Old 97's: "Big Brown Eyes"

If you get a chance to see Old 97's or Rhett Miller live, I highly recommend it. Great command and enthusiasm, not to mention a ton of talent.

I don't know why they're not better known...

Old Stuff Friday, Reggae Edition: Abyssinians, Congos, Bunny Wailer

Maybe something new for you, or something you haven't heard in a while... enjoy.

Abyssinians: Satta Massagana



The Congos: Solid Foundation



Bunny Wailer: Blackheart Man

The Feelies: "Higher Ground"

From their album Only Life. They made four albums. Every one of them is a gem and well worth seeking out. They reunited in recently, having played a few shows in 2007 through 2010. Glenn Mercer released a very good solo album in 2007, too.



Website: Night of the Living Feelies

Richard Buckner: "Born Into Giving It Up"

Live track from 2002, pretty good quality.

Posted on youtube by "SonKilVolt" (wonder what sort of music that person likes?)

Richard Buckner Website

Centro-matic: "In Such Crooked Time"

From a show in Belgium, 2008:

Mogwai: Burning/Special Moves

Here's a video teaser of "Batcat" from the concert dvd Burning. This came out in August along with the 2x cd live set Special Moves.



And a live video of "I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead" from a 2009 concert in Rome:



Website: www.mogwai.co.uk

Eddy Current Suppression Ring: "Rush to Relax"

That's the name of their 2010 release and this song. Australian punk band with a real good sound.

Australian punks... remember the Saints?



Eddy Current Suppression Ring Website

A Viberatto: A

Led by Jimmy Goodman, and featuring Garth Hudson (yes, THAT Garth Hudson) and Tony Levin (yes, THAT Tony Levin) as well as Jane Scarpantoni on cello (check out her credits on allmusic.com) and Ross Rice on keyboards...

Self-described as "beautiful instrumental chamber rock music", it's a great sound and highly recommended.

A Viberatto A :: Preview by King of Beasts Records

Old Stuff Friday: Midnight Special Tribute

I don't necessarily remember all of these. My mom wouldn't always let me stay up past midnight when I was 12... I think these dvd's might be fun to own.

Steely Dan: "Reeling In the Years"



Al Green: "Let's Stay Together"



Cheap Trick: "Surrender"



Midnight Special DVDs on Amazon.com

Albert Hammond Jr.: "Postal Blowfish"

Albert Hammond paying tribute to GbV, one of the Strokes' musical heroes... this sounds pretty good!



Website: www.alberthammondjr.com

White Stripes: "Little Cream Soda"

Looked up this video because I wanted to see how he played it on guitar... pretty cool.



Website: http://www.whitestripes.com/enter.html

Matthew Ryan: "The Wilderness"

Thanks for the suggestion, Slotts. Looks like Matthew released an electric and acoustic version of his latest disc, Dear Lover. I assume this is from the former, and there are plenty of videos made to songs from the latter, both on youtube and his website.



Website:http://www.matthewryanonline.com/index.htm

Bryan Ferry: Olympia

Due out October 26, here is the promotional video for "Shameless":



You can listen now at npr.org:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130571033

This sounds fantastic, really reminds me of Roxy Music's "second heyday" from Manifesto through Avalon. According to the website, he's got Brian Eno on board.

Website: http://www.bryanferry.com

Henry Clay People: "Your Famous Friends"

From Somewhere On the Golden Coast, their 2010 release. They're currently on tour out West, and look like they'd be fun to see live...

The Henry Clay People - "Your Famous Friends" from Benjamin Gauvain Hoste on Vimeo.

http://www.myspace.com/thehenryclaypeople

Guided by Voices: "Weed King"

From Propeller. Never gets old...

Old Stuff Friday: Some Country Stuff... Dwight Yoakam, Jim Lauderdale/Ralph Stanley, Merle Haggard

Hard to find good quality videos of Dwight because WEA apparently makes people take them down. You can find them on his website, though... This is "Gone" from the disc of that name. Just a fantastic record. If you ever get a chance to see him live, you must not miss it.



Website: http://www.dwightyoakam.com

Jim Lauderdale/Ralph Stanley: "She's Looking at Me"

Jim's done two excellent albums with Ralph and two with Robert Hunter, Jerry Garcia's longtime songwriting partner. His latest album (co-written with Hunter) is Patchwork River. It's highly recommended to fans of country, roots music and the Dead... to anyone, really.



Website: http://www.jimlauderdale.com

Merle Haggard: "Mama Tried"

Of course this is one of the greatest country songs ever, but Merle's done some good records in the last 5-10 years... well worth checking out.



Website: http://www.merlehaggard.com

Neil Young: Le Noise

Here's the video for "Walk With Me"...



Websites:
http://www.neilyoung.com/index2.html

http://www.youtube.com/neilyoungchannel

Beach Fossils: "Vacation"

Well, I never get tired of this sound... it worked in the 70's (Flaming Groovies), the 80's (REM, Feelies), and it works today. The crazy drummer is an interesting addition... I really like their record.



Band website: http://www.myspace.com/beachfossils

Mclusky: "She Will Only Bring You Happiness"

Mclusky, this is six or so years old but well worth resurrecting. Wish they were still together. Had a falling out with the old singer, I suppose?

Solomon Burke, RIP: "None of Us Are Free"

Using the word "great" to describe Solomon Burke makes you realize how misused the word is when used to describe lesser figures. He was an amazing talent and personality.

I have my friend JD to thank for helping me discover both Burke and Joe Henry, who produced his comeback album Don't Give Up On Me, from which comes this song: "None of Us Are Free":



The record consists of songs written by other artists who admired Burke's work (Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Van Morrison: a pretty amazing cast in and of itself) and performed by Burke. It is very, very highly recommended.

Here's a nice Rolling Stone retrospective from earlier this year:

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/51942/217711?RS_show_page=0

Earth: "Plague of Angels"

This is new to me... but I can tell he's been around for a while, albeit with a lengthy hiatus from about 1996 through 2005. Maybe that explains why I'm just now getting around to finding out about them. Discovered by way of All Songs Considered, when I was looking to find out more about the Sunn 0))) and Boris collaboration that was touted on a recent podcast. Some of the best things are discovered in a roundabout way, eh?



http://www.myspace.com/earthofficial

Old Stuff Friday: Jimi Hendrix With the Rolling Stones

Yes, I said Jimi Hendrix with the Rolling Stones.



Website: www.rocksoff.org

Tom Waits: "Chocolate Jesus"

You know what just occurred to me? Heath Ledger based his Joker on Tom Waits... tell me what you think.

Tom Waits - "Chocolate Jesus" Live on David Letterman from Anti Records on Vimeo.

Steve Mason: "Am I Just a Man"

This album has really grown on me... Boys Outside is the name. This is not my favorite song, but it's pretty good. Earlier I posted the video for "Lost and Found", which might be my favorite song on the record...



Website: www.stevemasontheartist.com

Polvo: "Beggars Bowl"

Live clip. I gave these guys a listen a few years ago, but I don't recall them sounding like this... amazing guitars.

Built to Spill: "Carry the Zero"

Nice live version of this song...



Currently on tour, and highly recommended: http://www.builttospill.com/tour

The Mantles: "Don't Lie"

Another discovery courtesy of KEXP... check their website for a free download, sounds great.



Website: http://www.siltbreeze.com/mantles.htm

Civil Civic: "Less Unless"

Another welcome addition to the "two players, big sound" club... Like this a lot.



Website: http://civilcivic.com