Pass the Drumsticks: Thanksgiving Jazz - Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis

There is just something about jazz music that makes it perfect for the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. And it just so happens that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Not just beacause jazz fits so perfectly into the the family mix and that it comes before I am totally sick of Christmas music, but also because it is not over commercialized. It is a holiday that still retains some of its original authenticity.

Because of this, I have chosen to provide everyone with a little thanksgiving jazz. There are two tracks that I have discovered which I am going to be spinning on Thanksgiving day: The first, "Autumn Leaves" by Miles Davis; the second, the Louis Armstron version of the Fats Waller song "All That Meat and No Potatos." I hope you enjoy both of them. I hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving Day! Just remember to take a deep breath and don't try to fake it - be real people.

Louis Armstrong - "All That Meat and No Potatoes"



Miles Davis - "Autumn Leaves"

Top 5 Albums of 2008

It is difficult for me to simply name my top 5 albums from 2008, however this list is a little more selective. It is based on the albums that I have actually listened to the most and not the ones that I want to like the most. There are so many great albums out there this year - and perhaps I will supply a list of runner ups in the future. But for now these are this years albums that I have been spinning the most. Below you will find the top 5 albums - each with my current favorite song from each album.

#1: Coldplay: Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
- favorite track = strawberry swing -

Coldplay really stepped up to the plate with this album. Not only is the album remarkably positive and uplifting throughout the entire album, it also shows a broad range of influence ranging from Latin American style clapping rhythms, to African drum beats, to almost Asian sounding guitar riffs. It's just a brilliant album. One that I have a hard time getting sick of and even more importantly one that my wife doesn't get sick of.

#2: Radiohead: In Rainbows - favorite track = bodysnatchers

This is one of those albums that I looked forward to for weeks and weeks. Radiohead has constantly been one of my favorite artists since early high school. The have continually evolved and experimented with new instruments and sound landscapes. In many respects this album seems to signal a shift yet again for Radiohead, they seem to be moving back towards some of their earlier more alternative rock grounded music after years of more experimental music. However, they aren't returning alone they are bringing much of the experimental sounds with them to fuse together their rock roots and experimental music. I simply love this album. It come out kicking hard and then soothes your soul. Brilliant.

#3: Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes - favorite track = white winter hymnal

I fell in love with this album from the first moment I heard it. It is refreshingly simple and understated. The tracks are filled with vocal harmonies that are reminiscent of the Beach Boys but are more appropriate for cold fall days.

#4: TV on the Radio: Dear Science, - favorite track = golden age

This is a strange one. TV on the Radio creates a captivating sounds that mixes and confuses music genres like soul, rap, rock, and electronic. I have found this album to be one of my favorites this year, and I am guessing for years to come.

#5: Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago - favorite track = Flume

This album is simply haunting. The vocals are mostly in falsetto - and continually astound me. It is an absolutely beautiful album.

Coldplay: The Prospekt's March EP & Life in Technicolor II

This song is to good not to post. Life in Technicolor was one of my favorites off their album "Viva la Vida," but it had no vocals - and now it does. Sweet. The whole EP is great. Below are a few select tracks of the EP released today. The second track entitled "Now My Feet Won't Touch the Ground" is awesome. However, Prospekt's March / Poppyfields is the real gem of this EP.

Coldplay - Life in Technicolor II

Coldplay - Now My Feet Won't Touch the Ground

Coldplay - Prospekt's March

Introducing Star Ratings!

After a few weeks of trying to find the perfect star rating system for this blog I finally found it today.  I am hoping for all of you who don't like to post comments on blogs that this should be a fun and quick way to participate in the feedback about the music.  And for all of you that like to post comments it should give you something else fun to do.  Maybe I am a dork but I am pretty excited about it. Also if you like the blog feel free to  become a follower by clicking the on the sidebar!

Feel free to go back and rate older posts as well as the new posts as the come out.  I hope these star ratings will be a lot of fun and add an element of interactivity.  Also please feel free to be honest (I won't be offended!)  the fun thing about this is going to be the difference of opinions that will surely arise.  Enjoy. 

News Flash: I've Got a New Blog

Hello all, I just started another blog about non-music matters.  It's called "Searching for Authenticity."  Check it out by clicking here!  I truly hope you enjoy both of my blogs.  I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who has posted comments on this blog.  I have really enjoyed them and your involvement has inspired me to do the same on all of your blogs.  Thanks again. 

Seasick Steve: "Hootenanny" & "Walking Man"

Having been born in Memphis, TN blues is in my blood. The raw energy that it emits is almost unparalleled by any other genre. The closest thing that I have found comes out of Africa. Seasick Steve is perhaps one of the best living blues musicians around. He has been really well received overseas in England and Europe. Defying many traditional notions of blues musicians he lives with his wife in Norway and has received his greatest critical acclaim from Europe. Check out these videos of him. He bleeds blues to the bone.

And just let me say once again that "Live on Later... with Jools Hooland" is perhaps the best music television show I have ever seen. I wish we got it here in the states without satellite tv. On a side note, it is kinda funny that when Ewan McGregor grew his beard out on Long Way Down that he looked a lot like Steve.  Enjoy the blues. 

Steve's Television Debut - "Hootenanny"

Seasick Steve - "Walking Man"

Jaime Cullum: "Blame It On My Youth," "What A Difference a Day Made"

For whatever reason, whenever I drive my little Mazda (which is currently and tragically lacking a radio) I get Jamie Cullum's version of the song "Blame It On My Youth" in my head. I don't know where or why it comes from, but it is always there. I have sung it many shameless times to myself, especially the part were he sings, "If only just for you I did exist, blame it on my youth..."  I just can't shake it.  I haven't even listened to the song recently.  In fact, this is the first time in months that I have actually played the track.  Kinda weird.  There are worse songs to get stuck in your head for years.  It has to count for something if you can't get it out of your head when you haven't even listened to the actual recording in months. 

The track originally appeared on his amazing debut album entitled "Twentysomething."  While I found his second album disappointing, I have high hopes that he will once again come out with such a classic album.  Also, I should tell you that seeing his show at the Roxy here in Atlanta was just perhaps the best show I have ever seen.  The sound quality was amazing.  It was mixed to absolute perfection and the tickets where only 15 bucks.  

I also really love his version of the song "What A Difference A Day Made."  So I posted a video of this song as well.  It's great for the holidays. 

The "Blame It On My Youth" Youtube video may be a candidate for the worst video ever posted on Youtube, except for the fact that it has the best version of the song I could find.  Just try not to watch the video.  It is super cheesy and honestly I can't watch it.  The second video is cool though. 

Jaime Cullum - "Blame It On My Youth" (listen and try not to watch!)

Jaime Cullum - "What A Difference A Day Makes"

Erik Satie: Gnossienne No. 1 & No. 3

I am feeling somber today.  I have had a stream of odd dreams over the last few days from red gloves growing out of pies as they are cooked to my friend Michael and me attempting to stop an assassination attempt on Barak Obama.  Dreams are odd things.  I truly believe that they mean more than we give them credit for these days.  I need to start writing them down as soon as I wake up so I can think about them the next morning in all their detail.  You are probably asking yourself, "What does this have to do with music?"  

Well, it may be a looser connection than many of my posts,  but in short, these works my Erik Satie make me feel as if I am dreaming when I listen to them.  They are almost painfully slow, yet beautiful and enticing.  They draw out of me deep emotions, thoughts and images like dreams.  I can't really explain it, yet, it utterly captivates me. 

Another reason for this post has to do with classical music recordings.  I truly did not understand the importance of knowing several different recordings of a piece of music.  I had heard these pieces before but played at a much faster tempo.  For me hearing Erik Satie's work played at this  slow tempo made it come alive to me.  My favorite recording of this piece is by Branka Parlic.  I have posted a link to Gnossienne No. 1 (my favorite piece of the two, you should really check it out!) because the youtube poster disabled the embedding capability for that video, but not Gnossienne No. 3.   So enjoy them.  If you are interested you can click on the titles of each song (above) to hear the faster version I was talking about.  Both versions are good, but I really love the slower ones which you can find below. 

Gnossienne No. 1 (played by Branka Parlic) 

(Click Here for video)

Gnossienne No. 3 (played by Branka Parlic)

My Grandfather: Coldplay - "Fix You"

Well, last week was certainly weird.  I experienced a snapshot of life.  From the celebration of two new cousins births, to a wedding celebration, and lastly, my grandfather's funeral.  The range of emotions over the course of this weekend were, to say the least, extreme.  

Wednesday, November the 12th, my Grandfather passed away after years of struggling with Alzheimer's. I write this post with a mix of emotions, not knowing really were to begin.  Funerals are funny things. 

It was hard watching my grandmother touch the cold hands of her deceased husband, and it was even harder to watch her touch his cheek and run her hands through his hair.  But I watched mesmerized as she touched her fingers from her lips to his time and time again which sent my mind racing back in time to when they first kissed so many years ago.  And then to their wedding day.  It was both the most beautiful and painful thing I have ever seen at the same time.

The funeral continued on and many remarks were made telling of the various qualities and eccentricities of my grandfather.  How he could fix anything.  How if you asked him if he wanted a scoop ice cream he would always say, "I believe I will."  Then one of these remarks caught my heart more than any of the others.  It was about how he would often have a glimmer of a tear in his eye as he would listen to his classical music.  Up until that point I had held it together, not that I was even trying, it was at that point that I felt my bottom lip pulled uncontrollably down and out from me, my facial muscles beyond any control, the tears streaming from my eyes.  As I sat and listened, I realized though I have surely have been told before, how much I am like my grandfather.  And how much I miss him. 

Though he had been gone for a long, long time because of Alzheimer's, his body had not left, and therefore the emotions of that loss had been lying in wait.   I remember after I returned from London and I saw my grandfather for the first time in months.  He looked up at me and smiled warmly, walked over to me reached out his hand and said "How do you do? I'm Joe." To which I responded "I'm good Joe, nice to meet you."  As I talked to him later I told him that he reminded me of someone, someone that I had the highest respect for, to which he just smiled and winked.  Time slips away from us so quickly.  There is so much I wanted to learn from him, to continue to learn from him.  And while sitting on that pew thinking back over the years, I realized that I am still learning from him and that I always will be. 

I love you, granddaddy.  I will miss you.  This is for you.

Coldplay - "Fix You"

"Fix You" sung by Young At Heart

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová: Falling Slowly

A simply beautiful song from a simply amazing album.  The power of this song astounds me.  It breaks through all of my defenses and strikes me at the very depth of my heart.  It makes me feel and think very hard about those whom I love. 

The Swell Season - Falling Slowly

Arctic Monkeys: Fluorescent Adolescent, Brainstorm

Every now and then I do enjoy some "harder" music.  Something to cleanse the pallet of all the classical and folk music I listen to.  If and when I am in the mood for something like that, there several bands that I throw in the playlist.  For example, Muse is a good choice, or the Arctic Monkeys.  Which I will admit, took a while to grow on me.  I feel that I might for the first time be listening to music from a younger generation.  But I guess thats the key to staying hip, right?!  Honestly, I'm not really concerned with my own coolness, because I know this will be a strike against me for many of you out there.   Be that as it may I can't deny the fact that I have started to enjoy these songs.  

Fluorescent Adolescent

Brainstorm

Schubert: Death and the Maiden, 2nd Movement

After the more out there posts from the last few weeks I felt a need to restore the natural order of things.  Therefore, this post is going to be about yet another piece of classical music that I adore.  This one was written in 1824  by Franz Schubert shortly after hearing of his declining health at the age of 27 would soon lead to his death.  The Takacs Quartet preforming Schubert's Death and the Maiden and let me say once again that the Takacs Quartet is absoulty amazing.  They are perhaps the greatest string quartet that exist in the world.  They are unequalled. 

I selected only a section of the second movement, but  you can listen to the whole work beginning here.  The entire work is amazing.  A mix of anger and sadness, hope and despair.  It is absolutely stunning.  The first chord is like a knife through the heart.  You should really listen to the whole piece, but for now let us focus on the second movement.

For me the magic in this piece really begins about 2 minutes and thirty seconds in.  The first few minutes could be a funeral procession Schubert seems to be walking himself towards his grave.  The music is somber but thin begins to show signs of hope.  Maybe the satisfaction of the musical legacy he has left behind.  Maybe he envisions himself capturing glimpses of heavens gates in the distance, either way this piece has a haunting melody.  

Pieces of music like this, as apposed to some of my posts - especially that last one, makes me ponder deep questions of life and even death.  It makes me journey ever deeper into the very heart of my emotions.  In this particular case what I find is my desire for hope in the darkest of times (and no I am not talking about politics).  Not even my darkest of times.  This particular work of music reminds me that I can be hope for a friend, hope for a stranger, and they hope for me.   Through the darkest of emotions hands can reach down and find you.  They can lift you up and raise you to the highest of highest.  They can clean you up and turn you around.  They can fight and even die along side of  you emotionally.  

However, the trick is actually doing so.  So today I remind myself as much as another to remember to as authentic and real as I possibility can.  To be a true friend to those whom I love.  To get down there with them and fight for them.  To care and be cared for, so that we might truly live. 

Death and the Maiden - 2nd Movement 

Bon Iver: Skinny Love

The band Bon Iver or 'Good Winter' and their album "For Emma, Forever ago" is one of the most recommended and critically acclaimed albums I have heard of this year. Everywhere I turn someone is saying something great about it. While I haven't heard the whole album, I have listened to this track several times actually. And I really like what I hear.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love

The Last Shadow Puppets: "Standing Next to Me"

Occasionally while searching for new music on the web, I trip across something really special that is new and exciting to me.  Yesterday it was The Last Shadow Puppets.  This duo is made up of the Arctic Monkeys lead singer, Alex Turner, and the lead singer of The Rascals, Miles Kane.  The boys met while on tour and began to write music together that is a clear departure from the sounds of their own bands.  Together their music feels straight out of the 60's and the British invasion. 

However, what really annoys me about these guys is that they are younger than me.  But I can get past that.  I really love this little song.  I have played it so much that my wife is beginning to hate it now, but I am telling you the song is  brilliant. 

Acoustic version of 'Standing Next To Me' 

Noah and the Whale: 5 Years Time

I actually really enjoy this song.  I can't say much else for the rest of their work simply because I haven't heard much of it, but I like everything I have heard.  I can't seem to get this song out of my head.  Granted, the melody is ripped of from somewhere (not sure where), but it's still a nice track.  The directing of the video looks like it could have been done by Wes Anderson, who actually helped produce one of their songs.  What I really like about this song is the fact that that you can hear their english accents clearly. Perhaps the most exciting thing about this song is the part it plays in the bigger picture - specifically the emergence of a Indie rock scene in the UK, which promises to delight listeners in the years and months to come.  Once they actually make it over the big blue.  

5 Years Time

Glasvegas: Geraldine

Here is a band to watch out for.  They have taken that classic 1950's rock and roll sound and given it a modern edge.  The sound on this recording isn't great, but it's good enough to get the idea.  I give you Glasvegas. 

Glasvegas: Geraldine

Sufjan Stevens: The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!

I can think of only a handful of albums that I have thrown on the hi-fi that have totally stopped me dead in my tracks.  The kind of album that I have listen to in their entirety while lying on the floor with eyes closed.  Albums like the Beatle's "Abbey Road" or the Flaming Lip's record "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots." The type of album that was intended to  be listened to from beginning to end without interruption.  An album whose songs bleed effortlessly into one another forming a cohesive whole - true audial works of art. 

Sufjan Stevens album "Come On!  Feel the Illinoise!"  is one of these albums.  If Paul Simon and Phillip Glass came together to make an album it might sound a lot like this one.  Not only does Sufjan write the music and lyrics for these songs but he also writes the orchestral compositions for them as well.  On top of that his lyrics are astounding.  Here is one of my favorite tracks of "Come On!  Feel the Illinoise!." 

Sufjan Stevens:  The Predatory Wasp Of the Palisades Is After Us!