This is what happens: a review item shows up at Chez Saleski and I live with it for a while. I listen to it in the car, at work, and at home on the stereo and the iPod. At some point, an idea strikes me and I reach for the pad and pencil. Sometimes it's obvious from the first listen that the music needs to be written about. Other albums do nothing for me and are ignored.
This year, a third category has emerged: recordings that really made an impression, yet were left on the table because solid review angles refused to materialize. Very annoying, is what it is.
Well, as Christmas approached, I figured that it was time to liberate these poor things from Saleski's Island of Misfit Musical Toys. Actually, that label is a little unfair — since I couldn't figure out what to do with them, it seems that I am the misfit.
In any event, if you're looking for last minutes gift ideas (and are lucky enough to be anywhere near a decent store), check out my pile of musical misfits.
Talib Kweli - Eardrum
Homogenized commercial radio is genre-deaf when it comes to implementing the bean-counter rules. Because of this, interesting music is filtered out across all genres. Talib Kwelia puts out some great hip-hop that avoids those clichéd elements that make so much of gangsta and krunk so boring. Eardrum features some pretty cool guests too, including KRS-One, Justin Timberlake, and Norah Jones.
Johnathan Rice - Further North
At first, I thought Rice was too close to Jacob Dylan in songwriting approach. "We're All Stuck Out In The Desert" does sound a little like The Wallflowers. Wrong! Subsequent listens revealed some great songwriting that finds the intersection between rock, folk and alt.country. Really great stuff.
Article comments
1 - Pico
My Flower Power CD's are still encased in cellophane wrap...hmmm, maybe this is a good time to liberate them.
2 - Mark Saleski
set them free!!!!
;-)
3 - Glen Boyd
Yeah, but ya still wussed out on us last night Mark (I refer of course to your audio no-show on Josh's B-Sides show on BlogTalk radio).
But you have yourself a Merry Christmas anyway.
Ho...Ho...Ho...
-Glen
4 - Mark Saleski
i'm a U2 fan, but am really not an expert, so i had nothing to add there.
...and they never really got to Tunnel of Love (which is a good thing imho)
5 - Pico
What's this, two CD's in each jewel case?? Dayum, I've got more than enough material to start a classic rock radio station.
6 - Glen Boyd
Ah, but we did get to TOL. It may have been part of the "over-run" though (which can be heard on the podcast). You really should give that album another try Mark...
Merry Christmas!
-Glen
7 - Mark Saleski
i actually gave it another try two nights ago on the way home. the reaction: nothin.
8 - El Bicho
I think I proved you didn't have to be an expert.