Today I'm over at largehearted boy (one of my favorite, favorite blogs) contributing to the long-running and venerable Book Notes feature, wherein authors provide a playlist that relates to their latest work. I tried to pick some less obvious things to highlight, and you can even listen to the ten-song playlist on spotify. Go forth, …
"Tuck the Darkness In" by Bowerbirds from Secretly Jag on Vimeo. Phillips* in Blackwood LOVES this band. So do I. Thanks to Richard for the pointer to this new video. Also, thanks to the band for releasing a new album just when I'm in need of things for a shiny new playlist. (And for generally …
Pure brilliance. Via Karen Meisner.
That iTunes meme via Holly. I always use shuffle, because I'm lazy about such things–I also hit skip frequently, though not now because the rules are: My Life in Itunes RULES 1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle. 2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer. 3. YOU …
I hadn't heard anything from M. Ward's new album, Hold Time, until this morning, but the situation has now been remedied. I found "Never Had Nobody Like You" totally poppy and charming, equal parts nodding at The Beatles, Nick Drake, and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I hope the whole record's this good. Here's the …
The NYT Magazine has a lengthy feature on Neko Case by Daniel Menaker this weekend, complete with a nifty interactive map where you can follow the history of her singing travails thus far. Bet you can guess who I'll be listening to the rest of the afternoon…
No video on Youtube* of the Judybats doing "Convalescing in Spain"–proof that, in fact, footage of anything you want at any moment is not yet on the tubes! *There are a few Judybats videos, but that's Not What I'm Looking For.
Time to pull out the Gillian Welch and Uncle Tupelo.
Dolly Parton doing "Dumb Blonde" in 1968. If that doesn’t make you happy, you’re a zombie. (Via.)
Kristin Hersh’s Learn to Sing Like a Star is her best album in ages (and I’ve liked the recent albums a great deal). Think Limbo-era Throwing Muses crossed with Strange Angels; great arrangements, great gravel-voiced sing-alongs, great contrasts of loud and quiet. I am a total sucker for the marriage of quiet and loud–see my …