As I sit here at the computer sipping my grande cappuccino, I find that the second ten free musical downloads from Starbucks proved to be as interesting as the first ten. And as diverse.
It started out with those who "also performed with."
Download number 11 was John Legend. I was not familiar with his work, so I looked him up. He is listed as R&B on iTunes, but elsewhere he is listed as neo-Soul. At 29 he has performed well by himself, he has "also performed with" Black-Eyed Peas, Kanye West and Alicia Keys. "Show Me," the Starbucks/iTunes download, is part of his "Show Me Campaign," which centers on the plight of the poor in Ghana. But his song is more than just about them, but a conversation with God about the state of the world and how the individual can make a difference. A good choice by Starbucks.
John Fogerty's "Gunslinger" was download number 12. It is pure Creedence Clearwater Revival, which he "also performed with." I liked this one pretty much, slightly Western and slightly Rock. A little trivia here: Creedence actually performed at Woodstock, the first band to be signed up, but Fogerty was not happy with their performance, so wouldn't allow the band to appear in the documentary film.
Patti Scialfa performs "Looking for Elvis" as download lucky number 13. Not sure how to really classify her. It is a blend of things and when I was listening to "Gunslinger" on my iPod, this song segued so well that I didn't even realize it was a second song at first. Oh, by the way she "also performed with" her husband, Bruce Springsteen.
Unlike many of the other downloads so far, which are relatively recent releases, number 14, Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage," hails from the 60's. This is an edited version, cutting the original 8 minutes down to 5. But Hancock's piano styling still shines through all the years. Oh, and Hancock "also played with" the Miles Davis' "second great quintet." If you are not familiar with jazz from this era, "Maiden Voyage" is the trip you should take.
Number 15 was Angie Stone singing "Happy Being Me." She does sound happy being who she is. With a little Stevie Wonder-style harmonica and a wonderful voice. Angie, by the way, "also performed with" The Sequence, which I do not remember nor do I remember their 80s hit "Funk You Up." She also sings the theme song for the TV show, "Girlfriends." And like Band of Horses, download number 8, she originally hails from South Carolina.
Download number 16 was someone I was familiar with, Annie Lennox. I am not only familiar from her days "also performing with" The Eurhythmics, but the singer of the final song in the final movie of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Her "Into the West" for the end of the film was hauntingly beautiful. She has come far from "Sweet Dream (Are Made of This)." The song "Dark Road" is from her new CD, "Songs of Mass Destruction." As it might imply, it is not an upbeat song, but thought-provoking like the rest of the CD. Another song from the CD, "Sing," Annie is joined by 23 other female performers, including Madonna, Sarah McLachlan, Gladys Knight and KT Tunstall (remember her from the first 10 downloads?), who sing a song warning about the transmission of HIV from mother to unborn child. Lennox performed in Boulder the day before the song was released at Starbucks. Sorry I missed that, but at least I have one of the songs she sang.
Brandi Carlile's "Turpentine" was download number 17. Finally, someone who wasn't "also performing with." Her music was featured on "Grey's Anatomy earlier this year and this particular song was featured in the two-hour episode of the show which segued into the spin-off, "Private Practice." It is an interesting Country song (actually listed as "Alternative Country," whatever that means) and not something I probably would have heard. Glad I had this chance.
Download 18 was Alice Smith singing "New Religion." She has been compared to Alicia Keys, but this song definitely has a lot more Country influence than Keys.
"Lake Michigan," download 19, by the group Rogue Wave started out with a lot of percussion, including what sounds like clapping hands. They have a good sound (they are an Alternative band).
Download 20, Alice Russell's "Hurry on Now (Boub Mix)," was the first one I was disappointed with. A Reggae song, this is a different mix, I guess, than the original. Unfortunately, we don't hear much of Alice Russell, just a background-like soundtrack and an occasional voice. Additionally, I had problems with downloading the song to my iPod, so I'm not really sure I got the whole thing.
So 20 down, 17 left and among them Sir Paul McCartney. And for anyone who's interested, some of the Starbucks stores keep their leftover (if any) download cards in case you want to catch up. And no, I am not getting free lattes (just free songs).