This is emphatically not a return to form. I’ve been sharing songs with friends and I thought it was a bit silly to not share them here too.

colo(u)rful houses in Bo Kaap

I quite like this Alberta Cross song. The whole album is good, too, though I don’t love every song.
Alberta Cross – Low Man (mp3)

Volcano Choir is a side project of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. This track was not what I expected, but it’s quite catchy/ good. And Justin’s vocals are wonderful as always.
Volcano Choir – Island, IS (mp3)

Soul Sides has been posting some fantastic stuff lately and you’d be remiss to not check it out. Bobby Freeman’s “Good Good Lovin’” is a classic blues-based, Motown-sound track with a hard driving sax part. They posted two tracks by the Metros and both are excellent soul tracks, but I like the dark, swaggering “Since I Found My Baby” better.

They also posted these oh-those-are-funny videos of Lushlife doing acoustic covers of classic hip hop tunes. They are so funny, until you realize they’re actually quite compelling. For example, this Jay Z cover:

I definitely am going to keep my eye out for Mayer Hawthorne after a few tracks of his I heard recently. Grab the breezy, oldies- and Motown-inspired “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’” at MBV.

I don’t know much about Monogrenade but I quite like folky The Acorn-reminiscent track “Ce Soir” that Anyone’s Guess posted.

The B-side of the Very Best 7″, “Yalira”, available here, is beautiful and worth the listen.

I’ve been listening to the Frightened Rabbit Daytrotter session a lot. The featured version of “My Backwards Walk” is great.

And, finally, if I’m posting, I feel it’s my duty to mention the great KevvyKev’s (one of KZSU’s own) 25th anniversary Bang the Drum concert with 25 DJs and 25 MCs. It’s definitely another impressive line up. Check out all the details.

boats in Kalk Bay, False Bay

So the month is up. I sit here with my bags packed, an empty apartment now across town and a boarding pass ready to be printed. This is it, the end of ipickmynose as we know it. What that actually means is yet to be seen, but I know I’m taking a break and if I come back, I’m not going to be blogging all the time.

I’m proud of what I’ve done here. 1137 posts over 860 days. But more than the numbers, I think I’ve written good stuff–though I still wouldn’t claim to be a “writer”–and championed plenty of bands that ought to be championed. I’m proud that I never put advertising on this site. It’s always been a labor of love and both a time and money sink, but I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t like doing it. It’s certainly been a fun pursuit.

I really have a lot of people I’d like to thank for help and support. Dave for kickass design work on posters for ipickmynose presents shows and other stuff for the site. Andy for introducing me to rad bands, making KZSU live mp3s sound better, and telling me when I was getting too full of myself as a blogger. Liz for being my unofficial editor and for being possibly my first reader. Smurph, for engineering all those KZSU sessions. All the song obsession panelists, especially Keith, my college radio hero. All the bands that I’ve met and have been great and appreciative. Fellow bloggers, for the encouragement and for introducing me to great bands, especially Will of New & Used Records, Ben, Christian and Emily of the Bay Bridged, Nick of Monosyllabic/ albondigas!, Scott of Anyone’s Guess, Oz of Hearya, Natalie of It’s Too Sunny Out Here, and Smansmith of Slowcoustic. Largehearted boy, Chromewaves and Gorilla v Bear for something aspire to.

I’d like to thank you, the readers. When I decided to branch off my music writing from my personal blog to a separate music blog, there was the implicit acknowledgment that I was writing for more than just myself. Initially I thought it would just be some friends and things and I’m still tickled that people who don’t know me read this. So thanks for that.

I’m not disappearing entirely of course. There will be things of mine on the internet that will still be around if you want to keep track of me:

• personal blog
• photo blog
• twitter
• last.fm

Anyway, keep ipickmynose in your RSS readers or check back in occasionally. Who knows what the future will bring?

The Miracles – What’s So Good About Good Bye (mp3) (buy)

If you listened to my radio show you almost definitely heard me play soul and you probably heard me play some soul gospel. There’s so compelling about some of it–fervor mixed with hard soul. I’ve pulled out some my favorites to share here.

Soul Gospel 8:

• Shirley Ann Lee – There’s a Light (mp3) (buy)
  
  This one is so simple: guitar, steady rim hits and voice, but it also succeeds by making all those work together so well. Her voice has so much depth to it.
• The Wright Specials – Ninety-Nine and a Half Won’t Do (mp3) (buy)
  
  Who doesn’t love a real rouser? This is an soul song that’s been done by everyone from Diana Ross to Wilson Pickett to Creedence Clearwater Revival, but there’s something about the energy in this one.
• Sam Cooke – Were You There (mp3) (buy)
  
  I had to include a song that brought soul from the church context to the secular. “Touch the Hem of His Garment” is amazing, but this version of the traditional song can’t be missed. Sam’s voice is top notch here but so are the backup vocals.
• Trevor Dandy – Is There Any Love (mp3) (buy)
  
  I think repetitive songs are just fine if what is repeating is completely awesome. I love the beat and the vocals and apparently so does Kid Cudi.
• Aretha Franklin – People Get Ready (mp3) (buy)
  
  There are so many good versions of People Get Ready. I love the original by Curtis Mayfield/ the Impressions and the live version by the Chamber Brothers is great too, but between the sweet production and Aretha’s unsurpassed voice on this one, I had to pick it.
• Rev. Columbus Mann – They Shall Be Mine (mp3) (buy)
  
  Motown (often on their sub-labels) actually put out some gospel, including the Wright Specials track above and this one. This one is very straightforward, but it’s just a really good example of this style.
• Gospel Supremes – Sinner Man (mp3) (buy)
  
  From the first notes of this song, I feel like it’s running away and all I can do is hold on. There’s something untamed and uncontrolled about it.
• Universal Jubileers – Childhood Days (mp3) (buy)
  
  This is a great soul funk song with some sweet pop sensibilities that happens to be about Jesus. The music definitely reminds me of another song, but the vocals are all original.

Bonus: pre-soul gems:

• Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Didn’t It Rain (mp3) (buy)
  
  I feel like no discussion of soul gospel would be complete without bringing up Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who mixes blues, driving guitar and distinctive vocals with gospel songs.
• Rev. Sister Mary Nelson – Judgement (mp3) (buy)
  
  This is a pretty old gospel recording but you can definitely hear some stylistic elements that carry over into the soul gospel tunes above.

If you want to hear more and better selections of music like this, hope Deep Fried and Sanctified comes back on the air at KZSU.

Here are a bunch of links and thoughts and things that have come up over the last few days.

–

Yup, Michael Jackson died. I’ve been pondering whether to post about it. If you want a proper tribute and a truly excellent MJ mix, head to Soul Sides.

I think something that people do realize and what I think is most amazing is that Jackson holds the record for best selling album of all time by a factor of >2X. That is, if the second best selling album ever (Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon and AC/DC Back in Black) sold twice as many records as they ever had, Thriller would still beat them by 20 million units. And with the way that record industry is going, I doubt that record will ever be broken. It had seven top 10 singles on it. You can say what you want about radio payola and major labels force-feeding people music, but I doubt a single record will ever capture so many people’s attention again.

Here’s a nice post with reminiscences by engineers and producers that worked with MJ. It gives a bit more insight into the musician Jackson was.

–

Ali Akbar Khan also died last week. He was one of the foremost proponents and teachers of classical music of North India. A master of the sarod, Khansahib was recognized, along with Ravi Shankar and Nikhil Banerjee, as having been instrumental in bringing Indian music to the west. The Ali Akbar Khan College of Music was local here in San Rafael and Khansahib lived locally so this is also a great blow to the local music community.

Listen to this beautiful piece that really shows his mastery of the sarod.

Ali Akbar Khan – Tarana in Bhupali (mp3) (buy)

–

On a lighter note, The Octopus Project (myspace) have released the first track off of their forthcoming EP, Golden Beds. I have a bit of a think for their rare tracks with vocals and this one works well. (via MBV)
Octopus Project – Wet Gold (mp3)

–

Over the weekend I watched Adele’s (myspace) performance of “Hometown Glory” (a song I wrote about recently) about half a dozen times. It’s gorgeous and her voice is spot on. I can’t find a video of just the performance, but you can find it within this full episode:

–

Who doesn’t love seeing some pure joy in music? See it when the Gaslight Anthem performs “‘59 Sound” with the Boss, one of their most obvious influences. I’m still enamoured with the song (and I know the words better than Springsteen). Brian Fallon, Gaslight’s lead singer, understandably milks this for everything its worth.

–

Finally, I don’t really get ripping on P4k. I don’t really pay attention to much that they do anymore (except for their news section), but Popsense took a different take: they reviewed every thing Pitchfork did for a day. Their final rating? 6.7. Pretty well done.

cred: ipickmynose

After a week off, I’m back on the air. My radio show, which is called “I Once Was Canadian”, on KZSU 90.1FM will run until 6pm PST. Listen on the “radio” (remember those?) or online. Maybe you want to listen?

You can follow along with my playlist online.

Update: Here’s my playlist and show. Unfortunately I missed the first hour.

KZSU – I once was Canadian 6/2/09 [second hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian 6/2/09 [third hour] (mp3)

• Iron & Wine – The Trapeze Swinger
  —
• Mark Kozelek – Up to My Neck in You [sound bed]
  —
• Fionn Regan – Put a Penny in the Slot
• Great Lake Swimmers – Concrete Heart
• Elvis Perkins In Dearland – Shampoo
• M. Ward – Rave On
  —
• Tallest Man on Earth – Shallow Grave
• Sufjan Stevens – Vito’s Ordination Song (acoustic version)
• Alexi Murdoch – Breathe
• Dawes – When My Time Comes
  —
• The Deep Dark Woods – All The Money I Had Is Gone
• Anni Rossi – Wheelpushers
• Dirty Three – Great Waves
• Swim Party – Sunlight & Sprawl
  —
• Wooden Birds – Bad
• Pinback – Anti-Hu
• ms john soda – Solid Ground
• Lightning Bug Situation – Message to Myself after Franny was Born
  —
• Laura Veirs – Where Gravity Is Dead
• Bishop Allen – The Ancient Commonsense Of Things
• Jake Shimabukuro – Thriller
• John Vanderslice – Too Much Time
• Mirah – Generosity
  —
• Adele – Best for Last
• Candie Payne – By Tomorrow
• Raphael Saadiq – Big Easy
• James Hunter – Carina
• Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens – What Have You Done?
  —
• Sam Cooke – Bring It on Home
• David Ruffin – Anything You Ask For
• Smokey Robinson & the Miracles – Tears of a Clown
• Henry Lumpkin – Don’t Leave Me
  —
• Alder Ray – A Little Love (Will Go a Long Way)
• The Orchids (US) – That Boy is Messin’ Up My Mind
• the Cadillacs – Speedo
• The Ronettes – Be My Baby
  —
• Camera Obscura – My Maudlin Career

Song obsessions are those songs that we listen to on repeat. I noticed that my obsessions are often a week long. I also thought that other people might have similar obsessions. I’ve collected a panel of a few like-minded individuals and gotten their “song obsessions of the week.” Quite often it’s easy to explain why the song is good; it’s much hard to explain why we’re obsessed. Maybe you’ll become obsessed with one of these.

–

Adrian (me):
David Ruffin – Anything You Ask For (mp3) (buy)

Wintersleep – Weighty Ghost (mp3) (buy)

I had a funny week of music listening. Almost none for four days while helping a friend with preparations for his wedding and then a few days driving around alone with six CDs, including two past mixtapes each with one of these songs on it and two more random mixes, each with one of these on it. Beautiful, foggy vistas and these songs sort of went together for whatever reason and I found myself hitting repeat on these past song obsessions.

–

Keith:
Margot & the Nuclear So Sos – Bookworm (mp3) (buy)

Ever come across a song you find obsesso-worthy, then find out it’s by an artist you had previously dismissed as dreck? That’s the case with this live track by Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s. It’s tough enough getting past the terrible name, but their studio albums seem to smother whatever flavor they might have under a whole bottle of caramel topping. After hearing this crisply engaging performance I even went back to sample the original and could find none its inherent charms. Hopefully they’ll ditch the desire to be the next Animal Collective and stop drowning their sound.

–

Funny, all of the songs this week are repeats. How about that?

cred: ipickmynose

Baseball is shortening my show again this week, so I’ll be on till 4:50pm PST. My radio show, which is called “I Once Was Canadian”, on KZSU 90.1FM will run until 6pm PST (or, actually, just before due to baseball again). Listen on the “radio” (remember those?) or online.

You can follow along with my playlist online.

Update: Here’s my show and playlist.

KZSU – I once was Canadian 5/19/09 [first hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian 5/19/09 [second hour] (mp3)

• P:ano – All of November, Most of of
  —
• Matt Pond Pa – Summer Is Coming
• Sufjan Stevens – No Man’s Land
• Andrew Bird – Fake Palindromes
• Laura Veirs – Where Gravity Is Dead
  —
• Apples in Stereo – Glowworm
• Olivia Tremor Control – Hideaway
• Beulah – Gene Autry
• Neutral Milk Hotel – Holland, 1945
  —
• The One Am Radio – Cast Away
• Low – In the Drugs
• The Low Anthem – Ticket Taker
• Sun Kil Moon – Gentle Moon
  —
• Or, The Whale – Fight Song
• Bruce Springsteen – The Last Carnival
• Bonnie Prince Billy – Death Final
• Great Lake Swimmers – Palmistry
• Langhorne Slim – Restless
  —
• Booker T – Get Behind The Mule
• Gospel Supremes – Sinner Man
• Shirley Ann Lee – There’s a Light
• Sam Cooke – Ain’t That Good News
  —
• Basia Bulat – Touch the Hem of his Garment

Song obsessions are those songs that we listen to on repeat. I noticed that my obsessions are often a week long. I also thought that other people might have similar obsessions. I’ve collected a panel of a few like-minded individuals and gotten their “song obsessions of the week.” Quite often it’s easy to explain why the song is good; it’s much hard to explain why we’re obsessed. Maybe you’ll become obsessed with one of these.

–

Adrian (me):
David Ruffin – Anything You Ask For (mp3) (out of print but available on iTunes)

I picked up this album on the recommendation of Soul Sides a couple months ago. Recorded in 1971, but shelved until it was released in 2004, it’s a solid album that makes me wonder why it didn’t get released immediately.

Some songs hit me immediately–like the cover of “I Want You Back” or “Heaven Help Us All”. This song has been smoldering and growing in my mind. While it’s not a full blown can’t-get-it-out-of-my-head obsession, it’s been just under the surface for weeks now and every time I hear it, I want to hear it again. From the stutter-start drum opener to the fast strummed stop-and-go guitar to the grooving bass, this is post-60s Motown production at its most classic and best.

Also, it’s a bit of a coincidence that I had a song obsession by David’s Brother three weeks ago.

–

Keith:
Thin Lizzy – She Knows (mp3) (buy)

Over the past few weeks I’ve been enjoying the Thin Lizzy Live & Dangerous DVD – spectacular to be able to see the show and the interviews with the band members are rather insightful as well. As such I’ve been bulking up the collection with their studio work as well, including their first album with the dual lead-guitar setup that made them so powerful. Here’s the leadoff track.

–

Scott:
Tidawt – Talhiat (mp3) (not available? artist’s webpage)

tuareg band from mali. i can’t remember the last time that somebody has personally shared music with me that i really dug, so thank you eric if you ever read this.

–

Wow, what a cool set of songs this week. Good work, guys.

cred: ipickmynose

I’m on the air doing my radio show, which is called “I Once Was Canadian”, on KZSU 90.1FM.

You can listen in each week to hear me Tuesdays from 3-6pm. Listen in!

During either show you can listen online or at 90.1 FM. You can also follow along with my playlist online.

Update Here’s the show and playlist:

KZSU – I once was Canadian 4.28.09 [first hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian 4.28.09 [second hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian 4.28.09 [third hour] (mp3)

• Cat Power – Cross Bones Style
  —
• Les Savy Fav – Precision Auto
• Superchunk – The Question Is How Fast
• Sebadoh – Not a Friend
• Seam – Rafael
  —
• Mates of State – Proofs
• Low – Dinosaur Act
• Matt Pond PA – Red Ankles
• Magnetic Fields – Strange Powers
  —
• Sigur Ros – Gobbledigook
• Amadou & Mariam – Ce N’est Pas Bon
• Beirut – La Llorona
• Lily Allen – Never Gonna Happen
• Yeasayer – Tightrope
• Animal Collective – My Girls
  —
• Andrew Bird – Effigy
• Anni Rossi – Wheelpushers
• Songs For Moms – 1906
• Magnolia Electric Company – Hammer Down
  —
• Great Lake Swimmers – Concrete Heart
• Basia Bulat – I Was a Daughter
• Bonnie Prince Billy – There Is Something I Have To Say
• The Deep Dark Woods – Farewell
  —
• Adem – These Are Your Friends
• Joel P. West – Bark and Feathers
• Damien Jurado and Gathered in Song – Airshow Disaster
• the National – Secret Meeting
  —
• the Vogues – Five O’Clock World
• The Crystals – Uptown
• Gran Prix’s – You Drive Me Crazy
• the Ad Libs – He Ain’t No Angel
  —
• Curtis Lee Pretty – Little Angel Eyes
• Ben E. King – So Much Love
• David Ruffin – Anything You Ask For
• Candie Payne – All I Want to Hear
  —
• John Vanderslice – Too Much Time
• Mason Proper – Fog
• Bishop Allen – The Ancient Commonsense Of Things
  —
• the Mountain Goats – Golden Boy

Song obsessions are those songs that we listen to on repeat. I noticed that my obsessions are often a week long. I also thought that other people might have similar obsessions. I’ve collected a panel of a few like-minded individuals and gotten their “song obsessions of the week.” Quite often it’s easy to explain why the song is good; it’s much hard to explain why we’re obsessed. Maybe you’ll become obsessed with one of these.

–

Adrian (me):
Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes of the Brokenhearted (mp3) (buy)

This song popped into my head earlier this week after I probably hadn’t listened to it in months or years. I’m not sure why, but as a sucker for slow jamz and anguished vocals in soul songs, I love this song. It marries those things just about perfectly and Jimmy Ruffin’s (older brother of the Temptation’s David Ruffin) vocals just burn with anguish.

Will I admit that this song is a bit cheesy? Okay. Is it great? Yes.

–

Keith:
Micachu – Just in Case (mp3) (buy)

This new Micachu disc has been hacksawing itself into my brain to the point that I can’t rationally select one song as the most obsesso-worthy. The Tequila reference in track 10 “Calculator” is a major selling point, as is the electronic squeal in track #5 “Curly Teeth” and the garbled guest vocals on track #7 “Ship.: But at this moment I can verify (or is that verafy) that the production like pace of #9 “Just In Case” has it in the lead as the Best Of The Year comp candidate from Jewellery.

–

cred: ipickmynose

As of a couple minutes ago, I’m on the air doing my “I Once Was Canadian” radio show on KZSU 90.1FM.

You can listen in each week to hear me Tuesdays from 3-6pm. Listen in!

During either show you can listen online or at 90.1 FM. You can also follow along with my playlist online.

KZSU – I once was Canadian 4.21.09 [first hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian 4.21.09 [second hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian 4.21.09 [hour hour] (mp3)

Update Here’s the show and the playlist:

Mogwai – Stanley Kubrick
—
• Friends Of Dean Martinez – Landfall
• Explosions in the Sky – Catastrophe and the Cure
• Do Make Say Think – In Mind
  —
• Silian Rail – Drunken Boat
• Grandchildren – Saturn Returns
• Lymbyc Systym – Processed Spirits
• Unwed Sailor – Aurora
  —
• Grouper – Heavy Water/ I’d Rather Be Sleeping
• Beatbeat Whisper – Lulu
• Crooked Fingers – Weary Arms
• Songs:Ohia – Blue Chicago Moon
  —
• Neil Halstead – Martha’s Mantra (For the Pain)
• Horse Feathers – Working Poor
• Damien Jurado – Omaha
• Joel P. West – Paper Boats
  —
• Geographer – Leave
• Cymbals Eat Guitars – Wild Phoenix
• Bishop Allen – Shanghaied
• Dr. Dog – The Old Days
  —
• Beach Boys – Wouldn’t It Be Nice (stereo)
• Wanda Jackson – Funnel of Love
• The Soul Survivors – Expressway to Your Heart
• Sam Cooke – You Send Me
• Sam Cooke – Bring It On Home To Me
  —
• Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – Oh How I’d Miss You
• the Supremes – Run, Run, Run
• the Wright Specials – Ninety-Nine and a Half Won’t Do
• Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
• David Ruffin – Anything You Ask For
  —
• Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band – We’re a Winner/ I Can’t Turn You Loose (Reprise)
• Fontella Bass – Hold On this Time
• Ruby Andrews – You Made a Believe Out of Me
• Smokey Robinson & the Miracles – The Tears of a Clown
• Marv Johnson – Come to Me
  —
• Great Lake Swimmers – Palmistry
• Bon Iver – Brackett, W9

cred: ipickmynose

I’m on the air doing my “I Once Was Canadian” radio show on KZSU 90.1FM. I’ve got three hours!

You can listen in each week to hear me Tuesdays from 3-6pm. Listen in!

During either show you can listen online or at 90.1 FM. You can also follow along with my playlist online.

Update Here’s the show and playlist:

KZSU – I once was Canadian [first hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian [second hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian [third hour] (mp3)

• Yeasayer – Tightrope
  —
• Grandchildren – Cold Warrior
• Animal Collective – My Girls
• This Will Destroy You – Freedom Blade
• Lymbyc Systym – Birds
  —
• Silian Rail – Drunken Boat
• the Wooden Birds – Bad
• Caves – Ahaha
• Schande – Return Of The Return
• Bishop Allen – The Ancient Commonsense Of Things
  —
• Wanda Jackson – Funnel of Love
• Wanda Jackson – Let’s Have a Party
  Wild Jimmy Spruill – Mind On Loving You
• David Ruffin – I Want You Back
• Ben E. King – So Much Love
• the Clash – London Calling [request]
  —
• Lily Allen – LDN
• Beirut – La Llorona
• Joel P West – 28th and NE Davis
• Tom Thumb – Providence
• John Vanderslice – Fetal Horses
  —
• Michael Zapruder’s Rain Of Frogs – Butterfield’s And Baker’s
  Geographer – Can’t You Wait (Live on KZSU)
• Great Lake Swimmers – Concrete Heart
• Jose Gonzalez – Hand On Your Heart
  —
• Blind Pilot – The Story I Heard
• Frontier Ruckus – Orion Town 2
• Bonnie Prince Billy – Beware Your Only Friend
• Johnny Cash – Hurt
  —
• Andrew Bird – Tenuousness
• J Tillman – When I Light Your Darkened Door
• Damien Jurado – Ghost of David
• David Bazan – Options
  —
• Bob Dylan – Boots of Spanish Leather
• Elvis Presley – Flaming Star
• James Hunter – Class Act
• Henry Lumpkin – Don’t Leave Me
• Raphael Saadiq – Seven
  —
• Prof. Herman E. Schnitzel – Schussel Along with Schnitzel

cred: ipickmynose

Starting in a few minutes I’ll on the air doing my “I Once Was Canadian” radio show on KZSU 90.1FM. The last hour was supposed to be preempted by Stanford baseball but it got rained out so you’ll have me for the full three hours!

You can listen in each week to hear me Tuesdays from 3-6pm. Listen in!

During either show you can listen online or at 90.1 FM. You can also follow along with my playlist online.

Update Here’s the playlist and the show:

KZSU – I once was Canadian [first hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian [second hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian [third hour] (mp3)

• L. Hollis & The Mackadoos – Bui Bui
  —
• Bob & Gene – Your Name
• The Swinging Tigers – Snake Walk (Part 1)
• The Ronettes – Be My Baby
• The Crystals – Then He Kissed Me
  —
• Ramona King – Hey Everybody
• The Soul Brothers – Keep it Up
• Aretha Franklin – (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
• Miriam Makeba – Pata Pata
• Bobby Darin – I Ain’t Sharin Sharon
  —
• Bon Iver – Woods
• the Lightning Bug Situation – Message to Myself after Franny was Born
• Ohbijou – St. Francis
• John Vanderslice – Dead Slate Pacific
• John Vanderslice – The Golden Gate
  —
• Silian Rail – Drunken Boat [sound bed]
  —
• Marissa Nadler – River Of Dirt
• the Low Anthem – To Ohio
• Cat Power – Satisfaction
• the Mountain Goats – You or Your Memory
  —
• Laura Veirs – Galaxies
• Nada Surf – What Is Your Secret?
• An Horse – Little Little Little
• Modest Mouse – Float On [request]
  —
• Bishop Allen – Rooftop Brawl
• Songs For Moms – 1906
• Boat – Last Cans Of Paint
• Wye Oak – Warning
  —
• Anni Rossi- Wheelpushers
• Andrew Bird – Tenuousness
• Great Lake Swimmers – Concrete Heart
• Sufjan Stevens – For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ysilanti
  —
• The Deep Dark Woods – All The Money I Had Is Gone
• Frontier Ruckus – Orion Town 2
• Justin Townes Earle – Mama’s Eyes
• the National – So Far Around The Bend
  —
• Red Cortez – All the Difference
• Throw Me the Statue – Ship
• The Notwist – Boneless
• The Go Find – Over the Edge
• Lali Puna – 6-0-3
  —
• Ms. John Soda – Hands
• Beirut – My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille
• Mogwai – Acid Food

cred: ipickmynose

Starting in a few minutes I’ll on the air doing my “I Once Was Canadian” radio show on KZSU 90.1FM. You can listen in each week to hear me Tuesdays from 3-6pm. Listen in!

During either show you can listen online or at 90.1 FM. You can also follow along with my playlist online.

Here’s the show (as mp3s) and the playlist:
KZSU – I once was Canadian [first hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian [second hour] (mp3)

KZSU – I once was Canadian [third hour] (mp3)

• Music Tapes – Song for Soon to Be Sailor
  —
• the Octopus Project – What They Found [sound bed]
  —
• Bon Iver – Brackett, W9
• My Morning Jacket – Golden
• Fleet Foxes – Oliver James
  —
• Mark Kozelek – Bad Boy Boogie
• Red House Painters – Song for a Blue Guitar
• Nick Drake – Which Will
• the Finches – Daniel’s Song
  —
• Peter Broderick – With Notes in My Ears
• Andrew Bird – Tenuousness
• Fionn Regan – Hey Rabbit
• Fionn Regan – Black Water Child
  —
• the Reindeer Section – If there Is I Havent Found It Yet
• Liam Finn – Gather To The Chapel
• Born Ruffians – Kurt Vonnegut [request]
• Bishop Allen – True Or False
• Mountain Goats – Against Pollution
  —
• Pavement – Shady Lane
• Eleni Mandell – Personal
• Sam Phillips – Don’t Do Anything
• Grandchildren – Cold Warrior
• Animal Collective – My Girls
  —
• Geographer – Leave
• the Apples in Stereo – Tidal Wave
• An Horse – Little Lungs
• Frightened Rabbit – Good Arms vs Bad Arms
  —
• the Supremes – When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes
• the Exciters – He’s Got the Power
• Maxine Brown – Whatever Happened to Our Love
• the Velvelettes – Needle in a Haystack
• the Angels – I Adore Him
• the Shangri Las – Last Train to Kansas City
  —
• Wild Jimmy Spruill – Mind On Loving You
• Gospel Supremes – Sinner Man
• Sam Cooke – Sad Mood
• David Ruffin – Heaven Help Us All
• Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band – (Your Loves Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
  —
• Dot Tape Dot – Rounded Tree [sound bed]
  —
• Beirut – La Llorona
• the Low Anthem – To Ohio
• Frontier Ruckus – What You Are

Every time an album with religious themes is reviewed, it seems the writer feels the need to clarify his personal position on religion. Reviews of the bitches-and-hos varieties of rap–do they clarify their position on bitches and hos? Regardless, I figure that there’s good music inspired by faith and good music inspired by secular themes.

Everything that Numero puts out is great, but Local Customs: Downriver Revival has to be one of my favorites yet. With a mix of gospel, soul, rock and funk, this album collects recordings between 1967 and 1981 that Felton Williams made in his basement in Ecorse, Michigan–Detroit’s down-river neighbor. Initially they were issued on Williams’ Solid Rock, Cass, Compose, and Revival labels.

The collection is solid throughout, but among the highlights have to be the four tracks from Shirley Ann Lee. They’re all drenched with great vocals and they alternate between frantic, rousing, uptempo numbers and slower ballads. Then there’s the old-school-gospel-like-you-see-in-the-movies of the Gospel Supremes’ “Sinner Man.” There’s lo-fi, home-recording-like songs like the selections from Coleman Family and The Revelations. The compilations winds this way and that, through soul and jazz, funk and rock before ending with a full gospel choir.

Shirley Ann Lee – There’s a Light (mp3)

Pilgrim Wonders – He Never Failed (mp3)

The 24 track compilation would probably be worth the price by itself, but it also includes a DVD with 200 sound recordings (demos, sermons, rehearsals, outtakes, etc) and a documentary about putting the collection together.

Buy Downriver Revival from Numero Group or Amazon.