February 2006 List

“Starman”: Seu Jorge
(The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions, 2005)
I first heard Seu Jorge’s acoustic versions of early ‘70’s David Bowie songs in the film The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou in which he played a member of Steve’s crew who was rarely seen without strumming his guitar. The warmth of Seu’s voice, not to mention the Portuguese language, underscores the fact that behind the glitter of Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust façade, there was an excellent songwriter who composed melodies that hold up 30 years later.

“Spy”: Carly Simon
(Spy, 1979)
Here’s a song that wouldn’t be able to escape the 1970’s if its life depended on it, but that’s why I love it so! Arif Mardin produces a buoyant, dreamy, disco-y rhythm track for Carly (not her usual milieu), replete with all the disco-jazz-pop trimmings of the era...including a flute solo!

“Goodnight and Go”: Imogen Heap
(Speak for Yourself, 2005)
Imogen Heap makes candy for the ear. “Goodnight and Go,” in particular, features one of the dreamiest bridges in a song I’ve ever heard, where the jagged beat halts and gives way to a sea of Imogen’s multi-tracked voice intoning “go”; it’s like slowly unwrapping a Hershey’s kiss.

“Better Days”: Rufus & Chaka Khan
(Ask Rufus, 1977)
My favorite percussion instrument is the quica, which is in the foreground nearly as much as Chaka Khan’s strident vocals on this delicious album track. Rufus’ catalog has recently been digitally remastered and “Better Days” wonderfully benefits with a full-bodied sound anchored by Bobby Watson’s voluptuous bass guitar.

“Come On! Feel the Illinoise!”: Sufjan Stevens
(Illinois, 2005)
Sufjan Stevens’ second album to explore each of the 50 united states (48 more to go!) really needs to be absorbed as an entire score of music, but some tracks are enjoyable even when extracted from the album. “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!,” for example, features a kitchen-sink worth of instruments, many played by the artist himself, and a choir of voices that serve as a “Greek chorus” to expound on the half-sung narration.