Midnight Organ Fight
Frightened Rabbit

This is the second of five albums cut by the Scottish alternative band.

They lasted only 10 years (2006-2016) and broke up after the suicide of the founding member and soul of the band, Scott Hutchison.

I'd never heard of them, but I heard a piece of a song on the TV show Chuck and I began hunting for the CD.

Turns out that Chuck included three of their songs during the course of the series, all from this album.

Hard to find, but well worth tracking down. A solid effort.

 - Originally reviewed: 03/10/2024, 1:21 pm

Lung
Band: Florence and the Machine

OK, this album came out in 2009, but it just hit my radar recently. Whatever...

Female-vocalist (songwriter) led band, Florence Welch is the soul of this group. The sound is a mix of Celtic-flavored music (think Loreena McKennitt) with a bit more ballsy and introspective voices (Joan Osborne and Michele Shocked).

The strongest song - to me - is the lead track, "Dog Days are Over," but the entire CD is solid. I'm going to have to see if any of her (and - again - it's mainly Welch) newer albums are worth pursuing.

My guess is yes.

 - Originally reviewed: 04/18/2014, 5:44 pm

West
Lucinda Williams

A very recent release, I've only heard the entire CD once, and a handful of songs on the radio a handful of times.

The verdict?

A solid performance by Williams, almost as good as her "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" album.

A very typical Williams album, as well, but that's in no way a bad thing.

Time will tell if this is a keeper or not.

 - Originally reviewed: 02/17/2007, 11:38 pm

Horses
Patti Smith

I first heard this album - on a record - in the apartment of a friend in college (~1980). She liked Patti Smith; I'd heard of her, but - shrug - whatever.

I heard the full album and quickly bought same.

I recently purchased the CD and am totally enjoying same. Patti Smith is not to everyone's taste, but damn she is good:

"Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine..."

 - Originally reviewed: 10/05/2006, 9:47 pm

Goodbye Jumbo
World Party

I've been wanting to get this for over a dozen years; this reamastered version is well worth that wait.

When I finally received it, I'd forgotten how good it was. A handful a classics on this one disc, with Put the Message in the Box the highlight of the CD, to me.

 - Originally reviewed: 04/26/2006, 10:10 pm

Ulisses
Cristina Branco

I heard an interview with this singer on NPR early April; I was captivated.

I like her music, her sensibilities (shown during interview) and her voice.

She does songs in French, English and native Portuguese; lovely. I don't know if the non-English songs would hold up for me (but I have the CD in my Amazon cart!), but I just love her cover of Joni Mitchell's "Case of You" - I've already purchased on iTunes.

She is lovely to look at as well (pic from NPR site), but it's the voice...

Update: Bought the CD; it's great - but the Mitchell cover is the best song. Yet all the others are very ear-worthy...

 - Originally reviewed: 04/05/2006, 11:09 pm

Hotel
Moby

I've always been aware of Moby, but never really paid that much attention to him. When I heard him on the radio, listened, often enjoyed, but didn't give him a second thought.

Then his Hotel CD came out, and a couple of the songs got under my skin ("Beautiful," and "Spiders") so I bought the CD.

I play it often; I'm going to have to check out more Moby.

Very sonic, some songs with a pop flavor yet with just enough techno to move it past mindless.

I dunno, I just like it. We'll see how I feel about it in 10 years.

 - Originally reviewed: 03/12/2006, 12:20 pm

Live at the Gaslight - 1962
Bob Dylan

Live, very early Dylan. I picked up my copy at Starbucks.

I'm a Dylan fan, so I like this - but even those who don't might like a couple of the cuts, including "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" and "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright."

Young, fresh, live, with background noise...this is a nice addition to the Dylan Library.

 - Originally reviewed: 12/30/2005, 8:41 pm

American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash

As stated many times before, I'm not a country music lover.

Is this even "country" music? - Cash covers pop and traditional songs in his own inimitable way.

A co-worker told me about this CD.

She lent same to me.

I ripped/copied same.

And then I purchased same - giving back. This is good - BRILLIANT - music.

To me.

 - Originally reviewed: 03/04/2005, 11:41 pm

Mudanin Kata
David Darling & The Wulu Bunun

Vocal music of a Taiwanese tribe with a master cello player.

Sounds odd; it is. Sonic, atmospheric.

I heard about it on NPR; had to get.

Got it today; glad I purchased same. I won't play this every day/week, but this is a great CD. In a "sounds of the whales" type way.

Lovely.

 - Originally reviewed: 09/07/2004, 9:19 pm