A few thoughts.

Cover of Ten Years After’s 1969 album, Ssssh

I didn’t have time to record a podcast this week, but that hasn’t stopped me from thinking about music.

• A friend asked me about Slowdive this week. Fortunately for him, I already had a Slowdive playlist in Songbird. (Does this really surprise you?) So I burnt him a mix CD from that playlist just before Thurday’s rain. Diving back into the band’s dreamy catalog with light rain rapping upon the windowpanes was perfection. I can’t wait for him to hear this; it’s gorgeous.
• I stopped at Half Price Books in Westport on Thursday and bought Stereolab’s Margerine Eclipse and ABC Music. Now, I’m on a serious Stereolab kick. Don’t hate.
• I wish my wife wouldn’t have informed me Stars will be playing at The Bottleneck in Lawrence on October 9. We won’t be able to attend, as it’s on a weeknight. Oh, to see them perform “Ageless Beauty“!
• My friend, Brandon Briscoe, stopped by yesterday, and I introduced him to the music of Ten Years After. I’ve always felt that the band’s lead guitarist, Alvin Lee, was the best of the British blues rock players. Since everyone and everything is on Spotify, I suggest you check out the band’s records Cricklewood Green, Ssssh and Watt. In that order.

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Episode 66: Blind Devotion On a One-Way Road

Monahans released a song a month in 2010, to "find a way in to a new album."

Katy and I saw Doug Burr play at Crosstown Station three months ago.  (It was a great set, cut much too short by Burr’s illness that night.)  His fellow Texans, Monahans, opened with a set, then served as his backing band.  I hadn’t heard of Monahans before, so I did some research that week before the show, finding a few songs online.

What I found, however, in no way prepared me for the band’s amazing set.  Although the singer, Greg Vanderpool, had a cold, his grumbly, low voice was beautiful.  His effects-laden, resonator guitar playing also surprised and refreshed.

While the band could probably be lumped in with other soaring indie rock bands, Monahans had something else going on.  The rhythm section drove the sound, but the drummer didn’t seem content playing the same dumbed-down Larry Mullen phrases.  There was also something murky, Springsteen-like and oh-so American with the songs’ presentation that made sense when I discovered the band was from Austin.

At any rate, I’ve been sick this week, so commentary in this show may be a little scant.  But the music is awesome.  Enjoy.

1. “God Send Us a Signal” – Hammock (Raising Your Voice… Trying to Stop an Echo / Darla / 2006)
2. “Roam An Empty Space” – Monahans (2010 Recordings / independent / 2010)
3. “Summertime” – George Benson Quartet (It’s Uptown / Columbia / 1966)
4. “Vodiak” – Stereolab (Fab Four Suture / Too Pure / 2005)
5. “Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses (The Temple Bar Remix)” – U2 (Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses CD single / Island / 1991)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1415312/66radiofreeraytown.mp3″

Radio Free Raytown – Episode #66 (1/7/11)