Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Back to Poland

Oops! I ran out of time to get a post in today. Although I want to keep this blog going with as few interruptions as possible, life keeps getting in the way.

So today's post will be a continuation of an old post on a Polish group called Blue Cafe.

Here's another great song from their album Ovosho. It gives you a little glimpse into a different , but equally attractive side of the group.

1. Blue Cafe - My Road (3.65 MB; 128 kbps MP3)

Monday, July 30, 2007

Wish I Had Said This Earlier

One of my favorite musicians is J.J. Cale and it amazes me that he is not more widely known by mainstream music fans. Most lay people probably know him as a songwriter, writing Eric Clapton's mega hits Cocaine and After Midnight, and Skynyrd's Call Me The Breeze. However, he is an accomplished musician with a great voice and a knack for melody.
One of the first albums I owned by J.J. Cale was Shades which is probably why it remains my favorite album. Here are a couple of cuts from that album. Although I would be remiss in not including his fun hit Mama Don't from the album, I'm going to resist and instead feature the equally upbeat Carry On. I also want to feature another cut that I think portrays his sensitive side. His ability to hit you in the gut with his lyrics and music is quite astounding.

For some reason, Amazon only carries Shades as an import. You can find it here. Although the Anthology collection is my favorite, the track listing on Definitive Best also seems like a great starting point (and at a lower price). It is definitely worth buying some Cale (if you don't already have some in your collection. You can find other albums here.

2. J.J. Cale - Carry On (2.14 MB; 128kbps)

Friday, July 27, 2007

Rare Crowded House

I'll end Crowded House week with a couple of rarities off one of the fan club compilation albums in my collection. The Crowded House Fan Club is a great community of Finn fans and they have been able to put together some great rare and live collections that are then sold exclusively to fans through the club. One of these collections of rarities is the Homebrew album. It has numerous live delights.

The first song featured below is Walk Tall, a Crowded House song that never made it on to any album. It actually is quite a fun and catchy song and I'm surprised it hasn't made it on to any compilation album. It was recorded at The Brighton Centre in the UK on June 3, 1994.

The CD also featured a "hidden" track with exceptional version of The Chicken Song by Crowded House, which I've also added here as a bonus.

Have you bought the new Crowded House album yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and get it at Amazon here. It's a good album at a good price.

See ya next week!

1. Crowded House - Walk Tall (2.44 MB; 128kbps MP3)
2. Crowded House - The Chicken Song (0.5 MB; 128kbps MP3)

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Leading You Into Temptation

As you've seen in this blog, I love listening to covers of songs I'm familiar with. I think it gives me an excuse to re-listen to my favorite songs without getting bored.

Today, I have an interesting Crowded House cover for you. Then, a song from Paul Hester whose suicide death recently was instrumental in getting the group back together. Plus, as a Split Enz fan, I'm adding a cover of a spectacularly beautiful Split Enz song.

I enjoy international language versions of well known songs. I started this CH week with an Italian cover of Don't Dream It's Over. Today, I have a Dutch language cover of Crowded House's Into Temptation from Dutch artist Rob de Nijs. The second song, Get It On is typically zany Paul Hester. It is a simple and beautiful good night lullaby, but with a Paul Hester twist: "Sleep, baby, sleep. Mum and dad might just get it on ..." Finally, 80's popster Belinda Carlisle had a sensitive cover version of Split Enz's spectacular Stuff and Nonsense. Enjoy.

You can find the CD catalog of the artists featured in this post by clicking on their names above.

1. Rob de Nijs - In De Verleiding (6.81 MB; 192kbps MP3)
2. Paul Hester - Get It On (3 MB; 128kbps MP3)
3. Belinda Carlisle - Stuff and Nonsense (6.31 MB; 192kbps MP3)

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Can You Hear Neil Finn?

I'll continue my Crowded House week with a somewhat rarity from frontman Neil Finn. I have always assumed that almost any video clip you could ever imagine is available on YouTube. So, imagine my surprise when I thought I'd link to this video of Can You Hear Us by Neil Finn and was unable to find it on YouTube. I just uploaded a copy and hope it is within fair use guidelines. Otherwise you'll find this video not working and this post pointless.

Neil wrote this as an anthem for the New Zealand rugby team the All Blacks. This song was written in 1999 when the All Blacks were headed for the World Cup (or something like that - I know nothing about rugby). I don't think it has appeared on any album and remains somewhat of a rarity even though it is a really beautiful song. Enjoy the video ...



Here are the lyrics:

CAN YOU HEAR US?

(Neil Finn)

We're right where we belong
Where mountains meet the ocean
Beneath the Southern Cross
A symbol of our devotion

Can you hear us
We'll never let go
Can you hear us
And carry our hopes
Can you hear us
We'll never let go

The fire is coming back
There's magic in your touch
Silver fern on black
Somehow it means so much
The time is running down
The shadows getting longer
But don't you hang your head
‘Cos brother it's not over

[Chorus]

And the final moment in your hands
You feel the power from the stands
And it's like thunder coming to fill the silence

[Chorus]

Can you hear us...Aotearoa.....hear us....Aotearoa

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Enjoy Your Time On Earth

So, the new Crowded House album is out after a break of over ten years. As would be expected, the album has been subject to much speculation and discussion.

Is it really a Crowded House album or a Neil Finn solo album superficially packaged to make it a "band" album? Can Crowded House really be Crowded House without Paul Hester? The album started as a Neil Finn solo package and ended up as a Crowded House album after Neil decided to get the band back together. I think discussions of the "band" versus "solo" sound are bound to be pointless. I am not sure there is a distinct "band" sound that can be distinguished from a Neil Finn "solo" album sound.

Neil is a master of catchy melodies and pop hooks. There are several standouts on this album even though I just received it today and have listened to it a few times. The most accessible and catchy tune has to be the one I have featured below. You'll be amazed at how Neil takes a rather dark and somber lyric (of lost love) and turns it into almost a "happy" song.

This is a depressing lyric set to an upbeat rhythm and melody. The song is called She Called Up and is classic Crowded House (or should I say, Neil Finn).

The album is available at a VERY reasonable price on Amazon ($9.99 only). So, please buy it here. You won't be disappointed. You can also buy the Crowded House back catalog here.

1. Crowded House - She Called Up (2.65 MB; 128 kbps MP3)

Monday, July 23, 2007

Don't Dream The Italian Trip Is Over

As I have mentioned in a previous post, I am a big fan of Crowded House (and the various source/spin-off groups like Split Enz, Finn Brothers, etc.) So, I will spend this week celebrating the release of the newest Crowded House album, Time on Earth.

But first, let me bridge the Crowded House theme for the week with my trip to Italy which led this blog to be dormant for two weeks. I had assumed that I would have regular and easy access to the Internet in my hotel and was surprised to find no WiFi in my hotel room. So that led to my putting the blog on hold for a bit.

Well, I'm back. Probably one of the most recognizable Crowded House songs in the USA is Don't Dream It's Over. The song was a huge hit for the group in the eighties and even showed up on an MTV album of "One Hit Wonders." To me, labeling Crowded House a "one hit wonder" is an outrageous injustice.

While in Italy, I happened to hear the familiar strains of Don't Dream It's Over, but sung to Italian lyrics. I discovered that an Italian superstar, Antonello Venditti had rewritten the lyrics to the song and released it in Italy as Alta Marea. I found it unique, interesting, and well done enough to buy the CD in Milan and present it here as my first offering during Crowded House Week here on Underheard Music. As usual, the album (the 3-disc special edition) is available via Amazon.com at a price considerably lower than the price I paid in Italy. Go figure!

1. Antonella Venditti - Alta Marea (4.83 MB; 128 kbps MP3)

Saturday, July 14, 2007

This blog is NOT dead

I promise to get back to this blog soon. I am in Milan, Italy and my hotel room does not have Internet access. Since I usually do this blog thing late at night, that poses a problem. Plus, I have been getting back to my room well after 1 AM each day, so it has not been conducive to blogging.

I promise I'll be back soon. A week at the most!

Friday, July 6, 2007

Bombay Dreams - Andrew Lloyd Webber in Bollywood

As a long time Andrew Lloyd Webber fan, I was delighted to hear that he was producing a show inspired by Bollywood movies. Even better, he had snagged the person considered to be a genius on the scale of Mozart to compose the music - A.R. Rahman. For those of you not connected with Indian popular music, A.R. Rahman is a young composer who has an astonishing talent with an ability to blend influences from western classical, pop, south and north Indian music.

I bought the CD some time ago and listened to it several times and liked it a lot. Then, all of a sudden my wife and kids happened to put the CD on again upstairs on the boom box and the house has never been the same. They all seemed to get obsessed. The CD played several times every day until I actually took the CD away and hid it. Finally, my wife asked for a copy that she could play in the car when I wasn't around. Very bizarre!

I have no choice but to put Shakalaka Baby on here as it is the one song that gets all the kids dancing wildly in the living room. Then, to slow things down, I'm going to feature The Journey Home which is just a beautiful melody. Unfortunately, despite some success at London's West End, I heard it flopped on Broadway. I never got to see the show and would be very happy if they released a DVD of the show. I have the Salaam Bombay Dreams documentary on the making of the show, but not the entire show.

You can buy the CD on Amazon here. They also have the Salaam Bombay Dreams documentary, which is a fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary on the creation of a huge musical production. The CD is well worth the money. Enjoy the songs, but don't blame me if you get addicted!

1. Bombay Dreams - Shakalaka Baby (3.9 MB; 128 kbps MP3)
2. Bombay Dreams - The Journey Home (3.98 MB; 128 kbps MP3)

Thursday, July 5, 2007

Roger Waters Opera - Polish Performance

Last weekend, I was lucky enough to go for the Roger Waters concert in St. Paul, Minnesota with a friend who had fortunately just broken up with his girlfriend (so he had an extra ticket!)

The concert was fantastic show. Roger performed numerous Pink Floyd classics and the entire Dark Side of the Moon album. The show was spectacular, with great props and massive high definition screens.

This gives me an excuse to present to you a (somewhat) rare selection today. When I was in Poland last month, I saw a CD on the shelves which claimed to be an opera by Roger Waters called Ça Ira. Frankly, I had not heard of this opera, but since it was a recording of the opera performed during its first full production in Poznan, Poland on August 25, 2006. The back of the CD dedicated it "To all my Polish friends." You can read more about the opera here.

The Roger Waters catalog is available on Amazon here. You can also get a reasonably priced 2-CD set of Ça Ira from Amazon. They also have a special version that is a hybrid SACD with a "making of" DVD here that seems like a slightly better deal overall. I have not been able to easily find the Polish performance that is featured on this blog.

Even though I'm not a huge opera fan (I don't mind it sometimes), I enjoyed this opera. Here, I present the overture from the opera and a song from the third act that is very slightly reminiscent of The Wall (probably because of the youth choir). So, here are songs from the Polish performance of Roger Waters' Ça Ira.

1. Roger Waters - Ça Ira Overture (3.76 MB; 128 kbps MP3)
2. Roger Waters - To Take Your Hat Off (2.45 MB; 128 kbps MP3)

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Happy July 4th!

As a special departure from the primary theme of this blog, I'm going to put something on here that is not particularly unusual or "underheard." In fact, if most of you have not heard these songs, I'd be surprised.

First is, in my opinion, the most perfect rendition of the American national anthem I have heard. I have heard many versions of the anthem, and this is the one that consistently sends chills up my spine no matter how many times I hear it. It is the Star Spangled Banner as sung by LeAnn Rimes. There is no instrumentation, just her soaring voice and a boatload of echo. Still, the resonance created by the echo is an instrument in itself. Truly, this is the version I listened to over and over again after 9/11.

Second is another beautiful rendition of God Bless America by LeAnn Rimes. I think these majestic, soraing, patriotic songs are perfectly suited to her voice. Even though you've heard these before, it's worth another listen. Just spectacular.

You'll find both these songs on LeAnn's album You Light Up My Life which is available quite cheap on Amazon here.

1. LeAnn Rimes - Star Spangled Banner (1.82 MB; 128kbps MP3)
2. LeAnn Rimes - God Bless America (2.84 MB; 128kbps MP3)

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Duluth Music In A Blue Haze

I've got another local (Duluth, MN) artist for you today. Also a friend of mine and also someone I met through my kids.

Some months ago, there was some "culture day" or something like that at my kids' school and I was invited (along with numerous other parents) to make a brief presentation in my daughter's class on my Indian heritage. One of the other parents there brought a guitar and performed some great folk songs.

Later I found out that Greg Tiburzi has released a couple of CDs locally and I recently bought his latest CD release. The songs here are taken from his newest album, In a Blue Haze. These are delightfully simple folk songs that will have you hummin' and enjoying the lyrics.

As usual, I had a hard time selecting a couple of songs to feature. I really liked How You Gonna Get Up? and almost picked Blue Feelin' as my second song. At the last moment, I switched to the Musquetor Two-Step because I had to laugh out loud when listening to it. Anyone who has spent any time in Minnesota during the summer will be able to relate to this song. If you haven't spent any time enjoying the state bird of Minnesota during the summer (the "musquetor"), consider yourself lucky!

You can read a brief review of the CD here. The easiest way to buy a copy of the CD is by emailing Greg at gregtiburzi@yahoo.com. The CD costs a mere $12.

1. Greg Tiburzi - How You Gonna Get Up? (3.3 MB; 128kbps MP3)
2. Greg Tiburzi - Musquetor Two-Step (4.48 MB; 128kbps MP3)

Monday, July 2, 2007

Soaring Multi-Octave Vocals & My Return

Okay, I have been VERY neglectful of this blog. It really is unforgivable. I set out to keep this blog as uninterrupted as possible, but failed recently as work overwhelmed me. Usually, I'm able to build up a few posts on nights and weekends, but I have had relatives visiting since last week and so have neglected this posting.

I was inspired today by Mr. Tibbs (see recent comment) to jump back into this. Frankly, I had no idea anyone was even reading this blog (except a few of my family), so it was invigorating to get that message. Hey, Mr. Tibbs, you aren't some relative of mine using a pseudonym, are you? So, let this be a lesson to you. If you find me slacking off, just add a comment and it will drive me back to action immediately!

Anyway, I will have a few local treats for you this week. There are a couple of local (Duluth, Minnesota) musician friends of mine who I think have some fantastic offerings.

Today, I'll focus on Billy Q. Effinger who I met through my very young kids. Two of my kids (aged 6 and 5) were cast in a local playhouse production of Carousel as the "Snow Kids." Mr. Snow in the play was played by Billy Effinger and I met him at a cast party and he told me of his CD as I was praising his singing in the play. He has written, composed, and performed several songs and this first self-produced CD of his is a combination of original songs and covers. I am going to focus on the originals here, frankly because I think they are really standouts. Oddly, I would recommend the album for the originals and not the covers! Billy Effinger has an incredible vocal range and most of his original songs are written to take advantage of his soaring, multi-octave singing range.

The first song featured here highlights his incredible range. Willie The Warlock is an original song that conjures up incredible images of jesters and unicorns and magical fantasies, all with a very positive tone. The tune is incredibly catchy and almost everyone I've played it for has liked it on the first listen and got seriously hooked on it after the second listen. The second song, Blue Boy (Judy's Song), written by Billy in honor of Judy Garland (she's from this area, if you didn't know) also is a beautiful song with great lyrics and a catchy hook. I loved both these songs and am quite sure you will too.

You should consider buying the CD here. For only $8.88, you can't go wrong. If you drop Billy an email at bestqualityenter@aol.com, tell him you heard his songs here. You'll enjoy the covers too, but the originals are worth the price of this CD alone. This is my kind of music in the sense you don't need to be in any abstruse, elevated state of mind to "get it." Just great music and great singing.

1. Billy Q. Effinger - Willie The Warlock (4.1 MB; 128kbps MP3)
2. Billy Q. Effinger - Blue Boy (Judy's Song) (5.41 MB; 128kbps MP3)