Filed under: american, cd review, charity, music | Tags: Amilia K. Spicer, Britta Phillips, Carmen Townsend, charity, Cindy Wheeler, Cover Album, Covers, Dala, Darcie Miner, Elk City, Euro-trash Girl, Heidi Gluck, Jill Sobule, John Doe, Josie Cotton, Julie Peel, Kate York, Kristin Hersh, Lori McKenna, Louise Post, Luff, music, Neil Young, Tanya Donelly, The Watson Twins, Veruca Salt
Sounds like: Fantastic, feminine reinterpretations and direct covers of Neil Young. Plain and simple.
For people very firmly rooted in Neil Young’s now classic music remaining untouched, this is not the CD for you. Neither is it for you if you’re not prepared to hear some of your favorite female artists singing a style yet unheard from them. However, those listed above will be sorely missing out, because ‘Cinnamon Girl’ is a wonderful example of a charity/cover album done right. Populated by some of the best female singers and songwriters around, the CD pays a wonderful homage to Neil, and yet stands alone as it’s own creation. The songs are mostly of the stripped bare variety, with just the bare essentials needed, and it works in every instance. All in all, a great CD, with endless talent and heart, worthy of many, many listens.
Album Sales Benefit: Casting for Recovery, a national non-profit support and educational program for women who have or had breast cancer.
Artists include: Tanya Donelly, Britta Phillips, Kate York, Lori McKenna, Jill Sobule with John Doe, Veruca Salt, Josie Cotton, Dala, Darcie Miner, Carmen Townsend, Euro-trash Girl, Julie Peel, Luff, Elk City, Amilia K. Spicer, Louise Post, The Watson Twins, Kristin Hersh, Cindy Wheeler, Heidi Gluck
Standout Tracks: Comes a Time covered by Kate York, A Man Needs a Maid covered by Dala, Ohio covered by Darcie Miner (and another by Dala, both great), Powderfinger covered by the Watson Twins, Walk On covered by Heidi Gluck
Best Played: whenever you need a female singalong moment with Neil Young
Filed under: american, cd review, indie, music | Tags: 2008, cd review, foo fighters, indie, Lucky, mellow, music, Nada Surf, pop, rock, Snow Patrol
Sounds Like: Snow Patrol and the Foo Fighters indie lovechild
For those who are familiar with Nada Surf, their latest release ‘Lucky’ may come as a surprise. At first listen, Lucky seems almost saccharine in comparison to previous albums, but don’t mistake the new, brighter sound and catchier lyrics for insincerity or excessive cheese. Lucky is just the latest evolution of a band who has been honing their craft for over a decade. For some diehard fans, Lucky has the potential to be a let down, but ignoring comparisons with albums of old, this newest venture by Matthew Caws, Ira Elliot and Daniel Lorca is a wonderful showcase of their talent and continued drive to create great, upbeat albums. And though some fans might not like the idea of sharing one of indie rock/pop’s best kept secrets, Lucky has the potential to garner the affection of a much broader and more varied audience than Nada Surf has ever had before.
Standout Tracks: See These Bones, Whose Authority, Here Goes Something, From Now On
Best Played During: Long, sunny day drives with the top down.
Current Resume: High/low (1996), The Proximity Effect (1998), Let Go (2002), Live in Brussels (2004), The Weight is a Gift (2005), Karmic – EP (2007), Lucky (2008)
Recommended research: Blankest Year (off 2005’s The Weight is a Gift), Inside of Love (off 2003’s Let Go), Popular (off 1996’s High/Low)
