Category: musical discoveries

See also: Previous and Next (View all)

I am determined to use up my emusic credits as soon as possible and cancel my membership once and for all! Also — ugh! at about the same time, two of my three library accounts cancelled the Freegal music download service, so I’ll be downloading substantially fewer songs from them.

Articles and Interviews

I was too distracted to blog about articles and interviews. Will catch up next month.

Emusic Purchases

1. Quatuor Pour La Fin Du Temps, performed by Trio Classico de Xalapa. 47 minutes, 99 cents. Known in English as QUARTET FOR THE END OF TIME by Olivier Messiaen from 1941. Definitely a random obscure gem as performed by a Mexican chamber music group. Dissonant, flighty, mysterious, written while he was in prison by the Germans.
2. Traditional Chinese Music. 3.99, 98 minutes. Random beautiful instrumental music.
3. I’ll be so happy by the Fairfield Four. 3.99 Culturally lauded men’s black gospel group. 33 minutes. Originally titled The Bells are Tolling, which came out in 1962.
4. 1986 by Ekathe. 8 tracks, 33 minutes. Argentine jazz, mostly with guitars.
5. What You’ve Got to lose to win it all by the Howlers. 42 minutes, 6.99
6. Come Back to Life (Deluxe Edition). by the Zolas. 13 tracks, 51 minutes. 5.99
7. SALAMAT ALI GHAZALS by Salamat Ali. , 71 minutes, 4.99. 1968 album of Pakistani ghazals.
8. I hate ur guts by Madisyn Gifford. 48 minutes , 6.49. Young Canadian singer. Also Learning to Exist (27 minutes/2.99) which is delightful.
9. Amanita Pantherina by Cabbage. 38 minutes, 4.99
10. Ultimate Lounge Sunday Sexy Soothing Jazz by Kovimi Music label (Compilation). 95 minutes/6.49 Konstantin Klashtorni (bio) is a multitalented Ukrainian saxophonist/pianist/guitarist who composes and performs these easy listening Kenny G-type pieces. They’re all relaxing and nice (maybe a little bland?) but still enjoyable. Klashtomi goes by several different names: Kool&Klean, Chillaxonic, eJazz Artistry, but they’re all the same person (I think).
11. New Rock by Buffalo Daughter. 6.99, 69 minutes. Absurdist 90s Japanese rock-pop. Lots of messing around with sampling.
12. Recollected Memories by George Kaplan Conspiracy. 35/3.99
13. There’s a Big Star Outside by Swim Deep, 46 minutes/4.99.
14. Steyoyoke Perception, Vol. 1 (Compilation). 105 minutes/6.49. This is a Berlin-based ethereal techno label. Lots of releases and compilations, but for this one I liked the laid back vibe of every track. Techno music to take a nap to.
15. Okay by James Muller and SCJO. 37 minutes/2.49 Muller is an Australian jazz guitarist who is playing with a brassy jazz ensemble. (Review here)
16. The Takeover by Poppy Jean Crawford. 13 minutes/1.49. Nice EP by a Los Angelas singer.
17. Dust: Recordings 1980-1984 by 22 Beaches. 31 minutes/3.49. Short-lived low-key Scottish punk band who at times sound like Devo a little or a lot.
18. Phoenix Flies by Asia Philharmonic Orchestra. 57 minutes/0.99. The now-defunct APO was a Pan-Asian orchestra consisting of Asian artists from symphonies around the world started by a South Korean named Myung-whun Chung. It got together regularly to perform special concerts. Great performances of Asian pieces totally unknown to me. This album has lots of ballads sung by a male vocalist with orchestral backing. The singer sounds traditionally Chinese, but the orchestral arrangements sound very Western, even jazzy. Also check out “Ching Ming Festival of Bianliang River” which seems to be by the same group.

Reviews (Rateyourmusic/Personal Reviews, etc)

See also my rateyourmusic profile and my review spreadsheet.in Google Docs.

See also: Previous and Next (View all)

I have challenged myself to buy as many albums on emusic in as fast as time as possible.

Articles and Interviews

Nice profile of iconic feminist punk musician Kathleen Hanna — to coincide with the release of her turbulent memoir. “There’s an art to turning personal tragedies and brushes with oppression into your own, sometimes funny narratives. It’s like pulling a sliver out of your foot and fashioning it into a tiny little sword.” I have known about KH’s creations (Julie Ruin, Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, etc) for some time now and I even bought the Julie Ruin album, but I haven’t really listened to Bikini Kill that much. It was news to me that Joanie Jett provided an early break to Hanna.

CHEAP & FUN MUSIC KINDLE EBOOKS: “Record Collecting For Girls: Unleashing Your Inner Music Nerd, One Album at a Time” ($0.50) by Courtney E. Smith is a fun look at chick music, music culture and how nerdy chicks get into music (2011)
“60 Songs That Explain the ’90s” (2.99) is a wildly entertaining series of rants from rock critic Rob Harvilla (who does a podcast with the same name). (2023). Both are great deals and fun reading.

Nice article about John Lennon’s first wife and her attempt to sell old love letters with John.

Wikipedia has a fun list of answer songs in American pop music.

Emusic Purchases

• = recordings from a bland-sounding label called “All Time Favorites” but actually contains a nice mix of low-cost albums from the 1980s to the present. Most of the bands are little known except in their region (and practically impossible to google), but these compilations are Roaratorio (which were dirt cheap and really out there sonically. I’ve been downloading lots of Greatest Hits from Brit bands of the 1980s. Beware!

1. Ani Di Franco. I knew that Di Franco is an amazing kind of gal, but I never really dived into her albums. I loved her 2014 Allergic to Water album 5.49/49 minutes and also bought a low-priced double live album called Living in Clip (1997) 6.49/125 min. Here’s her 2020 interview on Democracy Now and a stirring live performance of Amazing Grace.
2. Black Light (Manchester Version) by Ting Tings 3.99/34 min. Nice EP by one of the most kickass British power pop groups. (actually shocked to find it on emusic) It doesn’t have the fury of their first album, but it’s very expressive and showcases the range of the vocalist’s voice. (Emusic has the regular version and the Manchester Version. The latter is a more stripped down version, , with less reverb, focused more on the voice.
3. (Soundtrack) No Man’s Sky: Music for an Infinite Universe by 65daysofstatic. 5.49 / 110 min . Widely beloved soundtradk to a videogame.
4. * s/t by Andrew Broder & George Cartwight. 0.49/40 minutes. Minimal jazz improvisations from the Roaratorio label in Minnesota.
5. * Symphony #3 Siddhartha Gautama O El Poder De La Nada by Nelson Gastaldi. 0.49/45 minutes. Outsider Argentinian composer using samples and sounds from strange sources. Article
6. * Anamnestic Tincture. 99 cents/58 min
7. Various albums by Third Eye Foundation (aka Matt Elliott) . . Semtex, Also 2 0.99 cent albums: The Dark, Wake the Dead. Solo songs: Broken Man, 5.99/47 minute
8. On a Whim by A Different Thread. Country duet of Brit guy with North Carolina woman. Some of these songs are outstanding! 5.49/50 min. Also Call of the Road 4.99/42 min.
9. Nonsequence by Mike Gibbs. 4.49/52 min. Gibbs is a trombonist/composer who has made these rich and textured brass melodies.
10. For Your Sins by Dea Matrona. 5.49/32 minutes. Belfast girls rock band who sing traditional guitar-driven rock songs with restrained harmony. Not too bold or rowdy, but still listenable, especially because the guitars are so interesting. Songs like Glory, glory, (I am free) show that the band can also do gentle folk songs.
11. Swirls and Eddies by Ivo Neame Trio. 3,48/46 min. Nice and swinging piano jazz ensemble.
12. Salt, Ashes, Goat Skin by David Maranha Ensemble. 39 minutes/0.99
13. Muance by Chapelier Fou. 4.99/50 min.
14. Holy Pictures by David Holmes. Cool jazzy rock soundtrack with some vocals by this Belfast-based music producer.
15. Two albums by Deathtrippers: self-titled (38 minutes/2.99) and Passion & FIre ($3.50/42 min)
16. Power of One by Michie One. British reggae singer from the 1990s and 2000s. Catchy lyrics and some tracks are with her main collaborator Louchie Lou.
17. Consequences by Louie Austen. Hip Austrian lounge singer who did a great novelty song One Night in Rio.
18. Afro & Latin House (Groovehouse Compilation) Volume 1 and Volume 2
19. Exactly as it seems by Home Counties. 4.50/37 minutes. Light and zippy Brit dancepop, compare to Smiths, B52s, Ting Tings, Blondie. 5 dudes and a singing gal.
20. Fires and Floods by Eddie Martin Band. 66 minutes, 6.40. British blues guitar plays Texas style.
21. About Time by Debbie Campbell. 3.99/31 min.
22. Verso by Maria Pia De Vito, John Taylor, Ralph Towner. 56 minutes, 4.49. Italian jazz singer from Provocateur Records.
23. Various things by Vick Lavender: The Nature EP,
24. Where the Rest of the World Begins by Gian Slater and Hieronymus Trio. 44 minutes/4.99 This Australian jazz album is a slow and easygoing collaboration between pianist/composer Emma Grace Stephenson and female singer Gian Slater Songs like Love is Patient have a meandering and ethereal quality, and Slater’s wistful singing gives it a beautiful magic. Strangely, the vocals and lyrics take a backseat to the piano melodies, but Slater has an incredible voice which captures every nuance with subtlety and skill. A nice review.
25. Skylines by Evan Harris. 4.49/48 minutes.
26. Energy Flow by Clementine Blue. 3.49/47 minutes.
27. Slow Apocalypse by Sleepy Gonzales.
28. Ten Best by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. 37 min/4.99 Britiish dancepop from early 2000s.
29. Ten Best by T’Pau . 42 minutes/ 4.99.
30. Dromoi Horis Telos by Thanos Eglezis. 5.49/43 min. Greek rock and roll. Apparently an unknown.
31. Love, Gloom, Cash, Love by Herbie Nichols Trio. 41 min/4.49. historic 1957 recording by jazz pianist and composer, whose reputation has soared over time. Read reviews.
32. All time Favorites: Sunny & the Sunglows. 31 minutes/5.49 . Texas Latino/Tejano band popular in the 1950s.
33. Macedonian Dance and Belly Dance by Orchestra Agushevi. I’m 80% sure that this is an early collection of brass pieces by the hot Macedonian brass band leader Dzambo Agusevi (who is pretty famous in the West). Probably re-released from another label.
34. s/t by Ajagore.
35. The Gentle War by Trichotomy. 50 minutes/ 3.49 Nice album by an Australian jazz trio. Read this album review. Though it’s mostly gentle, this piano jazz has an unexpected amount of rhythm and force.
36. The Mongolian by Haya. 49 minutes/0.99 Lovely folk-pop band, with unusual instruments, throat-singing
37. Booker Little and Friend by Booker Little. 58 minutes/3.99 Last album by trumpetist Booker Little. Released in 1961.
38. Round Midnight by Jan Pluta Band. 65 minutes/3.99 Pluta is a Polish percussionist who plays jazzy pop tunes, sometimes with vocals, sometimes with a hard beat. Feels like neo-soul or jazzy lounge music. These English-language tunes are less interesting than their musical arrangements, vocal harmonies and Quincy Jones-like punchiness.
39. Griechische Impressionen by Aris Aristofanous. 39 minutes/3.99 1989 live recording of this Greek singer.
40. Down in Houston by Pierre and the Zydeco Dots. 37 minutes, 3.99 Early Houston zydeco band — I probably have seen them in concert! (am unsure). Probably not as fierce as Buckwheat Zydeco, but still good stuff.
41. Irish Punky by Boreash. Obscure Irish instrumental music. 56 minutes/0.99
42. Trouble Blues by Mietek Blues Band. 51 minutes/0.99 Longtime Polish blues/jazz band recordings. Originally recorded as “Tribute to the Blues” in 1994. Contains several blues standards, some with daffy interpretations (“Thrill is Gone” is upbeat and perky… well, that’s special). Worth grabbing.
43. Natural Born Lover by Lou Ann Barton. 12 tracks, 3.99 Texas blues singer from the 1980s and 1990s who hung around Stevie Ray Vaughan when he was alive. Truncated version of 1988 album Sugar Coated Love. 12 tracks instead of the original 17.
44. Spirit of Tibet by Nawang Khechog (Tibetan composer & flutist). 49 minutes/0.99. Good meditative music by a self-taught musician, otherworldly and profound. This performer has performed with several A-list US musicians (Paul Simon, Philip Glass, Natalie Merchant, etc).
45. * Welcome to the Florida Keys by Cedrick Luces. 0.99/39 min. Florida steel drum player.
46. * Colorful Dream by Wen Bin. 50 minutes/0.99 Strange ambient music mixed with warbling vocals. I’m guessing it is Sudanese/Central African.
47. Mirandola’s Blues by Orbis Tertius. 100 minutes/3.99 Long-running Mexican jazz group. Also Oracion Caribe 55 minutes/3.99
48. 30 Aniversario by Trio Tlayoltiyane. 50 minutes/3.99.
49. 30 Cantos populares de Chile by Violeta Parra. 65 minutes/6.49 Famous Chilean folk singer from the 1960s who committed suicide.
50. Grandes Exitos by Mercedes Sosa. 43 minutes/ 6.49. 12 hits from the career of this Argentine singer, including her famous version of Violeta Parra’s Gracias a la vida. (Check this duet she did with Joan Baez on YouTube for Violea Parra’s song.
51. Arzoo by Somia Khan. 47 minutes/4.49 Contemporary Pakistani singer sings Bollywood-style songs.
52. Primeras Grabaciones by Tlen Huicani. 68 minutes/3.99. Folk singers from Veracruz, Mexico.
53. Ten Best by Status Quo. 38 minutes/4.99 This generic-looking compilation contains their original 1970s hits from this long-running UK hard rock band. Wish it had more songs (and later stuff), but still it’s a great intro to a band virtually unknown in the USA.
54. Ten Best by Lynsey DePaul. 37 minutes/4.99 Terrific compilation by British singer/songwriter whose song “Rock Bottom” won 2nd in 1977 Eurovision. Her lovely delicate voice sounds like Jeanette or Carly Simon or Olivia Newton John, but there’s a little bit of disco in the background, recalling Toni Tenille or maybe Diana Ross. Update: this compilation is incredible and makes me long for more!
55. Talib Hussain Dard Vol 1. Pakistani/Hindustani music.
56. Outliers by Syrabite5. Slow and dainty chamber music pieces by a NY-based classical music group.
57. Ex Machina by Donald Sinta Quartet. 76 minutes, 6.49
58. In Light by Moonwalks. 30/3.49
59. Sum of our Fears by the Howlers. 99 cents/15 minutes.
60. Kaampala by Gondhawa. 37 minutes, 2.49
61. Abida Parveen Classics Live, 5.49/82 minutes. Classic performance by Pakistani female singer of ghazals.
62. Nightleaf by Boytoy. 34 minutes/4.49 Vermont psychedelic band which sounds like Black Moth Super Rainbow.
63. s/t by Evil Usses. 39 minutes/3.99. Off-balance jazz/pop pieces that range in mood and energy, but still surprise. Sax/electric guitar, bass and drums.

Bandcamp Purchases

1. Begin

Youtubey/Podcasty Things

This wonderfully raucous music vid is a cover version of a Nirvana song which appeared in the BIG SHORT (one of my fave movies ever). Polyphonic Spree is such a strange group. Here’s longer excerpts from that same concert tour apparently.

Here’s a great Youtube compilation of high notes by the female singer in the Rolling Stones’ song Gimme Shelter. The consensus seems to be that although Merry Clayton’s original version simply cannot be topped, Lisa Fischer knocks it out of the park as well (and toured with the Stones for a decade). Both were featured in the 20 Feet from Stardom movie. Here’s Fischer’s full performance from the 1990s and for comparison’s sake, the also excellent version by Chanel Haynes. (which was recorded live in Houston a few weeks ago — wow!)

Freegal and Library CDs

1. CD Version of 1st 2 Records by Bikini Kill. Early compilation by Kathleen Hannas’ riot grrrl band.

Reviews (Rateyourmusic/Personal Reviews, etc)

See also my rateyourmusic profile and my review spreadsheet.in Google Docs.

See also: Previous and Next (View all)

Incredibly I realized this month that Tom Petty and Tom Waits were two different people. Honestly I had no idea. Whenever I heard either name, I would think, “Oh, that’s the Free Fallin /Living like a Refugee Guy.

I put my emusic subscription on hold for 3 months — pretty much because I thought I wanted to cancel, but wanted to give them an extra 3 months to collect more albums (if that were even possible). 3 months later, I started looking through the catalog. There’s so much garbage; is it really worth all my investigation? I’m leaning towards leaving.

Last week I did something unthinkable; I went to a live music concert. I learned that one of my fave singers, Jade Bird would be singing in Houston. She was doing a midweek concert at the Heights Theater in Houston, with Aubrey Hays opening for her. A few superficial remarks:

• Heights Theater was such a wonderful venue especially for acoustic pop/rock. Tickets were reasonably-priced, the schedule had a lot of distinguished performers, but parking was on the street. The only drawback was that it took an hour to get there during rush hour, but I wanted to be there good and early.
• Aubrey Hays was a treat to hear. Lots of slow wistful introspective songs. Kind of folk, kind of mumblecore, but she did remarkable things with her voice.
• Jade Bird was one of the most energetic performers I’ve seen. It’s exhausting. My neighbor in the audience said that Jade Bird has a lot of rage inside of her, which is a funny thing to say, because Jade Bird has a goofy presence and is really hilarious onstage. (It’s even funnier that she’s from UK and living in Austin). She was only 26 — holy cow, born in 1997! But she had entered the music biz very early in life

Articles and Interviews

Here’s a nice Interviews with rock legend Patti Rothberg (whose Between the 1 and 9 album is among my all-time favorites). Here’s the video for Treat Me Like Dirt . Rothberg still performs regularly on the East Coast at smaller gigs. Most of her albums are at the major distributions, with the latest collaborations on Bandcamp here, here and here. It’s a combination of punk rock, easy pop and acoustic stuff.

Emusic Purchases

For this emusic credit, I’m going to focus on jazz albums (in the broad sense). I’ve been leaning on Provocateur Records which is run by jazz band leader Colin Towns. (Here’s a profile of Colin Towns). For simplicity I am using an asterisk to indicate albums from Provocateur.

1. VA Compilation by ANMA Records. Outlines. 4.49 for 57 minutes. Electronic Jazz compilation. Quirky, definitely more electronic than jazz, but still fun.
2. At the BBC: On Air Performances 2000-2005 by Laura Cantrell. 58 minutes for 6.49. Cantrell is a Nashville-born country singer. So rare to have an American singer on emusic!
3. Bedsofaland by 9 Lazy 9. 7.49 for 45 minutes. 2000s album by a tranquil jazz group also on bandcamp
4. 2 jazz albums by Phronesis: Organic Warfare (4.99, 54 min) and Green Delay (3.99 for 58 minutes)
5. s/t by The Bloody Norahs. 36 minutes for 4.00. Australian alt country/indie rock.
6. * 2 Jazz Collaborations by Alan Skidmore’s Ubizo: Ubizo and 50 Journeys. Alan Skidmore is a noted British tenor saxophonist, and in these two albums he collaborated with a South African percussion ensemble called Amampando. (See this review of Ubizo). Lively and energetic with a strong beat
7. * Still Life by Colin Towns Mask Quartet sung by Italian singer Maria Pa De Vito. 4.49/59 Min. 1997
8. * Nowhere and Heaven by Colin Towns Mask Orchestra. 11.49/149 min 1998
9. * Stand Well Back by Blue Touch Paper. 5.99/70 min 2012. A later iteration of Colin Towns.
10. Best of Stelvio Cipriani. 6.49/90 min. Compilation of music that Cipriani wrote for various Italian movies in the 1970s and 1980s. I’m sure a lot of good stuff didn’t make the collection, but still sounds lovely. Most are slow and romantic.
11. s/t by Ken Laszlo. 3.49/43 min. 80s Eurodisco dance songs. I have a weakness for Eurodisco, the sappier, the better.
12. The Hunt by Jungle by Night. 4.99/43 minutes. Dutch jazz band which is strongly influenced by Afrobeat. Also s/t 2.49/36 min
13. * Two by saxophonist Andy Sheppard: Learning to Wave 4/64 min. and PS by Andy Sheppard and John Paricelli. (4.49/53 min). These are very easy listening/Kenny G sound, but they still can be intensely focused,sophisticated interpretations and almost cerebral.
14. Kafiqawwalinight by Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn 1/115 min. What a bargain!
15. Narrada by Jim Hart’s Gemini. Excellent kooky and zippy jazz . 5.50/61 minutes
16. 10 years (2009-2019) by The Casino Royale. Lounge music with rock elements.
17. Serenata del Campo, 60 Años de Éxitos by El Dueto de Antano. 4.99/36 min. Classic Columbian guitar group which sing serenades.

Bandcamp Purchases

.

Youtubey Things

.IRISH HOPES AND DREAMS: Here’s a great live version of that iconic Irish Cranberries song, Dreams. You can’t do better than their early album EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING IT, SO WHY CAN’T WE? P.S. All the other live versions of “Dreams” on YT really suck!

Freegal and Library CDs

I’ve been listening to Eumir Deodata, a Brazilian music arranger and producer who did these amazing jazz arrangements. Probably the most famous was his version of Also Sprach Zarathustra, which reached the #2 spot on the pop charts in the USA in the 1970s. Memorably it appeared in the Peter Sellars movie Being There where Chance wandered out into the city streets for the first time in his life.

1. Toquinho, a Brazilian guitarist who was most known for his collaboration with songwriter Vinicius de Moraes
2. El Dueto de Antano — classic Columbian guitar groups
3. Osvaldo Pugliese — classic Argentine tango musician.
4. Urinetown Original Broadway recording. Music to a cynical political satire. The songs are downright Brechtian and masterpieces. I saw it staged in Houston and was wowed.
5. Jain. Wonderful African dance pop singer who is heavily influenced by African music.
6. Quarteo em Cy. Long running group of young female singers from Brazil who often collaborate with well known samba and bossa nova artists.

Reviews (Rateyourmusic /Personal Reviews, etc)

See also my rateyourmusic profile and my review spreadsheet.in Google Docs.

See also: Previous and Next (View all)

For this new year I will be putting emusic on hold and focusing a little more on Bandcamp. I still feel that artists on bandcamp price their albums too high. (i find it hard to justify anything more than $5 for an album; I don’t care how talented the musicians think they are.

Hyperswiftian? The onslaught of Taylor Swift news has reached a new peak. So I thought I should weigh in. I have checked out various Taylor Swift CDs and listened to her songs on Pandora. Also I’ve seen a few of her performances on talk shows. I’ve read about her legal disputes and certainly know about her politics. And so far my opinion about her music is that I don’t have any. Pleasantly pop, and her music videos seem really really well-produced. I suppose that maybe later I will actually decide if I like her music and why, but right now, I’m still neutral.

Pop-star wise, I’m still very gung ho about H.E.R., Janelle Monae, Jade Bird (fanatic!) Olivia Rodrigo (unexpectedly!), Brandi Carlile, boygenius, Alvvays, Maren Morris, Little Big, Kacey Musgraves, Nicole Atkins, Jordan Smith, Haelos, Sheryl Crow, Bjork, Tori Amos, Marty Stuart, Courtney Barrett, Потап и Настя, Onuka, Norah Jones, K’Naan,

I generally like: Jon Batiste, the Roots,

Old fogies I still love: Chemical Brothers, PJ Harvey, Sisqo, David Byrne, Kristen Hirsch, Hooverphonic, DJ Rap, Praga Khan, Weird Al Yankovic, Devo, Suzanne Vega, Laurie Anderson,

Friendly indifference to Foo Fighters, Metallica, Billie Eilish, Kelsea Ballerini,

Articles and Interviews

From watching a 1994 video where teenagers entering NYC Tower Records what album they planned to buy, I learned about a great 90s hiphop band called Gravediggaz.

Delighted to learn that the Somalian-Canadian rapper K’naan won a Grammy for best protest song Refugee. Great song and music video. His Wavin’ Flag celebration song (related to the World Cup) has a ton of YouTube views. The first song I heard by K’naan was the amazing America song, which is a bilingual rap song (joined by Mos Def and Chali 2na as well as samples from classic Ethiopian jazz. ) Here’s his Tiny Desk concert from 2010 and his Nardwuar interview (which reveals that K’naan is highly literate and is related to the singer Magool.

Emusic Purchases

I’m putting my account on hold again — possibly for the last time. I’ve definitely found some interesting stuff since last time, but I’d rather be finding gems at Bandcamp. Maybe in 90 days I’ll be willing to try emusic again.

1. Ten More Turnips from the Tip by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, 10 tracks, 48 minutes. 4.49
2. Two by Karkara. Crystal Gazer (41 minutes for 2.99!) and Nowhere Land (36 minutes for 2.99)
3. Two by Ouzo Bazooka (Israeli heavy metal). Astral Sesson/Live at Teder (35 minutes, 2.49) and Transporter (45 minutes for 4.49)
4. Duarte Lobo: Requiem for 6 Voices by Tallis Scholars. (65 minutes for 6.49). Tallis Scholars produce some super-high quality Renaissance era music performances.
5. Castle Spell by Sunflowers. 51 minutes, 4.49
6. Greatest Hits by the Levellers. 139 minutes, 6.49
7. Bloom (Deluxe) by Emerger. 34 for 3.99
8. Radiant Rhythms Vol 9 by Stan Kolev. 82 minutes for 4.99

Bandcamp Purchases

I’ve been exploring the freebies/low cost bandcamp items using Getmusic.fm.

1. Begin

Youtubey Things

“I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME.” This great silly performance created and narrated by PDQ Bach (who died this week) treats a symphony like a sports event. It’s a real classic (and performed in Houston by the way). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzXoVo16pTg

FUNNY DUET: About a decade ago, I stumbled upon some wonderful songs by Italian singer Caterina Valente (who is still alive and 93). I never realized that she did American TV in the 1960s. Here’s a delightful duet with Dean and another duet with Bing.

I’d seen a fantastic version of the Chicago musical in the 1980s, but the reason I never saw the movie was prosaic. I bought the DVD and lent it to a woman who later became my sworn enemy (it’s a long story). She claimed she lost it, and maybe she did. For some reason I never got around to watching it and only just now watched We Both Reached for the Gun musical number on YouTube. Wow!

SLOW COUNTRY LOVE BALLAD. Please Don’t Say Goodbye by Marty Stuart. Lately I’ve been getting into this country singer– why haven’t I heard about him before?! Very Jimmy Dale Gilmorish. The guitar solo at the end is beautiful! I just love this ether

Freegal and Library CDs

1. Stuff by Louis Austen. (Austrian neo-disco). I mentioned him in the previous post.
2. Several albums by Porcupine Tree (a British progressive band).
3. A compilation of rock instrumentals from previous decades.
4. Greatest Hits with a Twist by DMX. Unfortunately this version was simply an inferior re-recording of the original hits, but that’s the only album I could find!
5. 6 Feet Under by Gravediggaz. Hey, they’re were considered cool to the cool teenage girls in the mid1990s.

Reviews (Rateyourmusic/Personal Reviews, etc)

See also my rateyourmusic profile and my review spreadsheet.in Google Docs.

Podcasty Things

start

See also: Previous and Next (View all)

One of my favorite discoveries was an 80s Eurodisco song called Shame by Stefany. Cute woman, addictive reprise, slow and funky base. Imagine my surprise and delight to find that singer’s full name is Stephany Falasconi, and indeed she did a video podcast interview a few months ago. She’s been a TV personality for a long time and her musical adventure was brief, but again, it’s a humdinger of song!

Articles and Interviews

I’ve been really loving this rock album Fear of a Blank Planet by long-running British progrock band Porcupine Tree. Performing since the early 1990s, with about a dozen studio albums. Notably, some of their songs are very long (in the 10-15 minute range).

Emusic Purchases

1. In the Aeroplace over the sea by Neutral Milk Hotel. Rare pop hit album on emusic.
2. Carried in Sound by Smoke Fairies. British female folk rock duo who have played a lot in USA and Canada. They have been together 20 years! This recent one is one of the more mellow and laid back albums. (Wiki, Interview)
3. More albums by Clavvs: halfblood
4. Gezuar 2022 Promedia. Compilation several hours long.
5. Hotel Costes 5. (Mix-set by Stéphane Pompougnac). All his mixes are great; this one had One Night in Rio mentioned below).
6. Ascension by Enana White. Spanish pop band with rock elements.
7. Me Toca a mi by Maria Aguado. Spanish pop singer
8. Head of Pomegranate by Flamingods.
9. Albums by Group Doueh: Zayna Jumma, Moroccan/Sahara Guitar Jams.
10. Foreglow by Degiheugi. French Polynesian lounge electronic rap. I fell in love with it immediately.
11. Bidad by Mohammad-Reza Shajarian. Traditional Persian music with male vocals.
12. s/t by Guano Padano. Quirky Italian jazz guitarist who also sings? This album is fun and hard to define.
13. Gach Sgeul by Julie Fowlis. Another great studio album by Scottish folk singer (who has several albums on emusic).
14. s/t by Ko Shin Moon.

Bandcamp Purchases

All of these are Name Your Price (NYP)

1. Heart by Dratz
2. 2 by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard: Super Poly 64 and Polygondwanaland
3. Suburban Summer by Raised Ranch.
4. 2 by I’m waiting: Thoughts and words.
5. Taste of South African Psychedelics by Nano Records
6. Glitz & Glamour by Goodbye Charlemagne. Neo-disco.

Youtubey Things

One Night in Rio — a fun groovy talky song by Austrian Louis Austen. (t’s described as Airport Transit Lounge). I normally hate songs with lots of talking, but this one had so many musical flourishes and funny lines too.

The two other Andrews Sisters sing a crazy song for a TV show.

I really can sucked in by multipart music biographies on Youtube. Here are two shows about my favorite singers: Story of the Andrews Sisters and The Carpenters.

Freegal and Library CDs

1. Various songs by 1970s popstar Donovan.
2. Emil Dimitrov. Bulgarian song writer and singer. His compilation album is Zvuchi v mene muzika which contains most of his great songs.
3. Eydie Gorme.

Reviews (Rateyourmusic/Personal Reviews, etc)

See also my rateyourmusic profile and my review spreadsheet.in Google Docs.

Podcasty Things

start