ALTROK Ordinals 11

Kathryn Rose - My Little Flame (Footlodgedindoor Music/Canada)
Jeff says: Not to be confused with Eileen Rose, who I reviewed earlier in these pages, this is Kathryn Rose. She's a Canadian songbird that has created, along with producer Thomas Ryder Payne (of the band Joydrop), a stunningly beautiful record...that most people will not hear. She's worked with everyone from Esthero (with whom she's toured as a band member) to Patti LaBelle to Dan Bryk to Ron Sexsmith. At times soothing, at others startling, this is a record you should go to www.kathrynrose.net and get.

Michael Sheehy - Ill Gotten Gains (Beggars Banquet)
Rich says: Imagine Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds doing a tribute album to Chris Issak. Incredibly good, and weirdly dark. This guy writes songs about boxers that throw fights, as well as staples like love and depression. Hide the sharp objects, but keep the volume up.

Morgan Heritage - More Teachings... (VP Records)
Jeff says: Five of the 29 Morgan family children (offspring of reggae legend Denroy Morgan) are Morgan Heritage. Quite possibly the best reggae band in America (that doesn't have familial ties to the Marleys). Raised in Brooklyn but "born" in Jamaica, the Morgans have picked up the torch lit by Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff and are taking it to the "kids". I mean that quite literally, they were the only reggae band (and probably the only band of color) on this year's Warped Tour. Proof that "black music" does not have to be about guns, gangs, and booty.

Roland Orzabal - "Low Life" (Eagle/UK)
Rich says: Lead single from the former Tears For Fears co-conspirator. His new cd, "Screaming Tomcats Outside" is due soon. This song will remind you of why TFF was such an important band back in the 80's. This should be huge, if radio actually plays it.

Convoy - Black Licorice - Hybrid/Atlantic/WEA
Perry says: Pure flat-out rock 'n roll from San Diego. Signed to the indie label that brought you Guster. They bring out the pop in rock.

Various Artists - Poet: A Tribute To Townes Van Zandt (Free Falls/Pedernales)
Rich says: One of America's premier songwriters finally gets a tribute he richly deserves. Incredible renditions of his gut wrenching songs, performed by his biggest admirers like Steve Earle, Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams and Guy Clark to name a few hopefully will expose this artist's amazing talents to an entirely new group of listeners. Too bad he isn't alive to enjoy his upcoming new found fame.

And, in the "if you haven't heard it yet, it's new to you" department...

U.N.K.L.E. - Psyence Fiction (Uni/ffrr)
Sean says: Add DJ Shadow to Yes, then drop the latter's pretense, and you wind up with this record. Released in 1998, and recorded as early as 1996, I stumbled across this and was left as if in a dream. I understand now why Coleridge never finished "Xanadu". All this and Thom Yorke, too.

Chalk Farm - Three 2's (TIC Records)
Perry says: You may remember them doing "Lie on Lie" a few years back. Dropped by their label for making good songs without the image - the only way to find the followup is online. Go get it!

(This week's Ordinals courtesy Jeff Raspe, Rich Robinson, Sean Carolan, and alert ALTROK reader Perry Lin.)