Random Thoughts - Good Tunes

One perk of being a quasi-journalist is access to some great music I otherwise might not have come across.

It might not amount to a hill of beans but here are a few CDs you really should get or at least listen to. This set all happen to be in something of a sorta-alt-country vein.

Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat
-Beautiful stuff that's part pop, part gospel, part Tom Petty-type rock...it's just got delicious soul. It's even got a wonderful little cover of "Handle With Care."

Skydiggers & Cash Brothers -
-Harmonies tight enough to dazzle an Everly Brother. This one is a long time coming for Toronto music fans and I have a feeling that you might like it. Yes, you.

Neko Case -Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
She's already pretty well known amongst people who care about the good kind of music that never hits the radio. Great country-flavoured pop with old-school reverb and little hints of perfect darkness. Plus she's an honourary Canadian.

Loose Fur - Born Again the USA
If you don't know, this is the second album from what is essentially a Wilco side project. Jeff Tweedy, uber-producer Jim O'Rourke and drummer Glenn Kotchke have put together something that's just great. The music and lyrics are nothing but fun and a bit tongue-in-cheek. It's poppy, it's got elements of 70s-prog rock and, well - it's just plain fun. (And it doesn't come out until March 21 which makes me moderately cool amongst those who respect that kind of thing.)

How fun are they?
Why don't you enjoy reading the press release (clicking should enlarge) or watch the video below. It's official but on YouTube rather than MTV. And it features heroes who look like a bit like the Power Rangers.