Drift Away

I have a keyboard gathering dust despite my perfectly functioning two hands. I am ashamed. [Via Attuworld]

Eva Cassidy: What a Wonderful World

Eva Cassidy was a terrific folk, pop, and blues singer who passed too soon. This amazing video is of her closing song from her final public performance. Two months after this beautiful performance, she died from cancer. At the time of her death, she was virtually unknown, but her music has touched many more people since. Eva's music has reached the #1 position on the UK charts and been in the Top 10 in many other countries. In 2005, Amazon.com released a list of its top 25 best-selling musicians, which placed Cassidy in 5th position, behind The Beatles, U2, Norah Jones and Diana Krall.

My Zune is Kicking iPod's Ass in Growth

Oh yeah. I know how to pick them. I got the Zune, Microsoft's answer to the iPod, because I knew it would catch up someday. And today's that day!

According to a Wired.com report, Zune increased its market share by 33% since Q1 last year while Apple lost a point of it's market share. Eat it, iPod lovers!

Okay, so the Zune grew from 3% to 4% of the market while iPod slipped from 72% to 71%. Apple better watch out, because the Microsoft is on the move. At this rate it will only be... um... three decades before Zune overtakes iPod. (I wonder how we'll be listening to music then.)

Joe Jackson's Greatest Hits

I'm going to see Joe Jackson Monday night. He's composed and performed music since the 70s, earning five Grammy nominations and charting with hits such as "Is She Really Going Out with Him?", "Steppin' Out", and "You Can't Get What You Want (Till You Know What You Want)".

Joe is known for his literate lyrics and catchy pop/rock melodies. For your enjoyment, here are some of Joe's songs, lyrics, and music videos.

The Obvious Song

There was a man in the jungle
Trying to make ends meet
Found himself one day with an axe in his hand
When a voice said Buddy can you spare that tree?
We gotta save the world, starting with your land.
It was a rock 'n' roll millionaire from the USA,
Doing 3 to the gallon in a big white car,
And he sang and he sang 'til he polluted the air,
And he blew a lot of smoke from a Cuban cigar.

Nineteen Forever

Only my mirror sees me crying,
Each time I lose another year.
Wouldn't be a drag to be like you,
Settling down and having kids,
and telling them what to do?
Well I'm gonna stay nineteen forever!

Steppin' Out (briefly featuring a Miller Lite logo)

We are young but getting old before our time,
Well leave the TV and the radio behind,
Dont you wonder what well find,
Steppin' out tonight.

Real Men
(Note about the lyrics: Much like Randy Newman, Joe Jackson often writes from the perspective of less pleasant or confident characters as a way of telling a story.)

Man makes a gun,
Man goes to war,
Man can kill and man can drink
And man can take a whore.
Kill all the blacks,
Kill all the reds,
And if there's war between the sexes
Then there'll be no people left.

Is She Really Going Out With Him?

Tonights the night when I go to all the parties down my street.
I wash my hair and I kid myself I look real smooth.
Look over there! (Where?)
Here comes Jeanie with her new boyfriend.
They say that looks dont count for much.
If so, there goes your proof.

New Orleans and Marc Cohn Dance Back From the Grave

I enjoy this tune from Marc Cohn. If you love the mystery and essence of New Orleans, you may like it too.

No don't shed a tear,
But take their cue,
There's only one thing left to do in the name of every soul we didn’t save,
From the ninth ward to the quarter,
To the Mississippi border,
Dance back from the grave.

Here is Marc Cohn performing "Dance Back from the Grave."

Britians Got Talent Again

Last year, the Paul Potts video clip was one of the biggest viral videos around. Andrew Johnston might be this year's Mr. Potts. [Via Fazed]

Blinded by the Light

I always loved this song. Blinded by the Light was written by Bruce Springsteen, and despite all of his hits, the Manfred Mann's Earth Band recording of "Blinded by the Light" is still Springsteen's only Number 1 single as a songwriter on the Billboard Hot 100. Here from 1977 is Manfred Mann...



And here is the audio track of a '73 concert in which Bruce sings his own version of his song...

Mellow Thursday: Blue Moon by Mark Isham and Tanita Tikaram

Here's an old favorite of mine from Tanita Tikaram (whose dreamy sleepy voice may be an acquired taste) and Mark Isham (a terrificly talented composer and jazz trumpet player.)

Hot at SXSW

If you couldn't get to Austin, here are some of the hot acts that got some attention. [Via TrendCentral]

Duffy: Apparently the world is looking for a saner version of Amyu Winehouse. Duffy is a young Welsh soul singer has been compared to '60s chanteuses like Petula Clark and Dusty Springfield.



Yael Naim: This French singer-songwriter already had her song featured in a MacBook Air commercial, and once Apple anoints a new talent, you know what happens.



The Ting Tings: In January 2008 this co-ed Manchester drums/guitar duo was voted third in the annual BBC 6 Music poll of industry experts Sound of 2008, for acts to emerge in the coming year. In February 2008 they were the opening slot act on the 2008 Shockwaves NME Awards Tour. Up and coming!



The Dodos: This San Francisco band The Dodos wowed festivalgoers with their freak folk sound reminiscent of Animal Collective.

My Mellow Mix Tape

I've gotten out of the habit of sharing Mellow Thursday music, so here on a gloomy Monday (where I am) is an entire mix tape of mellow music featuring (mostly) guitar and voice. Enjoy Colin Hay, Teitur, Alexi Murdoch, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Ray Lamontagne, Simon and Garfunkel, Pinback, Nick Drake, David Gray, Sheryl Crow, Bryan Ferry, Regina Spektor, Imogen Heap, and Vienna Teng.

Relax and listen for a while.

Battle of the Bands

Who's bigger? The Beatles, Jonas Brothers, or Kelly Clarkson?

Wonder no more! Thanks to a new tool from Songkick, you can compare the MySpace, Blog, and Amazon popularity of up to three bands at once.

Just click here to try it out.

For the record, the Jonas Brothers are bigger than Kelly or the Fab Four based on MySpace profile views, friends, and plays. But Kelly wins on Amazon sales and The Beatles come out on top based on Songkick member ratings.

Acoustic Umbrella

My friend Thom seems a little too enamored with Rihanna's Umbrella, but I have to admit this version rocks (in a totally mellow, acoustic way, of course.) Enjoy Alejandro Manzano of Boyce Avenue...

California or Bust

I'm going to be out of pocket for several days, so my blog will go untouched until late next week. I'm heading to L.A., a land so magical it inspires much great music (and some so-so songs, as well.)

Have a great week. See you next week. And enjoy this Los Angeles music mix:


SeeqPod - Playable Search

The candidates want ch-ch-ch-changes

They can't all be for change, can they? [Via Attuworld]

South Park Opens for Rush

Cartman rocks! [Via Fazed]

Mellow Thanksgiving: Nessun Dorma

There's a lot to stress about over the holidays. Perhaps you're anxious about the state of the world and the war in the Middle East; or maybe it's the economy, real estate, or price of gas that weighs on you; or maybe you're just finding it difficult to be around family so much today.

One should never forget the darkness in the world that demands good people pay attention and take action--but it's equally important we also pay attention to the light around us. First of all, if you are reading this, that means you are better off than the vast majority of the Earth's population. And, chances are there are more than a few people who are thankful this Thanksgiving that you're on the planet.

So, take a moment to appreciate all the reasons you have to be thankful today. Perhaps this video of Pavarotti performing Nessun Dorma will help. It is one of the most beautiful songs I can think to share today!

Happy Thanksgiving!



P.S. If you ever wondered what the lyrics to this wonderful song are in English, here you go:

None must sleep! None must sleep!
And you, too, Princess,
in your cold room,
gaze at the stars
which tremble with love
and hope!

But my mystery is locked within me,
no-one shall know my name!
No, no, I shall say it as my mouth
meets yours when the dawn is breaking!

And my kiss will break the silence
which makes you mine!

(No-one shall know his name,
and we, alas, shall die!)

Vanish, o night!
Fade, stars!
At dawn I shall win

Vote for Regina!

We're big Regina Spektor fans on this blog. If you are to, then it's your patriotic duty to cast your vote... in VH1's Top 20 Countdown. Regina's video of Better is in the running for the Countdown. She competing against some worthy competitor (such as Feist, James Blunt, Good Charlotte, and Sara Bareilles).

Click here to vote.

RCRD LBL

Downtown Records chief Josh Deutsch and Internet entrepreneur Peter Rojas (Gizmodo, Engadget) have launched an online-only record label called RCRD LBL.

What is fascinating about the site is that the music is free! You can download DRM-free music to play on your computer or music player. The label is testing if it can make enough money off of sponsorships and advertising and give the content away for free. The music biz badly needs a new approach, so it will be interesting to see if this works.

Check out the music below--I particularly liked Cut Copy's Hearts on Fire, which reminded me of my old disco fave, Donna Summer's "I Feel Love."

Meiko - I like it!

I ran across this singer-songwriter on MySpace. Meiko reminds me a bit of a cross between Regina Spektor and Feist, two of my favorite singers from the past few years. She has a great voice and writes very listenable music.

Check her out at MeikoMusic.com. You can hear her entire album online and order it from iTunes, Amazon, or CD Baby.

U2's Wave of Sorrow

Here's an interesting video if you're a U2 fan (or not). Wave of Sorrow is a song that went unreleased on Joshua Tree, but the band recorded it for the upcoming deluxe rerelease of the classic album.

It's interesting to see how meaningful, personal, and detalied the lyrics are. Words that sound merely poetic are actually quite specific, derived from the band's moving experience helping feed the starving in Ethopia.