baltimore: lights on 34th street., originally uploaded by minervacat. I grew up in a household where holiday music, both secular and religious, was taken seriously; the Maternal Unit has one of the greatest collections of holiday music I have ever encountered. When I was a kid, she owned — still does, probably, but now the bulk of…
Category: opinions about albums
corb lund — losin’ lately gambler
the never @ duke’s von der heyden pavilion, originally uploaded by minervacat. Corb Lund & the Hurtin’ Albertans — Losin’ Lately Gambler. Out 9/21, New West. I occasionally wonder why Corb Lund and his songwriting talents aren’t more of a hit on the American pop country radio waves and in the Nashville scene, but then…
micah schnabel — when the stage lights go dim
two cow garage @ local 506, originally uploaded by minervacat. Micah Schnabel — When the Stage Lights Go Dim. Out now, limited pressing; self-released/Surbuban Home Records. Most of the time, Micah Schnabel is the frontman for the Columbus, Ohio, cowpunk band Two Cow Garage; this is his first solo record, and in a lot of…
jones street station — in verses
good old war @ cat’s cradle, originally uploaded by minervacat. Jones Street Station — In Verses Out 8/18, Smith Street Records. Jones Street Station’s In Verses was one of my most anticipated releases of this year (that nobody else cared about). Their 2007 debut Overcome (as the Jones Street Boys) was a note-perfect Dixieland-infused Americana…
molina & johnson — self-titled
trekky records christmas at the cradle, originally uploaded by minervacat. Molina & Johnson — self-titled. Out today on Secretly Canadian. One of my favorite things in the world is when musicians I enjoy enjoy the company of other musicians I enjoy. For example, it delights me immensely whenever Mike Doughty and Rhett Miller twitter at each…
mike doughty — sad man happy man
mike doughty @ the cat’s cradle, originally uploaded by minervacat. Mike Doughty — Sad Man Happy Man. Out 10/6, ATO Records. I held off on reviewing this because I knew that I was seeing Doughty on a Tuesday; what better day to talk about his new album than a day I’m going to see him?…
nellie mckay — normal as blueberry pie
wye oak @ cat’s cradle, originally uploaded by minervacat. Nellie McKay — Normal as Blueberry Pie: a Tribute to Doris Day. 10/13, Verve Records. I’ve been a fan of McKay since her 2004 debut, Get Away From Me, which the Maternal Unit sent me the first year I was living in the NC; it lived in my…
langhorne slim — be set free
langhorne slim @ the cat’s cradle, originally uploaded by minervacat. Langhorne Slim — Be Set Free. 9/29, Kemado Records. I can’t believe I haven’t written about this album before, but: man, what a fucking great album. It’s hard for me to put words down about Langhorne, because on the surface — guy with a guitar,…
built to spill — there is no enemy
american aquarium @ the pour house, originally uploaded by minervacat. Built to Spill — There Is No Enemy. Out today on Warner Bros. A rare major label acquisition for me.
scotland yard gospel choir — … and the horse you rode in on
weesefest 2009 @ the pour house, originally uploaded by minervacat. The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir — … And The Horse You Rode In On. My friend Amy turned me on to these guys a few years back — at least before the Franklin Street Schoolkids closed, because The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir was the last CD…
brand new kind of photography 