albums i have recently acquired

Jon Snodgrass - Visitor's Band - Folky Americana, badassy-ness. This is the perfect music to play when you wanna bring everyone together, like a BBQ or a family reunion. If for some reason someone sucks at life and doesn't like, you can always tune them out and focus on the music. It's very good, I celebrate Suburan Home's entire catalog.

Noisettes - What's The Time, Mr. Wolf? - I saw them at a free show at the Varsity, so I spent my money on booze. Even if I was completely sober, I would have thoroughly enjoyed this show. The lead singer is gorgeous and she has the most amazing voice and I am completely jealous. It was such a fun show, but after listening to a few songs on the album, I'm afraid their sound might not translate well into a recording. It's still fun, dancy music, but it falls a little flat compared to their live show.

Kings of Leon - Youth & Young Manhood - I have three other albums from them, but I think this may be their first one. So far, it's a little more rock and raw than their newer stuff, but I really like it. It's a little more complex and heavier, which may not appeal to the masses like their new album does, but it really makes you pay attention to the music.

KoKo Taylor - What It Takes: The Chess Years - The Queen of the Blues. I first heard KoKo Taylor on Elwood's Blues Hour on Sunday night. She passed away on July 3rd and he was replaying an interview he had with her a year before. Her voice is hauntingly powerful. I think everyone needs some knowledge of the blues, but I understand how one could be intimidated by the task of diving into the genre of blues. There are so many different styles like, Kansas Blues, Delta Blues (good for sitting on your porch drinking a lynchburg lemonade) Country Blues and so and on and so on. I personally like Chicago Blues the best and I think KoKo Taylor is a great person to start with if you want a memorable introduction to the Blues.

Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps - Backyard Tent Set - Awesome local band. I saw them play at Mill City Live and it was really surprising. I was actually there working for City Pages, so I wasn't expecting to be entertained, but I really like their style. Caroline's voice is so pretty and delicate and the band is a very talented and entertaining group that featured several multi-instrumentalists. I was so caught up with them that I ran to the closest ATM so I could buy their album and I really like it. If you're in Minneapolis and have the chance to see them, I would spend up to $20 if they were headlining.

Portugal the Man - Satanic Satanist (deluxe edition) - Fucking Killer Sweetness is what this album should be called. I need to listen to it more to give a worthy opinion, but I know that I love it.

I can't talk much more, I have to get ready for a hot date, but I just thought I'd let you know what's up in my listening world.