Log #126 - There's A Party Going On, Griffin Anthony Picks 6

This Sunday, in the first of a new series, I'm very pleased to give over the (b)log to special guest curator NY singer songwriter Griffin Anthony who sends greetings from snowy Connecticut and lists 6 of his all time fave albums and current obsessions (with handy Spotify links too!).  Thank you Griff.

Griffin's own most excellent record Refuge is now out on Big Eyes Records.

Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece

Jeff Buckley - Grace

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

Hiss Golden Messenger - Lateness Of Dancers

D'Angelo - Voodoo

Andy Shauf - The Party

Van Morrison Veedon Fleece (1974)

Live, human, and dynamic. Richly atmospheric loose-limbed arrangements that parallel ‘Van the Man’s’ tenderly gentle and wildly explosive deliveries. It's pretty damned inspiring to know that an artist like this exists.

Spotify

Jeff Buckley Grace (1994)

Epic soaring melodies and performances from such a young and talented (gone too soon) artistic force. For a time in digital production when most of the material released by major labels sounds dated and affected, Grace still stands up and feels timeless.

Spotify

Marvin Gaye What’s Going On (1971)

One song more powerful than the next. Haunting yet hopeful. Greasy yet poignant. After The Beatles took me through middle school, What’s Going On blew my mind and carried me through high school.

Spotify

Hiss Golden Messenger Lateness of Dancers (2014)

When asked, “Who are some of your favorite bands?,” HGM usually tops the list. Musically, Lateness of Dancers is everything I love about The Grateful Dead, JJ Cale, and Buffalo Springfield. MC Taylor is one of our generation’s greatest and often under-appreciated songwriters.

Spotify

D’Angelo Voodoo (2000)

Equal parts crunchy and smooth with lush Prince-esque layered harmonies floating atop fuzzy guitars, organs, and the sticky-icky deep pocket grooves. Voodoo celebrates femininity without all the stale R & B cheese of its era.

Spotify

Andy Shauf The Party (2016)

Proof the concept record isn’t dead. The Party is playfully clumsy at times, but with a ton of overall instrumental restraint. What it lacks in live performance, it makes up for with its charm, clever orchestration, and efficient brush strokes. Favorite album of the last few years.

Spotify

Our contributor this week is Griffin Anthony, an American songwriter with three albums and a number of film scores to his credit. As a teen, the 35-year old New York native worked his summers as a stagehand for the Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals absorbing influences from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Chick Corea, and George Benson before eventually signing with BMI and Orange Music Publishing in 2008. His debut full length Crazy Ways was released in 2010, followed by The Making Of A Man. Last year's Refuge was recorded at Nashville's vintage analog Bomb Shelter studio with producer Jon Estes (Kesha, John Paul White) and Grammy Award-winning engineer Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Margo Price, Phosphorescent).