The Julie Andrews-Free Sound of Music

Music-The Food For Life
Poem by Nikhil Parekh

All I can say is wow-I'm still speechless and shaking after reciting this poem!

Now to do the man's words justice how about some fine music. I'm indebited to Tim via Will and alot of blogsites, in particular: Bang Up Job a fine mp3 blog site that offers a lot of good writing and music I can hear well. All kinds of good energy via words from music podcast buddies Hashman and Bitterman who's weezing along in Scotland as we live and breathe.

• Chok Rock- Happy Man BUY CD
• 101 Band-Never In BUY CD
• Toms-Sun BUY CD
• Sparklejets UK-She's My Fave
• The Shins-So Says I

The wild and funky Gael Monsieur Rock was a totally wonderful happy surprise find strolling along mp3 blog avenue. No dead ends on this street believe you me! Like sliding into home plate on the top of a Key Lime Pie-this one really is all good!

NYC Power-trio The 101’s latest, Green Street, marks the band’s first release for the Limekiln Records imprint and a passionate follow up to 2004’s critically-acclaimed debut ep (eponymous, Self-Starter Foundation). With Green Street, Eric Richter continues to define The 101’s infectiously catchy sound, combining the finely honed atmospheric touch of his previous band Antarctica, with the emotive drive of his Christie Front Drive years, to create a well-crafted rock album with no end to its emotional depth or sense of tasteful simplicity. The album shifts easily from the excitement and yearning of tracks like “Never In”...

Yes, *that* Yellow Pills. Jordan Oakes, editor of the incredibly important and influential power pop fanzine from the early 90`s and compiler of the 4 volumes of Yellow Pills comps in the mid/late 90`s ....

Familiar faves include Shoes and The Toms(2 rare songs!!). From there, depending on your connection and passion to power pop`s roots, it goes deep into glorious obscurity to varying degrees. The Tweeds, Luxury, The Bats(featuring a young Jon Brion at the helm), The Speedies, Colors, LMNOP, The Finns(who were featured on Not Lame`s very first release back in 1995!), The Treble Boys, The Kids, Colors and more(see below). The 33 tracks assembled here represent the least-heard, best examples of an era that felt nostalgic even the first time around. But heard in the context of today`s "pop" music industry as it lip syncs itself into history`s cut-out bin, these "hopefuls" sound as startling and menthol-fresh as the word "Liverpool" drifting from Jane Asher`s lips. Thank God for Record Collectors. Jordan, the turntable`s yours. A unbridled ride into pure pop bliss, covet today.

Garnering their name from the Gretsch guitars they promised to buy themselves when they "made it", along with a perfect example of their wacky humor (attaching the oh-so-eighties "u.k." tag) they set out from Orange County to make their mark on the Los Angeles pop hotbed. They released their critically acclaimed debut "In, Through, and Beyond" at the end of 1998, and it wasn't long until they were flavor of the month among pop stalwarts across the nation, playing knockout shows at crowded clubs and major pop festivals. Their new-found alliances paid off in their 2000 release of a coup-de-gras tribute album to themselves featuring 20 other bands.

Hmm, Gretsch, now there's a story here (buried in the dark closet of the Brooklyn Bluesman's mind with all the lost Mad magazines that mommy put in their when I wasn't looking).

Ahh, The Shins of New Mexico(right next door to my Arizona) via Portland (where it rains and they clone Nike staff people before sending them to Taiwan to live in ginger bread houses and fit 15 to one pair of swoosh jockey shorts). Oh we were talking about the Shins-of Garden State fame-if the movie wasn't as absolutely fantastic as it was, you'd have to give total credit to the Shins for most of the soundtrack, which made a great movie even greater.

Podcast mp3 file