Friday standouts:
KCOH (Houston, TX)
- Hey, Western Union Man-Jerry Butler (A rhythmically and vocally strong 1968 oldie. Telegrams are an obsolete method of communication, but the protagonist's urgency in wanting to reach his beloved still comes through.)
KFAI (Minneapolis, MN)
- A
Felicidade-Astrud Gilberto (Wise words about enjoying happy moments
before they end--sung compellingly by Gilberto, as usual, with
orchestral backing for gravity.)
KOMF (Denver, CO)
- Balloon-The Symbols (Confidently delivered bluesy rock vocals.)
WGUC (Cincinnati, OH)
- Johann Strauss, Jr.: Emperor Waltz, Op. 437 (Vienna Philharmonic/Mariss Jansons, conductor) (Appropriately lighthearted playing from the strings and winds, heroic playing from the brass, and particularly effective crescendos.)
WRHC (Three Oaks, MI)
- Metropole-Cesar Mariano & CIA (Not every ensemble can pull off this fast-to-slow-to-fast progression this well. I hear elements of Chick Corea and George Duke in this 1977 track.)
WXSU (Salisbury, MD)
- Bad Self Portraits-Lake Street Dive (Rachael Price's vocals here remind me of Bonnie Raitt and Susan Tedeschi, and that's never a bad thing. Lyrically, this is an admirably honest way of coping with a breakup.)
WYEP (Pittsburgh, PA)
- Watching The Credits-The Beths (I immediately liked the energy of "Happy Unhappy" and "Dying To Believe" when I first heard them. I was pleased to hear a similar energy in this 2023 track--and I'm glad I'm not the only person who finds reviews inherently interesting to read, even when I don't end up seeing, hearing, or reading the material being reviewed.)
