New Release Tuesday

Some great new things this week!

1)  Kelly Clarkson has a new CD out - not her strongest effort im my opinion but a good album from Kelly is better than most others these day. The highlight for me is a bonus track on the iTunes Deluxe edition called "Why Don't You Try" that sounds like it was ripped from the Aretha Franklin songbook. Here's a live performance of it -

2)  She & Him is a guitar/vocal duo with a unique sound. The "She" is Zooey Deschanel, movie and TV star, and I really enjoy her voice. Their new CD is Christmas-themed and they cover many of the usual suspects. Here's "Blue Christmas" - 

3) I'm not a big Puccini fan, but I do enjoy the music from Tosca. Here's a great rendition of the aria E lucevan le stelle by Joseph Calleja - 

4) Jay Brannan is am indie singer/songwriter that really should be at the top of the charts. I love his new song, Greatest Hits, because when read on their own the lyrics are like a poem. I'm copying them underneath if you want to follow along. 

to bitter from sweet
like liquid to concrete
it's tough to digest
life rips through your chest
and just takes a heartbeat

you can't check your pain
aboard the shame train
and maybe i'm out of line
but if you show me yours
i'll sing you mine

[chorus:]
a punch in the gut
some black 'round the eye
there's red from my lips
and i'm asking god why
there's a bump on my head
and a hole in my heart
if there's one thing i've learned, it's
that these are my greatest hits

i don't sing for the rainbow
cuz i taste the rain
they spit "cheer up" and they scoff
i laugh "cheer down or fuck off"
then get roughed up against the grain

you may never be happy
and i still see your worth
someday we'll be less miserable
we'll dye our heads invisible
wrapped up in robes not of this earth
not of this earth
not of this earth
not of this earth

[chorus]

would you read a book if somebody took out all the good pages?
so we did some drugs, gave out some hugs, rattled a few cages
have you made mistakes, let off the brakes? confess uncleanliness
not to feel bad about but to embrace your humanness

[chorus]

Last but not least - THE ZOMBIES ARE COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!