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I have to just admit right now that I’m really not feeling it today. Whatever “it” is. The approaching holiday with everything surrounding it, the fact that this is the shortest day of the year, and that fact that it is a grey and rainy day here in Nashville… But, I will press onward… rest assured…
The “Earies” are getting down to the wire. Our last six awards are forthcoming. It is getting difficult to decide which award to post. Do I save one for right toward the end or do I go ahead and post it now… who have I forgotten… what should I call this or that award… but I don’t really have time for all that existential overthinking…
Consider this the counter-point to the “All the Young Dudes” award – kind of… I will call it the “Southern Women Showcase” Award focusing on some of the excellent music I came across this year that happened to come from female artists who either live in or originated the southern part of the United States) (or both)….
1. Tiffany Huggins Grant – A Jonquil Child from Smyrna, Georgia (now a Nashville resident). Tiffany released here stunning album, Jonquil Child early this year, and it serves as an excellent testimony to her extraordinary vocal abilities and her strength as a songwriter. The album was produced and features guitar work from fellow “Earie” winner – Mark Robinson.
2. Amy Black – Although she recently relocated from Boston to the Nashville area, Amy Black grew up near (but apart from) the music mecca of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Her recent album, The Muscle Shoals Sessions includes classic and lesser known tracks recorded in that fertile ground – plus a few original compositions inspired by recording and being around that hallowed ground.
3. Angela Easterling – Hailing from South Carolina, Angela Easterling released the amazing, Common Law Wife this year. The album is a showcase of her amazing abilities as a singer/songwriter. Coincidently (or whatever) both Easterling’s album and Amy Black’s album feature the guitar work of Nashville icon, Will Kimbrough.
I was fortunate enough to see all of these talented artists perform live during 2015, and I look forward to what they each have in store in the future.
We have three shuffles before Christmas… so let’s have our second installment of the Red Cup Season Playlist shuffle. Remember – I tried to pick a name for this playlist that could not possibly cause offense. Red Cup seemed like a pretty neutral thing….
Just as E2TG strives to cover music from as many different angles has possible, today’s shuffle pretty much does the same with holiday music.
“Tree” by Batkhi Dahn
The opening track from the Batkhi Dahn Christmas EP. This one is about that classic Christmas symbol – the Tree – oh Tannenbaum. No, it is not that song. To add this EP to your collection simply use the widget below.
“Yancey Woodchuck’s Barbeque” from Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas
I’ve come to the realization that even though Emmet Otter was a Christmas special, the music was not particularly Christmasy.. This track records the moment when ol’ Yancey Woodchuck performs the song that Emmet and his Jugband were going to perform. Even though his performance was subpar, our heroes were forced to quickly rehearse an alternate song. You may recall, they went with the Metallica song, “Enter Sandman”… I think – it’s been years since I’ve seen the show.
“The Bathing Suit She Wore” from Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas
What says the Holidays more than a song about the extremely large bathing suit once worn by your deceased Grandma Otter? Not much, not much!
“Santa’Self (F*ck Your Christmas Party)” by Butch Walker
Thankfully, the Christmas party I attended this weekend was not like the one described in this song, but I do know what Butch Walker is talking about. Some NSFW language unless you are wearing headphones or working from home.
“Little Drummer Boy” by Future of Forestry
“Carol of the Bells” by Future of Forestry
I just grabbed hold of a holiday sampler from Future of Forestry on Noisetrade. These are some lovely and original arrangements of some classic songs.
“kom alle getroues” (O Come All Ye Faithful) by Velodrones
“Bleibet meine freude/Bron van al my Vreugde” (Joy of Man’s Desiring) by Velodrones
In a moment of inattentiveness, I first played this now (seemingly) unavailable velodrones EP in the Summer last year, before realizing it was some lovely experimental arrangements of Christmas tunes mostly sung in Turt Darren’s native Afrikaans.
“When the Mountains Part 2” from Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas
“Instrumental Theme” from Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas
We close out this Red Cup Season shuffle with two more tunes from Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas. We have the reprise of a song we played last week, and we finish up with the Instrumental Theme from the beginning of the show.
Once again, because I knew I would not find most of the songs in today’s shuffle on You Tube, I have created a playlist of some of my all-time favorite Red Cup songs….
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E2TG: MUSIC/WORDS 