Chesterwhite and His Orchestra

In keeping with my David Bowie theme from last week, I am featuring the self-titled debut album by Chesterwhite and His Orchestra. Besides the obvious Bowie influence, one picks up some Zepplin, Stay Cats, and AC/DC. This record has that true rock and roll feeling. The lead singer, Danny Dykowsky, is a tremendous singer. At points on the record, he sounds like Robert Plant, especially on one of my favorite tracks, "Sunburn." Of course, the Bowie sound is clear, when he pays tribute to Bowie on "Moonage Daydream. Give Chesterwhite and His Orchestra a listen and tell me your favorite track. Click here to listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 28, 2005

Four Volts are a four piece band out of New York. They recently released their first album, though they have released a number of singles. They have been labeled post punk, but this particular song has a 60's psychedelic sound to it. The chorus is especially addictive. My choice for song of the day - "Sunday Night" Click here to listen.

David Bowie

David Bowie's influence over rock music extends from the late 60's to the present day. He is an ever changing icon of music, and seems to grow more popular with time. I thought today would be an appropriate time to pay tribute to Bowie, as my song of the day, definitely has tinges of Bowie. Click here to listen.

"Cracked Actor" - David Bowie
"Oh! You Pretty Things" - David Bowie
"Breaking Glass" - David Bowie
"The Secret Life Of Arabia" - David Bowie
"Look Back In Anger" - David Bowie
"Wild Is The Wind" - David Bowie
""Heroes"" - David Bowie
"Sound And Vision" - David Bowie
"Boys Keep Swinging" - David Bowie
"Fashion" - David Bowie
"TVC15" - David Bowie
"Fascination" - David Bowie
"Cat People (Putting Out The Fire)" - David Bowie
"Panic In Detroit" - David Bowie
"Young Americans" - David Bowie
"Sweet Thing (Reprise)" - David Bowie
"Rock N' Roll Suicide" - David Bowie
"Starman" - David Bowie
"Andy Warhol" - David Bowie
"The Supermen" - David Bowie
"New Killer Star" - David Bowie
"Life On Mars?" - David Bowie
"Ziggy Stardust" - David Bowie

Song of the Day - Feb 25, 2005

"Jets at Dawn" is a great song by Be Bop Deluxe. I didn't realize this when I first heard the song, but Be Bop Deluxe were from the 70's during the glam rock/art rock period. Apparently, they were very popular in Great Britain, but never really had success in the United States. There are shades of David Bowie in their songs and some very tasty guitar work. This particular track dates from 1973. However, it does not have a dated sound at all. Click here to listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 24, 2005

Today is a change of pace from my previous songs of the day. M. Ward stands for Matt Ward from Portland, Oregon. He plays acoustic guitar and sings in a sad, sparse, style. He reminds me a little of Neil Young, which is very good IMO. My choice for song of the day is "Bad Dream." Click here to listen. If the above link does not work, try here

Modal Jazz

Modal jazz is one of my favorite styles of jazz. It came into being with Miles Davis and George Russell in the late 50's. It can be difficult to explain just what modal jazz is, without getting into a lot of technical issues. Traditional jazz is based on chord changes, while modal jazz is a more linear style of music, focusing on the melody. It often involves changes in key, and focuses more on rhythm, many times giving the music an exotic air. However, the best way to get a feeling for modal jazz is to listen to it. After a while, even if you don't have a musical background, you will be able to distinguish the modal tunes. Besides Miles Davis, the other giants of modal jazz include Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, and Herbie Hancock. In fact, you will find that many of these artists played on each others albums. Click here to listen. If you are having problems with the first link please click here

Windsor For The Derby

Earlier this month, I featured a Windsor for the Derby song as my song of the day. I have been listening to this record quite a bit, and I think it deserves a wider audience. As I mentioned in a previous post, Windsor for the Derby reminds me of an amalgamation of Pink Floyd, Joy Division, and early New Order. If you haven't had the opportunity, please check out their latest CD, We Fight Til Death. Click here to listen. If you are having problems with the above link, please click here.

Song of the Day - Feb 23, 2005

The Smut Peddlers' "Rebatron Party" is my choice for song of the day. The Smut Peddlers are a punk band out of Southern California. They remind me a little bit of the Dead Kennedys. For those of you who don't know, and I was one of them, Rebatron therapy is a treatment for hepatitis C. Click here to listen. If any of you are having problems with the above link please click here.

Jethro Tull

I was especially happy to see that Rhapsody had posted a number of Jethro Tull albums today. I have been a big fan of Jethro Tull for some time now. In fact, the first concert I ever attended was a Jethro Tull concert at the old Stadium in Chicago. Here's hoping that Rhapsody will add more Tull albums soon. Please enjoy this playlist of assorted Jethro Tull tunes. Click here to listen. If any of you are having problems with the above link, please click here.

Song of the Day - Feb 22, 2005

The Ruby Doe is another great band from Seattle. I don't know what it is about Seattle, but they definitely produce some great bands. If you like your music, fast and loud, check out The Ruby Doe. My choice for song of the day is their track, "The Skeeze." Click here to listen. If any of you are having problems with the above link, please click here.

Song of the Day - Feb 21, 2005

This is Bond, Covalent Bond and my choice for song of the day is "Clogger" by 16 Horsepower. Their sound has been described as Western or Appalachian gothic. "Clogger" is probably the hardest rocking cut on the album. The other tracks have more of a folk feel, and are worth investigating. To get a feeling for 16 Horsepower, give "Clogger" a listen. If the above link is not working, please click here.

Darjeeling and Douglas

I was sipping the last of my second flush, Arya estate darjeeling, when I came upon this great surprise. Rhapsody added one of Dave Douglas' newest albums, Bow River Falls. It is a much more subdued effort than Strange Liberation or Freak In. The whole album was recorded during a one day session at the Banff Jazz Workshop and is a collaborative effort of Douglas and three other very talented musicians. I hope that Rhapsody will be adding Douglas' latest effort, Mountain Passages soon. To listen to Bow River Falls click here. If the above link does not work, please click here.

A Little Iggy Pop for Your Listening Pleasure.

I just needed some Iggy Pop today. The songs on this playlist tend to be more on the pop side of things, as opposed to his Stooges days. I saw him back in the 80's. The show was awesome. I was in the front row, there were no seats. Seats are just not appropriate for an Iggy Pop show. Give Iggy a listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 18, 2005

Black Mountain is a band out of Canada. They have been compared to many different bands from Led Zepplin, Deep Purple, The Stones, Pink Floyd and others. They have a 60's/70's type sound, but each track on their album has its own character. I like the whole album very much. One of my favorite tracks is "No Satisfaction." Click here to listen. I recommend giving the whole album a listen.

Fighting Style Killer Panda

Thanks to Drake LeLane of the Rhapsody blog thus spake drake, I found out that Rhapsody had posted Mommy and Daddy's latest album after I featured them as my song of the day yesterday. Click here to listen to Fighting Style Killer Panda.

Song of the Day - Feb 17, 2005

The song "The Living Dead" is unbelievable. Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter will transport you back to the psychedelic 60's. One hears echoes of Jefferson Starship, The Byrds, and Fairport Convention. There is a surreal, melancholy sound to their music, which is very appealing. I think we will be hearing much more of Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter as she will be touring with Conor Oberst and Bright Eyes. Click here to listen.

A Little Something to Get You Through the Week

I thought I would put together an eclectic mix of songs to get everybody through the week. It is a sampling of some of the music that I am listening to today. Click here to listen. The complete playlist is below:

"Revelry" - Sea Ray
"I Am Crushed" - The Vandals
"12 O'Clock High" - Chesterwhite
"S.R.A." - Servotron
"I'm Happy But You Don't Like Me" - Asobi Seksu
"Two Beers Later" - Cadallaca
"Parachute" - Elysian Fields (Rock)
"Starman" - Seu Jorge
"Kissing Alma Mahler" - Jeff Kelly
"Black and White Town" - Doves
"Lawns Of Dawns" - Nico
"Walking With A Ghost" - Tegan and Sara
"Sawtooth Sung A Cheater's Song" - Califone
"Falling Out Of Love" - Mary Gauthier
"Futureman to Presentman" - Askeleton
"Taco de Macque" - The Dead Texan
"Avalon" - alu
"Inspiratio" - The Modernist
"Half Jack" - The Dresden Dolls

Tell me what you think.

Song of the Day - Feb 16, 2005

"Take It" starts with an alarm like sound bleeping over and over, only to be followed by a driving bass line and vocals which remind me of Public Image Limited. The whole effect results in a frenzied feeling, which I find very appealing. Mommy and Daddy are a two person band out of NY. They have been compared to the B-52's, but they are just not copying an 80's sound. They are definitely darker in feeling than the B-52's, and have created something uniquely their own. Click here to listen. Unfortunately, it is the only Mommy and Daddy track available on Rhapsody. Yesterday, their latest EP was released, Fighting Style Killer Panda. It is not available on Rhapsody yet, but hopefully we will see it one day. If you would like to listen to some of the tracks on this release, visit their website.

LCD Soundsystem

I know many of you have been waiting for this one. LCD Soundsystem's new album has just been posted on Rhapsody. I haven't listen to the whole thing yet, as it is a double album. I do like what I have heard so far. The first cd is all new stuff. The second cd has previously released singles on it.
Click here to listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 15, 2005

Stellastarr's "My Coco" is my choice for song of the day. Some of you may have heard this song, as it has had airplay. However, for those of you who haven't, Stellastarr definitely has an 80's sound. They remind me somewhat of Big Country and XTC. Click here to listen.

Art Blakey

Many of you may not have noticed during yesterday's Grammy awards, that Art Blakey was awarded a lifetime achievement award. If you don't know who Art Blakey is, let me tell you that he probably was the greatest jazz drummer that ever lived. He is a legend, having played with everybody in the jazz world including: Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Monk, Coltrane, Jimmy Smith, and many others. He is perhaps most famous for his Jazz Messengers. The Jazz Messengers were the premier hard bop band in jazz. Art Blakey was a great discoverer and nurturer of new talent, artists that came up in his band include: Wayne Shorter, Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Timmons, and many more. The world is a better place because of Art Blakey. The greatest jazz concert I ever attended, was an Art Blakey and the Jazz Messenger show in Chicago in the 80's. The show was at the Jazz Showcase, when it was still at the Blackstone. There had been a snowstorm that night, and Blakey's band was late for the show. When they finally arrived, I was sitting close to the stage, and Art Blakey himself came out and begin to set up his drum kit. While he was doing this, he started a conversation with me and my friend. I couldn't believe it! He was very nice to us, and I felt that he was glad to see young people at the show. At the time, I was young. It is not so true anymore. Give this playlist a listen, and enjoy Art Blakey. Click here to listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 14, 2005

Trailer Bride is not easily categorized. Many people lump them into the alt country genre and on some songs that may be true. However, on the track "Skinny White Girl," it is not so simple. Melissa Swingle's voice has that southern twang, but it is never exaggerated. The guitars have plenty of reverb, as well as slide action, which gives it somewhat of a psychedelic sound. The song alternates between slow and faster passages, which adds to its appeal. My choice for song of the day. Click here to listen.

Antony and the Johnsons - I'm A Bird Now

For those of you who enjoyed my song of the day on Feb 7, Antony and the Johnson's new album, I'm A Bird Now, was recently posted on Rhapsody. He is joined by Lou Reed, Boy George, Rufus Wainwright, and Devendra Banhardt. One of my favorite tracks is "Fistful of Love," which Lou Reed appears on. Antony and the Johnsons are an acquired taste, but the effort is worth it. Click here to listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 11, 2005

"Little Sister" by Silkworm is my choice for song of the day. Silkworm has been around since the early 90's, and this particular track dates from 92. This track ages well, I would have to say. The song starts out with some noisy guitars, definitely influenced by Neil Young during his Crazyhorse period. The entrance of the vocals are somewhat menacing, reminding me of the Ian Curtis school of singing. The track keeps building in intensity, while never quite reaching a frenzied pace, only to fade away at the end. I immediately liked it. One of the reasons I like it, could be that Steve Albini produced a number of their records. I am not sure that he produced this track, but judging from the sound, I would have to say yes. If anyone knows, please leave a comment. As I mentioned earlier in my blog, I used to listen to Albini when he was a dj at Northwestern's radio station, which was over 20 years ago. Click here to listen.

Time to Get Funky

Today's song of the day had some funky electric guitar influences and it got me thinking about the real founders of funk, Parliament, James Brown, Funkadelic, and others like them. It probably has been some time since you listened to a lot of these artists, but give them another listen. I love the guitars, listen to Ohio Players and Funkadelic especially, the horn arrangements, and of course the funky beats. Get funked up now. Click here to listen. I will post the complete playlist in the comments section.

Song of the Day - Feb 10, 2005

Califone has quite a unique sound, especially on this track, "Two Sisters Drunk on Each Other." This song reminds me of a mixture of Funkadelic, Talking Heads, and a little bit of Devo. A strange mixture, but very interesting. There are multilayered textures of funky guitars, heavy bass, monotone vocals and what sounds like middle eastern influenced keyboards. Together, the result is some sort of post modern funky blues. Click here to listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 9, 2005

My choice of the song of the day is "Assembly of the Unrepresented," by Brave Captain. For those of you who do not know, Brave Captain is the Boo Radleys' Martin Carr. This particular track starts out with acoustic guitar and some downtempo type keyboards, only to be followed up with a very distorted guitar. The best part is the bluesy harmonica chorus, which is excellent paired with the guitar and trumpets. In fact, the whole album is a pop masterpiece for the 21st century. In many ways it reminds me of The Beatles during their Sargent Pepper phase. Click here to listen.

Curtis Counce

Last week I posted a jazz playlist that may have challenged a few listeners. Today's choice is not focused on the avant garde, but on the West Coast cool jazz scene of the 1950's. Curtis Counce's album Landslide Vol. 1 may not be familiar to many, but it is a delight. The album features Harold Land on saxophone, Jack Sheldon on trumpet, Carl Perkins on piano, Frank Butler on drums, and of course Curtis Counce on bass. The opening track, "Landslide," is my favorite. Jack Sheldon's trumpet work is exemplary, particularly in the opening theme, where he plays a quick passage with Land. I have long been a fan of Harold Land's tenor, and he does not disappoint with his bluesy solo in the opening track. All the musicians excel. Perkins piano accompaniment is perfect and the rhythm section swings. Curtis Counce never received the fame he deserved, as he was often overlooked in the media, as there was a bias for the East Coast players. Please give this album a listen. You will be pleasantly surprised. Click here to listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 8, 2005

Six by Seven is another British band out of Nottingham. Their style seems to vary somewhat from emo to thrashing guitars in a punk style. On this particular track, "Sawn Off Metallica T-Shirt," they remind me more of The Fall combined with a British sounding Nirvana. Apparently, they will have a new album out this year. Hopefully, it will be on Rhapsody. Give them a listen and tell me what you think. Click here to listen.

The Dresden Dolls

I can't get enough of this album. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. Some of you may remember, that I featured The Dresden Dolls, as one of my songs of the day in January. As with Antony and the Johnsons, they are slightly off the beaten path, but it is a refreshing change of pace. Basically, their only accompaniment is piano and drums. In a way they have taken a cabaret influenced acoustic twist on the White Stripes. The Dresden Dolls only have two members, and relay heavily on the piano. Amanda Palmer's vocals are strong, stunning, and addictive. The Weimar cabaret sound, that they have been compared to, only adds to the appeal. If you haven't had a chance give The Dresden Dolls a listen. Click here to listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 07, 2005

Antony and The Johnsons may be an acquired taste, but there is no denying that Antony's singing is beautiful. His voice reminds me of Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music, with his wavering vibrato. Apparently Lou Reed likes it today, as he has sung background vocals for Lou. The song "Twilight" is my favorite track, with its haunting piano playing and orchestration. Don't let his appearance turn you off, his music has a sorrowful, but beautiful sound, and I am anxious to hear more from him. Click here to listen.

Jazz and a Single Malt

It has been a long week, and now it is time to relax. I thought I would listen to a little jazz tonight, so I put together an interesting playlist. The music starts off easy enough with a beautiful but funky piece by Freddie Hubbard. Freddie Hubbard is one of my all time favorite trumpet players, and a living legend. The music gets progressively more difficult and obscure, especially for those who are not fans of the avant garde. The list is heavy on Thirsty Ear recording artists, such as Matthew Shipp, Craig Taborn, and William Parker. In fact, you will find that many of the artists have played on each others albums. As the music is complex, it requires a complex single malt scotch. An excellent choice would be Laphroiag. It is one of my favorite scotches, and for most an acquired taste. Many consider it the smokiest and most challenging of all the single malts. For those of you who might not want to jump into the deep end, try the Macallan, an excellent single malt and a favorite of many. Have a drink and enjoy the music. Click here to listen. See the comments section for the complete list.

Song of the Day - Feb 04, 2005

Rainer Maria's track "Ears Ring" is my choice for song of the day. Some of you may be familar with this song, as it has received video airplay, and was released a few years ago on an EP. The track is now on their latest CD Long Knives Drawn. Caithlin De Marrias' vocals are intense and impassioned. The jangling, distorted guitar riffs combine with Caithlin's vocals to make a great song. Give it a try. Click here to listen.

Grace Jones

Yesterday, I published a playlist dedicated to Joy Division covers. Grace Jones did a particularly catchy remake of "She's Lost Control." I liked it so much, it made me take a look at her music again, something which I had not done in ages. She has quite a few songs which may have been forgotten. However, they are worth a listen again. For those of you, who haven't heard of her, give here a listen. Her music is exotic, just like her appearance. Click here to listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 03, 2005

Despite the title of my song of the day "Asphyxia," I have recovered from my previous day. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, see the playlist "Anger Management." Alu has a haunting sound, the best way to describe her is as a mixture of Luna and Air, but with beautiful vocals that remind me of Annie Lennox. "Asphyxia" is the standout track on Infomercial Gasmask. The bizarre lyrics combined with the aural soundscape, as painted by Alu, bring to mind a vision of a strange apocalyptic wasteland. Her otherwordly vocals are addictive. I want to inhabit her world, even if its a wasteland. As Alu says, "the infomercial gasmask will save us." Save me. Click here to listen.

Anger Management

I am having a bad day. Some people say that laughter is the best medicine, I say music is better. Click here to listen to the soundtrack for my day.

Joy Division Tribute

Joy Division still are one of my favorite bands. I was listening to them back when Ian Curtis was still alive. I thought I would put together a list of Joy Division covers that I could find on Rhapsody paired with the original. I found some interesting tracks, including a Joy Division cover of The Velvet Underground's "Sister Ray." I also found The Nau Ensemble, which is a chamber orchestra and choir version of the "The Eternal," "Atmosphere," and "Decades." The piece is the last track on the playlist. For those with an open mind, I think you will find it very beautiful. See the comments section for the complete list. Click here to listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 02, 2005

Windsor for the Derby reminds me of Pink Floyd, during their "Animals" period, combined with Joy Division and early New Order. As such, this track is a very appropriate choice for song of the day. "The Melody for the Fallen Tree" is a very haunting song. It starts slowly with Pink Floyd style guitar and vocals, followed by a steady drumming, which will remind you of New Order. Eventually, keyboards enter into the mix, which combine to make a very mellow but catchy song. I can't stop listening to it. Click here to listen.

The Songs of the Day from January

For those of you who have just found my blog, I thought I would post all my songs of the day for January in one playlist. The bands range from The Bravery to The Blow, with much variety in between. It will give you a good idea of my musical tastes. I will post the complete list in the comments section.
Click here to listen.

Song of the Day - Feb 01, 2005

Today continues my obsession with the unusual and offbeat. In 2003 Menomena released their first album,"I am the Fun Blame Monster" which is an anagram for The First Menomena Album. The album did receive a lot of press, but seems to have fallen from view. However, it is worth another look. The track "The Monkey's Back," is one of my favorites. It starts out very softly with cymbal playing, followed by a relatively slow drum beat, and an eerie electric piano. Sinister softly worded vocals follow, which eventually erupt into more frenzied vocals and fuzzed out guitars. The song then abruptly stops, only to come back after a long period of silence, with an even more distorted arrangement. Give it a listen, and tell me what you think. Click here to listen.