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August Top 5

This was my top 5 for August 2008

1. I'm Wild About You - Al Green
   The latest Al Green album, produced by ?uestlove of the Roots, doesn't stray far from the classic sound Green and producer Willie Mitchell created at Hi Records in the 1970s, but that's a good thing. Lay It Down is a great old-school Al Green album with some impressive guest artists (Corinne Bailey Rae, Anthony Hamilton, John Legend and the Dap-Kings Horns). I'm Wild About You is one of my favorite tracks on the record.



2. I Can't Stop - Luther Ingram
   Luther is my latest favorite old soul singer. I believe this was originally ripped from vinyl so you can hear some of the imperfections which makes it feel that much better.
   "..i would'a never believed, darlin', that you could hurt my soul"



3. Thou Shalt Always Kill - Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip
   My friend Gemma turned me onto this track. I have since bought the entire album. Some really good stuff on it. If anyone wants to hear more, let me know.



4. Eugene - Andrew Bird's Bowl Of Fire
   I'm just recently going through several Andrew Bird albums. This is from one of his first records entitled Thrills.



5. Crown - Mason Jennings
   Matt Monaghan covered this tune when he was in town and it served as my introduction to Mason Jennings. I actually think i prefer Matt's version, but I'm very happy to have discovered Mason. I intended to put one of Matt's songs from his studio time in LA in my top 5 this month but since Dom uploaded the entire EP as his top 5 i figured it would be overkill.
   In a small world anecdote - I recently learned that my friend Brad Beale knows Mason from the camp both their kids attend every summer in Minnesota.

my top 5 video playlist

These are all the videos available on YouTube for songs in my top 5
(scroll the menu at bottom of screen to switch between videos)

July Top 5

This was my top 5 for July 2008

1. Make Me Believe In You - Patti Jo
   This is already in the running to be track one on this year's compilation. Patti Jo is one of the great unknown soul singers of her time. Evidenced by the fact that in 1972/1973 Curtis Mayfield chose her to lay down ‘Make Me Believe In You’ and the much underrated ‘Ain’t No Love Lost’. She was only sixteen at the time. This song will make you believe in me.



2. Why (Do I Love You So) - Lou Rawls
   Lou has a Sam Cooke quality to some of his phrasing in this tune that I really like.



3. Rain - Bishop Allen
   I first heard Bishop Allen on a SXSW mix I ran across a couple years ago on one of the MP3 blogs I frequent (see MP3 Blogs you should visit at bottom right). Just recently got their full album and really dig this track.



4. Everywhere You Turn - Longwave
   I've been listening to two Longwave albums off and on for a few years and become more enamored with each listen. This is one of my favorites on their 2003 The Strangest Things release.



5. You're Not Alone - The Enemy
   One of the U.K.'s most talked about new bands of 2007. I'm not sure if the hype brought them to the U.S. or not.

my top 5 member in new Laswell video

How the Day Sounds - Greg Laswell


Filmed at Galco's Soda Pop Stop / 5702 York Boulevard / Los Angeles, CA 90042 / www.sodapopstop.com / More Greg on jasonz.com

June Top 5

This was my top 5 for June 2008

1. Way Down In The Hole - Blind Boys of Alabama
   I watched the first season of The Wire this month, this is the title track and I'm nuts about this song. Written by Tom Waits, the show features this song in the opening credits, each season recorded by a different artist. This is my favorite of the versions i've heard.



2. I Got A Thing For You - Jim Bianco
   I saw Bianco live recently and really enjoyed his show. This was one of my favorite tunes in his set.



3. Summertime (Organica Remix) - Billie Holiday
   Always dangerous to remix the classics, but I think Organica did right by Lady Day.



4. All The World Is Green - Tom Waits
   I saw The Diving Bell and The Butterfly a couple weeks ago and appreciated this Waits gem from Blood Money all over again.



5. Fontanelle - Clem Snide
   I stumbled across this tune from Clem Snide's 2003 Soft Spot record again and remembered how much i liked how sad and melancholy Eef Barzelay makes a simple little happy song sound.

May Top 5

This was my top 5 for May 2008

1. The Enemy Guns - Devotchka


2. Fruit Machine - The Ting Tings


3. Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Part 2 - My Morning Jacket


4. The Fix - Elbow


5. Sweet Dream - Greg Laswell