Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - 18 Years Too Late Mix

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The subtitle of this post references a comment made by my friend Rex Silo regarding the fact that the reconstituted Black Flag is headlining a music festival in our hometown.  By the way, Ear to the Ground favorites Black Jake and the Carnies as well as newly discovered FOTEM (friends of  The End Men) John the Conqueror are also playing that festival.  More details on all that later.

I decided today to add all the songs from my morning listening that I could into the Amazon Widget.  Therefore, you will find music from George Gershwin, The Black Keys, + Shane MacGowan covering Townes Van Zandt.  In addition, the pre-walk portion of the morning music featured some early period Hayden Coleman with a chunky, cool beat called "Vans (Down by the River)" which you can check out here:

The official Shuffle is after the jump and after the widget:

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Sam and the First Day Mix

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So... I've been feeling the need to work on some of my own creative pursuits - not that Ear to the Ground doesn't use my creativity - and to that end, I began a short story???? something that I have given the working title of Sam and the First Day. That's all I'll say for now... 

Our friend's The End Men have once again pointed us 

to a number of great bands. Here's one, KR-3 from Wheeling, WV.

 

 Now to the shuffle:

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Sidelong Glance Mix

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A cold and drizzly morning in Nashville. Let's crank some fine tunes to begin the day - shall we?

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Producer with Computers Mix

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Well, it's Monday.  This morning we have eight songs that cross over genre lines, decades and degrees of popularity/obscurity/awesomeness. Taken individually, the songs featured are sure to evoke feelings of nostalgia, joy, revulsion and confusion. Put together as a single shuffle, they are sure to amaze and amuse in equal measure.  Oh heck, here's the shuffle dig on it if you will....  Jump first!

Ear to the Ground Presents: A Heapin' Helpin' of Music News

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While we were busy writing and posting our 4-part review of  the new album by  The End Men and then being sick, a whole bunch of stuff has been happening musically from some old and new friends of ours.  Some of this "news" is no longer new, but in case you've missed it here is a quick survey of what's been hitting our News feeds, In-Box and how ever else we've heard about this stuff. News after the jump:

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Rebound Mix

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Oh man.  Since we last met, and I (maybe) completed by multi-part review of  the new album by The End Men (Play With Your Toys), I have been sick.  Right before I got sick, I added tons of new music to my MP3 player, and I look forward to bringing some of that music to you soon.  I also still have tons of awesome news which at this point is more ICYMI (in case you missed it), and I will get to that real soon, too.

Let's ease back into the shuffle mode with a quick and dirty four song shuffle (after the jump):

Friday Morning Music Non-Shuffle & Shuffle - Toys Mix Pt. 4 of ?

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If you haven't done so, remember, Play With Your Toys - the new album by The End Men is now available for immediate download.  Get it NOW!


 




Now, we left you hanging on a Wrong Way Street... so, let's bring this sucker home:

First off if you're late to the party, here's what you need to know:

Toys Mix Pt. 1 of ?

tracks: Cleaning Your Mind, Run Away and Long Way to the Ground

Toys Mix Pt. 2 of ?

tracks: Into the Mines, Play with Your Toys Pt. I and The Ballad of Billy Polk

Toys Mix Pt. 3 of ?

tracks: It's All Wrong, Mental Trapeze, Play With Your Toys Pt. II and Wrong Way Street

Toys Mix Pt. 4 of ? begins after the jump:

Thursday Morning Music Non-Shuffle - Toys Mix Pt. 3 of ?

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Guess what?  It's Valentine's Day which means it is February 14 which means Play With Your Toys has officially been released.  Now is the time to go grab it.  Actually, we will have the widget at the end of this part of our multi-post review. 

ICYMI

Part 1

Part 2

Let's get right to Part 3...  When we left off, we had heard the tale of Billy Polk...  Wait for the Jump then continue reading...

Wednesday Morning Music Non-Shuffle - Toys Mix Pt. 2 of ?

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This is part 2 of my multi-part (how many parts? I just can't say) review of Play With Your Toys the new album from Brookyln-based The End Men.  Before you proceed, you may want to catch up... Here's the link to Part I. When we left off, The End Men had taken us to dizzying heights of what two people recording in a flat in Brooklyn can accomplish musically - all the while warning us that it's a Long Way to the Ground.  As we rejoin the adventure, we find ourselves on the ground, and while it's true that "You have to hit rock bottom before you can build yourself up"; sometimes when you think you've hit rock bottom, there is no where to go but down... 

Tuesday Morning Music Non-Shuffle - Toys Mix Pt. 1 of ?

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The first time I wrote about The End Men - a little over a year ago - I said something like, The End Men demand our full attention. And what was true then, is even more true now as they prepare to release their brand new album Play With Your Toys on Valentine's Day, February 14.  The album was recorded over the last year in a Brooklyn flat.

This Brooklyn duo: Kansas born Matthew Hendershot and Italian born Livia Ranalli make some of the most unique and interesting music you've ever heard.   Their EP Build it Up is an exercise in Blues-based Indie Rock done about as well as it can be done, and I'll be honest, if this album was just more of the same, I would be satisfied, but... well, you shall see... you shall see...

So, yes, The End Men demand our full attention and to that end, I have decided to devote a few days to this incredible new album.  Shall we begin - after the JUMP?

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Is That All? Mix

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Did you watch the Grammy Awards last night?  What'd you think?

Highlights for me:  Jack White, Mavis Staples and others in the Levon Helm tribute, Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Boys, Bruno Mars and Sting but mostly when Damian and Ziggy Marley came on stage, The Lumineers and the Dave Brubeck tribute.  Overall, I was surprisingly pleased which much of the show.  I mean, you have to accept it for what it is, but compared to past shows I've endured, I thought there was a abundance of real musicians on the stage.  And, the audience seemed to be supporting all the music.  And Prince, just by his royal presence and his off-the-cuff statement that he loved the Goyte song which won for Record of the Year.  Not the mention, the utter star-struckedness of Goyte and Kimbra. 





  So, while it's easy to sit here and complain about all the bands and artists who deserved to be on that stage or at least nominated... At least the Grammy's seem to be trying... right?  Or do you disagree? I'd love to hear what you have to say.

We have a long shuffle, so let's get to it. After le Jump...

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Nemo Mix

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Thinking warm safe thoughts for everyone up the East coast as the blizzard named Nemo hits.  

Hope you had a chance to read my review of the new Tim Lee 3 album which was posted yesterday late in the afternoon.  If not, here is a LINK. 

Look for some more CD reviews coming up within the next week.

For now, I'll leave you with the following short but sweet shuffle.  Happy weekend everyone...

You know... after the JUMP:

Thursday Morning Music Non-Shuffle - Devil's Rope Mix

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Well, the mailbox and inbox are filling up with tons of cool new music.  So, I'll jump in with the second ever non-shuffle album review....

See what's up with Tim Lee 3 and their forthcoming new album Devil's Rope after the jump...

 

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Gaggle Mix

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Over the last week or so, I've had several friends here in Nashville mention the strange activity of our local avian population.  As a fan of (and one scarred for life by) Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece, I am intrigued. Is it the above average temperatures or does it foretell some darkness to come...  Who knows... we have gaggle of songs so let's get to the shuffle...

After the JUMP!

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Talking to Myself Mix

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In the predawn gloom of a warmish wintery morning.  Backed by choirs of angels or at least by the steady thum of the engine and the slightly muted songs on the radio... driving the newly familiar route passing the same buildings and noticing anything that looks out of place. Past the way too many car lots along my way, filled with cars that never sell and contemplating the meaning of all existence and trying to stay awake. A meaningless, yet invigorating conversation with one of the many interesting characters that fate has brought into my life. Today, the discussion was about letters we would banish, alternate spellings we would outlaw.  Keep it simple... I suppose. 

Then my shuffle begins with a song that holds memories - don't they all in one way or another?

Shuffle - after the JUMP!

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Slow Bar Mix

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Added tons of music to the lineup - so stayed tuned.  

Let's get to the Shuffle - after the jump:

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - A Distant Ship Mix

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I don't know how, but somehow January has gotten away from us.  Welcome to February.

We have another jam-packed shuffle so - let's do it... after le jump