5-2-12 - "The Affair" ~ Be Honest, Ruth Bryan!

I stumbled upon Be Honest, Ruth Bryan! through The Ballard Sessions, which are Seattle's version of Pittsburgh blog Draw Us Lines' Echo Chambers.  The trio of ladies from the Northwest bring some haunting harmonies and exquisite instrumentation, and in a bipartisan spirit, let a couple of dudes play along as well.


Citing influences like Fleet Foxes, Sufjan Stevens, The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, Death Cab, Hans Zimmer, and Itzhak Perlman lends credence to my notion that this group of musicians is legit.  If you're into those sorts of things, you just might also like this band.


This track is pretty self-explanatory, but I'll give you a few brief thoughts nonetheless.  The point of view makes for quite the intriguing take on the story.  Dads don't like it when married men fool around with their daughters.  Heck, dads don't like it when any men fool around with their daughters.  And arpeggios in minor keys are a double-edged sword, but when done well, they can really hit the spot:


(Ballard Session)

(recording via Bandcamp)

"In the mornings it's quiet,

I guess even the dead need sleep..."

"And we, oh, we are not free

We are the ties we make...

(...we are the ties we break...)"

2-24-12 - "Song For You" ~ Jenny & Tyler

Here's one my little brother got me hooked on.  This duo met in college, started playing music together, fell in love, got married, and are living the dream of every hopeless romantic hipster musician.


The song starts out minimally, but builds and builds into a beautifully orchestrated arrangement with rich harmonies and deeply sincere lyrics.  There's not a lot of digging to be done to interpret this track, so just bask in the glow of the love expressed and the joy of the tune, and the sweet music video filmed in Seattle + Silverdale, WA:

Some good live performance videos out there, too.  Here are two good ones:

Also, they have a ton of freebies on their website, for the price of an e-mail address.  Ten songs (okay, two are duplicated, so eight songs) just like that; two more if you go to briterevolution (just now found this site; seems cool) and sign up.  Download and give it a listen, but if you like it, be sure to go back and support the artist financially (always the best policy for facilitating that good music continues to be made!)


(Aside: can I just say that I very much appreciate artists who post lyrics on their own sites?  songmeanings.net is great, but people mishear things a lot even on a site like that.  I just like to know that what I'm hearing is what they're saying, ya know?)


EDIT 2-26-12: oh look, MORE free tunes!  This time on noisetrade.com.

"Hear my song for you

I will not hold my tongue…"

10-28-11 - "Party, My House, Be There" ~ MxPx

Just a straight up fun punk tune for ya, from probably the best band ever, MxPx...

"Bring along yourself and don't forget that smile
Plan on stayin' a while
'Till summer turns to fall..."

10-13-11 - "Flume" ~ Bon Iver

There's something spectacular about wandering around a city like Seattle on a crisp, sunny fall day listening to The Tallest Man On Earth and Bon Iver.  (guess what I did today...?)  These two men weave tapestries of emotion and delve into the deepest, darkest mines of human souls, yet always leave me brimming with joy.

Live in studio:

Album:

"Only love is all maroon
lapping lakes like leery loons
leaving rope burns, reddish rouge..."

10-4-11 - "God or Man" ~ Ivan & Alyosha

This is gonna be quick because I'm heading out of town tomorrow, it's late, and I need to rest before a long day of work then travel.  Posts for the next ten days will likely likewise be quick.


My friend Jake told me about this band who are playing in Seattle Friday; I'll be in Vancouver for work and then headed to Seattle but not sure I'll make it in time for the show.  But I checked out the band, and they're pretty great.  A lot of symbolism in the band's moniker, "Ivan & Alyosha."  Worth reading.


This song gripped me most out of their live-in-studio sessions with KEXP (Seattle), which Jake recommended to me.  Give it a go:

"somewhere I got lost along the way…"

9-24-11 - "Such Great Heights" ~ The Postal Service

Stayed home sick from a concert I was really looking forward to attending.  Watched "Garden State" instead, and was reminded of some good tunes from the soundtrack.  The film uses the Iron & Wine cover of this song (which is also awesome); I'm focusing on the original.

The Postal Service is (was?) a side project of Ben Gibbard (of DCFC fame) and Jimmy Tamborello.  The name was derived from the fact that they recorded tracks for songs and mailed them to each other to build the songs.  Kinda cool, eh?

The song is upbeat, electronic, and catchy, with lyrics celebrating finding one's soulmate... a bit cliched, perhaps, but still fun.  

Here's the Iron & Wine cover, too:

"And I have to speculate

That God himself did make us

Into corresponding shapes

Like puzzle pieces from the clay..."

9-5-11 - "Mykonos" ~ Fleet Foxes

I have not posted a Fleet Foxes song since April, and they're pretty great, so here's another.  It might be my favorite track of theirs.  From the opening strains of melancholy guitar, I'm hooked every time.  The harmonic wordless vocals set an eerie tone, and from Robin Pecknold's first lyrics, the foreboding hangs thick in the air.


Rumor has it the song is about a brother who has lost his way; Mykonos seems to represent either a safe haven - redemption from "the mess (he) made" - or perhaps a false salvation.  The "vision of a gentle coast" and "sun to maybe dissipate" lines evoke the haven, but something about the other lyrics hints that Mykonos may not be the paradise the subject seeks, after all...


(the paper art music video was made by Sean Pecknold; who, if my limited internet research is accurate, is the "brother" to whom the song refers...)

"Brother you don't need to turn me away

I was waiting down at the ancient gate..."

8-29-11 - "The Parting Glass" ~ The Wailin' Jennys

One of my best friends is embarking on a cross-country journey to start a new job in Tacoma, Washington.  Jake's last night in Pittsburgh was last night, and after countless "guys nites" and hangouts over the past several years, and having him share a house with me and some other great guys for the last year and a half, it's going to be pretty strange not having him around.  We had a big farewell party on Saturday which was well-attended, but perhaps even more special was a more intimate gathering last night, with just a few close friends sharing one last conversation and one last drink.


This song is actually from the point of view of the one leaving friends behind, but it expresses the feelings well.  The Celtic tune and lyric date back to the 1700s, and numerous artists in the modern era have sung it.  I think I like this version best.  The somber tone evokes the sorrow of leaving a loved hometown and cherished friends and family, and the a capella harmonies are exquisite:

Live version:

No matter how sorrowful the parting, however, we can take joy in knowing that our friend is moving to another great place, where he will have a rewarding job and surely make new friends, and that we'll see him again.  Also, we now have an excuse to go to the Pacific Northwest, not that an excuse is needed to go to a place that awesome...


"but since it falls unto my lot
that I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call
good night and joy be with you all..." 

8-20-11 - "Slaughter on 10th Avenue" ~ The Ventures

If I had to describe The Ventures in one word, it might be 'slick'.  Their virtuosity with their guitars is legendary in the music world, as they were pioneers in exploring new sounds which could be made on the instrument.  Their efforts in the late '50s and early '60s paved the way for a plethora of other artists, thus earning them the moniker "The Band That Launched A Thousand Bands."  The drummer is pretty smooth, too.  They are possibly the most famous instrumental rock band of all time, and their catalog is well worth exploring.


My dad grew up learning to play guitar via songs by The Ventures and Simon & Garfunkel, which might partially explain my love for both groups.  If you want to learn guitar or improve your existing skills, figuring out some of these songs is not a bad way to pick up some new things and work on dexterity...


This one, despite the threatening title, sounds joyful to my ears, with a soaring guitar lick and a chugging riff to bring it back down, all layered over a driving drum beat and hyperactive bass line.  The segue into the muted bridge is spectacular, and then it builds right back up for the close... 

It's actually based off the score of a ballet by the same name... but this version is a lot faster paced and more fun!

8-6-11 - "I Will Possess Your Heart" ~ Death Cab For Cutie

Just got back from a pretty sweet show on the North Shore of Pittsburgh, featuring Frightened Rabbit and Death Cab.  I'll be honest, I was there primarily for FR, but DC was also pretty good.  They're just one of those bands whose catalogue I just haven't had a chance to fully take in, so I only knew like half the songs.  It's tough when you're getting into a band that's been around for a decade or so - you have to put in a lot more work to make up for lost time.

They opened with this song, complete with the long intro... it's pretty driving and has some chilling piano riffs which set the tone for the lyrics to come.  It boils down to unrequited love, but Gibbard just knows if he can only convince his love interest to "spend some time" with him, he can win her over.  It seems he's obsessed to the point of stalking her, desperate to make it happen.

Here's the "radio edit", if you don't think you can handle the long intro:

"I won't let you let me down so easily..."
______________________________________________


EDIT 8-7-11: forgot to mention that DCFC kicked off their encore by playing the Batman theme song (from the old TV show), in homage to the fact that The Dark Knight Rises is filming in Pittsburgh and was in fact filming at Heinz Field right next door to the venue earlier in the day.  Here's a vid from their soundcheck (warning - audio is not great):

7-25-11 - "King Of Diamonds" ~ Motopony

So, here's a song about playing poker.  Or maybe it's a love song.  I never was too good with allegories... maybe he was gay but now "the queen will do" means he turned straight?  Hmm... but if that's true, what does "I've got the other three" mean...?  Maybe it's just best to not speculate so much and enjoy the tune:

For reals, though, it's a catchy track about not spending your life chasing after something when you may already have it.


"I've been looking for the king of diamonds
You know I've got the other three..."


PS - oh hey look free acoustic mp3 version in exchange for your e-mail address!

7-18-11 - "Turpentine" ~ Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile is an artist I've heard of, but not really heard until recently.  This one was on WYEP a few days ago and I thought it was pretty sweet.  Just a folksy song about how time distorts relationships...

"I watch you grow away from me in photographs
And memories like spies
And salt betrays my eyes again..."

5-18-11 - "You Are A Tourist" ~ Death Cab For Cutie

This one's a little more upbeat than the first Death Cab song I posted.  It's also a pretty cool music video - they did a single-take video and broadcasted it live on the internet... pretty impressive.  Check it out:

"When there's a doubt within your mind
Because you're thinking all the time
Framing rights into wrongs
Move along, move along
When there's a doubt within your mind..."

5-12-11 - "St. Augustine" ~ Band Of Horses

Apologies for the delinquency.  Blogger was buggered last night, and wasn't fixed this morning either.  Here's a beautiful song by a great band.

"If I stayed behind
Would you let your hair grow?
I will forget
The favors that you owe
I'm dreaming of car wrecks and thunderstorms so bright
Let's bury ourselves 
And go haunt someone tonight..."

5-10-11 "Rivers And Roads" ~ The Head And The Heart

Once again, mi hermano comes through with a sweet, sweet song for me to use here.  This one is just full of beautiful harmonies.  It's about the transience of life and relationships, and dealing with separation from family and close friends.


Video version is probably my favorite, featuring just the voices and a guitar, and shot in a tunnel which makes for some incredible acoustical effects... album version linked below for contrast / for those who want to hear a little more instrumentation and a more polished recording.

"Rivers And Roads" (Album Version)


"nothing is as it has been
and i miss your face like hell
and i guess it's just as well
but i miss your face like hell..."

4-9-11 - "Ragged Wood" ~ Fleet Foxes

This song is full of beautiful harmonies, singing lyrics of springtime love and how it should feel.  Amazing stuff, although it's probably even better when heard in the context of the entire album "Fleet Foxes / Sun Giant" (the Sun Giant EP was included as disc 2 of the deluxe edition, and I think it flows well leading out of the LP...)  Such a great album.  Highly recommend.  

"Lie to me if you will, at the top of Barringer Hill;
tell me anything you want, any old lie will do,
call me back to you..."


PS - the title of the song is likely inspired by the following poem:



The Ragged Wood
William Butler Yeats


O hurry where by water among the trees
The delicate-stepping stag and his lady sigh,
When they have but looked upon their images -
Would none had ever loved but you and I!


Or have you heard that sliding silver-shoed
Pale silver-proud queen-woman of the sky,
When the sun looked out of his golden hood? -
O that none ever loved but you and I!


O hurty to the ragged wood, for there
I will drive all those lovers out and cry -
O my share of the world, O yellow hair!
No one has ever loved but you and I.

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..."

3-5-11 - "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..."

2-11-11 - "I Will Follow You Into The Dark" ~ Death Cab For Cutie

This one's been in my head all evening.  Just a chill love song.  When you find the right person, you want to stay with them until you both get old, and die, and even after that.

"If heaven and hell decide
That they both are satisfied,
And illuminate the "No's"
On their vacancy signs;
If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks,
Then I'll follow you into the dark..."