A little more Vodka, A little less Milk

Spencerwire Radio - Seventh Edition

2011-09-28T14:34:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the September edition of Radio Show! This month, we have a double-feature of sorts. The Patinettes headline the collection with three tracks, and Sunset Boulevard try to keep pace with two selections. Both bands are very different from each other. For instance, The Patinettes can rock out, but most of their music is flavoured with a healthy dose of 60's folk. Sunset Boulevard, on the other hand, is pure 80's style hair-band rock. Combine this with the usual suspects of varried styles, and you get another eclectic collection, that will take you a little under an hour to listen to. Remember, if you find something you like, all of this music is available free of charge on Jamendo.com and if you find something you really like, remember to support those artists with a donation, CD or i-Tunes purchase (assuming that is available). The music industry has spent all of its free time eating itself, so to support your favourite artist, it takes some doing-and some digging. With that, let's get started! Click that play button....

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A timely piece of music from FunkyGuitar (a.k.a. Agni Express) is Surfing My Life Away a nice little bit of funk with a jazzy feel. This is a media friendly piece about getting lost in the links of technology. Fun! For now, FunkyGuitar can be found on Jamendo.com. If you find them somewhere else, let me know.

Up next is Alef 1, and the title track of their full length, The Message. I like this track a lot, though the "huh, huh,..." staccato bit just prior to the refrain is a bit much. It has enough redeeming qualities, though, to make the cut this month. Give Alef 1 a listen and see what you think. Besides Jamendo, you can find Alef 1 on their own web site.

Finding a new translation for Chuck Berry's Maybelline is El Palomar Sound System and a ramped up version, that still stays true to the original. A fun romp through the past including a Jazz/Rock infused middle section between verses. What's not to like!? You can find El Palomar Sounds System on serveral other sources, but for now the primary one is still Jamendo.com. Do a quick google on them and you can find some SoundCloud.com listings, etc.

The Patinettes follow this up with a folk-rockish Whiskey Galore. Great fun, and just a sampling of what's to come. Find more on The Patinettes on their own web site.

Changing the pace completely is Wave from Bakir. This falls into that category of 'I have no idea what the lyrics mean, but I sure like the song.' For now, you can find Bakir on Jamendo.

Rogier Van Den Brink, makes his second appearance on the Radio Show with the ethereal The Night and Me. Just a touch of oriental seasoning-and beautiful! Rogier Van Den Brink can be found on Jamendo.com as well as on his own site, here.

Also making his second appearance on the Radio Show is Kris Roche, with the warbling popper, Shot Down. This a great little track! Roche has another release on Jamendo now, but this is still my favourite of the two. Kris Roche is everywhere it seems, you can find him On Myspace and on Face Book and on the Band Camp site as well as videos on YouTube (add one) and of course, Jamendo.com

Making the first of their two appearances on this months show, comes Sunset Boulevard with the straight-forward 80's style rocker, Hungry Hearts. For now these Finish Rockers can be found on Jamendo.

Brainless is the second track from The Patinnettes and stylistically explores the folk/pop/rock of the early 70's. Check out the harmonies that insert themselves hear and there in this track.

Keeping with a rock theme for just a bit, we have Caffeine and Alcohol and their Stay Away. These last three tracks (Boulevard, Patinnettes and Alcohol) really provide a party feel here! I'm having fun anyway. More on Cafeine and Alcohol from their website which will take you all sorts of places from there.

Second up from Sunset Boulevard is Hungry for Love which has that rock and roll show mid-tempo ballad feel, without really being all that mid-tempo. A nice way to shift gears once again.

And boy to we shift gears, because up next is the pop-country of The Woods and their track The Farmer. Those who know me know that I can handle country only when their is little or no "whine" to the music or vocal. This is as close to perfect as it comes. Catch The Woods on Jamendo, but I'm pretty sure there must be another link out there for them. If so, forward it to me and I'll include it here.

A final track from The Patinnettes shows their versatility with this very lovely ballad which fits nicely with The Farmer called Milky Day. A little flavoure of folk and country combine to give you a beautiful little track.

Before we take off for another month, here's a video bonus for you from Nebraska singer-songwriter Leesha Harvey and a song that was unfortunately absent from her latest release called Let's Play Pretend. You can find more information on Leesha from Leesha Harvey.com

So roll credits for another month with Anitek featuring Evan Straley, and the odd-ball, mostly-but-not-quite instrumental and "Practical Use."

Remember to drop me a line if you like or hate something here, and keep listening to and supporting your favourite musicians. Give them air-play and tell your friends about what you like. Music delivery systems of the past are nearly dead, and this means that musicians are trying to leverage their exposure to you, the listener, with many different avenues. Those include Jamendo.com, MySpace.com, YouTube.com and many others.

Spencerwire Radio - Sixth Edition

2011-08-25T11:59:00.000-05:00

This Month we will once again be featuring an artist on the playlist. You may remember we did this a couple of onths ago with Eva and Manu's folk pop goodness. French band Borea, pop-rock practitioners of the first order, are this months feature. All Borea tracks are from the full length, Single Ride, available on Jamendo. So let's click play and get started!

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Leading off is Borea with the title track of the afore mentioned full-length, Single Ride. Ride drives forward with a thumping beat and a minor key melody. Complete with string flourishes, guitar fills and a smattering of electronic noodling. The vocal is accomplished and the choruses perfectly mixed. Add a touch of piano, and you have a complete and satisfying pop track, worthy of any radio anywhere in the world. Borea's web site (French) is here and can also be found on sites like Last FM. Check them out, and we will have more coming up later.

Hailing from Italy, Comfort Farmers follow up with the country tinged folk Clear. If the band name sounds familiar and you've been following these radio shows every month, well, it should. Comfort Farmers have appeared on two previous radio show lists. Check them out.

From the full-length offering, Acoustic Blues Jams, Freeky Clean brings you the straight up blues of Married Man Blues. Unlike many other blues artists, Freeky Clean does not dwell on a track and beat it to death. The 15 tracks here clock in at a light-weight 28:19.

Heifervescent returns to the playlist with Adam's brand new full-length on Jamendo Further Adventures in Monkeyland. I've sung the praises of Heifervescent many times before so just enjoy Rejuvination and check out Heifervescent! It will be well worth your time!

The next track was chosen for the beautiful falsetto voice of Marilyn Crawford. Production values are minimal here-straight forward and simple, and that works really well for Marilyn's voice. So take a breather and just listen to her beautiful voice on Must Have Been Blind. I'm not finding a lot of information on Marilyn, so if you happen to know something about her and have links to share, let me know.

Which brings us to the second track off of Borea's Single Ride, Six Twenty Nine. Just a touch of grunge in the guitar-a fun romp! Go check them out while it plays!

Blues tinged R&B pop vocalist Matt Lammin, follows up with Take it on the Chin from his Jamendo full-length The Middle. This is a fun tune and Matt has a really nice tenor voice. The chorus on this number is really great, with a very unusual lyric "Did you ever see a monkey slip on his banana skin?" Indeed! More on Matt from his MySpace page and also, check out this video of Time To Go which also appears on The Middle:

Up next is almost an 80's styled pop tune. The artist-and I hope I get this right-is Phillippeamr " amaro "-and he has a few other tracks up on Jamendo as well. This is a single entitled Rain Of Love. If you've got some links for this guy you could share with me, that would be awesome!

A ballad with a very ethereal feel, from the band The And (yep, that's right) comes Signs. The And have a fair number of offerings up on Jamendo, so check them out there. Would that I could find some other info on this band, but alas my searches for 'The And' turn up a hosts of hits, none of which are for any band. So again, got some information on this group? Share it with me, and I'll be happy to modify the content here with that new info.

Zikali returns to the radio show this time out with Deaf and Blind, a more rock influenced track. Check them out on Jamendo.

Next up, the final track from Borea, Lazy. Listen to the lyric and see if you can relate to the sentiments here.

Pop-folkishness is up next from The Jaygles and Blind Sun. The Jaygles have several individual tracks available on Jamendo so check them out. You can find more information from their MySpace page. Also, as a bonus, check out this video of A Better World for Us:.

nd that just about wraps things up for another month. Let the credits roll with Lusproject and Air. I'd love to hear from anyone who is actually following this blog. If it's a waste of my time, that would be great to know too! Until next month, Enjoy! Remember to support the artists who make the music you love.

Spencerwire Radio - Fifth Edition

2011-07-26T10:20:00.000-05:00

Very busy this month. Too busy for commentary. This months tunes run from folk to rock and include some great tracks. Click play, and I'll give you a brief rundown below.

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Avalanche with the jangling pop-rock of Find Me. Check them out on their My Space page.
Coloured Sweat with the indie pop-rocker In The Garden. You can find them on their My Space page as well.
Breezeless with the pop radio-ready Back Again. Again, visit their My Space page for more info.
Emerald Park provides the mid-tempo pop semi-ballad of Swimming In The Rain.More info can be found on their Web Site.
Nicolas Falcon provides the humorous boss send-up for all working class folk with Big, Big Boss. Find him on his My Space page.
Phil Twite provides the straight up popper Good Old Young. You can find Phil on Facebook.
Kris Roche is a favorite of mine in this collection, with the folkish pop Make Do.You can find him on Tumblr Here.
Another favorite is Radio Nowhere and The Captains Daughter. Find more on them on their web site.
The Dub-reggae Rakoon has a great little track with Consummation, but a bit under mixed from a volume standpoint. Find out more about Rakoon here.
Alex Filitas Studio sends up the euro-popper WOW. Fun foreign fare, but in English. Not sure if there is a website for this artist or not. Sometimes I receive corrections from comments, so if you have a site for this group, let me know.
The Backyard Committee presents the very interesting We Can't Stay. Another favorite for me. You can find them Here and many other places.
Rock out, with German group The Nuri and Hunger for Life. Check them out (in German or translate the site) on their web site.
Russian group,The Decomposers came up with some of the most interesting tunes, sexy, sometimes "R" rated, but still fun. Muse is tame for them but good none the less. If you can read Russian, you'll have no problem with their web site.
Roll credits, with the great guitar solo from Stone Pillow called Looly Bully.

Notable for disappearing off of Jamendo.com before this Radio Show could go live is the straight up rocker from Surround, called Marlboro's Hey, Hey. The video. Great track.

Spencerwire Radio - Fourth Edition

2011-06-28T15:56:00.006-05:00

Here we go people with almost another hour of stand-out tracks from Jamendo.com. This week we are featuring the singer-songwriting duo Eva and Manu and their four-song EP Still Traveling in its entirety. This incredible pair is well worth a listen, and a donation. Click the play button and listen as you read!

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It isn't often that I'll lead off this show with a ballad, but this song is what grabbed me as I sampled Eva and Manu's Still Traveling EP. Forgive Me is soft, elegant and breathes the emotion of the plea. Eva's strong, yet slightly wispy vocal delivery, pulls at your heart strings and grips you until the end. Berklee College of Music grads, Eva Louhivuori and Manu Laudic returned home after college and decided to take a tour of Europe while writing music. This isn't your glitzy tour, they are traveling on the cheap, in a van with gear and staying at farms and homes along the way, paying for the hospitality of their hosts by working for them. Their songs come from their experiences as they travel. In concert with their travels and music writing, they are keeping a blog at Travelinmusic.net and including songs and video as they go. There's no better source for information on the two, so check out their traveling blog, and catch the remaining three tracks from Still Traveling later in the show.

Next up we have the Celtic Folk-Pop of Italian group (yep, I said Italian) Wooden Legs. Steeped in traditional Celtic styling, Wooden Legs bring home a winner with Hot Asphalt. You can find more information about Wooden Legs from their My Space page.

Since discovering Comfort Farmers on Jamendo, I've been intrigued by their slightly quirky, almost Dire Straits like delivery. Never Compromise provides a nice peak inside this window. There's not much available on the band outside of Jamendo, however, so you will have to be content with what you find there.

Rainman follows up with a folk-pop gem Leave At Last. The style of this number is very reminiscent of early 70's Folk-Pop. This is another case of, 'If you like them, good luck finding more info!' The link to their website posted on Jamendo is broken, and a google search turns up a boat-load of hits for 'Rainman' - just not what we are looking for.

Up next is the second of four tracks from Eva and Manu, If Only, this time featuring Manu with the lead-off vocal. That is one of the things that I love about this duo is their ability to switch between lead and harmony, seemingly effortlessly. The interchange between the two is really evident with this track.

Adding just a hint more edge than the previous tracks so far this week is Ignacio Suárez Valestrini (or Nacho Valestrin) and the acoustic guitar heavy, up-tempo, folk-pop tune Behind the Moon. There is a raw live feel to the production of this track, like sitting in a coffee shop and hearing it played live. It's very intimate and moving. Nacho can be found on his My Space page, but after that, things get hazy.

Pump up a little afro-beat and crank up the horns! Enter La Compagnie Cuanol with Luna TicTac. As with other non-English language tracks that I've reviewed before, I have no freaking idea what the lyrics are saying, but I love listening to them anyway. This song makes me laugh, just in the lyrical delivery alone. You can find more on the group by checking out their web-site and from their there are multiple links to Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and more. Listen and enjoy!

Crank up the Pop-Rock with Surround and Guys of Nowhere! Surround breaks no new ground, but they are the ultimate in party-time sounds. Since I first found Surround on Jamendo they have popped up a few more times. Expect to hear more from them in later shows. You can find a little more information (in French, but you can translate the page) right here.

Up next, a little more straight-forward rock and roll with Studebaker's Blacksmith Shop and Champagne Desert Love. I liked this track a lot, but one thing happens when you listen to the entire full-length release: you realize that there isn't a whole lot of variance from one track to the next. Still, Studebaker's Blacksmith Shop is an enjoyable change-up in the show. Take a listen, and if you'd like more information on the group, check out their My Space page.

The third track in the Eva and Manu offering is up next with In Montreal. Again, Manu is featured prominently on this song, with wonderful harmonies from Eva. I can't wait to hear the full-length from this duo! I should also point out that the production values of all four of these tracks is first-rate. The outro for this song is magnificent!

Up next The Windy City follows with the up-beat Games. This thoroughly singable number, will have you searching for more info on the band. Let me know if you find any. Update: Thanks to Catherine for posting this link!

Quirky and fun, Sunday and Monday bring you That's Not Easy. The instrumentation here is almost carnival like, and the vocalists have fun. Nothing is meant to be too serious here. Unfortunately, this is one of several bands this month with not much info to go on if you are searching for more.

Full of Blues, is the talking rocker Vanessa from Zikali. It's smarmy and sexy and a bit R rated, with a touch of humor and a dash of jam thrown in for good measure. I feel a bit like I'm letting you down this month, but no info to be found on Zikali apart from the Jamendo offerings. Check them out there.

The final track from Eva and Manu's EP is the stand-out, single-worthy Feet in the Water. This is outstanding stuff ... Again! Listen to the lyrics, there is some poignant stuff here under the toe-tapping rhythms and the melody that wants you to sing along. While you're at it, check out the YouTube video for the track:

With the final note of Feet in the Water trailing off, listen to Fra Santanthony and The Spring Sound as the credits roll.

There's much more to come. Compilations of show number 7 have already begun, with track selection for show number 5 to begin soon. Let me hear from you, and enjoy the music!

Before I let you go, here's a bonus video from my good friend and wonderful singer-songwriter in her own right, Leesha Harvey and Long Way Down from her recently self-released, download only, Church Lofts and Basement Corners available on LeeshaHarvey.com. Enjoy, and hopefully you will be watching for next months post!

Spencerwire Radio - Third Edition

2011-05-23T15:11:00.000-05:00

Another month has come and gone and the radio shows are stacking up. Radio Show's 4 and 5 collections are completed, though track selection has yet to be decided. It's all about time. This month we will explore some straight forward rock, some interesting instrumentals, a little bit of retro sounds, Salsa flavors, country-rock and much more. Let's start this show rolling!

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Combo some grunge, funk, and indie rock, and you get Russian band Snowed Under with the lead off track It's Alright. Indeed it is! This is a party time track. Vocals are nicely out front and the underlying melody is a mental infection. Nicely done, and well worth the listen. You can find Snowed Under on their My Space Page.

Staying with the straight forward rock for a moment, enter the instrumental Solar Smoke from another Russian band KRESoff. For now, you'll just have to find out as much as you can about KRESoff on Jamendo, as there doesn't appear to be much else available out there.

Conway Hambone's track Revolution is almost, but not quite Janis Joplin-esque. It has a delightful blues-rock jam, combined with a gravely vocal from the lead female vocalist, Lucy Dimond. It's all very interesting in a retro-rock sort of way. Conway Hambone and company can be found on My Space as well as Jamendo.

From Rock and Roll, to Jazz. Enter the Salsa flavored (and named) Salsa di Soy from Italian band Boom Boom Beckett. This a great instrumental, with good solo fills on trumpet, sax and guitar. Aside from Jamendo, you can find Boom Boom Becket on their own bi-lingual Blog.

Country-rock styling and almost Dire Straits-like guitar fills, complement the pop-folk For Me by another Italian band, Comfort Farmers. The vocals aren't perfect, but they fit nicely in the polished instrumental portion of the song. For now, Comfort Farmers can be found on Jamendo only.

Folk-poppers, The Postmen bring to the table a wonderful ballad with Pieces of a Past Life. This entire offering is delightful, and I highly recommend listening to the whole thing, if this type of music is your thing. Besides residing on Jamendo.com, you can find The Postmen right Here. The primary language is French, but all of the songs are in English.

Picking up the pace just a bit, wall-of-sound pop group, On Returning hits pretty hard with King and Country. Nothing much out there for this group, except for their My Space Page.

Rhythm and Blues is alive and well with Urtzi Azkue and Ecstasy of Sound. This track instantly reminds you of-just the good parts-the 1970's. Want more? Check them out hereon their own web page.

A totally different style is the nearly minstrel, Celtic styled Vámonos baillar> from a 2007 offering by La Gueta La Runa. This is one of those language-barrier tunes, but even though I can't understand the lyric, it is infectious just the same. You can find more about this amazing group on their web site, but if you need the site in English, you are out of luck. The good news is that good music transcends language.

Jamendo.com prolific folkster Josh Woodward makes his debut on the Radio Show with 20/20. Josh has a plethora of wonderful folk pop available on Jamendo, but you can also find a great deal of information about Josh on his website, including a lot of blog entries on making music for the masses and marketing your band. Check out Josh Woodward now!

One more time with the language barrier firmly in tact, is staccato delivered Ondine Songs in A Minor from, a-hem, Ondine. Unfortunately, I can't find this Ondine anywhere but on Jamendo. So enjoy this track!

Power pop anthem People follows up next from M.i.R. This song gets in your head and moves your whole body. Each verse builds in intensity. The chorus blends flawlessly with the lead vocal-it's just fun music. Unfortunately, nothing much I can find specifically about this band. Their are other bands called M.i.R., but none of them are this one-at least not that I could find. M.i.R. does have one other track on Jamendo.com.

Marc Reeves brings us the folk-crooner I Want Out. It's beautiful and haunting. The guitar work early on is reminiscent of Cat Stevens circa Catch Bull at Four. You can find Marc on his My Space or on his UK web site, just to name two of a host of links available.

As the credits roll, listen to the haunting chill jazz-fusion instrumental from Triplexity called Reflections. Triplexity has a fair amount of music on Jamendo, so check out the rest of their tracks. This is generally not my style of music, but this grabs me. It's very textural and deep. A lot of layers of very impressive musical chops. They've got their own blog, but it's in French.

Finally, no mention of Creative Commons music would be complete without including someone who is trying it on for size for the first time. Delightful singer-songwriter from Nebraska, Leesha Harvey, released her first CD Penny in the Pocket, independently through normal channels. That CD is still available through CD-Baby and well worth the purchase price. This time out, she's released Church Lofts and Basement Corners on her web site for free. Yes, there's a donate link there, and if you donate you'll get a wonderful e-booklet with pictures and other great add-ons. Check it out!

Remember to support all of the music you hear out there, and let the musicians know that you care about them and their music. It's important! Until next month, keep listening and drop me a line if you like or hate something here.

Spencerwire Radio - Second Edition

2011-04-18T10:57:00.002-05:00

Last months show was an eclectic mix of Pop, Rock, Progressive Rock, R&B, Folk and Instrumental. This is the type of thing you should expect from me always, as my tastes in music are all over the place. I've decided, though, that it would be a good idea to post information and links back to artists pages (aside from Jamendo.com that is) to give you better ways to follow artists that you really like. Music delivery systems are ever changing, but the Creative Commons music scene is more interesting than most I've had the pleasure of participating in. There is a great deal of talent here, and they deserve to hear from you. If you like what you hear, do your best to find out as much as you can about the artist, follow them and let them know you care.

With that out of the way, let's move on to this months show. You'll find all of the usual suspects (above) here, as well as some Vocal Jazz and some Swing for good measure. There are relative new releases as well as some old shelf offerings from Jamendo.com included. The show leads off with a one of two tracks from Alter Etno, so click play and let's go!

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Tua nai e meiga. Nope, I have no idea what it means. If you take a look back on the first show and Alter Etno's Fairytale, You'll know that I was just transfixed by the musical style here. I don't know if it is the way it is sung, or what, but it makes me laugh to hear this song. It's delightful, in a very foreign (to this unabashed English speaker) way. Check out Alter Etno on their My Space Page or on Jamendo.com

Dazie Mae's Two-Timing Lady is another laugh track. Dazie has a quirky vocal jazz delivery but raspy and sexy in a fun way. This track has a way of weaving itself into your soul and giving you a nice smile. This track is from her offering Seasonal Affective Disorder. Check out Dazie Mae on her Web Site or on Jamendo.com

Speaking of 'raspy', enter Daniel Brandell's low Alto and Maybe I Should Stay. There is a soulful, bluesy feel to this track. Check out the entire offering Recreation online. You can't seem to find much about Daniel except Here.

American Idol wanna be, Leslie Hunt, proves she's got power pop chops with American Dream Man. It punches forward with an unrelenting driving drum and guitar. To be honest, this is the only track that I really liked on Leslie's offering, Your Hair is On Fire, but if you like girl-pop, you may feel differently. Check it out online. More information on Leslie can be found on her Web Site or on Jamendo.com.

A little more versatile, perhaps, is Mercury in Summer and No I Won't Let You Go from Can You Feel It? that fit's nicely next to Leslie's track. Nothing really new here, but it's fun to listen to none-the-less. Straight forward pop-rock. Want more? You can find Mercury in Summer on their Web Site, on My Space.com on Facebook and of course Jamendo.

You may think the next track is a girls voice, but it is the high Tenor of Keen Arthur, and the single This is Not A Game. Keen has a delicate delivery, plaintive, yet sincere. Musically, this is very lightly flavoured Reggae with a touch of R&B soul. Very pretty. For now, you can only find Keen Arthur Here.

Satisfied Mind by My Bubba and Mi is a Pop-Folk number and very fine indeed! This track speaks lyrically to our ability to be satisfied with what we have. Under the major acoustic guitar there is a light bass slide and a pretty cool keyboard jam too. Check out My Bubba and Mi on Jamendo on MySpace.com on their own Home Page and on a host of other sites (a simple Google search will get you lots of hits).

What I Wouldn't Do is a Folk-Pop romp with a great beat, by She Swinged, She Swayed. It moves enough to entice your toes to tap and your fingers to snap. It's a fun little number. They can be found on their Web Site On FaceBook.com on MySpace.com and of course, right here on Jamendo.

Slim's Heathrow is a mid-tempo pop balad, but delightful none the less. The vocal delivery is strong and blends nicely in the chorus. At first the bridge doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the song, but as you listen, there is resolution that take place and transitions easily into the chorus. Heathrow is a great track! For now, you can find Slim right Here.

And now for some real fun! A little bit of Jazz, a little bit of Swing, all in the vein of 'Squirrel Nut Zippers' with one of two tracks this week from The Swing Ninjas, Dunkin' Bagels. It has a rewind the time machine back to the 1920's feel. Totally fun! Check up on The Swing Ninjas on their Here on MySpace.com or on FaceBook.com.

Changing pace again, we jump into the Pop-Rock realm with Your Reality by STEEP. The male vocal is hauntingly familiar sounding but I can't put my finger on who he sounds like. This track doesn't break any new ground musically. Still the instruments drive forward hard, keeping the song moving along. The production is very carefully executed, keeping the vocals front so you can hear the lyrics. I really like this track and STEEP. Check them out! More info can be found on MySpace.com and right here on Jamendo.com.

In the same tone as STEEP, but with a little Country/Folk Rock added to the mix, comes The Gasoline Brothers and Stardust Baby. The track has a Crosby, Stills, Nash feel to it, with a little more edge than their earlier work. The track moves, and again, The Gasoline Brothers have become a favorite listen for me. Check out their web site and MySpace.com page as well as their Jamendo.com page.

From the full offering Verbal Bandit, Heifervescent returns with Strange Kind of Fiction. If you relate back to the first radio show, you'll know that Andy Doran's offerings became an instant favorite of mine on Jamendo.com. Check out Heifervescent and Andy Doran. Check out their Web Site, MySpace.com and FaceBook.com pages.

The Swing Ninja's final track on this radio show is a remake of the old standard Bei Mir Bist du Schon. This cover makes no attempt to hide The Swing Ninja's comedic delivery (check out the in your face refrainj) but stays true to their Jazz/Swing roots at the same time.

This months final track is Alter Etno, with 55 Krokow and let the credits roll. I hope you've enjoyed this months selections. If you like what you hear (or not) give me some feedback. Find me on jamendo.com here or drop me a line here. I'm trying to mix things up as much as possible to give you an eclectic yet accessible selection of music that could be heard on the radio. Support the artists you like and leave them comments as well. Creative Commons artists live for your feedback, and if you can donate something to them, they always love that as well. Follow their links above or just leave a post on Jamendo.com. Radio Show number 3 is already in the works, so keep checking back or add me to your RSS feed. Until next month... Enjoy!

Spencerwire Radio - First Edition

2011-03-24T08:59:00.002-05:00

My oldest son hates to dig through piles of music to find one thing he likes. He'd prefer the ability to have someone else find it. I can understand that. Personally, I tend to be just the opposite, willing to scour music sites, bins, etc., to try and find something new and different to listen to. Since discovering Jamendo.com I've been doing some scouring. Enter the first edition of Spencerwire Radio, about an hours worth of music and commentary for you to consider. If you like anything here, feel free to take a trip over to Jamendo and download the music for free. All music is released (as stated in the earlier blog post on "Heifervescent") under one of three Creative Commons licenses. In most cases, this means that you cannot use this music for commercial purposes, but you can download it, burn it, share it with your friends without fear of any repercussions. Cool, yes? So click the "Play" button, and then read the reviews on the tracks below.

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RedEyeC opens things up with the single, "Tsunami," with shades of Pink Floyd, Alan Parsons, and a little bit of straight up rock guitar. It is a compelling, not quite instrumental track that evokes a rush of emotional tides. There's some great lead guitar work here, and the relentless bass and back beat, combined with the chant like vocals are simply intriguing.

Heifervescent follows up with a pop, radio-friendly, instrumentally diverse and ear friendly "Billy Comes Home." It's one of three tracks involving Singer/Songwriter Andy Doran on this radio show. Try not to sing along, no really... see if you can help yourself.

If you like what you heard on track two, then you'll be strangely puzzled at the similarities of vocal style on Cannula's "Dreamcatcher." Cannula has a very RUSH feel to it, albeit a much more pleasing vocal style. The song construction here is flawless and production values throughout all of Andy Doran's group offerings are impeccable.

If Heifervescent and Cannula exhibit some of pops greatest accomplishments, then Diablo Swing Orchestra throws out the rules on "Heroines." Diablo is a testament to what happens when you combine elements of progressive rock, jazz, operatic vocal styles, and blend them vigorously. It's wonderful, but it defies categorization.

Fresh Body Shop skips along with "Bring Me Down." Understated vocals, and chirrups of electronic noodling front this pop/rock party time tune. Percussion instruments are odd and yet add just the right texture here. There are several offerings from "Fresh Body Shop" on Jamendo, so you will likely hear more from them on future radio shows.

A little bit of blues, a little bit of jazz and a little bit of folk, is Bela Ruse's "Push On." The vocal here is in front of everything and demands to be heard. It's a different vocal style, but a pleasing one. Instrumentation is minimalist, but just the right touch for this track.

NYCO is both Rock and R&B on "Side Of The Road." It will keep your toes tapping, and if you have a dance floor handy, it will keep the rest of you moving too. Good background vocals and instrumentation are just the right touch to the lead vocalists slightly gravely vocals, smoothing with just the right touch, the rough edges. Don't get me wrong, those rough edges need to be there! Great track!

A bit art-rocky but heavily pop influenced, Zamza's "Flyin' Away" is a bit reminiscent of a female led "Men At Work." It has very similar vocal intonations. Midway there's a heavy use of echo, but it works.

A mid-tempo ballad, Burly's "Cinnamon" is a nice break in the action from the pop and rock above. Just a nicely paced and sweet number.

Another group that you'll be hearing more from (probably at least) on future radio shows is Julandrew. This folk/pop duo has just the right touch of 'quirk' and "Crazy" is a good example of their delightful style.

Alter Etno changes things up a lot. "Fairytale" is a story in a song, complete with a very cool spoken word intro. I absolutely love this track! Check out Alter Etno's EP on Jamendo and sample the rest of their work. Very, very, very interesting stuff, and not your same old, same old by any means.

The third Andy Doran track in this radio show is the return of Heifervescent and "When Stars Fall From Grace." This track is from their "Pond Life Fiasco" offering. I can't seem to get enough of this group. So I hope you will indulge me and just enjoy this track. Heifervescent has a true power-pop sound.

I really hope to hear more of the artist Rogier Van Den Brink which has the delightful little single "My Angel Told Me So." It is so reminiscent vocally of Boz Scaggs, although not annoyingly completely like him. It is a bit of a Jazzy Pop lounge number.

Consider the final track in this radio show, the closing credits. Manuzik's "D'où je suis" is an instrumental only track, that uses a cool little piano trill loop and a harp-sound pluck and frankly, I just like it. It makes a great book end to this radio show. Until next time.

Heifervescent: Five Albums worth of Wonderful Pop/Rock

2011-03-03T16:05:00.002-06:00

There's something absolutely hypnotic about U.K. Singer/Songwriter Andy Doran's project "Heifervescent." I recently stumbled across Jamendo.com while listening to music on another site, TheSixtyOne.com. Since then I've been like a kid in a candy store, listening to the many great offerings on Jamendo. For those not in the know, Jamendo.com is a site that represents artists who are willing to, under restrictions of one of three Creative Commons licenses, offer their music for free download. That doesn't mean that these artists don't deserve money and credit for what they do. "Heifervescent" is a great example of that. Don't believe me? Take a listen to the tracks here.

Royalty-free music for professional licensing

At the time of this writing, there are 45,208 offerings available in every conceivable genre; But I digress.

"Heifervescent" is a true collage of sounds and styles. There is music with harder edges and more mellow tones, but it all fits together in a very unique and wonderful sound scape. Please take a listen. I'll try to update this review with some specifics as time allows.

Amie Street purchased by Amazon.com - Who will notice?

2010-09-08T14:58:00.001-05:00

This blog was originally formulated to highlight music found and purchased through AmieStreet.com but has in the last year and a half, strayed from this formula to include music found and delivered through other means as well. On Tuesday, AmieStreet.com (AS) announced that it had sold the business to Amazon.com for an undisclosed figure.

Who will notice? Well, not me. Amazon.com has been investing in AS for the past 4 years and with each investment, the likelihood that you would be able to find the struggling independent artists-the jewels in the rough if you will-has decreased with each year. This was the reason I was so excited when I found AS, clear back when they were in the beta phase. In the past year and a half, AS has become the dumping ground for any number of labels trying to get every last penny they could from some pretty questionable "talent." So much for the struggling independent artist.

Increasingly AS has cowed to the investment dollar, and the original formula that worked so well to lure me in has morphed into something unrecognizable from the original AS. It's really too bad. AS had an exciting formula: let the music speak for itself. The original plan was that all music would start as free and would rise in price as it was purchased. Artists such as "Jukebox The Ghost" saw their music start at 0 and go to the top of the price scale-because it deserved it. Not because some label or middle man had arbitrarily set the price, but because the music "spoke for itself." That too, had increasingly disappeared from the AS profile. Music began to appear at 15 cents per track, then 45 cents, and sometimes there was no pretense to applying the original formula. Suddenly, AS was no better than-and in some ways worse than-any one of the major download resellers.

I've missed the original AS for more than a year now; probably more than two years; But I'll not mourn their passing much now. After all, it's not like there was much left of the original AS anyway.

The ever changing music of "Changing Modes"

2010-05-02T10:58:00.001-05:00

Many people are locked into one musical era, genre or type. Too bad too, because those people will always miss out on music that is truly interesting and innovative. If you thought you had my love of pop music pegged by reading or listening to the music reviewed here so far, then hold on to your hats! Enter Changing Modes and their 2010 CD, Here. Changing Modes isn't your average pop or rock band. Their influences range from progressive rock to modern rock, jazz and classical. While the bulk of this review highlights the talents of the vocalists and major instrumentalists, not enough can be said for the roles of David Oromander (drums, vocals, trumpet) and Grace Pulliam (vocals, percussion) who add all the right touches throughout. There is more to hear than one listen will allow, because there is so much going on. Whether you are mesmerized by the sometimes haunting vocals and harmonies, intrigued with the instrumentation or just taken away by the lyrics, you'll find many things worth discovering Here.

Dissonance is used throughout Here's title track and opener, a song about being in physical or mental distress and looking for a way out. Band co-leader, Wendy Griffiths, (keyboards, vocals) sounds alternately like Grace Slick, Chrissie Hynde or Kate Bush, depending on the moment in the song. The music adds an appropriate haunting urgency to the lyrics. Here too is some magical guitar work from the other co-leader of Changing Modes, Yuzuru Sadashige (bass, guitar). The interplay between the vocals and instrumentals really kicks in when the Theramin is included.

Here's theme is dissonant and haunting, and Moles is its counterpoint,  revving up the speed and kicking it up a notch. It's the kind of song that wants your feet to move, even if the song's lyrics are about mole people in New York City who live in the subway tunnels. Wendy sings "But your life underground, is not what it seems, it's worse than your strangest nightmare and better than your wildest dreams" in the chorus, but that is just one of the images painted here. You'll need to listen carefully to hear them all.

Louise introduces Jen Hammaker (Theremin, keyboard) on lead vocal in a whimsical song about Wendy's cat, which is just plain fun! "What goes on behind those dark eyes? Where do you go when I turn out the light?" Not only is there a lot going on here instrumentally, but the backing vocals and harmonies are incredible too, with a truly interesting shift from major to minor key and back again.

And There's so much more! Cell to Cell is another fun toe tapper that explores carrying on a relationship via text messaging. Distorted guitar adds interesting texture here that gives it a very punkish feel. Embers Sweet has an almost "Yes" feel to it, if "Yes" were fronted by female vocals that is. It definitely has that progressive rock edge to it. A favorite track for me is the poppy, electronicly noodled One, which describes an obsession with lines like You are the One, you are the one.  White Lightning, again with Jen Hammaker, is a jazzy number with great trumpet fill from Oromander. The White Room, sounds initially like a cover of Cream's White Room. When I asked Wendy about this, however, she assured me that "It's more of an homage to the Cream song than a cover." It is a delightful changeup that explores sleazy politicians and their abuse of power. Closing out the set is Meow Situation which has a swing piano feel that ends things on a light-hearted note.

Writing this review, I've been afraid that after listening to these tracks so many times, they would start to wear thin; They don't. If anything, you begin to hear more nuances and textures that were hidden from your ears on the first listen. Changing Modes deserves grand recognition for a diverse, haunting and playful set of music. Instrumentation and vocals are accomplished and fun to listen to and the lyrics are deceptively simple in their complexity and entirely singable. Formed in the mid-90's by a happenstance invitation to CBGB's, Wendy Griffiths was pried away from her classical practice room, to hear the band Soul Coughing with a friend. It occurred to her on that night that she really missed the world of rock; "How that music hits you in the gut, which, as much as I love classical music, the concert music never quite does; At least not for me." She came back to her room later that night and began to write rock songs, and has never turned back. We are the beneficiaries of this epiphany, and Here is just one of those gifts.

You can find more information on Changing Modes by visiting them on MySpace or FaceBook. They also have a web site, that is in drastic need of a voluneer developer (sorry guys), so volunteer those services if you can help them out. You can hear sample tracks and purchase digital copies of Here from AmieStreet.com or both digital and physical copies of this and other Changing Mode CD's from CDBaby.com.

The Right Now's Pop-Soul Revolution

2010-03-11T09:55:00.007-06:00

Picture this: Members of the Chicago based musical group The Right Now hijack Mr. Peabody's way-back machine and return to 1969. There they begin to study soul and rhythm and blues artists, like Issac Hayes, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Hot Buttered Soul and The Staple Singers. The Right Now stay and study for four years, infiltrating Stax recording sessions and hiring on as session musicians. After the completion of their studies, they return in the way-back machine to the present day where they blend what they have learned with modern pop-rock influences and modern soul and rythm and blues. If you can imagine this picture, then you have an inkling of what the self-produced CD Carry Me Home is like-music that is both hauntingly retro and solidly present-day.

Lead vocalist Stefanie Berecz has a healthy set of pipes that can wail with inflection (You Will Know, Doing Nothing, I'll Get Down) add a plaintive mournfulness (Better Way To Live, I Could Really Hold On, Carry Me Home) or a soulful sweetness (Nobody, The One You Love). If Stefanie's beautiful voice is the first thing you hear as you listen to Carry Me Home, the very next thing will be the tight perfection of the band. Vocal assists come from Brendan O'Connell (guitar and keyboards) and Chris Corsale (guitar). Greg Nergaard lays down a solid bass line on all tracks and no Stax influenced soul or rhythm and blues group would be complete without a horn section provided by Johnathan Edwards (baritone sax) and Jim Schram (tenor sax). Let's not forget the consistent beat from drummer John Smillie.

Carry Me Home is tight throughout, blending slower and mid-tempo numbers with faster more up-beat offerings in just the right combination. You never feel that you are getting too heavy a dose of one style or type because the metronome continues to shift from track to track. Nobody truly highlights Stefanie's voice followed by a great mid-tempo rocker You Will Know which features Brendan's keyboards (a nice Hammond organ sound) and the horn section that really swings here. There's great sax work to be heard on I Could Really Hold On and the guitars provide both rhythm and texture in a more prominent role on Before I Know Your Name. Doing Nothing and I'll Get Down are perhaps some of my favorites here-if there can be favorites in such a great collection. Here, Stefanie sounds like Aretha Franklin or Diana Ross and you can almost picture the band swinging and swaying as they lay down a really solid back drop.

You can find more information on The Right Now from their MySpace page including a schedule of upcoming live performances and you can purchase Carry Me Home digitally from both i-Tunes and Amie Street. In addition, you can purchase the physical CD, T-Shirts a 45 single and other memorabilia from their Storenvy store front. The Right Now have found a successful blend of retro and modern sounds that should please a wide demographic. They deserve to be heard. Check out The Right Now, right now!

Ian Axel: "This is the New Year"

2010-01-06T09:15:00.005-06:00

Bathed in top notch piano, catchy vocals and humor, singer-song writer Ian Axel spanks the new year into existence with This is the New Year. It's a delicious romp full of great pop music craft. Ian sprinkles his ever present keyboards with orchestral flourishes and drums that add just the right texture. Layered vocal harmonies are used sparely with good effect. The production is not over blown, with arrangements and polish that add just the right touch. Nothing seems excessive. Lyrically, Ian dances around a host mostly relationship based subjects including telling a would be lover to take a hike, "Hangman", love lost that won't go away, "Leave Me Alone!" and of course infatuation "Girl I Got a Thing."

There are a lot of truly delightful tracks here. "Afterglow" represents masterful pop song craft with one of the best choruses I've heard in some time. "Girl I Got A Thing" has a pounding march-step delivery that will have your toe tapping in no time at all. All of these tracks have melodies that will ring in your head and trigger the sing-along mechanism. Seriously, you won't have a choice. "Waltz" has an almost Gypsy feel to it with a rapid one-two-three beat. "This is the New Year" features guest vocal Chad Vaccarino and talks of making resolutions-and keeping them.

More than anything, This is the New Year provides a positive, up-beat and optimistic tone to the months ahead. Coming off a year that has been clouded with economic woes and political battles, real optimism is a very good thing! There is a great deal of time left in 2010, but this musical offering could well be the best of the year-it's just that good.

Released only in digital format so far, you can find This is the New Year on Amie Street, Amazon and i-Tunes among other sources. You can listen to some complete tracks from Ian Axel on his My Space Page as well as videos from his YouTube Channel. When Ian releases the CD version, I'll try to post it here.

Dark and Beautiful: Natascha Leonie's "Forget Humble"

2009-11-10T10:51:00.005-06:00

I'm a huge fan of David Lynch's work. He has the capability of painting beautiful scenic environs hiding a dark and brooding underbelly. (Blue Velvet, Twin Peaks) Think of Natascha Leonie as the David Lynch of music. Before I go on, I should say that this is a good thing. Love songs can be so simplistic that after a few of them you are in sugar overload. Natascha never lets that happen. Forget Humble is a collection of dark love songs that bleed, brood and even brag. The composition of these tracks is complex, the lyrics thick with meaning and the music-always beautiful.

Monument kicks off this collection with a vengeance, punctuating the lyrics with just the right emphasizing beat. And the lyrics? Oh my! Take the second stanza for instance:

"Knowing no consideration at all
You use your keen mind for a cunning call
Your attempts to be evil
Are so wretched and I don’t get
Why you fake why you hurt why you lie"

This is an example of the type of pointed lyric that is evident throughout this collection. If Monument lyrically is dark, you only get a hint of that in the music. Again, this is a quality that runs throughout Humble.

On the title track, Forget Humble, the beauty takes over full force. The piano and cello on this track are magnificent. The up-beat Bisquit is perhaps my favorite track on this collection, though it's hard to really finger a favorite. Bisquit's alt-country composition and Natascha's straight-forward delivery bob and weave and please at every turn. A counter-point to Bisquit is the brooding Bridge, with the sadness of love lost. Each offers one of the best lyric lines that I've ever heard.

"‘Cause you are like a stone in my happy shoe
you’re under my toe everywhere I go"

Indeed, all of us have probably experienced people who have left us with a pain that won't go away-like a stone in our shoe. Armchair talks about meeting someone in a bar and thinking that it would have been better if they had just stayed in that situation rather than taking the relationship further. Black Ice is perhaps the darkest song on Humble and yet still lovely in its presentation.

There is plenty to love and ponder on Forget Humble. Production is slick, calculated and generally well suited to the music. German born Natascha Leonie currently lives in the U.K. and is flanked on Humble by a host of very talented Musicians. You can find out more about Natascha Leonie and listen to a few full samples from the Humble by visiting her web page or her MySpace page. You can purchase Forget Humble from CD Baby or digitally from AmieStreet.com, among other sources.

Wiretree hits again with "Luck"

2009-10-19T09:10:00.007-05:00

In 2007, Austin, Texas band-mates Wiretree issued the wonderful "Bouldin." Now, two-years later, they are scheduled to release (October 20, 2009) their second long-player entitled "Luck." All I can say is, "It's about time!"

Think of Wiretree is a throwback to late 60's or early 70's pop. It's retro; But everything is accessible in the here and now. "Luck" pretty much picks up where "Bouldin" left off. In fact, the first three tracks are nearly an echo of "Bouldin" which would be disappointing if the music weren't so good anyway. Wiretree redeems themselves however, when the bouncy "Days Gone By" starts. It's just enough different to keep you listening. The mid-tempo ballad, "Falling," follows up "Days Gone By" proving that Wiretree has a somewhat mellow side as well.

"Information" and "Satellite Song", however, are where "Luck" really sets itself apart from "Bouldin" and for that matter from pop CD's everywhere. "Information" has a truly infectious melody that insinuates itself into your feet and your mind. It is the kind of pop tune that will make you want to go back and listen again. It's a "feel good" and a "Wow!" song.

"Satellite Song" has the coolest barroom piano bit in the background. It's a little out of tune and sounds like it has been dropped from a truck to the ground. The texture this piano adds is infinitely better than it would have been if it had been just a straight piano. The tune is, like "Information," so infectious that it demands repeating.

The title track,"Luck," brings into play the second mid-tempo ballad and it swings and sways, holding to the retro-ballad feel. All in all this is a wonderful collection from a band that deserves more attention.

Wiretree consists of singer songwriter, Kevin Peroni, and band members Joshua Kaplan, Rachel Peroni and Daniel Blanchard. You can find more information about the band from their website and listen to a few complete tracks from "Bouldin" and "Luck" at their MySpace Page. CDBaby has both "Bouldin" and "Luck" for a very inexpensive $10 each (ok, $9.99). For the digitally bound download lovers, you can purchase the tracks from i-Tunes or from AmieStreet.com.

Hard Copy-From The Archives: Low's "I Could Live In Hope"

2009-10-12T17:44:00.002-05:00

I'm introducing a new feature on the blog this week called "Hard Copy-From the Archives." The whole purpose of this feature is that when things get slow, I can rummage through my CD collection and discuss an old purchase which still holds my attention. Today's offering is "I Could Live in Hope" by Low. Low is perhaps one of the first ambient or slowcore bands. Alternative in their approach back in 1994 when this CD was first issued, they still sound fresh and new today.

Each song on "Hope" is an exercise in plodding melody, perfectly blended harmonies and minimalist instrumentation. It is easy to think that you will be able to put this CD on as background music and just read the paper or do something quiet while it plays. That is not, however, what happens when you listen. Before the opener "Words" finishes, you feel as if you've been pulled into a vortex of the bands creation. Soon you are straining for each nuanced phrase, searching for meaning or just lost in the music itself.

"Fear's" two minutes and twelve seconds is not the shortest song on this CD, but it is simplistically beautiful. "Slide" introduces a beautiful vocal lead from Mimi Parker. Her vocals are stronger and more pristine than those of Alan Sparhawk, But when the two share an equal emphasis the results are more haunting and complete. "Lazy" exhibits this trait, with the interplay between Sparhawk and Parker sharing an equal emphasis on the chorus. As if there weren't enough things to draw you inwards into the body of the music, "Lullaby," the longest track on this offering, weighing in at just under 10 minutes, uses a uniquely crafted echo of Parker's voice that doesn't disappear until almost four minutes in when the piece transitions into an instrumental. "Lullaby" also rocks harder as it moves forward through the instrumental outtro until it ends virtually where it began.

My favorite tracks on this CD include "Words,""Fear," "Slide," "Lazy," "Sea" and my all time favorite version of the Jimmy Davis and Charles Mitchell track "Sunshine," which is the set closer. Low had difficulty with labels and personnel going forward. They have released several CD's since this debut back in 1994-many of which are in my collection, but as is the case with many new bands that achieve a certain success early on, have had difficulty capturing the magic again that "I Could Live in Hope" offered. "Hope" stands as a promise unfulfilled for the band, but it also stands on its own musically. Though many bands have tried to emulate the slowcore magic of "Low", I don't believe that most really understood what they were attempting to accomplish. Perhaps only "Low" in this offering knew and that is why it feels so worthy, so complete, to listen to.

Low was formed in Duluth, Minnesota in 1993 and was comprised of the husband and wife team of Alan Sparhawk (guitars and vocals) and Mimi Parker (drums and vocals) with bassist John Nichols, when this CD came out. The band has a website with pop out MP3 player and sample tracks. You can also purchase CD's, including this one that is still in print, at Amazon.com.

The Outstanding Musical Theater of Katzenjammer

2009-09-23T13:02:00.003-05:00

If there has ever been any proof of the impertinence of the role of radio music programming in the advancement of good new music, Katzenjammer is it. The radio ready, yet largely ignored, first single "A Bar in Amsterdam" from Katzenjammer's 2008 debut, "Le Pop" was posted on AmieStreet.com a few months back, and ever since that time, I've been searching for a US copy of the "Le Pop" CD. Apparently available shortly after its release on such sources as Amazon, the CD has been listed as unavailable since I started searching, although the mp3's are available from both Amazon and i-Tunes. The band has assured me that the international version of "Le Pop" will be re-released this fall in the USA. After digging, I did find the original release of "Le Pop" with a US currency option at Grooves-Inc.com, a Swedish reseller.

From the opening of "Overture," which slams non-stop into "A Bar in Amsterdam," you know that you are in for an experience that rivals musical theater. Katzenjammer's brand of alternative pop is accessible yet eclectic. Three parts gypsy caravan, three parts pop, one part rock and roll, a dash of folksy goodness and a splash of Vienna seasoning make for a completely individual sound.

"Le Pop's" mostly upbeat numbers keep the party rolling from "Amsterdam" to "Tea with Cinnamon" to the outstanding "Hey Ho On The Devil's Back," Katzenjammer pops from the silly to the profound without letting the carnival stop. Speaking of silly, the title track is so much fun you will be laughing within seconds of its start!

Just when you think you have Katzenjammer figured out, though, they slip you something unexpected; the sad yet beautiful "Wading in Deeper." This is just an intermission however, proven by the follow up tracks "Play My Darling Play," "To The Sea," the waltzing "Mother Superior" and set closer, blues rock number, "Ain't No Thang."

Katzenjammer's four woman collective, made up of Soleig Heila, Anne Marit Bergheim, Turid Jorgensen and Marianne Sveen, jump from instrument to instrument interchangeably. Those instruments are many, too, including but not limited to accordion, melodica, mandolin, guitar, harmonica, trumpet, tuba, drums and balaika bass.

There aren't enough good words to describe this band. Oslo, Norway is lucky to have them as citizenry and we need to see more of them in the USA.

You can listen to tracks from the band on their MySpace Page and purchase their CD from the aforementioned Grooves Inc.com page. You can read more about the band on The Bonoroo site and let's not forget the bands own official web site. A search for some of Katzenjammer's videos on YouTube, etc., will give you the flavor of the band's live performances as well.

If you take pride is listening to and acquiring great music, you owe it to yourself to check out this amazing band!

Music In Brief: Sunlight Square Podcasts Update

2009-09-18T09:27:00.002-05:00

It's Friday, September 18, 2009, and Sunlight Square Podcasts has released 2 new podcasts on their site. Be sure to refresh your feeds! Sunlight Square Podcasts. Not sure what Sunlight Square Podcasts are? Check out this blog article.

Need a Change? Try Samantha Shelton on for Size!

2009-09-15T11:49:00.006-05:00

Actress turned singer Samantha Shelton (episodes of "House," "CSI: Miami" and "Gilmore Girls" to name a few) has found her true calling in musically interpreting the past in the present tense. Following in the footsteps, albeit not to closely, of such groups as "Squirrel Nut Zippers" and artists such as "Nellie McKay," Shelton's new 4-song EP, "Cranky Moon" lifts styles from old standards in the vein of a ragtime crooner.

"Maybe" lilts and rolls, gently provoking, sounding like it was lifted from the 1920's, if not for the references to boxed wine and phone texting. "No One Knows" ups the beat a little bit while Shelton's breathy vocal intones "Oh what you do to me, no one knows." "Cranky Moon" the title track, sounds as if it could have been a soundtrack from an old black and white and includes a chorus of female vocals that could have backed up early Sinatra. The track includes the F-word as one of the lyrics, thus projecting the whole thing into the present day. It's a delightful track, and a fitting title track to this small set. Finishing a bit like it began, "Sit and Sigh" boom-chick-chick-boom beat is a proper book-end to set opener "Maybe."

Musically, the instruments are simple and perfectly matched to Shelton's vocals. Perhaps the only complaint I have about this collection is that it is too short. I'll anxiously await a long-player from Shelton in this style. The EP is available digitally from AmieStreet along with a previous long-player in a quite a different style "Are You Kidding Around?". You can also hear complete tracks from both offerings on Shelton's MySpace Page.

The Ragbirds: A Musical Blender

2009-09-08T14:54:00.006-05:00

A fundamental philosophy that I've followed when searching for music is "New and Different." That doesn't mean the music has to be necessarily "new" but "new to me." Enter Ann Arbor, Michigan's "The Ragbirds" and prepare for a blender full of different. The Ragbirds mix folk, pop and middle eastern sounds combined with accomplished lead vocals provided by band founder, Erin Zindle. Other band regulars pull off a perfect blend of instrumentation and spare background vocals; T.J. Zindle, guitar, Dan Hildebrand, bassist, Randall Moore, drums and Tim Dziekan, percussion. Erin also switches between violin, percussion, accordion, banjo and other instruments as well as her lead vocal position.

With the band's August 2009, long-player "Finally Almost Ready, The Ragbirds show their stuff by combining all of their diverse styles into a blender for an entirely pleasing, if eclectic, collection. The first single "Book of Matches" has reached the No. 2 position on the Japanese top 40, but a quick listen will tell you that The Ragbirds are anything but a caterer to the top 40 sound.

"Finally Almost Ready" has many pleasing moments, not counting "Matches", including the mid-tempo rocker "Get In", the folk styled and absolutely wonderful, "The Frame" and toe-tapping, head-rocking "Getting Dark" to name only Four of the 12 great tracks on this CD.

One thing that my son always likes to hear are full-length samples of the music, and since I'm able to do this without compromising copyrights by simply pointing you to the bands web site, I've done that in the link attached to this post. Just click the title of this blog entry to take you there.

You can find more information on the band from their MySpace Page and you can purchase the tracks from AmieStreet Here for a pittance.

You can purchase the CD for $12 (plus shipping) at The Home Grown Music Network.

Sunlight Square Podcasts

2009-09-03T14:57:00.004-05:00

Things have been a little cluttered on AS for the last couple of weeks and I haven't had much time to sift through the offerings there. Yesterday, a friend of mine asked me to check out a funk group called "Sunlight Square" which I never did find, but I did end up finding a pretty cool podcast for those of you that want something a bit different to listen to musically.

There are 8 pod casts on this site, and they all have a slightly different focus. The pod casts look like they only come every 6 to 10 months, so this will be a brief (about 8 hours) listen until they issue a new podcast. I've really enjoyed listening to this, and hope that you will love it too.

My recommendation would be to start listening to the pod casts from the newest (number 8) to the oldest. The flavor will change as you go, but there are some very interesting styles covered and some really interesting covers too.

If you've been here before, then you know that for some strange, inexplicable reason, the podcast links are broken. So I've replaced them with a link to the site's podcast page. Just click the link below and then subscribe to the podcast based on your PC's environment.

Sunlight Square

Enjoy! And let me know what you think.

The Best of Amie Street

2009-07-31T14:50:00.000-05:00

I've been a loyal member of AmieStreet.com since it was still in Beta several years ago. During that time, I've accumulated over 6000 songs, some of which are, in my opinion, excellent. As a way of jump starting the new focus of this blog, I've decided to post some of the highlights here. If you enjoy the music, please do the group a favor and purchase it from one of the venues mentioned. AmieStreet.com is doing it's best to re-shape the music business into a consumer-driven model. We can help, by purchasing the media or the digital tracks.

My intent is to focus music into categories that work well Folk, Alternative, New Age/Jazz, Blues, Country, etc. This way you can skip, if you like, to categories that you like. That said, some of my biggest and happiest surprises were found listening to a track that fell outside of my comfort zone.

If you would like to suggest a group for me to listen to (it doesn't have to be an artist on AmieStreet.com), please do so! I've been dredging bins of LP's and CD's for many years now to find great music. Generally, this music is well below the radar screen. Also, if you enjoy a track, let me know that as well. If I can, I'll respond to you with additional information.

Blues-Classic Rock

In the style of Dan Zanes "Cool Down Time" "Flippinstrip" blends blues styling with modern and classic rock elements to bring a new flavor to the blues. There to help is a great testament to this entire digital offering.

Bluegrass

The youthful "The Greencards" bring a bounce to bluegrass that is simply awesome. They have three offerings on AmieStreet.com, all excellent, but this one is by far my favorite track.

For more information on "The Greencards" check out their home page or check out their purchase page that redirects to CD-Baby at their store

Pop-Folk

Over a year ago, "Susan Enan" released an 2 song EP entitled "Acoustic Sessions" on Amie Street. Recently, she released her "Plainsong" long player on AS with a host of people chomping at the bit to purchase it as soon as it hit their door. As I write this, "Plainsong" is the number one seller in the AS Top 25. Check out this sampling of "Plainsong."

Pop-Modern Rock

One of my favorite groups-favorite enough that I wrote a blog post and a review on the two offerings available on AmieStreet.com-is "Illustrated Man." On their "Music for Own Personal Drama" offering, "Wise" is a personal favorite. Check out their latest offering too, "Welcome to Your Life," winner of several New Mexico music awards.

A local favorite in the should be a pop-star category, is the "Penny in the Pocket" offering from singer/songwriter "Leesha Harvey." Take a sampling of all of the tracks here.

"Chris Merrit" Doesn't necessarily break any new ground musically. Sometimes that's not important. More important is how the music makes you feel and how much you enjoy listening to it. In a very pop/modern rock vein, "Madison" gives you some of Chris's flavor.

"Katie Todd" is just quirky enough to transcend the borders of pop-friendly, radio ready, pop. One of those early purchases that I still find very pleasing today. Check out "Leave."

"Enter the Haggis" is another band that deserves the full offering sample. These Celtic Rockers have released several offerings on AmieStreet.com, all fabulous. I'll share with you samples from the one that got me hooked for good, "Soapbox Heroes."

In the up-and-coming with a bullet category, check out "Hoarse Box" another set of Irish rockers that have what it takes to make you tap your feet and sing along. "Cuckooland" appears to only be available on Amie Street for US purchasers. Check out samples from this marvelous EP.

Jazz

One of my very first purchases on AmieStreet.com was Jack Zerby's "The EP." Check out this great track from Jack.

In the jazz as comedy category, you have to check out "Lee Presson and the Nails" and his version of "Pink Elephants on Parade." You won't see the Disney Classic "Dumbo" without laughing afterward.

Afro-Beat

Move to the music! "The Daktaris" "Soul Explosion" is a good blend of beat, soul and jazz.

Electronic/Instrumental

Carnival Music on crack. That's how I'd describe "sisesisis." This is insane music, but what fun!

Music Blog Focussing on Amie Street Music

2009-07-31T08:56:00.000-05:00

In the next few weeks, after encouragement from a few people, I will begin a music blog highlighting music on Amie Street (http://amiestreet.com) as well as other music offerings and music news. If you feel inclined to comment, please do. Also, send me your music suggestions. While the blog focuses on music from Amie Street, it won't be the only source, and full purchased CD sites will also be available, as well as other blog links and sources.

If you love music, as I do, then keep me posted with your findings!

The Upside Down Tomato (plant) Project

2008-07-12T17:36:00.000-05:00

My wife and I always have this debate about garden space every year. She's not a huge tomato fan, but I am, and so I always want to plant more plants than we really have garden space for. I've got a big yard, so I could plow up another corner of it for tomato plants, but that sounds like a lot more work than I'm willing to put up with-Plus, I'm sure I'd be the one that would end up weeding the "extra" plot.

So, while watching late-night television one night, they had a commercial for an upside down tomato plant. It was some sort of a cone shaped deal ("act now, and we'll throw in an additional-insert product name here-for free!) and it didn't trip my trigger, but it sure got me thinking.

That following week, I did some scrounging around in the garage and shed, and I found what I think is the perfect upside down tomato planter. It's a simple 2.5 gallon bucket with a metal handle. I drilled some small holes in the side and bottom for water drainage and then cut out about a 1.25" hole in the center of the bottom for the tomato plant to fit through. In thinking about the future plant's weight, I decided that the system needed a membrane of some sort that the root system would fit through, so I used a scrap piece of foam underlay for a recently installed laminate floor. I cut this in a small square, just slightly bigger (probably 3" square) than the hole that was cut in the bottom of the bucket, and cut an X shaped slit in the membrane.

Next, I had to find a tomato plant, so went out and purchased one that had a good start on it and carefully transplanted it to the bucket. To do this, you have to remove some of the soil backed around the root system and then shove what remains up through the hole in the bottom of the bucket, then take the membrane, and push the plant through the membrane to a hight that seems like the right depth for planting. Now, while someone holds the bucket and the plant, you fill the bucket with potting soil (or good planting dirt) and poof, you are done.

Now you need to hang the bucket somewhere. First thing I tried was a shepherds hook plant hanger. That worked great for awhile, but we had a huge storm about a week and a half into first effort, and the shepherds hook fell over and damaged the stem of the tomato plant. I thought for about 5 days after the storm that the plant was going to make it, but alas, no good. So, undaunted, had my wife go and find me another tomato plant and I started over.

It was the end of the good tomato's at the various shops, so ended up with 3 really scraggy tomato plants that looked like they were on their last legs. They had some green in them, so I thought we'd give it a try. Not knowing which of the plants (if any) were going to survive, however, we planted them all in the same bucket. I didn't have anything other than the shepherds hook free to hang them on, so I used the shepherds hook at the end of the cloths line and tied it with wire to the metal pole. It's not going down this time.

The results have been slow in coming, put two weeks after the planting or so, we have a nice tomato bush growing out of the bottom of the bucket. It has a long ways to go to catch up with my two other plants that were planted quite some time ago, but it looks like the plant will bear fruit at some point. We have our first blossom now, so the rest is a waiting game. I've got a vision for next year if the current system works, that will expand on the upside down tomato theme even further.

Music the Amie Street Way

2008-01-04T20:57:00.000-06:00

The following editorial comment was submitted to Amie Street (http://amiestreet.com), January 1, 2008. I've also included some of my favorite Amie Street picks (samples only) linked to the Amie Street player below the editorial. Enjoy... And open an Amie Street account soon:

As we get ready for 2008, it seems appropriate to look back on the state of music in 2007, the shifting music purchase paradigm, and the role that Amie Street has played in the revolutionizing, both for the seller and the consumer, the music industry as we know it.

I've always searched for new and different music. For as long as I can remember, even growing up in a back-woods town in Nebraska, I've looked to discover new music. My interests are broad, so music doesn't have to be a particular genre, it just has to be good. In those early days, 1969 to 1979 or so, it was scouring the dial for an FM radio station that would play more than the "hits." That was a lot easier to find then than now. When FM gave way to MTV, MTV was radical and new. There are many groups who can thank MTV for their start; groups such as REM and U2 made the air waves, because they made the MTV circuit first. In the mid 80's, I subscribed to CD Review, a Wayne Green publication that came with a CD as part of the sub every month. When CD Review seemed poised for the cutting room floor, I came across CMJ New Music Monthly in the early 90's and was introduced to many a group from the pages of the magazine and the CD that was included with each issue. CMJ is still something that I receive every month, but it's looking like the next renewal cycle, I'll just let it expire. Why? The answer is Amie Street.

How I found Amie Street in the first place, I'm not even sure. A music blog may have pointed me there or someone may have told me about it. All I know is that since discovering Amie Street almost a year ago, I've purchased a great number of excellent MP3's-most as complete CD sets. There are broad ranges of music to choose from, so it fits my eclectic tastes nicely, and the pricing model allows great music to excel and mediocre music to languish. Combining Amie Street with Facebook's Fantasy Record label (editors note: Fantasy Record Label no longer exists), allows me to introduce music to my friends, too, while hopefully promoting an artist or two that needs the exposure. Amie Street's artist payment policy is generous, unlike major labels who keep a large percentage for marketing, packaging, inventory, add infinitum.

There is great reason to hope that 2008 will continue to provide musicians a new home while providing bargain basement pricing for music hungry consumers such as myself. Here's to you, Amie Street! I raise my glass and toast a successful 2007 and wish artists, consumers and staff alike, a very happy and successful 2008.

Recent Amie Street Favorites:
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Is it 'Faith' or 'Religious Crack?'

2007-12-06T18:27:00.001-06:00

The time was September 12, 1960, and then presidential hopeful, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was making a speech at the Rice Hotel in Huston, TX, that would set the stage clarifying the separation of church and state as it applied to a Catholic parishioner-himself. Today, in a speech decidedly opposite leaning, Mitt Romney told a gathering at the George (H.W.) Bush presidential library that heralded the melding of church and state as necessary and inseparable. As we approach the 2008 election, I think we need to ponder on the wisdom of the former, rather than the insanity of the latter.

Kennedy started his famous speech with this paragraph:

"While the so-called religious issue is necessarily and properly the chief topic here tonight, I want to emphasize from the outset that we have far more critical issues to face in the 1960 election; the spread of Communist influence, until it now festers 90 miles off the coast of Florida--the humiliating treatment of our President and Vice President by those who no longer respect our power--the hungry children I saw in West Virginia, the old people who cannot pay their doctor bills, the families forced to give up their farms--an America with too many slums, with too few schools, and too late to the moon and outer space."

This historical perspective, gives us a glimpse-albeit harsh-at the progress or rather lack of progress with issues that still haunt us today. Yes, We've been to the moon and the spread of Communism is mostly abated. The cold war is over. There are still hungry children, homeless adults and children, elderly and others that cannot afford the spiraling cost of our inept and over-bloated health care system. Families are still forced to give up their farms, and fewer and fewer farm children choose the family profession to come back to when they leave for college. America still has too many slums, and the gap between the richest Americans and the poorest ones widens daily. We still have problems that reach well beyond the issue of Religion.

Mitt Romney, having not nearly as good a speech writer as Kennedy, took a full five paragraphs to come to the point. Since the first paragraph is essentially a nod to the former president, in attendance at the speech, I've included paragraphs 2 - 5 here:

"Mr. President, your generation rose to the occasion, first to defeat Fascism and then to vanquish the Soviet Union. You left us, your children, a free and strong America. It is why we call yours the greatest generation. It is now my generation's turn. How we respond to today's challenges will define our generation. And it will determine what kind of America we will leave our children, and theirs.

America faces a new generation of challenges. Radical violent Islam seeks to destroy us. An emerging China endeavors to surpass our economic leadership. And we are troubled at home by government overspending, overuse of foreign oil, and the breakdown of the family.

Over the last year, we have embarked on a national debate on how best to preserve American leadership. Today, I wish to address a topic which I believe is fundamental to America's greatness: our religious liberty. I will also offer perspectives on how my own faith would inform my Presidency, if I were elected.

There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation's founders, for they, when our nation faced its greatest peril, sought the blessings of the Creator. And further, they discovered the essential connection between the survival of a free land and the protection of religious freedom. In John Adams’ words: 'We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people."

As with any political speech, there are elements of truth. Certain, elements of radical Islam have targeted America, we are in fact troubled at home by government overspending and there is no question that we are addicted to the prostitute "foreign oil" and need a 12 step program. It's odd that our botching of the arrogantly conceived Iraq war, has either caused or fanned the flames of the first two-the threat of radical Islam and government overspending-and was plotted, planned, schemed and executed by our current Republican president and his then minions in both houses of congress.

It is also true that our fore-fathers saw the wisdom of protecting religious freedoms and I'm sure that John Adams words as quoted by Romney are correct. That does not, however, mean that religion or more appropriately, faith, is any less personal a matter than to lend credence to the fundamentalist cries for their brand of politics, their brand of religious freedom.

Over the past few years we've seen a push by fundamentalist Christians to forward their faith into the politics of America. George W. Bush was a candidate, largely picked by fundamentalist Christians, and just look at what a disaster that choice was! He wears his religion on his sleeve alright; That hasn't stopped him from incorrectly assessing the threat of a sovereign nation, Iraq, while allowing the perpetrator of one of the largest, most successful, peace-time terrorist attacks, Osama Bin Laden, to escape through Afghanistan. He's twisted the truth and out-right lied about the events leading up to the Iraq war, and he did so while holding his bible. In the process, men and innocent Iraqis have died. While the one perpetrator we know is guilty, continues to live.

I'd much rather have a president who recognizes the separate nature of his "faith" and have that faith guide his actual activities, than to have a president who touts his "religion" and then avoid faiths guidance at all costs. What Romney promises is more of the same. The final statement in the paragraphs above seals this issue:

"Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people."

No, Mr. Romney, our constitution was made for all Americans, whether they choose to be religious or not. Romney's views, however, are not unlike those of other Republican candidates who have promised to let their religious convictions, rather than their faith, guide them.

When it gets right down to it we are talking on one hand about a drug; "Religious Crack," which is represented by the rabid believer who listens only to his religious leader, whether the leader is the Pope, Pat Robertson or Louis Farrakhan; and on the other hand about "faith;" the ability of a thinking man to absorb the thoughts and feelings of others, the teachings of his god and the words and deeds of people he admires, allowing these to guide his conscience in all things. Frankly, I'd much rather have a leader who is a thinker than one who is a drug addict.

Tough issues still face our nation. We need a leader who is tough enough to face these challenges, has faith enough to guide him morally in his duties and decisions and is wise enough to make choices that work for all Americans.

You can read John F. Kennedy's original speech about religion here: JFK Speech

You can read the full context of Mitt Romney's speech here: Romney Speech

AmieStreet: Music on the Move

2007-11-19T10:59:00.000-06:00

I've tried a number of different music delivery agents over the years. In the early 80's, I purchased a subscription to Wayne Green's, long gone CD Review magazine, which included as part of the sub, a complete CD. In the early 90's, I started purchasing CMJ New Music Monthly, a magazine and CD which I still get today, but which has lost the luster it once had. If memory serves, 9/11 disrupted the publication and delivery mechanism for this magazine, based in New York City, and it has never fully recovered in my view. Awhile back, I started an account on Amie Street (http://amiestreet.com) and since then I haven't looked back.

Amie Street has a great model for both the consumer and the publisher of music. It allows musicians to upload their songs (individual songs, EP's or long play CD's) as mp3 tracks. Amie Street keeps the first $5 of each songs profit, for bandwidth, storage and other fees, then the artist receives %70 of any future revenue on the song. Songs go up in value as they are purchased and downloaded, and as recommendations come in from people who have listened to the tracks.

Consumers of Amie Street music receive equal benefits. All music starts out as FREE and then moves upwards as it is purchased and downloaded. Recommendations from fans increase the value of the posting as more people are likely to purchase and download the music based on reviews that others provide.

This model provides a true supply and demand cost model that allows the cream to rise to the top, while music that is less stellar or not quite as accessible, languishes towards the bottom. Amie Street editors also provide their own input into music that is currently hosted on the site providing another boost for artists and another opinion for potential purchasers.

If you haven't yet tried Amie Street, I highly recommend that you do. Recent hooks into social networking sites, such as Facebook.com's Fantasy Record Label application, provide yet another avenue for consumers and musicians alike.

Is there still a chance for the chewy political center?

2007-11-12T12:47:00.000-06:00

A person has to wonder, given the latest "benefits" of the carefully orchestrated group meetings surrounding senator Clinton's campaign, if the nation is slowly warming to the chewy center of the democratic party. We can't continue down the road of Rove/Bush, carefully orchestrating the crowds to serve our own agenda. This is a failed and flawed political policy, and one that deserves a sound trouncing-whether the party is Democrat or Republican.

So the polls show that Democrats are a lot more disgusted and troubled by the use of these tactics by Clinton than I'm sure she would have hoped. A solid lead in the polls is now tightening and 2nd place challenger Barack Obama seems poised to gain much of the lost percentiles. And why not? Barack may not have the experience of Clinton in some respects, but he exudes a quality that has been missing far too long in this country and in the political scene, a mannerism of calm, a pragmatic application of warmth and even handedness. Would we, should we, even consider replacing the corporate behemoth of Bush with yet another corporate behemoth in Clinton? I say no.

You can be tempted to deal it to the Republicans as they have dealt unto us for the last 7 years, but what does that gain the country? Not one thing. That is what we are buying into if we allow our hearts and votes to be lured into the Clinton camp. We can go for revenge, and likely lose the battle altogether; Or we can go for the center, where 90% of America is anyway, and try to bring this country back together through inclusion. I believe that this is the type of president that Barack Obama would be, and I believe that his soft-spoken yet firm nature will allow him to win against any of the Republican front-runners.

Unfortunately, the Republican hopefuls are shaping up to be more of the same-all cut out of some corporate or moral institutional model, that would give us another four years, minimum, of separatist hell in our nation. We can't afford more of the same. There is too much at stake.

Americans have an opportunity to end the extremist views of one party and replace them with either more extremism on the opposite poll, or moderation that heals. My vote is to heal the nation and bring Republicans and Democrats back together as they were meant to be. There is a soft and chewy political center, and he is Barack Obama.

Budget Bull

2007-11-01T11:29:00.000-05:00

The right is so wrong when it comes to claims made over the last couple of years regarding the budget deficit and the value of bonehead Bush's tax cuts. They claim over and over again that the tax cuts worked perfectly to reduce the deficit, but the reality is that if you factor in war expenses, which have been tacked on outside of the budget process as earmarks; the entire amount of which has been borrowed from foreign governments, then the real "deficit" is climbing at an unprecedented rate.

When comparing budget deficits from last year to this year, the deficit has indeed been reduced by 48 billion. However, when you factor in the long-term costs, alternative minimum tax changes, and other costs that will hit in the future, the real story is more evident. (see "War Costs Extend Budget Deficit Gap")

War costs for this year alone are expected to top 600 billion-all borrowed and passed down to future generations as debt that must be paid. If this is good fiscal policy, then I've just sold some great swamp-land in Florida and made a small fortune!

One More Time... With Feeling!

2007-10-26T11:29:00.000-05:00

Once again, Nebraskan's may have the "opportunity" to pick a qualified, strong and independent candidate for public office--If they can get past their stodgy, Republican only, belief system that is. Thanks in large part to a grass-roots ground swell, Scott Kleeb is being asked to throw his hat into the Nebraska Senate race. There is no better person for the job.

Mike Nellis, a University of Omaha student, has been instrumental in two projects designed to generate interest in Scott's potential candidacy. The first is on a social networking site known as Facebook (www.facebook.com), where Mike has created a group called "Draft Scott Kleeb for Senate." (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5887468340) Second is a more traditional, web based front, that launched today at 10:30 AM, (http://DraftKleeb.com). Mike has tied the two together through postings and links on both sites.

Scott Kleeb and I have carried on a dialog of sorts since his failed congressional run in 2006. He has continued to show his strong grasp of both Nebraska and national issues throughout this dialog. His understanding of things like farm bills far out weighs my own citified knowledge. We also spoke of the balancing act between alternative fuels and water utilization in the state. Whether he is talking to a Democrat or Republican, Scott has always been inclusive. He understands that the politics of polarization does nothing but alienate the electorate. There were hundreds of "Republicans for Kleeb" signs out there in 2006, and he managed an almost unprecedented result, in the strongly Republican 3rd District, of gaining more than 40% of the electorate.

What we don't need in Nebraska is more of Mike Johanns. When he left the Governorship to be Bush's Agricultural Secretary, it was "Don't let the door hit you on the way out." We also don't need more of Jon Bruning. Both of these individuals are nothing more than party figure heads who buy into the polarizing techniques used by Bush and his cronies to alienate, rather than bring together, those with differing views. When Bob Kerrey was governor of the state, he used his strong and independent nature to include differing view points. He left office as one of our most popular governors ever. Scott Kleeb is just that sort of character, centrist, independent and inclusive. Add to this his knowledge of both Nebraska and National issues, and he is a hands down winner over the competition for US Senate.

You can make a difference and bring centrist, independently thinking, Nebraska representation by supporting a Scott Kleeb bid for Senate. For more information visit:

http://draftkleeb.com

or

http://scottkleeb.com

Or simply join the discussions on Facebook.

Independent Climate Change Editorial Ignores Facts

2007-10-06T23:37:00.000-05:00

The following post was sent to my local paper, "The Grand Island Daily Independent," In response to a recent editorial that painted Bush's climate change policy in a much too favorable light. While it is a response to that article, I believe that the content and facts stand alone in supporting my argument and therefore, I'm including them here for view.

**************

In its Tuesday, October 2nd, Op-ed column titled “Climate change debate centers on emerging nations,” The Independent paints a rosy picture of President Bush as someone who has had a long standing and consistent view of climate change, has promoted sane policy and engaged in honest discourse. Nothing could be further from the truth.

From the outset of the Bush presidency, he has gone out of his way to ignore, deny, and ridicule, the scientific community’s assessment that climate change has been brought about and accelerated by human activity; most notably carbon emissions from petroleum burning vehicles, and until recently (in other words this year) he has denied that the phenomenon exists at all.

One of the reasons that Bush stated for not authorizing Kyoto was the fact that it would not go far enough to curb green house gas emissions in developing countries. Yet, in July 2001, the Bush administration cut funding to developing countries designed to do just that. In the “Federal Climate Change Expenditures Report to Congress” the administration indicated that it had cut funding for this program by 25%. The report, however, ignores several key programs designed to transfer energy efficiency technology to developing countries that if included, would have brought the total reduction closer to 32%.

If Bush had been serious about trimming greenhouse gasses, he could have used human innovation, such as that used 2 years ago by Japan. Japanese work places were traditionally formal places. Places where suits and ties were not only welcomed but also expected. In 2005, then Japanese environment minister Yuriko Koike, came up with the “Cool Biz Initiative” that discouraged Japanese businessmen from wearing suits and ties, and thus allowed Japanese air conditioning units to be raised a few degrees. This initiative has trimmed two million tons of green house emissions from Japan’s output, a phenomenal number, with a very simple change in attitude. The example was set by the government ministries themselves and then caught fire through other businesses.

Other facts on the Bush administrations failed support of climate change initiatives:

· July 2001, President Bush announced through then EPA director, Christine Todd Whitman, that the US was no longer interested in reopening international discussions on global warming.
· April 2002, the Bush administration moves to boot America’s top climatologists from continuing to serve on an international panel that assesses global warming
· July 2002, despite a report from the EPA stating what most scientists have believed for some time, that human activity is the major cause of global warming; The Bush administration tells congress that it needs more time to develop climate forecasting before addressing the climate change problem
· July 2003, citing the “uncertainty of the science” behind global warming, the Bush administration states that it plans to spend several more years and millions of dollars “studying,” rather than proposing solutions for, man-made climate change.
· September 2003, investigative reporting reveals that the Bush administration conspired with oil company lobbyists to undermine global warming research.
· June 2004, The Bush administration slashes funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, effectively destroying research being done on abrupt climate change

These facts clearly show that the Bush administration, has never, and likely will never, provide any meaningful discourse on global climate change. In the meantime, cataclysmic weather scenarios, rapidly melting glaciers, the release of methane plumes below melting glaciers, etc., will make dealing with global warming more and more difficult. Action, not rhetoric, is required.

About the Blog Name

2007-10-01T09:55:00.000-05:00

So where the hell did "A little more Vodka, A little less Milk" come from? Well, from the infinite depths of my imagination, that's where. What does it mean? Well, it means that what we need is a little more direct discourse and a little less pussy-footing around. It means if subjects are tough, then they should be talked about. It means that those who would silence your thoughts and words, are the enemy, and that we should fight this by thinking and talking more.

This is certainly true where politics and social issues are the subject. We need less of Fox "News" and more real, honest, discourse.

Death and Loss

2007-10-01T09:19:00.000-05:00

When we think of family death, we generally think of a traditional family member; Father, Mother, brother-in-law, etc. Certainly those are gut-wrenching losses. Our family found out today that other non-traditional losses can be just as heart breaking.

A member of our family has been openly gay for many years. Several years ago, he chose a life partner who was loved by all. His warm, caring disposition touched our hearts. His love of children and his way with them, made him a favorite with the many nieces and nephews. While some of the family still wrestle with the idea of homosexuality, there can be no doubt that this life partner will be missed by the entire family. He passed away last night in his sleep of heart failure.