Now Podcasting :: Episode Ten

No dialogue on this one, but the tracks speak for themselves. Back to talky-talk next week.
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1 Ryan Adams/Beth Orton – Brown Sugar (Dirge)
2 Badly Drawn Boy – Fall In A River
3 Elliott Smith – Independence Day
4 Yo La Tengo – You Can Have It All
5 Magnetic Fields - I Don’t Believe You
6 Syd Matters – End And Start Again
7 Loose Fur – Hey Chicken
8 Tortoise/Bonnie “Prince” Billy - Cravo É Canela
9 Built To Spill – Liar
10 Colin Melloy – Pregnant For The Last Time
11 The Joggers – Wicked Light Sleeper
12 Microphones – The Glow pt. 2
13 The National – Baby, We’ll Be Fine
14 Zero 7 – Futures
15 Venice Is Sinking – To Your Ghost
16 Sonic Youth – Do You Believe In Rapture?
17 Slaraffenland – Cockaigne
18 Snowglobe – Rainbow
19 Talkdemonic – Mountaintops In Caves
20 Spider – Cold Eyes
21 Kingsbury Manx - Fast Rise & Fall Of The South
22 Deadboy & Elephantman – I’m Already Dead
23 Track A Tiger – Glad To Be Scattered
24 Josh Ritter – Girl In The War
25 Radiohead - Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
26 Elliott Smith – Amity
27 Beck – Fume
28 Badly Drawn Boy – Something To Talk About
29 Spoon – The Fitted Shirt
30 Cat Power – Living Proof
31 Brendan Benson – Alternative To Love
32 Josh Rouse – Under Cold Blue Stars
33 Luna – Bonnie & Clyde
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MP3 Download/Stream: Episode X
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The Clientele "Strange Geometry"

It's been a couple of days without a post here, so my guess is Justin is in transit as he and his wife continue their freewheeling ways around the country. So, um, hi. I'm Kevin (obligatory link).

I'm not sure if Justin has ever featured the Clientele in these parts, but it's a group I think he'd appreciate. The Clientele revive 60s British pop in wistful, dreamy ways. Strange Geometry, released last year on Merge Records, introduces strings in wonderful places and the melodic guitars are pretty easy to embrace. Singer Alasdair Maclean's delicate vocals are infused with a warm confidence. A nice balance for sure.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Clientele :: My Own Face Inside the Trees
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theclientele.co.uk.

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Zero 7 :: Futures

I had no idea who Zero 7 was until a couple of months ago. A friend's rec and a couple of magizine pieces touting the band's collaboration with Jose Gonzalez piqued my interest in a big way.

I have spun the band's latest LP The Garden a few times this week and fell in love with the album's opening track "Futures." Retro keys and production paired with Gonzalez's guest vocals create a sound that could have existed in another dimensions version of a Crosby, Stills & Nash '70s album.

Note: the album also features a rendition of Gonzalez re-working his song "Crosses."

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Zero 7 :: Futures
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Amazon: Zero 7 - The Garden
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www.zero7.co.uk
www.jose-gonzalez.com

Music For The Masses :: Redux

In retrospect Depeche Mode comes off as terribly dated music – let’s not kid ourselves. But with the existing retro synth/eighties trend of the past few years, that works in the Mode’s favor, and none more so than their1987 album Music For The Masses. I came on board as a fan with the it’s follow-up, Violator, which also brought the band mainstream success in the form of a slew of Mtv-ready videos and promo spots. After digesting Violater I worked my way backwards and came to know Music For The Masses, which I received a reissue of a couple of weeks ago (complete with additional notes/photos/packaging//DVD w/ b-sides/etc).

How does the album hold up fifteen years after I first heard it? Actually, very well in all it’s painfully awkward glory. I can’t say I didn’t wince re-visiting the lyrics: “make my heart smile(??)” but then again no one ever accused Gahan and company of being master lyricists.

The extras, while nice, will mostly appeal to the already converted fan -- personally, the big win here is the improved sound which for electro-synth based music is absolutely essential.

Note: Rhino has also released a re-issue of the Violater album which I have yet to hear, but would expect similar results.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Depeche Mode :: Never Let Me Down Again
MP3: Depeche Mode :: Behind The Wheel
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Amazon: Depeche Mode - Music For The Masses
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Sonic Youth/BYOP :: Atlanta : 6-19-06

photo credit

Robert Christgau and I are in the same corner when it comes to Sonic Youth. 20+ years together and the band still delivers the goods, more than delivers, both in the studio and on the stage. Last night in Atlanta at the Centerstage was no exception in support ofthe June 6th release of their latest full length Rather Ripped.

The last time I witnessed a Sonic Youth show in Atlanta was 1992 on the Dirty tour at a random venue called the International ballroom. It was both refeshing and a testemant to the band itself the multi-generational make-up of the audience.

Ex-Pavement veteran Mark Ibold filled in on bass duties as Kim Gordon owned the night, taking the lead on at least 50% of the vocals throughout the performance. Check out this track below with Thurston on vocals off the new LP -- they tore it up last night on this one.

Nashville-based punk outfit Be Your Own Pet opened.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Sonic Youth :: Sleepin' Around
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Amazon: Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
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www.sonicyouth.com

Now Podcasting :: Episode Nine

Notes: This show for Little Radio was recorded this past weekend while holed up in a cabin in the NC mountains. The track selection reflects the surrounding environs. Enjoy.
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1.Portastatic – Will's Return
2.Brightblack Morning Light – True Bright Blossom
3.16 Horsepower – Outlaw Song
4.Iron & Wine – Promise What You Will
5.Iron & Wine – Jesus The Mexican Boy
6.Jim White – Book of Angels
7.Gillian Welch – Revelator
8.Gary Higgins – Thicker Than A Smokery
9.Townes Van Zandt – Lungs
10.Richmond Fontaine – Black Road
11.Richard Buckner – Believer
12.Uncle Tupelo – Effigy
13.Bob Dylan – It’s Alright Ma, I’m Only Bleeding
14.Patterson Hood – Rising Son
15.Lucero – Noon As Dark As Midnight
16.Obray Ramsey – Rain & Snow
17.Roman Bolks – Scars & Options
18.Okkervil River – Black Sheep Boy
19.Jose Gonzalez – Crosses
20.Sufjan Stevens – All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands
21.Nina Simone – Strange Fruit
22.Cat Power – Moonshiner
23.Blue Mountain - Wink
24.Johnny Cash – Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)
25.Songs:Ohia – Farewell Transmission
26.Emmylou Harris/Beck – Sin City (gram parsons)
27. Daniel Hutchens – East Atlanta Illuminations
28.Lucero – Little Silver Heart
29.Star Room Boys – Foolish
30.Bonnie “Prince” Billy – Dreaming My Dreams
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MP3 Download/Stream: Episode IX
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Doveman :: Now Touring

Mon June 19: Portland, OR Towne Lounge
Tue June 20: San Francisco, CA Cafe du Nord
Wed June 21: LA, CA Tangier
Fri June 23: Phoenix, AZ Modified
Tue June 27: NYC, NY Tonic

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Doveman :: Honey
MP3: Doveman :: Teacup
-live @ wnyc-
MP3: Honey/only love can break your heart
MP3: Cities
MP3: Drinking/boy + angel
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www.dovemanmusic.com
Related Posts:
Doveman :: Weighing In
Doveman :: The Acrobat

Emmylou Harris/Mark Knopfler :: Duets 2006

Upon its Spring release I read a less than flattering review of the Emmylou Harris/Mark Knopfler duets album All The Roadrunning. If I could remember the source of the review I would link it here for your perusal. Thank ye gods I listened my gut and not the critic, as it’s about as good an album as I expected it to be. Admittingly, it’s a simple formula, standard yes, but a good one. Pair two icons with distinctive voices and songwriting chops and see what comes out. In this case it worked, and quite well.

Chances are, if you visit An Aquarium Drunkard with any regularity, you have a place in your heart for Emmylou Harris. Combine that will the increasingly excellent Mark Knopfler and you have a regular American road album (note: Knopfler’s brit roots be damned). This LP has now accompanied me 5,000+ miles on this Summer’s fandango across the U.S. and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Nothin’ fancy, but that’s the point.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Emmylou Harris/Mark Knopfler :: This Is Us
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Amazon: Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris - All The Roadrunning
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The Light Wires

(Contributor's note: Hey, Joe here from Each Note Secure, playing guest blogger today while Justin continues his road trip. Check out this great Cincinnati, OH band)


Sometimes its difficult to dig into your local music scene and come out with worthwhile bands. Here in Cincinnati we are better known for WKRP than great indie bands like Afghan Whigs.

One band that stands out here though is The Light Wires. Leadman Jeremy Pinnell combines Nebraska era Springsteen with Jay Farrar sincerity to make some truly good American tunes. TLW manages to take you on a tour of the states through the view of a vintage Airstream stocked with Pabst Blue Ribbon cans. Wonder if thats also Justins travel arrangement?


DOWNLOAD:
MP3: The Light Wires- Small As Strawberries
MP3: The Light Wires- Never Heard the Pin Drop
MP3: The Light Wires- The Hum of Black Machines
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Now Podcasting :: Episode Eight

Tracklist:
1.Morphine – come along
2. Strokes – new york city cops
3. P.J. Harvey – good fortune
4. Blur – i’m just a killer for your love
5. The Smiths – bigmouth strikes again
6. Evan Dando - $1,000 wedding (gram parsons)
7. Elvis Costello – veronica
8. Iggy Pop – Candy
9. Meat Puppets – oh, me
10. Pink Floyd – fearless
11. Warren Zevon – carmelita
12. Dolly Parton – jolene
13. Decemberists – here I dreampt I was an architect
14. My Morning Jacket – behind that locked door
15. Ryan Adams – dreams of a working class clown (live)
16. Angelo Badalamenti – llorando (crying)
17. The Replacements – unsatisfied
18. Pavement – ann don’t cry
17. Wilco – she’s a jar
18. Kings of Convenience – toxic girl
19. The Kinks – lola
20. Patti Smith – hey joe (hendrix)
21. Devo – mongoloid
22. Okkervil River – black
23. Loretta Lynn – Portland Oregon
24. Spaceman 3 – feel so good
25. Sonic Youth – 100%
26. Billy Bragg – new england
27. Tortoise w/ Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – thunder road (bruce springsteen)
28. Islands – volcanoes
29. Cold War Kids – we used to vacation
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MP3 Download/Stream: Episode VIII
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Soul Sides :: Volume 1

Here at the Drunkard, we love the old funk, soul, and r&b jams, but rarely touch on it all that often (as there are many well written, well researched sites out there already covering it.) One such website is Soulsides. If you're not hip to them yet, they do a great job, and compiled a fantastic CD compilation album earlier this year.

Didn't get around to purchasing it until just before I left Los Angeles for the Summer, but I'm glad I waited as it has been a serious pick me up on the highway when the coffee ain't cutting it. Here a John Lennon cover off it I have loved for many years (originally found on an import Live Donny Hathaway boot.) Be sure to visit the site, and more importantly buy the album.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Donny Hathaway :: Jealous Guy
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Amazon: Soul Sides - Volume 1
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www.soul-sides.com

Star Room Boys Trio @ Caledonia Lounge

Southern Shelter has graciously posted the entire set of MP3s from The Star Room Boys reunion set that took place before Thanksgiving in Athens, GA last year. Get them here...
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David Garza opening for Fiona Apple

(Contributor's note: Hey, this is Kevin again, checking in while Justin is roaming the roads of the country. I'm doubling up on this post from my site because, well, I enjoy David Garza quite a bit.)


Because I have a hard time shelling out $35 (plus $3 facility fee!) for any show, I'll probably miss Austin's David Garza opening for Fiona Apple June 20 at Dodge Theatre in Phoenix. Aside from Dodge Theatre's sterile, impersonal environment, I'd be spending the dough for Garza more than anything anyway.

David Garza (accent on the "i", as in Dav-eeed) is one of those artists in my collection I can easily overlook, but when I start listening again he's hard to quit. His 1998 release This Euphoria might fall under one of those "desert-island discs" lists if I ever cared to put one together. He's got the heart of a true singer/songwriter, but the playing chops that inspire big guitar riffs and pulsating drum beats.

He's absurdly prolific, and his cameo appearance for a set by fellow Austinites Hairy Apes BMX was a highlight of our trip to the ACL festival last year.

Catch him on tour this summer. And you'd do yourself a huge favor by picking up any of his works.

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Slave
MP3: Keep on Crying

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Grayson Capps :: New Orleans Blues

Grayson Capps' bluesy, soulful, Southern literary storytelling has been a welcome treat whenever his album If You Knew My Mind pops up on shuffle as we drive cross-country these past 2+ weeks.

"I write songs which have the voice of dead prophets masquerading as town drunks screaming 'look at us we're pretty, too!' I've been playing guitar and singing for nearly twenty years now. I've played theaters, festivals, radio shows, t.v. shows, whiskey-beer crusted barrooms, living rooms, and camp fires. Some people call me a preacher others a poet, a singer, a guitar player, a landscaper, but I am only an actor strutting and fretting across the stage."

DOWNLOAD:
MP3: Grayson Capps :: Get Back Up
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Amazon: Grayson Capps :: If You Knew My Mind
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www.graysoncapps.com