The Not-Pop Jukebox

Stick it out through the tympani-heavy into (for which you simply must have stereo headphones) and coast along through the first verse of Sabia Que and you'll be rewarded with a song that builds and builds until, three minutes in, you're in the middle of a rock song. Marcelo Fruet and Os Cozinheiros (that'd be "The Cooks" for those of you not fluent in Portuguese) cover a lot of genre territory, from jazzy tunes to traditional Brazilian to straight-out rock. Sometimes they throw the whole mess into a single song.

From what I can tell, Sabia Que means "knew", though it seems to be followed in the song by "no". As I couldn't find anywhere with the lyrics much less a translation, I can't really put that in context. I don't, however, much care about what they're singing when I'm dancing around my living room, which is what I was doing by the time I got to the end of the song. If you like Marcelo Fruet & Os Cozinheiros, try Song for Tom and Adeusaloucura, both handily available on Grooveshark where you can, for some reason, find only two thirds of their new album "Aion".

It's Friday, and you know what that means: a short post basically saying, "Hey, guys, here's a great song!" While, as a rule, I'm not a fan of Theophilus London and his misogynistic bull, I have to give him credit for All Around the World. It's a dance jam that, like so many songs these days, should have ended about 2:15 or at least skipped about 30 seconds there in the middle. Seriously, people, if you're going to get people dancing don't stop and noodle around long enough for them to decide they really need a trip to the facilities or another drink. Keep them on the floor!

This public service announcement brought to you by The Not-Pop Jukebox. Let's all just hope musicians take it to heart.

It's that obnoxious day when relationships are shoved down our collective throats, regardless of the ostensible religious reason for marking the fourteenth of February in the first place. I'd like to continue my tradition of posting anti-Valentine songs with a story from Red Elvises.

Hanky Panky Kind of Love takes a stroll on the boardwalk with a girlfriend into a sordid tale of lust and betrayal. That sounds about right for today, doesn't it? Should you prefer a story of pity sex with an ex, try last year's Deadeye Dick post of Sentimental Crap. Yup, that's me--all about the hearts and roses. Happy Valentine's Day!

I bring you, this evening, a song that I love but which--at the same time--makes me cranky. Cold Women with Warm Hearts shares the ethos of If You Want to Be Happy: find a woman other men won't want and she won't cheat on you.

Now that's an utter simplification of the message of Cold Women, but even while I'm jamming to the hardcore blues beat of it this niggling little voice in the back of my head keeps reminding me that songs that assume women are inherently unable to resist any man that hits on them are too prevalent and too frustrating. At least, in this case, it's about cold women with warm hearts and there seems to be some dedication to actual affection for the women in question, unlike Jimmy Soul's offensive but catchy tune.

The first time I heard this song it was Magic Slim & the Teardrops performing it but I've decided to share Albert King's version with you because, well, horns. Surely you know by know, my dears, that I cannot resist the horns. Toss in some great blues guitar and Albert King's rough-and-tumble voice and it's a guaranteed winner, as far as I'm concerned. So, for tonight, viola!

Genre-bending bands rule! Now that I've gotten that sweeping generalization out of the way, I'll provide you with proof in the pudding rather than an exception to the rule: Punch Brothers and Who's Feeling Young Now?. While they could be categorized as a bluegrass band, they tend as much toward the indie sound as they do toward the twang. And the voices? More Pale Young Gentlemen than Soggy Bottom Boys.

Have a listen to the joy that is Who's Feeling Young Now? and, if you like it, try Soon or Never which couldn't be more gorgeously harmonized. There's a whole great whack of their stuff on Grooveshark so settle in for a good listen. Now don't say I never brought you anything nice.