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“You could mess up my life in a poem
Have me divorced by the time of the chorus
Theres no need to change any sentence
When you always decide where I go next

Many nights you would hide from the audience
When they were not in tune with your progress
In the end you are like the journalist
Who turns what you sing into business”

“Working Titles” off of the new Damien Jurado album, Maraqopa, is a beautiful song, self-referential lyrics with clever wordplay boost an already gorgeous arrangement. Jurado’s voice itself is perfect for the tune; confessional but not completely mournful, sparse but not completely haunting.

Working Titles- Damien Jurado 

Maraqopa was released on Secretly Canadian on February 21st.

Al Green’s I’m Still In Love With You didn’t have “Tired of Being Alone” or “Let’s Stay Together”, the bedroom classics that most people associate his name with, but it’s a stellar album nonetheless. “Love and Happiness” might have been the lasting track from the 1972 release (Let’s Stay Together had been released earlier the same year) but “I’m Glad You’re Mine” is a stunner with some great inflections on a blues groove featuring some deft drum-work and strings that really swoon.

I’m Glad You’re Mine- Al Green 

If you do know of Johnnie Taylor, it’s from the excellent “Who’s Making Love” which came off an album of the same name. That in turn was covered by the Blues Brothers. This number “Save Your Love For Me” from the same album, features Taylor in a different light. Make no mistake, he’s one belter of a singer, but in this slow swing he’s more of a jazz crooner, and it works.

Save Your Love For Me- Johnnie Taylor 

Simply Stunning. The light jazz guitar, those great harmonies. A perfect antidote to those of you who have been feeling some Gotye overload.

No Room For Doubt (featuring Willy Mason)- Lianne La Havas