Double team
XM Radio and iTunes pulled a wicked 1-2 punch this week on my pocketbook. My XM receiver has a "Memory" button, which allows me to save the name of a song and artist, up to twelve or fifteen stored at once. So earlier in the week I transcribed my list since I figured I was getting close to filling it and I didn't want to lose anything to FIFO. Then I hit up the iTunes Music Store. Oh yeah.
I got an interesting mix of music. Mostly full albums actually, a few singles, and then a few singles that had been on K's mind some time ago. I also put a few songs on my wish list, waiting to decide whether I might want to get the album or only the single. So for the rundown of what I got and what I want, here goes:
- Samantha Stollenwerck's album Square One is pretty darn catchy. XM Cafe (Channel 45 for those of you lucky enough to get satellite radio) has been playing "Missed the Sunset" and "Frank Sinatra," both of which are quite pop-y, but I like 'em, and some of her other stuff is pretty soulful a-la-Alicia-Keys. In fact, Samantha (only her first name is on iTunes) described her own music as "Cali-Soul."
- Glen Phillips used to head Toad the Wet Sprocket. Recently he and Nickel Creek put together an album under the name Mutual Admiration Society. Winter Pays For Summer is his second solo album I think, and since a few of the tracks were playing on 89.1 back in St. Louis and XM Cafe now, I decided to get the whole thing. Overall good album, though after one listen and another time having it play in the background I can't think of a single song that stands out strikingly. Well worth the purchase though.
- I don't know what's up with my taste lately, but I've really gotten into a few songs by Jem and decided to get her Finally Woken album. Very listenable, though it makes me feel like I'm shopping at The Limited.
- Picked up Darden Smith's album Circo after hearing "What are we gonna do" on XM. Chill. Very chill. Just the right amount of Americana without crossing the border into Country. Not that Country is bad...
- Another pop-like bouncity song is astroPuppees "Firecracker Boys." Apparently astroPuppees is one person (Kelley Ryan), not a group, but she records under the astroPuppees name not only because it is a darn-cool name but because she often brings in guest musicians of mild fame. Her website is particularly suited to name-dropping, as all the artists she's recorded with or covered or who have done covers of the same songs she's covered are boldfaced. But, I must say, the song got in my head and stayed there, and it brings a smile to my face every time I hear it. It's just plain fun.
- I want to get Lucid 3 and I believe that I'll probably get the whole album All Moments Leading to This. The New Zealand trio's "A.M. Radio" has been heard on XM Radio quite a bit lately, and I think I may have heard but just not "memory buttoned" some other stuff of theirs. So this is up on my wishlist now.
- Matt Duke has a song "Focus" that I heard and like enough to push the button, but can't for the life of me remember what it sounded like. Unfortunately, this one's not on iTunes for now, so I guess I'll have to live without it.
- Oh, and I bought a real CD! Willy Porter re-released an old, no-longer-available disc titled "Dog Eared Dream," which I purchased Tuesday on his website. It came in the mail today and is excellent. He does some great stuff on the guitar, and is just all-around a good listen.
So that's my latest music list. There were a few other tracks I picked up, but some of them are a surprise for K so I can't post them here yet. Meanwhile, check some of the tunes I pointed out above. If you like good music, you won't be let down.