E2TG 5/3/2021 - Music City Monday and More - Perck Mix (Time Coast Remix)

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A new week.  This month finds  your intrepid music blogger finishing up his tenth year of featuring great music without limits.  

This week, I begin to tentatively venture out into this strange new landscape - with some events planned. 

Next up - Part 2 of our Feat. Friday Playlist Recap and below the jump - our weekly Music City Monday shuffle... 

Featured Friday Playlist recap Part 2 (songs 13-22):

13. "Say Something" by Emma-Jean Thackery

Up first today is the new single from London based bandleader, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and producer Emma-Jean Thackery from her forthcoming album Yellow (due in July). Fantastic music. 

14. "Treading Water" by Charm of Finches

Next up, we have the new single from this Australian electric chamber indie folk sister duo.  The lovely track tackles complex emotions. 

15. "The Faded Ones" by Ben DeHan

Next up, we have the recent single from this Maryland based artist. Check it out!

16. "Welcome to the Big Top" by The Rose Petals

We previously featured an earlier single - but American Grenadine is out now from this West Coast duo of Elijah Ocean and Peter Donovan.  Great tunes. 

17. "Wasteland" by Tim Kile

Austin based singer-songwriter just released his debut solo album These Things Are Being Gathered for The Fire. Kile was a founding member of Arcade Fire and of the band Wild Light.  Really dig this new music. 

18. "And the Lights Went out All over Town" by Modesty Blaise

We continue coverage of the The Modesty Blaise - the first album in 20 years from this UK band. This is the latest single from that album, and it is a fresh slice of classic 90s British indie pop.  A great song. 

19. "Everything She Touches Is Gold to Me" by Said the Whale

Next up, we have the release from songs written during 2020s break from 14 years of constant touring by this band who are based out of Vancouver B.C.  A wonderful love song. 

20. "Stranger Among Friends" by Distant Voices 

We have the latest single from an album we have been covering for a while - London based Distant Voices released their debut album Long Road to Home back in March. It is great to be able to feature more from this excellent album. 

21. "What Did the Music Sound Like" by Lea Thomas

Lea Thomas is Japanese American singer-songwriter who was born is Hawaii and is now based out of Brooklyn. This is her latest single, and I love it. 

22. "Burst Through the Borders" by Caulbearers

And we close out this segment of music with the latest from Manchester based Caulbearers - who formed in 2007.  This is a worthy addition to the rich musical heritage of the UK city. 

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 4/5/2021 - Music City Monday - Child of Light Mix (One Way Ticket Remix)

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Heading into another week of Music.  In other news, I will be getting my 2nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Wednesday. Hoping for the best as far as side-effects.  Had only minor arm soreness with the first. Regardless, having had COVID, I expect whatever the side-effects - they will be better than the alternative. 

I am somewhat positive about seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, but I am still a bit worried that we will see another spike or two along the way, and I hope most people will do what is necessary to keep everyone safe. 

A big Featured Friday Playlist this week - so we have to cover a log of ground today (songs 17-26):

17. "Everything Begins, Everything Ends" by The Gracious Losers

We open this segment with a track from the EP Six Road Ends by this Glascow-based Celtic Americana band.

18. "It All Started in the Garden" by Dick Aven

Next up. we have the title track from a new album by this multi-instrumentalist based in Franklin, Tennessee. Interestingly, this came to me from one of my favorite UK publicists/pluggers. 

19. "Living in the Last Days" by Elizabeth King

Next up, we have the title track from the new debut full-length album from 78 year old Memphis based sacred soul sing Elizabeth King. This is something special.  

20. "Die Young" by Soo Line Loons; Car'ma

Next up, we have another track from the forthcoming self-titled album by this Minneapolis band. We have been digging their music a log as of late. 

21. "Haunt" by All Hallowed

Next, we have our third track to feature from this Dayton, Ohio based dance punk band. I have to admit that dance punk was not a term I knew before hearing this band, but it makes sense to me now, and I like it. 

22. "I Love You" by Modesty Blaise

Next up, we have a track from the new album from this avant-pop band from Bristol, UK.  It is our second track to featured from their just released self-titled album. The band has a colorful history that began in 1993.

23. "High Price (for Peace of Mind)" by KISS KISS BANG

Next up, we have a single from the recently released EP Hungry, High & Seeing Things by this rock band from nearby Bowling Green, Kentucky. 

24. "Antelope Winnebago Club" by Departure Lounge

Next up, we have the lead track from the 4th album and first album in 19 years by this band - whose is based between southern England and right here in Nashville. The album features the four original members of the and special guest Peter Buck (R.E.M.).  Dig this a lot. 

25. "Let the Music Play" by Ben Gorb

Next up, we have the new single from this Manchester, UK based artist who released his debut album last May. 

26. "Circles" by The Brother Brothers

And we close out this segment of music with the final pre-release single from the forth-coming Calla Lilly (April 16) from this duo from Brooklyn. Great stuff and a fine way to close out this segment.

 

 Featured Friday Playlist

 

E2TG 11/16/2020 - Music City Monday and More - Homecoming Show Mix (Omg...lol Remix)

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It feels silly to say it... not because it isn't true, but because it is so obvious... we are still in a pandemic. Here in Nashville and elsewhere cases are on the rise, but from the government down to many citizens there seems to be a nonchalance about it all, and an unwillingness to make any modifications. As we head into winter and the holidays, it looks like dark days ahead. With so many, ignoring the guidance from health officials and determined to act as if the pandemic is either over or not real, it makes it more difficult to do the right thing. 

The progress on the vaccine front is encouraging, but for now, we have to deal with where we are. 

And, we have an administration more interested in fighting the results of a fair and valid election than fighting COVID. 

We pick back up with our recap of this week's Featured Friday Playlist with songs 10-15:

10. "Without Us" by Black Paisley

Up first today, we have a track from the forthcoming album Rambler by the Swedish band that we featured before. This one is a catchy rocker that caught me a little of guard in a good way. 

11. "Some Lucky Stardust" by Brent Moyer

12. "If We're Gonna Kill Each Other" by Dallas Moore, Billy Don Burns

In what is, I believe, a first for our Playlist, we have two tracks from the same album.  The album is A Tribute to Joe Sun.  First up, we have Nashville songwriter and musician Brent Moyer covering a Joe Sun song originally on Sun's 1998 album Heartbreak Saloon.   The second is by outlaw country notables Dallas Moore and Billy Don Burns and it is one of the last songs written by Sun and released here for the first time.  Joe Sun passed away last October.

13. "Look at the Birdy" by The Flat Five

Next up, we have a track from the newly released 2nd album by Chicago area supergroup The Flat Five. So good!

14. "Second Fiddle to a Steel Guitar" by The Sensational Country Blues Wonders!

Next up, we have a track from Jersey City native Gary Van Miert with his first album of original material. Recorded remotely with some Nashville musicians.  This is fantastic stuff. 

15. "Immoral Guidance" by Danny Black; Keith Goodwin

We close out this segment of music with a Good Ole War reunion of sorts from Philadelphia based Danny Black's third album Black Ryno.  A great way to close out this segment of music. 

Tomorrow - the recap continues with songs 16-20 or so
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 10/23/2020 - Featured Friday - Birmingham 2 Mix (Existential Dread Remix)

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It is Friday, and I am short on time so let's get right to it.  Before we get to our brand new Featured Friday Playlist, we have a couple of new releases to mention.  Both of these releases are out on Devil's Tower Records and available on the Devil's Tower Records Bandcamp page.  Both are live recordings, recorded at the same show last Halloween. The Smoking Flowers host an annual Halloween show at The 5 Spot as a benefit.  I have been to a few - including the show where these releases were recorded. Since, the show cannot go on this year, they decided to release these as a consolation. Check them out. 

The first features the temporary band SHAMONES doing Michael Jackson covers in the style of The Ramones.  The second features a set from The Smoking Flowers themselves doing some choice covers. I have listened and they are high quality recordings (as most of the "live from The 5 Spot" recordings are) - so please check them out!

 

This week's Featured Friday Playlist is jam-packed with great music. I think it is the same number of songs as last week but it clocks in at about fifteen more minutes of music. Our recap starts below the jump...

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 6/18/2020 - Featured Friday - Foolish and Blue Mix (Shelf Life Remix)

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Happy Juneteenth! 

So much on my mind on so many fronts. The world is on fire and changes are coming.  The old guard is trying to inflict as much damage as possible while they still can, and the apologist and enablers are wringing hands and trying to explain it all away.  The next five to eight months or more will not be easy.  I am already stressing out about election day. There is so much at stake.

It is Father's Day weekend, the first Father's Day since my Dad passed away. In general, lately, I am not a fan of holidays. It creates a lot of pressure on people whose lives don't conform to some socially accepted pattern.

Nashville is moving forward with reopening - going against their own roadmap - as cases and transmission rates increase. Most people seem to think that if they pretend it is all over - then it will go away.  Meanwhile, the right continues to push the idea that the pendemic is a media-driven hoax or exaggeration.

But, despite all this, overall, I am upbeat and optimistic about life. That could and probably will change, but I am enjoying it. 

Well, this week's Featured Friday Playlist is twice as long as last week's.  There were a bunch of new releases this week.  Our recap begins below with songs 1-7.  We will recap the rest next week in this space.

    Featured Friday Playlist