterday, due to a little household flu outbreak. Duke Jr. and The Duchess got hit – nothing for me yet (cross your fingers). And since family trumps blog, no posts on Thursday. Not to worry, got oodles lined up for today.

Posts of note:
In case you haven’t heard, WXPN in Philly has teamed up with Daytrotter to bring you a weekly radio show. Bruce has the low down.

The Yellow Stereo found some new Sigur Ros.

MP3 to worth listening to:
Ingrid Michaelson ∞ Spare Change

This song was recorded for Augustyn Burroughs’s audio book: A Wolf At The Table. I love the idea of music getting paired with the written word.

Videos I got yesterday were worth watching:
A Fine Frenzy ∞ Come On, Come Out
Come On, Come Out


Tours worth paying attention to:

My Morning Jacket dates!!!
06/20: New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall
08/16: Louisville, KY @ The Great Law at Louisville Waterfront Park
08/18: Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
08/19: Council Bluffs, IA @ Stir Cove
08/21: Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater*
08/23: Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom
08/24: Austin, TX @ Stubbs
08/27: Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre-Atlanta
08/29: Miami, FL @ The Fillmore Miami Beach@ the Jackie Gleason Theater
08/30: Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues- Orlando
08/31: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues- Myrtle Beach
09/02: Charlottesville, VA @ Charlottesville Paviion
09/03: Washington, DC @ Constitution Hall
09/05: Philadelphia, PA @ Festival Pier @ Penn's Landing
09/06: Boston, MA @ Bank of America Pavilion
09/19: Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre
09/21: Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre
09/23: Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
09/24: Las Vegas, NV @ The Joint
09/25: San Diego, CA @ SDSU Open Air Theater
09/27: Portland, OR @ McMenamins Edgefield
09/28: Seattle WA @ McCaw Hall
10/02: Minneapolis, MN @ Orpheum Theatre
10/03: Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater
10/04: Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore Detroit
10/09: Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
10/10: Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre

Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Guilty Pleasures For Humpday ∞ I Am A Duffer


This past weekend, Coconut & The Duke played a little music together – hear a sampling of what we can do on this week’s Contrast Podcast – and a little golf. Sometimes a novice golfer is called a “duffer”.


I’m gonna steal that expression and say fans of the UK soul singer DUFFY should be called Duffers. So folks, on at least two levels, I am a Duffer.

Duffy’s debut album – Rockferry – is HUGE in her native land. It drops next Tuesday in America. Produced by Suede guitarist Bernard Butler, the 10 track album on Mercury is a perfect soul-poop affair.

Watch the vid for her sweet sounding single:


RIYL: Amy Winehouse, Adele, Joss Stone

Further study:
website
myspace
Wiki
YouTube

More MP3s:
Hype Machine
Elbows

What is your guilty pleasure this week? Leave a hullabaloo.

More:
Guilty Pleasures

My Favorite Song This Week


Not sure what to say about this one, other than it’s been stuck in my head for days.

Listen:
Collin Herring ∞ Punches (feat. Kathleen Edwards)

Further Study:
Website
myspace
YouTube

More MP3s:
Hype Machine
Elbows

What is your favorite this week? Leave a hullabaloo.

More:
Weekly Favorites

Use some of your 50 FREE Downloads from eMusic to get more favorites. Or not.

Hot songs
Nina Sky - Really Didn't Matter Lyrics
Rihanna - If I Never See Your Face Again Lyrics
Donnie Klang - Rolling Stone Lyrics
Three 6 Mafia - Lolli Lolli Lyrics
Girlicious - Stupid Shit Lyrics
Nicole Scherzinger - Rio Lyrics
One Chance - Hate The Game Lyrics
Lil' Kim - Rider Lyrics
V.I.C. - Get Silly Lyrics
Brooks & Dunn - Put A Girl In It Lyrics
Get tools for your blog here.

Wayback Wednesdays


This week’s trip in the Wayback Machine is significant for a few reasons: it features The Roots who have a new album out now - Rising Down; and this past weekend, there was a lot of Toots getting played in the Straw house.

Listen:
Toots & The Maytals ∞ Funky Kingstown (feat. The Roots and Bootsy Collins)

Bonus song that features Toots:
Easy Star All-Stars ∞ Let Down (Radiohead cover)

More:
Wayback Wednesdays

Use some of you 50 FREE Downloads from eMusic to get more trips in the Wayback Machine.

While The Contrast Podcast Blows Your Socks Off

Yes folks, it is true. Yours truly is back with Tim and Co. for the Contrast Podcast. This week’s theme was music with spoken word in it. I submitted the song “Water Down The Pipes” by Coconut & The Duke.

songs:il waxes about kids and Lisa Cerbone.

Muruch suggests the next book I should read.

And Brooke Miller.

Minneapolis is f-ing rocking with live Dosh.

Heather has live Explosions In The Sky.