I know I like a song when it makes me feel like crying. Not in a bad way, but in a joyous way, a way that makes me feel full of the beauty of the world. Some examples: "Wedding Day" by Rosie Thomas, "Silver Lining" by Rilo Kiley, "Teardrop" by Massive Attack and "Half-Acre" by Hem. And now "1 2 3 4" by Feist. I'll say this for Apple: they're marketing geniuses, though they're not successfully selling me a Nano, they're selling me brand loyalty and a Feist CD by advertising the new Nano with the song. I have to hand it to Steve Jobs, who has exquisite musical taste, and even if it's not his taste, he's a canny mofo, because he picked a song that's ridiculously appealing. (Not that I'm impugning Jobs' music taste, because he's a Beatle-maniac, and almost every song he's ever chosen to demonstrate and iPod with has been brilliant.) Anyway, the point is, I plan on getting to the rest of the Feist CD soon, I swear. It's really hard for me to get past "1 2 3 4" though, because it's a damn good song, and it makes me want to dance and sing, and anything that can get me dancing and singing at 6:30 am is worth it. I have to admit, I have one other Feist CD, and I recently took it off my iPod, because it's just not breaking through for me. I'll give this one a chance, though.
In other music happenings in the EfroMano house, we're getting into a band called Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings. The Dap Kings are the producers of Amy Winehouse's excellent CD, so when I saw a little blurb about Sharon Jones on Perez, I listened. And damn, if Sharon Jones isn't true funk, I don't know what is. In listening, you can definitely hear the sounds that shape the Winehouse album, but the voice in front of those sounds is more true, and less pop. At first, I was very unsure, but I really do like her voice, and I like the sounds of the albums. Sharon Jones' version of "This Land is Your Land" is insanely cool, and I really like the new single "100 Days, 100 Nights" (which happens to be the name of the new album too). These guys are playing the Park West in November (I think?! Can't remember.) and Sam and I will def. be going. It's a cheap show, and it'll be really different from most of what we see live. I'm really looking forward to it.
And last in new music news, though it's not exactly new, Ani DiFranco has a greatest hits double CD out. I have all of her albums (except the last few very newest, because I just haven't enjoyed her music lately), so it's not like I really needed it, except that I knew if I saw it and held it in my hands I'd want it. Last night, we went to a bookstore that sells music, and I was doing my resolute best to not enter the basement of music, but Sam dragged me down there so he could buy me the Feist CD, and I knew that I'd be leaving with the Ani too. And damn if I didn't. The first CD is killer (though does anyone out there remember the three-CD Ani set I made three or four years ago? That thing was KILLER.), and the second one is full of new music I don't like, but what really attracted me was the 5 newly recorded versions of older songs: "Napoleon", "Overlap", "Shameless", "Both Hands" and "Your Next Bold Move". I can't help it, again, but I'm not really that big of a fan of the re-dos. I want to be, but something about the production, and oh, Ani's voice, which used to be so magical, but isn't anymore, just turns me off. It makes me very sad, because I was a very huge Ani fan for a number of years, and I just don't enjoy her very much anymore. I am going to see her when she swings into town, thanks to a very generous friend who's sharing a ticket with me. And I'm cautiously looking forward to it, but I'm nervous too. I'll report back after the show.
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