Freelance Whales | Weathervanes

An emerging sound palate. A new sound scape. Same language, different dialect. With a name like Freelance Whales, the sky's the limit, right? And the deep blue sea.

Listening, I say to myself, "I like this." After a few songs I ask myself, "Where's this going?" Then I feel the direction. It's kind of vertical, swooping up then down, then up again. And it's more in than out. Quiet joy. Some of the sounds are toy-like, popular these days, and this underlines the child-like quality that washes over the whole record. There's a great mix of acoustic and electronic, lovely vocals, and...the glockenspiel. Nice! Magical, spacey private world. Available today.

Listen...

Natalie Merchant | Leave Your Sleep

It's been seven years since we've had a studio album from Natalie Merchant and "Leave Your Sleep", her new collection of songs adapted from the works of a wide spectrum of poets, is, in Merchant's words "the most elaborate project I have ever completed or even imagined." Indeed! Over 130 musicians playing on 26 tracks in multiple musical styles- Cajun, reggae, chamber, jazz, Celtic, r&b and early music. The songs were recorded in live ensemble settings and the spontaneity and live feel come through beautifully.

The project was inspired by a "long conversation" between Merchant and her daughter during the first six years of her life, with Merchant bringing the characters of obscure poems to life as she read aloud. Five years of research ensued and in the process, Merchant, who has never thought of herself as a poet despite her years of writing song lyrics, became absolutely enthralled and "used music to enter these poems." The CD will be available April 13th. Album cover and Natalie picture here by the amazing Mark Seliger!

I'll play tracks from "Leave Your Sleep" along with new music by Josh Ritter, Jonsi, and Doug Wamble today during mvyradio's The Lunch Hour (12 noon ET) and on Uncharted Waters tonight (9 PM ET) www.mvyradio.com. Tonight's featured artist on UW is Angelique Kidjo.

Kenny White | Comfort In The Static

He's the go-to guy for lots of musicians, producing Peter Wolf and Shawn Colvin, and going out on the road with Cheryl Wheeler, Jonathon Edwards, and Judy Collins. After a listen to his new record "Comfort In The Static" (his second on Collins' Wildflowers label), it's SO clear why so many people want to work with him and why he is so respected by his peers.

His stated aim, to give an honest account of what's in his heart, is true. He has a sharp eye for the details of everyday life and brings this to bear in his lyric writing. And musically, his melodies, great chord changes, arrangements and dynamic piano playing create an intimate setting for his songs. Shades of Mose Allison, Randy Newman, and Ben Folds.

Amy Cook | Let The Light In

Alejandro Escovedo produced Amy Cook's new CD "Let The Light In". Two Austinites and two musicians of seemingly like minds. There's an edge to Amy's lyrical approach and who better to support that than someone like Escovedo who is equally at home with screaming guitars AND string quartets in the mix. Tosca String Quartet is featured on the record and their participation along with Patty Griffin's on "Hotel Lights" knocks me out. A perfectly realized song! Great string arrangements throughout from Stephen Barber and stand out guitar playing by David Pulkingham.

Listen tonight for Amy Cook, the featured artist on mvyradio's Uncharted Waters at 9 ET on www.mvyradio.com

Hear clips of "Let The Light In" here:

Angelique Kidjo | Oyo

Beautiful, focused, committed, unforgettable. Angelique Kidjo. You see it in the picture here, hear it in the music she has created over the past two decades and know it from her untiring philanthropic efforts. In her new album "Oyo", she interprets some of the music she heard growing up in Benin, West Africa by artists like Aretha Franklin (her biggest influence apart from Miriam Makeba), Curtis Mayfield, James Brown and Carlos Santana, plus some Beninese traditional music and songs from Hollywood and Bollywood fims. Each song choice has a story behind it, and the album is a journey into Kidjo's musical heart and life experience. The CD will be released April 6th.

Peter Gabriel | Scratch My Back

I saw Peter Gabriel in the 80's -can't remember exactly what year, but it was at The Orpheum in Boston. During the performance, Gabriel fell backwards from the stage, on purpose, into the waiting arms of his fans. This was something he did a lot during that time period. I was so moved by the gesture and all it implied. Trust, fearlessness, abandon, humanity. Peter Gabriel employs these qualities, that seem to be still in great supply, on his new CD "Scratch My Back". It's a covers album with a wide assortment of songwriters represented -Lou Reed, Talking Heads, Randy Newman, The Magnetic Fields and Elbow. Songwriting is what got Gabriel into music and he has long wanted to make an album where he is the interpreter of the songs rather that the writer.

At first. the record seems plodding but once you lock into the rhythm of Gabriel's intent, and let John Metcalfe's beautiful arrangements and orchestration wash over you, it starts to gel as a whole record. The centerpiece is Lou Reed's "The Power of The Heart", a commanding song that is so suited to Gabriel's style. "Listening Wind" written by David Byrne and Brian Eno and originally on Talking Heads "Remain In Light" CD is also a great choice for Gabriel. I feel like I can hear his process as I listen to the album. It seems like each aspect was carefully considered and that the journey lives inside each song.

Listen tonight at 9 PM ET to mvyradio's Uncharted Waters as I feature tracks from the CD. www.mvyradio.com

Listen to clips of the CD here:

Ellis Paul | The Day After Everything Changed

I'm listening to Ellis Paul's new record "The Day After Everything Changed" and as each song reaches my ear, I'm thinking about the intimacy of songwriting and making records. Here I am on my computer at my kitchen table being invited into Ellis' heart. And he doesn't even know it!

Well, he might guess that I'd be enjoying what he does so well, based on the fact that 20,000 others, his fan base, and a legion of other singer-songwriters and music business types admire the songwriting and sensibility that has been over 20 years in the making. In fact, his fans funded his new album, and you can hear the evidence of their involvement. There is a cohesiveness and depth to this record that seems to be in part about this connection.

My favorite songs -"The Day After Everything Changed" -a soaring homage to love, beauty, revelation and the passage of time; "Rose Tattoo" -a story about a couple's love in tough economic times, with wonderful everyday references in the lyrics; and "Dragonfly" -simplicity and wonder fuel this love song, acoustic guitar weaving, high and lonesome vocals rising.

We're giving the CD away today as The Monday Free CD on www.mvyradio.com

Listen to clips of the new CD here:

The Holmes Brothers | Feed My Soul

It isn't surprising that Joan Osborne was drawn to The Holmes Brothers after meeting them in New York in the '80's. The sound that the band had developed by then, a mix of gospel, soul, country and roadhouse rock was right up her alley. They all became friends and collaborators and in 2001, she produced "Speaking In Tongues". She has returned to produce the new CD "Feed My Soul".

Wendall and Sherman Holmes, and Popsy Dixon formed The Holmes Brothers in 1979, and this is the 4th album that they have done in a decade, all on Chicago's Alligator Records. Wendall's 2008 cancer diagnosis was a devastating blow to the group, but the triumph of his recovery lead directly to the making of this album with it's ever-present sweet and stunning vocals, strong songwriting, gently commanding performances.

I'll feature the album tonight on mvyradio's Uncharted Waters at 9 PM ET. www.mvyradio.com

Listen to clips from the CD here:

Sonos | SONOsings

We had a visit from the band Sonos this week and they joined me on mvyradio's Lunch Hour Wednesday. Sonos is a group of six singers from L.A. who all came out of the Southern California college A Capella scene. They have just released their debut CD, covering songs by artists as diverse as The Jackson 5, Fleet Foxes, and Radiohead. I loved the new record immediately when I heard it last December, and I thought as I listened that it would be great to have the chance to interview Sonos at some point and to hear them live. And that's just what happened inside the cozy main studio at mvy!

The interview process is so great for connecting with an artist or group, to get the inside scoop on what goes on with the creation of a certain sound, how it all comes together, the challenges that present. And then the music plain and simple and superb right there before your eyes and ears. It seems that Sonos is treading new ground inside an old tradition. The harmonies and arrangements are precise but the spirit is free-wheeling. That combined with adventurous song choices make this vocal group one to cheer for.

Listen to my interview with Sonos.

Listen to clips of the new CD "SONOSings" here:

Corinne Bailey Rae | The Sea

When Corinne Bailey Rae's self-titled debut album came out in 2006, millions went crazy for it and this bright new voice from the UK. "Put Your Records On" and "Like A Star" became hit singles and the album was nominated for multiple Grammies and Brit Awards. As big and accomplished as that album was, nothing could have prepared us for the monumental acheivement of Bailey Rae's new album "The Sea".

As I listened, I keep asking myself, "Is anyone else doing anything like this"? The record breaks through and rises above any idea of genre. It's completely unique. Her influences are clear - jazz, soul, r&b, singer-songwriter - but as Bailey Rae writes in the song "Diving For Hearts", "I long to keep on diving until my heart is found". That's what she has done and the fearlessness of her pursuit has translated into the most compelling album of the new year.

I'll feature tracks from "The Sea" tonite at 9 p.m. ET on mvyradio's Uncharted Waters.

Listen to some clips from the CD here:

Joe Pug | Messenger

A few years back, hands around a cup of coffee, Joe Pug decided to leave his life as a playwright student at The University of North Carolina, to start putting ideas, originally meant for a play he was writing, to song. He moved to Chicago and eventually recorded a pack of songs that became the EP "Nation Of Heat". Joe started offering this CD to his fans for free, mailing it out, complete with a thank you note and postage covered. He still does this on his website. Recognizing that his potential fans might not want to throw down $ for an unknown entity, Joe makes an offering of his music, spreading the word and building his audience by going over to their side of the musician-fan relationship.

"Messenger", Joe's first full-length CD is due February 16, 2010. Two times through the album now, I am sitting with his clean, unadorned sound and approach, layers of unaffected nuance emerging as light as a feather. Joe Pug has piercing blue eyes, and I'm thinking about this as I write. You know that expression, "You can get lost in his eyes"? Well, what is true about Joe Pug's eyes is true about his music. An open space that draws you in and affects you. Lost and found.

Chicago visual artist Shawn Stucky provides the beautiful album art.

Listen to some tracks from the new CD tonight at 9 PM on mvyradio's Uncharted Waters and on Joe's website.

New! Galactic with Irma Thomas | "Heart Of Steel"

Galactic, one of New Orleans' premiere bands and just about the funkiest of the funky will release a new CD, "Ya-Ka-May" on February 9, one week before Mardi Gras. Good timing! We got a song from the album in yesterday - I jumped right on it and played it on What's New For Lunch today.

Irma Thomas guests on the song, "Heart Of Steel", and she is one of about 15 New Orleans' musicians that join Galactic on this, their sixth album. "The Soul Queen of New Orleans" delivers in her usual solid, understated, right on the money way. Allen Toussaint, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Rebirth Brass Band and other New Orleans' musicians from many different genres collaborated with the band not only in the performances, but also in the writing of the songs.

Listen to a clip of "Heart Of Steel":