MUSIC

9.10.12 Young Turks

If you haven’t heard The xx before, their unique sound is hard to describe, but it's irresistible. (I still regularly turn to their first record from 2009 for everything from road trips to cooking music.) The music is soft, and although the vocals are lovely centerpieces, they also somehow fade into the songs. Chord arrangements are simple but combine to make beautiful tracks.

Released 9.11.12 Columbia Records

Not many artists stay sharp, relevant, and great into their 70’s and later (Picasso, Neil Young, Vladimir Horowitz, et al., come to mind), I have no problem including Bob, at 71, in this elite group. If you are a Dylan fan and don’t have this record you must run, not walk, to your computer and order it.

Seattle band, Pickwick, have cultivated their own unique take on garage rock, gospel, and 60s era pop while interpreting those genres through a modern lens. KVNF DJ, Stephanie Ogburn interviewed the band backstage at Blues and Brews…

John Hiatt / Mystic Pinball / New West

He always manages to make you think and laugh and scratch your head and with 12 new songs, you may be doing all of the above at the same time.

Shamekia Copeland / 33+1/3 / Telarc

With the reference to good old vinyl, the Blues maven is joined by Buddy Guy and she covers songs made popular by the likes of Dylan, Lucinda Williams, Sam Cooke, and makes them entirely their own.

Ry Cooder / Election Special / NonesuchPolitically

Pass the Mic reporter, Sadie Miller interviews 11 year old singer-songwriter,  Jaden Carlson.