Jenny Owen Youngs - "Good Day"
I can't hardly help not to love songs that include handclaps, and "Good Day" is no exception. It is filled with such infectious, bubbly good times that I can't help but want to get in my car just so I can ride with the top down and this song blaring from the speakers. Lewis says this was intention as her last album, Batten the Hatches was filled with love lorn, sad bastard ballads. This time she says she wants to "move people emotionally, but also move them physically." On the basis of "Good Day" I'd say she's got that down pat.
Catch more of Jenny on her Myspace page, Facebook, Twitter, and her blog.
Kicksville - "Kalamaya"
My wife's parents were missionaries for many years and as such she was born in Sierra Leone, Africa. They left long before she was really aware of where she was, but the Dark Continent left a lasting impression on her psyche. This has caused me too, to have an interest in that distant culture. Not enough to be well versed, mind you, but at least a desire to know more.
The music of Africa is so unique, vibrant, and varied that I am always amazed to hear it. Kicksville is less a band and more of a collective experiment, and according to their website a vacation town. Confused? Yeah, me too. Apparently, they are not even African either. Not that you'd know it from "Kalamaya."
The music starts from the town's mayor and morphs as the collective of 58 citizens expand and add to the core song. They then release one song per week which are collectively known as seasons. Not the most normal way to make music, bu then nothing about Kicksville seems normal.
"Kalaymaya" is a beautiful blend of Paul Simon guitar sounds, and unearthly, gorgeous vocals. It all blends into a bouquet that conjures images of a land that is both familiar and unseen to my eyes.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
It's the Honeybears that are mostly white; Black Joe Lewis appears mostly black. I am off to get my slow jam on with "I'm Broke,".
2 - The Commissioner
thank you thank you thank you - glad you like Kalamaya so much!
Just an FYI though, some of the musicians involved with Kicksville ARE African. Tani Diakite (the singer on Kalamaya) is from Mali, and there are a number of other Kicksville citizens who came from various parts of Africa (Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, etc.)
3 - Mat Brewster
D'oh, didn't realize there were comments here. ElB, keep that slow jam going as long as you can.
Commissioner, thanks for the information. I couldn't find very much information on Kicksville other than what I wrote. I appreciate you giving me some more.