News for 01/02/06

Happy New Year One & All
My ears are itching This time of year, there’s so little new music, but if you can hang on until February 7, Other People’s Lives from Ray Davies and Comfort of Strangers from Beth Orton will hit stores.
Davies, the former Kinks frontman, has never before issued a solo release of all new material. It’s full of his witty observations and hooky melodies. Orton, the English singer-songwriter, makes a stylistic departure. The songs, produced by the inimitable Jim O’Rourke (Sonic Youth, Wilco), are sparser and stranger, but still captivating.
I’ll be spinning tracks from both Friday, Jan. 13, at iLounge in Pontiac, Amir Daiza’s slick new spot in the Clutch Cargo’s complex. Please stop by Doors at 9 p.m.; cover $10.
Thanks to all of you who have visited this site thus far. In the coming weeks, we’ll be adding a ton of content, such as CD reviews, as well as music news and career updates. What would you like to see here? Please let me know.
A big shout out to Ken Waagner of Smartley Dunn Solutions and Lyn Davis of LSDesign for their ongoing technical assistance. And to Mike Novak, attorney extraordinaire, my undying gratitude and friendship.