August 20, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Crash Test Dummies – And It’s Beautiful Crash Test Dummies – “And It’s Beautiful” The upside to having a monster hit is that you gain a new audience that you can continue to impress. Though the spotlight has gone elsewhere since their single “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm”, from 1993’s God Shuffled His Feet, Brad Roberts… Read more »
August 19, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Mavis Staples – You Are Not Alone Mavis Staples (with Jeff Tweedy) – “You Are Not Alone” Though the Wilco frontman approached the legendary voice of The Staple Singers about working together in 2007, it took them nearly three years to make it happen. Tweedy brought seven songs to the studio, writing three more during… Read more »
August 18, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
The Swell Season – “Low Rising” Most artists try to get their music into movies as a marketing tool, rather than trying to actually star in the movie themselves. Though he had a small part in 1991’s The Commitments, Glen Hansard’s role in the indie breakout Once turned out to be a career changer, as he won… Read more »
August 16, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Citizen Cope – “I Couldn’t Explain Why” Clarence Greenwood built his career as Citizen Cope the hard way, surviving label shuffling and building a loyal audience through relentless touring. This song, from his latest self-released record The Rainwater LP, showcases the sound that he has made his own: a combination of acoustic guitars, live breakbeat-style… Read more »
August 15, 2010 by Paul Slavens
Tune in to the Paul Slavens show on KXT 91.7 FM and chat with Paul here on Art&Seek tonight from 8-10.
August 13, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Whiskeytown – Don’t Be Sad Whiskeytown – “Don’t Be Sad” This song, from 2001’s critically acclaimed Pneumonia, was released after the band had broken up. Produced by Ethan Johns (Counting Crows, Ray Lamontagne, Kings of Leon), this swan song is considered by many to be the finest example of Ryan Adams’ early songwriting and his… Read more »
August 12, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Steely Dan – “Dirty Work” Possibly one of the greatest songs ever written about an illicit affair, this song comes from Steely Dan’s 1972 debut Can’t Buy A Thrill. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker tried to sell their songs to Brill Building publishers for other artists to cut, but decided to form their own band… Read more »
August 11, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals – Tiny Light Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – “Tiny Light” Potter and her band, a product of Vermont, came onto the music scene by way of several summer festivals that grew an audience for their blend of 60’s and 70’s rock and funk. Potter’s bluesy rasp drives songs like… Read more »
August 10, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
Talk Talk – “It’s My Life” This Mark Hollis-fronted quartet was lumped in with the New Romantics of the early 80’s: Duran Duran, Roxy Music, and others. However, after achieving commercial success with It’s My Life and The Colour of Spring, they decided to change their sound, stretching into more ambient sounds and what is… Read more »
August 9, 2010 by Jeff Giddens
John Mellencamp – No Better Than This John Mellencamp – “No Better Than This” Mellencamp decided to take his music back to the roots of American folk on his latest record No Better Than This, produced by Fort Worth’s seemingly ubiquitous T-Bone Burnett. While on tour with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, he recorded at… Read more »
