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Tuesday, January 9, 2007

The Better To Hear You With, My Dear 1/9

Music for this week:

Piano Man - Billy Joel
The sophomore effort from the amazing Mr. Joel established the young songwriter as one of the more prolific musical storytellers of the seventies. There are lots of recognizable favorites here: "Piano Man", "The Ballad of Billy the Kid", "Captain Jack", and more. Extensive use of the steel guitar is a bit disconcerting at times, but thankfully, Billy didn't go too far down that road.

December Underground - AFI
Let me start by saying that I did enjoy this album. However it feels more like a compilation album of many different bands than a cohesive, singular effort. With songs ranging from screeching speed metal to Green Day, Killers, Depeche Mode, Cure and New Order clones, AFI (A Fire Inside) is all over the musical map. Strongest on "Prelude 12/21" and "Summer Shudder" this is a talented band that seeems to be having an identity crisis.

Underage Thinking - Teddy Geiger
I heard a radio DJ refer to Teddy Geiger as being "John Mayer-esque," and, as far as I'm concerned, that comparison pays a very high compliment to Mayer. I really enjoyed this album. Geiger's influences (Hornsby, Waits, Joel, Simon) are apparent, but the sound is all his own. Part jazz, part blues, part pop, this album is loaded with noteworthy tunes, not the least of which is "For You I Will (Confidence)" which actually inspired the Wolf toward two acts of uncharacteristic romantic boldness. (The romantic part, not the bold part.)

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