Another day closer...

It's kind of interesting...as the blog winds down the hit count has been higher everyday. While that is inspiring, it isn't quite inspiring enough. With that said, here is one of the last batches of artists being featured on It's Magic!

CHRIS COCO
&
SASCHA PUTTNAM
G2 (2005)
Nocturne No. 1 (2005)
(from Remasterpiece)

For anyone who likes classical music when they hear it, but aren't really sure they want to dive into the mounds of composers, orchestras, and collections...this is a solid place to start. Chris Coco and Sascha Puttnam take some of their favorite classical music moments and add ambient textures and sounds to create an aural experience that is fresh and exciting. The website for the release has a lot of information, as well as different outlets you can purchase the release at--EMI put it out so...that means you can get it almost anywhere. It was a daunting task to pick a couple tracks off of the album that are representative of the whole thing. Hopefully, "G2" and "Nocturne No. 1" do Remasterpiece justice.

ANDREW BIRD'S
BOWL OF FIRE
Wishing For Contentment (1999)
Dora Goes To Town (1999)
(from Oh! The Grandeur)

Andrew Bird was an occasional part of the Squirrel Nut Zippers and in addition had this group to call his own. Bowl of Fire never has a dull moment mostly because it jumps between a number of genres that your typical alternative music fan may not always indulge in. Oh! The Grandeur was the second Bowl of Fire album, and features fantastic fiddling from the headliner, as well as guest spots from Bird's Squirrel Nut Zipper friends. Andrew Bird/Bowl of Fire are still releasing things, and they have an official website here.

EASTERN STANDARD TIME
It's Alright (2005)
Step Ready (2005)
(from Tempus Fugit)

Back in the mid to late 90s...you could find me at just about every ska show in Wisconsin...I'll admit that. My musical tastes have changed drastically over the years, but there is something about the ska bands of today that go for that more jazz-oriented sound of yesteryear (Hepcat, Deals Gone Bad, etc.) that still really grab my attention. Eastern Standard Time--a D.C.-based band with members of the Pietasters and Skunks--is one of those groups that reminds me of why I liked ska in the first place.

The tunes are fun and danceable while refraining from being musically typical or lyrically tacky like some ska bands of the third wave (some people love that, it just isn't my thing). These tracks come off of their newest album Tempus Fugit, which is available from Jump Up! Records (one of the few ska labels that has made it through the ska backlash of the early 2000s--reminds me of people hating disco--some people still liked it, but others were waving their ska-hater flags). I just wish someone would reissue some of the Moon Ska NYC catalog...enjoy.