Padma loves Hamburger

Padma from Top Chef is my TV Girlfriend. So, ummmm... this is quite good.

RIP John Martyn

John Martyn: 11/9/1948 - 29/1/2009

I'd been thinking about and listening to a bit of John Martyn lately.
I'd discovered his 1977 album One World last year and included it in my top 5 albums, and a couple of weeks ago recommended Solid Air and One World to my older brother.

Criminally unknown (the Amazon page for Solid Air has only 15 customer reviews - compared to 279 for his friend Nick Drake's Pink Moon), but a truly unique talent - no one sounds like John Martyn.


Solid Air (1973) is his classic. A folk/blues/jazz masterpiece that I believe compares to Astral Weeks.

If you like acoustic folk/blues, literally played like no one else, then have a listen to these couple of tracks from the album - and then search out and buy the album.

I promise you, you won't be disappointed.

(and then try One World as your next stop...)



More info:
www.johnmartyn.com
Big Muff [fan site]
John Martyn [All Music Guide]

Songs of the Year '08

Same as last year, didn't manage to get the songs of the year up until the next year. But I have been kinda busy y'know?

It also dawned on me recently that the internet has become the sole media outlet for discovering new music for me - no longer the radio, TV, magazine or music store... All of these songs were discovered via various music blogs.

1. The Will of Love: Tooter Boatman
This is without a doubt the sweetest and catchiest song I heard all year. The perfect rockabilly/shuffle. Thanks Diggin it!








2. Northeast Texas Women: Willis Alan Ramsey
The bad news: Willis Alan Ramsey released only one classic album in 1972... then gave up on the music business.
The good news: rumours are, his second album "Gentilly" is due Feb 09.
BTW: Northeast Texas Women is a perfect Little Feat-ish funky swamp groove.
Cheers The Rising Storm.


















3. Martha Scanlan - Went to see the Gypsy
Easily this year's most beautiful obscure-Dylan-cover-that-recounts-a-possible-meeting-with-Elvis song. I think her voice/delivery makes this the most moving thing I heard all year.
Hats off to Cover Lay Down.











4. Hayes Carll - I Got a Gig
"...looking like a homeless Cheers on meth..."
More funny funky singalong goodness from yet another outrageously talented Texan. Hayes Carll's new album Trouble In Mind came out last year and easily made a lot of album of the year lists.
Take a bow SongsIllinois.


















5. James Hunter - Carina
This song is from an album (The Hard Way) stacked full if soulful 60's grooves, perfect for summer bbqs. Grab a Carona and sway to this.
'On Ya Elsewhere.











Again, I have gathered up all these little diamonds into one pouch for y'all to enjoy - right here.
(Follow the link to the Rapidshare page, click "Free user", wait the allotted seconds then click "Download". Easy.)

Whoo-pah!

Steve - this is for you.

Top 5 Albums of the Year

Ok here goes... My top 5 albums - not necessarily released this year, but albums I discovered and loved this year are:

1. T.Rex: Electric Warrior

See earlier rave...

























2. Ryan Bingham: Mescalito
If you love Steve Earle, Joe Ely and Townes Van Zandt. If you daydream of sitting in Austin drinking frozen Margaritas, eating BBQ Brisket and Elgin sausage. If you like to wear your shirts with snaps and wished you'd bought those boots at Allen's Boots on South Congress. Then... this is for you too!
















3. Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson: Rattlin' Bones
Extremely strong album of alt-country duet singing. Great songs and Shane Nicholson's vocals are a stand out.

For someone who loves all kinds of country, but don't really get Kasey Chambers - I loved this album.















4. John Martyn: One World
I loved Solid Air, and this is almost as good. More expansive/experimental and less folky, but a wonderful album. Recommended.















5. (Tied): Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris: All the Roadrunning / The Black Keys: Attack and Release
All the Roadrunning got brutal reviews in this country when it was released, so I approached it with a fair amount of caution, but it seems to be a case of the same reviewers who love anything released by Emmylou are obviously quite keen to ignore/slag anything in Mr Dire Straits' name. This is a very nice album.
















I've never been that bothered with listening to much Black Keys - I imagined they had a similar sound to the John Spencer Blues Explosion (who I find just shout too much). But this is an excellent and very soulful modern blues record. Recommended.



















Albums I re-discovered in 08:
I used to love these records - then got sick of them, but guess what - after 20 years I love them again. Go figure? Absence really does makes the heart grow fonder.

- Paul McCartney and Wings: Band On the Run
- Dire Straits: Dire Straits
- Jackson Browne: Running On Empty
- Fleetwood Mac: Rumours


End Of Year Special Treat Mixtape:
A tasty little morsel from all of the above - especially for you...
(Follow the link to the Rapidshare page, click "Free user", wait the allotted seconds then click "Download". Easy.)

Abby and the Big Red Ball

...and we got

John Key - the "boy trader of Wall St". Voted in on the premise: "well if he can make himself a millionaire, then he can make the country rich" - WTF?

I think Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons summed the election up best during her speech last nite: "I wonder in 20 years time if there will be people who look back at 2008 and say 'I'm really glad I voted for tax cuts rather than for the future of our children."

Time to think about the Green Card Lottery again.