Spoken Word music you will love

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  • MICAH SHERMAN & DAN HIRSHON PRESENT: Lampshades & Ottomans

    MICAH SHERMAN & DAN HIRSHON PRESENT: Lampshades & Ottomans

    If we can agree that creating quality sketch comedy in a live or televised environment is not easily accomplished, then we can certainly agree that doing it without the aid of visuals must be twice as difficult, right? Well, maybe just a different kind of difficult. Either way, it ain't easy. But when you hear audio sketch comedy done right, you know it. Take this disc, for example. The sound effects are well-recorded and timed accordingly, giving you the sense that you're standing next to the water cooler while listening to the most awkwardly hilarious office conversation ever. Speaking of, the third track, "Captain Awkward," takes uncomfortable social situations to places that will make you giggle and squirm, exaggerating the antics of folks who just can't keep things to themselves. And that's just the beginning. For the discerning (and mature) comedy listener, this is absurdist tomfoolery at its finest.

    CD price: $10.00 / MP3 price: $9.99

  • MARC GUNN & THE DUBLINERS' TABBY CATS: Live At the Cactus Cafe: Cat Songs and Celtic Music

    MARC GUNN & THE DUBLINERS' TABBY CATS: Live At the Cactus Cafe: Cat Songs and Celtic Music

    Mixing Celtic drinking songs with lyrics about cats seems like a no-brainer–wait a second, no it doesn't. In fact, it sounds a little nuts. But the way in which this group has done it makes it not only loads of fun for feline fanatics, but also a hootin' and hollerin' time for fans of traditional Celt folk rock. Sure, there are elements that are highly comedic, but the popularity of this series makes one thing clear: these guys aren't some goofy novelty act. Their musical chops are evident in the arrangement of each track, and the lyrics are sharp-witted and cutely weird, sure to keep you paying close attention to each stanza. This is a live recording of some of their best numbers, and hearing them pull off the fast-paced intricacies of some of the songs (especially the ones with meowing) is great fun. If you're in the mood for something light-hearted but also sing-along catchy, you've gotta check this out. You may never think about cats in the same way again.

    CD price: $15.00 / MP3 price: $9.99

  • NORM SHERMAN: Norm Sherman

    NORM SHERMAN: Norm Sherman

    I'm not sure that people realize how difficult it is to write a funny song. We're seeing a lot of comedians picking up the guitar these days, and a lot of them have a hard time making the transition from cracking wise to crafting an effective, humorous piece of music. Well, this gent leaves the one-liners alone and instead relies on dry wit and timing that work perfectly with the subtle, jangly, bluegrass-y brand of guitar playing that he incorporates as his backdrop. The deadpan delivery with which he delivers lines like "There's a fetus in your kitchen/ I'm not hungry anymore" is so controlled and delicate, it can't help but add a certain majesty to it all. Along these lines, it's worth mentioning that the music here is actually pretty darn good. But, it's the lyrics that are most likely to grab your attention. There's torrid tales of dates gone wrong, traditional narrative ballads, and some tunes that, if not for the "blue" language, would border on semi-educational. It's tough to bridge the gap between intelligent social commentary and slightly low-brow human anatomy jokes, but Norm's well on his way to making it happen.

    CD price: $12.00 / MP3 price: $9.00

  • SHANELLE GABRIEL: Start Something

    SHANELLE GABRIEL: Start Something

    On "A Message To My Girls," the opening flow-strong, loosely poetic monologue that kicks off this incendiary and soulful 14 song spoken word CD, Gabriel opens up, taking a telling-it-like-it-is approach and expanding it, reaching to encompass a steady and street wise vision of what could be. "Keep your heads up and your skirts down," she says, issuing a well-intentioned challenge to girls who may be more interested in rap videos than earning and preserving their right to think for and respect themselves. While her views may come across as somewhat idealistic, there are appropriate pragmatic undertones in her words and delivery that ascend any trace of didacticism that could only bog this down. Her voice is pure, and her handle on language and rhythm is really pushed to the limit by the wide variety of styles she chooses to take on. Some songs are a cappella poetry, while others are sophisticated slow jams where she easily proves her prowess as a singer. It takes a special talent to effectively blend spoken word with music, and it's even more impressive to hear someone take it on with such passion and honesty. She's got a lot to say, and she's found a compelling and intelligent way to share her thoughts with us.

    MP3 price: $9.99

  • MIKE DAILY: ALARM

    MIKE DAILY: ALARM

    This double CD and accompanying 212 page novel is a package, a gripping excursion of spoken word and experimental sounds that delves deeply into the broken mess of a society that is all-consuming but seems to need nothing. Told from two different but simultaneously engaged perspectives, this lyrically dense and aurally compelling collection of songs is a soundtrack abstract, a cohesive yet jagged splicing of stark voices, flits, buzzes, instruments and found sounds that evoke time and place, while instinctively reflecting the ever-changing perspective of the narrator(s). The first CD is studio recordings, offering a more controlled environment that allows the density of the words to run free on the palate, jutting in and out while matching inflexion with the various percussive background elements. The second disc is a field recording, a live semi-improvised set that adds a raw element to the songs and provides ever ascending levels of grit and intensity. Filled with humor, wit, and a frightening comfort, this multifaceted collection is a spot-on dedication to modern life and its charmingly fastidious tendencies.

    CD price: $13.99 / MP3 price: $9.99

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