JERUSALEM

Listen to JERUSALEM by Ana y Jaime.

It's my understanding (but not being Colombian, one I can't confirm) that Ana y Jaime are a famous folk duo in Colombia, like Simon & Garfunkel or Crosby Stills & Nash.

But being American, I know I had never heard of them when I picked up this album. I'm glad I did, though, because it is fantastic all the way through. This track, which we put on our Christmas CD a couple of years ago, is about my favorite. It's from their debut album, when the two of them (siblings, by the way) were still teenagers. Impeccable.

SAI DA FRENTE

Listen to SAI DA FRENTE by Escola De Samba Mocidade Independente De Padre Miguel.

A little Sunday school (of samba) for you. No words, just beats.

CUMBIA EN DO MENOR

Listen to CUMBIA EN DO MENOR by Lito Barrientos Y Su Orquesta.

This track needs no accommodation. If you can't start dancing madly to this (or at least tap your feet or shake your head), you need to take a look at yourself. This is off the uniformly excellent "Colombia! The Golden Age Of Discos Fuentes - The Powerhouse Of Colombian Music 1960-76" compilation.

Something that Quentin Tarantino could have easily put on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack and it would have been a classic with a whole generation.

CUMBIA CARNAVALESCA and COCALECA

Listen to CUMBIA CARNAVALESCA by Lucho.
Listen to COCALECA by Lucho.

A short detour to Panama for you. I shared one of Lucho's Christmas songs over the holidays, and talked a little about how my grandfather had insisted on playing him that record every Christmas Eve. He wasn't a particularly sentimental guy, so this act of blatant nostalgia really made an impression. So now part of his legacy is my thing for this Panamanian organ music. For those of you without that backstory, this stuff might not be to your taste, but give it a shot. It is pretty fun if viewed through the right lens.

TOMORROW NIGHT

Listen to TOMORROW NIGHT by Elvis Presley.

I think this is my favorite song on the Sun Sessions, and therefore just about my favorite Elvis. I say this without looking again at the tracklisting, so I may be embarrassing myself here, but I can definitely say this is the one I've listened to the most in the last couple of years.

PERSONS AND FACES

Listen to PERSONS AND FACES by We All Together.

We had this as the opening track on our Christmas CD a couple of years ago, and I do like it quite a lot. The Beatles by way of Badfinger or Gilbert O'Sullivan is apparent here. They were from Peru, and I gotta think to have made a name for themselves there in music they had to have been pretty connected, pretty privileged, but on the other hand, to get a following in the rest of the world took some genuine talent and luck. I can hear all of that in this accomplished, wistful little tune.

GOD DON'T NEVER CHANGE

Listen to GOD DON'T NEVER CHANGE by Blind Willie Johnson.

One more bit of ancient Americana before the week kicks off in earnest.

"Blind" Willie Johnson was an American singer and guitarist whose music straddled the border between blues and spirituals. While the lyrics of all of his songs were religious, his music drew from both sacred and blues traditions. Among musicians, he is considered one of the greatest slide or bottleneck guitarists, as well as one of the most revered figures of depression-era gospel music. His music is distinguished by his powerful bass thumb-picking and gravelly false-bass voice, with occasional use of a tenor voice.

I'LL BE RESTED (WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED) and WOKE UP THIS MORNING (WITH MY MIND ON JESUS)

Listen to I'LL BE RESTED (WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED) by Blind Roosevelt Graves.
Listen to WOKE UP THIS MORNING (WITH MY MIND ON JESUS) by Blind Roosevelt Graves.

A "joyful noise" for you this Sunday morning. Happy Mother's Day!

HEAVEN KNOWS (WHERE I'VE BEEN)

Listen to HEAVEN KNOWS (WHERE I'VE BEEN) by Lambert & Nuttycombe.

Out of nowhere, Corbett made a comment to me the other day that was nice but over-generous: that Lambert & Nuttycombe was "my greatest discovery." Of course, he meant only as between our circle of friends. But even so limited, it wasn't quite true. For sure, I was the first guy I knew to download the album, but I really only seized on a couple of tracks and stuck with them.

So after he had brought them back up, I decided to have another listen to the album. And now, I'm hooked hard. Take this song, Heaven Knows (Where I've Been). I tell you, this one ticks every box for me. It's succinct, the singing is very structuring, the melody moves in interesting ways, and with the harmonies, the arrangement (particularly the ending), there's plenty of small dramas.

By the way, it sounds a little like a Grizzly Bear song doesn't it? It's more of a Grizzly Bear song than even the "Horn of Plenty" songs are. I've got Grizzly Bear on my mind a little bit, since I finally downloaded their new album (caveat: will still buy, go to the concert if I can get tickets, etc). I like it, but I really do wonder if we've not seen the best of them. Like the album closer (which you can stream here). It's a pretty song, but for some reason it sounds very Radiohead/Coldplay/U2, an "important" stadium rock style album closer (caveat no. 2: not that I've ever heard the end of a Coldplay album!). I might be overreading things a little bit, I admit.

U.R.A.Q.T.

Listen to U.R.A.Q.T. by M.I.A..

Just in case my wife ever visits these days, this one is for her.

YMAELODI A R YMYLON

Listen to YMAELODI A R YMYLON by Super Furry Animals.

Why don't people talk about Mwng more? I mean, stupid question, it's all in Welsh, but for me, it's Super Furry Animals' second-best album after Guerrilla (you can't argue with all of that, but whatever). Less argument that this is the catchiest, poppiest track on Mwng. That ascending chorus still gets me every time.

CLEAR SPOT and SUN ZOOM SPARK

Listen to CLEAR SPOT by Captain Beefheart.
Listen to SUN ZOOM SPARK by Captain Beefheart.

No real justification needed for Captain Beefheart. As I get more into this Blip.fm thing, I find myself wanting to upload songs for the blog so I can then play them on the Blip station. You see, it can only play what it can find on the internet. So if I put it on the internet, it can find it!

I'd have to think about this, but these two tracks are probably just about the two songs you'd need if you're interested in hearing Beefheart, but not bothered to become a fan.

LOST IN MY WORLD

Listen to LOST IN MY WORLD by Los Dug Dug's.

This one starts off quiet for a fair amount of time, but you've gotta stick with it, because it ends up being a very engaging, interesting pop song. The exotic flavor of their Mexican accents helps it along, but it's not a novelty--far from it. This band had talent.

SUDDENLY

Listen to SUDDENLY by The Bee Gees.

Odessa-era Bee Gees. You really can't emphasize enough how interesting a career the Bee Gees had. Been listening to Andy Gibb a little on Blip.fm, and it's just amazing that the same group that did Shadow Dancing did this track, much less Massachusetts or what have you.

L'ONDE AMÈRE

Listen to L'ONDE AMÈRE by Guy Chambers & Sophie Hunter.

Outsourcing today to Wikipedia:

Guy Chambers (born January 12, 1963 in London) is an English songwriter and record producer best known for his long partnership with Robbie Williams.

The Isis Project, a French language album written with lyricist Keren Ann and vocalist Sophie Hunter is Chambers's own personal project, written as an 18th birthday present for his daughter Isis while she was four at the time. The track "L’onde Amere" also features on Keren Ann's album Nolita, released by Sleeper Music in 2005.