Random 10 for September 10, 2008
1. Devendra Banhart, “Carmensita.” An addictive salsa tune from avowed dirty hippie Banhart, complete with a total bat guano video starring the princess of the universe, Natalie Portman.
2. David Mead, “The Trouble With Henry.”
3. Luna, “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”
4. Blitzen Trapper, “Sleepy Time in the Western World.”
5. She & Him, “Change is Hard.” Damn right it is, but that hard-fisted reality is made more bearable when Zooey sings it.
6. Roxy Music, “Bitter Sweet.”
7. Joy Division, “Dead Souls.”
8. Patton Oswalt, “The Gay Pride Parade.”
9. Linus of Hollywood, “I’ve Lost My Mind.”
10. Caron Wheeler, “Livin’ In the Light.” This is one of those bizarre outliers that occasionally crops up and is worth exploring historically. Caron Wheeler was the voice of Soul II Soul, that British R&B collective that, in 1989, seemed to be establishing a template for a return to the lush greatness of ’70s soul, albeit with New Jack Swing beats. Shortly after “Keep On Movin’” and “Back To Life,” Wheeler jumped ship for a solo career that did not go far other than an apparent cult following in Japan, where bands like Swing Out Sister can still command top dollar. This was her only hit in the UK, and it made it to No. 53 on the domestic charts, after which Wheeler promptly disappeared.
Like virtually everything else from that period, it has not aged well. But Wheeler and Jazzie B are reportedly working on a new Soul II Soul album for next year, and while there’s a fraction of a chance it could set the world ablaze, those of us who love what I call “fake British soul” will be all over it.
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