Music I/O

No new music for December, January, and the 1st 3 weeks of February. I think that the new Mumford and Sons came out but I decided they wanted too much for it. Odd. But then things got back to normal.

• Jamie Lidell, eponymous. I think the 4th album I have from this British DJ turned R&B singer. Great stuff, great dance music. 3 stars.
  
• Gold Panda, "Lucky Shiner", 2010. I think I got from my oldest daughter Erica tweeting. Instrumental electronica/dance music, I like it much better than most instrumental albums. Definitely catchy tunes. 3 stars.
  
• Passion Pit, "Gossamer". I think Amazon recommended. Nice tunes, and I really like the different vocal textures of the male and female vocalists. 4 stars.
  
• Young The Giant, eponymous, 2010. I think Amazon again. Nice tunes, maybe a little too commercial at times. 3 stars.
  
• Atoms For Peace, "Amok". Thom Yorke of Radiohead's super band. Very listenable, Mr. Yorke's style is totally evident. 3 stars.
  
• Idiot Glee, "Life Without Jazz". 5 track EP by Lexingtonian James Friley released by the local Hop Hop Records. These are very good songs, but the vocals really don't work for me. I think there are intonation problems that they try to hide with a lot of reverb, and I don't think it comes off. Too bad, because the songs are good. 3 stars.
  
• Matt Duncan, "Soft Times". Another Lexington artist, he follows his fabulous 7 track first release with 12 great songs. Seriously pop arrangements, sunny, horns, it is a great sophomore effort. 4 stars.
  
• Jimi Hendrix, "People, Hell & Angels". Whoda thunk it, a new Hendrix album? Unfortunately, nothing much very memorable at all. 3 stars.
  
• David Bowie, "The Next Day". Wow, 17 tracks, and really not a weak one. Bowie has still got it. But, most of it very energetic, edgy, and anxiety producing. So 3 stars, except for "Where Are We Now?", which I really like and have worked up and gets 4 stars.
  
• Bob Dylan, "Blood On The Tracks", 1975. This was a $2.99 special. The songs I knew off of this were "Shelter From The Storm" and "Tangled Up In Blue". The other 8 tracks are pretty mediocre. They grew on me some after more listens. Plus this is one of Dylan's crappy vocals periods (did he have good vocals periods?). 3 stars.
  
• Dido, "Girl Who Got Away". Very easy listening, nothing really really catchy. 3 stars.
  

That brings us through March. Two new albums so far in April are still sinking in.

On the music out side, I feel like I get more comfortable performing all the time. In descending order of pleasedness, I am by and large pleased lately with my rhythm guitar playing, singing, lead guitar playing, and bass guitar playing. Last Sunday played at the jam at Paulie's Toasted Barrel, which goes from 4-8, and did a set of 6 songs. Then Tuesday night played 2 sets of 4 songs at the Electric Jam at the Henry Clay Public House. Then last night at the Wednesday Blues Jam at Cheapside I played 6 songs on bass behind the excellent Brent Carter -- and got to sing harmony on "Why Get Up", "That'll Be The Day", and "Thunderbird" -- and then got another 5 songs at the end on guitar and lead vocals. A little more of a crowd there, I think some Keeneland people, and it was a beautiful warm night.

Tuesday night was the last night for the Tuesday night jam. Jairaj Swann, bass player extraordinaire, had several reasons for not continuing to host the jam. So last night I talked to the owner and he was amenable to me hosting it. I talked to a good young bass player and drummer who were interested in continuing as well. So we'll see. Probably 1st time I'd try would be May 7, if nobody jumps on it before then. If I do it, I think I'm going for The Tuesday Night Rock & Roll Party.