(four briefs out of five)
The first thing that struck me when I popped this little gem into the CD player was just how much it reminds me of Paul Simon’s early solo work. You may recall, once freed from the constraints of the folk duo format he championed with Artie Garfunkel, Mr. Simon […]

(two briefs out of five)
What was I expecting when I downloaded The Bird and the Bee, the self-titled debut of (natch) The Bird and the Bee? Sly, sexy vocals by Inara George–she’s The Bird, and the daughter of the late Lowell George of Little Feat–jazzy pop arrangements by Greg Kurstin (Bee, I presume), and […]

Top Five CDs of the Year – these get the biggest raves
Gina Villalobos – Miles Away
Bruce Springsteen – Magic
Brandi Carlile – The Story
Lucinda Williams – West
Rilo Kiley – Under The Blacklight

Other faves, in no particular order
Patty Griffin – Children Running Through
Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
John Fogerty – Revival
Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Ryan Adams […]