Taken from the Gretchen’s Wheel ep, awry.
Song Of The Day: Gretchen’s Wheel, “awry”
Matata: Wanna Do My Thing: The Complete President Recordings (RPM Records)
Kenyan-based Matata was once hailed as “the best band from Africa,” and this two-disc collection highlights an excellent band that did indeed have great promise–and it also serves to show the dangers of compromising one’s art for commercial success.
Tammy Wynette: Sometimes When We Touch/Higher Ground (Morello Records)
The Eighties proved to be a fallow period for a lot of classic country musicians, Tammy Wynette included. These two late-period records are exceptions to the rule; one, a fine take on contemporary sounds; the other, a true retro country record that featured an all-star cast.
Song Of The Day: The Peacers, “Haptic Chillweed”
Taken from the forthcoming Drag City release, Introducing The Crimsmen.
Song Of The Day: Mercury Rev, “Holes” (Live In Istanbul, 2011)
Taken from the Mercury Rev release, Istanbul 2011 Deserter’s Songs.
Song Of The Day: Xander Harris, “Jaws Of Saturn”
Taken from the forthcoming Xander Harris release, Termination Dust.
Song Of The Day: Tom Armstrong, “Thunder Clouds”
Taken from the Tompkins Square release, The Sky Is An Empty Eye.
Bobby Darin & Johnny Mercer: Two Of A Kind (Omnivore)
Teen pop sensation Bobby Darin was a creative risk taker. Conventional wisdom would state that him teaming up with elder songwriter Johnny Mercer and the Billy May orchestra for an album of turn of the century standards was a recipe for disaster for the early rock and roll star. But the gamble paid off, resulting in one of his finest records of his sadly too-short career.
Song Of The Day: Daniel Hart, “Madeline and Pipsqueak”
Taken from the collection, Music From S-Town.
Blonde On Blonde: Rebirth/Reflections On A Life (Esoteric Recordings)
Welsh progressive rockers Blonde On Blonde overcame the loss of their frontman and visionary, releasing two promising but ultimately commercially unsuccessful albums.