Music Recommendations from Outside the Pop Box
I've gathered here a collection of monthly music recommendations and a few bonus articles about music. Each month, I highlight a band or music resource that deserves more attention but have not made their major breakthrough. Because there have been so many, I moved both my 2007 music recommendations and my 2008 selections to separate lenses.
Please explore to your heart's content. I've started adding playlists of songs through Groovsharks, so for the most recent montly recommendations you can listen to the artists as well as buy their music, right here at the Music of the Month. You'll also find my guestbook at the very bottom of the lens and I'd love to hear what you think of my choices. If you've got a recommendation for a "Music of the Month", please let me know that, too. Thank you and welcome!
What Will You Find Here?
Fantastic Music Recommendations, of Course!
- November, 2009: A Fine Frenzy
- October, 2009 - The John Huss Moderate Combo
- September, 2009: Leftover Salmon
- August, 2009: The Monsters of Folk
- July, 2009: The Taj Motel Trio
- June, 2009: Bottom Feeders
- May, 2009: 1990s
- April, 2009: Enter the Haggis
- March, 2009: Manu Chao
- February, 2009: Son of Dave
- January, 2009: Fujiya & Miyagi
- Like My Recommendations? Bookmark Them for Later!
- Check, Check, Is This Thing On? Let Me Hear from You.
- Learn More about Not-Pop and Music
November, 2009: A Fine Frenzy
Alison Sudol Gets Bolder and Even Better This Autumn
LA's Alison Sudol, professionally known as A Fine Frenzy, has been making lush and heartfelt music for a few years now. Her second album, the oft-dreaded "sophomore effort" came out two months ago and surprised many fans with it's more mature and wider sound. Some of the songs hark back to the beautiful sound that drew people to "One Cell in the Sea", but Ms. Sudol's "Bomb in a Birdcage" takes more chances and shows more strength (and a little happiness) than the mellow debut (that's not counting the single Almost Lover and her EP released in 2006).For me, A Fine Frenzy ranked as "pretty music, beautiful voice, but too mellow". That is, it did until I heard "Bomb in a Birdcage". Suddenly, I was converted to the ranks of fans, especially after hearing her cover of Fever, which appeared in a film titled Dan in Real Life. I've included a playlist below where you can try Alison Sudol's first single, her version of Fever, and songs from both of her full albums.
As ever, you don't need to take my word for how good the music really is. Try Blog Critics' rave over A Fine Frenzy's first album and love for the Alison Sudol's second and a bit of love from Chewing Gum for the Ears. Of course, you can visit her official site for tour information and to be awed by Ms. Sudol's deft use of social media to garner attention, particularly the million-plus people following her on Twitter, and check out her MySpace profile.
Have a Listen to A Fine Frenzy
Try Songs from Both Albums and More
Get the Album "Bomb in a Birdcage"
A Fine Frenzy to Try at Home
Bomb in a Birdcage
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
I don't know if it was Alison Sudol's intention to look a whole lot like Angelina Jolie in this photo, but the posture certainly emphasizes her bigger, bolder sound. Bomb in a Birdcage gives you both piano-filled, lush tracks that marked A Fine Frenzy out on her earlier efforts and wilder, more pop tracks that showcase her voice and energy.
October, 2009 - The John Huss Moderate Combo
Rock, Pop, Country, and Wit for Fall
If you love musicians that make you think or make you laugh, or preferably both, you're in for a real treat with the John Huss Moderate Combo. John Huss has been around a long time, but with two other guys named John (Greenfield on bass and Niimi on drums), and a bunch of other folks visiting, he's put together a set of songs that make you both laugh and think. The goofy/sharp lyrics take you past the relatively coarse sound of Mr. Huss's voice, blending with the occasional horns and a great, classic trio sound. As a package, the group definitely adds up to more than the sum of its seemingly-simple parts.The song range from the country twang of Suburbilly (and the superbly creative lyrics thereof) to the horns and jazz trio sound of Dad Sold His Sax, with sounds from indie rock backing up the whole mess. There's the driving sax in You're So Basic (again, twisted lyrics that use old cultural references and backhanded compliments to compliment a woman) and the song that asks, "How can you say there's no god when there's movies about physics?" (That's The World Is So Bent, by the way.) Unsurprisingly, the band lists The Bloodhound Gang and They Might Be Giants among their influences. If I had to pick the two bands I'd put together to make The John Huss Moderate Combo's sound, those would be the ones I'd choose.
As always, you don't have to take my word for how great The John Huss Moderate Combo really is. Try the reviews at warr.org and Center Stage Chicago and take a listen to a few of the songs from "Lipchitz" below (as soon as I can get Clearspring to talk to Grooveshark that is) or at the group's MySpace profile. Please let me know what you think!
Get a Little Taste of Lipchitz
Try Three Songs from The John Huss Moderate Trio
Buy the Album, "Lipschitz"
The John Huss Moderate Combo's Full-Length Debut
Lipschitz
Amazon Price: $17.49 (as of 11/09/2009)
It's too bad you can't get the earlier work from The John Huss Moderate Combo digitally, but luckily just below here you'll find three of the songs to sample and help you make up your mind to pick up the first album they've released on CD. Amazon apparently doesn't have any artwork for this album, but you can see the cover in my review above. The trio is pretty sparse on-line, but well worth the effort of hunting down their work. Tire Tool and Suburbilly alone should be enough to convince you. How can you resist a buy how rhymes bayou with Ohio?
Great Songs Are One Click Away!
Mercury Poise: 1988-1995
This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Michelle Shocked is a little bit country, a lot of rock-n-roll.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/09/2009)
Vampire Weekend
What, you didn't read their recommendation on this lens? Fun, copy-cat pop with smart lyrics.
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
Zoot Suit Riot
The Cherry Poppin' Daddies are PG, if not R, rated but they're so fun!
Amazon Price: $8.98 (as of 11/09/2009)
Betcha Bottom Dollar
Keep your eye on these ladies. They are changing the way people think about re-makes.
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
Friday Night in San Francisco
Blazing guitar playing from some of the masters of the art. Truly awesome.
Amazon Price: $7.98 (as of 11/09/2009)
September, 2009: Leftover Salmon
Cajun-Spiced Bluegrass, with a Country-Blues Flavor
Leftover Salmon describes itself as polyethnic cajun slamgrass, which doesn't convey much to new listeners but is much shorter than "multi-genre bluegrass jam band influenced by The Grateful Dead and Willie Nelson". What the band has created over the last 20 years or so, however, is a place where dozens of stars stop by to make wonderful music without worrying about what kind of songs their fans expect. (It may give you a sense of their tongue-in-cheek attitude to know that fans are known as LoSers.)For a hearty taste of Leftover Salmon, start with "The Nashville Sessions", on which you'll hear Taj Mahal, Waylon Jennings, Bela Fleck, and Lucinda Williams absolutely jamming with Del and Ronnie McCoury, Sam Bush, and Earl and Randy Scruggs. If you aren't a fan of bluegrass or country music, start with the band's wild and wooly cover of John Hartford's Up on the Hill Where We Do the Boogie to get your body jumping, as it's the most accessible track on the album.
Leftover Salmon mixes up blazing bluegrass songs like Funky Mountain Fogdown with zydeco-flavored tracks like Two Step au Will/Madame Rosin and Zombie Breakdown and bluesy beauties like Lovin' in My Baby's Eyes. You can listen to some of their best songs for free via the ever-helpful Grooveshark, to get an idea of the romping ruckus they create.
As always, you don't have to take my word for the joys of Leftover Salmon. You can read a short collection of reviews at Ariel Publicity. You can listen to and download free live music from the official Leftover Salmon web site, too and enjoy tracks, videos, and news on their MySpace page.
Sample Songs from All Their Albums
Leftover Salmon from the Last Twenty Years
August, 2009: The Monsters of Folk
Mellow Folk Stars Come Together for the Ethereal
While The Monsters of Folk offer a much more mellow sound that I usually like, Matt Ward, Conor Oberst, and Jim James have built such a beautiful sound that I had to make them the Music of the Month. Their clean harmonies of The Sandman, the Brakeman, and Me call to mind the beauty of Simon and Garfunkel from their Central Park concert so many years ago. If the band can produce even two more such stirring songs on their upcoming album, I predict a huge success.In case you have had your head buried under a rock for the past few years, I'll explain the reason why this Traveling-Willburys-esque band has been met with excitement in the indie and folk music scenes. Matt Ward is better known as M. Ward and the him of She and Him and brings his folk influence and lovely voice to the mix. Jim James hails from My Morning Jacket and Conor Oberst is, well, Conor Oberst. Well-known producer Mike Mogis lends his talents to the trio's efforts and gets equal billing, which generally means that some of the tracks have been edited to within an inch of their lives. It remains to be seen whether that's a good thing or not, but the first three tracks are promising.
Should you wish to get a free copy of The Monsters of Folk's first single, Say Please, you can get it at their official web site and you can listen to all three of the songs that they've release--all showing very different sensibilities--on the band's MySpace page. The band has slated their self-titled album, promising fifteen tracks, for release on September 22, 2009. With the advance buzz, it's sure to be a major seller.
Some Musical Background on The Monsters of Folk
The Not-Pop Jukebox
More Music Recommendations
This is my daily song recommendation blog, if you can't get enough new music. Let me know if you have recommendations or would like a review. If you're on Twitter, swing by and add your favorite song and if you're a lensmaster and have a lens about it, add it to the Great Songs Group.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byJuly, 2009: The Taj Motel Trio
Ska-Punk That Combines the Best of Both Genres
The Taj Motel Trio actually consists of eight guys from Georgia. I thought that, as I hadn't included a harder band for a while, you'd enjoy their particular brand of raucous, horn-infused ska-punk. While their sound is undeniably up-to-date, they tend toward older-style storytelling in their lyrics rather than bemoaning their Generation Y angst and screaming about lost love. Over the past ten years, they've toured, played their hearts out, and generally made terrific music for ska enthusiasts and punk fans alike.As for specific song recommendations, a Star Wars fan can't go far wrong with The Taj Motel Trio's Vader, off their 2000 release "Feel the Force", while those looking for old-school ska will enjoy Another Drink off of their latest album, "Part of the Problem". Should you be in a holiday mood, the boys have also recorded high-energy, ska versions of some Christmas classics on "Pretzels and Beer for Santa".
You can hear seven of the dozen tracks on "Part of the Problem" on The Taj Motel Trio's MySpace profile. For an in-depth review of their 2003 album, "Life of the Party", try Absolute Punk. You can get a somewhat-outdated bio and current tour information at the band's Eventful page. You can, of course, check their official web site, but as it's under construction all that will do is send you to their MySpace profile, linked above. I'll update this when/if they get more useful information or tracks posted.
Get The Taj Motel Trio's Latest Album
These Men are "Part of the Problem"
Part of the Problem
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
With every one of The Taj Mahal Trio's albums, the band's sound gets a little more polished and professional. That's all to the good, and "Part of the Problem" finds them at the top of their game. The songs stay true to the hard-drinking, tough-guy punk topics of buddies and beer, but the horns wail and the music rocks. It may not be deep, but it's a lot of fun.
June, 2009: Bottom Feeders
80s Quasi-Hits for Musical Weirdos
While I generally like to recommend a specific artist for this Music of the Month feature, I've been in such deep smit with Dave Steed over at PopDose that I feel I must recommend his series, Bottom Feeders, to you folks. Not only is it a terrific idea for a topic but it's done so well and with such commitment that I know you'll be suitably impressed.The idea boils down to this: post every song that made the Billboard Top 100 charts, and topped out below number forty, from 1980 through 1989. Rick Dees never played these babies, and many of them were hardly worth the plastic cassettes on which they were distributed. On the other hand, you'll find gems that you can hardly believe weren't number one hits lying cheek and jowl with the sorts of stinkers that make you embarrassed to have ears.
Mr. Steed posts a weekly column and is working his way through the decade not chronologically but alphabetically by artist name. Some artists had a single hit in this category, like John Lennon, and get a short paragraph. Others had five or even more, like Crystal Gayle and Kiss.
After over a year's worth of posts (including one from March that was all Jacksons), he's only worked his way into the letter L, which means that you can get another year or more with Bottom Feeders before you run out of new posts. How's that for value? As long as a few naughty words and a very dry sense of humor won't offend you, click over to PopDose and start wading through the joy and pain that was mediocre-ranking music in the 80s.
Picture used under Creative Commons license from GJ Charlet III. Thank you!
More Great Music to Buy
Don't be shy. Give it a try!
Domesticated
I'm so sad that there is no album art for this one. Let's just say that WookieFoot are globally aware and are terrific musicians.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $28.00
Join the Parade
You had to scroll past the review to get here. Go back and read it!
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $7.14
The Ultimate Collection
The first name in Zydeco for decades. Try it, you'll like it.
Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $7.23
Tropical Brainstorm
Sweet, sassy, and sexy, Ms. MacColl's death was a loss for the world of music.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $5.59
Rump Shaker
Ska with a nasty sense of humor, try "Blingity Bling" or the title track for starters.
Amazon Price: $14.49 (as of 11/09/2009)
Used Price: $8.99
May, 2009: 1990s
Not Just a Decade, but a Great Band!
If you ever wondered what sort of music the vocalist from Yummy Fur would make with the bass player and drummer from V-Twin, wonder no more. 1990s takes just those three folks and throws them into a pop-inspired playground where they really get creative. Their pair off-the-wall lyrics with solid music to make a fun sound that only gets better with repeat listens.1990s has been relatively well-known to you Brits out there since they released their debut album, "Cookies", in 2007. March, 2009 saw the ever-feared "sophomore effort" from the trio, doubly awaited because of the change in personnel. But 1990s kept their goofy-pop sound, and even rocked it out a bit for "Kicks". The new album won't set the musical world on fire, but I'll bet it gets a lot more play than some of the other, more technically-well-done music that'll be released this summer. And just when you may be ready to dismiss them as a pop band, Kickstrasse comes along and highlights the post-punk sensibilities that underlie many of their songs.
You'll have to be open to lyrics that don't make a whole lot of sense, when you listen to the specifics, and a lot of vocalizing of the melody with "ba ba ba" and "ah-a-ah-a-ah-ah" sounds. 1990s carries on a really Brit-pop sound that's been sneaking over to the US and infecting people for decades. If you'd rather not take my word for it, try this Pop Matters review of "Cookies" or this Ultimate Guitar review of "Kicks". You can, of course, visit the band's MySpace profile or their sadly-neglected web site that does have a few tracks to enjoy as well. Photo credit Mick oOo.
Sample and Buy the 1990s Album "Kicks"
Kicks
Amazon Price: $14.98 (as of 11/10/2009)
These post-punk, Brit-pop, Glasgow natives take indie to the mainstream with their newest collection of wacky, danceable songs.
Release Date: 03/24/2009
April, 2009: Enter the Haggis
Celtic Rock from Canada
Toronto-based Enter the Haggis is hardly a new band. The guys currently in the band have been together for several years, now, and the band has released half a dozen albums in the past ten years. They do, however, have a brand new album, "Gutter Anthems", out wreaking Celtic-themed, musical havoc. Such bagpipe-rock as The Litter and the Leaves demonstrates the unusual talents of these Canadian gents. The fiddle, the pounding drums, and the frequent tempo changes sum up the entire album in one intriguing package.Murphy's Ashes sounds more like a bizarre, synthesized Chieftains song but again the high energy carries you along, wondering where it's going. This one is instrumental, but provides some great imagery nonetheless. DNA and Suburban Plains, on the other hand, are mellower, nigh-mournful indie songs with tastes of bagpipe and pan flute. Truly, Enter the Haggis has come a long way from their days of rockin' out traditional Celtic songs at local festivals.
You can listen to the whole album for free on their site (click on Enter the Haggis, above) and to several tracks on their MySpace profile. You can also listen to songs from their previous album "Soapbox Heroes", like New Monthly Flavour, at Grooveshark.
Preview Enter the Haggis Songs Right Here
And Buy Them, Too!
What is your primary source for music recommendations?
March, 2009: Manu Chao
If Chao Is One Unit of Chaos, the Name Works Perfectly
While I respect political activism and am suitably impressed by Manu Chao and his dedication to such, you're not here to read about it. You came here for music, and--lucky you--Manu Chao is talented at that, as well. I was introduced to him and his song Bongo Bong through the good folks at the Hype Machine. I discovered that his songs were deeper and broader than that funky little ditty, much as I like it.Manu Chao has traveled the world, and it shows in his songs. You get Latin guitar, Gypsy and Reggae beats, English and Spanish lyrics, activist language, and sometimes all of them in the same song, as in Rainin in Paradize. Some songs are simply nice, as Merry Blues.
That's the thing about Manu Chao: you never know what you'll get from him. Will it be a song that would be at home in a Mexican restaurant in Chicago? Will it tell you, with appropriate anger, if you can understand, about a political situation of which you are unaware? Will it be a dance-able little tune that doesn't shoot for such depths? You never know.
You can listen to Manu Chao via his official website (which you'll find much easier to understand if you speak Spanish) or at his MySpace profile, as well as the dozens of tracks available through the Hype Machine link above.
Sample More Manu Chao Songs
February, 2009: Son of Dave
Blues for the New Millenium
Former Crash Test Dummy Benjamin Darvill started his solo project, Son of Dave, to showcase his unique take on blues, beatboxing, and one-man-band-manship. His videos are a treat to watch, and his music gets your toes tapping while you wonder how he managed to make all of that noise by himself. He also covers some iconic songs from different genres, including Low Rider and Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger, imbuing them with his inventive, tongue-in-cheek sound.
Not only does Son of Dave display enviable musical ability, but the songs are just plain fun. Darvill clearly enjoys himself during the live shows and the studio sessions. The combination, and his ear for unusual lyrics, make his music irresistible. Check out the Son of Dave MySpace page, where you can listen to the previously-mentioned songs, plus Ain't Going to Nike Town, a bluesy stomp, and Old Time Were Good Times, which sounds, musically at least, more like Funky Town.
Read the Beat Surrender review of "02" from 2006 and the Music OMH review of "03" from 2008. Pay a visit to his Last.FM page to hear even more tracks for free. Get ready to reconsider the blues and the one man band.
Get Son of Dave's Latest Albums "02 and "03"
Why pick a favorite when you can have both?
![O2 [Explicit]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51N%2BlQswOTL._SL75_.jpg)
O2 [Explicit]
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
O3
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 11/09/2009)
Cover Songs, Versions, and Standards
For when you just have to know the words and who-all sang them.
I've been working on lenses that have not just the lyrics for a song but several cover versions as well. I've added of them (around 25, but I've lost count), but only five will show at a time.-
Rock Me, Baby: A Blues Crossover Standard
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Rock Me, Baby has been bouncing around the blues world since its first recording in 1940 by Big Bill Broonzy, and has been covered and reimagined by dozens of musicians of both blues and rock-and-roll fame. The song has crossed genre boundaries and h...
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Ain't Nobody's Business
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Would you believe that there are three songs, all having been recorded for decades, expressing identical sentiments that it "ain't nobody's business" what the performer does? While Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do and Ain't Nobody's Business But My Ow...
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I've Got You Under My Skin: A Cole Porter Standard
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Cole Porter wrote I've Got You Under My Skin in 1936, as part of the score for the movie "Born to Dance", which fans of Jimmy Stewart may remember as starring Eleanor Powell. (Trivia tidbit: Virginia Bruce actually performed the song in the movie.) T...
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Caravan: A Jazz Standard
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Although the original recording of Caravan was made in 1936 by Barney Bigard And His Jazzopators, Duke Ellington composed the music for this jazzy cover song recorded it many times. Then again, Irving Mills wrote the lyrics and the song was based on...
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Sweet Georgia Brown: A Whistlin' Jazz Standard
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Ben Bernie and Maceo Pinkard got together and composed a little ditty, for which Kenneth Casey wrote some saucy lyrics. Thus, Sweet Georgia Brown was born, a song which Bernie and His Orchestra recorded in 1926, at the height of the roaring 20s, and...
January, 2009: Fujiya & Miyagi
British Electro Kraut-Rock Grooves
Just when I began to despair of finding someone deserving enough to be the first Music of the Month for 2009, I found myself listening to, and loving, more Fujiya & Miyagi. Huzzah! A quartet that creates dancable, hook-y songs by the album-full. The Music of the Month is saved.
Fujiya & Miyagi released their latest album, "Lightbulbs", in the fall of 2008 and first came to my attention through Pussyfooting, about which I blogged in mid-November. I only listened to a few of their songs at the time and had kept meaning to get back to them. Thank heavens I finally did. Their whispery, electronic funk ranges from the perfectly-titled Uh to the mellower Pterodactyls to the more agressive-sounding Rook to Queen's Pawn Six. That's just off of "Lightbulbs"! For a great sample of their previous album, "Transparent Things", try Collarbone, from back when they were a trio.
As many folks have pointed out, this is a British quartet that has assumed the name of a Japanese duo that does krautrock. I think that pretty well sums up the bands contradictory sound. You can listen to most of the songs from "Lightbulb" at the Hype Machine, as well as a few on their MySpace Profile. Read the review of "Transparent Things" at Stylus Magazine and of "Lightbulbs" at Treblezine.
Fujiya & Miyagi's Album "Lightbulbs"
Krautrock Funk and Day-in-the-Life Lyrics
Lightbulbs
Amazon Price: $13.98 (as of 11/09/2009)
"Lightbulbs" is the latest album from Fujiay & Miyagi, filled with angsty, mock-intelligent lyrics and beats that make you dance anyway. Get dancing with Pussyfooting and Uh, consider candy with Hundreds and Thousands, and relate chess to real life with Rook to Queen's Pawn Six.
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Why Look for Different Music?
Widen your horizons without flattening your wallet.
As a music fan, you'll spend and ton of time and likely a pile of money trying to perfect your collection. There is always a new group or a new genre for you to explore. And then there's all of those hundreds of years' worth of musical backlog!These articles are meant to help you find the best music with the smallest investment of time and money. If you have somthing to add, please let me know in the guestbook below.
Music-Wear to Express Your Inner Artist
Get some gear to share your love of sound.
House Music Nutrition Facts Black T-Shirt
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What Have I Been Listening to Lately?
Check my "Recent Tunes" feed. It will update every hour, so if I'm listening you'll know. Some of the songs are on my playlist above. All of them are mini-recommendations.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byCheck, Check, Is This Thing On? Let Me Hear from You.
Leave me your opinion, your favorite band, or your recommendations.
Hey Not pop this is a really nice lens! I'm new here and this is the first lens I've really really liked :-) I'm pretty into music and I must say there's a few new bands for me to check out here, which is great! I already know and love the 1990's though - nice pick! Anyway I'm gonna vote you five stars - you deserve it :-)
Posted August 18, 2009
Spook wrote...
Sorry Not Pop but I have been out of it for so long so really cannot be a judge except to say this is a great lens. The only thing I can say is that I did hear Aretha Franklin singing Ealanor Rigby which was a great song but I prefered the Beatles version.
Posted April 25, 2009
Not-Pop wrote...
Thank you so much! This lens is really my baby, the one I love the best. I'm thrilled to hear that others enjoy it as well. [in reply to sittonbull]
Posted January 22, 2009
sittonbull wrote...
Oh... this is special! Eclectic, tasteful, appreciating the classic while reaching for the innovative and new... all in the universal language! Thanks for sharing this jewel! Faved, fanned and 5*
Posted January 21, 2009
awelldressedbullet wrote...
Nice collection and lens looks great, well done! - Kathy
Posted November 21, 2008
poddys wrote...
It's always nice to come across a new artist that you like. Very nice lens, 5*****
Posted October 28, 2008
Did You Find Great New Music on This Lens?
Let Me Know!
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My LastFM Playlist
This doesn't work properly. It should show my playlist here, instead of forcing you to use a pop-up window. At least you can still listen to the songs, if something should catch your eye.
I only add fully-streamable tracks to my list, so you can hear the whole song to see if you like it. You don't even have to join LastFM to listen to them. If you've got a recommendation or anything else to say about the songs here, please drop it in my guestbook at the bottom of the lens.
Learn More about Not-Pop and Music
Who am I and what do I do?
My Bio
It's all about music - lyrics, my song recommendations blog, cover songs, and artist profiles. Please take a look around and let me know if there's something you'd like to see (or hear). I also have an alter ego that blogs about grammar and writing and creates environmental and cooking lenses.
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Danny Elfman
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For those who don't remember Dead Man's Party or Weird Science, Danny Elfman will be a surprise and a treat. Not only did he head an iconic 80's New Wave group, Oingo Boingo, but he composes music for some of the best - and the strangest - that...
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Deborah Harry
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Whether you're jamming to Deborah Harry's latest single or rocking to Blondie's classic punk hits, you have to admit that she can sure make music. While many people are familiar with only the big pop hits of the 80s that she made with Blondie, Debbie...
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Bo Diddley
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From his first hit in 1955 to his last breath in 2008, Bo Diddley stood at the crossroads between the Chicago blues tradition and the future of rock and roll. His songs have been covered and imitated by musicians around the world. The Bo Diddley soun...
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Taj Mahal: True Maestro
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I must confess that I've only been a fan of Taj Mahal for fifteen years. Then again, I'm not forty, yet, so that's about half of my life. I clearly remember the first time I heard him, on a local college station, singing Big-Legged Mamas are Back in...
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WookieFoot: Maximize Your Bliss with Beats
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WookieFoot loves music and plays across half a dozen styles to create meaningful, dance-able tunes. Your mind will expand while your toes tap. Learn more about the music, the philosophy, and the charity work that this band lives every day. They're wh...
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