Blogarrhea: The Most Oddball Music in the World, Five CDs Worthy of Attention

I'm totally down with the self-released Gypsy Blues of Blue Moon Marquee, a Canadian duo on their third CD. Filled with the kind of ragtime, blues, soul-folk and boogie that could force a smile on the most dour puss in the room, guitarist A.W. Cardinal sings like a more tuneful Tom Waits and Badlands Jess plucks that upright bass like the old rockabilly stand-up bassists who would jump up on their instrument for dramatic effect. She also plays drums and when she sings right atop or below his lead lines, a stunning synthesis is achieved that's oh so ripe to be ogled by the ear. Put it this way: if poet Charles Bukowski [1920-1994] took singing lessons, he might sound something like A.W. There's a mystique at work here. If this CD walked into a party, it would immediately be the hippest cat in the room.