Kevin Hodgkiss Poop 08

Geeze. It’s not like I don’t spend hours listening to music and this is all I can come up with?! With the incredible 161 volume USA Garage Greats, the fun 76 volume Round Wonders, the Soulin’ CDs, mash-ups and all the wonderful tracks that get passed through the atmospheres, I barely find enough time for new music…..So educate me Poopers! Below are the albums I did manage to grab a hold of which I do like, the first six very much.

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CONOR OBERST – Conor Oberst I think it’s silly when people call a musician a genius, except in this case. “I Don’t Want To Die (In a Hospital)” = Song of the Year

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YEARS OF REFUSAL – Morrissey Not only is the Queen not dead but he’s kicking up a mighty fuss. Kick band, typical overthetop lyrics, tight vocals, soaring melodies. Genius. (ed. Official release date in Us is Feb. 17 2009)

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LITTLE HONEY – Lucinda Williams Another classic set with the title track being responsible for any hearing loss I have incurred this year.

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RED LETTER YEAR – Ani DiFranco I’m consistent & loyal if nothing…
THE WIRE TAPES – Dashboard Confessional A boot of covers that ranges from Townes Van Zandt to Men at Work with a beautiful stopover at Regina Spektor’s “Better”, which I call for Song of the Year. Showcases all that is good with this voice and guitar. Sterling.

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ON YOUR SLEEVE – Jesse Malin Another collection of covers that is loving and respectful of the originals, from Bad Brains to Tim Hardin with a splendid stopover for Jim Croce’s “Operator” that sounds like it written for Jesse’s vulnerable voice. Song of the Year!

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ODE TO J. SMITH – Travis A U2/Radiohead-lite band that I recently fell in with. Not their best set but plenty o’ their modest charm.

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BLACK ICE – AC/DC My buddy asked me to burn this for him and, while testing it out, I got to rockin’ and tried to match Angus Young’s voice. Guitar hero for the car, man. Whaaaah!!

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DUFFY – Duffy Nice voice, perfect arrangements, but lacks booze, crack and incarcerated spouses, or ex-spouses.

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GIFT OF SCREWS – Lindsay Buckingham You gotta give the guy props. He plays the hell out of a guitar. He’s quirky in an intelligent way. And you know he makes a record the way he wants it to sound. But there always seems to be something missing…like that crazy broad
with the raspy voice and shawl?

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VOLUME ONE – She and Him The sixties sensibility saves this from just being background fodder for some pathetic Gray’s Anatomy episode. Bring back Sweet & Hoffs!!

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ACCELERATOR – REM I wanna love this but I don’t. Somehow it never quite comes together…..or accelerates?

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PRETTY, ODD – Panic At The Disco Go ahead. Even my sons laugh at me for this. I was intrigued by the Sgt. Peppers connection, and although they are minimal at most, a pegged band tries very hard to distance itself from the you-know-what label A respectable try that can be a silly fun listen…..

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TIME THE CONQUEROR – Jackson Browne A voice that has been with me a very long time. A welcome back.

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(Who The Hell Knows What It Is Called) – Weezer Another from my junky little band infatuation doing what they always do. C’mon stir the pot a bit. Get nasty and dirty ala Pinkerton, dudes!