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Born to Argentinean parents in Gothenburg, Sweden, José González appeared on the radar of many when his cover of “Heartbeats“, by fellow Swedes The Knife, was used in a Sony Bravia television ad. The commercial featured a quarter million bouncing Super Balls on the steep streets of San Francisco. The ad was extremely effective for two reasons: it was visually spectacular, and José’s beautiful voice and guitar stopped all who heard it dead in their tracks.

José also scored two tracks on the indie music launching pad The O.C. that same year.

His debut Veneer was a great album, and his sophomore effort, titled In Our Nature, is now available on YMU. The record will please every last fan of his debut. It should also help launch José González to a new level in his career.

The album breathes as a living organism, supported by nothing more than acoustic guitar, José’s transcendent voice, and not much else. The guitar playing on the disc is unreservedly mind-boggling. He gets so much sound, so much beauty, and so much dynamic power out of his acoustic guitar that it left me slackjawed and speechless. José makes his guitar playing sound effortless, but what he plays is not easy by a long shot. You’ll hear sustained notes, melodic runs, bass lines, foundational chords and explosive crescendos weaved together so masterfully that you’ll be helplessly awed.

His voice locks on perfectly with his guitar, and the songs have you hearing something new with each listen. If Nick Drake didn’t die in 1974, but continued to master his craft, he may have produced In Our Nature.

This album will make one of my top 10 albums for 2007.  Rolling Stone and Paste can kiss my hairy kiwi and stick their 3-star reviews where the sun don’t shine.

Don’t miss this one.

Web: MySpace

Video: “Down The Line“, “Killing For Love”

Tracklisting:

1. How Low
2. Down the Line
3. Killing For Love
4. In Our Nature
5. Teardrop
6. Abram
7. Time To Send Someone Away
8. The Nest
9. Fold
10. Cycling Trivialities

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The new Farrelly Brothers film, The Heartbreak Kid, is a remake of a 1972 film written by Neil Simon. 

The new version stars Ben Stiller, and I find myself wishing, hoping, dreaming for a match of the brilliant 1998 film There’s Something About Mary. Although I haven’t had a chance to see the film, my high hopes have been dimmed by the initial reviews, which are not kind, to say the least.

However, this should not stop you from enjoying the soundtrack, which is now available on Rhapsody. Good films are harder to make than good soundtracks, and once again, the Farrelly brothers have put together a fine collection of tunes from across the spectrum of popular music.

The new track by The Flaming Lips titled “Tale of The Horny Frog” is worth the price of admission alone. It’s a catchy, quirky and humorous romp that follows the tragic adventures of a frog who faces all types of horror during a journey for love, only to find truth in the end.

The soundtrack also includes the airy, soft-rock tinged “She Makes Me Fall Down” by Buva. And although it’s undeniably saccharine-sweet, it’s still a lovely song no matter which way you slice it. The track features acoustic guitars, steel pedal, strings, and is completely devoid of testosterone.

The remainder of the album features previously released tracks, many of which are classics. Including “Put The Message In The Box” by World Party, “Painting By Chagall” by the Weepies, ”Gypsy Woman” by Brian Hyland and “Ashes To Ashes” and Suffragette City by David Bowie.

I’m still going to see the movie, but no matter how it turns out for me, I’m keeping the soundtrack.

Tracklisting:

1.  The Flaming Lips: The Tale of the Horny Frog
2.  Buva: She Makes Me Fall Down
3.  World Party: Put the Message In the Box
4.  John Alagia: Honey Come Home
5.  David Bowie: Ashes to Ashes
6.  The Weepies: Painting by Chagall
7.  Brian Hyland: Gypsy Woman
8.  Amy LaVere: Take Em or Leave Em
9.  Buva: The First Cut is The Deepest
10. Julietta Venegas: Canciones de Amor
11. The Flaming Lips: Maybe I’m Not The One
12. Ozomatli: After Party
13. Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs: Different Drum
14. David Bowie: Suffragette City

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I freely admit that I’ve not followed the music of Mickey Hart since I recovered from a brief stint as a Grateful Dead fan. When I received his new album Global Drum Project with famed Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain, my first reaction was to expect a really long percussive jam session whose sole appeal would be to drummers and communal hippies.

I was an ignorant boob, completely unaware of the award winning 1991 album Planet Drum, which happens to be the very first recording to win a Grammy award for Best World Music Album.

The first thing you’ll notice about Global Drum Project is the deep African influence found on the opening track titled “Baba”. And while drums certainly drive the composition, spoken word, chanting and a melodic punctuation around the edges make for an undeniably rapturous adventure.

The record continues to charm and stun with undeniably well-crafted traditional elements, but Hart takes it over the top with a melding of styles that feature electronic sweeps of color and verve. The album is layered and complex, but ends up sounding effortless and engulfing, with a standout feature being the way pitched percussive instruments provide melody where their should be none.

Global Drum Project works as both traditional rhythmic world music, and as a deep ambient work. It stands erect on it’s own incredibly strong legs, and is on par with the very best of both genres. A bewitching melding of the two.

In addition to former Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and Indian tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, GDP includes Nigerian drum legend Babatunde Olatunji, Nigerian talking drum ace Sikiru Adepoju, and Puerto Rico’s master conguero Giovanni Hidalgo.

Although Mickey Hart live shows are surely crawling with wayward Dead fans, it’s fans of world music and Brian Eno that should make it a point not to miss this one.

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Most Americans know Ladysmith Black Mambazo from their work on the Paul Simon album Graceland. This seminal album is also sited for helping spark interest in what would become a World Music inferno. The South African vocal group’s roots can be traced back to 1960 when now 66-year old leader Joseph Shabalala founded the earliest incarnation of the band based on the traditional African music called Isicathamiya.

The fact that Shabalala has been performing this music for 47 years is an accomplishment in itself, but his longevity is only a testament to the sound he’s helped bring into the consciousness of the world, and his commitment to keep it alive after he’s gone through the Mambazo Foundation.  The importance of this music goes well beyond entertainment.

When I went to see the eight-man a cappella group perform at the Belk Theatre in Charlotte, NC, I came with the context sharp in my mind. However, we all know that a 2+ hour performance cannot be carried on historical significance alone. When it comes down to it, we attend concerts to be entertained. And I was pleasantly surprised in how entertaining the show was. Mind you, there were no instruments, or fancy lighting, or props of any kind, but what was there (in addition to the mind-boggling vocal harmony) was a group of men shining with an aura of joy, humor, and goodwill.

Although Mambazo did perform “Homeless” from the Graceland LP, the remainder of the songs were from other albums, and this was fine with me. They sang about love, they sang about friendship, they sang about unity, and they transitioned from the lighthearted to the profound without trouble.

As a group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo are one. Their voices blend into an uplifting chorus of calm, and if you’re the musically educated type, you’ll be at a loss trying to figure out who is singing what part for the whole of the show.

What I was not expecting was the wonderful banter, jokes, and dancing that was integrated into the performance. This physical movement and storytelling was important, as it  was the way each individual became real to the audience. But even if the concert was devoid of these key elements, the music would have been enough to keep you in your seat. Shabalala has a way with melody and the voices meld into a style that is absolutely unique and beautiful. Melodious harmony mixed with clicks, chirps, percussive grunts and hand claps to forge a wonderfully enthralling experience.

It was fun watching the little tricks the band employed, like utilizing distance from the microphone to highlight dynamics, or how they introduced movement to kill repetition in its tracks before it could be noticed, or how Shabalala exuded an aire of master and teacher (which he is), without conceit.

I entered the doors of the Belk theater in Charlotte not understanding how an a cappella group could hold my attention for a complete evening, I left wishing I could see it again.

The UK still has the Rolling Stones, the US still has Bob Dylan, and Africa still has Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and it would be a mistake not to see them if the opportunity presents itself. If you do, you’ll not only enjoy the show, but carry the experience with you for a very long time.

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 Guitarist extraordinaire and academic Bob Brozman is one of the most prolific talents in music today. He is a Professor at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, has released over 25 albums, tours worldwide, is a founder of International Guitar Seminars and has published many writings in his areas of musical expertise.

This is a man obsessed with music, learning and sharing. If you have seen him perform live, you know what I am talking about. His contagious passion and encyclopedic knowledge made him the perfect choice to pull together this fantastic CD and DVD project released last year and available on Yahoo Music Unlimited.  

The project starts with an idea to record the stringbands of Papua New Guinea, which is one of the very last places on earth that acquired the guitar. The island has developed it’s own unique style of playing and singing devoid of any influence. This alone makes it a must-hear recording. As the world becomes more global and connected, truly original composition unmarred by popular culture becomes increasingly difficult to find. This record is not only the best representation of this, but it may be one of the last.

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Play It! The week of 06.06.06 was a pretty good one for brand new music. This playlist compiles stand out tracks from albums, singles and EPs that were released in the week of the beast. It’s just a hair under two hours and will get you up-to-date on what the hippest musicados are listening to. Click the “Read the rest of this entry” link below to view the records you simply cannot miss with links to full reviews.

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Play It! If you’re not already aware, I’m a big Slaid Cleaves fan. He’s a fantastic songwriter, who pens simple, heartfelt Americana that really speaks to me. He’s also not a household name, not yet anyway. He hails from South Berewick, Maine and is a graduate of the highly respected Tufts University. He currently calls Austin, Texas home and got a big boost when he won the New Folk competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival, an award previously won by Nanci Griffith, Robert Earl Keen and Steve Earle.  If these artists appeal to you, Slaid Cleaves will too. I highly recommend all the albums he’s released, however the CD that hit shelves today is extra special.

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Play It! I’m a sucker for a real low-fi discovery story. You know what I’m talking about. Some kid is discovered after being locked in his bedroom for ten years with a 4 track and ends up creating something phenomenal. Many times I’m let down by such claims as it usually turns out to sound like, well…. some kid who has been locked in his bedroom for ten years with a 4 track. This is not the case for Canadian Chad VanGaalen, whose Sup Pop debut is intriguing low-fi candy at its very best.

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Play It! Where would you think to look for a Lord of the Rings concept band? Texas, of course! These guys can play pretty well, and they fill the more important requirement of being unintentionally funny. The band “Hobbit” is an Art Rock / LOTR obsessed band with three independently released discs titled Two Feet Tall, Rockin’ The Shire and All For The One, like The Darkness, only for real! Wow. Thank you Pantagruel for this glorious find!

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Play It! The long awaited new Drive-By Truckers album A Blessing And A Curse was released yesterday, and it’s available on YMU. Fans of this modern-day southern rock outfit will not be disappointed. The reviews are good across the board with an excellent Metacritic score of 81. I also hear from good sources that the live show should not be missed.

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Play It! Here’s an interesting, collaborative new release by two power pop heroes. A somewhat chunkier Matthew Sweet has teamed up with ex-Bangle Susanna Hoffs to record an album of 60s covers by the likes of The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Who, The Velvet Underground, The Zombies, The Left Banke and more. As you would expect, it’s a tasty gimmick for power pop fans, but may not be something you find yourself going back to next week.

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Play It! Everyone is swooning over the new Built To Spill album You In Reverse. It’s in the top 10 on Metacritic.com with a score north of 80. For the uninitiated, that means damn good. I wasn’t going to post about it since so many have already done so, but this is now the number one record on my best of 2006 list. So simply put, if you haven’t heard You In Reverse, get on it.

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