I found some great videos to accompany April’s playlist. There are book-end versions of Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova performing “Falling Slowly,” Todd Snider performing “Looking for a Job” on the Tonight Show and classic performances from Chris Whitley and Warren Zevon.
George… Giving It Up for Neil Young
In words far greater than anything I could come up with, my father-in-law (George) had this to say about Neil Young’s recent retrospective: Please tell Tom that the Starbuck’s edition of Neil Young’s live retrospective in Canada is a spectacular tour de force of a writer and player who’s ear hears melody lines and chord […]
Wilco & More, Album Previews
Wilco, ‘Sky Blue Sky’ With hints of Southern California folk-rock reminiscient of the Eagles, Wilco is back with its sixth studio album. I may be alone in this thinking, but I’m relieved to hear less ‘experimentation’ in this release. With the exception of a few songs, 2004’s A Ghost is Born was not for me. […]
Mayer’s Playlist for April 2007
THE ALBUM OF THE MONTH: The Swell Season, by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova Although it was originally released in late 2006, this album has finally taken hold of me with its quiet beauty. Glen Hansard, singer-songwriter from Ireland’s The Frames, and Marketa Irglova, a classically trained Czech musician, collaborated to create a song cycle […]
Mayer’s Playlist for March, a Video Companion
This companion to the March Playlist includes videos from: Nathan Hamilton, the Bittersweets, Band of Heathens, Grand Champeen, Jesse Malin, Jake Brennan, Ted Leo, Son Volt, Minibar, Quincy Coleman and Graham Parker.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club & More, Album Previews
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB, Baby 81 (RCA) Now this is my kinda week! Make a note of it, the first week of May 2007 brought guitars in full effect. Leading the pack we’ve got Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Dinosaur Jr. (oh yeeah, they’re back!), Patty Hurst Shifter and even Miranda Lambert can rock it when […]
Mayer’s Playlist for March 2007
THE ALBUM OF THE MONTH: Six Black Birds, by Nathan Hamilton Although his roots are in folk and country, Austin’s Nathan Hamilton delivers a rock album extraordinaire. “Sooner or Later,” the opening track, sets a clear tone for the record. Over biting guitars and an angry backbeat Hamilton confesses, “I’ve never seen the wisdom in […]
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club/Baby 81
It’s been a while since I’ve got an album that has beckoned to be cranked to 11, but the release of Baby 81 has ended that drought. After a brief stint grabbing Americana-type reviews and features with their last album, Howl, the Black Rebel boys come back rocking. From the opening track, “Took Out a […]
Ana Miura/Tenacious Heart
“Oh Canda! Our home and native land!” Ok, sorry, I just had to get that in there, as Ms. Miura hails from Canada. Ottawa to be exact…or is it Ontario? Oh well, both are listed on her website and it looks like she spends a fair amount of time in each place while occasionally jaunting […]
Patti Smith & More, Album Previews
PATTI SMITH, Twelve (Sony) I’m not really quite sure what to think of Patti Smith’s eleventh full length album titled, Twelve. On the one hand, its just another long time rocker making an album of other people’s hits. On the other hand, its Patti Smith and she rocks. Regardless, she was recently inducted into the […]