Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - Best Get Over It Mix

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Thinking about the human beings who are or who possibly will be affected by Hurricane Irma and those still reeling from Harvey.  Thinking of those whose lives are in turmoil because of political gamesmanship and inhuman policies. Thinking of those suffering loss of any kind. Thinking how my problems can seem insurmountable until I can step back and keep things in perspective.

Thinking and figuring out actions to take to go with those thoughts.

It's Thursday and today's shuffle literally covers the entire history of E2TG from Artists I wrote about in the  earliest days of the blog in 2011 to those I just learned about recently.  Enjoy!

Topical Thursday Morning Shuffle - Tell Me Lies Mix

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So.... the chief lawyer for the country is not only a racist, ableist, transphobe, and homophobe, but he is also apparently a liar/perjurer and possibly a traitor.  Nope, nothing to see here...

and then there is this... (with a straight face)

1. The failure of the Yemen raid is Obama's fault.
2. The failure of the Yemen raid is the military's fault.
3  The success of the Yemen raid is Trump's accomplishment.

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I had a rare opportunity to see six different Earie award winners perform last night - beginning at The 5 Spot with D.L. Duncan - beginning his month-long residency.  He was joined by the incredible blues keyboard player, Al Hill.

Next, I headed to The Country for the inaugural Writer Crush Wednesday which featured rounds from Tom Schreck and Connor Rand, Andrew Adkins and Joe Nolan, and Lindsay Ellyn (who created the event) and Taylor Alexander.  Really fun night.

Tonight, I am hyped to see John Doe at The Basement with Jon Latham opening.


I am changing my title of Thursday's posts to Topical Thursday.  Just because.  My topic (or theme if you will) continues into this new month, and I added a bunch of songs to the mix.

Disclaimers:  The topic is not revealed. The connection of the songs is tenuous and times and not explained.  It may not be the actual content of the song that fits it into the theme - it may just be a possible interpretation of the title.  And as always, the views expressed or implied do not necessarily reflect those of any of the artists.

Let's Go!

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Plough Deep Mix

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 I can't think of a better way to start my day than listening to "Shine" by Great Divide - what a joyful song. Oh wait, I know.. how about starting the day with two Great Divide songs in a row. "Fast Train" is awesome because I am a total sucker for "train" songs.

The Joy of Painting, in addition to being a classic PBS series hosted by the late Bob Ross, is a Nashville band who we've been digging on for a year or so. They have a brand new album called Tender Age, and today we have the catchy and generally just awesome "Back to Romance".

Back in the day, I completely fell head over heels for "Walk in the Woods" and subsequently all of Peter Case's self-titled solo debut. There was something clear and authentic and true about that album.  When the follow up to that album was released, needless to say I had some pretty high expectation which Mr. Case met and exceeded many times over.  The Man with Blue Post Modern Fragmented Neo-Tradionalist Guitar contains so many enduring songs (Traveling Light, Entella Hotel, Two Angels and This Town's a Riot to name just a few). "Poor Old Tom" is for me a stand out on an album of stand outs. A heart-breaking song, it is loaded with some amazing lines. "He fought for freedom, never took a free breath". "The night wind's free to blow wherever it pleases, Tom's free to walk until the cold daybreak."  "The worse disease in the world is to be unwanted, to be used up and cast away".  In just under four minutes, the listener is drawn into this broken, tragic life... it's nothing short of brilliant.  The other night, I decided to add some older songs into the current mix - just to shake things up a bit. I don't know how many times I've listened to this song in the 24 years since it's release, but I never grow tired of it.

Moving on... Ghost and Goblin are a New York band who first came to our attention in a shout of from The End Men.  They released an album called SUPERHORRORCASTLELAND back in April or so, and we've featured several songs from that record.  "Look at the Clouds" is perhaps one of my favorites. A uncharacteristically breezy melody kicks into a more characteristic menacing hook. The album is out there on Bandcamp - check it out.

The Michigan band Decades are three kids who grew up on punk, ska and metal and then discovered the smooth pop songwriting of the 70s and 80s and the alternative radio rock of the 90s.  The result is something surprising.  Their music rocks and the punk/ska spirit still sits at the bottom of what they do, but layered on top is a focus on great pop songwriting and a genuine love of the music. "Popping Veins" from their album Deep Deep Pink Sessions is a good place to start.

Earlier this week, June 10 to be precise, was the 103 anniversary of the birth of Chester Arthur Burnett. You may know Mr. Burnett better as Howlin' Wolf and stone-cold authentic Mississippi Blues Man. "Smokestack Lightning" is one of his earlier songs and draws upon several earlier blues songs. 

We've been covering a lot of music by the Vegas band Coastwest Unrest. Today we have the song "Empty Handed Painter" from the most recent release High Times on Lowly Streets which came out back in April. I sure hope you've checked out this band by now. If not, do it!

SHUFFLE BEGINS NOW... JUMP!

Monday Morning Music Shuffle - Any Other Day Mix

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It's Monday - everything is going according to some plan - just not mine...

Let's get to the music....

PRE-SHUFFLE:

"This Song is Called Ragged" by Jonathan Boulet

"A Search for a Heart" by Kyle Andrews

"Charades" by The Joy of Painting

"Stick Around" by David Ramirez

"Leave the City" by Magnolia Electric Co.

"On my Mind In my Heart" by Jesse Dee


Shuffle after Jump

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Slow Day, Fast Time Mix

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So maybe 20 songs in one post was a little excessive.... so I'll keep it down to 15 today.

Pre-shuffle:  

"Shit That Matters" by JENNY (the band has a new album called Love and Politics out now)
"Sleeping Through Heaven" by Game Theory (for those keeping track this make 8 Game Theory songs in two days)
"Rest Your Weary Mind" by Elizabeth Cook with Bobby Bare Jr. (Two of Nashville's coolest poeple)
"I Still Want a Little More" by Milk Carton Kids (I'm digging on this band lately) 
"You Always Make Me Smile" Kyle Andrews  (Nashville Singer-songwriter, electronic musician)
"Linus and Lucy" by Game Theory (9 in two days - yes it's the Vince Guaraldi song)
"No Reason" by Jeanette Lynne  (A CXCW alum - When Popatunes  says "Jump", I say, 'yeah, right!'. When Popatunes says "check out this music" - I say - 'hell, yeah!') 
"Sad Baby Wolf" by Sad Baby Wolf (I love this band and this song is one of my favorites)
"New Jerusalem" by Neighbour (Neighbour is Kacie Williams - Nashville again!)

 SHUFFLE UP AFTER THE JUMP

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - The Icestorm Cometh (or Not) Mix

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Here we go... I'll plug the Sandy Hook single again.  Really, check this out and buy it.  $1.29 - just don't super-size your fast food meal for one day. ;-)  

 

Our shuffle is all over this this a.m. - check it out - after the... wait for it... jump:

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Carburetor Mix

Why Carburetor? Why not?

So, the Black Keys played a secret show in Nashville and from I can tell people were racing around all over  town to try see them. With my luck, I probably would have ended up at an Are You Randy show.*  

*Obligatory Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist reference.

To the shuffle:

First up - It's Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers doing Black Bottom Stomp  - from 1926.

 

Next, we have Nashville's own Darrell Scott from his 2008 release Modern Hymns with a Paul Simon cover: American Tune .

 

We seem to be all about The Joy of Painting this week, as we dig deeper into their Asterisk album with the song, My Personality

 

Finally, we have our second cover to the morning, this time it's Delta Spirit covering Tom Wait's for a Daytrotter Session. Come on Up to the House is from Wait's 1999 album Mule Variations.

 Delta Spirit's Cover

 The Wait's original

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Affiliated Links

The Best of Jelly Roll Morton: Piano Solo 20 pieces from this popular jazz composer, including titles featured in the Tony Award-winning musical Jelly's Last Jam. Includes: Billy Goat Stomp * Jelly Roll Blues * London Blues * Queen of Spades * Shreveport Stomp * and more.

Tom Waits on Tom Waits: Interviews and Encounters This autobiographical portrait of Tom Waits takes shape through a selection of more than 50 interviews. Starting with the first interview--on KPFK-FM's "Folkscene" in 1973--Waits speaks out on a variety of topics and shares something truly unique with his readers. In a rap that is a synthesis of inflections--Louis Armstrong, Charles Bukowski, Jack Kerouac, Mark Twain, hobo, pool hall attendant, vaudevillian huckster, musicologist par excellence, and a fresh slathering of the organic word-ooze of William S. Burroughs--Waits comes across as well read, informed, and lucidly aware of current pop culture. He delivers prose as crafted, poetic, potent, brilliant, and haunting as the lyrics of his best songs.

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Ragin' Full On Mix

I love warm summer nights... especially being outside and hearing the sounds of the world around me - natural and man-made. Crickets and train whistles and cars on the highway just on the other side of the hill and music coming from somewhere and the laughter of children and unidentified sounds that provide a thrill of fear or of wonder. 


Have you ever stood alone the in the dark Under the Willow and just let your mind run wild with possibilities? 


Shayfer James from Counterfeit Arcade (One of our featured Artists for June).

 

"It leaps beyond its legs

It reeks of lemon pledge

in a cold fire

it’s a cold fire mother

the muppet and the midge

the leaks beneath the fridge

in a cold fire

it’s a cold fire and one

digs on the morning bloodlight

dig on the after after

even the shyest mouse with his head stove in"

The Hunting Accident from Trees and Parks 10" 

 

 

" I love the instrumental track  

there’s no words that I gotta sing back
no “peace on earth,” no hippy shit
it’s best if you just got over it
I keep pressing repeat
cuz the instrumental track
can’t be beat" 

The Joy of Painting from Asterisk

 

Born in the USA was released when I was eighteen years old - around the time I graduated from high school.  Some of the themes of the album were beyond my experience, but I got I'm On Fire. Springsteen in his words and his vocals and the understated music captured effectively the unrequited desire that dominated that portion of my life. The L.A. band Brown Shoe recently recorded a cover of the song for Daytrotter. We told you about it here.

The Gift Horse from Brown Shoe

 

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                Affiliated Links:

Exclusive - Darkness on the Edge of Town Photo Artwork Shot Glass This Bruce Springsteen shot glass features a classic rendition of the Darkness on the Edge of Town album photo artwork.

Band of the Month Poll Reminder + a couple of videos by 2 of our June Featured Artists

REMINDER:  On the left side of the screen is a Poll to vote for our Band of the Month for May.  Voting ends tomorrow evening.  To help you decide enjoy the following:

Joy of Painting - No Bones (Slap Montage)

Sci-Fi Romance covering House of the Rising Sun

And here is South of Ramona's cover of the same song.

We continue our month long look at some great bands (See the Featured Artists of the Month on the right sidebar):

The Riverbreaks

Dogs of Oz

Featured Artist for June - Page Finished + other stuff

At long last, I have completed (sort of) the Page for the Featured Artists for June 2012.  The page is linked on the sidebar to the right or you can just click on the underlined "page" link earlier in this sentence.


Here's a video from one of our featured artists:  Dean Fields

Here's another: Shayfer James covering Leonard Cohen

In other news, the May Band of the Month poll is still going on.  South of Ramona have a big lead, but it's still anyone's game. The Joy of Painting and Sci-Fi Romance could easily mount a 11th hour charge.  Stay tuned, and more importantly, if you haven't done so, please vote now.  The poll is located on the left sidebar.  If you need a refresher course on who these bands are - here's the link to the the poll announcement --- (link)


Our friend's The End Men have completed their late Spring European tour, and they'd love to tell you all about it.  Hit them up on Facebook or on their website.  They are also about to head into the studio to record the follow-up to their amazing EP Build it Up.  Personally, I cannot wait.  If you are anywhere near the NYC area, or if you will be on June the 16th, The End Men will be playing the annual Northside Showcase at the Trash Bar hosted by their friends and ours, The Gypsy West.  Here are the details.

Here are The End Men performing live from this past March:

Finally, a really cool band that I am just now (and belatedly) getting into, Cupla, are taking a stand against Bullying with a new song and video called My Stand.


Here is a presser about the project:

Media Contact: Janet HansenEmail: conbriopr@gmail.comMake a Statement, Take Your Stand With Cupla to Stop Bullies(Nashville, TN – May 30) Bullying is a deadly global issue. It’s a social illness that can be cured and the British Columbia rock band, Cupla, is taking a stand to make it stop. The band is going into the studio the first week of June to work with Grammy-winning producer, Eric Tingstad, to cut their single, “My Stand.” To accompany the single, Cupla is creating a video with messages from people around the world to end the pain of senseless social behavior that has reached epic proportion. Cupla is asking people of all ages everywhere to send in still photos holding a written message to be used in a promotional video supporting, “My Stand.” Let your voice be heard and send photos in jpg format to billy@cupla.ca or bobby@cupla.ca by June 30, 2012. “My Stand” is slated for release this summer, along with the supporting video which will be sent to media outlets worldwide. When people take a stand for love we can put an end to senseless behavior that has devastating consequences, and often deadly outcomes. Add your voice, make a statement and help stop bullies once and for all.

That is all.  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and I will see you tomorrow with my Morning Shuffle.

Time to Vote - Band of the Month May 2012

Time to get your vote on... man that sounds soooo wrong coming from me.  Okay, time to vote for Ear to the Ground's Band of the Month for May 2012.  As stated before this will not the last Band of the Month poll, but it will be the last featuring Bands of the Week.  Tune in tomorrow to see what we have in store for June and forward.  In the meantime, here's a recap of the three bands up for the honor.

As usual, the poll is located on the left side bar.  You can vote once per computer.  Voting will end at 8:00p.m. (Central Time - I think) on Tuesday June 5th.  Good luck to all the bands. 


WEEK 1:  The Joy of Painting (Nashville, TN) - Website, BOTW Feature

WEEK 2:  Sci-Fi Romance (Los Angeles, CA) - Website, BOTW Feature

WEEK 3: South of Ramona (Salt Lake City, UT) - Website, BOTW Feature

Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - Too Shy to Two Shy Mix

Good morning, we are back after a three day holiday weekend. We've reloaded the May playlist with about 30 songs, and we have four songs today.

Before we get to the shuffle - some reminders, we announced last week that with our Band of the Week post about South of Ramona, we are discontinuing the Band of the Week feature which has been a staple on this site almost since we began.  Stay tuned because on Friday, we will unveil what comes next - hint: I think it will be a good thing both for the blog and for the bands we spotlight. 

To the shuffle:

  First up we dig deeper into the Resurrection record by our good friends The Dead Exs. Come Down Easy is another rough and ready bluesy rock number by this outstanding band.

  

 Here's The Dead Exs doing All Over You & Nolita Stomp

Next, we go deeper into the Asterisk EP by recent Band of the Week, The Joy of Painting with a track called The Bird.

  

 Here's The Joy of Painting doing The Bird live:

Next we have Rhode Island band, Brown Bird with a track off of 2011s The Sound of Ghosts called Ragged Old Town.

 

 Here is a performance of Ragged Old Town from the classroom

And, we close things out with a track off of Sondre Lerche's 2002 album Faces Down. The song is called, You Know So Well. It is early 21st Century European Alt-Rock at it's finest.

  

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Affiliated Links:

Sondre Lerche - Sondre Lerche - MP3 Download This Sondre Lerche download is available in DRM-free, MP3 192kbps format. Sondre Lerche MP3's will play on iPod? and all MP3 players. Individual tracks and samples of the songs from this album are available by clicking on the product image on the left. Need help? Click here and search for "downloads" to learn more.

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Time has Come Mix

 

 

Time is way short:

1. Stirring Salt Lake City, Utah based folk-rock - South of Ramona off their Demo - Westward Souls

A video of South of Ramona covering House of the Rising Sun

 

2. More joy and punk-pop goodness from The Joy of Painting our Band of the Week!  No Bones is the second track off the new one Asterisk.

By request, here is the Slap Montage again set to No Bones

3.  Finally, we have a track from this weeks new release, which we reviewed:  Sci-Fi Romance from The Ghost of John Henry with John Henry Part I.  In addition to what I said before, singer Vance Kotrla has one of those chillingly resonant voices I could listen to forever - think Dave Alvin...

Here is Part I of a video blog covering the making of The Ghost of John Henry

Thursday Morning Music Shuffle - Voices Carry Mix

Pleasant

Whenever I walk

and take the time

I find the marvels of the world

are at my fingertips

within my sight 

over my shoulder

Circumstance and crises and a cacophony of clanging cymbals

can distract me from all of the wonders to behold

but whenever I walk

and take the time

I see it all

it's pleasant

JWM 5/10/2012

Off we go with this morning shuffle:

First up is a band we saw performing at Record Store Day at Grimey's here in Nashville.  They are from Portland, Oregon and have just wrapped a tour with Bear in Heaven. Blouse are up with the song Firestarter from the self-titled debut album - on the Captured Tracks label.

Here's a shot from the RSD performance

Here is Blouse at Amazon.com

 

Here is a performance of Firestarter from SXSW

Next is Band of the Week - The Joy of Painting from their recent 7 song release Asterisk with a song called Old Love.

Asterisk by The Joy of Painting - from Amazon.com

 

The Joy of Painting performing Old Love at the 5 Spot in East Nashville

And finally, we have a song from fun. off their 2009 album, Aim and Ignite with a song called Walking the Dog.

 Aim and Ignite is $5.99 at Amazon.com

 

 The Official Video for Walking the Dog by fun.

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Affiliated Links:

More of the Joy of Painting Following the success of his first book, "The Best of the Joy of Painting," Bob Ross gathered sixty more of his favorite paintings to create " More Joy of Painting." Now available in paperback, "More Joy of Painting" presents each painting in full color, followed by detailed instructions and a series of black-and-white photos to walk you, step-by-step, through the process of creating a Bob Ross original. So, whether you want a landscape of snowcapped mountains or a serene fall day, with "More Joy of Painting" you can create a beautiful work of art with the same ease and grace as Bob Ross.

fun. featuring Janelle Monae - We Are Young - MP3 Download This fun. download is available in DRM-free, MP3 256kbps format. fun. MP3's will play on iPod(r) and all MP3 players. Individual tracks and samples of the songs from this album are available by clicking on the product image on the left. Need help? Click here and search for "downloads" to learn more.

Band of the Week: Year 2, Month 6, Week 1 - The Joy of Painting

So, let's get this Band of the Week train back on the tracks.... shall we...


It's May 2012 and this is still the first week, and so we are on track so far for May.  We won't mention April which apparently only lasted two weeks.... but what a two weeks.  A Band of the Month post and poll is coming soon... a head to head match-up between Nikki Sue & the Bad News and The Disappointment.  Man that sounds way more depressing than it actually is... which is not at all depressing...


But we are in May and we have Joy!  The Joy of Painting to be exact.  And lo, and behold, we have a Nashville, Tennessee based band.  How odd for this music blog - also based in Nashville, Tennessee - to hit up a band close to our home.  Not unprecedented to be sure... but.... whatever...


The Joy of Painting is five guys - Garreth, Mark, Chris, Kyle and Dave.  The list their genre on Facebook as two-car garage pop.  I like that. More to the point, I like the music this band makes. See, even before Jack White and The Black Keys moved to town there have been a long line of great rock bands. I'm old, so I know it goes back to White Animals, Practical Stylists, The Movement, Raging Fire, Questionnaires, Shadow 15, The Sluggers and that it moved forward to bands like Screaming Cheetah Wheelies, Political Funk (from the 'boro), Self and on.  I'm not quite old enough to go back before that first group....


My point being, this current rock music scene - JEFF the Brotherhood, PUJOL, Diarrhea Planet and The Joy of Painting is not a new development, but it is an exciting new chapter in an on-going narrative.


Blah, Blah, Blah -- Joe, enough of your jibber-jabber.  Give us some music.  Okay - 

The Joy of Painting are on Facebook and Twitter so go like and follow and what-not.


So yeah - that is The Joy of Painting.  Now - Go get the band's latest release Asterisk *

(On Amazon)

or... give the album a listen and head to the band's Bandcamp page to purchase.