Category: They Might Be Giants

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – Sixty Two at Twenty Three Mix



Welcome to Tuesday….   so, at some point in the past (for reasons which may have made since at the time), I signed up to get e-mail updates from one of the local television channels. I don’t always read them, but today, I did… and there was a story about a music video addressing East Nashville gentrification.  I had heard about this, so I actually clicked on the link and watch the video, and there was Ear to the Ground Artist of the Year and my friend, Darrin Bradbury lip-synching and acting like a champ… Here is a link to the article.


“Rhode Island Summer” by The Danbury Lie

I am pretty sure this song has been in a shuffle before.  The Danbury Lie released this as a download single some time ago, and it has reappeared as part of their latest album Scattered Moments of Connection.  Interesting trivia, when a song I download does not have a picture associated with it, my music player uses some existing picture, and it often repeated uses the same image over an extended period of time.  For awhile, the image it used was the image that came with the single version of this song.  Now, you know…



“True Love” by Darrin Bradbury

Coincidental to the anecdote shared above, last night I realized that I had never featured Darrin Bradbury’s Tur-Lyfe: A Live Recording of Unfortunate Events on Ear to the Ground.  I was appalled with myself, and set about to make it right.  First up off that release is what has been come one of Bradbury’s most popular and best loved songs.  A little known fact is that originally the song was not going to compare true love to a meth lab, but instead was going to compare true love to an indie rock band.  The original opening line was, “Our love is like the death cab in your cuties basement.”   As always remember the jokes are free of charge and worth every penny…. 


“Recipe for Disaster” by Bark

Tim and Susan Lee are cooking up something special for their recently released side project Bark which features Susan on drums.


“And the Blind Man Lead the Way” by The Great Game

From the inbox, comes this band whose members and influences comes from across Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America.   A very interesting sound which I will look forward to checking out more in depth.  The album is also called The Great Game.


“Wicked Mind” by Fancytramp

From a Jeffery Drag Sampler comes this song by the late, great Nashville band Fancytramp.  When Fancytramp ended, a couple of the members went on to form a band called Idle Bloom which I recently saw open for Turbo Fruits at 3rd and Lindsley.


“Lover’s Rock” by The Clash

So… seriously do you not agree that London Calling is just a flat out rad album?


“Vitamins” by Manilow

Another fine modern British punk song from the Cease and Desist album.


“Had it !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”); with You” by The Satisfactors

Some awesome old school American Rock and Roll music from the Jersey Shore…. The final track on their self-titled debut.


“Easy to Love” by Ivan and Alyosha

A track from the 2009 album The Verse, The Chorus from this Seattle based indie-folk/pop band.  Grabbed this from a recent Noisetrade release.


“Fingertips 1: Everything is Catching on Fire” by They Might Be Giants

From Apollo 18, the first of 21 short Fingertips tracks on the 1992 album.


“I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” by Richard and Linda Thompson

We close out the day with one of my all-time favorite songs…  the title track from the classic 1974 album that does not sound at all like it is over 40 years old.


TODAY’S VIDEO PLAYLIST

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

Monday Morning Music Shuffle – What’s He Building? Mix

Time to ease into a new week, a new month, and for some of us a new time structure – as Daylight Savings Time ends and Standard Time begins.  It’s Monday…  Let’s do this shuffle thing…

“For The Battered” by Tommy Womack from Stubborn

From his 2008 album, we have Nashville songwriting icon Tommy Womack (Government Cheese, Daddy) with a powerful song about a serious issue – domestic violence.  I could not find a video of this song, so I picked a version of one of my favorite Tommy Womack songs – The Replacements.

“Lay Me Down” by Heather Powell from Believe it to Life

True Groove recording artist Heather Powell, just recently released her latest album, A Haze of Grays and Blue.  Today, we have the first of two tracks from her previous album Believe it to Life.  Such a powerhouse vocalist!

“Tarwater (The Fighter)” by The Dirty Guv’nahs from Hearts on Fire

Another fine track from The Dirty Guv’nahs of Knoxville, TN.  The band’s song “Morning Light” was featured on the latest episode of the ABC television show, Nashville.

“Chess Piece Face” by They Might Be Giants from First Album Live

This morning E2TG finally wraps up this live revisit to one of my all-time favorite albums.  The first album from They Might Be Giants.

“Long Gray Line” by Heather Powell from Believe it to Life

Here is our second track from Heather Powell.  A strongly delivered song about her family’s history of military service.

“Tubular Bells” (from the “Exorcist”) by Mike Oldfield from Tubular Bells (Deluxe Version)

This one got added for Halloween, but one can never go wrong with Tubular Bells and/or music from the classic 1973 Horror film, The Exorcist. 

“Saint Mary’s” by American Aquarium from Burn. Flicker. Die.

Music loving procrastinators please note, if you’ve not yet got around to picking up American Aquarium’s awesome 2012 album Burn. Flicker. Die. which was recorded and Muscle Shoals and produced by Jason Isbell – now is your chance to grab it for free (donations welcome) via Noisetrade.  Their next album Wolves is due soon – so get this one now and be ready.  This is about a close to perfect as an album can get.

“What’s He Building?” by Tom Waits from Mule Variations

Another added for Halloween, but again – you cannot go wrong with Tom Waits.  Here he asks the musical question, What’s He Building in There?  All about that quiet neighbor who keeps to himself.  You know… that neighbor…

“Town Clown” by Kelsey Waldon from The Goldmine

I’ve been hearing a whole bunch about Kelsey Waldon, and I see a bunch of my Facebook friends are Facebook friends with her.  Finally, getting a chance to check out her music, and so far, I am digging it bunches. This here is a fine, fine song.   She is based in Nashville.

“The Temporary Blues” by The Features from Old Familiar Melodies – 2008-2013/!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”);Some Kind of Salvation

And we close out our first shuffle to November with a nifty song from Tennessee-based band The Features.  From my You Tube search it appears that this song was featured in the television show Degrassi.  At least in some incarnation of the long running, multiple generational, multiple incarnated series about teens.

VIDEOS

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

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle – Protective Leather Skin Mix

Let’s see….  So apparently, Foo Fighters are playing at The Ryman on Halloween.

Last night, I got hang out with some awesome songwriters and talk music and the movie Road House, plus hear some of them do what they do best.  I also hopped over to the Mercy Lounge to finally see Dogs of Oz live.  They were awesome, and I hope to see a longer set from them soon.  Here is a picture.



Let’s get to the shuffle –

“The Good Fight” by Lael Summer from Burden to Bear

For the second day in a row we have a long from Lael Summer.  Such a great voice!

“Runnin'” by Modoc from Deer Head Music Presents: Indie Mixtape Nashville/Modoc

The breath and depth of talent in Nashville is outrageous. This incredible Indie mixtape while demonstrating a wide range of sounds and styles within the loosely defined genre is still but a drop in the bucket.  So many awesome players, writers, and bands….  That’s to Deer Head Music and Daniel Ellsworth and the Great Lakes for expanding my Nashville musical vocabulary.  Cool song from Modoc, who I have been hearing about for a while… my first listen, and I dig it.

“Tarpit” by Golden Smog from Blood on the Slacks

A week or so ago I found two Golden Smog albums at Goodwill. For the uninitiated, Golden Smog is a loosely associated group of musicians who are better known from their other bands.  Primarily, it is Gary Louris from The Jayhawks and Dan Murphy from Soul Asylum. Although best known for their awesome covers, on later albums the band began writing original music.  This, however, is a cover of a song by Dinosaur Jr.  P.s. I love the name of this album!

“Widows” by Heath McNease from Fort Wayne (Songs Inspired by the Film)

Another great track from Heath McNease from the album that accompanies his film, Fort Wayne.

“I Don’t Really Want to be Social” by BROCHO from An Introduction to BROCHO/Can’t Get Past the Lips

Some days, I think this could be my theme song…. I’ve been really digging on this BRONCHO music – thanks to NoiseTrade for the introduction…

“Nothings Gonna Change my Clothes” (live) by They Might Be Giants from First Album Live

We are almost done with our presentation of the live recreation of TMBG’s incredible first album.  “And the mirror, it reflects a tiny dancing skeleton
Surrounded by a fleshy overcoat and swaddled in
A furry hat, elastic mask, a pair of shiny marble dice
Some people call them snake-eyes, but to me they look like mice”

“When I See You Again” by The Western Shore from Thunderstorm

In spite of or because of or coincidental to the fact that Nashville has a wealth of musical talent (as previously discussed), it is also (or at least can be) a very small, tightly knit community. A few weeks ago at a Friday Tim Carroll show, I met Charlie Smyth and in the course of our conversation, I mentioned that I write a music blog at which point he handed me a CD. (Seriously one of favorite parts of writing a music blog), and just a few minutes later, I found out he is friends with some of my new musician friends.  Well, I gave the album a listen and immediately added to my active playlist, and today the Shuffle monster finally coughed our first (but not our last) song from this album.  Highly original sound, great songs, and superior execution.  I’m a fan.

“We Take Care of Our Own” by Matt King from Raw

I think I’ve said it before, but I am so looking forward to the next Matt King album which should feature his new band Killing Streets which includes my good friends Matt and Livia from The End Men (who are still the most tagged band on Ear to the Ground – although Darrin Bradbury is closing).  Until that album comes out, it’s been good to listen to this stripped down album and imagine this incredible songwriter back by such a kick ass band. 

“Getting Tails” by Zachariah Red from This Town EP

During the past couple of months, as I go through a rather difficult time, I have been fortunate to meet some incredible and incredibly talented people.  A couple of weeks ago, I got to write out Zachariah Red following his guest slot at Fran’s Eastside.  Today we have another song from his EP.  Looking forward to hearing more from Zachariah Red soon.  By the Nashville readers, Zach and several other of new friends and new favorite songwriters are playing at Belcourt Taps on Thursday. Come out.

“Sweet Trepidation”  by Ron Muga from Wonderful Doom!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”);

We close out the day with a song from New York songwriter Ron Muga.  He was kind enough to contact me and send me some music.  I like this song a lot. Check him out.

VIDEOS


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

Friday Morning Music Shuffle – Lost Some Kindness Mix

Well – we made it through another week of shuffles.  Let’s blow it out and go out and live our weekends… shall we?

Shuffle comes next:

!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”); “Listening to the Rain” (Osborne Brothers cover) by Sturgill Simpson from 2014-05-13 – Grimey’s Records – Nashville

“The beating on the window can’t compare with the beating that I’m taking”

“Big Blue Hole” by David Olney from When the Deal Goes Down

We complete three days in a row with songs from the latest album by David Olney.  In the video mix is Mr. Olney reciting “Kubla Khan” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge – which as I mentioned yesterday that he performed at the beginning of one of his recent Happy Hour shows at The Five Spot in East Nashville.  If you dig it, which I think you will, there are more videos of David Olney reciting poetry available on YouTube.  Check them all out! 

“I Hope That I Get Old Before I Die” by They Might Be Giants from First Album Live

My sentiments exactly.  I think this is the penultimate track from our survey of this live recreation of the first TMBG album.  It’s been fun, and I like using penultimate correctly because it makes me feel smart.

“Julie” by Darrin Bradbury from unreleased demos

I’ve knew a girl named Julie.  Actually, I’ve known and know a lot of girls and women named Julie in my life. None of them have anything to do with this song, so I’m not sure why I’m mentioning it.  I do need to say, that Darrin’s weekly Wednesday night gig at Fran’s Eastside Tavern keeps getting better and better.

“Bummer 1 Hit Single” by Darrin Bradbury from unreleased demos

“If it’s all right with you, I’d like to start this one off with a joke. Why’d the folk singer quit? I don’t know. I guess he was broke.” 

“This songs a bummer, let’s talk about summer…” 

“Breakfast Burrito” by Shabbadoo from Pajama

What’s better for a morning shuffle than a Breakfast Burrito?  I still find it amazing that so many amazingly talented people have been a part of my earthly experience.

“Pipes” by Vinyl Thief from Deer Head Music Presents: Indie Mixtape Nashville

Vinyl Thief were our Band of the Month way back in July 2012 when we still had Bands of the Month.  Fun facts: Vinyl Thief are from Nashville, way back in 2012 we featured them in a post that also included Darrin Bradbury’s old band Big Wilson River, and they once played the summer kick off party for my friend Hayden Coleman’s food truck – Moovers and Shakers. All that and “Pipes” is cool song and is featured on the recent Deer Head Music Indie Mixtape which we have been spinning of late.

“When I Was a Boy” by Dar Williams from The Honesty Room

I know I say this quite often, but truly this is one of my all time favorite, favorite songs. The first time I heard this song, I literally cried.

“Land of 1000 Girls” by Scruffy the Cat from Time Never Forgets – The Anthology (’86-’88)/High Octane Revival

Switching gears rapidly and harshly, we have some delicious 80s music from this legendary Boston band.

“Heart of Texas” by Taco Land from Heart of Texas

This was the song that first introduced me to Taco Land  (this and their amazing over of the Bowie song “Five Years”).  It was good to hear it again when I got it as a Free Download for buying an “Audrey Strong” bracelet (proceeds benefit St. Judes).  Sending out positive thoughts to Joseph, Audrey, and the whole Russell and extended Taco Land family.

VIDEOS

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

Friday Morning Music Shuffle – Number Three Mix

One of the best side-effects of writing this blog (and certainly not one I expected or intended) has been the incredible people I have met.  Honestly, that is one of the main reasons, I have kept this up for three years.  One of the very first people I “met” way back in the early stages of Ear to the Ground was Howard Rabach.  Last night, I was fortunate enough to meet him in person and have an enjoyable dinner. Tonight, I get to see him again – playing bass for The Grey A for their CD Release Show at The Stone Fox.

Shuffle – let’s go!

Today, I found videos of the actual artists and songs for all but one of the songs in the shuffle…

“What a Way to Go” by Tim Carroll from Opening Up/The Devil is a Busy Man

Tim Carroll is about release a new album which should be awesome.  In the meantime, dig on this!

“When it Was Wrong” (Live) by The California Honeydrops from Honeydrops Live/Spreadin’ Honey

The California Honeydrops’ music just makes me feel good all over.

“Inside Job” by Little Village from Little Village

The hits keep coming from Hiatt, Cooder, Keltner, and Lowe

“Pictures” (acoustic) by Madi Diaz from Stripped Chopped + Screwed

A pretty song from the talented Ms. Diaz.

“In a Cold World” by Toot Sweet from Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen: Section 5/American Hymn

Talk about a rich well of talent!  It seems like we’ve already featured like 100 songs from the latest Mama Coco’s sampler, and they are all good.  I really like this one, and I’m going to check out more music from Toot Sweet!

“A New Life” by Jim James from Regions of Light and Sound of God

I don’t care if you call him Jim James or Yim Yames. I don’t care if he is fronting My Morning Jacket, jamming with the all-star Monsters of Folk, or like here on his own – Jim James rarely misses the mark as far as I am concerned.

“Number Three” (Live) by They Might Be Giants from First Album Live

I think anyone who writes (music or words) has experienced (at least temporarily) the feeling that you’ve used up all of your ideas.  This song has always been a favorite of mine by TMBG.

“Ever Start to Wonder” by The Dirty Guv’nahs from Hearts on Fire

This is from The Dirty Guv’nahs’ most recently album. They are from Knoxville, Tennessee, and they groove like you won’t even believe.

“Vagabon Special” by an All-Star Cajun Band from Evangeline Made: a tribute to Cajun Music

This is the instrumental first track from the Evangeline Made album featuring an All-Star band of Cajun musicians that includes the legendary Michael Doucet. I could not find a video of this song, but the song was written by Marc Savoy, and I found a video of The Savoy Family playing and people dancing.

“It Didn’t Matter” by The Style Council from The Singular Adventures of the Style Council/The Cost of Loving

And we close out the day and the week !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”);of shuffles with another song from the impressive Style Council catalogue.

 
VIDEO 
 
 
 
 

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle – Poorer Every Day Mix

So, Nashville is getting a lot of hype these days… East Nashville more specifically.  Is it deserved or not? I’ll let someone else answer that deep and complicated question. However, what I will do, is tell you just a bit about one particular night in East Nashville (last night to be specific), and I will let you process this information how you will….

The night began with David Olney in his penultimate* Happy Hour show at The 5 Spot opening his show with an incredibly awesome recitation of Kubla Khan, and the night ended (almost) about six hours later at Fran’s Eastside with Tim Carroll and Darrin Bradbury doing a version of Freebird that made me a fan of that song (or at least a fan of their version).

We have a mixed bag of cool tunes in today shuffle, so let’s do it!

“A Woman or the Blues” by Curtis Salgado from Alligator Records: 21st Century Blues and Roots/Soul Shot

Life is about choices… you choose or life chooses for you…

“Runaway” by The Freaky Baby Daddies from Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen – Section 5/Free Download

Diving back into the Mama Coco’s stash with some funky grooves.

“The Dream’s in the Ditch” by Deer Tick from Negativity

The Rhode Island based band with song from their most recent album Negativity.

“Bring on the Rain” by Heather Powell from Believe it to Life

Some gorgeous soulful sounds from the True Groove stable.

“The Action” by Little Village from Little Village

More from this 90s pre-Americana supergroup.

“Rhythm Section Want Ad” by They Might Be Giants from First Album Live

I hope you are enjoying this revisiting of TMBG’s first album as much as I am.

“Alienation’s for the Rich” by They Might Be Giants from First Album Live

It’s a great day for TMBG, let’s play two.

“Outro” by Tipi Valley from Blue Moon EP

We close out the latest from our friend Tipi Valley with the brief final track from this EP.  Waiting patiently for the next record.

“O, Ma Chere Tite Fille” by Ann Savoy Feat. Linda Ronstadt from Evangeline Made: a tribute to Cajun Music

Ann Savoy is a Virginia transplant who married a Cajun musician and has become a Cajun artist herself. Linda Ronstadt is Linda Ronstadt.

“White on White” by Haunted America from Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen – Section 5/A-side of Single

We close out today’s shuffle with more awesome music from the fine folks at Mama Coco’s Funky Kitchen.

VIDEOS

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

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Ear to the Wall Mix

Life is a balance of patience, hard work, dumb luck, and the occasional moment of happy coincidence. Or so it seems from this particular moment in my existence. I was thinking about the two recent reviews I wrote, and the circumstances that lead me to having the opportunity to write those reviews.  In 2011, when I started Ear to the Ground, I was trying to find a blog platform that would be easy to use and be visually interesting.  I came across Posterous which seeming fit the bill.  Through that site, I came into contact with Howard Rabach and his enigmatic band Ubiquity Machine.  We became Facebook friends, and now Howard plays bass for The Grey A, and he sent me their new album to review.

About six months later, around the time that I decided that Posterous could not do everything I wanted to do*, I happened upon a cool band from New Jersey called Those Mockingbirds. That band lead me to Don Ryan, Popa Tunes, The Dead Exs, The End Men, and my whole fascination with New York/New Jersey/Connecticut bands and artists which continues to this day.  Through all of that, and I think through a direct recommendation from Don Ryan, I became familiar with a band called Big Wilson River – a cool band which featured Darrin Bradbury who put out Motel Oatmeal, the other album I reviewed last weekend. 

Just thought I’d share… I don’t know what it all means…  The End Men have taught me the idea of saying yes to almost everything, and so far that philosophy seems to be working out okay.

Well we have a shuffle to put on… so enough musing…

“The T.G.V.” by Tim Carroll from Opening Up/Always Tomorrow

“Great, great speed. Oui, Oui!”

“Take Another Look” by Little Village from Little Village

You take Jim Keltner, Nick Lowe, John Hiatt, and Ry Cooder and you put them together in one group – what could possibly go wrong.  Absolutely nothing!  Just wished it had lasted a bit longer.

“What’ll We Do ‘Til Then” by Tim Carroll from Opening Up/All Kinds of Pain

This and the first song of this shuffle are from a live album called Opening Up which was recorded in Atlanta (I think).  Both tracks feature intros of a sort from Elizabeth Cook. I’ve been fortunate enough to hear Tim do these songs over the last few weeks, and maybe I’ll hear ’em again tonight.

“From Now On” by The Features from Old Familiar Melodies – 2008-2013/The Twilight Sage: Breaking Dawn – Part I Original Motions Picture Soundtrack

That’s right I said Twilight Saga… Edward, Jacob, Belle, vampires that don’t act like vampires… the features are a cool band from Nashville who make some really catchy music that a bunch of people really like.  They’ve released a kind of best of… sampler on NoiseTrade.

“This Thing That I’ve Found” by The Autumn Defense from NoiseTrade Eastside Manor Session/Fifth

I added began adding a bunch of The Autumn Defense music to my list after seeing them play live at last years Americanarama deal at Grimey’s.  For now, this is the last of those tracks. This is part of their Eastside Manor Session – recorded in East Nashville for NoiseTrade.

“Heart Full of Now” by Deena from Rock River

Two days in a row, we have songs from Deena’s remarkable album Rock River.  For pure fun, this may be my favorite song.  After I hear it, it takes quite a while to stop singing it.

“Cry for Me” (live) by The California Honeydrops from Honeydrops Live

Also two days in a row for The California Honeydrops, and this two is very fun and funky song.  Groovetastic!

“(She Was A) Hotel Detective” by They Might Be Giants from First Album Live

“She’s got her ear to the walls and she’s tapping the calls
If you’ve got a secret, boy, forget about it”

“Puts The Sugar On” by Tim Carroll from Always Tomorrow

Why not three from Mr. Carroll?  He played this one last week during his Happy Hour at The 5 Spot.  If you’re in Nashville, he’ll be back at The 5 Spot this Friday for Happy Hour with his crack band featuring Bones Hillman (Midnight Oil) and Steve Latanation.  Tonight you can catch Tim solo at Logue’s Black Raven Emporium at 8:00 opening for Greg Garing and later at Fran’s Eastside with Darrin Bradbury opening up.

“Sad Saturday Night” by David Olney from When the Deal Goes Down

Speaking of… what? The Five Spot Happy Hour? Artists we featured yesterday? Nashville? Whatever, David Olney is back in the shuffle today with another from his When the Deal Goes Down album.  He will be at The 5 Spot tonight from 6-8:30 with his crack band featuring Sergio Webb, Dan Seymour, and Justin Amaral.  The video from this song is kind of new, and features some awesome Nashville locales.

!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”;

VIDEOS:

     http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js   

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle – Bad Voodoo 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”); Casual readers may not know this, but although I was born in Tennessee, my parents were both born in Louisiana, and I still have some deep roots in that state.  There is quite a bit of Louisiana in today’s shuffle by some twist of fortune/juju…

My phone did feel heavier this morning – probably due to the nearly 100 songs I added to the current playlist.  How much does an MP3 file weigh anyway?

Ah- let’s jump into it…

“Blues de Bosco” by Rodney Crowell from Evangeline Made: a tribute to Cajun Music

On Record Store Day, while the cool kids were enduring the long lines for the rare vinyl releases, I was perusing the $1.00 CD bins looking for cool finds.  I came across this star-studded Cajun Music tribute from early in this century.  Americana standard bearer Rodney Crowell is from southern Mississippi which is about as close to Cajun country as you can get without being in South Louisiana.  The video is a version of this song from a New York City Cajun band named for a small town near where some of my family lives.

“Loud Loud Loud Loud Guitars” by Young Fresh Fellows from Songs for Slim – A Benefit Compilation for Slim Dunlap

Stick some cotton in your ears if you must… hell, I’ll likely be deaf before too long…

This reminds me of three things:  1.  Seeing Slim with the ‘Mats in the sweaty National Guard Armory in Nashville in the late 80s. 2.  Seeing Warren Zevon with the Odds at the Ace of Clubs in Nashville in the early 90s (it was one of the loudest shows I’ve ever experienced) and 3. that line from They Might Be Giants “She doesn’t have to have her Young Fresh Fellows tape back…” 

“Fury of the Light” by The Bones of J.R. Jones from Dark was the Yearling

The Bones of J.R. Jones is from Brooklyn and makes some incredible dark, rootsy, blues/folk music. I grabbed this from the July Feel Bad for You mixtape, and I have to hear more!

“Miller, Don’t You Even Care?” by The Grimm Generation from The Big Fame

The first of three tracks in today’s shuffle from perennial E2TG favorites The Grimm Generation.  What you need to know about The Grimm Generation:  They are from Connecticut, they make music deeply rooted in themes and influences of which I am all too familiar, and they are awesome.  Get The Big Fame  – as soon as you possibly can!

“The Big Fame” by The Grimm Generation from The Big Fame

The title track from the landmark album!

“French Quarter” by Delta Spirit from Lost and Found

Our second Louisiana-inspired song… Delta Spirit are from San Diego and currently reside in Brookyln, but as their name implies, the spirit of the Mississippi Delta runs all through their music.  This is from a free sampler released on Noisetrade ahead of the band’s fourth album which is due in just a couple of weeks.  It takes us to a post-Katrina New Orleans…

“Real Bad Voodoo” by The Grimm Generation from The Big Fame

We stay down in the Crescent city and wander into a strange shop with no distinguishable signage, filled with tables and shelves of trinkets and bottles… there is some real bad voodoo…

“Youth Culture Killed My Dog” by They Might Be Giants from First Album Live

In honor of yesterday being National Dog Day, we offer this first album gem from TMBG.  Damn you hipsters – stay out of my yard!
window.amznpubstudioTag = “eartothegro00-20”; http://ps-us.amazon-adsystem.com/domains/eartothegro00-20_3dcd3a52-1a1a-4afe-a2fd-aaba8e251afc.js
“Kentucky” by Year of October from WDVX Blue Plate Special 4/12/2014

And we close things out with one of Year of Octobers prettiest and most heartfelt songs – about their home state.  This is the first track on Golden Days – their new album which you can pre-order now!

VIDEO PLAYLIST

Monday Morning Music Shuffle – Never Enough Mix

On a Monday which began with a spilled cup of coffee… (and did I mention it was Monday?) the shuffle comes up with a fine collection of music.  No oddball pop gems, none of the usual suspects, just a nice collection of cool music from around the country…

Oh – I recorded a new bit of short fiction to my Soundcloud account.  Check it if you want…

“Lovely” by Solardrive from Solardrive

Our penultimate track from the self-titled Solardrive album which we have been playing for several months.  A cool video accompanies co-directed by Solardrive front man Balthazar Getty.  Solardrive are based in L.A.

“Photographs and Fables”  by Mission South from Migration Vol. 2

Mission South were from D.C. I became a fan after seeing their exuberant performance at The Basement last fall.  Sadly, they broke up just a few months after that, but they left behind some nifty songs.

“Desert Ground” by The Western Den from The Battle Hymn EP

The Western Den are from Boston.  Just a little ambient folk for the shuffle.

“Happy Man” by Sparklehorse from Distorted Ghost EP

The late great Mark Linkous was from North Carolina. This is a sweet song made sadder by time and circumstances…

“Burning Jacob’s Ladder” by Mark Lanegan from Mark Lanegan

A survivor of the Seattle grunge scene.  This is just a purely great song.

“Hide Away Folk Family” by They Might Be Giants from First Album Live

Again, I am reminded of the awesomeness of the first TMBG album.  They Might be from Brooklyn… There May Be Giants.

“Willy’s Song” by Rayland Baxter from Feathers and Fishhooks

Nashville represents….  Man I love this song. Don’t fly away…

“Never Enough” by Trixie Whitley from Fourth Corner

Trixie Whitley is the daughter of Chris Whitley and she is part of Black Dub with super producer Daniel Lanois.  This is good information to have, but it is secondary to the amazing talent and ability evident in this track from her debut full-length solo album.  She is from New York and Ghent.

“SheshBesh” by The Plum Magnetic from Terra Animata!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”);

We finish things up with some amazing fusion/world music from New Orleans.

VIDEOS

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

Friday Morning Music Shuffle – If I Could Mix

Francie Moon and The Great Outdoors at Fond Object 8/16/2014

Plodded my way through another week… Today’s shuffle is a strange trip… or something…

“Charm” by Francie Moon and the Great Outdoors from Francie Moon and the Great Outdoors

New Jersey’s Francie Moon and the Great Outdoors stopped in Nashville last Saturday. (Photographic evidence above)  Popa Tunes shot me a heads up, or I might have missed it.  It was a pretty nice evening.  East Nashville summer, people strolling in off the streets, great music, women dancing, a nifty shop, and I even ran into an old friend (a nice surprise).  They performed this song.

“Until They Find Us” by The Grey A from My Country

Three weeks from tonight, The Grey A will be at the Stone Fox in Nashville for release show for this album.  I will finally get to meet Howard Rabach in person. He has been a friend of the blog since almost the very beginning, and he is slinging the bass for The Grey A these days.  Nashville folks it should be an amazing night with lots of local guests who helped with the record expected to appear.

“Waiting for the Man” by The Velvet Underground from Boston Tea Party, Jan. 10, 1969

This may be the only kind of Tea Party you will find on Ear to the Ground.  I don’t drink tea. I don’t support the political kind of tea party, and I really don’t post that much about US history.  But, when it comes to a live recording of The Velvet Underground from 1969 – well, that is my kind of tea party. “Oh pardon me sir, it’s the furthest from my mind”

“Smokestack Lightning” by Tomas Doncker Band from Moanin’ at Midnight: The Howlin’ Wolf Project

Explosive Blues guitar with a  Global Soul flair – Smokestack Lightning ya’ll… Howlin’ Wolf ya’ll…  Tomas Doncker ya’ll!

“If I Could Then I Would” by Tim Carroll from Opening Up/If I Could

Isn’t this cool, Tim Carroll covering my favorite John Prine song  playing a song he wrote that has been covered by John Prine and several other folks.  Tim played this when I saw him at Fran’s a couple of weeks ago.  Great song!

“Billie Jean 2008 Kanye West Mix” by Michael Jackson from Thriller 25 Super Deluxe Edition

Nothing to see here… just Ear to the Ground posting a Kanye West mix of an iconic Michael Jackson song.   This is what happens when I get bored and started surfing around the Freegal music site. It won’t be the last time. Deal…

“Everything Right is Wrong Again” by They Might Be Giants from First Album Live

Story of my life….  It’s been fun rediscovering how great They Might Be Giants’ first album really is and was.

“The Quiet Side of Hell” by Darrin Bradbury from Death in My Left Ear!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”);

Confession:  Today’s shuffle could have ended after They Might Be Giants.  I had made into the office, but then I started fixing my morning coffee, and I got distracted and I didn’t stop the shuffle when that last song ended.  And then, this song started playing, and it’s a really good song, and god knows I don’t post enough Darrin Bradbury on here – do I?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week of music.  If you hear music you like then you need to Like/Follow/Stalk them on social media, buy their music, see them live, and/or buy their merchandise. (Except Kanye and Michael Jackson.  Kanye is rich enough and Michael is dead.)


VIDEO PLAYLIST O’ THE DAY