Bishop Allen Xmas song

Enjoy the tune!

For all the Dawes fans out there...

Another supergroup has formed...check out this article posted on Paste's website this week.

Say it ain't so...eMusic

From the NPR blog: eMusic is making major changes to the way that it sells music.

Five star songs from my wife (Part One)

Beautiful Boy - Ben Harper (Travelicious)
"Every day in every way, it's getting better and better." This is a John Lennon cover from a Darfur benefit album called Instant Karma. Ben Harper is the one artist that my wife and I both have a crush on. I am sure he would be tough to be married to, but I know that he is full of love and passion because it comes out in his music. I think of our little boy everytime that I hear this version or the original.

Get Ready for Love - The Alrights (Travelicious)
"Getting ready for love, me and my little wife." This is from a compilation entilted Be Good or Be Gonf. The compilation's title comes from a sign that was falling apart in the "G-hole" in Mechanicsburg. I got it from XPN's My Morning Download. It is a fun song that talks about cross dressing among other things. This song could've been popular when I was in high school because these boys from Minnesota have such unique lyrics.

Honey Let Me Sing You a Song - Matt Hires (Travelicious)
"Open your mind, open your mind and let your beauty flow like wine." This is a sweet song that I have shared with the whole family. It was on a Paste sampler several years ago.

Green Eyes - Coldplay (Travelicious)
This is a modern classic. When Sue and I saw these boys play in Hershey a couple of summers ago. We had a great time. The show was not improvised at all, but it was well planned and well performed. This song is one that pulls on your heart strings. It is from their album A Rush of Blood to the Head.

In the NA - The Hidden Cameras (Olive Ewe)
It starts with electronic sounding strings. This song was brand new to me when Sue put it on a mix for me. I have no idea what the NA is, but it is a damn catchy song. If you are going to repeat what seems to me as nonsense over and over again, you better have a good feeling around those lyrics. These boys from Ontario acheived that!

Two - Ryan Adams (Olive Ewe)
"It takes two, but it used to take one." I remember a late night at my apartment in Penbrook where we sat around and discussed what Ryan Adams was discussing. Shane thought that it was about a alcohol and tolerance buildup. I think that the song is about finding love and realizing that life is better with someone else. It is from his album Easy Tiger.

When We Swam - Thao with the Get Down Stay Down (Home is Wherever I am with You)
"Oh, bring your hips to me." Well, yes, I will, my love. This is a sexy song. Thao has a cool voice too. It is from Know Better Learn Faster.

Accapella - Lee Dorsey (Home is Wherever I am with You)
This is an older song from the old school of R&B. I enjoy it and want more songs like this today.

Pa Pa Power - Dead Man's Bones (Home is Wherever I am with You)
"Please make me better" - sung by a chorus of children. I definitely like songs because of the feeling of the song and not because of the lyrics. I actually had to look up the lyric to post with this one. This band was created by Ryan Gosling a young Hollywood actor. This part of a recent trend that Sue and I noticed where indie groups are using children to sing the chorus of their songs.

How Glad I Am [f/the Living Sisters] - The Greyboy Allstars (Home is Wherever I am with You)
"I wish I were a poet so I could express what I'd like to say." This is one that I like for sentimental reasons. I know that my wife picked this song because of the lyrics. The band is a project that Karl Denson and DJ Greyboy are in together. It is generally a jazzy jamband, but on this track they included the Living Sisters on vocals and I dig risk that they took by using them. The thing is I want Sue to know is "How Glad I Am" to be with her.

There is XXXX (Within My Heart) - You Say Party! We Say Die! (Home is Wherever I am with You)
"And then a beautiful bird soared into my life and with wings outstretched it flew straight into my heart." This is a danceable love song. Love, LOVE, LOVE!

You Are My Joy - Reindeer Section (Home is Wherever I am with You)
"If I could cradle you into my arms, I would cradle you tight in my arms, always." This is a side project from the guy from Snow Patrol. Another song that is repetitive lyrically. The passion (from Latin pasco "to feel") is always evident in his voice. This is a song that Sue shared with me to let me know about an artist that she loves and that I did not know much about.

Everyday - Dave Matthews Band (Late Night with Travis Kreider)
"Lift me up, love, everyday." This song came out shortly after the September 11th attacks. It was a great healing song for many. Today, it means much more to me. I feel that is the job/pleasure of a husband and wife to lift each other up and make them see the best in life. The video is great too. There are several celebrities in the end that make cameos.

Look At Miss Ohio - Blind Pilot (Late Night with Travis Kreider)
"Yeah, I wanna do right but not right now." This is a song written by Gillian Welch. Sue found a live version of it by Blind Pilot from an iTunes session. As you can imagine from Gillian Welch this song has a old timey country feel to it. It has made itself onto some other mixes from Sue too, namely to her brothers. I have heard her brother, Steve, sing the chorus more than once when hanging out in Plainfield.

Run - Vampire Weekend (Late Night with Travis Kreider)
"Honey, with you is the only honest way to go." When Vampire Weekend first came out a couple of years ago. I wasn't sure that I dug their sound. Partially based on their appearance, they are look like preps from the 80s, and partially based on the poppy sound to their music. I now love them -- it sometimes takes me a little while to get into a sound. They are fun, geek rock. They are happy dorks on stage and the music is danceable. We saw them last year for my birthday fun in Philly. We took our oldest daughter and her friends to a show in Maryland this fall. It was totally cool to be a chauffeur to these geek rock lovin' teenagers! They even made t-shirts for the show!

I will add more next week...

This one's for you, Babe!

The fun of sharing

On my Facebook my friend from Gettysburg College, Abby, wrote:
"hey, i'm listening to the mixed cd that you and sue gave us a couple of years ago. thanks, i'm at work and it's making a fabulous ambience for the cafe!"

That is totally cool. I like to think that when we make mix cds for friends that they will discover something new that they like. Then, I hope that they go out and see that band when they come nearby their town OR they go out and buy the whole album by that band.

I know that when I worked at the radio station in college we always got some free stuff to listen to at home so that we could talk about it on the air. That is kinda the same idea with the free samplers that Spin, Paste, iTunes/Facebook, and others give out. A lot of the indie labels have free samplers to download on amazon. I have found a bunch of gems through them.

Sue and I will continue to make mixes for friends and we hope that you go out and support the music in every way that you can.

The Strokes, Is This It

Travis makes playlists for me on a weekly basis to listen to at work. On Thursdays, about five songs in, I find the "Album of the Week".  One week, it is a new album, or at least one that is new to us and the next week, it is a classic album as dictated by playlist creater and producer, Travis Kreider.  This week, it was The Strokes, Is This It.  This is one of those albums that I knew I loved the first time I heard it.  In fact, I remember being quite obsessed with it, and when I was out with friends one night I was enjoying it so much I didn't want to get out of the car to go inside to have a drink until the album was over.  My recollection is that one of my friends stuck around for a few minutes, but then he also decided to go in when one song ended and I started singing along with the next, leaving me to sit in the car. Just me...and The Strokes. 

As I listened on my way to work this morning telling my toddler what a good album this is that Daddy chose, I was trying to recall what year this album must have come out, and I actually was correct in my guess of 2001.  As much as I love music, I am not usually the one that knows release dates or what song belongs to what album or what the drummer's name is.  I just know when I like a song!  Occasionally, though, I do think I might be able to form a long-standing relationship with a band or artist and decide that I want to get to know them more intimately.  Hungry for more information, I will peel open their cd sleeve and absorb it front, middle, and back.  I somehow know that Fabrizio dated Drew Barrymore, but it didn't last. I've also heard buzzes about Julian Casablancas solo projects that haven't really held my attention even though I enjoy his slight raspiness as lead singer of The Strokes.  I must share that I also love all of the repetitious "a" sounds in his last name.  At the time, I didn't know that I would get to know bandmember Albert Hammond, Jr., better than the rest.  His short stature and unruly hair, make him the perfect underdog, the likes of whom I am always rooting for, and Spooky Couch is one of my favorite indulgences.  It is lengthy and inviting and can take you anwhere you want to go.  Maybe I should have a bumber sticker that says, I  ♥ Garage Bands.  Nah.

Coming to a store near you on Tuesday, October 4th...or yesterday if you prefer vinyl

I have high expectations for this debut album by Fistful of Mercy titled "As I Call You Down".  I like what I have heard so far and am tantalized by the self-titled track they are giving away for free here: 

 
http://fistfulofmercy.com/download/

I love Ben Harper and have been disappointed by his collaborative efforts with the Relentless 7.  Solo Ben and Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals are more my speed, and I just have a feeling about this one. 

I like that they are doing record store shows that you gain entrance to by buying their album from that particular independent record store.  It's pretty cool that George Harrison is plugging them on his website since his son is also a member of the band.  They were also part of the story last night on a show Travis and I watch called Parenthood. 

I don't know how I feel about them advertising music on this show, but Travis says at least they have good taste and it is good exposure for these artists that we want to be successful.  I can tolerate this since the others so far have been Josh Ritter and Ray Lamontagne, but if they have Justin Bieber featured, I will not be happy.  Okay, so, yes, I find myself singing Baby, Baby, Baby sometimes and so maybe it is ironic that I myself am plugging these artists here, but, well, I don't have a very big fanbase and I am not getting any money for it.  I am hoping that I will find out that the producer or director of Parenthood is just a devout music fan and is doing it for the love of music. 

So I will wait six more days for the release of "As I Call You Down", and I will let you know after the 4th if I still agree with myself.  Until then, we, being me and myself in this case, thought it would be a good idea to share the free track.  Enjoy!

What do you want in a live show? (NPR.org)

This was on NPR's blog recently and I want to know your response to the questions in the last paragraph --

The music industry is struggling to make up its collective mind on how best to entice fans to spend their money — in stores, online and, this summer at least, in concert halls and arenas. Rock, pop, and hip hop fans have grown accustomed to props, videos — stuff — when they drop upwards of a hundred bucks for a show.

Icelandic singer Jonsi, of Sigur Ros, has come up with an interesting twist. He plays small theaters but has commissioned the London-based company Fifty Nine Productions to create a kind of movie in which he and his band perform. The company usually does opera and theater work. Working with Jonsi it's created visual stories to accompany the music. Nine projectors are hidden around the theater, linked to three servers. Images choreographed to the stories in the songs are projected onto the stage, a few props and the musicians — there are no screens. The idea is to make the music and the visuals one. (You can hear more about the concert here.)

But this raises interesting questions about the inherent spontaneity of music. With a show like this, there would seem to be no room for improvisation or an unplanned leap into the audience.

What do you want from a show? Is it about music (after all, you've got that on your iPod) or an experience? What IS the experience you crave when you go out to hear music? Is it being with hundreds (or dozens) of like-minded people sharing in the collective joy? Is it simply about hearing your favorite tunes? New music? Is it about the musicians expressing themselves on stage, no matter what they play?

Virgin FreeFest 2010

Sue and I went to the VirginFest this weekend. I like these festivals for several reasons: one venue and multiple bands means less travel time to see more artists, always a wide variety of acts, and sometimes there are interesting guest spots. We definitely had the benefit of the first two reasons at this festival. There were all sorts of non-music things there, including a ferris wheel by the West Stage. 

Sue says:  There are usually great vendors with interesting products too.  Two years ago at this festival I purchased a ring carved out of wood with a peice of coral in it for like 8 bucks.  It's still a favorite.  This year I purchased a nice present for my friend!

Who did we see/hear?

Trombone Shorty - This was first on our list chronologically and it was a good way to start the day. I heard a buzz about him when we went to see Black Joe Lewis in York a few weeks back. He was fun and danceable. At the end of his set he took his horn and some percussion and led a parade of sorts through the remaining crowd. 

Sue says:  Travis was having fun singing, "Show Me Something Beautifullll!"

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - We saw them earlier this summer at XPN's festival and Alex (the lead singer) was losing his voice. This show was lots of fun. I always love happy dancing hippies! 

Sue says:  Love the lead lady in this group!  I hope she does some more solo vocals on the next album.  Her voice is unique and amazing.

Yeasayer - These guys were really good. I guess a couple of them are local to Baltimore. The one singer talked about having tickets to the Ravens game and he got mixed reactions from the crowd. Sue turned to me and said at one point, "Are they talking football?" Indie rockers like the NFL too.

Sue did say that!

Thievery Corporation - We weren't dancing at this point. We had to refuel with quesadillas and chicken fingers.

Sue says:  Expensive but tasty and well-needed.

Matt & Kim - They are really just two people on stage. They sounded good. Nothing outstanding though. We moved onto the Dance Forest after a few songs.

Chromeo - This was in the Dance Forest, a neat venue within the venue. Several really tall and old trees stood proudly in this area. We had to go to this show because our son, Harry, really likes their song "Night by Night." Right before we went into the Dance Forest I tried to order a Red Bull/Smirnoff and they only had the yucky sugar free stuff, so I ordered a Tangueray and tonic instead. The bartender made it mostly gin and a little tonic. That was definitely a drink for sipping not gulping...

Ludacris - We only heard his first few songs. They were fun though. Some older songs that I recognized. There was a baby in front of us that just kept staring at me though. Sue thought it was hilarious.

Sue says:  Luda! Ha.  I think it is funny that I occasionally get to see this genre of artists at festivals because I would not necessarily just go buy a ticket for them, but end up having fun!  In 2004 at HFStival I saw Jay-Z and Cyprus Hill with Violent Femmes and The Cure.  Just picture them all hanging out back stage! 

Pavement - We left Luda after a few songs to catch some of Pavement's gig on the main stage. I had created a playlist on my iPod of the bands playing a VFest this year and I really started to notice this band. Apparently everyone else I know already knows them. Our friends, Greg and Liala, just used their vacations to see them for four nights in NYC. I know that John and Katie like them too because when they visited our house this summer they were playing songs from iTunes by them. I truly enjoyed the set, but we had to move on again to hear Sue's new favorite band...

Sleigh Bells - This duo has fun with the noise rock thing, for sure! It was a short, rapid fire set of about thirty minutes and it was intensely fun. I saw the one tree playing air guitar too. ;) Sue can certainly choose some good tunes to like.

Sue says:  I was not disappointed by them and the Dance Forest area was like we were in a storybook setting or something. 

We went back to Pavement for the end of their set and then moved west across the venue to see M.I.A. As we were walking we heard a countdown and then...FIREWORKS! That was a fun surprise. (Unfortunately, at this point there was an amazing amount of dust kicked up in this area and so we had to walk through a cloud of dry and dirty air; it was nearly as bad as a bar back in the day when smoking was still allowed.)

M.I.A. - Sue was loving the tunes over there though. She was a dancing machine. I mean arms swinging, legs moving, and even an occasional skip or two. I was glad to see her shaking it. While Sue found the bathroom, I found a Bud Light bucket that doubled as a bongo in my hands. We stayed for several songs, none of which we knew beforehand, and then went throught the dust cloud back towards the main stage.

Sue says:  Ouch!  My legs killed me the next day.  Must exercise more!

LCD Soundsystem - At this point we were getting tired and we wanted to beat the traffic, so we headed home.

What a fun day!

My first "World Premiere" music video

Our daughter recently watched the 2010 VMAs on MTV. It got me to thinking...

I remember when I used to be psyched to watch this yearly television event. Back then I had a good idea of the MTV music scene and I had my favorites that I wanted to win. This is back when MTV was targeting me and my peers as their audience. I was too young (and my parents didn't have full cable with MTV early on) to watch the first popular videos by the innovators (Michael Jackson and Madonna). I do remember when they came out with videos for their Bad and Like a Prayer albums. There was anticipation for the premiere of these artists videos.

To the point...I remember when music videos were a big deal and not something that you had to search YouTube or On Demand in order to discover cool ones. The first video that I remember seeing the "world premiere" of was the first single from The Joshua Tree. Enjoy the tune!

I wish it didn't have a commercial attached.

Bright Eyes "First Day Of My Life"

This is one of our favorite songs and the video makes the song even better. Enjoy the tune!

Mixed Tape

Travis and I like to make mixes for each other from time to time. For me, it gives me a feeling that the person I love took some time and handpicked some songs just for me, either because they are relevant to our lives in some way or because he just thought it would be something I would like. I pop in the cd or listen to it at work on my iPod with a little bit more joy than when I listen to any other playlist. For him, I think it might be a little bit of that too, but it is also more songs! See, he is a bit of a song monger. Anyways, we indulge each other with this pleasantry and we both get enjoyment out of making and receiving the mixes. Anyways, I thought I would share the last mix I gave him so here we go:

12 k.p.d. quota

1. All Summer-Kid Cudi, Best Coast & Rostam (from Vampire Weekend)*
2. Told You Once-The Apples in Stereo
3.Healing Hands-Citizen Cope
4. Hold Me In Your Arms-The Black Keys
5. I Found A Whistle-MGMT
6. Such Great Heights-The Postal Service
7. Bullfighter Jacket-Miniature Tigers
8. Home-Glasser
9. Just Like Heaven-The Cure
10. Modern Man-Arcade Fire
11. The East Wind-Gord Downie and the Country of Miracles
12. Cobbled From Dust-The Acorn
13. Where I'm Going-Cut Copy
14. Bit Part-The Lemonheads
15. Fake Drugs-Hollerado
16. Single Fins & Safety Pins-Japanese Motors
17. Growing Younger-Michou
18. Stranded-The Walkmen
19. Black Rice-Women
20. Phoenix-Love Like A Sunset Part II
21. Heaven Knows-Carl Broemel**

*released by Converse as their summer theme song
Check out the video here http://adland.tv/commercials/converse-all-summer-kid-cudi-best-coast-and-rostam-vampire-weekend
** Carl is from My Morning Jacket, looking forward to listening to the rest of the album, but this little ditty is nice, I think.

Jack Johnson is coming out with a new funny video with Adam Samberg for the song "At Or With Me" from his latest album, To The Sea. I always thought this was a funny video he put out for "Taylor" starring Ben Stiller so I thought i would post it. Nice to know that artists I like have a sense of humor about life too!