E2TG 12/01/2020 - Month 12 - Zombie Romance Mix (Foolish and Blue Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

Well - it is the first day of the last month of the year. I guess I am sentimental or something - I always see the end of the calendar year as a good excuse to look back and make changes... in this most unusual of years - I am not clear about anything... but I do need to do some reflecting...

The upcoming music listing is getting rather skimpy - partially due to December being typically slow for new releases and partially due to my being way behind of going through my e-mail... 

Anyway, onward...

Our recap of this week's Playlist continues with songs 11-13:

11. "The Metro - Orchestra Version" by Berlin

The iconic L.A. synth pop band fronted by Terri Nunn reimagine some of their biggest hits with a full symphonic orchestra.  This was always one of my favorite songs by the band. Nashville's own Lemuel Hayes (Buck n Stuff) toured with the band last year as a drum tech and got to play drums for a couple or few shows. 

12. "Lord of the Flies" by Lars Finberg

L.A. singer-songwriter Lars Finberg is up next with a track from his second solo album Tinnitus Tonight.  Finberg is the leader of the band The Intelligence. Really dig this

13. "Mountains and Grooves" by Tuath

And, we close this short segment of music with the new single from the Irish band that originally formed to promote the Irish language. This fantastic single - the first in a series of singles - featured vocalist  Jude Barriscale of the band Lunch Machine. 

 

         

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 10/07/2020 - Are You Ready? - Rosalee Mix (Rosie Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

I have voted.  All I know to do now is to again encourage all decent-minded people who are not under the influence of the cult-mind to vote and to likewise encourage all like-minded people to vote  I have been pondering the best way to expend my energy.  I think I need to tell you that I believe that Joe Biden is the clear choice for President. He is not perfect, and I do not agree with him on some policy issues, but practically speaking, this is an A. or B. choice between Biden and Trump. C. D. or E. are not viable options so even if you like one of those candidates - I urge you to vote for Biden. Of course, you must follow your conscience... but if your conscience does not recoil in horror at the thought of another four years of this insanity, then... I am not sure what to say.  As I said yesterday to my lefty friends and my central-right friends, after Biden is elected hold him accountable. Ask your representatives to push forth ideas you support. 

For me personal, I think I need to stop acting like Trump is a joke. Too many lives are at stake, too much progress and too many freedoms are on the line. I need to stay focused and ignore the giant ape slinging poo. Since his candidacy started gaining traction in 2016, I have felt that any attention he gets helps him. His base is lost right now. Our sisters, brothers, parents, cousins, friends who still support Trump are currently out of reach. Forget about them for now - follow your heart about ending or continuing relationships but stop engaging. 

The United States has never been a perfect union. What I believe in is striving to create a more perfect union.  To me that modifier doesn't mean the union was perfect and that we strive to make it more perfect - it means we incrementally move toward a perfect union.  Perfection may not be achieved - certainly not in our lifetimes and we may be far from perfection, but the strive is toward that.  The last nearly four years, we have been moving rapidly away from that perfection and we must reverse course. I know some of my progressive friends hate the status quo, but at this point, status quo is a step toward righting the country and eventually moving forward. 

Final note, if you have read this far and you still support Trump - 1. I am not telling you to stop reading E2TG, but you can if you want. 2. I no longer want to hear your justification. If you can sleep with your decision, then okay - but I don't want to hear it. 3. I yearn for the day when E2TG can just 100% about music, but we are not there today, and I have to use this forum to speak up and speak out. I don't hate Trump supporters. I hate the actions that some have taken. I am struggling with feelings of hate toward the man himself and some of his top aides... but I am saddened and disappointed by those who continue to support him.   

We have the penultimate recap of this week's Featured Friday Playlist... songs # 17-20

17. "Brave the Storm" by Last Year's Man

Last Year's Man is the solo project of Eugene, Oregon based producer/songwriter Tyler Fortier. This is the first single and title track from his forthcoming album. Portland, Oregon based Anna Tivel sings background and plays violin. This is a wonderful song, and I look forward to featuring more from this album. 

18. "Okay, Alright" by Laura Fernandez

Next up, we have the title track from the new album by singer-songwriter Laura Fernandez who was born in Madrid, Spain and is currently based in Toronto. Her music mixes pop, jazz, and classical influences. Really cool stuff. 

19. "Vastago" by Luan Estesia

Next up, we have another release from Bogota, Colombia based Discos Infante. As usual, I don't know much about the artist, but also as usual, the music is suburb.  I am really digging the music this label is putting out.

20. "The Black Flag" by Orchestra of Cardboard

We close with a stunner - the first release from the forthcoming (February 2021) album from this global project by filmmaker, performance artist, social activist, and musician Dan Edelstyn (Bank Job).  The album was produced by Nick Graham-Smith known for his work with Malcolm McClaren.  The themes are of freedom, democracy, and personal responsibility. Check it out!

Tomorrow - we wrap up our recap with the final four songs 21-24 

        

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 7/7/2020 - Thoughts on Progress - Wind Swept Mix (Leave Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!


Look, I hate when people use "political correctness" is a derogatory way. In general, this seems to be done when someone is called out for being a bigot of some kind.


But, there are some things which are bothering me... I hesitate to write this, but I feel like I have something to say, and I hope my words are taken in the spirit in which they are offered.  So called Cancel Culture is getting a lot of attention these days. This is taking place a variety of levels for a variety of reasons. Now, my concerns are in the area of growth, change, and progress.

I consider myself a progressive. I believe we are moving toward a better, more enlightened future. Sometimes the progress is revolutionary and fast and sometimes it is painfully slow. And, in my view, on principal, there are people who oppose this progress.  My job, as I see it, is to be a force for that change and that includes growing and changing myself.

So, what I have observed of late, is actions and works that happened in a past time being judged by today's standards. Now, I do believe right and wrong are fixed, but our cultures understanding of those fixed points is evolving.  For example, the television show Soap, in the late 1970s was considered progressive in the ideas it discussed - albeit in a farcical manner.  But, let's take Billy Crystal's character Jodie. One of the earliest depictions of an openly gay man on television. But, Jodie was played by a straight man and he - as I recall - displayed many stereotypical characteristics. These issues would be problematic if presented today. But, in context, they were part of the cultural shift that has led to the extent that LBGT+ individuals are represented in the media and in our culture. Under Cancel Culture, as I have seen it used, would Soap be "cancelled"?  I wonder.

Another issue, individuals are being cancelled for actions they took in the past - an insensitive or offensive tweet or picture. While, I think it is appropriate to call such actions out - but I wonder - where in this process there is room for people to change and grow and repent (used here in a general or secular sense). Sometimes, it seems like - "nope sorry, you did something stupid or offensive in your teens or early twenties - game over". 

None of that, in my view, is how progress works and this trend is - I fear dangerous to the progressive movement.

Just some thoughts...  I have more, but I am out of time...


Today, we recap the next four songs in our Featured Friday Playlist (songs 9-12)

9. "Holy Hangover" by Ghost Town Remedy

Our prolific friends, Ghost Town Remedy are back with a rocking and catchy track - their latest single. Digging the direction(s) this band is going.

10. "Bop, Hop & Roll" by The Vignatis

Next up, we have a track from Red White & Blue: Gyspybilly, Vol. 4 - the new album from L.A. based duo The Vignatis. Playing a delightful potpurri of unique musical styles.  The band manages to create something new out of fragments of other things. Which I think is the definition of rock and roll (and for that matter American music in general) or at least it should be. Groovy stuff!

11. "Keep Moving Along" by Jon Worthy (feat. Cody Fedeler)

Next up, we have a new single from E2TG favorite Jon Worthy - here teamed with Cody Fedeler. A wonderful song.

12. "Oh, Sedona - Take 4, Acoustic" by Michael McArthur

We featured Michael McArthur's cover of "Purple Rain" last week - I think. With the release of his new EP (the first of two in the coming months) - I thought we would feature one of his own compositions. This is the title track from the EP, and I am wondering why I am just now discovering his music. 

Tomorrow - four more songs...

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 6/12/2020 - Featured Friday - King of Ashes Mix (Skatepark Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!


I have a tendency to think out loud in my posts.  For me, writing is a good way to work through things that get tangled up when they stay inside my head. E2TG is above all, MY blog. Blog is short for weblog (not we blog,  but web log). I think of it as kind of a journal. My journal is focused on music because music is important to me. But, since it is my journal, I can write about whatever I want. I can even use it as a place to think out loud.  Now, this is not without risk. When I think outloud, I let my thoughts take me where they will... and I may say something I don't mean or that could be misconstrued. But, then, that is what editing is for.  Now, I will freely admit, E2TG can be pretty rough sometimes when it comes to editing.  I am writing during lunch hour or before work, and when I go back I see a lot of typos which I hate. I try to follow the rules of asking, Is is true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?

Okay, so today, I am reading about how members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force showed up and interrogated planners of a protest in my hometown - asking them about Antifa and seemingly trying to encourage them to cancel the protest - implying that Antifa was going to show up and cause trouble. In reality, the protest was mostly peaceful, and the only trouble came from some out-of-state right-wing racists who showed up with signs.  Interesting that the JTTF didn't seem to care about these type who seem to be largely responsible for problems nationwide.

It is also interesting, but not surprising that an administration that seems to be rushing headlong into fascism and totalitarianism are focused on the antifascists but not the KKK, Proud Boys etc.


Well, it is time, to officially unveil this weeks Featured Friday Playlist.  This week's list is a little shorter than the lists have been of late. Fewer new releases on my radar this week - but I have a bunch lined up for next week.  As always, I expect to learn of some new releases today and over the next few days - those will be added to next week's list.

We are going to begin our review of the current playlist - down below the jump - by talking about the first four songs in the playlist.  We will continue the recap into next week - due to the fewer number of tracks in this week - we may wrap up the recap early or we may just write about fewer songs per day. We shall see. Please check out the whole list and if you would, please follow the Playlist on Spotify.  Thanks to all who are already following along.

    Featured Friday Playlist