Thursday, December 2, 2010
TnJ 146 (12/2/10)
KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE – Shake It Out (2009 Brother’s Keeper)
Interview > Karl Denson (recorded 11/22/10, KBAC-FM, Santa Fe, NM)
KARL DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE – the Bridge (2002 the Bridge)
ACTUAL PROOF – Eric Is Jive (2009 Paradigm Shift) actualproofband.com
MOKSHA – Bobbin’ on the Sea (2010 Mammal or Machine) homegrownmusic.net
FISTFUL of MERCY – Fistful of Mercy (2010 As I Call You Down)
-HOUR TWO-
NEIL YOUNG – Peaceful Valley Boulevard (2010 Le Noise)
JERRY GARCIA ACOUSTIC BAND – Ragged But Right (1987/2010 Ragged But Right)
WHITEWATER RAMBLE f/ JOSH CLARK – Riptide (2010 All Night Drive) whitewaterramble.com
YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND – Traffic Jam > Years With Rose > Winds o’ Wyoming > Traffic Jam (2004 Mountain Tracks – Volume 3, 9/12/03 Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO) yondermountain.com
B.D. LENZ – Juxtaposition (2010 Five & Live) bdlenz.com
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The Karl Denson interview was great - listen if you missed it here.
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Thursday, July 9, 2009
TnJ 076 (7/9/09)
- HOUR ONE -
ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND – I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town (1991 Live at Ludlow Garage 1970)
SHEMEKIA COPELAND – Limousine (2009 Never Going Back)
MOJO MORGAN – interview (Pre-recorded @ KBAC 7/7/09)
MOJO MORGAN – Tonight (2009 Got Mojo?)
SLIGHTLY STOOPID – Couldn’t Get High / Untitled (2006 Winter Tour ’05-’06)
TEA LEAF GREEN – Jezebel > (2006 Rock’n’Roll Band OST)
- HOUR TWO -
TEA LEAF GREEN – Franz Hanzerbeak (same as above)
DAVID FIUCZYNSKI – Cumin (2008 KiF Express)
ROLLING STONES – Time Waits for No One (1974 It’s Only Rock’n Roll)
THE WIYOS – Roll On Down the Road (2009 Broken Land Bell)
THE HOT CLUB of SANTA FE – Route 66 (2008 Musique de la Villa Différente)
LE CHAT LUNATIQUE – Sangre del Gato (2007 Demonic Lovely)
PAOLO NUTINI – Pencil Full of Lead (2009 Sunny Side Up)
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Pronto > No More to Leave You Behind > Pronto (4/15/08 Fox Theatre, Boulder, CO)
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Thursday, January 1, 2009
TOAST's BEST of 2008
I intentionally didn’t include live recordings in my consideration for this year’s top ten list (though many made Honorable Mention status in an earlier post), focusing rather on studio releases which came across TnJ’s desk in 2008.
Every one of these little gems is worth several listens, IMO:
1) THE RACONTEURS – Consolers of the Lonely
Jack White has done it again, with another solid collection of songs showcasing his personal brand of frenzied lunacy. One could infer a few swipes at former bandmate (Sister? Wife? Anybody know?), Meg, in some of the lyrics. The big radio single “Top Yourself” is almost impossible not to take that way. But mostly, this is just an amazing rock-n-roll album. Production and arranging leans a little heavy on the Zep and Beatles “sounds,” but if you’re gonna steal, steal from the best.
Favorite Tracks: All of ‘em. Seriously. But if I gotta pick, “Consoler of the Lonely” – will strip paint off walls, “Top Yourself” – a nearly perfect rock-n-roll song, “Carolina Dream” – fancies ‘imself a post-punk bard ‘e does, “Rich Kid Blues” – all the meander and bluster of a great old Queen or ELP song, without all the suckiness.
9 out of 10 stars
2) THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – The Infamous Stringdusters
Like the Raconteurs release, an incredible sophomore effort which supersedes its predecessor. And both these bands’ debut records were awesome, mind you.
This is, however, the first Stringdusters to feature guitarist Andy Falco, and the first blessed by newgrass legend Tim O’Brien’s production. The Stringdusters have been hittin’ the festival circuit hard-n-heavy and are poised to become THE newgrass act to see (and kick yer heels up ta) in the years to come.
Favorite Tracks: “Glass Elevator” – rippin’ instrumental, “Get It While You Can” – catchy, “You Can’t Handle the Truth” – catchy & fast, and, of course, “Lovin’ You” – my favorite song of the year.
7 out of 10 stars
3) MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – All Rebel Rockers
Like I said in an earlier Franti show review post, I think this boy’s really onto something. His usual charm and urgency is now happily anchored at the center of a Jamaican dancehall hurricane courtesy of dubmasters Sly & Robbie, among others.
He may or may not be the next Bob Marley, but he can keep on chanting down Babylon like this for years to come as far as I’m concerned. Conscious, rhythmic, playful, and powerful.
Favorite Tracks: “A Little Bit of Riddim” – stream of consciousness political commentary hasn’t been this instantly catchy since Dylan’s ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues,’ “Soundsystem,” – a fist-pumping anthem for the conscious party, “Nobody Right Nobody Wrong,” – an anti-protest song that brings a tear to my eye every time, unashamedly pretty.
7 out of 10 stars
4) DeVotchKa – A Mad & Faithful Telling
Who knew there was such a void waiting to be filled by this rocky mountain outfit’s gypsy-esque eastern-blockana? Though not as strong as their 2004 release “How It Ends,” which has its own template-from-which-all-others-must-borrow archetypal appeal, there’s a lot to love on this new release. A very entertaining band to see live.
FT: “Transliterator” – well-crafted crescendo catch-and-release à la Radiohead, “Head Honcho” – gotta have at least one Ennio Morricone-esque number on these things, don’t they? “Undone” was one of the few radio songs in this or any year which did not suck mightily. Shades of Robert Plant in the haunting choral refrain.
6 out of 10 stars
5) RAINMAKER – Long Slow Fade
Bay-area studio magic from a new band to these ears in 2008. Rootsy – some snobs will declare needlessly so – but somehow able to spin threadbare melodies and arrangements into a fresh and pleasing sequence of songs. Fans of Little Feat or The Grateful Dead who appreciate those acts for their solid-yet-quirky songwriting seem to be the target audience. Not particularly challenging, but hard not to like. How did simple get such a bad rep over the years anyway?
FT: “Sweetwater Has Run Dry” – a pensive ode to bygone days, “Further from the Truth” – li’l R&B flava, “In a Way That You Want It to Be” – instant nostalgia, like a Norman Rockwell painting.
5 out of 10 stars, as are the rest on this list. Am I too tough?
6) STEPHEN MALKMUS & the JICKS – Real Emotional Trash
With more than half the tracks clocking in at 5-10 minutes each, it’s almost as if Stephen Malkmus is TRYING to alienate the Pavement faithful. However, his sense of “lyricynicism (yes, I just made that up)” soldiers on with a new band and quite a few sonic diversions into what could be considered “jam” territory. His publicist, however, will probably spin that into “post-rock sonic experimentation” to make it sound cooler. Whatever. It rocks. Catch ‘em live if you can. Saw ‘em at The Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, GA while doing some work for a website. Great venue. Great show.
FT: “Real Emotional Trash” – a musical rollercoaster, 10 minutes of some of the best-sounding s#!t I’ve heard in years, “Baltimore” – c’mon, you gotta love a string of words like, ‘come on like gangbusters | laying it thick | arboreal Sleestak | lost in the sticks,’ “Elmo Delmo” – I could listen to him jam on this one for-just-about-ever, as long as he ditched the chorus.
7) moe. – Sticks and Stones
John Siket is a sonic genius. Can’t wait to hear what some of these songs sound like live, with extra SUPERJAM on top. Hee Hee (^_^)
FT: “Queen of Everything” – really, really can’t wait to hear this one live, “Deep This Time” – first track we picked for TnJ, yo, “202” – who let the ghost of Zappa onto this record?
8) THE DUHKS – Fast Paced World
Rick Anderson posted this on allmusic.com: “Someday the Duhks may find their natural style and settle into it, and when they do, their albums will become much less interesting.” I can’t beat that. Preach on, brotha (^_^)
FT: “Fast Paced World” – borderline preachy/puerile folk anthem in the making, couldn’t get it out of my head for days, “Ship High in Transit > Magalenha” – this is why it’s called ‘progressive’ bluegrass, folks, “New Rigged Ship” – original, knee-slappin’, toe tappin’ goodness.
9) MY MORNING JACKET – Evil Urges
You GO, Jim James! Perhaps between DeVotchKa, the Duhks, and My Morning Jacket, a pattern is starting to emerge – that of unclassifyability (yep, just made that one up, too).
Some of the most unexpected and mesmerizing sounds of the year, here. I’m kicking myself for not making it to the CD preview party out in the wilds of New Mex, might’ve been the perfect environment to experience this recording.
Stark yet beautiful, hypnotic yet provocative, grounded yet ‘far out,’ man.
FT: “Evil Urges” – a quirky, sonic masterpiece, “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream pt.2” – a sprawling, proggy, new wave 80s anthem, “Highly Suspicious” – can’t explain what there is to like about it, but it makes me smile wryly.
10) TEA LEAF GREEN – Raise Up the Tent
The circus-themed album art seems to bleed into some of the songs, most of which have a lilting quality generally absent from rock-n-roll these days. I applaud this new effort from one of the Bay-area’s best live bands and anxiously await their mysteriously-lit return to a live venue near me soon, dammit! David Lowery’s production is irreproachable.
FT: “Don’t Curse at the Night,” “Red Ribbons,” and “Not Fit” all demonstrate what clockwork-like songwriting precision four mere mortals can achieve.
~ Chris Diestler, A.K.A. “Toast”
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Tuesday, October 28, 2008
TnJ 041 (10/22/08) Good Gravy, it's JAKE!
PAGE McCONNELL – Beauty of a Broken Heart (2007 Page McConnell)
PAGE McCONNELL – Heavy Rotation (2007 Page McConnell)
TEN TON CHICKEN – Soup Is Good Food (2002 Just Like in the Old Country)
STEVE CROPPER & FELIX CAVALIERE – Full Moon Tonight
(2008 Nudge It Up a Notch)
PAWNSHOP ROSES – Second Hand Love (soul) (2008 Versions)
KELLER WILLIAMS w/MOSELEY, DROLL & SIPE – Breathe (2008 Live)
COL. BRUCE HAMPTON & the AQUARIUM RESCUE UNIT –
Working on a Building (10/20/04 Georgia Theatre, Athens, GA)
-HOUR TWO-
TEA LEAF GREEN – Franz Hanzerbeak (2006 Rock’n’Roll Band OST)
GREG BROWN – Sadness (1994 The Poet Game)
BEN HARPER – How Many Miles Must We March
(1994 Welcome to the Cruel World)
XAVIER RUDD – Le Me Be (2005 Solace)
LIPBONE REDDING – Never Forsake You (2008 Party on the Fire Escape)
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Get It While You Can
(2008 Infamous Stringdusters)
LEFTOVER SALMON – Doin’ My Time (4/16/96 8x10 Club, Baltimore, MD)
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Saturday, September 13, 2008
TnJ 031 Playlist (8/13/08)
TOAST n JAM 031 (8/13/08) Chris’ Infinite Mixtape II
-HOUR ONE-
RAILROAD EARTH – Waggin’ the Dog (2008 Amen Corner)
DREW EMMITT – Long Road (2008 Long Road)
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT – Birdland > Flying West Jam > Birdland
(7/26/03 On the Road,
GOV’T MULE (w/TAJ MAHAL and BRANFORD MARSALIS) – Leaving Trunk
(2006/2008 Warren Haynes Benefit Concert Vol. 8)
SLIGHTLY STOOPID – Ain’t Got A Lot of Money (2006 Winter Your ’05-‘06)
GLUEY BROTHERS – The Orange Monster (2003 Stiff for the Elders)
-HOUR TWO-
UMPHREY’S McGEE – Ringo > Hajimemashite > Ringo (2007 Live at the Murat)
JJ GREY and MOFRO – War (7/13/07 Howelson Hill, Steamboat Springs, CO)
ANTHONY SMITH’S TRUNK FULLA FUNK – That What It Do
(2008 Life As We Know It)
DeVOTCHkA – La Llorrona (2003 Una
TEA LEAF GREEN – Don’t Curse at the Night (2008 Raise Up the Tent)
THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – You Can’t Handle the Truth
(1/26/08 Happy
BELA FLECK (w/SAM BUSH, JERRY DOUGLAS, GABE WITCHER, BRIAN SUTTON, MARK SCHATZ) – Sailin’ Shoes > Crossroads > Sailin’ Shoes
(9/5/99 Strawberry Festival,
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TnJ 026 Playlist (7/9/08)
TOAST n JAM 026 (7/9/08)
-HOUR ONE- (guest DJ Kate Cargile – Chris’ anniversary)
TEA LEAF GREEN – If It Wasn’t for the Money (2006 Rock’n’Roll Band OST)
THE FLAMING LIPS – The Spiderbite Song (1999 the Soft Bulletin)
WHISKEYTOWN – 16 Days (1997 Stranger’s Almanac)
WILCO – Via
SILVER JEWS – Blue Arrangements (1998 American Water)
PAVEMENT – Fillmore Jive (1994 Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain)
>>> TOM’S SERENADE >>> Katie Mae (traditional?)
BRIGHT EYES – The Difference in the Shades (1998 Letting Off the Happiness)
THE BETA BAND – Dry the Rain (1998 the Three E.P.s)
-HOUR TWO-
WIDESPREAD PANIC – Walkin’ (For Your Love) (10/9/07
GRATEFUL DEAD – Groove #2
(1975/2004 Blues for Allah – 2/27/75 ACE’s,
MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – Yes I Will
(11/26/04 Fillmore,
ROBERT WALTER – Bulldog Run (2008 Cure All)
LARRY w/DEXTER GROVE – Don’t Let Go (10/28/00 Club Dada,
INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – Deep Elem Blues (4/15/08 Fox Theater,
HOT BUTTERED RUM –
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