Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

Did You See Sia? I Saw Sia.

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

I saw Sia see-saw on the seashore.

Now that’s something that should be in her next music video.

So, on Monday the 26th I saw Sia live in concert in Detroit. ‘Twas wonderful. If only I could have seen her previous tours. Alas. At least I have the DVD of one of her concerts from 2007, T.V. Is My Parent. Please, Sia, release a concert video from this tour as well. And add the following cities to your next tour, please: Toledo, Ohio; Columbus Ohio; Ann Arbor, Michigan.

For those who are still unaware, Sia’s newest CD, We Are Born, will be released on June the 22nd in the States. She also has a new song on David Byrne’s new collaborative concept album, Here Lies Love, and she wrote and/or co-wrote several songs for Christine Aguilera’s new album, Bionic, which will be released on June the 8th.

Ditty Bops Report

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

After seeing the Ditty Bops at the Ark in Ann Arbor last Friday I can guarantee one thing: I’ll never miss a future Ditty Bops performance that’s within reasonable driving distance again (and if I had the means I’d see every performance in the Great Lakes region (plus Portland)).

I was hoping to buy a copy of their last calendar, which is no longer available on their Web site, but I didn’t see any for sale after the show. I was, however, able to buy their latest CD, Songs for Steve, and a CD from 2007 that I didn’t even know existed, Pack Rat. I think that makes my Ditty Bops collection complete at five CDs.

Several of the songs they performed have not yet been recorded, and two were songs made famous by the Boswell Sisters. If they would release a Boswell Sisters tribute CD I would be in seventh heaven. Do you hear me, Ditty Bops? Seventh heaven! Their rendition of Shout, Sister, Shout! was a burst of joy that still makes me smile, and their finale (the title of which I sadly do not know) was an indescribable, explosive delight. Please, please record these songs!

That is all. For now.

Ditty Bops Are Go!

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

I have my Ditty Bops tickets! Hurrah!

The Ditty Bops

Monday, May 18th, 2009

I just happened to glance at the site of one of my favorite groups, the Ditty Bops, when I noticed they will be performing at The Ark in Ann Arbor, MI on June the 12th. Needless to say, I plan to be there.

Go, Baby

Sunday, March 30th, 2008

We had an extremely good CD coupon at work (27-30 March), so I bought several CDs I’ve had my eye on for a long time, plus a newer one I recently decided I couldn’t live without:

  • The Buddy Holly Collection
  • The Definitive Art Tatum
  • Ella Fitzgerald’s Lullabies of Birdland
  • Sia’s Some People Have Real Problems

The question now is which one to listen to whilst I drive to work tomorrow morning. Hm…

That’ll be Buddy Holly and the Crickets, ma’am.

Hits and Misses in CD Compilations

Sunday, July 1st, 2007

I worked the opening shift in the Music/DVD Department today. Before I left, I quickly listened to a few seconds of each of the tracks of a Putumayo bossa nova compilation CD at one of the listening stations, which took me less than half a minute to judge, and I turned to Jeff (who is working the closing shift) and said, “I’ve just learned something about myself: I love bossa nova when it’s sung by women, but I detest it when it’s sung by men.” I considered it a minor epiphany, but Jeff and the customer he was helping thought it was hilarious.

Speaking of compilation CDs, we have a promotional copy of a tribute to Ella Fitzgerald, We All Love Ella, which I played in the store today, and I can say that it is predictably and uniformly unimpressive in its “tribute” except for the final track, “Airmail Special” by Nikki Yanofsky. My response to that track is “Wow!” and thanks for the goosebumps! I look forward to hearing more by this singer (and hopefully soon).