In this edition, a couple of older discs as well as a couple from within the last year.
Marvin Gaye - "Here, My Dear": This is an oldie from 1978. I've never been a real Marvin Gaye fan, but this album is so different from his usual stuff. It's full of heartbreak and loss and grief over a messy divorce. He sounds like a completely different artist, dark-mooded and tired. Yes, it's still R&B/Soul, with some of the funk/jazz feel of that day. But his mind is clearly not on pop entertainment. Favorites: Is That Enough?, Everybody Needs Love, Sparrow.
E! - "A Man Called (E)": Mark Oliver Everett in 1992 before he became The Eels. Though still full of romantic melancholy (is it any wonder I'm a fan?) this is a fuller, lusher sound than his more spare and bleak later work. There are a lot more vocal overdubs here, and some stylistic nods to Beatles, Eagles and Beach Boys ballads. Plus the cover/CD booklet is cool. Favorites: Are You and Me Ever Gonna Happen, Looking Out The Window With a Blue Hat On, Nowheresville, Pray, You'll Be The Scarecrow, E!'s Tune.
Cloud Cult - "The Meaning of 8": They were one of the bands at the Rock the Garden event last month. I was pleasantly surprised by them. Yes, they were a little peculiar on some songs. I expected that from their promo material (and from a goofy e-zine/blog which features them sometimes.) But many of their songs were very approachable, too. I especially fell for "Pretty Voice" (lyrics in an earlier post), and decided to pick up the CD that one was on. Odd theme, this - sort of meditations on the mystical number 8. But it was a pretty good bargain at $10 for 19 songs. :)
The vocals could be stronger - from time to time they sound a little nasal and flimsy, but that may be purposeful, since on Pretty Voice they do just fine. The overall sound is primarily electronic, even when they bring in the strings (which they played on stage, it's not just studio stuff.) They do another interesting thing on stage. They have two professional painters creating artwork during the concerts, which they auction off after the show. Cool. Favorites: Pretty Voice, Chain Reaction, Chemicals Collide, Brain Gateway, 2x2x2, Hope.
Sia - "Some People Have Real Problems": You may know her from "Breathe Me" (lyrics just posted), a song from 2005 that still gets a lot of airplay. On this new album her sound seems to be maturing, as is her song selection. Several tracks are intense in lyric and arrangement, although her voice isn't really capable of being jarring in the way that PJ Harvey or Beth Orton can be.
She's cut more from the cloth of Feist, Imogen Heap, Emiliana Torrini. Sia will always be appealing to listen to and approachable even when she *tries* to be edgy or quirky. ;) Favorites: Lentil (in 3/4 time), You Have Been Loved, Academia (duet with Beck), I Go To Sleep, Death by Chocolate, Beautiful Calm Driving, Lullaby. Solid tracks all. Really, really good CD. I could listen to this one over and over.
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