...we've got the means to make amends. I am lost, I'm no guide, but I'm by your side. (Pearl Jam, Leash)
Monday, March 10, 2008
Jesse Malin takes a walk on the somewhat wild but mostly acoustic side
Well heck. Here it is Monday night. In addition to the time change creeping up on me, apparently I am also going to forget what day it is and therefore not put the finishing touches on the Monday Music Roundup. Which is now looking like a Tuesday Music Roundup. Terrific!
Jesse Malin's cover of the Lou Reed classic "Walk On The Wild Side" surfaced over on the Times UK site today for free download. It's from his upcoming album of covers, On Your Sleeve, due April 7th on One Little Indian Records.
It begs for comparison with some of the other other notable covers of this ode to transvestitism, back room darlings, and really smooth bass lines that sound what I would imagine heroin feels like.
Walk On The Wild Side - Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch Oh the horror, this was my first exposure to this song. I bought this cassingle from The Wherehouse at Vallco Fashion Park mall, probably with babysitting money. I know all the lyrics; to this day, Annie's cautionary tale is probably the reason I've never done hits that make heartbeats accelerate. She wanted to be a chemical engineer, makin 50 to 55 thousand a year. She took a hit, breathed two short breaths. One for life the last for death. Thanks Marky.
Walk On The Wild Side (live) - The Strokes Julian Casablancas always sounds like he is singing half-reclined on his counch and can't be arsed to get up, and I think he comes closest to channeling the delivery of Lou Reed. I love the way the moment in this cover when he hits the line about Jackie juuuuuust speeding away, and then of course that pretty rad guitar solo that Nick Valensi throws on at the end.
What is and never should be. Totally dig both the song and the album. The pasty nudity not so much -- if I wanted to see that, I'd just go step in my own damn shower.
"On Your Sleeve" :: New covers album forthcoming from Jesse Malin
According to the Jesse Malin website: "New record out April 2008 on One Little Indian Records in the UK and Europe, 'On Your Sleeve.' Full-length studio album of covers from Elton John to the Hold Steady, 14 songs plus 3 bonus iTunes tracks. Stay tuned for details."
Iiinteresting. I don't know what he's putting on it, but I would guess that this is the Hold Steady cover, and two other tenuous possibilities below:
YOU CAN MAKE HIM LIKE YOU (HOLD STEADY COVER) Jesse Malin at Vintage Vinyl 3/20/07
If you've ever seen New York rocker Jesse Malin in concert, you know that he can tell one heck of a story. He fills in small details and shades his characters in a way that very few other storytellers can replicate. I greatly enjoyed reading his heartfelt tribute in the current issue of NYC's Village Voice about the late great Hilly Kristal, patriarch of the legendary punk rock club CBGB.
Malin writes in part:
"I knew Hilly for more than 27 years, but had very few exchanges with him. I first played the club when I was 12 years old on one of those Monday audition nights. Nobody cared that we were underage. We didn't pass the audition, but I would eventually play there at least a hundred times. I could never tell if he liked me or not. Then one day, he walked over to the bar on an empty Tuesday night and bought me a beer. We spoke about his time there, and he told me he liked the bands that came back to visit after they had made it big. He told me he liked the Talking Heads because they lifted their own equipment. Maybe he liked me because I was lifting other bands' equipment with my 'Man with Van' schlep rock job.
In the mid-1990s, we were neighbors on what is known as the safest block in New York, East 3rd Street between First and Second avenues (next-door to the Hells Angels). We would occasionally wave to each other from across the way as he'd be walking home with his black leather briefcase. One night, I ran into Hilly at a party at Don Hill's nightclub: He had told me that he'd just gotten back from Beijing, China. I tried to visualize this Bowery cowboy in the great Red East. I figured he deserved to have some fun, and what else was he going to do with all that T-shirt money? "
New concert video & interview from Jesse Malin at Denver's Bluebird
I've been checking Blender.com regularly to see when they were going to post the video that they shot at the Denver Jesse Malin show a few weeks ago. Finally, it's up, and for all the filming (they shot the entire show) there's about 45 seconds of actual concert footage - the rest is a very interesting interview where he talks about his performance ethic, his songwriting, and how he found himself singing with Springsteen. I'd love to see the rest of the footage they got, but bah. It's still really good.
I got to see the fantastic Jesse Malin on Friday night at a criminally under-attended show (perhaps due to the borderline negligent website for the venue/promoter, which didn't even mention the show). After the show I thanked Malin for the sheer joy in the music that comes out through him when he performs. He is a musician full of heart, who knows how to rock. With an engaging stage presence, the new material sounded tight (balanced with his older songs) and he connected well with most of the crowd. The notable exception being the drunkie heckler in the front row with two bendy, feisty, lady-companions who kept interrupting Jesse during a very promising sounding story about moving a bed with a van in NYC and getting a phone call from Barbra Streisand's "people." Jesse utilized his NYC street-skillz with and told 'em to put a cork in it or leave (deservedly), and we never got to hear the rest of the tale.
Jesse hopped off the stage for his campfire moment where we all sat on the ground in a circle and helped him sing "Solitaire" and braid each others hair and make friendship bracelets. Actually, it had the air of effusive spontaneity (even though it was admittedly contrived for the Blender.com cameras that were filming the show) and made me feel happy inside. Especially when he sat down right next to me and we all belted, "I don't need any . . . I don't need any . . . I don't need anyONE!!" Go see him if you can this tour (oh and check the pics here and mini-video I was able to surreptitiously capture here).
Music for this week:
Long Forgotten Song The Thrills The two new songs posted on MySpace by Dublin's The Thrills are shimmering and lovely, making me look forward to the new album. Even though they are from Ireland, their songs sound like California. This tune, about "a long-forgotten song but everyone still sings along," sounds somehow like a song you once knew but forgot, and it feels weighty. It'll be on their upcoming album Teenager, due 7/23/07 with great cover art.
Vanilla Sky Paul McCartney I finally watched Vanilla Sky this weekend for the first time (thanks Tony!) and shame on me for it taking me so long. I was scared off by the mixed reviews when it first came out (and a general fatigue of Tom Cruise's smile) so I never took the plunge, even though it is a Cameron Crowe film and sweet bejesus I love him. Vanilla Sky blew me away -- it's my favorite kind of intelligent reality-bending/brain-messing movie with a marvelous soundtrack. For those who have seen it all the way through, think about the perfect placement of R.E.M.'s "Sweetness Follows" in light of what happens from that point forward in the film, even though you don't know it at the time. There's also priiiime placement of the eerie, icy, otherworldly sounds of Sigur Ros and some always-appreciated Jeff Buckley. The credits start rolling with this tune, penned by Paul for the film. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Head Like A Hole (NIN cover) Giant Bear Not to be confused with either Giant Drag or Grizzly Bear, Giant Bear is a Memphis five-piece that has decided to reinterpret Trent Reznor's seething defining moment as a fiddle-twinged bit of Americana-rock with shared male/female vocals. It's interesting, I'll give them that, and not unlikeable. Off their self-titled debut album due out August 14 on Red Wax music. Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi All-Stars) and Rick Steff (Lucero) also play on the album.
Collarbone Fujiya & Miyagi The first time I heard this song by Fujiya & Miyagi, I pictured it as the perfect soundtrack theme song for the movie of my life when I doll up and head out into the sparkling nighttime streets to wreak some sort of imaginary unspecified havoc. It's a pimp song, sleek and funky and absolutely irresistible. I don't know why three guys from Brighton go by Japanese monikers (other than perhaps a partial tribute to Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid?) but I ain't complainin. From their 2006 album Transparent Things, which I definitely need to investigate further.
The Devil Never Sleeps Iron & Wine
[let's try this new music stream thing? Let me know if it doesn't work] There are some songs from Iron & Wine that just devastate me in the best way possible; I think Sam Beam is an amazing songwriter. I thought I knew him, kinda had his sound pegged as the perfect soundtrack to activities like moping, looking out a window at the grey clouds, or falling asleep. So get ready for the sounds on the new album Shepherd's Dog (due Sept 25 on Sub Pop) -- the songs are just as wonderful, but with a heck of a lot more spitfire and pluck. This one sounds like something from another time, floating out the window of a neighbor's house into the humid summer night. The devil never sleeps because he went down to Georgia and is dancing to this.
******** Also, a final P.S. on Father's Day - after an immense father-feteing BBQ at my parents' house, I dozed off on the couch yesterday afternoon while my dad watched sports on TV. The sports channels are rarely on in my house (unless it's the Giants), so I had forgotten how comforting and nice it is to weave in and out of sleep on a full belly listening to my dad comment on the game to no one in particular.
New b-side from Jesse Malin :: Sister Christian (Where Are You Now?)
If you really want to be honest, I think we've all asked ourselves about the current whereabouts of characters from various '80s hair metal power ballads. Jesse Malin is no different than you and I.
This morning he posits the question to all of us: Sister Christian, where are you now? Night Ranger never sounded like this (although the 'Mats did). This is a b-side off Malin's new Broken Radio single (UK), and has that same anthemic rock and roll sound as the rest of the excellent Glitter In The Gutter album. Aside from some incongruous time-shifting in his lyrics here (he is alternately born in 1973, 1984, 1968, 1932) he also manages a few vivid couplets like, "foolin' around in the dark / back from college with carnal knowledge" and talks a lot about rocking - keep on moving, keep on grooving.
I am still in San Diego today, so no Monday Music Roundup will be coming. I've gotten to speak Italian to a group of folks outside the San Diego Museum of Art, meet a British guy named Usher holding a tiny Pomeranian, bowl and drink beer with my dad, and maybe if I'm lucky I'll get a patdown at the airport this afternoon. Oh, and also I got to see my little brother graduate college, which was awesome.
This video is all the music content I can swing this morning, it's Jesse Malin's new song "Broken Radio," off Glitter in the Gutter, which is really a beautiful tune. It stars Bruce Springsteen and the parts with both of them were just recorded a few weeks ago at Bruce's house/farm/studio in Colt's Neck, NJ:
Jesse has foxy eyemakeup. That's better than mine most days.
A few of my dear readers have found purpose and meaning in facial hair and have started a blog chronicling their moustache progress from April 1 until May 5 ("growing season"), thus joining the Cinco de Moustache movement. Important topics such as "World's greatest moustaches" (yes, Tom Selleck is in there) and "Take baby pictures of your moustache" are covered. One of these guys won my Stranger Than Fiction book title competition a few months back by saying if he wrote a book of his life, it would be entitled: "Facial Failure: My Everyday Struggle to Grow a Moustache (and Sideburns) that looks neither Pervy nor Predatory." So there's a precedent here.
Good luck, men. Be strong. And may the best . . . follicles win?
Music for the growing season:
Amy (Ryan Adams cover) Mark Ronson I don't even know what to think of this concept album as a whole (see tracklist), but darned if I have to admit that I like this reinvention of Ryan Adams as fat-beat bossa nova soul funk from British DJ Mark Ronson. You can dance to it, and I'd never expect it to work but I think it does. Ronson says "With Version, I’ve taken these songs that I love and turned them into Motown/Stax 70’s versions. I keep the utmost respect and appreciation for the original songs I use. I’m just trying to find something in it, add something to the arrangement or change a groove. It’s not like I’m thinking it’s a shit song that I can make good, it’s more like it’s a great song and I’m now going to make it bounce.” Thanks to reader Sara for the download link.
California Saga (On My Way To Californ-i-a) Beach Boys With summer coming, everyone should own at least one really good collection of Beach Boys songs. You've got myriad albums and repackaged reissues to choose from - I am liking the sunburned harmonies of their newest money grab album release The Warmth Of The Sun. Out May 22 on Capitol, it's got a few "new stereo mixes," plus some songs notably featured in popular movies lately (Feel Flows from Almost Famous and Sail On, Sailor from The Departed) and lots of oldie goodies. You really can't go wrong. I loved this particular song because listening to it was like playing a game of "Have You Ever" with the Beach Boys, with all the places in CA they're asking if you've been. I was like, "yes, yes, and yes."
Trouble Acute So for those paying attention at home, Los Angeles band Acute (featuring ex-members of Ozma and Poulain) just announced a string of tour dates supporting Jesse Malin. Jesse hasn't announced these dates yet, but let's just say . . . I know where I'll be on June 15. I really like the new Acute album Arms Around A Stranger (May 1, Help Records). It's produced by Dave Trumfio (Grandaddy, Wilco, My Morning Jacket) and shares some of that golden alt-pop goodness.
Destiny Calling James I can't believe I haven't posted this song before, but the advent of the upcoming release of Manchester band James' greatest hits double album (Fresh As A Daisy: The Singles, due next month on Universal) gives me just cause. Even though this tune originally came out in 1998 from James (think, "This bed is on fire with passion and love...") I just heard it fairly recently and it's been on one of my most-listened-to mixes in the car for months. A song about fame and being loved (and the fleeting nature of those things) set to these melodic jangly chords that I can always picture being hit with a flourish. I also love to sing the opening lines in my best Mancunian accent (that is to say, not very well).
Diamonds In The Dark Mystery Jets I'd read the NME yammering on about the hot UK superstars Mystery Jets for months, but didn't pay much attention until I got their new album (Zootime, on Hollywood's Dim Mak label May 8) in the mail yesterday. This is the lead-off teack and I find myself enjoying the Morrissey-esque vocals and the thrumming bass line. And then . . . I found out that the lead singer's dad is in the band. That is so oddball and rad I don't even know where to start. If I ever started a band and wanted to follow their model that means my dad could join and play trumpet -- from his days in the Army. He does a mean Taps.
Jesse Malin's excellent new album Glitter In The Gutter came out on Tuesday and he ushered it in with a "record release party" at the Bowery in NYC . . .
MALIN MESMERIZES AT BOWERY By DAN AQUILANTE
Jesse Malin - the former D-Generation punk mastermind - is poetic in the way he makes a few words explode with meaning.
His melodies range from ballads to Bo Diddley beat rockers, but what made him so compelling at his Bowery Ballroom gig Monday was his quintessential New York cool.
Malin is the successor to Lou Reed's crown as the lord of the City's underground. In his songs like "Riding on a Subway," "Brooklyn," "Hotel Columbia" and material from his latest solo record "Glitter in the Gutter," Malin captures the vibe of the city with sharp, in-your-face city attitude. He mixes sarcasm, humor and enough innocence to make even his lies sound true.
In his between songs he pokes fun at the Williamsburg hipsters who cross the bridge nightly to invade the Lower East Side, and he likes his obscure film references - quoting "King of Comedy" character Rupert Pupkin, "It's better to be the king for a night than a schmuck all your life." Malin even asked the "Marathon Man" question a half a dozen times "Is it safe?"
Without the dental work, the answer was yes.
Malin was in his element, even when he left the stage to sing from the center of the dance floor. Before he started, he convinced everyone to sit on the hardwood strewn with beer cups for what he called the concert's U2 moment.
If there was a single disappointment at this show, it was that everyone at the Bowery was buzzing about how Bruce Springsteen was going to show up to help Malin reprise their duet of the song "Broken Radio" off of the "Glitter" album. The Boss stayed home, but Malin delivered the song with a vehemence that said the Bruce assist wasn't essential to the number's goodness.
Malin is an underrated, old school player who is finally getting recognized as one of New York's great hometown voices.
I really, really like Jesse Malin's new album Glitter In The Gutter, coming out in the U.S. on March 20th on Adeline Records -- it may be his strongest and most cohesive album yet. It's exceptionally listenable, catchy and full of soaring hooks, but also with solid rock sensibilities, crushing lyrical turns, and some ace guest spots (Springsteen and Ryan Adams to name two). Not sure about the pink lettering on the cover, though. But I guess it's true what they say, real men wear pink.
This exuberant recent show from Ireland is a must-listen, nicely previewing some of his new material and ripping through the back catalog, with two great covers. I'd love to see him live again - he's so joyful in the middle of the music.
JESSE MALIN IN DUBLIN January 21, 2007 [FULL SHOW ZIPPED] * equals new song
The Glitter In The Gutter record release party is March 19th at the Bowery, for those of you lucky ducks in NYC. Definitely pick this album up when you can.
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 . . .
Ryan Adams --> Jesse Malin --> Butch Walker --> Ben Kweller
I have a couple of odds & ends to share, and the only obvious connection that I see is a version of Six Degrees of Ryan Adams:
1. Jesse Malin (pal) kicks off 2007 with an exuberant & rocking version of Cheap Trick's "Surrender" - cannot help but feel happy inside seeing this kind of visceral concert experience, Jesse throwing the glittery confetti at the stroke of midnight:
Direct link here if that embed isn't working (veoh? what's veoh?)
Oh, and speaking of glitter: prepare to be floored by Jesse Malin's new album, Glitter In The Gutter (which Ryan Adams guests on, as well as Bruce Springsteen and Jakob Dylan, and more). It is hands down the best thing I've heard in a good while - comes out in late February and start planning now how you are going to buy it as soon as it is available.
2. Butch Walker covering "Come Pick Me Up" (Ryan Adams song) with some girl I don't know at a recent Hotel Cafe show. I've been enjoying the party-hearty sounds of several tracks on his The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and The Let's-Go-Out-Tonites album, so the sensitive strummy take on this video surprised me. Also, the crowd seems titillated by the self-destructive nature of the lyrics; perhaps they've never heard the song before?
3. Ryan Adams and Ben Kweller are going to be appearing together January 16th (Tuesday) on Letterman with America (the band) to perform a version of the revamped "Ride On" from the new America CD.
Stream “Ride On” featuring Ryan Adams, Ben Kweller and Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne): Windows Media * Real * Quicktime
Also stream America's take on the My Morning Jacket song "Golden", featuring Ben Kweller and MMJ's Jim James & Patrick Hallahan. Windows Media * Real * Quicktime
4. Finally, two great Ryan Adams shows that I've been listening to via the Live Music Archive:
Jesse Malin is set to release his third record titled Glitter In The Gutter on March 6th 2007 on Adeline/East West. This album follows his two previous critically acclaimed releases: 2004's The Heat, and 2002's The Fine Art of Self Destruction.
Glitter In The Gutter was recorded in various studios over the summer in Millbrook, New York; North Hollywood, CA; and in Jesse's native borough of Queens, New York (and was accompanied by a running blog over on Jesse's MySpace). The album was recorded with members of Jesse's touring band "The Heat" and also includes special guest performances by Bruce Springsteen, Jakob Dylan, Chris Shiflett of the Foo Fighters, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age and long time pal Ryan Adams.
JoJo Pennebaker, son of legendary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker (Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix) documented the making of Glitter on film and will be putting that together as a half-hour piece to coincide with the release of the record. [source]
GLITTER IN THE GUTTER TRACKLISTING 1) Don't Let Them Take You Down 2) In The Modern World 3) Tomorrow Tonight 4) Broken Radio 5) Prisoners Of Paradise 6) Black Haired Girl 7) Lucinda 8) Love Streams 9) Little Star 10) Bastards of Young (Replacements cover) 11) Happy Ever After 12) NY Nights 13) Aftermath
If you are already planning ahead for New Year's Eve (my usual; a bottle of vodka and a shotgun), Jesse is playing at NYC's Don Hills, 9PM Dec 31. Tickets went on sale yesterday.
Jesse Malin's new album to feature Springsteen, Ryan Adams & a Replacements cover
From today's news:
Boss and More Guest on Jesse Malin CD 09/13/06
"Jesse Malin has just finished recording his third record titled Glitter In The Gutter, to be released in early 2007 on Adeline Records/East West. This album follows his two previous critically acclaimed releases: 2004's The Heat, and 2002's The Fine Art of Self Destruction. Glitter In The Gutter was recorded in various studios over the summer in Millbrook, New York; North Hollywood, CA; and in Jesse's native borough of Queens, New York.
Guests on the album include a special vocal performance by Bruce Springsteen, Chris Shifflett of the Foo Fighters, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, long time pal Ryan Adams as well as members of Jesse's own touring and recording band "The Heat." Many of the songs on the new album were written on electric guitar in Jesse's basement rehearsal studio in New York City over the past year.
After working up demos of the songs, Jesse chose to work with producers Rob Caggiano and Eddie Wohl of Scrap 60. The album will include an intimate acoustic version of The Replacements' classic 'Bastards of Young.' CD will hit stores in early 2007."
I love that title, Glitter in the Gutter. Can't wait to hear it. He's got a handful of shows coming up, mostly East Coast. Tomorrow night (9/13) he headlines one final show at The Continental in NYC, on 9/19 at the Barnes & Noble (!!) in Union Square, 10/1 in Ringwood NJ, 10/12 at the Tin Angel in Philly, 10/14 at the Club Cafe in Pittsburgh, and 10/18 at Schuba's in Chicago.
Here's the original 'Mats track that he covers on the new album, if you don't have it:
Some random interesting things I've seen in recent days (to sate you while I put the finishing touches on my most favorite post maybe ever, coming shortly):
۞ This looks interesting -- "Revenge Of The Book Eaters: Shows That Ask The Eternal Question: Words or Music -- Which Is Better?" In Chicago tonight with Ben Gibbard & Dave Eggers (and more), Los Angeles on Saturday with Jenny Lewis, Aimee Mann, Dave Eggers, The Mountain Goats and more, and San Francisco on Monday with Zach Rogue (of Rogue Wave), Aimee Mann, Jonathan Richman, Mark Kozelek, Dave Eggers (and more). Finally it hits Seattle on Sept 1, with some of the above folks plus Smoosh and Colin Meloy. (Audio from the recent NY event here, featuring Sufjan and David Byrne duetting).
The Bookeaters events kind of tie in with the recent podcast I contributed to, exploring the relationship of books and music, eh? In any case, sounds like something I would totally love to attend. How 'bout a Denver date? We read a lot here.
۞ Recommended reading from The Rawking Refuses To Stop -- Reinventing The Wheel: Indie Labels In The Digital Age. Thought-provoking reflection on the nature of blog downloads, album sales, hypothetical profit vs. the benefits of publicity for an independent band in the blogging world.
۞ This one's for all you '80s fans out there: A John Hughes Soundtrack Retrospective put together by Derek over at the PureBoredom blog. It includes all those songs you either love or despise from National Lampoon's Vacation, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty In Pink and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. And in the immortal words of Ferris: "A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon, 'I don't believe in The Beatles, I just believe in me.' Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus but it still wouldn't change the fact that I don't own a car!" Ahh, the wisdom of the '80s movies. They could write a book.
۞ So you think you know songwriting? How do you feel about folks like Tom Waits, Brian Wilson, Isaac Brock and Robert Smith judging your tunes? This year's International Songwriting Competition is open now through October 16. Have at it.
۞ Here's one to file under "Huh. I didn't know that but now I can squirrel that away in my vast musical memory": Jesse Malin writes in his latest update on MySpace about the progress of his new album: ". . . Had Kim from The Muffs sing a haunting melody on a track, repaying the background wo-oh's me and Danny Sage did 10 years ago on the Muffs cover of "Kids In America" on the 'Clueless' soundtrack."
Listen for yourself: Kids In America - The Muffs (with Jesse Malin & Danny Sage on BGVs)
An astute reader sent me a heads-up that Jesse Malin (warbling NYC singer-songwriter-rocker, former frontman for D Generation, longtime pal to Ryan Adams) has posted a previously unreleased song on his MySpace, recorded for The Fine Art of Self-Destruction sessions. Malin combines his fragile and aching voice with a plaintive melody here which builds into a stellar chorus - did I see Ryan Adams and Jesse sing this together in San Francisco in April? Who remembers what they duetted on? It sounded instantly familiar when I heard this warm song with a hint of lonesome country sensibilities.
These sound fantastic. Jesse Malin has been working on his third studio album (following The Fine Art of Self Destruction and The Heat) for what seems like an eternity. It will someday be released on Adeline Records, Billie Joe Armstrong's label, and if the sound of these tracks is any indication it will be a stunner (especially "Black Haired Girl" - I could listen to that one on repeat over and over again. It kind of seems like a very pleasing cross between Yorn and Mellencamp to me, on first impression).
Jesse has a unique voice that takes some getting used to -- like the first time I heard Neil Young -- but once it grows on you, I think you can appreciate his music for the richness it possesses. I saw Jesse open for Ryan Adams a few weeks ago and was impressed. Plus, I chatted with him a bit after his set and he was very heartfelt, very genuine (despite the sinister-sounding roots of his last name). Good traits in anyone.
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California, United States
FUEL/FRIENDS HAS MOVED! Please visit http://fuelfriendsblog.com...
"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there’s something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It’s the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part...."
-Nick Hornby, Songbook -
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Got something I should hear? Email me at browneheather@gmail.com. Each comment left here is also emailed to my inbox, regardless the age of the post.
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Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. If you represent an artist or a label and would prefer that I remove a link to an mp3, please email me at browneheather@gmail.com and I will immediately remove the file.
Well heck. Here it is Monday night. In addition to the time change creeping up on me, apparently I am also going to forget what day it is and therefore not put the finishing touches on the Monday Music Roundup. Which is now looking like a Tuesday Music Roundup. Terrific!
Malin is an underrated, old school player who is finally getting recognized as one of New York's great hometown voices.
An astute reader sent me a heads-up that 
