Week 2

This week I've been listening to some more music that I haven't listened to in a long time. That's what's so great about this project - rediscovering songs and artists that have been on the shelf too long.

5. Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint - The River in Reverse

I think I got this album by mistake, actually. Remember Columbia House and BMG? I still belonged to one of those clubs back in 2006 or so. This album came out after Katrina - a somewhat strange collaboration between one of New Orleans' renowned R&B musicians and, well, Elvis Costello. I think this one was the "selection of the month" and I forgot to respond to the email or whatever. I probably wouldn't have gotten this album otherwise. Nothing against either artist - I just didn't really know anything about it beforehand. I had to give this one a couple of listens, and it's not bad, but it's not amazing, either. The album gets off to a slow start, but toward the end there are some really nice songs. I'm glad I gave this one a listen again. It did at least remind me to put the WWOZ app on my phone so I can listen to New Orleans jazz at work or whenever I want. It puts me in a good mood every time.

6. Peer Music: Your Soul Destination Vol. 2

This is the 2nd part of a 2-CD set that was given to me by a good friend that used to work for Malaco Records. To be honest, the 2nd CD isn't as good as the first. The first album has a lot of really classic soul and R&B hits that were recorded on the Malaco label back in the day. The 2nd CD has mostly modern-day songs that either sample the classics, or are just modern songs that were also recorded at Malaco, or that Malaco had the rights to. It was enjoyable enough.

7. Uncle Tupelo - 89/93 Anthology
I was a Wilco fan before I delved into Uncle Tupelo. I like some of Son Volt's stuff, too, but to be honest Jay Farrar's voice grates on my nerves after a while. I remembered most of Uncle Tupelo's music as being of the "sad bastard" variety, and listening to it this week I think I can still kind of classify it as such. There are a few rockin' tunes, and overall it's pretty good driving music, but I did feel kinda bummed out by the end of it.


8. Keane - Hopes and Fears

I just popped this one in today. This album is several years old now, but it still sounds pretty fresh to me. It's just a good pop album. I never noticed before how much the lead singer sounds like Freddie Mercury. Queen is listed as one of the band's influences, so that makes sense I suppose. Queen should've gotten Tom Chaplin to be their new frontman instead of that guy from Bad Company (although he has a great rock voice; it's just not anything like Freddie's operatic tenor).