Monday Music Roundup

Here is some excellent music I have come across in the last week or so. Enjoy!

Neil Finn with Ed Vedder – Stuff and Nonsense
This song is just stunningly beautiful, I love Vedder’s voice, always, and the way he harmonizes with Neil Finn on this live track from the St. James Theater in New Zealand. Simple piano backing, higher octaves from Vedder which are my favorite because of the wavering fragility of his voice. Yes, he has the scream, which we love, but the delicacy of this just gets me every time.

Eels – Living Life
This song is from the cover CD The Late Great Daniel Johnston, which has many excellent tracks other than this one, including stuff by Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, Teenage Fanclub, and Tom Waits. Daniel Johnston is a quirky Texas-based songwriter who I was introduced to in my teens (oh, so long ago) with “Walking the Cow” (covered by T.V. on the Radio on this CD). Johnston has been called “one of the twentieth century’s great, maudlin pop musicians.”

Rogue Wave – Everyday
Buddy Holly cover, but can’t you hardly tell? Love they way they make it their own, as a cover should be. If it sounds the same as the original, what is the point of recording it as a cover? Heard a lot of good things about Rogue Wave live, they are opening for Nada Surf on at least part of their upcoming tour.

Snowden – Time of the Season
Layered funky beats all over this Zombies cover. Eminently listenable, even though I am not 100% in favor of the lead singer’s voice at all times. But check it out, shake that thang.

The Thorns – Long, Sweet Summer Night
I love this “supergroup” which I just found out about, though the song is from 2003 or so – The Thorns are Matthew Sweet, Pete Droge, and Shawn Mullins. This song is out of season currently, but download it now, save it, and listen to it in the middle of a hot, sticky, August evening and thank me!