Blog Posts by Dave DiMartino

One of the highlights of this year's recent South By Southwest conference was the appearance of a gifted performer who's currently garnering raves for her uncanny ability to blend the folk and art traditions into highly listenable, highly moving work that may otherwise defy comparison.

That performer was Vermont-based singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell--whose latest album, Young Man In America, is an ambitious set that depicts an artist growing by leaps and bound. Her lyrics, her memorable vocal approach, the sophisticated musical arrangements all demonstrate a maturity that's startling at first listen, and highly unique at the very least.

Y! Music was fortunate enough to speak with Mitchell and capture two superlative performances at our private "studio" at SXSW. The performances were memorable, the singer herself was warm and very friendly, and it was one of the better things we witnessed there this year, to say the least. See for yourself--we think you'll like what you see.

I’m embarrassed to note that I forgot to watch the Oscars last night--so I missed seeing Adele, Shirley Bassey and maybe a few other people I cared about, not to mention what was apparently a tasteful tribute to “boobs,” which I deeply regret.

And while it’s true I didn’t see a single film that was up for any award whatsoever—between you and me, I usually go to the movies maybe twice every summer, in Massachusetts—I’m thrilled that music played a role in the night’s festivities!

But you know what? First and foremost, I’m a music guy! So I spent the night listening to a box set by Thee Midniters, watching The Walking Dead and Banshee and sleeping with my dog Sparky!

And I know I’m not alone!

Atoms For Peace: Amok (XL) While on paper a collaborative effort between Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, producer Nigel Godrich, the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, drummer Joey Waronker and former Beatle Mauro Refosco might seem a bit of a yank, in practice it’s quite good! The grooves are nice, Yorke’s

One of the major benefits of today’s out-of-kilter pop scene—where it’s entirely conceivable that the best-selling artists of the moment are likely to have a shelf-life of months, rather than years—is that today’s most sophisticated music fans can go about their business having absolutely no opinion about the latest works by Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, or Beyoncé and still sound like they know what they’re talking about.

Especially when they use big words!

And as we come to a new release week when there are no “major” new albums, no long-awaited returns to the scene by artists we’re likely to completely forget within five years, we can instead pick and choose from a wide array of truly interesting albums from artists both old and new--who apparently make records more for the sake of art rather than money, or of making an overblown career statement concocted purely to jettison them into the stratosphere of the super-rich.

Between you and me, I like the sexy ones best!

Celtic Thunder: Mythology (Celtic Thunder) A surprisingly straight return to the marketplace from metal titans Celtic Thunder—whose previous showstopper Grasping At The Short Hairs Of Cthulhu took all that was great about Switzerland’s Celtic Frost,

Reviewing the week’s new releases is always tough the day after the Grammy Awards have taken place!

After spending last night spellbound by the raw talents assembled onstage—by definition the prior year’s very finest—how can any new release hope to measure up?

It’s easy! I’ve taken all 10 of the albums below, dressed them in the finest contemporary gowns, given them colorful and creative manicures, and played each and every one of them after re-watching my DVR’d version of the Goddess Rihanna singing her marvelous torch ballad “Stay”!

The result? Ten absolute masterpieces by comparison! And they’re not bad looking either!

In restaurant lingo, this is known as “cleansing your palate”!

Bullet For My Valentine: Temper Temper (RCA) It’s hard not to fall big-time over this great new Bullet For My Valentine album, if only for its zesty cover—heh! It almost looks like blood that guy’s got on his hands!—and the understated “V” it offers up! With its upbeat message—typified by this set’s power

One of the marvels of today’s interconnected age may be the fact that writers who once wrote articles and often waited as much as three months to get feedback about them now merely have to consult Twitter to see where they stand!

Thus, less than 24 hours after writing last week’s much-admired post about the latest works by rockers Hatebreed and Justin Bieber, I was greeted by tweets such as:

*"@DaveDiMartino what the hell does this have to do with the album? Sad. Just sad.”

*“It’s funny how @DaveDiMartino...can judge @hatebreed and when he does, he uses dogs to judge their coolness.”

*“@DaveDiMartino Re: your assertion Justin Bieber is this century’s Jimi Hendrix! Pls kill yourself. thank you.”

All well thought-out criticisms, I must say in retrospect, and I’ll give them all ample thought! Still, the dogs-as-coolness-gauge has always worked for me, and there’s no chance whatsoever I’ll give it up!

Josh Groban: All That Echoes (Reprise) The likelihood that one of today’s biggest stars—a young man with a massive, classically-inspired vocal range and a following to match—would devote his new album to Nickelodeon’s classic 1994-2005 comedy show as well as Pink Floyd’s 1971 Meddle classic “Echoes” is admittedly slim, but I think his version of “The

They say that age brings wisdom--and so it is that more than a few of the older among us chuckled when younger music fans were puzzled by the reaction met by this week’s announcement of the Coachella Festival lineup!

While the appearances of both Blur and the Stone Roses might have approached the heralding of the Second Coming to those of a certain age, the simultaneous appearance of a ”Who Are The Stone Roses” Tumblr asked by those even younger shocked those stunned by who might even ask the question!

Right around now might be a good time to bring up Bob Dylan’s famous “times they are a changin’” line, but come on--that would be dopey! I’d rather mention that an even younger person just asked me “What the hell is a Coachella?” and his brother added, “Does it have candy?”

Later we watched the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and Dragon Ball Z tapes and caught some Ke$ha videos! “She makes me tingly,” someone said!

Justin Bieber: Believe Acoustic (Island) I think most of us would agree that

Though I rarely tend to get political in this blog—after all, the subject matter is supposed to be about new album releases—I’d just like to say that the recent Presidential Inauguration ceremony was, no matter your political affiliation, a wonderful affirmation of the power of music.

Top-level artists were present. We have a president who is not averse to singing the opening line of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” hearing it performed at his own inaugural ball. And we did not have a queue of performers conspicuously clamoring to disassociate their best-known songs from the campaigns of candidates whom they didn't support.

Plus, now when people accuse me of lip-synching my blog, I can just turn on my DVR, walk to my refrigerator and get a Diet Coke, come back and meet a warm audience to whom it doesn’t matter in the slightest!

You should all meet my dog Sparky!

Various Artists: 12-12-12 The Concert For Sandy Relief (Columbia) It would be the essence of uncool to take issue with this

As 2013 unfolds, the question arises: Will it be a good year for music?

On one hand, between a new release by former teen star Justin Timberlake—curiously timed to coincide with the rebirth of ancient MySpace, the site in which he’s invested a considerable sum—and the start of a new season of American Idol, featuring Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey and other, less-celebrated humans—the smart money might be on not hardly.

On the other hand, the now profound difference between professional celebrities and actual music makers has never been more pronounced—and, however obscure, there’s more good music being made today than ever before. I listen to it daily, driving to work in my car.

That said, have you had a Caprese salad lately? With layers of tomato, fresh mozzarella cheese, olive oil and basil, it is—when prepared properly—an absolutely perfect foodstuff! And I don’t think anyone would quibble with that assessment!

So anyway, yeah, it probably will be a great year for music! And if it isn’t, so what? There’s probably a great restaurant in your area! Go there!

Villagers: Awayland (Domino U.K. import) Though this won’t be out for a while in the States, I’ve spent the past day listening intently to the second album by Villagers—the name taken by Irish singer-songwriter Conor J. O’Brien—and I’m blown away by the quality of the