Category: music
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Strange As Angels, Strange As Angels, 2021 on Kwaidan
Billed as “Strange as Angels” the hype sticker calls this “Marc Collin (Nouvelle Vague) presents Chrystabell Sings The Cure.” Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux were the masterminds behind Nouvelle Vague, which released bossa nova covers of new wave songs, playing off multiple meanings of Nouvelle Vague. (Nouvelle Vague means “new wave” in French, and Bossa…
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Flight of the Conchords, Flight of the Conchords, 2008 on Sub Pop
The soundtrack to Jermaine Clement and Bret McKenzie’s brilliant and hilarious show about two New Zealand musicians trying to make it in the states. They’d previously released an EP – “The Distant Future” – and would go on to issue another album (“I Told You I Was Freaky”) and a double LP live special (“Live…
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Billy Bragg, Bloke on Bloke, 1997 on Cooking Vinyl
Seven songs from the William Bloke sessions, released as a limited edition “mini-album.” Johnny Marr joins on “The Boy Done Good” and gets co-writing credit. Also included is a cover of “Never Had No One Ever” and two remixes by Moodswings. Worth the price of admission just for the Johnny Marr track and The Smiths…
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Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars, 1988 on Geffen
This was an inescapable album in 1988 – not that I was trying to escape it. It was their studio debut and came out of nowhere to go 2x platinum. You could argue they were one-hit wonders with “What I Am,” with its ear-worm chorus (“What I am is what I am / are you…
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Willie Nelson, Phases and Stages, 1974 on Atlantic
This was Nelson’s 17th studio album and second (and last) of the Atlantic era, following Shotgun Willie, produced by Jerry Wexler and recorded at Muscle Shoals in Alabama. As the listening notes explain, while Nelson disclaimed the autobiographical elements of the record, “when you make . . . the most devastating divorce record of all…
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M. Ward, Migration Stories, 2020 on Anti-.
Tenth studio LP from Portland OR’s M. Ward, released on 2020 as his first on Anti-. (Think of Spring came out at the end of 2020; Migration Stories in April). Produced by Craig Silvey in Montreal with contributions by Richard Reed Parry and Tim Kingsbury of Arcade Fire (and others). There is a “migration story”…
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Sia, 1000 Forms of Fear, 2014 on Monkey Puzzle / RCA
I first heard (at least consciously) Sia on the beautiful “I Go To Sleep” from her appearance on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic in 2006, which then appeared on Sounds Eclectic – The Covers Project in 2007. (I also now know she was a massive fan of the reality TV show Survivor, appearing on some of…
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Talking Heads, Naked, 1988 on Fly/Sire
Eighth and final studio LP from Talking Heads – talk about going out with a bang! What a great record. They apologized in the liner notes to Minneapolis band The Wallets, who had a popular song called “Totally Nude” that came out in 1986. As a teenager in a Minneapolis that sometimes felt rather provincial…
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Randy Newman, Sail Away, 1972 on Reprise
Randy Newman’s third studio LP, including the title track and “You Can Leave Your Hat On” which became a big hit for Joe Cocker in the 80s. Quality of songwriting you expect from early Newman, including “God’s Song (That’s Why I Love Mankind).” Musicians include Ry Cooder on guitar, and Earl Palmer, Gene Parsons, and…
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Gus Cannon, Walk Right In, 1963 on Stax
Jug Band leader Gus Cannon started recording in the late 20s as “Banjo Joe” and reappeared as part of the folk revival in the 50s on Folkways. This was his first and only Stax LP released in 1963. “Walk Right In” the song became a hit for the Rooftop Singers – who were credited with…
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Herbie Nichols, The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Volumes 1 & 2, 1955 on Blue Note
This 2021 vinyl release in the Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series was previously issued only in Japan in 1983 in this form. It combines two 1955 10″ releases onto a single LP with a gatefold cover reproducing the covers of the separate volumes. The band is Herbie Nichols on piano, Al McKibbon on bass, and…
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Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group at the Shalin Liu in Rockport MA, 5/4/2025
Lyle Lovett is a phenomenal talent and great performer – you should see him any time you get a chance. He was in Rockport at the Shalin Liu with his “Acoustic Group” a few weeks ago – great show. We saw the Sunday “matinee” at 5pm, which meant that you could still see the harbor…
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M. Ward, Supernatural Thing, 2023 on Anti-
M. Ward‘s 12th solo album and followup to his Billy Holiday covers album Think of Spring. He’s joined by First Aid Kit on “Too Young To Die” and “Engine 5,” by Jim James and Kelly Pratt on “For Good”, by Shovels & Rope on “Mr. Dixon,” and by Neko Case on “Dedication Hour.” Includes a…
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Various Artists, All My Friends: Celebrating the Songs & Voice of Gregg Allman, 2014 on Rounder
A tribute concert to Gregg Allman with a star-studded set of guests, recorded January 10th, 2014 at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, and put out on Blu-Ray, DVD, and CD by Rounder. Allman faced significant health issues in the 2010s, including hepatitis c, liver cancer, and a lung transplant – it’s great they were able…
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Run D.M.C., Run D.M.C., 1984 on Profile
Run D.M.C.‘s debut album on Profile, a NY area hip-hop label that was distributed by Arista, who would later reissue it. It was produced by Russell SImmons and Larry Smith, and recorded at Greene St. Recording in Soho. Note the credit on the rear jacket to “Music by Orange Krush” – that’s Larry Smith and…
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Creedence Clearwater Revival, Willy and the Poor Boys, 1969 on Fantasy
This was the fourth LP from CCR, and the third released in 1969 (one in January, one in August, and this one in November) – talk about striking while the iron is hot / saturating the market. John Fogerty, older bother Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford are in fine form, including “Down On…
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Maggie Rogers, Surrender, 2022 on Capitol / Debay
Rogers’ second studio album on a major label, Surrender was a component of her thesis at Harvard Divinity School. Kid Harpoon (aka Thomas Edward Percy Hull) produced along with Rogers and gets cowroting credit on most of the tracks, sometimes with others (Del Water Gap aka S. Holden Jaffe). My copy via the Worcester Record…
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Wilco, A.M., 1995 on Sire / Reprise
Wilco emerged out of the breakup of Uncle Tupelo (some of the band remaining with Jeff Tweedy as Wilco, some with Jay Farrar as Son Volt). This was their first album under the name Wilco. Wilco is identified as Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt, Ken Coomer, and Max Johnston – but guest performers include Lloyd Maines,…