Category: Damien Jurado

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Almost Home Mix

It’s Thursday…. let’s have a shuffle…

“Stand by Me” by Spyder Turner from

I don’t know how I’ve lived these *mumble, mumble* years without having experienced this version of Stand by Me.  But a big thanks to Popa’s Tunes via the latest (I think) Feel Bad for You mixtape.

Spyder Turner not only delivers a soulful version of the song made famous by Ben E. King, but he also delivers a spot on homage to a veritable who’s who of 20th Century Soul Music.

“A New Black  (Live and Unplugged)” by Moon Taxi from Acoustic on West 56th/ originally from Mountains Beaches Cities

Nashville’s Moon Taxi have certainly done well for themselves.  The original version of this song was featured in a prominent car commercial.  This a pretty cool unplugged version of the song.

 

“The Apple Blossom Rag” by Josh Ritter from  The Beast in its Tracks

A few months back, I was driving home late at night and I was listening to Public Radio.  I heard this show  called Wits with guests Josh Ritter and Margaret Cho.   There were several funny moments including  skit where early period Michael Stipe was a police detective.  Oh and Josh Ritter closed the show with a version of the Talking Heads’ song Psycho Killer.  Anyway, this is Josh Ritter doing what Josh Ritter does really, really well.

 

“I Shot President McKinley (and I’m gonna do it again and again and again)” by Out of System Transfer from Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen: Section 5/ Same Rat, Different Hat

Oh man, what a fun song, and I instantly need to know more about this band.  What I know is that they recorded at Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen (who by the way met their Indiegogo goal! and can hopefully get up and making more great music at their new space).  I just really love this song. Right now, it stands as the funniest song I know about a Presidential assassination.

 

“Almost Home” by Moby (feat. Damien Jurado)  from Innocents

Okay.  I can’t really say that I am a huge Moby fan.  For one thing, I used to always get him mixed up with Seal.  Don’t ask how I did that, I am weird that way.  Anyway, on his latest  (I think) release he teams up with (among others) Damien Jurado (who is one of my favorites).   The result is this lovely and moving song.  As a video extra, the playlist below features a cover of this song by Nashville band Humming House.   *Additional trivia: Moby was not on How I Met Your Mother, but he was on The Mindy Project.

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Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Fox the Fox Mix

!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js Bloody hell, it’s Thursday!

Greetings and Welcome to Ear to the Ground, where we listen to music and tell you about it. Then we let you listen, too.

We have a rather interesting mix of music today – so let’s jump to it….

JUMP

Pre-Shuffle:

“Thief in My Mouth” by The Weeks (acclaimed Nashville band from their latest Dear Bo Jackson)

“The Blood Beyond” by Skeletons in the Piano (Our 2012 Band of the Year – from their latest album, Please Don’t Die)

“Leave it All” by Telepathic Teddy Bear (from his latest – Reactions)

Next up was another track from Chris Schlarb’s Psychic Temple album.  Coming in at 9 minutes plus – we let this song transition us into the Shuffle proper….
Shuffle:

“Dream State > Police State” by Chris Schlarb from Psychic Temple (2010)

 
 
Psychic Temple features a stunning array of players: (via the Noisetrade page): It would not be an exaggeration to boast that Psychic Temple contains performances from some of today’s finest musicians including Mick Rossi of the Philip Glass Ensemble, legendary Minutemen bassist Mike Watt, vocalists Julianna Barwick, DM Stith, Joel St. Julien (of ELLUL), Aaron Roche, trumpeter Kris Tiner, Brian Blade Fellowship pedal steel guitarist Dave Easley, Weird Weeds percussionist Nick Hennies, guitarist Danny Miller and drummer Tabor Allen (of Rare Grooves and The Widow Babies), bassists Steuart Liebig, C.J. Boyd and Anthony Shadduck, and Danny T. Levin and David Moyer on horns.
 
And they had me at Mike Watt…
 
“Shock the Monkey” (Peter Gabriel cover) by Don Ho from When Pigs Fly: Songs You Never Thought You’d Hear (2002)
 
 
 
 
I’m not much I can say about legendary Hawaiian singer, the late Don Ho – covering Peter Gabriel’s 1982 hit song from his fourth album. Except, I will say, I kind of liked it.
 
“East Virginia” by Damian Jurado from Gathered in Song (2006/2007)
 
 
 
I make no secret of the fact that I am a big Damien Jurado fan.  I actually first came across his music by accident – in a way. This song is gorgeous and subtle and well… just great.
 
 
“Cryin’ Like A Fool” by Jerry McCain from Rock ‘n’ Roll Ball (1997)
 

We close out with a track from early rock/blue legend Jerry McCain – he’s cryin’ like a fool… no really!

PLAYLIST
 

 
 
 
 

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Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – That Bangle’s Song Mix

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The sun is hiding. Rain come down.
Cold fronts and a chill in the air
winter’s last gasp? Hope springs.
The gloom overshadows all
of the hope and all of the choices
In the end, we all wait patiently
La La La (and whistle in the dark)

  • A Hazy Shade of Winter by Simon and Garfunkel from Bookends (1968)

A perfect song in mood and tone for getting moving on a gloomy day.  In my opinion this is one of Simon and Garfunkel’s best songs.  “Look around…”
  • “Standing in the Rain” by Husker Du from Warehouse: Songs and Stories (1987)

Well, well, well shuffle function, you’re two for two so far this morning in matching songs to the mood of the day.  As I listened to this a light drizzle fell. Husker Du were amazingly productive during their relatively short tenure as a recording band. By the time Warehouse came out, internal dissension and personal issues had taken their toll, and the band broke up on the ensuing tour. Despite all of this, Warehouse is a great record.  

 Another cool cover from the Jurado/Swift album.  Crazy Like a Fox was originally written and recorded by a young Lenny Kaye back in 1965 and released under the name Link Cromwell.

  • “Country Blues” by Doc Watson from Doc Watson (1964)

The late great Doc Watson from his debut album with his version of the old Dock Boggs song.

  • “Drink Drank Drunk” by A Sunny Day in Glascow from Autumn, Again (2010)

Wrapping up the shuffle with this nifty song from the Philadelphia dream pop band.

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Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Producer with Computers Mix

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Well, it’s Monday.  This morning we have eight songs that cross over genre lines, decades and degrees of popularity/obscurity/awesomeness. Taken individually, the songs featured are sure to evoke feelings of nostalgia, joy, revulsion and confusion. Put together as a single shuffle, they are sure to amaze and amuse in equal measure.  Oh heck, here’s the shuffle dig on it if you will….  Jump first!

  • “I.O.U.” by The Replacements from Pleased to Meet Me (1987)

“You see I want it in writing, I owe you nothing”  As documented in Tommy Womack’s song about the band, seeing The Replacements live was a hit or miss proposition.  They could either be the greatest rock and roll bands ever (which in fact they were) or the show could be a complete shambles. When the band rolled into the National Guard Armory in Nashville, TN on the Pleased to Meet Me tour, Rex Silo, Boyd and I drove up from Cookeville and witnessed one of the best shows I’ve ever seen.  By this time, Slim Dunlap had replaced Bob Stinson. I remember it being incredibly hot in the building, and I still remember the exhilaration of heading out of the show and beginning our drive home.

  •  “I Should Have Known” by Foo Fighters from Wasting Light (2011)

“Damn my heart gone deaf” What to say, this is big-time rock music from the former Nirvana drummer.  Dave Grohl is now also a documentary filmmaker whose directorial debut is the 2013 film Sound City.

  • “Adult Living” by Slug Guts from Playin’ in Time With the Deadbeat (2012)
 

“Every time I need you I just stay up gone” Noise rock from Brisbane, Australia. This was from Slug Guts third album which was released last July.

“She puts the sweetness in and stirs it with a spoon” The 1969 classic from the eponymously titled debut album by the British progressive rock band as performed by a couple of modern iconic singer-songwriters part of their cover albums collaboration.
  •   “Built to Rock” by Red Hot Rebellion from Red Hot Rebellion (2012)
 

“She don’t care about the latest trends She don’t care about your stupid friends” Real honest to goodness ROCK music from this Dayton, Ohio trio.  Yeah!

  •  “Rockin’ the Suburbs” by Ben Folds from Rockin’ the Suburbs (2001)

    “shake your booty while the band complains” I don’t really know why I like this song so much, but I do.  Ya’ll don’t know what it’s like…

    • “When I’m Stoned” by Tipi Valley from Beautiful Sunrise (2012)

    We love Tipi Valley.  This is from one of two EPs he put out in 2012.  Some awesome shoegazey rock from Swansea, Wales UK.  The video above is for a different Tipi Valley song.

    •   “Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again” (Bob Dylan cover) by Cat Power from I’m Not There (Music from the Motion Picture) (2007)

    “When Ruthie says come see her/In her honky-tonk lagoon/Where I can watch her waltz for free/’Neath her Panamanian moon” A great cover of a great song from a great soundtrack to a great film. What else can I say.  Cat Power rules!

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    Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Line, Lion, Lyin’ Mix

    So – have you checked out our featured artist’s for September?  There is a link over =====>

    Or you can click HERE

    //assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.jsThese next couple of weeks are going to be pretty exciting here at Ear to the Ground.  A week from tonight E2TG favorite Jo Wymer is playing a solo set here in Nashville.  She’s coming into town for the Americana Music Fest and Conference as is our friend Sloane from Country Fried Rock. If anyone else is going to be at the Americana Music Festival let me know.  And the following week current Featured Artist Man on Earth is playing here in Nashville.  Which provides a neat segue into today’s Shuffle:

    The aforementioned Man on Earth is up first with A Birthday Song from their 2008 album A Time Spent Wondering.

    Here is a pic/link to Amazon, but it does not appear the album or song are available there.  To purchase the CD use the linked album title above.
       

    Here’s the video for All We Want from the same album

     
    Next we have another of our fantastic featured artists for September.  The Great American Novel released You and I (which is not to be confused with our good friends Val and James  aka You and I) in September 2011.  The lead track from that album is Vonnegut and Morrissey.  The album is available for Name Your Price at Bandcamp.
    Here is the video for another song from the album
     

    Next, breaking up our run of Featured Artists is one of our all time faves. We dig deeper into Damien Jurado’s latest Maraqopa with a song called Museum of Flight.

    And finally, we get back to a September Featured Artist.  We have a track from The Grimm Generation from their 2011 release The Last Record Party and a song called The Definition of Love which feels to me like walking into a smoky cabaret and finding that the house band is original and talented.  Ordering a drink of your choice and just sliding into the groove.

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    Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Losing Grounds Mix

    Well… some bummer news yesterday.  It appears that one of our Featured Artists from July – The Raindoggs are going on indefinite hiatus due to some personnel issues. We will keep you informed, but let’s hope they come back soon with some more amazing music like this:

    //assets.pinterest.com/js/pinit.jsWell, let’s get to the shuffle:

    First up, we have a song from the latest album by Damien Jurado.  We recently featured Arkansas from his next to latest release, St. Bartlett.  This time we have Working Titles off of his fabulous Maraqopa.

     
     
    Next up, we have another artist we ran across over at ReverbNation.  This time it is Buffalo, New York native and current Nashville resident Chris Nathan with some sweet Southern Soul music.  The song came across on my MP3 player as Never Needed Nothing, but when I went back to find it again today, the closest I could find was a song called Nothing ‘Til I Needed You and I wasn’t able to listen to see if it was the same song.  Either way, check out Chris Nathan and see what think.
    Here is the latest from Chris Nathan.  This EP does not contain either of the possibly two songs.

     
    http://www.reverbnation.com/widget_code/html_widget/artist_103117?widget_id=50&posted_by=fan_1758528&pwc%5Bdesign%5D=default&pwc%5Bbackground_color%5D=%23333333&pwc%5Bincluded_songs%5D=0&pwc%5Bsong_ids%5D=13723051&pwc%5Bphoto%5D=1%2C0&pwc%5Bsize%5D=undefined
    And here’s a video for a different song




    Next up we have Lookout by Orgone from their album Cali Fever.  Orgone are a Los Angeles based Funk/R&B combo who came to our attention when they played a show with Northbrook Garage around the time they were Band of the Week and then Band of the Month.

    And finally, we have Run from the British  band Spiritualized’s debut album, Lazer Guided Melodies which was released in 1992.  

     

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    Monday Morning Music Shuffle – The Box Principle Mix

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     So here we go it’s Monday, and we have some good stuff going down this week.  Tomorrow, Cosmonauts are unveiling a brand new song, and we have an interview with the band to help kick that off.  Meanwhile, voting for Band of the Month is going hot and heavy. Right now, Loners Society hold a lead over Rooftop Runners followed by The Imperial Rooster.  But, we are still in the early stages of voting which will run until right at Midnight on the 31st of August. 

    This morning, our shuffle takes us into our Revolving Random playlist and offers up some tasty tunes.  So, let’s get to it.

    First up, we have an alternate take of a classic song from the late, great Warren Zevon.  Desperados Under the Eaves   has the dual distinction of being one of the coolest songs of all time, and utilizing two words which I wished showed up in my daily life more often (Desperados and Eaves). The version today is from the Preludes collection of rare and unreleased songs.

     
     

    Next, we have a sweet dose of Southern mysticism backed by now legendary jangly guitars.  We have the sounds of a band hitting their stride.  We have Maps and Legends by R.E.M. from the Fables of the Reconstruction album (1985).

     
     


    Up next, we have Seattle-based singer-songwriter Damien Jurado with a track from his 2010 album, St. Bartlett. Arkansas contains the characteristic murky goodness we’ve come to expect from Mr. Jurado.

     
     

     

     And finally, we have a track from one of our Bands of the Week from last year. The track is on the album Dead Letters by Sealight which was the first album we reviewed here at ear to the ground.  La Nieve Del Tiempo literally translates as Snow Time, and it is chill-inducing, beautiful music.

     
     






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    Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Go-Go Dancer Mix

    First:  In case you missed it over the weekend, ETTG BOTM for May, South of Ramona, dropped a new EP called Step Inside yesterday. Read my review here. Hit it up the Band’s Website for more information.  Please notice the kind words about yours truly.  Remember, a good review cannot be bought, but I never turn down free beer!

    Also, yesterday we unveiled our Featured Artists for August.  Check them out here. At least two of the Featured Artists are dropping some new music today.  Check out new music from Pony Boy and from The Holograms.  This is purely a coincidence… or is it… yes, it is… maybe… probably…

    Now to the shuffle:

    First up we have legendary singer-songwriter, J.D. Souther with House of Pride from his 2008 release, If the World Was You. 


    Here’s Souther performing a different song in one of my favorite places – San Juan Capistrano.

    Next up we have Don’t Say from the eponymous album by the British Indie band of the same name.  It’s Scars on 45.

    Next we have One Way Train which the title track from to the 2011 EP by WPB, FL singer-songwriter Alex Bennett.

     
    Alex covering Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine
      
    Finally, we offer you, Seattle-based singer-songwriter, Damien Jurado from his most recent release Maraqopa which is out on the Secretly Canadian label. The song is Life Away from the Garden.
      

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    Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Day after Day Mix

    Raining in the city today.  A good steady rain, and I didn’t even mind (much) that my poor battered umbrella gave me fits on the walk up the hill this morning…

    A good mix of music helped ease my dampness:

    First up, we have a song from Ken Stringfellow (Posies, R.E.M., Big Star).  This one is called Any Love (Cassandra Et Lune) and it is on his 2004 album Soft Commands.

    Next up, we have the title track from Seattle-based singer/songwriter Damien Jurado’s latest album, Maraqopa. I have been a big fan of Damien Jurado for a while, and his unique voice and beautiful songs seem to find a place in my heart and soul.

    New York-based Alberta Cross have a brand new album due out next week.  It’s called Songs of Patience.  Magnolia is our first listen.

    You can get Magnolia and a bunch of other cool songs by downloading a free ATO Records Sampler at Amazon. 

    And finally, we close with Nashville Skyline Rag off the classic Bob Dylan album Nashville Skyline. You know sometimes I get down on my city of residence for the past 20+ years, but when you look at the history of great music of all genres which has been recorded here, and the amazing music still be made here, it’s actually a good place to be a music blogger. The Nashville Skyline has changed a bit since a much younger Bob Dylan wrote this song… we have the Batman Building and the Pinnacle Tower among others, but it’s still a pretty cool sight to see…

    Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – Return to Sender Mix

    Let go – Some music news (feeling like Kurt Loder):

    Bon Voyage (or how ever you say that in Italian) to The End Men has they embark on their 2012 European tour. 

    The Nearly Deads are on MTV part of MTVu Freshmen 5.  Go here to vote for them and push them over the top. 

    Reminder that Sci-Fi Romance‘s album The Ghost of John Henry drops today.  See my recent review with all the details for how to grab your own copy.  And then go grab your own copy (digital or CD formats).

    Now to the shuffle:

    First up, we have Chevrolet from the 2006 Re-release (with extras) of Gather in Song by Damien Jurado.  I am a huge Damien Jurado fan, and I love this song. 

     
    A video of a different Damien Jurado song cause I couldn’t find one for Chevrolet…
    Next we go deeper into the fabulous Heart of Texas album by 2011 Band of the Year finalist Taco Land. Today, we have Find My Run which shows off this band’s sound which manages once again to confound expectations of what an album called Heart of Texas by a band called Taco Land would sound like while at the same time meeting or exceeding those expectations. 

    The video is for Wonderful Rain off the fabulous Heart of Texas album. Couldn’t find Find My Run

    By a technicality, the third song should not be included in today’s shuffle.  Due to some technical problems, the MP3 didn’t play, but I had to post anyway.
    Coldplay honored Adam Yauch (MCA) with a piano-led cover of The Beastie Boys classic (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!).   Check out the chilling, slow cover and go grab the Boys classic Licensed to Ill album. 
     
    And finally, we got one of the new tracks by Stomacher from their forthcoming album.  Moonlight Blues finds the band continuing to explore the darker reaches with their usual flair for the melodic. The new album, Clara, is set to drop in June.  Check out some of the tracks as well as the band’s back catalog – here.
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