Hoping for more Hope

I thought maybe I dreamed it but it seems it's purely wishful thinking and apparently I'm not the only one holding out hope for Hope.

But sadly, the official statement on her website is - "Happy New Year! I have been receiving a lot of questions about new music and tour dates in 2011. As of now there is nothing to report. Any news will be posted here immediately."

The hope I'm referring to is Hope Sandoval. The hauntingly beautiful lead vocalist of Mazzy Star & Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions.

The mere thought of having a new album to love as much as I loved She Hangs Brightly circa 1990, has me dizzy with anticipation.

But for now we wait. At least there's this track and this one from 2009 and Pandora radio.

How do you make a ukulele sound that good?

It's finally here - today's the official release date of Eddie Vedder's Ukulele Songs.

You might be thinking what? Ukulele? Like Don Ho and Tiny Tim? But don't - think almighty frontman for Pearl Jam all stripped down, calm and intently focusing on the melody and the melody alone. As one review put it, "Vedder sounds like someone getting out of his own way and discovering what really matters within his art."

His second full-length solo album delivers more pure, heartfelt emotion than the first - Into the Wild, and that is saying something considering the accolades that one garnered.

A collection of both originals and covers, it's hard to pick a favorite on Ukulele Songs but I'm trying. While I love the single Longing to Belong, it's this song - Sleepless Nights, that has me pressing the replay button over and over.

Also out today is Water on the Road - a concert DVD filmed at 2 solo shows in DC in 2008. "With Pearl Jam tracks, covers, original tunes played on ukulele, and choice cuts from Into the Wild" - this is sure to be a favorite thing.

Danger Mouse takes us to Rome!

Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi present Rome - their own version of a spaghetti western-esque collaboration featuring Jack White and Norah Jones. I'm so giddy about this discovery I could bust!

Pretty sure I've made it perfectly clear how I feel about Jack White - he is a musical genius in my eyes, and more importantly ears.

So I'll talk about this track - Black, featuring the lovely Norah Jones sounding nothing like herself - and oh boy is that a good thing. It's sultry, slow and awash with lush strings and big orchestra sound.

Jack White's Two Against One is not too shabby either.

The Mighty Mix Tape

Trentemoller - Blue Hotel (Radio Edit) by Finger Magazine

I love it when a casual perusal of a compilation disc turns into a full-blown jackpot for me. It's just like when a trusted music savvy friend gives you a mix tape - new melodic discoveries abound.

From this one track - a cover of Chris Isaak's Blue Hotel, I found 2 artists and several songs I'll be adding to my playlist immediately if not sooner.

Marie Fisker and Trentemoller make an unlikely pair - apart from the fact that they are both Danish, but a couple of very likable tracks.

Just Fisker alone -  think Mazzy Star with the guitar amp turned up. Fisker and Trentemoller together - well, that's more like Depeche Mode meets the Cure meets Radiohead for a Quentin Tarantino soundtrack audition.

If you like the track above, you'll love this one.

All hail the mighty mix tape!

Moby - The Day

Sounds good to me - wish I could turn sleepless nights into something so productive. Meanwhile, I'm loving this David Bowie-esque groove and looking forward to the release of his latest album - Destroyed, later this month.

I am also intrigued by his photography on this microsite chronicling worldwide appearances and late night epiphanies.