Bruce: Give My Love to Rose
I stumbled across this today. Still gives me chills…
“tell my Rose to go and find another / you tell her that I will understand”
From a 1999 tribute to Johnny Cash.
My Dove, My Lamb
Today, I developed a case of the blahs. Without good reason, really. I’m blessed. Family, work, health…all great, no complaints. But sometimes, even when all’s well, that crap feeling can creep in and take hold. I think they call it part of living.
So tonight I decided to seek out some soul soothing music. Something to take me to that cathartic, introspective place that only good music can. I found it in Phosphorescent with their 2007 album Pride.
I found it particularly in the nine minute and twenty-five second “My Dove, My Lamb”. Seven of the most gorgeous and touching verses put to song. I don’t particularly like linking to those shitty, dime-a-dozen lyrics sites, but you really should listen to this song and read the lyrics. Breathtaking, really…
So even in these cities where she’s haunting me
Even when my weariness is wanting me
Even when my wickednesses want to breathe
Even in these dirty clubs counting 1-2-3
I will keep a singing til I no more can
My dove my dove my lambThe whole album has a very spiritual quality to it – lots of harmonies, lots of reverb, and best of all, singer Matthew Houck’s voice – delicate but resolute. Definitely not a record you’d pull out and play for your friends on a Saturday night. Rather, I find it’s more of a companion record – one that a listener can form an individual bond with.
Love this band, and love this tune…
Phosphorescent – My Dove, My Lamb – from Pride
Phosphorescent’s Official Site
Yuck!
Yuck Yuck Yuck. The last couple of weeks, everywhere I turn it seems I’m hearing about Yuck! Well, this is Ickmusic, so it’s only right that I give Yuck a chance…
I listened to their new record on my run a couple days ago, and enjoyed what I heard. Guitar-driven indie pop/rock…some good up tempo noise rockers (“The Wall”, “Holing Out”). And some nice melodic laid back tunes too.
I was most intrigued with “Suicide Policeman”. I like how the drums kick in…
Buy the MP3 of Suicide Policeman or the whole Yuck album. And visit Yuck’s web site.
By the way, I don’t recommend a Google image search of “yuck“. Let’s just say it’s everything but pictures of the band.
KMAG YOYO (New from Hayes Carll)
It was just a matter if time before I got around to Hayes Carll. After all, I’m a longtime fan of artists cut from the same cloth: Steve Earle, John Prine and Todd Snider in particular. Hayes sounds a lot like Snider, very similar singing voices – and as far as his sense of humor goes, Snider and Prine are blood brothers of Carll (don’t get confused on “Bottle In My Hand” though, that is indeed Mr. Snider joining along).
As a Rdio subscriber, I’m always jumping on the new releases every Tuesday. Today, Hayes Carll’s latest, KMAG YOYO (& other American stories), hit the real and virtual shelves. It was SiriusXM Outlaw Country that played me “The Lovin’ Cup” today, and I headed right over to Rdio to check out the whole album.
The title of the album may be familiar to our military, but silly old civilian me, I had to Google it. It’s an Army acronym for “Kiss My Ass Guys, You’re On Your Own”.
“The Lovin’ Cup” is right up my twang-lovin’ alley – an up tempo, roadhouse shit-kicker of a song…
“I’m sittin’ cross-legged in the heartache tree knowin’ damn well you ain’t a-thinkin’ bout me…”
Buy the MP3 of The Lovin’ Cup, or check out all of KMAG YOYO (& other American stories) on Amazon.
Check out Hayes Carll’s Official Site | Facebook
Here’s Hayes and his band performing the title track recently at SiriusXM’s studios…
Red House Painters
Red House Painters. I think I listened to their latest album, Songs for a Blue Guitar, only once before tonight – and didn’t give it a good listen at that.
Some cool tracks on this one…
A Neil Young-inspired 11 minute thrasher here with “Silly Little Love Songs”…
A Cars cover! “All Mixed Up”! Completely revamped…
And the song that pushed me again toward the album after hearing on Sirius XM’s The Loft – the title track. I thought I was hearing a slowed down, acoustic version of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You”, but it was this…
New Funk: Michael Dean’s ‘Stroke the Mind B4 the Behind’
Followers of the Funk, lend me your ears. You won’t be sorry…
Friend of Ickmusic and fellow avid Prince fan Michael Dean not only runs one of the coolest funk-centric sites on the web (Freedom Train), but the man is clearly a talented funk-man in his own right. I have to admit, I was pretty floored when I listened to his brand new album, ‘Stroke the Mind B4 The Behind’.
Like the purple man from Minneapolis, Michael produces, arranges, composes and performs everything you hear. As for the content, it had me from the start. “Kingdom”, which leads off the record, hooked me in with the insatiably funky groove. The hand claps, the synths, the sly exchange between Michael and his guest lady friend.
For you Prince fanatics, tell me that Michael’s vocals – especially on “Kingdom” – don’t remind you a little of André Cymone?
I’m impressed. Every track has something good: a little techno on “She Was a Problem”; the Four Loko funk of “I’m Coo”; slowed down R&B on “Epic Fail”; the 80’s new-wave soul of the title track (speaking of Mr. Cymone).
It’s like Michael takes everything we love about that Minneapolis sound in its prime and updates it for 2011. I’ve already listened to Michael’s joint more times than Planet Earth. That says something.
Michael Dean – Kingdom
Buy the Stroke the Mind B4 The Behind digital album for only $0.99. That’s a buck, funk lovers. Just do it.
And be sure to check out Michael’s ongoing series of Prince podcasts on his YouTube channel. .
Anders Osborne: “Meet Me In New Mexico”
Thanks to Alligator Records for sending out the link to this video today. I’m buying American Patchwork based off of this song alone.
Can’t say I’ve ever given Anders Osborne his proper due (other than really liking “Stuck On My Baby“). But that changes today.
I’m Tired Joey Boy
A beautiful Van Morrison tune (from Avalon Sunset), covered by Tom Petty. I’ve had this MP3 for years, and was surprised to find the video tonight on a spur of the moment search.
Tom dedicates the song to Bill Graham, who had passed just a month earlier. “I’m Tired Joey Boy”, from November 23rd, 1991:
Cheap Trick perform “Dream Police” on Conan
I’ve never been the biggest of Cheap Trick fans, but I’ve always had an appreciation. My oldest brother cranked the Budokan album when I was a wee lad. And it was from him that I inherited the Dream Police record. “Way of the World”, “Gonna Raise Hell”, and of course the title track… at 9, 10, 11 years old, I was eating these songs up!
I’m sure you have a similar album – one where you’re not necessarily a fervent follower of the band, but there’s one seminal album that made a huge mark on you way back when? Count Foreigner 4 among those for me too (and every other preteen and teen in 1981)…
So it was a trip back in the time machine when Cheap Trick dropped by Conan last week. There’s Rick Nielsen (he’ll be buried in that hat, don’t you think?), Tom Petersson on bass, and the ageless Robin Zander on vox. The one missing link in the performance – drummer Bun E. Carlos! I asked the question on Twitter, and someone mentioned that he may have some back problems holding him down. So Bun – get well bro!
Cheap Trick brought along a string section for the “Dream Police”, and they kick some ass during the mid-song breakdown. Good times!
Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John
The latest Belle and Sebastian album crossed my radar a few weeks back, thanks to the “Recent Activity” social feature on Rdio. One of the people I follow had added it to his collection. I decided to take a listen, so *click*… and now, a few weeks later, I must have listened to it four or five times straight through.
It’s simply a great, accessible pop record. Great melodies, and just a nice overall vibe.
The album includes a song called “Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John”, with Norah Jones joining singer Stuart Murdoch. Of course, the mere mention of Norah Jones means I get to perform a thorough Google Image search. Woo hoo! Be right back.
Nice, but need something more current, right? 
But I have to include this one. Stubebaker? 
That’s more like it. Updated Norah. There. That was nice.
So listen to the song – a slowed down ditty about l-o-v-e just out of reach. The song appears not only on B&S‘s latest one, but also on …Featuring Norah Jones, an album of Norah’s collaborations.
