Do you remember that goofy Toni Basil cheerleader song “Mickey”? Or what about “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield? Of course you do. They’ve been sitting in the dark recesses of your mind for years, and now they’re back, along with Ace of Base, Faith No More, Heart and hundreds of other artists in the form of Girl Talk’s new CD, “Feed the Animals”.
Hushabye Baby: Lullaby Renditions of various artists (Hushabye Baby Music) – 2008
What sounds like a humorous premise actually delivers a sweet product – Hushabye Baby offers CDs that present the hits of country artists such as Johnny Cash, George Strait and Carrie Underwood as instrumental lullabies. Beautifully-packaged from 100% recycled materials, the CDs feature sweet [...]
“Fleet Foxes” by Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop and Bella Union) - Out now
While listening to Fleet Foxes’ debut full-length CD “Fleet Foxes,” you may have the distinct feeling of another time, another place. With its several-part harmonies and pastoral rounds, something like a bustling market in 15th-century Europe, or, with its organ flurries and tamborine [...]
“Fate” by Dr. Dog (Park the Van) - Out now
For a band whose sound is rooted so firmly in the past, Dr. Dog seems more concerned with the present (and future).
From the opening moments of “Fate,” the message is the same: just sit tight — things will get better.
Far from all that overwhelms you now [...]
"New York City" by Brazilian Girls (Verve Forecast) - Out now
According to the press materials, the newest release from Brazilian Girls aims to pay homage to New York City as well as all four corners of the globe, an ambitious goal to be sure. The band nearly makes it, including sounds from every continent but Australia [...]
"No, Virginia" by the Dresden Dolls on Roadrunner Records- Out now
The Dresden Dolls are purveyors of self-professed “Brechtian punk cabaret,” a style of music based on German Weimar-style cabaret era from the ’20s and ’30s. Concerts by the duo (singer/pianist/lyricist Amanda Palmer and drummer Brian Viglione) are usually a circus, filled with an entourage of [...]
"In the Ever" by Mason Jennings (Brushfire Records) - Out now
First things first: Mason Jennings is not Jack Johnson. It’s easy to get confused, since they do sound kind of similar. And they both fit nicely into the mellow folk rock category. This has to be something Jennings considered before signing to Johnson’s label, Brushfire [...]
"My Grandfather, the Cubist" by Joy Electric (Tooth and Nail Records) - Out now
With "My Grandfather, The Cubist," Joy Electric’s Ronnie Martin continues to peel back the effervescent layers of pop hooks and move towards a sharper, more minimalistic sound.
As the title suggests, this album has more angles and edges, with sounds that are harsher and more distinctly [...]
"Body Language" by Monotonix (Drag City) Out Now
As with many underground indie bands trying to break through, their fan base grows from Internet buzz, MySpace entries, and many times, what their gigs are like. When it comes to Monotonix, their shows are incendiary. Literally.
There are pictures from their concerts on their MySpace page; one [...]
"Old Home Movies" by The Botticellis (Antenna Farm Records) -Out Now
If born in the ’70s or early ’80s, you did it, too. You riffled through your parents’ old albums, trying to make sense of strange names and creased images—Petula Clark in a pink raincoat, the Beatles crossing a street, a woman covered with [...]
