Shuffle Pick: Harry Connick Jr. - Star Turtle

For those of you not familiar with my blog series "Shuffle Pick," don't feel bad because this is the 1st one and no one else has heard of it either. The concept is i put my iTunes library on shuffle and write about the 1st artist it lands on. I'm not sold on the name "Shuffle Pick," so I'm open to suggestions. This week out of my expansive and diverse music library, Harry Connick Jr. emerged with his Star Turtle. To give you some history on this album, I was heavy into it in early high school. I think that was the time. Looking back I think this album was way overlooked.Star Turtle is without a doubt one of the bravest efforts put forth by an artist in this modern day of music A.F. 90 (reference to "Brave New World" which I'm reading right now. amazing book).You can hear the style of pop laid down by Harry in his earlier album "She," but wait a minute, hold on, there's a....Turtle from space. A large one at that, like 7' who speaks in a deep voice. The first lyrics of this album are "my hands are red." then the turtle makes its entrance, the 1st of the reptilian rocketeers. Harry proceeds to educate the turtle on New Orleans jazz in an almost telepathic dialog, by hopping from club to club. The turtle is "collecting" in a way the music so that he can save his home planet from the stench and despair that the music will overpower. Brilliant!! These diversions break the album down into a 3 sections. In regards to this album being a brave effort, it's easy and almost expected for certain people to do experimental albums, like Zappa or newer progressive rock bands & such. But Harry Connick Jr.!!? 90% of Harry's listeners listen to him because of his Jazz & standards albums. This album is way experimental, and I'm not saying that there aren't way more experimental albums, but I don't know of many artists so standard and established as Harry suddenly putting everything else aside and doing an album about a space turtle. its like diana krall suddenly doing a blues album where she leads the listener through an existence of underground cave dwellers (my idea and i want credit for it) or Scarlett Johansson doing an album of Tom Waits covers (not a slash - i love both of them and can't wait to hear it).A brilliant idea of an album and coupled with some very timeless songs. aaaaannd.....done.-nicholas alanwww.nicholasalan.com