Hello, all. I felt like I needed to just quickly tell you about two new releases
worth buying, by two artists working at the top of their games: Aimee
Mann's "Charmer" and Bettye LaVette's "Thankful N' Thoughtful".
Aimee Mann's new album is a real return-to-form, easily her best album
since 2002's "Lost In Space". Ten years I've been waiting for this,
geez! Superb songwriting and superb production, the album just sounds
great. She's also touring and will be in York, PA at the beginning of
November, I'm thinking of going. Anyone with me?
And Bettye LaVette continues to amaze. I've written about her here
before, when her last album ("Interpretations") came out. Definitely
the new Queen of Soul. This time she's covering an absolutely eclectic
mix: Bob Dylan, The Black Keys, Neil Young, Sly Stone, Tom Waits, Gnarls
Barkley, Savoy Brown, Ewan (Kirsty's dad) MacColl's "Dirty Old Town"
... once again with new arrangements and vocal choices that are top
notch, fascinating ... I don't really have the right words here. Just
buy it, download it, whatever it takes.
In the personal music department, just want to say that Matt Douglass
and I had a blast at the Woody Guthrie Tributes, with all of the other
terrific performers, many of whom I had never heard before but am really
glad I have now. I've uploaded videos of the songs Matt and I did (two
with the Stone Hill All Stars behind us -- or should I say around us?)
to YouTube, along with a little sound check video showing a bit of
everybody involved - here are the links:
Sound Check - http://youtu.be/lWwnj6fphqc
1st Show
Jackhammer John - http://youtu.be/GnOhHMi_OKQ
Oklahoma Hills - http://youtu.be/nYvosUGYYuM
Pastures of Plenty - http://youtu.be/um26SgSepiM
2nd Show
Jackhammer John - http://youtu.be/Bg1e2t3HCvk
Oklahoma Hills (speed-demon version) - http://youtu.be/uT4mNSuaX3M
Pastures of Plenty - http://youtu.be/00EFzHjeAb4
And finally, a couple of little reminders: Matt and I will again be
appearing at the Roots Cafe Singer-Songwriter Series at An Die Music on
November 11th at 5pm. We've both got some new material to go along with
some of our older songs, so I really hope you can make it. And, again,
we've just released a 4-song EP which can be downloaded at CDBaby.com,
or the individual songs can be found on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon,
Rhapsody, etc., just by searching for "Grayest Hits" or our names.
We're really very proud of what we put together -- it's not just two
guys and their guitars!
OK, that's it for now ... 'til next time,
Sam
