Winter Music

The post far below detaling Christmas music led me to create the Chrimbo Jamz mix.  That mix was what I used for the mix tape swap at the Torley Manor http://truespies.org/torleymanor/2007/12/15/torley-mixtape-exchange-party-version-50/over the weekend.  Indeed, it it a wonderful mix of music.  I put the suggestions of my friends to it and ended up with not olny Wham!, Emerson lake & palmer, but The pogues (feat. Kirsty MacColl), Stevie Wonder, Deano Martin, Otis Redding, Elvis Presley and more!

In other music news, (and specifically Pittsburgh based-music) I have to say how great Kim Phuc are.  They are a punk band in every sense of the word.  Punk bands are really quite difficult to come across these days, so it’s always refreshing and amazing to see them play.  The added spectacle of seeing those 5 individuals on the stage together is pretty amazing.  AND…here’s the kicker…they SOUND GREAT!!!

I thought I might mention some of the music that’s been doing it for me recently.  I’ve been prety heavily into Ken Boothe lately.  I’m scrounging up whatever I can by him.  As The Clash so artfully intoned “Ken Boothe…UK-Pop-Rggae.”  Indeed!  his vocals are so smooth and wonderful.  

The Trojan Records band backing him so often are fantastic as well.  The Studio One band is amazing as well.  I can’t get enouigh!

In other music news, I have been obsessing about Hankshaw more and more over the past 6 months or so.  I have always loved them, and when my Missus found a copy of the “Nothing Personal” LP on Network Sound Records on CD at the Exchange, for a dollar I was stoked. 

 

Between that and the 4 song release”Everyday I Wish You Harm” on Doghouse, I’ve been in.  The vocalist, Harold, has such an amazing voice.  True, many people assume it’s a woman singing, but it’s not.  They have music that is almost dancy and poppy, but their lyrics are so soul crushing it’s almost hard to get through.  I adore it.  Listen to them.

It seems, as the ice builds up and the snow flies, it’s about classic sounding punk live, and recorded smooth male vocals for me.