The Colorado Sound’s My5 – April 2021

by BandWagon Magazine

((( Don’t forget: each My5 title is a link. Click on, NoCo! )))

For many years, the film fan in me has loved trying to pick winners at The Oscars. And every year the music fan in me enjoys how much music/film crossover there is. Here are just 5 examples for this year’s ceremony on April 25.

1. News Of The World Nominated for Best Original Score, the music for this Tom Hanks film was written by James Newton Howard, who recorded at Caribou Ranch with Elton John in the mid-70s.

2. Mank and Soul Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are already Oscar winners. This year they’re nominated twice for Original Score, for the films Mank and also for Soul (along with Jon Batiste, whose music we play)

3. The United States vs. Billie Holiday The amazing Andra Day earned a Best Actress nomination for her portrayal in this film.

4.  The Sound Of Metal Metal fan? You may enjoy The Sound Of Metal, which is getting A TON of attention, including 6 Oscar noms!

5. Promising Young Woman  While this film’s five Oscar noms don’t include any music-related ones, it does star Carey Mulligan, AKA Mrs. Marcus Mumford.

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Every weekday at 2, Margot does Bring To A Boil And Cover. In this feature, she plays the original, a cover, and tells you stories about both versions. Here are some of her top covers of the last few months.

1. “Sunshine Superman” – original by Donovan, cover by Dr. Lonnie Smith featuring Iggy Pop On the face of it, a Jazz organist and one of the originators of what became punk collaborating on a psychedelic classic cover wouldn’t seem to work, but it does. Beautifully.

2. “I Can Help” – original by Billy Swan, cover by Charley CrockettBilly Swan took the original to the top of the charts in 1974. While the original is a bit frenetic and more about trying to seduce someone, Charley Crockett’s laid-back take gives it a kinder feel, suitable to the pandemic age in which we now live.

3. “Sugar Man” – original by (Sixto) Rodriguez, cover by Black Pumas When you hear the Black Pumas cover “Sugar Man” it’s a slap-yourself-on-the-forehead-of-course-they-did moment.

4. “Harlem River Blues” – original by Justin Townes Earle, cover by Steve EarleAt first, a grieving father covering his late son seems like a bad idea. But Steve Earle doesn’t try to reinvent his late son Justin Townes Earle. Instead, his gentle versions of Justin’s songs let you into his sorrow in an affecting way.

5. “European Son” – original by Velvet Underground, cover by Matt BerningerWhen Matt Berninger initially got together with Booker T. Jones to discuss his first solo album Serpentine Prison, they discussed it being all covers. They ended up going with originals but this Velvet Underground cover was recorded during those sessions.

Here’s to new music and summer camp!

1. Morcheeba:  Blackest Blue Not being able to tour in 2020 gave this atmospheric English band a chance to re-focus on songwriting. Due May 14, this comprehensive release showcases their dreamy, aural soundscapes, reflecting the best of their eclectic sounds over three decades.

2.  Ibeyi: “Recurring Dream” Although only a single, it’s great to hear new music from these twin French/Cuban sisters. Fusing jazz, folk and pop with beats, samples, traditional instruments, and their soulful, sometimes melancholic voices, the single was written for Ed Morris’ new movie How to Stop a Recurring Dream.

3. Rag’n’Bone Man: Life By Misadventure Rory Graham (Rag’n’Bone Man) made a splash with his award winning debut Human. This much-anticipated follow-up album (out April 23) features Graham’s familiar, deep baritone but with a new twist, as he puts it “informed by country, folk and rock’n’roll.”

4. Kaleo: Surface SoundsAfter pushing the release date back again, Icelandic folk-rock band Kaleo’s Surface Sounds should arrive June 5. The new album features a mix of sounds from the mournful ballad ‘Backbone’ to the straight-ahead rock of “Alter Ego.” Tour dates this summer include July 19 at Red Rocks.

5.  Dinosaur Jr. : Camp Fuzz 2 Who wouldn’t love summer camp for grownups!? Dinosaur Jr. hosts this all-inclusive adventure featuring master classes, Q&A sessions, performances, arts and crafts, and amazing food! Fans get to interact with the band, crew, and other special guest musicians in a beautiful mountain retreat in Big Indian, NY.

 

1. Valerie June: “Call Me A Fool” The first single from her new album is everything you’d expect: A sensual, soulful song that laments past problems. June even brings in soul legend Carla Thomas, giving it an extra layer of sensuality.

2. Dr. Lonnie Smith ft. Iggy Pop: “Sunshine Superman”  This is one of the most unlikely collaborations, but it works. Iggy Pop would stop by Hammond B-3 organ legend Lonnie Smith’s Florida rehearsal space and hang out. The two decided to work together and the result is a space age bachelor pad re-working of the Donovan classic.

3. Top 20 Questions for April In the spirit of April Fool’s day, we want to know what your favorite novelty song is. Maybe it’s something old school like Alan Sherman’s “Hello Muddah Hello Fadduh” or a classic like “My Bologna” by Weird Al. Send your nomination to coloradosound.org

4. The Spring Classics – The Tour De France isn’t the only big event in cycling. The Spring Classics provide the sport’s longest one-day race, (The Milan – San Remo), one with hills so steep riders often push their bikes (Tour of Flanders) and the Queen of the Classics, (Paris – Roubaix) with cobblestones from the Napoleon era so jagged they’ve broken bike frames.

5. Unbelievable: Netflix Based on a true story and set in Colorado, this story follows two detectives in their attempt to track down a serial rapist. Tony Colette is superb as a hard boiled detective unwilling to give up until the case is cracked.