Missy Higgins Joins The Crash Test Dummies

Well, no, not the band...but, you'll see what I mean in a few seconds.

The Aussie songwriter is back with her sophomore release ON A CLEAR NIGHT- and it packs a punch, both in lyrical and vocal authenticity and melodies you'll be hard-pressed to purge.

Recorded virtually live to tape with producer Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Ron Sexsmith, Suzanne Vega, Los Lobos) and featuring a guest turn by Neil Finn, Missy's crystalline, confessional voice draws the curtains on her diary- several breakup songs punctuate the record.

Check the wonderful strum and Missy being put through the wringer on STEER.



and a very, very catchy song, whose lyrics, I think, we all have related to at one time or another- PEACHY.

If A Picture Is Worth a Million Words...

Than how many words would a video be worth?
My friend Fletcher sent along this awesome video for the latest from
What Made Milwaukee Famous and you MUST see it!
The Texans even have a famous friend making an appearance, so be sure to watch the final moments!

This is 'Sultan'

Another List...Well Dick Rowe Passing On The Beatles Isn't That Bad

WTMD's 897 Greatest Albums of All Time Countdown is not the only countdown so far this year, Check Out Yahoo's Cheesiest Love Songs or better yet...Blender's 20 Biggest Record Company Screw-Ups of All Time

Dick Rowe turning down the Beatles is no longer the biggest music industry screw up..."the major labels took top dishonors for driving file-sharing service Napster out of business in 2001, instead of figuring out a way to make money from its tens of millions of users. The downloaders merely scattered to hundreds of other sites, and the industry has been in a tailspin ever since." (War against Web tops music biz "screw-ups)

Dick Rowe's screw up is now #2...some other interesting ones on there as well...check out the full list here

Well even though V-Day is a month in the past, here's Yahoo's Cheesiest Love Song...Show Some love B-more

Chicago - "You're The Inspiration"

Who Hates California Girls?

Shirley Simms....well, at least she is channeling the "hate" of Stephin Merritt, the brainchild- swengali and multi-instrumentalist behind The Magnetic Fields and that ridiculously infectious tune, "California Girls" from their aptly-titled DISTORTION.

Stephin, who, you'd think judging by all the indie-world buzz the band has been receiving lately, would be a young hipster, but refreshingly, he's a relatively quiet 40 Something. And speaking of quiet, what with all the feedback you hear on DISTORTION, Stephin and his talented collaborators (including Simms, who sings about half the tracks with her semi-androgynous, nasally pipes that bring to mind Green Gartside, Christine McVie and Kirsty MacColl- Stephin, in his husky Cavesque drawl, sings lead on the others), keep the tone down on the road...choosing acoustic instruments instead of distortion; Stephin, apparently, has hearing issues.

And, in case you haven't deciphered the lyrics of the extremely witty, fuzzy Beach Boys homage, California Girls, check out this live acoustic version and laugh along.



Oh heck, let's see one more! My favorite from DISTORTION: Drive on Driver. Brilliant ear candy!

Two From Tuesday

NOTES FROM THE NEW RELEASE SHOW

The one group that I really liked and has great potential is The Young Republic. They are an eight-piece band, five guys and three dolls, out of Boston, who came together while attending college. They just relocated to Nashville, TN. Their debut release is 12 TALES FROM WINTER CITY and last night I played Girl In A Tree. (The band’s defining edge? Their affinity for Pop Music of the Sixties with their skills in arranging and orchestration.) The link below is from a very small studio performance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZgri7IFV00&feature=related

Next is an Alt. Country/Americana, singer/songwriter that goes by the name Star Anna. She’s from Ellensburg, WA, which is in the High Desert Region of Central Washington, just East of the Cascade Mountains. She is supported by Frank Johnson, on Bass and back-up vocals; Travis Yost on drums; and Justin Davis on lead guitar. The boys go by the name The Laughing Dogs. This style may be too country-ish for some of our listeners at WTMD but she is one talented performer and I wanted to share that with you. Her new record is CROOKED PATH and it’s filled with well-written Americana gems, including the title track, If Wishes Were Horses and the one I played last night, Devil Don’t Remember My Name.

Paying Rent In The "Tower Of Song"

The dapper poet laureate of folk music was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last night. The words to "Dance Me Till the End Of Love," "Famous Blue Raincoat," "Suzanne," and countless others are enshrined forever. Sincerely, LC.





What's YOUR favorite version of Hallelujah? John Cale? Rufus Wainwright? Brandi Carlile? Jeff Buckley? Bono? Or someone else?

Sunday School for Saints and Sinners

Last Sunday WTMD debuted a new program, Sunday School for Saints and Sinners. It's two hours of gospel, rock, blues and electronic music designed to start your Sunday looking inside ourselves and music. Here's the play list from the first show. Sunday School for Saints and Sinners airs the second Sunday of each month at 7 am.

Weather you're just getting up, or just getting home....It's Sunday School for Saints and Sinners.

Hour 1

Will the Circle Be Unbroken
My Very Special Guests
George Jones, Mavis Staples & Pops Staples

Let It Be
Soul Tribute To The Beatles
Aretha Franklin

We Are One
Meeting On Mission Street
Allen Toussaint

You Must Have That True Religion
Meeting On Mission Street
Mavis Staples

Alone, Jealous And Stoned
Ten Silver Drops
The Secret Machines

I Have Forgiven Jesus
You Are The Quarry
Morrissey

You Know I'm No Good [Remix]
Back To Black A
my Winehouse Feat. Ghostface Killah

It's Probably Me
Ten Summoner's Tales
Sting

Something So Right
Medusa
Annie Lennox

Be Thankful For What You Got
Blue Lines
Massive Attack

The Shining (Minotaur Shock Mix)
Perfecto Chills Vol. 3 (Disc 2)
Badly Drawn Boy

Gave It A Name
Tracks (Disc 4)
Bruce Springsteen

You Can Sleep While I Drive
Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled
Melissa Etheridge

Way Down in the Hole
The Wire: “...and all the pieces matter.”
Steve Earle

Hour 2
When The Saints Go Marching In
Live In Dublin [Disc 2]
Bruce Springsteen With The Sessions Band

Diggin' on the Road
Test
Patern Sonia Dada

Down By The Riverside
Down In New Orleans
The Blind Boys Of Alabama

Jesus On The Mainline
Ollabelle
Ollabelle

Have Mercy
Van Lear Rose
Loretta Lynn

Mercy
Rockferry
Duffy

Sexual Healing
King Of The Mountain
Kate Bush

Love At First Light
Volume 4
Joe Jackson

The First Cut Is The Deepest
Girl Group Sounds Lost And Found (One Kiss Can Lead To Another)
P.P Arnold

Kiss And Say Goodbye
Breakfast In Bed
Joan Osborne

Blessed
Colorblind
Robert Randolph & The Family Band

O-O-Oh Child (Nickodemus Remix)
Remixed And Reimagined
Nina Simone

Mighty High
In the House of the Lord: Live In Houston
Mighty Clouds Of Joy