Blind Like Samson

There are some mornings that even coffee has a hard time saving.  Rushing out the door this morning thinking you're late but then realizing you don't know how to read a watch and that you're actually an hour early is a good thing, though.   Now more chill time.  Here's a wonderful song to start your day.

I present:

Iron & Wine - Freedom Hangs Like Heaven
Listen if you like: Awesome acoustic music
http://www.ironandwine.com/


Have a good one.  Until next time...

Mind Boggling

This man is named Tommy Emmanuel.  He is almost without a doubt the most talented guitarist I've ever heard of.  The guy is pure music.

Mr. Soul

Another one of my top bands is Iron & Wine.   Check out this awesome song.

I present:

Iron & Wine - Mr. Soul
Listen if you like: Awesome acoustic music
http://www.ironandwine.com/


Until next time...

Could It Be?

I think I might have picked my favorite Devendra song, or at least best on the album.  Here's the video.  Do enjoy.

I present:

Devendra Banhart - Rats
Listen if you like: Folk, Nick Drake, good music, Everly Brothers, unique music
http://www.devendrabanhart.com



Until next time..

Wow

Smoke a HUGE bowl, let it kick in real good and then watch this video.

Tell me how awesome it is.

Monkey and Bears

Here we go, the lovely Joanna Newsom again.  Never get tired of this girl.  Do enjoy.

I present:

Joanna Newsom - Monkey & Bear
Listen if you like: Cat Power, Bjork, Stevie Nicks
www.dragcity.com/artists/joanna-newsom



That'll do it.  Until next time...

Not to be confused with Corey Haim

Well it's been a few days since last posting, but for good reason.  Over the weekend, I managed to accrue five of the 7 initials to add onto my name.   LT  and BSN covered, just gotta get the RN.  So, up today is a group whose lead chick has a voice like absolute butter.   Land of Talk.  With varying instrumentation and wide dynamics on all of their songs, these guys are a good listen.  Their album Cloak and Cipher doesn't miss the mark on a single track.  In addition to the Take Away show, I'll add the video of of one my favorite songs off that very album, in order to show their studio sound.   Hope you like them.

I present:

Land of Talk - Quarry Hymns (A Take Away Show)
Listen if you like: Electronica, Solid vocals, Synth drums
http://www.landoftalk.com/


Land of Talk - The Hate I Won't Commit


That should do it.  Until next time...

You! Me!

Keeping it short and sweet today.  These guys are Los Campesinos, and you should love them.  Kickass songs and videos.  Enjoy.

I present:

Los Campesinos - You! Me! Dancing!
Listen if you like: Brit Pop, Glockenspiel
http://www.loscampesinos.com/


Until next time...

Baby I Don't Know

Today is a bright sunny awesome day, and a perfect time to listen to something bright and energetic to get you going.  That's where The Hundred in the Hands comes in.  I posted one of their videos a while back if you want to give it a listen.  The disco funk pop duo from NY has a very energized sound that I'm pretty fond of.  And another female lead.... what is going on with me?

Starting off with their song Dressed in Dresden.  You might have heard this on an Adult Swim bump, or on Skins even before that.  Very cool mix, and since it's been so long, I'll follow it up with a take away show.

I present:

The Hundred in the Hands - Dressed in Dresden.
Listen if you like: Synth, Electronica, Daft Punk
http://thehundredinthehands.com/




The Hundred in the Hands - Pigeons (A Take Away Show)


There you have it.  Until next time...

30 Day Song Challenge - Day One!

I normally skip all of the Facebook BS fads, unless it's something involving cartoons or music.  So I'm going to cave into this new one and do the 30 Day Song Challenge.  I figure I'll post them here too, because my non existent readers may enjoy it.

30 Day Song Challenge Day 1:  Your favorite song

Talk about starting on a tough one.  There may be some songs that I "like" more than this one, but this song has been what I call my favorite for so many years now, I'd feel bad ever replacing it.  I present:

Kansas - Dust in the Wind


Haha.  Fun stuff.

Right on!

Oh today is all about the ever beautiful awesome amazing talented wonderful gorgeous Joanna Newsom.

It's so fitting that the harp is her main instrument, cause this chick is as cute and talented as an angel.  Her babyish vocals tend to be either hit or miss with most who I've had listen to her.  You'll either like them or rather not listen again, and shame if it's the latter, because you're missing out.  If you're into Bob Dylan, you'll probably be down to give her a try,  not to compare them lyrically or musically, but more of the mindset for opening yourself to a not typically mainstream vocal.

Go ahead and give her a listen, but do yourself a favor.  Dim the lights to a lamp or two, mute the TV, grab a set of nice headphones if they're near so you can set the environment to a chill setting where you can really let the music flow through and soak you to the bone.  I'm a big supporter of the effects of music varying depending on your state of mind and environment, so I indulge in these sorts of things.  Regardless, do enjoy.

I present:

Joanna Newsom - Jackrabbits
Listen if you like: Cat Power, Bjork, Stevie Nicks
www.dragcity.com/artists/joanna-newsom



Joanna Newsom - On A Good Day


Joanna Newsom - Soft as Chalk

What a lady.  I'm in love.  Damn you Andy Samberg.  Until next time...

Like A Tired Old Woman

Time to bring out someone I've yet to post a video of, but these guys are in my list of Top 5 musical acts.  Midlake has such an awesome sound to them.  If I had to compare them to someone, which I typically hate doing, I'd say they fall close to Mimicking Birds (who you should totally be familiar with because you dug through my earlier posts and have fallen in love with them).

Midlake has sent me off on so many hours listening through the music and picking out note by note on my guitar.  Perhaps that's why I love them so much, as you focus on a song in that way, you start to unravel all the different musical layers and really get a feel for all the separate pieces.  And in addition to a beautiful piece of music, they tend to make some pretty awesome music videos, such as this one, which tells it's very own awesome story.  My favorite part of the video:  the awesome library style shelves in the house filled to the brim with books.   Oh how I want something like that set up.

I present:

Midlake - Young Bride
Listen if you like: Radiohead, Mimicking Birds, Fleet Foxes
http://midlake.net/




Well, I can't get away without posting another great one.  Here's one that takes you to another time during the video, with simplistic visuals and some pretty interesting lyrics.

Midlake - Roscoe


That's it, hope you liked them.  If not, you're probably deaf, but that's OK, because I know Sign Language.  Well..... and typing.  I guess that's been pretty effective if you've gotten to here.  Until next time...

Time to Sleep All Day

Some nights you just live too hard.  A rude awakening the following morning will urge you to sleep all day.

Tonight was one of those.  While I have a blast when I wake up at the crack of 2:00 PM, you can entertain yourself with these killer videos.  First up is a great Sufjan finger picking song. After, I'm going to bust out one of my hidden gems.  These guys are called Fossil Collective.  They're still working on getting out the first album, and I cannot wait for it.  With a touch of haunting lyrics with a Thom Yorke-ish feel, if you like Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, or their ilk, these guys should be right up your alley.  Pair it with an awesome video, and I can't wait to buy their work.

I present:

Sufjan Stevens - We Wont Need Legs to Stand
Listen if you like: John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Vocals/Acoustics
http://www.sufjan.com



Fossil Collective - On and On
Listen if you like: Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, Mimicking Birds
http://fossilcollective.com/



That's enough for the night.  Enjoy and I'll be back.   ....  maybe.

SuperFolkGroup

Supergroups wind up producing some of the coolest songs, and this one is no different.  Monsters of Folk is composed of Jim James from My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes, and M. Ward of She & Him.   Very cool CD for a nice mellow folk listen.  Totally worth checking out.


I present:


Monster of Folk - Map of the World
Listen if you like: Bright Eyes, The Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, Folk
http://monstersoffolk.com/



Enjoy.  Until next time...

My soul was filled with crystal light

Man, that post from earlier got me onto a huge CocoRosie kick.  I'm going to confess something a little later that would never have happened with my old self.

CocoRosie has such an awesome talent, with eery female vocals and just an awesome overall rhythm, everyone should give CocoRosie a try.  This video is creepy as hell, but very awesome, and the chick in the video is so absolutely beautiful.  And for that confession, I think this is coming very close to being my favorite song ever.... and it's not by a man.




So good.  Go buy now.

Back in the groove...

Time to take this blog into a new direction.  The folk and bluegrass section is filling up, so time to dust off the ridiculous obsession section and bring out dubstep.

I still maintain that this video is damn near the best video to ever watch after you finish off a bowl.  It's intense.

I present:

The Firmament - Constellation
*Watch in HD quality*

Never Gonna Give Up

Alright, I'm back.   Decided I don't want to give up on this thing.  In the gap, I did manage to finish up to my last day in college, so at least I accomplished something.  One thing I did do for sure, was listen to a shit ton of music.  So I'll keep it short and sweet and fire off some rapid fire jams.  Enjoy.

I present:

Devendra Banhart - 16th & Valencia (Slow Version) Live on Jools Holland
Listen if you like: Folk, Nick Drake, Everly Brothers, unique music
http://www.devendrabanhart.com
(Turn volume up)


Six Organs of Admittance - Redefinition of Being
Listen if you like: Definitive Psychedelic Folk, Ambient
http://www.sixorgans.com


CocoRosie - Gallows
Listen if you like: Etheral, Portishead, Songs telling stories
http://www.myspace.com/cocorosie


Mirah - The Garden
Listen if you like: Female Vocalists
http://www.myspace.com/cmonmirah


Joanna Newsom - Sprout and the Bean
Listen if you like: Cat Power
www.dragcity.com/artists/joanna-newsom



If you know me personally, you're probably surprised at the amount of female vocalists I've been listening to (I am too).  I don't know what's up, maybe my sexism is fading.  I blame it on the awesomeness of their music.  Enjoy, and until next time...

The more I learn, the less I know

Damn beautiful day outside.  Perfect day to set up a hammock and kick back with a good book and some good music.  I'm off to do just that.  But I'll share some of that good music.  I'm a big fan of Devendra Banhart.  He makes weird music.  It's true.  He admits it.  But weird doesn't mean bad.  Give him a listen.  Here's one I like from his early days, from his album called The Charles C. Leary.


I present:

Devendra Banhart - Bish Bash Falls
Listen if you like: Folk, Nick Drake, Everly Brothers, unique music
http://www.devendrabanhart.com




And here's another one of my favorites of his.

Devendra Banhart  - Feel Just Like A Child



Have a great day.  Go enjoy the weather.

Sitting at the edge of the world...

Sticking to the more pop synth sound, I'm bringing out Polock.  With a kick ass album called Getting Down From The Trees, these guys are relatively new with a pretty rocking sound.  Seen here playing a take away show (there's actually an official video, but I like the take away show better)...


I present:

Polock - Fireworks
Listen if you like: Pop rock, Phoenix, The Kooks
http://www.myspace.com/polockband




If you're intrigued, look up their song Faster Love.  It's a good one.

And buy the album.  Until next time...

Isn't It All So Awesome

Going to shy away from the normal alternative acoustic scene and prove that I like more than one style.  Today i'm bringing you The Hundred in the Hands, a growing band on the indie scene who has some killer music that's been put out.  With a more electronic and synth pop sound, these guys are different than what you'll usually hear on the radio, but that's a good thing.

I present:

The Hundred in the Hands - Killing It
Listen if you like: Techno, Electronic, Synth drums, Daft Punk
http://www.thehundredinthehands.com




That's it.  Who knows what style will be next.  Until next time...

The Best Part of Waking Up...

Since good old Mother Nature decided to skip most of spring and just jumpstart right into summer, you gotta start your morning off right.  With a nice big cup of Bon Iver...

I present..

Bon Iver - Babys
Listen if you like:   Just listen
http://www.boniver.org



Have a great day.

Tell All Your Friends

Alright, today I'm going to to bring out one of my favorite up and coming bands.  I try to let everyone I know hear about Mimicking Birds.  I found out about these guys when they toured with Modest Mouse back in 2009, and since they dropped their first album in 2010, I've been hooked.  It's the first album I've listened to in a while where every song is awesome.  If you like great lyrics, these guys will be a breath of fresh air for you.  Check them out, buy the album, tell all your friends.  I want these guys to make more music.

I present two videos, for your pleasure:

Mimicking Birds - The Loop
Listen if you like: Modest Mouse, Radiohead, Sufjan Stevens
http://www.mimickingbirds.com








Mimicking Birds - 10%



Go buy their album.   It's worth it.

Ooh La La

It was a beautiful day today.  Light, airy spring feelings in the air and a great day to listen to these guys.  Coming with yet another Take Away Show, the Kooks will rock your socks off acoustically.

I present:

The Kooks - Ooh La

Listen if you like: The Arctic Monkeys, The Dandy Warhols, Vampire Weekend, Kings of Leon

http://www.thekooks.com

Hope you enjoyed it as much as those French kids.

Washed in the Rain

Bringing tonight to an early end with the ever ethereal Fleet Foxes.  Turn this track on as you're wrapping things up and heading to bed, or when kicking back and just enjoying being.    You won't regret it.


I present...

Fleet Foxes - Oliver James
Listen if you like: Radiohead, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, folk rock, Neil Young (solo)
http://www.fleetfoxes.com



Do enjoy.

SSDD

Back again with another Take Away Show.   This time, I bring to you the ridiculously talented Sufjan Stevens.  Showcasing his unbelievably enviable banjo skills, enjoy as you watch him serenade Montreal.

I present:

Sufjan Stevens - On the Lakes of Canada
Listen if you like: John Mayer, Jack Johnson, Vocals/Acoustics
http://www.sufjan.com




That's it.  Short and sweet.  Until next time...

Thoreau 2.0

It's been a Bon Iver type of day.  I seem to be having a lot of those lately, and that's a good thing.  If you haven't heard of Bon Iver, it's the pseudonym that Justin Vernon chose to release an album under.  After hitting a crossroads in life, Vernon took off to the woods, nothing in mind other than getting away.  While there, the music came, he found some old recording equipment, and three months later he emerged and released the powerfully emotion laden album For Emma, Forever Ago.  The lyrics can be haunting and at times bordering on hard to decipher wails and moans, but the emotions and feeling seep out of every inch of the album.  It's like a modern day, musical Walden, and Vernon is Thoreau.

Rather than gushing all day, I present two great ones:

Bon Iver - The Wolves (Act I & II)
Listen if you like:   Just listen
http://www.boniver.org



Bon Iver - Re: Stacks






Pick up the entire album to check it out. Very highly recommended.

Another Early Morning..

I knew it would be coming, but didn't know when.  Now I've got to post my favorite band.  They're a bit more namebrand than what you're supposed to find at a Goodwill, but who cares.

I present, the amazing:

Mumford & Sons - Thistles & Weeds
Listen if you like:  Great Music
http://www.mumfordandsons.com




Do buy their album.

Rainy Day Blues

The blues happen to be my favorite genre of music.  And there's this guy by the name of Amos Lee whose music has the absolute soul of the blues bottled up in it.  Highly recommended to listen to,  and if you're in the area of the Beale St. Music Festival in May, check him out live.  Now here's one of my favorite songs by him.

I present:

Amos Lee - Truth

Listen if you like:  Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jack Johnson

http://www.amoslee.com

If you liked that, check out his song called El Camino.  Another favorite of mine.

Until next time...

Late Night Musings

Oh a late night/early morning post. My prime listening hours.  Short and sweet for now.   Bringing your another Take Away Show, this time the angelic Priscilla Ahn.  With her debut album coming in May, which you should totally buy to support her, this is a soulful serenade called Dream.  Come on,  the chick is playing guitar with a Dylan style harmonica setup.  How can you not love it?

I present:

Priscilla Ahn  - Dream
Listen if you like: Bon Iver, Norah Jones, Frou Frou, Imogen Heap
http://www.priscillaahn.com




That'll do, pig....

One Man Band

Continuing along the Take Away Shows trail, gotta bring out a man by the name of Colin Stetson.  A badass New York musician of Arcade Fire fame, this guy can take a bass saxophone and outperform most bands you come across.  Whether it's sounding a like an electric guitar in overdrive, a hi hat crazy drummer, or a kick ass saxophone player, this guy's got it.   Posting parts 1 and 2 for your pleasure.

I present..

Colin Stetson - A Take Away Show, pt. 1 & 2
Listen if you like: Radiohead, Jazz, Solo Acts
http://www.colinstetson.com








I highly recommend checking out his album, New History Warfare.  Until next time...

What a dreary day...

Good morning!  I'm going to start this day off with a video that is just full of things I love.

First thing I love, acoustic sounds.  This video comes from quite possibly the coolest channel on all of Youtube, where a French guy hooks up with all of the best bands and stages "Take Away Shows" where they play songs on the go, acoustic, out in public.  It's awesome, and sure not going to be the last one I post.

Next thing I love, this band.   They're called Local Natives, from LA, and they rock.  Melodic vocals, killer harmony, and good music all around, totally worthy of your support.  Check out their website at http://www.thelocalnatives.com

Last thing I love, awesome facial hair.  Watch the video.  You'll see.

I present:

Local Natives - Who Knows Who Cares (A Take Away Show)
Listen if you like: Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear, Sufjan Stevens, Radiohead

Popping the Cherry

Alright, time to kick this off.  Keeping it sweet and simple, folks.  I'm all about spreading the love when it comes to good music.  I'm gonna post stuff here that I think is cool at the time. Enjoy, or not.

First up:


The Keys - Fire Inside.
Listen if you like: Animal Collective, The Black Keys, Frank Zappa.



Love that fresh sound.   Enjoy.


Normally, I plan to keep posts to one video a piece, and to have them be more accesible bands, but we'll start things off spicy.  Up next is a band that looks like it's made up of several creepy uncles, and you'll probably not find their music easily, but that doesn't stop them from rocking your eyes with a psychedelic sound.  I present...

The Moles - Fuller's Dram




That's it.  Be back in who knows long.