Here's what's hot right now, as far as Ethan Hein is concerned

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - Naturally Naturally

Don't waste your time on Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, or any of the other sixties and seventies soul copycats. They all wither in the shadow of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. SJ and the DKs are master musicians, with decades of scratching out a living under their belts. SJ herself is a fifty-one year old prison guard at Riker's. It's rare to hear a fresh new album from adults with actual life experience. When SJ sings, she tells the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the triple truth, Ruth. The Dap-Kings sound like a band, not like a bunch of anonymous session guys. I had SJ placed as Mavis Staples before someone straightened me out. SJ and the DK's thing is the exact opposite of a drag.

Update: Read a New York Times article in which SJ shows great decorum in referring to Amy Winehouse as "what's-her-name" instead of the string of expletives I would have used. Also, these guys are releasing new stuff, which I expect will be smokin' hot.

Gogol Bordello's Super Taranta!

Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta! - Super Theory of Super Everything Super Theory Of Super Everything

This is the only song I've heard from this album so far, and I love it love it love it. I played the first five seconds of it for my friend Babsy, and before she even listened any further, she made me produce a whole track around it.

My sister tells me that Gogol Bordello frontman Eugene Hutz is the riveting center of the movie version of Everything Is Illuminated, and that we should keep a close eye on this guy. She has a way of being right about these things - she discovered Björk during the Sugarcubes years, discovered PJ Harvey before Rid Of Me even dropped, etc.

Brad Mehldau's interpretations of the Beatles

Brad Mehldau Trio - Day Is Done - She's Leaving Home She's Leaving Home

Takes the original E major melody and plays it over C# major tonality, beautiful.

Brad Mehldau Trio - Day Is Done - Martha My Dear Martha My Dear

Another unlikely showcase for Brad's harmonic acrobatics, but it works.

Brad Mehldau - Largo - Dear Prudence Dear Prudence

The direct inspiration for the Poma-Swank's sprawled-out funk version. I'm bummed that Brad drops the "look around, round, round" section, but this recording still knocks my socks off. Check out the rock and roll microphone placement around the drum kit, making the cymbals sound like trash can lids.

Brad Mehldau - The Art of the Trio, Vol. 1 - Blackbird Blackbird

Brad doesn't take any chances with this one, just plays it straight, and I think it's the right approach.

Did I mention that I'm totally Apple's bitch?

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