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Pop Rock Nation

Tag: Mike Doughty

  • The Musichelpweb Midyear Report Part 2: The Good, The Bad & Lil’ Wayne

    Hey Folks,

    In addition to this fine site, I also occasionally write (but mostly comment) for a couple of other sites, one being my friend JayVee’s site, The Round Table. You can find it at theround-table.blogspot.com. This column was originally written for them. Enjoy!!

    Believe it or not, 2008 has not been a bad year for music-unless you happen to be a superstar. Particularly a superstar diva. Janet Jackson, Madonna and Mariah Carey have all released fairly underwhelming albums over the first half of the year-with Janet’s the best of a very weak bunch. Hip-hop has also taken a bit of a leave of absence-unless you’re one of those folks who thinks “The Carter III” is a classic, there wasn’t much to gloat about if you were a rap fan for the first part of this year.

    However, there have been some bright spots. Soul singers on the other side of the Atlantic continued their renaissance after Amy Winehouse set one hell of a standard (and you have to admit that “Back To Black” is a work of genius, no matter what you think of her personally) last year. In addition to the new Brit divas, a couple of vets returned after short absences with albums that rank among the best of their careers. And there’s still half a year to go.

    (more…)

  • Mike Doughty Lets The Sunshine In: The Video For "Fort Hood"

    Those of you who were listening to music in the Nineties might remember Mike Doughty as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter behind the alternative rock band Soul Coughing. While I knew of the band and had heard a song or two of theirs in passing, I’d honestly never paid much mind to Doughty until I witnessed a live performance of his earlier this year, after which I was so impressed by his latest solo CD, “Golden Delicious”, that I went back and not only got the two solo albums he’d released prior, but I went further back and bought (as in paid actual money for) all three Soul Coughing studio albums.

    On record and in person, Doughty’s personable and witty. “Golden Delicious” is primarily loosey-goosey and fun in that laid-back, very New york singer-songwriter way, with the exception of my two favorite songs, the melancholy (at least to my ears) “Wednesday (Contra La Puerta)” and the album’s opener, “Fort Hood”.

    It’s probably better for you to read what Mike was thinking about when he wrote the song than to have me explain it (because it would come out sounding like a regurgitation of his words anyway), so check out this blog entry: http://www.mikedoughty.com/blog/archives/000730.html

    I’ve listened to this song practically every day for the past two or three months and I still can’t get to the end of it without misting up. Maybe because his lyrics perfectly my feelings about the war. Maybe because he eloquently describes what so many Americans are feeling without hitting you upside the head with rhetoric. Maybe because I look fondly at the innocence I had before going through my own personal war (as so many of us do). Maybe because my baby sister is in the midst of her second tour in the desert. Whatever you think, it’s a powerful song, an equally powerful video (one I almost made my way to the set of before getting sidetracked), and I hope that for those of you previously unaware, it makes you want to check out more of Mike’s music.

    Enjoy.

  • New Releases: 2/19/08

    There are slow signs that the release schedule is picking up after sleepwalking through January, but this particular week is a week where a couple of artists and bands that are still under the radar are releasing albums. Next week promises a soul diva showoff between Janet Jackson & Erykah Badu, but in the meantime, check out new albums by:

    The Raveonettes: This Danish duo has gotten tons of press notice over the past couple of years, along with their counterpart in female singers, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. They don’t do a hell of a lot for me, but I don’t know that I’m hip enough to enjoy them! At any rate, “Lust, Lust, Lust” was released internationally last fall, and finally gets it’s U.S. release for those of you who haven’t yet shelled out cash for the import.

    http://www.theraveonettes.com/

    Mike Doughty: Former lead singer of alt-rock with a twist band Soul Coughing back in the Nineties, formerly named M. Doughty, former columnist for the New York Press, Mr. Doughty’s latest solo effort, “Golden Delicious” arrives today. You know I love me some literate rock stars.

    http://www.mikedoughty.com/

    Allison Moorer: I’m not as familiar with Allison Moorer as I am with her sister, Shelby Lynne. Moorer aparently traffics in more “country” circles, but by all accounts, she’s just as talented. Her new album “Mockingbird”, like Shelby’s recent effort, is a covers album. Nina Simone and Joni Mitchell (two of my favorites) are represented here. I wonder if her husband, Steve Earle, makes an appearance on this album.

    http://www.allisonmoorer.com/

    Also coming out today: a brand new “Kidz Bop” CD for those of you who have kids that haven’t yet graduated to the “High School Musical” phase, new albums from long dormant Brit acts Kula Shaker and Morcheeba and the comeback album you’ve all been waiting for from Seven Mary Three. Woo hoo! Long live bad grunge!!