Behold the beauty of Life in a Blender, performing at Joe's Pub in NYC.
I know what you're thinkin'. You're thinkin' "I love the theme song to I Couldn't Throw It Out so much that I must hear more from these musicians." Well, it's your lucky lifetime. Because two new albums bring you more delightful musical stylings by the geniuses who gave our podcast a reason to dance.
Let's begin with vocalist/songwriter/bon vivant Don Rauf, who is not just fronting as the front man for the beloved indie band Life in a Blender – he's also been releasing albums with them for the past 35+ years. You can hear their greatest hits on Youtube. Or you can move right into the current era with their new album, Bent By the Weather, which bubbles over with 11 fun songs, enhanced with eclectic instrumentation (cello, violin, horns, rockin' electric guitars, and drums – yay!) and brain-twisting lyrics.
Don Rauf's sources of inspiration are as entertaining as they are eccentric. There's a song named after Rowan and Martin, the hosts of the kooky TV variety series that launched in 1968. Another song is based on the 2021 novel "Hole in the Sky" by Monique Vescia –a funny, smart, engaging and beautifully written recent novel the looks ahead to the future of our environmentally challenged world. Have a multimedia experience and read it while you listen!
My two favorite new songs are "Fountains of Bellagio" – presumably a tribute to the Las Vegas hotel -- and "Alexy Muldano" which has the chorus you will want to sing to yourself daily: "Let's toast to us and all we are and all that's yet to come." L'chaim, Mr. Rauf!
But wait! There's also a new album from multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist Boots Kamp.
Boots' seven-song album Terra Sapien is a glorious tapestry of multi-layered rock. These melodic tunes with bittersweet lyrics bring me back to the kind of well-crafted rock music they used to make back in the day. It even reminds me a little of some classic Pink Floyd songs. Or maybe The Band? Start by listening to "Blame," the catchy tune that would be a hit on rock radio in a just world. But don't wait for musical justice. Get ahead of the curve and make it your own personal hit right now.
If you're a retro CD lover, you can get Boots Kamp's CD here and Life in a Blender's CD here.
Or you can listen to both albums on Spotify, Apple Music, or Youtube. Enjoy!
