3-31-11 - "Laundry Room" ~ The Avett Brothers

This song epitomizes everything that is great about The Avett Brothers, and this particular live version even more so.  You get a feel for their softer side at the beginning, and it builds into a foot-stompin' ruckus by the end.  Scott throws in a witty aside between lines ("...disregard your father's word"..."...what does he know?"), and you get the mid-song instrument change after Scott breaks a string on his banjo.  They have a guy whose sole purpose during shows is to re-string guitars and banjos after they fail to withstand the frenetic strumming of the brothers.  The unbridled passion is evident in every show, in every song.


This one seems to be about young love...

3-30-11 - "Forever Man" ~ Newsboys

The Newsboys were one of my favorite bands growing up.  The Aussie rockers (well, the original members, anyway) have been around almost as long as I have, but their prime (in my opinion) was 1994 thru 2003.  Like many bands, longevity has been achieved by adapting and evolving their sound over the years, as well as member turnover.  In fact, I just checked wikipedia to confirm, but at this point, not a single founding member is left in the band - which, in my book, ought to mean they dropped the name and started fresh... unfortunately, that's not what happened, but we're not here to talk about the present.  Suffice to say the band had a good run, but even though I do love new frontman Michael Tait from his time in DC Talk, and the other three current members were around for The Good Old Days, it's just not the same as it was in the Golden Age of frontmen John James + Peter Furler + Phil Joel.


Anyway...

3-29-11 - "Liar" ~ Mumford & Sons

My first post on this blog was Mumford & Sons, and I guess I've been holding off using them again, but it's high time to get another one on here.  This one actually isn't on their album, but it's pretty sweet, in a sour sort of way.  If you've ever had a relationship go wrong, a lover become distant and cold, this song is definitely for you.  If you've been fortunate enough not to have that happen, just think of the deepest emotional trauma you've ever experienced, and listen to the emotions in Marcus Mumford's voice, and just let it wash over you:

"They told me love was a fortress,
and I had never put it to the test;
and all the while I relied on this honesty,
well, in love, we are all amateurs at best;
but please don't cry, you liar..."

3-28-11 - "Losing Lisa" ~ Ben Folds

Ben Folds isn't for everyone.  He frequently swears, which some people don't tolerate (not going to argue it here, but it's not something about which I tend to worry).  Not everyone is into his style, but the man is a gifted pianist, and a very witty songwriter.  Here's one from his debut solo album, Rockin' the Suburbs.

3-27-11 - "Saucy Sailor" ~ The Wailin' Jennys

I spent the weekend at my parents' house, with my three brothers all there as well.  On my way back into the city tonight, I listened to Thistle and Shamrock, a pretty cool show which "explores evolving music from Celtic roots in Europe and North America."  When I got home, I looked up Scruj MacDuhk, one of the bands featured on the show, and couldn't find much in the way of audio from that band, but I poked around and found The Wailin' Jennys, one of whose members was also part of Scruj MacDuhk.  I guess you have to be open to and/or in the mood for certain types of music, so hopefully you'll give this one a shot, or come back on another day when you're feeling more Celtic... but come on, any band whose name is a clever pun based on the name of an American musical legend has to be pretty cool, right?

3-26-11 - "Blood Buzz Ohio" ~ The National

Not gonna say much tonight, just going to drop this track on you and let you check it out:

"I still owe money to the money to the money I owe,
i never thought about love when I thought about home;
i still owe money to the money to the money I owe,
the floors are falling out from everybody I know..."

3-25-11 - "Traveling Alone" ~ Sherwood

Sherwood is a great little pop-rock outfit from California.  They put out catchy tunes, driven by guitar and keys, with some sweet harmonies and a delicious blend of fun and serious lyrics.  If you've been paying attention, you'll notice that each of these elements are common in songs or bands that I like, so it's no surprise that I love Sherwood's music.


If memory serves, this was the first Sherwood song I ever heard.  Or maybe that's romanticizing it, but it's definitely the one that hooked me and reeled me in, and possibly still my favorite of their tracks.  It's upbeat and fun, but does deal with issues of stubbornness, pushing away those who care about you, facing problems without help even when it's offered - "insisting upon traveling alone", if you will.  Pretty sure most of us do that from time to time, and I was doing it at college, which is probably why this song resonated with me back then...


"Traveling Alone" ~ Sherwood


"All of the ways that I have tried to understand
have taken me further from the place that I have been;
and maybe the reason I have strayed so far from home,
is I have insisted upon traveling alone..."

3-24-11 - "The Crane Wife 3" ~ The Decemberists

I'm fairly surprised I went almost three months without putting a Decemberists track up here.  This one's the leadoff track from their 2006 album "The Crane Wife", which I highly recommend.  The entire album is chock full of weighty tracks (lyrically) which will make you think long and hard if you let them, but are also spectacular to just listen to and let the music take you on a journey.  Much of the album is based on historical events, literature, or in the case of the titular trilogy, folklore.  Wikipedia has some great information on this track and others from the album; it's well worth a few minutes to read the paragraph on "The Crane Wife" to understand the story which inspired this song.


It amazes me that Colin Meloy and co. are able to craft a song that resonates so deeply with regret and sorrow, and yet comes off with a hopeful tone...

"Each feather, it fell from skin,
until threadbare, she grew thin;
how were my eyes so blinded?
each feather, it fell from skin..."

3-23-11 - "Clocks" ~ Coldplay

This was the first Coldplay song I ever heard, and it's probably still my favorite.  Love the piano riff, the harmonies in the verse over the synth and bass, and the lyrics.  

"Come out upon my seas,
curse missed opportunities;
am i part of the cure,
or am i part of the disease?"


Bonus: hilarious webcomic about this song! (xkcd.com)

3-22-11 - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" ~ Nirvana

Maybe it's because I did a harder song yesterday, or maybe just because I heard it this afternoon on my drive home, but you're getting some classic Nirvana tonight.  Some people think this song is the best song ever; some think it's a "sellout" song or simply not Nirvana's best work (read the comments on songmeanings.net to see what I mean).  I think it's a pretty good song, particularly for a couple of specific lines, and the message that sometimes the "cool" thing to do isn't the right thing to do.  The memorable line (below) is a pretty telling social commentary...

"Here we are now, entertain us..."

3-21-11 - "Collide" ~ Skillet

I don't listen to harder music all that often these days, which is why you haven't seen a ton of it on here.  But now and again, I go back to some discs I rocked back in college, or hear something new that has an edge, and it's still good stuff.  I just tend to not have a lot of listening time that is conducive to cranking stuff like this these days.  


Skillet have come a long way since forming in the mid-90s.  If you're familiar with their catalogue, you'll recognize that pretty much every album has a distinct feel to it, yet it's still obviously Skillet.  Well, maybe their last couple discs have been a bit more similar, but still.  They have managed to evolve and experiment (amid member changes, no less) while staying true to their roots.


"Spank yo' momma hard."  That's how a college friend described this album to me... perfect way to put it.  This track starts out with a sweet instrumental intro, strings and whatnot, and builds with the feedback before dropping into the verse.  Choruses get heavy again, then a sick piano interlude breaks it down before building again for the climax.  Musically intriguing combined with powerful lyrics = me likee.  Give it a listen, tell me if you likee, too!

"We have fallen,
we have fallen again tonight;
where do we go from here,
when they're tearing down our lives?
when all they want is,
when all they want is for us to live in fear,
how long can we hold on?
can we hold on?"

3-20-11 - "Baba Yetu" ~ Christopher Tin

I'm a big believer that it doesn't matter where a song comes from, or how someone finds out about it; what matters is the song's ability to resonate with the soul of the listener.  A lot of pretentious folks out there like to judge people for "only hearing it on that TV show" or toot their own horns for "being a fan when <insert band name here> was still underground."  But hey, even in today's world, even with the powers of the internet, we can't all know about every good artist that's out there before they make it big...


So that's a mini-rant about bands in general, but it applies because this song is from a video game.  The composer, choir, and symphony are all brilliant, so there's no reason to pass judgment based on the source.  I found out about it from my little bro Nate, who's a much more avid gamer than I.  But while I don't spend tons of time gaming these days, I do remember some pretty cool musical themes from various games over the years.


At any rate, here's a pretty cool, uplifting piece that you should check out.

3-19-11 - "Kiss For Fun" ~ New Shouts

The show I saw last night was so sweet, I thought I'd give you another dose, this time from New Shouts.  Of the three bands at the 60s revue-themed show, these guys may have embodied the soul pop feel of that era best of all.  I hear they're laying down more tracks for an album, and I'm pretty excited at the prospect of getting my hands on a full-length disc of their catchy tunes in time for some dance parties on my deck this summer.

This one probably doesn't have the deepest lyrics in the history of songwriting.  Then again, maybe it does... but hey, some days I'm in the mood for profound reflection, and other days, I just want something fun and crazy.  Ergo, I present you with the following, for your listening pleasure:

"Kiss For Fun"

"Because you're young,

spread some love,

grab someone,

kiss for fun!"

3-18-11 - "Brittney Lane Don't Care" ~ Meeting Of Important People

Went with a couple of my buddies to the Andy Warhol Museum tonight for the Pittsburgh Garage Pop Revue, a well-conceived concert styled like a 60's TV show (think Ed Sullivan).  My primary goal was to see the New Shouts, whose music was introduced to me a few months ago by my friend Jake.  Turns out the other two bands were tons of fun, too.  Here's a pretty catchy, enjoyable song from one of them, Meeting Of Important People.  It fit well with the vibe of the show, and they had a number of tunes that had that dancy jangly 60s pop feel, but they have some diversity to their sound as well - perhaps we'll explore it in the future.

"The cure ain't taking,
i'll tell you what you oughta do;
why give it all up
if no one's giving up for you?"

3-17-11 - "Run" ~ Snow Patrol

I was going to do some kind of traditional Irish music today, but decided to go a slightly different direction - an Irish band.  Well, sort of... Snow Patrol's members may hail from Ireland originally, but the band's home base is in Scotland... anyway, they're pretty sweet and I probably should have had them on the site a lot sooner than now.


Run is probably my favorite of their songs, although they have quite a few that I like a lot.  This one is fairly straightforward musically, and the minor chords in the verses go perfectly with the emotions expressed in the lyrics.  The sparse and haunting strings accent the mood, and Gary Lightbody & co. bring it up for the choruses with a hopeful call to the lover, to seize that love and let it burn brightly, no matter the cost.

(apologies for the cheesy lyric video; it's the only way to get the full song)


"Light up, light up,
as if you have a choice,
even if you cannot hear my voice,
I'll be right beside you, dear..."

3-16-11 - "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" ~ Sufjan Stevens

My good friends played this tonight at Cornerstone, and it's a great song, so here it is, for your listening pleasure.  Sufjan takes a classic hymn and puts a contemporary, folksy spin on it, while infusing it with his emotive vocals.  Stevens is probably an enigma in the eyes of many with faith, as some of his other songs aren't necessarily "Christian", and he even *gasp* swears in some of them!  I find his lyrics to be a journey of discovery, of questioning, and seeking truth.  I won't get too deep into that right now, but would love to discuss it further with anyone else who finds it intriguing.


Anyway, on to the song:

"Here I raise my Ebenezer
hither by Thy help I've come
and I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home..."

3-15-11 - "Santeria" ~ Sublime

So last night two of my housemates and I had a little jam session.  I walked in on them playing some Pearl Jam on guitar and drums, and hopped on the piano to hit up some Weezer and this bad boy. 


It's a fun surf/ska number from the 90s, you've probably heard it.... but what is it about?  Santeria... hmm... wikipedia to the rescue!  A Caribbean religion, apparently... and Sancho better watch his back!  Fun little Western shootout theme to the vid (not altogether dissimilar to another surf/ska band I posted last month...):

"Tell Sanchito that if he knows what is good for him,
he best go run and hide;
daddy's got a new .45..." 

3-14-11 - "About Love" ~ Timothy Seth Avett as "Darling"

Seth Avett is my favorite member of the Avett Brothers.  Well, except for Scott, who's pretty awesome, but no, Seth really is my favorite... barely.  I don't know what it is exactly, but something about his lyrics and his stage presence and even his off-stage presence just clicks with me... probably the vibe of slightly shy, slightly socially awkward... the brothers are great at foot-stomping romps, but both are also skilled at mellow, introspective tunes, and Seth's writing in particular resonates for me.


Darling is a side project of Seth's, where for his first two albums, he basically sat in his kitchen with a 4-track cassette recorder and did everything himself.  This recording method made for a very raw, imperfect sound, but for me that just serves to accentuate the lyrics which delve into the frailty of the human condition.  This particular track, however, is from his third album, which is a lot more polished.


The sharp and cynical lyrics evoke a recent breakup, where the wounds are still open, and the singer is convinced that love is a farce.  Yet, the last verse still rings with a glimmer of hope...


(live performance on youtube:)

(gotta respect a man that can sing and play guitar whilst walking backwards, eh?  additional symbolism...?)


(album version on grooveshark)


"I'm laughing so hard my sides start to split
well I cannot be told and I will not admit
that no one else thinks it's a joke...
well, at least I'm right about love..."

3-13-11 "Moonlight Sonata" ~ Ludwig van Beethoven

I'm giving you something different tonight - a classic piece of classical music.  Even if you're not into classical music, you've probably heard the first movement of Beethoven's "Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor" in a movie or something, as the popular name "Moonlight Sonata" is frequently used as a soundtrack.  Beethoven was one of the most incredible composers mankind has ever known, not only for his actual works, but for how he continued composing after going deaf.  His life story is well worth studying.  


The Moonlight Sonata is just one of many of his works which I love, but it's the one you're getting tonight.  It was dedicated to a young student of his, the Countess Giulietta Guicciardi, with whom Beethoven was said to have been in love.  The first movement is the part you'll likely recognize, the second movement acts as a bridge, and the third movement builds on the theme and just goes nuts.  This makes for good background music whilst reading or blogging or what have you, but it's also fun to actually watch the master pianist (Wilhelm Kempff) at work, as his hands are flying across the keys, and his facial expressions are quite impressive - you can tell his soul resonates with the notes he plays, and he throws in a couple humorous looks as well.


If you don't have the time or patience for 16 minutes of brilliance, I recommend at least catching the first movement (5 1/2 minutes) and hitting the 8:05 mark for a quick taste of the third movement.  


Classical music is not "boring" or "irrelevant" or dated.  Some classical pieces convey more about the human experience than the finest wordsmiths of our time could possibly hope to express.  Give it a listen, you might enjoy it more than you expect.


"Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor" (link to Google Video)

3-12-11 - "Mexico" ~ Bear Cub

So I didn't make it to their show tonight here in Pittsburgh, but I still listened to a little Bear Cub earlier today while cruising around with my boys.  Jesse Hall followed a girl from his hometown (guess where that was?) to Texas, got his heart broken, and out of that experience came a bunch of good songs.  This one may not have a lot to do with the girl, but it's a fun melody and a cautionary tale of the evils of tequila (at least in excess!)  Actually saw this song reviewed as being a little reminiscent of a Bright Eyes style...


"Mexico" ~ Bear Cub (MySpace)


"...until a man I've never met claims I'm in his seat
and he'll let me keep my life if I buy him a drink
but I don't even blink, I start swingin' fast and clean...


...but then I woke
in a hospital
with a broken nose
in good ol' Mexico
The doctor said, 
'You're lucky you're not dead...'..."

3-11-11 - "Shell Games" ~ Bright Eyes

Loving this song today.  Lyrical genius, catchy melody, builds emotionally... just good stuff.  The symbolism can be interpreted multiple ways, but it's deep.  I always enjoy songs that grapple with the dark side of life, yet come out hopeful...

"If I could change my mind, change the paradigm,
prepare myself for another life,
forgive myself for the many times..."

3-10-11 - "Limit To Your Love" ~ James Blake

Another one I just heard on the radio and really dug.  Turns out it's a cover / sample of a Feist song, but I'm going to use Blake's version because there's just something about the jazzy/funky minimalist piano and drum beat that makes it stand out.  Blake has a surprisingly emotive voice, too... definitely going to check out the rest of his album.

"There's a limit to your love,
like a waterfall in slow motion,
like a map with no ocean,
there's a limit to your love..."

3-9-11 - "Give It Away" ~ Michael W. Smith

Michael W. Smith was my first favorite artist.  I grew up playing piano, and (at least after the realization that my dreams of making it big in pro sports were highly unlikely at best) I wanted to be a musician, and MWS was a master.  If you listen to his catalogue over the years, you'll hear songs which were relevant lyrically and musically, and smart pop/rock tunes all the way through.  Didn't hurt that he worked with a great lyricist in Wayne Kirkpatrick (the Bernie Taupin to Smith's Elton John...)


This song was from his "Change Your World" album in 1992, just about the time I started getting into his music, and music in general.  It fit the mold for early-90s pop from a musical standpoint, but I think it holds up ok today, too.  He threw in some jazzy chords to make things more interesting, and the message is a pretty important one - we all need to give away our love, to our family and friends, but to others as well.  Take or leave the Christian theme in the third verse, anyone on the planet should be able to agree that the world would be a better place if we all learned to sacrifice our selfish desires, even just a little bit and/or a little more often, to make someone else's life a little better.

"We can entertain compassion
for a world in need of care,
but the road of good intentions
doesn't lead to anywhere,
'cause love isn't love
'til you give it away...


There was a man who walked on water,
he came to set the people free,
he was the ultimate example
of what love can truly be,
'cause his love was his life,and he gave it away..."

3-8-11 - "Three Little Birds" ~ Bob Marley

It's about time we got some Marley on here.  I'm not going to say much about it, but this is probably my favorite Bob Marley song.  Just one of those songs that always brings a smile to your face, even when nothing's going your way... encouragement to just enjoy life and not stress over things.  But then, some people say it's about weed... which, I suppose, helps you not to stress, so... yeah.

"...every little thing is gonna be all right..."

3-7-11 - "Colours" ~ Grouplove

Some days you just dig something you happen to hear on the radio while cruising around town.  This was one of those days.  I'd heard the song once before, but this time caught enough to track down the artist when I got home.  Dunno much about the band yet, but will probably check them out some more...


(Official video - with some extracurriculars... reminds me of the "New Low" video, only different...that vid and this one might make for some interesting psychological discussions sometime...)

(Just the song)

EDIT 4-30-12 Here's a live performance from SXSW via KEXP (vox are pretty raw, but hey, it was their last song and they clearly put a lot of energy into the set...):

EDIT 1-9-13 Just for funsies, here's another live performance - this time by the Hay Bale Sessions and filmed at Bonnaroo:

(Check out the live version of "Tongue Tied", as well!)
"So, Mistress, Mistress, have you been up to the roof?
he shot himself, self,
there's blood on the wall
'cause he couldn't face the truth..."

3-6-11 - "City Of New Orleans" ~ The Seldom Scene

Heard this one on the radio tonight, and it's pretty sweet.  I do love a witty band name, and being a railroader of sorts myself, a railroading song can be quite special.  A little bit of lyrical depth too, if you want to listen closely.

"Midnight on the City of New Orleans,
changin' cars in Memphis, Tennessee;
we're halfway home, we'll be there by mornin',
through the Mississippi darkness, rollin' to the sea..."

3-5-11 - "GSF" ~ MxPx

Enough letters for you?  Good.  This one goes back a ways, to the good old 90s and the punk rock I know you loved as much as me back in high school.  Can't say I listen to MxPx as much as I used to, but they're still a lot of fun to bust out now and again, especially on a road trip.  This one was one of the first songs I figured out on a guitar... something about the simple 4-chord progression (that just happened to be basically the only four chords I knew...)


This one reminds me of a Calvin & Hobbes strip... "Girls are like slugs... they probably serve some purpose, but it's hard to imagine what." ~ Calvin

"Not for one second have I understood
why they do what they do,
why they say what they say..."

3-4-11 - "Fire Of Heaven / Altar Of Earth" ~ Matisyahu

Hasidic Jewish reggae/hip-hop artist.  It seemed hard to believe when I first heard about it.  But Matisyahu is real, and he's legit.  Guy can spit.  (see what I did there?)  I rocked this album pretty hard in college.  It's perfect for a road trip or just any time you want to get pumped up for a sporting event or life in general.

"Rub me the wrong way, taking the highway,
rubbing sticks together but your fire's man-made;
capitalize on hot air, soar like an airplane,
yearn to rise in the sky quick high like cocaine;
false pride is suicide but you've got nothing to gain..."

3-3-11 - "Gravity" ~ Delirious?

See what I did there?  No?  Well after selecting "Gravity" by Sara Bareilles yesterday, I of course thought of this song, which goes by the same name.  I hadn't listened to it in quite a while, but who doesn't love some late 90's rock?  Especially when they're British... 


This one goes out to mi hermano...

"My head's spinning the world's twisted,
my head's twisted the world's spinning..."

3-2-11 - "Gravity" ~ Sara Bareilles

I was debating whether to go with a peppy one or a mellow one today, and mellow won out.  Sara Bareilles is known for upbeat pop songs, but she can handle the slower stuff, too.  Good set of pipes, and this one pulls you in to the emotions she's experiencing...

"I live here on my knees as I try to make you see
that you're everything I think I need here on the ground;
but you're neither friend nor foe though I can't seem to let you go..."

3-1-11 - "The Great Collapse" ~ The Zolas

In honour of the band that should have won Album of the Year at tonight's Verge Music Awards (i.e. Canadian music...), here's one from The Zolas.  These guys blew me away when I first heard them last year, and I'm just waiting for the chance to see them play live.  So far, they haven't made it all the way to PA from their base camp in British Columbia... next time they hit Eastern Canada though, I'm there.


In addition to the groovy chords and syncopated piano rhythms, I love how they break it down for the chorus in this one.  The song is about short-lived relationship which burned brightly but fizzled, or perhaps the end of the world as we know it, or perhaps both...

"The seas rose to a terrible height,
but we survived, yeah we survived..."