SOUNDTRACK: DROMEDARY RECORDS
My friend Al started Dromedary Records many many years ago (for the whole, in depth, history read here). He released a number of cool indie rock CDs and then decided to put a halt to the proceedings.
Recently, he decided to resurrect the label, with mostly downloads as opposed to physical product (for the post about that, read this). He’s currently offering a free EP download from the great Jersey band Footstone. But more importantly, he’s gathered a number of cool indie bands who contributed a track for his new compilation called Make the Load Lighter: Indie Rock for Haiti. Proceeds from the compilation go to Haitian relief.
Al has always loved music. Dromedary was his way of getting great music out to people without all the bullshit that major labels were foisting on artists (this was all before internet music, of course). And, Al has always been a really good and decent human being (even after owning a record label for a dozen years). I’m delighted that he’s able to do a nice thing for people and still get music out to those who want it.
So, buy the download, support a good cause, and enjoy some great tunes.
[READ: February 2009] 52 Weeks Heads and Quotes
This is a day planner (sort of) and as such it doesn’t really qualify as a book I’ve read. However, The Believer published this planner which included excerpts from the magazine, so it kind of counts. Each week there’s a quote from an artist (usually a writer, but also actors and musicians) as well as a Charles Burns drawing of him or her (or even it in a couple of cases).
And since it is not tied to any year (you write in the month as you go) it has the delightful quote on the back: “You can start this planner anytime–it does not expire.” (more…)

SOUNDTRACK: ELFIN SADDLE-Ringing for the Begin Again [CST059] (2009).
This is a fascinating disc from our friends at Constellation Records. It defies ready classification and offers elements of folk music, eastern instrumentation, klezmer and Asian influences.
SOUNDTRACK: THE ZOLAS (3 Tracks on CBC 3 Radio) (2009).
I must have heard “The Great Collapse” on CBC 3 a few weeks ago because I heard it today and it was so catchy I was sure that I knew the band. And yet, when I saw the artist, I’d never heard of them before.
SOUNDTRACK: SAM COOKE-Portrait of a Legend 1951-1964 (2003).
After reviewing Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke, I decided to check out Sam Cooke himself, since I said I didn’t know anything about him. Well, it turns out that I was totally wrong about that. I checked out this disc from the library and was rather surprised to realize that I knew at least a dozen songs by Cooke. And not just that he sang songs which I knew–they were his versions that I knew.
SOUNDTRACK: COLIN MELOY-Sings Sam Cooke (2008).
I ordered this CD from the Decemberists website. (Sadly Colin singing Morrissey is no longer available). This is, as the title states, Colin Meloy singing Sam Cooke songs.
SOUNDTRACK: ARCADE FIRE Austin City Limits (2007).
Recorded in support of Neon Bible, this concert blew me away. I enjoyed Neon Bible quite a lot, but seeing the band in this concert setting was really amazing. The band was so exciting live.
SOUNDTRACK: LES CLAYPOOL-Of Whales and Woe (2006).
Although I was a little disappointed with Of Fungi and Foe, I enjoyed it enough to want to track down Of Whales and Woe, since it seemed to be generally better received. What’s interesting about this disc is that it sounds a lot like Primus, except that rather than guitar, other various instruments have been substituted to accompany Les’ bass. And since one of the instruments is the saxophone, (and there’s no guitar) this album sounds (at times) like beloved Morphine (with a much funkier bass and completely un-sexy vocals).
SOUNDTRACK: LES CLAYPOOL-Of Fungi and Foe (2009).
Claypool was asked to score a video game called The Spore Wars and, at around the same time, to score a movie called
SOUNDTRACK: MUSE-The Resistance (2009).
If someone were to create a band that tickled all of my fancy spots, on paper it would be Muse. Vocals like Thom Yorke from Radiohead. Heavy heavy guitars. And yet, not afraid to have prog rock keyboard sections. On top of that, throw in pretentious titles (how about a subtitle in French?), or, just for kicks, a three part suite called “Exogenesis: Symphony.” Oh, sure and let’s just throw in a clarinet solo in one of the songs too. Okay, so that’s Muse.
(which I just found out about today while reading a tribute to Salinger).