Now a Healthy Partnership made real by Susan and Derek
When Susan and Derek step onto the stage, it’s not just a performance—it’s a living example of how love and leadership can coexist in perfect harmony. There’s no ego in their exchange, only elevation. Each solo feels like a shared breath, each glance a quiet reassurance. In a world where both marriages and bands often splinter under pressure, theirs is a rare duet—rooted in the blues, stretched by improvisation, and sustained by something deeper than applause. It’s as if the music itself is their shared language, a dialect of devotion spoken fluently in every chord
Even More Mount Moriah!
Durham NC Merge records recording artist, Mount Moriah is Durham Cool favorite band.
Mount Moriah we love you!
Musically, Miracle Temple is a triumph in its blend of the traditional and modern. The guitar work, often reminiscent of classic Southern rock, brings in a bluesy rawness that pairs well with McEntire’s gospel-inflected vocals.
Skin and Bones
I’ve wanted to collaborate with Shirlette Ammons for a while now and Tamisha Waden has been singing with the Guitarheels for a few years, not to mention her work with The Foreign Exchange and her solo career. I had a song idea that worked to all of our collective strengths so we threw it together for y’all. Pay what you want and know that all proceeds will be going to Blackspace, a social/cultural/afrofuturist space where Durham youth learn everything from beat making to video editing and film making.
Captain Luke in Hospice care
BIOGRAPHY
“In his own low-key way, Captain Luke Mayer is one of the most versatile and entertaining ‘discoveries’ that Music Maker has documented for quite a while.” – David Whiteis, Living Blues Magazine
Tedeschi Trucks Rig Rundown
By now, readers of Durham Cool have correctly ascertained that the Durham Cool team are big fans of Tadeschi Trucks Band. Anyone reared in the good Southern rock/blues/Jazz fusion of Allman Brothers must follow this band. Derek Trucks is on everyone’s top guitarist list for good reason. Susan’s vocals amd blues guitar prowess is legendary. This band live, dynamic!
Now Everything but the Girl-Shoot Me Down
This track alone is good enough, to sum up, the fervency of late teen adolescence. If this is your first go then welcome to my UK musical youth.
Yo-Yo Ma, Bach suites for Cello: see extraordinary!
In a world that seems ever more fragmented, Yo-Yo Ma’s performance of Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major offers a reminder of music’s extraordinary capacity to heal and unite. This performance, in particular, transcends the moment, inviting listeners to sink deeply into its purity and grace.
Walk it back to all the REM we love
On a recent long car trip to visit family in the northeast, I let my Itunes go and ran across this brilliant song by REM. The only track I recorded from Collapse… Sometimes Michael Stipe, says it better than anyone can
Now Why Peter Gabriel is here for us!
Peter Gabriel is an artist who remains deeply connected to progressive music fans and beyond—his early years with Genesis redefined rock performance, blending charisma with a shamanic stage presence and artistic risk-taking, pushing the boundaries of live music.
Peter Gabriel’s Biko
Bantu Stephen Biko (18 December 1946 – 12 September 1977) was a South African anti-apartheid activist. Ideologically an African nationalist and African socialist, he was at the forefront of a grassroots anti-apartheid campaign known as the Black Consciousness Movement during the late 1960s and 1970s. His ideas were articulated in a series of articles published under the pseudonym Frank Talk.
Your Durham Cool weekend begins with Shaking the Tree
Shake off your work week stress with this:
Madman Across the Water is mad good right now!
Released in 1971, “Madman Across the Water” stands as one of the most haunting and expansive tracks from the album Tumbleweed Connection. Written by Bernie Taupin and performed by Elton John, the song captures a critical moment in music history, where folk-rock, jazz, and psychedelia converged to create something entirely new and lasting.
Sunday eve Silvia Perez Cruz is back
Sunday eve Silvia Perez Cruz is back
Bruce Cockburn-Night Train moves now
Rock, poet Bruce Cockburn is known to you. Most likely he is on the periphery of your awareness or perhaps known to you for his mainstream radio hit, “Wondering where the Lions are”.
All that you have is your soul
If you have not heard this track you’re in for a, to the bones chill, treat! If you have listened to this track, then listen again for a renewed shot of inspiration, straight to your True Heart. Honest, American icon voice. Truly brilliant, in every sense. …
Eminem’s BET Cypher (see-Freestyle) is so Fresh it breaks the Political ban on DC
By now you have heard the buzz around, Eminem’s return to creative genius in his BET awards freestyle. He always had it but sometimes all too easily used his clever word play venom for mysogonistic rants (in the character’s voice he took on
Tedeschi Trucks Band again for good reason
The reason Tedeschi Trucks is coming up again is due to the tremendous talent down to each member of this band and the fact the Durham Cool team loves this band! One could confidently say this about several other seasoned live bands who tour routinely and regularly yet this band, fronted by two outstanding superstar leaders, is something else!
Joe Henry at Duke University
JOE HENRY COMES TO DUKE PERFORMANCES FOR THREE-DAY RESIDENCY
SINGER, SONGWRITER, PRODUCER & AUTHOR JOE HENRY comes to Duke Performances for a unique three-day residency, featuing a talk at the Nasher Auditorium about his artistic predecessors, an intimate chat at SoundPure Studios about his songwriting and recording process, and culminating in the debut of his new album, Thrum, in concert backed by a full ensemble. Don’t miss this opportunity to look inside the creative process of one of American music’s essential living artists.
Transcendence with Van is now!
Van Morrison’s music is more than just songs—it’s an experience that transcends the everyday and brings listeners into realms of spiritual exploration, emotional depth, and cathartic release.
Now Ed Vedder: The Baritone That Still Shakes the Ground
If a voice could break glass and rebuild your soul in the same breath, it might sound like Eddie Vedder. His is not a voice made in the studio. It comes from below, from the place where memory turns to salt and prayer turns to song. When he sings, it’s less about hitting the note than pulling it from somewhere ancient, somewhere you’ve been before but forgot how to name.
Kennedy Center Honors Bettye LaVette “Love Reign on Me”
Kennedy Center Honors Bettye LaVette “Love Reign on Me”Perhaps this is your first experience with the great voice of Ms. Lavette. You may have a legitimate excuse for missing this American treasure on her first run, but after watching this performance you have no reason not to share this with all of your friends and loved ones.
2018 Hanuman Chalisa Chanting News
In this Hanuman Chalisa newsletter I like to share recordings i’ve been listening and singing with.
The Mound Builders Score Four
Mound Builders The Mound Builders Scores Four!
“I was so in sync with each character’s vulnerability that when tensions explode, I was swallowed up by a verbal and emotional hurricane and had trouble staying in my seat.”
DUSTIN BRITT, TRIANGLE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
(scroll down to read the complete review)
Congratulations to this past weekend’s cast!
You can see them this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Now Joni Mitchell for the inner Aquarians everywhere
Mitchell’s journey is one of relentless curiosity, boundless creativity, and profound cultural impact, from her early days alongside contemporaries like Bob Dylan and Neil Young to her reinvention of folk, rock, and jazz.
Now the true magic of Joni and Jaco live
Jaco Pastorius was a maestro of the electric bass. Fluid and dynamic, he made his bass sing with sinewy shamanic algorithms, sepentlike lines that ran sotto narritvo under, over, behind the high hat and the soprano soaring Joni altissimo.
More Joni
The years 1967-1971 were a vibrant period for so many Artists, not least of whom Joni Mitchell. This was the period of the album Blue and many fans first exposure to this Canadian Creative artist.
Court and Spark to Hissing of Summer Lawns: the deeper dive
The evolution of Joni Mitchells’s creative output from Ladies of the Canyon to Hissing of Summer Lawns demonstrates her influences and proclivities.
Late to the LP party now?
I am a little late to the LP fandom. Readers may rightly argue that my interests lie squarely with Artists who earned their stripes in the late 60s or early 70’s. My argument is always that quality transcends genre, gender, time period, et al. lP is quality.
Pink covers “Me and Bobby Mcgee”
Pink is a very good singer. Most close listeners know this, though some are surprised that such a popular pop star can sing, without the aid of simulators and othe misc. electronica. It is certainly so and has been from the start as evidenced by this pared down performance.
My Everchanging years with Paul Weller Now
Paul John Weller (born John William Weller; 25 May 1958) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. Weller achieved fame with the punk rock/new wave/mod revival band The Jam. He had further success with the blue-eyed soul music of the Style Council (1983–1989), before establishing himself as a solo artist with his eponymous 1992 album.
Now Zak Abel is Breaking out!
A deeper dive into why Zak Abel stood out from the recent review of up and coming British Soul Artists. We explored his live performamces at Sofar in London.
Reckless Daughter
An explanation for this article about Reckless Daughter a biography of Joni Mitchell.
The Jam: how could we skip over the Jam?
The prominent bass line in “Down in the Tube station at Midnight”, coupled with the brilliant lyric was enough to sell me. The fervency, and bluesy vocal front man command of Weller was an obvious strong point. I came to appreciate the Jam asynchronously after a full swing with the Style Council.
An Epic Lip Sync Battle on the Tonight show
You, no doubt, have seen this one? Regardless, it deserves a second viewing. The inimitable, Emma Stone vs. Jimmy Fallon:
This is Durham Cool for those keeping tabs. Durham cool has something to do with people, comedy, live music, swimming holes, beautifully clean rivers, and streams, all-night diners and of course, Emma Stone.
Mary J Blige makes it all right now
I have admired Mary J Blige for awhile and for good reasons. There is no denying her vocal chops. She may not have the most flashy uber octave range but for my money she has the most honest and pure vocal performance of any artist working today.
The sensual world of Kate Bush is for you now!
Why resurrect and revitalize a Kate Bush article from 2016 on 12/19/18? KATE Bush warrants a Durham Cool celebration. The Enduring, Incandescent Power of Kate Bush article in today’s online New Yorker by Margaret Talbot was a notable inspiration. This time an even deeper dive for so many of our new readers to discover. While we celebrate the up and coming British pop notables it is wise to look back on the singer/songwriter groundbreakers of British music. Kate Bush was the first UK # 1 with own penned song, Wuthering Heights (referencing the Bronte novel of the same name).
Why not more Steely Dan now?
Steely Dan Saturday has arrived. This day is long overdue. I asked what music you want to hear and the clouds parted with the song, Kid Charlemagne playing on the closing credits of a show on Apple TV.
It’s So Heavy, Easy to Remember Kofi Burbridge, RIP
Susan’s plaintive vocal on this beautiful song is so heart-piercing great I was moved almost to tears listening to this on the drive home last evening.
Now Silvia Perez Cruz for you!
Two YouTube videos which capture the natural flow of life in the surrounds, while this angel, incarnated here on earth, lifts us up over the small talk and petty postures of ego into the sublime.
Nirvana-Where Did you Sleep last Night
I chose this video as much for the on stage banter between close friends who happen to comprise the best band alive at that moment as for the unmistakeable Kurt Cobain cigarette growling croon. Who alive at anytime prior or now sounds like Kurt Cobain?
Chanting this Saturday Eve, Danielle and Jon & K. Sridhar returns to Carrboro in May
Chanting this Saturday Eve, Danielle and Jon & K. Sridhar returns to Carrboro in May
Prince: Nothing Compares 2 you
The following is previously unseen rehearsal footage of Prince & The Revolution from the summer of 1984. It was in this very room at Flying Cloud Drive Warehouse in Eden Prairie, Minnesota that Prince created and committed to tape one of his most beloved and iconic
compositions, which six years later would become a worldwide hit for Sinead O’Connor. Prince’s original studio version of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ is presented here for the first time.
Dionne Warwick
Growing up to the smooth soundtrack of Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick-who else compares? Who comes close after, Walk on by?
Now Patty Griffin will always have an honorable PLACE HERE.
Patty Griffin’s voice doesn’t just sing—it seeps into your bloodstream. What began as a reflection on her haunting track “River” has grown into a full-bodied celebration of her extraordinary artistry. From deeply personal originals to signature covers that feel like whispered secrets, Griffin’s songs carry the weight of lived experience.
Now the best TTB tiny desk concert for you.
Yes we bring back Tedeschi Trucks Band Tiny Desk Concert
This band is so great they even make it large in the smallest of places. This NPR tiny desk concert is not the best live show, more like live to tape in a very cramped studio space.
Now Jamala’s Ukraine Song 1944 channeled by Elina Ivaschenko
This is one of the most passionate song performances, executed by a 14-year-old vocalist, that I was left with little choice but to publish it on Durham Cool. Please let me know if you share my appreciation for this precocious talent.
John Coltrane: Afro Blue right now
I heard Afro Blue for the first time when the choreography for the Dayton Dance Company ADF performance featured this track at Stewart Theatre back in 1996. I was mesmerized by the dancer’s hypnotic synchronized movement to this Afro Blue Coltrane track. Such an incredible tour de force the way it builds momentum, from a very subtle intro, middle, and crescendo (inspirational)!
Tift Merritt Stitch of the World.
I won an autographed copy of Tift Merritt’s latest release, Stitch of the World, and after playing a few times it found itself remaindered to the pile of CD’s to play on long car trips.
Now Jonatha Brooke is a very GOOD bad dog artist!
In 1999 she started her own independent label, Bad Dog, and has since released six more albums. Her 2008 release, The Works, combined previously unheard, unpublished Woody Guthrie lyrics with her own music and arrangements. Recently, she’s co-written songs with Katy Perry and with The Courtyard Hounds. Jonatha has written for three Disney films and several television shows, and has composed the theme song for Joss Whedon’s, Dollhouse.
“Ready To Love Tift Merritt As We Do?”
But Merritt’s Southern roots extend even deeper. Born to a family with ties to Smyrna, Texas, she carried with her a sense of wanderlust and a love for storytelling, both of which would later define her music. In Raleigh, she grew up listening to a broad mix of sounds—from the folk harmonies her father taught her to the rebellious pulse of punk and indie rock she gravitated toward in her teenage years. Despite this eclectic musical palette, it was roots music that captured her heart after she first heard Emmylou Harris’ Quarter Moon in a Ten Cent Town
Kelly Willis, Whole lotta Love is what we deserve!
What occurred to Nashville and mainstream country music is our fault. Our collective fault due to the passive way we comply when our music devolves to a corporate advertisement rather than a human expression drawn from the drama of “real” life.
Who Knows Better right now?
A standout track from John Legend’s 2016 album Darkness and Light, “I Know Better” may not have climbed the charts, but it stands as one of his most honest and autobiographical works
Chaka is Back! New track, “Like Sugar”, demonstrates she never left us!
Perhaps some of our younger brethren are not aware of the Chaka Phenom? It pays to explore the roots and influencers of today’s best and brightest in order to truly appeciate the tradition. Chaka has an unmistakable voice and laid down some of the best R&B, blues, Jazz,
Who Put the Hurt back in Country Music?
Spare me the comments about her obvious beauty, close your eyes and drink in that smooth, richly textured Kentucky twang of a voice.
Bill Frisell
Do you know Bill Frisell? I was familiar with his unique sound before watching a Amazon Prime Documentary on this incredible musician.
Why the unison of Gillian Welch & David Rawlings is now!
The acclaim surrounding Gillian Welch and David Rawlings is both extensive and well-deserved, reflecting their extraordinary musical partnership. A few live performances of their work, particularly “Revelator,” reveal the profound depth of their artistry.
Shaking the Tree
Shaking the Tree- is what we need to do with everything
Drop Everything in your mind and life and hit play! Dance around the Room or yard and shake free of all your worries and fears-! Shake the tree!
Peter Gabriel with Paula Cole “Don’t Give Up”
“Don’t Give up” is such a deeply inspirational, uplifting song for me. I truly loved the original studio version, featuring Kate Bush yet truly enjoyed the Paula Cole duet on Secret World Live after watching the video. I love the secret world lineup so much I find myself watching the YouTube videos regularly. There is so great chemistry and apparent carmadarie on this tour I highly recommend purchasing the Secret World video from Amazon Instant video as I will today.
Can you feel it bound for glory with TTB?
This one features solos from almost all members of the band. Why so many posts about this band on Durham Cool? A great band like this one only comes around… A desire to share? When this band shows up in your town, don’t hesitate, grab your loved one and get…
Now the timothy jeff buckley and leonard cohen connection!
Timothy “Tim” Buckley, father of Jeff Buckley was a contemporary of Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen songbook admirer. Jeff Buckley famously covered Cohen’s Hallelujah at club Sin-e. Both father and son died well before their time. The considerable creative output from both gives us a legacy to pull from even with their relatively brief time on the planet.
Do you know Cucurrucucu Paloma now?
Early fans of Pedro Almodovar’s work, may recall this scene. The viewer is led into this scene like a moth to candle flame. A summer night at a private estate; a poignant song sung by a master-Caetano Veloso
Now So What’ by Miles Davis
It is one of the best known examples of modal jazz, set in the Dorian mode and consisting of 16 bars of D Dorian, followed by eight bars of E♭ Dorian and another eight of D Dorian.
Silvia Perez Cruz; an understandable obsession
The Silvia Perez Cruz voice: plaintive, lush, passionate, unbridled, aloft, soaring, lyrical, redolent of love lost, conquer, sadness, history. The terra firma, air, and water of Spain! We are justifiably held in abeyant amor. Forgive the lurid, purple prose as it seems justified in this case. Love; the art transcendent. Silvia Perez Cruz suitors get in line behind the Durham Cool team.
Silvia Perez Cruz
A visit to NYC in June 2015, brings us Hoagy Carmichael’s I get along without you very well sung, in English, by Silvia Perez Cruz. A standard from the American songbook. My favorite version is by the urivalled Ella Fitzgerald. Many fans like Barbara Streisand’s rendition.
Who is Silvia Perez Cruz?
Silvia Perez Cruz (born 15 February 1983) is a Spanish singer. In 2012, she recorded her first solo album, 11 de Novembre, which was nominated for album of the year in both Spain and France. One of her compositions, “No Te Puedo Encontrar”, received a Goya Award for best original song. In 2014, she released her album Granada. Both releases have been in collaboration with Raül Fernández Miró.
Silvia Perez Cruz- Ne Me quitte Pas
If you have not enjoyed this Silvia Perez Cruz marathon, then time to leave Durham Cool until the ardor wanes. This is the Sturm und Drang of life expressed by one of our best living Interpreters. It is our mission to celebrate and elevate what we enjoy so you may…
Cucurrucucu Paloma
This morning I started surfing YouTube in search of other orchestral arrangements of this song performed with Caetano Veloso. I found several comparable to this live to film version feautured below, from Pedro Almodovar, and then a new discovery of this young singer from Spain.
Trevor HALL’s beautiful music
Trevor Hall was born November 28, 1986) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. His music is a mix of roots, folk, and reggae. Many of the artist’s themes revolve around spirituality and life exploration. His album, KALA, written in Hawaii and recorded in Los Angeles, was released on August 21, 2015. It debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes singer-songwriter chart.
Big ole Hurricane is coming our way!
The early sign was the long queue of cars coming from Whole Foods North down Broad Street—next, the congested lot at the Amazon market. Inside, the express lines of prepared foods and customer service were snaking around, and tempers, at 4:40 PM, were resigned but positive. North Point Kroger is closed, except for the HT pharmacy, so the congestion does not stretch to North Point. A NOAA Category 4 escalation was enough to trigger memories of past Hurricanes in the 3’s and 4s that wreaked havoc on our Elms, Oaks, and power lines along Broad and throughout our tree-lined city.
Our first listen to Courtney Marie Andrews, now yours
We were introduced to the music of Courtney Marie Andrews at the same time as Tyler Childers while watching the 2018 Americana Honors and Awards show in Nashville. You are familiar with Tyler Childers, and now we explore Courtney Marie Andrews.
Now a Interpretive master class taught by Gregory Porter!
I watched the “hard to say it” master performance at least 20X in 24 hours and each time notice something more nuanced and subtle in the intonation, tone, and delivery of a song not penned by the performer. Then, if you have any tears of joy left, watch and or listen to Gregory re-imagine for the better, Bruno Mars “Just the way you are”
Now Ready for Joni Mitchell’s Coyote?
Joni Mitchell is a painter first, musician second. Here are a few examples of my favorites.
Coyote from the The Last Waltz with the Band
Now Get Shakey with Graves, see Shakey!
You may be familiar with Shakey Graves already? New to me. Yes, enough already about his good boy/bad boy dark eyed stare and outlaw country gritty good looks. Easy on the eyes for many women and some men. Better still raise your vibration and listen to his songwriting, multi instrumental bravado, performance authenticity.
Jacksonville, NC born Artist, Ryan Adams Acoustic “Gimme Something Good”
Ryan Adam’s Gimme Something Good acoustic performance. Austin City Limits.
Get in the Use Me pocket with Bill Withers now
If this is your first time hearing this track, then bless your virgin ears. All of us are in for a treat. This Bill Withers track is on my desert island top five lists. Many of us know Bill Withers is the singer-songwriter who composed “ain’t no sunshine.” Those in the know know that bill withers is so much more than Ain’t no sunshine and grandma’s hands.
Ready now for HC McEntire’s solo career?
H.C. McEntire, frontwoman of Mount Moriah, strikes out on her own with her debut solo album LIONHEART. Stereogum describes her voice as “weary, wise, and bright as morning sunshine all at once,” and that sunshine glows throughout the triumphant LIONHEART.
Van Into the Mystic
Lyrics We were born before the wind Also younger than the sun Ere the bonnie boat was won As we sailed into the mystic Hark, now hear the sailors cry Smell the sea and feel the sky Let your soul and spirit fly Into the mystic And when that fog horn blows I will be coming home, mmm mmm
Richard Thompson
Richard Thompson solo is not to be missed-live! I attended a Richard Thompson solo concert at DPAC 5 years back and it was the most potent solo performance for singer/songwriter/master guitarist this lad has ever witnessed. Richard Thompson OBE (born 3 April 1949) is…
Now a River of Red Nose dreams!
Next up, Have any of you watched the new BBC1 production, The River on Netflix? Prepare yourself for this one. The material will bring you to the first sentence of a suicide note.
If this is your first exposure to Ms. Lavette, my apologies but here is a little more sugah for you!
A little bit more sugah!
Why Traffic’s John Barleycorn Must Die right now?
John Barleycorn” is a British folk song. The character of John Barleycorn in the song is a personification of the important cereal crop barley and of the alcoholic beverages made from it, beer and whiskey. In the song, John Barleycorn is represented as suffering indignities, attacks and death that correspond to the various stages of barley cultivation, such as reaping and malting.
Ready Now with Krishna Das Live?
Those who have enjoyed the blessing of catching Krishna Das live know how this professional recording comes very close to capturing the experience! Do yourself a favor and catch K.D. live sometime soon.
JOHNNY DOWD BRINGS “FAMILY PICNIC” TO EUROPE IN APRIL
Thirty years on from his remarkable, indescribably dark and damn right startling Americana debut Wrong Side Of Memphis, Ithaca, NY, legend Johnny Dowd returns to the roots rock arena with Family Picnic, his new album set for release on March 1st through Mother Jinx Records.
Do you love or hate the police?
The Police-Zenyata Mondatta This is the album that solidified The Police as pop/rock sensations and is as vibrant today as it was when it came out in 1980.
New Music Tuesday
New, maybe, to DC readers? Miguel has been here but ended up in the Tuesday Vahaus music spin for vous. The women in the Stockholm crowd far outnumber the men, and they are more talkative, too. The men tell me they are here for their girlfriends; they don’t have much to say about Miguel.
Now Watch Tyler Childers put the hurt back into Country Music!
Tyler Childers is rewriting the rules of modern country music with Appalachian grit and heartfelt authenticity. As mainstream Nashville veers glossy, Childers dives deep into the unvarnished truth of rural life, forging a new Alt-Country path powered by digital platforms and poetic grit.
Brandi Carlile-Party of One-featuring Sam Smith
A portion of the profits from this recording will be donated to Children in Conflict via Brandi Carlile’s Looking Out
Ready Able and Tested Joey Is Here
When a baby grand piano rolls into the office for a Tiny Desk concert, you expect something special. But none of us could have imagined what it’s like to see 15-year old Joey Alexander play that piano with such mastery.
Alicia Keys and John Mayer
Here in Times Square Concert (9 October 2016)
Alicia Keys invited the guest artist Questlove on the stage to play the drums, and performed a medley “If I Ain’t Got You” (2004) and “Gravity” (2006) as a duet with John Mayer, who also played the guitar.
Now Ai Du is the sensual flow for you!
Musicologists may wax poetic about the connection between West African music and American blues, but this GRAMMY®-winning 1994 release—a genius collaboration between a Malian guitar legend and an American multi-instrumentalist/producer—was a groundbreaking proof-of-concept. Touré’s hypnotic melodies (sung in 11 languages!) float over shimmering acoustic and electric guitars from Cooder and notable guests (including John Patitucci and Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown). Dusky, entrancing, and stunningly gorgeous,
Trevor Hall’s favorite songs right now!
Bon Iver is one of my biggest inspirations. He takes sound and music to places I never thought it could go. This song is one of my absolute favourites just because of the journey he takes us on and the deeper story of how this song came about.
Now It’s Midnight in Harlem for all!
We have written many articles on this worthy band, now to find ourselves honoring the genius of this meritorious union of musical giants-marriage and fronting the band-Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks-
Tift Merrit with Andrew Bird at NMAC-July 13, 2019
tiftmerritt
I LOVE SINGING WITH @andrewbirdmusic! So thrilled to be back with him at my favorite place – @ncartmuseum – this summer.
NC band, Mandolin Orange is now watchhouse!
My first exposure to Mandolin Orange was an early, first year, performance of Mandolin Orange at The ENO festival river stage. It was Andrew’s deep Southern baritone that lured me to the small shade stage in a stand of trees. A mix of lyrically mature, subtle well-crafted songs, kept me close to the stage for the rest of the set. This duo was different from the average blend of Eno performers that year and certainly chronologically younger than the majority.
Jhene Aiko-Sativa
Jhene Aiko Sativa
Chris Isaak -Live 2019 Wicked Game-Nobody loves no one.
Wicked Game
Tom Waits on Letterman
Tom Waits on Letterman with George Clooney in supporting role. Worth watching.
Rhye on Durham Cool, Why Rhye? Find out for yer good self.
Tiny Desk Concerts are often awkward by nature — bands playing in the middle of an office in the daytime for musicians used to playing in the evening, with stage lighting. But there was a special transformation that took place at this Tiny Desk the moment the music kicked in
Robert Glasper – so beautiful (live at Capitol Studios)
‘Covered (The Robert Glasper Trio recorded live at Capitol Studios)’ available June 16, 2015
Now Heaven On Earth so above so below!
Let’s say you’re angry with someone or at odds with a loved one, someone you’re having difficulty with; listen to this track with an open heart and your anger will at the very least, dissipate.
That’s How I Got to Memphis
That’s How I got To Memphis by Tom T. Hall featured on the HBO series, Newsroom and performed by Buddy Miller on tour.
Now, what’s better than Jim Lauderdale and Buddy Miller?
There’s something endearing, old-timey and almost vaudevillian about Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale — even the way they bill themselves as “Buddy and Jim.”
Now Walk down Sweet memory lane
Say what you will about this 1982 interview on Letterman and the relative states of being between the 3 participants
A Case of you
Joni Mitchell – A Case Of You (Live London 1983) written & produced by Joni Mitchell | from the album Blue (1971) | live version from Wembley Arena, London (1983) | additional audio/video post-production by sonicboy19 | When you cover a song by Joni Mitchell,…
Sam Smith is an artist we love
Sam Smith One of the many reasons we love Sam Smith!
Now JOHN COLTRANE, ELVIN JONES, McCOY TYNER & JIMMY GARRISON
Any newly discovered music from a legend on the order of John Coltrane is an event. But the reason advance buzz has been particularly feverish for Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album, a previously unissued session from March of 1963, is that it comes from the era of his so-called Classic Quartet.
Bon Iver-I Can’t Make you love me
Bon Iver’s third LP is as bold as it is beautiful. Made during a five-year period when Justin Vernon contemplated ditching the project altogether, 22, A Million perfects the sound alloyed on 2011’s Bon Iver: ethereal but direct, layered but stripped-back, as processed as EDM yet naked as a fallen branch.
Now Tina Turner, RIP, Chanting her way to Peace!
Tina Turner’s legacy as the Queen of Rock is undisputed, but what deepened her connection with fans beyond the music was her powerful spiritual journey. In 1973, after enduring years of turmoil in her relationship with Ike Turner, Tina discovered a life-altering practice through Buddhism. Introduced to chanting by a friend in Los Angeles, she immersed herself in the daily discipline of chanting “Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,” a mantra central to Nichiren Buddhism.
Now Genesis with Gabriel or Collins in the lead?
Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins (both natural leaders of the band called Genesis -different approaches and styles-yet quite complimentary when in sync) Notice how they work together on these two different live versions of the same track. Please keep an eye on the histrionic antics of Mr. Gabriel versus the football player charm of Phil Collins.
Pedrito Martinez Group
Feb. 20, 2019 | Felix Contreras — Something happens when you get a chance to see Afro-Cuban percussionist Pedrito Martinez perform. First of all, his smile radiates. It’s hard to imagine someone happier than he is to make music in front of people; and as we saw during his turn behind Bob Boilen’s desk, he mesmerizes with this almost otherworldly talent on congas. His hands can be a blur because they move so quickly. To the untrained eye, it’s hard to see exactly what he is doing to draw out the sounds he does from his drums. I even know a little about playing hand drums and it still doesn’t make it easier to fathom his remarkable talent.
Now James Vickery brings the UK soul across the Atlantic to you!
While listening to a track from Zak Abel I googled British Soul Artists to watch 2019 and once again a Truly soulful voice is discovered (belated) with 12MM views on Youtube, James Vickery.
Get in the groove with multi-instrumentalist FKJ NOW!
This video rolled up, ala algorithm, on the heels of James Vickery, Until Morning Colors performance. This is what lovers do, sometimes an Algorithm is your natural ally, anticipating, serving your aural needs. This week we are back, like so many others in the funk of it
Tom Misch-breaks out!
You noticed it, in the video with Tom and Fkj-Losing My Way. U.K sensation, Tom Misch’s sultry vocal performance-incantive, subtle, riveting, strong? Misch and Fkj voices together-tao te ching-the Yang and Yin of musicology.
The Misch family gives us another great talent in Laura!
The music gene in the Misch family profile is clearly dominant. While watching videos of brother Tom Misch during Tom breaks out article and the performance with multi-instrumentalist, Fkj we came across sister Laura Misch
Early Ryan Adams live at the Mercury.
Live From The Mercury Lounge on October 20, 2000. From the Deluxe Reissue of Ryan Adams’ Debut Album ‘Heartbreaker’.
Dire Straits Wild West End is your best groove track now!
Next up, a few live versions of the seminal song, News. Dire Straits is required listening for any knob with ears, but especially those wannabe gear heads. Mark Knopfler is on everyone’s best guitar maestro short list for good reason.
Healer John Lee Hooker with Carlos!
Listen to this track, regardless whether this is your first or 157th listen, with beginner’s ears and mind. Let the flow of Carlo’s guitar notes wash over you then John Lee Hooker’s emotive lyric preacher chant. This is a track on should play upon walking each day or before shutting your eyes at night. “The blues is a healer all over the world”.
Tift Merritt Collage
TIFT MERRIT IMAGE COLLAGE
Now Rick Danko at his very best!
Listen to this outstanding performance by the band, sans Robbie Robertson, recorded in 1983. Do you know anyone else who sounds like Rick Danko? What a plaintive crooner, in the best sense. No one better.
Get in the Groove with the Style Council now!
The Style Council were an English band formed in 1983 by Paul Weller, the former singer, songwriter, and guitarist with the punk rock/new wave/mod revival band The Jam, and keyboardist Mick Talbot, previously a member of Dexys Midnight Runners, The Bureau and The Merton Parkas. The band enabled Weller to take a more soulful direction with his music.
Now Van Morrison’s Got to Go back
Got to go back, Van Morrison’s first track on the No Guru, no method, no teacher release. This is a track I listen to when I am immersed in the creative process. This Van release is oft overlooked and less familiar to some. This album is as full as Astral weeks, birthed of course, from the womb of Astral. You must purchase this CD for your beach and or mountain trips from Durham. No better soundtrack than this for the pastoral drive, sorting laundry, washing dishes.
Now Prince assumes his throne on stage, RIP
Thanks to Tim Esse, Apple recruiter, for sharing this incredible Prince guitar obligato on Linked in. Watch George Harrison’s son’s expression when Prince turns around to Tom Petty and him. George Harrison’s spirit was in the room
Naima
Coltrane fans are familiar with the beautifully sublime, Naima, from the Giant Steps album.
Why Can’t Find My Way Home now?
Some performances live on not just because of what’s played, but because of who is playing, and when. One such moment can be found in “Can’t Find My Way Home,” the luminous ballad from the short-lived 1969 supergroup Blind Faith, revisited decades later in a transcendent live performance by Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton—joined quietly, but powerfully, by a young Derek Trucks.: Beautiful
Pentatonix cover of Bohemium Rhapsody
An extraordinary performance by a acappella group, Pentatonix. Listen to the vocal parts alone and one can’t help but be in awe of this groups pure talent and breath of experience.
Silvia Perez Cruz NPR story
We have rounded the corner on Sylvia Perez Cruz, now that we have arrived at the official intelligentsia reception which intorduced her to the NPR audience. I am an avid listener to NPR but missed this interview, recorded back in 2014. Perhaps you heard the…
Tift Merritt on my mind this Friday at Durham Cool
We have an Artist from our area of considerable talent and much deserved critical renown. You might be excused if you have not heard of Tift Merritt only if you have been living inside a sensory deprivation tank, deep within a Himalayan mountain cave for the last 20 years.
Tift Merritt Tour dates and other info
I’m so proud and excited to kick off our US tour this week as we head south. It feels wonderful to be back on the road (we just had a ball on a hop in the UK with Jerry Douglas’s Transatlantic sessions) and I am looking forward to some wide open adventures on stage and off. I’m really proud of where the show is right now, so I hope you can make it out. Most importantly, thank you to all of you for your cheering and support of Stitch of the World. The record was not an easy record to write, and I am profoundly touched that it has been welcomed so kindly into the world. As ever, much goodness to you and yours from my house. Love tift NPR Fresh Air Feature
Tift Merritt new Release
Stitch of the World Out Now
Stitch of the World premiered last week via NPR First Listen and is out now & available for purchase and stream on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, via Yep Roc Records or at a record store near you!
Watch Dua Lipa’s stunning vocal-evolution-radical-optimism now
When Dua Lipa was in primary school, she bombed an audition for the choir. “My voice is so low that sometimes when I try to do high notes, nothing but air comes out,” she says. That didn’t deter her from pursuing a music career: At age 15, she moved by herself to London (where she grew up) from Kosovo (where her family had relocated a few years earlier) to attend theater school.
Ibibio Sound Machine, of Merge Records, are ready to rule your 2017!
If the United Nations’ General Assembly convened at Studio 54, Ibibio Sound Machine would easily be that night’s headlining act. This octet fuses ecstatic African highlife music and pulsing disco beats with British singer Eno Williams’ folktales of her Nigerian heritage, which she delivers in the country’s native Ibibio tongue.
God is Standing By
God is Standing by
4th of July FKJ-the real thang DJ on point!
4th of July FKJ-the real thang DJ on point!
Van Hunt
Van Hunt (born March 8, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He released his debut album, Van Hunt, in 2004, and a follow-up, On the Jungle Floor, in 2006, both on Capitol Records. He won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for appearing on the tribute version of the Sly & the Family Stone song, “Family Affair”, in 2007.
“Ready Now For The United House Of Prayer For All People Brass Band!”
This was my first exposure to this gifted Gospel Brass band, The United House of Prayer for all people, at the Durham craft market (across from the DFM awning) Saturday 07/20/2013. I recorded this performance on my Apple 4S iPhone. We, unfortunately, cut this video short due to other pressing Saturday to-do list items.
Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals-Durham Cool-Yes!
We thrive on innovative, creatives, hybrid alchemists, vocalists that front as drummers. 37,995 others have liked this video before us.
Now Linda Ronstadt, the song whisperer, and genre surfer.
She could raise the power level when the melody demanded but quietly convey emotion when bigness was unnecessary. Serving the feeling of the song and telling the story was paramount.
Tedeschi Trucks Band with w/Trey Anastasio and Doyle Bramhall II-Layla
We publish this video on Durham Cool as it is a worthy effort by outstanding musicians and the always great band cohesion of TTB.
Now A Lyrical life composed by Pete Townshend
The primary songwriter for the Who who sang backup mostly to Roger, turns out to be the better singer over time. Voice survived in the background.
Now Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan Watch the chemistry sparkle!
In 2002, when O was released, it wasn’t just an album—it was a raw and intimate conversation, laid bare between Rice and Hannigan. The record emerged from a deeply personal place in Rice’s life, blending acoustic folk with melancholic reflections on love, heartbreak, and vulnerability. The songs were minimalist in arrangement but monumental in emotional depth.
Have you heard Dirtwire? If not why not now?
Who is Dirtwire? I first heard this incredible assemblage of World musicians, dressed hat to toe in Southwestern black cowboy coolness, when they backed Trevor Hall on the track, Strength in One
Now Leilani WOLFGRAMM brings her rasta roots and R&B swagger to the people!
This video had me from the visual alone and then the harmonious collaboration of extraordinary groove masters working together. Yet what about the lead singer, Leilani, hiding under a hoodie sporting black engineers opticals, with such beautifully strong vocals. We had to know more.
Jenny Lewis
Happy to have her with us as she may be one of the best pop song composers (singer-songwriter) artists working today.A strong voice booms out of this slight body.
Little Stranger-see Fly mustacho guys!
The ears don’t lie, despite the funky retro 70’s porn director/producer staches, these guys are pretty fly for white guys.
Now, Merge Records 25 annual rings claimed, more coming!
Martin Frawley of Twerps announces solo debut album, Undone at 31, due February 22 NOVEMBER 14, 2018 Whether one seeks it out or it simply presents itself, change is an inevitability.
Now Warren Zevon for every good reason.
Warren Zevon never asked to be mythologized—but it happened anyway. Whether behind a piano in Echo Park or subbing in for Paul Shaffer on Late Night with David Letterman, Zevon carried the weight of contradiction like a badge and a burden.
John Prine-Summer’s End is now!
Released in 2018 on The Tree of Forgiveness, John Prine’s first album of original material in 13 years, “Summer’s End” emerged as a haunting anthem of love, longing, and societal heartbreak.
Why Blood on the Tracks is the best Dylan now!
Blood on the Tracks Blood on the Tracks is seminal. Blood on the Tracks stands out as one of Dylan’s best, American Music best, the best-recorded music of a generation.
Now Shirley Horn’s If you go a perfection masterclass
To anyone not familiar with the great (RIP), Shirley Horn. it’s not too late. Miles Davis named her his favorite singer-pianist.
Garth Hudson and the Basement Tapes.
We see a fair amount of Band member, Robbie Robertson these days with his solo music endeavors and YouTube diary memoirs of The Band’s history before, during and after their fruitful affiliation with Bob Dylan, yet very little from surviving member Garth Hudson, until now!
Stretch and Bobbito
Thanks to Ari Melber on MSNBC’s the BEAT’s Fall back Friday for introducing us to Dj Stretch and Bobbito.
Teddy Thompson the beautiful voice and family legacy
Teddy is an artist we should all know-for the tender sadness of his songs and his plaintive delivery. One listen and your heart is slain.
The Kiwanuka groove train runs now!
KCRW
UK soul singer Michael Kiwanuka took some time after the release of his acclaimed debut to figure out what he really wanted to say next
We have only Love for Ben Howard
Anyone lucky enough to catch the great documentary, Austin to Boston, would have noticed standout British folk singer, Ben Howard
Well now, Bobby timmons-come’ on
This album is a must-have. Think how well Chun-King will do for your first post-COVID-19 gathering-still maintaining safe 6 ft distance from your dancing partner-Dancing cheek to expansive air between us.
Yes, Yaeji is Durham cool!
Why do we cover Yaeji on Durham Cool? The answer is already known to you as well. Our mission statement, our entire rai·son d’ê·tre (1), is to bring you innovation where we discover it! Youtube is not a bad place to start, yet more often it is another touchstone that brings us to Youtube.
Amy Helm rescues all of us with her beautiful voice!
“Amy Helm continues her father Levon Helm’s musical legacy with powerful performances at the legendary Woodstock barn. Discover how The Band’s spirit lives on through Amy’s authentic voice and collaborative artistry in Americana music.”
Why we love Atlantic City version by the band
Most know that Bruce wrote Atlantic City, yet Levon and the Band made it their own. My favorite version by far is the Band cover with Levon on lead vocal and Rick Danko on back up/harmony vocal. This is a brilliant song by any measure
Now Spark Go The Ultra-portable Smart Guitar Amp & Bluetooth®, Speaker!
Jaw-dropping, room-filling sound with advanced acoustics powered by computational audio. Seamless integration with Spark App. Bluetooth speaker, audio interface, rechargeable battery and headphone/line out.
Mad world-father and daughter-see beautiful
Tears for Fears did not take long to make it into mainstream pop as their vocal harmonies were so strong and easy on the AM/FM ears across the spectrum. Why do I return to Tears for Fears today? Curt Smith and his musically talented daughter. This featured video is a gift from the Youtube algorithm fairies. From my feed to your eyes and ears.
Michael Hutchence: The Voice That Still Haunts Us now
We all miss Michael Hutchence. Those young at heart but old enough to remember the charisma of Michael with his Jim Morrison lead singer Adonis good looks, vocal chops, and feral dance moves knows why we miss him so much. He died tragically and far too young
Now the Sweetest Taboo for you
The Sade period for this American life coincided with the purchase of an AWAI boombox with a graphic eq and pulsing bass woofer. The Boombox was too big for a Say Anything carry for anyone other than the Rock but looked nice on the mantle all the same
Telegraph road then and now
We love Mark Knopfler, for the same reason that any knob with ears loves Mark Knopfler. Dire Straits are a band not to be overlooked and often play in the jukebox of your mindstream at opportune/inopportune times.
Now Keep on Growing by your favorite band!
This Derek and the Dominoes song, Keep on Growing, performed by the best live band in the business right now is righteous! You know this song is in the deepest D. Trucks DNA.
All things must pass in the now
George Harrison was my favorite solo artist coming from the musical organism known as the Beatles. What did George do that the other Beatles did not pursue as earnestly and honestly?
“Darling be home soon”- Remembering kofi Burbridge
“Darling be Home Soon” lyrics are brief and to the point. 7 lines of pure heart plea, Darling be home soon for the great relief of having you to talk with
Now Justin Timberlake’s Mirrors lingers in the mindstream
Is it the well-crafted lyric, great vocal crooner or the Timbaland beat that makes, Mirrors such a classic pop hit? What explains the 636,380,640 views on the official youtube release video of Mirrors other than the fact this song is great.
Tedeschi Trucks getting by with strong feelings Now!
Now you’re thinking, another article about Tedeschi Trucks Band? I know this band is worthy of our attention but do they warrant 7 articles on Durham Cool?
Phoebe Bridgers is here and now
Bridgers, with her haunting vocals and intricate lyrical palette, emerged as the perfect companion for a time that felt suspended between grief and uncertainty. Her music is as much a salve for teenage heartache as it is a balm for the more nuanced ache of adulthood, where the weight of memory often intersects with the raw immediacy of the present.
Now Rufus Wainwright reviewed it for you
Discovered Rufus prior to truly getting to know the songs of his mother (Kate McGarrigle), sisters (Martha and Lucy), and father (Loudon Wainwright III). Like so many, I came to Rufus via his first release in 1989 and songs like, “in My Arms”, “Millbrook” “Beauty Mark” and “Barcelona”.
When Tift Merritt and Andrew Bird Collaborate, Magic Is the Result!
This track, Drifting Apart, featuring the harmony and back up vocals of Andrew Bird is so heartfelt beautiful.
Now all in with Nathaniel Rateliff and the night sweats!
5 old VW camper vans. 4 bands. 3 thousand miles. 2 weeks. 1 gloriously backward tour. The adventure starts after a fire-fuelled final night at Austin’s SXSW Music Festival, where the bands (Ben Howard, The Staves, Nathaniel Rateliff, Bear’s Den) pile into their rides and head northeast.
Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams on Art and Empathy
Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle, fine artists each on their own. Lucinda has a special emotional place in my heart for the Car Wheels on a Gravel Road release
Apple falls beautifully close to the Kurt apple tree
Who is Frances Bean? The rock child of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love of course.
Potter, strong vocalist: see Grace!
What does anyone know about Grace Potter other than she sneaks up on you with range, emotion and machine gun powerful vocals.
Back on the chain gang-ye pretenders then and now.
Pretenders – Back on the Chain Gang (Official Music Video) The official music video for ‘Back on the Chain Gang’ by The Pretenders. Pretenders – Back on the Chain Gang (Official Music Video) Pretender's discography Lyrics: I found a picture of you, oh oh oh oh…
We love Lyle Lovett, and you as well!
With his landmark album Pontiac, Lovett redefined what it meant to be a Texas musician, blending folk, Western swing, and subtle humor into something as rich as a Cormac McCarthy novel and as smooth as a sip of aged bourbon.
Robert Palmer’s Forgotten 1970s Records Are His Best
Palmer mostly grew up in Malta, where his father served in naval intelligence—a stranger fact than it seems. This background meant he listened to music on American Forces Radio rather than the BBC.
Why Spanish Dancer Right Now?
Winwood recorded “Arc of a Diver” entirely alone at his home studio in Gloucestershire, playing every instrument himself. But “Spanish Dancer” doesn’t sound like a bedroom project. It sounds like a full band locked into the pocket, which speaks to Winwood’s incredible musicianship.
Bill buford & Sons Healthy scrumptious!
In 2008, acclaimed writer Bill Buford left his job and moved to Lyon with his family to learn how to be a French cook. He planned to stay for six months. He was there for five years. He describes the top kitchens where he worked, and what the so-called “gastronomic capital of the world” taught him about the Frenchness of French food.
The great George Michael performance!
On 1st December 1993 on World AIDS Day, George Michael played a benefit concert in front of the late Diana, Princess of Wales at London’s Wembley Arena. Princess Diana was Britain’s Patron of the National AIDS Trust, and the Concert of Hope was televised worldwide.
Ready for Mingus time now?
The first time I heard a Charles Mingus composition I was instantly mesmerized by the organic melody and improvisatory order of his music. It’s a mix of bebop, soft bop, hard bop, and a little bit of old 30’s Chicago jazz. It was apparent that this was superior music that touched one at a soul level; music that invited a close immersion in mindful listening.
Simply ready for Simply red?
Do we think of Simply Red as a guilty pleasure-listen to them only when no one is around-at-home-late at night with a glass of very special Pinot Noir from Dr. Konstantin Frank?
Communique, Start your engines now!
Communique is the Album (see the anachronistic word of the day) I return to on long interstate road trips (see Route 40 for instance). Remember when we traveled prior to the current human condition? We know, by now, that Mark Knopfler is the most cinematic guitarist living today (see that ever lived).
Outlaw Country starts with Pancho and Lefty now!
Townes Van Zandt playing a medley of his hit. This is “Pancho & Lefty” played at Uncle Seymour’s place. Taken from the DVD extras on “Heartworn Highways”.
Time for Ella, yes to the best!
It has taken us far too long, 7 years almost, to feature a tribute to our most deserving American Jazz singer, Ella Fitzgerald. Perhaps we deferred due to the plethora of living singers calling for our attention first. This may have something to do with our chief editor’s advancing age, the onslaught of early dementia. Regardless, please accept our full apologies for taking this long.
Jacob Collier the Todd Rundgren of right now!
Jacob is clearly gifted. A child prodigy not unlike say, Todd Rundgren. The cover of Stevie Wonder’s ” Don’t you worry bout a thing” was a herculean start, some might argue a bit of a look what I can do. I say if you can do it as well as Jacob why not demonstrate this unique gift to the world. Share and keep sharing.
Say Something Justin Timberlake now
We have a soft spot at Durham Cool for Justin that goes back way before this website went live. Not Mickey Mouse club, mind you but when he started to source his Memphis soul roots legit?
Lenny Kravitz-brings the energy and zeitgeist of the ’60s into the now!
What are your thoughts on Lenny Kravitz? Do we have a strong opine on Lenny? Do we think of him as privileged? Certainly born to affluence but Poppa may have and momma may have, God, bless the child who’s got his own?
Now Jukebox Quarter in for Silk sonic-leave the door open
Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic – Leave the Door Open [Official Video] The official music video for Bruno Mars, Anderson.Paak, Silk Sonic’s new single “Leave the Door Open” This dynamic pairing was inevitable. Dreamed up by the studio minds-or personnel of each…
St vincent- and one other 4ad artists new to you
The best video, post-modern MTV from the BBC. Deadpan post-proto-punk and the head delivers deadpan better than anyone can be expected. The lyric is British brilliant. What of the bass on this track?
Now Watermelon Sugar High by Harry in Style!
The reason this guilty pleasure is so damn great is not the, pop easy summer hit refrain, but rather the Harry Styles comfortable swagger and incredible vocal. You must concede the kid is talented and he is truly Keanu Reeves cool to his fans and strangers alike.
Durham is the hub for innovative electronic music?
This auditory quest started over twenty years ago when life long Durham, NC friends in Rock(Hammer No More The Fingers) and Hip Hop(LiLa, Gappa Mighty) bands needed an outlet when they started exploring outside their respective genres into a charcuterie board of bombastic dance, pop and electronic tunes.
Now Jackson Browne Still Present All These Years
Widely known and often discussed, Jackson Browne co-authored, Take it Easy with Glenn Frey. Take it easy was the Eagle’s first track, the first hit on the Eagle’s first album. It epitomized the way Browne has always worked at his own pace in his own way. His debut album didn’t appear until 1972 when it was released on David Geffen’s Asylum label, though Browne had been working in the music business since the mid-Sixties.
Now Fleetwood mac-hold the fries-extra, Christine McVie!
Fleetwood Mac is subtly influential in the American musical conscience. Now wake up and realize, the cheap conceit, that you really love Fleetwood Mac and do for all the right reasons.
Under my skin-the Ella for now and ever
If this is your first exposure to this incredible Artist, Ella Fitzgerald, our sincere apologies regardless of how long you have lived on planet Earth. Ella checks every box for extraordinary vocalist and then sets the bar higher for interpretive mastery, scat singing ease, multi-octave orchestral vocal range, and the Ella effect.
Now Blue Nile Film noir atmosphere for our times
The Blue Nile, formed by childhood Glasgow friends, Paul Buchanan and Robert Bell is a moody synth UK soul brother band.
the Staves
The Staves came into my life via the musical VW road trip, Austin To Boston. They are a force of nature, harmonically potent.
Time out of Mind-Dylan
Time out of Mind Time out of Mind, Dylan works with Daniel Lanois, the studio alchemist, to resuscitate his career. This is common wisdom that Daniel Lanois helped Dylan reinvigorate his ailing musical career. Had Dylan lost his way in Born again Christian soul…
Now do you feel like we do”?
The Frampton Comes Alive album was a seminal release in my life and so many of my chronological peers. My first exposure to the album was through the closed door of my older brother’s room in Newburgh NY.
Now Matthew Sweet with the Robert Quine!
Your first introduction to Matthew Sweet could have occurred contemporaneous time with his debut release, Inside (1986). Let’s say you were born October 1, 1991, 21 days shy of his superb power pop release, Girlfriend.
Olivia Rodrigo emoting with control
Any concise thoughts on the performer, singer-songwriter, fashion icon, Olivia Rodrigo? Olivia’s rise is meteorically ascendent and therefore suspiciously looks like, has the smell of a studio production asset rise.
Now the musical treasure of Itsuro Shimoda
Itsuro Shimoda
Composer
Born: May 12, 1948 (age 73 years), Miyazaki, Japan
Albums: Nakukamoshirenai, Sarigenai Yoru, Hitohira, MORE
Awards: Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Composer
Japanese singer-songwriter. Was musical director and composer for the Tokyo Kid Brothers theatre troupe in their early years.
Now light-years ahead with Radiohead
You have an opinion about Radiohead’s seminal release, OK computer. The music press has written, academia has posited, about this incredible release.
Now a chance to listen to Maggie Rogers!
As someone late to the Maggie Rogers phenomenon—missing her 2017 NPR Tiny Desk concert and much of her meteoric rise—my first impression was an awakening. How could a voice so raw, so bound to the natural world through its tones and rhythms, escape my radar? By 2021, the algorithms of YouTube had corrected the oversight, but Rogers herself had been steadily evolving in ways I would soon come to appreciate.
Linger with Bon Iver for now
How important is Bon Iver to your musical soundscape? I would argue forcefully Bon Iver is important to all of us who care about the ineffable, ineluctable obliqueness of spare emotively delivered lyrics, electronic voice sampling, proto drumming, solo acoustic, orchestrally abundant, emotional soundscapes.
Now H.E.R. Soul Artist born under the name Gabi Wilson
Prime Day 2021 brings us Gabi Wilson, AKA soul singer/multi-instrumentalist H.E.R. A series of song performance vignettes filmed throughout the conference/room suites of Los Angeles, Dunbar Hotel.
Now Lake Charles is ready for you!
Lucinda Williams’ Lake Charles is one of those rare songs that lingers long after the last chord fades, leaving you wrapped in a reflective, bittersweet haze. It stands as one of the most poignant tracks on her seminal 1998 album, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, a collection of songs steeped in Southern landscapes and emotional intricacies.
Now it’s time for Anita Baker’s Body and Soul
Body and Soul is a vocal masterclass performance sung by the Queen, Anita Baker (see unrivaled) see beautiful tone. Body and Soul, a song by Anita Baker takes you to Church, the Kingdom within, your true heart center, and the passionate love of romance anew!
Now join me in a new Lloyd Cole Robert Quine phase.
It would not be easy to find a more apt artist soundtrack to accompany this brief moment in my life, a friendship in early bloom, the redolent prose of Robertson Davies, and Lloyd Cole’s sultry, slyly wise vocals. Music has a way of finding you at just the right moment.
We love Side 2 Tattoo You!
Tattoo You, an album released on August 24, 1981, is a kick-ass side 1 with a contrasting sultry, sexy falsetto Mick vocal, subtle songwriting pop classics on side 2.
Now Carly Simon show us how Her Big Hit Is About No One And Everyone”
Carly Simon was featured all too often in People magazine for my or most sensible cultured pallets. Her gender was the root cause for these salacious Romance stories with leading rock, folk, and Hollywood actors. Born male, Carly Simon would have escaped these purple prose stories in People Magazine as did her male counterparts.
What is Better than an Emmylou Harris Duet Now?
Emmylou is an excellent musician. Any knob with ears knows the rare musical talent that is Emmylou Harris on her own or when beautifully supporting another vocalist. Emmylou Harris is an artist that deserves your full attention.
Why One and Brother in Arms are continuum now?
Why does the music “Brothers in Arms” have such a hold on this author? Could it be the yearn for peace after the inhumane chaos of conflict and battle expressed so artfully in the lyric?
Rickie Lee Jones surfs the hidden and seen universe
Rickie Lee Jones is unlike any other musician. It is not uncommon for us to describe a musician as unique, unrivaled, and even head and shoulders above the competition, yet Rickie Lee Jones is on her own planet when it comes to originality, artistry, and command of her vocal instrument gift.
Wow, Maxwell makes Women’s Work his own right now
Kate Bush, UK singer/songwriter penned this one and made a hit of her own before Maxwell covered it so brilliantly. This is a sturdy lad with maestro control of his higher (falsetto) register.
Why Amadeus now, see sublime?
After many years from the first viewing, I just watched Milos Forman’s Amadeus (Director’s Cut) last night. I mainly wanted to confirm my initial impression of Tom Hulce, Mozart’s performance as more than helium laugh farcical. In contrast, actors F. Murray Abraham, Solieri, and Tom Hulce’s Mozart are readily apparent. Was this contrast more indication of acting understanding or lack thereof or prescribed by the screenplay, director, and Mr. Hulce’s full-throttle performance as the ribald, entitled spoiled prodigy, Amadeus Mozart?
Yes, Adele, release 30 and more now!
Adele has a new album (release). Do you think Adele needs any marketing help to promote this release? Rhetorical question, of course. Our policy on the D.C. is to promote musicians we like, love, admire and notice.
Crowded House-Hey Now, don’t dream…
Crowded House is a rock band formed in Melbourne in 1985. Its founding members were New Zealander Neil Finn (vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter) and Australians Paul Hester (drums), and Nick Seymour (bass). Later band members included Neil Finn’s brother, Tim Finn, and Americans Mark Hart and Matt Sherrod.
Sly and the Family Stone It’s a Family affair!
#SlyAndTheFamilyStone was an American band from San Francisco. Active from 1966 to 1983, it was pivotal in developing #funk, #soul, rock, and psychedelic music.
Staples Singers-Miracle workers!
Perhaps your first exposure to this Family group was on the Band’s Last Waltz film, during the Weight song?
The Staples Singers brought us break-out star Mavis Staples, who was the soloist on most of the Staples Singers hits. We must not overlook, Pop Staples for his guitar acumen, songwriting skills, rich baritone, and gospel arrangements. Pervis, Yvonne and Cleotha played critical roles as well.
Joss Stone never left us.
Joss Stone, Blues, and R&B, blonde Diva with extraordinary lungs of Marvel Strength. She is back, replete with a cute baby, to entertain us again with a new release.
Now we bring you, Fourfiveseconds
I asked auto Alexa to play songs by Paul McCartney and the song, “FourFiveSeconds” blasts from my car’s rear speakers. What song is this, and why is it associated with Beatle Paul with no discernible vocal presence from Mr. Instantly recognizable? Now after song identification, research conducted, and collaborating artists known, we share this song with Durham Cool readers. A collaboration between Kanye and McC Paul was perhaps inevitable yet the addition of Rihanna was chosen by the Gods of music.
Jimbo and Andrew Bird are together again now
Folk rocker Andrew Bird has reunited with his former Squirrel Nut Zippers bandmate for a new joint album.
Discovered this new creative effort while exploring the solo work of Andrew Bird and Bird’s collaboration with artist Tift Merrit.
Ready Now, the Lumineers, luminescent!
The Lumineers, comprised of members: Wesley Schultz (lead singer, guitarist, pianist), Jeremiah Fraites (Drum Kit), Neyla Pekarek (cello and backup vocals), Ben Wehamaki (bass)
Maxwell Hughes :
Now, Alice, the wolf is at your door!
Lipstick on the Glass was our introduction to the Wolf Alice mileau. This extraordinary performance, artfully sound and light mixed is incandescent. The Alice Wolf experience begins now. The Wolf is at our door and we are willingly letting them in.
Neil Young is back High in the Rockies now!
Neil Young. Enough said? You may go to WIKI or the excellent 70 facts you might not know about Neil Young from Tidal to find the C.V. and pertinent discography. Here we focus on the music we love. Throughout this article, you will find old and new achronologically mixed together.
What about Tinariwen right now?
Tinariwen (Tamasheq: ⵏⵏⵋⵕⵍ, or fully ⵏⵉⵌⴰⵑⵉⵍ) means “deserts,” and no name could better fit the sound and soul of this collective. Born in exile in 1979 in Tamanrasset, Algeria, and later repatriated to northern Mali, Tinariwen’s origins are as nomadic as the Tuareg culture they channel. Founding member Ibrahim Ag Alhabib built his first guitar from a bicycle wire and an oil can—his first songs inspired by watching Clint Eastwood Westerns as a child. That’s not just folklore; it’s the tension of global pop culture and desert hardship fused into an instrument.
Solo Hayley Williams is loyal to the Paramore.
Paramore is Hayley Williams and Taylor York along with a team of first-rate rotating musicians. Current 2021 Paramore band personnel include 2 (see aforementioned).
Ready for the Canadian Groove Masters, Bahamas now?
The Bahamas the Canadian groove sensation from the Great White North is an essential listen. We discovered this artist thanks to the overwhelming enthusiasm for the same from a guitar teacher, YouTube host, Michael Palmisano.
Martin Frost Elevates Clarinet To The Front Of The House Now!
Martin Frost is a clarinetist musician extraordinaire. My late discovery of his immense and sublime featured soloist talent/proficiency came while writing the “Why Amadeus ” article. Whether we find Martin playing Mozart Concertos for Clarinet, Bach, Haydn, or Rhumbas by Chick Corea, he excels with fluidity, expertise, perfect articulation, control, and humility
Now Marlon crafts music on the state of our disunion
As law enforcement and the Senate pursue accountability for the Capitol riot and insurrection, world leaders and cultural figures have been speaking out and condemning the attack on democracy. Rapper Marlon Craft has a new song challenging clichés about unity and arguing America cannot try to be unified until people confront things that should not be negotiated, from scientific truths about Covid-19 to white supremacy.
Haim brings the family message to the world!
The Haim sisters are in the COVID spotlight for many good reasons. The Haim family Licorice Pizza performance (with the lead spotlight, Alana Haim) 2021 Grammy performance, and their individual and combined talent.
Jorgen Dahl Moe is the voice that wakes your heart.
This time the Voice is so original-honest-connected directly to emotive source universal pain and loss-love we had no choice but to share with all of you! Jorgen’s cover of Dancing in the Dark penetrated to the heart essence of the beautiful Bruce lyric and made it Jorgen’s song.
Eno’s impact on Bryan Ferry, U2, and Roxy Music
Roxy Music, led by Bryan Ferry’s sophisticated, romantic vocals and an avant-garde aesthetic, embodied the art-rock movement of the early ‘70s. Each member played a crucial role in this genre-blending sound. Andy Mackay’s saxophone, Phil Manzanera’s guitars, and Paul Thompson’s drumming complemented Ferry’s vision, but it was Eno’s synthesizer work that gave Roxy Music its signature experimental flair.
Now Start Watching the Detectives
Watching the Detectives by Elvis and the Attractions is playing all day on Durham Cool. The virtual JukeBox is stuck in this lovely groove rut and thus grist for the mill (see practice).
Michael Hadreus Perfume Genius-A channel for our time.
Perfume Genius, led by creative force, Michael (Mike) Hadreus is worth your full attention.
Toots Ahoy for all aspiring Jazz Chromatic harp players!
Mastery over an instrument is captivating to watch. Chromatic Harmonica soloists at the Toots level are rare.
Now Join us in praise for Let it be Me!
This song has so much universal human truth it would be a sin not to share our enthusiasm for it with you.
Little Earthquakes big Thunder after!
Little Earthquakes is the debut solo album by the American singer-songwriter Tori Amos, featuring the singles “Silent All These Years,” “China,” “Winter,” and “Crucify.”
No better blues from Prof. W. Marsalis!
In April 2011, Wynton Marsalis launched “Hidden in Plain View: Meanings in American Music,” a three-year performance and lecture series at Harvard University
Hailey Withers Black Sheep With Heartland In Her Big Heart.
Step into the captivating world of Hailey Whitters’ music and be transported to the heart of a close-knit community that embraces traditions and values with open arms. Through her evocative lyrics, Hailey beautifully captures the essence of small-town life, where cruising the streets and forming lifelong bonds are cherished Friday night highlights.
Right NOW Explore the Light Side of the Moon with TTB!
The Tedeschi Trucks Band invites you to experience I AM THE MOON, an expansive, inspired and ambitious musical journey that takes the esteemed American ensemble into new and exciting creative territory.
Michael McDonald’s going strong for all of us!
How much of anything do we know about Michael McDonald, other than the wiki biography about his seminal influence on so many classic rock/soul/jazz hits from the 70s, 80s, and today?
HoneyWhat is what we are listening to now, honey?
Sugar shack delivers once again. We know the vibe is right in the sweet spot of the groove for the Sugar Shack.
Now Swim with Mac Miller
It wasn’t just his writing, either. His production and overall songwriting talents were truly remarkable and perhaps underrated by the general public.
Now Roger Waters is Pink Floyd, Right?
Roger Waters, bassist and co-founder of Pink Floyd, has never quite let go of the question: Who really is Pink Floyd? He doesn’t address it often, but it’s always there — unresolved, unretired. His solo work is formidable and his live shows are serious events. But anyone who came of age on The Wall or Wish You Were Here knows what’s missing. You can feel it the moment Gilmour isn’t in the room.
Fool in the Rain makes the sun shine in me!
Who was the creative force behind this jumpy little world music sortie? Could it be that Robert Plant had Paul Simon’s yearnings for a broader world music horizon? Is this limiting the input of the rest of the members? Not! The story goes Jimmy Page got the idea for the Samba beat from a World Cup soccer tournament in 1978.
Now Entangled in the transition between Gabriel and Collins.
On the heels of Peter Gabriel’s departure from Genesis, Phil Collins came out from behind the drum kit to the front of the band. What did this do?
Steady now a deep dive into Operator by Croce.
Jim Croce’s operator is a novel with four verses. So much human frailty in this richly textured song
Now an introduction to Mary Spender!
Mary Spender is an excellent guitarist, editor, narrator of any topic, and a gifted songwriter. Young as she is, she has a ripening curious mind. I am slowly falling in love with Mary due, in no small part, to her wonderful, slightly Posh, British accent and her perfect elocution with the English language.
Now, Remember Toni Childs Union with me.
Union is the debut album by American singer-songwriter Toni Childs. Released in June 1988, Union peaked at number 63 in the US (where it has since been certified Gold for sales of over 500,000 copies).
Now the IBRAHIM MAALOUF Community Hive is LIVE!
Watching the live performances featured herein, you will immediately notice Maalouf’s intentional collaboration between the band and the audience. Ibrahim rides the energetic exchange with his audience like a Taoist master. The Maalouf community is a hive, with each individual participating in the trance of prayer, daydreaming, and homeland memory together and alone.
Now All shook down with the replacements?
All Shookdown started life as Paul Westerberg’s solo artist debut. Before the recording began, his management talked him into doing it as a Replacements album. As a result of its initial intent, All Shook Down is marked by numerous session, side, and journeyman musicians, in addition to the three other Replacements.
Robert cray I guess I showed her NOW WHAT!
Robert Cray is one of the defining voices of modern blues, a musician whose influence extends beyond technical prowess into storytelling. While many bluesmen lean heavily on tradition, Cray reshaped the genre’s future, fusing soul, R&B, and contemporary rock sensibilities into his sound.
Where do you think you’re going now?
If we look at the song’s lyrics, we will see that it is a “love affair” between a guy and a girl. The band had a lot of positive reviews for this song because it is a pure melody with some unexplained love issues.
No Neutrality on the subject John Mayer, Right?
What thoughts have you on John Mayer, the musician-esteemed guitarist, singer, and songwriter John Mayer? Sans the sordid details of TMZ-publicized romantic breakups and Narcissistic public tirades, I make an effort to discuss the musician Mayer.
Ready for the Best Live Jeff Lynne RIGHT NOW?
Jeff Lynne is a composer, extraordinary visionary musician-workaholic creator-better to describe him as a flow creator-always creating. Ideal human. Influenced by the best-commencing with the Beatles, he has alchemized periods of popular music into his own private Idaho.
Why Night Swimming deserves your love
Nightswimming is the best track on this great REM release. The track conjures up a shared universal memory most of us experience in childhood and then perhaps revisit as less inhibited adults.
We need My Sweet Lord right now!
In George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord, the lyrics serve as a deeply personal expression of his internal spiritual quest. While the song is widely recognized for its transcendental anthem-like quality, a closer look at the lyrics reveals the intricacies of Harrison’s search for meaning, his devotion to the Hindu god Krishna, and his hope for a world beyond religious boundaries.
Why Raised by Wolves resonates right now!
Raised By Wolves, from the album ‘Songs Of Innocence’, tells the story of the biggest loss of life in a single day of the conflict in Ireland, following a car bomb incident in Dublin’s city center in 1974, and was a center point of the iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE Tour in 2015.
Our new addiction is a clever songwriter and Campy performer.
You can wiki this pop star and find out all the juicy details like discovered by Bieber, referred to the B’s agent/producer who signed her immediately, and Shazam, Call me Maybe!
Love and Affection is ready now
“Love and Affection” is a song by Kittitian-English singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading. Her fourth single and third for A&M Records was her first chart success. It reached number 10 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1976.
Now meet the Chuck Prophet
We have Guitartown on Twitter to thank for Chuck Prophet today. Circling above and below Chuck Prophet for years, largely due to the alluring name, we now find ourselves indebted to KEXP for an excellent in-studio live session. KEXP, like NPR’s tiny desk, knows how to mix live music.
On Main street with Los Lobos right now
This song is a tribute to east LA’s community where members of Los Lobos grew up. The main street is more than a relaxed vibe, chill driving down with windows open like the beer bottles in all the Amigo’s hands- This song is about being home and noticing/observing those walking down the Boulevard with the sun on their faces.
Why Mommyheads and Genius Killer right now?
Today we heard Genius Killer for the first time thanks to WICB, one of the nation’s best College Radio stations, still making news and great musical programs daily. WICB 91.7 Ithaca College, “the Station for Innovation,” for introducing us to the Mommyheads Genius Killer track. The Genius killer tracks build with orchestral momentum, synchronous guitar lines, and melodic vocals. A great lyric, tight arrangement, songs, and, most significantly, lead vocalist Adam Cohen AKA Adam Elk. Which late 70’s early 80’s singer-songwriter does Adam sound to conjure up?
Not time to replace Brother Strut on the blues auto!
Brother Strut is an English Funk & Soul band from London. The band consists of bassist Paul Turner, drummer Frankie Tontoh, guitarist Otha Smith, keyboard player/vocalist Sam Tanner, percussionist Karl Vanden Bossche (of Gorillaz), and saxophonist/keyboard player Stevie Jones.
WOW Tal Wilkenfeld Bass is right now
Tal is young, with many possibilities and opportunities avail. All we can do is enjoy the journey with her as she explores her compositional and performance gifts.
Kaitlin Butts Is Bringing Tulsa To Our Ears Now
Based on the track Jackson, Kaitlin Butts is with us today (Ann Powers is equally responsible for her compelling copy, cited below). Red-headed young country singers may be a dime a dozen and sometimes end up at the bottom of the remainder bin, dead letter post office basement, Iowa City, Idaho.
Why bring us this Angel Olsen NOW?
Angel Olsen comes to us today thanks to Guitartown@guitartwang on Twitter. According to Guitartown, “Stephen Judge of SchoolKids records in Raleigh first brought her to my attention circa Burn Your Fire for No Witness, but it was hearing “Shut Up Kiss Me” on KEXP that set the hook for me. From that moment on, I’ve been all in”.
We are ready for Manchester Orchestra now
NPR’s new music 03-10-23 brought Manchester Orchestra, The Valley of Vision, to our attention. What a new music Friday it has been; many artists explored and reconsidered, 2nd-chanced, to arrive finally at Manchester Orchestra.
Are we ready for simply SYML now?
SYML is the solo venture of Brian Fennell, who was previously part of the indie band Barcelona. SYML released his eponymous debut album on May 3, 2019, through Nettwerk Records. Now we have a new release, The Day My Father Died to inspire us.
Up There and right now
My first listen to “Up There,” by Trevor Hall from Fruitful Darkness, by my friend, Rick Ramirez, in the living room of our mutual friend Vasu. Rick indicated that we should listen closely to this new Trevor track as it described Trevor’s profound visit with Sri Siddhi Ma. Rick said the experience of listening to the track was very much like a visit with Ma. Rick was correct. Since then, I have listened in quiet reverence to this track while either visualizing Ma in my mind or looking at the image featured in this header
Now Talking Heads and all the supporting cast
The band, whose roots trace back to 1973 at the Rhode Island School of Design, fused the spirit of punk with intellectual rigor, creating an auditory experience unlike any other. What emerged from the founding trio—David Byrne, Chris Frantz, and Tina Weymouth, later joined by Jerry Harrison—was a layered, genre-bending sound that captivated and challenged audiences
Are you down with that now?
The “Down with That” track from the 2001 Lucinda Williams Essence is lyrically spare yet has a damn righteous groove.
Morgan Wade The night comes in strong right now.
Morgan Wade is an artist who struggles daily and sought professional help with addiction and suicidal ideation. Ms. Wade has publicly discussed her habits and failed relationships, making her songs more relatable.
What is Petite Noir right now?
Yannick Diekeno Ilunga (born 24 August 1990), known professionally as Petite Noir, is a South African-raised, Belgian-born, Congolese musician, singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. His debut extended play, The King of Anxiety, was released in January 2015. His debut studio album La vie est belle / Life Is Beautiful was released in September of the same year via Domino Records’ Double Six Imprint
Now time for Sunday Papers with Joe Jackson!
Born in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, England, David Jackson spent his first year in nearby Swadlincote, Derbyshire. He grew up in the Paulsgrove area of Portsmouth, where he attended the Portsmouth Technical High School. Jackson’s parents moved to nearby Gosport when he was a teenager.
You’re the One Rhiannon Giddens right now
Giddens, a North Carolina native, has built a career that highlights not only her own talents but also the untold stories of others, often using music to explore the African American experience. Her work has spanned from intimate collaborations to grand performances on the world stage, earning her widespread acclaim and numerous accolades, including a Pulitzer Prize.
Here’s where the story ends with the Sundays Now!
Their debut album Reading, Writing, Arithmetic (1990) remains a near-perfect encapsulation of that moment. The album arrived without bombast but instantly charmed critics and listeners alike with its poetic melancholy, pristine guitar work, and Wheeler’s spellbinding vocals
Why Paris Paloma is right now
WICB Ithaca College was playing “Labour” when we first heard Paris Paloma. The guitar caught us, but her voice made us turn up the volume. Here was something different – a 25-year-old from Derbyshire who writes like she’s lived several lifetimes.
The song builds carefully—acoustic guitar, layered vocals, then that bridge that hits you like a revelation. By the time it was over, we knew we’d just discovered our next favorite artist.
Now Oliver Anthony is working man blues straight from Farmville, VA!
Introducing Oliver Anthony’s Rich Men from Richmond, an exceptional song that brilliantly diverges from the commercial sound typically associated with Nashville. With its genuine and unfiltered delivery, this song deeply resonates with listeners, making it a favorite among conservatives who have embraced it as their cherished working man ballad.
Now David Byrne Growing Backwards Into The Future
Episode 7 Season 2-entitled Forks, The Richie Hero’s Journey episode utilized David Byrnes’s song, Glass, Concrete, and Stone, with great effect. This listener was sonically smitten with the orchestrally rhythmic, vocally nuanced pop masterpiece, “Everything Possible When You’re an Animal”, Glass, Concrete, and Stone song, to the precipice edge of obsession.
Wow, Howie Day from 2000 and now
Howard Kern Day (born January 15, 1981) is an American singer-songwriter. Beginning his career as a solo artist in the late 1990s, Day became known for his extensive touring and in-concert use of samplers and effects pedals to accompany himself He self-financed and self-released his first album, Australia, in 2000.
Hello World Party Goodbye Jumbo right now!
If alive in the early 90s you too would have listened to Goodbye Jumbo. Listening to Goodbye Jumbo right now is absolutely the “Right” time for you. Karl Walllinger’s voice is strong, the Respectville homage to the Beatles is an important Welsh uplift to America, and the guitar solos were OG.
Who is Rae Isla, the timeless songwriter right now?
Rae Isla is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer from Seattle, WA, now living in Los Angeles, CA, and Brooklyn, NY. She often refers to her Alternative, folk-pop music as “ether pop” and Complex refers to her sound as having a “noticeable influence of Americana and even a touch of country in the sliding guitars and wistful writing.”
Now watch Amber Bain open the doors to Japanese House
IAmber Mary Bain, better known as The Japanese House, hails from Buckinghamshire, England, and has steadily built a name for herself in the music world. As a multi-instrumentalist, she brings her talents to vocals, guitar, synthesizer, and keyboard, crafting a unique sound that blends introspective lyrics with lush, layered instrumentation.
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