Music Project: Fridays

I think that says Friday nicely. I’ve never heard a whole cd by Goldspot but they’ve had a few songs (Rewind and Time Bomb) featured on Nic Harcourt’s wonderfully named show on KCRW (Morning Becomes Electra). Its just one of those great singalong pop songs. And it is Friday and what am I actually listening to. Well, I have an old Hawksley Workman (For Him and the Girls) on the player and I have been thinking here is one of those artists that I have never appreciated to the extent that I should have. Like many, I heard the hit….

And apart from the total awesome fun of it, I thought I want people to see this and think “that is what a Canadian is”. Always thought that if “Mr. Nasal” Rufus Wainwright were good, he would be this man (actually Brighteyes also dims badly in comparison to this man; he does seem a bit of a poor spinoff of Workman). But what really turned me onto Hawksley was his latest incredibly sad and beautiful Treeful of Starling where most of the songs are set in a forthcoming ice age. And then when I put this cd on, one of the most moving songs was about a church. A church? And this from a man who is most certainly too sexy for his shirt.

Here’s one a little softer than the other, an idea of how strong he is live; just have to make it past the intro by Vicki.

But back to the Friday songs themselves. Here is an example of a fine song by a band and singer I could never stand. Call me a troglodyte but the man spends too much time at the makeup counter -always felt he needed a really good slap upside the head (Morrissey too). But hey, its Friday, who gives a shit. Much as I hate to admit it, this is a pretty decent tune.

And just before Workman, I had on Rilo Kiley’s Under the Black Light on AGAIN. Liked everyone of their cds but this one is different and its not a lie on the couch and listen to the emoting indie but rather a get up clap your hands and move cd. It’s not that this is better but it is different and I only realized the true strength of this last one by when i actually turned it up really loud and was cooking to it. And I have to admit that this is essentially a disco record.

Now compare that to the earlier Portions for Foxes which is much more typical:

Kind of suspect the last one will outlast the current effort, but who cares. Also listening to the latest Josh Ritter (great). Lots of good songs, one fine one called Open Doors (no video available) but here are some of the lyrics to give you a sense of how he writes:

I’m saving nickels and I’m saving dimes
I’m gonna kiss you where the sun don’t shine
And all those shadows gonna kiss them too
Just as long as they come in with you

Do open windows keep the rain away?
Do open eyes keep the ghosts at bay?
I thought an open door would bring you in
Now I guess I’m gonna have to guess again

And here is a teaser promo for the cd:

And I did find Kathleen, one of one of his better earlier songs :

But it is Friday, so I am out of here. With any luck, Saturday will happen tomorrow.