Mark Saleski: "LDN" from Alright, Still by Lily Allen
Ah the sweet Caribbean breezes, the sparky horns, the lilting melodies, the crack whores, and the muggings. What?! Yes, I had heard nothing about Lily Allen until her recent appearance on Saturday Night Live. There's just something about a pretty girl in a party dress tossing these images against such happy music. This song does spend its time in the ugly side of London, but it has what might be the catchiest pop song chorus ever written. I am powerless to resist.
Pico: "Ash Wednesday Blues" from Ash Wednesday Blues by Anders Osbourne
There's a lot of songs about Mardi Gras, here's one about the day after (and so appropriate as I listen to it on this February 21).
In a New Orleans-themed album that ranges in sound from The Band to Dr. John to the Subdudes, the title song is a quiet, introspective number accompanied by just a piano and an organ lurking ever so subtley. Both the mood and Osbourne's singing reminds me a lot of Billy Joel's "She's Got A Way". And that's not a bad reminder at all.
Michael Jones: "They Don't Know" from Stay by Simply Red
Over the past few days I've been listening to an advance copy of Simply Red's Stay, which is slated for release on April 3rd. I'll admit that the biggest reason I found myself wanting to review this album is the strong feelings of nostalgia I get when I think of Mick Hucknell's voice. Songs such as "Holding Back The Years," "Money's Too Tight To Mention" and "If You Don't Know Me By Now" are musical stepping stones along the path of some of my most treasured memories.
So, imagine my surprise when I first popped Stay into my stereo, and found it to be something new, vibrant, and decidedly not something nostalgic. Sure, Hucknell's voice is just as wonderful as it ever was, but these songs are just as strong as anything Simply Red has ever released. My favorite song, and the one that's been in heaviest repeat on my iPod, "They Don't Know" just has this wonderful throwback sound to everything that is good and right in the world of soul music. It's just a beautiful song that gives my heart goose-bumps.
Anywho, that's what's spinning in my ears the most, lately.
Cara de Pescado: "Wishful Thinking" from The Ditty Bops by The Ditty Bops
The Ditty Bops are a California duo playing a mix of swing, folk, bluegrass, jazz, and ragtime that makes it impossible to not sashay alongside. Think Andrews Sisters singing They Might Be Giants or The Beatles singing Broadway Jazz numbers and you might get a pretty close mental picture of this duo fun enough to land a major label contract after only eight public shows. The foot-tapping melody of “Wishful Thinking” may lack deep or philosophical lyrics, but it does summon a feeling straight out of the Roarin’ Twenties. It may not be the world’s greatest song, but it sure is a happy ditty.
Article comments
1 - DJRadiohead
Sir Saleski, I have stayed away from Lily Allen for reasons I can't quite remember or explain. I am going to have to investigate this further.
2 - Tom Johnson
Ah, dangit, I ran out of time this weekend and forgot to contribute for this week. Next week, for sure.
3 - DJRadiohead
Tom, I'll be looking forward to hearing from you next week.
In the meantime, have you spent anytime investigating Pulp yet?
4 - Tom Johnson
Not yet - Pulp's on my ever-expanding mental list titled "to check out," the rank of which shifts from week to week. I'm going to have to bite the wax tadpole here soon and just order one of those deluxe editions. How about you - any progress on GBV?
5 - zingzing
hey djr, i would suggest pulp's "we love life" (i think that's what it is called...)
it's kind of the ugly stepchild of pulp's later stuff, career killer kinda thang... produced by scott walker as well.
6 - DJRadiohead
Zing, I'm listening to We Love Life as we speak. I was able to score it locally (for an outrageous sum of money that I shouldn't have paid) and I think it's quite a good listen.
"Weeds" and "I Love Life" are both great. "The Trees" is also pretty great. I don't think there's a song on it I don't like.
7 - Jon Sobel
I just discovered Jonathan Coulton recently. Very hard to get "Chiron Beta Prime" or "Code Monkey" out of your head once they're in there. Yikes!
8 - Mat Brewster
Sorry I missed out this week. Went out of town then got hit with a nasty stomach thing, that is just now letting me crawl away from the bed.
9 - DJRadiohead
No worries, Sir Brewster. I hope your digestive track returns to a more pleasant state.
10 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! A link to this article now appears on our Myspace Profile Page.
11 - DJRadiohead
My copy of Jarvis and Different Class arrived this week. I'm not sure which album will be represented next week but I can virtually guarantee one of them will.