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The Blend - CD of the Month
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January 2012
The Black Keys
El Camino
(Nonesuch)
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“Play Loud”. This simple direction could not be more necessary than on The Black Keys latest release El Camino. The seventh release from the duo of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney, their third with the seemingly untouchable Danger Mouse as producer, keeps you hooked from start to finish. The lead track “Lonely Boy” makes you want to get up and rock out. So does “Dead And Gone”. And “Gold On The Ceiling”. Pretty much every track gets your attention that way. Each song has a hook that will get stuck in your head and a guitar riff you will hum to yourself for days. They do throw in the occasional curve ball like “Little Black Submarines”, which almost sounds like a modern day “Stairway” with its slow tempo start and hectic finish. In an era where Rock seems to have hit a crossroads, we need more bands like The Black Keys. They flat out make good songs that make you tap your feet. Hopefully their work will inspire others to do the same.
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- Jeff Penfield, WSGE Music Director
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December 2011
Rachael Yamagata
Chesapeake
(Frankenfish Records)
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Originally from Arlington, Virgina, Rachael Yamagata has slowly but surely built a strong fan base by releasing music with her unique pop sound. Yamagata records albums filled with substance and meaning driven by her versatile vocals. Chesapeake is no different as Yamagata continues to redefine the female recording artist. She performs strong rock vocals on “Starlight”, soothes your soul on the aptly named “Saturday Morning”, and forces you to feel powerless with her on “You Won’t Let Me”. Where many female pop vocalists only deliver pretty songs, Yamagata uses her lyrical brilliance and songwriting abilities to communicate a variety of emotions and feelings. Although her albums are generally well received, her music begs to gain more attention. Chesapeake just might do the trick.
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- Jeff Penfield, WSGE Music Director
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November 2011
Wilco
The Whole Love
(dBpm)
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As Kings of the Indie darlings from the past decade, Wilco helped define the sound of many bands and have led the way with solid release after solid release. Unfortunately a few of those albums were exactly that: solid. Most of their previous albums have been good but not to the level of their breakout album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Now that they branched out with their new label dBpm, the band finally has another landmark album. The Whole Love takes all of the music they produced from the past decade and takes it to a new level. The album flows well and appears to tell a story with a classic Wilco spin. “I Might” is a fairly standard Wilco single, however “Dawned On Me” and “Standing O” both seem to have an indescribable sound that pulls the listener closer into the song unlike more recent efforts. The melodic themes from this album really shine through and the band keeps your attention from beginning to end. Wilco is the kind of band that will always record an album you like, but this is one from the band to love.
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- Jeff Penfield, WSGE Music Director
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January 2008 |
Will Hoge | Draw the Curtains | (Rykodisc) |
February 2008 |
Tift Merritt | Another Country | (Fantasy) |
March 2008 |
Malcolm Holcombe | Gamblin' House | (Echo Mountain) |
April 2008 |
Marcia Ball | Peace, Love, & BBQ | (Alligator) |
May 2008 |
B-52's | Funplex | (Astralwerks) |
June 2008 |
John Hiatt | Same Old Man | (New West) |
July 2008 |
Jim White | Transnormal Skiperoo | (Luaka Bop) |
August 2008 |
Los Lonely Boys | Forgiven | (Epic) |
September 2008 |
Dar Williams | Promised Land | (Razonr & Tie) |
October 2008 |
Randall Bramblett | Now It's Tomorrow | (New West) |
| November 2008 |
Nikka Costa | Pebble to a Pearl | (Stax) |
December 2008 |
Taj Mahal | Maestro | (Heads Up) |
January 2009 |
David Byrne & Brian Eno | Everything That Happens Will Happen Today | (Todomundo) |
February 2009 |
Alice Russell | Pot of Gold | (Six Degrees) |
March 2009 |
Good Old War | Only Way To Be Alone | (Sargent House) |
April 2009 |
M. Ward | Hold Time | (Merge) |
May 2009 |
Derek Trucks Band | Already Free | (Victor) |
June 2009 |
Heywire | Smells Like Vegas | (Heywire Entertainment) |
July 2009 |
Elvis Costello | Secret, Profane, & Sugarcane | (Hear Music) |
August 2009 |
Paul Carrack | I Know That Name | (429 Records) |
September 2009 |
Bill Noonan | The Man That I Can't Be | (Catawaba City) |
October 2009 |
The Coal Men | Kids With Songs | (Funzalo) |
November 2009 |
Band of Heathens | One Foot In the Ether | (BOH Records) |
December 2009 |
Norah Jones | The Fall | (Blue Note) |
January 2010 |
Ang Medlin | Play Without Fear | (Sid Hippo) |
| February 2010 | Blind Boys of Alabama |
Duets | (Sagurao Road) |
March 2010 |
Backyard Tire Fire | Good To Be | (Kelsey Street Records) |
April 2010 |
Carolina Chocolate Drops | Genuine Negro Jig | (Nonesuch) |
May 2010 |
The Overmountain Men | Glorious Day | (Ramseur) |
June 2010 |
Truth & Salvage Co. | Truth & Salvage Co. | (Megaforce) |
July 2010 |
Good Old War | Good Old War | (Sargent House) |
August 2010 |
Macy Gray | The Sellout | (Concord) |
September 2010 |
Various Artists | Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: The Songs of John Prine | (Oh Boy) |
October 2010 |
Cas Haley | Connection | (Easy Star) |
| November 2010 | Los Lonely Boys | Keep On Giving: Acoustic Live | (Lonely Tone) |
| December 2010 | Mavis Staples | You Are Not Alone | (ANTI) |
| January 2011 | Mollie O'Brien & Rich Moore | Saints and Sinners | (Remington Road) |
February 2011 |
Amos Lee | Mission Bell | (Blue Note) |
March 2011 |
Ivan & Alyosha | Fathers Be Kind | (Missing Piece) |
April 2011 |
Nicole Atkins | Mondo Amore | (Razor & Tie) |
May 2011 |
Los Lonely Boys | Rockpango | (Playing in Traffic) |
June 2011 |
Jim Bianco | Loudmouth | (Independent) |
July 2011 |
Lipbone Redding | Unbroken | (BePop) |
August 2011 |
John Hiatt | Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns | (New West) |
September 2011 |
Joss Stone | LP1 | (Stoned-Records) |
October 2011 |
Mike Doughty | Yes And Also Yes | (Snack Bar) |
| November 2011 | Wilco | The Whole Love | (dBpm) |
| December 2011 | Rachael Yamagata | Chesapeake | (Frankenfish Records) |
| January 2012 | The Black Keys | El Camino | (Nonesuch) |
About the CD-of-the-Month Club
Members of the WSGE CD-of-the-Month Club receive a new CD each month hand-picked by our musical experts. This club is available in two musical genres - The Blend or Blues. Available at the $375 pledge level. Donate Now!
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