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I guess I can blame not knowing about the new Antony And The Johnsons EP on the fact that I was out of the country, but that doesn’t excuse me not telling you about it, dear ones.
If you haven’t heard their 2005 album I Am A Bird Now, I beg you — please do. And [...]

I’m gazing out the window across the street at my neighbors’ windows, which are displaying an Obama poster and a scary bat cut-out, and wondering what kind of song I could post that could express my Election Day confusion at having to decide which four people deserve my vote for Community College Board.
I know it’s [...]

I’ve told you again and again that the powers of the Avett Brothers are mighty, mighty, mighty. There is a level of songwriting here that goes beyond just your regular old great. When I talk about the Avetts’ songwriting, I mention names that you do not mention.
Add to this their astoundingly passionate live shows, and [...]

There’s a particular sort of sorrow that’s expressed so perfectly in this song. One of my very favorite Bad Livers tunes, and that’s saying something.
Those within reach of San Francisco and Oregon will get a chance to see the newly reunited Livers (the Bob Grant version — sorry, fellow Ralph White fanatics) at Hardly Strictly [...]

I like this guy. He knows what an album is for. Voice Of The Seven Woods’ primarily instrumental debut takes you on a well-paced journey — mostly on the back of an acoustic-folk hay wagon, but sometimes you get dragged through the middle of a freakout vortex or along the ocean floor.
That’s life.
Voice Of The [...]

Last week I was fortunate enough to spend an evening in the audience of American treasure, crackpot idol, and should-be MacArthur grant recipient Jonathan Richman.
Billions of words have been written on his influence on rock and songwriting, (as well as on his eccentricities), so I’ll just tell you that if you aren’t tuned in to [...]

I haven’t posted a “song that makes me cry” in a while.
This one’s a top-notch weeper. I first heard this song the same way many people my age heard it — by This Mortal Coil with the ungodly good Elizabeth Fraser.
The first time I listened to the Tim Buckley original, I was expecting it to [...]

Phew.
After yesterday’s blast I need a song about a wizard.
And even that might not be enough. I need a song about a wizard that has some Native American flute played by a lady named Gentle Thunder.
Oh, look! Here’s one!
Mariee Sioux - Wizard Flurry Home from Faces In the Rocks (insound / amazon CD / amazon [...]

This one goes out to the fine folks at Pine State Biscuits, who filled my insides with glee twice last week and helped make my week in Portland as rockin’ as it were.
David “Stringbean” Akeman is one of the holy triumvirate of comic banjo players, along with Grandpa Jones and Uncle Dave Macon. He also [...]

The other slice of your magic gentle rainbow sandwich also comes by way of Seattle (there must be something in the chai up there).
The Cave Singers - Helen from Invitation Songs (insound / amazon CD / amazon mp3 / itunes)
http://www.myspace.com/thecavesingers
This song is also included on the very worthwhile (and free) Matador spring 2008 sampler.