NYCD: The Blog

Saturday, March 10, 2007

NEWSLETTER '07 #10!

SAL GOES TO NEW ORLEANS, TONY HAS A BUSY FRIDAY IN THE OFFICE, READERS GET FIRST EVER NYCD WEEKEND NEWSLETTER

GIULIANI TAKES EARLY LEAD IN PRESIDENTIAL RACE: MILLION SQUEEGEE MAN MARCH PLANNED FOR D.C.

ANNA NICOLE SMITH BURIED, JESUS' TOMB EXHUMED, ABE VIGODA STILL ALIVE

and now...
NEXT WEEK'S NEW RELEASES! AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF 'EM, TOO!

AQUALUNG - MEMORY MAN.
The acclaimed British singer-songwriter returns with his second full-length album, and, um... yeah, that's about all I got for you on this one. Second album, folks. Line forms to the right.

TONY'S PICK OF THE WEEK!

THE FRATELLIS - COSTELLO MUSIC.
The latest UK flavor of the month (from Scotland, actually) surprisingly turns out to be as good as the hype surrounding them. You may have heard the frenetic, insanely catchy first single "Flathead" on a recent iPod commercial. The rest of the album is excellent as well -- if you like your music loud, fast, and hooky, this is for you.

THE CORRS - DREAMS: THE ULTIMATE CORRS COLLECTION. We don't know anyone who likes them, but they sell a whole lot of records, so if you're interested, here's a 20 track collection featuring lots of songs that were supposedly big hits but we don't remember ever hearing them.

JAMES MORRISON - UNDISCOVERED. The British pop/soulman's voice has been compared to Stevie Wonder's, although to my ears he sounds more like Paul Young, and his debut album has already gone triple platinum in the UK. This week it finally sees US release. FUN FACT: A friend of Tony's thought that Paul Young's big hit single was called "Every Time You Go Away, You Take A Piece Of Meat With You."

SAL'S PICK OF THE WEEK! (PICKED BY TONY, AS SAL IS IN NEW ORLEANS)

AMY WINEHOUSE - BACK TO BLACK.
You'd think with all the rapturous, foaming-at-the-mouth praise this record has received from the critics, it couldn't help but be disappointing, but seriously, this is excellent. Soulful, a little jazzy, and a little funky, with songs and production that do justice to her sultry, smoky vocals. Sal has been going bonkers over this album for months, and even Tony, who usually heads for the exits at the mention of the words "new UK soul diva," is in agreement this time.

NEIL YOUNG - LIVE AT MASSEY HALL. After decades of promising but never delivering, Neil Young is finally going into his vaults and coming out with some amazing material. Live At Massey Hall, the second in his series of archival releases, is a previously unreleased solo acoustic gig from 1971, and not only is the performance killer, but the sound is amazing as well. If you're a fan, you've gotta have this one. You even get to choose if you just want the CD or if you want it with a DVD featuring video of the performance as well.

MUSIQ SOULCHILD - LUVANMUSIQ. Worth boycotting for his stupid album titles alone. Stayawayfromthizreqord.

PAT METHENY/BRAD MEHLDAU - QUARTET. Metheny has one of the stupidest hairpieces in the music business, but he's a damn talented musician, and his 2006 album with Mehldau, Metheny Mehldau, had some fine moments. Their second collaboration adds the other members of Mehldau's trio. I haven't heard it yet, but this has a lot of promise.

GENE CLARK - WITH THE GOSDIN BROTHERS. Clark cut this pioneering country-rock album (although it's got some great pop songs on it as well) shortly after leaving the Byrds in 1966. The lineup includes fellow Byrds Michael Clarke and Chris Hillman, as well as Glen Campbell, Clarence White and Doug Dillard, and orchestration by Leon Russell. A lost gem that was a big influence on, among many other records, the Byrds' own Sweetheart Of The Rodeo.

MARC FORD - WEARY & WIRED. Since Sal's not here I've gotta be straight with you and tell you that I could care less about this guy, who happens to be the former guitarist for the Black Crowes. But Sal likes him, and for all I know, this record could be good. If you like that sort of thing.

ROB'S PICK OF THE WEEK!

JORMA KAUKONEN - STARS IN MY CROWN. I don't think Rob has heard this album, but I know he loves Jorma, and that's good enough for me.

GRAHAM PARKER - DON'T TELL COLUMBUS. For the handful of fans that Parker hasn't alienated by being a crotchety old bastard, here's his latest record. Enjoy.

TONY'S OTHER PICK OF THE WEEK!

JON RAUHOUSE - STEEL GUITAR HEART ATTACK. I read somewhere that Rauhouse's music shows that steel guitar goes as well with a dry martini as with a cold glass of beer, and that's the case on this nonstop hoot of an album. Jazz, swing, retro-pop, lounge... Rauhouse delivers it all and then some. Backed by Calexico, and guest vocalists include Neko Case, Sally Timms of the Mekons, and Kelly Hogan. Fun fun fun.

WILSON PICKETT - HEY JUDE. The Wicked Pickett covers the title track, "Born To Be Wild," and lots of smokin' Southern soul on the reissue of this 1969 classic. You can't go wrong with this guy.

LIZ McCOMB - SOUL, PEACE & LOVE. For over two decades she's been a sensation on the gospel circuit, and now soul fans are starting to pick up on this vocalist and pianist. And frankly, that's about all I know about her. Sal knows more, but he's in New Orleans, so what do you want from me, people?!

PINE LEAF BOYS - BLUES DE MUSICIEN. This young band is the best of the new wave of Looziana bands who bring rock and roll energy to traditional Cajun and Creole music -- you may have read their recent writeup in the Times. Seriously, these guys can really kick ass. Bon temps roulez, motherf***ers!

YOU WANT 'EM? YOU GOT 'EM! ORDER ANY OR ALL OF THIS FINE BATCH OF NEW RELEASES DIRECTLY FROM US! EMAIL OR CALL (212) 244-3460!

SELL US YOUR OLD CDs! COME ON, ALL THE COOL KIDS ARE DOING IT! EMAIL OR CALL!

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE LEAVE YOU WITH THIS:

Since Sal's not here, it's time for...

TONY'S COCKTAIL TIPS!


People, people, people. I know what you're thinking. The less vermouth in a martini, the better. Because vermouth tastes like ass. And I understand why you think that. Your bottle of Martini & Rossi has probably been sitting in your liquor cabinet for months, if not years. Right? Well listen up, kids --
vermouth is a kind of wine. And if you opened up a bottle of wine and left it at room temperature for six months, it'd taste like ass, too. Here's the key -- once you open up a fresh bottle of vermouth, stick it in the fridge. It'll keep for a good long time, taste like it's supposed to taste, and then you'll realize just how much oomph that stuff will add to your 'tini. "Dry," my friends, does not necessarily equal "better." I thank you.

Your friend,
Les Brown and his Band Of Renown

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Would it be possible for me to make a 'pick' for someone?!?
Don Byron
Do the Boomerang
The Music of Junior Walker
This, my friends, is the real deal! From the guy who brought you great cartoon music and a myriad of other styles and doo's -- if you buy only one CD today let it be this one.

9:03 AM  

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