Vox

TUNES - 43

Lori had the fun idea recently of a CD exchange - how could I resist participating in that? I want to feature all the CD's here on my RadioBlog along with my comments on them. So I figured, to be fair, I would start by critiquing my contribution - the theme I chose was Vices.

The Songs:

 
Money (That's What I Want): The Babys - I love the Babys, especially this album, and the song couldn't have been more perfect.
Easy Money: Rickie Lee Jones - Something from her early-ish days. She is a fruit loop, but I dig the vibe of her records.
Money: Pink Floyd - Classic, what can you say.
Cash In: Phoebe Snow - I have always loved her voice for it's distinctiveness and cool delivery. This is a love song that manages to use two vices in it's metaphor, gambling and greed.
The Money Song: Mel Torme - The Velvet Fog. Even on a novelty number like this you see how he got the nickname.
Cigarettes: The Wreckers - One of my favorite new groups, Michelle Branch and her girlfriend/backup singer Jessica Harp. This is one of my faves from the CD, only a small reference to cigarettes, but I figure the title made it a fit. (Shephard, you can hear more of their stuff here)
I'm Down to My Last Cigarette: k.d. lang - One of the greatest voices ever, especially when she sings standards - WOW. This is classic torch song, done when she was still a bit country so it has a lot of a twang to it.
Black Coffee: Peggy Lee - Another classic torch song done by a master. I have several versions, but the only one I like as much as hers is kd lang, and I just gave you one of her songs :-)
Bring Another Drink: Nat King Cole - Love Nat, but this isn't one of his favorites of his. Certainly fit the theme, though.
Little Ole Wine Drinker, Me: Dean Martin - Dino doing a bit of a country turn here, yet still staying true to his delivery.
I Got Drunk: Montgomery Gentry - Perfect for the theme, but a bit if a jolt right here in the mix. Almost my least favorite song on the Montgomery Gentry CD, almost my least favorite here.
Drinking Again: Dinah Washington - I love her intimate delivery, like it's just the two of you in an empty club. Here you want to join her in drowning your sorrows.
Rum and Coca-Cola: The Andrews Sisters - A definite change of pace from the previous song and the next, not sure I should have included it. It was right in there with the theme, though, with the rum..and the added bonus of my personal vice, Coca-Cola.
Liar: The Cranberries - Hmmmmm, catchy....?
Well I Lied: Robert Cray Band - Grind 'em out blues. Kicky - I dare you not to tap your toes.
Before He Cheats: Carrie Underwood - Yes, this is the American Idol winner who gave us "Jesus Take The Wheel" and "Don't Forget To Remember Me"...this song is quite a departure from that. It always makes me giggle, some great lines.
Your Cheatin' Heart: Patsy Cline - The Billie Holiday of country music, she could sing the phone book and break your heart.
Drug State: Vincent & Mr. Green - My least favorite song in my mix, I wish I had left it off. I got this from the soundtrack to The Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood, which I had hoped would contain more Zydeco. I was disappointed. This song is completely out there and I think it brings the quality of the mix CD down. In fact, I worried that it would keep people from hearing the tracks that follow.
Strong Chemistry: David Wilcox - You know he's my favorite folkie singer/songwriter. This is a love/lust song that delves into some intense passion - "our bodies fit desperately together, like a needle against a vein"
Wonderdrug: Jann Arden - Another voice that I would love even if her music wasn't so good, it is powerful and distinctive. Another song that barely fits the theme, but the title gets it in...and I like her stuff.
An Occasional Man: Anita O'Day - Possibly my favorite of the jazz chick singers, her manager once described her as having "buckets of talent and not an ounce of class". I'm not sure I agree with that, but she definitely never gives you a good girl vibe on any of her songs. This isn't one of her best, but it is cute & funny and is a nice wrap up making lust the final vice.