Signs of Life 2008: Best Music
Jolie Holland - "Mexico City"
Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons - "Tennessee"
Seven Best Things About Beyonce's “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”
Live at Paste: Duncan Sheik
I've got three interviews scheduled for today. First up at 11a.m. is Ben Sollee, one of the best new singer/songwriters I've heard this year. He's a cellist, who plays with The Sparrow Quartet, along with Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn and Casey Driessen. They're headed to Beijing this summer to play some gigs around the Olympic Games. He's also got his first solo album, Learning To Bend, coming out a week from today.
Then, at 1pm, I'll be talking to Sam Phillips. Her new record, Don't Do Anything, is out today, and it's fantastic. It's the first time she's produced herself after a career of collaboration with her ex-husband T Bone Burnett. She hits the road today, playing mostly Borders bookstores on both coasts.
Finally, I'll interview Conor Oberst this evening for a piece in our International Issue, which will come out in August. Mr. Bright Eyes recorded his first "solo" record down in Mexico, so the article will focus on his time there, but if there's anything you'd like me to ask him—or any of these artists, let me know.
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Question for Conor Oberst - I have read that the writing and completion of a song is still one of the greatest pleasures you have in life, so that said, when you are writing, what, if anything dictates the "musical vehicle" (Bright Eyes, Solo, ect.)that the song eventually finds itself in? Do you find its based on subject matter, instrumentation, the voice of the author. I would assume that writing music under a name other than your own allows you to separate yourself a little from the material in question.
Ask Sam if it *hurts* to be that talented.
Jules, who is only mostly kidding
Middle TN
Thanks, Jim, but I talked to him before I saw your question. He did say that the reason this isn't a Bright Eyes album is simply that Mike Mogus didn't play on it.
Josh--any idea when Oberst's album will be out?
"Conor Oberst" will be out Aug. 5th.