Liz Copeland
Remember that sexy chick radio DJ from The Warriors? The one whose warm intonations could, if it were any other flick, lull you to sleep or put unclean thoughts in your head? Well, she’s got nothin’ on WDET’s Liz Copeland. Though the music Copeland plays is certainly swell — a smooth and thoughtful blend of electronic, ambient and pop — we know male and female fans of Copeland’s eclectic radio show (The Liz Copeland Program, 101.9 FM; 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.) who listen strictly for her late-night and persuasive coos between songs. Here are Copeland’s top five local records of 2005:
• The Hard Lessons: Gasoline (No Fun)
• Richie Hawtin: DE9/Transitions (Mute)
• The Royal Garden Trio: The Royal Garden Trio (First Street Electrical)
• The Stooges: The Stooges (Remastered) (Elektra/Rhino)
• Various Artists: Searching for Soul: Rare & Classic Soul, Funk and Jazz from Michigan, 1968-1980 (Luv n’ Haight)
Swifty Mcvey
Twenty-nine-year-old Ondre Moore is better known as the sharp-tongued Swifty McVey of D-12 and other ensembles. Dude could be called one of the more levelheaded D-12ers simply by virtue of his steering clear of controversy. While some other D12 guys are figuring out what’s next, Swifty’s about to launch his Fyre Department record label in grand style with a release of his own mix tape. Here’s his five fave Detroit songs of 2005:
5. Kem: “Think About Us” off Kem II (Motown)
4. Dwele: “I Think I Love You” off Some Kinda... (Virgin)
3. Fat Killahz: “Get This Paper” off Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (No Tyze)
2. Slum Village: “Ez Up” off Slum Village (Barak)
1. Trick Trick: “Welcome to Detroit” (featuring Eminem) off The People Vs. (Wonder Boy)
Doug Podell
OK, we all know Doug “Doc of Roc” Podell is the award-glomming program director and midday man of Detroit rock ’n’ roll mainstay “the Riff” (WRIF-101 FM). The Detroit native has been a champion of oft-overlooked East Side rock for years. Here Podell picks his fave D-town bands and/or albums of 2005, in no particular order:
• Sponge: The Man (Idol)
• The Transfer: Romantics and Addicts (Conquer the World Records)
• Mind Candy: Great songs with lots of power.
• Brian Schram: Has the best chance to be signed.
• Critical Bill: 313 (Primitive)
• Ray Street Park: Best drawing band.
• Paper Street Saints: Paper Street Saints (self-released)
• Powertrane: Scott Morgan continues to amaze; one of Detroit’s top musicians.
• Breathing Underwater: Breathing Underwater (self-released)
• Shipwreck Union: Self-Defense (DMG)
• Other bands of interest: Muggs, Fags, My Machine, Ashes of Soma
Johnny and Loretta
That guy Johnny "Hentch" Szymanski is known for his roles in the Hentchmen, Paybacks and SSM combos. The lovely Loretta is the singer in Loretta Lucas & the Larkspurs. And the two are obviously very into each other. Here they gave us a list they did together, but with this caveat:
Clearly, the best records of this year are SSM’s LP1 (Shmosz) and Loretta & the Larkspurs’ Kids and Candy (Farnsworthy), but due to conflict of interest, we’ll exclude them from our list. Keep in mind we haven’t heard every Detroit release this year and, no, we’re not music critics. Here ’tis, in no particular order:
• The Muggs: The Muggs (Times Beach Records)
• The Sights: The Sights (Vinyl-only) (Cass Records)
• Kelly Stoltz: Crockodials (Beautiful Happiness)
• Bulldog: Bulldog (Self-released)
• The Hard Lessons: Gasoline (No Fun Records)
• The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan (V2)
• The Cyril Lords: Motherland (No Fun)
• Human Eye: Human Eye (In the Red)
• Brendan Benson: Alternative to Love (V2)
• The Dirtbombs: If You Don’t Already Have a Look (In The Red) Send comments to [email protected]
