Ten from Tom

I consider Tom Waits one of my music heros, so I thought I’d post ten amazing songs that rank among my favorites. Little Trip to Heaven was actually the first dance song at my wedding—so if you’ve never heard it, you’re in for a treat.

Little Trip To Heaven

Jockey Full Of Bourbon

Jesus Gonna Be Here

Way Down In The Hole

Walking Spanish

Cold Water

Gin Soaked Boy

Chocolate Jesus

How's It Gonna End

Downtown Train

To Tweet or not to Tweet...

Tweet I say. I'm finally caving in to social media pressure and using Twitter. Still experimenting with it, but thought it would be a nice addition to the blog. Won't bore you with a lot of nonsense, but have been posting a song of the day, which is fun 'cause it's a great excuse to dig into the deep music recesses of my mind. 

Come and follow!

10 Newish Cuts

Enjoy ten great tracks that have made the rounds on my iPod the last couple months. 

Elvis Costello - The Crooked Line

The Handsome Family - Wild Wood

God Help the Girl - If You Could Speak

Malcolm Middleton - Subset of the World

Iggy Pop - Je Sais Que Tu Sais

Crocodiles – I Wanna Kill

Telekinesis! - Coast Of Carolina

Modest Mouse – Satellite Skin

Dark Night of the Soul – Daddy’s Gone

Papercuts - A Dictator's Lament

Wilco – Wilco (The Album)

Forget about all the things people expect Wilco to be. They’ve produced an amazing body of work with very few exceptions—maybe Sky Blue Sky was one of them—but even that was a pretty enjoyable listen. From album to album, they’ve been more country, more rootsy, more experimental (cheers to Jay Bennett), more whatever. I think there’s no masterplan here, they just make the kind of music that speaks to them. And Wilco (The Album) finds them doing it really well—a world-weary, well-oiled machine, that hasn’t lost its sense of humor.

Wilco (The Song)

Bull Black Nova

I'll Fight

Sunny Feeling

The Handsome Family – Honey Moon

What a delight the new Handsome Family has proven to be. I very much like the bits and pieces I’ve heard over the years, but somehow never really did much extended listening to their past albums—I think that’s about to change. Honey Moon is described as a celebration of Brett and Rennie Sparks’ marriage of 20 years, and there’s no denying the love is there. It’s a lush world budding with surprises, irony…and well…love. 

Little Sparrows

The Loneliness Of Magnets

June Bugs

Wild Wood

Pink Mountaintops - Outside Love

A little late in getting to this one. But thankfully, Stephen McBean has kept Pink Mountaintops going after focusing much of his attention to his day job with Black Mountain the past few years. Outside Love is a great album, and in some ways even stronger than Axis of Evol. Woozy, boozy, bluesy rock that perfect for the Summertime.

Holiday

Execution  

The Gayest Of Sunbeams

While We Were Dreaming

Jarvis Cocker – Further Complications

If I happened to have a baby boy instead of a girl 19 months ago, I’d have named him Jarvis. That’s largely based on my high opinion of the man. And with his second time going solo, he’s put out another great album. Not quite as strong as his first perhaps, but excellent indeed. Take into consideration the production of Steve Albini, which adds more guitar edge to the whole affair. Thankfully, it’s not overdone and works quite well for the most part. I’m partial, but it remains one of the strongest releases of the year thus far.

Angela

Pilchard

Leftovers

Hold Still

Bill Callahan – Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle

I admit I’m not much of a Bill Callahan or Smog aficionado. I quite like some of the bits and pieces I’ve heard over the years, but really can’t speak with any authority about his body of work. What I can do is tell you how impressed I am with his latest album. Beautifully arranged, meandering music, with pained, thoughtful lyrics and subtle hooks. The three below are my current favorites. It’s the kind of album that makes you want to dig into the things you may have missed.

The Wind And The Dove

Too Many Birds

My Friend

Super Furry Animals - Dark Days/Light Years

I must say I’m quite thrilled with the new album. After feeling just a hair let down by Hey Venus!, their ninth studio album is adventurous in all the right places. It hop scotches from psyched-out jams to krautrock to funk-laced grooves to foot-pounding stadium rock. Best from SFA in a long while.

Moped Eyes

Inaugural Trams

Inconvenience

The Very Best Of Neil Diamond

Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest

Although the official release date isn't until the end of May, Grizzly Bear’s third full-length has gotten 'round. And with something this highly anticipated…of course it would. The good news is that the recording basically lives up to the hype. In my view, it’s a marked improvement from their last—more assured and generally a more satisfying listen on every level. Definitely recommended.

Two Weeks

All We Ask

Cheerleader

I Live With You