Song of the Week - Alison Krauss

Alison Krauss & Union Station - Paper Airplane
Album: Paper Airplane

At the age of 40, Alison Krauss already has the  most Grammy's wins of any female artist with 26. That puts her well ahead of Aretha Franklin (20 Grammy's) and 3rd on the all-time list. Only Qunicy Jones, with 27 Grammy wins, and Georg Solti, with 31 wins, are in her path to becoming the most decorated Grammy-winning singer in history. Considering her last album, Raising Sand, won her five Grammy's, it is really only a matter of time before she makes history, again.

Song of the Week - Dashboard (again!)

Dashboard Confessional - If I Needed You
(written by: Townes Van Zant)
Album: The Wire Tapes Vol. 1

The Wire Tapes Vol. 1 is the least known of Dashboard Confessional's discography. It was released only on his 2007 acoustic tour and then very briefly on his website. Featuring covers from notable artists such as Weezer, Counting Crows and Regina Spektor, one must ask why he didn't release this album to the broader market as there would clearly be an interest. My only hope is that there is a re-release at his next live performance, as the past two times I've seen him there was nothing happening.

Get it together Mr. Carrabba. I want this CD.

Song of the Week - Bromantic

New Found Glory - Saints and Sailors
(written by: Dashboard Confessional)
Album: Swiss Army Bro-mance

On their recent tour together, New Found Glory and Dashboard Confessional co-released a Vinyl record featuring just four songs. New Found Glory covered two of Dashboard Confessionals tracks, and vice-versa. The result was the Swiss Army Bro-mance, a play on words from Dashboard's most popular album, Swiss Army Romance.

New Found Glory are not newcomers to punk remakes of other band's songs; they have two full length cove albums: From the Screen to Your Stereo (Parts I and II). These songs would be a welcome addition to Part III.

Song of the Week - Gorillaz

Gorillaz - Amarillo
Album: The Fall

It was over ten years ago when Gorillaz released their first hit "Clint Eastwood". Since then they have released three albums, won a Grammy (Feel Good Inc.), and all this despite having a group of constantly changing members. Damon Albarn, one of the founding members recorded their latest album, The Fall, solely on his iPad during their previous tour and the band then released it online for free last Christmas. That's worth a listen.

Song of the Week - A Dan Band Wedding

The Dan Band - Total Eclipse of the Heart (from Old School)

Original song written by Bonnie Tyler

The Dan Band - Candy Shop (from The Hangover)
Original song written by 50 Cent 

There's no better way to celebrate a wedding than with Dan Finnerty and The Dan band.
Though it may be mildly offensive.

Congratulations Lauren & Kyle!

Song of the Week - Primitive Radio Gods (from the Archives)

Primitive Radio Gods - Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in my Hand
Album: Rocket

Perhaps they are the definition of a one-hit wonder for many, but Primitive Radio Gods are still making records well after this 1996 hit. The song went to the top of the charts soon after being featured on the soundtrack to The Cable Guy (the movie that almost ruined Jim Carrey's career). The song's famous chorus borrowed from B.B. King's song "How Blue Can You Get", perhaps the reason why the song launched into popularity. While Primitive Radio Gods were shortly a big name, the following year they were dropped from their record label Columbia, and have been lost in obscurity ever since despite having released four full length albums since 2000 - their most recent album, Out Alive, released last year.

While it is unlikely the group will never see their names on any billboard charts again, perhaps it is comforting to know that they are still around and following their passion. Though they will remain a pop culture question in the future, at least people can go back and listen to this once and still great song.

Song of the Week -Tegan and Sara

Tegan and Sara - Where Does the Good Go? (live)
Album: So Jealous

Tegan and Sara Quin are twin sisters that make up this Canadian indie rock group. Since they started touring after graduating from high school, their collection including six albums has increasingly gotten better. The last three albums have been nominated for a Juno Best Alternative Album of the Year, though they have yet to bring home a Juno. This popular song from their 4th album was featured on the very first episode of the CBC sitcom "Being Erica", and seeing as how Erica has dominated much of my week so far, one can see how this song has stuck with me.

Song of the Week - U2 360°

U2 - City of Blinding Light (live)
Album: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

It's only fair to give the biggest rock band in the world a massive stadium, an alien-like claw contraption for a stage, a song list that could provide 5 hours worth of 'best of' material, and tens of thousands of adoring fans. How could U2 not blow everyone away? The 360° is the highest grossing tour in the history of music, and still going despite an illness to Bono postponing many shows from 2010. This could very well be the last great rock band, one that can sell out stadiums and arenas holding over 65000 people. Not bad for four guys from Ireland.

Song of the Week - Nightclub Edition

Britney Spears - Till the World Ends 

Album: Femme Fatale

I hate going to nightclubs. I just don’t like the whole premise behind it: spend a lot of time getting ready; pay for an expensive cab ride downtown; wait outside until being let in after one hour; $15 cover charge; and then when inside the drinks are overpriced, the dance floor is crowded, and the music is too loud to sustain any conversation. Needless to say, discos are not for me. Even still, after three years of living in Toronto, I figured it was about time I knew the name of just one club here. So, on the way home from a Blue Jays game, I saw one club: TIME. I figured if anyone ever asked me what the best club in Toronto was, I’d just say TIME. Three blocks later on my walk home, two girls all dressed up come up to me and ask: 

“Excuse me. Do you know where the nightclub “TIME” is?”

“I do,” I responded. “Just two blocks down on your right.”

They left happy for directions, and I left happy that I could point out the only club I knew. I don’t like dance clubs and I don’t like Britney Spears, but if I ever do get coerced into going to a club, I hope they play this song. It’s actually pretty damn catchy.

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Song of the Week: Bonus Track - Greg Brown

Greg Brown - The Poet Game
Album: The Poet Game

After posting a fantastic new folk song from Greg Trooper this past Friday with the Song of the Week, I found it only fitting to add another classic folk song for the weekend.

Singer-songwriter Greg Brown, from Fairfield, Iowa, has also had a long and distinguished career in music including over two dozen albums.  Back in 1994, his album The Poet Game won him his second Indie award from NAIRD (National Association for Independent Record Distributors) and he has won a slew of independent music awards since. His latest album, Freak Flag, was released earlier this year.

Song of the Week - Greg Trooper

Greg Trooper - They Call Me Hank
Album: Upside-Down Town

After a long and busy week, nothing is more relaxing soft guitar and soothing lyrics. Earlier this year, folk lovers were treated to New Jersey native Greg Trooper releasing his tenth album, Upside-Down Town. Trooper has found himself living living in Texas, Kansas, New York, and Nashville since leaving high school, and one can feel the long road of travelling in his voice. Inspired by legends Bob Dylan and Hank Williams, Trooper has that same storytelling power in his lyrics, making one stop in their tracks and really listen.

Song of the Week - Coconut Records

Coconut Records - Microphone
Album: Davy

I want to be Jason Schwartzman's best friend. The man is beyond hilarious, beyond talented. Anyone debating his sense of humour need look no further than his New Yorker promo for the iPad. His success in film is solidified merely by being a staple actor in almost every Wes Anderson movie, and he has found a new niche on televsion starring in the HBO show Bored to Death, now entering its 2nd season and also featuring Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis.

Acting clearly isn't Schwartzman's only forte. His solo musical project, in the form of Coconut Records, already has two full length albums. His first album, Nighttiming, found several of his songs in major motion pictures such as Spider-Man 3, Funny People, and Cloverfield. His songs have appeared in numurous television shows, and Schwartzmen even produced the theme song for his aforementioned HBO show Bored to Death. If you just find him doing anything, odds are you will be more than impressed. Go buy his CDs, go watch his movies. If I talk him up enough, maybe he'll become my friend.


aa.

Song of the Week - Gordon Lightfoot

Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck of Edmund Fitzgerald
Album: Summertime Dream

The popularity of Gordon Lightfoot is almost untouchable north of the border. This past week, the Orillia, Ontario native brought a full crowd to Massey Hall four nights in a row. Besides the 16 Juno's and multiple Grammy nominations, Lightfoot is also a Companion of the Order of Canada - Canada's highest civilian honour - and a member of Canada's Walk of Fame. Now at the age of 72, Gordon Lightfoot has proven that his music will forever be engraved in the history of Canadian music.

Song of the Week - Rush

Rush - Limelight
Album: Moving Pictures

Finding great songs are easy when you look back at the history of Rush. The Canadian band, which formed in 1968, has won almost every award possible, and now find themselves on the Canadian Walk of Fame as well as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Though their popularity has never dwindled, Rush got another dose of promotion from the recent film I Love You, Man, where two friends bond over their love of Rush. Some bands just have what it takes to stand the test of time.

Song(s) of the Week - The Decemberists

The Decemberists - Don't Carry It All
                             - This is Why We Fight (live)

Album: The King is Dead

After missing one installment of the Song of the Week, it's only fair that I give a double dose this week to make up for it. Thankfully, The Decemberists' new album is full of great songs. With their sixth full length album, The King is Dead, The Decemberists ease into a more folk and country feel with the soft harmonica found on several tracks and the generally more melodic feel. With all that, this is really not a folk/country album at all, as the band mixes the styles well with their indie rock roots. The Portland, Oregon band truly are a delight to hear.

Song of the Week - Bill Withers

Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine
Album: Just As I Am

You know a song is great when Rolling Stone ranks it at #110 in the top 500 albums of all-time. What's even more amazing is that Withers wrote this song while making toilet seats for airplanes at the age of 31. More recently (and on a less grand scale), this 1971 hit has lit up the extended Hutchins Twitterverse after a recent mass email shoutout. "Ain't No Sunshine" won Withers a Grammy for Best R&B Song of the Year, his first of three during a legendary career.

And for the record, he repeats "I know" 26 times in a row.

Credit where it's due: Mütter

Song of the Week - Penny & the Quarters

Penny & the Quarters - You and Me
Album: Blue Valentine Soundtrack / Numero Group - Eccentric Soul: Prix Label

Very little can be found about the soul group Penny & the Quarters. Numero Group, an archival record label, came upon old demo tapes at an estate sale in Columbus, Ohio. Despite efforts by fans and researchers to find out more about this group, not much has turned up. It's figured to have been a demo rehearsal that was recorded in the early 1970's by a group of teenagers, but even that can't be known for certain. Nor does anyone know of the songwriter, or even who Penny is. And despite these unknown roots, the song rose in popularity after the release of the independent movie Blue Valentine (2010), where Ryan Gosling presented it to Michelle Williams as 'their song'. The lack of background into the artist is a mysterious story that really leaves the listener to enjoy the music for itself. How else could you describe a lost treasure?

Song of the Week - Kevin Fox

Kevin Fox - Away Too Long
Album: Songs for Cello and Voice

It's always nice to hear about a new artist that's typically found as a back-up to many greats. With the exception of Yo-Yo Ma, cello players never get their time in the limelight. Kevin Fox has recently released his third album, Set Right, but he is still often an unknown background personality composing for bigger names such as pop sensation Justin Bieber and regularly touring with another great Canadian artist, Chantal Kreviazuk.

All the while, Kevin Fox has created a solo album that really simplifies the music down to, as his album states, his cello and voice. The combination creates a soft, relaxed feel that, despite the melancholy, creeps into the foreground of the room. One just has to sit back and listen.

Credit Where it's Due: n(ada)

Song of the Week - Tribute to Cohen

Antony - If It Be Your Will

(written by: Leonard Cohen)
Album: Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man

The soundtrack to the 2005 film Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man features some amazing covers to the greatest songs written by a music legend. While it seems mostly everyone is set on singing Hallelujah to the point that even Cohen himself says there should be a moratorium on people singing it, Antony produces an amazing rendition of another Cohen classic. The whole album speaks to the repertoire that Cohen has offered over the decades to us.

Antony is a transgendered British singer-songwriter from the group Antony and the Johnsons. The group has released 4 albums, as well as collaborated with music greats such as Rufus Wainwright and Bjork.

Credit Where It's Due: ayalah

Song of the Week - Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers - Jubilation Day (live)
Album: Rare Bird Alert

This fun-loving break-up song adds to Steve Martin's ridiculous resume. The actor/comedian/singer/writer has been a regular of Saturday Night Live, written a best-selling novel (Shopgirl), been in a plethora of movies, and won a Grammy and an Emmy along the way. In fact, he's only missing an Oscar and a Tony from the exclusive EGOT club, but those missing two seem well within reach.

In the meantime, Steve Martin has resumed his banjo-playing ways, and this time he has joined the talented Steep Canyon Rangers to help him out. Let's hope this isn't the last we hear of this tandem, but, if anything, at least we get a glimpse into the forgotten world of sweet bluegrass twang.

And you know they must be good when your dad calls you up to ask if you've heard of them.

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Credit Where It's Due: Poppa Hutchins