More of yesterday

Last night was so clear here in Boston that even those who had no idea that both Venus and Jupiter were visible knew something was different about the sky. I snapped this picture with my cell phone; it doesn't do it justice, though. There was a sliver of a moon, bright and big, and then Venus just below it, and Jupiter to the right of Venus, forming a (love) triangle with the moon. Did anyone else happen to see this? I am not a constellation buff, but this was pretty freaking cool. Try to look for it again tonight, if you get the chance.

Well, if you read my band's blog, you already know that our album, Sad Songs and Alcohol, came in at #64 on the national Americana charts this week. (What is Americana, you ask? It's rootsy music that loosely falls into the folk, bluegrass, country genres. This includes everyone from Dylan to Tom Petty to Gillian Welch to Allison Krauss to Willie Nelson to Ryan Adams to...well, Jo Henley, and everyone in between.) #64 feels good, I can't lie, but I really want to get into the Top 40, where industry folks will really take notice. In the meantime...

...I have a whole new list of songs I rocked out to on the train this morning. Lots of female artists today, for whatever reason. This won't become a habit, as there are far more interesting things to write about, but in case you were curious:

Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty, "Stop Dragging My Heart Around": I beepin' love this song. I listen to it all the time. Maybe too much. I am a duet fan, when it's done right, and these two rock this Petty tune hard. Stevie's vocals are raw and weary and the simple three-note guitar riff just kills. I am going to sing this one day when I can find a woman who wants to sing it with me. Just a fantastic rock song. (A Cliff Clavinism: Stevie desperately wanted to join her buddy Tom's band for a long time and lobbied hard for the chance, but was finally, and famously, told by Petty, "No way. There's no chicks in the Heartbreakers!" He penned this song for her, then at the last second didn't want to give it up. They agreed to sing it together as a compromise.)

Rilo Kiley, "Breakin' Up": I sorta have a crush on Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, but Jenny Lewis is a close second. I love her vocals and her songs (and her hair). She got a solid solo career going on these days, so Rilo Kiley's days are likely numbered, but their most recent (and last?) effort still gets serious play on my iPod. This song makes me wish I were a cowbell (okay, so TMI...).

Norah Jones, "Thinking About You": Anything by Norah Jones I love, but the Rhodes she plays on this track gives it this soul-gospel-funk that I really like a lot. Thankfully I got to see her years ago in a small jazz club with about 40 other people just a few weeks before her first record blew up. There are many NJ tunes I adore. This one just happened to win out today.

The Postal Service, "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight:" Ben Gibbard's (of Death Cab) side project, with a little help from the aforementioned Jenny Lewis on backing vocals on this song. "Such Great Heights" is the hit off the album of the same name, but I really love this song. It is sad and lonely and pretty and sounds like walking around alone on a warm, drizzly night. In February I listened to this album at least twice a day. Tells you where I was in February.

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, "Sink Ships": I know, I am totally biased, as RA is just about my favorite artist, but the new Cards album is amazing. That band is the best band in the business right now--and it's not even close. They can do anything. This is a tight record from top to bottom. "Sink Ships" won out today, but it could have been anything.

And last but not least...

Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, "A Brand New Heartache": GP and EH are the quintessential duet partners. Gram never got a chance to live long on this earth, but the music he did make has had a profound impact on everyone who works in the roots/folk/country genre. This is truly a beautiful song.

Happy Tuesday,
Andy