Song of the Day #3,041: ‘Young, Latin and Proud’ – Helado Negro

helado_negroHappy Halloween! An appropriate day to once again contemplate the possibility of a Donal Trump presidency.

This week I’ll feature five more songs from the 30 Days, 30 Songs project, which unveils a new anti-Trump track every day during the month leading up to the election.

Today’s selection is from Helado Negro, stage name of Roberto Carlos Lange, a Brooklyn-based singer.

Continue reading →

Song of the Day #3,040: ‘Who is Afraid of Thomas Wolfe?’ – Josh Joplin Group

joshjoplinIt’s been nearly three years since I last featured Josh Joplin on the blog, and I feel pretty much the same way I did back then.

To quote myself, “these are the Random Weekend selections I most enjoy — little blasts from the past that give me an excuse to catch up with an artist I’ve long ago forgotten.”

Continue reading →

Song of the Day #3,039: ‘Maybe Katie (Acoustic)’ – Barenaked Ladies

everythingToday’s random SOTD is an acoustic bonus track on the Barenaked Ladies’ 2003 album Everything To Everyone. It’s not as if the band is usually an electric powerhouse, so I’m not sure how much this version differs from the album original.

Sure enough, listening to the album cut reveals it’s pretty much the same song, just a little louder.

Continue reading →

Song of the Day #3,038: ‘Finally’ – Cymbals Eat Guitars

cymbals_eat_guitarsI’m always surprised when I see the name of an artist that’s completely unfamiliar to me and then discover they’ve been recording for a decade. Such is the case with Cymbals Eat Guitars, an indie rock outfit hailing from Staten Island. The band formed in 2007 and have released four albums, including this year’s Pretty Years.

Entertainment Weekly has this to say about their latest single, ‘Finally’:

Continue reading →

Song of the Day #3,037: ‘Lyk Dis’ – NxWorries

nxworriesI feel somewhat cool for recognizing the name Anderson .Paak, one half of NxWorries, and for that I thank my musical savant nephew, who recently introduced me to .Paak’s solo work. This duo (pronounced “No Worries”) is a collaboration between .Paak and producer Knxwledge. I guess the ‘O’ key was broken on their keyboard.

I haven’t had much time to delve into .Paak’s music yet but I’ve really liked what I’ve heard so far. A rich, modern blend of hip-hop and soul.

Continue reading →