20050226
The New Groove of the Year nominees are: Marco Benevento/Joe Russo Duo, Bockman's Euphio, Tishamingo, New Monsoon, Lotus, and ALO (via JamBase Rhapsody)
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The Song of the Year nominees are: Counter-Clock World performed by Stockholm Syndrome(not available on Rhapsody), Fireflies performed by MOFRO(not available on Rhapsody), 40 days performed by Chris Robinson(not available on Rhapsody), In The Kitchen performed by Umphrey's McGee, Man With A Plan performed by Reid Genauer's Assembly of Dust, and Woody Guthrie performed by Leftover Salmon(not available of Rhapsody). Remember that you can listen to all of these songs if you visit the Jammys webpage (via JamBase Rhapsody)
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Archival Live Album of the Year nominees are: The Allman Brothers Band on 2/11/1972 at the Macon City Auditorium(Not available on Rhapsody), Bob Dylan's Live 1964, Jerry Garcia Band's After Midnight at Kean College on 2/28/1980(not available on Rhapsody), Jerry Garcia Band's Lunt-Fontanne at Lunt-Fontanne on 10.31.1987, New Riders of the Purple Sage's Live at Veneta, OR 08/27/1972, and Soul Coughing's New York, NY 8/16/99(not available on Rhapsody) (via JamBase Rhapsody)
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Live Performance of the Year(The Jammy's) The nominees for Live Performance of the Year are Aquarium Rescue Unit for their show at the Georgia Theater on 10/20/2004, The Disco Biscuits for their New Year's Eve show at the Hammerstein Ballroom, Phil Lesh and Friends for their show on 12/19/2004, Medeski, Martin and Wood for their show on Halloween with Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra and Cyro Baptista, North Mississippi Allstars Hill Country Revue show at Bonnaroo Music Festival on 6/11/04, and Umphrey's McGee with moe. at Bonnaroo on 6/11/04 (via JamBase Rhapsody)
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Studio Album of the Year(The Jammy's) The Jammy's Studio Album of the Year nominees are: Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra for Who Is This America?, Drive By Truckers for The Dirty South, Gov't Mule for Deja Voodoo, MOFRO for Lochloosa(not available on Rhapsody), Umphrey's McGee for Anchor Drops, and Medeski, Martin, and Wood for End of the World Party(Just In Case) (via JamBase Rhapsody)
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Live Album of The Year(Jammy Awards) The Live Album nominees are North Mississippi Allstars for Hill Country Revue:Live at Bonnaroo, The Slip for Live At Lupo's, Derek Trucks Band for Live At The Georgia Theatre, Widespread Panic for Uber Cobra, Keller Williams for Stage, and Yonder Mountain String Band for Mountain Tracks, Vol. 3 (via JamBase Rhapsody)
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Tour of the Year The Jammys are an award show put on every year in NYC to honor the best and brightest in the "jamband" scene. Among the categories are Tour of the Year, Live Album of the Year, Studio Album of the Year, Live Performance of the Year, DVD of the Year, Archival Live Album of the Year, Song of the Year(which you can listen to individually at the Jammy's website), Download of the Year, and New Groove of the Year. Visit jammys.com to vote for your favorites. The nominees for tour of the year are: Acoustic Planet(Bela Fleck & The Flecktones/Keller Williams/Yonder Mountain String Band), Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, Hallucino-Genetics/Primus, Phish Summer Tour, Ropeadope New Music Seminar(Charlie Hunter with Bobby Previte and DJ Olive, Sex Mob horns, Benevento/Russo Duo, Critters Buggin, Lyrics Born), Shake Holla and March(North Mississippi Allstars, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Rising Star Fife & Drum Band) (via JamBase Rhapsody)
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20050224
Thievery Corporation | Cosmic GameThievery have been making a nice living with their dreadlocks 'n' suits style of dubby world beats. Never too crunchy, their Lee-Perry-in-a-wine-bar sound continues with this release, which adds vocal guest spots from David Byrne and Perry Farrell, as well as Flaming Lips. The closer, "A Gentle Dissolve," encourages just that -- into your Eames lounge. - NB
20050223
Kings of Leon | Aha Shake HeartbreakThis is the best album I've heard in a long time. Well actually since Arcade Fire - Funeral, and before that TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Bloodthristy Babes. This one is up there though, a gem. These guys sound like the Rolling Stones ran over The Cars with with 2 models on board and a big bindle of cocaine. Their sound is raw with nasty lyrics to match about male impotence from long nights of partying, sex with groupies and girls lots of bald guy references (not sure I get that one). Did I mention that they can write a hook that will get caught in your head for days. And oh yeah, Caleb Followill might have the best voice in rock and roll of the 00's. I can't say enough about this album, I liked it upon first listen which made me think it would grow stale fast. BUT NO, 50+ listens in and I understand why the Brits (and U2) have been crowning them as the new "Kings" of rock n roll for two years now. If they keep maturing from album to album they way they have from their Youth and Young Manhood to this one, they will eventually replace the band they are opening for as the biggest name in rock and roll. Do yourself a favor and check out the Kings of Leon's Aha Shake Heartbreak. An addendum, the order of favorites on this album over the last 4 months has gone -> King of the Rodeo -> Milk-> Taper Jean Girl -> Bucket -> Soft. Yes, I'm 5 singles deep. Enjoy. -G$
20050222
Celebrate going over 1,000,000 live and kickin tracks on Rhapsody with the Million Track Playlist, testing out a new kind of Rhaplink. Please email me if this does not work. Also, email if you want your playlist blogged! - TK
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20050221
Ernie K-Doe | The Best Of Ernie K-DoeAnyone else hungry for Jazzfest? Here's an appetizer, an album that just went live this week by the late, legendary Ernie K-Doe. Ernie K-Doe started his singing career in his church choir and went on to sing with such spiritual groups as the Golden Choir Jubilees of New Orleans and the Divine Traveler. K-Doe recorded such hits as "A Certain Girl", "T'ain't It the Truth", "Come On Home", "Later for Tomorrow", and by far, his biggest recording was "Mother-in-Law", which sold millions. K-Doe used his fame and fortune to become a raging (then recovering) alcoholic, opening Ernie K-Doe's Mother-in-Law Lounge in NOLA and performing regularly there until his death in 2001.
20050220
Los Lonely Boys | Live At The FillmoreLos Lonely Boys' love of performing is almost palpable on this live recording of their "Texican Rock 'n' Roll." The Stevie Ray influence is clearly evident, and their trademark vocal harmonies dominate in the a cappella version of "More Than Love" and "Velvet Sky" -- and they cover Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba" and War's "Cisco Kid." The best thing? No lip-synching. - Sarah B.
20050218
Critters Buggin | Guest / Host / BumpaThe pioneering avant jazz/tronica fusionists Critters Buggin' have just added some back catalog to Rhapsody. Originally released back in the 90's and out of print for years, four early Critters albums were just re-released on Kufala Records with new artwork. Scary Skerik, Brad Houser and Mad Mike Dillon shine on albums Bumpa (1998), Monkeypot Merganzer (1997), Host (1997), and Guest (1994).
20050217
Chris Rock | Never ScaredWhether he's defending rap or talking about the war in Iraq, Chris Rock's innate ability to find the humor in any topic is astounding. Never Scared is Rock at his sharpest, drawing humorous parallels between seemingly unrelated things: Krispy Kreme donuts and dealing drugs, and Tupac's death and Seinfeld. - LR
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Blue Merle | Burning In The SunBlue Merle are an adult alternative band with a singer who's a vocal dead ringer for Coldplay's Chris Martin. The music is soft, some of it sounds like outtakes or lost demos from various Coldplay sessions. So, if you're waiting for the next release from Coldplay, this album would be good for you to chill out to. KFOG has been playing the single "Burning in the Sun" quite a bit in the last month, the mandolin and vocal combo make it quite the catchy number. - ES
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The Late Great Daniel Johnston | Discovered CoveredA great introduction to the simple, love-starved songs of Daniel Johnston. The first half features fans like the Flaming Lips, Bright Eyes, TV On The Radio, Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, M. Ward and Tom Waits taking on Johnston's songs and giving them new shapes. Then you get Johnston performing the sparse originals on disc 2. Great songs, you'll be singing along by the end. - JP
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Sound Tribe Sector 9 | ARTiFACTSTS9's new album ARTiFACT dropped this week. I bought it at the Cataylst shows and have been loving it more and more each time I listen to it. It is impressive that they are such skilled producers in the studio in addition to their primary art of the live performance. This album does not try to capture the energy of their live show in a studio setting, as many bands who thrive on live performance often attempt to do. Instead, it showcases another facet of their talent by creating a flowing, yet highly textured album that would sit more comfortably in the company of producer/dj albums like dZihan&Kamien, Clifford Gilberto and Prefuse 73. - JF
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Ray Charles | Genius Loves CompanyGrammy voters smiled on Ray Charles last night, showering him with eight awards at the mainstream music awards show. The R&B legend won five Grammys, including Album of the Year for Genius Loves Company, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals and Record of the Year for "Here We Go Again," his duet with Norah Jones. His posthumously released album of duets also scored three technical awards for engineering and arrangement, bringing the LP's total wins to eight.
20050211
Jimmy Smith was the grandfather of the B3 and influenced such notables as Dr. John, John "Jojo" Hermann, John Medeski, and others. Check out the Jimmy Smith Sampler and see why this man was so revered-Gerbil
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20050209
Jimmy Smith (1928-2005)
Jimmy Smith, the legend of the Hammond B-3, ruled the Hammond organ in the '50s and '60s and was still planning to perform at Yoshi's next week before he passed on yesterday. He revolutionized the B-3, showing it could be creatively used in a jazz context and Smith turned the organ into it's own ensemble, providing walking bass lines with his feet, left hand chordal accompaniment, solo lines in the right, and a booming, funky presence that punctuated every song, particularly the up-tempo cuts. With 54 records available in Rhapsody, his legacy will live on. Standout albums include Dynamic Duo (with Wes Montgomery), Back At The Chicken Shack, Organ Grinder Swing, and this year's Retrospective box set.
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The new Mercury Rev came out yesterday, check out The Secret Migration on Rhapsody. If you aren't familiar with these guys, they've pretty much followed the Flaming Lips path from loud psychedlic punk rock to visionary Baroque Pop. Some even say that Mercury Rev led the vision. They're both produced by studio mastermind Dave Fridman. Check these guys out, if the chips fall right hopefully this will be their "Yoshimi" - G$20050207
Crank Yankers
OK, so you probably know Rhapsody has comedy in it. But did you know it was so funny? Today, I stumbled across Crank Yankers and their three volumes of comedy - listen to Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3. Specifically, I'm LOL over here at "Spoonie Takes out a Personal" and "Waste Management" and "Dr. Drew Talks Hip-Hop" - TK
TV on the Radio
My Morning Jacket
Delta Spirit
Islands
Big Light
Bon Iver
Fleet Foxes
Dr. Dog
Great Northern
Pela
Bishop Allen
Spoon
Andrew Bird
Wilco
Band of Horses
Two Gallants
Great Lake Swimmers
The Avett Brothers
Cloud Cult
Kings of Leon
Band of Horses
The Slip
Cold War Kids
Rotary Downs
Margot & The Nuclear So and So's * The Dust of Retreat
Built to Spill
Brett Dennen
The Whigs
My Morning Jacket
The Format
Two Gallants
The Raconteurs
Dirty on Purpose
Ratatat
Beneveto-Russo Duo
My Morning Jacket
Apollo Sunshine
Andrew Bird
Fiona Apple
Dr. Dog
White Stripes
Spoon
Benevento-Russo Duo
Dungen
Stephen Malkmus
The Mars Volta
The Magic Numbers
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Sufjan Stevens
My Morning Jacket
Best enjoyed in the 54 minutes before sunrise, Summer in Abbadon has equal parts soft breath and raucous screaming, layered guitars and vocals that somehow equal something larger and gorgeous. This is a magical record, one of the best of 2004, and I believe Pinback's best effort to date. "AFK" will make you think twice, it's elusive and thoughtful. What a great record.
It's a flawless album, LP has the mark of a great album - no matter my mood, I can pop it in and listen to it straight through, start to finish. LP was my number one record of 2004. "Stay Where You Are" and give it a spin, also "Stay Tuned" for we hope there is more to come from Ambulance LTD.
You're only making this list if your album is stellar from start to finish. The 2003 release of Penturbia somehow eluded me until two years later, but I'll never forget it again. I love my canoe, and you too. It's one big world and one small me. When will I come to terms that the only constant thing in life is change? Every song, so good. Hear it.
See where genre-defying innovators The Slip started it all. This is the very sophisticated debut album created by three teenagers from Providence, R.I. Gecko features classic instrumentals "Munf," "Yellow Medicine," "Cumulus," and "Spice Groove," as well as lyrical favorites "Alsoa" and "The Weight of Solomon."
The first Ben Folds Five album is a masterpiece. This is a top ten record of all time for me. BF5 features the classics "Underground," "Best Imitation of Myself," "My Philosophy" and "Alice Childress" - honestly, every song has it's own merits, I never get sick of this piano pop record.
The final Pavement album is in my mind, their best. Before yoiu S&E purists bash me, go back and listen to the record. TT is a masterpiece, the songwriting is poetic and disturbing, but you'll never know until you dig deep. This is a lesson in how relationships end, some are pleasant and others are painful. If you are not grabbed by the pop beauty of "Speak, See Remember" or "Major Leagues" then dig deeper and read into "Bilie" or "Folk Jam" - just don't 'waste your precious breath explaining that you are worthwhile.'
The second BHTM album was recorded on a two track in basements in the midwest and the raw, underproduced sound has helped it stand the test of time. Even after fifteen years of years of regular listens, this record continues to shine brightly like "city burning like a dream" or like the light from a tower in the distance, just "broadcasting it's resistance through the rain and through the night. Listen, and you will believe that "yes indeed, there is a paradise...and a band is playing there."