Songs Of The Week- 1/5/15

A few notes:

• This is a mix of songs that I listened to throughout the week.  Could've been on break at work, while eating breakfast, or while working out.  They're kind of a record for me of the week that was.

• I heard "Use Me" on the radio on a station with a new format and didn't know anything by Bill Withers other than "Lean On Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine".  I couldn't get the hook out of my head all week.

• "The Eye" is the first single off Brandi Carlile's upcoming album The Firewatcher's Daughter.  I'm really looking forward to that in March and hope she comes to Milwaukee this year.

• "Amsterdam Moon" is from the Mavericks' excellent album In Time, which Sarah and I take on road trips because it's a fun listen and a good mix of styles.

• "Electric Feel" is great to listen to when I need a jolt of energy and reminds me of my brother, who introduced me to the song and requested it at our wedding.

A few other things from the past week:

I'd heard that Paul McCartney had written a song for a video game.  When I heard the title, I hoped it wasn't cheesy and overdone.  I hoped wrong.

Trampled By Turtles played New Years Eve in Milwaukee, so I thought I'd give their 2014 release Wild Animals a listen.  The pace is pretty sluggish, and while at first lead singer Dave Simonett's voice reminded me of David Gilmour, in the end I tired of hearing his voice, as it had the same weary tone throughout.

I was really pleasantly surprised by The New Basement Tapes' Lost On The River.  It's a set of songs with lyrics by Bob Dylan but performed by a group with Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford, Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Taylor Goldsmith and Rhiannon Giddens.  I liked pretty much everything except the Elvis Costello tracks.  It was especially good to hear Mumford in a different light, as Mumford and Sons has such a specific sound, and James has some great moments as well (like the just plain odd "Hidee Hidee Ho #11).  Giddens provides some stunning vocals on Spanish Mary (on this week's mix) and a couple other songs.