E2TG 11/4/2020 - ???????? - Dilettante Mix (Freedom Remix)

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First of all, yes, it is okay to be impressed that I am continuing on today with all of the uncertainty in our country.  Just kidding - E2TG helps keep me sane. 

The only thing I know for sure is that no matter the outcome of this or any other election, we have a very difficult path ahead. There are divisions that must be healed or at least begin to be healed if this nation is going to stand. 

I have read several comments from my left-leaning friends who - like me - are horrified that so many people support such an (to us) obviously incompetent, racist, xenophobic, homophobic president. While I 100% acknowledge that we as a nation have deep and engrained issues with racism and other forms of bigotry - I do also need to acknowledge that many people who are supporting the current President are doing to out of fear - real and intense fear - and I do not see a path ahead for this nation unless all of those fears are at least acknowledge and unless work is done around those fears. 

I don't know how that happens.  When facts and science and logic are ignored and met with disdain - I am not sure how to reach those people. I think those fears have been long-held and the Republicans have long used those fears to lure vulnerable voters. These people fear that their way of life is threatened.  They have had these fears stoked by right wing media outlets for years. 

So, while there are many racists and bigots who support the current administration - there are also many people who have let their fear blind them to the fascist and racist tendencies of their chose leader. This is not meant as a defense of these people and people of color, LGBTQ+ people, women who want to control their own health and bodies, the disabled etc., all have every right to be disgusted by these people. I do think understanding is a start. And, I do know people whose thinking has evolved. 

As with any election (and more so with this one perhaps), there are opportunities for learning and growth and change. There are deep divisions not just between left and right but between many who are on the left. Between hardline progressives and moderate/centrist liberals. I do hope we can find a way to make the necessary changes in a respectful manner and in a way that listens to all sides and all voices and debates the needed changes without name-calling and bitterness. 

I don't know if any of that needed healing and polite discourse is even possible, but I do know if it is possible it probably won't come from comment sections on social media posts or news articles. It will come with many, many open one-on-one discussions. Talkin' about a revolution sounds like a whisper.

Find peace today - however you can!

Feature Friday Playlist Recap - continues with Songs 20-24 - the depth of this week's Playlist shines through here - it bears repeating that I have a loose design when it comes to my Featured Friday Playlists mixed with a little classic E2TG randomness, but one thing is certain - the list should never be considered a ranking of any kind. I could give you the formula I used to order the songs, but then I would have to kill you. (Plus, it probably doesn't make sense except to me). Suffice it to say this segment of the list proves that quality music can be found throughout my weekly Playlists. 

20. "The Fall" by Pozzi

L.A. based alt-folk artist Pozzi is becoming a semi-regular here at E2TG.  We have featured a few of his earlier singles.  His debut album, Tyrant, has been out for a couple of months, and I continue to be impressed by his songs and his voice. 

21. "In My Head" by The Amboys

The Amboys were a Band of the Week at E2TG way back in 2012, and I even got to see them live at The Basement in March of that year. I had kind of lost touch with this New Jersey band that combined traditional folk instrumentation with a punk rock approach and sense of humor, but thanks to the little birds of Bandcamp, I was alerted to the fact that they had just released a new single and here it is. Always great to hear from old favorites, and The Amboys do not disappoint. 

22. "A Little Heat" by Andrew Grimm

Next up, we have the title track from the world-wide solo debut from Maryland based singer-songwriter Andrew Grimm.  The album was produced by Eric "Roscoe" Amble. Grimm is behind the long-running Baltimore band June Star.  This is a flat out great song, and Grimm's voice really got to me. 

23. "Parfum De Nuit" by Marten Larka

Next up, we have a new single from Swedish alt-pop singer-songwriter Marten Larka - who is described as Wilco under the influence of Gainsbourg. And, although I know the music of both the named artists - I don't feel qualified to access the veracity of that claim, but what I can tell you is that this is a fantastic song. Alt-pop is a pretty widely encompassing descriptor, but in this case, I think it fits, and I love the sound. 

24. "Good Man Down" by The Mojo Slide 
 

We close out this segment with a new single from UK blues rock band The Mojo Slide. Blues rock is another descriptor that can mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. What I hear is a definite influence of the blues with a refreshingly original sound. A great way to close out this segment of music. 
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

 Wednesday Morning Shuffle

"Freedom" by Jackie Bristow (from Freedom 2011)

We start off with the title track from the 2011 album by New Zealand born, Nashville based singer-songwriter Jackie Bristow. A perfect song for today, I think. 

"Monotony" by Monette (single 2020)

Next up, we have single from earlier this year via Mexican electro-pop artist Monette.  I like  this song a whole lot. 

"Last Day of the Season" by Bill Eberle (from Soft Light 2017)

Long-time East Nashville and E2TG favorite Bill Eberle from his 2017 Soft Light. Eberle is in the top tier of my favorite current songwriters.

"Full" by Raven King (from Self-Titled 2017)

Next up, we have a track from an album we featured back in 2017 from this art-grunge-rock band from Providence, Rhode Island. Great to be reminded of this band and this album. 

"Dilettante" by Toot Sweet (from Dilettante 2016)

Finally, we close with the title track from this album by the Brooklyn-based band that we first heard of through the Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen collective.  I got to see them live a few years back when they played the East Room here in Nashville. 

VIDEO PLAYLIST  

NEW AND RECENT RELEASES

THIS WEEK

11/03 - Amy Ray Band - "Tear It Down" (single)

11/03 - Paul Maged - Culture War (LP)

11/06 - Love Tractor - Love Tractor - reissue (LP)

11/06 - I Could Live in Hope - PSA, Not OK (EP)

11/06 - Anxiety Spiral - Demo (EP)

11/06 - Tom Mason - Under the Mistletoe Sky (LP)

LAST WEEK

10/26 - The Amboys - "In My Head" (single)

10/29 - Evan Isaac - "Dark Room" (single)

10/30 - Andrew Grimm - A Little Heat (LP) *(NEW DATE)*

10/30 - Philip Parfitt - Mental Home Recordings (LP)

10/30 - Graber Gryass - Late Bloom (LP)

10/30 - Ghostlawns - Motorik (LP)

10/30 - Richard X. Heyman - "Choices We Make" (single)

10/30 - Marten Larka - "Parfum Du Nuit "/ "Je Suis Un Rocker" (singles)

10/30 - My Politic - Short Sighted People in Power (EP)

10/30 - Wheeler Del Toro - Quiet Alright (LP)

10/30 - The Mojo Slide - "Good Man Down" (single)

10/30 - The Wake - Perfumes and Fripperies (LP)

10/30 - Eugenius - Midlife (LP)

10/30 - Strays Don't Sleep - A Short Film for a Long Story (EP)

10/30 - Mugstar - Graft (LP)

10/30 - Cosmopolis - "The Distances" (single)

10/30 - Various Artists - CRAWLING SPIDER - A Tribute To Mike Montgomery Vol.1 The LA Sessions (LP)

10/31 - Beauty in Chaos - Out of Beauty Comes... (LP)

NEXT WEEK

11/10 - Lou McMahon - "Wide Eyed Lady" (single)

11/12 - Spencer Cullum's Coin Collection - Spencer Cullum's Coin Collection (LP)

11/13 - The Flat Five - Another World (LP)

11/13 - Andrew Adkins - The Echoist (LP)

11/13 - The Silverbeets - Halcyon Days (LP)

11/13 - The Sensational Country Blues Wonders! - The World Will Break Your Heart (LP)

11/13 - SWANS - Children of God - reissue (LP)

11/13 - Last Year's Man - Brave the Storm (LP)

11/13 - Lady Couch - "Good God" (single)

11/13 - Cindy - Free Advice (LP - Reissue)

11/13 - Antonio Lopez - "Going to the City" (single)

11/13 - The Junior League - The Fall Back (LP)

11/13 - Tambourinen - Wooden Flower (EP)

UPCOMING

11/20 - Stuffy Shmitt - "Sweet Krazy" (single)

11/20 - John Calvin Abney - Familiar Ground (LP)

11/20 - Josh King - The Shed (LP)

11/20 - Life in a Blender - Satsuma (EP)

11/27 - Lady Bugs - From the Cities, To the Shores (LP)

12/04 - Stuffy Shmitt - Stuff Happens (LP)

12/04 - Scenius - Enough Fears (LP)

12/04 - Bad Sauna - Olen rikas sillä minulla on teidät (“I’m Rich Because I’ve Got You”) (LP)

12/11 - The Red Step - The Red Step (LP)

1/01/2021 - This Frontier Needs Heros - Go With the Flow (LP)

1/01/2021 - Antonio Lopez - Roots and Wings (LP)

2/05/2021 - A.J. Croce - By Request (LP)

2/05/2021 - The Orchestra of Cardboard - The Antidote (LP)

RECENT

10/02 - Buckle Bunny - Pet Speak (LP)

10/02 - Divine Horsemen - "Mind Fever Soul Fire" (single)

10/02 - Will Payne Harrison - The Stratford Sessions (EP)

10/02 - The Jensen Sisters - Yellow Frames (LP)

10/02 - Mantis & The Prayer - Murder Ballad and the Blue (AA singles)

10/02 - Kouatchou - "My Teacher"/"Change" (AA singles)

10/02 - Gold Hick - Formed at Depth (LP)

10/02 - Laura Fernandez - Okay, Alright (LP)

10/02 - Stuffy Shmitt - "Jim's Dad" (single)

10/02 - Leron Thomas - More Elevator Music (LP)

10/02 - The Subtheory - IMPACT (EP)

10/02 - This Frontier Needs Heroes - "Go With the Flow" (single)

10/02 - Fly the Nest - "Wild Ride" (single)

10/02 - Christian Singles - Maybe Another Time (LP)

10/02 - Ashes to Omens - "War Cry" (single)

10/02 - Elkyn - beech remixes (EP)

10/02 - Short-Haired Domestic - Short-Haired Domestic (LP)

10/02 - Steve Poltz - "Quarantine Blues" (single)

10/02 - Elkhorn - The Acoustic Storm Sessions (LP)

10/02- The Orchestra of Cardboard - "Black Flag" (single)

10/02 - Lefthnd  - Ad Mausoleum (LP) 

10/02 - Klammer - "I Don't Know What It Is" (single)

10/02 - White Ribbon - "You Say You Don't Want Me" (single)

10/02 - David Woodard - The Grand Scheme of Things (EP)

10/02 - My Politic - Short Sighted People in Power (EP) - bandcamp release date

10/08 - Melting Mallows - "I'm Okay" (single)

10/08 - Jenee Halstead - "Heart Light" (single)

10/09 - Year of October - Wastelands (LP)

10/09 - Great Peacock - Forever Worse Better (LP)

10/09 - Fred Abong - "The Minit" (single)

10/09 - Zao - Preface: Early Recordings 1995-1996 (LP)

10/09 - Zao - All Else Failed: 25th Anniversary Edition (LP)

10/09 - Laraaji - Moon Piano (LP)

10/09 - Tomas Welding - "Arcade" (single)

10/09 - So We Are - Piece of the Puzzle (LP)

10/09 - Howard Gladstone - The Promise (LP)

10/09 - Rick Hromadka - Better Days (LP)

10/09 - Josh Werner - Mode for Titan (LP)

10/09 - Amelia White - "No Sound" (single)

10/09 - Seagoth - "Dreamworld" (single)

10/09 - Lee Taylor - "Pay It No Mind" (single)

10/09 - Kevin Burnstein - "Distraction" (single)

10/12 - The Pull of Autumn - "The Stars of the Jungle" (single) 

10/13 - New Yeller- "Mama's Got a Gig" (single)

10/16 - Malin Pettersen - Wildhorse (LP)

10/16 - Matt Eckstine - Lil' Blue (LP)

10/16 - The Mastersons - Red, White & I Love You Too (EP)

10/16 - Watch Clark - Generator Room (EP)

10/16 - Taiwan MC - Special Request (LP)

10/16 - Jeremy Ivey - Waiting Out the Storm (LP)

10/16 - Shape & Sound - "All Day Morning" (single)

10/16 - Davey Woodward & the Winter Orphans - Love and Optimism (LP)

10/16 - Burris - "Who I'm Thinking Of" (single)

10/16 - Bad Sauna - "Haluun pois (“I Wanna Get Out”)" (single) 

10/16 - Volcanic Brass feat. EvilA - "Consoled Forts" (single)

10/16 - The Plastic Pals - "More Than an icon" (single)

10/16 - The Silverbeets - "Girlfriend" (single)

10/16 - Maxximo - Live at Home (EP)

10/16 - Taiwan MC - Special Request (LP)

10/16 - Rid of Me - Broke Shit Demos (LP)

10/16 - Shiva and the Hazards - Revolution Son (single)

10/16 - Sunstack Jones - Golden Repair (LP)

10/16 - Isabelle Stillman - Heartrender (LP)

10/17 - The Fortune - "All Eyes" (single)

10/20 - Strange Majik - "Can't Remember to Forget You" (single)

10/21 - Griff Clawson - "Chasing Highs" (single)

10/23 - Cellarscape - "Blindfold" (single)

10/23 - The Agency - In the Haunted Woods (LP)

10/23 - Lera Lynn - On My Own (LP)

10/23 - Stuffy Shmitt - "Mommy & Daddy" (single)

10/23 - A.J. Croce - "Ooh Child" (single)

10/23 - Justin Farran - Pretty Free (LP)

10/23 - The Luxembourg Signal - The Long Now (LP)

10/23 - The Greek Theatre - “Demos & Alternate Takes Vol. 1”  (LP)

10/23 - Raves Kole - 3D Immersive (LP)

10/23 - Andrew Weiss and Friends - Lookout Mountain (EP)

10/23 - The Subtheory - Impact (EP)

10/23 - Kevin Burnstein- Attack Distract Divide (LP)

10/23 - Paul Nelson - Birmingham Woman (LP)

10/23 - Rodney Rice - SAME SHIrT DIFFERENT DAY (LP)