Muse "The Resistance"

I first discovered this band in 2003 with "Absolution" and was so excited by the sound that I actually researched the two older releases, something I very rarely do. "Showbiz" worked for me but "Origin..." didn't. With "Black Holes..." and now this release, Muse is a bonafide, big-time, worldwide smash. You can hear their music at professional sporting events...now that's acceptance in the US market! I saw them live a couple of years ago and was blown away by a three-member band creating all that bombast. There are the obvious Queen influences and I hear Sweet in some of the tracks. Gotta love the classical influences, as well. A piano is a good thing for rock music, in my opinion. Most of all I believe Muse has come into its own sound and identity, and I hope this isn't the peak of their career just yet. But when front man Matthew Bellamy tires of the arena rock scene, he'll be the next Danny Elfman.

Just a quick story about the acquisition of this record. When I purchased the download originally, I wasn't very impressed with the quality and songs and was initially disappointed with it. But after reading multiple glowing reviews, I decided to go online and sample the record from another source, and sure enough, what I had was a hybrid of the new album with some B-cuts and alternate tracks for the 3-part symphony that finishes the album. I revisited my download and finally obtained the proper release, but I wonder if what I have is some sort of rarity to be cherished. If any of you know out there, please let me know!

Chuck Prophet "Let Freedom Ring"

CP got his start in the 80's with a band called Green on Red, a CA based paisley-pop, jangly REM-ish, psychedelic sounding group. He went solo in the 90's but it's the albums released this decade that have hit my collection. Each release has its own aura, "Freedom" having more than a touch of country-folk-roots, but again, each CD is slightly different from the previous, which is why I am certainly going to get the next album without having to hear any of it first. I hear Rolling Stones and Tom Petty in places on this record. This is a back-to-basics release of guitars, bass and drums, featuring songs written by one of the best storytellers out there today.

Joe Henry "Blood From Stars"

I nearly choked on my cereal the other morning when I read the
Birthdays section of the paper, wishing Happy Happys' to
Country Musician Joe Henry! Now I've only been aware of him since 1999, and there's nothing country about him at all since then. OK, OK, so he was at the forefront of what came to be known as "alt country" with his earlier work in the 90's, but come on people, that was 15 years ago (and they wonder why newspapers are dying). The four albums since '99 have been trippy, subtle, jazzy, bluesy...all over the board. They sound like they could have been produced by Daniel Lanois or T-Bone Burnett, you know, the kind that need to be absorbed and experienced. "Blood " has that feeling, like you're sitting in a dark, smoky jazz club, JH on the piano, Marc Ribot seated with guitar in hand, an upright bassist and the tiny trap kit (with brushes) in back. His voice comes off a little like Leon Russell, with songs written in a Tom Waits style. These songs are what I like to call "aural sculptures." He's even had one of them (Stop) "dumbed down" by his sister-in-law, Madonna (Don't Tell Me)!

Metric "Fantasies"

So here's an example of finding a record through referral. I've been giving music to my friend Liz (which is something I do whether I've known you for a lifetime or a week) and she turns the tables on me a couple of weeks ago and hands me this disc. OK, so I put it into rotation in the changer and it comes up a few days later and I'm smiling from song to song. First thing I thought was Garbage, then it was Missing Persons, and on the most recent spin I hear Berlin. This is my sweet-tooth, guilty pleasure of the year (Black Kids was last year's equivalent). Female-fronted, catchy Canadian synth/power pop music...radio hits across the disc (if only radio had brains). Deserving of a little research, I find this is album #4, so off I go to previous releases only to discover that there's no comparison. And apparently I'm not alone as this is their first time to chart in the U.S., for eight weeks no less. Thanks Liz!