As I was going through my iTunes, these songs bubbled up for some reason. No real theme here, except that they’re all reasonably old and somewhat obscure (not unlike yours truly).
The Verlaines are one of my favorite New Zealand bands from the storied days of the Flying Nun label. Founded and led by classically trained guitarist Graeme Downes, the band is known for their literate vocals and complex song structures—not surprising, given Downes actually attained his PhD between recordings, and has maintained an academic life with regard to his day job. 
From the many incarnations of Palace Music, Will Oldham settled on the Bonnie “Prince” Billy moniker about a decade ago, and has quietly continued tinkering with permutations of American music—country, folk, roots, and the like—but approached with a modern sensibility. 
TV on the Radio open the new album with a nod to 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain, and never look back. Their cauldron of sound just keeps pleasantly surprising you with subtle influences and innovative production. A great effort. 
I intentionally avoided Of Montreal after their splash at the SXSW a ways back. Something about their screechy 80’s-influenced art rock just kind of annoyed me. But early this year, I finally gave 2007’s Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? a fair listen, and it all kind of clicked into place for me (their cool album art doesn’t hurt either). Their latest, Skeletal Lamping is a funkier endevour indeed, and as a new convert…I dig. 
Ignoring the The Walkmen was far easier because I didn’t have to do it consciously. I was a big Jonathan Fire*Eater fan in the day, so you think I might have followed along with the remnants, but I just didn’t hear anything that really interested me. That was until I was in the throes of a Dylan discovery phase, and I heard “Louisiana.” The connection was made. I really quite like the new one, You & Me, it’s good enough to shake any Dylan knock-off hostility. 
The band Railroad Jerk got together around the turn of the 90’s. They put out a couple records on Matador that got some attention, but their third release, 1995’s One Track Mind, is the one that got mine. Loved their brand of lo-fi, shit-can, delta blues-rock. Their follow up Third Rail tightened up their sound and was their best effort yet…unfortunately it was to be their last, although I have read rumors about an unreleased album. 
One of the most perplexing things about The Brian Jonestown Massacre is how good they can be despite their rotating cast of characters, spats, freakouts, and other drug-induced theatrics. Their latest, My Bloody Underground, is unfortunately not one of those things.
Give Primal Scream credit for keeping you guessing. Look across their discography, and you’d have a bit of trouble cramming them into even a generous-sized box—from the acid-house induced Screamadelica to the kinetic XTRMNTR to their dalliances with southern-fried Stones-influenced rock (which I’ll be the first to admit a strange affection for). And now with Beautiful Future, they’re gone downright poppy. As with any of their records, there are a few clunkers, but I think it all works well for the most part. Bring on the future! 
The Ethiopians – Everything Crash
Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Ah It Mek
Stranger Cole – Banarang
Melodians – Rivers of Babylon
Max Romeo – Wet Dream
Jimmy Cliff – Wonderful World, Beautiful People
Yellowman - Natty Sat Upon the Rock
The Ethiopians – Engine 54
The Skatalites – Simmer Down
The Maytals - 54-46 (That's My Number)
Always reinventing itself, Wire is truly in it for the art. They’ve proved to be one of the most innovative and influential bands in modern rock. And now that their new full-length, Object 47 (the 47th object in their catalogue) is out, I’m falling in love with the band all over again. Hints of early material abound, but it all sounds remarkably fresh and forward-looking. 
After a bout with double pneumonia, Jason Pierce is back after a five year absence with Songs in A&E...not chords mind you, but a reference to the ER, which is called Accident & Emergency in the UK. 
I used to DJ for a college radio station through the 80's and 90's, which means there are a lot of cataloged songs from that period that live in deep recesses of my mind. Some have been a bit elusive to find. But with a little tenacity and time, I've managed to unearth many of them over the years. Here are six gems that not only transport you back in time, but still hold up as just good music.
It appears Elvis Costello has plenty of bile for the record biz, choosing to release his latest as either a digital download or vinyl. At least he thought better of the idea of not recording at all anymore. 
Too little time and too much good music to post, so here are some of the albums that I’ve been obsessing over for the past few weeks. Not exactly a mix, per se, but great tracks all. Enjoy... and leave me a freggin’ comment of thanks.
Well Mr. Cave…I’d say you’ve been on a creative tear in recent times. Between the expansive, pretty-at-times Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus and Grinderman, which was a refreshingly gritty affair—as well as the apparent jump-off point for the new recording with the Bad Seeds.
After breaking his long-standing moratorium on playing live, I had the pleasure of seeing David Berman and company live in March of 2006 at Webster Hall in NYC (snapped this picture with my cellphone). They most certainly did not disappoint. And being on the receiving end of all that pent-up fan love seemed to have medicinal powers in healing the fragile psyche of Dave. 
To celebrate Gary Numan’s 30th year in music, Beggars Banquet has just re-issued Tubeway Army’s 1979 synth masterpiece Replicas as Gary Numan & Tubeway Army – Replicas Redux. What’s more, Gary Numan has set off on a 15-date UK tour through March where he’ll be performing the album in its entirety. 
