Thursday, October 15, 2009

this is how we do

latest on the Free People blog

rhythm to the madness - weltschmerz
got this at an amazing record store down the street from our free people chicago store, reckless records (www.reckless.com). if you're in the mood to start your record collection, they give the best recommendations right on the record, so you don’t have to worry about looking like a dork when you just like the album cover. anyway, this album is rad and features members from rise & fall and justice. rttm's appearance at the justice release party got kids wanting more than just a cameo, so they put out this album (as if it were that easy...), which has some of the most kickin’ guitar solos around.

bibio - hand cranked
first, forget that you’ve heard stephen wilkinson’s, aka bibio's, music in commercials for l.l.bean and toyota. now get ready to dance because this album is KILLER.

lily allen - it’s not me, it’s you
brit pop brat maybe, but that doesn't stop this record from being really good. like, REALLY good.

owen/ the rutabaga - split ep
so this isn’t really new (was re-released 2004), but it’s new to me. owen is the solo project of mike kinsella who also led the band american football, and played in the bands cap'n jazz, joan of arc and owls. the rutabaga is the one man show of joshua wayne hensley. normally a split has a good side and a bad side, but not this one – the sum is definitely greater than the parts.

loudon wainwright III - attempted moustache
loudon knows how to mix the bitter and the sweet. it includes a favorite: swimming song – “salt my wounds, chlorine my eyes, i’m a self destructive fool”. swoon.

madness - one step beyond
one step beyond is all good times. we highly recommend putting this on at a party just as people have lost the momentum – you’re going to have a throng of dancing in your living room before you know it.

leadbelly - huddie ledbetter’s best…
as much as I hate to recommend a compilation, leadbelly is a true legend and there’s no better way to cover the breadth of his work. known for his 12-string guitar, these classic songs are different when touched by his wicked trifecta of talent, heart and soul.

yves montand – aimez-vous yves?
side one is for putting on a frock and pouring yourself a café latte, side two is to talk in your most outrageous french accent and go off to live la rive gauche

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