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Tuesday, December 21, 2010

21th of December
Oryx and Crake - Oryx and Crake

Oryx + Crake

Margaret Atwood's novel gave them name, Ryan Poeples and Rebekah Good - Poeples made them good people, nine members of the band gave them rich sound, uncommon use of cello and banjo gave them distinction, God (Orix? Crake?) gave them inspiration. All I'm asking you right now is to give them a chance. They will took their chances anyway, and you'll be sorry for not being revelator!
8th of December
Jeffrey Foucault  - Cold Satellite

Cold Satellite [Explicit]

Jeffrey Foucault's voice makes the difference!. Warm, expressive and convincing tool for delivering his or other people's lyrics. Listen to John Prine's The Late John Garfield Blues or Steve Earle's Ellis Unit 1 and you'll know what I am talking about. His own songs are little less catchy, but very emotional. This album reminds me of Ryan Adams' Heartbreaker which is, according to myself, huge compliment. In his surrounding you'll find more hidden treasures - his friends Mark Erelli and Peter Mulvay and of course his wife, the one and only Kris Delmhorst.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

19th of November
Ian Dury & The Blockheads

Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll - The Essential Collection [Explicit] (MP3 Exclusive Version)

I miss Ian Dury. Brought to us by one of the first waves of New Wave, he came to stay forever. His mutant disco with cockney accent made me wanna dance for the first time in my life (to be honest, this was also the last time!). He was the person with special needs - his needs include sex, drugs and rock&roll. Not necessarily in that order!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

13th of November
Will Stratton - New Vanguard Blues

New Vanguard Blues

You are child prodigy/wunderkind if you are playing serious piano at the age of four and if you record your first album at the age of 16. You are wise kid if you hire Sufjean Stevens to play oboe and Essie Jain to sing backing vocals on your rookie and sophomore effort (respectively). You are the future of rock'n'roll if you sound like tamed Kurt Vile meets John Cale in Paris 1919 phase. You are so cool if you call your new album "New Vanguard Blues" and the title appropriately represent the content. Will Stratton is all of this. And more!

Sunday, October 31, 2010

31th of October

Mary Lou Lord - Live City Sounds

Live City Sounds

Boston subway station player, friend of Kurt Cobain and Elliott Smith, record this album live in Boston subway back in 2001. This is good example how to make cover sounds like your own song. Even the Boss' Thunder Road sound like her own song. Pity she is less active because of rare vocal chord disorder 'spasmodic dysphonia'. 

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

6th of October
Midlake - Fortune

Fortune - EP


God knows I tried to like them. They were recommended to me by my good friend whose musical taste I respect but he didn't tell me neither that they were jazz students (from jazz they borrowed the least important thing - competence on their instruments) nor that their favorite bands are Radiohead and Jethro Tull (from Radiohead they borrowed quasi-intellectual pose, from Jethro Tull those ever-changing musical directions). Overall impression - flat, boring and meaningless.
26th of September
Charles Manson - Air

Air

Only Jandek's music is less coherent than Charles Manson's. That doesn't mean that Jandek is crazier of the two. I must admit I have a prejudice knowing that he organized the murder of Sharon Tate and others. Because of that I experience his music as mean and unpleasant. I don't intend to listen to it again.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

7th of September 2010

The Guggenheim Grotto - The Universe Is Laughing

The Universe Is Laughing

Those two Dublineers made my favorite song of summer of 2010. The Spiegel Song with this charming refrain in German (charming in German?!!!?) is enough to make this CD worth buying!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

31th of August

The Weepies - Be My Thrill

Be My Thrill

I don't know if I like this. Deb and Steve, they are nice couple, their songs are pleasant, their voices get along together very well, everything is so pop but I don't like synthetic musical background, predictable songs and perfectionism. Everything here is in the right place and in the expected place. That's a problem for me, I like surprises!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

26th of August

Eels - Tomorrow Morning

Tomorrow Morning

Eels were impersonation of alternative in 90's and look at them now: they are going mainstream with giant steps. Yes, there is a catch, they are not going only pop mainstream but also classical mainstream (Oh So Lovely). The whole album restores "sixties feeling", songs itself and specially the production. And that organ! And that Casio!

Monday, August 9, 2010

9th of August

Kristin Hersh - Crooked

Crooked

Back from Throwing Muses days she haven't been that nervous. Her classic "Hips & Makers" was so peaceful, almost hypnotic ant stands today as manifesto of any young intelligent and sensitive woman. On the contrary, "Crooked" has that ever-changing feel of pre-menopausal woman's temper. Anyway, Kristin created three masterpieces, the first Throwing Muses in her 20's, "Hips & Makers" in her 30's and now "Crooked" in her 40's. Impressive!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

7th of August
José Alfredo Jiménez - Lo Esencial 3CD

Lo Esencial de Jose Alfredo Jimenez 3 Cd + DVD

José Alfredo Jiménez is legenday Mexican singer and composer of rancheras. In this package of 3 CD's there are 55 songs but unfortunately without my favorite "La Noche De Mi Mal". His songs are full of pathos (Pathos (pronounced /ˈpeɪθɒs/Greekπάθος, for 'suffering' or 'experience') (adjectival form: "pathetic") represents an appeal to the audience's emotions.). Appeal to my emotions is successful in case of Jose Alfredo - he can make me cry! Chavela Vargas (who can also make me cry) wouldn't be that great without Jose Alfredo Jimenez songs. 

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

4th of August
The Walkmen - Lisbon

Lisbon

The Walkmen are getting older, the razor blade is not as sharp as it used to be, they sound like they all fell in love, but love is unrequited! Anyway, I like it. I like it although they sound like Radiohead disabled from ego-tripping. I think I'll always like them just for that upright piano sound.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

31st of July
Dean and Britta - 13 Most Beautiful Songs For Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests


13 Most Beautiful: Songs for Andy Warhol's Screen


I'm not familiar with music of their original band Luna, but I am familiar with music of Velvet Underground. This album is resurrection of VU including Nico, not only by mentioning Andy Warhol's name but by general feeling, structure of compositions and catchy melodies from time to time. It is less experimental, it is much less important but it could easily be listened during warm summer nights!

Friday, July 30, 2010

30th of July
Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks

The Ghost Who Walks

Jack White can't be wrong! His wife Karen, famous model, redhead, mother, delivered more than anybody expected. Her album is contagious mix of pop, folk and balladry and reminds me of late Kirsty MacColl. My reccomendation!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

22nd of July
Baby Dee - A Book Of Songs For Anne Marie

Book of Songs for Anne Marie

Baby Dee, transgender hermaphrodite NYC street legend, is classicaly trained harpist and accordian player with operetic masculine voice. Her new album is pleasant listening with harp and piano driven ballads. 

Monday, July 19, 2010

19th of July
Nina Nastasia - Outlaster

Outlaster

Ever since Belle & Sebastian's golden age, I haven't heard such good chamber music. But this time it's not chamber pop, it's chamber singing/songwriting. Her warm voice in contrast with somehow cold and distant instrumentation. Sounds like Elvis Costello & Brodsky Quartet on Juliette Letters, long forgotten album with similar feel.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

17th of July

Frontier Ruckus - Deadmalls & Nightfalls

Deadmalls & Nightfalls (Dig)

Matthew Milia is obviously hypersensible young man. He is also sad, melancholic, depressive. Frontier Ruckus is not a noisy disturbance. Frontier Ruckus is emotional disturbance!
Listen to it........carefully!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010


22nd of June

Lissie - Catching The Tiger

Catching a Tiger

After promising Why You Runnin' EP with two beautiful songs Little Lovin' and Wedding Bells, Lissie published this disappointing overproduced CD. The saddest thing is that the songs are very good, but production is so mainstream and predictable that it ruins all the excitement. Lissie, fire the producer!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010


6th of June

Macy Gray - The Sellout

The Sellout

Macy is great although underappreciated songwriter, she is proving it again with her new album. Her raspy voice is raspier than ever and I love that fact. Duet with Bobby Brown....well, I forgive her that because she gave us "Still Hurts"!

5th of June
Red Stick Ramblers - My Suitcase Is Always Packed

My Suitcase Is Always Packed

Wild mix of Cajun, Honky Tonk and Western Swing direct from the heart of Louisiana. On their 5th album, sung on English and Cajun French, they sound more energetic than ever (except maybe on my favorite "Bring It On Down" from 2003). Cheerful and optimistic pleasant listening music. By the way, Red Stick is Button Rouge on French!

Saturday, June 5, 2010


4th of June

Jeffrey Luck Lucas - The Lion's Jaw

The Lion's Jaw

Jeffrey Luck Lucas is 47, plays cello and is formally trained composer. He is also founding member of The Morlocks, garage band from the 80's. The Lions Jaw is his third solo album. He's middle name is Luck, maybe he is lucky, but listening to his music, you can easily see that he is not happy. From sadness to melancholy and back, there's not much variety in this collection of songs, but if your baby just left you, that's record for you!

3rd of June

Ryan Adams - Orion


Metal-country? No, thanks! Give us back real Ryan Adams! Pleeeeeeease!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010


2nd of June
Schelmish - Persona Non Grata



German metal band who thought that it was good idea to play with medieval instruments. It sounded "rude" for me (rude definition from Merriam-Webster dictionary: lacking refinement or delicacy). On this new album they exclude metal part and left medieval. Now they don't sound rude, they are just boring. Try to avoid!

Monday, May 31, 2010

1st of June 2010
The Beautiful Girls - Spooks

Spooks

Really nice beginning of this blog, they can't be more eclectic: mix of rock, acoustic, reggae, pop, folk, experimental and whatever. Spooks is good summer album from Australia where winter is just starting!