The ever wonderful Jackie Evancho.
The almost as wonderful Heather Nova.
Graham Parker:
The guy was truly one of the piano greats; an incredible achievement, considering his physical problems.
I’ve discovered accujazz.com recently, and liking it a lot.
Darling Parade - Ghost
Sóley. Here’s Pretty Face, I’ll Drown & Fight Them Soft
I can’t stop playing Billy Joel’s “Leave a Tender Moment Alone”
Why wasn’t this song a bigger hit? He certainly sang the hell out of it.
Artic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know
Pearl Jam - Sirens
Ocean Colour Scene - Get Blown Away
Modest Mouse - Float On
At this very moment I’m listening to Rodrigo and Gabriela. And enjoying it very much. It was dopers, amongst others, who led me to this excellent music.
DakhaBrakha - Vesna. Heard them on PHC and was interested enough to find them on YouTube. I’m crushing on the drummer a little. I love the mournful sound of the vocal combined with the cello.
Also loving this and this video from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals.
Marsheaux - Secret Place
Lake Street Dive has a new album coming out next week, it’s streaming on Stephen Colbert’s website at the moment. Good stuff!
I saw them on Colbert a while ago. A good, strong sound, and the lead singer has a timbre that I like.
Here’s an odd cover of the old Ernie Ford song 16 Tons that I ran across. It makes me smile.
The soundtrack from Inside Llewyn Davis.
I’d heard and enjoyed a couple of their songs before, so I bought Dream Theater’s Octavarium the other day. I’m glad I did. I wouldn’t consider myself a huge fan of metal, but I really love this album.
I also finally picked up Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories. The perfect mix of catchy melodies and emotional, evocative performances.
I’m not a religious person, but I have to say Gavin Bryars piece “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet” is one of the most beautiful pieces of classical music I’ve heard in a long time.
It’s a minimalist piece; a repeated recording of a homeless bum singing an old folk song with an increasingly dense instrumental background. And then when you think you’ve heard everything, Tom Waits comes in and sings along for the last third of the piece!
It’s a great work, even if it is 74 minutes long. Play it right after “Christian Zeal and Activity” by John Adams.
Tartanic’s album Uncivilized has been playing constantly in my car and on my phone for about two months now. It’s the mood music for the book I was working on. I’m done with the first draft of the book now… time to find something else.
Premiata Forneria Marconi - Per Un Amico-C
A masterpiece.
Back to around 2005 with Anthony and the Johnsons: Fistful of Love <<< 'kin genius
If you want 60 mins of sublime brilliance this is about the best link (of Anthony’s) I know of: Live Dutch gig from last year
I’ve been pretty much obsessed with Public Service Broadcasting for the past year. They’re finally coming to Stockholm in May (wahey).
Basically they play instrumental music with dialogue taken from old public service films. The videos are composed from clips from the films. And it works a lot, LOT, better than it sounds. I can’t imagine what their third or fourth album would be like, but the one album they have done is brilliant.