tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29417525630475493322024-03-14T05:49:56.822-04:00World Within ItselfStevie said it best: "Music is a world within itself/With a language we all understand"
Check out what I'm listening to and share the music *you* love.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-65651834071831237952011-09-14T13:22:00.002-04:002011-09-14T13:24:55.313-04:00Yes. Yes, they do.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/13/rock-is-not-the-enemy/?ref=opinion&nl=opinion&emc=tya1">This is a really great essay</a> and I couldn't agree more. I, too, bailed out of studying music when I was young and have lived to regret it. If we had a program like <a href="http://littlekidsrock.org/">Little Kids Rock</a>, I would have loved it! </span>J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-38448162502493909002009-05-27T21:03:00.004-04:002009-05-27T21:09:47.462-04:00We'll never run out of names<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/Sh3jo1qjn1I/AAAAAAAAAGM/ywYPf7_ZF2k/s1600-h/Sleepytime.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/Sh3jo1qjn1I/AAAAAAAAAGM/ywYPf7_ZF2k/s320/Sleepytime.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340675023871123282" /></a>Every now and again I come across a band name that makes me think we MUST be running out of names. But when I look at it another way, it makes me think that the possibilities are endless. Exhibit A: Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. <div><br /></div><div>A friend introduced me to this album last night. I bought it immediately and I cannot wait to devour it whole. (I will wait, however, as there is other music in the house today for professional reasons and I'm quite enjoying eavesdropping.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks, Nick!</div><div>(New music to be added to the player soon. I promise.)</div>J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-2452639860334762632009-05-18T13:17:00.003-04:002009-05-18T13:24:34.387-04:00Why I love playing weddings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/ShGZcuSPQUI/AAAAAAAAAF0/SVzuSbBn8qI/s1600-h/Estelle.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 115px; height: 115px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/ShGZcuSPQUI/AAAAAAAAAF0/SVzuSbBn8qI/s320/Estelle.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337215752150663490" /></a>First of all, I should say up front that I resisted playing weddings for years because I thought I would hate it. People told me I would hate it and I believed them. And then I actually played one, as a kind of favor for my sister. And I had a blast! So now I play weddings and honestly, I love it. I always get turned on to good music during my interactions with the bride and groom. Right now I'm listening to an album I bought for a wedding I did Saturday night. If I was still working at The World's Largest Record Store, I would have heard this one already. But I don't, so I didn't. And this new Estelle record is a treat! It's lovely summer listening. I'll have to tracks posted soon, so check back if you want to have a listen.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-41967328039769560572009-02-24T15:36:00.004-05:002009-02-24T15:41:31.534-05:00Singin' and jingin' a jangle. Heaven help me.We have these lovely ponds that I adore. And now that we have a dog, I walk by the ponds on a pretty regular basis. Here's the problem: Muskrats. To be fair, the muskrats are kinda cute. But what happens when I walk by the ponds, whether I *see* the muskrats or not, is that I get Muskrat Love (as performed by Captain & Tennille, not the original) stuck in my head. Sometimes for hours.<div><br /></div><div>Any suggestions are welcome.</div>J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-27986217354921251732008-12-14T12:27:00.001-05:002008-12-14T13:09:35.890-05:00Audio Diversity - Perversity or Perfection? Discuss.Does it mean something disturbing that I love Take 6 and Marilyn Manson both so very much? I'm working on the new music player (located at the bottom of each page - now you can listen to the tunes I'm writing about!) and I'm listening to Take 6. I'm typing merrily away and I get to Mr. Manson. And that makes me wonder how it is that I'm built this way. I don't think it's going too far out on a limb to suggest that a Venn diagram of fans of these bands would feature very little overlap. But perhaps that's not true. I'm hoping the internet will reveal all. I've been listening to a lot of streaming audio these days, mostly <a href="http://www.radioparadise.com/">Radio Paradise</a> (www.radioparadise.com) and <a href="http://www.wnyc.org/shows/eveningmusic/">Evening Music</a> from WNYC. One of the things I really love about both of those shows is that they range far and wide. I'm on the lookout for more shows/stations that play across genres as a matter of course. So if you've got suggestions, send 'em my way!J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-11622379036858359592008-11-05T10:55:00.000-05:002008-11-05T11:01:03.105-05:00More love, comin' right up!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SRHCgqe2LNI/AAAAAAAAAEw/3sAdJLXSM8A/s1600-h/Take6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 170px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SRHCgqe2LNI/AAAAAAAAAEw/3sAdJLXSM8A/s320/Take6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265203305788091602" border="0" /></a>I love these guys, especially <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/take6/take6">this album</a>, their first. And right now this track is looping in my head:<br /><br />Spread love, instead of spreading lies<br />Spread love, the truth needs no disguise<br />I’ve often said love could open any door<br />Oh, but I wish we had much more<br />More love is what we needJ Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-87669333576162266032008-10-29T21:42:00.000-04:002008-10-29T22:46:36.662-04:00You know what? Shut the f*** up.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQkRAdPRXII/AAAAAAAAAEo/foyNfZBE2MM/s1600-h/50+foot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 170px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQkRAdPRXII/AAAAAAAAAEo/foyNfZBE2MM/s320/50+foot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262756339105488002" border="0" /></a>It was another one of those days. Sigh. Don't get me started. Just know that I was low on sleep and frustrated with the world. So I enlisted Kristin Hersh and friends to help me work it out. Holy cow, that woman has some serious pipes. And <a href="psody.com/50footwave/9581677_goldenocean">these songs</a> are ferocious.<br /><br />If you like Throwing Muses and heavier things, you'll want to give this album a listen.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-84576894692091083572008-10-28T19:14:00.000-04:002008-10-28T19:22:49.834-04:00The seasons changed an hour too soon/why the record industry makes me sad<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQedtG2FKHI/AAAAAAAAAEg/AdHx2yKx2HA/s1600-h/flat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 319px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQedtG2FKHI/AAAAAAAAAEg/AdHx2yKx2HA/s320/flat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262348087862831218" border="0" /></a>This post *was* going to be about how Thomas Dolby helped me through a white-knuckle drive through an early snow storm. But now that I've discovered that this amazing, wonderful, not-entirely-timeless-but-still-spectacular album is out of print, I have to take a moment and say that I love the music industry, it has been a lovely place to hang out for all of my adult years (even if only on the sidelines), but honestly, when an album this good can be allowed to go out of print, that's as good a reason as any for this aged beast to be finally put out of its (no, wait, our) misery. Music industry as I knew you in my childhood: Be gone! All hail the new digital age!J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-52122108766245485432008-10-27T15:44:00.000-04:002008-10-27T16:03:44.592-04:00A Deal With God<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQYcMfOMOvI/AAAAAAAAAEY/AWbseu-G4JE/s1600-h/Hounds.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 192px; height: 192px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQYcMfOMOvI/AAAAAAAAAEY/AWbseu-G4JE/s320/Hounds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261924215494032114" border="0" /></a>My sweetheart and and I decided yesterday (where there was no web, hence, no post) that <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/katebush/12989638_houndsoflove">Hounds of Love</a> could possibly be a perfect album. Not perfect for every occasion, mind you. Not something you throw on the stereo of the convertible on your way to the beach. But perfect in so many ways. And completely perfect for this time of year. If you haven't heard it, ever or even in a while, do yourself a favor and do so now.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-50878766080025839342008-10-25T18:46:00.000-04:002008-10-25T19:34:01.816-04:00Tricky Fingers, Indeed.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQOhvYQ3LlI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/rIK758gnNhk/s1600-h/floz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 170px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQOhvYQ3LlI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/rIK758gnNhk/s320/floz.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261226625037971026" border="0" /></a>Another installment of bands that Shoulda Been A Contenda.<br />(Rhapsody has only two of their albums, <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/fluidounces/bignotebookforeasypiano?pagestart=0">here's this one</a>.)J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-1787904696419533192008-10-24T12:53:00.000-04:002008-10-24T13:02:30.301-04:00Will you bite the egg sandwich that feeds you?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQH9llZ9UZI/AAAAAAAAAEI/QY719_JcSX8/s1600-h/NIN.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQH9llZ9UZI/AAAAAAAAAEI/QY719_JcSX8/s320/NIN.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260764661883425170" border="0" /></a>I love hearing good music in unexpected places. Today it was <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/nineinchnails/withteeth">Nine Inch Nails</a> at the deli on my way to class. The guys behind the counter were discussing what music was acceptable to play in the shop, which is pretty funny because I'm fairly certain that the majority of the population can live without a side of industrial anger with their eggs. That said, it wasn't very loud, and most folks probably wouldn't have noticed if they didn't already know the music.<br /><br />To the counter guys: Apologies for joining the conversation. It's not nice for old people like me to publicly enjoy the music of young people. Takes the fun out of it.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-24296653793009047742008-10-23T20:43:00.000-04:002008-10-23T21:58:54.509-04:00Phil Collins is an excellent drummer.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQErvwmOrAI/AAAAAAAAAEA/MuV1rUiACUc/s1600-h/shapes.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQErvwmOrAI/AAAAAAAAAEA/MuV1rUiACUc/s200/shapes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260533939244542978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQErpb00ovI/AAAAAAAAAD4/A27u-tCZUo8/s1600-h/abacab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SQErpb00ovI/AAAAAAAAAD4/A27u-tCZUo8/s200/abacab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260533830589391602" border="0" /></a>Don't argue with me. And stop rolling your eyes. It's true! He is! He's not just the cheeseball who sang "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB775nB3YBI&feature=related">Sussudio</a>" until you wanted to slap the taste out of his mouth. (Full disclosure: I own the 45 of Sussudio. I think it's in my parents' basement.) Did you even *know* he was the drummer? Okay then. You know I'm right.<br />(links to come)J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-13374607979403927682008-10-22T21:53:00.000-04:002008-10-22T22:08:58.119-04:00I can't understand a thing she's saying, but I love them all the same<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SP_ZzwaX6xI/AAAAAAAAADg/0SrWTtisDUE/s1600-h/CTwins.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SP_ZzwaX6xI/AAAAAAAAADg/0SrWTtisDUE/s320/CTwins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260162372984105746" border="0" /></a>Cocteau Twins make ideal music for driving along a dark country lane in fall. Also for other moments, but that's the one that struck me coming home tonight. This is a beautiful album - lush, dream-like, etc. (All the reviews end up sounding the same. But don't hold the band accountable for that.)<br /><br />If you want a lovely album that's great for letting your mind wander to lovely places, <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/cocteautwins/bluebellknoll">this is the one</a>.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-3733902158868235072008-10-21T15:18:00.000-04:002008-10-21T15:33:18.911-04:00Shock is all in your head<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SP4sUZ5qyvI/AAAAAAAAADY/l4TSwrOb838/s1600-h/manson+mechanical.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SP4sUZ5qyvI/AAAAAAAAADY/l4TSwrOb838/s200/manson+mechanical.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259690143877090034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SP4sNzGyVzI/AAAAAAAAADQ/CVkYlUfnYK8/s1600-h/Manson+portrait.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SP4sNzGyVzI/AAAAAAAAADQ/CVkYlUfnYK8/s200/Manson+portrait.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259690030383912754" border="0" /></a>It's almost unreasonable, how much I enjoy Marilyn Manson some days.<br />This is one of those days: There are a few things going on in my life that make me angry and frustrated. At the most basic level, <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/marilynmanson">this stuff</a> gives me someone to shout and growl along with, as well as the feeling that there are other people who are as angry and frustrated as I am (if not way, WAY more).J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-78407195443873243312008-10-18T22:14:00.000-04:002008-10-18T22:23:59.342-04:00Sigh.Listening to radio means nearly never hearing a song you don't already know. This is sad, it seems to me. Don't get me wrong, I love hearing tunes I know on the radio. What I don't love is <span style="font-weight: bold;">only</span> hearing tunes I know. I have this experience every time I travel somewhere in the US: I get somewhere new and tune in the radio. I hear things you haven't heard in a while. I think "Woohoo! Back catalog! And new things!" And then I realize, the next day, that it's the same stuff they always play. I just haven't heard it in a while because I haven't been in that region in a while.<br /><br />There's no need for this to be the case. In my hard drive, I have enough music that we could all sit and listen for 515.8 days without hearing a duplicate. (Minus a few built-in duplicates.) (But note that we could listen for well over a YEAR and not hear the same song twice.) And that's just in MY library. Contemplate, for a moment, what that could mean for your day-to-day radio listening. Radio could be fun again!J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-27524893138161836432008-10-16T22:44:00.000-04:002008-10-16T22:52:33.938-04:00You Spin Me Right 'Round, Baby<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SPf8O7DQtLI/AAAAAAAAADI/N-lLGlL1mDU/s1600-h/KSJS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SPf8O7DQtLI/AAAAAAAAADI/N-lLGlL1mDU/s400/KSJS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257948423278081202" border="0" /></a>Today I visited the radio station where I learned the trade. Man, do I feel old. When I started at KSJS, the "booth" was an actual closet that they'd turned into a functional booth. And we were at 90.7 (not 90.5). And (heaven help me I'm old) we played RECORDS.<br /><br />It was fun to see the old place. I loved doing radio and I've been sad to see it get worse and worse. I'm hoping that satellite and HD will change that. If you listen to either of those, leave a comment about what you like and why. Maybe you can teach an old dog a new trick.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-10439641143975026492008-10-14T01:33:00.000-04:002008-10-14T01:37:28.123-04:00Jeez. Come *on* already, Eileen!Dexy's Midnight Runners own my brain right now. I wish I could make an appointment at Lacuna, but I can't. So I'll just share with you, and then *you'll* have it stuck in your head, too. Misery does indeed love company. Heh.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-11899155187583507652008-10-13T01:30:00.001-04:002008-10-13T03:12:47.666-04:00I got something to say that might cause you painI'm so used to listening to music all day that being in an environment where I don't has an unusual effect on my mind: I get songs brutally, irrevocably stuck in my head. For silly reasons, too. For instance, right now I've got The Beatles <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLjIyaOZgQA">"You Can't Do That"</a> playing on a loop, just because I was playing a game with my family and I kept thinking of possible moves and then thinking "I can't do that."<br /><br />Also, in case you haven't figured this out by now, I'll prove to you what a dork I am by confessing that I've also got a song from "Hello, Dolly!" stuck in my head for a similar reason: The game involves counting, as does <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jENKl-29pbE">the song</a>.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-53805294794555096362008-10-12T02:14:00.000-04:002008-10-12T02:26:26.623-04:00Take Five<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SPGWYdIPhnI/AAAAAAAAAC4/GjQFaUu05vU/s1600-h/Brubeck.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SPGWYdIPhnI/AAAAAAAAAC4/GjQFaUu05vU/s320/Brubeck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256147586998306418" border="0" /></a>I heard a snippet of Paul Desmond on the radio today. I'm not sure what the tune was, but the sound was undeniably Desmond. I don't have the words to describe how cool his sound is. If you don't think you know who he is, trust me, you do. His sax is more likely than not embedded in your DNA. <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/davebrubeck/timeout">Check it out</a>. See? I knew you knew his sound.<span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span>J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-40155535782133996982008-10-10T23:38:00.000-04:002008-10-10T23:47:23.989-04:00My mama said that it's good to be Lenny.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SPAg4uCc7AI/AAAAAAAAACw/dD9unpCc7bY/s1600-h/Lenny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SPAg4uCc7AI/AAAAAAAAACw/dD9unpCc7bY/s320/Lenny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255736923944446978" border="0" /></a>Rock and roll soulster. Souled out rocker. Whatever you want to call him, I think Lenny Kravitz is at his best when he’s showing off his influences with a funky groove. <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/lennykravitz/itistimeforaloverevolution">This new album</a> reminds me of the first two – the ones I really, really like.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-74951000310181128342008-10-10T00:46:00.000-04:002008-10-10T00:57:13.346-04:00Curious, George<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SO7ebDEN4iI/AAAAAAAAACg/HODPNYbxf00/s1600-h/georgestanford.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SO7ebDEN4iI/AAAAAAAAACg/HODPNYbxf00/s320/georgestanford.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255382371448775202" border="0" /></a>George Stanford writes good, accessible pop music. It’s singer-songwriterly without being too strummy-strummy la-la-la. <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/georgestanford/bigdrop">This</a> album didn’t hit me immediately. I first thought of it as the aural equivalent of a summer read: light, entertaining, well-enough done, and easily put aside. But it’s definitely catchy; after the third spin, I caught myself playing bits of tunes in my head with startling regularity. “Down River” comes to me fairly often – it’s a little dark and dreamy – great for foggy fall days.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-52953249045905063082008-10-09T18:51:00.001-04:002008-10-09T18:51:54.831-04:00Fresh! Hot! Links!Check out all the fab new links I've added - nearly all of 'em should take you directly to a free listening experience. Enjoy!J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-39347803861628573372008-10-06T23:12:00.000-04:002008-10-07T18:51:14.028-04:00If I could save time in a bottle (I still wouldn't be Jim Croce)The thing I love about time (forgive me, musicians, but not the time you count) is that it passes. Given enough time, the most trite songs once again become meaningful. Or, at least, they can feel that way.<br /><br />I hate commercial radio. But when I'm scanning through the radio, mourning a dead iPod battery, and I run across <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/rush/rush">"Working Man" </a>by Rush, that makes me smile. I was but a toddler when that song was released. "Working Man" is followed by <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/eltonjohn/goodbyeyellowbrickroad">"Bennie and the Jets", </a>a song slightly older than the Rush tune and those only slightly older than yours truly. Also a feel-good tune. By most reckoning, you can't lump Rush and Elton John together in any meaningful way. But there they are, sharing the Classic Rock radio waves.<br /><br />And that's cool. Maybe we can all get along. Sometimes.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-42435083063783666732008-10-05T20:24:00.000-04:002008-10-07T18:53:37.261-04:00I'm always up for a No Good Reason Party!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SOlcTYnCDfI/AAAAAAAAACI/p2EpyIOjCog/s1600-h/socks.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253831928397827570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SOlcTYnCDfI/AAAAAAAAACI/p2EpyIOjCog/s320/socks.jpg" border="0" /></a>We've got friends visiting with their adorable 17 month old daughter, so I haven't been thinking about much music today beyond things you can sing to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." ("The Alphabet Song" and "Bah Bah Black Sheep" mostly). But it does make me think about how much and how well kids music has changed in the past five to ten years. There are so many wonderful bands out there making music designed to be enjoyed by big people as well as little people. There's no reason for parents to tear their hair out to Barney anymore when they've got <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/thedirtysockfuntimeband">The Dirty Sock Funtime Band </a>and <a href="http://www.dogonfleas.com/">Dogs on Fleas</a> and <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/unclerock">Uncle Rock</a>. So go out there and have a listen. Perhaps you'll find your inner child.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2941752563047549332.post-34092793741256749422008-10-04T20:17:00.000-04:002008-10-07T18:56:43.394-04:00Clap Hands, Here Comes Ella!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SOgIpqmkKDI/AAAAAAAAACA/3--m8qyypc0/s1600-h/Ella.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253458477231384626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_JC860Ahx1gY/SOgIpqmkKDI/AAAAAAAAACA/3--m8qyypc0/s320/Ella.jpg" border="0" /></a>Is there anyone on the planet who doesn't love <a href="http://www.rhapsody.com/ellafitzgerald/claphandsherecomescharlie">Ella Fitzgerald</a>? I hardly think it possible. I heard a 22 year old Mexican singer songwriter on the radio this morning and she called Ella her first and foremost inspiration. (More on the young singer songwriter to come in later posts.) It makes hope spring in my heart; There will always be young songwriters who write from a place of love and respect for the great musicians who have gone before them. And also the young songwriters who want to tear it all down and start fresh.<br />The bottom line: Don't listen to anyone who says there's no good new music. There's always good new music. And when you look in the musical fridge and yell "Mom! There's nothing to eat!" you can always go back to the classics.J Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16643531181087328481noreply@blogger.com0