It’s been a while…
Know that I not only received new music as Christmas presents, but I was also given $65 in iTunes credit. Let’s Go Wild!

As you may have noticed, I love compilations. It may be because I’m a “singles” man myself. We loved the 45. Singles were – and still are – far more resilient than albums. But compilations are also a great way to get a taste of all the flavors of music out there in the world. So, we start with Volumes 1 & 2 of “The Coolest Songs In The World” from Little Steven’s Underground Garage. Here the New York Dolls rub shoulders with The Boss Martians and The Buzzcocks and The Donnas hang out. I added the soundtrack to Long Way Down, the Ewan McGregor motorcycling journey through Africa. Great music from Thomas Mapfumo to the AfroCelt Soundsystem. Then I tossed on a magazine CD: Mojo’s tribute to the Sub-Pop label with early Afghan Whigs and Iron & Wine. Finally, I picked up my new Songlines magazine with music from Mali (Amadou & Mariam), rap from Morocco (U-Cef), Chinese dub (Jah Wobble & the Chinese Dub Orchestra) and Eastern European folk (Warsaw Village Band). See – many, many flavors.

The Fifth Dimension – Cherry-picked a bunch of my favorite singles from this band (I still think I have a few 45s). Does anyone remember when they were on “It Takes A Thief”?
The Raveonettes – “Lust Lust Lust” Very cool stuff.
The Exit – “Home For An Island” A young NYC band that sounds very much like the Police… without Sting’s ego.
Uncle Tupelo – “March 16-20, 1992”
Juana Molina – Again, cherry-picking from her four albums, including the latest “Un Dia”. A popular comic actress in Argentina who made an about face and now does beautiful, atmospheric songs that defy description.
The Motors – A Greatest Hits collection.
Deerhunter – “Microcastle”
Dennis Wilson – “Pacific Ocean Blue & Bambu” I am not a Beach Boys fan. I’ll give them Pet Sounds and the song Surf’s Up and that’s about it. But the accolades for this 1976 re-release forced me to give it a try. It is a wonderful record (though I haven’t made it to the second album yet). Some of the reviews mentioned Wilson’s vocals being “Springsteen-like” but that’s not it at all. Both the tenor of his voice and the sadness of some of the songs more accurately recall a contemporary of his – Harry Nilsson. If you listen to “Pacific Ocean” – even in the upbeat numbers- you’ll hear a melancholy similar to that of Nilsson’s record “Pussycats” – which he recorded right just as he was being overtaken by the bottle. It is that feeling, rather than a Beach Boys vibe, which really gives this record its texture.

More soon!

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