by

Song of the Day #1,789: ‘Falling’ – Haim

haimHaim (rhymes with “time”) are a trio of twenty-something sisters who hail from Los Angeles. They’ve been around since 2006 but it wasn’t until the end of 2012 that they released their debut album and begin to catch the attention of critics and audiences alike.

They have been compared to Fleetwood Mac, which I definitely hear in today’s SOTD (this song could have fit right on to Tango in the Night). This is the second new band I've seen draw comparisons to Fleetwood Mac in recent weeks — I guess that 70s folk pop sound is resurgent.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #1,788: ‘Azamane Tiliade’ – Bombino

bombinoOf all the artists I mined from that issue of Rolling Stone, the most compelling is blues musician Bombino.

Hailing from Niger, the 33-year-old grew up amid socio-political turmoil before traveling to the U.S. in 2006 and catching the attention of bands like The Rolling Stones.

He has released two albums over the past three years, the latest (Nomad) recorded with Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #1,787: ‘Kit Kat Jam’ – Dave Matthews Band

lillywhite_sessionsI feel like I’ve told the tale of my history with the Dave Matthews Band a dozen times on this blog.

In a nutshell: Loved their early stuff, really loved the unreleased Lillywhite Sessions, hated the album they released instead (Everyday), resented the inferior official release of those Lillywhite songs (Busted Stuff) and haven’t really liked them much since.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #1,786: ‘Marching Through the Wilderness’ – David Byrne

reimomoDavid Byrne’s first proper solo album, 1989’s Rei Momo, remains his best.

He has released five since (not counting several albums he released in partnership with other artists) but that initial blend of his signature art pop with Caribbean and Latin rhythm tracks hasn’t been topped.

A year before Paul Simon’s Rhythm of the Saints, Byrne mined similar musical territory with equally strong (if less celebrated) results.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #1,785: ‘Open Letter’ – Jay-Z

jay-z_open_letterI have to confess, I have no idea why the Cuba trip by Jay-Z and Beyoncé caused such controversy. And I say that as a guy who lives in South Florida and is married to a Cuban woman.

Whatever your politics, and whatever your opinion on the Cuban embargo, who really cares if a rapper and pop icon pay a visit?

I suspect the outcry had everything to do with Jay-Z and Beyonce’s ties to Obama. It was yet another chance for Republicans to cause a distraction.

Continue reading →