Better Things

It may be overplayed, they may be the biggest thing of the summer, they may be so overexposed that you're already over them. However, I know that I just discovered them. And I know that I can't go through one day without listening to this song at least 3 times in a row. It's great "leaving-the-office-and-freaking-stoked" music. Step out into the sun, walk down a busy street, put it on your headphones, and tell me if you can't help yourself from grinning like a crazy person.

better things - Passion Pit

Buy Chunk of Change and treat yourself to some awesome summer songs.
Easy Street / Amazon / Other Music

Ballad of a Well-Known Gun

The bluesy-country opening track to Tumbleweed Connection sets the stage for Elton John's loose concept album about the American West. Singing from the perspective of a soon-to-be-captured fugitive, John doesn't glorify the western hero; instead, he gives us a worn, guilty man tired of the attention. A fun track.

Ballad Of A Well-Known Gun - E...

Buy Tumbleweek Connection. It's Elton John like you've never heard him before.
Easy Street Records//Sonic Boom Records//Amazon

Rock-N-Roll Victim

Three Detroit brothers that got their start as R&B-funk artists, Bobby, Dannis and David Hackney gravitated in the early 70s towards the assaulting punk of the Detroit underground. Drag City recently released ...For the Whole World to See, a collection the 7 singles of the Hackney's proto-punk band, Death. It's solid all the way through, but "Rock-N-Roll Victim" is a standout.

Give it a listen at Death's MySpace Page

Buy ...For the Whole World to See. It'll add a jolt to your day.
Easy Street Records//Sonic Boom Records//Amazon

Mary Come Alive

"Mary Come Alive," the Kate Bush-tinged third track from Boston songstress Marissa Nadler's fourth album, Little Hells. Typically working with a more stripped down, yet somehow still ethereal sound (oh, her voice!), Nadler offers up a richly produced track with "Mary Come Alive." Beautiful and haunting, the song provides the album just the right amount of umph before Nadler returns to her hushed fingerpicking and lush vocal roots.

Mary Come Alive - Marissa Nadl...

Bonus track:

Ghosts & Lovers - Marissa Nadl...

Buy Little Hells today.
Easy Street Records//Sonic Boom Records//Amazon

Would You

Richard Swift released one of the best and most criminally-overlooked songs of 2008, "Would You." A gorgeous soul song from the free digital download EP, Ground Trouble Jaw, "Would You" revealed that Swift's got soul. This lush, yet understated song kicks off the EP, setting the stage for "Lady Luck," a song with equal parts 60's soul. Swift's vocals are striking. His new album, Atlantic Ocean, will drop on April 7th. His label is calling it his "most danceable record to date." Can't wait.

Would You? - Richard Swift

Buy Atlantic Ocean on 4/7. In the meantime, get a preview of what's to come - download the Ground Trouble Jaw EP (for free, still) from e-music.

Funny How Time Slips Away

Funny how long it has been since the last post, funny how time slips away...

No longer, though. We're back in action, promise.

Dark Was the Night

A Red Hot Compilation's Dark Was the Night features rare cuts, inspired covers and many of today's best independent musical artists. This compilation, like the Red Hot Organization's other music and media projects, was produced to raise funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Far from a well-intentioned, but misguided or incomplete charity album, Dark Was the Night, produced by The National's Aaron and Bryce Dessner, is solid, if not phenomenal, all the way through. Give it a listen below.

Dark Was The Night (Red Hot Co...

Buy Dark was the Night. You'll be so happy you did.
Easy Street Records//Sonic Boom Records//Amazon

Technical Difficulties

Apologies for the delay since the last post. Experiencing technical difficulties and trying to figure out the issue. Hope to be up and running again shortly.

Thanks for your patience!

Can You Picture That?

Part of The Muppet Show's long tradition of serving up uncompromisingly great music for kids of all ages is found in the show's house rock band, Dr. Teeth and Electric Mayhem (what a name!), which opened and closed the show in style. In the Muppet Movie, Dr. Teeth & Electric Mayhem gave us the fantastic "Can You Picture That?," sung while the band enacts their "clever plot device," disguising Fozzie's Studebaker to help Fozzie and Kermit elude the villainous Doc Hopper. It's a blast. (Thanks to the consistently excellent Aquarium Drunkard for the tune.)

Dr. Teeth & Electric Mayhem - Can You Picture That?

Buy The Muppet Show: Music, Mayhem, and More! It'll take you back in the best way possible.
Easy Street Records//Sonic Boom Records//Amazon

Bonus:

Midnight in Memphis

This is a special "Happy Birthday Mom" post. She turned 63 today. My mom likes Bette Midler, so here is a rollicking blues track from the soundtrack to the 1979 film, The Rose, which starred Bette - in her debut film - as a Janis Joplin-like character. Happy birthday, Ma.

Midnight In Memphis - Bette Mi...

Buy The Rose. It's, well, Bette. As Janis Joplin. (Eat your heart out, Jenna Maroney!)
Easy Street Records//Sonic Boom Records//Amazon

Many Moons

Janelle Monáe, who formerly worked with Outkast (Idlewild) , released one of 2008's overlooked releases - her debut EP, Metropolis: The Chase Suite. Inspired by Fritz Lang's 1927 classic film, Metropolis, Monáe wrote some killer songs about robots, aliens and outerspace. The great "Many Moons" is one of the standout tracks. She's ambitious, quirky and talented; watch out for this one.

Many Moons - Janelle Monae

Buy this EP. It'll blow your mind.
Easy Street Records//Sonic Boom Records//Amazon

Young Adult Friction

Ablaze in the indie world with the release of their self-titled debut, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart offer up golden 80's-influenced gems. "Young Adult Friction," a shimmering, propulsive track about adolescence, stands out.

Young Adult Friction - The Pai...

Buy this album. It'll lighten the dark days of winter.
Easy Street Records//Sonic Boom Records//Amazon

People Got A Lotta Nerve

The first single from supreme alternative-country vocalist Neko Case's upcoming sixth album, Middle Cyclone, "People Got a Lotta Nerve" is an upbeat, yet melancholy gem referencing cop cars, maneaters and killer whales, among other things. It signals good things from the new album, out on March 3rd. Check it out.

People Got A Lotta Nerve - Nek...

Buy Middle Cyclone on 3/3. In the meantime, if you don't have it already, buy her last, phenomenal album, Fox Confessor Brings the Flood. It's to die for.
Easy Street Records//Sonic Boom Records//Amazon

Tezeta

The soothing, yet vibrant songs off of this UK compilation drawn from the catalogs of Amha Records an d Kaifa Records are all wonderful. Mulatu Astatke and co.'s take on Tezeta, the traditional Ethiopian song of reminiscence or nostalgia, is sublime.

tezeta - Ethiopiques Ensemble

Buy this album. It'll soothe your soul.
Easy Street Records//Sonic Boom Records//Amazon

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

The first track to Sam Cooke's Night Beat, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" introduces the intimate, moody and soulful tone of this exceptional album. Like Cooke's masterful civil rights song, "A Change Is Gonna Come," "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" is heartbreaking and absolutely breathtaking.

Nobody Knows The Trouble I've ...

Buy Night Beat...now. It'll change your life. Promise.
Easy Street Records//Sonic Boom Records//Amazon