What music have you listened to lately?

[mvd]

With the ton of CDs I've bought lately, it's a great time for this topic. Here are the CDs I've added to my collection:

Raveonettes - Chain Gang Of Love: great classic rock sound, and the fuzz noise enhances the music rather than detracting from it. Grade: A+

Bruce Springsteen - Devils And Dust: very strong Bruce CD with interesting tales - heavily influenced by Dylan, though, and that makes it a little less Bruce in personality. Grade: A

Fisher - The Lovely Years: Absolutely beautiful. Pure folk/pop with not much rock, but there didn't need to be more rock. The CD is a realistic celebration of life. Kathy has the incredible vocals needed to make her songs timeless. Grade: A+

Keren - Gone: She has a unique guitar sound and a strong voice. CD gets a bit monotonous, though. "Gone," "Timing's Off," an the eloquent rendition of U2's "Running To Stand Still" are amazing songs. Grade: B+

Aslyn - Lemon Love: The more you listen, the more individual she seems. It is not a bubblegum sound like Ashlee Simpson and Hilary Duff, and she's also not as rocky as Avril. Grade: A-

Decemberists - Picaresque: A good theatrical sound with different lyrics. Grade: A-

Kelly Buchanan - Bastard Daughter: Very raw and punky, but with some pop sensibilities. Grade: A-

Tegan And Sara - So Jealous: One of the most inventive CDs I've heard in a while. Their voices are an acquired taste, but I like them. Grade: A

Martha Wainwright - self-titled: I like her just as much as Rufus Wainwright or more even. Very clever lyrics. Grade: A+

Anna Nalick - Wreck Of The Day: a voice that's one of my favorites, plus she expertly pulls from different modern styles. Grade: A+

Doves - Some Cities: Lush, but with enough off-kilter sounds to keep it interesting. Grade: A

Garbage - Bleed Like Me: More hooks than on any Garbage CD IMO. Grade: A+

All of these are highly recommended!

I also heard these CDs/samples:

Weezer - Make Believe: I have to agree with the negative reviews of this one, and I'm a fan. I like the chord changes of "Hold Me" and may buy that song. Grade: C-

Amy Ray - Prom: sounds great as always from samples

Keith Anderson - Three Chord Country and American Rock And Roll: one of the most horrible country releases in memory. Grade: F

Keri Noble - Fearless: if you like Sarah McLachlan and piano playing, you should like her. Promising; would like to hear more.

Madeleine Peyroux - Careless Love: sounds like I like Norah a lot more than her. Haven't heard it all, but I feel comfortable giving it a C.

Aimee Mann - The Forgotten Arm: while a little uneven, still well worth buying from a fave artist of mine.

[Left Is Write]

1. I was listening to the Cars this afternoon.

I found myself amazed that "Candy-O" is twenty-six years old.

[mvd]

3. Still a fave band of mine

Good choice. :hi:

[Crazy Guggenheim]

6. Sorry to hear about Benjamin Orr.

:cry:

[Left Is Write]

8. Yes, that was sad.

He was only 53 years old. :(

Pancreatic cancer is what took my grandfather also.

[DODI]

2. Been streaming from Sugarmegs.org all weekend

Live Bromberg, Little Feat, The Band, Jaco, Pink Floyd, and I think they have some Dead and Phish shows too.

[skygazer]

4. Old classics

Lit candles and incense and listened to Dark Side of the Moon the other night - very nice.

Yesterday, I had Tom Petty's live CD, Pack Up the Plantation in my CD player - hadn't listened to it in a while and there's some great stuff on there. I love his duets with Stevie Nicks.

Today I started my day (at 3:30 am) with Led Zeppelin II - great way to wake up.

[Maestro]

5. Here is a shot of my latest iTunes shuffle

And I have to respectfully disagree with you on the Weezer grade. The critics lambasted "Pinkerton" but now it is being recognized as a good complement to the collection. I think "Beverly Hills" and "Perfect Situation" are classic Weezer songs. This may not be the "Blue" or the "Green" album but it is not bad. I would grade it more like B to B+. I didn't the critics were right with "Pinkerton" and I don't think they are correct with this one. ;)

[mvd]

21. I previewed the new Weezer album a few times

And it didn't grow on me, unfortunately. I liked 2 songs - and one of them, Hold Me, doesn't have good lyrics IMO. Some songs were catchy in an annoying way, and others were a little flat. I love Pinkerton and the Green Album, though. :hi:

I might upgrade my Tegan And Sara grade to A+ after more listens. I'm cautious about A+ grades. I can't see any of my grades going down.

[Maestro]

23. Well at least a C

isn't flunking. :)

[mvd]

25. I didn't dislike enough songs to get lower

And as a fan, it's also hard to get lower. I edited in a bit more about it in my last post. The Pitchfork review went way overboard on the album. x(

Anyway, thanks for posting, and I hope I like Weezer again next time. :hi:

[sundog]

7. been on a Marvin Gaye kick...as far as Aimee Mann,"Bachelor #5" is my fave

:)

[xmas74]

9. So have I lately.

His music never ages. It's timeless.
I have also been on a David Gray kick lately.

[sundog]

10. hehe

I was scolded right here in the lounge for listening to David Gray recently :P

fuck it, White Ladder is a good album ;)

[xmas74]

11. White Ladder is excellent!

And whoever scolded you can go do something nasty to themselves!

(on edit: who can argue w/ these lyrics)
Friday night I'm going nowhere
All the lights are changing green to red
Turning over TV stations
Situations running through my head
Well looking back through time
You know it's clear that I've been blind
I've been a fool
To ever open up my heart
To all that jealousy, that bitterness, that ridicule

Saturday I'm running wild
And all the lights are changing red to green
Moving through the crowd I'm pushing
Chemicals all rushing through my bloodstream
Only wish that you were here
You know I'm seeing it so clear
I've been afraid
To tell you how I really feel
Admit to some of those bad mistakes I've made

If you want it
Come and get it
Crying out loud
The love that I was
Giving you was
Never in doubt
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And feel it now

Babylon, Babylon

Sunday all the lights of London
Shining , Sky is fading red to blue
I'm kicking through the Autumn leaves
And wondering where it is you might be going to
Turning back for home
You know I'm feeling so alone
I can't believe
Climbing on the stair
I turn around to see you smiling there
In front of me


If you want it
Come and get it
Crying out loud
The love that I was
Giving you was
Never in doubt
And feel it now
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And feel it now
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And feel it now
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And feel it now
Let go your heart
Let go your head
And feel it now

Babylon, Babylon, Babylon

[sundog]

12. nahh

she's a groovy du'er, so her scoldings usually make me laugh :P

[xmas74]

13. That's cool then.

Gotta have something to argue about sometimes.
But I still love David Gray.

[ghostsofgiants]

14. I love the new Weezer album

I think it's their best since Pinkerton personally.

I've been lisening to Death From Above 1979's "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine" a lot lately. Just drums and a bass (vocals by the drummer); some of the most kickass music I've heard in a while.

Tiger Army - "III: Ghost Tigers Rise" - Psychobilly (punk/rockabilly) at its finest.

Underoath - "They're Only Chasing Safety" - Hardcore/emo christian band. The christian thing kinda weirds me out, not exactly what I expect from my hardcore bands, but whatever, the fuckers can rock.

The Mars Volta - "Frances The Mute" - If you don't know the Mars Volta, you lose. One of the most brilliant bands I've ever heard. Bizarre lyrics, brilliant rhythm (4/4 time is for sissies), amazing guitar (by both Cerdric and John Frusciante) and Omar's vocals are equally impressive.

Murder By Death - "Who will survive and what will be left of them?" - The name had me expecting harsh guitars and lots of screaming. I was way off. I don't even really know how to describe it, but solid vocals and amazing musicianship is about as close as I can come.

[Mojambo]

15. My recent music

http://www.audioscrobbler.com/user/Mojambo/

[oustemnow]

19. wow; Candypants!

I used to work with their singer/flautist. Their song "I Want a Pony" is awesome.

[Mojambo]

26. They are so much fun. n/t

[oustemnow]

16. Broken Social Scene, Muse, the Pixies (but what else is new?),

Beck's Guero (still can't decide if it's awesome or it sucks), the new Lee Perry anthology, Blinker the Star's August and Everthing After (criminally overlooked band/album), 10 Speed (shoulda-been-huge band from LA about 10 years back)...just a random sampling of the CDs scattered on my living-room floor.

Damn, I really need to clean this place up a little.

[ghostsofgiants]

17. Trust me, Guero is awesome.

Just trust me.

[oustemnow]

18. I'm leaning toward that conclusion, though I'm still not sure

I guess I got used to the thematically cohesive albums he started doing, wheras Guero kind of feels like warmed-over Odelay, without that initial spark of inspiration. I do really like a lot of the songs on it, though I hate that frigging single.

[Reverend_Smitty]

20. Right now...

I'm listening to the May 12th Chicago U2 show...I found a torrent floating around the net and had to download it. From what I've heard of it, it sounds like a great concert. Making me all the more jealous of those people who were actually able to get tickets :-(

[gardenista]

22. Annie Lennox, Eurythmics, Yes, James Taylor, Seal, Michelle Shocked,

Norah Jones, Rickie Lee Jones, and Joni.

[Kellanved]

24. Right now:

Fettes Brot: "Kuba".

Which is quite surprising; I can't remember another song by them I liked.

http://www.dasding.de/aex2/ogg.php?ID=8042

[ailsagirl]

27. As you can tell by my avatar...

Dylan, Dylan, Dylan!!!

:)

[jpgray]

28. Working through Nina Simone's Philips catalogue right now

Some pretty good stuff in there (nt)

[tjwmason]

29. I've been getting into Carmina Burana

by CarL Orff.

ALso, I came across an oLd C.D. of baroque oboe concerti which is gorgeous. The oboe is one of the most kick-ass instruments that there is.

[NuttyFluffers]

30. weird stuff you never heard of, :P

Artist/album

L'arc~en~ciel/Dune
Pierrot/Dictator's Circus
Moenia/Le Modulo
Snog/Beyond the Valley of the Proles
And One/Virgin Superstar
Zhang/(something in chinese)
RiAa/Yozosooknyo
Fusspils 11/Gib Ihr Einen Namen
Godspeed You! Black Emperor/F#A# (infinity sign)

throw in a sprinkling of diana ross, janis, jefferson airplane, and brand new heavies and you have my recent spin.

[driver8]

31. I've got the Rykodisk 20th anniversary disk in my car right now...

It has some great artists on it -- Bowie, Zappa, Sugar, Jayhawks...it is a double disk set with lots of good stuff on it.