"Elias" ~ Dispatch

Given my recent track record, and in the interest of more music and less of my ramblings, I'm going to try and post at least every other day, even if it means limited to no commentary.  As such, here's a track off of Dispatch's first release, "Silent Steeples".  The song has powerful roots, which you can learn about in the video below; if it interests you, you can also check out the band's charity, The Elias Fund, which was started to help a man in Zimbabwe provide education for his sons.

"Distance is short when your hand carries what your eye found..."

12-21-11 - "Jailer" ~ Asa

Here's a pretty swell track from a French-born Nigerian artist, Aṣa.  She has an interesting backstory, worth a read if you're so inclined.  I'm pressed for time so limited commentary tonight, but check out the tune:

"I'm a prisoner
you're a prisoner too
Mr. Jailer..."

12-12-11 - "Botswana Music" ~ Ronnie

If you want to simultaneously warm and break your heart, this one's for you.


The gentleman in these videos is from Botswana, and has unique methods on the guitar (watch to see his work on the fretboard).  If you check out the YouTube channel "Bokete7", you can see more from Ronnie and other Batswana musicians on numerous instruments.  There are several great things about these performances.  They're done with no trappings, no fluff, no agenda - pure love of music.  These musicians perform on whatever they have, sometimes a cheap old guitar that may not even have all its strings, sometimes just a bucket; yet they create intricate and engaging sounds.  No autotune here, folks.


And yet, watching this makes me uneasy, as I can't help but consider my blessings - including several instruments of significant value - which I often take for granted, and of which I often fail to take advantage.


Music is woven into the fabric of life, and brings joy to the listener, no matter his or her situation.  Let's celebrate that joy, and never take it for granted.

(FYI.  I know the video's title says "woman", but if you check the other videos it's actually a guy named Ronnie.)

12-08-11 - "Heavy" ~ Collective Soul

When I decided to post a Collective Soul song tonight, I could have gotten cute again and picked "December"... but I didn't.  This song is pretty heavy (sorry, had to be done), dealing with an overbearing relationship.  Pretty straightforward lyrically; you won't get much exposition from me tonight.


The song is a great example of late '90s / early '00s rock, and sounds excellent through a good set of speakers where the stereo effects can fully hit you.  Also, here's a kinda cool acoustic version performed in the desert in Morocco:

(look for other tracks performed similarly in Morocco... good stuff!)

And here's the studio recording:

"Hold me up to those whom you've deceived

promises you break you still believe…"

11-22-11 - "Paradise" ~ Coldplay

It's unlikely that tonight's post will be groundbreaking to you; most people have at least heard of Coldplay by now.  But their latest radio hit caught my ear today, so there you go.  I still feel like Parachutes and A Rush Of Blood To The Head are my fave albums by these guys, but they're consistently solid.


This track deals with the loss of youthful innocence and idealism; the realization as we move into our adult years that we're not all going to be pro athletes, astronauts, princesses, models, rock stars, the president, or whatever else we dreamed of in our youth.  Most of us end up shifting our paradigm and creating new dreams for which to strive.  Most of us endure hard times, but often we emerge stronger and discover a life that is better than the one we'd been imagining.  The truth is, life is what you make of it, and paradise is enjoying your life for what it is, not some far-off mystical perfection.


Live at Austin City Limits:

And here's an... interesting... music video.  I think you'll be able to see the correlation between the protagonist's plight and journey and the song's meaning.  Also, elephants on unicycles are arguably as awesome as hiphopopotamuses and rhymenoceroses.  Although I could do without the holding up of cardboard signs with song lyrics - that part is like some bad truck commercial.

PS - I love the dissonant chords at the end...

"So lying underneath those stormy skies

She'd say, 'oh…

I know the sun must set to rise'..."

11-19-11 - "Bartender" ~ Dave Matthews Band

Inspiration for blog posts can come in many ways.  Tonight's was from the lyric (see below) that a friend posted on Facebook.  Here's a song with some very intriguing imagery... rather than throw my own thoughts out there, I'll leave it to you to interpret and digest.


Check this "Abbey Road Session":

And here's an album version:

"Bartender please

fill my glass for me

with the wine you gave Jesus

that set him free

after three days in the ground..."

7-17-11 - "Let's Win" ~ Alexander

Here's a super catchy track from Alexander Ebert (he of Edward Sharpe AND the Magnetic Zeros).  No, it's not about Charlie Sheen "winning".  Pretty much just a call for love and peace, perhaps with a little bit of tongue-in-cheek praise of the American Dream thrown in...

Live/Acoustic/Solo/Guitar:

"Do you know the way, the things to say,
the way to win the game of life?
I should know better..."

6-14-11 - "Wavin' Flag" ~ K'naan

American History Pop Quiz: What is the origin of Flag Day?  I bet Wikipedia will tell us!  Yay for flags!  I love flags, and have a small collection from countries I've visited... plan on expanding that soon!


Today being Flag Day was a convenient way for this song to pop into my head, and I figured I'd roll with it.  K'naan has some pretty good songs, and this one just might be my favorite.  It's a depressing yet hopeful look at the strife in Somalia (K'naan's native land).

Also, here's a version that came out last year as an unofficial World Cup anthem.  It's a little peppier and poppier but also good, just presents a different mood:

(there's even a version with Justin Bieber, but you're gonna have to go find that one for yourself...)


"Out of the darkness, I came the farthest
out of the hardest survival
Learn from these streets, it can be bleak,
accept no defeat, surrender retreat..."