Back to work

Posted by downpourblue in Music

  1. Cubefigures

    January 3, 2012 3:28:37 PM EST
  2. Even if, like me, you have a decent job, going back to work among the gray fabric walls lacks a certain charm. A musical commiseration takes the edge off.
  3. I don’t dislike my job, but dragging myself back to work after a winter vacation wasn’t easy.  I played this song by The Turnback several times late in the afternoon the day before in anticipation. Like many melancholy songs, this one can make a person can feel better for having listened.
  4. Happy new year.  Really.

Welcome home, little one

Posted by downpourblue in Music

  1. Flickr
    December 29, 2011 3:29:14 PM EST
  2. Up until recently, my husband and I have been in sort of an extended battle with our 10-year-old (alias Young Blue) regarding her piano lessons, which she had really soured on.  Rather than cause Young Blue to hate learning music altogether by forcing her to continue, we gave her the out of choosing a new instrument, provided she would be reasonably serious about it and get in regular practice.  We had discussed drums and a few other options, but Young Blue hadn’t settled on anything.  We were starting to wonder what we needed to do to get the kid back on track.  Music is an integral part of education as far as we’re concerned, and a big part of our family as well.  We find the idea of her not learning music unfathomable; even the kid agrees that she should study something, but she and the piano simply did not get along.  We all agreed that by January she would have chosen her new instrument.  We had been discussing a new direction for weeks, and we still weren’t sure where we were headed.  There was no concrete answer from Young Blue.  Perhaps we would just need to choose for her? Continue reading →

Five New Pop Holiday Songs That Don’t $*(%!

Posted by downpourblue in Uncategorized
  1. Christmas Without You.  Lannie Flowers gives us a twangy-guitar litany of Christmas regrets that is probably more appropriate to listen to with a bottle of beer than with an eggnog.
  2. Cdbaby
    December 14, 2011 12:50:45 PM EST

  3. I’ve Been Good This Year.  The Turnback will rock your socks off with this one — I hope Santa brings you a new pair!  The uptempo rockabilly sound suggests that you get those decorations up quickly.  You will not want to throw a holiday party without this on your playlist.
  4. The Smile of Rachael Ray. David Mead brings us a wistful holiday story without being sullen.  He presents his little world in wordplay that deftly avoids gimmick, and it’s utterly believable.
  5. NPR
    December 14, 2011 12:50:45 PM EST

  6. Christmas’ Sun.  Here’s a big, warm Christmas ballad from Italian band Cirrone.  They have nailed the smooth vocals and melodic arrangement of classic power pop, with that same let’s-hold-hands feeling that you got from “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” (at least the first handful of times, before it was overplayed by Coke to death).
  7. Merry Christmas Around The World.  You’ll be bopping along to this happy tune by Australia’s Joe Algeri & The Sugarbits when you remember (probably at the chorus), “Hey, this is a Christmas song!”  And that’s a good thing in this case.  Smiles all around.
  8. Bonus: The Jewish people (my people!) may suffer from a shortage of pop holiday songs, but please see my list below for some “Chanukah Uncommon” music.

My “Chanukah Uncommon” playlist →

First off, no one in America can help but notice that Christmas corners the mass-popularity market in holiday songs.  That is no surprise, and I enjoy a good number of them.  Chanukah songs are a much smaller market, and some of them are just as treacly as any other holiday song that you’d rather not hear over and over.  However, a little research on my part allows me to offer a Chanukah playlist that you might enjoy.  If you want to find my choices all in one place, I’ve made it into a Spotify playlist.

Feast of Lights –They Might Be Giants.  Just as quirky and original a song as you would expect from TMBG.

Miracle – Matisyahu.  Yes, the Orthodox Jewish reggae artist leaves his mark on the festival of lights.

Chanukah Song – Adam Sandler.  Thank you, Adam Sandler, for bringing us one of our few mass-market popular songs for Chanukah.  It’s not quite as funny without the element of surprise, but still worth it.

Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah – Barenaked Ladies. A surprisingly straightforward rendition, but these guys are talented enough to keep the cheese factor to a minimum.

How Do You Spell Channukkahh? – The LeeVees. A pop enlightenment that explains the spelling of, for example, the two titles above.  Set to a good groove, you’ll be nodding your head all the way through (both in rhythm and in agreement).

Happy Joyous Hanukkah – Indigo Girls.  It’s an unexpectedly old-fashioned folksy offering from the queens of neo-folk.

Oh Hanukkah – Meshugga Beach Party. I can’t tell you how much I love this.  Most of this album is a hoot, but I now can’t get through the season without at least one listen to the surf-music rendition of this particular song.

Spin Dreidel Spin – The Klezmatics.  Klezmer is no new invention, but there’s nothing dusty about The Klezmatics.

The Great Menorah Debate – Neal Katz.  A lesson in a song, but deftly delivered.  If you didn’t know about this part of the Chanukah tradition (or even if you do), you may find it interesting.

(I’m Spending) Hanukkah in Santa Monica – Tom Lehrer.  I spent many enjoyable hours listening to comedy albums with my family, and Tom Lehrer was often in rotation.  A combination of nostalgia and true enjoyment of his goofy rhymes put this number on my playlist.

Hanukkah Dance – Woodie Guthrie.  It’s a fun, earnest, pretty goyishe rendition of a Chanukah song, but I love Woodie Guthrie and find this number appealing.  I hope you agree.

The Hanukkah Waltz – Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.  Bela Fleck and the Flecktones unleash their inner klesmerim with great skill and groove.

12 Most Groovy Power Pop Websites

Posted by downpourblue in Music

  1. Hgd
    December 14, 2011 10:12:59 AM EST
  2. Image from Howie Green Gallery
  3. The article has been getting passed around some on Twitter…
  4. “
    RT @miyuki1115: 12 Most Groovy Power Pop Websites 12most.com/2011/12/14/groo… 11位に我らが @powerpopacademy が!♪
    Marlene Lipson
    December 14, 2011 11:34:52 AM EST
  5. I have a little blog on WordPress now, too.
  6. This is starting to be fun!