tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11352455763964837952024-02-07T01:54:42.073-08:00Hoi Polloi MusicMusic for the Common Folk! I'll be posting a new song every day at noon US Pacific time zone for your enjoyment. You may not like every song and that's OK. Just listen with an open mind and expand your musical palate. Come back each day and check out the song of the day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-38012684617371485812009-11-16T12:00:00.000-08:002009-11-16T12:00:00.383-08:00Piers Faccini - If I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GLGbo-oJbl42ceO65rfliEGQGuNT0bhN-QGR7c7Lt-vx_zUscfTuGGV797Lih5nJd0-tlssQ1m3sCmWw3V2oDWxbJST71bVzI4zdLCdptTnpCuuRhNCwMWn78h1q-v5Gi08x5fjlaOk/s1600-h/piersfacinni.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 152px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GLGbo-oJbl42ceO65rfliEGQGuNT0bhN-QGR7c7Lt-vx_zUscfTuGGV797Lih5nJd0-tlssQ1m3sCmWw3V2oDWxbJST71bVzI4zdLCdptTnpCuuRhNCwMWn78h1q-v5Gi08x5fjlaOk/s200/piersfacinni.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404185970000479810" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16549507&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16549507&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Singer, painter and songwriter, <a href="http://www.piersfaccini.com/">Piers Faccini</a>, was born in England but grew up France. He first appeared on the music scene in London in 1997, when he performed with performance poet Francesca Beard the group Charley Marlowe, playing spoken word gigs initially, and moving on to acoustic melodies after.<br /><br />In 2004, Faccini released his first solo album, Leave No Trace and toured extensively. He toured with Ben Harper and Jack Johnson. In 2006, he released Tearing Sky, featuring backing vocals from Harper and accompaniment from several members of his band the Innocent Criminals. <br /><br />When not busy with his musical career, Faccini is also a visual artist who has exhibited his paintings of landscapes and portraits.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">If I</span> is a great song off his <span style="font-style:italic;">Tearing Sky</span> release.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-66670792605511388592009-11-15T12:00:00.000-08:002009-11-15T12:00:01.906-08:00Port O'Brien - Stuck On A Boat<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0si0uTFlu59asXC04hUw6kE0GiMH68OIIMbCP3lwoallegMLVmtEhe_Fvr5q0QYspHvZ8U8lpU-GhwUMiJ4lNU4rhQzQSS3n9R1mZf7MaaijxVZDZNO8kNhBg_oDVV3K_TNw94ZZE4c/s1600-h/port-obrien.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 129px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0si0uTFlu59asXC04hUw6kE0GiMH68OIIMbCP3lwoallegMLVmtEhe_Fvr5q0QYspHvZ8U8lpU-GhwUMiJ4lNU4rhQzQSS3n9R1mZf7MaaijxVZDZNO8kNhBg_oDVV3K_TNw94ZZE4c/s200/port-obrien.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401865731059361810" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16489599&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16489599&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Folk Indie-Rock band, <a href="http://portobrien.com/">Port O'Brien</a>, is named after the bay on Kodiak Island where founder member Van Pierszalowski's parents met. The group was originally a duo of Pierszalowski and Cambria Goodwin. Eventually they added Caleb Nichols and Joshua Barnhart as rhythm.<br /><br />They have done a lot of travelling and toured with Nada Surf, Bright Eyes and The Cave Singers and toured Europe with Modest Mouse. They have released three albums; a self record album called The Wind and the Swell and two studio-recorded albums.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Stuck On A Boat</span> is off their 2008 release, <span style="font-style:italic;">All We Could Do Was Sing</span>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-52828082688398024142009-11-13T12:00:00.000-08:002009-11-13T12:00:00.831-08:00Visqueen - My House<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKy1tT_OKAzmmoQpQOlVlUV1T40Ej6EcL0XBpPRa-We0cmWTOKEMCAVH_cojTMW-qH3dkLGoHZ2eR73nXcFv3wDGUl9Xr4-sXF-WIghMpqkFcDMm7Pw-lSVv3YTHMxkSfhV0PPSq5mDeE/s1600-h/visqueen.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKy1tT_OKAzmmoQpQOlVlUV1T40Ej6EcL0XBpPRa-We0cmWTOKEMCAVH_cojTMW-qH3dkLGoHZ2eR73nXcFv3wDGUl9Xr4-sXF-WIghMpqkFcDMm7Pw-lSVv3YTHMxkSfhV0PPSq5mDeE/s200/visqueen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401863311521678594" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16489488&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16489488&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.visqueenonline.com/">Visqueen </a>is a Seattle based power pop/punk band that formed in 2001. The band formed from former members of Hafacat (singer/guitarist Rachel Flotard and drummer Ben Hooker) and legendary punk band Fastback (bassist Kim Warnick).<br /><br />With the release of their first two albums, King Me and Sunset on Dateland, the group quickly moved from a local band with a loyal following to a nationally known power punk band. Following their second release in 2004, Flotard took a hiatus to care for her father after he was diagnosed with cancer. She then worked with Neko Case before regrouping with the others and releasing Message To Garcia in 2009.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">My House</span> is off their debut release, <span style="font-style:italic;">King Me</span>.<br /><br />Trivia: The band takes their name from the brand of polyethylene film that US Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge once recommended as a defense against bioterrorism.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-83806490391701869762009-11-11T12:00:00.000-08:002009-11-11T12:00:02.743-08:00Rush - The Spirit Of Radio<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiBr5pqaIXOn6KFln_FGgGD3zwEhj7POQDA1aaXHcfbxNIurdwXu93k_KdbWlfA1VpriiPsBc_SIxetLzGIzS_oxCuLNb58Il9mBYDO83JtaKBjvtfRrWpk9dVoYXJrqSCppNRnzp1mE/s1600-h/Rush.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiBr5pqaIXOn6KFln_FGgGD3zwEhj7POQDA1aaXHcfbxNIurdwXu93k_KdbWlfA1VpriiPsBc_SIxetLzGIzS_oxCuLNb58Il9mBYDO83JtaKBjvtfRrWpk9dVoYXJrqSCppNRnzp1mE/s200/Rush.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401977175166713682" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16491961&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16491961&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br />I've been a Rush fan since an old friend had me listen to Fly By Night. Uh, wow, that was a long time ago. Anyway, since then, they have always been on my music rotation.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.rush.com/v4.html">Rush </a>started out in 1968 in Toronto. After the release of their first album in 1974, original drummer John Rutsey, left the band right before their first US Tour due to diabetes and a distaste for touring. He was replaced by Neil Peart. This change would have a monumental impact on the band as Peart soon took over most of songwriting and helped move the band from a straight forward Rock 'n Roll band to one that played unique and technically complex compositions. Their sound is only possible due to the incredible talent of each member. Each has won several awards in magazine readers' polls for their particular instrument; especially Peart who is widely recognized as one of the greatest rock drummers of all time.<br /><br />Over the years, Rush has had incredible success. They have had 24 gold records and 14 platinum (including 3 multi-platinum) records. According to the RIAA, Rush's sales statistics also place them fourth behind The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith for the most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band.<br /><br />Their sound has changed over the years and recently, they have gone back to more solid rock sound devoid of synthesizers. But their fan base after 3 decades is still strong and they continue to find new fans who can still be amazed at the decades old releases like 2112 and Moving Pictures.<br /><br />Today's Hump Day Retro-Closet track is the excellent tune <span style="font-weight:bold;">The Spirit of Radio</span> is off their 1980 release, <span style="font-style:italic;">Permanent Waves</span>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-12182639738975379002009-11-09T12:00:00.001-08:002009-11-10T15:39:58.816-08:00Breakestra - Family Rap<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuk6hZxqM2rWRJIpJZCmifVkGkMqfuast6u8XaLLynSUTqyWADlPBMuXtmqAfUQF5hID3JQDll-4aFyggHkRoosdOwuzrsBZUVeQ1_NjfXYqfWud7dENfMxb9XJRs3sjKgov90VLa0cc/s1600-h/breakestra.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuk6hZxqM2rWRJIpJZCmifVkGkMqfuast6u8XaLLynSUTqyWADlPBMuXtmqAfUQF5hID3JQDll-4aFyggHkRoosdOwuzrsBZUVeQ1_NjfXYqfWud7dENfMxb9XJRs3sjKgov90VLa0cc/s200/breakestra.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401886210049602418" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16490225&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16490225&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.breakestra.com/home.html">Breakestra</a> is a ten-piece funk "orchestra" from Los Angeles. The group is lead by Miles Tackett who put the group together as the house band for the legendary club called the Break.<br /><br />The style in which the band plays is much influenced by late 60's and early 70's soul and funk music. Through the course of their nearly decade-long existence the only two members that have remained constant are bassist/guitarist/upright cellist/producer/vocalist Miles Tackett and vocalist Mixmaster Wolf. When asked about the rotating members of the band, Miles responds, “The Breakestra has always been an amorphous project.<br /><br />After releasing several EPs and two full-length albums of mostly covers and sample-filled breaks, Breakestra put out Hit the Floor in 2005 on Ubiquity Records, which included all-original recordings fusing elements of hip hop, funk, and soul.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Family Rap</span>, off their 2005 release, <span style="font-style:italic;">Hit The Floor</span>, is an excellent example of the soul, hip-hop and R&B fusion of Breakestra.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-58935928026243448382009-11-08T12:00:00.000-08:002009-11-08T12:00:01.757-08:00Bob Schneider - 40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnixPLEueU4gLsFEn0RlN4Eb8KKWhio3ie5IX4Sm_cPXee10u5qN_ljVuioA1FNKAKMno1K0N3CO_LlH6SMq1o6Mhyphenhyphen_EjVdZ8Wyh8xCn7HJ9tCTOioA0u7VDJ9xyv8KoafFNVEPlvbPw/s1600-h/bob_schneider.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnixPLEueU4gLsFEn0RlN4Eb8KKWhio3ie5IX4Sm_cPXee10u5qN_ljVuioA1FNKAKMno1K0N3CO_LlH6SMq1o6Mhyphenhyphen_EjVdZ8Wyh8xCn7HJ9tCTOioA0u7VDJ9xyv8KoafFNVEPlvbPw/s200/bob_schneider.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401607541448214514" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16480506&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16480506&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Austin, Texas based, <a href="http://www.bobschneidermusic.com/">Bob Schneider</a>, gained his initial fame in the late 90's as the frontman for the Ugly Americans, a Phish style jam band, and later with The Scabs. They were regulars in the Austin scene and gained some national recognition when they toured with the Dave Matthews Band.<br /><br />In 1999, he went left the band and started a solo career. He has an diverse and eclectic sound; a little bit singer/songwriter, bits and pieces of funk, country, rock, and folk. He released his first solo album, Lovelyland in 2001 and followed up with I'm Good Now in 2004. Bother releases were very well received.<br /><br />During this same time, he released several albums as side projects on Vanguard records with limited number of copies released. Although he could play to larger crowds, Schneider would rather play smaller venues and he tours relentlessly.<br /><br />Schneider dated Sandra Bullock for two years and it was speculated that the breakup following their passionate relationship became fodder for his music, although Schneider has been known to deny autobiographical content in his music.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet)</span> is off his 2009 release, Lovely Creatures and is perfect example of Schneider's unique writing style.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-8885717753578324892009-11-06T12:00:00.000-08:002009-11-07T11:02:04.901-08:00Langhorne Slim - Set Em Up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqyLjxwqIK1_MZqdKRRteWwzjDrcHC2mYPRxMHYZowon9ALk5qALpAp6PLmWHGjptytHYFQe9KCd6pZh6UFKd78T96Kilb_4eVj3GcfR6ZQf_Y4SG5wglfjK8kfhES-xQfRzk0sfHJ10/s1600-h/LanghorneSlim.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqyLjxwqIK1_MZqdKRRteWwzjDrcHC2mYPRxMHYZowon9ALk5qALpAp6PLmWHGjptytHYFQe9KCd6pZh6UFKd78T96Kilb_4eVj3GcfR6ZQf_Y4SG5wglfjK8kfhES-xQfRzk0sfHJ10/s200/LanghorneSlim.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401427493771597394" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16473614&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16473614&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Folk singer, <a href="http://www.myspace.com/langhorneslim">Langhorne Slim</a> actually hails from Langhorne, PA. Now, I can see someone named East Texas, Slim or Baton Rouge Slim, but calling yourself Langhorne Slim, which is a really a north suburb of Philadelphia, is pretty funny. But this fits perfectly with him. He has been described as a one-man mixture of the Cramps, Beck's early indie records and the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou. Quite an interesting sound.<br /><br />Langhorne Slim, whose real name is Sean Scolnick, released his first album, When The Sun's Gone Down, in 2005. He put together an album in 2007, but before the release, his label V2 Records folded and the self titled album did not come out until 2008.<br /><br />His popularity grew with performances on Dave Letterman, US and European tours including festivals like the Newport Folk Festival, Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion, Lollapalooza, and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. He also sang "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch during a Phillies-Marlins game in August 2009.<br /><br />His latest release, Be Set Free, came out in 2009 and the track, Say Yes, is getting a lot of airplay.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Set Em Up</span> is off his debut album <span style="font-style:italic;">When The Sun's Gone Down</span>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-53033698683016476562009-11-04T12:00:00.000-08:002009-11-07T11:03:08.757-08:00The Cure - Boys Don't Cry<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmBUutpqiBrl-oAzmjx6y6LEuIogIXwytMp1lqmmP_CjmmuIHJ8qLPy-8aeBJ7jjK2eeTpeHXpozr0v0JlDZKWVGhxh0JU1jic_KA58-3d2lZSu4TOeAcW47Pf1JYlGtV2lDcxoDo0FI/s1600-h/the_cure.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmBUutpqiBrl-oAzmjx6y6LEuIogIXwytMp1lqmmP_CjmmuIHJ8qLPy-8aeBJ7jjK2eeTpeHXpozr0v0JlDZKWVGhxh0JU1jic_KA58-3d2lZSu4TOeAcW47Pf1JYlGtV2lDcxoDo0FI/s200/the_cure.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401432864749538306" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16473814&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16473814&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Post-punk, New Wave band, <a href="http://www.thecure.com/">The Cure</a>, has been around since the late 70's. The band lineup has changed many times with front-man, Robert Smith, being the lone constant member. Early Cure music was more of a goth-rock sound with dark lyrics. They released an album per year from 1979 throughout the 80's, slowly gaining popularity. In 1982, Smith wanted to move past the gloomy sound the band was know for and inject more of a pop sound with songs like In Between Days and Let's Go To Bed.<br /><br />They finally broke through to the mainstream with the 1987 release Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me which had the song Why Can't I Be You. In 1989, they brought back some of the goth-rock sound from the early days with the release, Disintegration. It built on that success with the track, Love Song, making it to #2 on the US charts. The Cure was now a world-wide success and the 1992 release, Wish, made it to #2 on the US album charts.<br /><br />Although they continued to record and release albums, it was much more spread out than their early career. The band line up also changed quite a bit through the 90's. Recent releases, 2004's self-titled release and 2008's, 4:13 Dream, have continued to be successful and the band routinely sells out live shows.<br /><br />In 2009, received the Shockwaves NME Award for Godlike Genius.<br /><br />For today's Hump Day Retro-Closet track, I chose one of my favorite Cure songs, the track, <span style="font-weight:bold;">Boys Don't Cry</span>, off their 2nd release, 1980's album of the same name.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-23847875323845082382009-11-02T12:00:00.000-08:002009-11-07T10:13:07.417-08:007 Worlds Collide - Hazel Black<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLqRf0wB9jrvRqsSkbSWn5HtiG0mXbsBK0uYDCpXGVdlunj5EZGNQ2PL-N68AObLw66hbowZ7j7qquGnSky6aMQWdsTdAMUjRw3E9y86T8UGLD9QwDjNYK0bpgHDY-RKe9IgCl24KAl4/s1600-h/7WorldsCollide.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 195px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmLqRf0wB9jrvRqsSkbSWn5HtiG0mXbsBK0uYDCpXGVdlunj5EZGNQ2PL-N68AObLw66hbowZ7j7qquGnSky6aMQWdsTdAMUjRw3E9y86T8UGLD9QwDjNYK0bpgHDY-RKe9IgCl24KAl4/s200/7WorldsCollide.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401423447629830290" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16473465&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16473465&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.7worldscollide.com/7worldscollide/">7 Worlds Collide</a> is a musical project by New Zealand singer/songwriter, Neil Finn. He first put together the group in 2001 and released an album under the name 'Neil Finn & Friends'. The group consisted of many artists like Eddie Vedder, Johnny Marr, Ed O'Brien, Tim Finn, Sebastian Steinberg, Phil Selway, Lisa Germano, and Betchadupa (featuring Neil's son Liam Finn).<br /><br />Finn got the project back together at the end of 2008 and recorded a new album with most of the original members and some new ones like Jeff Tweedy and three other members of Wilco, KT Tunstall, and New Zealand songwriters Don McGlashan and Bic Runga.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Hazel Black</span> is off the excellent 2009 release, <span style="font-style:italic;">The Sun Came Out</span>. <br /><br />TRIVIA: Finn takes the band name from the line "Seven worlds will collide / whenever I am by your side" from Crowded House's 1993 single "Distant Sun".Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-36627099481252945452009-11-01T12:00:00.000-08:002009-11-06T22:18:12.036-08:00Corneille - Too Much of Everything<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAzS1rDGqN4qDyJL1jjnJZIW8rkCU-INT7yfSIcrOd1kpYHkpRRCIqyyA1B0vXh-Azevvmal-E6Cd1-04M8u8B0DiUYFRTPzJVAz8BoGqTGkofgowXPWBytOuxDavbDr1bZN1hrkZR1o/s1600-h/corneille.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 143px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAzS1rDGqN4qDyJL1jjnJZIW8rkCU-INT7yfSIcrOd1kpYHkpRRCIqyyA1B0vXh-Azevvmal-E6Cd1-04M8u8B0DiUYFRTPzJVAz8BoGqTGkofgowXPWBytOuxDavbDr1bZN1hrkZR1o/s200/corneille.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396787680756791074" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16231800&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16231800&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Originally born in Freiburg, Germany, <a href="http://www.corneille.ca/">Corneille</a>, spent most of his childhood in Rwanda. He discovered his passion for music in 1993, and joined an R&B group doing most of the songwriting and musical composition. However, his life changed after the Rwandan genocide in 1994. His father, Émile Nyungura, was a leader of a political party and as a result his parents and some of his relatives were killed in the massacre. <br /><br />Corneille fled back to Germany, where some of his parents' friends took him in. In 1997, he decided to leave Germany and pursue a degree in communications at Concordia University in Montreal. But the draw of music was strong and Corneille founded the R&B group O.N.E. Although it did not last long, he continued to pursue music writing and composing music.<br /><br />In 2003, he released his first solo album, a French language release called Parce qu'on vient de loin, which became a success, selling more that one million records. He then released Les marchands de rêves in 2005. Most recently, in 2007, he released his first English language album, The Birth of Cornelius.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br /><br />Too Much of Everything</span> is off his The Birth of Cornelius release.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-63971204919639553542009-10-30T12:00:00.000-07:002009-11-06T22:16:08.406-08:00Datarock - Fa Fa Fa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoCq3s4ONVH9Tp2bdjai5K1fkQF5CY4qc9uI2gclK4EmoUrciI_05s_tyvrT0s7pujjwi2mNEzieRJfd2qtOZScWuaE34rcrgyx73uQdqe0nNg9vl1U8QfTCY4792xHCh6_T__IFHF00/s1600-h/datarock.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoCq3s4ONVH9Tp2bdjai5K1fkQF5CY4qc9uI2gclK4EmoUrciI_05s_tyvrT0s7pujjwi2mNEzieRJfd2qtOZScWuaE34rcrgyx73uQdqe0nNg9vl1U8QfTCY4792xHCh6_T__IFHF00/s200/datarock.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397881960386068722" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16311693&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16311693&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.datarockmusic.com/">Datarock</a> is a Norwegian electro rock duo of Fredrik Saroea and Ketil Mosnes. Formed in 2000, the band has had more members, but soon settled down to two memeber.<br /><br />Their first release in 2005, the redundantly titled, DataRock DataRock was and accidental success. Although they spent almost no time recording the record, their songs were licensed all over the world in films and advertisements.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Fa Fa Fa</span> is off <span style="font-style:italic;">Datarock Datarock</span> and has been featured in both Coca-Cola and IPdo advertising and is featured in NHL 08, FIFA 08 and NBA Live 08 and The Sims 2: Free Time.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-23010367585186636112009-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:002009-11-07T11:02:54.537-08:00Devo - Girl U Want<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HH4qONcH61WY3vvUO3za1Xg8K4-F1t01TYKc9lxrTcduyxVgSoUkaM9LoTVxA7AMx0rlH73jhJBMJUclX67g6BuDfg_5k9t4TsG8mKhVJdyAYAzwSeNv_VXa-F3PX-t6KAREq3kdu7Q/s1600-h/devo.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HH4qONcH61WY3vvUO3za1Xg8K4-F1t01TYKc9lxrTcduyxVgSoUkaM9LoTVxA7AMx0rlH73jhJBMJUclX67g6BuDfg_5k9t4TsG8mKhVJdyAYAzwSeNv_VXa-F3PX-t6KAREq3kdu7Q/s200/devo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396785326561859618" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16231741&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16231741&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Today's Hump Day Retro Closet track is dedicated to my buddy Gene because next week he is actually going to see Devo. How cool is that!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.clubdevo.com/devo-lux/">Devo</a> formed in Akron, Ohio in 1973. The early band was very fluid changing members and size several times. The band took their name from the the term 'de-evolution' which is the idea that instead of evolving, mankind has actually regressed, as evidenced by the dysfunction and herd mentality of American society.<br /><br />They gained some fame in 1976 when their short film "The Truth About De-Evolution" won a prize at the Ann Arbor Film Festival. The same year, they released their first single, Mongoloid, followed by an odd electronic version of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction".<br /><br />It was 1980's, Freedom of Choice, that catapulted Devo to the limelight. The single, Whip It peaked at #14 and Devo's mastery of the new medium, Music Video, kept them in the spotlight. Although subsequent releases, New Traditionalists in 1981, Oh, No! It's Devo in 1982 and Shout in 1984 lacked the success of Freedon of Choice, they remained a very success live band.<br /><br />More unsuccessful releases followed and the band "broke up" in 1991. In January 1996, Devo performed a reunion concert at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, and went on join the Lollapalooza tour. The members also did many side projects, releasing a multimedia CD-ROM adventure game, The Adventures of the Smart Patrol, recording a number of songs for various films, including a cover of the Nine Inch Nails hit, "Head Like a Hole" for the film Supercop and a remake of Girl U Want for the film "Tankgirl", forming a surf band called The Wipeouters.<br /><br />Most recently, in December 2007, Devo released their first new single since 1990, "Watch Us Work It" and in September of this year, Warner Brothers and Devo announced a re-release of Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! and Freedom of Choice, with a tour performing both albums. And current rumors are the band is working on a new album.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Girl U Want</span> is off the eternally classic 1980 release, <span style="font-style:italic;">Freedom of Choice</span>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-78837522295500937332009-10-26T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-26T12:11:27.869-07:00Michael Bublé - Call Me Irresponsible<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZYSQ033AZa2bujcQEIUPbQ9StU-GsxqRcBz49E4301b0AhPz09ioAQX2J9HBTWhIlTDdyX5g9CCyqcxAOzE5TN3I3cUB7BPmKGOTqSw15Fr5VPhUtbI0qsaUMCuxOOPZJ3IBzgznSgo/s1600-h/Michael+Buble.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZYSQ033AZa2bujcQEIUPbQ9StU-GsxqRcBz49E4301b0AhPz09ioAQX2J9HBTWhIlTDdyX5g9CCyqcxAOzE5TN3I3cUB7BPmKGOTqSw15Fr5VPhUtbI0qsaUMCuxOOPZJ3IBzgznSgo/s200/Michael+Buble.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396783442642292722" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16231691&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16231691&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Canadian crooner, <a href="http://www.michaelbuble.com/">Michael Bublé</a>, is a throwback to the past with his Sinatra-style sound. Helped by his italian grandfather, he he began singing in nightclubs at the age of 16 facilitated by his Italian grandfather, a plumber who offered free plumbing services to get his grandson on stage. His grandfather also paid for his singing lessons with opera baritone, Joseph Shore.<br /><br />When he was 18, he entered and won several local talent contests but that did not translate into much success. For seven years he would sing in anything from talent shows, conventions, cruise ships, malls, hotel lounges, bars, clubs, corporate gigs, theatres, music revues, and even the occasional singing Santa Claus.<br /><br />He was about to give up and pursue journalism when he got his big break in 2000. Michael McSweeney, an aide to former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, showed the album to Mulroney and his wife. Subsequently, Bublé was invited to sing at the wedding of Mulroney's daughter Caroline. At the wedding, Bublé was introduced to David Foster, a multi-Grammy Award winning producer and record executive who had worked previously with artists such as Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Céline Dion, Barbra Streisand, Kenny G., Cher, Josh Groban, and Andrea Bocelli.<br /><br />This led to a record deal and the release of his first album in 2003, a self-titled release, which was a success. Subsequent releases have only built on his success and he has accumulated many awards including a Grammy for 'Call Me Irresponsible'.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Call Me Irresponsible</span> is off his 2007 album of the same name.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-71943503691811613402009-10-25T12:00:00.000-07:002009-11-09T15:05:05.933-08:00Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmn6qrv05MPDhTpqEeBjsLW6JQhDQRCaQWdxMOspOpbxRUPr82xL9oy_ST1L4G8w6GrL-Glxu6B9a6Q5tTEpGdDMgxY6nYyxFNZfWUZLC6dkEoYBdy_tdY3dxh9c3ylgvHCQhcOrVLOg/s1600-h/zac-brown-band.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNmn6qrv05MPDhTpqEeBjsLW6JQhDQRCaQWdxMOspOpbxRUPr82xL9oy_ST1L4G8w6GrL-Glxu6B9a6Q5tTEpGdDMgxY6nYyxFNZfWUZLC6dkEoYBdy_tdY3dxh9c3ylgvHCQhcOrVLOg/s200/zac-brown-band.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396780562204379314" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16231611&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16231611&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zacbrownband.com/">The Zac Brown Band</a> is a true working band, despite their success, playing over 200 shows per year. They began with humble roots in Georgia, playing at a restaurant owned by Brown and his father and going on the road during the week. After they sold the gourmet Southern-style food restaurant, they bought a tour bus and the touring intensified.<br /><br />They released 2 albums independently and Atlantic released their third after the original label, Live Nation, went under. The 3rd album reached #2 on the Country Album chart and #11 on the Billboard 200.<br /><br />Even with this success, Brown remains down to earth and is a devoted philanthropist. He bought land for his own summer camp, a venture he plans to run in cooperation with Brain Balance, an organization that works with kids with autism and ADD. This was a dream of his since he attended a summer camp and worked with mentally and physically challenged kids making him aware of how lucky he was.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Chicken Fried</span> is off their third release, <span style="font-style:italic;">Foundation</span>, and went to #1 on the US County charts.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-53875590464019956012009-10-23T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-26T00:09:27.803-07:00The Swell Season - I Have Loved You Wrong<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvvlUuKLDoeMjS_pISKPhmtgKLPN3xpCYTRF4WfpP3fad4yHORrDv12ntuL8SQnj5ANmhlHdlL1k27Q9jOPgAYkX4IpRakkFVUuUfoAuqk32XVnLD0Fl7DNuscW4kkeksY-QT1Q6adbE/s1600-h/swellseason.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvvlUuKLDoeMjS_pISKPhmtgKLPN3xpCYTRF4WfpP3fad4yHORrDv12ntuL8SQnj5ANmhlHdlL1k27Q9jOPgAYkX4IpRakkFVUuUfoAuqk32XVnLD0Fl7DNuscW4kkeksY-QT1Q6adbE/s200/swellseason.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396779625086772642" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16231581&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16231581&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theswellseason.com/">The Swell Season</a> is the musical duo of Irish musician Glen Hansard and Czech singer and pianist Markéta Irglová. The duo were approached by the Czech film director Jan Hřebejk while touring in the Czech Republic, and were asked by him to record songs for his upcoming film Beauty in Trouble. It was the first album that Hansard, the singer for The Frames, had released independently of his band. This led to them recording their first full length album, a self-titled release.<br /><br />Their popularity rose when they recorded the the soundtrack for the movie Once, in which both starred. The album when gold and they received an Oscar for Best Original Song. Hansard and Irglová were a couple on stage and off. Although they broke up earlier this year, they continue to record and perform together.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I Have Loved You Wrong</span> is a haunting beautiful song off their sophomore release, <span style="font-style:italic;">Strict Joy</span>.<br /><br />Trivia: The group's name is derived from Hansard's favorite novel by Josef Škvorecký from 1975 bearing the same title.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-17288996006117692792009-10-21T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-26T12:12:10.463-07:00The Call - The Walls Came Down<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhol-_y_5V9EcQ2dx8ju1vh1p3axJdBuQ-Sy_n6tCRiILqegtkSfhhauzjqOJi3YjZmlu8kGZWHTnlmFkOCVpCVisGF1HNSIdqJ6oQEc8UHozWBJUwbhb0NQwvO7ibbEtzyiwlzFXRe-Y/s1600-h/TheCall.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhol-_y_5V9EcQ2dx8ju1vh1p3axJdBuQ-Sy_n6tCRiILqegtkSfhhauzjqOJi3YjZmlu8kGZWHTnlmFkOCVpCVisGF1HNSIdqJ6oQEc8UHozWBJUwbhb0NQwvO7ibbEtzyiwlzFXRe-Y/s200/TheCall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396420706656549378" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16213999&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16213999&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Santa Cruz, California band, <a href="http://the-call-band.com/">The Call</a>, is an incredibly underrated band. They released three albums in the early 80's with little success. They went 2 years without a contract due to to what singer and guitarist, Michael Been, describes as "legal bickering" between The Call's former record label and their management company. It wasn't until the 1986 release, Reconciled, that they had commercial success with the songs, Everywhere I Go and I Still Believe. Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds's Jim Kerr, and from The Band members Garth Hudson and Robbie Robertson all helped out on the album.<br /><br />1989's release, Let The Day Begin, was the height of their success with the title track reaching #1 on the US Mainstream Rock chart. The band has not officially broken up, but has not recorded or toured since 2000. Been's son is currently the frontman for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Michael Been tours with them as their sound engineer.<br /><br />Today's Hump Day Retro-Closet track is an excellent song, <span style="font-weight:bold;">The Walls Came Down</span>, off their 1983 release, <span style="font-style:italic;">Modern Romans</span>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-30916484954157726752009-10-19T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-25T00:00:07.653-07:00Medeski, Martin & Wood – End of the World Party<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPphW2J2D3x4a7KpYK1Ihr59p8exyk4ZeeMbaodG8yE7tLt-AikTAHiX4U_xNnnU-fuMRabRAwFFjY33upbCS6fzhIvIsH1taWprluIiN_WS1YXR13lQ-CsnWHV-S30G0DTvFO1q743AA/s1600-h/mmw.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 194px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPphW2J2D3x4a7KpYK1Ihr59p8exyk4ZeeMbaodG8yE7tLt-AikTAHiX4U_xNnnU-fuMRabRAwFFjY33upbCS6fzhIvIsH1taWprluIiN_WS1YXR13lQ-CsnWHV-S30G0DTvFO1q743AA/s200/mmw.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396410752232236978" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16213617&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16213617&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.mmw.net/">Martin, Medeski and Wood</a>, MMW, is Billy Martin on drums and percussion, John Medeski on keyboards and piano and Chris Wood on double bass and bass guitar. They all met when they were introduced by Billy Martin's instructor, Bob Moses. The trio originally began as an acoustic jazz group, playing mainly in the New York City area. Due to the trouble of touring with a piano, Medeski switched to a Hammond organ.<br /><br />MMW gained significant exposure outside of the New York City jazz scene when they performed with Phish in October of 1995. Their inclusion in the Jam Band circuit and, their performance on John Scofield's 1997 album A Go Go helped increase thier fan base. This led to many future collaborations with Scofield, including 2006's release Out Louder with Scofield.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">End of the World Party</span> is a funky jazz, almost pop, track off their 2004 release <span style="font-style:italic;">End of the World Party (Just In Case)</span>.<br /><br />The band members were introduced to each other by jazz drummer Bob Moses, who had performed with Medeski and Wood, and was Martin's instructor.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-48334119052969425462009-10-18T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-24T23:59:54.782-07:00Gary Jules - Mad World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlyMjJXJdII0fEMzLrpTSE4DZQMkoRzUh1FnoeUDBNobJwWHjjnIWE0jqu799IAMTR8Ep6eOz3DiVUA8lY5A2nYAX2BwkROyV7XMmgt_grhXGayF2GdoY7i3K4MOExhxd2MMW9Gjot20/s1600-h/garyjules.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlyMjJXJdII0fEMzLrpTSE4DZQMkoRzUh1FnoeUDBNobJwWHjjnIWE0jqu799IAMTR8Ep6eOz3DiVUA8lY5A2nYAX2BwkROyV7XMmgt_grhXGayF2GdoY7i3K4MOExhxd2MMW9Gjot20/s200/garyjules.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396396131429480258" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16213077&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16213077&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Despite incredible songwriting talent, <a href="http://www.garyjules.com/">Gary Jules</a> remained obscure after his first solo release, 1998's Greeting From The Side, because of poor handling by his record label. It would take three years before he released a second album independently, Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets. The album was even more stunning than the first.<br /><br />Jules began his musical career forming the band, The Origin, with childhood friend, Michael Andrews. The band released two very good albums, but were not big commercial successes. They disbanded and Jules began his solo career, but despite his talent, he did not gain success until he released a cover of Tears For Fears' Mad World for the Donnie Darko soundtrack in 2003.<br /><br />The song would be featured in many TV shows and was famously covered by Adam Lambert on American Idol. It's ironic that a song that he did not write was the one that pushed him into the limelight. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Mad World</span> is off the Donnie Darko soundtrack and his 2001 release, <span style="font-style:italic;">Trading Snakeoil for Wolftickets</span>. If you have a chance to check out his work, it is worth it.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-72064862995610513252009-10-16T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-24T23:59:43.573-07:00Lyle Lovett - My Baby Don't Tolerate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4S_mM01INj4gZiICSJnCtiBWM1Gt7PY2swrXjzJYH8vxkHaXqu9CbjXgvY8GuovUxvTrjBwux_B-7KKmZUFbTXtrW4NAzGVGJIjbjMpt8SGSPmLB-9AJzVQixSyKZsz8Qu4OK-PLNmag/s1600-h/LyleLovett.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4S_mM01INj4gZiICSJnCtiBWM1Gt7PY2swrXjzJYH8vxkHaXqu9CbjXgvY8GuovUxvTrjBwux_B-7KKmZUFbTXtrW4NAzGVGJIjbjMpt8SGSPmLB-9AJzVQixSyKZsz8Qu4OK-PLNmag/s200/LyleLovett.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396382083213654354" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16212338&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=16212338&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Many people place <a href="http://www.lylelovett.com/index.php">Lyle Lovett</a> in the country music category. His music does have a county/western sound, but he incorporates elements of folk, swing, blues, jazz, rock and even gospel music. This blend along with his voice creates a unique sound.<br /><br />Lovett grew up in Texas, attended Texas A&M and studied German and Journalism. While in college he lived next to Robert Earl Keen. The two became friends and performed together on the front porch many evenings. This eventually grew into inspiration for a song entitled "The Front Porch Song", which both would add to their repertoire.<br /><br />After several albums, Lovett was thrown into the limelight in 1993 when he married Julia Roberts. The two met on the set of the movie, The Player. After a 3 week romance, the two eloped. The marriage lasted less than two years, but the divorce was due to the amount of time they had to be apart because of their careers and the two remain close friends today.<br /><br />Besides music, Lovett has starred in several movies, primarily Robert Altman directed ones, The Player, Short Cuts, Prêt-à-Porter, The Opposite of Sex and Cookie's Fortune.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">My Baby Don't Tolerate</span> is off his 2003 release of the same name. His latest release, Natural Forces, will be released on October 20th.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-8474290913142279752009-10-14T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-15T08:57:57.782-07:00INXS - The One Thing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GbXzJIClTRrAiXHHri3W1LlnaSBaKjOpH0urHRKuT7X4MVOutuGX7Mm0oG5tazocKJq6Wbux51-tWC_NFQK103hCU-a0GL_uQc__CXNzVGnZiuvnMDX9GHBTYCVL6r_0CLLugbNg6pE/s1600-h/Inxs.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2GbXzJIClTRrAiXHHri3W1LlnaSBaKjOpH0urHRKuT7X4MVOutuGX7Mm0oG5tazocKJq6Wbux51-tWC_NFQK103hCU-a0GL_uQc__CXNzVGnZiuvnMDX9GHBTYCVL6r_0CLLugbNg6pE/s200/Inxs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392849331568104754" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15951646&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15951646&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Today's Hump Day Retro-Closet track is from <a href="http://www.inxs.com/">INXS</a>. They started out in 1977 as the Farriss Brothers in Sydney, Australia. They released their first album, a self-titled release, in 1980 gaining moderate success in Australia. Shabooh Shoobah, released in 1982, was the first release to gain a foothold in the US, peaking at #46 on the billboard charts.<br /><br />They became international stars with Listen Like Thieves in 1985, Kick in 1987 and X in 1990 and had several top 10 singles. The band's sound that made them so successful was also a cause for their downfall as the were boxed in by that sound as people tastes changed. But they continued to record and tour throughout the 90's. The band hit the low point in 1997 with the dead of front-man, Michael Hutchence. They continued to tour with several different singers like Terence Trent D'Arby and Jon Stephens, finnaly settling on a new singer, a former Elvis impersonator from Canada, J.D. Fortune. They released the album, Switch, in 2005 reaching #17 on the Billboard Top 200.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The One Thing</span>, off <span style="font-style:italic;">Shabooh Shoobah</span>, was the first song I ever heard from INXS, first hearing it on a low-watt local St. Louis Radio station, KYMC and then seeing the video on MTV (when MTV showed music videos 24 hours a day).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-26497120305109070662009-10-12T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-12T15:12:32.601-07:00Will Dailey - Eliza<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQI-5JCuMynKtPieESqa1O2shu7J9jgNC3UiH6Bkm1BskyyijRQi_iDkaLBC0kyJw2dVrkT-sN3O1ilNtMRyHDrVB-Nk0llse9zW5QtxjX5xTalJPxUcTdQ8eSWafexEJUSTOfQcG_JUE/s1600-h/will-dailey.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQI-5JCuMynKtPieESqa1O2shu7J9jgNC3UiH6Bkm1BskyyijRQi_iDkaLBC0kyJw2dVrkT-sN3O1ilNtMRyHDrVB-Nk0llse9zW5QtxjX5xTalJPxUcTdQ8eSWafexEJUSTOfQcG_JUE/s200/will-dailey.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391621302398756114" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15853729&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15853729&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Boston based singer-songwriter, <a href="http://www.willdailey.com/">Will Dailey</a> has released three full-length albums since 2000. But his most recent project is unique. The project, Torrent, is being digitally released as a burst of new music approximately every 3 months, and then compiled, along with bonus material, as a physical and digital audio package twice a year. He has released Torrents 1 and 2 this year.<br /><br />To raise money for his first release, GoodbyeRedBullet, Dailey sold his car. Although he made enough to fund the release, he did not have any money to pay for a tour. He relied on his family and friends to generate publicity, and built up a mailing list of more than 25,000 worldwide. The release sold more sold more than 10,000 copies.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Eliza</span> is off his 2006 release, <span style="font-style:italic;">Back Flipping Forward</span>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-80154506876489104652009-10-11T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-11T12:00:00.250-07:00Laura Pausini - Love Comes From The Inside<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56v9muMsskX0BC6tGR3z6sILRYiBPfd57oVjTOQZ9g4Inh6NMy-jI6d03xi5l1OVntuO9DAr3dH2Jcgj5XHRJxb_5Tyl0puPxMbY6HD90witUrtttb9e824GCs-IGaIYFpIJgvgtuRb0/s1600-h/laura_pausini.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56v9muMsskX0BC6tGR3z6sILRYiBPfd57oVjTOQZ9g4Inh6NMy-jI6d03xi5l1OVntuO9DAr3dH2Jcgj5XHRJxb_5Tyl0puPxMbY6HD90witUrtttb9e824GCs-IGaIYFpIJgvgtuRb0/s200/laura_pausini.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391191654190855938" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15834567&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15834567&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Italian pop star <a href="http://www.laurapausini.com/laura_pausini_eng.html">Laura Pausini</a> started to sing in local piano bars with her father Fabrizio, a musician and singer, when she was only 8 years old. At 13, she recorded her first album and then in in 1993 she launched her professional career when she signed a contract with Warner Music Italy to release her first professional album, Laura Pausini. She was a success in Europe. She released future albums in Spanish as well as her native Italian.<br /><br />Pausini released her first English album, From the Inside, in 2002. Her first single 'Surrender' peaked at #1 in Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Love Comes From The Inside</span>, off the <span style="font-style:italic;">From The Inside</span> album, is a soulful funky tune that seems much more American than Italian. This post is presented by my sister, Maria, who has pretty good taste in music, too.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-86281332726445747722009-10-09T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-09T12:00:03.127-07:00Sheryl Crow - Detours<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwvTeK7BJt8FTzAcvD6MKNGQNYlQlLjmxWiT3M0NZdD9zGLa0eNP0Uxyvm3sd440geqaUFvHT-shSb8tPIWEqDrfQu0Z-W0SM9hSgu6vsx88DBiZ6jQeuDfEKrNFKwMDKomdqBiQ1Ov8/s1600-h/sheryl_crow.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwvTeK7BJt8FTzAcvD6MKNGQNYlQlLjmxWiT3M0NZdD9zGLa0eNP0Uxyvm3sd440geqaUFvHT-shSb8tPIWEqDrfQu0Z-W0SM9hSgu6vsx88DBiZ6jQeuDfEKrNFKwMDKomdqBiQ1Ov8/s200/sheryl_crow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390666174085687218" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15803835&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15803835&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.sherylcrow.com/">Sheryl Crow</a> burst onto the scenes in 1993 with the song Leaving Las Vegas off her debut release Tuesday Night Music Club. But there is a lot that happened leading up to that.<br /><br />Crow was raised in Kennett, Missouri (a small town in rural Missouri) and attended the University of Missouri, majoring in Music. She became a music teacher in suburban St. Louis. This allowed her time sing in bands on weekend where she met local musician and producer Jay Oliver. From his home studio he helped her record advertising jingles for local and national ads.<br /><br />From this she eventually became a back up singer with Michael Jackson on his Bad World Tour from 1987-1989 and often performed with Jackson on "I Just Can't Stop Loving You". After that she recorded several songs for TV and movies. In 1992, she joined a group of musicians known as the 'Tuesday Night Music Club' which was a casual songwriting collective that rapidly developed into a vehicle for her debut album after her arrival.<br /><br />In 1993, she released 'Tuesday Night Music Club' and her success has only grown, releasing 8 albums and winning 8 Grammys.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Detours</span> is an excellent song off her 2008 release of the same name. The album was written as perpective on her life after her battle with breast cancer, her relationship with Lance Armstrong and her adopting a baby.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-29534304899910859062009-10-07T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-09T11:14:14.809-07:00Suzanne Vega - Calypso<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXx1nXFNMCtmYQKz8GQ4jEdoK20vKc362xbRZVAhXZgH8roTpk4pU0YrisCFvQRHg7m8SpAFha7ZwgIsset-nUpVf1XMD4-AY8gS_vOubT37rO7hDlPjbwJZRlv53ffASYUqAC-U96H8/s1600-h/Suzanne-Vega.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXx1nXFNMCtmYQKz8GQ4jEdoK20vKc362xbRZVAhXZgH8roTpk4pU0YrisCFvQRHg7m8SpAFha7ZwgIsset-nUpVf1XMD4-AY8gS_vOubT37rO7hDlPjbwJZRlv53ffASYUqAC-U96H8/s200/Suzanne-Vega.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388985306750950370" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15685220&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15685220&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br />Today's Hump Day Retro-Closet track is from <a href="http://www.suzannevega.com/">Suzanne Vega</a> who I love because she writes very intelligent literate songs. While attending college at Bernard College, she was a regular contributor to Jack Hardy's Monday night songwriters' group at the Cornelia Street Cafe and had some of her first songs published on Fast Folk anthology albums. In 1984, she received a major label recording contract, making her one of the first Fast Folk artists to break out on a major label.<br /><br />Her self-titled debut album was released in 1985 and reached platinum status in the United Kingdom and got great reviews from critics. She then release Solitude Standing in 1987, which was a critical and commercial success with two hit singles, Luka and Tom's Diner. Luka was unique in that it was one of the first successful pop songs to really address child abuse. Tom's Diner was one of the first songs used in testing the MP3 format, making Vega the 'Mother of MP3'. Tom's Diner was released as an a cappella tune and also made into a dance track my UK's DNA.<br /><br />Trivia: The diner shown in Seinfeld episodes is the Tom's Diner from the song.<br /><br />Vega continues to record and release music, not for commercial success, but the songs that she wanted to write. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Calypso </span>is off the <span style="font-style:italic;">Solitude Standing</span> release. Although Luka and Tom's Diner were the hits from this album, Calypso was always the song that I gravitated to when I was was listening to the album.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135245576396483795.post-86502632911567821612009-10-05T12:00:00.000-07:002009-10-09T10:55:21.979-07:00Owl City - West Coast Friendship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k8KrW2WzMkEp6pVfGt3_m6gp9Vk_quhgq6rtTomUj6b3uJK9OFfdh_p9Wc9BQANzAH_6W0Xyz0_TNI1jazt84Xn4urBi8VKkZpwcYvOZ2lWbPAzMim3Z_GvHSOw2JnP3VSYsDEdC92c/s1600-h/owlcity.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k8KrW2WzMkEp6pVfGt3_m6gp9Vk_quhgq6rtTomUj6b3uJK9OFfdh_p9Wc9BQANzAH_6W0Xyz0_TNI1jazt84Xn4urBi8VKkZpwcYvOZ2lWbPAzMim3Z_GvHSOw2JnP3VSYsDEdC92c/s200/owlcity.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390656046456229858" /></a> <object width="250" height="40"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf"></param> <param name="wmode" value="window"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15802761&style=water&p=0"></param> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=15802761&style=water&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.owlcitymusic.com/home.aspx">Owl City</a> formed in 2007 is one person, Adam Young. He states he started making music and created Owl City as project in his parent's basement as result of his insomnia.<br /><br />Owl City's initial success was through it's MySpace page with the track 'Hello Seattle' had more than 6 million hits. They released the first two albums while not being signed to a record deal. However, with the help of entertainment attorney Ken Abdo, he was signed to Universal Republic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">West Coast Friendship</span> is off their debut self label release, <span style="font-style:italic;">Maybe I'm Dreaming</span> (probably a jab at his insomnia). <br /><br />Trivia: Owl City was named after Adam Young's hometown, Owatonna, Minnesota.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13466241591795027789noreply@blogger.com0