Tuesday, March 30, 2010

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date: 3/30/10



JOAN ARMATRADING- THIS CHARMING LIFE


Few artists have had the ability to genre-hop so convincingly as Joan Armatrading. During her heyday, many years ago, Armatrading would consistently sell out large concert halls, get played regularly on rock, r&b, and jazz radio, and never lose touch with her folk roots.

It's been years since I've listened, but I was such a fan of "Show Some Emotion," "Walk Under Ladders," and "Me Myself I," I look forward to checking out this new music, which is available as a download on Amazon for $3.99. If you're unfamiliar with Joan Armatrading's music, I would get started with these classic tunes:

Love & Affection
Show Some Emotion
(I Love It When You) Call Me Names
When I Get It Right
Me Myself I
The Weakness In Me







THE AUCTIONEERS- E.P.

Man, this is some kick-ass rock and roll! 5 guys from NYC, cranking up some of the most infectious music I have heard in a long time. The production is heavy without ever bogging down the melodies, and vocally, The Auctioneers evoke all your favorite FM radio bands from the seventies without ever sounding retro. So basically, these guys can sing AND play. You'll hear the Stones, you'll hear Led Zeppelin, I even heard a little Poco. But there is no doubt you'll hear something totally original, as well. Loving this!!

Check out "Young Man's Blues" from the E.P.
http://www.myspace.com/theauctioneers








ERYKAH BADU- NEW AMERYKAH PART TWO (RETURN OF THE ANKH)

Just the other day I asked, "Where the hell is that ankh?" The always groovy, if occasionally erratic Erykah Badu, is back with what people are calling a "return to form." Her debut, "Baduizm," was one of the R&B highlights of the nineties, and a breath of fresh air amidst all of that melismatic crap being released at the time. (And she was really fine in "The Cider House Rules.)






BARENAKED LADIES - ALL IN GOOD TIME

Another one of those bands I just didn't get, the Barenaked Ladies are back with their 11th studio release that mixes music and humour. Separately, these are two of my favorite things. Together, not so much.







BLACK FRANCIS- NONSTOPEROTIK


Pixies front man, Charles Thompson goes back to his first pseudonym, pre-Frank Black, for this new collection of originals, with a Gram Parsons cover tacked on for luck.







JON SPENCER BLUES EXPLOSION- DIRTY SHIRT: ROCK & ROLL, THE FIRST TEN YEARS


Once you get passed the clumsy title ("Best Of" would have worked), what you have is a big helping of Spencer's dirty, roots rock. 22 tracks from the always cool Shout Factory.

5 comments:

Noam Sane said...

New Frank Black! I'm there. Guy's a genius, even if I can't wrap my arms around everything he does. But there's a dude who writes songs.

Armatrading! Good choices, I always liked "Drop the Pilot" too, will have to check that out.

I hear Ms. Badu drops trou in her new video. Just sharing.

Digging the Todd nugget you provided yesterday, thanks!

That's all I got.

Sal Nunziato said...

Saw that video, Noam. The privates are all blocked out. Just sharing.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Joan tip. Had no idea there was new Joan. I love her. Also impressed that you threw in The Weakness In Me. Is that not an amazing underplayed song ? There's a good topic for you ( maybe too broad )"Greatest Songs Most People Have Never Heard "I dunno.
Thanks for "When I'm Five" BTW

steve simels said...

Jon Spencer? He'll never top Pussy Galore.
In case you missed it --

http://powerpop.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-got-blues_29.html

Anonymous said...

The Auctioneers are really good. Thanks for the scoop on them!