Back in 1970, Harry Nilsson helped introduce the world to Randy Newman by recording an entire album of Newman compositions, the appropriately titled Nilsson Sings Newman. In the nearly 50 years that have followed, Newman has become one of our greatest songwriters. Set aside the film scores that have garnered him 20 Academy Award nominations, […]
Monday Morning Video – Randy Newman & Friends
Randy Newman is one of my favorite songwriters, as adept at breaking your heart with a meditation on loss as he is at riling you up with satirical commentary on the state of politics and society. Of course there’s also his impressive array of movie soundtracks, from “Toy Story” to “the Natural.” Here he is […]
Best Songs of 2008, Mayer’s Picks
It would be easy to mine my top album list for the best songs of the year. But why take the easy road? Here then are the top songs that aren’t represented on the top album list. The World Should Revolve Around Me, Little Jackie (from the S-Curve release The Stoop) This song is an […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Aug/Sept 2008, Video Companion Part 2
How do you spell pop music? I spell it “Jim Boggia.” This video companion features a few from the pop maestro. Keep going to find live performances from Willie Nile, Chris Knight, Air Traffic, the Avett Brothers and a classic from Todd Snider. Finally we’ve got a special interview and performance video from Randy Newman.
Mayer’s Playlist for Aug/Sept 2008, Part 2
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Misadventures in Stereo, by Jim Boggia Jim Boggia is a pop classicist extraordinaire. He takes simple and sublime melodies and packages them in intricate yet accessible arrangements. It is a skill to admire and a treat to enjoy. Take “To and Fro,” a rollicking ode to complicated relationships in which Boggia […]
Conor Oberst + More, Releases 8/5
Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band at work and at play while making the new record! CONOR OBERST, self-titled (Merge) Official Site | MySpace | Samples (Amazon) Assembling a group of musician friends known unofficially as The Mystic Valley Band (Nate Walcott, Jason Boesel, Macey Taylor, Nik Freitas, and Taylor Hollingsworth), Conor Oberst spends […]