Ten ear-catching Thursday highlights:
KEXP (Seattle, WA)
- Chariots Of Fire-Titles-Vangelis (This memorable orchestral melody still stands up 40 years later. I was sorry to learn of this composer's recent passing. For a sample of his gripping uptempo scoring, listen to "Pulstar.")
- Pana-vision-The Smile (Haunting vocals, piano, and strings in this April release from members of Radiohead. It's appropriate for the middle of the night or a gloomy, stormy day like we're having today in St. Louis.)
KNKX (Tacoma, WA)
- More Than This-Charlie Hunter Quartet/Norah Jones (This is an excellent cover of the Roxy Music song, recasting it as a warm jazz number.)
- Down Home-Lou Donaldson (A great bluesy melody, which Donaldson carries on alto sax.)
- A Change Is Gonna Come-Bill O'Connell (An elegant, thoughtful showcase for piano and saxophone, released in January. I would segue this with "Here's That Rainy Day" by Bill Evans.)
WAYO (Rochester, NY)
- Man In The Teapot-Fire (A fun reminder of the 1967 pop scene that could segue with "Nickelodeon Music" by The Family Tree.)
WERS (Boston, MA)
- I've Been Waiting-Matthew Sweet (One of the more sincere, tuneful ways of saying, "Hey, I like you.")
WPNV (Peoria, IL)
- Good Times-Chic (Lyrically, everything's right there on the surface, which is perfectly appropriate for a dance groove like this.)
WTJU (Charlottesville, VA)
- Tickles-JennyLee (A downcast indie rock dance groove with low-pitched vocals and a bubbling undercurrent of bass.)
- Drag Yourself-The Aluminum Group ("Cannot Make You Out" is still my favorite Aluminum Group track, but this April release about cautioning someone not to make reckless decisions has a good vocal hook and synth backing seemingly from the early '90s.)
