Travis Morrison

After nearly three years(!) of correspondence, Travis Morrison (formerly of one of my absolute favorite bands, the Dismemberment Plan, and currently of his own Hellfighters and several gospel choirs) phones it in from his office in midtown Manhattan, NY. The man Pitchfork couldn't kill weighs in with three unexpected covers and a great one of his own.

As he puts it:

"I feel like I'm a Radiohead video: there's nobody around except cleaning people and I'm singing into a phone. I just feel like Thom Yorke should know, people do win, it really does happen. So that's my situation. I'm under fluorescent lights on West 57th Street in New York. It's crazy. Through two windows I actually have a beautiful view of downtown New York City while I sing. So this is an unusual gig."

Songs:

Love Is A Stranger (Eurythmics) / Found A Job (The Talking Heads) / Song For The Orca / Up On The Roof (The Drifters)

Magic Magic

John Murphy and Brendan Hughes of Magic Magic, one of the best new bands in Boston, phone it in from Dedham, MA. Live or on recording, ask five different people who Magic Magic recall, and you'll get at least five different answers- the Arcade Fire, Band of Horses, the Walkmen, the French Kicks, even, um, Mazzy Star. And yet they still sound completely their own. Over the phone you don't get the benefit of their dual drummer attack, but you do get a sense of the exuberance these guys bring.

Songs:

Over Your Heart / French Song / Washington Or Bust / Savage / Aiming Guns, Drawing Lines