February 2007 List

“He Can Only Hold Her”: Amy Winehouse
(Back to Black, 2007)
I think I’ve listened to Amy Winehouse’s new CD about two dozen times in the past two weeks while penning my PopMatters review. Her appropriation of ‘60s soul and pop is beguiling, particularly on “He Can Only Hold Her”, which features a cool horn arrangement backing up her gin-soaked voice.

“New Shoes”: Paolo Nutini
(These Streets, 2007)
I miss the days of 45 rpm records when you played a single until the grooves on the vinyl turned white. If “New Shoes” was released on 45 today, my copy would be a faint gray from all the times I've listened to it; care-free, three-minute pop never goes out of style!

“Hotel Song”: Regina Spektor
(Begin to Hope, 2006)
Regina Spektor has been hailed the “next big thing” for quite some time and because I’ve been disappointed when such claims have been made in the past, I initially resisted buying Begin to Hope. It is a good album and although her style isn’t always accessible to me, I do like a number of the tracks, including this gem (even if she cops a melody from Doris Troy’s “Just One Look”).

“Phantom Limb”: The Shins
(Wincing the Night Away. 2007)
Wincing the Night Away is a bit of a puzzle to me. I don’t know exactly how all the pieces fit together…but they do and “Phantom Limb” is a track that I’d expect to hear in one of my dreams, only to wake up and wonder “Is that really a song?”

“Hide Your Heart Away”: Lewis Taylor
(The Lost Album, 2007)
Both Craig and I had similar reactions to The Lost Album upon first listen, i.e. we expected something more in tune with the R&B flavor of Taylor’s last album, Stoned. I’ve since warmed up to this album and enjoy getting "lost" in Taylor’s sweeping landscapes of sound, especially on "Hide Your Heart Away"!