I love PBS. They have this kickass show called Austin City Limits that I catch once in a blue moon. As our hour of Scrubs was over, I did a little channel surfing to find something to flicker in the background while I dozed off to sleep. I turn into PBS and I see a band playing, so I stop and decide to listen in for a second to see if they suck or are delicious. 

Delicious all the way. I didn't know it until the end of the program, but the band I was watching was called My Morning Jacket, and they were playing "Golden".

I was caught up in the rest of the show, which was only a few songs. Golden was definitely country, with that slide guitar wahwahing. Then the rest of what they played was a mix of progressive syncy rock. The lead, Jim James, his voice is relatively plain but it definitely works so well with their music. They're great live, too, as well as the music making me an instant fan, which doesn't often happen. I do enjoy the feeling of falling in love with music.

After some research I discovered that their latest album is called Okonokos, they've lost and gained two band members, they've been around since '98, and they played at Bonnaroo for a few years, the last one being in 2006. Dammit. They also named their band after a jacket with the initials MMJ on it that was found after a show.

 Anyways, here are four of the five tracks I caught on PBS. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did and currently do. My Morning Jacket gets a big LTM stamp of approval.

My Morning Jacket Official  // MySpace // Get Okonokos

Wiki // Austin City Limits Website

Gideon MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/Gideon.mp3]

Golden MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/golden%20-%20my%20morning%20jacket.mp3]

Anytime MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/My_Morning_Jacket-Anytime.mp3]

Dondante MP3

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/mymorningjacket-dondante.mp3]

I have a little secret. I've never really listened to Bjork before now.

I know, I know. What was I missing out. I'll be working on filling the Bjork-void in my life at a later date. Cinco De Mayo is tonight, and I have a long night ahead of me, filled with crying, being in the weeds, spilling beer everywhere, and serving fajitas. And hopefully a lot of money.

 This mp3 spotlight post was going to be on the track "Innocence", from the new album, but then I realized that I liked Earth Intruders better. So here you have it. 

I love it. I love the beat to the song, makes me want to wiggle all over and shake my booty at top speed. I'm also appreciating the unique way Bjork sings. Reminds me of Johnny Cash, sort of, how in some parts she doesn't really sing, she sort of…talks.  

 Anyways, enjoy. Buy the CD. Seriously. Well worth it. Especially if you're a Bjork virgin like myself. 

Related Links:

Bjork Official Website

Bjork on MySpace

Buy This CD

Related Audio:

Earth Intruders - Bjork 

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/01-bjork-earth_intruders_(co-produced_by_timbaland).mp3] 

I got my hands on a promo CD by a psychedelic rock artist, Haale. I wouldn't call my self a wild fan; the music style is something I appreciate, but Haale doesn't do it too well. Have a listen anyway, see what you think. My opinion is not always everyone's, of course. 

Haale Official Website

Haale on MySpace

Buy this CD 

Related Audio:

Haale - Floating Down

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/01%20Floating%20Down.mp3] 

Otherwordly Beats + Caterwauling + Ear Sex = Thievery Corporation 

I considered not writing this post, thinking, "Everybody has to know who the Thievery Corporation is…", but then I realized that even if one of you didn't know who they were before you read this post, then it was all for something. I'm so nice. And it would defeat our purpose.

Thievery Corporation was introduced to me by a friend when he was drunk, telling me how awesome they were. I took all this with a grain of salt, but he did burn me a disc with some of their stuff. I guess some people can communicate honestly when intoxicated. Well. I got hooked.

Some of you may be familiar with the track "Lebanese Blonde", which was featured on the Garden State soundtrack. (I swear, every song in the world has been featured on that soundtrack, and I've never even seen the bloody film.) They recently released their album "Versions" in 2006, which is a compilation album featuring a handful of outside artists. 

Possible categories: electronic, dub, acid jazz, lounge, world, ambient, experimental, indie, etc. 

What I like about Thievery Corporation is the global feel they have. They combine styles of music from all over, and languages, too, which makes for a quality blend of sound. Added to their political bent, you get music which is a sign of the times, and to me, representative of ever-increasing surge in globalization. (I'm an anthropology major, what can I say. <<—That. ) 

So, you have quick rundown of Thievery Corporation, a handful of links, and some selected mp3s. They're quite hard to choose, because TC is one of those groups whose albums have 12 out of 13 uber tracks. The ones I chose are from the albums I'm more familiar with. I'm not writing a band history because I don't care what year the DJ was born in. Its all about the music, dawg.

Related Links:

Thievery Corporation Official Website

Thievery Corporation on MySpace

Thievery Corporation Wikipedia Entry

Thievery Corporation at Last.FM

Related Ear Sex(doing a bit different):

Le Monde

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/02%20-%20Le%20Monde.mp3] 

Facing East

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/02%20-%20Facing%20East.mp3] 

Lebanese Blonde

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/04%20-%20Lebanese%20Blonde.mp3] 

Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes 

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/01%20-%20Heaven%27s%20Gonna%20Burn%20Your%20Eyes.mp3] 

At War with the Mystics

So I know I'm going to lose mondo indie points for this, but I've yet to really catch on to the Flaming Lips. They seem just a little bitty bit beyond my grasp. Dave says I just need to sit down and listen to the Soft Bulletin a few times through. I mean, just once was enough for Steve Burns (more on that later). Anyway, being part of the music committee at the Kage, I get the opportunity to sample musics sent to us by well meaning record labels.  I saw a Flaming Lips album and thought this was my chance.  Unfortunately it wasn't a full album of new material, rather a lengthy promo for "the Yeah Yeah Yeah Song", containing three different versions of the same, along with covers and other goodies.  I appreciate that the song isn't simply remixed, but given an entirely new treatment entirely by the band.  It's a really good song, I like it.  Listen to all three versions, they are for your enjoyment. Peaces.

Related Links:

The Flaming Lips Official Website

The Flaming Lips on MySpace 

Buy This CD

Related Audio: 

The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (Radio Edit)

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/01%20The%20Yeah%20Yeah%20Yeah%20Song%20(Radio%20Ed.mp3]

 The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (Chicken Fried Hoedown Protest Rally)

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/09%20The%20Yeah%20Yeah%20Yeah%20Song%20(Chicken.mp3] 

 The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (In Anatropous Reflex)

[audio:http://lovethemusicreviews.com/audio/10%20The%20Yeah%20Yeah%20Yeah%20Song%20(In%20Anatr.mp3] 

I wouldn't say I'm deeply entrenched in the world of web-comicry, but I do have a healthy interest, and I have my regulars.  I'm consistantly amazed by what gets accomplished simply because it's mentioned in a webcomic.  As it turns out, when Ryan North says something, it happens.  Somebody not only had the inspiration, but the facilities to record the version of the Cheers theme mentioned in this comic.  It's a glorious age we live in, ain't it?

Cheers Cover
  

[audio:http://www.qwantz.com/fanart/cheers_cover.aif]