One need look no further than the title of his latest release to realize that Todd Snider has an eccentric personality. Peace Queer combines Snider’s outspoken politics with his quirky sense of humor. His stark take on John Fogerty’s “Fortunate Son†takes the song’s anger to a deeper level. “As an International Peace Queer, I […]
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 […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Aug/Sept 2008, Part 1 Video Companion
Summer ended with a bang thanks to some fine new music. We kick off our August/September video bonanza with some, well, sweet live performances by Matthew Sweet, one of our featured artists. Dig a bit deeper and you’ll get live concert footage from Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons, British Sea Power, Chris Knight and […]
Mayer’s Playlist for Aug/Sept 2008, Part 1
ALBUMS OF THE MONTH: Sunshine Lies, by Matthew Sweet “’cause we’re already good and we’re already evil, unfazed by a world of constant upheaval,” sings Matthew Sweet on “Let’s Love” from his latest release. It’s a moment that carries meaning beyond the song’s intended topic. In the nearly fifteen years since Sweet’s seminal Girlfriend, the […]
Donavon Frankenreiter + More, Releases 8/19
Donavon Frankenreiter, “Life, Love & Laughter” DONAVON FRANKENREITER, Pass It Around (Lost Highway) Official Site | MySpace | Samples (Amazon) What can I say? I’m a sucker for jangly surf rock. The Laguna Beach musician recruits Ben Harper (“Pass It Around”), G. Love (“Sing a Song”) and Grant Lee Phillips (“Mansions in the Sand”) among […]
Todd Snider Comes Out of the Closet on August 19th
Todd Snider is coming out of the closet as a flaming “Peace Queer†on August 19th. He’s loud, he’s proud, he’s here and he’s a “Peace Queer.†Normally when musicians get too political it annoys me. I just want to scream “Shut Up and Sing.†However, somehow Todd Snider pulls it off using his humor […]