Tag Archives: red wanting blue

The New Music Drought Is Over

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Is it just me, or is spring in the air?

I’m sitting in New Jersey right now, looking outside at a beautiful sunny day, and the weather folks are promising temperatures in the 50s today. Winter is definitely in the rearview mirror…And I could not be happier!  Bring on sunshine!  Bring on 80 degrees!

Meteorologists are the only one with bright forecasts these days.  Seems like there’s beaucoup de new music on the horizon in my world.  Lots of my old and new favorites are putting out new music this spring.  Because I love ’em, I’m just going to make a short list here of the new music that’s come out recently or that IS coming out soon… So go pre-order and get your hands on some hot new stuff for spring!

The Sunday Funday Playlist – January 22, 2011

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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!

The Sunday Funday Playlist – October 9, 2011

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1.  Audition – Red Wanting Blue

I was way late jumping on the Red Wanting Blue bandwagon.  These guys have been around for a decade, and I only started listening to them in February after seeing them with Erinn when they opened for Honor By August.  I am completely in love with Scott Terry’s voice and his old-school rock band dedication to making music.  Their new album, From the Vanishing Point, comes out in January, but this is the first single.  I have been singing it for days now.

2.  The Fear – Ben Howard

Brit songster Ben Howard’s new album Every Kingdom was released this week and it’s GORGEOUS.  This song speaks so much truth to me right now it almost breaks my heart. “I’ve been worrying that I’m losing the ones I hold dear; I’ve been worrying that we all live our lives in the confines of fear.” Brilliant writing.  This acoustic version is especially stunning.

3.  State of Love & Trust (Pearl Jam Cover) – Gaslight Anthem

New iTunes Session up for pre-order this week…some of my favorite Jersey boys, Gaslight Anthem.  Bunch of great covers listed, but this one was available to purchase and I’m SO STOKED about it.  This song was my anthem for the summer of 1996, when I was dating Charlie, a Pearl Jam nut who played drums in a cover band.  I spent the entire summer driving back and forth from Chestertown to Annapolis to see him play and I swear, I probably had six different mix tapes with this song on it.  Such memories.  Gaslight does it justice.  Unfortunately, the rock version isn’t available on SoundCloud…but this version, an acoustic version that sounds like it was recorded in someone’s living room after a couple of beers and is complete with them talking about the intricacies of the “guitar part”, is.  And it’s still awesome. Rock on, guys.

4.  Chains of Love – Ryan Adams

On Friday, Ryan’s new album, Ashes & Fire, arrived in my mailbox and although I’ve only had a few spins through it, I’m already well “in like” with the whole record.  Ryan’s one of those artists that is so complex sometimes that it takes me a good few weeks to get through all the layers and figure out what I really love.  That said, I can tell you that this record is way more up my alley than some of the stuff he’s done in the past few years.  Way back to his singer-songwriter style, that I love … So far, this one is my favorite.  But that’s bound to change by next week.

5.  Breaking – Christopher Jak

An exchange of e-mails with one of my favorite songwriters this week has inspired the last track of the Sunday Funday playlist.  See the post before this for me going on (and on and on) about Christopher Jak and his unbelievable talent.  This song is from his Folk EP, which you can download for free right now on Noisetrade.  Just listen to the first freaking line…the man is poet.