Summer is FINALLY here…after a really long winter and a miserable spring, I’m more than ready for 90+ degree temps and 100% humidity. I really need to move to an island.
Although summer doesn’t officially start for a few weeks, I’ve been hard at work on the Summer Mix and it’s finally ready to share.
If you’re not into reading the liner notes (which you should be for this one, just saying), this Mix marks a bit of a milestone: 1,000 songs shared in Krissie Mixes. *insert confetti and noisemakers here*
While I’ve moved on from burning hundreds of CDs and keeping the post office in business with mailing them out, making the “Mix” is still my favorite thing to do. It’s always been my goal to help people find new music that speaks to them, so if you find something new that hits your ears just right, I’d love to hear about it.
Anyway…thanks for listening for all these years, you guys. You’re the best.
The past week has been an emotional roller coaster for me with my Mom undergoing some pretty serious surgery. Lots of road miles, lots of listening to the ole iPod in the car…Here are some of the tunes that have been keeping me company.
1. No Parachute – The Soldier Thread (click to hear a preview in iTunes) It’s hard for me to pick just one song off of The Soldier Thread’s new EP to put on the Sunday Funday list because I really have been listening to it non-stop since it was released two weeks ago. This is the first track on the little 5-song, and I completely LOVE it. Unfortunately, it’s not on SoundCloud, so you’ll have to live with the little iTunes preview.
2. Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye
I don’t often listen to the radio, but this week, on short jaunts to and from the office I’ve caught this tune on 106.5 The End a few times, and I completely dig it. The dude’s voice reminds me a lot of Sting, which probably has a lot to do with it.
3. Mercy – Counting Crows (Tender Mercies Cover)
There are a handful of musicians/bands that I live for…Counting Crows is one of them. So when they announced this week that they’re officially releasing a new album (of covers) in April, I got pretty excited. The first single, “Mercy,” just makes me so happy. Another one that’s not on SoundCloud…but this one you can pick up for free (at least right now) over at the Counting Crows site.
4. The Wandering (Acoustic) – Ryan Bingham (click to hear a preview in iTunes)
This one is only appropriate on an awards night. Despite winning an Oscar for “The Weary Kind,” not enough people know this gorgeous man’s music. Oh how I love scruffy men with raspy voices. Ryan’s live performance this year at Amos’ (see Best of 2011 list) has made me a fan for life, so when he announced this week that an acoustic version of “The Wandering” off his album Junky Star, I immediately went and downloaded it. His voice is just insane.
5. Lost & Found – Eve 6 (click to hear a preview on iTunes)
I didn’t even know that 90s “heart-in-a-blender” rockers Eve6 had new music out until iTunes alerted me this week and you can bet your happy ass I went and downloaded their new song IMMEDIATELY. Sometimes, a girl just needs a fun rock n’ roll song to boost her spirits. And this does the trick. Love, love, love these guys.
2012 is off to a tremendous start with lots of new music being released and/or announced. This week’s Sunday Funday playlist features new stuff from some old favorites…and one track from a new band that is soon to be a favorite. Happy Sunday!
1. “Over It” – Son of a Bad Man
It’s no secret how much I adore this little Jacksonville band. Their new album Here’s to the Falling In came out this week, and I’ve been completely obsessive about it. This song has gotten a redonculous number of plays. It’s upbeat and fun and I just love it. Unfortunately, it’s not on SoundCloud, so you’ll have to go over to iTunes to play the sample.
3. “Heart of Me” – Green River Ordinance
Another one of my favorite little pop-rock bands has a new album coming out in a couple of weeks. The GRO boys released the first single from their forthcoming album Under Fire for free download. Again, not on SoundCloud, but you can go pick it up here. It’s everything happy and wonderful I expect from these five sweethearts!
4. “Pretty Bones” – The Soldier Thread
New EP coming this week from one of my Austin favorites… My appetite for their music is insatiable. Can’t wait for it to arrive in my mailbox!
5. “Feather on the Clyde” – Passenger
There’s so much new music coming out in the next six weeks that I am over the moon. One of the new albums I’m looking forward to most is All the Little Lights from Passenger (pre-order it here). Christy turned me onto this Brit’s music a few years ago and I have been obsessive ever since. This will be one of the tracks…Mike’s voice is just so gorgeous. Puts my restless soul at ease right now.
First week in awhile I’ve had to really sit down and listen to some new music…of course, a lot of it is by some of my old favorites, but there’s a few new voices that have snuck in.
1. “Walking Shoes” – Red Wanting Blue
I am totally in love with Red Wanting Blue’s new album, The Vanishing Point. It’s half love song to a person, half love song to being in a band. This is my favorite of the latter songs, and possibly my favorite on the album, catchy as all get out. And the first line is so awesome…”I am the blurred out background spot in that photo on your wall.”
2. “Brother” – Matt Corby
Apparently, this fella won Australian Idol a few years ago or something…but I am digging his voice in a big way. That throaty chorus gets to my bones. Of course, you can’t buy anything here in the States. So frustrating. Luckily, this song was available for free download on a few websites. Side note: Passenger fans, Matt sang on Passenger’s latest release, Flight of the Crow.
3. Foy Vance – Be the Song
When I was in Ireland, I had a conversation with Christy’s very hot podiatrist (don’t ask – long story) about Irish/local music and he told me I should check out Foy Vance. I downloaded a few of his older albums and have been loving them. Then, noticed he had recorded a Daytrotter session in Decemeber, and downloaded that, too. The three-song session is AMAZING, and this might be my favorite. Love, love, love.
4. “Tokyo” – Imagine Dragons
I bought Imagine Dragons It’s Time this past summer, but for the past couple of weeks, I’ve had it on repeat. I just love this song…It’s so…FUN. You MUST check out the video. It will make you laugh, and want to dance around your living room.
5. “We Take Care of Our Own” – Bruce Springsteen
An unexpected surprise this week…Bruce releases a single and announces the much anticipated new album release date. Not as much of a surprise, the song has a very “Born In the USA”-esque type theme to it. A questioning, “What are we doing to help each other get through in hard times” kind of song. “Where are the hearts that run over with mercy,” strikes me as the most poignant line. A challenge, almost, for people to reinvigorate the American spirit. And damn, it sounds so good at top volume in the car!
Yeah, I know. Long overdue. What can I say … life’s been crazy and it’s all I can do to keep up with breathing, let alone music. But, I do have a couple of tracks that have been burning up the old music machines around chez Krissie. And here they are, for your listening enjoyment.
1. Ruby Soho (Rancid Cover) – Jimmy Cliff
If there is any one person that I should thank for my love of music, it’s my Dad. He was my earliest influencer, and Santa gave me tapes as gifts when I was as young as 7 (point in case, Springsteen’s Born to Run). When I was about 10 years old, Dad, who I think was probably meant to live in the Caribbean, came back from a trip with Jimmy Cliff. He dubbed me a tape copy of Hanging Fire, and I must have listened to “Brown Eyes” a million times on my boom box. Since then, I’ve had a fascination with Jimmy, and was stoked to see him release a little EP of covers a few weeks ago. This fun, upbeat reggae twist on one of my favorite cult 90s classics is my favorite.
2. ‘Til My Heart Gives Out (Mountain Song) – The Lusitania
My friends over at Alternative Addiction gave me a heads up about this San Antonio, Texas band a couple of weeks ago and their 2010 album, Rain and Rivers, has been in rotation ever since. If you’re a fan of The Avett Brothers, OAR, or The Grand Magnolias, you’re going to like this band. Got a little country-bluegrass-pop-punk thing happening. As the temperatures drop, this is the kinda music that keeps me rolling down the river in mid-summer in my mind.
3. Bumps in the Night – The Ruse
Also putting out an EP within the last few weeks is my favorite little LA rock outfit, The Ruse. These fellas know how to put together a rock song, and the Rebellion EP is no exception. Two tracks, in particular, have reinvigorated my craving for guitar-driven rock n’ roll, and this is one of them (for the other, In Defense of the Rebellion, visit here). And I’ve said it already, but I’ll say it again…Jason Young, their drummer, is my hero.
4. The Heyday – Somebody to Someone
There is no denying my love for infectious little pop songs, and no band writes more ear wormy, hand clapping ditties than The Heyday out of Colorado. The fellas put out a new single this week, and it is full of hooky goodness … Bonus: the god of production and songwriting that is Christopher Jak had a hand in it. If this song doesn’t make you wish for being 17 and taking a roadtrip with your best friends, I don’t know what will.
5. Holy Ghost – Flagship
This is actually an older song that’s been redone. I wrote awhile ago about two of Charlotte’s young, promising acts – Flagship and Campbell the Band – merging. They decided to ditch a new name and stick with Flagship. This weekend, they put up a video of them performing an older Flagship song, “Holy Ghost” … wow. Forget that every video they put up is outstanding in its production… I am so in love with Drake Margolnick’s voice. It’s just intoxicating. Mesh an already tremendous song with the players’ from Campbell the Band’s ability to write some melancholic little melodies, you have a hit just waiting to happen. Telling you now, watch these kids. They’re going to do big things.
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