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Entries in music (5)

Tuesday
Jul132010

I had a bizarre dream in the early hours of this morning. That in between awake and sleep time when you know that the alarm clock is coming and yet you know you still have enough time to maybe trick yourself into going back to sleep. 

I am pretty annoyed at this dream because I was so aware of my in between state and it was an exhausting dream. I was dreaming about the very thing I just commented on: that in between time. In my dream I was annoyed that I was not quite asleep and yet still somewhat awake. It was very frustrating.

My music selection for driving to work this morning had a very calming affect on me. Thank you Miss Joanna Newsom. Listening to your elfin voice and lyrical whimsy provided just the thing I needed to lose that exhausted feeling I had when first waking up. Music can be so powerful sometimes. The ability to overwhelm and also calm.

Wednesday
May262010

I listened to an album I have not listened to in more than 9 years yesterday evening. Our Lady Peace - Spiritual Machines. I'm currently watching MTV's Daria. The past few days have been about older things days long gone. It's interesting how simply listening to the album and watching a television show I grew up with is bringing forth some memories I have not had in a very long time. Sometimes it's nice to go strolling down memory lane. 

Surprisingly I was able to sing along to a majority of the songs on the OLP album. Definitely one of their better albums, I might have to see if they've released anything recently. Rain Maida has one of the most unique and distinct voices in Canadian music history. 

Monday
Feb222010

Have One on Me

Joanna Newsom just released her new album Have One on Me and there is a distinct lack of vocabulary that I can employ to describe how amazing and beautiful this work is. It is a 3 disc set and I've only given it one full listen. Took me a few days (mostly driving to work in the mornings, and not a bad way to wake up).

Joanna Newsom is an artist I struggled with early on. Her voice is something you have to grow into, (rather high on the vocal scale) someone you come to love after repeated listens. Unlike my friend Paul (thanks for turning me onto her), I found her first album The Milk-Eyed Mender to be better than her second Ys. That is not to say that Ys is a bad album, not by any stretch. I just found TMEM to be more accessible. Having listened to her new release, I would still recommend that new comers to her work start with TMEM. Ys is similar to viewing and listening to an opera, it requires an extended & repeated listening to enjoy. 

If you know me and are willing or open to trying some new music, ask me for her work and I'd be more than willing to share her discography. Oh and I've recently sought out her work on-line and legally paid for her work. Some artists are worth giving their dues and she is definitely one of them. 

Saturday
Feb062010

I've been listening to some great music this week. 

Owen Pallett (formerly of Final Fantasy) is an amazing artist. Think of Andrew Byrd & Bright Eyes blending with TV on the Radio. A virtuoso performer who makes use of violins, piano, and synthesizers. His most recent album Heartland is something you'll find yourself humming days later. 

Owen Pallett - Heartland

Beach House has been given the very appropriate label of "dream pop", ghost like, haunting melodies that wander and meander through your mind. Think of the slow songs on Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest. Their recent album Teen Dream is perfect for an afternoon sitting in your room. Close the blinds, and lay back in the semi-darkness of the eve and just let yourself drift off listening to the slow croons. Will definitely bring a smile to your face. 

Beach House - Teen Dream

 

Wednesday
Oct282009

Guilty Pleasure

What is my guilty pleasure of the day? 

Listening to the New Moon OST a veritable greatest hits and who's who of Indie music: Grizzly Bear, Killers, Bon Iver, St. Vincent,  Thom Yorke.

Hate the franchise, love the music. Cheers.