Have You Heard? - 12/18/04

It's been a couple of days since I did my show so this isn't as fresh in my mind but I'm sure I'll muddle through.

My friends Tom and Rick were supposed to come up to do the show but Rick's snowblower broke and fixing that was more important than coming up and Tom didn't show up (I'm not sure why but I'm guessing his reason was better than a broken snowblower). So, instead I continued on with a little more of listening to my own CDs that I really haven't listened to that much. It was all pretty good stuff.

The Good:
The Maytals (I forgot that even though The Harder They Come is generally considered a Jimmy Cliff album that it includes lots of other reggae acts. Since this is the first song of the show (and for me it's usually a crap shoot what's going on then) this was a pretty good pick. I got this from one of the record clubs and was the album I put in the alarm clock during a trip to Chicago last year.)
Curtis Mayfield (This guy is just awesome. There was never any doubt in my mind that this would be good. I bought this album at Dr. Records in Orono one day. That is such a great little record store.)
Linton Kwesi Johnson (Solid reggae, this was from a Shanchee (not sure of the spelling) sampler I got a while ago. It's got a really good Bunny Wailer tune on it too.)
Sade (I love Sade. Like Curtis Mayfield, I really had no doubt I would love this song too. I just can't get enough Sade.)
Angie Stone (I'm a big Angie Stone fan. I think she's got a fantastic voice and her first two CDs (I haven't heard the third one yet) are among the best stuff I've heard in ages. This song is basically Angie over a Marvin Gaye tune (which kind of surprised me) and she is a big Marvin appreciator so I was not too disappointed. If you like classic soul, get some Angie Stone.)
Janet Jackson and Kanye West (Okay, it's true that everything Kanye touches is good and this is no exception but I was surprised to see this album (Janet's Damita Jo) on the Blender Top 100 albums of the year list.)
Christina Aguilera (The more I listen to this album the more I really like it. Is that so wrong? The anti-Britney is way more than that.)
Patti Smith (Just what you'd think it is but prettier.)
Son Volt (I bought a bunch of Eddie Bauer collections a while ago and this is the only one I haven't really listened to yet. It's a lot more country than what I usually listen to but it's kind of that alt-country stuff so I'm saying it's pretty good. There a tune by Kasey Chambers on here that sounds like old Loretta Lynn and is, thus, really great.)
The Dead Milkmen (These guys are the best. Once I thought to buy some of their stuff, it took me like a year to find this album and Big Lizard in My Backyard. But some treasures are worth a little search.)
Roxy Music (I have been a Roxy Music fan since like 1985 and while some of their stuff is a bit odd, it's all good. I bought this album (and another one) at the Salvation Army store in Augusta one day.)
Mary J. Blige (This is the album with No More Drama and Family Affair but I'd never gotten very far past those two tracks. I will now though.)
Alicia Keys (I really like her sound. This album was one that I was surprised to realize I hadn't listened to too much.)
The Delfonics (This is good stuff too. I'll be putting this one in the car for a while.)
Bobby Womack (Bobby Womack has always been pretty impressive and while this album isn't the all-around best showcase for that, it is good.)
Whitney Houston (I am always surprised by the amount of haterating that goes toward Whitney and I was really surprised this album didn't do a lot better but it's all good. Really though, can Whitney do any wrong?)
Changing Faces (This is one of those late-90s R&B groups that kind of got lost in the crowd. They shouldn't have. Two girls with great voices.)

The Middle-of-the-Road:
Fine Young Cannibals (I like FYC but this wasn't the most inspired song. I can see why I recognize other names on the album and not this one.)
The Frotus Caper (My friend Chris's band. I do like this song. If you get a chance to see them play (they play around Portland a lot), go and see them.)
Patsy Cline (I like Patsy too. Some of her stuff is just a little too plain for me though.)
Atlantic Starr (Sugary-80's R&B. Not bad but not great.)
Kelly Price (This girl has a great voice but her choice of subject matter leaves something to be desired.)
Us3 (I kept thinking this was something else the whole time it was on.)

The Not-So-Good:
Madonna (From the Ray of Light album. This song stunk. It was techno-y and I was not even remotely in the mood for that.)
Jennifer Lopez (This song was not good either. I'm sure there are other songs on this album that aren't too bad but I haven't found them yet.)
Aaliyah (This is from that album she made when she was hooking up with R. Kelly and the whole thing is just kind of disturbing. And it's quite obvious she hadn't figured out what she wanted to say yet either. Good for what it is but that doesn't make it all good.)

Here's the list ->

CD1

The Maytals - Sweet Dandy (The Harder They Come soundtrack)
(missed a few seconds at the beginning)
Madonna - Sky Fits Heaven
Jennifer Lopez - Let's Get Loud
Aaliyah - No One Knows How to Love Me Quite Like You Do
Curtis Mayfield - So In Love
Linton Kwesi Johnson - Sense Outa Nansense
*Talk*
Fine Young Cannibals - Don't Let It Get You Down
Sade - Clean Heart
Angie Stone - Wish I Didn't Miss You
Janet Jackson f/ Kanye West - My Baby
Christina Aguilera - Soar
Patti Smith - 1959

*Talk - PSA - Energy Star*

CD2

Son Volt - Windfall (Homeward Bound - Eddie Bauer collection)
The Dead Milkmen - I Walk the Thinnest Line
Roxy Music - Eight Miles High
Rufus Wainwright - Grey Gardens
The Frotus Caper - I'm Not Fun
Peter Gabriel - Lay Your Hands On Me
Patsy Cline - Too Many Secrets
Atlantic Starr - Touch A Four-Leaf Clover
Alicia Keys - Heartburn
*Talk*
Mary J. Blige - Never Been
Kelly Price - Can't Run Away
The Delfonics - Trying to Make a Fool of Me
Us3 - It's Like That
Bobby Womack - Just My Imagination
Whitney Houston - Get It Back
*Talk*
Changing Faces - Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper)
(this got cut off by the jerk who came on after me)