Discover: David Ramirez

Honest lyrics from a road-weary traveler wrapped in music that fits like a well-worn pair of jeans. This is traveling music that makes you equally excited to be on the road and sad that your leaving home. It contradicts itself perfectly much like life itself. David Ramirez is one singer-songwriter not to miss.

Five For Friday: Blind

Just because you're blind doesn't mean you don't have vision.

Rediscover: Bing Crosby... and David Bowie?

Yep... It's a pretty weird match up, but hey, who wouldn't want to sing with Bing Crosby? You never know who you're going to be hanging out with on Christmas day. It may not be with David Bowie, but I do hope this Christmas finds you surrounded by friends and full of joy.

Happy Christmas.

Discover: Pokey LaFarge

Pokey LaFarge is either a time traveler or he's been recently thawed out from being cryogenically frozen because I swear that he is from the 1930s. Not only do his clothes and hair style fit the era, but even his facial features harken back to those times (just look at those amazingly big teeth!). Even more importantly, his voice, lyrics and playing make it hard to tell if this is new or old music... well, besides the fact that the audio quality is quite a bit clearer than it would have been back then; yet it's not so polished that it sounds current.

Pokey LaFarge was born to play old time ragtime/jazz/blues and I'm excited to see some honest, fantastic talent reviving a great era of music. You can find out more about him at his website.

Five For Friday: Christmas Time!

Happy Christmas, everyone!

Rediscover: Dave Matthews' "Some Devil"

When I first bought this album, I thought I would listen through it a time or two to get a feel for it like I do with most new music purchases, but that wasn't the case with this album. This album didn't leave my CD player for two solid weeks. I couldn't stop listening to it. I still can't stop. If I hear a song from it, I have to hear the whole thing. That's just the way it is, and I'm okay with that. Every song on it is some sort of magical (or devilry if you will) giving it such a dang good feel that covers a wide range of emotions both musically and lyrically. Do yourself a favor and get this album.

Discover: Shakey Graves

So, I've featured a few two-piece bands on here, but today's post is our first one-man band: Shakey Graves. I really like his bluesy/alt-country/make-shift/stripped-down sound. I'm not sure how versatile a single person can be, but who says you need versatility? Everclear played the same three chords for years! ;p If you like what you hear/see, head on over to his website and buy an album or two!

Five For Friday: Here's To The 90s!

Speaking of nostalgia...

Rediscover: The Smashing Pumpkins

Any time I hear The Smashing Pumpkins, I'm always reminded of my high school years. I don't know that there were many rock bands more popular than them back in the mid/late 90's besides Nirvana.

I never got to see the Pumpkins perform, but I would have loved to. I know that Billy Corgan has put the band back together over the last few years, but I don't think it would be the same. Maybe it would... Anyway, enjoy some nostalgia!

Discover: Future of Forestry

One of my friends told me about this band a while back. I didn't really check them out until recently, but I'm glad I did. The songs are far more "detailed compositions" and far less "three or four chords played over and over". They toured as a three-piece a while back and I would have loved to catch that. I always enjoy a good multi-instrumental shindig.

Find out more about Future of Forestry here.

Five For Friday: 1+1=2

This week's Five For Friday is brought to you by the number 2.

Enjoy these two piece bands and have a good weekend!

Rediscover: Madeleine Peyroux

The first time I heard Madeleine Peyroux, I instantly fell in love. Her vocalization, tonality and phrasing remind me of the beautifully smokey and perfectly effortless voice of Billie Holiday. And when that voice is enveloped within a laid-back, jazzy tune, you're pretty close to perfection.

Learn more about Madeleine Peyroux here.

Discover: Wintergatan

Here's a fun band I came across the other day. I'll let them introduce themselves (at the end of the video), but I will say that when Swedish guys play accordion, synths, music boxes and various other little instruments, you get some pretty fun music that would be perfect for most any indie film.

Learn more about them at their website.

Five For Friday: Songs of Thanks

Even though Thanksgiving was yesterday, that doesn't mean we should stop being thankful. May these songs of thanks help get you through Black Friday.

Rediscover: Vigilantes of Love

I'm reaching way back to 1999 for this one. You may have never heard of Bill Mallonee or his band Vigilantes of Love before, but you've probably heard of his pal Emmylou Harris who lends her lovely voice to this track. If you like this (and I hope that you do), you should check out the album it comes from, Audible Sigh. Good, old, late 90s folk/Americana. It's good for you.

Discover: Shovels & Rope

I discovered Shovels & Rope about a year and a half ago and was instantly sucked in by their sound, energy, and how rough around the edges they are (both live and on their album). There's a lot of gritty, pretty noise coming from this two-piece and I love it. You can taste the dirt coming off the kick and snare on "Tickin' Bomb" and the swagger of the horns on "Hail Hail" will make anyone want to shake their hips... even if they hate dancing. If you happen to be one of those non-dancing folk and prefer to have your heart ripped out of your chest instead, "This Means War" will do the trick. It's all here. A perfect sound track to this dirty, wonderful, painful, amazing thing we call life.

Learn more about Shovels & Rope here.

Five For Friday: Connect The Dots

All of these artists are connected to each other in one way or another.

Have a good weekend!

Rediscover: Nickel Creek

I must confess that I love some good bluegrass. One reason being how connected the players seem to be with their instruments. I guess that happens when you start playing music before you can walk or talk. ;) But Nickel Creek aren't just good bluegrass players though, they're great bluegrass players... and jazz and pop/rock and...

After they broke up, they seem to have gone off in all sorts of fantastic directions; playing with the likes of Brad Mehldau and Yo-Yo Ma and taking part in other bands such as Fiction Family and Punch Brothers. I was fortunate to get to see them perform a few years ago at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. They put on a wonderful show. If you ever get a chance to see any of them in whatever incarnation they may presently be playing in, go. I'm sure you will enjoy it. If not, buy me a ticket because I know I'll enjoy it!

Discover: Royal Canoe

The first thing that caught my ear about this band was the syncopated, groovy weirdness. Not weird in an inaccessible way, but weird in the most perfect and fun way: a weirdness that draws you in and makes you want to join in the fun even if you're not quite sure exactly what's going on... you just know you love it.

Discover more about Royal Canoe here.

Five For Friday: Jazz

Have some jazz to finish out the work week.

Rediscover: Beck's "Sea Change"

With cooler weather finally upon us (mostly kinda sorta) here in the lovely state of Georgia, this album is the perfect companion for an aimless night drive with the windows down and the heat on full blast.

As the album comes to an end, feel free to pull off on the side of the road, get out of your car and admire the stars for a while as the cold air wakes up your lungs and the vapor you exhale reminds your that we're not here for long...

Oh, and don't forget to grab your favorite hoodie before you head out...

Discover: LP

LP has one of the most unique voices I've heard in a long time. Not only is it unique, she has an insane amount of control over it and puts every note exactly where she means to. One of the biggest things that draws me to an artist is their ability to convince me that they believe what they are singing. LP does that easily and connects with herself and the audience almost effortlessly. I love the confidence she exudes through her Dylanesque hair and devil-may-care fashion. An added bonus is that she's stealing the ukulele back from the hipsters.

Find out more about LP at her website.

Enjoy!

Mic check

1 2... 1 2...

We go live November 11.

Thanks.