New Purchases and Shuffle Roulette

Some new titles added to the iPod this week include "I, Flathead", the latest from Ry Cooder, "Don't Do Anything", Sam Phillips' newest, and "Lucky" by Four Year Bender (I've been looking for this one for a while).
The Cooder might have to grow on me. It's another narrative, although less so than "Chavez Ravine" or "Buddy". Ry uses a character as a framework to hang some new songs on.
Phillips' new one is self produced, although the influence of T Bone Burnett remains evident throughout.
Four Year Bender is a Bay area group that kind of reminds me of Mofro or the Wood Brothers, but they're a little more country, which is not to say they can't lay down a pretty good acoustic groove from time to time.

And now for iPod roulette:

Elvis Costello: Sleep of the Just
Buddy Guy: Moanin' and Groanin'
James Brown: Mother Popcorn
Little Milton: Tin Pan Alley
Booker T and the MGs: Green Onions
Wood Brothers: Still Close
Ron Sexsmith: There's A Rhythm
Tom Waits: Pony
Galactic: Start From Scratch
Dave Edmunds: Worn Out Suits With Brand New Pockets

My iPod seems to have it's own favorites. Elvis Costello tends to pop up on these playlists inordinately often. And speak of the devil, there's the Wood Brothers!

Other good finds this week include a couple of additions to my ever growing "Covers" playlist. Canadian artist Jann Arden does a killer version of "Downtown", the Pet Clark classic, and the Corrs cover of Hendrix's "Little Wing" has a Celtic flair. I also added Sondre Lerche's cover of Elvis Costello's "Human Hands", originally from Elvis' "Imperial Bedroom" album. Lerche's version is a little bouncier, and piano based. Interesting, and also included in the soundtrack to "Dan In Real Life", a Steve Carrell movie that you might consider watching on a plane but probably don't want to rent.