Husband of Aimee Mann, brother of Chris and Sean, talented singer-songwriter Michael Penn… now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time.
To be fair, Penn did show up on a couple of Random Weekends about five years ago, so I’ve at least encountered him more recently than the others I’ve featured this week. But here’s a guy I used to listen to religiously, somebody with a sound and perspective that really hit home for me.
Jump, Little Children, the North Carolina indie rock band that expanded on the typical guitar, bass and drums lineup with a cello and accordion… now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time.
I was a big fan of the band’s first four releases, including a collection of demos from 1995. Their major-label debut, 1998’s Magazine, was the one that really caught my attention, with its interesting blend of instruments and lead singer Jay Clifford’s unique voice.
English singer-songwriter Dido, whose debut album No Angel sold more than 15 million copies worldwide… now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time.
Dido had modest success in the UK following the release of No Angel, but it was the inclusion of the first verse of the song ‘Thank You’ on Eminem’s ‘Stan’ that brought her international fame. Her ethereal vocals served as a perfect backdrop for his take on a homicidally obsessed fan.
The Georgia-based 90s alternative hip-hop band Arrested Development… now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time.
This group was all the rage in the early 90s, with their debut album (1992’s 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of…) topping the Village Voice critics poll while selling more than 6 million copies. They were named Best New Artist by the Grammys, and dubbed ‘Band of the Year’ by Rolling Stone.
I recently had an idea for a theme week that was inspired by a quote from the 1977 film Star Wars.
In the movie, Luke Skywalker’s friend Ben Kenobi, a hermit living among the sand dunes on the desert planet of Tatooine, is told by Luke about a message he came across that mentions the name “Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
Upon hearing the reference, Ben says this:
Meet Me In Montauk 