Recent CD Purchases

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invisible Pole
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by invisible Pole »

Excellent purchases, WSS.
I loved what I heard from the new albums of Beach House and The Walkmen.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Who Shot Sam? »

invisible Pole wrote:Excellent purchases, WSS.
I loved what I heard from the new albums of Beach House and The Walkmen.
Thanks. The Beach House is lovely. Sort of like Cocteau Twins crashing into Jesus and Mary Chain, with a dollop of Low. The Black Keys album is solid, if less consistent than their previous one, Brothers. I like what Danger Mouse has done with Norah Jones. There's a great lounge feel to the album, with little splashes of electronica and studio effects. Good to see her in this context. The Andrew Bird is yet another strong effort from him, though not especially different in tone from his previous. Haven't had a chance to give the others a good listen yet, though I feel like I've already heard the entirety of the Nick Lowe and Bon Iver albums on TV and radio.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by charliestumpy »

Kaiser Chiefs 'souvenir' - Proclaimers/Rumer latest SE versions - Chelsea FC redoing 1972 vinyl.

Most of us probably buy other digital formats, and superior vinyl if possible - e.g. I -3 7" vinyls from Wurzels-Ron Harris, and double 12" 33 alba from Kaiser Chiefs.
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Jack of All Parades
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Jack of All Parades »

Have been spending some time, of late, reacquainting myself with the Jazz guitar reportoire and I recently picked up this compiliation on Blue Note "Introducing Kenny Burrell" which features three early sessions by him from 1956 that he initially cut with the label as a session leader. Masterful. The ease with which he can cover blues, pop, standards, swing, hard bop is incredible. That he was basically self taught is staggering in its implications. The first session on the record is almost shanghied by the congoist Candido Camero-his rhythm work is so strong. The latin inflection in the first 10 tunes is infectious. The self-penned tunes, "Phinup!" and "K.B.Blues" are particularly impressive on the second cd- his ability to change keys, particularly using sharps, is eminently listenable. Like this record a lot.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Jack of All Parades »

Continued involvement with the jazz guitar and Mr. Burrell- this time having picked up a copy of his beautiful "Midnight Blue" album. This record is so disarming in its pristine, soulful and infectious simplicity. His guitar playing talks to you, never more than in the seductive and elogant "Soul Lament". There is a power in his underplaying that evokes real feeling for his material. "Chitlins Con Carne" deserves to be the guitar classic it has become over the years- it is blues stripped down and served with a subtle latin inflection provided by Ray Baretto on congas that chills me. The title song will not leave my listening ear. This album is music of the highest order-timeless in its capacity to engage a willing listener. It is also a most welcome addition to my collection of 'blue' records, songs or terms. It is an intelligent and quietly passionate exploration of the territory of 'blue'.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by ice nine »

I found this cd at a local shop. For $1.00 I couldn't pass picking it up. Very good covers on here. I now have two versions of Ride Your Pony.

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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Jack of All Parades »

"What We Saw From the Cheap Seats"- Regina Spektor- she is back with a fun set of new tunes that feature her quirky arrangements and piano playing and more importantly with some discernable growth in her vocal stylings. It is an album about love and its various obsessions. It also contains my wife's new banner phrase- "the piano is not firewood yet". My favorite has to be the evocative ballad "Firewood". A close second is the white/soul found in "How". And I love what she does with her voice on "Don't Leave Me[Ne Me Quitte Pas". As mentioned earlier she has strengthened her voice and toned down some of her vocal affectiations and produced in their place some of her best singing for my ears on this record. I am going to love giving this record to my daughter for her upcoming birthday.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by HopeYou'reHappyNow »

Jack of All Parades wrote:"What We Saw From the Cheap Seats"- Regina Spektor.
Excellent album, a nice eclectic mix of styles but pure Regina. She's quite a talent.

Recent CD purchases (in the last couple of weeks) include;

Truth - Jeff Beck - excellent early solo album, featuring Rod Stewart (when he was good).
Hello Land! - Guillemots - their new(ish) 2012 album which is somewhat a return to form. Very classy with echoes of Berlin-era Bowie to boot.
21 - Blur - Overpriced, but brimming with songs and visions, everything a Blur fan could want, apart from a sample of Alex James' cheese.
Love and Work - Graham Gouldman - Ex-10CC man's new studio album. Beautifully crafted, classic songs which remind me of an era now almost forgotten.

As I'm new here, I'll also tell you that some of my favourite new albums of the year so far have been released by The Proclaimers, Rufus Wainwright, Conor Oberst & The Mystic Band, Walter Trout, Jack White, Dexys and State Of The Union (Boo Hewerdine & Brooks Williams).

Very much looking forward to the new releases by Ben Folds Five, Grant Lee Phillips, Mumford & Sons and Muse. Oh, and Jeff Lynne. He's got a new one coming out too. Also looking forward to the Aztec Camera re-releases. Roddy Frame is rather underrated.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by HopeYou'reHappyNow »

Currently enjoying the Kinks' At The BBC box set which arrived in the post this morning. Essential for Kinks fans, without a doubt.
"But look at yourself
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You haven't earned the weariness
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Poor Deportee
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Poor Deportee »

How is it you guys are able to afford to buy so many CDs?? Am I the only soul counting pennies around here? :lol:
Jack of All Parades wrote:"What We Saw From the Cheap Seats"- Regina Spektor- she is back with a fun set of new tunes that feature her quirky arrangements and piano playing and more importantly with some discernable growth in her vocal stylings. It is an album about love and its various obsessions. It also contains my wife's new banner phrase- "the piano is not firewood yet". My favorite has to be the evocative ballad "Firewood". A close second is the white/soul found in "How". And I love what she does with her voice on "Don't Leave Me[Ne Me Quitte Pas". As mentioned earlier she has strengthened her voice and toned down some of her vocal affectiations and produced in their place some of her best singing for my ears on this record. I am going to love giving this record to my daughter for her upcoming birthday.
I'd never heard of Ms. Spektor (although anyone named 'Regina' is OK in my books). A Youtube search reveals some pretty neat material - sort of Tori Amos meets cabaret meets Leonard Cohen, if that makes any sense. Very interesting find. Thanks, Chris.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Jack of All Parades »

Hey I am counting pennies and even bending down to pick them up on occasion but I am blessed locally with a great independent record store- Rhino Records- where I can pick up things on the cheap and Amazon also has good deals on used items.

Back to Ms Spektor- I have to credit my daughter Justine and our board member Mr Westinghouse for introducing me to her music. My daughter swears by her[oh and she thanks you for the wonderful recommendations in Montreal this past week- she had a blast]. The new record is not my favorite but I really liked her previous record. There was a nice profile in the NYTimes recently that I will have to send your way. She is a unique talent and can claim to being on the current playing lists on President Obama's IPod. Enjoy her!!!!! 8)
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Otis Westinghouse »

Agree the new one isn't so memorable, though it's fun in places, and the previous one, Far was stronger, but my favourite by a mile is Begin To Hope, which I recommend unreservedly. Some incredibly good songwriting on it, I was addicted when it came out. I also love her breakthrough album, the previous one, Soviet Kitsch, especially the song Us, which I always associate with when I saw her live and a guy next to me had come for that one song, hollered for it before every song, and went berserk when she played it. I was also very happy to recently receive her Live in London CD+DVD, which contains most of my favourite songs from those preceding three albums, played by the line-up I saw her with (voice/piano, drums strings, no guitars).

There's something about her as a being that makes me feel happier to be here, which I felt strongly seeing her live, so it's lovely to have a DVD as a record of that.

I would like her to be a little less cutesy and quirky on the new record and just get back to the strongest songwriting she can muster, but I also like the fact that she doesn't set out to write songs along a certain style, each one is what it is in a fairly unaffected style.

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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Jack of All Parades »

"Kin" by Rodney Crowell and Mary Karr. This one had not been on my listening radar at all. It definitely is now.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q= ... s_37nxkvKw

I cannot sing its praises high enough. This is song-craft at a very high level. Crowell has been a favorite of mine for decades. His late trilogy of albums about growing up in Houston is a work of art. His lyricism and musicianship on those records is alive with a real human being[himself] and his troubled, but still endearing, childhood. That he has sought out a collaboration with the poet/memoirist is telling. It is really as if they are kin, growing up only 100 miles from each other in the swamps of East Texas outside of Houston. They share a love for storytelling and language that just bubbles out of them in the ten songs on this album. Their strengths buoy each other- Karr's specificity of detail and Crowell's narrative art. These are muscular songs about people, including themselves- they are unsparing in their honesty as people fight, love, live and lead their suffocating lives. The story from the NPR piece attached is indicative of the quality of the writing. So is this line from the second song on the record-"If the law don't want you, neither do I". As sung by Norah Jones I am transported every time I hear the song.

Here it is and it is indicative of the strength of the material on the album-

http://youtu.be/Clbmk_FKVdo

Here is one more with Kris Kristoferson helping out on vocal-

http://youtu.be/H6XJBkPJVnM

And this one featuring a vocal by Roseanne Cash-

http://youtu.be/u8psZPRxaLM

And this one featuring a vocal by Vince Gill-

http://youtu.be/3V-gTM0Czmw

Finally this one with Rodney on the vocal-

http://youtu.be/vR6Bz-VMk9U

I cannot sing the praises of this album, enough.
"....there's a merry song that starts in 'I' and ends in 'You', as many famous pop songs do....'
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by HopeYou'reHappyNow »

I thoroughly recommend Beth Hart's new album, Bang Bang Boom Boom. Passionate, soulful, incredible vocals. It's not a competition, but if it was, it'd knock Elvis' wife's latest vocally bland effort out of the water.

The new Mumford & Sons album is fairly enjoyable. If you liked their debut, there's not much of a change in their sound, but it's different enough to not sound like a re-hash. Ben Folds Five's new one is a slight disappointment. It's still very good, but not quite the return to form I was hoping for. The new Muse album is rather good, if you can get past all of the "influences" (for "influences", read "direct rip-offs") but it may be my least favourite release of theirs to date. Jeff Lynne's Long Wave is a tad underwhelming and, although it has its moments, is definitely for fans only. Green Day's Uno! is a throw back to the energy-filled punk days of Dookie and, while it fails to hit the heights of the best of their material, it's certainly very catchy and listenable.

Dylan's Tempest is pretty bloody good, my favourite of his in the last five years, Amy McDonald's Life In A Beautiful Light is excellent too. Looking forward to Madness' new one which is out next Monday.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by HopeYou'reHappyNow »

Forgot this one too - Martha Wainwright's new one is cracking. Possibly her best album so far.
"But look at yourself
You'll see you're still so young
You haven't earned the weariness
That sounds so jaded on your tongue"
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Otis Westinghouse »

Have read good things. Must get it!
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Jack of All Parades »

Enjoying this- some great blowing! The pianist is a talent Rossano Sportiello is a find. He backed up Harry Allen a few weeks ago at the Zootfest my wife and I attended in the Poconos on a delightful version of "Another Spring". There was not a dry eye in the hall after they played.

http://marcmyers.typepad.com/.a/6a00e00 ... 970d-popup

This is not on the record but it gives a feel for what tasteful playing you will find should you purchase it:

http://youtu.be/_1EpmOuAGlQ

and here is Rossano on his own playing some variations on Chopin. He could not have been a more gracious man in conversation with my wife and I:

http://youtu.be/psiToM7VI8o

http://youtu.be/71wKpjpsr2E

http://youtu.be/o26Br8kvxOo

A new star has come into my ken.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Jack of All Parades »

Yep- people still do buy them, particularly when you only have to spend $7.98. "3 Pears" by Dwight Yoakam. Been awhile since I picked up a new one by him. Have really enjoyed the Warners 4 disc compilation from over 10 years ago. Since then covers and tributes of which his one to his friend Buck Owens- "Dwight Sings Buck" is most enjoyable. This one from late in 2012 is all new songs and one cover- the old bar classic "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke". His voice- always a potent musical tool- has gained a gravitas- a patina that makes these songs of human relations sting all the more. It kicks off very nicely with a sinuous bass line in the song "Take Hold of my Hand" and the album builds steam from that song. A very solid effort that even has some quirky production from Beck- he has broken Dwight's mold and reassembled his sound in a less linear manner- I like it. I really enjoy a ballad late in the album titled "3 Pears"- a song which plays inventively with the notion of the 'fifth' wheel.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by ice nine »

After catching Kat Edmondson on Austn City Limits, I knew how I would spend my iTunes gift card. Ms. Edmondson has a twangy, yet jazzy voice. 'Way Down Low', her second indepdent release is filled with relaxing, smooth tunes. Everything I've read about her compares her to Billie Holiday and I agree.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Otis Westinghouse »

When will good new music/things to buy stop appearing? It's getting out of hand. Made up for not buying some essentials last year: NY&CH's Psychedelic Pill, insane song length!, and Cat Power's Sun, sounding good.

Also Villagers' second CD {Awayland}. Not sure it's as stunning as the first, but some great songs, and a true talent, that Connor O'Brien.

And now the Joni M '68-'79 Studio Albums box set containing her first 10 albums is on Amazon at £19.49 - under £2 per CD! just had to have it.

My iPod is nearly full. Having to retrace my steps and reload lots of the things I put on at 256bps for sonic richness at 192bps - not a huge difference in quality, and 25% less space. Maybe I should just get a 160gb one and have done with it...
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

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Ah! the essential Ms. Mitchell.

AC Newman "Shut Down the Streets" latest solo effort. Maybe that when stripped of the instrumental talents of his bandmates in The New Pornographers- his lyrics stand out balder- more exposed. They really are not lyrics as I know them but more sentence fragments that he sort of musically speaks. They are odd in their juxtopositions and frequently throw my ear off kilter. What saves the record for me is his ebullient way with melody. The man can write a song hook. He also has a way with keyboard instrumentation and computer generated sounds. At its best when Neko Case chimes in with her harmony vocals the record takes off with those sounds. Repeated listens have made me come to the conclusion that the lyrics themselves are a none too subtle commentary on the commercial viability for today's average recording artist. Songs with titles like "I'm Not talking", "Do Your Own time", "You Could Get Lost out Here" and "There's Money in New Wave" speak a coded language that subtly discusses the woes of being a modern day pop artist. When he sings "I like the way things are, I say abandon the search, for an author of small work." I am convinced he is trying to make his peace with the current recording/performing model. Well $2.00 on amazon could have been spent worse. Unfortunately, I did not enhance his pocket.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

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"Chansons" Jill Barber and again a big thank you to PD for his introducing this quality performer to me several years ago. This record builds upon the direction she went with last years "Mischievous Moon". She has gone deeply and strongly into the classic cabaret/chanson repertoire of both France and Quebecois and boldly revisited twelve songs. But not revisited them in a reverential manner; she instead breathes her own distinctive personality into the material with an interpretative approach that plays with the French language and the emotions of 'amour' these songs evoke. Her voice is playful, hurt, amorous, indignant, resigned as it inhabits these songs. I do not speak French but I had no trouble discerning the meaning of a lyric thanks to her vocal inflections. She is ably assisted by players who take the traditional instrumental foundations of this music- guitar, clarinet, piano and accordion - and then build a loving foundation upon which Ms. Barber can work her vocal magic. There is not a false or coy note in their playing. It is most infectious in its joy and tears. That she has the chutzpah to take on a chestnut like "les feuilles mortes" and succeed is something to hear. That she also revives others like "petiite fleur" by Sidney Bechet and "la javanaise" by Serge Gainsbourgh and "plus bleu que tes yeux" by Charles Aznavour or that old goodie by Edith Piaf "sous le ciel de paris' is exceptional. Just a tremendous recorded effort by Ms. Barber. This music could easily reside on the soundtrack for "Midnight in Paris"- it is that good. In fact I wish it had. Another proof of its quality- I have passed it on to my oldest daughter to share with her French boyfriend.

Here she is doing two of the albums songs:

http://youtu.be/JfIvfqP1jAA
Last edited by Jack of All Parades on Wed Feb 20, 2013 6:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Poor Deportee »

Quick plunge into this board, amidst onerous piles of grading and administrative headaches, to endorse Jack's last two posts! Newman's album has its moments - a nifty-sounding record, with some great hooks interspersed throughout, although ultimately I find his songs tend not to cohere into entirely compelling wholes. This record both entices and fails to satisfy, at least to these ears. Now Jill Barber is of another order. Chansons is winsome and wonderful. And her elegantly accented French just adds to what is, for me, one of the most charming vocal instruments around. I cannot believe a talent of her magnitude isn't an international star...but I suppose that gets back to the point Jack reads into Newman's songs. And so we come full circle :wink:
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by Jack of All Parades »

If I close my eyes as the first song on "Old Yellow Moon" enters my speakers and my ears I can almost believe it is 1975 and "Pieces of the Sky" is playing. The Hot Band is reunited and the close harmonies are flowing and the melodies are sweet. Hell it is even James Burton on lead guitar. Next song and I am even transported further back in time as Ms. Harris and Rodney Crowell do a damned fine imitation of Gram Parsons when she accompanied him. Fortunately the musical memories on the new duets album by Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell is not all a trip down musical memory lane. These two have the good sense to put their stamp on newer material like Mrs. Springsteen's "Spanish Dancer" or Mr. Crowell's "Here We Are". They take the time to let their voices entwine on this record and to contemplate the years that have passed since they first sang together. I like how they updated "Bluebird Wine" from that first album back in 1975 or fill out Mr. Crowell's "Bull Rider", a song I have long wished he had recorded himself. There is age in their harmonies, memories, friendship and this album is a vital attempt to turn back the clock. They wisely acknowledge the futility of that effort in the final song-"Old Yellow Moon" but still have the gumption to try 'making my way/into the heart/Of an unknown highway.' Two friends who have stayed connected. This record lets you enjoy their memories and some newer ones they have created. I am looking forward to seeing them in concert in a month's time in Boston. Reports from their own posts say they are working up some old Parsons' tunes. I will be attentively listening.

On the new record here is a fine example of the two together from last night's David Letterman show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rim4NzPmhOA
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Re: Recent CD Purchases

Post by ice nine »

Just downloaded 'Kerouac's Last Dream' by Ramblin' Jack Elliot. Sounds good so far.
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