KCRW: Sounds Eclectic, Vol. 3

1	It's the Sun / The Polyphonic Spree 5:34
2	Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1 / Flaming Lips 3:26
3	The Blower's Daughter / Damien Rice 4:39
4	Flying High / Jem 3:52
5	Amongst Butterflies / Paul Weller 2:58
6	Go to Sleep / Radiohead 3:17
7	One Big Holiday / My Morning Jacket 5:13
8	Miranda de Lado / Kinky 5:05
9	[Untitled] / Interpol 3:39
10	Take Me Out / Franz Ferdinand 3:46
11	Answer / Sarah McLachlan 3:16
12	Waitin' for a Superman / Iron & Wine 4:04
13	Jerusalem / Steve Earle 4:11

Barnes & Noble

The third edition of this series -- culled from performances on the internationally-acclaimed Los Angeles public radio station -- continues to live up to its name, presenting a baker's dozen tracks culled from virtually every nook and cranny of left-field pop culture. The compilers deftly avoid lapsing into obscurity, peppering the disc with recognizable names like the Flaming Lips (whose acoustic version of "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" trades the sweep of the original for a sweet intimacy) and Franz Ferdinand (who turn in a slightly less spastic, but still angular, rendition of "Take Me Out"). The mood shifts radically from track to track, with My Morning Jacket providing southern-rock bravado on "One Big Holiday" and Kinky channeling the spirit of '70s vintage Carlos Santana on "Mirando de Lado." Most of the material collected here comes from sessions recorded live at KCRW's studios, and that spontaneity adds considerably to the charm of songs like Radiohead's "Go to Sleep" and Paul Weller's surprisingly energetic "Amongst Butterflies." Sounds Eclectic 3 delivers on what those old beer commercials once promised-plenty of great taste, meted out in a less filling portion. Drink up. David Sprague

All Music Guide

"Hey! It's the sun/And it makes me shine!" The line encapsulates the upraised arms, billowing robes, and nappy haircut goodness of the Polyphonic Spree. But the combo's energized performance of "It's the Sun" that opens Sounds Eclectic 3 also typifies KCRW Santa Monica's ever-reliable series, where artists stop by the public radio outlet and Nic Harcourt's Morning Becomes Eclectic show to make live recordings and, assumedly, drink some strong coffee. After the Spree it's two gorgeously quiet tracks, the sparely soulful "Blower's Daughter" from Damien Rice, and Jem's gently acoustic "Flying High." Radiohead completists will note an acoustic reading of "Go to Sleep," and Sarah McLachlan's solo piano performance of "Answer" highlights her usual blend of the solemn and the ethereal. Sounds Eclectic 3 isn't all acoustic. My Morning Jacket and Kinky turn in feisty full-band takes, as do Interpol and Franz Ferdinand. Harcourt's notes reveal the latter performances as the respective groups' first-ever radio sessions. In general, it's another strong showing from the KCRW series, and a must for any fan of live music in an intimate setting. [The set is adorned with some incredible, whimsical artwork from noted LA-area artist Daniel Peacock; as usual, sales of Sounds Eclectic went to support the non-profit station itself.] Johnny Loftus