And all the world is biscuit shaped...

Have you ever been stuck in a music rut? How did you get out?

Hey regular readers, I need a little help. I've been flipping through my record collection for the last few days and NOTHING looks good. I'm tired of all the old favorites and can't find anything different to get the music juices flowing.

Right now it's "been there done that..." I don't know about you guys, but I can only listen to a song so many times before I get bored, no matter how good the song may be.

I've gone into music ruts before, but this one seems particularly deep. I need something new to explore. I've been sorta getting into African music lately (i.e., Ali Farka Toure, King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti), but that little foray hasn't been enough to cure my musical malaise. I've also been toying with the idea of exploring the roots of Jamaican reggae, but I'm not sure that will do the trick either (and I don't know where to start with that project, should I decide to take it on.)

So I'm looking for suggestions.

(1) How do you get out of music ruts? Does this sound familiar to you? What music has you excited right now?

(2) What new/forgotten sub-genre/style should I explore?

(3) Finally, regulars, who is your all-time favorite artist of any style that you have never seen featured here at STWOF? I'll check them out. Maybe it's a blind spot I can fill in. (The side bar on the right side of the page will give you a pretty good approximation of the "old" stuff I've already burned through.)

I'm linking to this XTC song, because it's from the only record I've heard lately that's had my ears perk up a little bit (but I can't live off nostalgia alone):

XTC - Senses Working Overtime (buy album)

And I guess I better throw in a reggae song too. Just to get some of those experts here (and maybe a few UB40 fans too):

Ray Martell - She Caught The Train (buy album)

If you've never commented here before, now's the time to step in. I need ya.

Scandal, Controversy & Romance

Here in Motown our mayor is in a bit of hot water for allegedly doing some bad things. The mayor claims that he will be fully vindicated and that the process is flawed. Here's a report about the whole mess. The jury will have to sort it out. Until then, here's some scandal-appropriate music:

The Prissteens - Scandal, Controversy & Romance (buy album). This one says it all!

The Vipers - Cheated And Lied (buy album). So does this one...

XTC - Mayor Of Simpleton (buy album). My favorite "mayor" song. The "hip hop" mayor was my favorite mayor until the recent scandal...

Candye Kayne - Tell Me A Lie (buy album). Here's an early alt-country tune from a great collection of Los Angeles artists.

Gram Parsons - How Much I've Lied (buy album). Gram is the man. How much Kwame lied is the question.

Shorty Long - Here Comes The Judge (buy album). If I were a judge, this would be my theme song. Great song!

Sufjan Stevens - Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!) (buy album). My city really needs some restoring now.

The Avett Brothers - The Weight Of Lies (buy album). These guys are great live and they are touring now. Try to get to a show.

Steve Goodman - Wonderful World Of Sex (buy album). Goodman was a natural entertainer, as this amusing live track demonstrates.

Billie Holiday - It's A Sin To Tell A Lie (buy album). Billie tells it like it is.