E2TG 6/18/2020 - Do Not Despair - First Light Mix (So You Say Remix)

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There are positive signs and signs that are alarming.  Do not despair. I believe we are on the right path. As we march forward toward November and January, expect the other side to get desperate and lash out - often in destructive and frightening ways. But, do not despair, just keep fighting and marching and pushing forward. Let our progress gain momentum and become an unstoppable force!

I am going to work on some submission "guidelines for E2TG" - not hard and fast rules that must be followed - I hope I am never self-important enough to do that, but rather some tips about how best to reach me, how I feature music, how I don't, and things like that.  I have some ideas, but I need to organize my thoughts.  One thing though, I do love personalized e-mails that show that the person writing has actually read my blog. BUT, I do not expect every submission to do that - again, I try not to have an inflated sense of my own importance.

I strive very hard to have E2TG be an unique as possible.  I am aware that hundreds or thousands of sites and blogs are sent the same music - so some music I feature will likely be featured on many other sites. My quest to be unique then has to come from the variety and from featuring some local artists whose music may or may not be going to all those sites and blogs.   How am I doing?



It is almost time for a new Featured Friday Playlist, but we have our final three songs to feature today.  Be sure to check out the whole playlist before the new one posts tonight around midnight.

13. "Little Lion" by Teghan Devon

First up today, we have the title track from the new EP by Boston area singer-songwriter Teghan Devon .  The songs were written while Devon was grieving the loss of her life-long best friend - a golden retriever named Sarge. A beautiful record - that was originally scheduled for release in March but was pushed back due to the pandemic. 

14. "Stop and Rewind" by Mile Me Deaf

Next up, we have a track from the new album Ecco by Austrian synth-driver, psych band Mile Me Deaf. The music has a very strong pop vibe. I dig it. 

15. "Pandemic" by Luciano Illuminati

And, we close this week's playlist with a track from Terra Vision 2020 - a very timely album filled with topical songs from this most unusual year. Luciano Illuminati is an indie/alternative artist from Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

    Featured Friday Playlist

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - What Have I Become? Mix

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Well... here we are at the penultimate shuffle of the year, and the penultimate Earie post (not counting the "Golden Earier" posts. 

Reflecting on 2017 some more (although really ready to see it in my rear-view mirror), and I see ups and downs - as with most years. To me there is a fundamental shift that happened this year. Perspective and perception are everything, and so I don't always know when my experience of something  (a year perhaps) is mine alone - or if it is shared. I can say, though, that I have heard enough people talking about this year to know that I am not alone my outlook.  That shift - is not for the best - IMHO, nor is it a permanent shift. Already, I see signs of hope.  It seems like every year, I enter the year filled with some sense of hope that I will do more or better or at least different. This year, I'm not sure I have hope, but I think I do have resolve. I don't make resolutions at New Years - I don't have much luck with those, but I do tend to see the cycling of the calendar as an opportunity to revisit and change things that aren't working. 

This is the winter solstice - the shortest day of the year. Hanukkah just ended, Christmas is coming up as is Kwanzaa. And the end of the calendar year in the west. And so, I send out well wishes to anyone who is reading this - no matter what you do or do not celebrate. In a divided nation and a divided world, I send out thoughts of reconciliation and peace and harmony.

This is just my tiny corner of the internet, but I am so grateful for all of the wonderful people I have met because of it. 

Let's shuffle:

Featured Friday Morning Shuffle - The Ends or the Means Mix

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Okay.... it's been a pretty intense week.  I don't know what the future holds... I am deeply disturbed by the ugly truths that have been exposed this week. And by the mind-blowing chasm that seems to grow wider every day. As I have said before, it is a chasm not only of ideals and values, but of perception of reality.

I don't know.... I do know that there are beautiful people in the world, and I am fortunate that circumstances have brought me into contact with some of those people. I know that I am profoundly fortunate.  And, I am profoundly grateful for everyone who reads E2TG.

As you might have heard, there is a rare event happening Monday across the US, and Nashville is one of the largest if not the largest city in the path of totality.   My favorite radio station, WXNA, has not failed to notice this event, and on Monday from 11-3pm WEclipseNA hosted by DJ Nekos will provide the soundtrack to the Eclipse.

If you need some Eclipse pre-gaming, tune in Saturday to Double Shot with me and Sue - we will be one for an extra hour 11-2pm with the theme (believe it or not coincidentally) of Night and Day. You might here some Eclipse songs, too.

It is Friday, and we shuffle up the "New Music" playlist for our Featured Friday shuffle.... join me in 3...2...1....

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Hide Your Daughters, Hide Your Sons Mix

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Well, it is officially the longest day of the year, the Summer Solstice, or the beginning of the long march to Winter gloom - if you will.  As I mentioned yesterday, we are also approaching the half way mark of 2017.  In an effort to present as much "new" music as possible, I am going to be spinning tunes from my "new music" playlist every day for the next two week. It's Tuesday today, and I would be doing that anyway, but still....


Well - let's get to the music shall we?

Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - Pad Thai Mix

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Today is Topical Thursday (previously Theme Thursday or something like that - and changed for no good reason).  Ever since the beginning of this year, I have been running on one topic or theme which I have alluded to but never outright explained. Originally my idea was to change topics every month, but a combination of laziness and the continued relevance of the original topic kept me from doing it. Beginning next Thursday - if all goes according to plan), I have a new Topic for the month of May.  Don't get the me wrong, the original topic is still, unfortunately, very relevant, but I am starting to become aware that this is a marathon and not a sprint... Stay tuned.

One week from today, I will be writing to tell you about the previous night's opening ceremony of the E2TG Residency. Now, I am telling you that Mark Robinson Band is coming up in less than a week!  Time to get off the fence and solidify your plans.  Otherwise, you will be reading my recap and saying, I wish I had gone. You don't want that!

So, here we go with the topic.  As I have said every week since I started this process.. The connection between these songs and my chose topic are strictly made up in my head.  I don't pretend to know nor do I wish to imply that the creators of these songs had a particular intent for the song that coincides with my interpretation.  There.... A couple of longish songs - so we have a short but sweet list.

Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - Just Like a Nitwit Mix

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No shuffle yesterday.  I blame Trump... No, seriously...

Appropriately enough, we return with a Topical Thursday Shuffle - continuing our broadly defined and unspecified Topic.

So, basically, in some cases the songs fit my topic - at least in my mind. In others I imagine some person or group of people saying the title in a specific context that would fit my topic.

As always, I am not ascribing any belief or opinion to anyone but myself...   Meanwhile, some cool music for a very cold Thursday morning commute.

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Yesterday's Just a Song Mix

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All right. I am not backing down from talking about this corrupt and dangerous administration.But, I am taking a brief timeout.  I had a kind of crappy day yesterday, and I just don't have it in me today to be freshly outraged. To all who resist, keep fighting, and I will rejoin you very soon.  I just need a respite into music for a bit to recharge my batteries.
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Last night, "Earie" Award Winner Taylor Alexander's blind audition for The Voice was aired.  He absolutely blew it out of the water with a surprise country cover of Cher's "Believe" that captured everyone's attention.  He is going to be on Adam's team this season.  Here is the video which has been viewed over 200,000 times.  Super proud of Taylor!

On Tuesdays, we spin music from our "New Music" playlist that consists of music generally released in the past year up to and including tracks from not-yet-released albums.   Let's see what the shuffle has in store for us today....