E2TG 4/6/2022 - Ready for Something - Guitar Memory Mix (Old Demons Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

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

Last night, I finally got around to loading a bunch of music into my phone. I now have over 10,000 songs in my phone music player.  These include music submissions to E2TG, a few albums from my personal collection, and some random music downloads from over the years. Plus an assorted mix CD or two or three.  I think at least one or two in today's shuffle came from last night's upload. 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 3/16/2021 - Lessons in Lack of Understanding - Live Forever Mix (Cold Hearted Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

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

A recurring theme in my thoughts of late has been my lack of understanding about why some people do the things they do or act the way they do. It can be innocuous things or serious things... 

I think of my self as a pretty open minded person. I am not one who thinks everyone needs to believe, think, or act like I do... but there are some things that I just don't understand. 

For example - when a lane in ending and clearing marked that it is ending and people ride that lane until the last minute... and I mean when there is no traffic and no apparent reason not to just get over. 

Or the opposite - like happened today - multiple lanes and someone forces there way into your lane (not an aggressive driver trying to weave in and out of lanes to speed (that is another matter) but someone who is trying to get into a lane they will eventually need to be in for a split (which I get) but who is miles away from the split and who insists on getting over right at that moment. 

Another thing I don't understand: people who seem to devote a significant amount of time and energy to actively hating a band or a style of music or whatever. Or even worse, devotes that time and energy to hating on people who like something they don't like. 

There are plenty more examples - I guess what it comes down to is that I don't understand the benefit these actions offer.  There are definitely actions I don't like or that I would never do - but which I do understand why people do them.  But what I am talking about are thinks that make no sense to me... 

But - here is the rub. If I try, I can turn my confusion into a lesson in tolerance and acceptance. What I mean is - it is easy to practice tolerance and acceptance if something really doesn't bother me. The trick is to practice that same level of tolerance and acceptance of something that does cause be discomfort.  So, the next time someone rides the lane that is ending for no apparent reason - after I get annoyed - I will try to accept  that their action provided some benefit (real or perceived) to them. 

Finally, I feel the need to make the point that there are some behaviors that go beyond acceptance and tolerance. And in those cases, the trick is to recognize those things and to know those lines. That is what muddies the waters and makes it a constant practice and a contact conflict. 

The Featured Friday Playlist recap rolls on with songs 19-24:

19. "Culture Shock Treatment" by Round Eye

First up today, we have the title track from the new album by this Shanghai freak punk band. The album was produced by Mike Watt and mixed by Bill Stevenson.  It is out now digitally and out on vinyl in May. This is wonderful music. 

20. "Give Me a Reason" by Michael Ross

Next up, we have the new single from this Las Vegas musician and artist who has been performing as part of residency in Vegas for the last four years.  

21. "Vivant Tenebrae" by Drown in Sulphur

Well, this segment of music is nothing if not diverse.  We abruptly transition into the latest single from this Italian death metal band. Great stuff. 

22. "Murakami's Ghost" by Josh Machiz

Next up, we have first solo single from veteran Philadelphia musician Josh Machiz. The nearly nine minute track is based upon the Murakami short story, The Mirror. It is the first taste of his solo album due later this year.

23. "Monday Morning Drive" by Nature's Neighbor

Next up, we have a lovely song. This is the first single from the new album by this indie band that formed in Chicago in 2010. Really beautiful music. 

24. "Don't Trip" by Kairo Beats (feat. Sam Swancott)

We close out this segment of music with a new collaboration between a singer-songwriter from Swindon and an EDM songwriting duo made up of producer Jordan Hendon and songwriter/vocal engineer Chiarna Deller.  A cool way to wrap up this incredibly diverse segment of music. 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 12/8/2020 - You Never Can Tell - Evolution Mix (Eternal School Bus Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

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

I'm a little short on time, but what I was thinking about with "You Never Can Tell" in the title - is  the unpredictable nature of life sometimes... I mean, sure, life can fall into routines and can seem very predictable for some time, but the fact is everything can change in a moment. That can be frightening, but I TRY to reframe it is exhilarating. It doesn't mean that the change is always what one could consider welcome or "good", but the exciting part comes when you treat life as an adventure.  None of us are getting out of here alive. Religions or philosophies can tell us what (if anything) comes next after life, but the truth is we don't know.  So, if we accept the temporary nature of this existence then I think we can face the uncertainty of life in hopeful anticipation.  

Look, my philosophy in this matter doesn't shield me from pain or from being angry or scared when life throws a curve ball, but it can and has helped me through to the other side of that momentous change. 

Nothing in my 54 years caused me to predict or anticipate all that 2020 had in store for me and the rest of the world. And, in a million years, I would not have wanted any of the bad things to happen to myself or others, what I do know is that I was forced out of a routine (and maybe into another), but it has been at least a chance to reset some things and begin to forge some new paths. 

I started to write that nothing in my 54 years prepared me for what 2020 had in store, but I don't think that is true. I was prepared - even if I didn't know it at the time. Life moves on - whatever moment I look back on is gone. That is a loss but it is also an opportunity - an adventure. 

Our Featured Friday Playlist recap rolls on with ten more songs - today: 26-35

26. "Water Rising" by Dan Lipton

We start things off with the title track of the recently released by DC based singer-songwriter Dan Lipton. A wonderful song to kick off this segment of music.

27. "Counting Up" by The 1984 Draft

Our next track is part of a 7" released called Destination Breakdown by this rock band from Dayton, Ohio.  The rock band previously released a compilation track, a pair of EPs, and full-length album. They also made an appearance in an NFL Films documentary about the actual 1984 NFL Draft.

28. "Rat vs. Mole" by The Amber Bugs

Next up, a fun track from a London indie band who enjoy exploring many different genres and sounds.

29. "Until I Find That Road" by Tinkers Lane

Next up, we have another UK band - this from Milton Keynes - 50 miles northwest of London.  The song written by the band's front man Ian Roberts from letters that his father wrote to his mother when his father moved to England from Scotland ahead of his family.

30. "Don't Play the Fool" by Karo Glazer; Zsüd

Our next track is girl power manifesto from Poland via the Eastern European Music Academy.  Zaro Glazer is a Polish vocalist, producer, and composer known as Lady Dynamite. Karo Glazer is a vocalist, composer and music producer.

31. "ITRL" by Madeleine Mayi

ITRL = In the Right Light. Next up, we have a new single from L.A. based singer-songwriter Madeleine Mayi. 

32. "The Business Deal" by Quiet Marauder

We next head to Cardiff, Wales - with a track from the Tiny Men Parts EP. The EP is a reimagining of the band's 2013 debut Men - which clocked in over 5 hours and 111 songs. This song is every bit as fun and wonderful and you might imagine from a band that would release such a debut album.

33. "Perfect Storm (Lupine Mix)" by Weird Wolves;The Singularity - Julian Shah-Tayler

We have previous featured Julian Shah-Tayler aka The Singularity - the UK born, L.A. based artist. Here he teams with Austin, Texas based Weird Wolves for a great track.

34. "Lundi Matin" by Kaky

Kaky is a French rapper who recently signed to RCA/Sony France. This really wonderful song is filled with great energy and a fun story - even if you don't speak French.

35. "Woman in Red" by Victor Jones 

 We close things out with the lead single from a forthcoming (this Friday) wintery chamber pop album called Long Cold Night Walk.  This is really excellent stuff. A great ending to this long segment of music. 

We still have twenty songs to go in this week's playlist - more than last week's playlist in total.  Songs 36-45 tomorrow.
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 8/25/2020 - Some things on My Mind - Pokin' Round Mix (Gloves Remix)

Tweet #E2TG

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

On my mind... I dedicate a sizable portion of my average day listening to and writing about new music. E2TG is dedicated to featuring new and often underground or lesser known music of various genres. I have long pondered this and myself as an oddity - not necessarily among the people I hang around but is terms of people in general. Many people are content to just listen to the music they already know. Or at most to check out the latest "hot" band according to someone. And, I get it. I was there several years ago, which is part of the reason I started E2TG. 

So, anyway, recently, I created a playlist on Spotify - at first it was going to include a handful of my all time favorite albums - just as a place to gather them. As I went on, I started adding more albums and ultimately, I decided to add as many albums as I could think of - albums that I own or owned and have listened to over and over through the years. My mind kept going down new paths and I kept adding music this playlist and now it is almost 62 hours long. At first, I called it Joe's Faves - but I eventually realized what it really was, and I renamed the Playlist "Comfort Food". When I shuffle songs from this playlist, it is like revisiting an old friend or having fried chicken or whatever at the end of a hard day. Some may bristle at the "Comfort Food" label being applied to some of the albums and artists on the list. But for me, in 2020, that is what they are... and that is not a bad thing at all. These are wonderful albums by wonderful artists across many genres and spanning years. 

Here is the thing, there is nothing wrong with comfort food - but if all I ate was comfort food, I would probably keep getting fatter and have other health issues. Listening to this "comfortable" music is not a bad thing, but for me, it can't be all I listen to... 

Onward...

Today, we present the next segment of this week's Playlist. Songs 16-22:

16. "Bare" by Matte Blvck

We start off this segment of the playlist with some darkwave, industrial., electronic music from San Diego, California. The trio of musicians have worked together in various incarnations, but decided in 2019 to work together on their own project. Their forthcoming album I'm Waving, Not Drowning was recorded during the COVID-19 shutdown, and this is their debut single. Happy to have more great darkwave music in this week's playlist. 

17. "Television Mister" by Jessica Luise

Next up, we have the new single from UK singer-songwriter Jessica Luise. This is first release with a full-band, and the press release name checked The Beautiful South - so I had to listen, and I this is a cool tune. Check it out!

18. "Dangerous Leon!" by The Aquabats!

Next up! We have the new single from the new album (Kooky Spooky ... In Stereo!) by costumed superhero punks, The Aquabats!  This is a ton of fun and thanks to Crashing Through Publicity for bringing this to my inbox!  Recommended for fans of exclamation points and cool fun music!

19. "Reckless" by Miss Molly Simms

Next up, we have a track from the wonderful new album by St. Louis' Miss Molly Simms. Miss Molly Simms came to prominence in St. Louis as a member of the rockabilly band Bible Belt Sinners. Her solo work has been more stylistically diverse, and with her latest album (her fourth) of which this is the title track, Miss Molly Simms has hit upon something special. The album features members of the Bottle Rockets, Old Souls Revival, and River Kittens.  

20. "Isolation" by Depression, Baby

Next up, we have a quarantine-influences single from North London 5-piece Depression, Baby. It is the follow-up to their earlier single "Home Again".  The band formed in 2019 and were on an upward trajectory heading into 2020. And then 2020 happened. They have focused on releasing music, and this is a song worth a listen. 

21. "Lock & Key" by KnightressM1

Next up, we have some Bay Area metal/rock from this impressive power trio featuring violinist, vocalist, pianist, and composer Emily Palen. The band also features drummer Rob Ahlers (50 FT Wave, Kristin Hersh), and bassist Uriah Duffy (Whitesnake).  I dig the sound and Palen's vocals are awesome. A great injection of metallic variety into the playlist. 

22. "Window" by Eric Bolander

The fertile grounds of Kentucky songwriters seems to be endless, and you can add Eric Bolander to a growing list of talented songwriters emerging from the Bluegrass State (or is it Commonwealth?). As with many of his contemporaries, Bolander brings a deep range of influences to his music that is rooted in the traditions of the folk/country genre. This is his latest single. 

Tomorrow 7 or so more songs...  

 

    Featured Friday Playlist