Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings 100 Days, 100 Nights

I saw Sharon Jones two nights in a row at the Fair, she is one of the most talented performers I have ever seen. Her and her band actually engage with the audience which is something most bands don’t ever do! And 100 Days, 100 Nights makes me think about my dad’s sweet dance moves.

Dark Dark Dark The Snow Magic

Dark Dark Dark is a magical band. I think that pretty much sums it up. When I listen to that record I think about love, but not in a cheesy way…

Andrew Bird Mysterious Production of Eggs

Mysterious Production of Eggs was unlike any Andrew Bird release I have heard. You can play that album over and over and never get sick of it. Not only is Bird an amazing musician, his lyrics are outstanding, strange, unique and charming and the arrangements are unexpected and thoughtful.

Dr. Dog Fate

Dr. Dog really pulled out the stops with Fate, they had so many catchy tunes on that release and it’s one that will sometimes give me goosebumps when I listen to it. Can’t explain why, Dark Dark Dark will do that too with the song “Benefit of the Doubt” (my favorite song on that record).

Mirah Advisory Committee

Julie Doiron I Woke Myself Up

Julie Doiron, I discovered her when I was room mates with Geoff (our drummer). He brought home Goodnight Nobody, her 2004 release and I listened to that CD over and over until it got scratched and sadly couldn’t listen to it anymore. So I searched for more and found I Woke Myself Up. It was so much brighter, it made me happier just listening to it and I believed that album as well as goodnight nobody inspired a lot of my own music.

In fact all of these albums are inspiring and each one creates a different memory. That’s my favorite part.

[Lucy Michelle is the lead vocalist of Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles. The Minneapolis-based band's most recent album, Special Party Time For Everybody, was released in September.]

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