jfb | another batch

Pretty soon I'm going to have to stop evaluating CDs and start packing them. But meanwhile:

Pet Shop Boys, "Paninaro '95". 3-song single.
Semisonic, Feeling Strangely Fine. With "Closing Time" and several less-overplayed songs.
Todd Snider, Happy to Be Here. Alt-country, often funny.
John Scofield, A Go Go. Groove jazz, with Medeski, Martin & Wood.
Her Space Holiday, Manic Expressive. Space pop.
Frank Sinatra, In the Wee Small Hours. Ballads.
Jane Siberry, Maria. Kate-Bush-like singer, with jazz combo.
Richard Shindell, Somewhere Near Paterson. Singer-songwriter, also in Cry Cry Cry. "Transit" is a great song.
Matthew Shipp Quartet, Pastoral Composure. Interesting piano-based jazz group.
Sparkle, s/t. R&B, produced by R. Kelly.
Duncan Sheik, Phantom Moon. His Nick Drake record; so introspective he had to move to Nonesuch. Lyrics by Steven Sater, guest appearance by Bill Frisell, lots of acoustic guitar and strings.
Omar Sosa, Inside. Solo improvisations by Cuban piano genius.
World Party, Goodbye Jumbo. Often Beatlesque, but with more Prince than usual.
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, s/t. Banjo jazz.
Shirim Klezmer Orchestra, Naftule's Dream. Innovative arrangements blend klezmer, jazz, classical, etc.
Joni Mitchell, Hejira. Blends jazz, pop, and folk; just before the wild experimentation of Don Juan's Reckless Daughter and the jazz-centered Mingus.
Sun Ra Arkestra, Reflections in Blue. Standards, gone crazy. Sun Ra's vocal on "I Dream Too Much" is wonderful.
Stereolab, Mars Audiac Quintet. Well, what can one say?
Sting, Brand New Day. A nice pop album.
Sade, The Best of Sade. So influential they named a radio format after her. Pre-Lovers Rock.

I'm going to the post office today, so if you answer fast I can slip some of these in with previous requests.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Pip sings along to parts of Brand New Day. I guess I listened to it a lot in the year we drove back and forth to his pre-preschool place.

Neat.

Would I like Her Space Holiday?

I wouldn't think so. Too much space, not enough pop.

I do like things other than pop, you know...

I'm interested in World Party, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Joni Mitchell, Sun Ra Arkestra, Stereolab, and Sade. I guess I'm most interested in Sun Ra Arkestra, if grabbing all of those doesn't seem right.

Noted.

If you only kind of want the Joni Mitchell, I kind of really want it. But I'm also ok with not getting it.

Erik -- I'd also enjoy the Shindell, the Klezmer people, and the Siberry.

Hey, no problem. I'll leave the Joni Mitchell out, then.

These posts make me feel kind of bad that I don't know music better.

Also that I'm too slow to get the things I want, but I cleaned up on books and DVDs, so I can't feel too bad.

Oh, sure, how about the Semisonic.

You've found a way to feel bad about getting a bunch of cool stuff for free.

I already sealed the envelope on the McSweeney's, so the Semisonic will have to wait until next time.

Feeling bad is a talent of mine. It's the one thing I can feel good about because I do it so well... but feeling good about it makes me feel bad because then I failed at feeling bad, so then I can feel good again... (Slightly paraphrased from something I forget.)

No worries, no rush. Thanks for the stuff.

If no one's claimed the Sting Brand New Day CD, I'll take it. I should be at one of the upcoming Tin Cat shows (but not Saturday) if you want to hand it to me.

The Wednesday show might not be happening, FYI. If you're going, check the site first.

I never did get you the Sting CD. If you'll be at the show on Friday or (probably) the Red Rock or Barefoot open mike this week, I can hand it off; otherwise it'd be easy to mail it to you.

I've got an Autumn and the Fall Guys gig Friday, but I should be around the Red Rock tonight.

Chris

another batch

only tangentially related

Re: only tangentially related

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Sting

Re: Sting

Re: Sting

Re: Sting