Tuesday Tunes -- Penny and Sparrow "Tenboom"

I haven't done a Tuesday Tunes in a long time.  The last one was Foreign Fields, which you can read about here. 

The truth is, I've been pretty preoccupied with blogging about the impending arrival of the BabyMonster, but also that I really haven't been introduced to much new music lately.  That's kind of my own fault. I haven't gone looking for anything new, and the exhaustion and physical toll of work and life and growing a human and helping a dog recover from surgery has kind of kept me from going to music shows or attending SOFAR events*

However, in that downtime, I have been listening to "Tenboom" by Penny and Sparrow.  A friend on Facebook (an acquaintance through our mutual love of all things Seryn) tagged me in a post about P&S and, trusting her impeccable judgment, I gave them a listen on Spotify.

(Quick tangent about Spotify -- as a big supporter of local art and artists, I feel dirty being able to stream any music I want for free of charge. It is nice, for example, if I'm just randomly in a mood for Huey Lewis and the News (WHO ISN'T?!) to just be able to stream their greatest hits album without the randomness of Pandora or the purchase of an album I don't really want to own, but....the GUILT. However...if you're a good and decent human being, you should still buy the music you love. Listening to Tenboom over and over finally made me realize, "I want this with me always. I want the baby to be able to listen to it with me via our Belly Buds.  I'mma buy this mother!"  It's sometimes disappointing to think you want an album, spend the money, and then not actually love it as much as you thought.  So, let Spotify convince you that the album is worth it, then support the music-makers and artists and shell out the dough for the album.)

ANYWAY.

Tenboom was one of those albums that I immediately connected to even with the first listen. I'm not really a "lyrics person" when it comes to music (which is why it took 15-20 listens of "I'll Follow You into the Dark" to finally realize just how damn dark that song really is), but the lyrics of this album really stood out to me.

Allow me to give you a few examples.

From the track "Duet" featuring Stephanie Briggs:

I bet your shoulders can hold more than
Just the straps of that tiny dress
That I'll help you slide aside
When we get home

I've seen 'em carry family
And the steel drum weight of me
Effortless, just like that dress
That I'll help off

Because I've seen you
And I know you
And I'm not going anywhere

From the track "Brothers:"

I'm still a boy  

But you're not the same 

My skin still looks see through and I feel underneath like a fake

 
You're smiling again  

You show me a place  

You stay in that tree house and all I had wrong was a day

 
Don't give up  

Don't you quit on me  

Don't give up  

Don't you quit on me

RIGHT?!  So good.

The band's bio page on their website cites their musical influences as "The Swell Season, Bon Iver, Mumford and Sons, and others," and this is pretty evident in their sound...yet they're still incredibly unique. They also mention that they're a fan of musicals. SOLD.

Give this duo from the great state of Texas a listen. I think you'll be glad you did. 

*this is about to change! heading to one on Sunday withe husband!

Tuesday Tunes -- Foreign Fields

Before you say anything, I KNOW it's Wednesday.  But "Wednesday Tunes" just doesn't sound as fun coming out (yay, alliteration!), and while I'm breaking rules, I may as well write a whole bunch of damn words on Wordless Wednesday.  And this is how I tie in that this can STILL be a "No Shame November" post.  No shame, y'all, I do what I want on my blog.

So, I mentioned in my Visual Art post from Monday that I went to a local venue last week to see repeat performances (though, I hate calling them that because they're different in awesome ways each time) by Julia Sinclair and Seryn.  The middle band on the bill, however, was brand new to me.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present.....Foreign Fields. (Hint: if you go to that link, you can actually stream their album...but honestly, if you like it, BUY IT.  It's not expensive and it's worth it if you like it. Support the artists, y'all. They'd do it for you!)

I knew within the first 30 seconds of their set that I wanted to buy their album, "Anywhere But Where I Am," as soon as they were done playing.  I rarely buy music at a venue...either because they're cash only (hooray for Brian for having one of those fancy-shmancy squares on his iPhone! TECHNOLOGY!) (was it Brian that I spoke to? The cutie with the beard? I think that's right...) (extra parentheses because I like to be annoying) or because I just don't like the band enough to trust that I'll listen to the album often. 

Honestly, I've done it only two other times in my life -- I bought Julia Sinclair's EP at the Sofar show I went to in October and I also bought a CD at a Tori Amos concert I went to in 1998.  The opening band was an Irish group called The Devlins, and they were ahhhhhhhhhhhhmazing.  Then my car got broken into and that CD got stolen...I wonder if I can still buy it...

ANYWAY.  I knew I wanted to buy the album because it just felt like something I needed to have.  This is not a "rock out in your car" album. As a matter of fact, I'd call it the complete opposite.This is a "totally chill out/make out" album that you could also play while being super productive at work, because the tracks move seamlessly into one another with no jarring tracks that stand out unnecessarily.

Let me go off track slightly for a moment to say that I really hate that my gut reaction is to immediately compare a new group/artist to another group/artist. I mean, it's not like I'm stacking them up against one another...it's more like "oh hey, this reminds me of this album, kind of," or, "They kind of have a _______ vibe."  I hope that no artist is ever offended by that...I'm sure they have their influences and all, and I never mean to say that a group doesn't have its own individuality.  I think, for me, it just ties in why I like them so much, or why they appeal to me.  For example, this Foreign Fields album reminds me a lot of Blind Pilot, Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, and even sometimes a little bit Rufus Wainwright (some awesome piano and melodic lines).

So, what that may mean to YOU, the reader/potential listener, is that they have a mellow feel, intricate and tight harmonies, layered instrumentation, and beautiful melodic lines with a sound that is both classic and also modern/electronic.

Also, I LOVE their "about" section of their Facebook page (emphasis mine):

Foreign Fields is an electronic folk group that hails from the wintry plains of Wisconsin. New Years day of last year they met in their hometown, in an abandoned office building, to begin work on their first full length LP "Anywhere But Where I Am". Having no set plan or guide, the album grew naturally as they left their lives in Chicago for hot summer days, skipping stones in the rivers of Tennessee. 

I just freakin' love that.  "Hey guys, let's make some music and see what happens."  It totally appeals to my hippie/artist nature.  

I don't have a favorite track (yet), as I'm only on my 3rd full-length listen-through so far, but I'm a big fan of "Taller" and "Perfect Home" just based on my first few listens. 

My only complaint about the performance I saw at Dan's last week is that...well...that's not the venue in which I would've preferred to experience their music. Dan's, to me, a native Denton resident, is more suited to higher energy, more rocking, intense groups.  I'm also a snob and I like my music the way I like it/want to hear it, and I would have loved to see Foreign Fields in a more intimate setting, such as The Kessler Theatre in Dallas. I think their music has the potential to really create intimacy and atmosphere, and that wasn't happening much for me at Dan's.  BUT, take my opinion with a grain of salt! After all, I was standing at the back and I couldn't see very well, and my back was hurting and I was 100% tired pregnant lady by the end of the evening, so.....yeah. 

I think they were programmed perfectly between Julia and Seryn, and I LOVE hearing new groups and meeting new people, so overall it was a major win.  CHECK THESE GUYS OUT.  Sample their album and then buy it!  Have I ever led you astray??

Tuesday Tunes: Music Weekend

(Quick disclaimer! I am not a music-blogger, per se.  I just blog about music from time to time!  This is a personal blog, so there are some personal feelings on here.  For an AWESOME article in a real news source, check out THIS post from the Dallas Observer! Thanks for stopping by here, too, though!) 

Earlier this year, I wrote about a pretty amazing local music experience: my first SOFAR show. It was really incredible, and it introduced me to some great new artists (whom I now follow on their respective Facebook and Twitter pages, hoping to catch another local tour date from any or all of them).

I was incredibly fortunate to be placed on the guest list again when SOFAR came back to Denton this past weekend. But, before I get to the house show portion of my weekend, let me first mention that the previous evening I had been to the Kessler Theater in Dallas to see one of my very favorite bands: Seryn.

Wait, I have to back up one more time.

When my best friend was in town for her birthday in August, I introduced her to Seryn as we were driving around being fabulous.  She immediately bought their CD, and I mentioned how badly I wanted the album on vinyl. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when I get a text message from a friend I haven't seen in person in years.

Ann asked me if I could have lunch any time soon, because she had something for me. Now, I knew from her Facebook page that she was best friends with the folks in Seryn.  What I did not know was that she is now working for the band.  She had noticed that my BFF had ordered my birthday gifts from the Seryn website, but, since they were backordered, she wanted to help in any way she could to get them to me in time for my birthday.  The gifts were a Seryn t-shirt (most comfortable t-shirt ever, btw) and....

 Seryn's album on vinyl!  Do you think I was excited? I'm not saying I cried...but I'm not saying I didn't.

As a birthday gift to me, Ann got me a ticket to see Seryn at the Kessler on October 13th.  Did I cry again? Maybe a little.  I'm not ashamed...it was incredibly kind and generous of BOTH my friends, and it made me feel very loved!

So, now we're back to the Kessler show.

Julia Sinclair opened the evening.  Ho. Lee. Crap.  This tiny little thing came out and completely owned all of us with her personality and huge voice. 

 

I tweeted during the show that she had an amazing quirky quality like Regina Spektor, but amazing pipes a la Brandi Carlile.  Can I just say, I love it when artists read and respond to tweets?  It shows me how much they care about what their fans are saying!  

 

Definitely check out her stuff. She's amazing. Here's a YouTube video of her singing "Lies."

Next up was Marcus Foster, an incredible performer from London. This guy...I knew he was going to blow my mind within the first 8 bars.  He's got this incredible voice...reminded me of Glen Hansard (not his Swell Season stuff, but more of his solo work) and sometimes Ray LaMontagne (mostly in his ballads...my favorite of which was "Solid Ground," a track from his "The Last House" EP, which will be released next week!).

Here's a pretty good fan video of Marcus singing "Solid Ground" I found on YouTube.  I was chatting with Marcus at the Sofar show, and was excited to hear that he will be back in the US touring sooner rather than later!

Next up was SERYN. 

The thing about Seryn...for me...they totally ninja-ed their way into my brain.  A wonderful friend shared them with me months ago, and I incorporated them into my iTunes shuffle.  Then one day, I found myself skipping around to find their songs intentionally.  Then I just sat and listened to the whole thing while working and...well, I wasn't working. I was sitting and staring off into space listening to the intricately layered instrumentation and vocals.

They became my happy-place music.  

Any time I felt any anxiety or stress, or if I couldn't turn my brain off and fall asleep, I put on Seryn.

The show at the Kessler...it was just perfect timing.  There's been a lot going on in my mind and heart lately, as I posted about recently.  I was building up to a desperately-needed catharsis, and was about to just cue up the Betty Spaghetti's husband scene in "A League of Their Own" just so I could get the damn ugly cry out and have done with it.

(Come on, I know you have that ONE THING you watch/listen to when you need a good cry. Right? No? Just me?  Okay.)

The Seryn experience I had on Friday night was....you know, I'm still having trouble finding the right words to accurately describe it.  I've heard that they're so much more live than they are on a recording, and that is a fact. 

During the intro to my favorite song of theirs,  Nathan (the guitarist with the Epic Ginger Beard of Awesome) shared some things about the song with the audience, and mentioned that everyone who was supposed to be there that night was there.  He believed it was all happening just like it should be happening, in that moment in that venue.

The whole set was surreal.  I tweeted at one point, "I think I may actually be in Heaven right now. If I am, please don't send me back yet."

I don't know enough about the band members to speak to their faith or spirituality, but I can tell you that I personally felt the Holy Spirit in the room as I experienced their set.  Not heard, their set....experienced.  Because it was a multi-sensory experience, and I felt emotionally cleansed when it was over.

Exhausted and, yes, shaking in my hands and legs, but cleansed.

I drove home and reflected on the amazing music I'd heard that night, and I slept better than I have in a long time. The next day, I had a meeting up at the theatre, and then, at lunch with my husband, I was reading through my Twitter feed and deduced that I was going to get to see ALL THREE ACTS AGAIN in the intimate, acoustic environment that SOFAR provides.

I arrived at an absolutely beautiful home in Denton, found my friend Melissa, and told her how excited I was for HER to get to experience her first SOFAR show!

The first group up was an adorable husband-and-wife duo called The OnesYou Loved. (Doesn't he kind of remind you of Jim Sturgess??) Unfortunately they couldn't stay long, due to a CD-release party/concert they had to get to, but I really enjoyed hearing them play. 

Next up -- YOU GUESSED IT. I got to see Julia, Marcus, AND Seryn all play again in a completely different environment than the night before, with a beautiful landscape and a blustery October afternoon as the backdrop.

Afterwards I found my friend Ann again to thank her profusely, and she was so excited that I'd gotten to see Seryn twice in one weekend. I'd been posting on Facebook about the SOFAR concert, and she managed to keep quiet about it so that I could be surprised. She introduced me to Nathan, who was a doll, and of course I had to get a picture because...well, gingers have to stick together whenever possible.

I asked Ann, "Does it ever get old, hearing them play? I mean, is it ever NOT completely spellbinding?" I was so pleased to hear her answer "No." I am so grateful to Ann for the opportunity to see Seryn at the Kessler, and to Joanna and Polly and all the rest of the SOFAR crew for putting me on the invite list again.

I'm sad to say that there were many people who apparently just did not show up to this SOFAR performance. I mean, it gave the rest of us an even more intimate environment (not to mention plenty of leg room), but I just wish that more people could've gotten to experience what we did that afternoon.

I spent some time chatting with Julia and Marcus afterwards, too, and they were so incredibly gracious!  Julia had one of those fancy-shmancy iPhone squares so that I could buy her CD, but, since I didn't have any cash, I got Marcus to sign one of his promotional cards for me.  Look! He loves Texas!

It was an amazing 48 hours of music, and I'm so grateful to Ann, the SOFAR crew, the amazing hosts who opened up their beautiful home to us, and of course, especially the musicians.

 It was truly an unforgettable weekend.

Tuesday Tunes -- Sofar So Good

Last weekend, I had a wonderful opportunity to hear some local and not-so-local bands perform in an intimate setting: the living room of my favorite type of Denton houses, located just moments from my own home.

I sat in a room filled with music lovers and watched and listened (and yes, tweeted and photographed -- may as well admit it now, since I'm caught on tape doing just that in one of the videos!) and couldn't help but feel blessed and fortunate that this exists.

"This," in case you're wondering, is Sofar. AKA Songs From a Room. From their Facebook page:

Mission



Songs From A Room offers artists and music fans the unique opportunity to perform and experience intimate gigs in packed living rooms regularly. The movement is now going global with shows happening in New York, Paris and many other cities worldwide.


Company Overview


Songs From a Room began in March 2009 in the living room of singer songwriter and co-founder Passion Ate Dave. It is an innovative concept, dedicated to bringing the best of new music to an unplugged, intimate, unusual space or venue. Mix in a crowd of dedicated music lovers, other artists, and industry professionals, and you have an evening which promises electric performances and new networks.

One of the best parts about this is that, once you're invited, you just get an address.  That's it.  You don't find out who is playing until you arrive at the venue:
 

I was allowed to bring a guest with me, so I called up a fellow music junkie, Brittany.  I had to choose someone who would truly love the experience of not knowing the artists until we arrived and, since I knew Britt would roll with the punches AND had been to a Sofar show before, she was the perfect date!

We found great seats over on the fireplace hearth and anxiously awaited the music. Now, I'm not a Music Blogger. I just blog sometimes about music that I love.  You won't find (m)any quotable quotes here, or flowery superlatives, but you can find those over at GoodBammSho (plus much better photos).

First up was Tom Bertram, wearing fabulous purple socks, from all the way across the pond.  Fresh off some US tour dates, he drove to our Little D from Birmingham to play the show.  Have to admit, I wanted to hear more from him, musically!  Really enjoyed his two songs, and he was a wonderful MC for the rest of the afternoon.  I may or may not have leaned over to Britt at one point and said "Good Lord, how cute is he? If only I were single and about 7 years younger..." Ah, well...

Next up was a trio from Austin called Haun's Mill.  I knew just by looking at their clothing and their musical set-up (a toy piano? an accordion? TWO accordions?? A BANJO?!) that I was going to enjoy them, and I was correct.  Also? Their children were adorable in their teeny tiny band shirts. I really loved their quirky sound, and I hope to catch them again soon.

Now, apparently, Ryan Thomas Becker is kind of a big deal here in Denton.  Brittany flipped her lid when she saw them on the white board.  She was right to.  This group was incredible.  RTB's voice just ripped my guts apart (in a good way, I promise), and this band, to me, epitomizes what I think Denton music really is.  I could have easily listened to them for another hour. 

The crowd at this show was awesome.  A myriad different ages and types, everyone was respectful and supportive of every act in attendance. There was even a sweet pup who was definitely not lacking for love and affection as she wandered the room, obviously enjoying the music.  The audience was encouraged to tweet, take photos, etc. and, minus a few obnoxious shutter sounds (the electronic kind -- you know you can turn that off, right?) it wasn't distracting at all.

Backwater Opera finished out the afternoon.  Brittany and I moved to a spot on the floor to watch them, since the upright bass was starting to block our view from the hearth.  This group is another that, in my opinion, is another perfect example of the Denton music scene.  Blending chamber music and bluegrass (they call it "chambergrass," which I think is amazing), and drawing influences from Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers movies and stinky, 6-month old tuna melts (ew), they were incredibly compelling.  I haven't done my research on this group, but I'm willing to bet a cup of Jupiter House's finest coffee that one or more of these members are products of UNT's world-renowned College of Music. I couldn't get enough of that violin!

In conclusion, spending an afternoon with the Sofar DFW crew was a perfect Saturday in my own little home town.  I hope they come back to Denton very soon but, in the meantime, you can be sure that I'll be trying to get on more invite lists for their Dallas and Fort Worth shows!  Visit their web site. Get on the mailing list...but before you do any of that, do yourself a favor and visit these artists' web sites and check out their music.  You'll be glad you did.

Tuesday Tunes -- Manic Bloom, "In Loving Memory"

I had a TOTALLY different blog post in mind for Tuesday Tunes today, but when I got to work and opened up my social networking sites, I did a big ol' Homer Simpson "D'OH!" because I had TOTALLY FORGOTTEN that today is a very special day for my friends in the Nashville-based melodic rock band Manic Bloom.

First of all, I feel a bit pretentious calling them my "friends."  Yes, I have met them a few times and I got some hugs and such (be jealous...they ARE as gorgeous as they look on t.v./the internet).  But how did I find out about them?  I actually went to church back in high school with their keyboard player, Jeff (they call him "Hildee." I just can't...he's always Jeff to me...call me stubborn I guess!).  When I reconnected with him on Facebook, I found out he was in this band, and that they were going to be playing in Arlington (about an hour from where I live), so I drove out there one night to say hi to Jeff and check out the band.

I. Loved. Them.

Seriously, I haven't rocked out that much at a concert since I was in the early days of college.  (I know you're looking at that picture of me on the sidebar and laughing uproariously at the thought of me "rocking out" to anything, but....it was my own white-girl version of rocking out, so SHUT UP!)

Since then I've also seen them play IN Nashville (BFF girls trip back in January) and again when they played at an event where I work (on a college campus). 

So what's so special about today?  TODAY they released their very first official music video for the track "Death and Conversation" off their album In Loving Memory.  Check out the vid:

I had a HUGE smile on my face when I was done watching the video.  SUPER proud of these guys!!  They'll be playing here in Denton again at the UNT Friends & Family weekend on September 24th, and I can't WAIT to hug all of them and hear them play again!

Also? You should TOTALLY get the album on iTunes.  It's really really good, and perfect for getting you through those tough last few minutes/miles of a workout (believe me...I know from experience).

Plus?  They are just kind, funny, caring guys who happen to also be immensely talented. And funny.  And talented.  (seriously, check out some of the other videos on their YouTube page...you'll crack up)

So today?  Enjoy some MANIC BLOOM! 

Party on, Garth! /really bad air guitar

Tuesday Tunes -- Mish Mash

You can call me lazy, it's okay...I just don't have the energy to choose an album and really tell you all about it today, but! In the spirit of Tuesday Tunes, I will share some YouTube videos of some songs I kind of can't get enough of right now.  It's definitely a mish-mash of styles and genres, but hey...that's me!  Enjoy!

Hawksley Workman -- "Autumn's Here"

The Civil Wars -- "I've Got this Friend"

Colin James -- "Into the Mystic"

The Trews -- "Man of Two Minds"

Adele -- "Turning Tables"

Catherine Wheel -- "Delicious"

What song(s) can you currently just not get enough of?

Tuesday Tunes -- The Civil Wars, "Barton Hollow"

Source

I have been wanting to write a Tuesday Tunes about The Civil Wars for a couple of weeks now, but I was really hoping to be able to report back after going to their July 13th concert at the historic Texas Theatre (yes, the one where Lee Harvey Oswald was apprehended) here in Dallas, TX.  UNfortunately, the concert was sold out for weeks once I discovered this incredible duo of musicians.  FORtunately, they are awesome and, since they were sold out, they did a very short-notice, short set at Good Records in Dallas on the afternoon of the concert. 

Thank God for Twitter, or else I would've missed it!  I left work early on Wednesday of last week, drove down to Dallas, braving the traffic, the heat, and the lack of a/c in my car just to catch them singing a few songs.  Let me tell you...it was worth every second. 

They only played about 4 songs, but it was such an intimate setting and the chemistry between these two singers is so incredible, that it felt like a private concert, just for me. 

Their debut album, Barton Hollow, is one that I haven't been able to stop listening to since I got my grubby little paws on it. 

Check out the video for their single, "Poison and Wine," and just try to tell me that the chemistry between them isn't jumping off the screen and yanking out your heart:

They are so in tune with one another that you can almost feel them taking breaths at the same time.  And listen to how his harmony sneaks in to seamlessly lock in with her at around the 1:56 mark.  They even change dynamics together, swelling the sound when it's the absolutely perfect moment to, and then coming back off the sound in perfect harmony. 

You know what's amazing?  That's not all recording studio. They did that at the live show, too.  They seem to read each others' minds when they sing together, and that is something very special to watch.  Their performance makes their already beautiful music into something incredibly special.  Remember when I talked about performance making all the difference?  (Hint: It's right here.)

But they aren't all about the heart-wrenching lyrics found in "Poison and Wine," "Falling," and "Girl with the Red Balloon."  They also have some light-hearted, upbeat songs that make the heart smile.  My favorite is "I've Got this Friend," but "Forget Me Not" and "Barton Hollow" are equally amazing. 

One more incredible thing about these two: they perform in a lovely, pared down setting—John Paul White on guitar and Joy Williams standing beside him and singing.  That's it.  No big, loud band behind them. No flashy light shows.  There are some beautiful orchestrations and additional musicians on the album, but when they perform, there are NO distractions.  It's all about their music and the harmonies and the lyrics (which, with the exception of "Poison and Wine," were all written by JPW and JW.  P&W was written along with Chris Lindsey).

And to be able to take away all of the distractions and the decorations and just perform...and still take my breath away...proves to me that The Civil Wars are truly something special.  PLEASE do yourself a favor and go buy this album immediately. 

(oh and PS?  They're LOVELY people. I turned into a babbling fangirl when I asked them to autograph my CD, and they could not have been nicer.  I want to be best friends with them both.)

Tuesday Tunes - The Spring Standards "Would Things Be Different"

The band featured on today's Tuesday Tunes is one I discovered completely accidentally.  And before you ask, NO, this one does not come from the friendly northern neighbor Canada. 

A while ago...I'd say at least a month...Rachel and I planned to meet up at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton, TX to see The Andrew Tinker Band perform.  The band starting off the evening was The Spring Standards.  Normally I would just sit outside and hang out with friends while the band BEFORE the one I came to hear played, but this trio of incredible musicians hooked me in immediately.  I was BUMMED when their set was over, even though I knew the awesomeness of Andrew Tinker was next to come. 

Some things that are awesome about them, before I show you some clips:

• Their female singer is a ginger
• They have no drummer...they just divide up the drum kit between the band members. It's an awesome sight to see done live, I'm tellin' ya.
• ....um....they're awesome??  Seriously, I love their sound.  Here's a couple of YouTube videos, but do yourself a favor and buy their album and TRY your hardest to go see them play live.

And then my favorite song...there are only live/concert versions, so I'm sorry...there's loud people and other annoying parts about trying to record a live performance of a badass song! (I didn't record this, btw).

Tuesday Tunes - The Trews "Friends and Total Strangers"

Today I have another edition of Tuesday Tunes for you!  The album that actually inspired me to start Tuesday Tunes is "21" by Adele...but I feel like I need to listen to that one a few more times to really be able to talk about it and give it the credit it deserves.

So today!  We will talk about yet another album out of our friendly nation to the north -- Canada!

Ever since I was introduced to this video (not on the album above):

...I have since acquired almost all of their discography.  They are that. good.

"Friends and Total Strangers" is an acoustic album, containing songs from albums such as "Hope and Ruin," "Den of Thieves," and "No Time for Later," as well as some newer songs written for the album. 

"Sing Your Heart Out" is one of the ones written for this acoustic session and it is amazing.  I tend to love musicians who actually PLAY INSTRUMENTS (imagine that in this autotuned society we live in!) and play them well and sound great live:

"I Can't Stop Laughing" and "Poor Ol' Broken Hearted" are also amazing, but my very favorite song on this album has become "Man of Two Minds" (also found on their "No Time for Later" LP).  I just think this song speaks to me because I've always believed that the human heart is capable of so much love...and just because you've chosen to love one person forever doesn't mean that you'll never fall in love with another person ever again.  It's about choice, but it's 100% possible to feel so much love for different people in our lives:

I HIGHLY recommend this album, as well as any of their others!  Happy Tuesday Tunes!

Tuesday Tunes -- Esthero's "Wikked Lil' Grrrls"

I thought I'd give myself yet another incentive to keep the blog active. I've been listening to a lot of new stuff lately thanks to some friends, and I want to pay it forward by sharing with you, my loyal blog readers!



Source


Today's album is Wikked Lil' Grrrls by Esthero (official web site).  My friend, fellow blogger, and source for all things Canadian, Mike, is the one who introduced me to this album. 

One word comes to mind to describe it: sexy. 

I'm not going to try to describe all the musical elements of this album that make it fantastic...because that's just not where my strengths lie.  (Though, if you want to see a perfect example of this, please visit the blog of my friend and former teacher Jeff, aka Dr. Spin.  He can tell you just exactly why an album is awesome, whereas I'm more of the "Well...it just is!" type.)

I can tell you, however, that I love that there are so many jazzy elements to this album.  Brass sections are featured on many of the tracks, and there's a kind of late-70s (think Chicago's greatest hits) vibe to the sound, which is gloriously juxtaposed with modern, poetic lyrics. 

Do not listen to this album on shuffle.  It's structured (as I suppose many are) in a way that requires listening to it in the order in which it was placed on the album.  There are little non-musical vignettes positioned between some of the tracks, which I love...most especially track #2, "Dragonfly's Intro," which is a bit of freestyle poetry I'd love to see performed live.

Did I mention this album is sexy?  Tracks like "Blanket Me In You (Never Is So Soon)" and "If Tha Mood" may just get you feeling squirmy and wanting to grab the nearest hottie for some serious mug-down action.  Lyrics such as "Blanket me in you/Cover me in gold and blue/Reason need not follow you/Blanket me in you/I can still smell you on me..." and "If tha mood should hit ya and ya wanna, baby I don't mind/A little taste may relieve the tension I feel inside"....whew! And those are the tamer ones... ;)
Other tracks, such as "Everyday Is a Holiday (With You)" and the title track, "Wikked Lil' Grrrls" (a treadmill favorite of mine) will get your booty shakin' and make it damn near impossible to sit still in your office chair (I may or may not be speaking from experience here...).

Do yourself a favor and give a listen.  Here's a YouTube clip of this gorgeous, sexy and talented artist performing on Jimmy Kimmel -- Enjoy!