Years ago I made a mix CD filled with lyrics about Jen, Jenny and Jennifer and sent copies to a few of my favorite Jens as birthday gifts. If I were to make a volume two Jenny compilation, this would be the title track:
How about that, you crazy Jens? I know you're lovin it!
When Erin admited to liking Christmas music, I had to tell her about this new Christmas album that one of my co-workers recently discovered.
Can you imagine something better than Tommy Lee singing Little Drummer Boy? Iggy Pop singing O Silent Night?
How about Billy Idol singing Jingle Bells. In a suit and tie. Don't believe me? Go watch the videos on ol' Billy's MySpace page.
btw, I like Christmas music too. Jeromy doesn't. The only way I can get him to listen to the stuff is if it's a country or bluegrass artist singing holiday tunes. So I buy one every year. We have Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless - and others - singing holiday tunes. What's your favorite holiday album?
I can't stop listening this song by The Whiles. I'm serious. Beau sent their site this morning, and I've replayed this song at least a dozen times since then.
Yesterday I was listening to NPR when I heard this piece about roots music group The Ducks. Their sound is like Ollabelle - with Cuban, Celtic, gospel and soul influences - only better (Buddy won't believe me becaue Ollabelle is a new favorite, but it's true. Even better!).
Today, when I tried to find something, anything about them online, I couldn't. I searched google and Amazon and Paste magazine and only found stuff about some SoCal pop rockers with the same name. So I checked yesterday's listings for All Things Considered, and still nothing matched.
Finally, I sent an e-mail to npr inquiring about the piece, and they said the segment was recorded last night but won't air until Feb. 21. Yet, somehow it aired last night on my car's radio. How is that? Was it recorded and broadcast live in Columbus? I'm very confused, but looking forward to Feb. 21 so I can hear it again. I can't even remember the name of the album. Does anyone know anything about these ducks I speak of? Maybe I don't even have the band name right.
It's a shame that some people loathe country music enough to avoid even the best artists in the alt country category. They don't know what they're missing. Check out this great article in The New Yorker about Gillian Welch and David Rawlings and their journey to bluegrass infamy. My favorite quotes from the article come from those closest to Welch:
Whatever happens in the ear to people listening profoundly to each other is happening in an extreme fashion between them.
~ from Welch's dadWhen Gillian sings, it's about the presentation of emotion. Even back then, she didn't sing notes; she sang feelings and ideas.
~ from Welch's songwriting teacher at BerkleeI always think of Gill as paying attention. Really, what she's done her whole life is pay attention.
~ from Welch's mom
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