Gold Star 2.17

Wow see what happens when you go out of the country then to Disney World...you get out of the habit. Plus I've got that new time suck Facebook. Which I am enjoying quite a bit.

Robyn Hitchcock - Goodnight Oslo
He has been making CDs since 1979. This one he teams up once again with 3/5s of Touring REM also known as Venus 3. This cd wouldn't change your mind about him. If you like him this cd will make you happy. If you've never heard of him this cd is a good introduction.

Morrisey - Years of Refusal
Damn the man amazes. Years of Greatness.

M Ward - Hold Time
He makes timeless music but this is not even close to his best. His worst is better than most of what is out there though.

also check out
...and you will know us by the trail of dead, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Asobi Seksu and Cranes. All strong just not Gold Star strong. Download the few songs you dig

More later and sooner
Bro



----------------
Now playing: Carla Bruni - Le temps perdu
via FoxyTunes

new releases to look for

Just got back from camping with the kids. It was their first time and it was a huge success. Back to nature for more. I love the way time slows down out there. Even with the bit of rain a glorious time had by all.

On to the tunes

Julie Ocean - Long Gone and Nearly There
got 25 minutes? You've got time for this whole cd although you might want to book a solid hour because as soon as this cd ends you will probably hit "play" again.

I Love Math - Getting to the Point is Beside It
Remember when Alt Country was just a wee little babe? When it was basically the good Uncle Tupelo and few other "no depression" types...well if you miss those days try this cd out.

Lodger - Life is Sweet
This Leeds band is all about the fun, bounce-y Indie pop. They have a nice 80s vibe but not the "one hit wonder, damn I still can't believe everyone loved this tune" vibe but the "cool underground, I still can't believe everyone didn't like this tune" vibe. Think modern day Housemartins.



Also check
John Hiatt's "Same old Man". In this one he plays the perfect dad...well maybe. I am sure once I listen to this one again it will get "Gold Star" status but for now we'll just leave it here. Hope you don't mind.

More later
Bro



----------------
Now playing: Concrete Blonde - Mexican Moon
via FoxyTunes

Something for your ears

Check out these cds or don't

Goldfrapp -Seventh Tree
Sublime? Yes. Subduded? Kinda? This is great glam rock mixed with electronica. Now on this cd they don't have as many "fill the dance floor" tunes as prior cds but this is trip-hop gold.

Ghostland Observatory - Robotique Majestique
Electronic Rock or maybe Dance Alt Rock with a high voiced singer. Not for everyone so sample first but if this music gets my white boy butt moving...

Los Campesinos - Hold On Now Youngster
Fun, Energy, Exuberant, full on frontal assult. Think Broken Social Scene backing Stars or the musical equivalent of a double shot of espresso. Rockin' good times peanut.

More later
Bro

More Gold yesterday

Already a great start to the new year. Music is dead? You have to kidding me. This is the best time to be alive. There is more good music being made today then ever. Count yourselves lucky. You want Mozart... you've got him. You want Zeppelin...you've got them. You want Charles Mingus...you've got him. You want new music...you've got NEXT and thousands of other choices online. It is a brilliant time to be alive if you love music.

OK sorry about the mini rank. Some good stuff that came out yesterday. You know things you should check out. Sample and buy.

Bob Mould - District Lines
Welcome back godfather of Alt-rock. This is a glorious mix of all of Bob's past. You've got the stripped down acoustic of Workbook, the pop rush of Sugar, the massive attack of Husker Du and the beeps and blips of Modulate. It's everything you love about Bob.

Kelley Stoltz - Circular
Some great pop music here...and pop music being what is was in the beginning. Not American idol but early Beatles. Pop music is not a dirty word but it has been stolen. We want it back.

Sheryl Crow - Detours
We could almost call this the Wednesday Night Music Club. She revisits the general feel of her first cd. It's good..

Nada Surf - Lucky
Not as classic as their last two (which are must own cds) but seriously brilliant soccer mom music. Brew some tea and enjoy.

Otis Taylor - Recapturing the Banjo
The Banjo. The Blues. The Guests. This cd has them all.

Also release but not quite gold is Jack Johnson and Jason Collett and Josh Ritter Live and Lightspeed Champion. Oh and Say Hi which now that I am typing that might be gold. Oh well. And for the kids They Might Be Giants have a new one "Here Comes the 1,2,3s"

A small gathering of "Best of 2007" from NEXT listeners

From Mike
Thanks for the email and being the first NEXT listener to get a BEST OF 2007 list to me.

Mike says that these are his favorite songs of the year. In no order. It started as a top ten and morphed into a top 30. I feel your pain Mike I find it hard to narrow down the list too. My countdown on NEXT will start on the 26th. So listen and compare notes. Great list brother man.

Clientele - Isn't Life Strange
Fountains of Wayne - Someone to Love
Electrelane - To the East
Marc Knopfler - Punish The Monkey
The National - Fake Empire
White Rabbits - Kid on my Shoulders
Great Lakes Myth Society - Summer Bonfire
Peter, Bjorn, and John - Young Folks
The Shins - Split Needles
Spoon - The Underdog
Wilco - Impossible Germany
Arctic Monkeys - Flourescent Adolescent
Cat Empire - Sly
Locksley - She Does
Band of Horses - Islands on the Coast
Babyshambles - Delivery
Sea Wolf - Winter Windows
The Thrills - Restaurant
Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma
They Might Be Giants - Take Out The Trash
Modest Mouse - Missed the Boat
Jose Gonzalez - Down the Line
Bella - Give It a Night
The Aliens - I Am The Unknown
Stars - The Night Starts Here
Alternate Routes - California
Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running
Colin Hay - Wish I Was Still Drinking
Mary Onettes - Explosions
Warm in the Wake - She's Never Seen It

More this time from Sessine

Dear Chris

Thank you again for your great selection of music.

This song keep n humming in my head. It should become a hit.
My Favorite next song for the end of the year list is:. Silver Lining from Rilo Kiley.
Other Ones: Raise your Hand from Super Furry Animals
Click Your Heels from The orange Lights

MORE FROM VICTOR THIS TIME

Happy Holidays. I am slowly catching up on your shows (I enjoy them
tremendously, but my schedule has been crazy). The Blakes! Yes, very happy
to hear them on your show. One of my favorites on 2007. Everyone has a list
- here's my top 12

Favorite Songs on 2007
1. Myriad Harbor - New Pornographers
2. A-Punk - Vampire Weekend -
3. Girls in their Summer Clothes - Springsteen (Magic)
4. O' Mary Don't You Week - Springsteen (Live in Dublin)
5. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance - Black Kids
6. You Go Banging On- The Go
7. Modern Man - The Blakes
8. Your English is Good - Tokyo Police Club
9. Gone Gone Gone - Plant-Krauss
10. Ill Wills - Shout Out Louds-
11. Typical - Mute Math
12. Anything on the Office CD

MORE
This from Mark

Ten Disks Everyone Should Get or Give for Christmas Cauci:In no particular order, our top ten which is part consensus/amalgem, part our own skewed view. For added measure, we’ve thrown in top ten on the horizon of artists you’ve may never have heard but should check out.
TOP TEN (+ FIVE) ALL AROUND
1. Amy Winehouse, “Back to Black”Better get herself to rehab, yes, yes, yes. Or this may the talented train wreck’s last contribution.
2. Spoon, “Ga Ga Ga Ga”Not even their best, but even this one breaks them into the big time where they belong.
3. Bruce Springsteen, “Magic”We’ve never been among the legion of Bruce fanatics, but this is a flawless album as the Boss returns to classic rock and pop form.
4. Paolo NutiniOK, verging on too pop, but, this Scottish kid with the Italian name can write a terrific hook and he’s got great stage presence. Get your “New Shoes” on....
5. Decemberists, “The Crane’s Wife”A phenomenal album, rich/evocative lyrics and instrumentation that seems part Ireland, part New Orleans, part 19th century.
6. Arcade Fire, “Neon Bible”Caucusite A. Ignatius saw ‘em coming first and put ‘em on the cover of Canada’s TIME magazine. Now, they’ve crossed the border and lighting it up everywhere. Cornucopia of instrumentation and sound best devoured live.
7. Miranda Lambert, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”If you want to sample some sassy new country, check out this smokin’ young firecracker.
8. Little Big Town, “A Place to Land”Think of this band as a modern equivalent to the Eagles. Avalanche of harmony. Country yes, but with a whole lot of rock ‘n’ roll.
9. Lyle Lovett, “It’s Not Big, It’s Large”The most humble cat in the biz names his best effort in years after his band.
10. Stephen Stills, “Roll Tape”Proof that before the whiskey and cocaine, Stills was a genius. Having recently viewed the Woodstock documentary which features Crosby, Stills and Nash in their second ever live performance, we are voting this guy to the Hall of Fame first ballot.
11. Kelly Willis, “Kelly Translated From Love”Simply great. After a couple of so-so efforts, the Queen of Texas country cranks out a masterpiece.
12. Patty Griffith, “Children Running”Best of the singer-songwriters working today.
13. The Shins, “Wincing the Night Away”Shins evolving and this album proof.
14. Radio Head, “In Rainbow”These guys make the list for the most revolutionary experiment in years: allowing fans to download and pay whatever they want.
15. Eddie Vedder, “Into the Wild” Good movie, great sound track.

TEN ON THE HORIZON:
1. Brett Dennen, “So Much More”
2. Sondre Lerche, “Phantom Punch”
3. Future Clouds and Radar, “Future Clouds and Radar
4. Ari Heist, “The Break-in”
5. Cadillac Sky, “Blind Man Walking
6. Jeffrey Foucault, “Ghost Repeater”
7. Joe Henry, “Civilians”
8. Will Hoge, Black Bird on a Lonely Wire
9. Cross Canadian Ragweed, “Mission California”
10. Ernie Halter, “Congress Hotel”

From E. McMenamin:
Arcade Fire (of course), Neon Bible
Amy Winehouse, Back to Black
The Killers, Sam's Town
Shout Out Louds, Our Ill Wills
Paolo Nutini, These Streets
Rilo Kiley, Under the Blacklight
Band of Horses, Cease to Begin
Bruce Springsteen, Magic
But my favorite musical event of this year was easily the reintroduction into popular culture of Journey's " Don't Stop Believin," thanks to the Sopranos finale. So brilliant. Turn it up!!!

From S. Johnston:
Plain White T's "Hey There Delilah
"Rihanna "Umbrella
"Mute Math "Typical"
Albums
Common Finding Forever
Maroon 5 It Won't Be Soon
John Mayer Continuum
Kanye West Graduation
Jimmy Eat World Chase This Light
Eddie Vedder Into the Wild Soundtrack
The Hives The Black and White Album

From A. Ignatius:
Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Hysterics - Hysterics
Kanye West - Graduation
LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
MIA - Kala
The National - The Boxer
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
Spoon - Ga Ga Ga GA GA
White Stripes - Icky

From M. Z. Barabak:
Easy Tiger, Ryan Adams
Neon Bible, Arcade Fire
The Reminder, Feist
Between Daylight And Dark, Mary Gauthier
Revival, John Fogarty
In Rainbows, Radiohead
Wincing The Night Away, The Shins
Magic, Bruce Springsteen
Graduation, Kanye West
West, Lucina Williams

From B. Moore:
1. South Texas Girl, Lyle Lovett -- It's Not Big It's LargeLyle brings back his Large Band and returns to his damn Aggie roots.
2. Leavin’ Tennessee, Cross Canadian Ragweed – singleJust the lyric “F**k you and f**k Nashville, I’m leaving Tennessee” is goodenough for me.
3. Nobody Wants to Go to the Moon Anymore, Kelly Willis – Translated fromLoveYou woulda gone to the moon with her.
4. Hush, Hush, Jimmie Vaughn and Omar Kent Dykes – The Jimmy Reed Highway The Blues the way they were meant to be.
5. The Sky Is Crying, Stevie Ray Vaughn live with B.B. King, Albert King andPaul Butterfield -- Solos, Sessions & Encores The Blues the way there were.
6. If You Don't Love Jesus, Billy Joe Shaver – Everybody’s Brother Hot-rod music you can ride to Hell.
7. The Answer to All Your Prayers, Monahans – Low Pining Milton Mapes with a different name but songwriting that remainsgreat.
8. Down the Road, Rodney Hayden – Down the Road Comfort food of six-string and steel.
9. Fe Fi Fo, One Mississippi – One Mississippi A handful of long-time Austin rockers and a new band.
10.You’re From Texas, Asleep at the Wheel – Kings of Texas Swing Ray Benson is the hardest working musician on the planet.

S. Spearman,
with thoughts on 2007 and best ever:
And last, it’s getting toward the end of 2007 and I know many of you have already started checking out “Best of 2007” music list. My recommendations are Spoon’s Ga Ga Ga Ga and Kenna’s Make Sure They See My Face. (In case you're wondering, my other recs are 2005's Little Brother's The Minstrel Show and 2006's The Dears’ Gang of Losers.)However, instead of talking about just ’07, why not give you a list of the best albums in my lifetime. There are many from the mid-to-late ‘80s that could go on here, but since I didn’t purchase my first album until around the 1990, I limited my pre-‘90 selections to Number One:
1. Michael Jackson’s Thriller - Technically, it was released on Dec. 1, 1982, and I know there are plenty of great albums that have come out since then, but none will have more meaning for me. Michael Jackson’s music built bridges across race, gender, socio-economic, and geographic barriers that no artist ever has.
2. Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt - The Blueprint, Black Album, and American Gangster are all worthy of consideration, but I have to go back to the beginning of Jay-Z. I can play this album straight-through to this day, eleven years later. And Regrets is one of my favorite five songs of all time.
3. Dave Matthews Band’s Crash - Under the Table and Dreaming was/is a really good album, but Crash is DMB’s truly great work. Crash Into Me helped push the jam band into U2 touring status and #41 is another one for my top five songs of all time.
4. A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders - In the mid-to-late ‘90s when Tribe called it quits, I wasn’t sad because The Love Movement wasn’t as good as their earlier work. I was sad because I never got to see them in concert. Midnight Marauders, to me, is Tribe at their best.
5. Outkast’s The Love Below/Speakerboxx - I know a lot of people point to Aquemini and Stankonia because of their hits like “Rosa Parks” and “Ms. Jackson,” but the Grammy voters had it right when they gave Outkast the award for best album with this one.
6. Wilco’s A Ghost is Born - Jeff Tweedy is a genius, but he’s even smarter on this album because of the musicality employed by his bandmates. Like on “Muzzle of Bees.”
7. Radiohead’s Kid A - I’d be willing to hear someone make a case for OK Computer as Radiohead’s best work, but - for me - Kid A and it’s downtrodden, mellow tunes are exactly what I like from them. What other band can have a song called “How to Disappear Completely” that made you feel like a zombie walking the eart then have a song called “Optimistic” that made you feel like a bird flying in the sky?
8. Jill Scott’s Beautifully Human Part I - This album is a lot like Midnight Marauders in that it makes you feel something with every single track and you can’t stop listening to what she’s saying and how she’s expressing it. I cannot wait to see her in March!
9. Kanye West’s College Dropout - I can’t lie, I think both Late Registration and Graduation are better albums, but College Dropout is that original, first-cut Kanye. I remember listening to this album for four months straight when I bought it. I also had the chance to meet him briefly after a show in Houston in ’04, so that makes College Dropout extra special for me.
10. N.E.R.D.’s In Search of… - This was, by far, the toughest to put in the top ten. Not because it’s not top-ten material. This album makes it into the top-15 on the strength of “Am I High” another top-fiver alone. But the next five albums could easily be in its place. If only I didn’t have more sentimental value for this album since I met Pharrell in early ’05 before and after a show in Dallas.
11. 311’s Transistor - I used to listen to this on band trips and track meets throughout sophomore year of high school. Now I listen to it to fall asleep (it’s mellow). Any album that gives you new reasons to like it 8 years later is top-notch material.
12. Beck’s Sea Changes - Beck has made so much high-quality music that it’s tough to pick his best work. So I just picked his most depressing music, which doubles as his most sensible music. Between this and 311’s Transistor, I could sleep for eons.
13. Dr. Dre’s The Chronic - A lot of you may think this should be much higher, but I can’t listen to it straight through anymore because it’s lost a little bit of its hard-hitting/shock value now that we’ve had several years of Dre hits bumpin’ in our bars and cars.
14. 50 Cent’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’ - Speaking of Dr. Dre, he and Eminem teamed up to make 50 Cent our generation’s LL Cool J. The total package: lyrical prowess, sales success, a strong reputation with men and women (LL lost the men though) rap fans and Queens on his back.
15. Sevendust’s Animosity - Never heard the album? That’s okay. Just wait until you’re in a really fired up mood or you’re driving (and don’t mind getting a speeding ticket) to put this CD in and be prepared to ROCK. This thing is absolute fire! I remember flying with my oldest brother to Texas and singing “Crucified” at the top of my lungs.
16. T.I.’s - Both King and this year’s T.I. vs. T.I.P. are better albums, but Urban Legend is T.I. at his best. I had 85 of my favorite CDs stolen on an American Airlines flight last October and this is one of the albums I missed within a day.
17. Roni Size’s New Forms - My oldest brother and I are early adopters, him more than me, when it comes to popular music (is that oxymoronic? early adopter/popular?) but I can’t say we were among the first to hear Roni Size. I can only when we picked up Brown Paper Bag, it reinforced to both of us that there was a world out there - outside of the 3 Rs of music (R&B, rock and rap) - and we needed to hear more!
18. Badly Drawn Boy’s Hour of the Bewilderbeast - My best friend Colby put me up on BDB and I immediately became a huge fan. An even bigger fan after seeing him perform, albeit tipsy, in a room of about 100 people last fall. As he put it, he’s “the best singer/songwriter to come out the UK in 20 years.”
19. John Mayer’s Room for Squares - Call me corny if you want, but this album came at just the right time. That good ol’ bubble gum, road trip pop rock that keeps on giving. I know he’s tried to get all bluesy and mature, but stick to what works John. Why? Because I wanna run through the halls of my high school…
20. Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation - Those who know me well know that I love to dance. I remember watching Janet videos and practicing the moves, like that one on the chair. She and her older brother have so many copy-cats, but they will never been better than the originals.
And the rest in no particular order…and my favorite tracks on them:
Fuel’s Sunburn - “Sunburn”
Coldplay’s A Rush of Blood to the Head - “Clocks”
Incubus’ Morning View - “Warning”
Justin Timberlake’s Justified - “Last Night”
No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom - “Don’t Speak”
Fugees’ The Score - “Fu Gee La”
Eminem’s Marshall Mathers LP - “Stan”
Maxwell’s Embrya - “Luxury: Cococure”
New Radicals’ Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too - “Get What You Give”
Jump, Little Children’s Magazine - “Cathedral”
Foo Fighters’ The Colour and the Shape - “Walking After You”
Korn’s Issues - “Make Me Bad”
Jamie Cullum’s TwentySomething - “All At Sea”
Little Brother’s The Minstrel Show - “Beautiful Morning”
Erykah Badu’s Baduizm - “The Other Side of the Game”
Nas’ Illmatic - “The World is Yours”
Third Eye Blind’s Self-Titled Debut - “Jumper”
Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready to Die - “Me & My Bitch”
Keane’s Hopes and Fears - “Sunshine”
RJD2’s Deadringer - “The Proxy”
Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Californication - “Scar Tissue”
Wu-Tang Clan’s Wu-Tang Forever - “Better Dayz”
Rage Against the Machine’s The Battle of Los Angeles - “Guerrila Radio”
D’Angelo’s Voodoo - “Lady”
Nirvana’s Nevermind - “Come As You Are”
Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor - “Kick, Push Pt. II”
Young Jeezy’s Thug Motivation 101 - “Standing Ovation”
Pearl Jam’s 10 - “Even Flow”
Wallflowers’ Bringing Down the Horse - “One Headlight”
Matchbox 20’s Yourself or Someone Like You - “Push You Around”
Toni Tony Tone’s Greatest Hits - “Anniversary”
New Edition’s NE Heartbreak - “N.E. Heartbreak”
Snoop Doggy Dogg’s Doggy Style - “Murder Was the Case”
Common’s Be - “Go”
The Streets’ A Grand Don’t Come for Free - “Could Well Be In”
Clipse’s Hell Hath No Fury - “Nightmares”
De La Soul’s Stakes is High - “Long Island Degrees”
The Dears’ Gang of Losers - “Ballad of Humankindness”
Spoon’s Ga Ga Ga Ga - “
Air’s Talkie Walkie - “Cherry Blossom Girl”
Ben Fold’s Whatever & Ever Amen - “Brick”
Ghostface’s Fishscale - “Underwater”
Bloc Party’s Silent Alarm - “This Modern Love”
Blockhead’s Downtown Science - “Roll Out the Red Carpet”
Boyz II Men’s II - “Vibin’”
U2’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - “Vertigo”
Camp Lo’s Uptown Saturday Night - “Sparklin’”
Dido’s No Angel - “All You Want”
Fatboy Slim’s You’ve Come a Long Way Baby - “Rockafeller Skank”
The Game’s The Documentary - “Hate it or Love it”
The Garden State Soundtrack - Frou Frou’s “Let Go”
Kenna’s Make Sure They See My Face - “Phantom Always”
Linkin Park’s Meteora - “Nobody’s Listening”
Ludacris’ Southern Hospitality - “Fantasy”
The Mars Volta’s Frances the Mute - “The Widow”
Mary J. Blige’s What’s the 411 - “Love No Limit”
Metallica’s Black Album - “Enter Sandman”
Mic Geronimo’s The Natural - “Shit’s Real”
The Prodigy’s Fat of the Land - “Smack My Bitch Up”
Usher’s Confessions - “Caught Up”


Thanks to everyone and happy shopping

Chuck Prophet's Soap and Water

CD of the month...I could have pick "Magic" the latest from Springsteen but that cd is already gold and on it's way to Platinum which is no small feat in this atmosphere. In fact, looking back at this month it was one hell of a good month for releases.

You might or might not know that Prophet started with the band "Green on Red" in the 80s. If not it wouldn't hurt you or your ears to check that band out. You might be saying to yourself how did this band slip past...everybody? Well make up for it now.

He is great and as a solo artist some of my favorite songs of the past decade have been played by him. If "Summertime Thing" does not make you happy and/or smile you are reading the wrong blog. Head over to some blog that is touting the joys of listening to Colbie Caillat (seriously I just don't get how she has shot up the charts - c'mon people your better than that.) and yes I know that "Summertime Thing" is on a different CD.

"Water and Soap" is a "forever" CD. A CD that you will listen to for the rest of your life. It's a CD of roots-rock by a sonic texturalist. It is Magic.

Some CDs for 10.09.07

Still handing out the Gold Star CDs. This is just a reminder of CDs that might slip past you since you are very busy human beings.

Band of Horses - Cease to Begin
One of favorite new comers last year and they do nothing to make me regret that love. If you are a fan of My Morning Jacket or early Neil Young do yourself a favor and check out these lads.

Fiery Furnaces - Widow City
Not an easy band to listen to. You don't put a cd of this band on to let's say clean the house. They beg you to pay attention. On this cd they turn the keyboards down a bit and crank up a bit more guitar. I will say that this is not a cd for everybody but if you're feeling adventrous and want some challenge you will do much worse than this cd. This might be their most mainstream cd but don't think of this CD as mainstream at all.

Will Hoge - Draw the Curtains
Soaked in the beer, whiskey and smoke of thousand or so bars that this man has toured. He has been making music for a decade now and it's about time more people clue in on this man. Also listen to "Blackbird on a Lonely Wire" too.

So happy listening
More later
Bro

Matt White interview

So I was to interview Antigone Rising about a week ago at the Boat Basin at Riverside but they canceled and I didn't find out until I got to the shoot. Too bad because it was going to be the greatest...interview...ever. Instead at the last minute Matt White filled in -- a big thanks to Matt.

We had the film crew(nice job guys) so it made sense to interview someone. We moved the interview to Times Square on the island in front of the ABC studios. Remember this is my second interview on a camera. I had never even heard of Matt White. Sorry but I hadn't.

I was prepped for Antigone Rising and then you throw me in front of the throngs at Times Square. Nervous? Yes but I think it went quite well. Again hopefully Aude can make me look pretty. Good times people. Good times. Link will be posted like before once I get it and here it is. Enjoy and let me know what you think.

CDs for 10.02.07

Bruce Springsteen - Magic
BRUUUUUUUUCE.












Chuck Prophet - Soap and Water
This is soundtrack of forever. As in you'll listen to this cd for the rest of your life. It's swampy blues/R&B/rock with blips and beeps. Understated beauty.









John Ralston - Sorry Vampire
Indie rock in it's finest form or maybe closer to sedated power pop. A nice discovery that just might pass up his glorious first cd.









PJ Harvey - White Chalk
Bye Bye guitar (Mostly)
Hello piano
Bye Bye pissed off growl of a vox
Hello "Church Voice"

FREE RADIOHEAD...

or pay whatever you want.

Radiohead is brilliant. On so many levels but now you can a new level of cool. They will be offering their new cd as pay what you want. I love it. Thank you boys. And more... REACTION

Another high-profile manager said he was still trying to process the boldness of the Radiohead venture. “My head is spinning, honestly,” said Kelly Curtis, who represents Seattle-based Pearl Jam. “It’s very cool and very inspiring, really.”.....

.....Curtis, the Pearl Jam manager, said that years on a major label roster established the Radiohead brand and made it possible for it to buck the system.

"It's the newer bands I really feel sorry for," Curtis said.

Pearl Jam and other groups with intense followings, such as the Dave Matthews Band, R.E.M., Metallica and Nine Inch Nails, will probably learn the most from Radiohead's experience, Curtis said. "Everyone will keep an eye on this because this is the most exciting thing we've seen to this point."

and a pretty cool discussion going on at Bob Mould's blog.

September's CD of the Month

So this is where I look back at all the "Gold Star" cds that I have mentioned and if you just wanted to buy one...I guess I would have to pick Iron and Wine's "The Shepard's Dog"

Iron and Wine's myspace.

Boy with a Coin

Helper Monkey's Music Mid Year in Review

For anyone who cares, here is my mid year list of top albums so far....
I don't think anything will come close to touching the Spoon record.



1) Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

2)

3)

4) Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

5) White Stripes - Icky Thump

6)

7)

8) LCS Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver

9) The Ponys - Turn The Lights Out

10) Kings Of Leon - Because Of The Times



Potential to move up:

Explosions In The Sky - All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone

Interpol - Our Love To Admire

Silverchair - Young Modern

Beastie Boys - The Mix Up

The Shins - Wincing The Night Away

Queens of The Stone Age - Era Vulgaris

NEXT WEEK 64

Iron and Wine – Carried Home (The Shepherd’s Dog)

Ryan Adams – Two Hearts (Easy Tiger)

Rilo Kiley – the Moneymaker ( )


Frank Black – Threshold Apprehension ( 93-03)


Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson – If I Were a Carpenter (Anchored in Love: A tribute to June Carter Cash)

Buffalo Tom – September Shirt (Three Easy Pieces)

The Mighty Six Ninety – Leave This World (Cheers to the Bitter End)

Beastie Boys – Dramastically Different (The Mix-up)


The Flaming Lips – Do You Realize?? (iTunes originals)


Matt Pond PA – If You Want Blood (If you want Blood EP)

Johnette Napolitano – Amazing (Scarred)


Nick Lowe – I Trained Her to Love Me (At My Age)

thanks for listening
More Later
Bro

Live Earth

Backstage. Now before you get jealous it was not as cool as you think. You would hope that backstage would just be an orgy of musical acts hanging out and chatting each other up. You know John Mayer talking to Sting about tantra classes. Dave Matthews discussing how to change a tire on an Hybrid car with Kanye West. Roger Waters sharing recipes with Jon Bon Jovi.

but that didn't happen

The acts were in their dressing rooms and the only people we saw backstage were Alec Baldwin (he is a big boy) and the drummer for DMB: Carter Beauford.

ONE COOL THING (kinda)

So I walking back through backstage heading back out to our seats and just happened to walk past the Police's dressing room. The door was open. They must have just arrived. Standing right there in front of the door - STING. I think he was munching on a radish. So I whip out my camera and snap a shot. Then a security guard comes up and nicely (kinda) to delete the photo. They watched me delete it too. OH WELL

The other cool thing was free beer so that I didn't have to shell out $7.50 for a Guiness.

NEXT WEEK 63

Just back from Cape Cod. Nice time. Lovely beaches. Warm weather. Kids that wouldn't sleep. Good food. Parade. Yay.

I am still trying to figure out what's up with the server that hosts my show. I will try to get that up and running soon. Thanks for understanding.

Color Wall – Someday You’ll Find

Pearl Jam – Big Wave (OST Surf’s Up)


Blanche – What This Town Needs (What This Town Needs EP)


Bryan Ferry – Simple Twist of Fate (Dylanesque)

Minus the Bear – Throwin’ Shapes (Planet of Ice)

Shake – Eight O’Clock (Kick It)

Gogol Bordello – Wonderlust King ( )
You need to see them so I found "never young". Enjoy.


NEXT concert with Meiko


More later
Bro

NEXT WEEK 62

Just finished a NEXT concert recording with Meiko. Listen to it next Wednesday on The Peak.


The Long Blondes – Once and Never Again (Someone to Drive you Home)


The White Stripes – I’m Slowly Turning into You (Icky Thump)


The New Pornographers – My Rights Versus Yours (Challengers)

Maps – Don’t Fear (We Can Create)


Ok Go – Don’t Bring Me Down (Live From Soho iTunes exclusive)


The Mooney Suzuki – First Comes Love (Have Mercy)

The New Tragedies – 90 Proof (Souvenirs)


Tori Amos – Body and Soul (American Doll Posse)


Kinky – Presidente the Money Mark Remix (Rarities)


Xavier Rudd – Come Let Go (White Moth)

Mary Chapin Carpenter – It Must have happened ( )

More Later
Bro

NEXT WEEK 61

Come back and check out NEXT guest dj Helper Monkey next week. Should be a treat. Thanks HM.

LISTEN NOW to WEEK 61.

A bit late on the update here...give me a break I just got from Cabo for a bachelor party. The old man needs some time to recover. I swear the first 24 hours in Cabo felt like a week. I will miss random people on the street trying to make me happy by just saying out loud what they think I want. "Weed?, blow?, girls?" "Girls? Girls?... Boys?". If you head down say hello to Luna and don't forget the safe word "Oklahoma".

ON to the Videos for this week.

Hot Hot Heat – Give Up? ( )
couldn't find this Give up? so how about You Owe Me an IOU


The Bravery – Every Word Is a Knife In My Ear (The Sun and the Moon)
Really bad audio


Voxtrot – Ghost (Voxtrot)
backstory


The Winter Sounds – Sound Forged Like Spine (Porcelain Empire)

The Hold Steady – Against the Wind (Bob Seger cover)

Atomic Tom – You always Get What You Want ( single)

The Polyphonic Spree – Section 22: Running Away ( )


John Doe – The Golden State (A Year In the Wilderness)
on the album the duet is with Kathleen Edwards...brilliant.


Matthew Dear – Deserter (Asa Breed)


The Traveling Wilburys – Maxine (The Traveling Wilburys Collection)

Cat Power – Up and Gone (Single for iTunes)

Chris Cornell – Billie Jean (Carry On)


More later
Bro

NEXT WEEK 60

Remember that NEXT rebroadcasts on Sunday nights at 8pm. No more Tony and no football yet so there is no excuse not to listen. Or something like that. On to the videos.

LISTEN NOW. If you are a band that for any reason doesn't want your tune included. Please email me and I will remove it promptly.

Everyone listening to NEXT please help the artists that I play on NEXT by buying CDs, concert tickets and shirts. If they make money they can make music. Thank you.

The Star Spangles – This Side of The Sun (Dirty Bomb)
wrong song but you should listen to them before you see them at Acme for their NEXT Concert on July 17th. Check out "Which one of the two of us"


Fountains of Wayne – New Routine (Traffic and Weather)
no NEW Routine how about "Sink to the Bottom with You"


The Editors – Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors (The Music’s Coming Through Me)


Pope – Could I Fall In Love Again (Friends Like that EP)

Elvis Costello – Ring of Fire (Anchored in Love: A tribute to June Carter Cash)

Carina Round – Slow Down (Slow Motion Addict)


O.A.R. – Love and Memories (Live from MSG)


Boy in Static – Tear Down (Violet)
Just so you get a taste. "Where it ends"


Seabear – I Sing I Swim (The Ghost that Carried Us Away)
Homemade vid using this tune. Pretty cool.


The Bees – Who Cares What the Question Is? (Octopus)
BEST VID THIS WEEK


Bruce Springsteen and the Sessions Band – Pay me My Money Down (Live in Dublin)
Different version...9 minutes plus. NICE.


More later
Bro

NEXT WEEK 59

If you missed the original NEXT don't feel bad just listen to the rebroadcast on Sunday at 8 pm at 107.1 The Peak.

Great week this week. You really should do yourself a favor and listen.

Remember if you find something you like buy a Tee Shirt or a CD or go see them in concert. You can Listen to Week 59 Now. Thanks.

Moonbabies – Shout It Out (At the Ballroom)

Angelique Kidjo w/ Ziggy Marley – Sedjedo (Djin Djin)


White Rabbits – Kid On My Shoulders (Fort Nightly)


Or check out how Ave Q feels about this tune.


Handsome Furs – Dead + Rural (Plague Park)
Homemade vid but it's the right tune.


Mark Ronson featuring the Daptone Horns – God Put a Smile on Your Face (Coldplay cover) (Stop Me EP)

Sea Wolf – You’re a Wolf (Get to the River Before It Runs Too Low EP)


Ryan Adams – Everybody Knows (Two)

Gasoline Cowboy – Beach in Cali High ( )


Thestar69 – So What is the News (This Is Modern Soul)

Cabin – I Was Here (I was here EP)


Richard Thompson – Dad’s Gonna Kill Me (Sweet Warrior)


Richard X Heyman – I’m That Kind of Man (Actual Sighs)

Jeff Kanzler – Old Reily’s jar of Hopeful Loot (Black Top Road)

More later
Bro

NEXT WEEK 58

I finally have Week 58 up for you listening pleasure. If you a are band that doesn't want the free advertising that NEXT is delivering please let me know and I will gladly exclude your song from the link. Thank you.

Remember you can listen to NEXT at 107.1 The Peak on Wednesday and Sunday nights. Also you might want to check out Westchester Magazine NEXT month. Nudge Nudge Wink Wink.

The Playlist

Throwback Suburbia – Circles (Four Play)


Blue October – Hate Me (Foiled)


The National – Blank slate (Boxer)

Tracey Thorn – Get Around to It (Out of the Woods)

The Dresden Dolls – Pretty in Pink (High School Reunion a tribute to the 80s)


Golden Smog – Without a Struggle (Blood on the Slacks)

Kings of Leon – True Love Way (Because of the Times)


The Groovie Ghoulies – I’ve got Love to Give (99 Lives)

Pink Martini – hey Eugene (Hey Eugene)


The Sea and Cake – Middlenight (Everybody)

Bjork – Wanderlust (Volta)


More later
Thanks for listening
Bro