BoomBox - Mr Boogie Man

BoomBox is a duo that originated in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Their second album, titled downriverelectric, was recommended to me by a friend, and currently available as a download only.

Mr Boogie Man highlights their creative and eclectic mixture of ~1970s jam band and modern electronic artistry, the former not surprising, given one of the duo's ties to the Grateful Dead.

Frankly, I'm not enough of an expert to place this music into any of the myriad, thinly sliced musical genres. It sounds catchy to me though. Give it a listen.

Album Download or MP3

U2 - The Hands That Built America

Tonight's post is in memory of Apple co-founder and former CEO, Steve Jobs. As you've no doubt heard by now, he passed away today after a long battle with cancer. So passionate was he about the company he built, he held an active role in the company until less than two months ago. As the company's official statement says, "his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

You may have heard today's featured song by U2, as it played over the final scene and end credits of Gangs of New York. I don't really have much to say about the song itself right now.

So why did I pick this song tonight?

Because of Steve Jobs' role in creating and nurturing one of America's most important industries. As well as the company has done, the mind boggles wondering what Apple might be today if Jobs had been able to pour all his energy into it instead of spending so many years fighting cancer.

Apple and the tech industry are creative, powerful, and inspiring. Jobs' vision of taking computers away from just guys like me and into the mainstream changed everything. America and the world are richer for it, and the industry that came from his and others' efforts and ingenuity represents our best and possibly last chance to maintain economic superiority.

Thanks for everything, Steve.

CD and MP3

It's because of him you can buy an MP3, by the way.

U2 - Bad

You probably know this one. But it's been going through my head all day long and I had to do something about it. 1984, The Unforgettable Fire, played at many of their concerts. This is almost elementary education.

I have a tendency to get this song mixed up with "All I Want is You" when casually listening to U2.

I had this track playing in the car today and my friend mentioned that it was about heroin, which is something I'm completely unfamiliar with, fortunately. However, to be perfectly honest, I really don't pay a whole lot of attention to lyrics and their deeper meaning. I need someone to tell me what they mean.

Peter Gabriel - Love to be Loved

Peter Gabriel is, well, strange. It's hard to pinpoint what instruments he uses, his lyrics tend to be odd, many of his album titles are just two-letter words, and he often uses rather unorthodox time signatures. "Solsbury Hill," for example, is written in 7/4.

It's also hard to pinpoint a genre. His most famous album was So, which includes his well-known '80s hits "In Your Eyes" and "Sledgehammer." Tonight's song, from about a half-decade later, appears on 1992's album, Us.

Peter Gabriel's gravelly voice, which has only gotten better and more distinctive over time, is prominent on this track. Including the heartbeat sound effects and reverberation, it has a bit more of a new-agey sound than his older hits, but also reminds one of "Mercy Street."

He's not quite as prominent as Bono, but Peter Gabriel keeps a hand in global humanitarian initiatives.

Matthew Ebel - I Know You're There

Matthew Ebel is a friend of a friend. I was just introduced to his music tonight, and found maybe a half-dozen songs worth profiling here.

Depending on which song you listen to, he'll remind you of U2, Lifehouse, Coldplay, Dave Matthews, and others. Like other "Starving Artists," he has a selection of his songs available for listening on his website, linked in the title.

"I Know You're There" is a good, slowish-paced rock song, with Matt on the piano and vocals, and the rest is done on a Mac.

He also just released a new album called "Goodbye Planet Earth," which has a genius secret behind it. Check out his website and listen to a few!