A few items of interest... KALPA - the new Valued Customer album is due out today. We are still awaiting it's arrival with bated and baited breath.
Gabriel Redding is on the penultimate day of his record breaking run across America to raise money for Alzheimer and Dementia patients. Get your donate on (click on his name for details).
Our great old friends, The End Men are headed out on a mini-tour to Ohio. If you are in these area's be sure to check them out. Seriously, do it, and tell them Ear to the Ground sent you. Annabel's - Akron on 7/18; Buzzbin - Canton on 7/19; and the Stone Tavern - Kent on 7/20.
Now, let's get to the Morning Mix of Music.
After the JUMP
I can't think of a better way to start my day than listening to "Shine" by Great Divide - what a joyful song. Oh wait, I know.. how about starting the day with two Great Divide songs in a row. "Fast Train" is awesome because I am a total sucker for "train" songs.
The Joy of Painting, in addition to being a classic PBS series hosted by the late Bob Ross, is a Nashville band who we've been digging on for a year or so. They have a brand new album called Tender Age, and today we have the catchy and generally just awesome "Back to Romance".
Back in the day, I completely fell head over heels for "Walk in the Woods" and subsequently all of Peter Case's self-titled solo debut. There was something clear and authentic and true about that album. When the follow up to that album was released, needless to say I had some pretty high expectation which Mr. Case met and exceeded many times over. The Man with Blue Post Modern Fragmented Neo-Tradionalist Guitar contains so many enduring songs (Traveling Light, Entella Hotel, Two Angels and This Town's a Riot to name just a few). "Poor Old Tom" is for me a stand out on an album of stand outs. A heart-breaking song, it is loaded with some amazing lines. "He fought for freedom, never took a free breath". "The night wind's free to blow wherever it pleases, Tom's free to walk until the cold daybreak." "The worse disease in the world is to be unwanted, to be used up and cast away". In just under four minutes, the listener is drawn into this broken, tragic life... it's nothing short of brilliant. The other night, I decided to add some older songs into the current mix - just to shake things up a bit. I don't know how many times I've listened to this song in the 24 years since it's release, but I never grow tired of it.
Moving on... Ghost and Goblin are a New York band who first came to our attention in a shout of from The End Men. They released an album called SUPERHORRORCASTLELAND back in April or so, and we've featured several songs from that record. "Look at the Clouds" is perhaps one of my favorites. A uncharacteristically breezy melody kicks into a more characteristic menacing hook. The album is out there on Bandcamp - check it out.
The Michigan band Decades are three kids who grew up on punk, ska and metal and then discovered the smooth pop songwriting of the 70s and 80s and the alternative radio rock of the 90s. The result is something surprising. Their music rocks and the punk/ska spirit still sits at the bottom of what they do, but layered on top is a focus on great pop songwriting and a genuine love of the music. "Popping Veins" from their album Deep Deep Pink Sessions is a good place to start.
Earlier this week, June 10 to be precise, was the 103 anniversary of the birth of Chester Arthur Burnett. You may know Mr. Burnett better as Howlin' Wolf and stone-cold authentic Mississippi Blues Man. "Smokestack Lightning" is one of his earlier songs and draws upon several earlier blues songs.
We've been covering a lot of music by the Vegas band Coastwest Unrest. Today we have the song "Empty Handed Painter" from the most recent release High Times on Lowly Streets which came out back in April. I sure hope you've checked out this band by now. If not, do it!
SHUFFLE BEGINS NOW... JUMP!
We're back. It's been almost a week since the last shuffle. Since that post, we saw an awesome if all too brief set from Black Jake and the Carnies and we scanned in some old Spin magazine clippings from the mid-80s. One post about the Minutemen has received over 120 "likes" since Saturday afternoon.
But, we are rested and rejuvenated and ready to bring you the constant variety of music.
PRE-SHUFFLE:
"
Вийди, Вийди, Іванку (Vyjdy, Vyjdy, Ivanku)" by
Katarina Ljahovic, Mike Romaniak, Patrick Power, Stephen Kreuger from Нема ні Шнурочка (Nema Ni Shnurochka) (2012) - More great Ukrainian folk music featuring Patrick Power of Valued Customer and my Instagram friend Stephen Kreuger.
"Lady Luck Death Dance" by Coastwest Unrest from Old Weird America (2010) - there is a real Velvet Undergroundish feel to this song. Love it.
"Nobody" by Cecile McLorin Salvant from WomanChild (2013)
"Nowhere" by Tipi Valley from Rock 'n' Roll Live On (2013) - Nobody, Nowhere, Noway, Nohow! ;-)
"Shut Up" by Savages from Silence Yourself (2013)
"Shout it Out" by Mikal Cronin from MCII (2013)
"The War Within" by Churchill from The War Within (2013)
"The Fire Pit" by Ben Shive from The Cymbal Crashing Clouds (2011)
"Humiliation" by The National from Trouble Will Find Me (2013)
Shuffle begins in 3... 2... 1... JUMP
Ready Set Go... well, I'm going to be out and about the rest of this week. I MAY sneak in an entry or two. In the mean time, I will leave you with another fine, fine mix of music...
PRE-SHUFFLE:
1. "Chili" by Dog Without Warning (Did I mention the latest Dog Without Warning record is bad ass? Well, it is. My shuffle mode has been digging this song and so have I.)
2."Oh Darlin'" by Mystery Twins (Happy to present another song from this Nashville-based musical side project. - two members of The Clutters)
3. "Infatuation" by Dog Without Warning (Did I mention that the latest Dog Without Warning record is really, really bad ass? Well, it really really is! This song is one of my favorites from the 'Bark' EP. Oh who am I kidding, all of the songs on 'Bark' are my favorites.)
4.
"The Escape" by SkyBurnsRed (more music from this hot UK band).
5.
"Sorry, But I'm Yours" by Ben Shive (Another awesome track from this unique Nashville Singer/Songwriter)
6. & 7. "Is There Anybody Out There?" and "Nothing Stays the Same" by Human Face (Really digging the Brit-Pop feel of this band)
8. "What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding" by Steve Earle (covering Elvis Costello (doing a Nick Lowe tune)) (A live and loud version of the Nick Lowe classic. Trivia, Earle's son Justin Townes is in the band for this song)
9. "Bring Me Backwards" by Ellis Paul (Man oh Man, I dig this song. Came to me via the latest Feel Bad for You mixtape)
and then we transition into the Shuffle with one of the strongest cuts on the excellent new EP by Tipi Valley
SHUFFLE AFTER THE JUMP!
After a hyper-extended weekend, we are back with a lot of ground to cover... without ado...
Pre-Pre-Shuffle:
"When I Cry" - Jeanette Lynne
"Wrinkles" - Grass Root Kids
"Sweetest Girl in the Kitchen" Henry's Rifle
"Matchbox" - Jerry Lee Lewis
"Midnight Moon" - Year of October
"White Light/White Heat" - Nick Cave and Warren Ellis
Pre-Shuffle:
"Ain't No Reason" - Great Divide
"Long Time Ago" - Current Swell
"Woodland" - The Paper Kites
"Leilani" - Game Theory
"Up to Me" - Cosmonauts on Vacation
"Rue des Fantomes" - Inlandsis
"I Want to Hold Your Hand" - Game Theory covering The Beatles
"Better Life" - Paper Route
SHUFFLE after the JUMP
