Leonard Cohen - Come Healing

By the way of continuing my previous post on great lyrics I add this song.  It's a great hymn like tune with very poetic and beautiful lyrics.  The intro part I could really get behind; they're deep and they're heavy.  And even though I wouldn't agree with all of the lyrics they're wonderfully stated combining the reality of both grace and cruelty that are dealt with by all people.

Come Healing

Behold the gates of mercy in arbitrary space. 

And none of us deserving the cruelty or the grace

O solitude of longing where love has been combined. 

Come healing of the body, come healing of the mind.  

The Features - Still Lost, Volume 1 (NoiseTrade)

NoiseTrade is sporting some excellent artists these days.  I recommend heading over there and cashing in your Email (and, perhaps a tip?) for some free music.

I downloaded The Features album of demos and alternate takes called Still Lost, Volume 1.  It has one of my favorite The Features songs, Temporary Blues.  (The number 1 spot is pretty much locked in for all time with Blow It Out).

It's a song about going out there and realizing that the happily-ever-after life doesn't come quite as easily as we would wish.  So, the guy trades his tennis shoes in for steel-toed rubber boots...earplugs and a funny net for his hair.  Ironically...he's now well prepared.  And, he's got the "temporary blues" while he's stuck at his dead-end job before he turns things around.  Favorite line: "pour some coffee with a Honeybun and small talk about the things we wish we'd done when we were young" (as all lyrics that I've ever typed...it's much better in the song).

...if you want an awesome song (UK version), go get it for free.  Leave a tip.

Also, their album, Some Kind Of Salvation , from 2008 is one of my wife and I's favorites.  You should check it out.  Heartfelt, humorous, and rocking.

Benji's Influence on Fitz and the Tantrums (Don't Gotta Work It Out)

Here's a breaking tidbit of Fitz & the Tantrum's gossip only to be found here at Mermaids Under the Wharf. Could it be that Benji has been a significant influence in the music of Fitz and the Tantrums?  Yes Benji, that little dog from the 80s...the Hunted...you remember.

Evidence?  Watch 10-15 seconds from each of the cued up clips below.  Credit goes to my wife for this exciting story.

Great Lyrics - Magnolia Electric Co. - The Dark Don't Hide It

I'm a lyrics guy. Music alone is emotional, evocative, inspirational, calming, and the list go on. But I always pay closest attention to lyrics. The craft of story telling, illuminating an emotion, or the craft of using poetic devices to tread together short and cohesive thoughts.

One of my favorite types of lyrics illuminate the human condition. This lyric from Magnolia Electric Co. gives great perspective and a chilling reality to the human condition.

"Now death is gonna hold us up in the mirror and say we’re so much alike we must be brothers.
See I had a job to do but people like you been doing it for me to one another."

Combine audio and visual with the free mp3 download of a great live version of this song from the band's label Secretly Canadian Below is the link:

http://www.secretlycanadian.com/artist.php?name=magnolia

Regina Spektor - What We Saw From The Cheap Seats

Listened to the full album today on NPR and it was very enjoyable. Fun with nice insights and commentaries on the human condition. The first three tracks were great. Fun and catchy but seemed like they're more substantial than cheap pop.

The thing I liked about this album is what I like about Pavement/Stephen Malkmus, the songs are unpredictable in musical direction and lyrical bends. The link is below.

http://m.npr.org/story/152939196?url=/2012/05/20/152939196/first-listen-regina-spektor-what-we-saw-from-the-cheap-seats

Free Music Monday - New Mindy Smith

Man oh man, did she come out swinging in her debut record. Her sophomore release wasn't bad, but you felt like there was going to be something really special about Mindy Smith. By the third album, you wondered if the original flare was gone. The new self-released album is supposed to be a full circle "back to the beginning" sort of album.

To me, that would mean heartfelt and emotional songs. She's always penned "emotional" songs; listen and compare "Come To Jesus" and "Highs And Lows" the third and fourth tracks on this EP. Both are "emotional" but "Come To Jesus" is heartfelt and heartfelt. Track two of this EP "If I" does just that. A listen is rewarded by an emotionally building ending. I'm excited to hear the full album.

Go here:
www.noisetrade.com/mindysmith

Joshua's Favorite Songs of the Last Month - 05/15/12

Here are the songs I repeat-listened to the most over the last month or so.



Orange Blossoms - Forlorn love...
Ho Hey - More forlorn love...both songs are happily reminiscent, though, so it's fun forlorness.
Return of the Grevious Angel - One of my favorite songs.  Super good cover of it.
Farther Along - Love again.
I Wish It Would Rain - I couldn't get enough of The Temptations last month.  I still can't.  This one hit the spot in a way it hadn't before.
Dirty Paws - Reminds me of Arcade Fire, The xx...it's a good mixture.
No Surrender - It reminded me of graduating, of seeing Marc bring 20 CDs to class for me to listen to...another good mixture.
Norah Jones' Happy Pills would also be on the list, but I couldn't find it on Grooveshark.

Free Music Monday - Roots For Rain

I fear my theological slip is now showing...but here's a great new kids album from some great song-writers.  The words were written by a great children's writer Sally Lloyd Jones.  I think the whole thing is...well great!  The whole album is available tomorrow the 15th.

We learned more from a 3 minute record than we ever learned in school

I graduate seminary today after 7 years of taking classes.  I'm busting out of class as the song goes.  My buddy, Marc, was smart and busted out a couple years ago.  Seminary is where the two of us met...the world has never been the same.

Here's to 3 minute records...blood brother-ship....and romantic dreams in our heads...

 

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Oh Susannah

Here it is.  The first peak at the "Americana" Album.  By this first track it's what I wanted musically.  Judging by the music video, it's what Neil Young would have wanted "Little House on the Prairie" to have been like.  Good music, weird dude.

KEXP 90.3 FM - Live Performance: Damien Jurado on 2/16/2012

Recently downloaded and listened to this recording of Damien Jurado and a uncommonly large back up band on KEXP radio station.  They have some nice podcasts if you're into that sort of thing.

KEXP 90.3 FM - Live Performance: Damien Jurado on 2/16/2012

New Music by The Head and the Heart courtesy of Fuel/Friends

Check out a couple new songs by The Head and the Heart over at the Fuel/Friends blog.  Chapel Sessions #15.  ...that is alot of chapel sessions.
http://www.fuelfriendsblog.com/2012/05/08/fuelfriends-chapel-session-15-the-head-and-the-heart-encore/

The Wallflowers - At Schubas

I don't know if any of our readers (whoever you are) are in the Chicagoland area, but if you are then I've got exciting news for you.  So (assuming you regularly read the blog) you know that I am a huge Jakob Dylan fan; which by extension would mean a Wallflowers fan.  I've already admitted to the bad musical direction from the band after the (Breach) album, but Jakob Dylan's solo albums more than atone for the sins of the former band.  All that said, I think a great Wallflowers album is brewing, and they are touring to "try out" the new material.  And the cozy confines of Schubas in Chicago is one of the stops.  If you've never been to Schubas it is a wonderful place to see a show, blogging about it cannot capture the greatness of this small club!  I emphasize small, because to see this type of band and in that type of setting will be very memorable and I anticipate enjoyable.  The small number of tickets go on sale Saturday.  Other tour dates available here.

Coldplay’s tribute to Adam Yauch - You've Gotta Fight For Your Right to Party

"Mom, you're just jealous it's the Beastie Boys"


via neonlimelight.com

Free Music Monday - J.D. McPherson - North Side Gal

I first heard of this guy on my local Chicago radio station XRT and I was drawn in by the Chuck Berry like guitar and throw back sound.  Then I heard this live sxsw performance on KEXP Live Performance Podcast.  If you like some of that rock and roll music...then you gotta check this guy out.

Free Songs on Amazon on Cinco de Mayo 2012

Enjoy some free music today.....



 
 
 

May - Marc's Top 5 Albums For $5 On Amazon.com

May!  Perhaps Amazons biggest variety month.  I snuck a peak at Josh's pics before having my own solidified (something I hadn't done so far).
In order of recommendations:


Soul Time: I've blogged about it before.  It rocks.


Nothing Is Wrong: A really good album for a really low price.



World Wide Rebel Songs: Growing up in the 90's I was/am a Rage fan, so I'm always curious when the best guitar player of the 90's (can I say that?) puts out an album.  This so far, is Mr. Morello's strongest release (besides Rage of course!).



Art Blakey - Moanin': Josh is right, this a really good record.  And your coolness increases with every listen.



Circuital: So the album isn't as "full circle" in their career is at claims to be and its not their best...but it's not their worst.  It's catchy where it needs to be catchy.  It scratches that pop itch, but indie flair.

May - Joshua's Top 5 Albums for $5 at Amazon.com

1. The Lumineers - The Lumineers.  Easiest first choice ever, or, at least, since John Denver showed up last month.  "329.5" is the estimated number of times I've listened to "Ho Hey" over the last week and a half.

2. Transformation of Vincent - M. Ward.  It's the album that first introduced me to M. Ward.  For this reason I have a hard time being objective about the album...it's currently my second favorite M. Ward album.  And, it holds several of my favorite M. Ward songs: Vincent O'Brien (inspiration for the blog title), Sad Sad Song, Helicopter.

3. Soul Time! - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings.  I'm embarassed that I sort-of forgot about this album from last year.  It was getting some heavy Saturday morning breakfast rotation at our home...I'll have to break it back out this weekend.

 

4. Moanin' - Art Blakey.  One of my favorite jazz albums.  It will also be one of your favorite jazz albums if you listen to it.

 

5. Something Else - Cannonball Adderly.  Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderly, Art Blakey.  Supergroup.  Two jazz albums in my list this month.  It's a record.


Honorable Mentions (pretty great month of Amazon $5 albums):
Circuital - My Morning Jacket.
Diamonds On The Inside - Ben Harper
Nothing Is Wrong - Dawes
Animal Joy - Shearwater
Stars And Satellites - Trampled By Turtles.

Songs for Strutting

These songs give me swagger.  They make me walk and drive a little cooler.
Maybe they'll make you surf the interweb with a swagger too.



1. Midnight Rambler - The Allman Brothers

2. Sweet Thang - Shuggie Otis

3. Make It Rain - Tom Waits

4. Tenth Avenue Freeze Out - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

Free Music Monday - Partisan Records 2011 Sampler

The number one reason I highlight this sampler is for the Dolorean track "Country Clutter."  It is a beautiful song that still gets me still, more than a year after its release.  But the sampler has more than one good song.  In my opinion, the first five tracks are outstanding and have their place in your musical collection.  The rest is hit or miss, with Deer Tick and Mountain Man representing the "hits" so to speak.  An impressive sampler and definitely succeeds its purpose in expanding the musical radar.

 

The Coolest Song of the Week - Ho Hey by The Lumineers

Here's my favorite song of the week.  Acoustic guitars as the best.  Love songs are the best.

Of Monsters and Men - My Head Is an Animal - It rocks - It rolls - It copies the Arcade Fire - but, it's all okay...really

I frequently find myself wanting to like an album for various reasons.  It's rare that I find myself wanting to not like an album.  The new Of Monsters and Men album has not been love at first sight.  Their Arcade Fire attempts at anthem-ic-ness and their chorus-y "hey"s rubbed me the wrong way.  Don't get me wrong, I have nothing wrong with (copying) paying tribute to another artists sound.  Two of my favorite artist, Dylan and Springsteen, have first albums that sound a whole lot like them pretending to be their heroes.  But, so blatantly copying a contemporary....   It made me not want to like the album.

But, for some reason, I keep hitting the play button.  And, every time, that album, My Head is an Animal, keeps growing on me...fighting as an underdog for its position high on my list heavily played albums.

King and Lionheart, Mountain Sound, Little Talks, Your Bones are the best places to start.  $5 on Amazon.  Get it.

http://www.myspace.com/ofmonstersandmenmusic/music

Of Monsters and Men Spotify playlist of songs that inspired their album

The Black Keys - El Camino - $5 on Amazon this week

Leadbelly - In Honor Of Jack White's New Album "Blunderbuss"

Like Bruce Springsteen, Jack White's greatness comes in his foundational love and appreciation for the music that came before him.  Music is his muse.  So in dedication to Jack White's new album "Blunderbuss" I present a minimalist recording of all minimalist recordings.  It's everything Jack White recreates in his music; raw, stripped down, rhythmic.  All that's missing from Leadbelly is the "melt-your-face off" guitar solos that Jack White does so well.  Here's to you Jack White and no doubt one of your musical influences.  

Live To Rise - Soundgarden

Type "Live To Rise Soundgarden" into the iTunes search bar in the iTunes store and you have until Tuesday April 24th to download it for free!!  Long live the 90's!

Free Music Monday - Nashville Film Festival 2012 Mixtape

Here's a rule that I use for downloading stuff online, if it has Bleu on it, download it.  Add Waterdeep, Sandra McCracken, Jill Phillips, and Langhorn Slim on it too; then you've good yourself a might fine sampler.  Enjoy.

Record Store Day - April 21 2012

Here are some songs to be in your head while you celebrate Record Store Day. If you're real ambitious you could turn into a playlist on whatever mp3 (ACC, etc.) player of your choice.

1. Pearl Jam - Spin The Black Circle

Vinyl sales are up 50% from last year. This should be turn table distributors rock anthem.

2. Jeff Buckley - Kick Out The Jams

Any on his live albums have this song. It's a great rock anthem about rocking out loud and rocking out proud. It's not an original, but in his mysterious white boy sound, he makes it his own.

3. Roll Over Beethoven

Fielders choice on Chuck Berry or E.L.O. I dig both versions and both embody the ridiculous calling out classical music to yield its reign to rock and roll. I laugh and rock out whenever I hear either version of the song.

4. The Smiths - Panic

3 reasons for this song: 1.) if you're in to record store day, then you probably have a lower than higher view of mainstream disc jockeys which get the snub in this song 2.) what's more indie than displaying love for The Smiths 3. It's a really good song!

5. Velvet Underground - Rock And Roll

This song is so cool.

6. Kiss - God Gave Rock And Roll To You II

Two More Amazon Five Dollar Deals

In case you haven't picked up the Shakes record yet, and 5 bucks for M. Ward, that's always a deal.

Free Music Monday - Nettwerk Spring Music Sampler 2012

The lead off track by the Great Lake Swimmers is worth the download alone.  A great song that will probably lead to multiple listens within one day and/or sitting.  It's a fine straight forward "feel good" song.  Plus you got a little fun. and William Fitzsimmons along the way.  Enjoy.

Horse Feathers - Cynic's New Year

 

Horse Feathers is acoustic folk music with great strings and sweet melodies.  Be warned, rocking rollers, it's mellow.  NPR has the album preview here.  It's really beautiful.  I really enjoyed listening to it.  It's simple folk song writing dressed up with great arrangements.  It is an album that will be long lasting to a musical rotation/collection.

Playlist of Original Artists/Songs Covered on Counting Crows Underwater Sunshine

Here are a couple playlist options in case you want to check out the original songs that the Counting Crows covered for Underwater Sunshine:

Rhapsody Playlist (missing 1 song)
Spotify Playlist (missing 2 songs)

Don't miss this excellent explanation of the songs on the Paste site:
http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2012/03/exclusive-album-stream-counting-crows-underwater-s.html

Bonus:
And, because of some deep-seeded OCD issues, Underwater Sunshine interspersed with the originals.  (This feels like a musical-nerdiness-point-of-no-return...)
Rhapsody
Spotify

Joshua's 5 Cover Albums In Honor of "Underwater Sunshine" by Counting Crows

 

I wasn't as ambitious as Marc was in coming up with cover albums.  Here are 5 that I think you should check out.

1. The Isley Brothers - Givin' it Back
I came across this album earlier in the year, and it gave me a whole new respect The Isley Brothers' credibility.  The arrangements for these songs are amazing.  Fire and Rain and Ohio/Machine Gun being two great examples.

2. Johnny Cash - American III
It's hard to pick which Johnny Cash album for a cover album list.  On most days, American III is my favorite of the American Recording albums.  I Won't Back Down is my favorite song on the album.  I think the rest all tie for second.

3. Cat Power - The Covers Record
To be honest, I hadn't heard of Cat Power or her Covers Record album until about a month ago when Marc and I first started talking about our favorite cover albums.  Since then, I can't decide if I like the album or, maybe, dislike it.  It's not an easy record to listen to, because it's so stripped down.  But, I think it's not easy to listen to in a Low Anthem minimalistic way.  It seems like she's up to something good, and, I keep listening to pieces of the album.  It's worth checking out, if nothing else than for her cover of I Can't Get No Satisfaction.

4. Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan's first album is 90% cover songs.  I doubt if it's anyone's favorite Dylan album, but, it has some really strong songs on it.  My personal favorite are when he gets Basement-Tapes-loose and sings Pretty Peggy-O, Gospel Plow, Baby Let Me Follow You Home.

5. Bruce Springsteen - The Seeger Sessions (American Land Edition)
From the beginning to the end, great folk music.  I find myself playing this album more than alot of the E Street band music.  The album has a lighthearted fun-ness to it, that is hard to beat, in my opinion.

A couple honorable mentions: 
Joan Baez - Baez Sings Dylan
Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head (Tom Waits covers...this would have been my 6th pick, if I would have gone for a top 10 list.)