E2TG 12/14/2021 - Life Goes On - Hell Yeah Mix (Roll Train Roll Remix)

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My heart goes out to everyone affected by this weekend's tornados in Tennessee and especially in Kentucky.  Thinking about something like this happening just two week's before Christmas... especially for those who lost loved ones means that the holiday season is changed forever... 

I know first hand how losses around this time of year change things forever. But what I am learning is that the change isn't permanent.  It may sound like I just contradicted myself, but bear with me... last year, I thought I would just want to avoid the holidays all together. I actually felt that way before I lost loved ones in December - just because of changes in life. Where I am at now, which may just be a point on a journey - is that I can chose to redefine what the holiday's mean.  And celebrate or not on my own terms.  

A long way of saying, that I know for some, this year's holiday's will be difficult, and my message for anyone dreading the holiday's is to let go of any expectations (your own or others) and just make this time the best it can be. 

Today's Ear to the Ground is up on the archive at WXNA 

The show is part one of our 2021 recap... 

6:00am Sonny Boy by Owsley on Owsley (Giant)

6:02am Feminine Walk by Aaron Lee Tasjan on Tasjan! Tasjan! Tasjan! (New West Records)

6:06am Cast Iron Pansexual by Adeem the Artist on Cast Iron Pansexual (Saint Judas Records)

6:08am First Curse (I Can’t Hide) by Tayls on Have You Ever? I’ve Always (LunaSea Media)

6:15am Going to the Woods by DeeOhGee on New Way of Life (WDGO Music)

6:18am You’re the Summer by Ritual Cloak on You’re the Summer – Single (Bubblewrap Records)

6:22am My Favorite Goodbye by David Olney & Anana Kaye on Whispers and Sighs (Schoolkids Records)

6:30am The Freedom Rides Weren’t Free by Jason Ringenberg on Rhinestoned (Courageous Chicken Entertainment)

6:35am Say Goodbye (feat. Suavee) by Lil Aquatic on Single (Self-Released)

6:38am You Healed Me by Susan Anders on 13 Women (Zanna Discs)

6:41am Lead Balloon by Dude Safari on Lead Balloon – Single (Dude Safari)

6:44am You’re in Love With Junk by The Problem With Kids Today on Junk (Get Right Records)

6:48am Here Come the Blues by Cold Equations on Here Come the Blues – Single (Poor Yorick Records)

6:51am Queen of Nothing by Lindsay Ellyn on Queen of Nothing (Queue Records)

6:55am Xxytopleft by Darrin Bradbury on Artvertisement (Anti/Epitaph)

6:58am Marrakush by Electric Kif on Dreamlike (La Reserve Records)

 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 6/17/2020 - Parenthetical - Chrome Mix (Bullethead Remix)

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A gentle reminder that "Outrage fatigue" is real and is actually a tool of fascists like Trump.  Keep fighting but give your self permission to step back and relax and rest before picking up the fight again.  I was thinking about this today, and in my head, my initial counter-thought was that it was my white privilege to think I could take a break (and that is a question worth considering), but I say this for everyone in the fight.

 The other thing is recognizing what is productive. I absolutely hate comment sections - it brings out the shittiest side of everyone. But, (if you critically evaluate the role of trolls in such forums) it can be a way to understand the "other side". If a person making comments is being genuine and honest, even if you think they are misguided or wrong, the words they use and the arguments they make can help to shed light on what we are up against.

That being said, I can waste time and energy getting worked up over posts in the comment section of articles, tweets, or Facebook posts. It can (and does) put me into a mental tailspin and contributes to my exhaustion and burnout.  Like all of life, balance is important. This fight is essential and critical and vital, but it is not everything. Quite moments, laughs with friends, music, art, nature are all important, too.

Continuing our Featured Friday Playlist recap with songs 9-12.  We will cover songs 13-15 tomorrow to wrap up this week's list.

9. "I Love You (Don't Laugh)" by Andre Salvador and the Von Kings

Andre Salvador and the Von Kings is the moniker of indie pop singer-songwriter Tim Cheplick who is based in Brooklyn.  This is the debut single from the forthcoming self-titled album.  The album was recorded in Nashville and produced by Robin Eaton. Proving that coincidences reign supreme here at E2TG, Robin Eaton has worked with numerous artists and friends including Tommy Womack, Tim Easton, and Swan Dive to name a few. Most famously (I guess), he has worked alongside Jill Sobule on several albums.

10. "Hold On (Italians in the Night)" by Beth McKee

Friend of E2TG Beth Mckee is back with a new single that captures the feelings this time in which are are living. The song was co-written at the beginning of the pandemic with fellow Orlando singer-songwriter Terri Binion. McKee's drummer husband plays on the album. And she once again works with producer John Pfiffner who produced her Dreamwood Acres album - which was our introduction to her music. 

11. "Your Parents (Dancing with the Stars)" by Benedict Sinister

Next up, a rather interesting track from electro-pop artist Benedict Sinister which is a pointed and clever take on meeting the significant other's parents - told with a distinctively New York bent. The song is packed full of references - pop culture, politics and more. The cleverness never overwhelms the joy of the track. 

12. "Barcelona (Memoryy Remix)" by Kevin Herig

A remix of a recent single by indie-pop singer-songwriter Kevin Herig by electro-pop artist Memoryy.  I dig it. A cool addition to this week's playlist.  

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 5/15/2020 - Featured Friday - In The Upside-Down - Roller Disco Lion Mix (Dangerous Remix)

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Hey, it is Friday, we have another all-new Featured Friday Playlist which you can stream below and follow on Spotify.  I have some words about this weeks list below.

In the show Stranger Things, there is the concept of the Upside Down. If you haven't seen the show (I highly recommend it), but basically think of the Upside Down as an alternate world where things are just wrong and off.  (If you've seen the show, sorry for the grossly inadequate explanation). Lately, I feel as if we are all living in some sort of "Upside Down". Obviously, we are facing unprecedented challenges as a world, and we have seen people rise to the occasion in many ways to help their fellow man.

However, as I see it, the darker side of all this is the continued politicalization of everything. I guess this should not surprise me at a time when eating fried chicken or ordering pizza has become a political statement. But, it does surprise me.  Here we have a virus that really doesn't care if you are a Democrat, Republican, Socialist, Libertarian, Communist, Whig, No Nothing, or an Anarchist. In a normal world, we would find a way to at least somewhat unite to face this threat, but here, again, my naivete is showing.

Here is my bottom line. I have friends who have lost parents and spouses to this virus. I have friends who right now have parents in the hospital. And, yes, I have a lot of friends who have been significantly impacted financially by the shutdown. I have been hesitant to say too much, because I am among the very lucky in that I have continued to work uninterrupted  (albeit from home since mid-March).  I want everyone to get back to work. I want to go see live music again and hang out with all my friends. But, I want to do so safely and responsibly so that people do not suffer and die needlessly. So, when I see people running around without masks and ignoring social distancing guidelines, I will say something. Not too "peer pressure" (although if that is what it takes I will do that), but because I know, these people are putting people at risk and they are putting the eventual recovery at risk. 

I think about the protesters - carrying assult-style weapons - who are terrorizing citizens and government leaders. I think about how these same people criticized football players for kneeling. I think about how these people do not protest when an unarmed black man is shot by the police or by so-called vigilantes. How these same people think government should tell a woman what she can or cannot do with her own body. How these same people, care little about the rights of the LGBTQ+ in the face of government sanctioned discrimination.

People in public without masks are extending this crisis and putting innocent people at risk. We have a huge hole in the soul of our government. I think about past leaders of both parties who would have and who are leading better than the current occupant of the White House. I think about the lack of compassion and concern which filters down from the highest levels of power to the dregs of our society. And, it saddens and worries me. But, I also think about the men and women who are ignoring and rejecting this soullessness to find creative ways to help others and each other.

I believe we will get out of the Upside Down world, but I also believe we will be changed by the experience, and I believe to a great extent it is up to us to decide how we are going to be changed.

    Featured Friday Playlist