Rock Torch

Kevin Devine recommends Sinéad O’Connor

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Kevin Devine and Sinéad O'Connor

Kevin Devine and Sinéad O'Connor

Kevin Devine’s recommendation: “There are so many, but this weekend I listened to a lot of Sinead O’Connor (and Nada Surf, but for the sake of this piece, let’s go with Sinead). She’s just so tough, and beautiful, and fearless. Her songs are so strong, and open, and even though there are some production/arrangement choices that I think can skew towards cheesy Enya-isms, she stamps them with enough honesty to make them transcend. She’s punk rock.”

New to Sinéad O’Connor? Kevin recommends you start here: “I’d start with I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got. That’s the hit, and for good reason – it has my three all-time favorite songs of hers (Black Boys on Mopeds, The Emperor’s New Clothes, and Last Day of Our Acquaintance) AND Nothing Compares 2 U. C’mon. And while some of the sounds haven’t aged well, the songs have. The Gospel Oak EP may be my favorite music she’s made, and Universal Mother is a pretty great record too, but I think this is where you’d point someone looking to get familiar.”

Kevin DevineAbout our guest author, Kevin Devine: You may know Kevin from his days of fronting Miracle of 86 (Mets fans, you get the reference, right?). Since those days, Kevin has toned down his vocals and moved stylistically towards the late, great Elliot Smith, an artist that Kevin says “changed the way I look at writing music.” In fact, Devine snagged Elliot Smith’s producer, Rob Schnapf for his major label debut, Put Your Ghost To Rest. In 2009, Paste Magazine gushed about Devine’s release, Brother’s Blood, saying that Devine’s “…scathing observations and idiosyncratic details leave a disquieting mark.” Devine most recently teamed up with members of Manchester Orchestra to form Bad Books and is set to release his new album, Between The Concrete And Clouds. In the mean time, Kevin continues to play shows and win over new fans.

MP3: She Stayed As Steam by Kevin Devine

Jill Sobule carries a torch for John Lennon

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Jill Sobule and John Lennon

Jill Sobule and John Lennon

Jill Sobule’s recommendation: “I should bring up an under-appreciated oldie or a new discovery, however, over the last week I have been spending time on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus -it’s a non-profit recording studio on wheels dedicated to providing students with opportunities to write and record music. It’s pretty amazing. Anyway, they asked me, for their blog, to record a couple of Lennon songs. I have not not in awhile listened to his non-Beatle catalog. I almost forgot how rousing his vocals were on Working Class Hero. Part I’m sure is personal nostalgia, but the power of his song and voice is undeniable. Plus, I think it was the first song that I ever heard with the F-word. As a kid, that was…huge! And he, along with John Prine, the Clash, and later Billy Bragg, taught me the joy of a good protest song.”

Find out more about the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and friend their Facebook page.

See Jill perform Working Class Hero on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus here:

New to John Lennon? Jill says: “I’m sure all know Lennon’s solo work – but mostly the hits like, Imagine – or the Green day cover of Working Class Hero. But I would even go deep into the Yoko influenced camp. I will always stand up for her.” (Editor’s note: An easy starting point is John’s first solo record, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band)

Jill SobuleAbout the guest author, Jill Sobule: Jill hit Billboard’s top 20 with her 1995 radio hit I Kissed a Girl and has continued to put out high quality records that perfectly swirl sophistication and fun ever since. She’s shared the stage with the cream of the crop, including Billy Bragg, Steve Earle, and Waren Zevon, and her fantastic 2009 collection, California Years was funded by her fan base. Talk about a dedicated following! Be sure to check her site and treat yourself to one of Jill’s live shows.


Deborah Crooks carries a torch for Suzanne Vega

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Deborah Crooks and Suzanne Vega

Deborah Crooks and Suzanne Vega

Deborah Crook’s recommendation: “I recently attended the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX, and amid the glut of bands, new, old and just starting, I made time to catch Suzanne Vega, who performed on March 17 at St David’s Historic Sanctuary. I hadn’t actively listened to her in years, but some of her earlier hits were pivotal in my getting the power of a song to convey emotion, redemption and meaning. Touring in support of a newly recorded collection of her hits, Suzanne Vega Close-Up, Vol. 1: Love Songs, from more than 25 years of writing and performing, what completely blew me away was how timeless her writing was, and is. And that I knew nearly every word of some of her songs reminded me how influential she was to my life and my own work. I was moved to re-listen to Small Blue Thing again and again, for it’s concision, melody and pure emotional truth.

And that is what makes her stand apart in my book. Her complete honesty, a voice that’s equal part, clear, emotive and cool and a knack for navigating a range of genres, from jazz to borderline hip-hop, and formats (given her through and through authenticity, I find it ironic that she was the first artist to perform in Second Life) without losing focus is paralleled by few. More importantly, her songs —whether contending with the thornier sides of relationships or child abuse— are completely relevant, whip-smart and catchy, whether re-arranged (ala the DNA mix of the song ‘Tom’s Diner”) or presented in their sparest format (ala the original a cappella version of the same song).”

New to Suzanne Vega? Start here:: “The new/old album she’s supporting is a great place to start for new listeners as it contains songs from the breadth of her career.”

Buy the album here:
Suzanne Vega Close-Up, Vol. 1: Love Songs
Close-Up Vol. 1, Love Songs

Or listen to a track from the album:

More about the guest author, Deborah Crooks:
Listen to this singer-songwriter from San Francisco and you’ll hear echos of early Sheryl Crow and Natalie Merchant. She’s becoming a favorite staple at SXSW and is currently on tour to support her new EP, It’s All Up to You. Be sure to check her out.

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