The Luxury "This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things"

With the new U2 album making the rounds and getting good reviews, I wanted to post a vid by a band that came out in 2007, with plenty of big hooks and melodies. The Luxury have a full rich sound that compares well with Bono and crew, on the opening single “Let Go.” Thankfully, this is not the only style the Luxury emulate. The brainchild of Boston frontman/guitarist Jason Dunn, the band specializes in anthemic rock with a big stadium sound. You hear it right away, the full guitar buzz on “Seven Stories” that brings to mind Oasis and Bob Mould’s Sugar to the dramatic piano lead power ballad “Rockets and Wrecking Balls.” Even the melodic vocal and guitar phrasing of “So Easy” will win over pop purists and the cool layered riffs of  “Malcontent” recall a mix of  Badfinger and Coldplay. By the album’s mid point it gets a little self indulgent along the lines of Tonic with “Simple” and “Covered in Smiles,” but this doesn’t spoil anything after it. At the end of the album, the majestic eight minute epic “Commonplace” has a vibe similar to the Police mixed with Radiohead, as things get all Kid A on us. Though the ending may wear you out, there is plenty to like here. Fans of Ed Harcourt should be all over this one too.

CDBaby | The Luxury website

Shake Some Action "Touch the Sky" video

The band Shake Some Action started recording their third album and this time you can follow the bands progress on their blog. It’s a facinating process behind the music, and after it’s done the band will post a free download. Take a look at the band’s blog.

Tinted Windows are coming!

As with the supergroup The Major Labels last year, this new group is made up of some power pop favorites like Taylor Hanson (Hanson), James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne), and Bun E. Carlos(Cheap Trick). This was defintely the brainchild of Hanson and Schlesinger as they both have a love of 80s styled rock — debut is March 20, 2009

Listen to “KInd of A Girl” on their website

Serious music from some funny men.

After you’ve made your mark in comedy, what do you do for an encore? Apparently make serious music. That’s the case with Christopher Guest who best known for his roles in This Is Spinal Tap, Best In Show and A Mighty Wind. NPR has a story about his serious musician chops as a member of The Beyman Bros, where he plays guitar and mandolin, mandolin cello, and even the clarinet. It’s kinda new age-y free form instrumentals that I would expect to hear at a spa or yoga class. But it’s first class stuff.

Not to be outdone is the serious musical expertise of Steve Martin. He is considered the foremost expert in bluegrass banjo playing. The NY Times article mentions “Mr. Martin is regarded as a master of a difficult five-fingered playing style known as clawhammer or frailing, in which the instrument’s strings are pushed down by fingernails, rather than pulled up with picks.” Amazon is selling his banjo music album “The Crow” and on Youtube there are plenty of examples of his skills, but I love this early example of his banjo playing.