Soon after Appleseed Recordings was founded in 1997, this fine label gained critical acclaim with the release of Where Have All The Flowers Gone: The Songs of Pete Seeger. A folk music festschrift, Where Have All The Flowers Gone featured 37 different versions of songs associated with Seeger and put Appleseed on the map as a folk label to watch. The album contained all new recordings by luminaries such as Bruce Springsteen, Odetta, Billy Bragg, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Paxton, Bruce Cockburn, Roger McGuinn, and other well-known folk musicians. Gathering such musical talent together was an impressive feat for a small, relatively unknown record label. (more…)

As a final list of holiday tunes, I thought I’d share my list of the worst holiday tunes. (more…)

As I mentioned in my last list of favorite holiday tunes, I definitely enjoy the classics. That last list offered my 10 favorite classic holiday songs performed by classic artists. This list will look at classic tunes again—many of them even the same song—but these are by contemporary (or relatively contemporary) artists. (more…)

With just a few days left before the holidays, I thought I’d give you a few of my lists of top holiday songs. Obviously, there are thousands of great tunes from which to choose, though you wouldn’t know that from listening to Q99. Seriously, how many times can you hear Paul McCartney’s “A Wonderful Christmas Time,” Elton John’s “Step Into Christmas,” and Wham’s “Last Christmas” in one day?

That said, my first list is going to be quite different from the songs just mentioned above. I’m still a sucker for the classics, and my first list will be of classic holiday tunes sung by classic artists, generally the artist that made the song a hit back in its day. (And, by the way, you might ask what I consider classic. Well, it has to be at least as old as me!)

Without further ado, here is my list of 10 Classic Songs by 10 Classic Artists. (more…)

Perfect for reminiscing on a solitary, rainy night in the city, the jazz combo backs Eliza Lumley in “Black Star” as she ascends up the scale, giving special attention to the top note, just as Radiohead’s lead singer, Thom Yorke did in his own unique way. This from singer Lumley’s brave effort, She Talks in Maths – Interpretations of Radiohead. Lumley strips down 11 songs from one of the biggest bands in the business, giving a fresh look on classics from The Bends, OK Computer, and Kid A. She Talks in Maths, however, may prove worthwhile to even those outside of the giant cult following Radiohead has earned. (more…)

You might ask why we’re reviewing an album from 2005. That would be a good question, and here’s our answer: We hope to introduce you to Tim Grimm, who will perform at a house concert in Blacksburg on Nov. 30. (more…)