Choose Your Own Adventure, summer edition

It finally cooled off enough today for me to go out for a run just as it was getting dark tonight (almost 9pm, I love the long summer days). There was a humidity in the air, and as I ran facing west, towards the mountains and Pikes Peak, the sky was flaming orange and lightning was crackling electric all around me. Kinda scary, but also very cool.

I had my iPod on shuffle and three great songs came up in a row that struck me as being perfect for my now-completed summer mix. So now, if there were one or two (or three) songs in there that you didn't care for (be it your Steve Miller Band, your Weezer, etc), you can do some customized drag and drop substitutions. All three of these would fit just fine for your summer listening pleasure.

SUMMER SUBSTITUTIONS:

Sunshine (live) - Matt Costa (alternate link)

The Best I Ever Had - Chris Isaak (alternate link)
(forgot how much I love that Isaak b-side)

Time Of The Season - Snowden (alternate link)

A note on that last one: if you can get past their repeated flub of the chorus lyrics (it's "time OF the season FOR loviiiiing..."), the beat is insanely good. And the original song is a cultural watershed in my book for being the first time in popular culture that someone posed the all-important question, "Who's your daddy?" Go Zombies.

Springsteen tribute show planned at Carnegie Hall

Bruce Springsteen is set to get the tribute treatment from the musical community on April 5 at Carnegie Hall in New York. If you were lucky enough to click on the ticket sale website on January 31, then you may have already snagged yourself a pair of tickets (in what concert producer Michael Dorf is calling a "premature leak." Those are always a bit embarassing). Tickets legitimately went on sale Monday (and seem to be sold out) with the proceeds benefitting the Music For Youth program, as with previous tributes to Dylan & Joni Mitchell.

The benefit show will feature appearances from Badly Drawn Boy, Pete Yorn, Steve Earle, Chris Isaak and Josh Ritter, among others. I can't find any recordings of Isaak ever covering Springsteen (some fan correct me if I am wrong), and same for Ritter (although there is plenty of press likening him to Springsteen's songwriting). But here's some hints of what the night may sound like . . .

Thunder Road - Badly Drawn Boy

Dancing In The Dark --> Murray (live) - Pete Yorn

State Trooper (live) - Steve Earle


And if I may, how awesome would it be to see these humble suggestions added to the lineup?

Hungry Heart - Jesse Malin

For You - The Format

No Surrender (live 9/30/05) - Eddie Vedder
(yeah, I've posted this before, but it's one of my absolute favorites)

I'll have a blue Christmas without you, Chris

Maybe it's the huge blizzard that has (this time seriously) immobilized my city, but I am feeling all holly and jolly. I think that my favorite Christmas album that I am playing the most 'round the house this yuletide season is Chris Isaak's 2004 Christmas CD.

In addition to rockin' retro covers of several old standards, there are five originals and duets with Stevie Nicks as well. It's got such a nice cozy feel to it, with a hint of the surf/jangle/crooner vibe that makes me love Chris. I do recommend buying the whole thing for your Christmas enjoyment -- it's one I look forward to taking out each year. Some people have an aversion to Isaak, but not me. There is nothing but love in my heart for that man.

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Chris Isaak
(duet with Stevie Nicks)

Pretty Paper - Chris Isaak

(for good measure:)
Pretty Paper - Roy Orbison

Gotta Be Good - Chris Isaak
(check the fun & naughty innuendo)

And this song's not on the album, but I have categorized it in my iTunes as a bonus track for the CD. The shimmering cymbal roll at the beginning of the track is reminiscent of the sound of the waves - just me and Chris 'round a fire on Ocean Beach singing the season.

I'll Be Home For Christmas (bonus track) - Chris Isaak

And, here's one thing that I had completely forgotten about that made me smile when I opened the CD this year:

Monday Music Roundup

My heart is still pounding and my hands are shaking from the intensity of the Italy v. Australia match that Italy just won on a penalty kick (during which my ability to breathe momentarily left me). FORZA ITALIA! That was gorgeous.

And as of this very moment I am #1 all by myself in the World Cup Bloggers Pool. That is a feat unto itself, since, as we have discussed, I am no kind of soccer superstar. I just have a way of predicting what glistening, lovely European men will do next.

It's a gift, really.


Diventa Blu
Arizona
Translated from Italian, this song title means "Become Blue," and is my salute to Gli Azzurri, the beautiful Italian national calcio (soccer) team in their blue jerseys. According to Connor over at iGIF, this band Arizona is going to be huge, but the fact that this song is sung in a breathy, ethereal Italian (almost Radiohead-esque), combined with the layered and interesting low-key electronica is enough to get me to listen. From their debut album Welcome Back Dear Children (coming out in August).


Thirteen
Wilco
This song, this whole tribute album is amazingly good. As I mentioned before, and as you have probably read on assorted other music sites, the Big Star tribute album (Big Star, Small World) has finally been released, after being recorded and then shelved for several years. Wilco's turn is sad and rich, nostalgic and truly lovely. I've listened to it over and over, but this whole CD is great, with contributions by Matthew Sweet, Teenage Fanclub, The Posies, Whiskeytown, Juliana Hatfield and more. Highly recommended and available on eMusic.


Dancing On The Highway
Elliott Smith
Chad over at Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands has pointed me in the direction of this unearthed studio recording, a lost "new" song, courtesy of the Elliott Smith fans over at B-Sides And Other Songs. It's a lyrically rich love song, known also as "Still Here" -- a rough mix demo from either the Figure 8 era, or the Basement Sessions. Take a listen. Thanks, Chad!


Eleanor
The Low Millions
I have been meaning to post this for months, but somehow forgot. Fronted by Leonard Cohen's son Adam Cohen (who has released French-language albums in his native Canada), California's Low Millions were named an Artist To Watch by Filter Magazine. This track, which did get some radio play, is yet another upbeat song about a breakup (!) with catchy hooks and a fabulous beat that kicks in at about 20 seconds. From their 2004 debut album Ex-Girlfriends (Manhattan Records).


Notice The Ring
Chris Isaak
This one is in honor of Mr. Chris Isaak's 50th (!!) birthday today. I tell ya, that man does not look a day over handsome to me. For his special day, his hometown of Stockton, CA dedicated today as "Chris Isaak Day." This song celebrates all that is rogue, feisty, and wonderful about Isaak. A retro-rocker from 2002's Always Got Tonight.

Bruuuuce live, and R.E.M. cover Chris Isaak

Hello dear readers. Two quick hits for you today:

1. "The Arms of God, Vol. 2." Zip file mix of Bruce Springsteen, solo acoustic from 1995. Twelve tracks of music and an interview. Thanks to Renee for uploading this gem. Details about the setlist (and even cover art!) here.


2. R.E.M. does a moody cover of Chris Isaak's Wicked Game live. I love Michael Stipe's voice, he can do this one justice.

"Wicked Game" - R.E.M. (live)

I have also heard that Giant Drag does a distorted cover of this song as well, but have had no luck finding it. Anyone out there have it? Annie from the band emailed me back and she doesn't have a live recording, but maybe some uberfan out there?

Be good, kids.