Category Archives: Music Maniac

March is the month of Morrissey. For the past few years, Morrissey has been making some of the most ferocious music starting in 2004 with “You are the Quarry”. His new band is a great compliment to his biting lyrics. The best since the old days of The Smiths. He follows this path in 2006 with “Ringleader of the Tormentors”, another pumped up collection of music. This month’s 2009 “Years of Refusal”, is music that attacks!  Rock’n’ roll that is best played loud is perfect to get the juices flowing. The trilogy of these three CDs brings him to a new place.  I’m looking forward to see how this trilogy ends and how he will evolve. This month Morrissey will be playing the most elegant of places Carnegie Hall.  Lets see how he rips it to threads! I will let you know!

NOW

Duncan Sheik- Whisper House (2009)

THEN

Nick Drake- Pink Moon(1970)

The latest release by Duncan Sheik (you know him from his Tony award winning musical Spring Awakening) is his latest storytelling concept. Comming to the stage soon I’m told, Whisper House is a beautiful journey of songs that brings you to foggy old Maine with old haunted lighthouses. This melodic and soft collection is one of his best. His Gorgeous Voice is one you MUST hear. I recommend you buy this only on iTunes since this is the only way to get Duncan’s cover version of The Ghost In You.

Remember the 80’s?!? Just as melodic and soft is the famous Pink Moon from Nick Drake. After listening to this you can see where Duncan started to cut his teeth. Nick’s soft and acoustic songs were a pre- sheik moment in time and I absolutly recommend both for a nice evening of soft gorgeous music. Nick passed away suddenly in the early 70’s , so maybe Duncan is channeling Nick with his Whisper House?? Remember to dim the lights and beware of ghosts.

I recently found myself yearning for sun and warmth, so instead of a trip to miami, I took a trip to my cd collection to find:

The Best of the Mamas and the Papas: 20th Century Masters, The Millennium Collection

Mama Cass was sooo cool and what a voice. Behind all those layers there is one hell of a voice. Try these comfort songs from the moms and pops to add some nice calm and joy into your life.

NOW

Fleetfoxes 2008

THEN

Foxtrot by Genesis 1972

Besides “fox” being in the title of both cover albums, I am constantly looking for new music to satisfy my taste buds and Fleetfoxes does the trick. From the intriguing renaissance cover, to the gorgeous vocal harmonies, this music is perfectly soothing as it takes you away to a great time and place.

For some reason this CD brought me back to then – to Genesis Foxtrot. The magical artwork of both covers linked them together in my mind, even though the two musical styles are quite different. They both take me to a land where imagination goes wild and beauty prevails.