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Stupid winter bugs.... well, I was out sick Friday - so no shuffle. But, today's shuffle includes music I would have featured on that day - plus a few more. I'm actually going to be away for the rest of the week. Ear to the Ground will return Monday December 30 to present the 3rd Annual Band of the Year award (for the first time not based upon a poll).
Let's get to the music...
Showing posts with label The Gabriel Construct. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Gabriel Construct. Show all posts
Monday, December 23, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
Monday Morning Music Shuffle - A Few of My Favorite Things 2013 Mix - Pt. One
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It's here... time to begin our look back at the year which was 2013. In true E2TG style, for the remainder of 2013 we will shuffling up a special playlist which includes some of our favorite songs from the past year. I'll let the song speak for themselves, but we will be highlighting some of our favorite E2TG related albums of the year as we move along.
About Band of the Year. After two successful Band of the Year polls (by page view numbers, Band of the Year and Band of the Month polls dominate our statistics page for most viewed), so it is only after careful consideration that I've decided to forgo the Band of the Year poll for 2013. Basically, it comes down to the fact that I would rather see independent bands cooperating and collaborating than competing. We had some memorably good fun with some of our polls - especially the first annual Band of the Year poll and the legendary February 2012 Band of the Month poll that came down to a dogfight between MAKAR and The End Men. As time went by, and I began featuring more and more bands, the idea no longer seemed to be in the spirit of this site.
I will be naming the third annual Band of the Year within the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, enjoy yourself as we relive this year that almost was. If you feel so inclined, share some of these posts with your friends near and far.
Before we jump into the first of our Favorites' shuffles for 2013, I need to rectify something....
#E2TG Hall of Fame (Notable Omissions):
More names will be added to the Hall of Fame in early 2014 - and my progress on the completion of the Hall of Fame page has hit some unexpected delays, but I've became increasingly uncomfortable knowing that two of my favorite E2TG artists have not been added to the Hall as of yet.
1. Ubiquity Machine/Howard Rabach - In using the tagging feature to determine our Hall of Fame, one thing I failed to take into account were the many fine bands/artists you came to prominence in the months when E2TG was still housed on the now defunct Posterous site. Howard Rabach was one of the first readers of the blog to step out of the shadows. His band, Ubiquity Machine, was one of our early Bands of the Week. The band finished second in our first annual Band of the Year poll, and he has remained a good friend of Ear to the Ground ever since. UM has been kind of dormant of late, as Howard has been doing some freelance stuff. Check out his Facebook page here. So it is with great pleasure, that I usher in UM/HR to a spot of honor in our Hall of Fame.
2. The Grimm Generation - Another thing I failed to take into account in my tagging system of Hall of Fame eligibility is the variant tagging which sometimes occurs. Blogger places a 200 character limit on tagging so sometimes I have to shorten band names - like leaving the "The" off. That is the only explanation I have for The Grimm Generation not being in our top 20 tagged artists. Still this unique and frankly awesome collective from Connecticut (headed up by the amazing Jason Krug and Carmen Champagne), are well deserving of a prime spot in our Hall of Fame. Hell their latest album, The Big Fame even has "fame" in the title. They have consistently made music which I love and which seems timeless in its wonderfulness.
Now... let the 2013 Shuffles begin
It's here... time to begin our look back at the year which was 2013. In true E2TG style, for the remainder of 2013 we will shuffling up a special playlist which includes some of our favorite songs from the past year. I'll let the song speak for themselves, but we will be highlighting some of our favorite E2TG related albums of the year as we move along.
About Band of the Year. After two successful Band of the Year polls (by page view numbers, Band of the Year and Band of the Month polls dominate our statistics page for most viewed), so it is only after careful consideration that I've decided to forgo the Band of the Year poll for 2013. Basically, it comes down to the fact that I would rather see independent bands cooperating and collaborating than competing. We had some memorably good fun with some of our polls - especially the first annual Band of the Year poll and the legendary February 2012 Band of the Month poll that came down to a dogfight between MAKAR and The End Men. As time went by, and I began featuring more and more bands, the idea no longer seemed to be in the spirit of this site.
I will be naming the third annual Band of the Year within the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile, enjoy yourself as we relive this year that almost was. If you feel so inclined, share some of these posts with your friends near and far.
Before we jump into the first of our Favorites' shuffles for 2013, I need to rectify something....
#E2TG Hall of Fame (Notable Omissions):
More names will be added to the Hall of Fame in early 2014 - and my progress on the completion of the Hall of Fame page has hit some unexpected delays, but I've became increasingly uncomfortable knowing that two of my favorite E2TG artists have not been added to the Hall as of yet.
1. Ubiquity Machine/Howard Rabach - In using the tagging feature to determine our Hall of Fame, one thing I failed to take into account were the many fine bands/artists you came to prominence in the months when E2TG was still housed on the now defunct Posterous site. Howard Rabach was one of the first readers of the blog to step out of the shadows. His band, Ubiquity Machine, was one of our early Bands of the Week. The band finished second in our first annual Band of the Year poll, and he has remained a good friend of Ear to the Ground ever since. UM has been kind of dormant of late, as Howard has been doing some freelance stuff. Check out his Facebook page here. So it is with great pleasure, that I usher in UM/HR to a spot of honor in our Hall of Fame.
2. The Grimm Generation - Another thing I failed to take into account in my tagging system of Hall of Fame eligibility is the variant tagging which sometimes occurs. Blogger places a 200 character limit on tagging so sometimes I have to shorten band names - like leaving the "The" off. That is the only explanation I have for The Grimm Generation not being in our top 20 tagged artists. Still this unique and frankly awesome collective from Connecticut (headed up by the amazing Jason Krug and Carmen Champagne), are well deserving of a prime spot in our Hall of Fame. Hell their latest album, The Big Fame even has "fame" in the title. They have consistently made music which I love and which seems timeless in its wonderfulness.
Now... let the 2013 Shuffles begin
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Maybe Partying Will Help Mix
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Cold wet weather has descended on Nashville (after a near record high yesterday). A good day to stay inside and listen to a long set of music.
Jump to it....
Cold wet weather has descended on Nashville (after a near record high yesterday). A good day to stay inside and listen to a long set of music.
Jump to it....
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Foggy Notion Mix
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For me, the thing about Lou Reed's music that is most significant is not that it made me fall in love with Lou Reed's music, it is that it opened up my mind to the possibilities of what music could be. It started this life-long quest for what is next and what else is there. Certainly, I did fall in love with Lou Reed's music both in and out of the Velvet Underground, but I didn't stay there. I don't know how many posts I say in the hours after the news of his death broke about Lou Reed being the doorkeeper or gatekeeper. It was also so gratifying to see a very diverse list of people who acknowledged the influence that Lou Reed had on their music.
See, I don't write Ear to the Ground to make money - I would have quit long ago if that were the case, and I don't write to make friends with so many cool artists - although that it is a pretty nifty side-effect. I write Ear to the Ground (and I keep writing on those days when I am not sure anyone is reading) because music moves me. Lou Reed's music moves me and the band who you've never heard about - there music moves me. And the music that is being made somewhere in the world that I haven't heard yet - that moves me. See, I'm passionate about music. I write Ear to the Ground because even if I stopped writing this blog, I would still be thinking about music and wondering what was next and what else was out there waiting for me to hear.
Let's Shuffle
For me, the thing about Lou Reed's music that is most significant is not that it made me fall in love with Lou Reed's music, it is that it opened up my mind to the possibilities of what music could be. It started this life-long quest for what is next and what else is there. Certainly, I did fall in love with Lou Reed's music both in and out of the Velvet Underground, but I didn't stay there. I don't know how many posts I say in the hours after the news of his death broke about Lou Reed being the doorkeeper or gatekeeper. It was also so gratifying to see a very diverse list of people who acknowledged the influence that Lou Reed had on their music.
See, I don't write Ear to the Ground to make money - I would have quit long ago if that were the case, and I don't write to make friends with so many cool artists - although that it is a pretty nifty side-effect. I write Ear to the Ground (and I keep writing on those days when I am not sure anyone is reading) because music moves me. Lou Reed's music moves me and the band who you've never heard about - there music moves me. And the music that is being made somewhere in the world that I haven't heard yet - that moves me. See, I'm passionate about music. I write Ear to the Ground because even if I stopped writing this blog, I would still be thinking about music and wondering what was next and what else was out there waiting for me to hear.
Let's Shuffle
Monday, October 21, 2013
Monday Morning Music Shuffle - 99 Mix
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Earlier this year, E2TG featured several songs by Christian Robins from his debut mixtape called KidGrownUp. At the time, he didn't have any videos for us to feature. However, he just dropped the Official Video for his song "Suburban Trap Rap". So we thought we would post it now.
Now, let's get into today's shuffle ---- you know the drill - JUMP
Earlier this year, E2TG featured several songs by Christian Robins from his debut mixtape called KidGrownUp. At the time, he didn't have any videos for us to feature. However, he just dropped the Official Video for his song "Suburban Trap Rap". So we thought we would post it now.
Now, let's get into today's shuffle ---- you know the drill - JUMP
Friday, September 27, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Say Hello to Never Mix
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Rejoice! Yes, it's back to work after a long weekend. Work. A four letter word if I ever heard one, but there is cause for celebration. Our friends, Matthew and Livia, aka The End Men, have unveiled a brand new song accompanied by a stunning music video. The song is called "Work". You can grab the single of "Work" featuring an unreleased b-side called "Ratking" along with a download of the Video -right now at the band's Bandcamp page:
Rejoice! Yes, it's back to work after a long weekend. Work. A four letter word if I ever heard one, but there is cause for celebration. Our friends, Matthew and Livia, aka The End Men, have unveiled a brand new song accompanied by a stunning music video. The song is called "Work". You can grab the single of "Work" featuring an unreleased b-side called "Ratking" along with a download of the Video -right now at the band's Bandcamp page:
Let's get to today's Shuffle now! (Jump)
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Bleu Blue Blues Mix
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I'm gonna make this fast. Very good mix today. Check out the Playlist below (most of the actual songs with a few substitutes). Pre-Shuffle and Shuffle up after the JUMP
I'm gonna make this fast. Very good mix today. Check out the Playlist below (most of the actual songs with a few substitutes). Pre-Shuffle and Shuffle up after the JUMP
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Treat Me Like a Bum, Don't Wear No Tie Mix
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Tomorrow is the Fourth of July here in the USA. For the rest of you, well it's the Fourth of July, too unless you are across the International Date Line in which case tomorrow is the Fifth of July. In any event have a great Fourth (or Fifth) of July.
Today's music next
"Doctor Visit" photo collage by JWM 6/27/13
Tomorrow is the Fourth of July here in the USA. For the rest of you, well it's the Fourth of July, too unless you are across the International Date Line in which case tomorrow is the Fifth of July. In any event have a great Fourth (or Fifth) of July.
Today's music next
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - An Unmade Bed Mix
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Let's get right into the music...
Pre-Shuffle... I hit shuffle, and the first track up was "Lanquishing in Lower Chakras" by The Gabriel Construct from Interior City. This track begins with some minimalist piano. The track is eleven minutes long and features some spoken dialogue. It was truly a great way to start the morning.
In an odd sort of way, the second song of the mix, "Colonizer" by Canopy Climbers from Miles, fit well coming on the heels of The Gabriel Construct. I think it was the piano sound. Even though the use of the instrument could hardly be any more different, it still served as an effective bridge between the two songs.
Next up "Cup o' Tea" by Austin band, Little Radar. Their new album is not due out until next month, but they currently have a sampler up on Noisetrade.
Lambchop is a band from Nashville. They are awesome. "Chelsea Hotel" is a classic song by Leonard Cohen. It is awesome. Lambchop covers "Chelsea Hotel" and faces will be melted and brains will explode. Shari Lewis was not involved, but she did have a puppet named Lambchop.
Among the several albums we are anxiously awaiting, one that has us especially excited is the new record from Great American Novel. To help us all wait, the band recently made their last album Kissing available as a Free (Name Your Price) download via bandcamp. "I Want You" hits all the right notes. They also have two tracks from the new album available. Hit them up.
Another day, another Ramones song. This time we have "Outsider" from Subterranean Jungle.
We close the pre-shuffle with some "old school" Cee-Lo Green. "Evening News" is on his second solo album Cee-Lo Green...Is the Soul Machine.
SHUFFLE UP NEXT
Man, it felt awesome this morning - July 2, and there was an ever so slight chill in the air.
Let's get right into the music...
Pre-Shuffle... I hit shuffle, and the first track up was "Lanquishing in Lower Chakras" by The Gabriel Construct from Interior City. This track begins with some minimalist piano. The track is eleven minutes long and features some spoken dialogue. It was truly a great way to start the morning.
In an odd sort of way, the second song of the mix, "Colonizer" by Canopy Climbers from Miles, fit well coming on the heels of The Gabriel Construct. I think it was the piano sound. Even though the use of the instrument could hardly be any more different, it still served as an effective bridge between the two songs.
Next up "Cup o' Tea" by Austin band, Little Radar. Their new album is not due out until next month, but they currently have a sampler up on Noisetrade.
Lambchop is a band from Nashville. They are awesome. "Chelsea Hotel" is a classic song by Leonard Cohen. It is awesome. Lambchop covers "Chelsea Hotel" and faces will be melted and brains will explode. Shari Lewis was not involved, but she did have a puppet named Lambchop.
Among the several albums we are anxiously awaiting, one that has us especially excited is the new record from Great American Novel. To help us all wait, the band recently made their last album Kissing available as a Free (Name Your Price) download via bandcamp. "I Want You" hits all the right notes. They also have two tracks from the new album available. Hit them up.
Another day, another Ramones song. This time we have "Outsider" from Subterranean Jungle.
We close the pre-shuffle with some "old school" Cee-Lo Green. "Evening News" is on his second solo album Cee-Lo Green...Is the Soul Machine.
SHUFFLE UP NEXT
Monday, July 1, 2013
Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Brain is Hanging Upside Down Mix
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Another month here at Ear to the Ground, and suddenly, we find 2013 is half over... oh, how can it be?
Oh, it be....
We start 2013 Act II with yet another scintillating mix of music. Sometimes, especially when time prevents me from adding very much in the way of commentary, exactly what my role is. But, in an attempt to up my pretentiousness factor, I have decided to call what I do Curating. So, for you listening pleasure, here is the latest E2TG mix curated by yours truly...
PRE-SHUFFLE: (Not in order)
We feature two songs from the new album by the awesome band, Beijing. The album Night is rapidly turning into one of our favorites of a year jam-packed with great music. Today, we heard: "Violent" and "The Sun Will Set." This band (from Connecticut not China) packs a powerful and melodious punch.
The pre-shuffle also includes two songs from Arkansas/Tennessee band Canopy Climbers. "Garden" is a bonus track from their recent Noisetrade sampler, and Always" is the opening track on their brand new album Miles.
Let's continue the twofers with a pair of songs from New York punk legends, The Ramones. "We're a Happy Family" is from their third studio album, Rocket to Russia (1977); and "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg" sometimes subtitled "My Brain is Hanging Upside Down" was released first as a single in 1985 and then subsequently included on the band's ninth studio album, Animal Boy (1986).
Next up, we have the late, great Bobby Bland with "Second Hand Heart". Bland, who died on June 23 at the age of 83, left behind a legacy of great music. This song is on his 1986 album, After All.
"Mourning Train from Memphis" by Christopher Paul Stelling from Songs of Praise and Scorn (2012) A favorite of mine. Beautiful, and as I've said over and over again, I am a sucker for a train song.
"Beach Day" by Beach Day - just discovered this great band from Hollywood, Florida. Great mix of surf rock, girl group and punk. From their brand new TripTrap Attack album.
And finally, we just grabbed a live recording of Radiohead from June 1995 which just released on Noisetrade (in conjunction with Paste magazine). Coincidentally, I actually saw Radiohead live a couple of months after the show recorded here (opening for R.E.M. in Nashville), and between the time this recording was made and the show I saw, my amazing daughters were born. We have "The Bends" - the title track from what was then the latest Radiohead album (released March 1995).
We have an amazing shuffle after the jump...
Another month here at Ear to the Ground, and suddenly, we find 2013 is half over... oh, how can it be?
Oh, it be....
We start 2013 Act II with yet another scintillating mix of music. Sometimes, especially when time prevents me from adding very much in the way of commentary, exactly what my role is. But, in an attempt to up my pretentiousness factor, I have decided to call what I do Curating. So, for you listening pleasure, here is the latest E2TG mix curated by yours truly...
PRE-SHUFFLE: (Not in order)
We feature two songs from the new album by the awesome band, Beijing. The album Night is rapidly turning into one of our favorites of a year jam-packed with great music. Today, we heard: "Violent" and "The Sun Will Set." This band (from Connecticut not China) packs a powerful and melodious punch.
The pre-shuffle also includes two songs from Arkansas/Tennessee band Canopy Climbers. "Garden" is a bonus track from their recent Noisetrade sampler, and Always" is the opening track on their brand new album Miles.
Let's continue the twofers with a pair of songs from New York punk legends, The Ramones. "We're a Happy Family" is from their third studio album, Rocket to Russia (1977); and "Bonzo Goes to Bitburg" sometimes subtitled "My Brain is Hanging Upside Down" was released first as a single in 1985 and then subsequently included on the band's ninth studio album, Animal Boy (1986).
Next up, we have the late, great Bobby Bland with "Second Hand Heart". Bland, who died on June 23 at the age of 83, left behind a legacy of great music. This song is on his 1986 album, After All.
"Mourning Train from Memphis" by Christopher Paul Stelling from Songs of Praise and Scorn (2012) A favorite of mine. Beautiful, and as I've said over and over again, I am a sucker for a train song.
"Beach Day" by Beach Day - just discovered this great band from Hollywood, Florida. Great mix of surf rock, girl group and punk. From their brand new TripTrap Attack album.
And finally, we just grabbed a live recording of Radiohead from June 1995 which just released on Noisetrade (in conjunction with Paste magazine). Coincidentally, I actually saw Radiohead live a couple of months after the show recorded here (opening for R.E.M. in Nashville), and between the time this recording was made and the show I saw, my amazing daughters were born. We have "The Bends" - the title track from what was then the latest Radiohead album (released March 1995).
We have an amazing shuffle after the jump...
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Power of Equality Mix
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Pre-Shuffle:
We started with an early morning wake up call from our new friend The Gabriel Construct. Yesterday, we featured the first track on his brand new Interior City album. Today, we heard "Curing Somatization" the last track on the album. A blistering, challenging 10 plus minute powerhouse filled with some glorious and amazing noise.
Next, "I Wanna Live" by the Ramones
"Leave it All Behind" by Nikki Sue and the Bad News
"Don't Wanna Die Anymore" by Ivan and Alyosha
"Are You Hung Up?" by Wheelchair Sports Camp
and "Little Mascara" by The Replacements
SHUFFLE NEXT:
=
Time is short, and we have some nifty tunes to bring you...Pre-Shuffle:
We started with an early morning wake up call from our new friend The Gabriel Construct. Yesterday, we featured the first track on his brand new Interior City album. Today, we heard "Curing Somatization" the last track on the album. A blistering, challenging 10 plus minute powerhouse filled with some glorious and amazing noise.
Next, "I Wanna Live" by the Ramones
"Leave it All Behind" by Nikki Sue and the Bad News
"Don't Wanna Die Anymore" by Ivan and Alyosha
"Are You Hung Up?" by Wheelchair Sports Camp
and "Little Mascara" by The Replacements
SHUFFLE NEXT:
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Take It Mix
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I am very excited and pleased with today's mix of music. I know, I know, I'm always pleased with the mix of music, but today especially we have a great mix of new and old music that darts across the vast field of genre and styles.
PRE-SHUFFLE:
SHUFFLE NEXT
PRE-SHUFFLE:
We begin with another direct from my e-mail inbox to my ear-hole. Liquid Casing is a four-piece progressive/rock band from Houston, Texas. Their brand new album A Separat|Divide is out today and takes on the subject of borders and illegal immigration. Today, we got our first listen via an instrumental track called "Non-Linear Solution", and I have to say I was very impressed. Combining elements of hard progressive rock and at times dissonant. I hope you will check this band out, and I know I can't wait to hear more.
Next up some awesome Americana from William Pilgrim and The All Grows Up with "About a Girl" which is on their debut EP The Great Recession which was released last September.
How about some music from the legendary jazz artist Charles Mingus. This live recording of "Mingus Blues" comes from an album called Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert which was released on Columbia in 1972.
Periodically, I check out Noisetrade and read descriptions of some of the selections to see what catches my fancy. When I read the description of The Weight of Glory by Heath McNease which stated that it was a hip hop remix of the works of C.S. Lewis, I was skeptical but intrigued. They had one track available to preview and I listened and was pleasantly surprised enough to download. Today, the track "Surprised by Joy" came up, and I have to say I really dig it.
We next have another great track from the new album, Miles, by Canopy Climbers. This one is called "Melody".
How about the new one from The Civil Wars. "The One That Got Away" is our first taste of the band's follow-up to the break-through Barton Hollow. My first impression is that it is a strong song that moves things forward nicely.
We close out the Pre-Shuffle with another track from Christopher Paul Stelling's Songs of Praise and Scorn. "Solar Flares" is flat out an amazing song.
SHUFFLE NEXT
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