Music I Love -- The Damnwells

Ok, fair enough. That's a terrible name for a band.

The Damnwells have released 2 outstanding CD's of melodic, wistful music that have the sound of pure Americana. They've garnered great reviews and expectations were high for their new release, "One Last Century", but they were dropped by their record label at the last minute.

In an effort to take control of their career, they are making their excellent new release available for free download. Yep, free! Zero dollars! It's music that I consider impossible to dislike and I hope everyone will take a listen to one of their older songs below -- "Golden Days" -- and then download the new CD. All they ask in return is that you share it with friends! That's fair, isn't it?

Hope you enjoy!

Music I Love - Bleu

Ok, so most of what I listen to is in the "alternative" category, whatever that means. How can music be "alternative", anyway? But I digress ...

I am still a sucker for massive ballads, like the tune below from a guy named Bleu. Stylistically he's capable of anything, but this song from his upcoming new cd is a great, sweeping ballad that I really like. Really melodic and ... well ... melancholy.

The song is called "Go", and I hope you like.

Music I Love - "Je t'aime, au revoir"

It must be tough for a musician being a "one-hit wonder". Y'know, having that massively popular song and then being identified with it for the rest of your career. More often than not, that one song isn't representative of the rest of an artist's oeuvre, which is definitely the case with Thomas Dolby.

Yeah, everyone knows that dippy 80's hit "She Blinded Me With Science", but it's totally out of place with the rest of his catalog, as evidenced by the song below. "I Love You Goodbye" (below) is fantastic. The lyrics are about some (mis)adventures in New Orleans that are so unusual that it simply must be a true story. More intriguing is the instrumentation, and I particularly love the long opening which features Cajun fiddle, and if you listen closely, a bit of banjo. If nothing else, listen to the first minute or so.

The chorus is sad: "Some words are sad to say / some leave me tongue tied / but the hardest words I know / are I love you, goodbye".

Best Music Video EVER

I am humbled by the brilliance of acclaimed director Michel Gondry. I don't know that I'm even capable of comprehending what goes on in that crazy head of his, so suffice it to say that he is a slightly mad visionary. If you're interested in this stuff, I highly recommend this collection of his work. The more you watch, the more complex it is. Best of all, very little of his work is accomplished through CGI, but through good old fashioned clever camera work.

Here's the best example.

Upon first viewing, it may appear that you are watching 2 different video clips below -- one on the left half, one on the right. In reality, it's just one video -- played forward on the left side, and played in reverse on the right. Same video, shot all in one take. But, the brilliance of it comes from the idea that it is something like a video palindrome, because things happen at the same point in the video in both the forward and reverse versions.

See? It's so hard to explain and yet it's such a simple idea. Remember, it's just one video clip! In fact, it may be more interesting to cover up the right half of the screen the first time you watch it so you can see how it was actually shot, and then watch it again watching both versions.

Does this all make me a giant geek?

Music I Love -- Pugwash

Oh how I love "power pop". It's a certain sub-genre of music typified by stick-in-your-head melodies and inventive arrangements. As an example, you need look no further than the Beatles because they are the reference point for just about all great power pop. It's not a genre that gets much airplay or garners many sales, but my iPod is stuffed with it.

Here's an excellent example, "Take Me Away" by an Irish band called Pugwash.

Music I Love -- Amy Winehouse

I think it's really unfortunate that Amy Winehouse is known more for her tabloid exploits than for her really terrific music. I always try to consider the art separate from the artist. Yeah, she seems to be quite a mess, but take a listen to this excellent track from her current CD "Back To Black". This is music that is alive and vibrant, current while still undeniably having one foot in the soul music of the 60's.

This song is "Tears Dry On Their Own".

Music I Love -- Carbon / Silicon

My frequent concert mate Curt Littlecott texted last week to inform me that musical legend Mick Jones (formerly of the Clash) was performing with his new band Carbon/Silicon at the Social in downtown Orlando, which happens to be my favorite concert venue. It was a great night, and we were both a bit awestruck seeing one of our heroes up close.

Dig one of their newer songs, "The News". Are the lyrics optimistic or cynical? Maybe neither. Probably both. Either way I bet you're tapping your toes within 20 seconds.

Music I Love -- The Kills

"The Kills" are a way cool band from the UK. Well, they're a "band" in the loosest sense of the word, because it's really just 2 people -- male guitarist and female vocalist. Clearly there's a drum machine in there as well. Their music is minimalist, dark, and sexy and I highly recommend their new CD, "Midnight Boom".

This is a track called "Sour Cherry".