Welcome Back, Sheryl
Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out…
I’ll be perfectly honest in saying that I’ve not liked a single thing that Sheryl Crow has produced since 1998’s The Globe Sessions. To me, her output since that record has seemed contrived and uninspired. It could be that I’m being too hard on her. It could be that her “Soak Up the Sun” was the tune playing during my emergency wisdom tooth extraction a few years back. But all that aside, her latest single “Love is Free” seems to have captured some of that original spark. The track is the second single from Sheryl’s forthcoming Detours which features the return of Bill Bottrell (who produced Sheryl’s Tuesday Night Music Club) and is apparent in the stripped back production. Check out the video for “Love is Free”:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edTMzKB-_QU 450 400]
Detours will be released this February.
Link: Official Site | MySpace
Michael’s Year in (Ick)Music: 2007:
Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Write a Year-End Best of Column
I’ll be honest, the thought of figuring out a ‘Top 10’ for the year is far more daunting a task than I had imagined. So much so that I found it difficult to pare down the list to ten. Why is it always the top 10, anyway? In the spirit of non-conformity and as a big nudge to ‘the man’ here’s my ‘Year in (Ick)Music’
Before we get started, I’d like to note that both Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen are not on my 2007 list as I obtained copies of the UK release of both Back to Black and Alright, Still in 2006. While they certainly got tons of play in 2007 they remain last year’s news to my ears.
Now that I’ve got that out of the way, here’s…
Michael’s Year in (Ick)Music: 2007
Songs of the Year:
1. “F.U.N.K.”, by Prince – What “Chelsea Rodgers” should have been this is the funkiest track that His Royal Badness has graced us with in years. Hell, I don’t even care about the circumstances that it was released under. Here’s hoping that it’s not just another tease.
2. “No One Is Gonna Love you”, by Band of Horses – There is something so decidedly simple and beautiful about this tune. Ben Bridwell delivers the lyrics with such heartbreaking, self effacing honesty that you almost feel wrong for listening to his tortured soul.
3. “Just Fine”, by Mary J. Blige – This one snuck in at the close of the year. I’ll tell you that the first time I heard this I listened to it at least three times. Something about the lyrics really just grabbed me. This is a different Mary than we’ve seen in years and it’s a great to hear her belting out an upbeat track.
So I like what I see when I’m looking at me
When I’m walking past the mirror
Don’t stress through the night, at a time in my life
Ain’t worried about if you feel it
Got my head on straight, I got my vibe right
I aint gonna let you kill it
You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just Fine…4. “Good Life”, by Kanye West featuring T-Pain – Not many artists can get away with releasing three singles within a few weeks of each other and have them all blow up the way the first three tracks from Kanye’s Graduation did. And while I cringe at almost everything that has the tag “featuring T-Pain” this was the exception. It’s hip-pop at it’s best. And I’d be remiss if I did not give you guys the video. These are the type of videos that make me actually miss when MTV showed videos.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmX9ci9Fczw 450 400]
Cover Songs of the Year:
1. “Don’t Stop Believing”, by Petra Haden – This is an easy one. Take a beloved song that’s inclusion in the closing scene of “The Soprano’s” put it back in the hearts and minds of just about everyone and add the ethereal voice of Petra Haden and you’ve got a masterpiece.
As a bonus, this video is too good to not share
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kXbHf1SwGk 450 400]
2. “Valerie”, by Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse – Nearly every track on Ronson’s solo debut is a smash, but this track stands head and shoulders above the rest.
3. “Hard Sun”, by Eddie Vedder – Though it stands on this list as the cover that almost no one knows is a cover, this track shows the power of Eddie’s voice.
Albums of the Year:
1. Cease to Begin, by Band of Horses
2. In Rainbows, by Radiohead
3. 100 Days, 100 Nights, by Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
4. Planet Earth, by Prince
5. Magic, by Bruce Springsteen
Honorary Mention: Finding Forever, by Common; Graduation, by Kanye West; Chase This Light, by Jimmy Eat World; Kala, by M.I.A.; Version, by Mark Ronson; Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, by The Foo Fighters; Sky Blue Sky, by Wilco.
Underground Hip-Hop Double Blast of the Year:
Ahead of the Curve, by Lateef & Z-Trip
From the Corner to the Block, by Galactic
Pete and I both fell upon the Lateef & Z-Trip release around the same time and he beat me to the punch featuring them here. Between that and the stellar release of the jam-band favorites Galactic (featuring many of the underground hip-hop communities finest) my faith in Hip-Hop was well and alive.
Best Live Show of the Year:
Dave Matthews Band at New England Dodge Music Center, August 4th. – The wife and I make a yearly pilgrimage to see Dave and the boys and I’m not sure if it was the great seats or the overall vibe of the show but it was the best since MSG in Dec of 2002 (when the Godfather of Soul, James Brown joined the band for a 15 minute jam on “Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine”).
Best New (to me) Artists
Alice Smith – I foresee her blowing up in 2008. With her soulful yet rocking tunes she’s sure to win over fans.
Amel Larrieux – I had loved Groove Theory and a last.fm friend pointed me towards he solo releases and I’ve since become a full on advocate.
The Brothers Johnson – One of two (realated) ‘digging in the crates’ finds for 2007, this act lays down some of the funkiest grooves ever committed to tape.
Saul Williams – I had heard his name before but never had the opportunity to listen and with the free release of “The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!” I’ve become an instant fan. I’d highly suggest everyone taking the chance to listen as it’s still a free download.
Shuggie Otis – As Pete said in a previous post, this is like “Prince 1.0”. Shuggie not only displays great musicianship and songwriting but he is one of the more underrated guitarists of the last few decades.
In Conclusion
As Pete said in conclusion of his year in review, I can’t wait to hear what 2008 has in store and look forward to sharing it with you.
Happy New Year!
Merry Christmas Eve
A little holiday cheer from Jason Mraz Featuring the Voices of Prayz of Lakeview Baptist Church in Chula Vista, CA.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFvEWNYHdUU 450 355]
Merry Christmas Eve everyone!
American Idiots?
Saturday evening this little site popped up touting the new release from a group calling themselves The Foxboro Hot Tubs. By Sunday morning buzz was setting the internet ablaze that this was another one off side-project from Green Day (some of you may well recall the 2003 release by The Network). Brimming with 60’s inspired goodness this is either Billy Joe and the boys or the greatest hoax played on the internet this week. My personal favorite track is just below and you can get the entire EP entirely free at the official site.
The Foxboro Hot Tubs –
Mother Mary(MP3)Links: Official Site | MySpace
Merry KISSmas
For those of you with VH1 Classic they are turning the keys over to Gene & Paul for 24 hours starting at 9PM EST. You know it would not be a KISS event unless Gene has the opportunity to shill something emblazoned with the KISS logo. This round of merriment is brought to you by Vol. 3 of their outstanding Kissology DVD package. Here’s the lowdown on what you’ll find on the third installment:
DISC ONE
THE PALACE OF AUBURN HILLS
DETROIT, MI 11/27/92MTV UNPLUGGED:
BEHIND THE SCENES 1995MTV UNPLUGGED 8/9/95
DISC TWO
TIGER STADIUM
DETROIT, MI 6/28/96MTV VMA PERFORMANCE
BROOKLYN BRIDGE 9/4/96DODGER STADIUM
LOS ANGELES, CA 10/31/98DISC THREE
DODGER STADIUM
LOS ANGELES, CA 10/31/98DETROIT ROCK CITY PREMIERE PARTY
LOS ANGELES, CA 8/9/99THE LAST KISS
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES AREA
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ 6/27/00DISC FOUR
COVENTRY
QUEENS, NY 12/22/73You can pre-order the package by visiting http://kissmas.vh1classic.com in the next 24-hours. For those of you without VH1 Classic here are a couple of clips to convince you to pick up this set…
Nothin’ To Lose (QuickTime)(Windows Media)
Detroit Rock City (QuickTime)(Windows Media)
Personally I will be glued to my screen and burning up the TiVo. See you guys tomorrow night!
Secret Agent Man
While I was planning on stockpiling as much scripted television as possible in anticipation of the glut of reality television set to descend on us the snow and ice delivered to my front doorstep today had other plans. The wife and I decided to enjoy a marathon of my new personal favorite Chuck. At the conclusion of the episode Chuck vs. the Nemesis I could not have been more psyched to hear one of my favorite tracks from Band of Horses new release Cease to Begin. I won’t give the plot away, but I’ll say that the inclusion of the track “No One’s Gonna Love You” was a perfect emotional point.
I don’t think that I need to sell many of you on this, but you should all own this record. For those who need a reason, here are live performances of two of my favorite tracks from the record: “No One’s Gonna Love You” and “Marry Song”.
No One’s Gonna Love You
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D04LD_UsaU 336 278]Marry Song
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhrT1OlnEDk 336 278]Buy: Cease to Begin (Amazon)(iTunes)
Links: Official Site | MySpace
The Reason I Still Dig John Mayer
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPjZdTbKo5A 425 355]
I make no bones about being a John Mayer fan. Since before Room for Squares was released I’ve followed and enjoyed his career. The preceding video is just one more reason that I’m a card carrying fan. John jumped up on stage with local NYC band The UnionN for a medley of his hit “Waiting on The World to Change” and Alicia Keys brilliant new track “No One”.
Buy: Continuum (Special Edition) (Amazon) (iTunes)
The UnionN: Official Site | MySpace
John Mayer: Official Site | MySpaceA Nudge in the Right Direction
It’s been an odd day of departures in the music world today. First the news that Kevin DuBrow of Quiet Riot was found dead in his Las Vegas home on Sunday. Then not an hour later the news that Casey Calvert of Hawthorne Heights was found dead on the band’s tour bus on Saturday. Now I’m not generally the superstitious type, but if I were Amy Winehouse or Pete Dougherty I’d be taking the day off and hiding under the covers.
In other news:
Organist Danny Federici played his last show for the time being in Boston with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Source: NME
U2’s Bono and The Edge popped up unannounced for a short acoustic set at a charity gig in North London. Source: BBC
And break out your lighters because Extreme is back in the studio and will be touring in 2008. Source: NME
Ickmusic Local: Stone Devil Hill
The local music scene in New York’s Hudson Valley, by in large, consists of a myriad of cover bands, the occasional singer-songwriter, a smattering of bluesmen, a punk trio or two and a plethora of de-tuned metal-core bands. While Poughkeepsie’s Stone Devil Hill doesn’t squarely fit into any of those genres they certainly contain the sensibilities of them all combined into a very cohesive package that ranges from melodic and soaring to heavy and grooving. Their debut record …for the fallen captures the essence of the bands energy and highlights the groups strength in songwriting. Heavier tunes like the lead-off track “Down with the Captain”, “A.F.O.C”, and “Neverchange” take notes from the forefathers of heavy metal and groove with an urgency that is relentless. Lyrics ranging from political to deeply personal are delivered with the utmost passion and the slow burn of “Child Inside” and “Lost Denial” feature dual vocals reminiscent of Alice in Chains at their best. And putting the power back in the ballad the track “This Lie” is nothing short of majestic. As a teaser here is the band at their most honest and passionate…
Stone Devil Hill – 20 Years (MP3)
Link: Official Site | MySpace
Thank You, Danke, Merci, Grazie, Gracias…
I wanted to take the opportunity on this day of thanks to extend my warmest wishes to the friends of Ickmusic. I also want to thank Pete for allowing me to take up space on his little corner of the internet. And I’d be remiss if I did not thank all the friends and folks who read and leave the occasional comment. To share my thanks and spread the love here is the brilliant Robert Randolph & The Family Band performing “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” live.
Robert Randolph & The Family Band – Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (MP3)
[audio:ThankYou.mp3]Link: Official Site