Music has been an integral part of my life since I was a kid. In addition to playing music in various forms, my headphones have been my constant companion for as long as I can remember. I’m always on the hunt for new sounds, not only to listen to but also to inspire me to write music of my own. So I’m going to try, every now and then, to share with you some of the sounds you’re likely to find in my ears if you were to run into me on the street.
Goldford – Never Settle
I seriously cannot find enough good things to say about Goldford’s debut album Shed a Little Light. It’s soulful, it’s funky, it’s for anyone who appreciates Raphael Saddiq, Cody ChestnuTT, or John Mayer (the music, not the guy). If you can, buy the album. It will be the wisest financial decision you’ll make all year. It was hard to pick a ‘favourite’ track from this album, but ‘Never Settle’ has a reasonable shot at that title.
Dizzy Gillespie – Night in Tunisia
I realize that this is a contentious and unprovable statement, but I think this might be the best song ever written. Seriously. It’s built on a complexity that resolves to an easy stride that quickly transforms into a virtuoso showcase by one of the unchallenged masters of the trumpet. It bridges the gap between traditional jazz and modern jazz in a way that approaches perfection.
Neko Case – Man
I first came across Neko Case as a member of The New Pornographers, an indie band from Vancouver. They are an eclectic blend of different types of pop music, melded idiosyncratically in a way that really appeals to my eclectic taste. Neko is a prolific solo artist as well, and when her album The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You dropped, I decided to pick it up. This track is a very tongue-in-cheek exploration of ‘traditional’ masculinity and the behaviours it glorifies. It also rocks, so there’s that.
Audio Two – Top Billing
Grab your boom box, put on your Kangol, and rock out with wild abandon to this classic jam from hip-hop’s golden age. There’s nothing else to say about this track, really. It’s just pure enjoyment.
Elvis Costello and the Roots – Walk Us Up Town
I am a big fan of The Roots, particularly after reading band-leader ?uestlove’s autobiography Mo’ Meta Blues. ?uestlove is, from my perspective, the ultimate musician. He finds what is beautiful about every genre, places it expertly in its historical context, and finds ways to blend different sounds. It was a thrill, therefore, to see him team up with perennial rock legend Elvis Costello for the album Wise Up Ghost. If I’m being honest, I wanted to like this album much more than I actually enjoyed it, but it’s worth a listen for sure.
Above and beyond being a consumer of music, I’m also a creator of music. I released this song a few months ago, called The Ballad of Cpt. Morgan:
If you want to hear more from me, the easiest way is to click over to my ‘Music’ page, where I curate all of the stuff that is available online. Alternatively, you can check out my Facebook page, which has an audio player and photos and a whole bunch more cool stuff.
Crommunist 
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