"It's better to say too much then never say what you need to say again."

I cannot tell a lie; this is not my favorite Mayer tune. Having said that though, I gotta say that the sentiment behind it just knocks me out. I'm long on two things...legs and words. Ironically my Grandfather happens to be a man of very few of the latter. He's been very sick for a very long time and as we near the twilight of his time here with us in the physical world I've been helping him leave his legacy behind with words. We've had many a Q&A session over the past several months with me asking him questions about his childhood, career, regrets, dreams and advice for the future and recording his answers on tape and it's seriously been one of the greatest experiences of my life and hopefully of his too. Getting him to say what's on his mind on a deep and personal level was like trying to pull teeth at first but once he realized the implications of what his opening up would mean not only to my siblings, cousins and myself but our children and perhaps even their children he decided to finally say what he needed to say.

It's hard to speak up and say what we feel sometimes. Whether it's an "I love you.", "Thank you." or a "That REALLY pisses me off!" we become vulnerable when we say what's in our hearts. And since I've yet to meet the individual who enjoys being stripped bare and made emotionally naked it doesn't seem to rank too high on people's list of things to do each day so the fear of exposure leaves so many words unspoken. Personally, I don't suffer from Cantspeakupitis and in fact actually have a lifelong case of Cantshutthehelluposis and could probably stand to bite my tongue a little more. But even though that -osis doesn't always serve me and has at times been a detriment in my life, it's also been a blessing as it's allowed people I love (and even those I loathe) to know exactly where they stand with me and what their influence on my life or in my history means without question.

Good grief, all this rambling just to post a song, right? Being confronted with the fragility of life on a constant basis these days, this song struck a chord with me and so I wanted to put it up and also say that if you're one of those people with the -itis, think about opening up a little more and really saying what you feel and what's on your mind. It's rare that a person reaches the end of their life full of regret for the things they did and said...usually it's what they didn't do and say that haunts them in those days. And, if you find yourself with the same -osis I have remember that it is just as powerful to listen as to speak.

Mr. J.C. Mayer said all that I just typed with this one song and you can find it gracing the soundtrack of the film The Bucket List starring legendary actors Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. It's a feel good tearjerker that is already on my list of movies to see post present extravaganza on Christmas day next to The Great Debaters starring fellow Oscar alumni Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker. How awesome will that be?!?!?!




For sticking around long enough to get this far in the post (or being lazy and scrolling straight to the music), here is your reward:

John Mayer - "Say"

And the video for the track which is pretty ok. At least it doesn't feature a petite brunette with huge boobs this time.






And a smattering of tunes that are semi topical just for the hell of it...

Jodeci - "Come & Talk to Me"

The Spinto Band - "Did I Tell You"

Faith Hill & Tim McGraw - "Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me"

India.Arie - "Talk to Her"

Howie Day - "She Says"

The Black Crowes - "She Talks to Angels"

Nelly Furtado - "Say It Right"

Modest Mouse - "Talking"

Lauryn Hill - "So Much Things to Say"

The Sleeping - "Listen Close"

Leo Sayer - "More Than I Can Say"

Nelly Furtado - "Say It Right"

Del Amitri - "Tell Her This"

Fleetwood Mac - "Say You Love Me"

Frou Frou - "Hear Me Out"

Old 97's - "Let the Idiot Speak"

Dave Matthews Band - "So Much to Say"

Devendra Banhart - "Heard Somebody Say"

Kyle Riabko - "Before I Speak"

Jim Croce - "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song"

Michael Buble - "I Say a Little Prayer for You"

Lionel Richie - "Say You, Say Me"

Coldplay - "Talk"

Tegan & Sara - "Speak Slow"

The Velvet Underground - "Candy Says"

Pink Floyd - "Speak to Me/Breathe"

Rascal Flatts - "Words I Couldn't Say"

Tears For Fears - "Shout"



And also just for fun because I just love it:

Crash Into Me - Part I

No time for pleasantries other than to say I hope you all had as wonderful a Thanksgiving holiday as our family did. There's nothing quite like family, friends and food to make the whole world seem right. My apologies for it taking so long to get these songs posted but we've just sent the last bit of family home and I've been helping tend to a new addition that arrived on Tuesday just in time for turkey. More about him later. In the meantime, enjoy the tunes from last Thursday's episode as these will be the last for awhile thanks to the strike. Here's hoping they get some resolution to that soon.



Ben's Brother - "Let Me Out"

This song by London crooners Ben's Brother is mislabeled on ABC's music guide so if you've been looking for "Let Me Know" you're out of luck. This song graced a mix CD that was made for me a few months ago and I absolutely love it. The guys have a pretty nifty site going where you can hear more of their music, read their blog, download photos and read up on their roots which I suggest you do. Think Keane with a little less melancholy in the vocals. At present the band is on tour across the pond with dates all over merry old England and they're running a contest to win a song written about you that I think is a spectacular idea. For details and to listen to their exceptionally uplifting ditty that inspired it, "Carry On" check out their sister site.




Correatown - "All the World (I Tell Myself)"

Angela Correa and her band of six others is Correatown and they've got an extremely mellow sound that's the perfect companion for a hot cup of coffee on a cold winter day which is ironic considering she's from sunny California. This Indie princess will appeal to fans of other female singer-songwriters of today like Maria Taylor, Feist and Rosie Thomas as she seems to have her finger on the pulse of this growing genre. If you live in Cali you can check out her live shows since she sticks close to home most of the time it appears. She'll be in Illinois on December 7th and I'm betting more major cities as her exposure grows thanks to Grey's and word of mouth.



Missy Higgins - "Where I Stood"

Oh how I do so adore Aussie chanteuse Missy Higgins. I caught one of her live sets opening for Jason Mraz a few years ago and she blew me away and after I met her afterward I knew I'd be a lifelong fan. She's seriously just about the cutest thing to come out from the land down under since the koala bear. Her latest album On a Clear Night has been in heavy rotation for me this year and this track in particular is a favorite from it. She has this amazing effortless deliver that just blows me away live and while that's hard to translate onto a studio recording, she does it. If you get the chance to see her perform do NOT miss it.





Róisín Murphy - Movie Star

I've been a fan of former Moloko front woman Róisín Murphy since the first season of Grey's when they featured her song "Ruby Blue". I don't find myself typically drawn to techno or dance music but I find her particular brand exhilarating. The Irish beauty has a great voice and a vibe I totally dig. So, even if you're like me and not a particularly big fan of dance music check her out and see if you don't find something to like in spite of yourself. I did. At present you can find her close to home touring the UK and Ireland and her third single from this year's Overpowered album, "You Know Me Better" is slated for release next year.




Soulsavers - "Revival"

Soulsavers are a band that's new to me but when I heard their song playing I was completely intrigued and after listening to It's Not How Far You Fall, It's The Way You Land incessantly since Friday evening they may just be my new favorite band. They've got an amazing blend of sounds that seem to pull from every genre known to man and then some and with the addition of the uber talented Mark Lanegan of Screaming Trees, Queens of the Stone Age, solo and collaborative fame on vocals they couldn't go wrong. I swear that guy is EVERYWHERE. Last year his collaboration with Isobel Campbell Ballad of the Broken Seas seemed to be all over the place and he shows up this year not only on this album but also on what could be the greatest movie soundtrack ever made for the Dylan film I'm Not There. (Which I've been composing a post about for nearly the entire year and just haven't gotten around to putting up.) This track is but a tidbit of goodness from a beautifully crafted eclectic album for all. Check out more of their tracks via Myspace.



The Cake Sale - "Some Surprise"


My music buddy Ashley turned me onto this Oxfam charity album last year and I loved it. With artists like Glen Hansard, Damien Rice, Lisa Hannigan, Paul Noonan, Nina Persson, Gary Lightbody, Gemma Hayes, and Josh Ritter contributing how could I not?! For those who are interested, this version of the song features Paul Noonan and Lisa Hannigan. There is another version she did with Snow Patrol's aforementioned Gary Lightbody but that wasn't the version used in last week's episode. For more information on where you can purchase your own copy of The Cake Sale and give a little bit to Oxfam, go here.


And the .zip file for all...

Crash Into Me, Part I - Grey's Tunes - Season 4, Episode 9

"I wanna scream so loud for you, 'Cuz I'm so proud of you."

In Loving Memory
of
Dr. Donda West

Kanye West - "Hey Mama"

Kanye West - "Stronger"

Forever Young

You didn't think I'd forgotten about the Grey's tunes did ya?! The songs from last night's episode were a lot better than the episode itself so I'll just let them do the talking. I did like hearing someone call Bailey "Mandy" though...that was cute.


Ben Lee - "What Would Jay-Z Do?"

Ben Lee is such a quirky cat. I dig that about him. A lot. His new album Ripe hasn't grown on me the way Awake Is The New Sleep and Breathing Tornadoes but this is my favorite track from it and I was glad to hear it play last night. Everyone should ask themselves this question at least twice a day. I think we'd all be better for it. The awesome Aussie is currently on tour throughout the country (stopping in my town in early December...YAY!!) and you can check out dates on his Myspace page and buy the albums at a music retailer near you or as always on iTunes.



Chris Garneau - "Black & Blue"

Chris Garneau made another appearance on Grey's last night. If you're following along at home this is his second song featured on the show. The first was on the second episode of this season "Love/Addiction" and I said what I wanted to say then so I'll just redirect you here.




Rilo Kiley - "Breakin' Up"

Like there's anything I could write here about Rilo Kiley that hasn't already been regurgitated in a million blogs a million times. Jenny Lewis and Co. have taken the Indie music scene by storm in the past few years and as much as I try to shy away from all that type of madness and I wasn't on the Rilo Kiley bandwagon with the rest of the world but I gotta say I LOVE their latest album Under the Blacklight. It's oh so fantastic and may even end up on my year end list. I suppose Rilo Kiley are one of the major Grey's success stories since their song "Portions for Foxes" made a huge splash after being featured in the debut episode.




Tegan & Sara - "Call It Off"

I'm not sure and I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I'd be willing to bet that Tegan & Sara are probably the most featured band on Grey's. I can think of at least 7 of their tracks that have been played on the show. If they're not then they have to be tied with Joe Purdy and Brandi Carlile for the spot. This track is from this year's The Con which dropped in July and has been profiled all over the place ever since. The Canadian twins also just released I'll Take The Blame an EP to accompany their release if you will and they're all over North America playing sold out shows now through December 6th. After that they'll be circling the globe to the land down under and points all through Europe until the end of March. Catch 'em if you can!




Cary Brothers - "The Last One"

Cary Brothers is yet another artist that the music folks on the show just cannot seem to get enough of. He also has a new album out titled Who You Are and that's where you can find this track. I have a love/hate relationship with Cary. I love his music and yet I really haven't been impressed with his live sets at all. It pains me to say that, it really does but that's the truth. But, I'm gonna give him another chance when I see him with Ben Lee and Katie Voegele. Hopefully he'll change my mind. If you're inclined to see hit set and decide for yourself what you think of his live show then check him out on tour when he comes to a town near you. You can find dates here.


The .zip file I seem to always forget...

Forever Young - Grey's Tunes - Season 4, Episode 8

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A...Oklahoma, OK!

If you’ve been reading and not just stopping by to download and scram then by now you know that I’m a proud Okie. No, not from Muskogee but an Okie nonetheless. Today along with my Grandma and my dear friend Renea my state is celebrating a birthday. 100 years ago today Oklahoma became an official state and the wild wind’s been sweeping across the plains and hills of our fair land ever since.

Football Friday nights, fried food, family and faith are what I think of most when I think about home and while I’ve traveled to a lot of different places and always seem to find something to love about each one, there is no feeling in the world like crossing the Oklahoma state line and coming home. The people here are kind like nowhere else on Earth.

Contributions to the world by Oklahomans are vast and many. Astronauts, athletes, actors and authors have all called this state home but it's the musicians that really add so much to our diverse culture. So today in honor of the state that I love to call home I thought I'd post a plethora of songs that have been written about it as well as some tracks that were spawned from groups that have some Okie roots. Enjoy!


Gene Pitney – “24 Hours from Tulsa”

George Strait – “Tell Me Something Bad about Tulsa”

Jason Boland & The Stragglers – “If I Ever Get Back to Oklahoma”

The Jayhawks – “Tampa to Tulsa”

Kevin Fowler – “Lost My Heart in Oklahoma”

David Frizzell & Shelly West – “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma”

Merle Haggard – “Okie from Muskogee”

Reba McEntire & Vince Gill – “Oklahoma Swing”

Reba McEntire & Ronnie Dunn – “Does the Wind Still Blow in Oklahoma”

Son Volt – “Tulsa County”

Kenny Rogers – “Tulsa Turnaround”

Rufus Wainwright – “Tulsa”

Don Williams – “Tulsa Time”

Neil Young – “The Last Trip to Tulsa”

Stoney Larue – “Oklahoma Breakdown”

The Tractors – “Tulsa Shuffle”

Tom T. Hall – “Tulsa Telephone Book”

Wade Hayes – “The Day That She Left Tulsa”

Waylon Jennings – “Oklahoma Sunshine”

Asleep at the Wheel – “Take Me Back to Tulsa”

Bob Wills – “Take Me Back to Tulsa”

Billy Joe Royal – “(Don’t Let the Sun Set on You in) Tulsa”

Cross Canadian Ragweed – “Boys from Oklahoma”

Van Zant - "Oklahoma"

Bruce Springsteen – “My Oklahoma Home”

Three Dog Night - "Never Been to Spain"

Spade Cooley - "Oklahoma Stomp"

Casey Donahew Band – “Tulsa”

Charlie Pride – “Oklahoma Morning”

Deke Dickerson – “Tulsa Baby”

Eli Young Band – “Oklahoma Girl”

J.J. Cale - "My Gal"

B.J. Thomas - "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head"

Toby Keith - "I Love This Bar"

Alice in Chains - "Heaven Beside You"

Woody Guthrie - "This Land is Your Land"

Hinder - "Lips of an Angel"

Leon Russell - "Tight Rope"

The Flaming Lips - "Yeah Yeah Yeah Song"

The All-American Rejects - "Swing Swing"

Roger Miller - "King of the Road"

Restless Heart - "I'll Still Be Loving You"

Rascal Flatts - "Fast Cars & Freedom"

Blake Shelton - "Old Red"

Mel McDaniels - "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On"

Journey - "Open Arms"

Hanson - "Penny & Me"

The Gap Band - "You Dropped the Bomb on Me"

Color Me Badd - "All For Love"

Carrie Underwood - "Jesus Take the Wheel"

Bread - "I Would Give Everything I Own"

The Nixons - "Sister"



It wouldn't be a proper post without this song from the famous Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Oklahoma!

Oklahoma!

"Physical Attraction...Chemical Reaction"

I suppose it was bound to happen that I would come up empty handed on the Grey's song front at some point but I'm sincerely bummed that it did. Last week the song "Pouring on the Gasoline" by Calahan played and I've no idea where to get my hands on it. It's a first and hopefully and only. So...if you happen to have a copy of the song and want to hook up all the Grey's fans, let me know. In the meantime we'll just have to settle for these other great songs that I love from last Thursday's episode "Physical Attraction...Chemical Reaction."



Derek Webb - "Name"

One genre that is noticeably lacking in my collection of music is Christian/Gospel. Even though I love the sentiments I find in the music and feel there is definitely a time and a place for it in everyone's life, often times I find it's too preachy for my taste so I don't find myself drawn to it much. Derek Webb is one of the very few artists in that scene that don't make me cringe every time I put their music on. In fact, he's got a song called "Wedding Dress" that I quite love that caused a big stir within the Christian machine a few years back because it used the word "whore" and they considered that explicit lyrics. Oh well...whatcha gonna do? My friend Jessica turned me onto Derek years ago and I've only halfheartedly kept up with him but I was really pleased to hear him on Grey's and hopefully this will generate a good buzz about his feel good tunes. And speaking of feeling, I have a live cover of one of my very favorite Bob Dylan tunes, "To Make You Feel My Love" that he did with Sandra McCracken that I think is pretty fantastic. So, here that is too. Derek's more than just a shiny head and a warm voice though...he's a bit of an entrepreneur and a philanthropist as well. NoiseTrade.com is a little something he's and some friends have come up with that will allow users to download music from independent artist free of charge. How cool is that?!?! He's also heavily involved in the non-profit organization To Write Love on Her Arms that is dedicated to helping those who struggle with addiction, depression, suicide get treatment in a loving, hopeful environment. If those aren't reasons enough to check Derek out then I don't know what more you need.





Joe Purdy - "San Jose"

Ahhh, my buddy Joe showed up on Grey's yet again. It's really no surprise that they love him as much as I do. He's a stand up, class act all the way and he makes music that will just break you in half sometimes. I've talked about Joe before and I still feel the same way. This song is from his latest album (which I swear he makes a new one every month!) Take My Blanket & Go and while it's not new to me, it remains one of my favorites to see him play live. If you've been on a deserted island and haven't heard Joe's music and haven't made it to a show to see his live set, I can't urge you strongly enough to do that. I recommend starting from his first albums that are rough and rugged and working your way forward to the Grey's era. They're all spectacular and so is he. Even if he is an Arkie. And, as a quick shout out, check out Brian Wright & The Waco Tragedies for more great tunes. B. Wright is my official Joe Purdy show photographer and he does a damn fine job of it.



Northern State - "Iluvitwhenya"

I won't say much about Northern State since it would really be redundant given that I just posted about them a few weeks ago in a Grey's post. I will tell you that I did listen to that album on my weekend drive and it was pretty great and this was one of my favorite tracks from it. It's fun times...f'real.






Priscilla Ahn - "Rain"

I really, really, really love the delicate simplicity of Priscilla Ahn's music. Thanks to my love of Joshua Radin I was turned on to her and I'm so glad I was. She fits in so well with the Hotel Cafe crew and reminds me a LOT of my girl Schuyler Fisk and they both compliment Mr. Radin oh so well. And she looks a lot like one of my other favorite girls in the world, Rachael Yamagata. Overall, she's just pretty as a picture as my Granny would say. Her EP is available on iTunes (which I'm not a fan of) or you can get a real life copy at the Filter store online which is what I did. She's visiting our neighbors to the north later this month and then she'll be touring the left coast in December so check her out and then tell me all about it so I can be sufficiently jealous.



And for Giada who commented asking about the instrumental song that played when Meredith and Derek were sleeping together, here it is...

MerDer Theme

And for those of you who love the .zip files, here are the songs that played (minus Calahan's "Pouring on the Gasoline") for your enjoyment.

Physical Attraction...Chemical Reaction - Grey's Tunes - Season 4, Episode 7

"I always seem to end up back in pieces on your floor."

I have a deep and abiding love for Will Hoge. My love affair started in the late 90's when Will fronted a band called Spoonful and released an album called Tales Begin to Spin that I still don't know how I came to own and that I cannot for the life of me find at the moment. After just one listen I was infatuated with the sound of his voice and I’ve been following his solo career ever since. His studio albums, Carousel, Blackbird on a Lonely Wire and The Man Who Killed Love are among some of my all time favorite discs but it's his healthy collection of live efforts that aren't to be missed. I can listen to them time and again and I especially love to listen to Will while driving. Something about his music lends itself so perfectly for a road trip. While perusing Hastings with my sweetie a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon Will's latest studio release Draw the Curtains and was instantly irritated that I didn't know he had a new album out this month and elated that I had it in my hand. I immediately forced it upon my other half and we listened to it the better part of Saturday afternoon. He dug.

Will is an amazingly talented singer/songwriter with a worn sound that infuses blues, rock and country in a way that few others before him have. He's drawn comparisons to legends Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan and rightfully so. Like those great artists before him, Will marches solely to the beat of his own drum and luckily for him that's been appealing to a mass of loyal listeners. Draw the Curtains is an album full of songs that showcase Will at his best…making music that tell the stories of a life.

Kicking off with the heartbroken ballad “When I Can Afford to Lose” the tone is set for the rest of the album and it almost makes me wish I were nursing a broken heart at the moment. Will sets the scene for what seems to be the destruction and resurrection of love on the nine tracks that follow. The post Katrina "Washed by the Water" and break-up ditty "Dirty Little War" aren't new to fans but they're revamped here on his first effort for Rykodisc. This album is one for the ages and there's more of what we already love from Hoge & Co. throughout. "I'm Sorry Now" is another of my favorites and the country tinged "The Highway's Home" represents perfectly what life on the road is like for the group. And they should know...they are constantly on the road and you can catch them at any one of their many stops along the way through the end of this year and into 2008:

Upcoming Shows

• 11/07/07 in Omaha, NE @ Slowdown
• 11/08/07 in Kansas City, MO @ Grand Emporium
• 11/09/07 in St. Louis, MO @ BlueBerry Hill
• 11/10/07 in Columbia, MO @ The Blue Fugue
• 11/15/07 in Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
• 11/16/07 in Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club / Lounge
• 11/17/07 in New York, NY @ Webster Hall
• 11/18/07 in Ithaca, NY @ State Theatre
• 11/23/07 in Birmingham, AL @ Workplay
• 11/24/07 in Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
• 11/29/07 in Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
• 11/30/07 in Baltimore, MD @ 8x10 Club
• 12/01/07 in Falls Church, VA @ The State Theatre
• 12/05/07 in Phoenix, AZ @ The Rhythm Room
• 12/06/07 in San Juan Capistrano, CA @ The Coach House
• 12/08/07 in West Hollywood, CA @ The Troubadour
• 12/12/07 in Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt's Tiki Lounge
• 12/13/07 in Denver, CO @ The Walnut Room
• 12/15/07 in Oklahoma City, OK @ Wormy Dog Saloon
• 12/27/07 in Huntsville, AL @ CrossRoads
• 12/29/07 in Chattanooga, TN @ Rhythm & Brews
• 12/30/07 in Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theatre
• 12/31/07 in Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
• 01/16/08 in Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone
• 01/18/08 in Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
• 01/19/08 in Austin, TX @ Antone's
• 01/23/08 in San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
• 01/26/08 in San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
• 01/31/08 in Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
• 02/02/08 in Park City, UT @ Suede
• 02/04/08 in Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre
• 02/06/08 in Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theatre
• 02/08/08 in Chicago, IL @ Double Door
• 02/09/08 in Indianapolis, IN @ The Music Mill
• 02/20/08 in Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club / Lounge
• 02/22/08 in Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club

Draw the Curtains is an aching album...a record full of broken pieces that fit together perfectly. It's one of the best I've heard this year and certainly one that deserves recognition. And, since this is really my first post about Will I thought I'd offer up some samplings of his work for the masses as well as a few tracks from Draw the Curtains. Enjoy!



From Spoonful's Tales Begin to Spin:

Will Hoge - "Sunshine Burn"

From Carousel:

Will Hoge - "Carousel"

Will Hoge - "Ms. Williams"

From Blackbird on a Lonely Wire:

Will Hoge - "Baby Girl"

Will Hoge - "Someone Else's Baby"

From The Man Who Killed Love:

Will Hoge - "Woman Be Strong"

Will Hoge - "The More That I Know (The Less I Like You)"

Will Hoge - "Lover Tonight"

From Draw the Curtains:

Will Hoge - "I'm Sorry Now"

Will Hoge - "When I Can Afford to Lose"

Will Hoge - "Dirty Little War"

Will Hoge - "Washed by the Water"

And two live covers from Mr. Hoge that I love...

Will Hoge - "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (Shirelles Cover)"

Will Hoge - "Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers Cover)"

Kung Fu Fighting

I was inundated with emails over the weekend from dozens of people who were looking for the music from Thursday night's Grey's Anatomy. Sorry for having a life, folks. Please keep in mind that this is just a hobby. Anywho...the music was good, the episode was just so-so for me. How many fans of The Office enjoyed seeing Roy survive his parachute fall? I always liked the shit out of Roy but not as much as I love Jim. I did like that George and Izzie were just too tired to have sex though. Usually that doesn't happen until after you're married with children but whatever. Here's the music you've been so desperately wanting...enjoy!



Imani Coppola - "Raindrops from the Sun"

Please tell me you remember 1997's "Legend of a Cowgirl". It was all over the radio...you have to remember it. I still put it on nearly every 90's mix I make. Enjoy it again with me. It came from Imani Coppola's Columbia Records debut Chupacabra and it's her only major label album to date. She didn't stop creating music though...she just started doing it her own way by recording at home and self releasing the albums to the public save 2004's Afrodite from Mental Records. To be honest she wasn't a blip on my radar all these years but I received a copy of her latest effort The Black & White Album last month and was a little smitten and have it on my "To Blog" list. From everything I'm seeing other people are liking it too so that's a good sign for her. Hopefully she'll keep on making music on her own terms like the strong Aries woman she is and the rest of the world will take notice. With an appearance on Grey's, it's sure not to be too long.





The Magic Numbers - "Let Somebody In"

I struggled a lot with not putting Those The Brokes on my best of list last year. I listed them among the contenders and in retrospect I don't think that was truly fair given the fact that it's still one of my favorite albums to listen to from start to finish. Oh well, ya live and ya learn and ya keep on listenin' to the music. I didn't love it as much as their self titled debut but it's still excellent. The Magic Numbers are quite unique in that they are two pairs of brother/sister teams comprised of the Gannon's and the Stodart's. It's an interesting dynamic for sure. If you haven't yet heard of them I'd suggest starting with that aforementioned debut and work your way forward onto some of their live recordings including their covers which are loads of fun. If you happen to live in Europe, check out one of their live shows in the coming weeks.




Kate Nash - "Merry Happy"

Oh I do so love me some saucy British gals and Kate Nash ranks high at the top of my list. I've been listening to her since she blew up on Myspace last year and was thrilled to finally get my hands on Made of Bricks earlier this summer. "Merry Happy" is one of my favorite tracks so I'm fairly certain I squealed a little bit when I heard it playing from the boob tube Thursday night. She's touring hot and heavy in support of the album and is selling out everywhere so if you want to see her, get on it fast.






Buddy - "Say a Lot"

I heard of Buddy via my Morning Becomes Eclectic and Hotel Cafe addictions but sadly didn't really delve too far into finding out more about them. I know they're big on the television soundtrack circuit though as they've had their music featured on One Tree Hill & Jennifer Love Hugetits' show Ghost Whisperer. Alterations & Repairs is the album you can find this and 11 more great tunes on so I suggest you get a copy for yourself here.






New Buffalo - "Cheer Me Up Thank You"

Sally Seltmann is New Buffalo and I've been digging her latest album Somewhere, Anywhere for awhile now. It's not an every day listen but it's a long, hot bath with candles around the tub listen for certain. The Aussie native is teaming up with Missy Higgins and Tim Rogers for dates all over down under this month and into December so make me jealous and check them out. Here are the dates. All of Sally's work can be purchased via iTunes so get on it.




Miss Li - "Don't Try to Fool Me"

Miss Li (Linda Carlsson) is new to me and I'm pretty stoked about having been introduced to her music. I'm a big fan of jazz and this Swedish sensation has one of the most jazz based eclectic sounds I've heard in a long while. She's got a quirky voice that reminds me a bit of Regina Spektor so fans of Ms. Spektor will probably enjoy Miss Li as well. Her influences range far and wide:

The Mills Brothers, The Carter Family, The Kinks, Django Reinhart, Nelson Sanders, Hank Williams, Kate Bush, Taraf Du haiduk, Bill Monroe, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, Van Dyke Parks, The Beatles, Little Richard, Steve Marriott, The Monks, Edith Piaf

I love, love, love when people take a bit of everything they love and turn it into a recipe that's uniquely their own. She's done that and it's great. Check out her latest effort Songs of a Ragdoll or the album that this track comes from God Put a Rainbow in the Sky by purchasing them here.

And here's a .zip file of all the songs from last Thursday's episode. Enjoy!

Kung Fu Fighting - Grey's Tunes - Season 4, Episode 6