Wild Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Take the Elevator Mix

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Today what is on my mind is intellectual curiosity. I have heard this term used quite a bit recently, and often in the context of the current President lacking this quality. So, I wondered what does this mean...

"The intellectually curious person has a deep and persistent desire to know. She asks and seeks answers to the “why” questions. And she doesn’t stop asking at a surface level, but instead asks probing questions in order to peel back layers of explanation to get at the foundational ideas concerning a particular issue." from Psychology Today April 2014

So, I think this means (in simplistic terms): I observe something or get some information, and I first ask is this information/observation true.  And if it turns out to be true or accurate, then I begin asking "why"and I keep asking "why" until I get to the core issue/ truth.

So, how does this relate to our current administration.  "Immigrants and refugees commit a disproportionate number of crimes" - maybe this was said by someone or maybe I noticed when I read a news article about a crime - it often seems like the perpetrator is a non-citizen. Okay - what next.  An intellectually curious person would first try to get data and facts to support this statement or observation and then (IF) proven would begin asking "Why" questions and continue until reaching a core issue that can be addressed in a meaningful way.

As for someone lacking intellectual curiosity... well, I think we can all see what would happen next...

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Tonight - Brian Langlinais wraps up his month-long residency at The 5 Spot. It will be a party and believe me Cajun's know how to party.  E2TG faves Adrian + Meredith open plus Fifth and Main (from Detroit) will perform followed by Langlinais and Earl 6. Not to mention a promise of Cajun food!

Let's jump right into the Wild Wednesday shuffle- true to its name - we cover a lot of musical ground today...

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Who Knows? Not Me Mix

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It's apparently some holiday which you should celebrate as you see fit... 

In honor, today's shuffle hits only high points...

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Sleeping Daydreams Mix

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To sleep, perchance to dream...

a Monday shuffle follows the jump

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Is That All? Mix

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Did you watch the Grammy Awards last night?  What'd you think?

Highlights for me:  Jack White, Mavis Staples and others in the Levon Helm tribute, Justin Timberlake and the Tennessee Boys, Bruno Mars and Sting but mostly when Damian and Ziggy Marley came on stage, The Lumineers and the Dave Brubeck tribute.  Overall, I was surprisingly pleased which much of the show.  I mean, you have to accept it for what it is, but compared to past shows I've endured, I thought there was a abundance of real musicians on the stage.  And, the audience seemed to be supporting all the music.  And Prince, just by his royal presence and his off-the-cuff statement that he loved the Goyte song which won for Record of the Year.  Not the mention, the utter star-struckedness of Goyte and Kimbra. 





  So, while it's easy to sit here and complain about all the bands and artists who deserved to be on that stage or at least nominated... At least the Grammy's seem to be trying... right?  Or do you disagree? I'd love to hear what you have to say.

We have a long shuffle, so let's get to it. After le Jump...

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Small Things Mix

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(This is the 20th Anniversary of my having played this song on January 14th - Enjoy!)

And we are back...  Thanks for sticking around... hello?  Is there anybody out there? 

We have nifty little shuffle for a cold, damp, icy Monday morning = after the jump:

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Get out of Town Mix

Time is short - here' s the video coverage of today's shuffle:

Don't have time to post Amazon Links so feel free to search and purchase using this widget:

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart

 

Loretta Lynn and Jack White - Portland, Oregon

Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs - Beg, Steal or Borrow

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - 3.5 Degrees Mix

I read somewhere that due to the explosive of social networking - primarily Facebook, the degrees of separation between all human beings has been reduced from 6 to 3.5.  I have no idea if that is true, but it sounds right.  It is always odd when a "Friend Suggestion" comes up and the person and I have mutual friends who come from entirely different parts of my life. 

This also falls in line with my philosophy that music is all about connections, and that no matter how diverse and random my music collection is, there is always a way to connect any one artist to another.

First up, Have Mercy is a stand-out track on the Jack White produced Van Lear Rose by Loretta Lynn. What a great collaboration this turned out to be.
 
  <----- Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose (amazon.com)

Loretta Lynn: Still Woman Enough: A Memoir
Loretta Lynn's first memoir, Coal Miner's Daughter, was a #1 national bestseller that sparked an Oscar-winning movie and left fans hungry for more. Now Loretta finishes that story, and the second half of her life is every bit as remarkable and inspiring as the first. In a friendly, down-home style that belies her stature as country music's most celebrated performer, Loretta writes candidly about the price of fame and the stresses of stardom; tells of friends and family she's loved and lost along the way; and shares secrets not included in her first book. But at the heart of this memoir is her stormy relationship with Doo, the man she married at thirteen and stayed with until he died, through his drinking, their violent arguments, and their passionate reconciliations. Loretta reveals the devotion behind "one of the hardest love stories in the world." Filled with intimate portraits of country legends, and brimming with folksy humor, this personal tale of grit, determination, and loyalty will enthrall Loretta's countless fans and anyone who adores a good old-fashioned love story.

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Next up is the hard to google band called The Men - they released a stunning album called Leave Home in 2011 and have a new album due out in early March called Open Your Heart. They play hard, loud music with compromise. Today we have a stand out track from the Leave Home LP "( )".
  <---The Men - Leave Home (amazon.com)


Finally, completing our interesting three song shuffle and proving that the drugs were really good or really bad back in the mid sixties, we have a track whose working title was Tough Apple, but which ended up being called 2000 Light Years from Home and it comes from the Stones' album Their Satanic Majesties Request.  



<----- The Rolling Stones - Their Satanic Majesties Request (amazon.com)

Rolling Stones Exile on Main St. Collage T-Shirt Rolling Stones Exile T Shirt This is an officially licensed Rolling Stones t-shirt in which these Rolling Stones shirts have been screen printed with an official Rolling Stones image on the front. These Rolling Stones tshirts are usually made from heavyweight preshrunk 6oz. cotton tee shirt blanks. Check back often for some of our new Rolling Stones clothing and other Rolling Stones merchandise at great prices only at - www.StylinOnline.com .

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - All Fall Down Mix

So for Christians, this is the season of Lent, and I'm hearing a lot of people talking about what they are giving up.  So here at Ear to the Ground, we've made a decision.  From now until Easter we will not post any music by Justin Bieber. It's going to be difficult, but I guess the idea is that such sacrifice will bring us closer to God.   So here we go with the first of many Bieber-free music shuffles.

First we have Streetwalker by Delta Spirit.  The song comes from the band's first EP - I Think I've Found It.  A newer version of the sound was included on the full-length debut album Ode to Sunshine which we have linked below.  We got the EP version off a no longer available Noisetrade download.

<---Delta Spirit - Ode to Sunshine LP

Next up, we have the brand new Jack White solo track Love Interruption from his forthcoming album Blunderbuss - which was also the title of a Will & the Bushmen album.  Coincidence?

< Jack White - Love Interruption single

After Jack White, we got a fine rollicking country-flavored track which we got via Popa's Tunes Popakazooza 2012 volume 2.  Nikki Sue & the Bad News are yet another great New Jersey band.  Here's a link to the band's website.


Our current Band of the Week are back with In the Woods  from their Led into the Wood - seven song EP.


<The Amboys - Led into the Woods EP

And finally we have The Signal by E L E M I N T. The original version is on the Poet Tree EP.


<E L E M I N T - Poet Tree EP

We listened to the Broadcast remix of the song by our Soundcloud friend Galen Wade which you can hear here: Elemint - The Signal [ Broadcast Remix by Galen Wade ] by Galen Wade