The Current Time is 11:11

It's about time the rest of the world caught on to Rodrigo y Gabriela's eclectic blend of acoustic, folk rock and metal. Their new album, 11:11, is the highly anticipated and long awaited follow-up to their self-titled 2006 album, Rodrigo y Gabriela. What I find interesting and somewhat sentimental about their new album? The fact that each song pays homage and is dedicated to a musician that has influenced the duo over time. The track "Buster Voodoo" (a nod to Jimi Hendrix because of his nickname "Buster" and his song "Voodoo Chile") has already made it to the late night show stages as well as local rock stations. Listen to tracks from this album and previous on their official site...

http://www.rodgab.com/home.html

Folk Family

I just listened to a band called "Family of the Year" for the first time. While they define their genre as "American Music," they embody all that is folk hippie acoustic harmony to me. With lyrics like "Let's go to the country where the sky is blue and the grass is green," there's no denying their California sound and laid back style. This song, entitled "Let's Go Down," and others such as "Summer Girl" comprise the playlist for the ideal beach bonfire experience. Maybe it's the East Coast in me, but I gravitate to the more electro synthesized song, "Psyche or Like Scope." Listen to these tracks along with the rest of their album on myspace...

http://www.myspace.com/familyoftheyear

Sultry

Yes, his name causes a bit of confusion, but there's lots to love about James Morrison. His new album, Songs for You, Truths for Me, was released just a few weeks ago and is already stirring something up inside the ladies as the source of the theme song to Overstock.com's new ad. And, while I think "You Make it Real" has a message that would be better served in a melodramatic love scene or at least an ad for a diamond company (i.e. the perfect "marriage" between DeBeers and Landon Pigg last year- pun intended), it is a good song.

I, on the other hand, love the chase and, as a result, I love his song "Nothing Ever Hurt Like You" off the same album. Take a listen to these tracks and the rest of his album on his official site, http://www.jamesmorrisonmusic.com/.

Do It For the Story

Looking for praise-worthy soundtracks? Discover the moment all music supervisors dream of-- the moment a movie-goer is overcome with emotion due to the synchronicity of a song and a scene that, individually, would evoke a far less intense reaction. Here's my pick for the week:

Although unorthodox, Where the Wild Things Are proves that a successful musical compilation can consist of all original songs by a single artist, Karen O and the Kids.

http://www.imeem.com/karenoandthekids/playlist/MW0cdjqf/where-the-wild-things-are-soundtrack-music-playlist/

Listen Up

I'm currently obsessed with Grizzly Bear. You may know their song "Two weeks" off their album Veckatimest or "Knife" off their EP Friend. Listen and discuss...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjecYugTbIQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuYZbYtAl9A&feature=related