The Hot List

Here's a sampling of some of the new stuff we've received over the last few months...

KT Tunstall, Invisible Empire/Crescent Moon:  I've liked KT Tunstall from the start, although I can't quite

pinpoint why. I wouldn't say there's anything particularly unusual about her but I've always liked her voice and song style. I heard an interview with her on NPR discussing this album (side note: are they still called albums?) and knew I would be interested in hearing it, especially after it was mentioned the album was recorded right here in Tucson with none other than Howe Gelb. (Longtime Tucsonans will know Gelb from way back in the day. He played in the legendary Giant Sand and has worked with many nationally known bands and musicians over the years.) Tunstall mentioned that she went through two big losses during the recording of this album, the death of her father and the end of her marriage. There's definitely a sense of melancholy and loss on this album, but I wouldn't call it depressing. My favorite tracks on the album are Feel It All (both versions) and No Better Shoulder.

Your favorite song was recorded in Van Nuys

Fleetwood Mac. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Pat Benatar's Hit Me With Your Best Shot. Rick Springfield's Jessie's Girl. Nirvana's  Nevermind. Cheap Trick, Ratt, Guns n' Roses, REO Speedwagon, Neil Young, Carl Perkins, Barry Manilow, Johnny Cash, Dio, Rage Against The Machine...the list goes on and on. What do these artists and songs have in common? The recording studio called Sound City, in Van Nuys, CA., the subject of Dave Grohl's (of Nirvana and Foo Fighters fame) documentary Sound City. I  remember as a kid looking at the back cover of Rick Springfield's Working Class Dog album and wondering why he had said, "God Bless Van Nuys", and why so many albums seem to have been recorded there in the 1980's. I remember thinking, "What is it about this Van Nuys place, and why does everyone record their albums there?" Now I know why!

Literary Rock (or, just pretty pictures)

I'm having writer's block at the moment when it comes to actual music and Fred's post about the book The ABC's of Rock got me to thinking about some books I've enjoyed recently by various musicians and bands. So, here's a list of some titles you might enjoy....

U2 by U2:  I'll state right off the bat here that I've been a HUGE fan for over 25 years now and if the ability to time travel ever becomes a reality one of my first stops would be their show in 1985 at Compton Terrace outside of Phoenix (anyone remember THAT venue?) I was only 12 at the time and there's no way my parents would have allowed me to go, but I remember wanting to go see this band that I didn't know a whole lot about but that I was very intrigued by. I'll have to share the story of how I first heard them some other time (and no, it was NOT Bono who got my attention at first.) Anyway, about the book....