Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Toddler Superman Mix

Monday – and as usual I’m short on time so let’s jump into the shuffle:

“Toddler Hiway” by They Might Be Giants (with The Avatars of They) from First Album Live

Another from the Live album version of TMBG debut album.  This one features the sock puppets known as The Avatars of They with the shortest song on the album.

“My Friend Superman” by Deena from Rock River

Another great track from the Rock River album.  I tend to dig songs that mention superman, and this is no exception.

“In Remembrance” by The Grey A from My Country

My Country by The Grey A will be released in less than a month.  Nashville readers, there will a CD release show on September 12 at The Stone Fox.  The show should include appearances by many of the Nashville artists who appeared on the record.

“Riverside Blues” by Year of October from WDVX Blue Plate Special 4/12/2014

Pre-Orders for Golden Days, the new Year of October release have begun.  This is the second track on the album. 

“If I Gotta’ Die (murdered by someone I love)” by Darrin Bradbury from Death in My Left Ear

Death in My Left Ear is no longer the most recent release by Darrin Bradbury, but it’s a good one, and this is one of my favorite songs of his.  In the video playlist, we have a track from his latest release Motel Oatmeal.

“Their Finest Hour” by Clocks and Clouds from The Creation of Matter

More orchestral goodness from Clocks and Clouds from their album The Creation of Matter.

“How Bout” by Taco Land from Home Sweet Home

A sweet, sweet song from our friends Taco Land from their latest album.

“Liquid” by Gumshen from Progtronica

Our final track from Gumshen’s Progtronica album is a good one.

“The Mechanical Motion of Dying Stars” by aCr from ghost note manifest!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”);

window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js And, we close out with a song from aCr.  aCr is Alvaro C. Rodriguez who is the guitarist and vocalist from Liquid Casing – a band we featured heavily last year. This is a new project just released August 12, and it sounds great.  This was my first listen as this is fresh from my inbox to blog in about 18 hours.

VIDEO:

Friday Morning Music Shuffle – Ow Mix

Well, we muddled through another week….  It’s time for me to dive head long into creating E2TG version 3.0 (we are currently on 2.1) – I’m not sure exactly what that will entail, but it will be awesome – I bet.  There may be a release 2.2 in the meantime, but maybe not… whatever, if you have ideas of what I can do to make E2TG better, now would be a good time to send them my way.  I’ll either use the ideas or I won’t – it’s the cool thing of writing your own blog… 🙂  But, my philosophy since day one has been to be open to whatever comes along.  So wherever we go, I see my job is just to keep this thing between the lines… (only occasionally crossing)…

Whatever, the shuffle speaks… and we must listen… Jump to it if you dare…

“Where Are We Now?” by David Bowie from The Next Day

Many saw 2013’s The Next Day as a return to form (and a pleasantly unexpected one at that) for Mr. Bowie. 

“Anywhere” by Humming House from Humming House

A beautiful song from one of Nashville’s coolest and best bands.  The video we selected is a newer song and features two of my favorite people.

“Wasted Days” by Joseph Arthur from Redemption City

I love the sound of this track from Joseph Arthur.  A great companion to my trek through the downtown streets of Nashville.

“Ow” by Dizzy Gillespie from The Double Six of Paris

Groovy coolness in every note….

“The Neighbor’s Dog” by Darrin Bradbury from The Almost Great Crepe’s

Darrin Bradbury is back in the shuffle with a song about life and death and I guess about the neighbor’s dog.  Since this album isn’t available on bandcamp anymore, I won’t say anything about “neighbor” being misspelled. “I before E” my ass!

“Rabid Child” by They Might Be Giants from First Album Live

What is this song about?  Don’t ask John and John.  They don’t know….

“Can’t Say Why” by Taco Land from Home Sweet Home

Taco Land has a groove that just hits me in all the right ways… for kicks, I included a video of a song by The Dead Milkmen about the San Antonio landmark that gave this band its name. 

“Stipulation” by Gumshen from Progtronica

We added this album to our lineup back in January, and now, we have just one or two songs left.  I really like this interesting mix of sounds, and I look forward to hearing more from this band.

VIDEO PLAYLIST


!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”);      window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”;       http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js   

I’ve been short on time so I haven’t been posting the Webstore information, but as always, if you hear something you like – so out and support the artists making the music.  If you can’t find where to get the music or just want more information on any of the bands we feature.  Let me know!

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – Shifting Sands Mix

Some days, the shuffle brings up wildly diverse musical styles and eras which coexist in an uneasy alchemy of unforeseen beauty.  Other days, like today, it’s all about amazing songs with simple but powerful words and music.

Shuffle it up…

!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”);

“Spend Your Life” by The Autumn Defense from NoiseTrade Eastside Manor Sessions/The Autumn Defense

Purveyors of seventies-style pop music – Chicago’s The Autumn Defense offer up a song from their self-titled 2007 album.  This version is recorded at Eastside Manor in East Nashville.

“Asmodea” by The Jean Jackets from Field Theory Blues

New Jersey’s The Jean Jackets play lovely music, and this is one of the loveliest – from Field Theory Blues.

 

“Bring it All” by Deena from Rock River

Second day in a row will have a song from Deena  (also from New Jersey).  This one has a gentle twang that pushes the song forward like an easy hike on a warm summer day.

 “Dumb Fool” by The Grey A from My Country

The Grey A is the new project by Grey Jacks formerly of Glossary.  My Country won’t be out for a month or so, but you can check out some of the music at the website. http://www.thegreya.com/

We will have much more of this album in the days and weeks to come.  Dumb Fool is just a plain old great song of political frustration tinged with just a little bit of hope.

E2TG Note: The bass player for The Grey A is none other than long-time friend of this blog, Howard Rabach. We met Howard in the early, early days of Ear to the Ground (when we were still on Posterous), and his band Ubiquity Machine was runner-up for our first annual Band of the Year Reader’s Poll and they had a song on our first (and currently only) compilation.

 “Fine One to Talk” by Gumshen from Progtronica

Closing out the shuffle is a gorgeous song from Seattle band Gumshen from their recent album Progtronica.
 
VIDEOS:
 
 

   window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”;       http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js   

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Bells and Italian Food Mix

The 700th post here at Ear to the Ground arrives with another great mix of music. We have two sub-themes going in this otherwise loosely constructed collection of songs.  Bells and Italian Food.  Read on…

“Liberty Bell” by  The Gathering from How to Measure a Planet (6:01)

The first of two songs with bells in the shuffle today comes from a Dutch progressive metal/alternative rock band which formed in 1999.  I’ll be honest, I don’t know when I added this to my playlist, but here it is, and it’s a atmospherically cool way to start the morning.

 “Ethiopian War Chant” by Tomas Doncker from Power of the Trinity (4:26)

How about this awesome track from Tomas Doncker’s Power of the Trinity release.  Tomas and band are bringing their Howlin’ Wolf tribute to the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City tomorrow night. If you are in the city, you should be there.

 

“Pizza N Drugs” by Darrin Bradbury from Death in my Left Ear (2:29)

Darrin Bradbury brings us the first of two songs which mention types of Italian food with a little ditty about spending a Sunday with Pizza, Drugs, and someone special.  Darrin just started a weekly series with the awesome Tim Carroll at a dive bar in East Nashville called Fran’s.  It’s every Wednesday night, and you and I really need to check it out.

 

“Foggy Notion” by Jane Wiedlin from American Velvet: A Tribute to The Velvet Underground (4:07)

Go-Go Jane Wiedlin covers one of my favorite Velvet Underground songs (read one of my favorite songs) from one of who know how many VU tribute albums.

 

“Rigatoni Macaroni” by Sam Davison from Always Around (2:17)

Are you hungry yet?  New York singer/songwriter and bassist. With a fun song from his stellar Always Around album which was released last October.

 

“Dream Away” by The Yugos from Life is Awesome and Then You Live Forever (4:25)

Are a young band from Covington, Kentucky.  They came to my attention via a post by Dan Stuart (Green on Red, Danny and Dusty, solo), and when Dan talks, I listen. I’m glad I did.  Cool stuff.

 

“When Silence Was Golden” by David Schnaufer from Appalachian Picking Society (3:05)

Some sweet Appalachian music from the late, great, Nashville dulcimer player David Schnaufer.

“Jericho” by The Delta Saints from Death Letter Jubilee (4:18)

First of a couple of songs by Nashville-based Louisiana-tinged rock band The Delta Saints.

 

“Bell Ringer” by Gumshen from Protronica (7:06)

Our second “bell” related song comes from this Seattle based band.

 

“Albatross” by Stoney from More Than Animals (4:14)

We have featured several songs from the latest album by Austin based Stoney.

 
“Blank Maps” by Cold Specks from  I Predict a Graceful Expulsion (3:12)

I may be late to the game, but consider me a Cold Specks fan.  This is an awesome song, and I want to hear more.

 

“Drink it Slow” by The Delta Saints from Death Letter Jubilee (4:08)

Another great track from The Delta Saints.  My music play crapped out after this, and I had to restart the shuffle, but what a way to go.

 

“Long Way Home” by Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray from Lean into the Wind (4:29)

A beautiful heart wrenching track from the latest album by our friends and CXCW darlings Miss Shevaughn and Yuma Wray.

“Diamond Joe” by Guy Clark (with Verlon Thompson) from Guy Clark (2:51)

We close things out with a song that’s been in my active playlist for a long time. Glad it finally came up.  An classic performed by a pair of legendary Nashville songwriters.

Video Playlist:

!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
–>

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Beautiful and Stoned 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

Okay… first of all – have you seen this?!



Second,

I need to acknowledge that two of the most badass rock and rollers share a birthday which happens to be today.  Now, I know that I don’t often acknowledge birthdays, but the combination of the shared birthday with the utter badassery represented… well I had to. So Happy Birthday to Matthew Hendershot of the The End Men, and Greyson Anderson of Dogs of Oz.  If you are a regular reader of this blog, you already know The End Men, but if you joined us with the last several months, you may have missed out on Dogs of Oz – so here is a aural/visual reminder of each of the bad ass birthday boys. 


Also, as a birthday gift for Matthew (and The End Men)… why not head over to the GTR Store website to help The End Men when a whole bunch of cool stuff plus an slot at Mountain Jam 2014 in Woodstock, NY.

Whew… now we still have a Shuffle to put on…  Jump


We have a pretty nifty collection of songs today… so check it.

“Westbound 49” by Darrin Bradbury

“Heavy Metal Drummer” by Wilco

“Fragile We Are Castles” by Gumshen

“Do You Wanna Hold Me?” by Bow Wow Wow

“Mrs. Wurley” by Humming House

“Dirty Dishes” by Deer Tick

“Dime Store Mystery” by Lou Reed

NOTES:

Another stellar song from Darrin Bradbury from his Demos album.

“I sincerely miss those heavy metal bands
I used to go see on the landing in the summer” –
Wilco

I honestly don’t know a whole bunch about Gumshen except they came to us via James at IMP. Their new album (due out February 11) is called Progtronica.  As the album title suggests, the music mixes elements of Prog rock with Electronica and other influences and wraps it up in a highly original package that delivers… um I think I lost the metaphor somewhere along the way.  Anyway, the track today is mostly an extended Rock instrumental with Electronica thrown in, and it ends with simple, ethereal vocals reminiscent of Pink Floyd.  Anyway, it’s cool – so check them out.

I confess… when I was 16 or so, I really dug Bow Wow Wow. And… I still do. It’s melodic and fun… what’s not to like.

The shuffle closes out with a song from Lou Reed’s landmark and groundbreaking 1989 album, New York.

–>