The first Friday Music of 2009!
First up, as promised — a track from Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward’s project, She & Him. The album is a mix of folk, pop, and a strangely 70s-style country, with all songs written by Ms. Deschanel with the exception of two covers (Smokey Robinson’s “You Really Got A Hold On Me” and The Beatles’ “I Should’ve Known Better”) and a traditional (“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”). Here’s the opening track — She & Him – “Sentimental Heart.”
Japanese Cartoon is the rock/post-punk/alternative side project of hip-hop artist Lupe Fiasco (although “the band” vehemently denies this, saying that he’s only the producer — but it’s fairly obvious that the lead singer, “Percival Fats”, is Fiasco putting on a comically fake British accent). I *LOVE* this track, and I don’t care who’s responsible. Japanese Cartoon – “Heirplanes.”
A track from The Killers new album that was used to good effect in the recent 11th-Doctor-announcement episode of Doctor Who Confidential, played over a montage of past Doctors being heroic: The Killers – “Spaceman.”
For those who liked “White As Diamonds”, which I posted last month, here’s another track from singer-songwriter Alela Diane, proving that the first one was no fluke. This woman’s voice gives me shivers. Alela Diane – “Dry Grass & Shadows.”
Proving yet again that Dave Grohl is a like-minded music geek, the Foo Fighters have done a b-side cover of one of my favorite obscure 80s new wave tracks, originally by The Passions: Foo Fighters – “I’m In Love With A German Film Star.”
Speaking of 80s — Most folks (in the US, at least) only became aware of her after “Nothing Compares 2U”, and the subsequent pope-photo-ripping scandal, etc., but my favorite work from Sinead O’Connor still remains the single from her first album, 1987’s The Lion and The Cobra, which I first heard on KJHK in my freshman year. Sinead O’Connor – “Mandinka.”
Lastly, something curious and wonderful. I read about this guy in Time Out New York — Darcy James Argue is the leader of a Big Band which he calls Secret Society. This 18-piece group’s sound is a mix of Jazz, Soundtrack Score, Funk, Rock, Fusion…nobody quite knows what to call it. They’ve been covered by everything from the jazz press to Steampunk Magazine. Check out the website for more info and more live recordings. In the meantime, give this a listen: Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society – “Ferromagnetic (Live at Le Poisson Rouge).”
Enjoy. If you have problems with the links, try copy-and-paste.
Glad to have you along in 2009.