Random Friday ∞ Barenaked

You could say The Duke is a closet Barenaked Ladies fan. Their kids album is quite nice, if you are a hipster parent.

Kevin Hearn is the Ladies’ keyboardist. (He was also the man to push the Ladies to make said kids’ album.) Kev’s got a new album out – Havana Winter – that is short on time but long on a good time. Uptempo and fun, Havana Winter is chalk full of special guests: Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson add their two cents, not to mention vocalist Mary Margaret O’Hara and jazz saxophonist Richard Underhill.

Listen:
Kevin Hearn and thinbuckle ∞ Huntsville.ca

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Randomness

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Go see 'em on tour:
Jul. 9 - Los Angeles, CA - The Mint
Jul. 12 - Vienna, VA - Jammin' Java
Jul. 13 - Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live
Jul. 14 - Cambridge, MA - TT The Bears
Jul. 16 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
Jul. 26 - Guelph, ON - Guelph Lake Island Hillside Festival
Jul. 28 - Halifax, NS - The Company House
Jul. 30 - Toronto, ON - The Dakota Tavern
Jul. 31 - Wakefield, QC - Blacksheep Inn
Aug. 9 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza, Grant Park
Sept. 26 - Toronto, ON - Enwave Theatre (Art of Time - The Abbey Road Sessions)
Sept. 27 - Toronto, ON - Enwave Theatre (Art of Time - The Abbey Road Sessions)

Cleaning Up The Kitchen ∞ The Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets

I know I said one of the requirements of a Cleaning Up The Kitchen album was sing-a-long-ability. So how does an instrumental album make this list?

Simple, the melodies of the song are simple and easy to sing. And at just over a half hour, one much clean fast to finish the dishes before the album.

Listen:
Los Straitjackets ∞ Fortune Cookie

What do you listen to while cleaning up the kitchen? Leave a hullabaloo.

My Favorite Song This Week

Just so you know, in honor of Wilco’s new album, I have renamed this blog to “Late Greats (The Blog)”.


(photo by Patrick Nichols)

I’ve been a fan of Catherine MacLellan since I received her song "Emily’s Song" via email back in 2008. She has a new double album out “Water In The Ground / Dark Dream Midnight”. A magnum opus of Canadian folk music. In the 22 songs, there is definitely something for everyone.

Listen:
Catherine MacLellan ∞ Take A Break

What is your favorite this week? Leave a hullabaloo.

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Weekly Favorites

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Fresh songs

They Don't Care About Us Lyrics Michael Jackson	Human Nature Lyrics Michael Jackson
Smile Lyrics Charlie Chaplin	Transformers: The Fallen (Remix) Lyrics Cheap Trick
Perfect Stranger Lyrics Leona Lewis	Gone Too Soon Lyrics Michael Jackson
Will You Be There Lyrics Michael Jackson	Too Little Too Late Lyrics Brandy
Ben Lyrics Michael Jackson	We Are The World Lyrics Michael Jackson

Free song list for your blog here.

Party Tunes Tuesday ∞ Ice Cream Party (Sorta)

Trevor Hall reminds me of cleaner cut Sublime. A more laidback Mraz. His self-titled debut comes out 7.28.09.

Listen:
Trevor Hall ∞ 31 Flavors

Bonus mp3:
Ani DiFranco ∞ 32 Flavors

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Party Tunes

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Homonym Monday ∞ Idaho

No real reason for this musical Homonym. Other than I have been really digging Gregory Alan Isakov’s This Empty Northern Hemisphere. Very laidback album. Perfect for winding down after a busy holiday weekend.

Gregory Alan Isakov ∞ Idaho
Josh Ritter ∞ Idaho

Which song do you dig best? Or did I leave out your favorite “Idaho” song? Leave a hullabaloo.

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Homonyms

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Random Friday ∞ Easy To Love

Way back in August of last year, I made this proclamation:

Leslie Mendelson’s album “Easy Love” will be the first great new release of 2009. Leslie’s music leans on the pop with substance side. Comparable artists = the three Sarahs: McLachlan, Bareilles and Harmer.

Mendelson is from NYC. She likes to bum around with James Maddock – who some may remember from the band Wood.

Download this mp3. And when she hits the big time in ’09, you can say, “Oh Leslie. I’ve been listening to her months.”

Hopefully you have been listening for 11 months, because Leslie is poised to make the big time. Easy Love has become Swan Feathers – out now. Her song “Hit The Spot” was this week’s Discovery Download at iTunes. AND she swung by RAWSession and did this cover of Sex On Fire.

As for James Maddock, he has a new album coming out in June. Look for more on him soon.

Listen:
Leslie Mendelson ∞ Sex On Fire

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Randomness

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Cleaning Up The Kitchen ∞ Dearest Darlin'

I first blogged about Jenni Muldaur back in May. Right before Memorial Day Weekend. Saying Jenni’s song “You’re Breaking Me Up” is perfect for kicking off summer. Now that Summer is officially here on the calendar, it’s time to take a closer look at her album, Dearest Darlin'.

It would be easy to dismiss Jenni’s 2009 release as a Winehouse/Duffy knockoff. But there is so much more to Jenni than her classic, soulful sound. Jenni is the daughter of Maria and Geoff Maldaur. Both excellent musicians in their own right. She has sung background vocals from Rufus Wainwright to Linda and Teddy Thompson to Shivaree.

Maybe there is some connection to Those Darlins, as both albums (Jenni’s and Darlins’) are perfect for cleaning up the kitchen

Listen:
Jenni Muldaur ∞ Dearest Darlin'

What do you listen to while cleaning up the kitchen? Leave a hullabaloo.

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Album Reviews