Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

I recently rented Bottle Shock, a wonderful film from last year that loosely retells the events that led up to Judgment of Paris in 1976. As it goes, the Judgment of Paris was held on the bicentennial of the United States, and it pitted French and Californian wines against each other in a blind taste test. You really, really, really should see this film–it is a light-hearted comedy that entertains with its quirky characters and beautiful backdrops.

The main theme of the film, though, is my reason for writing a post about Bottle Shock.  The entired soundtrack was composed by Mark Adler, who did a splendid job of brining out the sounds and feelings of Napa Valley and French snobbery. The opening track “Bottle Shock Main Title” opens up with a contemplative triangle and piano. A violin is cued up as the triangle keeps clicking away. The entrance of peculiar stringed instruments (kantele and psaltery) make way for an excellently and eccentrically crafted song.

Check out Mark Adler here.

Listen to “Bottle Shock Main Title“

Well Lupe Fiasco has been quite feisty about his upcoming single “Shining Down” featuring Matthew Santos. It’s not due out until July 7th, but one of the more final versions leaked and is here to enjoy as a taste of what’s to come. My brother tipped me on to this, and I really think this song is going to be huge when it finally drops. Says Santos about the leaked song: WTF. It’s not done (paraphrasing here).

Listen to Lupe Fiasco feat. Matt Santos – “Shining Down“.

If you never were a fan of Conway Twitty (especially from those insufferable scenes from Family Guy), you are going to have to rethink your sentiments with Petra Haden’s “Let Your Love Flow”. The song is a cover of Conway Twitty, and has been recetly featured in several Toyota Prius commericals. I have to say they are excellently done, and every one of them features a different song from Ms. Haden. In context, these tracks are delightful, but I’m not sure how well they translate to a formal listening experience off an album.  Something you should know about Haden is that her voice is the only instrument in her songs–completely acappella in that regard. Enjoy!

Listen to Petra Haden – “Let Your Love Flow”

In honor of Michael Jackson, I think it is only appropriate to add in another Haden cover of Jackson’s “Thriller”. Rest in peace, Michael.

Listen to Petra Haden – “Thriller (Cover)” [courtesy of ]

I’m going to refrain from a full-out review of Andrew Bird’s Fitz and Dizzyspells EP simply because there’s not a whole lot of new material on it. Frankly, I’m a little confused by the release of this extended play; most of the songs appeared on the most recent album Noble Beast, but simply under different names.  “See the Enemy” is really “Anonanimal” while “Ten-You-Us” is really “Tenuousness”, etc. Nonetheless, there are certain perceptible differences between the ‘original’ and alternate versions, and the timely release of these tracks is enough to remind me of how wonderful an album Noble Beast really was. “Sectionate  City” gets some better treatment than on the previously released live EP Solider On, reminding me of the time His Birdness came to Northwestern and performed this same piece for one of his first times. As a live cut, it was simply magical and I remembe being so entranced by it. In terms of the studio version, though, I’m not as enthralled.

Check out Fitz and Dizzyspells (EP)

Listen to “See the Enemy”

Listen to “Sectionate City“

“Isis, Oh Isis / You’re a mystical child”! Here’s one of my favorite Dylan tracks “Isis”, showcasing why he is the master of all storytellers. Many say that this song is about his marriage to and subsequent divorce from Sara (Dylan). Dylan has explicitly said in concerts that this song is ‘about marriage.’ Whatever your take, this track is chock full of mysterious and inspiring imagery that is sure to fit your taste. The following track is actually the slightly more fast-paced version of the song as performed live with the Rolling Thunder Revue.

Listen to “Isis (live)“