Becomes Eclectic

I've written about my love of KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic before - and today you can buy the latest Nic Harcourt-selected compilation CD of live performances from KCRW's studios. A screening copy of Sounds Eclectic: The Next One reveals Harcourt's impeccable taste in cutting-edge music and features performances by the Swell Season, Spoon, the Shins and the Ting Tings as well as lesser known greats such as Architecture in Helsinki, Seawolf and the Orange Lights. Get it while it's hot.


On a similar note, I recently picked up a copy of Music Lust, written by Harcourt. Much like the Book Lust series, this is a book of lists - this time of music for certain themes, artists or eras. Sample "chapters" include TV Actors Who've Taken the Plunge, Livin' Large: The Big Band Booom!, and Polyester Suits and Wraparound Dresses. The book reveals some of Harcourt's early influences (punk and Australian pop among them) and tells the story of how he came to be the country's foremost expert on eclecticism in music. Definitely worth checking out, if only to see if you agree with his choices.

Finally, inspired by some of my favorite songs from Morning Becomes Eclectic, I have created a new LTF playlist, entitled Soundtrack Becomes Eclectic. The sound is heavy on the retro soul - artists include Al Green, David Ford (who I saw open for Aimee Mann recently - he puts on a VERY impressive live show,) Katie Herzig, the Magic Numbers and the Slip. Cue up the player at right and enjoy!

Borders Live at 01 series

When people lament the imminent demise of the brick-and-mortar bookstore, I cry a little inside. If not for bookstores, there are so many wonderful things I would never have discovered, like Chuck Klosterman, the QuirkyAlone movement or, perhaps most importantly, tons of great music.

Bookstores that carry CDs are some of the best sources to find out about new and promising artists - next time you're in one, keep your ears open and see what they're playing.

Borders proves this point beautifully with its new online series, "Live at 01" - a series of live performances and interviews filmed in Borders Store #01 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Each episode features a single artist or band playing acoustic versions of about five songs and speaking thoughtfully on the art of crafting music. Some of the artists so far include Rickie Lee Jones, Patty Griffin, Gomez, Joss Stone, and Ingrid Michaelson. Right now, I'm rocking out to the Magic Numbers (if you don't have time to listen to the whole episode, make sure you hear "Take a Chance," my favorite Numbers song, and no - nothing to do with Abba.)

Even better, the episodes are free and downloadable, so you can take them with you everywhere you (or your iPod) choose to go.

Check back often for updates, it seems like they add eps pretty frequently.

(Btw: They also have interviews with authors and filmmakers as well!)