Jill Scott and Emmylou Harris - Episode 69

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIZUnXvKwbc]

Get Light of the Sun here

Get Hard Bargain here

Get the deluxe edition here

Phosphorescent, Raphael Saadiq, & Vusi Mahlasela - Episode 60

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FyP9_Qc9f0&w=560&h=349]

Get Here's to taking it easy on CD

Get it on Vinyl here

Get it on mp3 here

Get Stone Rollin on CD here

Get it on vinyl here

Get it on Mp3 here

Get Say Africa on CD here

Get it on mp3 here

Episode 58 Duran Duran, Erykah Badu, Mayer Hawthorne

Listen to more samples: Get All You Need is Now on CD

Get it on mp3 here

Listen to samples and get Return of the Ankh Part II on CD here

It's on Mp3 here

It's on Vinyl also

Get Strange Arrangement on CD

Get it on mp3 here
You can get it on vinyl here

CD review Sharon Jones And The Dap Kings - I Learned The Hard Way

Artist: Sharon Jones And The Dap Kings
Album: I learned the Hard Way
Worth Buying: Yep, every song.
You might be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Early Soul, R&B, and Motown.

Tell me more: When I first heard SJATDK’s 2008 release 100 Days 100 Nights, I was astounded by what an amazing groove machine it  was and how authentic it all sounded. As if a lost Motown album had been unearthed and finally released now In the 21st Century.

With their new 2010 release I Learned the Hardway, little changes, but then I wouldn’t expect it to. This band juggles the immense task of creating authentic sounding early 60’s old school R&B, that sounds authentic to the era, honest to themselves as a band and never sounding like they are “trying to…..”.

That’s no small feat. A

And just like their last album, they make it look easy….trust me it isn’t.

The only differences might be some slightly darker themes to the songs this time around, maybe a bit less funk and bit more influence from 60’s girl groups, but otherwise this is another solid release, and if you are a fan of early Motown this is a no brainer…get it!

What about the packaging: Four panel digipak that is nicely designed to (once again) feel honest to the era. No booklet though, I was kinda hoping for lyrics, but oh well…...

Get it on CD

Right now only 6.99 on Mp3

Music worth buying: 01/21/09 One you might have missed: Elvis Costello - My Aim Is True

Artist: Elvis Costello

Album: My Aim is True

Worth Buying: The Whole Album

You will be interested in this album if you are a fan of:  early rock from the 50's, blues, R&B from the early 60's and great songwriting.

I remember turning on the TV one late night to watch Saturday Night Live. The week before it had been announced that the Sex Pistols would be the musical guests. But the Pistol's must have backed out or something, because instead  the musical guest was this guy that I had never heard of (till then anyways) named Elvis Costello.

At the time music was the domain of bands like Led Zeppelin,  and Van Halen. Long hair and looking like you where the bad ass who got kicked out of school was look that most Rock musicians went for. And I of course was into these bands. So here was this guy who at first glance looked to me more like the school bookworm than a rock star (and back then I was still to musically uneducated to realize that Elvis was riffing on Buddy Holly's look).

Today, most people remember this first US TV appearance by Elvis Costello for the song "Radio Radio". He launched into the performance by playing "Less than Zero", a few bars in he stopped the band, apologized to the audience and played Radio Radio (a scathing attack on the radio industry. In doing this one simple thing, He went against what his record label wanted, and he and was banned by SNL for 12 years.....But what really grabbed me about this guy was his performance of "Watching the Detectives". I couldn't get over how intense and angry this guy came off.

If I thought he looked like a bookworm at first, I quickly changed my mind. Suddenly he looked like a bookworm who would crunch your nuts and then walk off with your woman. he looked like this angry M.F. who wanted to stick his middle finger in the face of every long haired Robert Plant Wannabe in the world.

I was immediately taken by his intensity and went out and got his first album "My Aim is True". It is still to this day one of my favorite albums and a real turning point for me as it signaled the expansion of my musical palate beyond just Hard Rock and Heavy Metal (although I still love both of those genres).

I remember some of my "rocker" friends made fun of me for getting this record. That's because all they had seen was the cover with this bookworm looking guy holding a guitar in a funky pose. They hadn't seen him live. They didn't realize how intense he was. This guy was as angry as me, and I loved him for it.

Looking back now, it's amazing who timeless all these songs sound. There is a strong influence of Motown, R&B, Blues, and 50's Rock'n'Roll. Elvis took all these genres and put new spins on it. He wrote songs with strong hooks and clever, intriguing lyrics.....AND IT WAS ONLY HIS FIRST ALBUM!

Listening to this album with the benefit of hindsight, it's amazing to consider that as awesome a songwriter as he was, he was only going to get BETTER as the years went on.

lines like "I used to be disgusted, but now I try to be amused" from the song "Angels Wanna Wear My Red Shoes", became slogans that people put on bumper stickers and buttons.

Major music stars of the time started covering his songs.

If you haven' heard My Aim is True. Now is the time to see where he started

Since then Elvis has stopped being as angry (so have I, come to think of it). But he's never stopped being one of the rock and pop's best songwriters.

Listen My Aim is true and buy in Mp3 format

On CD with extra tracks

http://www.amazon.com/My-Aim-True-Elvis-Costello/dp/B000UAE86C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1232567022&sr=1-3

Deluxe CD edition

CD Review Sharon Jones And The Dap Kings 100 Days 100 Nights

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings 100 Days 100 Nights

Album: 100 Days 100 Nights
Artist: Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings
You will be interested in this album if you are a fan of:  Motown, Old School R&B, Funk, and Amy Winehouse's Back to Black album.
Worth Buying?: YES, The entire album.

Tell me more: Imagine if you will an album recorded by Motown during their golden years. An album where each track is just burning with groove. An album filled with tracks that should have been hits during that era. An album that for some reason was locked away in a vault and then never released.....until now. If you can imagine that album, you have good idea of what to expect from 100 Days 100 Nights. Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings is the band that back up Amy Winhouse on her Back to Black album. This is the band that gave her that authentic Motown sound. But this album is no just mere imitation or emulation of the best music from that era. This is authentic. It is the real deal. 100 Day 100 Nights is one of the most enjoyable listening experiences I have had in some time.

TJR 08/11/2008

What about the Packaging? The CD version comes in a standard jewell case with a bonus disc that included a cool behind the scenes video that I really enjoyed. There is no lyrics booklet enclosed, but it doesn’t matter because you’ll be to busy grooving to this one.

listend to samples and buy as mp3 here

Buy in CD format here

What if I am not ready to buy the whole CD?: Try downloading the title song 100 Days 100 Nights.
Although there are better tracks on the album, this one is free for the time being.