Sometimes she's just chicken and then she messes it up other times

Don Chaffer's been busy. Apart from recording/engineering/production work, he's managed to release two stellar records in the past few months. Both are affordable, digitally released records (75 cents a song!) - and most importantly they're filled with great songwriting and compelling production value. Here's a song from each album to whet your appetite. Buy the song or record or whatever.

The Khrusty Brothers "Sympathy for Jesus"
This song has terrific, irreverent, insightful lyrics. You'll love the moment when Jesus pours himself a drink.
Buy now ($)

Waterdeep (Lori on vocals) "Easy Does it"
The voice, the whistling, the swooning, floating melody!
Buy now ($)

You're too beautiful

Kevin Drew, of Broken Social Scene renown, is coming out with a new record. If this song is any indication of what's to come i'm just going to love it. His delicate vocal delivery is to die for, and i love the BSS instrumentation and approach to the sonic field.
Kevin Drew "Tbtf"

By all acounts you really should have died

For the last couple of years people have been trying to get me interested in Andrew Bird, and for some reason i just couldn't get hooked. Every couple of months i would listen a bit, then move on. Enter Amy Winehouse, who is alphabetically right before Andrew Bird in my iPod. My obsession for her Back to Black threw me into Bird's The Mysterious Production of Eggs so many times that it finally took root. This is my favorite track from that record. The arrangement is beautiful with the strings and whistles and the drum sequencer. There are some great vocal harmonies in there too - and some wonderous ringing electric guitar chords.
Andrew Bird "Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left"

iTunes ($)

Catching up: 4 new posts

I've been socking away songs for a couple of weeks with the intention of getting them posted, but time's got away from me. Lots a work and bike-riding and painting. So... today you'll find 4 new songs posted! Enjoy!

Get it straight or say goodnight

Greg Nelson (a friend of mine from high school) recently sent me a CD compilation as a part of this mix CD club thing that another of my HS friends started up. I could go on about that but i won't (it's been fun!). Greg's mix is great, and i've especially been enjoying this Stevie Wonder cover of The Beatles "We Can Work It Out." A funky reinterpretation of the original, straying just enough to add some soul/funk/freakness while keeping the integrity of this definitive Beatles track.
Stevie Wonder "We Can Work It Out"

iTunes ($)

Would you whack a man if i told you to?

I love Herman Dune. David-Ivar has the most wonderful phrasing and silly story-making. This is from the Jackson Heights EP.
Herman Dune "The Enemy's Gone But You Can't Go Home For Shelter"

Devastation

Loren was listening to The Besnard Lakes the other day on his iPod, which reminded me that i had been planning on checking out their record. While some of it is a bit overly dramatic for me, I particularly like the overblown electric guitar-driven rock songs. "Devastation" is my favorite. It's HEAVY, but the harmonies on the vocals are blissful and dramatic without being silly.
The Besnard Lakes "Devastation"

iTunes ($)

Maggie don't you cry for me no more

music.for-robots.com just did a post with a new Bishop Allen called "Rain". Last year these guys did an EP for each month and thereby released a ton of good music. "Costume Ball" is from the April EP (one of my favorites!), which also contains one of my top 20's from 2007 ( a song called 'Flight 180'). This one is some kind of fun, rollicking rock music.
Bishop Allen "Costume Ball"

iTunes ($)