Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight

Friends are often asking me what music i'm listening to, or if I can recommend anything new that they'd like. The last few months have brought an unusually large influx of wonderful music to me. Two of them are just too good to keep to myself, so I wanted to share a good thing.

First in my CDchanger is Amos Lee, a singer-songwriter oddly filed in iTunes as folk (so many of my favorite things defy easy categorization! Hey Amos, I know how it feels!). It should be filed under "incredibly talented". I usually hate to do the comparison thing, but this time it works--he is a friend of Norah Jones, & in many ways is her male equivalent, except with guitar instead of piano (this btw is VERY EXCITING news for all us who loved Come Away With Me to the point of absurdity). Norah plays piano on this record, & has the same mellow, thoughtful feeling throughout. It's one of those albums that just seems to just stop time & take you someplace calm and quiet. He has incredible range & versatility. Songs touch on jazz, R&B, soul, folk, etc--but the common thread pulling it together is their originality & that they make you feel great. The album i'm listening to is Amos Lee, & the opening track, "Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight" may just be my new motto in life. :) Other songs to check out first are Colors, Arms of a Woman, Bottom of the Barrel. Better than a trip to the day spa.

The other CD is Bob Schneider's Lonelyland -- this came out in 2001, but it is new to me. I heard about it at the Pat Green party--Pat mentioned it along with Ryan Adam's Gold CD(which I have and LOVE) as being the two albums that inspired his Lucky Ones CD(another favorite). Of course I had to track it down, & have been listening to it enraptured ever since. Every now & then you find a record that makes you stop everything else to just listen to it, & this is one of those. It reminds me of the Ryan Adam's Gold or Joe Henry's Scar CD in many ways--a great concept album by a songwriter who has obviously achieved a high level of mastery at his craft.

Here's the diff though -- as much as I love Gold, in some ways it is rather dispassionate & clinical. At times it seems like you're hearing an exercise in different styles, like a musician running through warm-ups. Lonelyland is a much more personal, more passionate record. It sucks you in right away. Each song is different, and listening to it you hear Bob move through or combine disparate genres with ease. He does this beautifully on "Round and Round." The lyrics are clever, hooky, and engaging, like these opening lines from "Metal and Steel":

"I am metal, I am steel
I don't mind 'cuz I don't feel a thing,
I'm a diamond ring--
I'm not flesh & i'm not bone,
I'm not sad & i'm not all alone,
I'm a stone--"

Aaah, if only. Another great line in "Big Blue Sea" has been stuck in my head: "It's days like this that learn me, turn me inside out & burn me..." I've had alot of those lately. "The World Exploded Into Love" is a very moving song that threatens to make your heart stop. "Moon Song" is a playful Brazilian-style romp that is better than a mojito in a hammock on the beach. Anyways, I guess he's done several wonderful albums since then, but I am definitely going to take my time savoring this one before moving on.

Best,
Layla