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Song of the Day #1,138: ‘Ugly Truth’ – Lucinda Williams

I’ve already reviewed Lucinda Williams’ 2011 album, Blessed, so this will be more of a look-back. As I mentioned in last week’s R.E.M. post, it’s often only months after the fact that I know how I really feel about an album.

Without exception, Lucinda Williams’ albums have aged well. In fact, they are the musical equivalent of one of those movies that I need to see twice to really get. I liked just about every Coen Brothers movie after one viewing and loved them after two. Williams is in the same boat.

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Song of the Day #1,137: ‘Love You Like a Love Song’ – Selena Gomez & The Scene

Today’s entry doesn’t qualify as a proper album review like the rest of my songs this week and last because I haven’t actually heard the whole album, just three tracks.

My daughters are big fans of the Disney Channel’s Wizards of Waverly Place, which stars Selena Gomez as a smart-aleck teenage witch. Gomez is a charming actress and not a bad singer, giving her a leg up on many of the wannabe multi-platform stars on the tween shows that have overtaken my TV.

Gomez is also dating Justin Bieber, making her the envy (and target) of an army of little girls. And boy, could she do better.

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Song of the Day #1,136: ‘Start a Band’ – Brad Paisley (featuring Keith Urban)

Perhaps the most impressive fact about Brad Paisley’s instrumental album, Play, is that it didn’t break his streak of #1 records. Play didn’t wind up going Gold or Platinum like the rest of his albums but it did top the country charts.

Most likely that is due to the album’s handful of vocal tracks, including today’s SOTD, a duet with Keith Urban. ‘Start a Band’ became Paisley’s ninth consecutive #1 single and his 13th overall. In keeping with Play‘s focus on the guitar, the song paired Paisley up with Urban, another country star known for his axe skills.

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Song of the Day #1,135: ‘Time Warp’ – Brad Paisley

Brad Paisley’s sixth album, 2008’s Play, is a predominantly instrumental record. Eleven of its 16 tracks are music-only, showcasing the guitar chops that were overshadowed on his early records.

In an NPR interview recorded after the release of Mud On the Tires, Paisley lamented that he wasn’t known as a guitar player first and a country music singer second. The instrument is his first love and his playing is the aspect of his music in which he takes the most pride. To this day, his dream is to share a stage with Eric Clapton.

In that interview, Paisley announced his intention to one day record an instrumental album, and presumably the success of Mud On the Tires and its two smash follow-ups gave him the clout to do just that.

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Song of the Day #1,134: ‘Victory Dance’ – My Morning Jacket

I love their albums, but I have no desire to see My Morning Jacket live. Everybody talks about what a great live band they are but based on clips I’ve seen, that means they jam a lot. And I hate jam bands.

But calling My Morning Jacket a jam band, or a great live act, sells them short. Based on 2008’s Evil Urges and their newest release, Circuital, this group is something I value much more — a great studio act.

I’m not familiar with the band’s pre-2008 work, but these last two albums take listeners on a journey the way great albums can. I don’t subscribe to the critical consensus that MMJ is the second coming, but they are pushing boundaries in exciting ways and I’m fully on board.

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