THE ALBUM OF THE MONTH:
It was a tough month for the Album of the Month… in a positive way. I couldn’t decide on a single album so this month we get two!
A Year in the Wilderness, by John Doe
John Doe may be one of the most under-appreciated songwriters of the day. Musically and lyrically he excels at capturing romantic relationships and conflict, finding the perfect balance of a mature acoustic lyricism with the raw energy of his punk roots. On “There’s a Hole” he is on the receiving end, angry but still yearning; on “Unforgiven” he is the initiator who says “you know I feel bad but not bad enough.” Among the best tracks on this release feature duets with the likes of Aimee Mann, Jill Sobule and Kathleen Edwards. These distinct voices provide additional depth to tracks like the rollicking “Golden State and the wistful “Just a Little More Time.”
Diamonds in the Dark, by Sarah Borges & the Broken Singles
Boston’s Borges brims with confidence on her debut label release. The engaging country-influenced flavor of her first album return but is now accompanied by some more pop-oriented fare. “Stop and Think It Over” is an infectious 1960’s-style pop gem that showcases Borges’ while “Open Up Your Back Door” is a road-house rave which Borges delivers with just the right amount of swagger. The Broken Singles prove worthy cohorts — skilled musicians adept at giving “Stop and Think It Over” a sense of playfullness while lending “Modern Trick” an air of loneliness.
THE PLAYLIST:
99%, The Mooney Suzuki (from the Elixia release Have Mercy)
These guys blew off the roof during their SXSW showcase with a tight set of garage rock. This track, the lead-off of the band’s latest release, combines a guitar riff reminiscent of Dire Straits’ “Money for Nothing” with a smokin’ rock groove. This is the perfect summer driving song, except that you might get funny looks from other drivers as you join in the “na na na” chorus.
No Shame, Tow Cow Garage (from the Shelterhouse Records release III)
Although the coarse vocals are an acquired taste, there is little doubting the band’s rock and roll chops. This track builds from an acoustic introduction to a full-blown rocker with a nice touch of twang guitar solo. Two Cow Garage sound like the musical younger brothers of the Drams — rock on little brothers, rock on.
Leave, Glen Hansard & Marketa Iglova (from the Columbia Records soundtrack to the movie Once)
Brutally beautiful is about the only way to describe this song. Glen Hansard’s vocals convey so much emotion that little musical accompaniment is offered or needed.
Something’s Changed, Chris Knight (from the Thirty Tigers release The Trailer Tapes)
Nearly two years prior to recording what would become his debut release, Chris Knight recorded a series of tracks in a trailer in his native Kentucky during the summer of 1996. Oft bootlegged in the intervening years, these songs finally see a proper release. This track, in particular, stands out with its simplicity and sincerity, “She believed in blue skies, I only brought her rain, it ain’t so strange, something changed.”
Heavenly Day, Patty Griffin (from the ATO release Children Running Through)
Which is more breath-taking, Patty Griffin’s mesmerizing voice or her beautiful songwriting. This simple gospel-tinged ballad holds the answer: it’s a draw.
Somebody Got Murdered, Matthew Ryan (from the 00:02:59 compilation release The Sandinista Project!)
In a true labor of love, writer Jimmy Gutterman gathered a roster of 37 artists to re-interpret the Clash’s legendary opus Sandinista! As diverse as it is ambitious, this is one of two tracks that epitomize my mind’s image of the Clash’s spirit. The other is Willie Nile’s incendiary take on “Police on my Back.”
First Comes Love, The Mooney Suzuki (from the Elixia release Have Mercy)
The chorus alone makes this one a winner, “First comes love then comes complications, first comes love then comes expectations… then negotiation, miscommunication, sexual frustration and on and on”.
Lies, Glen Hansard & Marketa Iglova (from the Columbia Records soundtrack to the movie Once)
This movie deserves all the success it receives and more, a refreshingly honest and heartfelt tale of two struggling Irish musicians whose voices blend wonderfully, as demonstrated on this heart-wrenching ballad.
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.