WalCast 8: Chillin' on the Couch on a Sunday Afternoon

Here it is: the long awaited chillin' out episode of The WalCast. Music to wind down your long workday or to enjoy while relaxing on the weekend. Not music to sleep by, but music to relax to if you are not into New Age, spa-type tunes with classical guitar, flute, and exotic birds tweeting in the background. No, this is actually good music, just on the laid-back tip. Some of my favorite tunes for getting my mind off things are in here, and the best part is you only have to hear my voice for the first few minutes. Put on your slippers, get the fire going in the fireplace, grab a hot cup of french roast (don't spoil it with sweetener and creamer) or a nice merlot, and kick that recliner all the way out or lay on the couch, and get ready for a good hour of chillin' tunes. Oh, and ignore that run-on sentence I just typed.



Trackticus Listus:

Buttercup - Brad - Opening track to the first album, Shame.

Powderfinger - Cowboy Junkies - Cover of the Neil Young tune from their album The Caution Horses.

Constellations - Jack Johnson - From one of my favorite summertime and/or Sunday afternoon albums, In Between Dreams.

Little Things - Mary Everest - Minneapolis-based electro-acoustic folk based artist who also performs with her brother JG Everest and collaborates with an array of other local friends and artists, from her solo debut Little Things.

Further to Fly - Paul Simon - From a must-have album, The Rhythm of the Saints.

Take 5 - The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Classic jazz tune that really affects my mood and mellows me out.

Far, Far Away - Wilco - From the first disc of their 2nd release, BeingThere.

Low Sail - Amy Millan - The Broken Social Scene and Stars collaborator (among others) with a tune from her sophomore solo release, Masters of the Burial.

High on a Riverbed - Toad the Wet Sprocket - From their phenomenal 2nd album, Pale.

Detlef Schrempf - Band of Horses - A haunting song from their 2nd album, Cease to Begin, which appears to have nothing to do with the former Seattle Supersonics star it's named after.

One More Day - Amy Wadge - Welsh (by way of Bristol) folk artist with a tune I got from the 2009 SXSW compilation.

Turn Me On - Nora Jones - from another great album to relax to, her debut, Come Away With Me.

In a Lonely Place - The Smithereens - The 60's-influenced pop-rockers from their first album, Especially For You.

Precious Pain - Melissa Etheridge - No matter how much grief I get for liking her first, self-titled album, I will continue to listen to it with pleasure.

Moonlight Mile - The Rolling Stones - "Wild Horses" would have been too obvious, don't you think? Plus, this closes the show nicely, much like it did the album Sticky Fingers.

This show is a downloader for sure, so click here to do so.

Song of the Day 2/22/10

I have come to the realization that Canadian indie music just rocks. I don't know how they're breeding them up there, but it's working. My latest wonderful discovery from the great white north is Hollerado. Their debut, Record in a Bag, is out of this world. This is one of the better tracks on it, but rest assured they are all good. They remind me a little of Spoon, The Replacements, and Pavement, and that, my friends, is a winning combination. You will hear more of them very soon.

Juliette - Hollerado

WalCast 7: Girls, Girls, Girls

Despite the title this week, this is not a tribute to Motley Crue. This is, in fact, the first all-female vocal edition of the your beloved WalCast. Or maybe it's just beloved to me. Regardless, the fact remains. What fact, you ask? I have no idea what we were just talking about. Oh, yes, female vocals in the music, that's right...ummm...yes. So anyway, here it is. All female vocals in the tracks on the WalCast this week, I mean. So, just so we're clear, the WalCast...vocals of the female persuasion, in the music...that I'm playing. For you to listen to. If you like. If not, then...what? Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot. I have compiled music for your listening pleasure if you so desire to indulge in said music, and the music features vocal stylings by women. Is that clear enough? Look, just press the play button below and listen. Or click the link at the bottom to download the show and listen later, alright? Why don't you ever listen to me? I feel like we don't really communicate anymore. Whatever, fine.



Listing O' the Tracks

So Noticed - Emmi - From the album The Invite.

100mph in 2nd Gear - Gemma Ray - From Lights Out Zoltar.

How to Tame Lions - Washington - From the EP How to Tame Lions.

Holy Dirty Game - Manna - From the album Songs of Hope and Desire.

Story - Great Northern - From Remind Me Where the Light Is.

Uneasy - The Spinanes - From Manos.

The River - Audra Mae - From the EP Haunt.

Cherry Tree - 10000 Maniacs - From the classic In My Tribe.

Lloyd, I'm Ready to be Heartbroken - Camera Obscura - From Let's Get Out of This Country.

Barcelona - Plasticines - From About Love.

Looking for Nothing - Aimee Mann - From Smilers.

I've Got More - Ambulette - From the 2009 SXSW compilation.

In Violet - Angie Mattson - From the 2009 SXSW compilation.

Ease the Pain - The Sound of Hush - From their debut The Sound of Hush.

Hell - Tegan and Sara - From Sainthood.

Download the show from here.

Song of the Day for SuperBowl Sunday

I think I may start posting a song of the day periodically (not every day), when I haven't had time to put a show together but want to share something. I don't want to leave folks hanging if I take too long to post, and I can get something like this up in no time. Don't fret, though. I have my first female vocals show and my Sunday-afternoon chill-out show in the works and on the way. Should have at least one ready to go by next Sunday. This is one of the best songs from the latest Pearl Jam album, Backspacer.

Amongst the Waves - Pearl Jam