Colorado cranks out some amazing musicians … The Fray is probably the biggest name to come out of the Centennial State that most people would be familiar with, but my playlist is chock full of Colorado musicians.  The Heyday, Fierce Bad Rabbit, Air Dubai, and really, do I need to profess my love any more for Christopher Jak?

Well, that list also includes singer-songwriter Tim Hanauer, whose last full-length album, Time for Change was a well-worn out record for me in 2009.  If you don’t know his work, you may actually have heard it and just not be aware of it: his music has been featured on musical breakout show “One Tree Hill.”

Tim’s got a new EP coming out on February 1st called Wind-Up Toy.  As of today, you can preview this dreamy new piece of work over at his website.  And, if you sign up for the mailing list, you’ll get a free download of the first single, “This Is.”

I give it two thumbs up.  Can’t wait for this EP!

(2/1/10 edit – Pick up Wind-Up Toy here! It’s so deliciously fabulous…Worth adoration.)

More Tim:  Website | Facebook | MySpace | iTunes

Earlier this year, thanks to one of my besties and fellow music junkie Shelia, I got to see South African rockers Civil Twilight perform.  Holy crap…these kids can rock.  And seriously…violin bow meets guitar…hello, fabulous.  Solid writing, killer vocal, all around thumbs up from me.  I went home and bought the album that night on iTunes.

If you’re looking for some new rock music to check out, pick up Civil Twilight’s album at Amazon TODAY only for $3.99.  It’s worth that just for the song “Trouble.”

If you’re looking for some new rock music to check out, pick up Civil Twilight’s album at Amazon TODAY only for $3.99.  It’s worth that just for the song “Trouble.”

I am ashamed to admit that I don’t read enough.  I love to read, and when I was younger, would voraciously devour books.  I clearly remember my mom subscribing me to a book club when I was 11 or 12 and then getting frustrated with me because I’d get my four new books in the mail and read them all in just a few days.  Last week, on vacation, I read two books cover to cover and made a vow to myself, as I do every year, to read more.

When I was 13 years old, I read To Kill A Mockingbird for the first time.  I loved it instantly.  I fell head over heels for Atticus Finch, found bits of myself in Scout, and so wanted Jem to be my big brother.  Just like Scout, Boo Radley and his gifts in the tree filled me with curiosity.  While I understood the racial inequality (and maybe, to a lesser extent, the social injustices) the book addressed, I don’t know if my 13-year old brain grasped why I cried while reading it the first time.  I’ve read it at least a dozen times since, and every time, I still cry.  And every time I read it, I come away with some new understanding of the world.  It is far and away my favorite book of all time.

This past week, I stumbled upon a newspaper article that talked about the anniversary of the book’s publication.  This weekend – July 11th – will mark 50 years since this amazing work of literature was written.  Harper Lee was a year younger than me when the book was published – 34 years old.  From the accounts that I’ve read, she spent a little over two years writing the book, so that would mean that she wrote this brilliant novel in her early 30s.  I’m astounded and fascinated by that.  Especially since she set the book in the years just after the Great Depression, when she would have been just a little bit older than her narrator.  Add that to her bravery in tackling social issues in the midst of one of the most contentious times in U.S. history, and you can easily understand why I think so highly of her as a writer. And yet, she’s never published another book.  What a loss for us in the reading public.

I think, this weekend, I’ll pick up my favorite book and celebrate its publication by reading it yet again.  And I’m sure that when I’m done, I’ll feel inspired, as I always do.

Back in November, I went to see Pete Yorn. I love Pete, thanks in large part to Christy…he’s from New Jersey, after all. How could I not love him?

Whether or not I was there to see Pete, the show was completely stolen from him by the opening act.

Enter The Enemy Lovers from Asheville, NC. This four-piece literally rocked my world that night, and I’ve now seen them twice since and each time, I lose a little bit of my musical heart to them. Thought provoking and enormously insightful lyrics, strong melodies, fantastic driving guitar solos…Just plain good rock n’ roll, yet really unique.

The core of the band, brothers Tim and Steven Scroggs, have an intriguing story: growing up, they were home schooled, and while always musical with their family and in their church, they didn’t start listening to rock and popular music until they were much older. Tim was actually going to record as a singer-songwriter, and Steven tagged along to the studio for fun and support, and ended up playing with him…and the band was born.

On stage, these kids just have an insane musical chemistry. They’ve definitely got that sibling “harmony” thing happening. Steven is a really solid guitar player; that said, he lets his brother, Tim, have the spotlight. Tim also plays guitar and is definitely the most animated member of the band – very dramatic, definitely taking some cues from Chris Martin. Drummer Kent Rector does some backing vocal and is a strong player, and Kevin Stipe, perhaps the most understated member of the band, adds to the rhythm section on bass. They work really well together already – give them another year or two and they’ll be the tightest act around.

The band has recently connected with Mike Daly (of Whiskeytown fame) who will be producing their new record…I have a feeling that once the world at large hears this band, they’re going to flash bang onto the national scene in no time. So, visit iTunes and pick up their debut EP now.

Don’t make me say I told you so.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | MySpace

I love “Deadliest Catch.” I’m quite obsessed with it, actually.

Very saddened to hear tonight about Captain Phil Harris. He and the Cornelia Marie crew are one of my favorites on the show. My heart goes out to his family and his crew.

Rest in peace, Captain Phil.