E2TG 7/01/2020 - New Month - Step by Step Mix (Pearl Necklace Remix)

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ICYMI - This morning, we premiered the new album from Cursive is Code - called The State Enforced Renaissance - you check it out HERE.

I have a short work week this week - off on Friday, but expect some E2TG posts anyway - and things have been exceedingly busy here. So, I am going to skip the preliminaries. It is a new month... let's go!

Today, we recap songs 16-20 of this week's Featured Friday Playlist - tomorrow, we wrap up the recap with songs 21-25.

16. "Broken Nation" by Learn to Fly

We start things off with what appears to be a new alternative rock band from South Carolina. I'm digging this.

17. "Shake the Dust" by Highway Women

Next up, we have an uplifting single from the Highway Women. It is a song about taking chances. The Highway Women features five singer-songwriters and is based in Nashville. 

18. "Darkest Lines" by Scenius

We have our second listen to UK band Scenius. Scenius features Steve Whitfileld who we first met as part of Klammer amd Fabrice Nau.  Really dig this electronic music. 

19. "Where can I buy fresh berries?" by Fellow Hollow

Fellow Hollow is an indie-folk/bedroom synth duo from Columbus, Ohio.  This is a wonderful song about dealing with loss in the modern world. 

20.  "Little Girl" by Melissa D.

And, we close with the title track of the new EP from Vermont singer-songwriter Melissa D. Lovely and uplifting music, and a great way to end this segment of the Playlist. 

    Featured Friday Playlist

Last Chance to Vote for March Band of the Month

Just 5 hours to go.  Northbrook Garage has a significant, but not insurmountable lead so far.

<------------the poll is on the left sidebar near the top of the page.

And if you come to this post specifically to vote for one band, be sure to check out all of our nominees.  One last time here they are.

A Social State

Kafka

Calicocat

Northbrook Garage

Finn Bonel

Band of the Month Polls Have Opened

It's time again, where I wash my hands of the this whole thing and let you  the angry mob decide which of the Bands of the Week from March, 2012 are going to be the Band of the Month and received an automatic bid into the Band of the Year Poll.


UPDATE:  I forgot to mention that the poll is on the sidebar to the left.


We had five Bands of the Week this month so let's recap:


Week 1 - A Social State are a fine indie rock band from Scranton, PA 

Week 2 - Kafka - is an excellent singer-songwriter from Burnley, England.

Week 3 - Calicocat - are a cool indie band from right here in Nashville, TN.

Week 4 - Northbrook Garage - those soulful suburban "babies" from Northbrook, IL

Week 5 - Finn Bonel - the amazing artist from South London, England

Vote now!  One vote per person (or at least per computer) (unless you can beat the system) Just vote!

Band of the Week: Year 2, Month 4, Week 5: Finn Bonel

Whenever, I feature a solo artist as my "Band of the Week", I feel compelled to explain that I named  the Band of Week segment and decided early on that it would encompass any performing artist or collective and not just bands.


Okay, with that disclaimer out of the way...


Finn Bonel is from South London.  His music is influenced by a number of different sounds from British soul to American folk.  There is, I perceive a bit of the troubadour in Finn Bonel. Strong songwriting, a great and unique voice and a bit of the story-teller (which every great troubadour needs) - all of this and it's the songs which stuck with me, and kept me coming back for more, and finally convinced me to name Finn Bonel as Band of the Week.


For me, music is about emotions and memories and feelings and truth.  I can't always eloquently explain why I like a certain song, singer or band, but I can tell you about the feelings the music evokes.  Simplicity and a voice that reaches inside and tugs at your heart and draws the listener into the 3:00 or so story-song.  Rustic is a word used on his website, and while one would not expect such a description to fit a singer from London - damned if it doesn't.  Go check him out!


Here's a peak into what I like about Finn Bonel - the official video for Love's the Only Thing:

Like it?  It can be yours for a pittance* at Amazon:

*assuming that is that a pittance is .89USD or .69GBP.

He's on Facebook and Twitter and Soundcloud and others which you can link to from his homepage.

Some random video linkage...

Hey ho!  I've been out of pocket today, so no music shuffle, but I couldn't let a day go by without subjecting you... er treating you some music that's been going through my mind...


First a teaser: one of our earlier Band's of the Week: Elika are back with a new album that just dropped this month.  I've got my grubby little paws on it, and it's sweet stuff.  A more in-depth discussion is to come, but below is a bit of a tease.

Finn Bonel is a singer-songwriter from South London.  More on his music to come. Here is a video of his called Wedding Song.

The Mobbs were the first annual Band of The Year at Ear to the Ground.  They are planning a U.S. tour for the fall - so stay tuned to this space for more later.  Here is the official video for Jolly Good!  Jolly Good, indeed!

Off topicish, but we've lost a couple of greats this week.  Here's a video of a recitation of Adrienne Rich's poem 'song'.  Adrienne Rich died this week at the age of 82.

Earl Scruggs died yesterday at the age of 88.  A true pioneer and innovator of contemporary bluegrass music, his storied career as placed him beside many great musicians of the past several decades.  His work with Bill Monroe and later Lester Flatt are beyond legendary. Here is a selection from Mr. Scruggs...