Sarah Jaffe makes me feel less lonely

You know those days when you feel like you're all alone in the world?  The days like I'm having today, where even though you're surrounded by people you still feel lonely?  The days where it seems like somethings are changing, but you can't pinpoint them?

Well, on days like those, put on some Sarah Jaffe.

 I don't exactly remember how I ran across Sarah Jaffe's music, but I'm glad I did.  She has one of those ethereal voices that make up for the mediocre words she sings sometimes.  Most of her songs I love.  Most of them the writing is on par, and when that combines with her acoustic guitar and her voice, I'm pretty much in heaven.

 I recommend three songs for the times where you just want to kind of float around in your head and be alone with your sadness.  Pretender has another worldly feel to it.  The strings at the beginning are haunting.  This one sometimes makes me afraid of the dark (even more than I am) when I'm listening to it at night.  Swelling, is a song that I could listen to for about 10 times in a row without getting tired of it.  It just hits me.  Finally Nurture It.  This one is a little less dark, a little more sweet, but still excellent.

Sarah also has great songs that are a little up beat.  This whole week I've been singing Clementine in my car when I drive to and from my internship.  I love that song.  It is extremely simple, not very wordy and damn catchy.  This is the type of song that I wish was given airtime on radio.  Instead of listening to over synthed, auto tuned crap that is so popular today, people should start to branch out and discover people that are making quality music.  If you need a starting place, check out Jaffe.

-kb

 

Odd Name, Amazing Sound

Do you ever have one of those days where it just feels like you're drifting?  For me I can sometimes find myself feeling suspended in time not knowing how this moment came to be.  This tends to happen when I'm procrastinating on homework (like I am right now) or when I'm feeling, just completely relaxed.

This past weekend was the first time in a long time where I've had time to just be.  During this time I discovered a new band that I have fallen in love with.  Horse Feathers are from Portland and sound amazing.  They reminded me on first listen of a better version of Iron and Wine.  Not so wispy, but with  a little more grit.  I love the songs Heathen's Kiss, and Curs in the Weeds the most.  These two songs have been on repeat for about a week now and I can't stop listening to them.

Part of my infatuation comes from their use of string instruments (total sucker) and because they come from the Pacific Northwest.  As if I didn't already have enough reasons to visit.  Take a listen to them if you haven't, they're worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBPO9Kun_9A

-kb

We were victims of bad bad timing...

This title is my new favorite lyric.  I've been listening to Azure Ray's new record Drawing Down the Moon since the day it came out, and I can't get enough.

I just saw them in concert on Friday night and it was exactly what I needed.  They played On and On Again (where my favorite lyric comes from) and I don't think I noticed anyone else in the Cedar for the entire length of the song.  

They also played my second favorite song by them Rise.  I've never heard it live before and I was blown away.  There was a little hesitation from Orenda to play it live because she was worried it got to slow in the middle.  Everyone there was like, Play it Play it !! So with a little audience participation they completely knocked my socks off! :)  I wish I could have recorded it so I could play it back over and over and over ....

I can't stop gushing over Azure Ray, and with some luck they'll come back through town in the not so distant future.

-KB

Drawing Down the Moon

So Azure Ray released their new record on the 17th.  It is their first record together in almost 6 years, and it did not disappoint me!  I've been a fan of both Maria and Orenda for awhile now and I am so happy that they're back together!

My two favorite songs so far have to be Don't Make Your Heart and On and On Again.  Particularly these two because I'm part of the crowd (I don't really know if there's a crowd but I'm gonna start one) that thinks Maria Taylor can do no wrong.  I absolutely love this woman's voice.  I think she could sing the same lyric a thousand times to me and I'd just sit there and listen.

As much as I love Maria, I really love when her voice melds into Orenda's.  Sometimes its like I'm listening to a dream I had, or listening in on one of their dreams.  Whenever I listen to Azure Ray or Maria Taylor, I like to lay there in the dark with my headphones on, and float.  Their music makes me feel like that moment when you dive under the water and for that moment all you hear is your mind, your thoughts, your own voice.  Clarity.

That's what I've been searching for, for some time now, clarity.  Its something that seems forever in the distance and something I really need.  One nice thing is that I can always escape from myself into music.  And this record is one of those that really can take you away...if you let it.

-kb

Mr. LaMontagne, you're fantastic

Have you heard Beg Steal or Borrow, the new single from the upcoming Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs record?  If you haven't do yourself a favor and listen to it now! 

It seems like every time I hear a new LaMontagne song I am blown away.  This one doesn't disappoint.  Upon hearing his unmistakable voice on this track I immediately had to find out when the rest of the record was coming.  Well 7 days from now on August 17th I will be one happy woman.  

I've been listening to any and everything Ray tonight and my anticipation just seems to be growing.  I can't wait for it to come out, just in time to help get me through the first few days of school.  The summer is almost over, which means the heat will soon go away, my Minnesota winter will be on its way, and the music of the fall is literally just around the corner.

Heres a link to the new single:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6a_1R3w5i4


-kb

Magpie to the Morning

I have been enthralled with Neko Case recently. In particular a couple of her songs. The first being Magpie to the Morning. I think I just got caught up in the story of the song. The lyrics are comforting, intriguing and I get lost in them. My favorite part of the song is when she sings about Mockingbirds in the night,

Hear the mocking bird sing
In the middle of the night
All of his songs are stolen so he hides
Stole them out from whiporwills
Screaming car alarms
He sings them for you special
He knows you're afraid of the dark

I need it to be Friday so that I get paid so that I can download more music! The next time Neko goes out on tour I will definitely be there. I can't believe its taken me this long to appreciate the voice that this woman has. I'm convinced her voice could bring peace to the masses. It certainly has brought some peace to me.

Go here and watch this video of her singing the song live, you won't regret it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHS7KeqN0uM


-kb

Rambing Man

The first days of summer are upon us. It's hot, humid, and I'm already wishing it was December. I heard this song somewhere the other day that I wish I could find. It was one of those songs that you just escape into. The kind where I close my eyes and I feel like I'm flying. The last three days have been kinda crappy. I've been feeling again that people have a bigger impact on me than I do on them. This feeling is devastating. To feel forgotten, and unimportant...eventually invisible. This is when I turn to music to pull me away from this dark place in time so I can just go.
I've been listening to Neko Case, Laura Marling and Roma di Luna a lot this past week and am excited to listen to the rest of Laura's new record. I can't wait until August. Brandi is coming to the fair and I will be there. What a way to end the summer.... and since it's only just begun guess I have some time to find some more amazing songs to fill the spaces in my mind.

Dear Florence,

I love your voice. Your song Dog Days makes me extremely happy. If you were a man I would volunteer to have your baby, hell I'll offer it up anyways. If you and Brandi Carlile got together it would be an epic adventure for my ears to discover.

However the Video for Dog Days that I just watched , freaked the shit out of me. This is perhaps for two big reasons. 1. I don't like clowns. This video had enough coked out looking clowns to give me bad dreams for a week. 2. The second video I watched for it had you looking like an institutionalized Geisha....which may also give me bad dreams for a week.

I think I'll go listen to Kiss with a Fist to cleanse my mind of this mental intrusion.

-kb

Dessa

Well the Holidays are over, the new year has begun and I have fallen into the web that is Doomtree. I remember in my senior year of highschool some of the boys would constantly yelling out Doomtree! in the halls and writing it all over the walls. I didn't know what the hell Doomtree meant and never bothered to investigate. Since then as my musical world has been opened I found out who/what Doomtree is. They are members of the amazing local hip hop scene we have in MN more specifically in Mpls.


Dessa Darling is a member of Doomtree, an amazing lyricist and singer, a songwriting instructor at McNally Smith, and pretty much my new obsession. She is fantastic. I saw this video of her and two others (I haven't found out who they are yet...) when she did an instudio with MPR. I can't stop listening to this because I think its freakin amazing. Oh well. I hope to see Dessa live and stand there in awe, because really I don't know how else I would react. :)


check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfZoQygZ_Io

2010

goodbye 2009! I'm excited to see what 2010 will bring. Well I know of one thing: I'm becoming and Auntie! Well and honorary one anyways. One of my friends found out her ego is prego and she's due the begining of September. We've had a couple of rough patches in '09 but I'm more interested in moving forward than dwelling on the past.

Speaking of moving forward, I just found out that the rumors were true, in 2010 comes the return of Lilith Fair! I was but a young lass when it was up and running before, but fully intend on catching it when it comes through Minneapolis this year. Especially because Brandi will be playing!!! That made the girl power rockathon so much more appealing. No specifics yet but be assured I will be keeping track.

In other news, Zoi is on the mend, although she seems to be feeling a little ill today. On a better note, I have begun to write again. Nothing major, and probably crappy but this time of year always makes me want to get my Emily Bronte on (aside from all the 'thusly, and thine's).

Next semester in school is gonna be a rough one I can tell, so this January I fully intend to read, write, listen and play the wii...especially on days like today when they are predicting the overnight low of -30....now doesn't that sound delightful?

Happy New Year! Bring it on 2010!

p.s. post
.....I've suddenly got the urge to see Whip It again.....maybe because the MN Rollergirls have a bought tomorrow? Random thought no?

~kb