What's in your CDP tonight? the minority report

ghosthouse, i gave smash palace a few spins--i wanted to dig 'em more but they didn't quite grab me. they seem to be betwixt 80s new wave and power pop without the sonic sheen of the former or the melodic hooks of the latter. i do appreciate the rec, as well as your other picks--keep 'em coming.

my current rave is hiss golden messenger, "bad debt"--just a guy and a guitar, with great (no kidding) spiritual-themed tunes that sound somewhere between nick drake and elliott smith. really haunting stuff. his later, fleshed-out discs with a band aren't nearly as good.

final pick is tresspassers william, "cast", a near-perfect mazzy star knockoff with vg femme vox and songs. good late night music.

Hey there Loomis, glad you gave SP a listen. Yeah...they're probably not an A-list band though for me personally, I found their music melodic enough...kind of quirky and enjoyable, even. But, hey, horses for courses as they say. I will sample Hiss Golden Messenger and Trespassers William. Spotify's got em both and the exact recordings you mention. Can already tell you I like HGM's song titles.

By the way, to you, Pokey and everyone...have you listened to Gary Clark Jr.? Great guitarist, vocalist and song-writer...blues/rock or rock/blues...whatever. I especially like his 2010 GC, Jr. (photo on the cover of a little kid wearing head phones). Can only find it as MP3, unfortunately. Music styles are all over the map on that one but the song writing and performances are strong. I see he was being compared to Jimi by some. Seems to me to have his own style but on an emotional level does seem able to go where Jimi went Vs just doing Hendrix riffs a la Trower or even SRV. I'm probably late to the party as usual but just in case he's new to any of you....

Later. Ciao.

two more, then i'll shut up for awhile:
even, "salthill"-- obscure, fantastic aussie power pop somewhere in the realm of badfinger. huge hooks; the principal's a great guitar player.
liquor giants, "one day at a time"--ward dotson, who used to play guitar in the quite forgettable gun club, is one of the greatest unknown songwriters in the universe--he has seemingly endless ability to crank out perfect pop gems. the s/t "liquor giants" is also great.

Kelly Joe Phelps - "Brother Sinner & The Whale"...for them as got ears to hear.

Johann Johannsson - "Englabörn" & "Virthulegu Forsetar". The initial and sophomore releases from this Icelandic composer. Modern classical. Englabörn was the score for a play. Both are beautiful. My preference the Forsetar, however.

Loomis - I did check out Hiss Golden Messenger's "Bad Debt". Had a good listen (headphones) to virtually the whole thing. I can definitely hear the talent in Golden Messenger - lyrics especially. The arrangements are pretty sparse. Sometimes that works for me. Other times, leaves me wanting more excitement. I'll revisit though because with new music, first impressions aren't always the final word...sometimes it takes a little perseverance to breakthrough.

Did some sampling of Liquor Giants, Even & Trespassers William. I have them saved on my Spotify account and will try again in the future. First time 'round not grabbing me too much. (Never was a big Mazzy Star fan).

Hope you aren't put off by my lukewarm reception. Definitely NO need to shut up. Keep 'em coming. Always glad when it's more than just me and Pokey putting up songwriters and titles.

Echosmith, Talking Dreams.