"Five CDs" by Foss Forward

Last week the Gazette held its annual silent auction, and as soon as I got into the office I headed over to the library to comb through the boxes of CDs for sale. Every year, the Gazette's music writers receive scores of free CDs; these CDs become available at the silent auction, and there are usually some gems. And because the CDs are so cheap, it's easy to grab albums by artists you think you’ll like, but haven’t heard enough of to be sure, and check them out. In this spirit, I picked up five CDs, and listened to them over the weekend. Here they are.

Jake Shimabukuro, “Live” Jake Shimabukuro is one of the best ukulele players alive; I learned about him when I wrote an article earlier this year about Ukulele Night, a monthly event at Moon & River Cafe in Schenectady. (Speaking of which, Ukulele Night is tonight, at 7. If you want to watch a bunch of ukulele players jam, well, this is your chance.) Anyway, Shimabukuro is an adventurous and talented performer. His ukulele playing often sounds like classical guitar, and he is a skilled genre hopper — his music is influenced by jazz, rock and pop music. Anyway, the highlight of the live album is Shimabukuro’s cover of “Thriller.” There's also some Bach, and the Japanese folk song “Sakura, Sakura.” On the whole, the album is fun, but maybe a little on the long side. I mean, how much ukulele paying do I really need to listen to? Still, I’m glad to own it.

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, “Brother's Keeper” Karl Denson is a jazz/funk saxophonist and flutist; this 2009 album showcases his most recent work with his band, the Tiny Universe. Anyway, I’m sort of on the fence about this album, but I think I’ll keep it. I don’t have a lot of funk in my CD collection, and the handful of jazz CDs that I do own veer more toward the avant-garde (Billy Bang, Jason Kao Hwang, Ornette Coleman, etc.). Some of the songs are a little too jammy for my taste, but others are well-constructed grooves that showcase Denson's talent as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In any case, it might be fun to play every once in a while.

Shemekia Copeland, “Talking to Strangers” Here’s another genre I'm not really into: the Blues. But Copeland has a tremendous voice. I really like the way she belts out a tune — born in 1979, she has the gravitas and passion of a performer twice her age. Her music contains elements of gospel, soul and R&B, and although it doesn’t do anything that original or genre-defying, Copeland’s voice makes you sit up and take notice. That said, the CD felt a little long to me. Since I don’t exactly love the genre, Copeland’s outstanding vocals can only take me so far, and by the end of the album I was ready to listen to something totally different. But if I’m ever in a bluesy mood, I now own two albums I can listen to: “Talking to Strangers,” and B.B. King’s greatest hits.

P.J. Harvey and John Parish, “A Woman A Man Walked By” Boy, P.J. Harvey has come a long way. I own her 1993 album “Rid of Me,” which has a raw, punk sound — Harvey's voice is pretty much an angry yowl for the entire album, and the guitars never really stop thrashing. In recent years, Harvey has explored other genres, such as the blues and electronica, and this album, a collaboration with British musician John Parish, is dense, dark, moody and sexually charged, full of heavy riffs, but also quieter movements, with a lingering preoccupation with mortality and death. (As I write this, I’m wondering whether Harvey is the female answer to the equally dark, dense and moody singer-songwriter Greg Dulli, of the Afghan Whigs.) Anyway, this album is really good, and it makes me want to listen to some of the other albums P.J. Harvey has recorded since 1993.

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, “Slow Down” This Rochester-based reggae band plays here all the time, usually at Red Square in Albany, but I’ve never seen them. I’m not a huge reggae fan, but I’ve always been sort of interested in checking them out, so I picked up their 2006 CD. It’s fun. I'm not sure it will ever make its way into my frequent playlist, but if I’m ever in a sunny, reggae-listening mood, I’ll probably pull it out. It’s definitely a good alternative to the token Bob Marley CD I own. Sure, Bob Marley is the more sophisticated artist, but I’m not sure I need to listen to “No Woman, No Cry” ever again in my life.

THREE QUARTER NORTH

Last week I saw local bluegrass band Three Quarter North perform at The Linda, WAMC’s performing arts studio, as part of Crumbs Cafe, a radio show where musicians answer questions and perform for a live audience. (For more on Crumbs Cafe, click here) Anyway, I’d never heard these guys before, but I like bluegrass, and they’re definitely worth checking out. They’re a tight, skilled band that plays traditionals and original material with equal aplomb, and I’m looking forward to seeing them again. For more on Three Quarter North, click here.

SUNDAY FOOTBALL

I’ve fully embraced this whole undefeated thing. For a while, it was getting on my nerves, because the thought of some other football team going undefeated and winning the Super Bowl filled me with anxiety and rage. But I’ve let go of all that, and I’m now hoping that the Saints and the Colts remain undefeated and meet in the Super Bowl. In recent years, it’s obviously become much easier for NFL teams to make a run at perfection. My theory is that it has something to do with the NFL’s embrace of parity, which has led to a lot of mediocre and really bad teams, and allowed a small elite to emerge. This small elite tends to be smarter and more ruthless than the other teams, but also the beneficiary of really gifted quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. So I’m letting go of the past, and rooting for these two Goliaths, since it’s clear the Patriots have some soul-searching to do, and will be lucky to win a game in the playoffs. Anyway, here’s this week’s five lamest teams:

5. The Kansas City Chiefs — I like Matt Cassel and all, but why did general manager Scott Pioli sign him to that ridiculous $27 zillion contract or whatever it is? I’m sorry, but you’ve got to beat the Bills when you’re playing at home.

4. The Oakland Raiders — This team is so lame. Just when it looks like they’re turning the lameness corner, they get destroyed by the Redskins at home. I feel sorry for their long-suffering fans, but not for their lunkheaded management team.

3. The New York Giants — This game was pretty exciting, and for a brief instant I thought the Giants were going to pull out a gritty, come-from-behind win. But alas. It was not to be. Instead they lost in heartbreaking fashion, which is the one thing they’ve been pretty good at this season.

2. The Pittsburgh Steelers — Um, hello, defending champs. Don’t you think it’s time to rouse yourself from your slumber? Not only have you lost five in a row, but you’ve lost to the Browns. And the Browns are really lame.

1. The Dallas Cowboys — The Cowboys are beginning their annual it’s-December-let’s-fall-apart push. It’s so predictable. And fun, if you hate the Cowboys.

Got a comment? E-mail me at sfoss@dailygazette.net.