Here's page 2 of my musical smorgasboard.
Go back to page 1 for more fun music.




Squirrel Nut Zippers' latest CD, "Perrenial Favorites," expands their appeal. I personally enjoyed their 1998 Christmas CD - it added warmth to my holidays. They are without a doubt the most innovative and exciting band (except for those Jump, Little Children boys!) to ever hit the pop music scene. The description of them on this Mammoth Home Page will give you all you need to know. They are a 30's swing, hot jazz, 90's alternative, all-consuming, fascinating group. If you don't know them, warn your boss. Once you have heard their music, you may never go to work again...unless they allow you to dance while you work. Click for tour dates.

Did you know that the 'HOT' and 'Perrenial Favorites' CD's were interactive CD Roms as well as music CDs? Check it out by clicking here. Get ready for tour footage, music, and fun.

Cake- A recent addition to my CD catalog. I'm in love with this band. They are simple, clever, and funque-a-licious. People are laughing at me all over Chicago as I dance my way to work accompanied by these slyly cynical dudes.
Click here for more info.
I need their arms around me - I need to feel their touch...



Astor Piazolla
if you love the music of the Tango, treat yourself to the music of Astor Piazolla. The link above will get you started. For some sound clips, click here.


For some more fun Argentenian Tango postcards
like the one above, click here.
   Crash Test Dummies
Don't you love them? The new album - 'Give Yourself a Hand' is out. Wow, Wow, Wow. This is not your old CTD but I love it. Techno, soul, wierdness.

For the most comprehensive info on them click here. This is a great site with lots of updates so bookmark it now.

Here's my review of their 1999 show in Chicago

Dateline May 5, Chicago, House of Blues

Well, this is not your Daddy's Crash Test Dummies. Brad Roberts has truly lost any dignity he may have been hanging on to by a thin thread and gone straight for the down and dirty. I think he is too smart to want fame and yet wants it desperately and loves it and hates himself for loving it and hates the music biz in general - well, as you can imagine, it makes for alot of drinking. I think he is in a phase now where he is trying to see how disgusting he can be and still have women scream to have sex with him. This includes blowing snot out of his nose across the stage onto the audience, singing alot about shit, and just generally making fun of the lowest impulses of our species.

And yet, I still love him. What is it about him? Smart, funny people - I can't help it - they get to me. He is quite a showman and came out complete with cowboy hat and boots and pink feather boa, only to strip down later to a red silk brassiere so he could discuss how it felt to have it touch his man nipples. The music is still so good, so catchy, has so much beat to it this time around, that it washes over you and you are hooked before you know it. And then there is that voice... an aberration of the gene pool to be sure - but this time he has found his falsetto as well - so talk about a wide range. Ay-yi-yi! And the female singer Ellen sang 4 songs on her own and she has a great, rich, ribald, and wide ranging voice as well. It was good to see her show her stuff a bit. She does more slow sultry stuff and I enjoyed her immensely.

Overall, I really enjoyed the show, even if Brad should be sent straight to a 12 step program - but then, it's hard to tell how much he really drinks on stage and how much he just talks about how much he is drinking on stage. It may all be part of the act of this tour. With songs like 'I Want to Partay!' what should we expect? (Quote when someone blew smoke in his face "Oh, Yeah! We love cigarettes! We all love things that kill us s-l-o-w-l-y!")

To cap off an already strange show, after he did the 'mmm,mmm,mmm' song as the last song of the long encore, he said something like this. "Normally, we end the show with our biggest hit and everyone goes home happy. But some of you will be surprised to hear this next song. You think you've seen low. You just don't know the depths to which I can sink. Well, I love the bottom feeding fish. I am a bottom feeding fish. So listen." And then he proceeded to do Brittany Spears '...Baby,One More Time' in that incredible baritone voice, complete with some of the moves from the video. It was hysterical. Who would have ever dreamed up that combination? The bad thing is, it was a great version of the song and had everyone dancing out the doors. Irony, thy name is Brad.

Tour Dates


Ultimate Band List

If you are a music fan and don't know about this site, get a clue! This is the best place to surf for all the info on your favorite bands. Be aware that once you log in, it's hard to log out!

Nanci Griffith.  
Singer-Songwriter and interesting person.  Another person whose music is hard to describe.  There's country/folk/Irish/blues/rock and every once in awhile some jazz thrown in for good measure.  Click here for her home page and take a listen.  This 'imusic' link will take you to another good page with sound.  I think you'll find something to love.
Iris Dement.
  
If you like Nanci Griffith - you may find joy in Iris Dement.  I first heard her as the opening act for Nanci in Atlanta and have been a fan ever since.  More June Cash than Nanci, her old timey country sound is a blast from the past.  Click here to read and hear more. 
Lyle Lovett - Julia Roberts' loss.  Most of you know his music.  Is he great or what?  His heart comes through his music and he has a great since of humour.  I love the touches of gospel in some of his songs.  Have you heard his song from the movie "The Apostle"?  Get the soundtrack - it will save your soul!  Click here for the imusic page about him and some other links. 
Peter Gabriel.  I can't help it, I worship the man.  Smart, sensitive, funny, talented.  And oh, the music!  I hear he has a new CD coming out in 1999.  How long has it been?  I thank him from the bottom of my heart for working on my next favorite album - I know it will be before I even hear it.  He has a great web site.  Visit it by clicking here.   There is another cool fan site to be visited by clicking here.
Johnny Clegg.  One of South Africa's many gifts to the world.  The music will send you soaring.  Click here or here for great links to his life an music.



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