Monthly Archives: May 2010

It’s a boring day today … and the temps are climbing .. the wife is sick, the grandson needs feeding and I’m in the mood for a good old fashioned footstomping country-rocker!  Hello Kort McCumber!

No party today folks; this is a day for introspective musings and lyrical phrases, both vocal and instrumental.  This is a set inspired by not only what I received in my in-box this week, but the sound of a gurgling backyard water pump and chirping birds in the cotton woods … and a desire to really just be quiet for a change.

Add date for all these releases is Saturday May 29, 2010

David Rynhart – By The Hollow Tree (David Rynhart)

Genre/Style – folk
Website – http://www.davidrynhart.com/
Notes: David references the blues in a way I’ve never seen or even heard done before.  The album notes refer to Van Gogh, Son House, and Henry Miller.  His lyrics refer to life as it is.

Jerry Palmer – Cherry Picking (Richland Plains Records)

Genre/Style - new age, fingerstyle guitar
Website - http://jerrypalmerguitar.com/
Notes: more than an exercise in guitar histrionics, this allstar cast includes Kailin Yong (violin), Christian Teele (drums, percussion), Chris Engleman (bass), Eric Moon (accordian & piano), Grant Gordy (guitar, mandolin), John McVey (producer, electric guitar), Steve Stumbo (soprano sax), and Russ Hopkins and Keegan (voices).  Recorded at Coupe Studios, Boulder and mastered by Dominick Maita at Airshow Mastering in Boulder.  This is Jerry’s 7th record … and it’s his masterpiece.  He’s always been one of the finest fingerstyle guitarists in Colorado, specializing in the tapping technique.  This record affirms that stature and gives him a level of professionalism in a recording he’s always deserved.

Jeff Jenkins – The Healing (Jeff Jenkins)

Genre/Style – acoustic piano, jazz, new age
Website – http://www.myspace.com/jazziestjeff
Notes: It’s pretty unusual to hear a straight up piano record.  Jeff is among the best in the state, so it’s especially nice to hear him alone – with no accompaniment.  Recorded at Mile High Music studios – this is the top room in the region for jazz records and it shows in how beautiful the piano sounds, not only in my home stereo, but in my car (JBL system) and in my desktop speakers … this is a lustrous recording, impeccably performed by one of the state’s best.

The Motet “Nachez” from Breathe (1999)
Yo, Flaco! “Skeptamistic” from Skeptamistic (2001)
Carbon Choir “Measure of Your Madness” from High Beams (2010)
Andrea Ball “Dial Tone” from Dial Tone (2010)
The Knew “Still On Fire” from The Knew’s Pulperia (2010)
Head for The Hills “Unchain My Heart” from Head for the Hills (2009)
Finders & Youngberg “Same Old Me, Same Old You” from Keep Your Suitcase Packed (2008)
Hello Kavita “Midnight Sound” from And Then We Turned Sideways (2008)
The Jurassicasters “Sultans of Swing” from The Jurassicasters (2010)
Bop Skizzum “Little Black Book” from Push (2010)
8Trac “This n’ That” from Fallin’ Up (2006)
Dave LeMieux & The House Of Soul “Finding the Groove” from Jazz Shaped (2010)

ADD – Big Head Todd and the Monsters “Beautiful” from Rocksteady (2010)
Acoustic Junction “Goodbye World” from Strange Days (2000)
30db “Always Up” from One Man Show (2010)
ADD - Kinetix “Let Me In” from Let Me In (2010)
John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light “Same Scar” from Beautiful Empty (2009)
Romano Paoletti “Story of a Lifetime” from Story of a Lifetime (2009)
The Samples “Close to the Fires” from Samples (1990)
Buckskin Stallion “New Town” from Blue Ribbon Buzz (2004)
Otis Taylor “Hands On Your Stomach” from Clovis People, Vol. 3 (2010)
Greg Harris Vibe Quintet “Northside Hunter” from Glass Gold (2010)
Nathaniel Rateliff “Brakeman” from In Memory of Loss (2010)
String Cheese Incident “Brand New Start” from One Step Closer (2005)
Al Hood & Dave Hanson “It’s Only Everything” from Just A Litte Taste: Al Hood Plays The Writing Of Dave Hanson (2008)

It’s May 22.  We’re nearly 5 full months into 2010.  I can’t figure out how to find out what album tracks and/or singles other stations in Colorado are playing, but fortunately KRFC has a great playlist generator that the djs there are very good at maintaining.  Here’s the most played locally produced tracks over the past five months at KRFC Fort Collins.

1. Everything Is Alright – Fierce Bad Rabbit
2. Soup – Euforquestra
3. Salvation – The Informants
3. Standing Water – The Subdudes
4. Slip Baby Slip – Boulder Acoustic Society
4. Money – Matt Morris
4. Sweet Release – Other Side of Clearview
5. Sorry – Todd Adelman & the Love Handles
5. Preacher’s Daughter – Clint Clymer
5. In My Neighborhood – John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light
5.  Love Makes Us Tough – Fierce Bad Rabbit
5.  Who Took the Jukebox – Honey Don’t
5.  Hello – SHEL
5.  Try to Scream – SHEL
6. The Weeds Will Prosper – Allegaeon
6. Ticking Time Bomb – Clobber Jaw
6.  Love is A Shark – John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light
6.  Bribes – Danielle Ate the Sandwich
6.  Called You – Euforquestra
6.  Honey Don’t – Honey Don’t
6.  Animals – The Piggies
6.  Drive Away – The Railbenders
6.  Stuff that Works – Runaway Express
6.  Town Square – The Subdudes
6.  Blaze Away – The Varmints

Thanks to the folks over at the DenverRadioNet for making sure that each month we’re able to see the Denver/Boulder METRO radio rankings along with their relative market share numbers. Congrats to public radio KCFR (Colorado Public Radio) for their top 10 numbers in the market, making them the #2 source behind News/Talk KOA for news. My preference is KCFR — not only for their NPR programming, but their excellent CPR (Colorado Public Radio) coverage of the news and other locally produced programs.

PPM Data (Portable People Meter Radio Ranker)
Denver-Boulder-METRO
APRIL 2010 – Dates In(04-01-2010 to 04-28-2010)

Rank   Station   Format   Rating Est.   FEB. ’10  MAR. ’10  APR. ’10
1 KOSI-FM Adult Contemporary Share% 7.9 7.4 7.4
2t KYGO-FM Country Share% 5.5 5.9 5.6
2t KXPK-FM Mexican Regional Share% 5.8 5.6 5.6
4 KQKS-FM Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio Share% 5 5.2 5.1
5 KOA-AM News Talk Information Share% 4.1 4 5
6t KXKL-FM Classic Hits Share% 4.4 4.4 4.6
6t KBCO-FM Adult Album Alternative Share% 4.8 4.3 4.6
8 KALC-FM Modern Adult Contemporary Share% 3.6 4.1 4.1
9 KRFX-FM Classic Rock Mo-Su 6A-12A Share% 3.5 4.3 4
10 KCFR-FM (public radio) News Talk Information Share% 3.6 4.1 3.9

11t KQMT-FM Classic Rock Share% 3.4 3.5 3.7
11t KIMN-FM Hot Adult Contemporary Share% 3.4 3.9 3.7
13t KTCL-FM Alternative Share% 4.5 4.7 3.6
13t KLDV-FM Contemporary Christian Share% 3.8 2.8 3.6
15 KPTT-FM Rhythmic Contemporary Hit Radio Share% 3 3 3
16 KJMN-FM Spanish Adult Hits Share% 3.3 3.1 2.9
17 KBPI-FM Active Rock Share% 2.7 2.7 2.5
18 KHOW-AM News Talk Information Share% 2.2 2.1 2.4
19 KVOD-FM (public radio) Classical Share% 2 1.9 2.3
20 KKFN-FM All Sports Share% 2.3 2.2 2

21t KJAC-FM Adult Hits Share% 1.5 1.7 1.9
21t KEZW-AM Adult Standards/MOR Share% 1.9 1.8 1.9
21t KDHT-FM Pop Contemporary Hit Radio Share% 1.8 1.9 1.9
24 KRWZ-AM Oldies Share% 2.3 2.1 1.7
25t KWOF-FM Country Share% 1.5 1.8 1.4
25t KKHI-FM Smooth AC Share% 1.6 1.1 1.4
27 KNUS-AM News Talk Information Share% 1.3 1.2 1.2
28 KBNO-AM Mexican Regional Share% 1 0.8 1
29t KUVO-FM (public radio) Jazz Share% 0.7 0.8 0.9
29t KRKS-FM Religious Share% 1 1.1 0.9

31 KKZN-AM Talk/Personality Share% 0.7 0.8 0.8
32 KPAW-FM Classic Rock Share% 0.5 0.6 0.6
33t KXWA-FM Contemporary Christian Share% 0.6 0.5 0.5
33t KUNC-FM (public radio) Variety Share% 0.7 0.5 0.5
35t KOSI-FM (stream) Adult Contemporary Share% 0.1 0.4 0.3
35t KMXA-AM Spanish Contemporary Share% 0.3 0.4 0.3
37t KXBG-FM Country Share% 0.3 0.3 0.2
37t KRCN-AM News Talk Information Share% 0.1 ~~ 0.2
37t KLZ-AM Talk/Personality Share% 0.1 0.1 0.2
37t KEPN-AM All Sports Share% 0.3 0.2 0.2
37t KCKK-AM All Sports Share% 0.2 0.1 0.2

42 KUAD-FM Country Share% 0.3 0.1 0.1
43t KRKU-FM Active Rock Share% ~~ ~~ 0
43t KTRR-FM Adult Contemporary Share% 0 0 0
43t KTNI-FM Talk/Personality Share% 0.1 0.1 0
43t KSME-FM Pop Contemporary Hit Radio Share% 0.1 0 0
43t KGNU-FM (public radio) Variety Share% 0.1 0.1 0

It’s funny that the acronym for Song(s) of the Day spells out sod… and that it’s yard work season … not that Greg Harris’ new album is one that makes me jump up and want to go cut grass – oh hell no.  This is a sit in my easy chair, put on the headphones, close my eyes and dream about cutting the grass album

Now on the other hand, if you do need (like I do) some kind of groove to cut the grass (not that grass fool!) …. while I was hanging at Bandcamp catching the code for the new Greg Harris album, I also remembered that Bob Skizzum had offered up their new ep for a “name your price” (and for the cheapest amongst you, yes that does mean you can scarf it for “free”)

Okay, so I’m a bit biased … so far, the Romano Paoletti album Story of a Lifetime is my favorite Americana release of 2010 … and NOT because he’s a client …

… and Westword’s Jason Heller apparently digs it too.

http://www.westword.com/2010-05-20/music/romano-paoletti/

Good morning.  Sorry I’m late to the meeting this morning.  I was almost on time, but I received the new Kinetix album overnight and I wanted to make sure I got it in this morning.  The theme this week appears to be springtime and/or love — funny that!  Even us old married goats fall prey to that annual spring-thing

Kinetix – Let Me In (Steel Giant)
Genre/Style: Rock, pop
Website: kinetix.com
Notes: I just got this album this morning.  The notes from Steel Giant management indicated that the lead track is  Let Me In.  Off the bat this album sounds great.  Kinetix is a band with an eye on the target of sustainable professional future, and to that end the record and everything I’ve heard about their show is highly professional, cut and polished.

Something Underground – Intention & Release (self)
Genre/Style: Pop, adult contemporary
Website: www.somethingunderground.com/
Notes: Seth & Josh Larson have produced one of those tracks you’d expect to hear as part of the soundtrack to a lovity lovely spring time chick-flick…. or a commercial filled with flower-power.  Nicely done fellas!

The Gromet – Captain Colorado (self)
Genre/style: Rock, jamband
Website: www.myspace.com/thegrometmusic
Notes: I love the artwork for this album!  It just fits; ya know?  This up and coming local bands shows some real promise on this release… hope they continue swimming upstream

Greg Harris Vibe Quintet featuring Venus Cruz – Glass Gold (self)
Genre/style: Jazz
Website: http://vibequintet.blogspot.com/
Notes: Okay … up front … Venus Cruz was great back in the 90s when she appeared as the lead vocalist with the pre-hip hop era Yo, Flaco!  Then several months ago I heard she was fronting Future Jazz Project, which I also knew Greg Harris to be a part of.  I didn’t expect this release… Venus is stellar here… and while I haven’t fully digested the entire album, this is a local modern jazz release that seems to have what it takes to get all of us who write about and air local music talking jazz record of the year cred.  Free download available so git yours today!

Lisa Bell – Dancing On the Moon (self)
Genre/Style: smooth jazz vocals
Website: http://lisabellmusic.com/
Notes: this is an interesting recording (notice I did not say it’s an interesting album).  It was produced using A424 RA Music tuning as opposed to the far more conventional A440 standard we’re used to.  This was done on purpose as the producers believe that the A424 tuning brings “mental and physical healing benefits.”  Musically, Lisa draws upon what many would call the smooth jazz sound of vocal pop – and rightly so in this case.  The recording features some of the region’s top session players, including Christian Teele (Etown, drums), Chris Engleman (bass), Eric Moon (keyboards), Mark Oblinger (guitar, mandolin, vocals), and others … for those of us who enjoy great wine and artists like Dave Koz, this fits in nicely with our Sunday brunch on the deck.

Lion Vibes “Spider Monkey” from Go Judge Yourself (2007)
J.D. Feighner “Mellow Ride” from Sundays at 1620 (2008)
Apples in Stereo “Dream About the Future” from Travellers in Space and Time (2010)
The Motet “Push” from Dig Deep (2009)
Juno What?! “Body Double” from Late Night (2009)
Drag the River “I Remember Now” from Bad At Breaking Up (2009)
The Congress “Loretta” from The Congress (2010)
Bill McKay “Good Man Gone” from Bill McKay (2010)
The Autumn Film “Mended” from The Ship and the Sea (2010)
Pretty Lights “Ask Your Friends” from Passing By Behind Your Eyes (2009)
Trace Bundy “Sweet Child O’ Mine” from Missile Bell (2008)
NEW The Mighty Jivesters “Sailing On” from Side One (2010)
NEW Greg Harris Vibe Quintet “Simplexity” from Glass Gold (2010)

NEW Otis Taylor “Harry, Turn the Music Up” from Clovis People, Vol. 3 (2010)
Lionel Young “Going to Have My Fun” from Beautiful Day (2009)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “This Is How We Do Things in the Country” from Blovdy Tenent Trvth Peace (2004)
The Railbenders “Sweet Caroline” from Segundo (2003)
GT and the Sidewinders “Lonesome Cowboy” from Across America (2009)
Grant Gordy “Digging Hargreaves” from Grant Gordy (2010)
Great American Taxi “New Millennium Blues” from Reckless Habits (2010)
NEW The Gromet “Time Rains” from Colorado Captain (2010)
Scott Von “Stop and Stare” from The Age of Plenty (2009)
NEW Something Underground “Lovity Love” from Intention & Release (2010)
Shel “The Latest and Greatest Blueberry Rubber Band” from Try to Scream (2009)
Chuck Pyle “Dream Song” from The Spaces In Between (2010)
Dave Beegle “Monsters” from Clear the Tracks (2000)
Kim Stone “Bop Bop” from More Often Than Not (1999)

While it’s rarely if ever played enough to earn spin points for my monthly charts, hard rock/metal is played at KRFC in Fort Collins — namely by JJ Johnson the Night Howler on Saturday nights at midnight … here’s the most spun hard rock/metal at KRFC during the past 30 days.

1. Mizon – Mizon
2. 20XIII – Take Two and Call in the Morning
2. Immortal Dominion – Primortal
3. Allegaeon – Allegaeon
3. Autumn Burn – Tormented Soul
3. Back from Ashes – Back From Ashes
3. Clobber Jaw – Toxic Syndrome
3. Crow – Kingdom of the Fly
4. Devil Got Five – Devil Got Five
4. Horse – US Metal
4. Wild Angelz – Love Denied