September is always a good month for releases. Here are my picks from what came out this month:
Howie Day – Sound the Alarm
Muse – The Resistance
Jay-Z – Blueprint 3
Sea Wolf – White Water, White Bloom
David Gray – Draw the Line
Brand New – Daisy
Mae – (m)orning
I’ve now traded in my peppermint tea for mango coconut oolong tea. It’s not as gross as it sounds.
“If you’re gonna be there, be there…”
Howie Day’s latest effort, “Sound the Alarm”, was released this past Tuesday and I’m smitten. Granted, it’s nothing groundbreaking and you can clearly point out his influences but it’s been far too long. Unlike most of his contemporaries who want to be where he is, his music has evolved yet still reminds me of 1999-2002. Much like the surprise with Nathanson’s last record and unlike the recent fails of SK and PM(B). And though he rose with the likes of Mraz and Mayer, they’re a few years older and didn’t lose time in and out of court and rehab… and he’s still got time.
A few of my friends are at his label and in the media, and specifically, his A&R, and he’s got total full support behind this album. “Australia” was an uncalculated hit, and “Stop All The World Now” achieved success a year and a half after it was released with the help of media-friendly “Collide”. And like the last release, he aligned himself with Kevin Griffin from Better than Ezra and Jay Clifford from Jump Little Children. Also, he co-wrote on all of these songs, unless his past albums.
I love it. And “Be There” is such the hit. I also really like: “Weightless”, “40 Hours”, and “No Longer What You Require”. If you could see me, I’ve been singing and dancing in my office all day. His albums were always perfect for fall days with the windows down and for sing-a-longs during roadtrips. And interestingly, thanks to Mr. HD and travels because of him or that he serenaded, he was involved in some key moments and meetings.
For example:
- Well, first, he gave me my first beer. We were at a show somewhere in Georgia.
- Ha, a bit unrelated, but one night while Amy and I were cutting out faces of LDE and pasting them onto the bodies in Playgirl, we called Howie and told him that “even the best fall down sometimes”. And we kept calling. And he kept picking up! That’s what you get when you stop talking to people!
- I’m pretty sure he was in the CD player every time Aurora and I drove anywhere. From North Kakalaki to Maine to Canada…
- “Stop All The World Now” came out the day before Aurora and I drove to Boston for a less than 24 hour round-trip. It was played non-stop to and from and whenever I listen to the disc I can remember where on the highway we were during a certain song. It was also the night I finally met Morgan in the flesh (after many many years of knowing each other) after a long night at the Paradise and in a tour bus.
- Because of that trip, I met Chris. I was mean to him when he came into the record store since I was tired and cranky and made up for my curtness by continuing the conversation. He also bought the CD for his sister. Along with Matty Nay. How do I remember stuff like this?? All tied to music obviously. Though granted, we re-met a week and a half later at Omnisoul’d show at East End, but still.
- I met Derek because I gave him a burned live Howie CD. That was September 9 1999. Seriously, demented with the details. WHOA THAT WAS TEN FUCKING YEARS AGO! Oh snap.
- And lastly, after a conversation with Mr. D, I heard about this kid and I emailed him a bit over 8 years ago. We met and had one great year followed by seven years of being jerked around. You win some and you lose some, but at least I’ve finally learned not to be so foolish and dependable on merely words. I probably wouldn’t have learned that valuable lesson any other way.
“So here we are set into motion
We’ll steal a car and crash in the ocean
You and I, caught in a fading light
On the longest night…”
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