Mike Doughty’s newest album Sad Man Happy Man came out a couple of weeks ago to not much hoopla – and that’s probably somewhat deserved.  Mr. Doughty has made a successful solo career of releasing pretty much the same album every 18 months or so.  (For example, I sang “Busting Up a Starbucks” with the same inflection over 2 or 3 of the songs on his new album.)  That’s not a bad thing since he seems to be making it work, but every once in a while he really hits it.  (In fact, one of his tracks has made it to my 1000 Minutes list.)  Beyond that personal favorite, there’s this one – the lengthily titled lead single from Golden Delicious – where, in my opinion, he nailed it again.

Mike Doughty – I Just Want the Girl in the Blue Dress To Keep On Dancing (mp3) from Golden Delicious

This is the first week that there is a strong contingent of Christmas albums being released.  Last week was the first time I’d noticed any being released, and this week they are starting to build.  I’m going to get this out of the way right now and say that I have no interest in posting the Christmas releases, so you won’t see them here.  There’s really only one album everyone should own for the holidays anyway – Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Get that one and leave it there.

Beyond that, there’s a lot of new music being released this week that is on the cusp of being interesting, but nothing that stands out as something that seems essential.  Because I like him, I’ll recommend the Mike Doughty album, but beyond that, it’s all a matter of personal taste.  After the list, like always, there are a couple of tracks to help you remember.

Have a great week everyone.  Let us know what you’ll be picking up.

Air – Love 2
Black Heart Procession – Six
Built to Spill – There is No Enemy
Califone – All My Friends are Funeral Singers
The Clientele – Bonfires on the Heath
DJ Tiesto – Kaleidoscope
Hockey – Mind Chaos
Lou Barlow – Goodnight Unknown
Matthew Good – Vancouver
Mike Doughty – Sad Man Happy Man
Mission of Burma – The Sound, The Speed, The Light
Noah and The Whale – The First Days of Spring
Osso and Sufjan Stevens – Run Rabbit Run
A Place To Bury Strangers – Exploding Head
Rammstein – Pussy [Single]
Ravonettes – In and Out of Control
Relient K – Forget and Not Slow Down
Roseanne Cash – The List
Tokio Hotel – Humanoid
The Very Best – Warm Heart of Africa
The XX – The XX

Mike Doughty – St. Louise Is Listening (mp3) from The Gambler EP

Noah and The Whale – 5 Years Time (mp3) from Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down

This week’s Smörgåsbord is a little bit different than most weeks, but only because we’re not featuring three straight remixes.  Instead, we’re serving up an acoustic Mike Doughty track that was recorded in a Subway in NYC, another track off of the Miike Snow album, and a little cover of a song you may know.  Dig in before it gets cold.

Mike Doughty – Looking at the World From the Bottom of a Well (Acoustic, Live in the Subway, NYC) (mp3) from Fort Hood EP

Miike Snow – Cult Logic (mp3) from Miike Snow

Obadiah Parker – Hey Ya (Outkast Cover) (mp3)

Here’s the 16^th installment of my 1000 Minutes project.  It’s strange to me that this is becoming a bit difficult, despite the fact that I’m not even twenty percent through my allotted time.  Separating what is an actual good song from what is just marginal is a more difficult exercise than I originally imagined.

33. Mike Doughty – Your Misfortune (mp3) from Haughty Melodic (3:06) [Time Remaining: 814:38]

There’s a simple beauty to this song, the closing track on Doughty’s third solo LP.  It’s a redemptive song, and one that has a spiritual effect on me.  And maybe that’s the intention with lines like “(I can) warm you like the sunshine. Stand in the light.”

Having been raised in the church, I find myself responding to that type of imagery because it represents the best of what God is supposed to be about.  Setting aside all of the bullshit, divisive aspects of the world’s religions, the simple goal of personal betterment is where the real magnificence of faith lies – in whatever religion one chooses.

34. Nina Simone – Sinnerman (mp3) from Pastel Blues (10:19) [Time Remaining: 804:19]

I’m in a spiritual state of mind, I guess – this time, with a much more literal spiritual.  Nina Simone learned the lyrics to her version of this traditional song from her mother – who used it during revival meetings to get attendees to confess their sins.  And even if you don’t ascribe to that way of thinking, this song might get you to do it.

It’s been used in countless movies, sampled numerous times (my favorite use is on Talib Kweli’s “Get By”) and is an epic testament to the powerful voice that Ms. Simone possessed.  She carries the soulful, jazzy song from start to finish, and it never drags despite its length.  It’s breathtaking.