What I’m Listening To: May 2011
Black Sabbath: Mob Rules - I will concede that Black Sabbath is Ozzy, if you will concede that Dio is 1000x the vocalist that Ozzy is. Done? Done. I picked this up because Rollins said that "Dio's vocals on there are so [stinkin'] righteous." I needed no further seal of approval. And he's absolutely right. This is rock music. Download: The Mob Rules, Sign of the Southern Cross, Falling of the Edge of the World
Justin Timberlake: FutureSex/LoveSounds - Believe what you will, Justin Timberlake is one of the premier artists of our generation. This album takes contemporary urban, hip-hop, and pop, blends them all together and delivers it in a form that is consumable by the masses. It's a perennial summertime favorite. Download: Love Stoned, Summer Love, Losing My Way
Augustana: Augustana - I'm not recommending this - just telling you that I'm listening to it. It seems our friends in Augustana have pulled the greatest bait-and-switch in music history. Stellar debut rock album followed by mediocre pop. They thought they'd go to Boston, but somewhere along the way they took a detour and spent the last five years hanging out with Springsteen in NJ. Download: nothing - They can't all be winners.
Free Music Friday
It's not like I really have an ongoing "Free Music Friday" feature or anything; it just seemed like a good title.
New Dashboard Confessional live set at Daytrotter.
If you don't follow Daytrotter Sessions, you're missing out on some great, FREE, live music.
Here are a few of my faves.
Uh, Yes. More, Please!
Seriously, if you don't own this by now is there honestly a good reason not to? (p.s. sorry if the video makes you watch an ad)
Songs We Wish We’d Written – Wounded
Wounded by Third Eye Blind - Surely you've realized by now my love of Third Eye Blind. I only recently discovered this song, which is a good thing because if I'd discovered it 10 years ago when it came out, I would have worn it out in a matter of months. (I mostly avoided the "Blue" album, but I'm coming to enjoy it more and more.) This song is just soaked in a multitude of emotions. I'm not sure that this live recording really captures all of it.
What I’m Listening To: April 2011
Cee Lo Green: The Lady Killer - I hesitated on this album at first because of my natural proclivity toward avoiding what everyone else thinks is cool. But, then, there's usually a reason that they think it's cool. The 30 second samples on Amazon didn't really get me going on it, but then it's hard to take something this massive out of context. It's a great piece of art that reminds me a lot of John Legend, but with more funk. Download:" Bright Lights Bigger City", (The Song Otherwise Known as "Forget You"), "Love Gun".
Brian Wilson: Smile - I think that if it had been released in 1966 as originally intended, this record would have cemented the Beach Boys reputations as on par with (perhaps surpassing) The Beatles. It is lightyears ahead of its time. Well, it would have been. It's release in 2004 subjected it to the "benefits" of modern record-making. While it is still full of heart and soul, I doubt that it maintains all the ethos that it once had. Download: "Heroes and Villains", "Good Vibrations", and "Surf's Up".
Looking Glass: Looking Glass - Ok, I'm not really listening to the Looking Glass record. But I'm absolutely digging "Brandy", just as I always have. Best quote from YouTube regarding the track - "Silly girl though Brandy, falling for a Sailor. Find yourself a nice regular guy like Fireman or an Electrician or something, LOL". Download: "Brandy"
Too Good Not to Share
Yeah, I know you're tired of hearing about Eisley. Deal with it. This is greatness. Go buy their record.
What I’m Listening To: March 2011
Eisley: The Valley - I already told you a bit about this record here. I just can't say enough good things about it. It really is a very mainstream record that maintains the band's artistry and uniqueness. Last time I checked you could get the basic version for $5 on Amazon then pick up the deluxe tracks individually on iTunes to save some money. Download: "The Valley", "Ambulance", "Smarter"
Adele: 21 - This is one of those records that I can listen to over and over without anything making an impression on me. It's definitely got more funk about it than her previous record. I like it, though I'm not a huge fan of the first single "Rolling in the Deep." I'm glad, however, that she's getting radio play out of it. Sorry, you can't download this one - as far as I know - but if you buy the deluxe version of you can get her and Darius Rucker singing "Need You Know" by Lady Antebellum.
Jars of Clay: The Shelter - I was excited about this record, but it did what every other Jars of Clay record has done. The last one was brilliant, so this one (inevitably) had to flop. It's like I walked into a Lifeway and picked up something off their Top 10 rack, which I haven't done in the last 10 years really.
Songs We Wish We’d Written – Remember to Breathe
Remember to Breathe by Dashboard Confessional - For a full perspective on this song, you've really got to listen to it in the context of the So Impossible EP. That was my first exposure to DC and it made me an immediate fan. The 4 track album clocks in at barely more than 15 minutes, but perfectly captures a familiar story of teenage awkwardness. I particularly like this version where the band is added in one by one.
New Eisley Drops Next Week – Hear it Now
Ok, I realize that my music updates are probably not as critical to your daily life as I may like to think. But I won't let that stop me from posting them.
One of my favorite groups for the last decade has been Tyler, Tx own, Eisley. To be honest, I wasn't that into their last full-length record, Combinations, but their last EP, Fire Kite, really got my attention. I've been pretty psyched for their new record, The Valley, since it was announced.
Yesterday, Spin magazine posted a streaming version of the whole album, and I can't stop listening to it. It could very well be the best album that will be released this year. I think that music has shifted and advanced to a point that they would now find a place within the mainstream - without having to change a thing.
You can buy the record from Eisley's site and I'm all for giving as much money as possible to the artist... but, iTunes has a deluxe version with some acoustic tracks - so that's the route I'll be taken when I purchase it. (This strikes upon a lengthy diatribe about multiple versions for multiple outlets that I'll spare you from.)
So, go listen to it. It's amazing.
What I’m Listening To: February
In case you never actually visit my website, you may not realize that I keep a section off to the side where I post the records that I'm listening to. So, I thought I would go ahead and post about them.
Amos Lee: Mission Bell - I was vaguely familiar with Amos Lee and had spent a little bit of time with his Supply and Demand album. I feel like that album is a bit more pop than this, which is decidedly more blues. I love that it is very stripped down and let's the songs speak for themselves. Download: "El Camino" and "Violin"
NeedToBreathe: The Outsiders - I had pre-ordered the new Adele record but started listening to this album and had to go cancel Adele so that I could get this one. These guys are like a blend between Kings of Leon and Third Day. Download: "The Outsiders"
We Were Promised Jetpacks: These Four Walls - I mentioned these guys a few days ago. The album just kind of draws you in and takes you on a journey. Hopefully they'll head stateside sometime this year and bring a tour through Dallas. Download: "It's Thunder and It's Lightning", "Short Bursts", "Conductor"
David Gray: Draw the Line - This has become a go-to whenever I don't know what to put on. In fact, it has my highest play counts in iTunes right now. It's just too bad that his next album didn't live up to it. Download: "Fugitive" and "Nemesis"
NeedToBreathe: The Heat - Listening to this record, sparked my interest in purchasing their album above. The song, "Again", has become an absolute favorite. Download: "Again", "More Time", and "Signature of Divine".
Also, in the sidebar (just above this list), I stole an idea from a friend's blog and decided to post books that I've read this year.
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