New Greencards: Viridian
Lost in the shuffle (to me) this week was the release of the Greencards‘ new album. Rank Carol Young’s voice right up there with my favorite female singers (e.g. Lucinda Williams, Patty Griffin). Her singing is effortless and sweet to the ears.
The new album, Viridian, is a great mix of pure American music as performed by the trio – two Aussies and a Brit – who live in Austin, Texas. The trio lay it down with a mandolin, a fiddle, and an electric bass. Yeah, bluegrass instruments, but the Greencards can’t be nailed down as a bluegrass band. They veer into a rootsy territory too. Probably a lot to do with their hometown of Austin.
The album opener shows what the Greencards are all about. A laid back feel, great vocals / harmonies, and talented musicianship. Dig it!
The Greencards: Waiting on the Night
Buy: Viridian
Check out the Greencards’ Official Site
Related: A previous Greencards post with links to a full live show in Telluride.
A Monday Mixed Bag
Happy Monday. Joy joy! A few odds and end here:
WILCO streamed their new album, Sky Blue Sky, on their web site over the weekend. Pretty cool idea to hold a special listening party for their fans. I’m sure people have grabbed, ripped and torn the show into mp3’s, but I’m not pursuing. I’m exercising patience. But they do have an mp3 from the album available on their site. It’s called “What Light”. If you want to download it, go to their web site. If you want to hear it right here, right now…..
Wilco – “What Light”
A READER threw a request my way for a Clash show I posted way back when. You can download the individual mp3’s here if you want. It’s May 9, 1981 in Lille, France. Highly recommended for all Clash City Rockers. RIP Joe Strummer. Here’s a taste of the show….
The Clash – “Bank Robber“
TOMORROW IS A GREAT DAY here in the U.S. for new releases in DVD and CD land.
1. Borat! I’m a big fan of Da Ali G Show, but I still haven’t seen this movie. That will change now. Borat – Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan is released to the masses on DVD.
2. Arcade Fire‘s new CD, Neon Bible, is released. I love the energy this band exudes, and you can’t beat Win Butler’s voice, IMO.
Buy: Neon Bible
3. Ry Cooder is an American musical treasure. Tuesday sees the release of My Name is Buddy, a collection of depression-era / dust bowl ballads from the vantage point of Buddy the Cat, Lefty Mouse, and Reverend Tom Toad. I’m not kidding.
A Referral for Matt the Electrician
I’ve been spending a good amount of time with Matt the Electrician. No, my marriage is not in jeopardy. Matt the Electrician is Matt Sever, a singer / guitarist / songwriter from one of America’s music hubs, Austin, Texas. Matt has been playing his gigs and building his fan base since the late 90’s. His latest CD, One Thing Right, is a clever, melodic ride through the neo-folk alt-country landscape. His bio likens his voice to “a young Paul Simon wrapped around a Tom Waits heart.” I dig his voice. It has a nice light sandpapery feel, sort of Jakob Dylan-ish in my opinion. Quite pleasing to these old ears.
It’s a good sign that it was difficult for me to select one song off the album. There are several I really enjoy: “Held Together”, “On the Radar”, “My Dog”… but this one takes top billing at this space in time.
Matt is launching a west coast tour soon (including an April 5 stop at the Rhythm Room here in Phoenix). He’ll also be popping up around town at SXSW, which starts in a few days.
Matt the Electrician:
In the Waves(mp3)Buy One Thing Right (also available on iTunes).
Matt the Electrician’s Tour Dates | Official Site | MySpace
Dry Lightning
Imagery… You want imagery, you listen to this song and read these lyrics.
Well the piss yellow sun
Comes bringin’ up the day
She said “ain’t nobody gonna give nobody
What they really need anyway”Well you get so sick of the fightin’
You lose your fear of the end
But I can’t lose your memory
And the sweet smell of your skinSick. Absolutely sick what this man does with words and music. These words have moistened my eyes more than once. Didn’t think I was the sensitive type, did ya?
Yeah, I’m starting to itch for Bruce. Since the Seeger Sessions tour ended a few months ago, he’s been off the radar a bit. Rumors have started to pop up about him recording in Atlanta and Nashville, but nothing definitive. The man leads a low profile life, you gotta respect him for that.
So because it’s been quiet on the Boss front lately, I thought I’d share this Ghost of Tom Joad gem, live from the Joad tour back in 1996.
Luna’s Waiting on a Friend
I could easily sit down, bring up the Stones’ “Waiting on a Friend” in iTunes, put it on repeat, and listen to it for 24 straight hours. Love the song, always have, and never tire of hearing it. So I was intrigued today when I was nerdily scouring my web site statistics and noticed someone had hit my site by searching for “Luna – Waiting on a Friend”. I have Luna’s 1994 release ‘Bewitched‘, which I really like (especially “Great Jones Street”), but I haven’t heard much Luna since. But I certainly am familiar with their soothing vibe.
So off I went to eMusic to download post haste. And I’m glad I did. They put their laid back twist on a great song, and though no one will ever touch the original, this is a great second.
Luna: Waiting on a Friend – from Close Cover Before Striking
Luna’s Official Site.
Elisa: Oooh This I Need
If there’s music with Prince’s fingerprints on it, there’s a good chance I have it (well, I never did buy Good Question). This includes Prince’s work with Elisa Fiorillo. He produced about half of her 1989 album, I Am. Elisa also shows up on Prince’s “Partyman” 12″ extended single, she’s the sexy voice in “Love Machine” off the Graffiti Bridge soundtrack, and she sings on two songs from Diamonds and Pearls: “Daddy Pop” and “Walk”.
These days, Elisa lives in Las Vegas, where she’s still in the music business, working on a jazz album. You can catch up with her on her site and her MySpace page.
Regarding Prince, this is what she has to say about him on her MySpace: “And I would also love to get back in touch with Prince again! Now that he is in Vegas and I live here…I would love to reconnect and possibly play at his new club 3121! I would love for him to hear my new album “Labor Of Love”. I think he would dig it! HA!”
You heard her Prince, bring Elisa up on stage for a couple!
Elisa Fiorillo:
Oooh, This I Need(mp3) – from I Am
