Not strictly a kosher contracting topic, but what the heck.

Band: The Gaslight Anthem

Song: "Changing of the Guards"

Album: "Chimes of Freedom" (January 2012)

Review: Five stars. It rocks! Sensational. Best version ever, with the possible exception of Patti Smith's awesome version on her 2007 album, "Twelve," which for some reason is not available on iTunes, but is available at Amazon.

The lyrics of that song are among the greatest in all of rock music. Historical. Mystical. Religious. Apocalyptic. ("A messenger arrived with a black nightingale.") The Gaslight Anthem leave out the last verse, which some have objected to, but I think it works for their version. Favorite line:

"Gentlemen, he said

I don’t need your organization, I’ve shined your shoes

I’ve moved your mountains and marked your cards

But Eden is burning, either brace yourself for elimination

Or else your hearts must have the courage for the changing of the guards."

I guess I'd better quit fooling around and do my real work before my editor sends assassins.

OK topic. Going through a big band swing phase. Listening to a CD box set called "GI Jukebox," music of the WWII and pre-war years, rediscovered Armed Forces Radio recordings digitally remastered.

Screaming Females (may have to hunt a bit to find them). Punkish/Sonic Youth like music from New York. JEFF The Brotherhood - Guitar and Drum duo from Tennessee who totally rock out.

Found Screaming Females album "Power Move." Readily available on iTunes. Like what I've heard so far. Bought it.

Listening to some Colt Ford - Country is a country does

KId Rock and to mix it some Eminem. (in preparation of talking to legal)

Railroad Earth - The Jupiter and the 119. Americana tune of the two trains that met at Promontory, UT to connect the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads.

Also good by them:

Lone Croft Farewell

Long Way To Go

Hard Livin'

Storms

Elko

Mighty River

Good Life

Fitz and the Tantrums - a little poppy but catchy - sounds a bit like a cross between Hall & Oates, classic Motown, and The Style Council.

Anything by Pat Metheny

Flamenco guitar (Ottmar Liebert, Strunz & Farah, Jesse Cook,et al), bossa nova (Getz/Jobim/Gilberto), or afro-cuban (Buena Vista Social club, et al)

. In her prime.

Grover Washington Jr. - Soulful Strut. I'm a jazz nut. Anything Miles Davis.

Leonard Cohen's new album - Old Ideas. The man is a genius.

Kelly Clarkson - "Don't Be a Girl ABout It". Simply because the lyrics make me laugh and that's needed on a Monday

Artist: Tinariwen. Album: "Tasilli." Music from North Africa.

Artist: Romane. Album: "Swing for Ninine." French gypsy guitar.

Soundtrack: "Midnight in Paris."

Just started listening to Black Country Communion - both of their studio albums. See bccommunion.com/about for background on this amazing collection of rock talent.

Vern, Midnight in Paris is Great - my personal favorite is Bistro Fada by Stephane Wrembel.

-The Smiths-Asleep (song)

-Bombay Bicycle Club-A Different Kind of Fix (album)

-Nick Drake-Cello Song

-Duke Ellington-The Far East Suite (album)

Peter Green (Greenbaum) Fleetwood Mac. This is the original Mac, repeat original. Grab a compilation with the following.

-Need Your Love So Bad

-World Keeps Turning

-Man of the World

-Jumping at Shadows - a superb rendition of Duster Bennet's tune

-A Fool No More

Finest blues singing and guitarist of all times, Peter and original Mac got it right!

I am updating the site and I remembered a solo by the late Clarence Clemens in the song Jungleland. The Clarence Clemons solo begins at 4:18. I often play the solo several times. It makes one's spirit smile.

The music throughout the song is pretty good.

^{Macklemore. I'm especially fond of "Thrift Shop" and "Same Love" on the album "The Heist"}

Here in my environment I am surrounded by loud people who have no consideration for anyone else within 100 feet. They use speaker phones, talk over cubicles and otherwise abandon common cubicle decorum. I bought Skull headphones, loaded over 150 CDs to my Samsung Galaxy Note II and now I can work in peace. Currently I am listening to the Jazz playlist which include Dave Koz, Clarence Clemons, Esperanza Spaulding, Geri Allen, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Haden, Harry Connick, Jr, Diana Krall, Chris Botti, Charlie Parker, Dave Brubeck, Charlie Mingus, Wynton Marsalis, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock, just to name a few!!

Lonesome River Band-Just Talkin' to Myself. A little bluegrass for the morning.

My environment can be pretty loud as well. When I really need to concentrate: Mozart or just simple white noise on the head phones. Otherwise it's Blue Grass or Southern Fried Rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcP-uFV4Jek

Journey (Arnel Pineda) - Don't Stop Believin'

Got watching a documentary on how Arnel was discovered and became the new lead singer for Journey the other night. Good story.

LEO1102 - I feel ya. I'm in the same situation. I tune into a regional Christian music station and plug into the headphones. Am I allowed to say Christian on this site???

Why not? Or music of any other religion. It's all music.

NIN - Closer (Precursor)

Glitch Mob - Fortune Days

White Stripes - Seven Nation Army