My cynic arse would like to believe that, and I'll look right past you including me in with le 'semi-smarts.' I'm also cheery enough to picture a world where a producer with "$$$" in his eyes plays young Mandy "Senses Working Overtime" during the one long weekend she has to record her latest "album," ... and, shock horror, she actually enjoys the song! Is it too much to assume that the great unwashed masses and their pop spokesman actually enjoy (after one or two listens) a brilliant pop and/or RnB song from a ways back? Obviously their handlers play the songs for them, in between filming an episode of "Punk'd." But "semi-smarts" like myself also enjoy a kid with a deep voice kicking the hell out of an XTC song. Just like I like the Beatles throwing "Leave My Kitten Alone" all over the dance floor and Graham Parker re-doing "Crawling From the Wreckage" after 27 years. I tend to believe in, how do you pronounce it-?, oh ... a good time. -- Instead of getting caught up in what was processed for whom.
First of all. I count myself also as a "semi-smart". And I have to admit that I am always harsh about stuff like this. Not because I cannot believe that the singer is actually liking the song but because it won't change the masses interest in good music resp. wakeing their interest in "old music". But thats not our fault.
Another good, recent album is Van Lear Rose by Loretta Lynn. I generally hate country music, yet some of my favorite albums probably fall under the "country" genre. Jack White of White Stripes produced it, so it's not exactly your typical country album.
Here are my latest purchases ... Fleetwood Mac - Say You Will (strong Buckingham songs, Christine McVie's pen is noticable missing) Tonic - Head on Straight (bought solely on the strenth of _Take Me As I Am_) Tesla - Into the Now (my first Tesla album, no weak songs) Vertical Horizon - Go (very strong followup to _Everything You Want_) Dave Matthews Band - Busted Stuff (first DMB, like it better with each listen) Fountains of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers (geat power pop with some amazingly funny lyrics) Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (bought it cold, currently like it but not love it, need more time with it though) Hall & Oates - Do It for Love (their best work to date, sublime) Spock's Beard - The Kindness Of Strangers (best reference point is ELP, bought _Snow_ and did not get it, TKoS is a very different creature, very instant) Pat Benatar - Go (some great songs, some filler) Train - My Private Nation (bought for _Save The Day_, a bit of mixed bag) The Vandals - Internet Dating Superstuds (power punk ala Offspring) The careful reader will note that I am a bit behind the times I only buy used CDs from the majors so I tend to buy CDs a year or so after their release. The FF CD is an exception, since I had a bit of trouble of finding it in USENET groups. For the remainder, I d/l-ed the entire CD from Usenet, burned them to CDRs, and live with them for awhile. Without previewing these CDs via Usenet, I would have only bought FF.
Totally worth it. I haven't given the White Stripes albums a third listen yet, but I can't stop spinning this. Even gave one to me Mum for a Mother's Day gift.
Please check out: Holly Golightly - Truly she is none other It is something like the missing link between Loretta Lynn and the White Stripes (gutfeel). Excelllent, excellent album. And there is her new album coming out these days, called: Down Gina's at 3 Can't wait for it.
For y'all 'ethical' people (kind of oxymoronic once you read what I write): And only because I'm in a giving mood: 3 free downloads for Music Now from Gillette All you have to do is enter in your e-mail and download Music Now (built into Media Player. YOu don't have to enter in credit card info (it's optional). I entered in a fake name and address and used the 3 freebies. Then uninstalled and reinstalled as I signed up for the downloads for 15 different e-mails I own. EDIT: Actually, you don't even have to uninstall! You can just click 'Sign Out' and then hit 'Register' once again. If anyone has moral objections to this then they are completely, 100%, absolutely ****ed up. No one can question that. THIS is legal while Kazaa 'isn't'. Now when places like Kazaa dry up, my first taste of music purchasing is actually quite favorable. VERY easy to preview and download the songs. Also the HIGH quality is a MAJOR plus. Thought about starting a new thread, but with only 21,000 freebies, didn't want to let them get away too fast. Enjoy! EDIT 2: It's only in wma format. What's the best way to convert it or would it work in mp3 players/CDs?
well i picked up sigur ros album "agaeits byrjun" just wanted to say thanks to whoever said pick this up. maybe not this thread but another one. good stuff.
Tex, I saw the great review y'all got in the Denver Post! Congrats! Anyone listened to Los Lonley Boys. I dig the single off the cd, but didn't want to buy it unless I heard some good things from y'all.
If we can drag Buck out of the loop. He's out of town this week, but we're gonna have to make a road trip to BW3 out at Westheimer and Kirkwood when he gets back. I can't wait until a month from today when they reopen the Rice Village one.
I don't know about Beyonce, but Mandy Moore's first record was co-written by a guy from Houston, David Rice, a fine songwriter in his own right. I know that he still plays and writes with her on occassion (according to his website) and he was a HUGE fan of bands like Squeeze, XTC and others. So, I wouldn't be shocked if she liked it as well.
Ordered and received in the mail today: jem - finally woken belle and sebastian - if you're feeling sinister Not a bad set upon first listening to it. I'm actually buying more cds lately rather than downloading them. I think that's mainly because after listening to a good track or two from the radio or mp3 sample, there's a feeling of "cheapening" the experience if I were to download the entire album, especially if it turns out to kick ass. (plus you can't recreate the cover art no matter how well you can print cd covers and stick them onto blank cds). And honestly, wouldn't it be better to show this to everyone once you own it?
Thanks for this extra info. It would be great if she would listen to some true music. It would be great for the whole world.
haven't heard the cd but have seen them live four times, most recently at SXSW opening for british sea power. they put on a hell of a show.
