E2TG 10/06/2020 - Middle Part of the Title - Take it Easy Mix (Cutless Cruiser Remix)

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My absentee ballot has officially been received by the Davidson County Election Commission.  I am urging all people with a conscience and a shred of basic decency to vote in this election if you are eligible. Make a plan. You may not like your choices but among the choices we have - the choice is clear.  Literally, lives and freedom and our country are all at stake. As with many of you, I know people who inexplicably still support this malignant narcissist and evil minions who support him. For now, I am going to stop trying to figure them out. It is just imperative that everyone who opposes this insanity vote.  I don't care if you are in a deep red state (like I am), a deep blue state, or a purple state - vote. We need this election to be a complete and unquestionable repudiation of the unprecedented attack on our democracy.  After Biden is elected - my far left friends and my centrist right friends can and should hold him and his administration accountable. But, before that - let's get him elected. 

I voted for myself but I voted also as a voice for my daughter who has intellectual disabilities (and all people with disabilities) who deserves a President who doesn't mock people like her and appoints people who want to take away their right to an education. I voted for my LGBTQ+ friends and family whose freedoms are under attack.  For people of color, for immigrant children who were ripped from their parent's and put in cages. For the world that my grandchildren and their grandchildren will inherit - which is in dire need to action to combat climate change - and not a President who rolls back decades of environmental protections.  

I am angry and I am scared, but I am fighting. 

Our recap of this week's Playlist rolls on. Songs 13-16 includes some better known artists with important things to say, a fun quarantine song from fun singer-songwriter, and some reggae to found it all out. 

13. "The New OK" by Drive-By Truckers

Surprise! A new album by Drive-By Truckers inspired by 2020. This is the title track - as usual Patterson Hood and company do not pull any punches. A great song that just had to make its way into my Playlist.

14. "Quarantine Blues" by Steve Poltz

Steve Poltz got his start (or at least first became known) co-writing songs with Jewel. He is an extremely funny and perceptive person who is always a joy to see live. My first time seeing him live was as an unexpected guest at a Darrin Bradbury residency at The Basement East a few years back. Poltz had been stranded in Nashville by weather. He later moved here (at least part time) and I have been fortunate to see him several times since then.  I love this song. 

15. "Times Like These" by Steve Earle

The Spotify release of Earle's RSD single (with "The Devil Put the Coal in the Ground"). The song is a chilling vision of the state of the nation. A song for our times. 

16. "My Teacher" by Kouatchou

And we close things out with a change of pace. Kouatchou was born in Cameroon and is now based in the UK.  This is the kind of uplifting music that I need right now.  Part of a double A single with a song called "Change" - this is a great way to close out this segment of music. 

Tomorrow - songs 17-20....
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

WOW Wednesday Music Shuffle - On My Own Mix

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As we do pretty much every Wednesday, we dig into the well that is the music currently residing on my phone's memory, and we hit "shuffle" and let the chips fall where they may...  Today's shuffle yields a nice mix of different styles of music which makes sense only to people like me...

Shall we?

WOW Wednesday Shuffle - Shook Up Mix

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A wonderfully diverse mixed bag of treats for your Wide-Open Whatever Wednesday Shuffle....

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Real Live Wire Mix

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Okay - how many #E2TG readers watched the Grammys last night?  What did you think? Were there parts you liked? Was it all utter crap? How well did it represent the state of music from October 2012 - September 2013?  Seriously? Really? Was it worst than you could imagine or better than you expected?

So here's the thing, for as long as I can remember, The Grammy's have been completely out of touch with the music I like. Or at least a decade too late. That being said, there were a few parts of last nights broadcast that were okay.

Here's the thing, regardless of your opinion of the Grammys, the fact is that every night of the week in clubs and small venues all across the country, indie artists are creating memorable moments playing a huge variety of music. Many of these bands and artists do not get the hype or press that your Grammy "caliber" performers get. Nonetheless, they aren't that hard to find. Take the time, seek them out, and regularly read music blogs like Ear to the Ground (or just read Ear to the Ground if I may ever so humbly suggest.)


Anyway, we have a shuffle filled with interest music that you may or may not have heard about.  Check these artists out and see what appeals to you...

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - A Few of Favorite Things 2013 Mix - Part Two

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First of all... Tuesday? Really? Just Tuesday?

Second... how about a couple of my favorite Christmas songs...

 

 

 

Third... Rest in Peace to Mr. Ray Price. In seeing some of the news reports, I was most struck at how his voice held up into his late 70s/early 80s. So smooth...  Thanks for the music.

 

 

 

 

Now... to today's music...

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Hurrah Mix

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A cool selection of songs and not much time... let's go...

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Tender Mercy Mix

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Well, well, well... we managed to stir up some controversy with yesterday's Hall of Fame inductees due to our blatant omission of the Latin American singing group Menudo.*

*True except for the controversy and the fact that our omission of Menudo was not blatant.

As we prepare to induct the next three E2TG favorites into our HofF, we still do not have Menudo, but we do have a boy band of sorts to head today's list.  (A Hall of Fame page is still in the works)

 







4.  Valued Customer (Toronto, Canada)
5.  The Dead Exs (New York, NY)
6. The Imperial Rooster (Espanola, NM)

Welcome to the E2TG Hall of Fame!

Shuffle begins in 3....
2....
1....
JUMP

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Grand Company Mix

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Introducing:  The E2TG Hall of Fame ----- Ta Da!

You may be asking, "WTF?" Basically, it comes down to this: My blogging consultant told me I need to start being more controversial to attract more readers to my site. Whenever, I see posts about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they always seem to attract highly opinionated comments. So, I thought if I came up with my own Hall of Fame, it might create controversy and angry comment wars which might "go viral" as the kids say.*

*All of the proceeding is true except for the following: I don't have a blogging consultant. I rarely read comment wars about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the only thing likely to "go viral" over here is an actual virus.

Really, I got to thinking about the artists I consider E2TG featured artist. When I began writing E2TG way back in the spring of 2011, I began naming a Band of the Week just about every week.  I did this for a about year, before switching to a featured artist designation - wherein I would name ten or so "featured artists" every month and put them in "heavy rotation" for the remainder of that month.  That carried on for just over six months. Since, then I keep featuring new music, but I haven't really been very organized about recognizing those bands.  So... I decided to take stock - at this random point in E2TG history and go back and formally recognize all of the bands that I consider part of the E2TG family.  To do so, I decided to use the TAG "cloud" on the sidebar and begin with the most tagged bands and work my way down.  So, for the near future, I am going to name three, two or one band every day to join the E2TG HofF.  It's a purely honorary title - as currently it does not come with a cash prize nor is there an actual Hall.

I am going to create and maintain a Sidebar linked Page for the Hall of Fame artists - with videos, songs, links, an on-going web-store and more.  It's still under construction, so will update when I have a Page set up. 

So without much more ado, E2TG is pleased to announce our inaugural class of Hall of Fame inductees:

 

 

 

 



1. THE END MEN from Brooklyn, NY

2.TACO LAND - from San Antonio, TX

3. SKELETONS IN THE PIANO from Saratoga Springs, NY

Stay tuned!  More to come.

Shuffle is up next

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Spice of Life Mix

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As usually seems to be the case, I added a ton of new music to my active playlist last night, and not one of the new songs ended up in this morning's shuffle. Rest assured they will turn up sooner or later.

 

 



What's exciting to me about today's shuffle is that every song in the mix is either new, relatively new or at least new to me. It also excites me that there is such an incredible variety to the music.

Well - enough vagueness... Jump past the break to see today's Morning Shuffle:

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Bank Robbery Mix

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So - I just received word that Those Mockingbirds will be releasing the first official single from their highly anticipated new album on October 22.  It's called "How to Rob a Bank" and we have the cover artwork post above. The cover art was hand-drawn by Bella Agnello who happens to be the 7 year old daughter of legendary producer John Agnello who was worked with Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr., Kurt Vile and more.  I would hit up Those Mockingbirds on FACEBOOK so you don't miss out.

What some of you may not realize, is that I give a ton of credit to Those Mockingbirds for the success of Ear to the Ground.  Here's why.  I started Ear to the Ground in May 2011 without a clue or a direction.  Over the course of the remainder of that year, I began to find my voice. Late in the year, I came across Those Mockingbirds via a Twitter follow (I think and choose to believe). I quickly became enamored with their melodic hard alt rock sound. I named them my Band of the Week.

Shortly after that, I received a contact from Don Ryan who was and I suppose still is friends with the band, his video This Town still ranks among my all time favorites. Around this time, I met venerable NJ music blogger and raconteur Popa Tunes who turned me on to Dead Exs, The End Men and so many more.  Through The End Men, I met Gypsy West and Chris Peck's band The Disappointment. Through Don Ryan, I met The Danbury Lie. Somehow, in all that, I met Skeletons in the Piano who ended up being our Band of the Year for 2012...  And in all that, I became the number one ranked Tennessee Based Music Blogger Who Mostly Blogs About Bands from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut  (an albeit lightly populated category).  Of course, I've diversified since them, and I've even been known to write about Nashville and Tennessee  bands on occasion.

My point being, Those Mockingbirds play a vital role in shaping this blog which all of you have come to know and love.  By the way, the mockingbird is the State Bird of Tennessee. Coincidence? You be the judge.

Ahem.... now that I've made this post all about me, I will turn it around and implore you to grab the new Those Mockingbird single on October 22 and keep your ear to the ground for impending details on the full album.

Today's shuffle is after the JUMP

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - FIGJAM Mix

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H/T to Darby Cockroach for the subtitle to today's post.

Thanks to this blog and the magic of the Internet and Social Media and Purple Faeries, I have had the good fortune to virtually or actually meet a number of amazingly talented people from all around the world.

Today's Mix includes some great new music from some of those amazingly talented people....

To the Shuffle:

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Or Else... Mix

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We are back after a couple of days where I was not able to post + a weekend....  We have 12 cool songs to get us back on track...

JUMP to it!

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Melon Farmer Mix

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Let's jump back into the Shuffles with an extended mix of music.

As usual, time is short - so no dilly-dallying.  Which is a shame, really, because I am so good at dilly-dallying....

JUMP to the tunage!

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - The Simple Joys Mix

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I have to be very quick.... Please take a moment to check out all of our great artists

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Such an Icy Feeling Mix

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After a busy and pretty awesome weekend, I'm easing back into the a busy and pretty hectic week. 

We have a pretty cool mix of music today and I don't want to waste any time....

So without much more ado, E2TG is proud to present.... Today's Shuffle!  After the JUMP

Friday Music Shuffle - Pre-Labor Mix

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Looking forward to a long weekend....  I'll leave you with a heaping helping of musical manifestations.



After the JUMP

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Run Boy Mix

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As I write this, I hear thunder behind me and the gentle, almost soothing sounds of car tires moving across wet city streets. It's August 20, 2013, and I am alive, and though not perfect by any means, life is good.

Some days I want more out of life, but for me that is just a normal state of being. The key for me is to find peace in the now without thinking this is where I will and must always be. 

As of this date, I have been writing Ear to the Ground for 2 years and about 3 months. The blog has not made me rich or very famous, but I consider it a huge success nonetheless. Because of the blog, I've been fortunate enough to meet some incredible and talented and just generally good people. I heard tons more music than I would have had I not written the blog. Every so often, I see one of my quotes in the promotional material of a band I've written about.

I'm not sure why I'm writing all this right now, but it seemed like as good a time as any to remind myself why I do this.

This morning brought an interesting mix of music.  Let's get to it - after the jump...

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Play Wagon Wheel Mix

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More clouds over Nashville.  Much on my mind today, but nothing to share right now.  We have a nice selection of music so... shall we? 

After the JUMP

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - rearviewmirrormix

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Wow! May is sure flying by, and I still have some wrap-up to do for April - ah well, when I can, when I can...   I have a nifty selection of songs today, so let's get to it.

Pre-Shuffle Shuffle:

1. "If You Would Love Me, Too" by Prattle On, Rick (A Nashville artist who I "discovered" via Twitter. Really digging this guy and wondering why it's taken me so long to catch up with him.  The video in our Playlist is for another song of his - as are several of the songs today).

2. "I Am" by Sealight (Our friends from across the pond are back with a new song - a follow up to their Dead Letters EP which I reviewed some time back in my very first Ear to the Ground record review!  I Am can be found on a Sampler put out by the band's French Label, Commission 45.

 

 

3."Stealing Romance" by Milk Carton Kids

4."Without You" by Natalie Maines

5.  "Failing Love (acoustic)" by Seth Philpott


The Milk Carton Kids and Seth Philpott tracks were grabbed from Noisetrade.  There is always fresh new music up for grabs at Noisetrade.com, and as always tip if you can, spread the word and support the artists however you are able.

The Natalie Maines' track is the lead track from her long-anticipated and brand new album Mother.

SHUFFLE is up - after the JUMP