I've been on a bender when it comes to music as of late. I can't get enough and I'm jonesing to download one more cd, download one more song ...... I can't get enough.

I'm really into John Hiatt's 2001 release, "The Tiki Bar Is Open." John Hiatt never disappoints and sometimes I forget how much I like his stuff until I'm accidentally reminded by hearing the random John Hiatt song on the radio or tv. He opens the album with "Everybody Went Low" and that will get the feet moving. If you want to slow it down and lower the lights, put on "My Old Friend" or "Come Home To You."

Living in Massachusetts the local PBS station, WGBH, refuses to carry the PBS program Austin City Limits and I have to watch the program on New Hampshire Public Television, but we are able to see Emily Rooney's Greater Boston every weeknight. Sometimes I even watch Greater Boston, but the folks in Allston could do all music fans a big favor and carry Austin City Limits. I realize the folks at WGBH aren't sure if a world exists beyond the gates of Harvard University, but take a peek outside once in awhile.

Roaming through the landscape of cable tv, I came across Songwriters Special: Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark, John Hiatt, Joe Ely on Austic City Limits. It's worth an hour of your time if you like singer/songwriter stuff with a Texas twist. This isn't performed on the show, but take the time to check out Guy Clark's "Out In The Parking Lot" and drink some Old Crow whisky and some hot 7-Up while you're listening to it.

In the summer of 2006, I traveled down to Mohegan Sun to see the Black Crowes and I had the opportunity to see Robert Randolph & The Family Band perform an abbreviated set before The Crowes took the stage. Robert Randolph & The Family Band killed it. After that, I was hooked. This is a band that you have to see live. Their recordings are fine, but live is the only way to properly appreciate this band and witnessing a bunch of white Black Crowes fans dance to Robert Randolph &  The Family Band was worth the drive to the Nutmeg State.

Released in 2002, "Live At Wetlands" is a great way to meet the band. The first track, "Ted's Jam", will blow you away. I don't know if it gets any better than "Ted's Jam", but the rest of the album is a blast.

Wikipedia describes Robert Randolph & The Family Band as a multicultural American funk and soul band - whatever that means. Does multicultural mean there's a couple of white guys in the band? Robert Randolph is just another genius from the great state of New Jersey.

The March by Robert Randolph & The Family Band

Where do I start with this 2008 release from Paul Weller? He's edited this double album down to twenty-one tracks. I thought double albums had gone the way of Tab and the Yangtze river dolphin. (Apparently, Tab still exists. If you've never had the pleasure of sampling this foul chemical concoction, don't bother.)

Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer, from Oasis, play on the track "Echoes Round The Sun" and you can definitely hear an Oasis influence, ya bird. (I'm trying to capture the essence of the Gallagher brothers by incorporating bird into the preceding sentence.)  

"22 Dreams" is Weller's ninth solo release after his work in The Jam and The Style Council. Weller has always shown a penchant for MoTown sounds and "Have You Made Up Your Mind" and "Empty Ring" demonstrate he hasn't strayed too far from his roots. The first chords of "Empty Ring" immediately conjure visions of Marvin Gaye.

I think I'll have a Tab and listen to the rest of the album.