Tag: great-northern

concerts, five song friday, music musings, music suggestion

5SF: may 15

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TGIF. We are STILL working on the bathroom, and will be for a few more days. I can see the end in sight, and I am definitely getting excited. I will probably take an hour long shower once it is finally finished; I deserve it! Well, enough about that… let’s get to today’s music selection.

Elizabeth and the Catapult – Just In Time
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_515_elizabethandthecatapult-justintime.mp3]
Let me start with a one word description of Elizabeth and the Catapult’s most recent release, Taller Children: Amazing. Elizabeth and the Catapult is one of those finds that I still can’t believe I stumbled upon, because of how magnificent they are. What drew me in initially, was the really cute cover, which has brought me to some fantastic music in the past, and certainly did so again this time. The whole album is magnificent, and will certainly be amongst my top records of 2009. The record has a softer side, as well as an eclectic feel to it, and the singer’s voice often channels the might and gusto of singers like Inara George, Aimee Mann, and even Ann Wilson. This was a fantastic find, and one that I am more than happy to sing praises about to anyone who will listen. I LOVE when I find stuff like this on the random!

Death Cab For Cutie – My Mirror Speaks
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_515_deathcabforcutie-mymirrorspeaks.mp3]
After seeing Death Cab for Cutie last week, I have been listening to them almost non-stop, and I am constantly reminded of how much I love this amazing band. Seriously, Ben Gibbard’s voice and his diction are both amazingly delicious, and are a total treat to my ears. I have been a Death Cab fan for a few years now, and with each subsequent release, they only get better, in my opinion. The recently released EP, the Open Door, is where this fantastic track comes from, and was released to coincide with them beginning their tour. I love every song on that EP, and I was pleased that they played almost all of them at the show. They are amazing live, and I am glad I got an opportunity to finally see them perform.

Matthew Barber – Easily Bruised
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_515_matthewbarber-easilybruised.mp3]
This was a free mp3 download from Amazon (as of this writing, it still is, so go and get it!), and I am glad that I checked it out; it’s a beautiful track. I’ll admit that I was initially drawn to it because of the bearded beau on the cover (what can I say… I am a sucker for beards), and I was pleased that he had the musical prowess to really draw me in past a simple glance at the album art. His sound reminds me a lot of Ryan Adams, with just a touch classic rock, updated for the hear and now. This is one of those songs were beautiful music, rugged vocals, and eloquent writing all come together to make some really great music. While this is the only song of his I have currently heard, I am definitely going to check out his recently released album, Ghost Notes.

Great Northern – Story
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_515_greatnorthern-story.mp3]
As a fan of Great Northern’s 2007 debut, Trading Twilight for Daylight, I was excited when I saw that they were releasing a new album a few weeks ago. While I regrettably haven’t had a chance to give it a proper listen, the first track really struck me instantly, and I really liked it right off the bat. Perhaps what struck me most, is how it has a harder, edgier sound than their previous softer stuff. The marching beat coupled with the distorted guitars, and the lead singer’s haunting vocal make this a fantastically “darker” opener for their new album. It has definitely gotten me excited to delve deeper into the rest of the album; which if it is anything like this, I am sure I will enjoy.

Little Boots – New In Town
[audio:http://www.duanemoody.com/audio/fsf_515_littleboots-newintown.mp3]
Little Boots is one of those artists that everyone is shouting about how wonderful they are, and for some dumb reason, I just roll my eyes and move on. In fact, I think that I ignore songs like this out of spite. Maybe it is the defiant side of me that just won’t give in? Who knows, but I think it was because I heard a Little Boots track a while back and I wasn’t blown away, so I just moved on; clearly, I must have thought, that it was truly just hype. However, she is back on my radar, because this is an insanely catchy track that is tearing up the radio waves in the UK, and I found myself falling for it after all. It has a little bit of the energy and feel of some of Ladyhawke’s work, which definitely bodes well for Little Boots (especially in my book), because of how great Ladyhawke has proven to be. I don’t know if this one will make a big splash on this side of the pond, but I know that a bunch of my readers will really like this one (that is, if they haven’t been enjoying it already, while I was being stubborn).

Well, there’s your Friday five, what did you think?! I hope that you enjoyed these tracks, and with some of them, you really should do yourself a favor and check out the rest of the album. Elizabeth and the Catapult is definitely one of those discoveries that I am beaming about lately, and I highly recommend the whole album. As always, let me know what you are spinning, and let me know what you think about my choices for this week. Have a great weekend!

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alright monday… move on, now…

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Today seems to be dragging a bit; perhaps I have a case of the “Mondays”? Either way, I can’t wait to get home this evening. Ah, relaxing… the joy of life.

A few jumbled, scattered, smothered, and covered thoughts for you to swish around your brain today:
Because everyone else is doing it, here is my “personality” profile; which is based on some pretty random questions. I expected pretty much everything, I have done a Myers-Briggs before, so nothing too unexpected, I guess… One thing I did get excited about, was that Nurse was listed as one of my career matches; maybe I should have taken this little test while I was in college? Either way, that is good to know that it will mesh well with my “advocate” personality style. I don’t really think these things are 100% accurate, but I do see how they can be pretty good generalizations.

All I have to say, is BWAHAHAHAHA!: Paris Hilton loses her $60 million inheritance because of her dumb ass behavior. Her grandpa is like, look Paris, too much ass, drinking, and going to jail is tainting my name, so you aren’t getting my dough! I wonder if she will have to work and earn money like the rest of us? If so, I fear for her, because I have seen the Simple Life, and if she has to rely solely on her “skills” (or lack thereof), she is royally fucked. I don’t think that she would even be able to get enough money to buy food for herself, if she actually had to work for a living. Poor, poor Paris… However, we all know that she will come out on top somehow; people like her always do for some reason.

Just because there are some people that still think the people of Iraq are all “Islamic extremists” out to kill us, which has nothing to do with any of our actions against them, their land, or their way of life; here’s more compelling evidence that all we are doing over there is making things worse (for us and them). I don’t get why pointing out the obvious stain that you made on the rug, and suggesting that it be cleaned up, is such a “radical” and “scary” observation and strategy for change. The shit has more than hit the fan, and it is pretty crystal clear that there are more and more people, who are just getting more and more angry at us for the very reason illustrated in the article; we are doing more harm than good, and always have. I have an idea, why not stop doing all that “destruction and death” mumbo jumbo, and focus on what we are SAYING really matters; helping the people of Iraq and ending terrorist plots against the US? I suggest this, because we are currently not doing that at all, and instead, our presence is making it worse; both for the Iraqis, and for us, because we are giving them more and more reasons to hate us. Another “revelation” courteous of the “omg this is so fucking obvious” news.

I was thinking as I was driving in to work this morning that I want to start what I hope will be something of a regular here: weekly music suggestion(s), that we share, explore, and recommend to each other. I am always hungry for new music, and often times, it can be hard to find. So, in the spirit of getting this thing going, I am going to recommend a few selections for you to check out this week. As evidenced by today’s selections, the recommendations do not necessarily have to be “new” as in “just out”; if it is new to you, it counts as new! Also, if it is something that you have heard and like, maybe it will just make it a rediscovery for you!

Here’s your music suggestions for this week:
Imogen Heap: Speak For Yourself (I popped this back in the CD player this morning on a whim, and was reminded at how fantastic this disc is!)
SIlversun Pickups: Carnavas (this CD is so awesome; I wish I would have discovered it sooner)
And sort of in the middle of the two: Great Northern: Trading Twilight for Daylight (fyi… this is a myspace link, which I am convinced is the only reason that myspace should even exist: marketing) (This IS new, and I am currently listening to/getting into it. Initial listens are definitely yielding a positive vibe… I am feeling that same little tingle in my body that I get when I hear Silversun Pickups… it’s a good thing.)

This whole “music sharing” idea was further pushed by my stopping by a little CD shop during my lunch break, and my finding Jude’s King Of Yesterday CD in the $1 bin. I had heard the song “King of Yesterday” on Felicity years ago, and remembered that I really liked it, and so I picked up the album. Always good to check out new things, right?

Now that you have your “Music Assignments”, hook me up with some suggestions too; this ain’t a one way street bitches!!! Bring on the music! Bring on the noise!