Rickie Lee Jones' new CD Balm in Gilead marks her 30th anniversary on the recording scene, and it's one of her best recordings in many years. Her vocals have not lost any of the charm she had on her debut recording, and the new songs are thoughtful, often multi-layered, and musically eclectic. It's one of those recordings that reveals new facets at each listen. Her musical colleagues on the CD add much to the performance, but Ms. Jones also plays a lot of instrumentation herself.

Ms. Jones has written a few songs making social commentaries. The Gospel of Carlos, Norman and Smith is along those lines, though the message is basically against hypocrisy. Jones shares the lead vocal with Chris Joyner.

Balm in Gilead Review
by George Graham

The Culver City Dub Collective is a group of musicians playing an assortment of stellar grooves which explore Jamaican roots reggae, ska and dub. Headed by Adam Topol aka Jack Johnson's rhythm maker and featuring David Ralicke on Horns, Franchot Tone on Guitar, Jose Esquival on Bass, Rusty on Keys and yours truly on Vox and keys plus a revolving random assortment of characters.

Everloving Records will present a full-length CCDC album this Summer. The albums guests include Money Mark, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson and Bedouin Soundclash's Jay Malinowski.

Things have been quite busy. Upcoming sightings...
2/13 The Echo w. Luther Russell
2/14 Carson Daly w. Low Stars
2/19 Me w/ band @Hotel Cafe 7:00pm. Early...yes, but it is a holiday so set your Tivos and come out and support the cause!!
2/20 Jimmy Kimmel w. Low Stars
2/21 My Bday!!!
2/24 Arlington Theater in Santa Barbara w. Culver City Dub Collective

More news to follow.
Cheers,
cj

What more can one say. Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. Who said that? I think it was John Lennon...whatever.
Breathe deeply.
cj

Well, I guess I am on itunes now. I can't believable!! Please help spread the good word and tell 1000 of your closest friends to drop by and purchase a song or two or maybe the whole disc. I encourage your reckless spending. Don't be alarmed, the other Chris Joyner beat me to the cyber music shop so please bypass my doppelganger in upside town and drop by the wonderful commerce realm known as itunes.
Cheers,
cj

Why theotherchrisjoyner.com? Why? Well, there is a bit of history to this one so get cozy and unleash a big bottle of patience 'cause here it comes. My kin, the Joyner kin hailed from the South and we had our selves a quite a reputation. A proud honor I have tried my best to maintain. Not so much as being pricks or anything like that but rather breeding as though it were a competitive sport. Actually, I don't have any kids, but.. lo and behold, after all of this reckless screwing, another Chris Joyner was bound to be created. But this Chris Joyner also had the gift of music, granted he is a man of the cloth(honestly) and his songs are songs of praise we shared the gift and the name. But he had the foresight to secure chrisjoyner.com, so me and my clever ways chose not to combat or challenge my brethren with a .net or .whatever but chose to take the high road and allow myself to be...the other chris joyner.