WFHB Add Pool Quick Pick: Sigur Ros, "Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust"

Date:	11/30/08	Label: XL Recordings
artist:	Sigur Ros
title:	Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
file under:	Rock
grade:	A
Review: With Med Sud . . ., Sigur Ros has managed to make its most accessible record (a relative statement!) to date, without compromising the beauty and subtleties that make them one-of-a-kind.  Produced by Flood (U2, Depeche Mode, etc.), this music is indescribable but beautiful and, in places, actually FUN!  Once again filled with Icelandic gibberish and quasi-fake invented language, this album soars with strings, strange acoustic guitar play, and Thom York-ish vocals.  Any track will do, but try the syncopated organic stomp of “Gobbledigook,” (track 1), the horned-up harmonizing Flaming Lips-ish “Inni Mer . . .” (track 2), the dreamscape of “Med Sud . . .” (track 6), or the sleepy-sleepy first English language track for the band, “All Alright,” (track 11).  Put a little Radiohead against it!
comments / tracks  of interest: 1, 2, 6, 11 FCC: Are you kidding me?  THIS AIN’T EVEN ENGLISH!
reviewer:  Hopedaddy

WFHB Americana Genre Director Quick Pick: Bruce Robison, "The New World"

Date:	11/30/08	Label: Premium
artist:	Bruce Robison
title:	The New World
file under:	Americana
grade:	B
Review: How do you stand out as a songwriter when you are married to Kelley Willis, brother to Charlie Robison, and brother-in-law to Dixie Chick Emily Robison?  Well, you write DAMN GOOD SONGS and probably have a hell of a hootenanny around the Thanksgiving table.  Robison’s written hits for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, George Strait, and the Dixie Chicks, but his own project is no slacker.  A slice of folk / Americana (think Lyle Lovett or a countrier John Hiatt), The New World has a lot to recommend it.  Check out the twang plodder “The Hammer” (track 1), the weepy “Bad Girl Blues” (track 3), the poppier “California 85” (track 4), or the banjo folk of “She Don’t Care” (track 9).
comments / tracks  of interest: 1, 3, 4, 9 FCC: None
reviewer:  Hopedaddy

WFHB Americana Genre Director Quick Pick: Waylon Jennings, "Forever"

Date:	11/30/08	Label: Vagrant
artist:	Waylon Jennings
title:	Forever
file under:	Americana
grade:	A-
Review: Waylon left us in 2002, but not before (even years prior) he recorded a few tracks with his son, Shooter.  His place in rock history well-fixed, this Grammy award winner and Hall of Fame member’s posthumous release was put together by Shooter, who resurrected the tracks from the 95-96 sessions and finished recording them with his own band, the .357’s.  Standouts include covers of Rodney Crowell’s “Ain’t Livin Long Like This” (track 3) and Neil Young’s “Are You Ready for the Country?” (track 4).  Also spin the golden blues creeper, “Waymore’s Blues” (track 6)—it’s GOLD!.  A fitting last project for Waylon, and a bridge to Shooter and the .357’s.  Oh, and pop the cover open and check out the photobooth pic with Buddy Holly!
comments / tracks  of interest: 1, 3, 4, 6 FCC: TRACK 2 “SHIT”
reviewer:  Hopedaddy

WFHB Americana Genre Director Quick Pick: Luke Doucet, "Blood's Too Rich"

Date:	11/30/08	Label: Six Shooter
artist:	Luke Doucet
title:	Blood’s Too Rich
file under:	Americana
grade:	B+
Review: Canadian singer/songwriter Doucet has been recognized as a quality writer, voice, and guitar player for a few years now, including sideman stints with Canada’s Kathleen Edwards and Sarah McClachlan.  With Blood’s Too Rich, Doucet turns his songwriting AND guitar prowess up a couple of notches, releasing a more Americana project with nods in places to (smoother versions of ) Neil Young and Mark Knopfler.  Just as the writing gets a little light or the production a little smooth, though, Doucet dirties it up with tasty turns on the guitar.   If Doucet can calm his artistic schizophrenia, he will mature into an Americana artist to watch.  Check out his (un-Americana) cover of the Cure’s “The Lovecats” (track 3).   “The Comandante” (track 7) was recently featured on Nick Hornby’s NYT playlist.
comments / tracks  of interest: 2, 3, 7, 11, 12  FCC: none
reviewer: Hopedaddy

 

WFHB Americana Genre Director Quick Pick: Dave Alvin, Best of the Hightone Years

Date:	11/30/08	Label: Hightone
artist:	Dave Alvin
title:	Best of the Hightone Years
file under:	Americana
grade:	A-
Review: Alvin’s long and colorful Americana career includes founding member status of the legendary Blasters, as well as stints with the Knitters and, for a time, as Billy Zoom’s replacement in the seminal L.A. punk country band X.  Alvin’s sound has always been rooted in blues and Americana music, and his solo records on Hightone are proof.  This collection swings between fingerpicked country blues, National slide, and straight ahead country rock.  This “Best of” includes unreleased tracks “Dry River” and “Dixie Highway Blues” and “Out in California.”
comments / tracks  of interest:  Plenty to draw on here, but recommended tracks include the signature acoustic roll “King of California (track 2),”  rocker “Haley’s Comet (with Dwight Yoakam, track 3),” an acoustic version of X standard “4th of July (track 5)” and the  smoker 12-bar “Out in California” (track 13).  FCC: none
reviewer:  Hopedaddy

 

 

Can't Get Enough of the new Avett Brothers

Hopedaddy on the Air: WFHB Morning Music Mix 11/26/08

Crooked Fingers, "Run, Lieutenant, Run," Forfeit/Fortune *

Emmylou Harris, "May This Be Love," Wrecking Ball *

Daniel Lanois, "Falling at Your Feet," Shine *

Luke Doucet, "The Day Rick Danko Died," Blood's Too Rich *

The Band, "When You Awake," The Band *

Afrigo Band, "Kasongo," Last King of Scotland (s/t) *

Paul Simon, "Gumboots," Graceland *

Calexico, "Guero Canelo," Feast of Wire *

Aqualung, "Slip Slidin' Away," Words and Music *

Jethro Tull, "Life is a Long Song," A Little Light Music *

Robbie Fulks, "Cry, Cry, Cry," Man in Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash *

Rodney Crowell, "I Walk the Line (Revisited)," The Houston Kid *

The Byrds, "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere," Sweetheart of the Rodeo *

The Mavericks, "Hot Burrito #1," Return of the Grievous Angel *

James Taylor, "Not Fade Away," Covers *

Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, "Natural Born Lover," Naturally *

Arthur Conley, "Sweet Soul Music," Atlantic Soul Classics *

Pete Kuzma, "High and Dry," Exit Music: Songs for Radioheads *

Marvin Gaye vs. Radiohead, "Sexual High," (unreleased) *

Medeski Martin & Wood, "Free Go Lily," Radiolarians I *

Alison Moorer, "Ain't Givin' Up on You," The Duel *

Steve Earle & Del McCoury, "Texas Eagle," The Mountain *

Jim Lauderdale & Ralph Stanley, "I Feel Like Singin' Today," I Feel Like Singin' Today *

Ralph Stanley II, "Train Songs," This One is Two *

Chris Thile, "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," How to Build a Woman from the Ground Up *

Andrew Bird, "Dear Dirty," Fingerlings 3 *

Ben Sollee, "Mute Bullhorn," (unreleased) *

Ray LaMontagne, "You Are the Best Thing," Gossip in the Grain *

Malachi Thompson, "Black Metropolis," Delmark 55 Years of Jazz

Hopedaddy on the Air: WFHB Morning Music Mix 11/12/08

Todd Snider, "The Ballad of Cape Henry," Peace Queer *

Josh Ritter, "Come and Find Me," Golden Age of Radio *

AA Bondy, "Black Rain, Black Rain," American Hearts *

Little Feat, "Willin'," Join the Band *

Dan Bern, "Albuquerque Lullaby," New American Language *

Vampire Weekend, "Cape Cod Kwassa Wassa," Vampire Weekend *

David Byrne & Brian Eno, "Wanted for Life," Everything that Happens . . . *

Robbie Robertson, "Code of Handsome Lake," Contact from the Underworld of Redboy *

Blitzentrapper, "Furr," Furr *

Calexico with Iron & Wine, "Sixteen, Maybe Less," In the Reins *

Gomez, "78 Stone Wobble," Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline *

Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros, "Mega Bottle Ride," Global a-Go-Go *

Thievery Corporation, "Vampires," Retaliation Suite *

Avett Brothers, "Murdered in the City," The Second Gleam *

John Prine, "Everybody Wants to Feel Like You," The Missing Years *

Mark Erelli, "Baltimore," Delivered *

Lucinda Williams, "Circles & X's," Little Honey *

Olu Dara, "Belle & Ponce at the Movie Show," Neighborhoods *

Chuck Prophet, "You Did," Age of Miracles *

Band of Horses, "The Great Salt Lake," Everything All the Time *

Aqualung, "Mr. Universe," Words & Music *

Black Keys, "All You Ever Wanted," Attack and Release *

My Morning Jacket, "It Beats for You," Z *

The Hold Steady, "Sequestered in Memphis," Stay Positive *

Drive By Truckers, "Feb 14," A Blessing & a Curse *

Deerhoof, "Chandelier Searchlight," Offend Maggie

Hopedaddy on the Air: WFHB Morning Music Mix 10/29/08

Bruce Cockburn, "Hills of Morning," Dancing in the Dragon's Jaws *

Josh Rouse, "Dressed Up Like Nebraska," Dressed Up Like Nebraska *

Nils Lofgren, "You," Acoustic Live *

Lambchop, "Slipped, Dissolved, and Loosed," OH *

Robert Plant and Allison Krauss, "Please Read the Letter," Raising Sand *

Sam Phillips, "Baby, I Can't Please You," Martinis & Bikinis *

John Doe, "The Real One," Meet John Doe *

Joseph Arthur, "Heart's a Soldier," Lonely Astronauts *

Paul Westerberg, "Knockin' on Mine," 14 Songs *

Chris Whitley, "Terra Incognita," Aerial *

Damien Jurado, "Go First," Lost in the Trees *

Pete Townsend, "Face Dances Part II," All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes *

Of Montreal, "For Our Elegant Castle," Skeletal Lamping *

The Smiths, "Vicar in a Tutu," The Queen is Dead *

Travis, "Sing," The Invisible Band *

Blitzen Trapper, "Furr," Furr *

My Morning Jacket, "Mahgeetah," It Still Moves *

TV on the Radio, "Halfway Home," Dear Science, *

Talking Heads, "Psycho Killer," Stop Making Sense *

Stereolab, "Daisy Click Clack," Chemical Chords *

XTC, "That's Really Super, Supergirl," Skylarking *

Pretenders, "The Nothing Maker," Break Up the Concrete *

Toad the Wet Sprocket, "Rock & Roll All Night," Kiss My Ass *

Bob Schneider, "Big Blue Sea," Lonelyland *

Graham Parker, "Ambivalent," Sins of No Consequence

They Will, and I Will Them, Too