Category: Dr. Dog

Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Rainy Days and Mondays Mix

We have arrived at Monday.  It’s a dreary day here  in Nashville, but we have the antidote.  We’ve loaded up with a bunch of music which we have been saving up since we started our Year End Review last month.  The songs added are a good combination of new music, new to us music, the return of some old friends, a first meeting with what we hope are some new friends, plus the usual collection of the classic, the weird, the obscure, and the unexpected.
Today’s mix is a good cross-section of this new music – plus a couple of hold outs from the previous month’s playlist.

To it…. we go… jump…

“Bright Light” by Mount Moriah (we got this off a Merge Records Sampler, the song is on Mount Moriah’s album Miracle Temple.  Mount Moriah are from Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina)

“Put it in a Bottle (Save it For Later)” by Sam Davison (from Always Around. One of the great artists we’ve discovered through the highly productive Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen.  Sam Davison is nothing you’ve ever heard before.  Actually that’s from his Facebook page, but it happens to be true. Check him out.)

“Travel as Equals” by Joseph Arthur (from Redemption City. Joseph Arthur is from Brooklyn, has recorded with and been recorded by some amazing people.  I’ve been hearing a fair bit of buzz lately about him. Color me impressed.  I don’t mind hype if the music backs it up.  I dig.)

“Free Fallin'” (Tom Petty Cover) by Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs (from Under the Covers, Vol. 3 – What happens when two iconic proto-pop stars cover one of Tom Petty’s coolest songs? This happens.)

“IV. Shells (The Dream Lives Out To Sea)” by Left of Logic (from In Formation.  I think I heard about Left of Logic from Don Ryan.  This is Electronica with a Rock Edge and an progressive mindset. From Philly)

“For the Sake of Seeking” by The Western Den (from Battle Hymns.  Let’s add some ambient folk to the mix.  This band is from Boston. )

“The Wayfaring Stranger” by Frankie Laine (from Call of the Wild. The legendary vocalist performs the 19th Century Folk tune on his 1962 album)

“I Want You Alive” by Left of Logic (from In Formation.)

“Young Enough to Try” by Humming House (from Humming House. One of our hold overs from the previous playlist. I just can’t get enough Humming House.)

“The Truth” by Dr. Dog (from their Noisetrade/Eastside Manor Sessions – off of their album B-Room. Another holdover.)

“Spanish Romance” by The Tye Trybe (from Word is Born (EP). Hailing from The Bronx and Spanish Harlem.  The Tye Trybe bring the funky groovy goods.  Yep, another that came to us via Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen. I love that place, and I’ve never even been there.)

“Living in a County” by Brave Baby (from Forty Bells. Brave Baby are from Charleston, South Carolina.  I think I came across them on Brite Revolution.)

 
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Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Ziggy, Elvis, and Rex Mix

January 8th!  E2TG sends out a heartfelt Happy Birthday! to four individuals who helped shaped my musical tastes.  Elvis Presley and David Bowie need to introduction.  Rex Silo and Ron Ruelle were by my side through many of my musical adventures and shows in the late 80s to early 90s. They remain good friends and I hope they will both raise an Old Bru (mentally add umlauts) today.

On to the shuffle which does not include Elvis or Bowie, but in honor of Rex and Ron (and purely by happenstance) does include several artists I know he likes….)


I’ve been taking advantage of kids being out of school and thus having longer commute time to listen to music to present as much music as I can before I load up our Playlist with lots and lots of new stuff.  The only bad thing is not having as much time to write about all the great music.  My recommendation is to look up bands on Facebook or using this thing called Google….   Anyway, after today, I will have featured over 80 songs this week.  Not a bad way to start 2014.

“Preach” by American Dirt
“Find Her Way” by Swear and Shake
“Song for the Dumped” (Ben Folds Five cover) by Bird by Bird
“Empire State Express” by Son House
“Revolution Number Zero” by The Brian Jonestown Massacre
“The Politics of Time” by The Minutemen
“Piece of Work” by Will Kimbrough
“Can’t Slow Down” by Randy Rogers Band
“Talking Microwave Blues (Live 2011)” by Darrin Bradbury
“Giddy Boy Good”  by Babe
“I’ll Only Let You Down” by The Dregs
“Ain’t No Sunshine” (Bill Withers Cover) by Bird by Bird
“Tennessee Valley Girl” by The Bis-Quits
“Distant Light” by Dr. Dog
“Charon” by Shake Jack
“Jamie” by Darrin Bradbury
“Troublemaker” by Jim Lauderdale
“Middle of the Bed” by Lucy Rose
“The Hearse” by Wampire
“U.R.A. Fever” by The Kills
“Hong Kong” by Adam Hill
“If You Need Me Back in Brooklyn” by River City Extension
“Loretta” by Amos Lee
“A Switch Behind the Poster? (Let’s Push It!)” by Black Doctor Jr.
“Balls to the Wall” (Accept Cover) by Eyes of the Dead
“Monster” by Solardrive (featuring Rain Phoenix)
“Play That Cheap Trick, Cheap Trick Play” by Tommy Womack
“Eyes on the Islands” by Humming House
“How I (Learned my Lesson) by X
“Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin” by Elephant Stone
“Fly” by The Jam
“There Ain’t Shit on T.V. Tonight” by Minutemen

 
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Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Band of the Year and More Mix

You have before you, the FINAL Ear to the Ground of 2013, so let’s blow this thing out!

First order of business:  As promised, it is time to unveil our 2013 Band of the Year. As announced, for the first time in E2TG history, the Band of the Year will be selected by me, myself, and I.  Back in 2011, I came up with the idea of a Band of the Year, and frankly, I didn’t want the pressure/guilt in picking one band over others. So, I created a Readers’ Poll, and with a massive last minute push, UK band The Mobbs stormed to a narrow victory over underdogs Ubiquity Machine.

Following the success of that initial poll, I began running Band of the Month polls beginning with December 2011, although initially successful, the concept of pitting bands against each other began to stale.  We carried on, and at the end of last year, we had another successfully Band of the Year Readers’ Poll wherein Skeletons in the Piano were selected by popular election.

Since that time, I decided to focus on featuring as much new music as I could, and I dropped the Band of the Month and related features. Although I briefly considered another year-end poll, I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t willing to give that power away this time…. oh yeah, and the thing about bands working together for their common good….

So…. after all that background and unsolicited explanation, I am very excited to announce the 2013 Ear to the Ground Band of the Year.

The 2013 Band of the Year were selected for the following reasons:

1. They are among the coolest, most bad ass people I’ve had the good fortune to get to know as the result of writing this blog.

2. They are extremely generous and supportive of other bands and artists.

3. They released on of the best albums of 2013.

4. I got to meet them and see them blaze through an all too brief set back in early Spring.

5. They had a successful tour in the US and in Europe.

6. The followed up their amazing 2013 album with a brand new single which was accompanied by an incredible video that visually depicted their total bad-assery.

7.  Because I said so……

The 2013 E2TG Band of the Year is…..  THE END MEN from Brooklyn, New York!!!!!!

 






Congrats kids!  Here’s to an even better 2014!


Okay, we have unfinished business as we continue to feature some of our favorite music of 2013… let’s do it!



I’ll forgo a whole bunch of commentary, but I will see this extended shuffle does show off the variety of music you hear here at Ear to the Ground:


“We Got Soul” by Christian Robins (prod. Jazz Logic)
“Dropped the Pop” by Killing Kuddles
“Four Flame Candle” by Sturgill Simpson
“The Truth” by Dr. Dog
“You Can Have the Crown” by Sturgill Simpson
“Rock and Roll is Dead” by Killing Kuddles
“Black Eyes and White Lies” by Don Ryan and the Blank Canvas Movement
“From this Valley” by The Civil Wars
“Flying Over Water” by Jason Isbell
“Lost Innocent World” by Gogol Bordello
“Cleaning Your Mind” by The End Men
“Dromedary” by Dog Without Warning
“Long Way to the Ground” by The End Men
“From Afar” by Vance Joy
“Hell’s Kitchen” by The Westies
“Lollygagging” by Less Love
“Stack Chips” by The End Men
“Baby Loves It” by Penicillin Baby
“Your Dreams Will Always Follow” by prattle on, rick
“Permanent/Impermanent_1213” by Peck
“Ratking” by The End Men
“Winged Victory” by Lys Guillorn
“I Had Me a Girl” by The Civil Wars
“Clark Gable” (Postal Service Cover) by Mr. Kind + holychild
“The Lost Art of Idle/Entitled” by Peck
“Cool Kids” by Christian Robins (feat. Lord of the Fly) (prod. 5Star)
“Mercy” by prattle on, rick

NOTES:

Americana told Sturgill Simpson he was too Country for Americana.  His reply, I made a country album.

Peck is Chris Peck who we first met as part of the Brooklyn-based The Disappointment. He is releasing his new album one song at a time, at we have two of those songs in today’s shuffle.

Confession: I didn’t think I liked Dr. Dog. I lumped them in with a bunch of “Jam” bands that just weren’t my cup of tea (actually tea isn’t my cup of tea either, but that is another story). Anyway, so I got the chance to actually listen to some of Dr. Dog’s new music this year, and believe it or not, I dug it.  Go figure.

Penicillin Baby are part of the growing and impressive Jeffery Drag Records family and like the other Jeffery Drag artists they offer a nice counter argument to any one who says all Nashville indie bands sound alike. 

I don’t know if The Civil Wars are finished. I hope they aren’t, but if their 2013 self-titled album is the swan song, it’s a hell of a swan song.

In addition to their new EP, Mr. Kind released a series of cover songs wherein they teamed up with other indie artists to cover indie rock classics.  Here they team up with fellow California band holychild to cover The Postal Service classic.

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Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – A Mix Among Mixes Mix

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It’s mid-week.  Nashville is still digging out from our massive 1/2 snowfall yesterday morning (which by the way was mostly melted by noon yesterday)  (note for non-Nashville readers: Nashville really freaks out over winter weather).  Anyway, it was a frosty morning, and we have a great mix of songs to warm your hearts and minds and… I don’t really know what I’m saying at this point, but I’m trying to use words that sound like they belong in the introduction to a blog post. Whew!

It’s that time of year… everyone is releasing they best of 2013 lists.  Here at #E2TG, we will kick off our Best of 2013 posts Monday morning.  Of course, we will be doing it in a manner befitting Ear to the Ground… stay tuned.   By the way, for the first time since this blog began, we will not be having a Band of the Year Readers Poll.  More on the reasoning behind this later.  However, we will be unveiling our 3rd Annual Band of the Year in a special post later this month.  Tune in!

To today’s music…

EXTRA EXTRA:

“Hold On” by Sad Robot    “Too Weak to Ramble”  by Dr. Dog    “Badman”  by Cory Branan    “Prequel Lullaby” (Home Demo) by Black Doctor Jr.    “From This Valley” by The Civil Wars    “Bad Things” by Rayland Baxter    “Strangers” by Elephant Stone   “This Time” by Jenny Leigh   “I Fall in Love Every Summer” by Adam Hill   “Champagne Halloween” by St. Paul and the Broken Bone

IN-BETWEEN TRACK OF THE DAY:  (I don’t know what to call this so I keep changing the name)

“Humming to a Sea Snail” by Swear and Shake (from Maple Ridge.  Dig this band, and what a great song title.)

CLASSIC #E2TG SHUFFLE:

“We are One in the Spirit” by Annie Sellick (from Let’s Make a Christmas Memory.)

“Dear Pressure” by Miracles of Modern Science (from MEEMS. Indie/Chamber Pop band that formed at Princeton University in 2005.  Yes, my random shuffle function has a rather twisted sense of humor –  putting a spiritual/religious song alongside a song by a band called Miracles of Modern Science. Did I mention, I love my phone’s twisted random shuffle function?)

“The Wheel” by Katey Laurel  (from From Here. I’ve grown rather fund of the music by this Colorado based singer-songwriter)

“From Afar” (acoustic) and “Snaggletooth” (acoustic) by Vance Joy (both from his recent Noisetrade releaser “Riptide” and more.  Both songs are on his latest album God Loves You When You are Dancing. Pop Folk from Melbourne)

 
 
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Friday Morning Music Shuffle – Camp Crystal Lake Mix

 I am a long-time triskaidekaphobe, but so far (knock on wood), today has been pretty good.  We had a change in the weather here in Nashville, and the heat and humidity finally broke into a sunny and rather cool day.  Which is good because it is really hard to get excited about the return of Pumpkin Spice anything when it’s mid 90s and humid.  It just is.

Well circumstances being circumstantial, I don’t have the hoped for music explosion today – just a regular old shuffle. Still, as regular old shuffles go, this one is pretty sweet.

Join me after the JUMP

I’ll be kind of brief today because I really want to head out and enjoy some of this awesome Friday the 13th weather.  By the way, today I found just about every song from the Shuffle on You Tube – so check out our Daily Playlist embedded at the end of this post.

Part I – Yesterday’s drive home and a late evening errand

1.  “Dear Doctor” by Mary Gauthier and LeE HARVeY OsMOND (From a Alt-Country tribute to The Rolling Stones)

2. “Dance the Tango” by Marla Mase

3. “Better Run” by Royal Bangs (from their 4th album Brass which is due out next Tuesday)

4. “Lean Woman Blues” by T. Rex (You Better, You Bet)

5. “Some Kind of Love” by The Velvet Underground (Between Though and Expression)

6. “Arousing Thunder” by Grant Lee Buffalo (from the 1995 album Copperopolis)


Part II – This morning’s drive in to work

7. “Hummingbird” by Leon Russell (from his self-titled 1970 album)

8. “You Keep Tightening Up on Me” by The Box Tops

9. “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” by Linda Ronstadt

10. “You Can’t Have Me” by Big Star (yes careful, attentive reader – this is a repeat which I failed to take out of the active playlist. But c’mon, it’s Big Star!)

11. “Lead Kindly Light” by The Dirty Guv’nahs (There is a timeless quality to The Dirty Guv’nahs’ music that helps it blend in with the classic songs in today’s shuffle.)

12.  “The Truth” by Dr. Dog (Ditto Dr. Dog. This is from their forthcoming album B-Room)

Our Daily Video Playlist
 
 


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