Thanksgiving week music thread - what have you listened to lately?

[mvd]

I haven't done one of these in a while. Here are some recent albums I've heard and some grades:

Justin Bieber - My World: D (way too shamelessly generic)
Rihanna - Rated R: C+ (hip-hop cliche when you make a "tough" record; I like her so this is a disappointment)
Shakira - She Wolf: C+ (some good songs like "Gypsy" get lost amongst boring techno-pop)
Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment: B+ (it mixes a variety of styles - glam, modern dance beats, rock, "Mad World"-type balladry - and ends up his own. A very fun record. Only complaint is a little more rock would have been nice)
Norah Jones - The Fall: B+ (it's good that she's expanding beyond her comfort zone)
Leona Lewis - Echo: B+ (the songs are not overproduced, and therefore let her strong voice stand out)
Carrie Underwood - Play On: B+ (besides "Mama's Song," the message songs aren't very good, but elsewhere Carrie succeeds. Scorchers like "Songs Like This" and "Cowboy Casanova," beautiful ballads like "Someday When I Stop Loving You" and "What Can I Say," and the sly pop/country mix of "Quitter" are highlights)
John Mayer - Battle Studies: B+ (has his best melodies yet even if he gets a little TOO serious)
Kris Allen - self-titled: C (not unpleasant, but a bland album. Just download "Alright With Me.")
Oh Darling - self-titled and Vedera - Stages: both A (if you like indie-pop, these albums are a couple of the best to come out this year!)

Everyone have a great Thanksgiving!

[HopeHoops]

1. Nothing yet - but I'm fixin' to fire up "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway"

I need a Genesis fix.

[tigereye]

2. hey you too!

I've been listening to Springsteen, Willy Nile ( NYC based folk-rocker), The Horrorpops, Methadones, Bill Evans, and Geri Allen lately. Some jazz, some punkish stuff, and rock.


Oh and the Rent soundtrack - I was in the mood for some reason. Great to scream along with in the car.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TOQxSvA_zs


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z93LqhC4Jjs&feature=related

[mvd]

3. Hi tigereye! Sounds like I might like Willy Nile

I also have a place where I keep my ratings. What do you think?

http://www.sputnikmusic.com/profile.php?name=mvdu

[tigereye]

4. Willy Nile is lots of fun! Your site looks interesting, I'll have to check it out

later, since I've got errands to run.

Hope you have a nice Thanksgiving, MVD! :hug:

[mvd]

5. It's not my site, but you can create your own profile..

..which is fun. Same to you and your family; have a happy Thanksgiving! :hug:

[tigereye]

12. thanks! I usually cook, so we'll have to do some prep tonight

and clean the house.

[alarimer]

6. Amazon has 500+ MP3 albuns on sale for $5 so I bought a couple.

Levon Helm, ELectric Dirt: This will make my Top 10 this year
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros: weird but growing on me

Other recent purchases (or rather, Emusic downloads)that I enjoy
The Swell Season, Strict Joy
AA Bondy, When the Devil's Loose
Son Volt, American Central Dust
Chuck Prophet, Let Freedom Ring.

[Tikki]

15. New Season of Elvis Costello's "Spectacle" premieres on Dec 9th(?)...

Levon Helm has been announced as a guest on the show this season....YAY.


Tikki

[guitar man]

7. Some old Robert Palmer

Sneakin Sally Through The Alley, IMO the best album he ever made :thumbsup:



Here's the title cut

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsLz2pvO5N0

The studio band is The Meters with Lowell George playing guitar too...hard to go wrong with cats like that on your record ;)

[kentauros]

8. Music most people here have never heard of

except when I mention them ;)

Jonathan Goldman
Natacha Atlas
Trio Chemirani
EBN

[Rambis]

9. Maid of Llanwellyn - Kate Rusby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo05meaz97I

Julie Fowlis Lon-dubh / Blackbird
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgTgledCjOI

[Initech]

10. Transatlantic's excellent new album "The Whirlwind"

Also playing heavily:

Katatonia - Night Is The New Day (A)
Mike Keneally - Scambot I (A+ - highly recommended for fans of Joe's Garage-era Zappa)
Porcupine Tree - The Incident (A+ - album of the year contender for sure)
Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures (B+ - excellent old school rock from an awesome supergroup)
The Flaming Lips - Embryonic (A - trippy experimental album from OKC's finest)
Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same (the reissue is *THE* definitive live Zep album, if you dont have it buy now)
Blackfield - Live In NYC (A - another excellent Steve Wilson effort, the included DVD is also worth viewing)

[mvd]

11. Addimg a couple more ratings/thoughts

Perhaps I could have given Adam an A-; will have to think about that. I'm definitely a fan.

Susan Boyle gets s B- for her CD. Very good voice that needs a more modern touch.

Allison Iraheta's new CD sounds amazing! Yes, it's a little like Kelly Clarkson and Pink, but nothing wrong with that as long as she puts her own personality on the CD. Samples here:

http://idolator.com/5294702/have-a-listen-to-allison-irahetas-just-like-you-song-clips

[blue_onyx]

25. Allison's CD seems promising

The clips for "Just like You" and "Still Breathing" stood out the most to me. She reminds me a little more of Pink than Kelly Clarkson (their voice seem more similar).

[mvd]

27. Yes, can't wait to hear her whole CD!

I think her vocals are unique; probably closer to Pink on the faster songs at least. The style seems to mix the pop/rock sound Kelly and Pink have with the uniqueness Allison has shown. :hi:

[hippywife]

13. Today, besides NPR, I listened to this a couple of times.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

14. Kenny Burrell...2009 has been a big Jazz year for me, for some reason

I made a mix CD from four of his albums. I prefer him solo or in a small combo, no horn section, just front-and-center guitar. I also wanted a certain "after hours" tempo and mood, no "jump, jive & wail" kind of stuff (even though he excels at that, too...it just doesn;t fit my November 2009 mood).

The mix CD:

From the "Soul Call" album:



http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Call/dp/B000UBHWYQ/

"I'm Just A Lucky So And So"
"A Sleepin' Bee"
"Here's That Rainy Day"

From the "Ballad Essentials" album:



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UAYDJY/

"Warm Valley"
"Solitude"
"Body And Soul"
"Lost In The Stars"
"'Round Midnight"
"Blue In Green"

From the "Lotus Blossom" album:



http://www.amazon.com/Lotus-Blossom/dp/B000UBHWJ6/

"Satin Doll"
"There Won't Be Another You"
"I Don't Stand The Ghost Of A Chance"

From the "Stormy Monday Blues" album:



http://www.amazon.com/Stormy-Monday-Blues/dp/B000UBLXYQ/

"Stormy Monday Blues"
"(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over"
"I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)"

:toast:

[handmade34]

16. alex cuba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeqDT3TVIA0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4doPh0Tr8s&feature=related

[Inspired]

17. I really like Adam Lambert's new cd.

I'd give it an A- which is pretty close to your B+!

[mvd]

20. I'll probably change it to A- after more listening

:hi:

Sometimes electro-pop has to grow on me. The only song I still don't like is "For Your Entertainment." It's ok with the warped disco beat, but not my thing.

[HuckleB]

18. Slavic Soul Party!!!

http://www.slavicsoulparty.com/main.html

http://www.theworld.org/2009/11/17/slavic-soul-party/

[HuckleB]

19. And The Minus 5.

http://www.minus5.com/

http://www.myspace.com/theminus5

[704wipes]

21. What do you expect for nothing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYyBZE0kBtE

[Mojambo]

22. Nothing new really

I've been hitting Robert Pollard's latest, Elephant Jokes quite a bit lately. I also really like that new record by Beach House. "Introverted Romance in Our Troubled Minds" by P.S Eliot is a terrific newish album.

Some other stuff...

Pains of Being Pure At Heart
Lunchbox
Drug Rug
The Creaky Boards

I've played many of these bands on my podcast.

Blatant plug ---> http://mojambo.libsyn.com/

[blue_onyx]

23. I've listened to several of the CDs you've listed

Adam Lambert: I've only listen to the songs "For Your Entertainment" and "If I Had You." I liked both of them. I may download the whole CD this weekend.

Carrie Underwood (Play On): I didn't like it. There were a few songs I thought were good. "Mama's Song" was my least favorite...she goes way too sappy sometimes. This was her weakest CD.

Kris Allen: His CD is average at best and very bland. He has a pleasant voice but this CD wasn't good.

Lady Gaga (The Fame Monster): It's ok. There are two very good songs, "Bad Romance" and "Telephone" (although Beyonce ruins the middle Telephone). "Alejando" is a pretty good song too. The rest of the CD is average.

[canoeist52]

24. Loreena McKennitt- Bonny Portmore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYkg6styqfM

[Bryan]

26. By and large, I've been listening to podcasts, but here you go

Fitz and the Tantrums, Songs For a Breakup, Volume 1
Retro blue-eyed soul combo. These guys are aitch oh tee. Don't take my word for it, though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR4eBYhTy2c

Beastie Boys, Paul's Boutique: 20th Anniversary Edition
A welcome revisitation of a classic album. Arguably falls afoul of the "loudness war" debate, but this is an album that demands a certain amount of loudness, so it's a wash.

Wilco, Wilco (the Album)
A cozy, relaxed album from a band at the top of their game. One of my top ten for the year.