Dancing Mattress Productions

Mental Nomad Podcast 143: Celebrity Crush Edition

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 06:00:00 GMT

There's about a 50-50 chance this is the last M4A-format episode for a couple of months, anyway; at least one longtime supporter is having trouble with non-MP3 tracks. The long-term plan is to switch to BlueHost next year and set up separate feeds for MP3 and M4A.

Today's episode (right-click to download or open in a new tab or window) features these music tracks:

Dragonette: "I Get Around"
E-Zel: "Libertas"
Heather Edwards: "Escape"
Dragonette: "Pick Up the Phone"
Bethany & Rufus: "St. James Infirmary"
The Apples in Stereo: "Go"
Beth Bombara and the Robotic Foundation: "Conversation"
Alex Cuba: "Amor Infinito"
Heather Edwards: "Song About Nothing"
The Apples in Stereo: "High Tide"
Beth Bombara: "Abandon Ship"

... And I offer up a few words about no fewer than a dozen of my celebrity crushes, with embedded links to Internet Movie Database entries, fan pages, official Web sites, even the MySpace profile of one actress. I'm not sure if these links work for iPod Touch and iPhone users, but I do know they work in Quicktime if you listen to/watch the episode in a browser window.

(Total play time: 1:05:29)

Tracks 1, 4, 6 and 10 are courtesy of the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions remain in effect; tracks 2, 3, 7, 9 and 11 are courtesy of Ariel Publicity; track 5 is courtesy of Music Alley; and track 8 is featured by arrangement with Rock Paper Scissors.

And, again, I hope to get a double feed going in the next few months, because I think there are potentially very cool uses and abuses for this sort of enhanced file format. Pod Across America would be a logical place to do things like this -- linking to travel and news sites from a given state, or to YouTube feeds from someone who regularly does outdoor video entries in a given state, for example.

Video: "I Don't Need a Reason" by The Radiant

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT

In keeping with yesterday's New York-themed episode of Pod Across America, here's a video from New York's The Radiant, the second of their videos to be shared with us by the kind folks at Ariel Publicity.

(Right-click to download or open in a new tab or window.)

Previously featured: the video for "Say You Will" (last week).

Look for a new Mental Nomad Podcast on Wednesday, and Pod Across America concludes its three-part look at New York music on Nov. 15.

Pod Across America 14: New York, Part 2 of 3

Sun, 1 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Part two of our three-part look at New York music is the traditional talking episode, and it's in M4A format -- though I'll probably double back with an MP3 in a week or two, as at least one loyal listener has had problems with the format change I'd started experimenting with at the Mental Nomad Podcast.

Here's what you'll hear today (right-click to download or open in a new tab or window):

Dar Williams: "The Baby Sitter's Here"
Joe Locke and the David Hazeltine Quartet: "What's Not to Love?"
Sirsy: "Revolution"
Bob Mould: "The Silence Between Us"
Jennings: "Doorway"
Suzanne Vega: "A Pornographer's Dream"
The Brian Setzer Orchestra: "One More Night With You"
Sirsy: "Mercury"
Brookville: "Nothing's Meant to Last"
Jennings: "Falling Higher"
Bob Mould: "Stupid Now"
Darrin James: "Crazy World"

(Total play time: 1:03:01)

Tracks 1 and 2 come courtesy of the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions last; tracks 3 and 8 come from the album Revolution, generously provided by the band; tracks 4, 6-7, 9 and 11 come courtesy of Music Alley; and tracks 5, 10 and 12 come courtesy of Ariel Publicity. Track 3 was previously featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 94.

The Mental Nomad Podcast resumes on Wednesday, and the New York run of Pod Across America concludes on Nov. 15. (That episode's already finished, and was done in MP3 format before this one.)

Pod Across America heads south to North Carolina for the Dec. 1 episode.

Mental Nomad Podcast 142: The Experiment, Part 2

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Wherein we continue the experiment begun last week with .M4A-format episodes featuring embedded artwork and chapters that you allow one to skip forward or backward easily through the episode. Ideally, this should work with most media software and/or portable devices, but give me your feedback if you encounter trouble.

Here's what you'll hear today (right-click to download):

Josh Woodward: "Swansong"
Josh Woodward: "Sexy Nation Army"
Arrica Rose: "Porcupine in a Petting Zoo"
allMeadow and Rob Costlow: "Fruitful"
Luther Allison: "Soul Fixin' Man"
Michelle Hotaling: "Awakening"
Lena: "Perfect Day"
Gretchen Parlato: "Turning Into Blue"
allMeadow and Rob Costlow: "No Regrets"
Luther Allison: "Low Down and Dirty"
Arrica Rose: "I'll Love You Forever and Other Lies"
Gretchen Parlato: "In a Dream"
Luther Allison: "All the King's Horses"
Michelle Hotaling: "Sweet Clarity"

(Total play time: 1:02:32)

Track 1 is from the album Breadcrumbs; track two is a non-album track; tracks 3, 5-7, 10-11, 13-14 courtesy of Music Alley; tracks 4 and 9 courtesy of Magnatune; and tracks 8 and 12 are courtesy of the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded below for as long as their promotions last.

... And if you're thinking one of the songs looks like a Lou Reed cover and another looks like some twisted White Stripes cover (with some Justin Timberlake thrown in), you're absolutely right.

Pod Across America continues its look at New York music on Nov. 1, and the Mental Nomad Podcast returns next Wednesday.

Video: "Say You Will" by The Radiant

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 04:39:00 GMT

Courtesy of the good folks at Ariel Publicity, here's the first of a couple of videos you'll see here from New York band The Radiant.

(Right-click to download or open in a new browser tab.)

Look for your regularly scheduled Mental Nomad Podcast about midday Wednesday -- allowing a little more time for the Halloween special and this video to get some download love before that goes out on the feed.

Look for the second video from The Radiant, for the song "I Don't Need a Reason," later this week or early next week.

Dancing Mattress Productions: The Short Halloween

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:01:00 GMT

This year's Halloween episode is almost as much as a surprise to me as it is to you. The Goldstars e-mailed me the opening track out of the blue -- having appeared in the 2007 Halloween episode -- and that got the ball rolling for this half-hour special.

Here's what you'll hear today (right-click to download):

The Goldstars: "Halloween Hell"
Jonathan Coulton: "Re Your Brains"
Burning Babylon: "System A Vampire"
Black Velvet Elvis: "Hellhound on My Trail"
The Astronauts: "Vampire Strippers"
Tom Smith: "Cthulhu Fthagn"
Ken Kurland: "Halloween Spirits"
Electric Frankenstein: "Coolest Little Monster"
Mama's Dirty L'il Secret: "Vampires in the Sun"

(Total play time: 31:51)

Track 1 is from the digital-only album Tasty Instrumentals, 3 and 8 are courtesy of Magnatune, and everything else in today's show was found at Music Alley. The Jonathan Coulton song was previously featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 65 back in 2007.

A regularly scheduled Mental Nomad Podcast will be coming your way Wednesday, and Pod Across America returns for the second of three New York-themed episodes on Nov. 1.

Video: "Lost and Delirious" by The Blue Seeds

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:12:00 GMT

Courtesy of Ariel Publicity, here's an animated video from Montreal's The Blue Seeds, who are on the Sale Cabot label.

(Right-click to download the 37.4MB .MOV file.)

The video, directed by Stephane Fournier, was nominated for best video of the year at the Vimus Festival and at the Holland Animation Film Festival.

Mental Nomad Podcast 141: The Experiment, Week 1

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Switching to this format allows me to embed artwork and create "chapters" so that if you don't want to hear me blather, or you don't like one song but think you might love the next, you can jump ahead in the show. If downloads fall substantially, or a lot of people complain to me, I may go back to MP3 format; down the road, when I move to another host, I might make shows available in both formats.

Here's what you'll hear today (right-click to download):

Pink Martini: "Bitty Boppy Betty"
Fat Freddy's Drop: "Pull the Catch"
Slo-Mo feat. Mic Wrecka: "County"
Dr Kuch: "Spend More Time With Me"
Emmet Swimming: "The Dance"
Post Death Soundtrack: "Anywhere Out of the World"
Pink Martini: "Ou Est Ma Tete?"
Pink Martini: "Ninna Nanna"
Emmet Swimming: "Don't Call Her"
HOBEX: "Inner City Blues"
Slo-Mo feat. Mic Wrecka: "Home Is Where the Heart Is"
Dr Kuch: "Orange Bossa"
Emmet Swimming: "Waving at Cars"

(Total play time: 1:06:10)

Tracks 1, 7, 8 and 10 courtesy of IODA Promonet; tracks 3, 5, 9, 11 and 13 courtesy of Ariel Publicity; track 2 courtesy of Rock Paper Scissors; tracks 4 and 12 courtesy of Magnatune; and track 6 courtesy of Music Alley.

This week's Post Death Soundtrack song is a Dead Can Dance cover, and the HOBEX contribution is, of course, a cover of a Marvin Gaye classic.

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions remain in effect.

Pod Across America 13: New York, 1 of 3 (repost)

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:26:00 GMT

We start a three-part look at New York and its music with a mix that sways from the sweetness of jazz and the timeless appeal of folk music to the edginess of city life. Sometimes all at once. (And isn't all music really folk music? It comes from people, after all.)

Here's what you'll hear today (right-click to download):

The Kathy Fleischmann Band: "Accomplishments"
The Kathy Fleischmann Band: "He's Erasing Me"
The Kathy Fleischmann Band: "C Word"
Simavi: "The Way You Look Tonight"
The National: "Wasp Nest"
Noam Weinstein: "Assholes in Training"
Noam Weinstein feat. Norah Jones: "I Could Lie To You"
Noam Weinstein: "Orgy On The F Train"
Simavi: "In the Still of the Night"
Blake Leyh: "Red Hot Cold Cuts"
Citizens of Contrary Knowledge: "Beautiful Dreamer"
Bethany & Rufus: "900 Miles"
Cupero: "Quiero Tu Amor"
Cupero: "Life Is a Moment"
Blake Leyh: "51 Canal"
Lita (Ford): "Kiss Me Deadly"

Sources: Songs 1-4, 9, 11, 13-14 from Ariel Publicity; songs 5-6, 12 and 16 from Music Alley; song 7 from the album Above the Music; song 8 from the album Enough About You; songs 10 and 15 from the album X-Ray Yankee Zulu Tango. Song 7 previously featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 30; song 15 previously featured in MNP87.

Reminder: The video for "Isis Unveiled" by ... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead is available for download until Oct. 21. (Right-click to download.)

Video: "Doorway" by Jennings

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:30:00 GMT

Courtesy of Ariel Publicity, here's a video featuring electronic artist and singer Jennings, whose Ariel profile lists both Nashville and New York City as her stomping grounds.

(Right-click to download.)

The Pod Across America episode scheduled for today will be heading your way in a couple of days. Ye Olde Podcaster made a boneheaded error and deleted his show notes, so they'll have to be reassembled when he gets back to the computer he used to produce that episode.

Mental Nomad Podcast 140: Bob's Yer Uncle, Part 2

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Here's the second of two episodes featuring "found music" -- most of which I discovered through National Public Radio's All Songs Considered podcast. (I'd discovered Shearwater while working on Pod Across America, but they've also been featured on that NPR program.)

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

ApSci: "Crazy Crazy Insane" (IODA Promonet)
ApSci: "Under Control" (IODA)
Shearwater: "Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang" (IODA)
Crystal Stilts: "Prismatic Room" (IODA)
Crystal Stilts: "Shattered Shine" (IODA)
Modest Mouse: "The Waydown" (Music Alley)
The Shaky Hands: "A New Parade" (IODA)
The Shaky Hands: "We Are Young" (IODA)
Starlight Mints: "Inside of Me" (Music Alley)
Christopher Tignor: "Cathedral Pt. 2" (IODA)
Circulatory System: "Overjoyed" (IODA)
Circulatory System: "Round Again" (IODA)
Passion Pit: "Sleepyhead" (Music Alley)
ApSci: "Big Adventures" (IODA)
Crystal Stilts: "Crystal Stilts" (IODA)

(Total play time: 53:01)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions remain in effect.

Video: "Lunafire" by iChoRa

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 03:00:00 GMT

Courtesy of Ariel Publicity, here's a video featuring the main track from iChoRa's debut EP, Veins of Light.

(Right-click to download.)

It's directed and produced by Chri, the artist behind the iChoRa moniker.

Mental Nomad Podcast 139: Bob's Yer Uncle, Part 1

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Today's episode marks the start of a new format, dictated by changes with Blogger that limit the number of tags one can put on a blog entry to 10. There's a tag for "shows" which I may phase out in the future, but right now keeping it limits me to nine artists per episode -- and to keep shows at the length you and Ye Olde Podcaster both expect, that means introducing the concept of "Featured Artists" and giving that person or band multiple plays in the same episode.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here), in an episode of music that I discovered through NPR's All Songs Considered podcast:

K'Naan: "What's Hardcore?" (IODA Promonet)
K'Naan: "Strugglin'" (IODA)
K'Naan: "I Was Stabbed By Satan" (IODA)
Khaled: "Ya Mimoun (Intro)" (FlipSwitch PR)
Khaled: "Ya Mimoun" (FlipSwitch PR)
David Dondero: "Maybe Separation Makes Us Stronger" (IODA)
Mirah: "Cold Cold Water" (Music Alley)
John Vanderslice: "Exodus Damage" (Music Alley)
Built to Spill: "Sick and Wrong" (Music Alley)
Built to Spill: "Revolution" (IODA)
Choir of Young Believers: "Action/Reaction" (IODA)
The Phenomenal Handclap Band feat. Carol C: "You'll Disappear" (IODA)
Micah P. Hinson: "The Leading Guy" (Music Alley)
Mirah: "The Struggle" (Music Alley)

(Total play time: 58:16)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as their promotions remain in effect.

Next week's episode will feature more tunes found via NPR; it's a kinda lazy way to do shows, but I'm on vacation as I prepare this and won't be near the Mac for a lot of that time, so I needed to get these and the Oct. 15 Pod Across America (first of three New York-based shows) out quickly.

Pod Across America 12: Virginia

Thu, 1 Oct 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Back from a longer-than-expected hiatus, we turn our attentions to the Commonwealth of Virginia, birthplace of presidents.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Dock Boggs: "Down South Blues" (Music Alley)
Corey Harris: "Lynch Blues" (Music Alley)
The Stanley Brothers: "Rabbit in a Log" (Music Alley)
El Prezidino: "The Illness" (Ariel Publicity)
Timbaland feat. OneRepublic: "Apologize (Makrolon remix)" (Music Alley)
Andy Zipf: "Maybe Tonight" (Music Alley)
The Neptunes: "Surf Coaster" (IODA Promonet)
Saffire -- The Uppity Blues Women: "Don't Treat Your Man Like a Dog" (Music Alley)
Deborah Coleman: "The Day It Comes" (IODA)
Sharif: "Another Wasted Rose" (Music Alley)
Neko Case: "People Got a Lotta Nerve" (Music Alley) (previously featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 135)
Dismemberment Plan: "What Do You Want Me to Say" (IODA)
Jasmine Commerce: "Somewhere in Between" (Music Alley)
Keller Williams: "Life" (IODA)
Johnathan Rice: "The Middle of the Road" (IODA)

(Total play time: 1:03:09)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as their promotions remain in effect.

Mental Nomad Podcast 138: Baker's Dozen With Groove

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

No real theme today; it's also a bit shorter than normal since there are two shows this week.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Ronnie Spector: "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" (IODA Promonet)
Mr. Something Something: "What Are You Waiting For?" (FlipSwitch PR)
JJ Soul Band: "Getting Colder by the Year" (Ariel Publicity)
Lisa Bianco: "As Good As It Gets" (Ariel)
8 Ball Aitken: "Outback Booty Call" (Ariel)
Ten Year Vamp: "One Night Ticket" (Ariel)
... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead: "Inland Sea (radio edit)" (Music Alley)
Majandra: "What Sad Day" (from the album Tarte) (courtesy of Red Velvet Cake Records)
Stars Go Dim: "Come Around" (Ariel)
John Taglieri: "Living Without You" (Ariel)
Robert Soko: "March Of The Sultans" (FlipSwitch)
KaiserCartel: "Something About What Happens When We Talk" (Mood Indigo Entertainment)
Robin Stine: "Don't I Know" (Magnatune)

(Total play time: 47:54)

The IODA-sponsored track may be downloaded below as long as its promotion remains in effect. Links (and a logo) to come later today.

Stars Go Dim: "Come Around"

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 00:19:00 GMT

Courtesy of Ariel Publicity, here's a video from Stars Go Dim, off their album "Love Gone Mad," which is on Yeah Siam Records. Justin Greiman is the director and producer; the video was filmed in Tulsa and Minneapolis.

(Running time: 3:45)

Mental Nomad Podcast 137: First Shots, Second Chances

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Today's show barely has a theme: Artists you've never heard on my programs before paired, back to back, with artists who've had one previous appearance on Dancing Mattress Productions shows.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Shalone: "Ain't Like We" (Ariel Publicity)
The SilenTreatment: "The Shore" (Ariel)
Comrade Down: "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out" (Music Alley)
Solomon Burke: "Sweeter Than Honey" (IODA Promonet)
Deer Tick: "Easy" (IODA)
Three Legged Fox: "Don't Just Be" (Music Alley)
Colleen Jameson: "Revolution Now!" (Music Alley)
Anouschka: "Silently" (Music Alley)
Ace Noface: "Regret" (Ariel)
Kira Fontana: "Spark the Fire" (Ariel)
Shalone: "Ain't Like We (instrumental)" (Ariel)
Alan Wilkis: "Pink and Purple" (from the EP Pink and Purple)
Yo La Tengo: "Upside-Down" (IODA)

(Total play time: 1:05:17)

The IODA-sponsored tracks in today's episodes may be downloaded for free at the Blogger site as long as their promotions remain active.

Thanks to Alan Wilkis for contacting me about his music, and special thanks to Ace Noface for the thoughtful letter that accompanied his CD. Do your part to help fight ALS (aka Lou Gehrig's disease) by contributing to The ALS Association if you have the means to do so.

Next week: Wednesday brings a new Mental Nomad Podcast, and Thursday sees the return of Pod Across America, featuring music from Virginia.

REPOST: Dancing Mattress' Greatest Hits 11

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 00:43:00 GMT

And here's the last of the greatest hits episodes recorded before the long hiatus. Again, there's probably some talk in here about a timeline for return, which you can feel free to ignore.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Human People: "Count It All Good" (originally featured in Pod Across America 2)
Human People: "I'd Run Just Like You" (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 120)
G Tom Mac: "Cry Little Sister" (Ariel Publicity) (originally featured in MNP113)
Ingrid Michaelson: "Be OK" (Music Alley) (originally featured in MNP117)
The Xbanders: "Leave Here" (MySpace) (originally featured in MNP106)
Miranda Vettrus: "Book of Lies" (Ariel) (originally featured in MNP120)
Steven Charles Cecil: "Dark Days" (Music Alley) (originally featured in PAA9)
Dram: "Kringellek" (Magnatune) (originally featured in MNP134)
Diane di Stasio: "On and On" (Garageband) (originally featured in MNP114)
The Perfects: "End of Us" (originally featured in MNP112)
Nina Simone: "Turn Me On (Tony Humphries Main Mix)" (Music Alley) (originally featured in MNP118)
Buena Vista Social Club: "De Camino a la Vereda" (IODA Promonet) (originally featured in MNP115)
Yalcin Konuk: "Come" (Music Alley) (originally featured in MNP128)
Love Riot: "Maybe She Will" (from the album Maybe She Will) (originally featured in PAA9)
Steve Wynn: "Manhattan Fault Line" (Music Alley) (originally featured in MNP114)

(Total play time: 1:02:51)

Special thanks to Mike Robinson for the Human People tracks, to Ric Peters for the Perfects song and to Lisa Mathews (now with the band Milkshake) for letting me bring Love Riot into the Dancing Mattress Productions family.

It should be noted that Music Alley is the site formerly called the Podsafe Music Network, and that Steve Wynn -- if you're not familiar with him by name -- led the band Dream Syndicate in the 1980s.

The Buena Vista Social Club song featured in today's show may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as the IODA promotion remains active.

Look for a new Mental Nomad Podcast on Wednesday, and Pod Across America returns Oct. 1 with music from Virginia.

Shalone: "Renaissance Rap"

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:00:00 GMT

No new episode today, due to a family friend's passing.

Here's a short clip featuring rapper Shalone (on Myspace and Facebook), directed by Valentine Whittaker. Shalone's album Gumbo Music is coming soon from Our-bit the Label.

(Direct download here.)

Thanks to Ariel Publicity for providing the video.

REPOST: Dancing Mattress' Greatest Hits 10

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:28:00 GMT

Here's one of a couple of episodes put together before the hiatus, reposted with more extensive show notes, artist links, etc.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Jayme Dawicki: "I Don't Want This Anymore" (from the album Shatter Queen) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 107)
The Black Cats: "How Long" (Podsafe Audio) (originally featured in Pod Across America 8.5)
Roomful of Blues: "Lower on Your List of Priorities" (IODA Promonet) (originally featured in MNP107)
Shannon Curfman: "I Can't Wait to Miss You" (from the album Fast Lane Addiction) (originally featured in the 2009 Women's History Month special)
Blake Leyh: "Apophenia" (from the album X-Ray Yankee Zulu Tango) (originally featured in MNP108)
Michael Franti & Spearhead: "Say Hey (I Love You)" (Music Alley) (originally featured in MNP117)
The Pimps of Joytime: "Street Sound" (Ariel Publicity) (originally featured in MNP123)
Bazza: "Skinny Dippin'" (from the album I Dream of Beavers) (originally featured in MNP109)
Majandra: "Daddy Died" (from the album Tarte) (originally featured in MNP124)
Kira Fontana: "Always" (Ariel) (originally featured in MNP112)
Kara Nomadica: "We've Never Met" (Magnatune) (originally featured in MNP129)
Ween: "Your Party" (IODA) (originally featured in PAA2)
Bright Eyes: "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)" (Music Alley) (originally featured in MNP108)

(Total play time: 1:03:05)

The Roomful of Blues track may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as its promotion remains in effect. (The Ween track's no longer available as a free download.)

Mental Nomad Podcast 136: So, Where Was I?

Wed, 9 Sep 2009 05:00:00 GMT

After a four-month hiatus, we're back with almost an hour's worth of music and some talk about what's been going on with Ye Olde Podcaster.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Ana Gori: "If It Was (Just Sex)"
Joseph Liddy and the Skeleton Horse: "The Ballad of Joe Hill" (MusicAlley)
David Rovics: "Halliburton Boardroom Massacre" (MusicAlley)
Billy Bragg: "O Freedom" (MusicAlley)
Howard Markman: "Louder Than Words" (from the album Symptom Recital)
Peter & Kayrin Bayreuther: "Pan and Daphne, Part One" (Ariel Publicity)
Sarah Vaughan: "The Mystery of Man" (IODA Promonet)
Noam Weinstein: "Jamie" (MusicAlley)
HuDost: "Name It for Us" (Grit PR)
Nick Daugherty: "Staring at the Sun" (Ariel)
Dala: "Northern Lights" (Ariel)

Bonus Track:
Not the Sensational Alex Harvey Band: "Goodnight Irene (live)"

The IODA-sponsored track may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as the promotion lasts. Ana Gori's track is played with the artist's blessing, and my thanks to Howard Markman for sending me a big ole box of Baltimore music while I was on hiatus.

Dancing Mattress Productions' 2009 Labor Day special (repost with show notes)

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 03:57:00 GMT

Getting back into the groove of things, here's the 2009 Labor Day special.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Sheffield Socialist Choir: "The Internationale"
Gustav Bertha: "4 Letter Word" (from the album My Life as a Dog)
Darkhorse: "Migrant Worker" (Music Alley)
Thomas Bias: "The Internationale"
The Sound of the Baskervilles: "Working Class Zero" (Music Alley)
Drowning Dog: "Class War" (IODA Promonet)
Tommy & Ptolemy: "The Revolution Won't Be Televised" (Music Alley)
Thomas Bias: "The Ballad of Joe Hill"
Chicken on a Raft: "Which Side Are You On?" (IODA)
Bobby DePace: "Solidarity Is Right (The Workers' National Anthem)" (IODA)
Alistair Hulett: "The Internationale"

Additionally, there's a recording of "The Internationale" from a music box, one of more than 40 versions of the worker anthem you can find at this Web site.

My deepest thanks to Thomas Bias of the Solidarity Singers in New Jersey for his recordings of "The Internationale" and "The Ballad of Joe Hill," both of which were recorded specifically for the podcast. Thanks also to Alistair Hulett and to Maggie Campbell of the Sheffield Socialist Choir for granting permission to include their versions of "The Internationale" and to Gordon Bell for recommending a tune from his Gustav Bertha days.

Learn more about the labor movement heroes I discussed in the episode here: A. Phillip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, Joe Hill and Mary Harris "Mother" Jones. Also discussed in the episode: the Industrial Workers of the World (aka the Wobblies) and the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions remain in effect.

Dancing Mattress Productions' Greatest Hits 9: Auteurs

Wed, 27 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Today's shows focus, for the most part, on solo artists featured over the last six months or so of both the Mental Nomad Podcast and Pod Across America. (KaiserCartel is a duo, and one supposes you could argue Ellen Cherry is a band, since the name is a pseudonym for the woman up front.)

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Justin Townes Earle: "Hard Livin'" (Podshow) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #112)
Jules Shear: "We Said Goodbye" (IODA Promonet) (originally featured in MNP #135)
Lesley Gore: "It's Gone" (IODA) (originally featured in Pod Across America #3)
Tom Vollman: "Genevieve" (from the album The Betty Violet) (originally featured in MNP #129)
Ellen Cherry: "The Meanest Waltz" (from The Ellen Cherry Primer) (originally featured in PAA #9)
Gordon Bell: "White Collar Slave" (from the album Songs for the Broken Hearted) (originally featured in MNP #131)
Lori Lieberman: "Killing Me Softly" (originally featured in MNP #131)
Josh Woodward: "She Dreams in Blue" (from the album Not Quite Connected) (originally featured in MNP #112)
Emma Wallace: "I Don't Like You Either" (Podshow) (originally featured in MNP #110)
Jim Boggia: "Three Weeks Shy" (Ariel) (originally featured in MNP #123)
Jude Johnstone: "On a Good Day" (IODA) (originally featured in MNP #123)
Cassandra Kubinski: "Wherever You Wait" (Podshow) (originally featured in MNP #129)
Noam Weinstein: "Planet" (Podshow) (originally featured in MNP #116)
KaiserCartel: "Okay" (Mood Indigo Entertainment) (originally featured in the 2009 Inauguration Day special)
Steve Earle: "Ellis Unit One (Live at Montreux 2005)" (Podshow) (originally featured in MNP #107)

(Total play time: 1:04:40)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as their promotions last.

As stated before, I'm going to be changing podcast hosting and blog clients in the coming weeks. I'll keep you informed of any developments here.

Dancing Mattress Productions' Greatest Hits 8: Cover Me

Wed, 20 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Here's the third of the current five-show set of retrospectives, the second of two shows to focus on cover tunes played over the last six months or so of both the Mental Nomad Podcast and Pod Across America.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Not the Sensational Alex Harvey Band: "Midnight Moses (demo)" (MySpace) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #134)
The Postmarks: "11:59" (Podshow) (originally featured in MNP #118)
Mr. Russia: "Boys Keep Swinging" (IODA Promonet) (originally featured in MNP #125)
Nancy Kelly: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" (IODA) (originally featured in MNP #132)
Elena Zoubareva: "I Feel Pretty" (Ariel Publicity) (originally featured in Pod Across America #8.5)
The Stylistics: "Always on My Mind" (IODA) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #111)
AM feat. Julianna Raye: "I'll Be Your Mirror" (Podshow) (originally featured in PAA #6)
The Swayback: "I'm Waiting for the Man" (IODA) (originally featured in MNP #130)
The Swingle Singers: "Ticket to Ride" (IODA) (originally featured in MNP #111)
Not the Sensational Alex Harvey Band: "Faith Healer (demo)" (MySpace) (originally featured in MNP #107)
Nathaniel Street-West: "Motorpsycho Nightmare" (IODA) (featured in MNP #111 and originally in MNP #65)
Amy Abdou: "Just Like a Woman" (Podshow) (originally featured in MNP #107)
Love Riot: "You Don't Own Me" (from the Killing Time EP) (originally featured in the 2009 Women's History Month special)
Kurt Kreikenbom: "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" (from The Capital Years, Vol. 1) (originally featured in MNP #121)
The Sky About to Rain: "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (from the album Scars) (originally featured in MNP #108)

(Total play time: 1:00:55)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as their promotions last.

As stated before, I'm going to be changing podcast hosting and blog clients in the coming weeks. I'll keep you informed of any developments here.

Dancing Mattress Productions' Greatest Hits 7: Cover-Ups

Fri, 15 May 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Here's the second of the current five-show set of retrospectives, the first of two shows to focus on cover tunes played over the last six months or so of both the Mental Nomad Podcast and Pod Across America.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Kurt Kreikenbom: "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Any More" (from the album The Capital Years, Vol. 1) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #112)
Lin McEwan: "You Can Leave Your Hat On" (Ariel Publicity) (originally featured in MNP #114)
Splitsville: "Our Love Was" (Podshow) (originally featured in MNP #117)
Human People: "Just Like Honey" (contributed by the band) (originally featured in MNP #110)
Cascada: "Because the Night (Makrolon Club Remix)" (Podshow) (originally featured in MNP #133)
Polecat Boogie Revival: "Play It All Night Long" (IODA Promonet) (originally featured in MNP #123)
Chris Daniels & the Kings: "The Heart of a Saturday Night" (Ariel Publicity) (originally featured in MNP #118)
Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat: "I Shall Be Released" (IODA) (originally featured in MNP #111)
Margo Reymundo: "Ain't No Sunshine" (On Target Media) (originally featured in MNP #131)
George Clinton feat. Sly Stone and El Debarge: "Ain't That Peculiar" (Podshow) (originally featured in Pod Across America #3)
J.J. McGeehan: "And I Love Her" (IODA) (originally featured in MNP #111)
Sylvia Bennett: "Since I Fell for You" (Ariel Publicity) (originally featured in MNP #115)
The Swingle Singers: "Drive My Car" (IODA) (originally featured in MNP #111)
Jim Butler: "I Know You Rider" (Podshow) (originally featured in PAA #11)
Omar Alexander: "No Woman No Cry" (Ariel) (originally featured in MNP #129)
Mr. Russia: "Wild World" (IODA) (originally featured in MNP #112)
Rhoda Nkojo: "Time After Time" (Ariel) (originally featured in MNP #120)

(Total play time: 1:04:28)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as their promotions last. (It looks like the Swingle Singers' track is no longer available.)

As stated before, I'm going to be changing podcast hosting and blog clients in the coming weeks. I'll keep you informed of any developments here.

Dancing Mattress Productions' Greatest Hits 6: Jazzed

Wed, 13 May 2009 05:24:00 GMT

We make an unexpected detour into the past today, the first of five shows featuring my favorite cuts from the past six months of both the Mental Nomad Podcast and Pod Across America.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Jack Jezzro: "I Got It Bad, And That Ain't Good" (Ariel Publicity) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #114)
21st Century Trio: "Bodega" (Garageband) (originally featured in Pod Across America #2)
Sylvia Bennett: "How Long Has This Been Going On?" (Ariel) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #123)
David Foster feat. Kenny G: "Love Theme From 'St. Elmo's Fire' (live)" (On Target Media) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #128)
Charlie Hunter: "Baboon Strength" (IODA Promonet) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #116)
Rebecca Griffin: "Baby, Baby All the Time" (from the album Live at Kelly's) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #119)
Fahir Atakoglu: "Istanbul in Blue" (Podshow) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #132)
Charlie Parker with Dizzy Gillespie's Rebop Six: "Groovin' High" (IODA) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #121)
Phil Mason's New Orleans All-Stars feat. Christine Tyrrell: "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (IODA) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #111)
Dave Stewart and His Rock Fabulous Orchestra: "Lily Was Here" (Podshow) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #110)
Somewhere Off Jazz Street: "Scene of the Crime" (Garageband) (originally featured in Pod Across America #2)
Sathima Bea Benjamin: "I Got It Bad, and That Ain't Good" (IODA) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast #106)

(Total play time: 59:05)

Prompting this is a move I'll be making later this month to another hosting provider for the podcast audio and video AND for the show blogs. Libsyn is raising its rates, and I found a better deal -- and Google did me dirty several weeks ago, taking down a text entry after a bogus complaint of it violating audio copyright, so I'll be moving to my own domain at last.

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions last. Come back Friday for a second greatest hits show in place of the regularly scheduled Pod Across America.

Things will get back on track in June, I promise you.

Video: "Crash Me Up" by Telling on Trixie

Wed, 13 May 2009 00:10:00 GMT

Here's a video featuring Ariel Publicity clients Telling on Trixie, which came to me accompanied by this note:

This is a video with a great story. In the same vein as their latest album, "Ugly, Broke & Sober," Telling on Trixie depended on their fans to help create this imaginative music video for the song "Crash Me Up." The concept of fan participation is taken to its apex with this video; the band sent a ball around the world to cities from Brooklyn to Berlin and had them film themselves with it. The contributory nature of this video honors the way the album was made, by donations and participation of Telling on Trixie fans through the Band with a Plan program.

Fans participated from: New York City, Orlando, Berlin, London, San Diego, Los Angeles, Maui, Aruba, New Jersey, Connecticut, Denver, Indianapolis, Valparaiso, South Dakota, Minnesota, and many more!

Look for a new greatest-hits show tomorrow featuring about an hour of jazz songs featured on my podcasts over the past few months, as well as an announcement about changes coming to Dancing Mattress Productions and its affiliated podcasts in the next few weeks.

Video: "Freak" by Underwhelmed

Wed, 6 May 2009 05:49:00 GMT

Here's the second of two videos provided by Ariel Publicity, for a rock outfit called Underwhelmed.

Video: "Aqui Mando Yo (edited)" by Phil Anastasia

Wed, 6 May 2009 05:46:00 GMT

No new episode today due to time constraints and computer issues (needs ... more ... memory). So here are the first of two new videos from Ariel Publicity -- this one's hip hop, the next will be rock -- and The Mental Nomad Podcast and Pod Across America will both be coming your way next week.

Pod Across America 11: New Hampshire

Sun, 3 May 2009 13:21:00 GMT

Here's the twice-delayed show of music from the state of New Hampshire. Sorry that happened; hopefully we'll stay on track now.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Jim Butler: "I Know You Rider" (Podshow)
Jim Butler: "Letter to the President (1000 Coffins)" (Podshow)
GG Allin: "Outskirts of Life" (IODA Promonet)
Nicole Lepera: "Mister Sandman" (Podshow)
Conservative Man: "A Place Unknown" (Podshow)
The Queers: "Noodlebrain" (Podshow)
Scissorfight: "Drunken Hangman" (IODA)
Shearwater: "Whipping Boy" (IODA)
Don't Harass Betty: "So Blue" (Podshow)
Joe Mazzari: "Chain of Love" (Podshow)
Will Kindler: "You and I and the Princely Thief" (Podshow)
Michael Sandoval: "Janelle" (Podshow)

(Total play time: 56:34)

Learn more about the now-crumbled rock formation called the Old Man of the Mountain, which I talk about briefly in the show. (Apparently the government's tossing around some ideas to try and restore it.)

Ads to pick up whatever's commercially available to come; still running THAT much behind, anyway, I hate to say.

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions last.

Mental Nomad Podcast 135: Fiction Burns

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT

A few times in the first 50 or so episodes, I read short fiction written some years ago. The sound quality on those was poor, and they probably merit remastering with some extra music in the near future, but in the meantime, here's a new episode with stories not read before.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Jules Shear: We Said Goodbye (IODA Promonet)
Deni Bonet: "Last Girl On Earth (Full Band)" (Ariel Publicity)
"Change"
Tonye Christopher: "Dear Ms. Anniston (I Need You)" (Ariel)
"Double Blind Illusion"
Gregory Douglass: "Cathedrals" (Ariel)
"Two-Minute Love Affair"
Lichtzwang: "Please Kill Me" (MySpace)
"Quivers"
Howard Markman: "I See the Rain" (artist submitted)
(Title withheld)
Jaik Miller Band: "After Last Call" (Ariel)
Neko Case: "People Got a Lotta Nerve" (Podshow)
"Best of All Possible Worlds"
... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead: "Isis Unveiled" (Podshow)
Vanessa Daou: "Once in a While" (IODA)

(Total play time: 57:36)

The IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as their promotions remain active.

Mental Nomad Podcast 134: The End of the Beginning

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:50:00 GMT

A more personal episode than normal, wherein I talk about some upcoming developments in my life and what it might all mean.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Comandante Zero: "Give It Up (Receive And Transmit)" (Ariel Publicity)
Vanessa Daou: "Black and White" (IODA Promonet)
Chris Huff: "Hey Now Now" (Ariel)
John Brown's Body: "Give Yourself Over" (IODA)
Dram: "Kringellek" (Magnatune)
Dudley Saunders: "Take Me Back Home Again" (Ariel)
Deep 6 Holiday: "Seafaring" (Ariel)
Noam Weinstein: "Learning to Talk" (Podshow)
Not the Sensational Alex Harvey Band: "Midnight Moses (demo)" (MySpace)
Ensemble Al-Asdeka: "Lake of Clouds" (Magnatune)
Judd Starr: "Firefly" (Ariel)

(Total play time: 1:00:57)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions last.

Charities mentioned in this episode include Everyone Deserves a Roof (providing portable shelters to the homeless); Heifer International (anti-hunger efforts); Kiva (supporting entrepreneurship in developing countries); Operation Fairy Dust (helping young women have a prom experience); the Point Foundation (offering scholarships to LGBT young adults); the St. Baldrick's Foundation (funding juvenile cancer research); The Trevor Project (offering suicide and crisis prevention for LGBT youth); and local libraries wherever you are.

Mental Nomad Podcast 133: Chill

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Other circumstances have forced Ye Olde Podcaster to admit defeat and push the next Pod Across America back to May. Just ran out of time, and other things that don't bear discussing. So enjoy some mostly relaxing, mostly electronic music this week. (One track is vocals only and is a stunner.)

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Cascada: "Because the Night (Makrolon remix)" (Podshow)
Purepath: "The Sun Always Shines on TV" (Ariel Publicity)
Falik: "Idle Hands" (Magnatune)
Hungry Lucy: "Goodbye" (Podshow)
Sub-Level 03: "Splinter" (Podshow)
Lovespirals: "This Truth (Soul Swirling Somewhere remix)" (Podshow)
DJ Black Acid: "El Destino" (Podshow)
46bliss: "In a Long Time (Hon TripHop remix)" (Ariel)
Kristin Hersh: "Static (Industry Giant remix)" (Podshow)
Secret Archives of the Vatican: "Fear of a Black Jesus" (from the album Babylon Halt)
Blue Tribe: "The Buddha Bar" (IODA Promonet)
Cascada: "Because the Night (Makrolon club remix)" (Podshow)

(Total play time about 57 minutes.)

The IODA-sponsored track may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as its promotion lasts.

Video: "Nothing Less Than You" by Stan Harrison

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:05:00 GMT

Another jazz-world music piece brought to you by Ariel Publicity.

Video: "To the Ends of the Earth" by Simavi

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 01:36:00 GMT

Here's some nice vocal pop (think Sinatra or Bennett) for your weekend, courtesy of Ariel Publicity.

Mental Nomad Podcast 132: Colo(u)r My World, Part 2

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 02:57:00 GMT

Here's a no-talker sequel to something I did a long time ago, an episode full of songs with colors in their names. We're going roughly from white to black along the ROYGBIV path of a rainbow's colors, with some variations on the way.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Mike Del Ferro: "Over the Rainbow" (Podshow)
Calexico: "Two Silver Trees" (Podshow)
Wendy & Lisa: "White Flags of Winter Chimneys" (Ariel Publicity)
A Brokeheart Pro: "Pink Mischief"
Mike Zito: "Little Red Corvette" (IODA Promonet)
Shira Kammen: "My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose/O Fickle Fortune" (Magnatune)
The Crash Moderns: "Solid Gold" (Ariel)
Cassandra Kubinski: "Lime Green Taxi" (Podshow)
Fahir Atakoglu: "Istanbul in Blue" (Podshow)
Stone Coyotes: "The Grey Robe of the Rain" (Ariel)
Alona: "Fade to Black" (Podshow)
Nancy Kelly: "Over the Rainbow" (IODA)

Bonus Track:
The Raveonettes: "Black/White" (Podshow)

(Total play time: 56:13)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded below as long as their promotions last.

Next Wednesday, Pod Across America stops in New Hampshire.

Video: "The Optimist" by Stan Harrison

Sun, 5 Apr 2009 23:06:00 GMT

Here's the latest offering from the folks at Ariel Publicity.

Mental Nomad Podcast 131: Towers of Song

Wed, 1 Apr 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Today's episode is a more stripped-down affair -- there are some bold overtures, some electric guitars, but the electronica is at a minimum. This one focuses more on the songwriting, on the musicianship, on the voice.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Gordon Bell: "Song for the Broken Hearted" (from his new album Songs for the Broken Hearted)
Gordon Bell: "White Collar Slave"
Lisa Bianco: "All The Things That Remind Me" (Ariel Publicity)
William Brooks: "Karma Dogs" (Magnatune)
Margo Reymundo: "Ain't No Sunshine" (On Target Media)
Son Seals: "Don't Bother Me" (Podshow)
Billy Falcon: "Brick Off a Bridge" (Podshow)
Jason Harrod: "Voyeurs" (Ariel)
Shannon Curfman: "Do Me" (from her album Fast Lane Addiction)
Tom Waits: "Another Man's Vine" (Podshow)
Lori Lieberman: "New York Mining Disaster 1941" (Ariel)
Lori Lieberman: "Killing Me Softly" (Ariel)

Total play time: 58 minutes, 29 seconds.

Today was previously announced as the Pod Across America show featuring New Hampshire music; that will be coming April 15 instead.

Video: "Everything" by Puppetbox

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:42:00 GMT

Here's another video provided by the great folks at Ariel Publicity.

Mental Nomad Podcast 130: "I Am," They Cried

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Some time back, I did an episode titled "'I Am,' They Said," featuring songs with either "I Am" or "I'm" in the titles. Here's another, though I've allowed one variation to creep in as well (though "am I" is obviously the same subject-verb pair just turned into a question, and "I won't be" is a variation on the same verb -- "be" becomes "am" -- as the others, and yes, I *was* an English major).

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Jim Allchin: "I'm About to Fall" (Ariel Publicity)
Brother Joscephus And The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra: "I Won't Be That Man" (Ariel)
Mieka Pauley: "When I'm in Chicago" (Podshow)
Christelle: "I'm a Tease" (Ariel)
El Prezidino: "I Am Music" (Ariel)
Takis: "I Am Woman" (Podshow)
The Swayback: "I'm Waiting for the Man" (IODA Promonet)
Luka Bloom: "I Am a River" (IODA)
Josh Charles: "I'm Always Here for You" (Ariel)
Phil Putnam: "I'm No Prize" (Ariel)
Little Plastic Stars: "Am I More Than Just a Filler?" (Podshow)
Lie Big: "I Am I" (Magnatune)
Admiral Twin: "... But I'm Dying" (Podshow)
The Break and Repair Method: "I'm at a Low" (Ariel)
Jim Allchin: "I'm Your Man" (Ariel)

(Total play time: 1:02:55)

The IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as their promotions last.

Video trailer for "Icons Among Us: Jazz in the Present Tense"

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Courtesy of the folks at Ariel Publicity, here's a trailer of sorts for a new documentary titled Icons Among Us: Jazz in the Present Tense.

(Direct download here.)

Additionally, you can check out the film's MySpace profile.

Video: "Help Is on the Way" by Shawn Farley

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Here's a video from Ariel Publicity client Shawn Farley.

(Direct download here.)

Women's History Month Special, 2009

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:58:00 GMT

Here's almost an hour of music from female artists, plus a trio of readings pertaining to women's rights, in honor of Women's History Month.

Here's what you'll here today (direct download here):

Lesley Gore: "You Don't Own Me" (Podshow) (Previously featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 108)
Ellen Lerner: "Motherless Child" (shared by the artist)
Kelly Richey: "The Blues Don't Lie" (shared by the artist)
Amy Courts: "Shiver" (shared by the artist)
Shannon Curfman: "I Can't Wait to Miss You" (from the album Fast Lane Addiction)
Anouschka: "Good Girl Gone Wild" (Podshow) (Previously featured in Pod Across America 8)
Carla Lynne Hall: "Lucy and Ethel" (shared by the artist)
Ellen Lerner: "Early November" (shared by the artist)
Love Riot: "You Don't Own Me" (from the Killing Time EP)

(Total play time: 56:16)

Special thanks to Ellen, Kelly, Amy and Carla for sharing tracks with the show, as well as to Anoushka and to Lisa Mathews of Milkshake, formerly of Love Riot.

Special thanks as well to Karen Heim, a longtime listener and supporter of the show, for the readings.

Video: "New York Mining Disaster (Live)" by Lori Lieberman

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Here's a second Lori Lieberman video, again courtesy of Ariel Publicity.

(Direct download here.)

Mental Nomad Podcast 129: In This Great Future, You CAn't Forget Your Past

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Today's show is largely a venture in voices you haven't heard here before, though three of the artists have been interviewed in the blog. A couple of familiar voices pop in as well.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Omar Alexander: "No Woman No Cry" (Ariel Publicity)
Omar Alexander: "Tranquila" (Ariel)
Kasey Lansdale: "Rainy Day Romance" (from the album No More Rain)
Tom Vollman: "Genevieve" (from the album The Betty Violet)
Phil Putnam: "Dancing Down Your Demons" (Ariel)
Shanghai Restoration Project: "Babylon of the Orient" (IODA Promonet)
Kara Nomadica: "We've Never Met" (Magnatune)
Cassandra Kubinski: "Wherever You Wait" (Podshow)
Twilight Archive: "Solitary Procession" (Magnatune)
Beirut: "My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille" (IODA)
Soul Coughing: "The Brooklynites" (IODA)
Clara Bellino: "Potential Criminal" (Ariel)

(Total play time: 1:02:01)

The IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as their promotions last.

Look for that long-promised special episode of new music from female artists on Saturday, March 21.

Video: "Another Galaxy (Live)" by Lori Lieberman

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 03:27:00 GMT

Here's a new video from singer-songwriter Lori Lieberman, courtesy of the folks at Ariel Publicity.

(Direct download here.)

Pod Across America 10: South Carolina

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:40:00 GMT

Today's Pod Across America features nearly an hour of music from South Carolina, the Palmetto State.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Josh White Jr.: "Gonna Live the Life" (IODA Promonet - from Michigan)
Josh White Jr.: "Bette and Dupree's Blues (live)" (IODA)
Danielle Howle: "Fields of Cotton" (IODA Promonet)
Mellow Rex/The Kid Pro: "A Rare Breed" (Podshow)
Rustie Blue feat. Bill Anderson: "Chip Chip" (Podshow -- RB is from Ohio)
The Mamas and the Papas: "California Dreaming" (Podshow) (Previously played in Mental Nomad Podcast 58)
Mary Shelley Overdrive: "Sword of Galaga" (Podshow)
Objecks: "Garden Seduction" (Podshow)
Ruby James: "Sweet as Sin" (Podshow)
Jake Roche: "Tea for One" (Podshow)
Mud Octave: "Everyone Says Alright" (Podshow)
Chris Church: "You Better Move On Now, Baby" (Podshow)

The IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as the promotions last.

It's worth noting that Rustie Blue is from Ohio and Josh White Jr. is from Michigan, but Bill Anderson and Josh White Sr. both came from South Carolina, as did John Phillips of The Mamas and The Papas.

Pod Across America returns April 1 with a show featuring music from New Hampshire; the Mental Nomad Podcast returns Wednesday, and look for a special full of music from female artists in honor of Women's History Month on March 21.

Mental Nomad Podcast 128: Lost and Found

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:00:00 GMT

As the title suggests, this episode is a bit of a mixed bag -- a little this, a little that, some of it music that has nearly made it into a couple of shows and just didn't due to length or some other reason.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

David Foster feat. Kenny G: "Love Theme from St. Elmo's Fire (live)" (On Target Media)
Peter Cetera: "Hard to Say I'm Sorry/You're the Inspiration/Glory of Love (live)" (On Target Media)
BT: "1.618" (IODA Promonet)
Mediaeval Baebes: "Miracle (David Francolini Remix)" (IODA)
Golden Boy: "Ragtime" (artist submitted)
Outasight: "The Get Up (Moonlight)" (Ariel Publicity)
MixMasterMandy: "The Secret Life of Willard Scott" (Podshow)
David Ippolito: "Talk Louder - The Cell Phone Song (live)" (Podshow)
Yalcin Konuk: "Come" (Podshow)
Solstice Coil: "Deep Child" (Podshow)
Kati Mac: "Only Love" (Ariel)

The IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions last.

And I haven't forgotten about that Women's History Month episode -- it will be here March 21.

Video: "Cathedrals" by Gregory Douglass

Fri, 6 Mar 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Here's a video from singer-songwriter Gregory Douglass, courtesy of the folks at Ariel Publicity.

(Direct download here, .mov format.)

Video: "Do It Out of Love" by Chrissy Coughlin

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 05:50:00 GMT

Here's an MP4-format video for a Chrissy Coughlin song that was featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 125.

(Direct download here.)

Thanks to the kind folks at Ariel Publicity for this video and almost all of the others you'll find on the podcast feed. Look for new content later this month, now that the latest wave of greatest-hits shows is finished.

Greatest Hits, Vol. 5: Hear Them Roar

Wed, 4 Mar 2009 06:01:00 GMT

We close out this best-of series with a show that kicks off Women's History Month. Look for a new full-length special next Wednesday featuring more tunes from female artists, some I've played and some that are new to the podcasts.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Sirsy: "Uncomfortable" (from the album Away From Here) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 79)
China Forbes: "Everybody Needs Somebody" (IODA Promonet) (from MNP89)
Cassandra Kubinski: "Like Only Lovers Can" (Podshow) (from MNP80)
Josephine: "I Think of You (Je Pense A Toi)" (Ariel Publicity) (from MNP105)
Dalia Garcia: "Las Noches de Club_Caliente" (Garageband) (from MNP75)
Pacifika: "Me Cai" (IODA) (from MNP90)
Marcia Ball: "Down in the Neighborhood" (IODA) (from MNP91)
Lin McEwan: "Feel" (Ariel) (from MNP105)
Helen Sventitsky: "Ringed by Lovers" (from the album Monochrome in Technicolor) (from MNP90)
Alicia Marie: "The Honest Approach" (Podshow) (from MNP104)
Planetakis: "Sex Without a Lover" (IODA) (from MNP80)
Amy Dalley: "Let's Try Goodbye" (Podshow) (from MNP75)
Allison Crowe: "Skeletons and Spirits" (Jamendo) (from MNP103)
Sharon Robinson: "The High Road" (Podshow) (from MNP103)
Erin Bode: "Don't Take Your Time" (IODA) (from MNP100)
Ingrid Michaelson: "Die Alone" (Podshow) (from MNP98)
Gum: "Try Stopping Me Now" (Podshow) (from MNP88)

(Total play time: 1:06:13)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions last.

Tracks eligible for the new round of "best-of" shows come from the period starting with episode 70 and running through episode 105, with music from oddly numbered episodes 86.17 (a St. Patrick's Day show) and 77.7 (part of the Highway 70 series), as well as tracks added to the remastered episode 3 also eligible.

Songs featured in the winter holiday specials and the previous best-of episodes (episodes 81-84, 96-97) were excluded from this listing.

Pod Across America 9: Maryland

Sun, 1 Mar 2009 16:01:00 GMT

Here's the delayed episode of music from the great state of Maryland.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Love Riot: "Maybe She Will" (from the album Maybe She Will)
Lin McEwan: "Now I Know" (Ariel Publicity)
Howard Markman: "Almost Home" (from the album Half Smiles Blue Skies)
Steven Charles Cecil: "Dark Days" (Podshow)
Junkyard Saints: "Scrapple and Rye"
Two If By Sea: "The Last Time I Went Under" (from Translations)
David Byrne: "Fuzzy Freaky (remix)" (IODA Promonet)
The Perfects: "End of Us" (Previously featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 112)
Tupac: "Hit 'Em Up (live)" (Podshow)
Ellen Cherry: "The Meanest Waltz" (from The Ellen Cherry Primer)
Jessica Mellott: "Beautiful Broken" (Podshow)
Love Riot: "No Regrets" (from the Killing Time EP)

The IODA-sponsored track may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as the promotions last. And my deepest thanks go to Lisa Mathews of Milkshake, formerly of Love Riot, for leading me to Howard Markman and Junkyard Saints. (Check out my interview with Lisa and her bandmate Mikel if you haven't already done so.)

Here's the Wikipedia entry for scrapple (read if you dare). If that culinary treat frightens you, check out the tourism pages for Ocean City, Md., and Baltimore and see if that settles your nerves.

And if you're ever in Baltimore, enjoy fine Afghani cuisine at The Helmand. Try the lamb and beef meatballs, if you're a non-vegetarian -- you won't be disappointed.

Greatest Hits, Vol. 4: The Most Beautiful Thing in the World

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:01:00 GMT

Today's best-of show has a simple theme: Music that's pretty.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Luka Bloom: "Love Is a Place I Dream Of" (IODA Promonet) (featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 86.17)
aJt: "Love Guitar" (Podshow) (from MNP86)
Bazza: "Last Year Lied to Me" (from the album The Morney Sessions) (from MNP102)
Enigma: "Sadeness, Part 1 (Violent U.S. mix)" (Podshow) (from MNP94)
Sean Ryder Williams: "Far Away Look" (found at MySpace) (from MNP102)
Jess Pillmore: "I Feel It Coming On" (Garageband) (from MNP78)
Yalcin Konuk: "Sonando" (Podshow) (from MNP85)
Kitaro: "Floating Lotus" (IODA) (from MNP88)
Jared Woods: "Angels in the Snow" (from the album Spilled Drinks & Starlight) (from MNP79)
Yolanda Duke and the Tito Puente Orchestra: "I've Got You Under My Skin" (IODA) (from MNP94)
Will Tang: "Everything Changes" (Podshow) (from MNP101)
Gaelic Wind Project: "Song of Wandering Aengus" (Garageband) (from MNP86.17)
Athena (Andreadis): "To Be With You" (IODA) (from MNP92)
Blake Leyh: "151 Canal" (from the album X-Ray Yankee Zulu Tango) (from MNP87)
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova: "Falling Slowly (Oscar-winning song from Once)" (Podshow) (from MNP88)

(Total run time: 1:01:52)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as the promotions last. (The Athena promotion has apparently expired.)

Tracks eligible for the new round of "best-of" shows come from the period starting with episode 70 and running through episode 105, with music from oddly numbered episodes 86.17 (a St. Patrick's Day show) and 77.7 (part of the Highway 70 series), as well as tracks added to the remastered episode 3 also eligible.

Songs featured in the winter holiday specials and the previous best-of episodes (episodes 81-84, 96-97) were excluded from this listing.

Greatest Hits, Vol. 3: Rock 'N' Rock 'N' Roll Radio, Let's Go

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 06:01:00 GMT

This best-of edition goes to 11. It's rock 'n' roll, the kicking out of jams, if you will.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

The Crash Moderns: "Where'd All the Scene Girls Go" (Ariel Publicity) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 104)
Career Club: "Old-Fashioned" (Ariel) (from MNP105)
Uma Floresta: "The Noise of Departure" (Podsafe Audio) (from MNP104)
Helen Sventitsky: "You and Me and the Goddamn City" (from the album Monochrome in Technicolor) (from MNP100)
The Perfects: "Many Nights" (played courtesy of the band) (from MNP89)
Baptist Death Ray: "Pharisee" (Garageband.com) (from MNP77.7)
Kalliber: "Last Stand" (Garageband) (from MNP78)
The BeatMeUps: "Back Too Soon" (Garageband) (from MNP71)
Stars: "The Night Starts Here" (IODA Promonet) (from MNP86)
King God: "End of Faith" (from the album Is That Blood On Your Sleeve?) (from MNP101)
Etlin Zylin: "Cirrus" (played courtesy of the band) (from MNP103)
Bi-Polar Baby: "Suicide Girl" (IODA) (from MNP86)
Manic Street Preachers feat. Nina Persson: "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough" (Podshow) (from the remastered Mental Nomad Podcast 3)
Malamondos: "Condoms and Candy" (Podshow) (from MNP77)
T-Rex: "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" (IODA) (from MNP80)
Strangers Die Everyday: "Aperture for Departure" (found at MySpace) (from MNP100)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!" (Podshow) (from MNP90)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions last. (The T-Rex track is apparently no longer available.)

Tracks eligible for the new round of "best-of" shows come from the period starting with episode 70 and running through episode 105, with music from oddly numbered episodes 86.17 (a St. Patrick's Day show) and 77.7 (part of the Highway 70 series), as well as tracks added to the remastered episode 3 also eligible.

Songs featured in the winter holiday specials and the previous best-of episodes (episodes 81-84, 96-97) were excluded from this listing.

Greatest Hits, Vol. 2: Under the Covers

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:01:00 GMT

An assortment of cover songs played during the most recent eligibility period; click on the "best of mental nomad" tag at bottom to see previous compilation shows featuring music dating back to the start of the Mental Nomad Podcast.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Jonathan Coulton: "Famous Blue Raincoat" (from his album Thing a Week Three) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 88)
Carol Duboc: "Sexual Healing" (IODA Promonet) (from MNP94)
Lin McEwan: "I Could Lie to You" (Ariel Publicity) (from MNP105)
Dessau: "Isolation" (IODA) (from the remastered Mental Nomad Podcast 3)
Mary Shelley Overdrive: "This Ain't the Summer of Love" (from the Hideous Sexy EP) (from MNP101)
theDeadline: "He Stopped Loving Her Today" (Podshow) (from MNP100)
Not the Sensational Alex Harvey Band: "Burning Big Louie (demo)" (from MySpace) (from MNP103)
Bettye Lavette: "Down to Zero" (Podshow) (from MNP88)
Rebecca Griffin: "Detour Ahead" (from the album Live at Kelly's) (from MNP102)
Timothy Harada: "Mrs. Robinson" (Podshow) (from MNP91)
Pete Seeger: "Russian Song/Ode to Joy" (IODA) (from MNP87)
Emmylou Harris: "No Regrets" (IODA) (from MNP101)
Vince Hill: "Alone Again, Naturally" (IODA) (from MNP86.17)
Stefanie Harger: "The Very Thought of You" (Podshow) (from MNP87)
Richard Hefner: "Sitting on Top of the World" (EZFolk.com) (from MNP86)
The Black Cats: "Lonely Avenue" (Podsafe Audio) (from MNP103)
Twilight Dementia: "Gimme Shelter" (Ariel) (from MNP104)

The IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as the promotions remain active.

Tracks eligible for the new round of "best-of" shows come from the period starting with episode 70 and running through episode 105, with music from oddly numbered episodes 86.17 (a St. Patrick's Day show) and 77.7 (part of the Highway 70 series), as well as tracks added to the remastered episode 3 also eligible.

Songs featured in the winter holiday specials and the previous best-of episodes (episodes 81-84, 96-97) were excluded from this listing.

Pod Across America 8.5: Extra Mass

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 06:01:00 GMT

In the last episode, focusing on Massachusetts music, I accidentally played a track by the Baltimore, Md., band Splitsville.

And as the deadline for producing the Feb. 15 show -- which was to feature Maryland music -- drew near, I started getting leads on new artists to consider for that show.

So Maryland is pushed back to March 1, and here's a bonus show (direct download here) featuring several extra songs from Massachusetts and one for each of the states that came before, all but one of which have never been played before on either of my shows.

Massachusetts:
Merrie Amsterburg: "Clementine" (Podshow)
Cheaters Club: "The Confession" (found at MySpace) (Originally presented in Mental Nomad Podcast 20)
Easton Legacy: "If You're Not Mad Enough to Bareknuckle, You're Just Not Mad" (Podshow)
Bender X: "Occam's Disposable Razor" (Podshow)
Melou: "Blue" (IODA Promonet)
Elena Zoubareva: "I Feel Pretty" (Ariel Publicity)
Juliana Hatfield: "Shining On" (IODA)
The Black Cats: "How Long" (Podsafe Audio)

Connecticut:
Show Me the Skyline: "It's on Me" (Ariel)

Georgia:
Spy for Hire: "Things Used to Be Good" (Ariel)

New Jersey:
Val Emmich: "Wake Up Brand New" (Ariel)

Pennsylvania:
Officer Roseland: "We Want Your Money" (Ariel)

Delaware:
AlpharhythM: "Cold" (Garageband)

The IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as the promotions last.

Video: "8 O'Clock Train (PKP Express remix)" by 46bliss

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:06:00 GMT

Here's a video from the electronic band 46bliss, courtesy of the folks at Ariel Publicity.

(Direct download here.)

Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: Highway 70 Revisited

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:01:00 GMT

The first time The Mental Nomad Podcast took a road trip across America on U.S. Highway 70, it took two full months and 10 episodes. Here we re-run the trip from Los Angeles to the Atlantic coast of North Carolina in 65 minutes, going in order from episode to episode if not precisely from city to city.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Bitter:Sweet: "Dirty Laundry (Skeewiff remix/The Hunting Game remix)" (IODA Promonet) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 70)
Abby Kincaid: "Sister" (Garageband) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 70)
J.D. Rogers: "When Mama Wasn't There" (Garageband) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 71)
Texas Jack: "Country-Lingus" (Garageband) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 71)
6 Feet Deep: "We From the A" (Podshow) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 72)
Ms. Brown Sugar and the Even Change Band: "Two Keys" (GarageBand) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 73)
Taco and Da Mofos: "Chill Right Now" (from the album Bud, Sweat and Beers) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 73)
Latino Saint: "Make Ya" (Garageband) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 74)
Scott Merrick: "Even If I Did" (Podshow) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 74)
Diane di Stasio: "Dream" (Garageband) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 75)
Mooncycle: "Pendulum" (Garageband) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 76)
3 Feet Up: "Buddha Camp" (Podshow) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 77)
Lisa Dames: "Kinda Fun Getting Over You" (Podshow) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 77)
Ari Ahokas: "No Shine" (Garageband) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 77.7)
The Nein: "War Is on the Stereo" (Podshow) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 77.7)
Settlement Band: "Tell Me When" (Garageband) (from Mental Nomad Podcast 78)

The IODA-sponsored track may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as the promotion lasts.

Tracks eligible for the new round of "best-of" shows come from the period starting with episode 70 and running through episode 105, with music from oddly numbered episodes 86.17 (a St. Patrick's Day show) and 77.7 (part of the Highway 70 series), as well as tracks added to the remastered episode 3 also eligible.

Songs featured in the winter holiday specials and the previous best-of episodes (episodes 81-84, 96-97) were excluded from this listing.

Video: "$$ Machine" by Christelle

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:48:00 GMT

Here's something a bit different from the norm: an R&B track from Christelle, a singer who was born in Gabon and now works out of the Las Vegas area, courtesy of Ariel Publicity.

(Direct download here.)

Video: "My Funny Valentine" by Sylvia Bennett

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:32:00 GMT

Ye Olde (and Embittered) Podcaster isn't observing the Mid-February Holiday Which Must Not Be Named this year, but here's a great rendition of a jazz classic from singer Sylvia Bennett, provided by the kind folks at Ariel Publicity.

(Direct download here.)

Mental Nomad Podcast 127: My Favorite Riot

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Today's episode is full of artists making their debut on Dancing Mattress Productions podcasts, with the exception of guest vocalist Mike Doughty on one track. Love Riot is an artist I've wanted to play since the show started, and Kasino was a favorite of mine from the Tartan Podcast, a show that inspired me to start this endeavor.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Love Riot: "Killing Time" (from the Killing Time EP)
Kasino: "Never See" (from the album Fearless)
Blondfire : "My Someday" (IODA Promonet)
808 State feat. Mike Doughty: "Bond" (IODA)
T.J. Cornwall: "Color Is Gone" (from the Hide and Seek EP)
Donohoe: "Cherry Tree" (Ariel Publicity)
Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel: "Hesitation Blues" (IODA)
Christian Brown: "A Mile Above a Small Town" (Ariel)
Donna Lewis: "Shut the Sun Out" (Ariel)
Della Valle: "Now U Know" (Ariel)
Sunspot: "Path of Most Resistance" (Podshow)

Special thanks to Lisa Mathews of Love Riot and Milkshake for clearing her band's music, and likewise to Gary Marshall of Kasino for the same favor. You can find lots of kid-safe videos from Milkshake on their YouTube channel.

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions last.

Pod Across America 8: Massachusetts

Sun, 1 Feb 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Today's episode features an hour's worth of music from native Bay Staters and maybe a couple of folks who've found their way there from other places.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Melissa Ferrick: "Goodbye Youth" (Ariel Publicity)
Splitsville: "The Popular" (from the album The Complete Pet Soul) (previously featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 17)
They Might Be Giants: "Take Out the Trash" (IODA Promonet)
Trey Green: "My Girlfriend" (Ariel)
Donna Summer: "La Vie En Rose" (IODA)
Dylan in the Movies: "Momentary Breakdown" (Podshow)
Harvard Blue: "Black President" (Garageband.com)
All That Remains: "Chiron" (Podshow)
The Gentlemen (Mass.): "It's Not So Much That I Disagree With You; It's That You're Wrong" (Podshow)
Ben Bogart y los Gatos Azules: "Shusheta" (Garageband)
Frank Black: "Robert Onion" (IODA) (Previously featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 63)
Anouschka: "Good Girl Gone Wild" (Podshow)
Stone Coyotes: "A Charmed Life" (Ariel)
Melissa Ferrick: "When Thom Sings (Lake Effect Snow)" (Ariel)

And, apparently, there's a Maryland act that's sneaked its way in here -- Splitsville is out of Baltimore, I realized/remembered about a month after putting the show together. *sigh*

The IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions last.

Look for a new Mental Nomad Podcast on Wednesday. Pod Across America returns on Feb. 15 with an hour of music from Maryland artists.

Mental Nomad Podcast 126: Karma Sutras

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Today's show is a no-talker to wrap up the month.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Borea: "Single Ride" (Jamendo)
Karen Dalton: "Katie Cruel" (IODA Promonet)
Ashes of Draught: "Jupiter" (Podshow)
Gyuto Monks Tantric Choir: "Mandala Offering" (IODA)
Charlie Wheeler Band: "I Got to Ramble" (Ariel Publicity)
Erik Scott: "Bassque Revolution" (Ariel)
Like So: "I Never Thought You'd Leave" (Podshow)
Reid Maclean: "Mi Corazon" (Ariel)
i: "Nominonivore" (Podshow)
Gum: "You Can't Tell a Heart" (Podshow)
Frozen Silence: "Corridor" (Jamendo)
Trey Green: "My Fantastic Ass" (Ariel)

My thanks to Borea and Frozen Silence, both of whom contacted me at Jamendo about being featured on this podcast. (You can pick up their albums at the links above.)

Trey Green and Erik Scott have previously been interviewed in this blog; click on their names in the tag section at the bottom of the post if you'd like to learn more about these two artists.

As always, IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as the promotions last.

Pod Across America returns Feb. 1 (that's Sunday) with music from Massachusetts; the Mental Nomad Podcast will be back next Wednesday.

Mental Nomad Podcast 125: It's Not a Bird, It's Not a Plane

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 07:05:00 GMT

Today's show includes another mix of artists familiar to longtime listeners and new faces.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Mr. Russia: "Boys Keep Swinging" (IODA Promonet)
Sun Ra: "Enlightenment" (IODA Promonet)
Sharon Robinson: "Invisible Tattoo" (Podshow)
Bob Pressner: "Far Away Eyes" (Ariel Publicity)
Noam Weinstein: "Unlike" (Podshow)
The Simple Things: "Eyes for Me" (Ariel Publicity)
Charlie Morris: "Not Much Money, Not Much Gold" (artist submitted; from the album "Still Got 'Em")
Dandy Warhols: "Welcome to the 3rd World" (Podshow)
Sabrina Shaheen: "Moving On" (Ariel Publicity)
Robert Vincs: "Devic Kingdom" (IODA Promonet)
Chrissy Coughlin: "Do It Out of Love" (Ariel Publicity)
Sophie Moleta: "Bigger Than Me" (Podshow)

Special thanks to Charlie Morris for reaching out and letting me know about his music. Visit Noam Weinstein's page to download his three recent singles (complete with B-sides!), and leave some money in the tip jar if so inclined; it's great that he's releasing new music this way, between albums. Speaking of between albums, The Simple Things' album is available for pre-order at their Web site; hopefully I'll remember, after it's released, to add it to the Amazon carousel.

Congratulations to Sabrina Shaheen and her family on the new addition! Thanks to longtime listener Faith for requesting more music from Sophie Moleta -- her song is from the 2000 album Temple, sold at her Web site.

And the Mr. Russia track is, of course, a David Bowie cover. You may download it, and the other IODA-sponsored tracks, at the Blogger site for as long as their promotions last.

Dancing Mattress Productions' 2009 Inaugural Day Special

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 07:18:00 GMT

Here's a slice of music to mark this historic day in the history of the United States of America, full of hope as we look ahead to better times. Children starting school today will never remember an America where it was not possible for a person of color to be president.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Jude Johnstone: "Free Man (demo)" (played with deep appreciation to the artist)
R-Three: "Something to Believe In" (from the Something to Believe In EP) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 19)
Walter "Wolfman" Washington and the Roadmasters: "This Land Is Your Land" (Podshow)
Movin' Melvin Brown: "I Have a Dream (Obama dream theme song)" (Ariel Publicity) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 122)
KaiserCartel: "Okay" (from the album Okay - And Other Things We Feel) (courtesy of Mood Indigo Entertainment)
Manze Dayila and the Nago Nation: "Change (The Barack Obama Song)" (Ariel) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 117)
The Brilliant Mistakes: "The Circle's Not Broken" (Ariel)
Rachel Griffin: "This Beautiful Day, Today" (from her Web site) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 112)
James Talley: "This Land Is Your Land" (IODA Promonet)
Golden Boy: "Congratulations, Barack Obama" (Podshow)
Douglas Spotted Eagle: "America the Beautiful" (Podshow) (originally featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 36)
Jude Johnstone: "Mr. Sun" (from the album Mr. Sun)

The IODA-sponsored track may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as the promotion lasts.

Video: "More Than This" by Phil Putnam

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:00:00 GMT

Here's another video provided by the kind folks at Ariel Publicity. You'll be hearing from Phil Putnam on one of the podcasts at some point in February.

(Direct download here.)

Pod Across America 7: Connecticut

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 07:01:00 GMT

Pod Across America stops today in Connecticut, one of the wealthiest states in the Union and one of the most densely populated -- due at least in part to an alarmingly high number of professional wrestlers taking up more floor space than normal mortals would.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

SuperCool: "Masterplan"
Dashboard Confessional: "Saints and Sailors" (previously featured in Mental Nomad Podcast 20)
Dave King: "Hey There Mister President"
Joseph Firecrow: "MorningStar Rise"
Ethereal: "The Devil's Hand"
i: "Hate, Sex"
MC Statistics: "The Recipe"
Boxed Octopus: "The Day Godzilla Came to Town"
Blood Ruby: "Sleepwalk"
Deep Purple: "Clearly Quite Absurd"
Vision: "Don't Touch My Guitar"
Thurston Moore: "Fri/End"
Ritchie Havens: "Love Storm"

The Thurston Moore track is brought to you by the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as the promotion lasts. All other songs in today's episode were found at the Podsafe Music Network.

The Mental Nomad Podcast will be back next Wednesday with a new episode, and Pod Across America will return Feb. 1 with music from Massachusetts.

Mental Nomad Podcast 124: Fever Dreams for Icy Days

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:01:00 GMT

Today's episode that goes into some unexpected, unexplored and occasionally unsettling places.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Majandra: "Daddy Died" (from the album Tarte)
Rotation: "Someone Else's Life" (Garageband.com)
Penny Relentless: "American Slut" (Podshow)
The Brilliant Mistakes: "Good Year for a Change" (Ariel Publicity)
Astronauts of Antiquity: "Strangest Places" (Ariel)
TV on the Radio: "Staring at the Sun" (Podshow)
Wendy & Lisa: "Red Bike" (Ariel)
Abra Moore: "After All These Years" (IODA Promonet)
David Martinez: "Can't Find You" (Podshow)
Ivory Tower Project: "My Name" (Podshow)
Simone: "Don't Know What" (IODA)
Chris Huff: "Neighborhood (Ain't It Time)" (Ariel)

Special thanks to David Martinez and the Ivory Tower Project for reaching out to the podcast.

Majandra Delfino appears courtesy of Red Velvet Cake Records. And if you like the Wendy and Lisa Track, you can buy their new album, White Flags of Winter Chimneys, from their Web site -- nowhere else. The IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site, provided the promotion remains active.

Pod Across America returns tomorrow with a show featuring music from the state of Connecticut.

Video: "Other Planets" by Erik Scott

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:34:00 GMT

Here's a video from bassist Erik Scott, provided by the folks at Ariel Publicity. (Direct download here.) You can learn more about the artist in a recent Q&A I did with him.

Video: "My Girlfriend" by Trey Green

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:08:00 GMT

Here's an amusing video from musician Trey Green, provided by the good folks at Ariel Publicity. They also helped me conduct a Q&A with Trey earlier this month.

(Direct download here.)

He'll be popping up on both podcasts in coming weeks.

Dancing Mattress Productions' 2008 Holidaze Bonus (repost)

Thu, 8 Jan 2009 15:00:00 GMT

Here's a reposting of the episode originally released on Christmas Day last month, with the spoken bits about the holiday contest removed since the time has lapsed. An extra contest blurb mini-episode has been removed from the server, and those three tracks will be inserted into a 2009 holiday show.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Scott Merrick and the Last Frontier Band: "Moose Nuggets for Christmas" (from the CD Songs for Alaska)
Steve McDonald: "Christmas Time Again" (IODA Promonet)
Arrica Rose: "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (Podshow)
The Swingle Singers: "Christmas Song" (IODA)
Last November: "Christmas Medley 2008" (Ariel Publicity)
Mahalia Jackson: "Silent Night (46bliss remix)" (IODA)
Craig Taubman: "Maoz_Tsur" (IODA)
Carla Lynne Hall: "Please Come Home for Christmas" (Ariel)
Grupo Son Sabor: "Bella Es La Navidad" (IODA)
Sam Marsh and the Happy Room Orchestra: "Super Saturnalia" (Ariel)
The Swingle Singers: "Last Christmas" (IODA)
Jana Mashonee: "O Holy Night" (Ariel)
Lee Alexander: "Deck the Halls/We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (Podshow)
Steve McDonald: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" (IODA)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as the promotions last.

Video: "I'm Calling You" by Chris DeMarco

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 22:32:00 GMT

This video was provided to me straight from the artist himself, Chris DeMarco, who's been featured on both the Mental Nomad Podcast and Pod Across America.

(Direct download here.)

I should note that this file is an .mp4 and so may work only with iTunes. Visit the Blogger site if you'd prefer to view it in your browser window instead.

Mental Nomad Podcast 123: TGI2009

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 07:01:00 GMT

One last no-talker, and then I'll be back at the mic chattering away.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

John Taglieri: "Open Up to Me" (Ariel Publicity)
Polecat Boogie Revival: "Play It All Night Long" (IODA Promonet)
AlpharhythM: "Why the Women Don't Want Him" (Garageband.com)
Stacee Lawson: "Mr. Love" (Ariel)
Colie Brice: "You Can't Change Change (Obama 2008 remix)" (Podshow)
Santogold: "LES Artistes" (IODA)
Josephine: "Bit by Bit" (Ariel)
Jim Boggia: "Three Weeks Shy" (Ariel)
Khumbula: "Mama Wami" (Podshow)
Jude Johnstone: "On a Good Day" (IODA)
The Pimps of Joytime: "Street Sound" (Ariel)
Sirsy: "Mercury" (from the album Revolution)
Sylvia Bennett: "How Long Has This Been Going On?" (Ariel)

The IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as the promotions remain active.

Video: "The Circle's Not Broken (live)" by The Brilliant Mistakes

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Here's a video provided by Ariel Publicity.

(Direct download here.)

Pod Across America 6: Georgia, Part 2

Fri, 2 Jan 2009 01:03:00 GMT

Here's the conclusion of our musical look at Georgia. The next stop, Jan. 15, will be a one-show look at music from Connecticut.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Chris DeMarco: "Sail Away" (Ariel Publicity)
Emerald Rose: "Fire in the Head" (Garageband)
Golden Boy: "Je Suis Un Gangster" (Podshow)
Courtney Brown: "Luxor Rising" (Garageband)
Dare Dukes: "Bakersfield" (Ariel)
AM feat. Julianna Raye: "I'll Be Your Mirror" (Podshow)
Ocean Street: "Die Another Day" (Podshow)
Last November: "Seventeen at Three in the Morning" (Ariel)
Azure Ray: "November" (Podshow)
Exit Clov: "Violent Berries" (Podshow)
Steve Abercrombie: "Jumprope Posse" (Garageband)
Wilson Black: "Wanderin' Blues" (Podshow)
Chris Cortez: "Georgia on My Mind" (IODA Promonet)

Chris DeMarco's track features some kid named Billy Joel playing piano. It's a recording from some time back, so there's no telling whether he ever made in the cruel world of music.

The IODA Promonet-sponsored track -- featuring Chris Cortez, who's worked in Mississippi and New Orleans and now lives in Texas, performing an instrumental rendition on the Georgia state song which takes it in an entirely different direction than you'd expect -- may be downloaded at the Blogger site for as long as the promotion lasts.

Mental Nomad Podcast 122: 2008 Fadeout, 3 of 3

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:01:00 GMT

Concluding the three-part year-ender. Watch for wild oscillations in mood and genre.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

KaiserCartel: "Season Song" (Ariel Publicity)
The Break and Repair Method: "Life Gets Beautiful" (Ariel)
Funk Vigilante: "Worst President Ever" (Podshow)
Movin' Melvin Brown: "I Have a Dream (Barack Obama Song)" (Ariel)
Helen Sventitsky: "Withdrawal Symptoms (An Addict's Dream)" (from the artist)
Maxim Rysanov feat. Jacob Katsnelson and Kristine Blaumane: "Trio in A minor for clarinet/viola, cello and piano, Op. 114" (IODA Promonet)
Kelly Richey: "Leave the Blues Behind" (Ariel)
palliDust: "Surrender" (Garageband)
Sir.Malcolm (Songs for a New American Century): "Talk a Good Game" (Ariel)
Luka Bloom: "No Matter Where You Go, There You Are" (IODA)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site as long as the promotions remain active.

Dancing Mattress Productions' 2008 Holidaze Bonus

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:05:00 GMT

Here's an extra gift from under the tree, as one final attempt to get you to participate in the holiday fundraising contest -- you donate to charity, send me proof of this by Dec. 31, and I enter you into a contest for prizes provided by Ariel Publicity and their clients.

The charities Ariel Publicity has picked are MusiCares (aiding "music people" in times of need), World Hunger Year (founded by the late Harry Chapin), Musicians on Call (using music as a healing aid for patients and their loved ones), New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity and the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation (helping buy musical instruments for school children). But your gift may be to any charity your heart desires.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Scott Merrick and the Last Frontier Band: "Moose Nuggets for Christmas" (from the CD Songs for Alaska)
Steve McDonald: "Christmas Time Again" (IODA Promonet)
Arrica Rose: "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (Podshow)
The Swingle Singers: "Christmas Song" (IODA)
Last November: "Christmas Medley 2008" (Ariel Publicity)
Mahalia Jackson: "Silent Night (46bliss remix)" (IODA)
Craig Taubman: "Maoz_Tsur" (IODA)
Carla Lynne Hall: "Please Come Home for Christmas" (Ariel) -- supporting Songs of Love, which provides personalized songs for children or young adults facing life-threatening illness
Grupo Son Sabor: "Bella Es La Navidad" (IODA)
Sam Marsh and the Happy Room Orchestra: "Super Saturnalia" (Ariel) -- raising money for Sweet Relief, which aids musicians facing health problems, disability or the effects of age
The Swingle Singers: "Last Christmas" (IODA)
Jana Mashonee: "O Holy Night" (Ariel) -- raising money for Jana's Kids, a charity for Native American children
Lee Alexander: "Deck the Halls/We Wish You a Merry Christmas" (Podshow)
Steve McDonald: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" (IODA)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site, as long as the promotions last.

Video: "O Holy Night" by Eoin Harrington

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:00:00 GMT

This song was featured in a contest blurb already; here's the video, again provided by the folks at Ariel Publicity.

(Direct download here.)

Here's wishing you a happy holiday, and once again asking you to consider donating as part of the charity drive.

Mental Nomad Podcast 121: 2008 Fadeout, 2 of 3

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:01:00 GMT

Continuing the year-end shows. Dancing Mattress Productions waives all liability for injuries received from genre transitions.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Deep 6 Holiday: "It's Not Me" (Ariel Publicity)
Mama's Cookin': "Tough Times" (Ariel)
Natacha Atlas and The Mazeeka Ensemble: "Ya Laure Hobouki" (IODA Promonet)
Admiral Twin: "In My Veins" (Podshow)
Charlie Parker with Dizzy Gillespie's Rebop Six: "Groovin' High" (IODA)
Arrica Rose: "Break-Ups & Commitments" (Podshow)
Doug Cash: "Loathsome and Blue" (Ariel)
Larry Winfield: "Six Days Late" (Podshow)
Antonina Nezhdanova: "Davno l' Pod Volshebniye Zvuki? Op. 48, No. 5 (When was the Last Time We Danced?)" (IODA)
Dare Dukes: "From a Plane" (Ariel)
Jason leBlanc: "Delicate to a Degree and Harsh to a Point" (Podshow)
Jaime Heras: "El Dorado" (Jamendo)
Kurt Kreikenbom: "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" (from the artist)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site, as long as the promotions remain active.

Video: "Goodnight Irene" by Josh Charles

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:55:00 GMT

Courtesy of Ariel Publicity.

Mental Nomad Podcast 120: 2008 Fadeout, 1 of 3

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 06:01:00 GMT

Here's the first of three no-talking episodes -- at least, no talk from me -- to wrap up the year 2008. Lots of artists make their Dancing Mattress Productions podcast debuts over the next three weeks. Beware of whiplash from unexpected sonic juxtapositions.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Citizens of Contrary Knowledge: "Spread Your Wings" (Ariel Publicity)
Miranda Vettrus: "Book of Lies" (Ariel)
Human People: "I'd Run Just Like You" (Submitted by the band)
Chris DeMarco: "Love and Murder" (Ariel)
Amy Courts: "Barely Breathing" (Podshow)
Iceberg Slim: "Broadway Sam" (IODA Promonet)
Rhoda Nkojo: "Time After Time" (Ariel)
Jessica Mellott: "Life Grabs You and Starts to Rock" (Podshow)
Alan Watts: "Untitled Zen Poem" (IODA)
Oum Kalthoum: "Araka Assi Addami" (IODA)
Marc Farre: "Secret Symphony" (Submitted by the artist)
Melissa Ferrick: "I'm Going to Break Your Heart" (Ariel)
WoodFish: "Bamm Diddley" (Ariel)

Visit the Blogger site to download IODA-sponsored tracks, as long as the promotions remain active.

Video: "Stay With Me" by John Taglieri

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:30:00 GMT

Here's another video from this New Jersey-based artist, courtesy of Ariel Publicity.

A new Mental Nomad Podcast will be coming your way tomorrow, the first of three no-talkers that close out the year in quite strange fashion -- lots of odd juxtapositions, quite a few new names in the mix.

Pod Across America 5: Georgia, Part 1

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:01:00 GMT

We start off a two-part look at music from The Peach State, Georgia, with today's show. It's a little under 40 minutes, almost no talking -- we'll save the Georgia trivia for the Jan. 1 show -- and like we did with New Jersey, we're starting off with the folks who've hit the big time already.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

James Brown: "Gut Bucket"
Ying Yang Twins: "Look Back at It"
Collective Soul: "All That I Know"
Amy Ray: "Birds of a Feather"
Sevendust: "Driven"
of Montreal: "If I Faltered Slightly Twice"
Black Crowes: "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution"
Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland and Robert Cray: "The Moon Is Full"
AM feat. Meiko: "New Road"
Otis Redding: "Shake"

All songs in today's show came via the Podsafe Music Network. (Longtime listeners to The Mental Nomad Podcast will recognize a few of these tunes, something I'll try to avoid on this show, but if it's a choice between playing an Otis Redding song a second time or not playing an Otis Redding song here at all, there's really no choice there at all -- you give the man an encore.)

Those thinking Amy Ray's name sounds vaguely familiar might not know she's done solo work; she first rose to prominence as one half of the folk duo The Indigo Girls.

As for the collaborations on here: Meiko is a Georgian, while AM is from Oklahoma. Robert Cray is from Georgia, while the late Albert Collins and the late Johnny Copeland both emerged from the Texas blues scene.

Video: "The Undoing (Every Day)" by Dudley Saunders

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Thanks again to Ariel Publicity.

The new Pod Across America, featuring Georgia artists, will be coming your way Monday.

Mental Nomad Podcast 119: 31 Theses (Like 31 Flavors, But All Sour)

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:01:00 GMT

Here's another episode where I rant and rave -- think Bill Hicks or George Carlin, except they were talented. This show is rated Explicit on the Libsyn feed, and it's not suitable for all ages or all audiences.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Roomful of Blues: "The Love You Lost on the Way" (Podshow)
Citizens of Contrary Knowledge: "House of Cards" (Ariel Publicity)
Rachel Griffin: "I'm Up to No Good" (from the album by the same name)
Rebecca Griffin: "Baby, Baby All the Time" (from the album Live at Kelly's)
Little Plastic Stars: "Star 69 Me" (Podshow)
Secret Archives of the Vatican: "The Halls of Byzantium" (Podshow)
Patti Rothberg: "Get Away With It" (Ariel)
The Tombstone: "Can I Be You" (Podshow)
Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart: "Oh Well" (IODA Promonet)
Jules Shear: "The Tide Had Turned" (IODA)
The SilenTreatment: "Body Talk" (Ariel)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site, provided their promotions haven't ended.

And yes, the Rachel Griffin track's been used before ... that's a rule I seem to be relaxing some in my old age. (Maybe it's just a sign she needs to release a new album!)

Video: "Running Away" by Sabrina Shaheen

Mon, 8 Dec 2008 19:00:00 GMT

Here's another video from Michigan native Sabrina Shaheen, again provided by the folks at Ariel Publicity.

Video: "Draining" by Ryan Calhoun

Mon, 8 Dec 2008 02:20:00 GMT

Another video provided by the folks at Ariel Publicity.

Video: "Seventeen at Three in the Morning" by Last November

Thu, 4 Dec 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Here's a video from the Atlanta band Last November, courtesy of Ariel Publicity. The band will be featured in one of the two Georgia-based episodes of Pod Across America.

2008 Holidaze Special, Part 2

Wed, 3 Dec 2008 07:01:00 GMT

This is the second half of this year's holiday special. It's a bit less diverse than last year's, but still contains a mix of Jewish, Christian, pagan-leaning and secular music of the holiday season.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Kati Mac: "Deck the Halls" (Ariel Publicity)
Hal Rosen: "Hallelujah" (IODA Promonet)
Tom Smith: "Baby New Year" (Podshow)
Kati Mac: "Angels We Have Heard on High" (Ariel)
Admiral Twin: "We Three Kings" (Podshow)
John Tasker Howard: "The First Noel" (IODA)
Colie Brice: "Christmas Blues" (Podshow)
Kati Mac: "It Isn't Christmas" (Ariel)
Deni Bonet: "It's You & Me This Xmas" (Ariel)
Hal Rosen: "Hashivenu" (IODA)
Fugli: "In the Bleak Midwinter" (Podshow)
Kati Mac: "Auld Lang Syne" (Ariel)

The Mental Nomad Podcast returns Dec. 10, and Pod Across America starts a two-part look at Georgia music on Dec. 15.

IODA-sponsored tracks will be available at the Blogger site as long as the promotions remain active.

2008 Holidaze Special, Part 1

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 07:01:00 GMT

This is the first half of this year's holiday special. It's a bit less diverse than last year's, but still contains a mix of Jewish, Christian, pagan-leaning and secular music of the holiday season.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Kati Mac: "Jazzy Jingle Bells" (Ariel Publicity)
Hal Rosen: "Bayom Hahu" (IODA Promonet)
We Yes You No: "World Around Glows" (MySpace)
The Chubbies: "Nothing More I Want for Xmas" (MySpace)
Kati Mac: "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (Ariel)
Colie Brice: "Little Drummer Boy" (Podshow)
Deep 6 Holiday: "Lo, How a Rose/God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen" (Ariel)
Klezmatics: "Spin Dreydl Spin" (IODA)
Chris Daniels and the Kings: "Cool Yule" (Ariel)
Allison Crowe: "What Child Is This" (Podshow)
Bing Crosby: "White Christmas (Kaskade Remix)" (IODA)
Kati Mac: "Silent Night" (Ariel)

Part two will be coming your way tomorrow.

IODA-sponsored tracks whose promotions are still active may be downloaded at the Blogger site. (The Bing Crosby promotion ended during the two weeks between my downloading the song and publishing this episode.)

Pod Across America 4: New Jersey, Part 2

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 07:01:00 GMT

Here's the second half of our stop in New Jersey, largely focusing this time on up-and-coming podsafe artists.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Lance Larson: "Lawyers, Guns and Money (live at the Stone Pony)" (Podshow)
Colie Brice: "Born Under a Bad Ass Sign" (Podshow)
Sarah Donner: "Knocks on a Door" (Podshow)
John Taglieri: "Lonely Together" (Ariel Publicity)
Overtime: "King for a Day" (artist submitted)
Blanks 77: "Spirit of 77" (Podshow)
The Saskatchewan Trio: "Thank God I'm an Atheist" (Podshow)
The Saskatchewan Trio: "100 Years and Still Choking" (Podshow)
Alice Marie: "Lipstick Diaries" (Podshow -- which lists her from New Jersey, but her MySpace says New York)
The Marble Tea: "Temporarily Not the K-Man" (Podshow)
Anthony Fiumano: "The Information Age" (Podshow)
Lance Larson feat. Jon Bon Jovi: "Listen to Your Heartbeat" (Podshow)

The 2008 Holidaze Special will be coming your way Tuesday and Wednesday; Pod Across America kicks off a two-part look at Georgia music with the Dec. 15 episode.

Video: "Firefly" by Judd Starr

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:25:00 GMT

Here's another video provided by the great folks at Ariel Publicity. Judd Starr will show up on The Mental Nomad Podcast before he shows up on Pod Across America, because his home state of Nevada is a long way down that road.

The new Pod Across America show will come your way Monday, featuring up-and-coming artists from New Jersey.

Then on Tuesday and Wednesday, you'll get the 2008 Holidaze Special in two parts.

Hope all had a good Thanksgiving.

Video: "Shout" by Donna Lewis

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:40:00 GMT

English singer Donna Lewis appears here courtesy of Ariel Publicity, and you'll hear more from her in future episodes.

Video: "Lucky Ones" by Josh Charles

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:45:00 GMT

Josh Charles' music has previously appeared on The Mental Nomad Podcast, and he may also show up in a New York episode of Pod Across America. He's seen here live at The Cutting Room, in a video brought to you by Ariel Publicity.

2007 Holiday Mix, Part 2 (repost)

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 07:05:00 GMT

Concluding the repeats of last year's two-part holiday special. Look for a new Pod Across America on Dec. 1 and a new holiday edition of The Mental Nomad Podcast on Dec. 3.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Podsafe for Peace, "If Every Day Were Christmas" (Podshow)
Dean Martin, "Jingle Bells (Dan the Automator remix)" (IODA Promonet)
Josh Jacobson, "The Chanukah Song" (Podshow)
Krista Detor, "Christmas in London" (IODA)
Oppenheimer, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" (Podshow)
Tony Evans and His Orchestra, "White Christmas" (IODA)
James Curley, "My Last Silent Night" (via the artist's MySpace site)
Admiral Twin, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Podshow)
Gloria Reuben, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" (IODA)
Charlie Crowe, "O Holy Night" (Podshow)
Jeffrey Scot Wills, "Frosty the Snowman" (IODA)
Allison Crowe, "In the Bleak Midwinter" (Podshow)
Mario Ajero, "Auld Lang Syne" (Podshow)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded below, presuming the promotions haven't expired. Proceeds from the sale of the Podsafe for Peace track go to UNICEF.

Video -- "Swing That Tambourine" by Kristoffer Ragnstam

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Here's another video provided by the good folks at Ariel Publicity. Kristoffer Ragnstam is an artist I've played once before and will be featuring again in the not-too-distant future.

Video -- "Book of Lies" by Miranda Vettrus

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Miranda Vettrus is a teenager, but thankfully, her work is quite different from the plastic cut-out singers from the Disney laboratories. Her listed influences include Pink Floyd, Johnny Cash, Blondie, the Oak Ridge Boys, the Go Gos ... and, having grown up in an amusement park in Oregon, she's well accustomed to jumping off great heights, so the music industry and eventual global conquest should be a breeze for her as long as she stays grounded and keeps her head straight.

You'll hear from her in a future episode of Pod Across America -- far in the future -- and sooner on the Mental Nomad Podcast.

(Her bio doesn't list the Pixies as an influence, but the style of this video reminds me of the video that band did for their cover of the Jesus & Mary Chain's song "Head On." And, in fact, the rhythm of this song reminds me a bit of the Pixies' sound as well.)

Video -- "Get On With It" by Val Emmich

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Here's another video that came from the folks at Ariel Publicity, though I believe his promotion with them may have ended. This song appeared in last week's episode of the Mental Nomad Podcast.

Emmich is apparently an actor, as well as being a musician. A recent Cyber PR newsletter said he would be appearing on

2007 Holiday Mix, Part 1 (repost)

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:05:00 GMT

We're closing out November's shows with a re-presentation of last year's two-parter with music reflecting a variety of winter holiday experiences. A new episode of holiday music likely will be coming along in December, maybe as early as the Dec. 3 episode; the next Pod Across America show is coming Dec. 1, as scheduled.

Here's what you'll hear today:

The Klezmatics: "Hanukkah Tree" (lyrics by Woody Guthrie) (via IODA Promonet)
Fugli: "Patapon" (via Podshow)
Allison Crowe: "O Holy Night" (Podshow)
Charles Afton: "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" (IODA)
Woody Phillips: "The Twelve Days of Christmas" (IODA)
Jonathan Coulton: "Chiron Beta Prime" (Podshow)
Stacey Kent: "The Christmas Song" (IODA)
Gary: "The Holly and the Ivy" (Podshow)
cLuMsY: "Santa's Hung Up His Sack" (via the band's MySpace site)
Jon Caspi: "Eight Days (A Chanukah Song)" (Podshow)
Robert Willey: "Winter Solstice" (Podshow)
Billy Paul Williams: "The Kwanzaa Song" (IODA)
The Cathedral Singers, Richard Proulx conductor: "Ave Maria" (IODA)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site, assuming the promotions haven't expired.

Video -- "Oh No" By KaiserCartel

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:01:00 GMT

No new episode today, due to scheduling problems, so I'm instead offering you FOUR music videos provided by the good folks at Ariel Publicity AND the first of two re-releases of last year's holiday specials. A new episode of holiday music will be coming in early to mid-December, most likely.

KaiserCartel made their Mental Nomad Podcast debut last week with the song "Inside Out."

Pod Across America 3: New Jersey, Part 1

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:01:00 GMT

There's enough music from New Jersey that I've decided to do two episodes featuring artists from the Garden State. This one features bigger-name artists ... the Dec. 1 show will feature up-and-comers.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Yo La Tengo: "Detouring America With Horns" (IODA Promonet)
Dramarama: "Everybody Dies" (IODA)
Black Ice (Ice-T and Black Silver): "So Fly" (Podshow)
Akon: "Gringo" (IODA)
God Forbid: "To the Fallen Hero" (Podshow)
Saves the Day: "At Your Funeral" (Podshow)
Carole King: "Safe Again" (IODA)
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: "The Sons of Cain" (Podshow)
Paramore: "Pressure" (Podshow)
Lesley Gore: "It's Gone" (IODA)
George Clinton feat Sly Stone and El Debarge: "Ain't That Peculiar" (Podshow)
Jesse Malin feat. Bruce Springsteen: "Broken Radio" (Podshow)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

Mental Nomad Podcast 118: Turn, Turn, Turn

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:01:00 GMT

You don't hear "Turn, Turn, Turn" -- the Pete Seeger composition lifted from the Bible and popularized by The Byrds -- in today's episode, but the notion of turning and of change does recur throughout the course of the songs here, more or less by coincidence.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Nina Simone: "Turn Me On ( Vocal Mix)" (Podshow)
Chris Daniels & the Kings: "The Heart of a Saturday Night" (Ariel Publicity)
Devil Doll: "Doreen" (Podshow)
Daydream on Autopilot: "Dreams" (Ariel Publicity)
Ash Verjee: "Signs" (Podshow)
Pablo's Eye: "Opina" (IODA Promonet)
Makrolon feat. Scarlet: "I Turn to You" (Podshow)
Val Emmich: "Get On With It" (Ariel Publicity)
The Nein: "Faint Sounds" (Podshow)
KaiserCartel: "Inside Out" (Ariel Publicity)
Tom Waits: "Alice" (Podshow)
Nina Simone: "Turn Me On ( Main Mix)" (Podshow)

Bonus track:
The Postmarks: "11:59" (Blondie cover, found at Podshow)

The IODA-sponsored track may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

The new Pod Across America episode will arrive Saturday, the first of two episodes featuring artists from New Jersey. That show's blog is currently featuring a lot of music from the Garden State.

Video -- "Cry Little Sister" by G Tom Mac

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:00:00 GMT

G Tom Mac's "Cry Little Sister" was originally recorded under the name Gerard McMann, for the film THE LOST BOYS. A recent re-recording was produced for that film's sequel, and both versions -- as well as other works from this British artist -- have appeared on the video.

He's represented by Ariel Publicity, which provided this video.

Video -- "Still in Love With You" by FiveAM

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:00:00 GMT

FiveAM is a California band you'll hear from in future shows. Here's a video clip of the band's song "Still in Love With You," provided by the good folks at Ariel Publicity.

Episode 117: Yes, We Did

Wed, 5 Nov 2008 20:49:00 GMT

That strange, tingling sensation I felt last night was hope, it turns out. Thank you to the listeners who voted yesterday (or earlier) in the American election, and especially for those who voted for Barack Obama.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Hot Buttered Rum: "Reckless Tex" (Ariel Publicity)
Manze Dayila and the Nago Nation: "Change (The Barack Obama Song)" (Podshow)
Abiyou Solomon: "Ethiopia 2000 (Ethiopia Millennium Song)" (Ariel Publicity)
Ingrid Michaelson: "Be OK" (Podshow)
Josh Charles: "Love, Work and Money" (Ariel Publicity)
Paul Jeffery: "Through Heartache and Back" (Ariel Publicity)
Michael Franti and Spearhead: "Say Hey (I Love You)" (Podshow)
Splitsville: "Our Love Was" (Podshow)
Conservative Man: "Back of an Empty Bus" (Podshow)
Hot Buttered Rum: "Guns or Butter" (Ariel Publicity)

Both tracks from Hot Buttered Rum are available as free downloads at their Web site. As stated in the episode, some proceeds from sales of Ingrid Michaelson's new album Be OK will benefit Stand Up to Cancer. And no, the Josh Charles featured here isn't the actor from Sports Night, Dead Poets Society and In Treatment, though he also rocks mightily.

A new Mental Nomad Podcast will be here next Wednesday, and a new Pod Across America (featuring music from New Jersey) will arrive Nov. 15.

Video -- "How Will I Know" by John Taglieri

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 18:21:00 GMT

Another video provided by the kind folks at Ariel Publicity.

Video -- "My Secret" by Sabrina Shaheen

Mon, 3 Nov 2008 17:26:00 GMT

Here's a video for Sabrina Shaheen's song "My Secret," provided by Ariel Publicity.

Pod Across America 2: Pennsylvania

Sat, 1 Nov 2008 06:01:00 GMT

Today's episode takes to the Keystone State, Pennsylvania, the second state to join the union. It's also called the Quaker State in honor of its founder and namesake, William Penn, who decreed religious tolerance in keeping with his religious beliefs.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Joan Jett: "The Word" (IODA Promonet)
Tommy B. Goode: "Leave the Gun, Take the Canoli" (Podshow)
All Crazy: "Walk Away" (courtesy Miles High Productions)
21st Century Trio: "Bodega" (GarageBand)
NalinaKanthi: "Thandanana Abi - Bowli Raagam" (GarageBand)
Teddy Pendergrass: "Power of One" (IODA)
Somewhere off Jazz Street: "Scene of the Crime" (GarageBand)
Ween: "Your Party" (IODA)
Baron Von Lichtenstein: "No Way Out" (Podshow)
Guardian Mind Mix: "Spinning World" (Podshow)
Human People: "Count It All Good" (artist submitted)

The Nov. 15 episode will feature music from New Jersey; visit the Pod Across America blog in the next couple of weeks to see entries spotlighting creative folks from the Garden State. A new Mental Nomad Podcast will be available for your listening pleasure next Wednesday, Nov. 5.

Human People lead singer Mike Robinson has been featured in previous episodes with the bands Holland Boys and King God.

IODA-sponsored content may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

Episode 116: Blue Halloween (repost)

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:01:00 GMT

This isn't really a Halloween episode, but a couple of tunes here do fit the mood of this week's holiday. (This was accidentally up a short time last week.)

Here's what you'll hear today:

Goldstars: "Purple Girlfriend" (artist-submitted)
Koko Taylor: "Voodoo Woman" (Podshow)
Son Seals: "Landlord at My Door" (Podshow)
Elvin Bishop: "Night Time Is the Right Time" (Podshow)
Charlie Hunter: "Baboon Strength" (IODA Promonet)
Little Plastic Stars: "Welcome to the Fall" (Podshow)
G. Tom Mac: "Under Your Skin" (Ariel Publicity)
Noam Weinstein: "Planet" (Podshow)
Natives of the New Dawn: "No Mistakes" (Podshow)
Joe Pacino: "6 AM" (IODA)

"Planet" is Noam Weinstein's new single, and you can download it -- with a B-side! -- for free at his Web site.

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

Episode 115: Rockin' All Over the World

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 08:00:00 GMT

Two episodes in a row where I actually take the time to introduce shows? Madness! And yet, here I am, talking in this episode.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Dashboard Confessional: "Bend and Not Break" (Podshow)
Buena Vista Social Club: "De Camino a la Vereda (live)" (IODA)
Kalliopi: "Naked" (Ariel Publicity)
Boy George: "Yes We Can" (Podshow)
Sophia Ramos: "Say You Will" (Podshow)
Sabrina Shaheen: "Look Into My Eyes" (Ariel Publicity)
Matthew Gerken, Christian Kiefer and Jefferson Pitcher feat. Vince DiFiore of Cake: "Gerald Ford - Now You See It, Now You Don't" (IODA)
Katy Mae: "You May Already Be a Winner" (Speakeasy PR)
Oppenheimer: "Look Up" (Planetary Group)
Sylvia Bennett feat. Boots Randolph, Ed Calle and Kirk Whalum: "Since I Fell for You" (Ariel Publicity)

Two podcasts coming from me next week: the next Mental Nomad Podcast will arrive Wednesday, as usual, then Pod Across America #2 -- featuring music from Pennsylvania artists -- will be released on Nov. 1.

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

Pod Across America 1: Delaware

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:01:00 GMT

The inaugural episode of Pod Across America features music from Delaware, the first state admitted into the Union, as well as facts about The First State -- its size, its people, famous folks from there and more.

Today's music includes:

Twin Ego: "Flooded" (Podshow)
Macabean the Rebel: "Ravenous Gratification" (Podshow)
Three Legged Fox: "Soul Thief (live)" (Podshow)
KingRobbie (Robbie King): "Wanting You" (Garageband)
Melissa Cox: "Goddess" (Podshow)
One Armed Bandits: "Hopelessly Wandering" (Garageband)
Bullette: "Little Bird" (Podshow)
Joe Campbell: "Get a Feel" (Podshow)
The Metrosexuals: "Magneto" (Podshow)

On Nov. 1, Pod Across America heads into Pennsylvania. (I may have said New Jersey in the episode, but if so, that's a mistake.) Visit the separate Pod Across America blog for recent posts related to Delaware and upcoming entries related to Pennsylvania -- musicians from that state, maybe some travel video, and other material in advance of the next show.

The Mental Nomad Podcast resumes next Wednesday, Oct. 22.

Episode 114: Call Now for a Free Kitchen Sink

Wed, 8 Oct 2008 04:01:00 GMT

Another talk-free episode, eclectic perhaps to a fault. You can be the judge of that. I'd recorded a spoken bit to serve both this episode and the previous week's, but a technical glitch caused me to leave it out.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Nashville Session Players: "Who Would Jesus Bomb?" (Podshow)
Marcia Ball: "Louella" (Podshow)
Jack Jezzro: "I Got It Bad, And That Ain't Good" (Ariel Publicity)
Gustav Bertha: "Paper and Sand" (from the album TRUE NORTH)
United States Three: "Morning Breaks" (IODA Promonet)
Diane di Stasio: "On and On" (Garageband)
aJt: "Bordeaux Wine" (Podshow)
Steve Wynn: "Manhattan Fault Line" (Podshow)
Mr. Russia: "XOXO" (IODA)
Lin McEwan: "You Can Leave Your Hat On" (Ariel Publicity)
E.S. Posthumus: "Mosane" (Podshow)
Kasey Lansdale: "Back of my Smile" (from the EP by the same name)

IODA-provided tracks are available for download at the Blogger site.

Next week's Mental Nomad Podcast will not be a Mental Nomad Podcast; it's the first episode of my new spinoff show, featuring music from each of the 50 American states (plus the District in Columbia), in order of incorporation. Come back next week for sounds from Delaware.

Episode 113: Thou Shall Not Fall

Wed, 1 Oct 2008 05:01:00 GMT

Wrapping up the month with another no-talker. Like last week, I recorded a spoken bit -- unlike last week, technical problems and not a lack of sleep kept me from getting it added to the file. Oops.

Here's what you'll hear today:

G Tom Mac: "Cry Little Sister (2008 CaveClub Video Mix)" (Ariel Publicity)
Del the Funkyhomosapien and Dan the Automator: "Mastermind" (IODA Promonet)
Lovespirals: "Motherless Child (Hungry Lucy remix)" (Podshow)
Taco and Da Mofos: "Reggae Persuasion" (MySpace)
John Brown's Body: "Amplify" (IODA)
The Raveonettes: "Lust (Trentmeller remix)" (Podshow)
Jaime Heras: "Solar Wind" (Jamendo)
The Pimps of Joytime: "H20 (DJ Smash remix)" (Ariel Publicity)
Lee "Scratch" Perry: "Having a Party" (IODA)
G Tom Mac: "Cry Little Sister (original THE LOST BOYS version)" (Ariel Publicity)

This is largely a groove-driven episode, featuring rap, reggae and dance music, though oddly enough, the guy with arguably the most hip-hop-sounding name -- G Tom Mac, nee Gerard McMann -- is doing something in the ballpark of rock 'n' roll, and Jaime Heras' track would most accurately be categorized as New Age. He approached me through Jamendo, and I play him with thanks as a nice "breather" between the heavier tracks -- and I'll be playing more from him in the future.

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

And remember, folks: I'm taking title recommendations for my new state-by-state music podcast through Oct. 1. That show will launch Oct. 15.

Episode 112: Loneliness Is a Cloak You Wear

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:00:00 GMT

Today's a no-talk episode for one reason only: Ye Olde Podcaster overslept Tuesday. Song intros were recorded Monday night, and I'd planned to mix this Tuesday before getting on the road, but I slept so late time didn't allow. You get an extra song because of this.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Mr. Russia: "Wild World" (IODA Promonet)
Justin Townes Earle: "Hard Livin'" (Podshow)
Kristoffer Ragnstam: "I Heard About My Own Death on the Radio" (Ariel Publicity)
Jimmy Lloyd: "Siddhartha in a Chevy" (Ariel Publicity)
Shemekia Copeland: "The Other Woman" (Podshow)
Rachel Griffin: "This Beautiful Day Today" (MySpace)
The Sky About to Rain: "I Died for Beauty"
Josh Woodward: "She Dreams in Blue"
Kira Fontana: "Always" (Ariel Publicity)
The Perfects: "End of Us"
Kurt Kreikenbom: "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore"

Much thanks to Ric Peters from The Perfects for e-mailing the song in today's show, off the band's upcoming album.

Thanks also to Kurt Kreikenbom, who has two albums up for download at his MySpace profile -- The Capital Years, Vol. 1, which contains the song in today's show, and The Making of "Make Believe Love." You can likewise get Josh Woodward's song at his site -- donate if you can -- and Rachel Griffin has made her song available free at her Web site or her MySpace.

Today's track from The Sky About to Rain comes from CD; his music's available at CD Baby.

The Mr. Russia track, a Birthday Party cover from a Nick Cave tribute album, may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

And remember, folks: I'm taking title recommendations for my new state-by-state music podcast through Oct. 1. That show will launch Oct. 15.

Episode 111: Not a Cover Show, But a Shroud

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:01:00 GMT

A no-talking episode recorded after the recent death of my aunt. None of her favorite musicians were podsafe, but I found covers of some of them: Willie Nelson, The Beatles and Bob Dylan, to be precise. (Couldn't find any podsafe covers of The Eagles or Bob Seger, though I tried my hardest.)

Here's what you'll hear today:

The Swingle Singers: "Ticket to Ride" (IODA)
Twilight Dementia: "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" (Ariel Publicity)
Phil Mason's New Orleans All-Stars feat. Christine Tyrrell: "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" (IODA)
Rick Wakeman: "Eleanor Rigby" (IODA) (originally presented in the remastered Episode 3)
Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat: "I Shall Be Released" (IODA)
J.J. McGeehan: "And I Love Her" (IODA)
The Stylistics: "Always on My Mind" (IODA)
AM with Tina Dico: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (Podshow) (originally presented in Episode 98)
The Swingle Singers: "Drive My Car" (IODA)
Nathaniel Street-West: "Motorpsycho Nightmare" (IODA) (originally presented in Episode 65)
Sly Joe: "And I Love Her" (Podshow) (originally presented in Episode 38)

... And, as noted, this episode breaks my long-standing rule of not repeating tracks outside the context of remastering episodes or compiling best-of shows. Allow me the departure from the norm in this instance.

All the IODA tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

Don't forget: I'm looking for a name for the spinoff podcast that launches in October. There's still time to offer your suggestion and make yourself eligible for prizes!

Episode 110: Regrets and Rancor

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:00:00 GMT

This one's full of chatter, me getting some things off my chest about this year's elections, about my general misanthrophy and about that long block of silence from a few weeks back. AND: I announce a new contest.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Alice Cooper: "I'm Eighteen (live)" (Podshow)
Rachael Sage: "Vertigo" (On Target Media)
Carey Bell: "Must I Holler" (Podshow)
Natalie Walker: "Over and Under" (IODA Promonet)
Dave Stewart and His Rock Fabulous Orchestra: "Lily Was Here" (Podshow)
Jack Jezzro: "Brazilian Nights" (Ariel Publicity)
Emma Wallace: "I Don't Like You Either" (Podshow)
Human People: "Just Like Honey" (MySpace)

The Rachael Sage and Natalie Walker tracks may be downloaded at http://mentalnomadshow.blogspot.com, where you can also leave me a suggested title for the new bimonthly spin-off show featuring podsafe music from each American state, going in order from Delaware to Hawaii, starting in October.

Philadelphia's Human People is the new project fronted by Mike Robinson, the former lead vocalist of King God and the Holland Boys, and I'm pleased as punch to include this lead-off tune from the new band here. (It's a Jesus and Mary Chain cover, but the band's MySpace profile also includes an original track.)

Human People will be playing a gig Saturday, Sept. 13, at Liberty Lands Park in Philadelphia as part of an all-day event raising money for the park, located at 3rd and Poplar. Their set begins at 6:45 p.m.

Episode 109: Breaking Silence

Wed, 3 Sep 2008 10:00:00 GMT

You hear me talking -- barely -- in this one. I'm not verbose, not living the high life, but I did at least bother to speak this time. Guess that's a step in the right direction.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Michael Franti and Spearhead: "A Little Bit of Riddim" (Podshow)
The Dirty Heads: "Stand Tall" (CD)
Sirsy: "Crazy" (CD)
Echo Screen: "The Science of Stopping Time" (Ariel Publicity)
Deep Purple: "Wild Woman from Tokyo (live)" (Podshow)
Kalliopi: "Around the World" (Ariel Publicity)
The Secret Machines: "Dreaming of Dreaming" (Podshow)
Bazza: "Skinny Dippin'" (CD)
Louise Bendall: "Foot in Mouth" (GarageBand)
Juliana Hatfield feat. Richard Butler: "This Lonely Love" (IODA)

I screwed up and said Juliana Hatfield was with Throwing Muses; she was with the band Blake Babies and appeared one at least one Lemonheads album. Richard Butler was the lead singer of the Psychadelic Furs.

The Bazza tune is inspired by Carl Hiaasen's novel Skinny Dip, and indeed Hiaasen is listed alongside Barry Crawford (Bazza's given name) as the song's co-writer.

Special thanks to Bazza and Sircy for sending me their latest albums on their own initiative! You can download the IODA-sponsored track at the Blogger site.

Episode 108: All My Failings Expose

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Final of three non-talking episodes featuring music that originally accompanied announcements for a past contest.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Sophia Ramos: "Kill Your Pain" (Podshow)
Allison Crowe: "Montreal" (Podshow)
Last Year's Model: "Bloody Valentine" (Garageband)
Rosey: "It's a Ruse" (IODA)
Presidents of the United States of America: "Sharpen Up Those Fangs" (IODA)
Blake Leyh: "Apophenia" (CD)
Lesley Gore: "You Don't Own Me" (Podshow)
Bright Eyes: "Take It Easy (Love Nothing)" (Podshow)
The Orb: "Vuja De (Pathaan's Musical Rickshaw Remix)" (IODA)
Kara Johnstad: "Let Go And Trust" (MySpace)
The Sky About to Rain: "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (CD)

IODA-sponsored tracks (except for the track by The Orb -- promotion apparently ended after I used it the first time) may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

Episode 107: Youth's the Most Unfaithful Mistress

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Continuing a three-week look back at tracks I used in a contest, now collected in full-length episode format without the outdated chatter. (In fact, I talk not at all this week.)

Here's what you'll hear today:

Amy Abdou: "Just Like a Woman" (Podshow)
Roomful of Blues: "Lower on Your List of Priorities" (IODA)
Lichtzwang: "I'm Not the One" (MySpace)
Pink Skull: "Uguoaaaahhhhh" (IODA)
Jayme Dawicki: "I Don't Want This Anymore" (CD)
The Heroes of the Revolution: "My Money's in the Gutter Blues" (Podshow)
Sophie Moleta: "Te-Atawhai" (Podshow)
Steve Earle: "Ellis Unit One (Live at Montreaux)" (Podshow)
Not the Sensational Alex Harvey Band: "Faith Healer" (MySpace)
Post Death Soundtrack: "Decentralize" (MySpace)
Dashboard Confessional: "Swiss Army Romance" (Podshow)

IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

Episode 106: He Said/She Said

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

Still not talking. Here begin three episodes putting music used in a past contest into the context of full-length episodes; the "contest blurbs" have been deleted from the server.

(I haven't forgotten to award all the prizes. Just, urm, money's been tight.)

Here's what you'll hear today:

Sathima Bea Benjamin: "I've Got It Bad, And That Ain't Good" (IODA)
Kurt Kreikenbom: "On the Banks of the Royal Canal" (MySpace)
Ellen Cherry: "December 6 (The Night Before)" (CD)
Plain White Ts: "Bruises" (Podshow)
Ripped: "Misery" (Garageband)
The Xbanders: "Leave Here" (MySpace)
Holly Bakehorn: "Newly Independent" (CD)
The Genders: "Mammary Glands" (Podshow)
Rebecca and the Hi Tones: "Crazylegs Saloon" (Garageband)
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: "Weapon of Choice" (MySpace)

The IODA-sponsored track may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

Episode 105: Letting the Music Speak for Itself

Wed, 6 Aug 2008 09:00:00 GMT

I barely talked at all last episode. You won't hear me even one little bit today. Just not in the mood to hear my own voice at the time I put this one together.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Lin McEwan: "I Could Lie to You" (Ariel Publicity)
Cake: "Thrills" (IODA)
Mean Gene Kelton and the Die Hards: "Little Black Dress" (Podshow)
Career Club: "Old Fashioned" (Ariel Publicity)
Planetakis: "Pogo in the Shoes of Kylie Minogue" (IODA)
Amir Beso: "Amor Fati" (CD)
Michael Monroe: "Life Is a Mystery" (Garageband)
Kara Johnstad: "Different Planes" (MySpace)
Blake Leyh: "Gracias Por La Noche" (CD)
Josephine: "I Think of You (Je Pense A Toi)" (Ariel Publicity)
The New Jimi Cult: "Walkin' Blues" (Podshow)
Lin McEwan: "Feel" (Ariel Publicity)

I couldn't decide whether feature a song from Lin McEwan's first full-length CD or the EP that's previewing the new one ... so I didn't choose. I included one from each. "I Could Lie to You," a duet with John Rochette, may be familiar to longtime listeners of this podcast; it's a cover of a Noam Weinstein duet with Norah Jones, which I featured way back in Episode 30.

The track by The New Jimi Cult was the second of four at-then-unplayed tracks sampled in Episode 103. Look for the remaining two tracks in the next couple of weeks, or maybe just together next week since they were both in a "classic rock" vein.

The IODA-sponsored tracks may be downloaded at the Blogger site.

Episode 104: The One Where I Sit Out

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

When you can't do anything right, try not doing anything. When you can't say anything right, shut your mouth and let the music play.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Curtis Mayfield: "Future Shock" (IODA)
Mishoo the Drumkit: "A Look of Love Remix" (sampling Dusty Springfield's cover of Burt Bacharach's "The Look of Love") (Podshow)
Sax & Moryson: "Disco Girl Strip" (Jamendo)
Uma Floresta: "The Noise of Departure" (Podsafe Audio)
Craig Olson: "All One People" (Garageband)
Twilight Dementia: "Gimme Shelter" (Ariel Publicity)
Abakuya: "Mangue Sauvage" (Podshow)
The Crash Moderns: "Where Did All the Scene Girls Go" (Ariel Publicity)
Saharadja: "Hungarian Dance" (Podshow)
Alicia Marie: "The Honest Approach" (Podshow)
Danny Aiello: "Pennies from Heaven" (IODA)

The Uma Floresta track was the first of four then-unrevealed songs sampled in Episode 103. The other three will be played in upcoming weeks.

The Curtis Mayfield promotion through the IODA Promonet apparently expired some time after I downloaded the song, so no luck giving you a download for it. But you can download the Danny Aiello track at the Blogger site.

Episode 103: State of the Nomad, 2008

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:01:00 GMT

Presenting my annual episode where I tell you about who I am and what I intend from this show. Or at least that's what I'd do if you didn't keep changing the station! (Note: This episode's rated Explicit due to some dialog and sound effects, largely.)

Here's what you'll hear today:

Mary Shelley Overdrive: "The Godamn Batman" (from artist site)
Greydon Square: "15 Billion Year Old Boy" (MySpace)
Sharon Robinson: "The High Road" (Podshow)
Allison Crowe: "Skeletons and Spirits" (Jamendo)
Hairclub Fo Men: "Lonely Avenue" (Podsafe Audio)
The Tombstone: "Fresh Fresh Fresh Fresh" (MySpace)
Etlin Zylin: "Cirrus" (MySpace)
Not the Sensational Alex Harvey Band: "Burning Big Louie (demo)" (MySpace)

With samples from a mix of songs that will appear in full in upcoming episodes -- which I'll keep a secret for now -- and some past tracks, listed below:

Daren Sirbough and Joshua Kyle: "Those Who Were" (MySpace, from episode 58)
Gustav Bertha: "Next" (special for the show, from episode 66)
Holland Boys: "We Become Dust" (MySpace, from episode 26)
The Perfects: "Hungry Like the Wolf (remix)" (MySpace, from episode 29)
Sounds Media: "Girl Gone Wild" (IODA, from episode 80, may be downloaded at the Blogger site)

Special thanks to Helen Sventitsky and Gustav Bertha for the promos; to The Reverend Doctor for letting me excerpt from The NTS Show; to Gena of Deadly Stealth Frogs and Leah of Schmoovenet for contributing spoken bits; to photographer Rhett Redelings (aka the musician R-Three) for doing the Gustav Bertha birthday tribute sampled again here; and to Meri, Dennis, Justin, Ned and Anthony for other spoken bits.

(Other sounds pulled from free sound-effects sites in various places online.)

Episode 102: Sometimes You're the Windshield...

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Remember way back in the last episode, I said it might be months before you heard me again, that changes might be coming? Well, I talk about that this week.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Jayme Dawicki: "Crush"
Kasey Lansdale: "Clouded Mind"
Sean Ryder Williams: "Far Away Look"
Mark Abis: "River Roll"
Rebecca Griffin: "Detour Ahead"
Bazza: "Last Year Lied to Me"
Windmill: "Tokyo Moon"
John Brown's Body: "New Blood"
Glasshouse: "Disappointment"
The Dandy Warhols: "Talk Radio"

Tracks 7 and 8 were provided by the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Tracks 9 and 10 were found at the Podsafe Music Network. Everything else came from the artists' Web sites, MySpace profiles or CDs.

Episode 101: Everything Changes

Wed, 2 Jul 2008 05:00:00 GMT

This is the last episode for at least two weeks, maybe a month or so. I can't go into details right now, but I may be very busy in the next few weeks -- or I may be back the week after next. Time will tell.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Mary Shelley Overdrive: "This Ain't the Summer of Love"
KingGod: "End of Faith"
Satya: "Lost Civilization"
Proclaim: "Drug Wars"
The Unbearable Hand Fate Dealt: "Alpha Dog"
Minton Sparks: "Gypsy"
Tokyo Police Club: "Shoulders and Arms"
Emmylou Harris: "No Regrets"
Noam Weinstein: "Big Babies"
Will Tang: "Everything Changes"

Tracks 7-8 came from the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Tracks 3 and 10 were obtained through the Podsafe Music Network, and track 5 was snagged from GarageBand. Everything else came from CD or was submitted by the artists.

Episode 100: Not the 100th Episode (Math Is Hard)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 05:01:00 GMT

This is Episode 100, but the 100th episode was actually No. 93. Go figure. There is a big announcement in this show, however.

Here's what you'll hear today:

The Mannish Boys: "Low Down Feeling"
Helen Sventitsky: "You and Me and the Goddamn City"
Strangers Die Every Day: "Aperture"
Snooky Pryor: "I Ain't Seen My Baby"
Erin Bode: "Don't Take Your Time"
Ron Thomas and Paul Klinefelter: "Blues for Zarathustra"
You Me & Iowa: "The Song Entire"
theDeadline: "He Stopped Loving Her Today"
Howard Jones: "Building Our Own Future"

Tracks 1 and 4-6 were provided by the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Tracks 8-9 came from the Podsafe Music Network, and everything else came from the artists' CDs.

Episode 99: 99 Theses

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:01:00 GMT

And now, the single most pretentious thing I have done in my misspent life. And considering I was an English major and philosophy minor in college, that's saying a lot. In between the songs today: 99 theses on various aspects of life, from politics to sex to religion to commerce.

Today's episode is tagged Explicit. I don't use a ton of profanity, but the material DOES touch on adult themes. Something to offend and anger just about everyone, but hopefully other things to amuse as well.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Manu Chao: "Politik Kills (Prince Fatty remix)"
Frederic Chopin: "Nocturne in C Minor"
Krista Detor: "Lay Him Down"
Steven Charles Cecil: "Barely Alive in Baltimore"
Kenneth Makuakane: "Landing in Love (Pae I Ke One)"
Gustav Bertha: "Song for the Broken Hearted (demo)"
The Crowd: "Fantasy Girl"
aJt: "Rock Bollywood"
Sharif: "Just Another"
Malamondos: "What You Got On"

Tracks 1-3 were found at the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Track 6 was provided by the artist, and everything else was found at the Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 98: Finding True North

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:59:00 GMT

Finally getting around to posting show notes -- sorry about the delay.

Here's what's in episode 98:

The Charlatans: "You Cross My Path"
Sharon Shannon & Mundy: "The Galway Girl (live)"
Somnivore: "These Graves Under the Bay of Bothnia"
Bitter:Sweet: "Waking Up"
Gustav Bertha: "Northern Town"
Sathima Bea Benjamin: "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart"
AM with Tina Dico: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Ingrid Michaelson: "Die Alone"
FuzzFaces: "Peste"
Freightrain Jones: "X-Rated Vision"
Bad Religion: "Generator"

Tracks 1-2, 4 and 6 came courtesy of the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Tracks 3 and 5 come from CD, and the remainder of the songs were found at the Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 97: I Missed That Song Before, Part 2

Wed, 28 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The second half of a look back at songs from episodes that, for whatever reason, got fewer downloads than the arbitrary number that gives me minimal satisfaction. I'm including links to the episodes where these originally aired in hopes you'll give them another look.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Billy Falcon: "Power Windows" (originally featured in episode 75)
Cush: "Little Black Dress" (from episode 46)
Hypertonics: "Don't Marry the One You Love; Marry the One Who Loves You" (episode 37)
Michelle Hotaling: "Take Me Home" (episode 40)
Rob Costlow: "Bliss" (episode 66)
Castaway: "Speedway" (episode 47)
R-Three: "Elsa Green" (episode 27)
Dead Rock West: "Don't Worry About Me" (episode 44)
Rose Fur Coat: "Standing and Hoping" (episode 77)
Vieux Farka Toure: "Ana" (episode 85)
Ainslie Henderson: "Dust" (episode 60)
Douglas Spotted Eagle: "America the Beautiful" (episode 36)

Tracks 6 and 9 were Garageband discoveries, and track 7 came from a CD. Everything else in today's show was found at the Podsafe Music Network.

New stuff next week.

Episode 96: I Missed That Song Before, Part 1

Wed, 21 May 2008 17:06:00 GMT

(REPOSTED because of weirdness again with file length.)

This is a companion piece to the "I've Heard That Song Before" episodes: Songs from episodes that, for some reason or other, fell below an arbitrary number of downloads that is the minimum to make me happy. I'll include links to those episodes in hopes you'll give them a look in case you missed out the first time.

Here's what you'll hear today:

The Tony Evans Band, "The Look of Love" (first featured in episode 37)
Angelique Kidjo with Peter Gabriel, "Salala" (PS) (from episode 64)
Charlie Musselwhite, "Harpin' on a Riff" (IODA) (episode 47)
Op-Critical, "Not My America" (IODA) (episode 37)
Holland Boys, "We Become Dust" (episode 26)
Love Spirals Downwards, "City Moon" (episode 53)
Donna Germano, "I Once Loved a Lad" (episode 76)
Helen Sventitsky, "Too Damn Real (Live)" (episode 25)
Mike Doughty, "Looking at the World from the Bottom of a Well" (episode 37)
Curious, "Perfect Girl" (episode 43)
Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, "Moonlight Waltz" (episode 30)
Otis Redding, "Shake (live at the Monterey International Pop Festival)" (episode 40)

Tracks 1, 3-4, 9 and 11 were obtained through the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Track 7 was found at Garageband, tracks 5 and 8 were downloaded at the artists' Web sites, and everything else was discovered at the Podsafe Music Network.

Next week's episode will be the second half of this look back.

Episode 95: Chasin' Ghosts in the Thin, Dry Air

Wed, 14 May 2008 05:00:00 GMT

HOPEFULLY the last of the shows recorded with the backup system. (I said that three episodes ago, too.)

Here's what you'll hear today:

Steve Earle: "Rich Man's War (Live at Montreaux 2005)"
Benjamin Lapidus: "Ein Kelokeinu"
Sally Shapiro: "Jackie Junior (Junior Boys Remix)"
Jef Stott: "Lamaset"
Nada Surf: "I Like What You Say"
Cassandra Kubinski: "How'd I Get So Lucky?"
Stars: "Midnight Coward"
Sirsy: "Lie to Me"
37Hz: "Be the Change You Want to See in the World"
Benny Benassi: "Satisfaction (Makrolon Remix)"

Tracks 2-4 come via the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Everything else in today's show was found at the Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 94: Deep in the Heart of Me (REPOST)

Sat, 10 May 2008 01:43:00 GMT

(REPOSTED to fix the strangeness that caused the episode to start over again at the end of the file. Thanks to Gustav Bertha for pointing that out so quickly.)

Hopefully near the end of the shows recorded with the backup equipment. I apologize in advance for pauses and clicking sounds from the recorder -- there's no way to edit those out on the machine used for this week's show.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Bettye Lavette: "Let Me Down Easy"
Eager to Please: "Two Timin' Lady"
Enigma: "Sadeness (Part 1) (Violent U.S. Mix)"
Yolanda Duke and the Tito Puente Orchestra: "I've Got You Under My Skin"
Bob Mould: "The Silence Between Us"
Tom Waits: "How's It Gonna End"
Juan R. Leon: "El Amor Es Eterno"
Melou: "Step Right Up (Welcome to the Show)"
Rory Gallagher: "Tore Down (Live at Montreaux)"
Carol Duboc: "Sexual Healing"

Tracks 4, 8 and 10 come courtesy of the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Everything else in today's show was provided by the Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 93: The 100th Show (Math Is Hard)

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:20:00 GMT

Continuing for three more episodes on the minimal production side ... I apologize in advance for long pauses, clicks on the recorder, etc. The machine I'm working with has no sound currently, so I can't edit ... hope to be back on the Mac for the next recordings.

Here's what you'll hear today:

You Me & Iowa: "Dress the Stage"
Sean Costello: "How in the Devil"
Sunspot: "Viking Funeral"
Josh Woodward: "Afterglow"
Constantines: "Hard Feelings"
Vincent Bergeron: "Nostalgie-Euthanasie"
The Afronauts: "Eeeze Now"
Gentlemen Losers: "If We Are Faded"
Jess Pillmore: "Anytime"
Cake: "Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle"

Track one was submitted by Glenn at On Target Media -- the band's promotion company -- in advance of the May 6 release of their new album, The Adventures of You, Me & Iowa, and is played with gratitude. The fourth song comes from Josh Woodward's new double album, The Simple Life, which you can download at his site ... name your own price.

Songs 2, 5 and 10 were discovered at the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Track 9 is a Garageband discovery; everything else comes courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

I'm pretty sure I misspoke on the late Sean Costello's label ... his latest album was released by Delta Groove Productions.

And by the way ... this is episode 93, but when you add in the strangely numbered episodes I do now and again on special occasions (not the contest blurbs, but full-length episodes), this is the 100th show. Yay!

Episode 92: An Experiment Gone Horribly Right

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT

The last of three episodes recorded with a stripped-down, Plan B arrangement. Unless, of course, I end up doing a fourth or fifth consecutive show this way. Time will tell.

Here's what you'll hear today (direct download here):

Alice Cooper: "No More Mister Nice Guy (Live at Montreaux)"
R-Three: "Celluloid Erosion"
Athena: "To Be With You"
The Majestic Twelve: "Condoleeza, Check My Posse"
Del the Funky Homosapien: "Bubblepop"
Suzanne Teng: "Topanga Dreams"
Tokyo Police Club: "Nature of the Experiment"
DeVotchKa: "Transliterator"
Abby Travis: "Blythe"

Tracks 3, 6 and 7 were obtained through the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Tracks two and four come from CD, and everything else was found at the Podsafe Music Network.

Fun fact: DeVotchKa did the soundtrack for the movie "Little Miss Sunshine." Another fun movie-related fact: That's Cheeta the Chimp, former sidekick to Tarzan, in the icon. He recently turned 76.

I do hope today's show works and that everything's there: I did it on the PC instead of the Mac, and a problem with the speakers kept me from verifying that everything was in place ... there may also be long pauses and clicks before and after the one spoken bit, because I couldn't edit the sound file, just had to drop it in as part of the combination of MP3s that made up the episode.

Episode 91: Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Here's another shorter episode, put together with my Plan B computer and software under less than optimal circumstances. Hopefully you'll find things to enjoy here.

Here's what's in today's episode:

Billy Bragg: "I Keep Faith"
Anemo: "Who Will You Really Become?"
Strangers Die Every Day: "Esther"
Shahram Nazeri and Hafez Nazeri: "The Passion of Rumi"
Marcia Ball: "Down in the Neighborhood"
Timothy Harada: "Mrs. Robinson"
Sara Alexander: "Cafe Turc"
Gustav Bertha: "My Mind's a Tyrant"
Big Brother and the Holding Company: "Let the Good Times Roll"

Tracks 4, 5 and 9 come from the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Track 8 comes from CD, and everything else was found at the Podsafe Music Network.

I do hope today's show works and that everything's there: I did it on the PC instead of the Mac, and a problem with the speakers kept me from verifying that everything was in place ... there may also be long pauses and clicks before and after the one spoken bit, because I couldn't edit the sound file, just had to drop it in as part of the combination of MP3s that made up the episode.

Episode 90: Done on Deadline

Wed, 9 Apr 2008 04:49:00 GMT

Today's show damn near didn't happen. Work and other stresses have gotten me farther behind on this show than I like, but I managed to put this together a few hours before my deadline with backup software and a prayer.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!"
Pacifika: "Me Cai"
Corey Harris: "5-0 Blues"
Alice Gomez: "Star Watcher"
Klangstein featuring Sylvia Gerlach: "Ganz Leise"
Helen Sventitsky: "Ringed by Lovers"
Adam Quirk: "That Lucky Old Sun"
Rachael Sage: "Angel in My View"
Great Lake Swimmers: "Gonna Make It Through This Year"

Tracks 2, 4, 8 and 9 come from the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Track 6 comes from the artist's new album, and everything else was obtained through the Podsafe Music Network.

I do hope today's show works and that everything's there: I did it on the PC instead of the Mac, and a problem with the speakers kept me from verifying that everything was in place ... there may also be long pauses and clicks before and after the one spoken bit, because I couldn't edit the sound file, just had to drop it in as part of the combination of MP3s that made up the episode.

Episode 89: To Baldly Go...

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 05:00:00 GMT

In which Ye Olde Podcaster discusses his $950 haircut and why he got it. And oh, yeah, some absolutely phenomenal music gets played.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Noam Weinstein: "People-Watching"
Enigma: "Principles of Lust (Everlasting Lust Mix)"
China Forbes: "Everybody Needs Somebody"
Sara Alexander: "Sarajevo"
The Perfects: "Many Nights"
Dengue Fever: "Sober Driver"
Josh Woodward: "Postcard from Hell"
Sub-Level 03: "Return to Paradise"
Stage Four: "What Will I Do?"

Tracks 2, 4 and 8 come via the Podsafe Music Network. Tracks 3 and 6 are courtesy of the IODA Promonet and can be downloaded at the Blogger site. The other tracks come from CD or were provided by the artists themselves.

You can learn more about the charity for which I had my head shaved and the work it does by visiting the Web site of the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Episode 88: Running Long Like the Oscars

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Today's opening track is the Oscar award-winning song from the indie film Once. The show also ends with a song from a movie, though sadly not an Oscar winner as I first thought when introducing it. The people in between aren't exactly slacking, either.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova: "Falling Slowly"
Kitaro: "Floating Lotus"
Bettye Lavette: "Down to Zero"
Jorge Ramirez: "Tu Cancion"
Sean Hayes: "Flowering Spade"
Jayme Dawicki: "Shatter Queen"
Billy Falcon: "The Rest of the Song"
Gum: "Try Stopping Me Now"
Jonathan Coulton: "Famous Blue Raincoat"
The Sky About to Rain: "Desert Breakdown 1"
Curtis Mayfield: "Superfly"

Tracks 2, 5, and 11 come courtesy of the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you'll also find today's Bizarro Files and metric tons of music videos. (Well, turns out you can't download the Curtis Mayfield track -- the promotion ended after I did the episode but before its air date, apparently.) Tracks 9 and 10 come from the artists' Web sites. Track 6 was obtained directly from the artist, who sent me her new CD, and everything else comes courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 87: Name Dropping like a Jackass

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Audio is spottier this time, and I apologize in advance. I'm still learning the Zoom H2's ins and outs, and I simply held it too close this time ... forgetting it didn't have the spacial limitations of the plug-in mic I'd been using. It'll be better next time; the music still kicks ass.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Steve Earle: "Copperhead Road (live at Montreaux 2005)"
Pete Seeger: "Russian Song/Ode to Joy"
Bazza: "Friendship"
Krista Detor: "Robert Johnson Has Left Mississippi"
Blake Leyh: "151 Canal"
Moshe Chouraki: "Frontieres dela Liberte"
Planetakis: "Don't Fuck with Robert Smith"
Steve Kilbey: "Life's Little Luxuries"
Cassandra Kubinski: "Red Hot Romance"
Stefanie Harger: "The Very Thought of You"

And a belated happy birthday of sorts to my beloved Elizabeth Donald, whose birthday was March 17 -- which, I say in the show was not a day for a podcast this year, though after I recorded the episode, I ended up going back and recording one just because it was her birthday and St. Patrick's Day.

Tracks 1, 6, 9 and 10 came courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network. Tracks 2, 4, 7 and 8 came courtesy of the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you'll also find today's Bizarro Files and lots of music videos. The remaining two tracks came from CDs provided by the artists.

Blake Leyh was music supervisor for HBO's recently wrapped series The Wire, and he composed "The Fall," the series' end-title music. The track in today's show, Leyh recently commented in his blog or elsewhere, is as close to a full-length version of that song as you're likely to find -- it sounds different, but it features all the same players. Steve Earle had a recurring role on the series as Waylon, polic

Episode 86.17: Getting Your Irish Up 2008

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

Happy St. Patrick's Day, and of course here's wishing a happy birthday to my beloved, author Elizabeth Donald. (Go buy her books.)

Here's what you'll hear in today's hour of Irish music:

The Greentop Ramblers: "Woman of the House/Man of the House"
Vince Hill: "Alone Again, Naturally"
Murder the Stout: "Whisky in the Jar"
Linda Coogan: "The Way Home"
Stoat: "I Wrote This to Woo You"
Ebby: "I Wish You Were Here"
Anna Lee: "Forbidden"
Rohan: "Streets of Dublin"
Bill Watrous, Pete Christlieb and the Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra: "Danny Boy"
Keith Halligan: "Stone of Destiny"
Aidan Doyle: "Funk2Paddy"
Luka Bloom: "Love Is a Place I Dream Of"
Gaelic Wind Project: "The Song of Wandering Aengus"
The Greentop Ramblers: "A Dram to Warm the Piper"

Tracks 1 and 14 come courtesy of a CD provided by a member of the band before there was even a show here, and I'm so glad to finally play them: Thanks to Maria for helping it happen! Tracks 2, 9-10 and 12 were obtained through the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site. Track 13 was found at Garageband, and everything else is courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

(P.S.: Don't drink and drive.)

Episode 86: This Podcast Intentionally Left Blank

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:00:00 GMT

A basically free-form episode with no real theme. The spoken bits for this were recorded with my new Zoom H2 digital recorder; hopefully the sound quality will be markedly improved in future shows.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Stars: "The Night Starts Here"
aJt: "Love Guitar"
Glen Bayless: "Bit by Bit"
Bi-Polar Baby: "Suicide Girl"
Lichtzwang: "Never Go to California"
Blk Sonshine: "Bahlalefi"
Taco and Da Mofos: "Sun Came Up"
Richard Hefner: "Sittin' on Top of the World"
V.K. Lynne: "Black Halo"
Black Crowes: "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution"

Tracks 1 and 4 were found through the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site; tracks 2, 6 and 10 were found through the Podsafe Music Network. Track three was a Garageband discovery, and the remainder were either provided by the artists or downloaded from the artist's MySpace profiles or Web sites.

Please consider making a small donation to the St. Baldrick's Foundation, which raises money for juvenile cancer research. I'll be getting my head shaved on March 17 in exchange for people's gifts -- I've met my $450 goal by the time outstanding donations and corporate gifts go through, but the more the better for this important cause.

Episode 85: Around the World in a Daze, Part 2

Wed, 5 Mar 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Here's an hour of world music as the podcast enters its second year. (I believe the first show debuted on March 1 of last year.) From here on out, I'm going to make an effort to include at least one international track in each episode, the same way I strive to include female artists; when I do something geographically specific, that might not work, but it'll be the goal.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Lichtzwang (from Germany): "Sex, Drugs and Theory"
Dengue Fever (Cambodian-influenced psychadelica): "Sleepwalking Through the Mekong"
Vieux Farka Toure (Mali): "Ana"
Yalcin Konuk (Turkey): "Sonando"
Ex-Vagus (France): "Un Petit Empire"
Luigi Cappel (New Zealand): "Mr. Bush, Why Can't We Be Friends?"
Group Boufoullouss (Morocco): "Asghr Boussalm"
Twelve Girls Band (China): "River Shule"
Corey Harris (United States of America): "Heathen Rage"

Tracks 2, 7 and 8 were obtained from the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you'll also find today's Bizarro Files and more music videos than you could ever reasonably need. Track 1 comes from the band's MySpace profile, and everything else was discovered at the Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 84: I've Heard That Song Before, Part 7

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:50:00 GMT

It's that time again: Ye Olde Podcaster goes through some past episodes and puts together material from previous shows in a new form and finally clears some needed space on his hard drive in the process.

The next four shows will come out twice-weekly, and feature music and words from episodes 41-69, Episode XX, and Episode (Square Root of -1).

Here's what you'll hear today, in the longest episode in this show's history:

Rachel Griffin: "Lighter Than Air"
Greydon Square: "The Compton Effect"
Howard Jones: "Just Look at You Now"
David Ippolito: "Bill O'Reilly (Legend of the Big Giant Head)"
R-Three: "Pollen for Honey"
Jack Frost: "Angela Carter"
The Furthurs: "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
Bitter:Sweet: "Bittersweet Faith"
Sean Ryder Williams: "Love Is Fading"
Merrie Amsterburg: "Black is the Color of My True Love's Hair"
Bazza: "Reverse Angle"
Lesley Gore: "Better Angels"
Ciaran Flynn: "Girl Living in NYC"
Helen Sventitsky: "Que Sera"

Tracks 3-4, 10 and 12 were provided through the Podsafe Music Network. Song 6 was obtained through the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you'll also find today's special Leap Day edition of the Bizarro Files and lots of music videos. Tracks 5 and 14 were provided for the show directly from the artists. Everything else comes from CD or the artists' Web sites and/or MySpace profiles.

Episode 83: I've Heard That Song Before, Part 6

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:30:00 GMT

It's that time again: Ye Olde Podcaster goes through some past episodes and puts together material from previous shows in a new form and finally clears some needed space on his hard drive in the process.

The next four shows will come out twice-weekly, and feature music and words from episodes 41-69, Episode XX, and Episode (Square Root of -1).

Here's what you'll hear today:

Cris Delanno: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
Sharif: "Simple Ways"
Tommy B. Goode: "Fail the Blues"
Jonathan Coulton: "A Talk With George"
Minton Sparks: "Trella's Trash"
Amir Beso: "Laura's Lullaby"
Flat Earth: "Mistake I Never Made"
Gomez: "How We Operate"
27B-6: "What It Is"
Cassandra Kubinski: "I Am a Racecar"
Splitsville: "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"
Somnivore: "My Blood Is Melting"
Dashboard Confessional: "Screaming Infidelities"
Cowboy Junkies: "I Don't Get It"
Tom Waits: "You Can Never Hold Back Spring"

Tracks 2, 4, 10-11, 13 and 15 were provided through the Podsafe Music Network. Songs 8 and 14 come courtesy of the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you'll also find today's Bizarro Files and lots of music videos; track 1 was also downloaded from IODA but apparently pulled from their offerings at some date after I initially played it. Track 7 was discovered at Garageband. Track 3 was recorded in a sort of collaboration with the artist: I offered a genre, suggested a few key words, and he made magic happen. Everything else comes from CD or the artists' Web sites and/or MySpace profiles.

Episode 82: I've Heard That Song Before, Part 5

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

It's that time again: Ye Olde Podcaster goes through some past episodes and puts together material from previous shows in a new form and finally clears some needed space on his hard drive in the process.

The next four shows will come out twice-weekly, and feature music and words from episodes 41-69, Episode XX, and Episode (Square Root of -1).

Here's what you'll hear today:

King God: "Morning Sky"
The Nails: "88 Lines About 44 Women"
Michael Monroe: "Summer Rain"
Rebecca Griffin: "A Ghost of a Chance"
Bright Eyes with Emmylou Harris: "We Are Nowhere And It's Now"
Hubert Sumlin: "The Red Rooster"
A Brokeheart Pro: "A Hard Way to Fall"
Reid Harris Cooper: "Western Freestyle" (with public domain samples from Peter John Ross and Flying Hands)
Del the Funky Homosapien: "Jaw Gymnastics"
Etlin Zylin: "Change Is the Only Constant"
The Adversary: "Fancy Bred"
Signal to Noise: "The Weather Machine"
Josh Woodward: "I Want to Destroy Something Beautiful"

Tracks 5 and 12 come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network. Tracks 3 and 11 were found at Garageband. Tracks 2, 6 and 9 are provided by the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you'll also find today's Bizarro Files and lots of music videos. Tracks 8 and 10 were contributed directly by the artists. Everything else comes from CD or the artist's Web site and/or MySpace profile.

Episode 81: I've Heard That Song Before, Part 4

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

It's that time again: Ye Olde Podcaster goes through some past episodes and puts together material from previous shows in a new form and finally clears some needed space on his hard drive in the process.

The next four shows will come out twice-weekly, and feature music and words from episodes 41-69, Episode XX, and Episode (Square Root of -1).

Here's what you'll hear today:

Kristin Mainhart: "Tainted Love"
Adam Quirk: "Wild World"
Richard Hefner: "Nobody Knows You While You're Down and Out"
Maria Daines: "House of the Rising Sun"
Stefanie Harger: "Our Love Is Here to Stay"
Gustav Bertha: "Next"
Mind Veneration: "Shades of Gray"
Angelique Kidjo with Joss Stone: "Gimme Shelter"
Daren Sirbough with Joshua Kyle: "Those Who Were"
This Bright Apocalypse: "Black Boys on Mopeds"
Helen Sventitsky: "The King's Men"
Ann Wilson: "Immigrant Song"
R-Three with Gustav Bertha: "It's Not"

Tracks 2, 4-5, 8, 10 and 12 come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network. Track seven comes from the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you'll also find today's Bizarro Files and lots of music videos. Tracks 6, 11 and 13 were contributed to the show directly by the artists. All others came from CD or the artists' Web sites and/or MySpace profiles.

Episode 80: Let's Get It On

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

OK, that song's not actually in here, but a podsafe cover of Mr. Gaye's "Sexual Healing" IS helping set the mood for Valentine's Day. This one's labeled explicit for a reason, OK?

Here's what you'll hear today:

T-Rex: "Bang a Gong (Get It On)"
Ampsex: "Porno Movie (Piano Version)"
Judy Klass: "Sex With Your Ex"
Bryan Savage: "Sexual Healing"
Sounds Media: "A Night at the Theater"
The Stylistics: "My Funny Valentine"
Cassandra Kubinski: "Like Only Lovers Can"
Planetakis: "Sex Without a Lover"
Sounds Media: "Girl Gone Wild"
Steve Kilbey: "Sleep With Me"
Reggie and Ladye Love Smith: "It Had to Be You"

Tracks 2 and 7 come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network; everything else was found at the IODA Promonet and can be downloaded at the Blogger site.

It wasn't until after Ye Olde Podcaster had completed this episode that he realized the artists who did the last piece have an extensive background in gospel music; one hopes they won't be offended to be included in such company, if they ever even learn of this show. (Yeah, that is something that I actually do worry about.)

Episode 79: Once More on Random

Wed, 6 Feb 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Not quite random, but not locked into the formula of the past 10 episodes, either. Thanks to all who stuck it out.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Curtis Mayfield: "Move On Up"
Devil Doll: "The One Who Got Away"
Glen Bayless: "I'll Be There"
Sean Hayes: "Turnaroundturnmeon"
Jared Woods: "Angels in the Snow"
Ash Verjee: "Elegy for M"
Sirsy: "Uncomfortable"
Post Death Soundtrack: "Long Cold Night"
Gaudi featuring Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: "Bethe Bethe Kese Kese"

Tracks 1, 4 and 9 are provided by the IODA Promonet and may be downloaded at the Blogger site; track four is from the compilation "Big Change: Songs for FINCA," which also features Norah Jones, M Ward, The Shins, and Antony & The Johnsons, among others. You'll find a link to buy that album in its entirety through iTunes at the Blogger site. Proceeds from sales of this album (compiled with the help of actress Natalie Portman) go to fund microfinance loan programs for entrepreneurs in the developing world: A hand up, not a handout.

Tracks 2 and 5 come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network. Track 3 comes from the artist's Garageband profile, and the remainder either come from CD or the artist's MySpace or Web sites.

Episode 78: Broadway of America, Part 10

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT

This is the conclusion of a multi-part musical trek across the United States down U.S. Highway 70, the former "Broadway of America" that once ran from Los Angeles to the Atlantic coast in North Carolina but now ends in Globe, Ariz., a bit east of Phoenix. The series started with Episode 70 and has continued in each regular Wednesday episode since then.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Jess Pillmore (Raleigh, N.C.), "I Feel It Coming On"
Coppo Akena Salah (Raleigh), "Get It Gully"
Wade 3 (Raleigh), "Kisses and Tears"
JAKT (Smithfield, N.C.), "Big Man"
Fyrestone (Goldsboro, N.C.), "Love Ain't Free"
Zona Media (Goldsboro), "Chat Room"
Kalliber (Kinston, N.C.), "Last Stand"
Thomas Taylor (Kinston), "Where Are You Now"
Black Sky Radius (New Bern, N.C.), "Fiasco"
Push Groove (New Bern), "Whiskey Drunk"
Twistedtechnology (Havelock, N.C.), "Twisted's Reality"
Settlement Band (Morehead City, N.C.), "Tell Me When"

Tracks 3 and 8 were found at the Podsafe Music Network; the remainder of the music comes from artists' Garageband profiles. Jess Pillmore's MySpace site says she's from Virginia, but her Garageband profile says she's from North Carolina, so there you go, then.

Next week: Probably no theme whatsoever. Thanks for indulging me on this longer-than-expected diversion.

Episode 77.7: Broadway of America, Part 9

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT

This special Sunday edition is the penultimate chapter of a 10-part musical trek across the United States down U.S. Highway 70, the former "Broadway of America" that once ran from Los Angeles to the Atlantic coast in North Carolina but now ends in Globe, Ariz., a bit east of Phoenix. The series started with Episode 70 and has continued in each regular Wednesday episode since then.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Crush (Greensboro, N.C.), "Making the Move"
Buck Shamus (Greensboro), "I'm Not Saying"
Romantic Piano/John Cannon (Burlington, N.C.), "Theme in Search of a Lyric"
Gilbert Neal (Hillsborough, N.C.), "Bubble"
Jason Burke (Hillsborough), "Heretic"
Katherine O'Mally (Durham, N.C.), "Ball and Chain"
Blackstrap (Durham), "Sex House"
Ancient Traveler (Durham), "A Journey"
The Nein (Durham), "War Is on the Stereo"
Baptist Death Ray (Raleigh, N.C.), "Pharisee"
Big Money Grip (Raleigh), "Car Chase Theme"
Komakino (Raleigh), "Keep on Walking"
Ari Ahokas (Raleigh), "No Shine"
Glorydive (Raleigh), "Anyone at All"

Tracks 1, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 14 come from the Podsafe Music Network. The remainder of the tracks were found at Garageband.com. Join us Wednesday for the final leg of this musical road trip.

Episode 77: Broadway of America, Part 8

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT

This is the eighth of a 10-part musical trek across the United States down U.S. Highway 70, the former "Broadway of America" that once ran from Los Angeles to the Atlantic coast in North Carolina but now ends in Globe, Ariz., a bit east of Phoenix. The series started with Episode 70 and has continued in each regular Wednesday episode since then.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Freightrain Jones (Statesville, NC), "I'm Down"
Run on Deez (Statesville), "Predator Prey"
Fisher Street (Salisbury, NC), "Kiss"
Mr. Sixty Six (Lexington, NC), "Imagine"
The Subverts (Lexington), "Shattered Windows"
Epic of Athens (Lexington), "Rise Against"
Old Southern Moonshine Revival (High Point, NC), "New Pair of Boots"
Lisa Dames (Greensboro, NC), "Kinda Fun Getting Over You"
3 Feet Up (Greensboro), "Buddha Camp"
Imani Reggae Band (Greensboro), "Coconut Juice"
Kid Icarus (Greensboro), "My Plans for Tomorrow"
The Malamondos (Greensboro), "Candy and Condoms"
Rose Fur Coat (Greensboro), "Standing and Hoping"

Tracks 1, 8-9 and 12 came from the Podsafe Music Network. The remainder of the songs were found at Garageband.com. Come back Sunday for a special edition as we drive this musical road trip to its conclusion.

Episode 76: Broadway of America, Part 7

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT

This is the seventh of a multi-part musical trek across the United States down U.S. Highway 70, the former "Broadway of America" that once ran from Los Angeles to the Atlantic coast in North Carolina but now ends in Globe, Ariz., a bit east of Phoenix. The series started with Episode 70 and has continued in each regular Wednesday episode since then.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Collin Raye (Nashville, TN), "Twenty Years and Change"
Campbells Transfer Company (Nashville), "Shape I'm In"
Mooncycle (Lebanon, TN), "Pendulum"
Rude Street Peters (Knoxville, TN), "What Would Hank Say"
Greg Adkins (Knoxville), "The Black Keys"
Artvandalay (Knoxville), "Rinse, Repeat"
Downbreak (Asheville, NC), "Holy Reign"
Brian Turner (Asheville), "Change of Autumn"
Donna Germano (Asheville), "I Once Loved a Lad"
Black Iron Prison (Hickory, NC), "That's More Like It"
Three AM (Hickory), "Say You Don't Mind"

Tracks 1-2, 4 and 8 came from the Podsafe Music Network; all the other music in today's show was found at Garageband.com.

Episode 75: Broadway of America, Part 6

Wed, 9 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT

This is the sixth of a multi-part musical trek across the United States down U.S. Highway 70, the former "Broadway of America" that once ran from Los Angeles to the Atlantic coast in North Carolina but now ends in Globe, Ariz., a bit east of Phoenix. The series started with Episode 70 and has continued in each regular Wednesday episode since then.

Every artist in today's show makes or has in the past made his, her or their home in Nashville, with the exception of Sinister Grin -- they're a Memphis band that I accidentally misfiled as a Nashville band and only detected after I'd produced the episode. (I TOLD you that city's out to get me. Now you know why they're grinning in such a sinister manner.) A whole episode for one city? Well, they DO call it Music City U.S.A. -- and there's a lot more to the place than just country music.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Love Over Gravity, "Fall"
Amy Dalley, "Let's Try Goodbye"
Justin Townes Earle, "The Ghost of Virginia"
Antartica, "Technodub"
Auto Defiance, "Look at What You're Buying"
Sinister Grin, "Last Breath"
Dalia Garcia, "Los Noches de Club Caliente"
The Crowd, "Without You"
Laura Clapp, "Not for Me"
Tyler Hilton, "Not Getting Your Name"
Diane di Stasio, "Dream"
Billy Falcon, "Power Windows"

Track 3 came from CD. Tracks 2, 5-6, 8-9 and 12 came from the Podsafe Music Network; the remainder of the songs in today's show were found at Garageband.

Episode 74: Broadway of America, Part 5

Wed, 2 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Happy new year! This is the fifth of a multi-part musical trek across the United States down U.S. Highway 70, the former "Broadway of America" that once ran from Los Angeles to the Atlantic coast in North Carolina but now ends in Globe, Ariz., a bit east of Phoenix. The series started with Episode 70 and has continued in each regular Wednesday episode since then.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Gavin Richardson (Jackson, TN), "Tunica County"
Joe Garner (Jackson), "Bury the Hatchet"
Wes Henley (Jackson), "Bayou Blue" (host of the Budweiser Music Highway show)
Lappdog (Jackson), "Favorite Color"
Gear Driven (Dickson, TN), "Done So Good"
Nashville Session Players (Nashville, TN), "Last Train to Nashville"
Scott Merrick (Nashville), "Even If I Did"
Melissa Gibson (Nashville), "Just Breathe"
Latino Saint (Nashville), "Make Ya"
Peter Moon Band (Nashville), "Vincent"
Bows and Arrows (Nashville), "Nothing to See Here"

Tracks 1 and 2 come from The Open Stage Sampler, showcasing musicians who frequent the Open Stage concert series in Jackson. Tracks 3-5, 9 were found at Garageband.com; the remainder of the music was provided by the Podsafe Music Network. Special thanks to Open Stage coordinator W. Matt Meyer for sharing the first two tracks.

Visit the Blogger site for today's Bizarro Files and music videos. Happy new year!

Episode 73: Broadway of America, Part 4

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

This is the fourth of a multi-part musical trek across the United States down U.S. Highway 70, the former "Broadway of America" that once ran from Los Angeles to the Atlantic coast in North Carolina but now ends in Globe, Ariz., a bit east of Phoenix. The series started with Episode 70 and has continued in each regular Wednesday episode since then.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Ms. Brown Sugar & the Even Change Band (Memphis, TN), "Two Keys"
Muck Sticky (Memphis), "Educated"
Chris Gonterman (Memphis), "Another Day"
The Adversary (Memphis), "Army of One Million"
The Front Row (Bartlett, TN), "Liquid Luv"
deMori (Bartlett), "You and Her"
The Unbearable Hand Fate Dealt (Bartlett), "Goodbye from Here"
Taco and Da Mofos (Jackson, TN), "Chill Right Now"
Steve Griffin (Jackson), "Never Too Late to Play the Blues (Cold Day)"
Alyson Gilbert & Southbound (Jackson), "All the Man I Need"
One Less Reason (Jackson), "Really Bad Analogy"

Track 8 was graciously submitted by the band and is the lead-off single for its new album, "Bud, Sweat & Beers." Track 4 was found at the band's MySpace page; all other tracks were found at Garageband.com.

Episode 72: Broadway of America, Part 3

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:20:00 GMT

This is the third in a multi-part musical trek across the United States down U.S. Highway 70, the former "Broadway of America" that once ran from Los Angeles to the Atlantic coast in North Carolina but now ends in Globe, Ariz., a bit east of Phoenix. Previous installments may be found in episodes 70 and 71.

Here's what you'll hear today:

William Lloyd (Durant, OK), "'69"
Lil Krucial (Hot Springs, AR), "Someday"
Crash Meadows (Hot Springs), "Pacify Me"
Max Output (Benton, AR), "Paint by Numbers"
6 Feet Deep (Little Rock, AR), "We From the A"
Idle Hands (Little Rock), "Single Blue Female"
Shannon Brooks & Voodoo Highway (Little Rock), "Hard Woman to Hold"
Dr. Linda Holzer (Little Rock), "Fantasy in F" (composer: Chopin)
7 Day Sun (West Memphis, AR), "Say Goodbye"
Auditory Underground (Memphis, TN), "Apex"

Tracks 5 and 8 come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network. All other music was found at Garageband.com.

Episode 71: Broadway of America, Part 2

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:45:00 GMT

This is the second of a multi-part musical trek across the United States down U.S. Highway 70, the former "Broadway of America" that once ran from Los Angeles to the Atlantic coast in North Carolina but now ends in Globe, Ariz., a bit east of Phoenix. The series started with Episode 70 last week and will run into January.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Liquid Cheese (Las Cruces, N.M.), "No Originality"
New Mexican Erection (Las Cruces), "Slob"
Lifestraight Productions (Alamogordo, N.M.), "Rumors"
PTG (Los Alamos, N.M.), "Smithareens"
Fast Time Constant (Portales, N.M.), "Streets of Portales"
J.D. Rogers (Clovis, N.M.), "When Mama Wasn't There"
Lee Perez (Plainview, TX), "Open"
Texas Jack (Vernon, TX), "Country-lingus"
The BeatMeUps (Ardmore, OK), "Back Too Fast"
Audio Blasphemy (Durant, OK), "It's Just Another Day"

All tracks in today's show were found at GarageBand.com.

Visit the Blogger site for today's Bizarro Files and an assortment of music videos.

Episode 3: In Loving Memory (remaster, bonus tracks)

Thu, 6 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

Here's a remastered, resequenced take on episode 3, with new material, in honor of my friend Stephanie Kay Jackson. She left the world entirely too soon, nine years ago today.

Here's what you'll hear in this episode:

Manic Street Preachers, "Autumnsong"
BeebleBrox, "Lost But Not Forgotten"
R-Three, "Little Bitter Love"
Luis Rizzo Cuarteto, "Tristesse"
Dessau, "Isolation" (Joy Division cover)
Mellow Rex/The Kid Pro, "Winter Mourning"
Ainslie Henderson, "While They Wait"
Rick Wakeman, "Eleanor Rigby" (Beatles cover)
Manic Street Preachers featuring Nina Persson, "Your Love Alone Is Not Enough"

As I said when I posted the original version of this show on March 9, her birthday: She and I had been out of touch for a few years when she died, but even in that time after we drifted apart, I'd occasionally think to myself at the really low points, "At least Kay's still out there, so the world's not a total loss."

There are other friends who give me the same comfort in knowing they're out there, but losing one still hurts.

If you're at the end of your rope, call the Hopeline at 1-800-SUICIDE.
Tracks 4, 5 and 8 come courtesy of the IODA Promonet; track three comes from CD. The remainder of today's show comes to you courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 70: Broadway of America, Part 1

Wed, 5 Dec 2007 06:00:00 GMT

The first of a multi-episode musical trip across America on U.S. Route 70, the former "Broadway of America" that once ran from Los Angeles to the Atlantic coast in North Carolina but now ends in Globe, Ariz., a bit east of Phoenix.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Bitter:Sweet (Los Angeles, Calif.), "Dirty Laundry (The Hunting Game Remix)"
Larry Winfield (Los Angeles), "Subterranean Beat"
Abby Kincaid (Los Angeles), "Sister"
Cooldaddy (San Bernardino, Calif.), "Cooldaddy"
Blame It on Society (Phoenix, Ariz.), "Deep Space Jam"
Jeremy Gratton (Phoenix), "Post Mortem Blues of Succession"
Rising Conviction (Phoenix), "A War of Ghosts"
Benjy Rivas and the BBR Band (Las Cruces, N.M.), "Just You and Me"

Track 1 comes courtesy of the IODA Promonet and can be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you'll also find today's Bizarro Files and many, many music videos. Tracks 2, 5-7 come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network. The remaining tracks were found at GarageBand.

Come back tomorrow for a special episode, a remastered and remixed presentation of episode 3.

Episode 69: Stop Snickering; I Already Did the Sex Show

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:00:00 GMT

A no-talking episode. In deference to the inner 12-year-old that is snickering at the episode number, the first and last tracks are a bit randy, but other than that the only theme here is music that I dig.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Mean Gene Kelton and the Die Hards, "My Baby Don't Wear No Panties"
Maria Daines, "Slaughterhouse Blues"
Drifting in Silence, "Ladderdown"
Cheaters Club, "Anthony"
The Marble Tea, "Chocolates for Breakfast"
Sirsy, "Soul Sucker"
The Krinkles, "Blinded by Love"
Edward Guglielmino, "Oh Racquel"
Jinx Titanic, "Everyone Here Wants to F--- You"

Tracks 2, 5 and 8 came from the artists' MySpace pages; all others came from the Podsafe Music Network. Visit the Blogger site for past Bizarro Files and many, many music videos. (There are no Bizarro Files today due to holiday travel.)

Episode 68: Going With the Flow

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:20:00 GMT

Minimal talk, mostly just music for your road trip this Thanksgiving.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Howard Jones, "Just Look at You Now"
Hubert Sumlin, "The Red Rooster"
Robin Stine, "Daydream"
RAYAE, "Head Meditation"
David Ippolito, "Bill O'Reilly (Legend of the Big Giant Head)"
Bright Eyes, "Lua"
Jack Frost, "Angela Carter"
Glorydive, "Anyone at All"
Asim Ali, "Life's a Cancer"
Ann Wilson, "Where to Now St. Peter"

Tracks 1, 3, 5-6, 8 and 10 came from the Podsafe Music Network. Tracks 2 and 7 come courtesy of the IODA Promonet and can be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you'll also find today's Bizarro Files and a plethora of music videos. And tracks four and 9 come courtesy of Garageband.

Episode 2: This Time It's Personal (remastered, bonus tracks)

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 07:36:00 GMT

And here's a bonus show, taking the tracks that were originally in episode two and resequencing them, replacing the vocal bits with something arguably a little bit more listenable, and adding a lot of new music to the mix.

Here's what you'll hear today:

The Majestic Twelve, "Thank God Everything on TV Is a Lie"
Gustav Bertha: "Bullets Have More Eloquence than Words"
Taco and Da Mofos: "Drink or 2"
2012: "Dream of Freedom"

New tracks:

Alice Gomez: "Forgotten Empires"
Signal to Noise: "The Weather Machine"
Lennon: "Main Gravel Road"
Sharif: "Simple Ways"
Jodie Borle: "Round"
Bad Religion: "Voice of God Is Government"

Bonus track:
Kurt Kreikenbom: "Nothing Blues"

Tracks 4, 6 and 10 come from the Podsafe Music Network; tracks 5, 7 and 9 came from the IODA Promonet and can be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you'll also find new music videos posted more or less daily. Other tracks came from CD, artist Web sites and/or MySpace.

Episode 67: Moron-American Studies

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 05:01:00 GMT

You'll figure out the title of this episode about halfway through. Suffice it to say, it's not about the musicians at all.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Deathboy: "Empathy Malfunction"
3dB: "Remnants"
Cowboy Junkies: "I Don't Get It"
Frank Black: "Ten Percenter (live)"
Two If By Sea: "This Will Hurt Someone"
Michelle Hotaling: "Porcelain Doll"
Splitsville: "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"
Lesley Gore: "Ever Since"

Tracks three and four come from the IODA Promonet; visit the Blogger site to download them, to read today's Bizarro Files and to check out music videos. Tracks six and eight come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network. The others come from CD or the artist's Web sites and/or MySpace pages.

Episode 66: Talk Hard

Wed, 7 Nov 2007 06:00:00 GMT

A celebration of the spoken word, with bits of mood music in between.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Helen Sventitsky, "Christine"
Leah Cannon, "June 3" (originally recorded for Another Lousy Day podcast)
Amir Beso, "Mikey's Song"
Reid Harris Cooper, "Western Freestyle"
Minton Sparks, "Sorrow Knows This Dress"
Up Stairs, "Mother's Mandolin"
Jade Walker, "My Faith in Film"
Larry Winfield, "Strip"
R-Three, "Pollen for Honey"
Amir Beso, "Laura's Lullaby"
Gustav Bertha, "Next"
Up Stairs, "Blasphemy"
Helen Sventitsky, "Mixtape Yerington"
Rob Costlow, "Bliss"

The tracks by Up Stairs and Larry Winfield come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network. Minton Sparks and Amir Beso's tracks come from CD. The others were submitted by the artists. Musical sounds on Reid's track are public domain from Peter John Ross and Flying Hands. Check out Leah's podcast, the Schmoovecast.

Episode 65: Chills and Thrills 2007

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 05:30:00 GMT

Happy Halloween! Today's show is full of spooky-themed contributions, but we also kick this off with a spoken-word meditation on the end of Daylight Saving Time by writer Jade Walker, a preview of sorts for next week's all-spoken-word episode.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Jade Walker, "Autumn's Generosity"
Jonathan Coulton, "Skullcrusher Mountain"
Nathaniel Street West, "Motorpsycho Nightmare"
Minton Sparks, "I Thought He Might Kill Her"
The Passive Aggressives, "Evil Clown"
Jonathan Coulton, "Creepy Doll"
Dave Guard, "Zombie Jamboree"
The Werewolves of London, "Werewolves of London"
Jonathan Coulton, "Re: Your Brains"

Tracks three, seven and eight came from the IODA Promonet and can be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you'll also find today's Bizarro Files and a number of spooky-themed music videos. Tracks two, five, six and nine came from the Podsafe Music Network. Track one was submitted by the artist specifically for the show, and track four came from CD.

Episode 64: We Are Nowhere and We're Podcasting

Wed, 24 Oct 2007 05:00:00 GMT

No theme, no talk, just music. Sweet, sweet music.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Ann Wilson, "Immigrant Song"
Bazza, "Reverse Angle"
The Nails, "88 Lines About 44 Women"
Tony Evans and His Orchestra, "I'm in the Mood for Love"
R-Three, "Secrets"
Angelique Kidjo featuring Peter Gabriel, "Salala"
The Peter Moon Band, "Tight & Trippy"
Bright Eyes, "We Are Nowhere and It's Now"
Sean Ryder Williams, "Love Is Fading"

Tracks 1 and 6-8 came from the Podsafe Music Network, and yes, that IS the Ann Wilson from Heart and the Lovemongers. Tracks 3 and 4 and possibly 2 came from the IODA Promonet, though I no longer see Bazza listed there so it's possible I got that song somewhere else. Visit the Blogger site to find downloads of the IODA-sponsored tracks, read Bizarro Files, and check out music videos.

Episode 1: The Madness Begins (remastered, bonus tracks)

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 16:45:00 GMT

The following is a re-mastered, resequenced version of the first episode (8 March 2007), with the inaudible spoken bits deleted and new material added at the end.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Nashville Session Players, "Land of Good and Plenty (A Song for Woody Guthrie)"
R-Three, "Overcome"
Helen Sventitsky, "Ten Years On (live)"
Colossal Head, "Top of the World"

Bonus tracks:

David Jacobs-Strain, "Sleepless Dream"
Oh Juliet!, "Breathe Damnit Breathe"
27B-6, "Chateau de la Cravats"

Tracks one and six come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network. Tracks two and four come from the artists' Web sites, and track seven from CD. Track three comes from ArtistLaunch, and track five comes via the IODA Promonet. Visit the Blogger site to download the song and to check out music videos.

New episodes resume Wednesday, as will the Bizarro Files. If you've heard this one before, you get something new. If you haven't heard back that far, there's some good music here that got lost in rank amateurism the first time around.

Episode 63: Talkin' 'Bout Degeneration

Wed, 17 Oct 2007 05:00:00 GMT

This episode goes all over the place, though you do get to hear me joke and talk seriously, each in their good time, about iconic images of different generations and the thought process behind framing what's considered the news.

Here's what else you'll hear today:

The Who, "My Generation" (Live at the Monterey Pop Festival)
Del the Funky Homosapien, "Jaw Gymnastics"
Frank Black, "Robert Onion"
Michelle Hotaling, "Crystal Clear"
Silverwheel, "Black Is the Colour of My True Love's Hair"
Dead Rock West, "I Really Wanted You"
Colossal Head, "Easy as She Does It"
John Lee Hooker, "I Love You Baby"

Tracks one, four, five and six come from the Podsafe Music Network. Track seven comes from the band's Web site. The remainder of the songs come courtesy of the IODA Promonet; visit the Blogger site to download those tracks or buy the albums, as well as checking out today's Bizarro Files and a wide assortment of music videos.

Episode 62: It's My Party (And I'll Play What I Want To)

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:01:00 GMT

Today's my 34th birthday and the 35th birthday of my godbrother, Stephen. It's also a Wednesday, so here's a new episode.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Angelique Kidjo featuring Joss Stone, "Gimme Shelter"
King God, "Morning Sky"
The Perfects, "Bittersweet"
Lesley Gore, "Better Angels"
Bitter:Sweet, "Salty Air (Fort Knox Five Remix)"

I also rant a bit between songs three and four about a raw deal that The Reverend Doctor, host of The NTS Show, recently got at MySpace -- they'd removed his profile. After recording that bit, I saw that it seems he still has another account, but who knows for how long, and besides, he lost so many contacts when the original was purged.

Tracks one and four came from the Podsafe Music Network. Track five comes courtesy of the IODA Promonet; visit my Blogger site for a download link and to check out Bizarro Files and music videos. The other two songs come from the artist's albums.

Episode 61: Highway 61 Remixed

Wed, 3 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Highway 61, the Blues Highway, runs from New Orleans to St. Paul, Minn., passing through Memphis, St. Louis and the Quad Cities on the way. It used to run farther north, through Duluth, Minn., hometown of Bob Dylan -- who recorded the album Highway 61 Revisited partly in homage to the musical styles found on that road.

Here's what you'll hear today, from artists along this most famous of roads:

Glen Bayless (Duluth, Minn.), "Sanely Going Insane"
Michael Monroe (St. Paul, Minn.), "Summer Rain"
Katalina (Davenport, Iowa), "Carpe Diem"
Flyte (Wentzville, Mo.), "Write on the Water"
7 Shot Screamers (St. Louis, Mo.), "Keep the Flame Alive"
Anthony Tate (Blytheville, Ark.), "Addiction"
Ms. Brown Sugar and the Even Change Band (Memphis, Tenn.), "My Time Is Money"
Patrick Wallace (Vicksburg, Miss.), "Dancing in the Shadow"
Escapist (New Orleans, La.), "The Note"
Bob Rowe, "Tom Thumb's Blues" (cover of Bob Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" from the Highway 61 Revisited album)

Track 5 came from the artist's MySpace page; track 10 came from the Podsafe Music Network. All other tracks were found at Garageband.com. Visit my Blogger site to read today's Bizarro Files and check out past shows and music videos.

Episode 60: Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 16:41:00 GMT

This is, for the foreseeable future, the last of the twice-a-week episodes. Beginning Oct. 3, the show will go to a weekly schedule, with new episodes on Wednesdays.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Brobdingnagian Bards, "Scarborough Faire"
Marissa, "I Love You You Love Me"
Somnivore, "My Blood Is Melting"
Ainslie Henderson, "Dust"
Etlin Zylin, "In Case It Gets Ugly"
Stefanie Harger, "Our Love Is Here to Stay"

Tracks 1, 4 and 6 come from the Podsafe Music Network. Track 2 comes from the IODA Promonet; visit the Blogger site to download it if you'd like, as well as reading Bizarro Files and checking out music videos. The other two came from the artists' Web sites.

Links to follow a little later. Not feeling too well.

Episode 59: Bow Chicka Wow Wow

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:30:00 GMT

Yes, sex IS all this episode ever thinks about. So you shouldn\'t listen if you\'re under age 18 or if sexually themed material offends you.

Here\'s what you\'ll hear today:

The Young Playthings, "Hot Sex With a Girl I Love"
A Brokeheart Pro, "Sometimes Saviours End Up on Their Knees"
Jonathan Coulton, "Baby Got Back"
Sounds Media, "Costume Ball"
Solstice Coil, "Anyone Can Be (A Porn Star)"
Kristin Mainhart, "Tainted Love"

Tracks one and four come via the IODA Promonet and can be downloaded at the Blogger site, where you\'ll also find the Bizarro Files and a number of sexually charged music videos posted over the past few days and the rest of today. The rest of the songs came from CD or from the artists\' Web sites.

(And yeah, I know what some of you are thinking: I could have waited just a little longer and made this episode 69, but that would have been a bit too obvious and/or juvenile.)

Episode 58: Brief Lives

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 15:00:00 GMT

A shadow hangs over this episode: My beloved lost her grandfather in recent days, and a new acquaintance of mine passed away before I ever had that glass of wine with him. So if today's music seems somber or wistful, that's why.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Rob Costlow, "Not Alone"
Daren Sirbough and Joshua Kyle, "Those Who Were"*
Gustav Bertha, "All the King's Men"
Helen Sventitsky, "Que Sera"
Etlin Zylin, "Change Is the Only Constant"
Jonathan Coulton, "A Talk With George"
The Mama and the Papas, "California Dreamin'"

Tracks 1, 5 and 6 come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network. Visit the Blogger site for music videos. No Bizarro Files today -- not a day for The Funny, and besides, time got away from me. But that feature will resume with the next episode, on Sept. 27.

* His name really is Daren, not David as I say in the show. Sorry about that.

Episode 57: Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Time

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Long episode, but short on music. This is another where I, in a fit of delusions of adequacy, inflict a reading of some of my past fiction on you: A long-ish piece of rural urban fantasy (roll with it...) titled "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Time."

Here's what you'll hear today, music-wise:

Tribal Machine, "Down the Rabbit Hole"
Tommy B. Goode, "Fail the Blues"
The John Fox Orchestra, "Scarborough Fair"

The bit with me reading the story begins after song two; the third piece of music comes right at the end, if you want to fast-forward, because it's a lovely classical performance you should really hear.

Track three comes courtesy of the IODA Promonet. A download link can be found at the Blogger site, where you'll also be able to read today's Bizarro Files and watch scads of music videos.

Episode 56: Crazy Little Thing Called Song

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMT

No real theme here today other than music I like. Three of these artists have never appeared on the show before today.

Here's what you'll hear:

Cris Delanno, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"
Bruce Cockburn, "Mystery"
Gomez, "How We Operate"
Janiva Magness, "Bad Blood"
Jodie Borle, "45"
Tom Waits, "You Can Never Hold Back Spring"

Tracks 1-5 come from the IODA Promonet; download links can be found at the Blogger site, along with today's Bizarro Files and daily music video links. Track 6 comes via the Podsafe Music Network.

I'm going to soon do an episode of sexy music. If you know of some podsafe music that gets your motor running, drop me a comment here or at the Blogger site; and if you'd just like to recommend a steamy video for the Blogger site, that's welcome as well.

Episode 55: For What It's Worth

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Today's episode is partly a nod toward the events of Sept. 11, 2001, partly just other music I like. But it's impossible not to acknowledge that particular elephant's presence in the psychic room of this week.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Terry Prong, "6,500 Times or More"
Dean Madonia, "Cannot Turn Away (9/11 Song)"
Michelle Hotaling, "You Shoulda"
Robin Stine, "I Could Have Loved You"
Buffalo Springfield, "For What It's Worth (Live)"

All music in today's show comes from the Podsafe Music Network. Visit the Blogger site for the Bizarro Files du jour and music videos.

Episode 54: Wait, I DO Want to Spoil the Party (repost)

Sun, 9 Sep 2007 03:50:00 GMT

Today's theme: Music to clear a room. When you're ready for the party to end, the guests to go home, play the music in this show.

It's good music. Very good. But the songs' subject matter? Total bummers. Murder. Shipwrecks. Politics. Religion. Torture. And stereotyping.

Enter if you dare:

Bright Eyes, "When the President Talks to God"
T. Randolph Scott, "Lazy White Atheist Blues"
Nashville Session Players, "The Ballad of Tara Cole"
The Furthurs, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald"
The Tombstone, "Fuck"
Tom Smith, "Waterboardin'"
Holland Boys, "I Am Gay"

Tracks 4, 5 and 7 came from the artists' Web sites and/or MySpace pages; the rest were found at the Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 53: Non Sequiturs R Us

Tue, 4 Sep 2007 04:01:00 GMT

No real theme this time around, and no talking, either: Produced this one while getting over a mild case of death (allergy-related). Here's what you'll hear today:

Strange Rebel Frequency, "Burning Blue"
Minton Sparks, "Trella's Trash"
Greydon Square, "The Compton Effect"
Edward Guglielmino, "Devil's Eyes"
Love Spirals Downwards, "City Moon"
Ronnie Jay Wheeler, "Long Black Veil"
Richard Hefner, "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"
Katharine Whalen, "You Who"

Tracks 5 and 6 come through the Podsafe Music Network; track 8 comes from the IODA Promonet and can be downloaded or bought at the Blogger site, where you'll also find today's Bizarro Files and music videos. The other tracks came from CD or the artist's Web sites.

Episode 52: Don't Go There

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Great music from places I won't go, or at least pointedly avoid going. That's the theme today. I never claimed to be sane.

Here's what you'll hear today:

aJt: "Love Piano" (France)
Afghan Music Project: "Another Flower for Kharabat" (Afghanistan)
The Adversary: "Fancy Bred" (Memphis, Tenn.)
Flat Earth: "Mistake I Never Made" (Duluth, Minn.)
The Esla Project: Untitled (South Bend, Ind.)
Bedroom Studio: "Deny the Truth" (Cookeville, Tenn.)
Mean Gene Kelton and the Die Hards: "These Blues Are Kicking My Ass" (biker rallies)

Tracks 3-6 came from GarageBand; tracks 1 and 7 come courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network; and track 2 comes via the IODA Promonet. Visit the show's Blogger site to download the IODA-provided track and/or buy the source album, plus read today's installment in The Bizarro Files and check out music videos.

The Afghani restaurant I mention in Baltimore, Md., is The Helmand, and it comes with my highest possible recommendation.

Episode 51: Angst, Much?

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

This show looks more angst-ridden than I'm actually feeling. Sometimes things just happen that way.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Bitter:Sweet, "Bittersweet Faith"
Josh Woodward, "I Want to Destroy Something Beautiful"
Dashboard Confessional, "Screaming Infidelities"
Richard Manuel, "I Shall Be Released"
Jodie Borle, "Stumble With Me"
This Bright Apocalypse, "Black Boys on Mopeds"

Tracks 1, 4 and 5 come via the IODA Promonet. Visit the Blogger site to download them and/or buy their source albums, as well as check out music videos. (No Bizarro Files today, as Ye Olde Podcaster isn't feeling well.) Tracks 3 and 6 come via the Podsafe Music Network, and track 2 was downloaded from Woodward's Web site -- where you can download what you like or buy a physical CD and set your own price. He's a great artist, so I suggest you not take advantage of his kindness.

Episode XX: Dedicated to the One I Love

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 21:30:00 GMT

Two episodes in one day? Must be a special occasion, you're thinking. Well, it is.

On or about this date 16 years ago, I met the woman who'd change my life forever. (I accidentally give tomorrow's date, but this date was a Thursday in 1991.)

I was 18; she was 16. It wasn't quite love at first sight, but definitely interest. It's taken a long road to get where we are -- that whole bit with her marrying someone else, for example -- but she's worth it. Here's an episode of music by beautiful and creative women, dedicated to Elizabeth Donald, the most beautiful and creative woman in the world from my own admittedly biased perspective.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Rachel Griffin, "Lighter than Air"
Adrina Thorpe, "Around the Bend"
A Brokeheart Pro, "A Hard Way to Fall"
Lennon, "Where Do I Fit In"
Janiva Magness, "Don't Let Your Memories"
Jen Foster, "Talking Bob Dylan"
Bitter:Sweet, "Don't Forget to Breathe"
The Worsties, "Like This"
Love Spirals Downwards, "Will You Fade"
Rebecca Griffin, "A Ghost of a Chance"

Tracks 2, 6, and 8-10 come from the Podsafe Music Network. Tracks 4, 5, and 7 come via the IODA Promonet and can be picked up at the show's Blogger site. Tracks 1 and 3 come from the artist's own albums.

And if you're a horror fan, check out Elizabeth's Web site and pick up some of her printed work -- her new one, Abaddon, will be out in September in e-book format from Cerridwen Press, physical copies hopefully to come next year.

Episode 50: I've Heard That Song Before (Part III)

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 04:02:00 GMT

And here's episode 50, which is a little less significant since it's actually our 52nd episode in all. But, hey, the music -- pulled from throughout the first 40 or so episodes -- is great.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Helen Sventitsky, "I'm Bare (Late Night Beginnings Mix)"
King God, "Came Here For"
Kristin Mainhart, "My Boyfriend"
Sean Ryder Williams, "Give My Blues Away"
Kurt Kreikenbom, "Nothing Blues"
Tommy B. Goode, "Accomplice"
Minton Sparks, "Her Purse"
Ciaran Flynn, "In Dreams"
Rachel Griffin, "I'm Up to No Good"
Noam Weinstein, "When I Get My"

Everything in this episode either came from CD or from the artists' Web sites and/or MySpace pages. Thanks to all the great musicians who've let me give their stuff a spin. We'll be back soon with new music.

Episode 49: I've Heard That Song Before (Part II)

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

The second of three episodes revolving around this show's 50th episode (which was actually last episode). I'm picking some of my favorite music played in the first 40 or so episodes.

Here's what you'll hear today:

A Brokeheart Pro, "You Don't Know"
Justin Townes Earle, "Yuma"
Bazza, "Abercorn Extension Blues"
Azam Ali, "In This Divide"
Deathboy featuring Warren Ellis, "Revolution"
Rob Costlow, "Meant to Be"
Gum, "Asleep at the Wheel"

Track four came courtesy of the IODA Promonet; visit the show's Blogger site to buy MP3s and read today's installment in The Bizarro Files, plus check out music videos. Rob Costlow comes courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 48: I've Heard That Song Before (Part I)

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 05:35:00 GMT

This is episode 48, but it's actually the 50th show -- episodes Pi and Square Root of -1 were out of sequence. So I'm starting off three episodes looking back at tracks played during episodes 1-40 (and Pi), with this collection of six cover songs, one re-cover (solo rendition of a song originally done with a band) and one original from the show's history.

Here's what you'll hear today:

David Jacobs-Strain, "The Soul of a Man"
Holly Bakehorn, "Sweet Dreams"
Richard Hefner, "Man of Constant Sorrow"
Schulz, "Love Will Tear Us Apart"
The Perfects, "Hungry Like the Wolf (remix)"
Robert Guillaume, "Memory"
Steve Kilbey, "Under the Milky Way"
Josh Woodward, "Skynyrd's Number 4874"

Some of the music in today's show comes from the IODA Promonet. Visit the show's Blogger site to buy MP3s of those tracks if you like, plus you can read today's installment of The Bizarro Files and check out music videos.

Episode 47: I C You

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 05:24:00 GMT

A short and sweet (but somewhat salty) one today, where all the artists have in common is that their names start with the letter C. They're also all featuring male vocalists, an unfortunate turn of events that I usually manage to avoid.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Ciaran Flynn, "Girl Living in NYC"
Castaway, "Speedway"
The Cheaters Club, "That Problem"
Charlie Musselwhite, "Harpin' on a Riff"

Tracks one and three came from the artists' MySpace pages. Track two came from GarageBand, and track four came through the IODA Promonet; visit the show's Blogger site for today's installment of The Bizarro Files and to buy the Charlie Musselwhite track if you like it.

Episode 46: Colo(u)r My World

Tue, 7 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Chances are, I'd be back from my out-of-state trip in time to do this a regular episode with spoken bits, but there's enough good stuff here that talk would detract from it.

Merrie Amsterburg, "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair"
Kevin Kern, "Fields of Gold"
Verity Burton, "Red"
Psykosoul, "That Purple Dude"
Tanghetto, "Blue Monday"
Maria Daines, "Grass Is Greener"
Gentlemen Losers, "Nothing But Yellow Lights"
Procol Harum, "Whiter Shade of Pale (live)"
Sub-Level 03, "Touch of Pink"
Mind Veneration, "Shades of Gray"
Cush, "Little Black Dress"

Tracks 2, 3, 5 and 10 come via the IODA Promonet and can be purchased at the Blogger site. All the others are courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 45: In and Out of the Covers

Sat, 4 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Six songs: three of them covers, three with titles that happen to sound like other songs. Here's what you'll hear today:

Maria Daines, "House of the Rising Sun"
Chris Juergensen, "Sweet Melissa"
Aidan Doyle, "In Dreams"
Adam Quirk, "Wild World"
cLuMsY, "Ship of Fools"
Rising Conviction, "House of the Rising Sun"

This is the third of four no-talking episodes recorded before a trip out of town; if you normally listen via the Blogger site, consider subscribing to the podcast feed so you'll be sure of getting everything as soon as it's ready to go, in case I'm without Net access while I'm gone. All songs in this episode come via the Podsafe Music Network.

Episode 44: Get Your Kicks on Route 66

Wed, 1 Aug 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Route 66 is no longer an officially recognized roadway, but towns along the path of the historic Chicago-to-Los Angeles route still have signs celebrating this bit of America's cultural history. The musicians you'll hear in today's episode are from cities along the way, with one exception.

Here's what you'll hear today:

Alyssa Hendrix (Chicago), "Know That Now"
7 Shot Screamers (St. Louis), "Confusion"
Dan Sehane (Tulsa, Okla.), "I'm Gonna See 'Serenity'"
The New Porn (Amarillo, Texas), "Slow Tanner"
Love Spirals Downwards, "Amarillo"
Enone (Edgewood, N.M. -- near Albuquerque), "Rebirth"
Setting Up Shop (Flagstaff, Ariz.), "The Closet Solution"
Dead Rock West (Los Angeles), "Don't Worry About Me"

Love Spirals Downwards were a California band, but by the time you get to Amarillo, you're probably going to be tired and want to spend the night. The dreamwave sounds of that band will lull you under quite nicely.

Tracks four and seven were discovered at GarageBand.com; everything else comes courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

Second of four no-talk episodes recorded in anticipation of a trip out of state, and I should be there by the time this airs. I can't guarantee I'll have Internet access to post this or the next episode, so subscribe to the Liberated Syndication podcast feed to make sure you get them on time (copy address from link and past into iTunes or other podcast-catching software to subscribe and avoid that lag).

Episode 43: Around the World in a Daze

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Starting four no-talk episodes recorded in anticipation of a trip out of state. I cannot guarantee I'll have Internet access during part of this, so some episodes may not show up at the Blogger site until a few days after they've been published here, so this is a good time to subscribe to this show's feed through iTunes or another podcast aggregator.

Here's what's on the show today:

Curious (Israeli-born American), "Perfect Girl"
Aramitsu (Japan -- link uses Japanese characters), "Apollo Theater"
Eager to Please (Faroe Islands), "Broken"
Satya (India), "Nomad's Theme"
Somnivore (Finland), "Cafe Muckmoon"
Alex Cebe (Brazil), "Simples"
FadeOut (Greece), "Sanctuary"

All the musicians you'll hear today except for Somnivore were discovered through the Podsafe Music Network. Somnivore is someone I found through a long-defunct podcast called the Kaiku Podcast, which focused on music of Arctic nations.

Episode (Square Root of -1):

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:50:00 GMT

This is one of those episodes you're not really hearing because an episode with an imaginary number can't really exist. Fnord.

Here's what you won't hear today:

The Good Life, "I Am an Island"
Battery Life, "I Am the Trade"
Clip, "I Am"
The Marble Tea, "I'm Batman"
Cassandra Kubinski, "I Am a Race Car"
Great Big Sea, "I'm a Rover"
Glorydive, "I Am the One"

If there were really an episode today, I'd tell you that all these bands were found via the Podsafe Music Network. But there isn't.

Episode 42: Let Us Now Praise Infamous Scotsmen

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:01:00 GMT

Today's episode is one of the best in this show's history, a birthday salute to the Scottish-born, Swiss-based musician Gustav Bertha, who was born as wee Gordon Bell 38 years ago today.

Here's what you'll hear today:

A Word From Our Sponsor
R-Three feat. Gustav Bertha, "It's Not"
Gustav Bertha, "Credit Cards and Aeroplanes"
Helen Sventitsky, "The King's Men"
Gustav Bertha, "Yesterday's Man"

On that R-Three track, Gustav plays piano, organ and melodica. Rhett Redelings plays the guitars, bass, ukelele, mellotron flute sample and programmed the drums. Rhett had some issues with finishing the song, and tells this story:

"After I mentioned something about this on my Myspace blog, Gustav Bertha quite simply saved the song by offering to do the piano. I sent him the backing tracks I'd already recorded and he sent back not only a complete piano performance but an organ part and a melodica solo. He made it his priority, worked quickly and did multiple takes until I was happy with what I was hearing. I gave him very little direction and he came back with 3 absolutely brilliant and complimentary performances.

"While it's not my song, 'It's Not' is one of my favorite pieces I've worked on and it simply would not exist without Gustav Bertha's generosity and brilliance."

(Check out Gustav's podcast, Way Past Bedtime, for lots of great music and dry wit. My thanks to Helen and Rhett for making this episode possible. And pay no mind to my saying it's 2004 in the introduction -- maybe my subconscious was retreating to a time before the re-election of George W. Bush or something.)