Worthy Pursuits and Playlists -- June 15, 2006

New music that you should look (and listen!) for

Butch Walker and the Let's-Go-Out-Tonites -- Atlanta, GA -- Red Ink

Indie... glam... crunk? ...Yeah, maybe so. Butch Walker is the former lead singer of Marvelous 3 (remember that song "Freak of the Week" from the 90s?) but traded that in for a stint at production (including work with SR-71) and a solo career. He may have the hipster haircut (you know -- black hair hanging in his eyes, parted in an oh-so-cool way?) but the music doesn't seem to be going out of style anytime soon. Vibrant, riff-based rock, dripping with reverb. His third solo album is out on July 11th. Hear some early cuts at www.myspace.com/butchwalker

Tin Cup Prophette -- Athens, GA -- Independent

Tin Cup Prophette is really Amanda Kapousouz (and friends) creating lush arrangements with her violin, lots of looping, and a haunting voice. Her album, "Liar and the Thief," was brought to my attention by our two high school interns. I needed a change of music, and asked them to pull whatever looked good from the massive bin of CDs that came in. "Liar and the Thief" was one of those CDs -- they liked the album artwork and packaging (apparently homemade). But the music is the real treat. For fans of Imogen Heap (of Frou Frou), Hope For Agoldensummer, and Irish music. www.myspace.com/tincupprophette

Smoosh -- Seattle, WA -- Barsuk Records

This sister duo is made up of Chloe, 12 years old, and Asya, 14 years old... 12 and 14! When I was 12 I could barely write a sentence (okay...maybe more like a paragraph) but these girls are writing their own songs! It's no Disney Channel-type gimic. They're signed to Barsuk (one of my fav labels) and just released their first full-length. And the best part is that they look like nice pre-teen gals -- not sexed-up tween musicians that so many record labels are pushing these days.... The music is pretty simple (drums, keyboards, synth) and it will get stuck in your head for days at a time. You can listen to the whole album (I recommend "Find a Way" and "Rock Song") at Mammoth Press

And a playlist for the week...

Bonnaroo (i.e. Darn! I Wish I Could See This Amazing Lineup) Playlist 2006
Radiohead, "Karma Police"
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, "Refugee"
Beck, "New Pollution"
Son Volt, "Six String Belief"
Elvis Costello & The Imposters, w/Allen Toussaint, "Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?"
David Ford, "I Don't Care What You Call Me"
Death Cab for Cutie, "Marching Bands of Manhattan"
Bright Eyes, "We Are Nowhere and It's Now"
Matisyahu, "King Without a Crown"
Ben Folds, "Trusted"
The Magic Numbers, "Forever Lost"
Common, "They Say"
Umphrey's McGee, "Women Wine & Song"
Brothers Past, "Exhale"
My Morning Jacket, "Anytime"
Nickel Creek, "When In Rome"