Amy Winehouse "Back to Black"

Do not be deceived by the cover of this recording! Dont take this wrong but this record has three things I love... Tits, Tats and Tone. My god, what a voice. Lost somewhere between jazz and soul this stunning young woman seems out of place mainly in appearance and age. Again, man what a set of pipes. She is a Brit of english and jewish heritage and is way more interesting than anything currently passing for soul coming out of the states.

"12 rounds "my big hero

My big hero by 12 rounds is both beautiful and evil. lovely and creepy. The stunning Ms. Sarnes voice is awkwardly gorgeous and haunting. There was a time that 3 people thought I was driving them into the night to kill them because I was listening to this recording. Rumors has it that album #3 has been shelved by Nothing. Which is a pity because I've been waiting years for another release. I guess I would have to classify this somewhere between trip hop and vampire pop. Like love songs for halloween. Makes me want to brew up a pot of tea with kava and sit lightly drugged in the dark while the light cuts slices through the drawn shutters illuminating motes of dust. This is a beautiful and noisy recording. I think it is sad that they never made much of a splash. Beauty and bliss in a grissly murder kind of haunted way. Find it. Love it.

Laura Veirs "Saltbreakers"

From the opening lines of 'Pink Light', "Sorry I was cruel, I was protecting myself. Drifting along with my swords out flying. Tattering my sails. And I tattered yours, too" I feel this recording in my heart.
This Recording is a more up-tempo than the others and features new backing vocal duties for her band mates as well as a name change. With this recording "the Tortured Souls" become "the Saltbreakers".
As always, this album is excellent. The lovely Ms. Veirs is nothing if not consistent. Her ability to move my emotions is aided by talented help, yet it is the simplicity of tracks like “Wrecking” before the violin comes in, (sorry Eyvind, I do love your violin.) that reaches inside to the core of me.
While excellence is not hard to come by when she surrounds herself with such an amazing band and guests, I have every confidence she could do it all without them. But then, why should she want to.
Listening to her records makes me reminisce about seeing Karl play a free show at “The Shop” here in Spokane before a screening of "Breakfast at Tiffanys". I wish Laura had come to. Perhaps I will get the pleasure of seeing the Saltbreakers in the near future.

Lily Allen "ALRIGHT, STILL"

alright, still is a wonderfuly suprising record. Fun. Light(sort of). I expected Lily to be kind of innocent and sweet and in a way she is. but this is balanced by attitude, at least in the lyrics. I expected a happy light recording and got a wonderful little in your face record. Balanced somewhere between percieved sweetness and the words she is saying are pleasant songs that are not so nice. this record is lite pop charm with some realistic lyrics. I believe she could develop into a real talent if she doesnt get washed away by the latest sensation. She is nothing if not outspoken (her comment that ever one who bought Paris Hiltons record should be killed comes to mind.) and will probably skrew it all up (her refrence to celebrating with "gak") before she is done but I admire her attitude. This could all just be a flash in the pan, but I do enjoy this record.

[ANDREW BIRD] [ARMCHAIR APOCRYPHA]

[ARMCHAIR APOCRYPHA] is the new album from critically acclaimed composer, singer and violinist Andrew Bird. A continuation, if you will, of the brilliance that was found on "the mysterious production of eggs”. Mr. Bird lives in a weird little world filled with witty wordplay.

"I dreamed you were a cosmonaut

of the space between our chairs

and I was a cartographer

of the tangles in your hair"

from "armchairs" is a nice example. I think I would be fascinated simply reading these words. Regardless of how bright the music shines, I find myself waiting for the next turn of phrase to delight. Don’t take it wrong, I do love his music, but if you strip that away, I believe the prose is capable of standing on its own. I feel a lot of modern music is lacking in the lyrical department. This recording cannot be said to be one of them.

FOREIGN BORN "IN THE REMOTE WOODS" EP

"In the remote woods" is a tasty little tidbit. at 5 songs I find it far too short. leaving me searching for the "loud times in the valley" ep just to get another taste while waiting for the forthcoming album "On the Wing Now"- "It grew on you" and "The entryway" are the standout tracks on this ep.