“The Pretenders” by Joe Purdy

Another day and another artist I discovered thanks to a commercial. Back in 2009 Dawn featured Joe Purdy’s “Wash Away” in a very touching oil spill ad. Not only did the ad get me to go out and purchase the Dawn bottles with the baby duck on it but it also got me to download Joe Purdy’s music. “The Pretenders” is a song about 2 lovers who go on a little trip to the ocean and every time I hear it I think of past trips with my wife. I really love the line “What a beautiful girl/ And I know in this world/ The good ones are so hard to find.” That couldn’t be more true and every time I hear it I think of Amanda.

Jose Gonzalez “Step Out”

I was watching The Secret Life of Walter Mitty the other day with my wife and I found myself using my Shazam App throughout the film.  Eventually I decided just to google the album when I got home and I must say it is a very solid soundtrack.  This effort made for the soundtrack by Jose Gonzalez is the highlight and different from what we have grown accustom to from Jose.  After seeing the movie you are going to want to travel and live a more adventurous life.  This song just keeps hammering that message into your head with every listen.   So “Step Out” see the world and enjoy the adventure that is life.

PS I dare you to find someone who doesn’t like this song

“If Ever There’s A Place” by Farewell Milwaukee

Farewell Milwaukee is my first discovery of the new year. They have released 3 studio albums and this is off of their latest album “Can’t Please You, Can’t Please Me”. This song has become my new obsession with 50 iTunes plays in the last week or so. I was lucky enough to catch them live last night at the Empty Bottle in Chicago and they put on a great show including a cover of Neil Young’s “Helpless” which had a great country sound to it. My only complaint is they had to share the stage with 2 others bands so their set was short. I will 100% see them again next time they are in Chicago. So check out this song and if you like it check out their Bandcamp page where you can stream all 3 of the bands albums for free.

http://farewellmilwaukee.bandcamp.com/

New Lucero EP “Texas & Tennessee”

One of my favorite bands Lucero (Not to be confused with the sexy Latin American superstar who shares the same name) just released a new 4 song EP titled “Texas & Tennessee”. Two of the songs I have heard live including the band playing the title track “Texas & Tennessee” twice at a January show at the Metro in Chicago. The song got a louder reaction the second time it was played which says a lot for a NEW song from a band with a loyal fan base and 7 Albums under their belts. Many times as fans we get a little jaded and roll our eyes when a well established band plays “new stuff” and if they played it twice we tuned it out. This was not the case at all and really never is with Lucero. I was lucky enough to find a video from the show on YouTube and convert “Texas & Tennessee” into a live Mp3 which held me over till this release. So check out the EP! It is streaming on Spin’s website and if you like it buy a copy. Better yet go see Lucero live. I will be seeing them for the 6th time tomorrow night in Madison and can’t wait to hear Ben & The Boys play the classics but also anything off this new EP.

Tour link
http://www.luceromusic.com/site/tour/
Click on the Album Art to hear the new EP

Son Volt’s New Album “Honky Tonk”

It’s not often these days that I can listen to a record all the way through without skipping a few songs but Son Volt’s newest effort Honky Tonk achieves that difficult feat with relative ease.  Believe me I have listened and listened and expected to find a few songs that just weren’t up to par.  Judging by my iTunes “Plays” column there really isn’t a stinker in the bunch.  I downloaded Honky Tonk in mid March and as of today here are my “Plays”.

The top played track “Wild Side” has 50 plays while the least played track “Brick Walls” still has 37 plays which really stands out to me as a sign of a great album from top to bottom.   I honestly cannot remember the last album I listened to this evenly for a full month.   This is the kind of album that makes me want to rent a Jeep, go out west, take the top off, and drive through the desert on a desolate road towards Bakersfield.  So enjoy the scenery and loose yourself in the music and sagebrush.  Its a beautiful thing.