E2TG 5/11/2021 - Reflections - Bad Feeling Mix (Sunstroke Remix)

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The challenge in these times in particular is to balance being engaged and informed versus being overwhelmed by negativity. 

On the one hand, I recognize the inherent privilege in being about to disconnect from some of the injustices of our times. On the other hand, navigating the maze of things that seemingly attacke ones mental health is exhausting.  

We all see people who are completely disengaged or who seem to be on high alert and in high actions 24/7 365, and I think there has to be a middle ground. It is also funny how, on paper, the middle ground can seem such a wide path, but in reality one is constantly in danger of falling over the edge. 

This is not post with answers - only questions.  One can read the news without visiting the comment section. That seems to make good sense. But, is ignoring the comments section equivalent to burying ones head in the sand when it comes to the great divide be the left and the right. But also, can't one recognize and know that the divide exists even without wallowing in the filth of that divide?

Can't one feel good about the news for one day, even while know that a large number of people feel bad about the same news. 

Anyway, those are my thoughts... 

Featured Friday Playlist recap Part 3 (songs 26-35):

26. "You Oughta Love Me" by Timothy and the Apocalypse

First up, we have the lead single from the forthcoming Future So Bright album by Australian musician, composer, songwriter, and producer Timothy Poulton - recording as Timothy and the Apocalypse.  For this track he is joined by Katie M. Little. 

27. "Playboy" by Anthony Vacanti

 Next up, we have a catchy new single from this actor, artist, singer, songwriter, and producer who is originally from Buffalo, New York and now based in New York City. Great tune.

28. "Criminal" by The Phantom Rockets

Next up, we have the debut single from Milan based duo   The Phantom Rockets. A great mix of rock, blues, and alternative music.  An impressive debut.

29. "Til the Sun Comes up" by McCormick

Next up, we have the new single from veteran UK singer-songwriter Steve McCormick who records as McCormick.  Check it out!

30. "Close My Eyes Forever" by Tequila Rock Revolution 

Next up, we have a cover of the Ozzy Osbourne, Lita Ford duet from Haydn Vitera, Cassandra Sotos, and Vitera's Tequila Rock Revolution which features a unique blend of metal and traditional mariachi instrumentation. Pretty awesome!

31. "CHAPSTICK" by NADUH

Next up, NADUH are based in Vancouver and their new single is a fantastic mix of r&b and hip hop that flips the scripts on the hip hop trope of stealing someone girl and not in the way you might expect. Check it out!

32. "COMA" by TheCityIsOurs

London based metalcore band TheCityIsOuts is up next with their latest single. A hard hitting band formed in 2015 and their new releases are the first with new vocalist Oli Duncanson. 

33. "Twenty" by Promise to Myself

The latest single from Phoenix, AZ based Promise to Myself brings attention to sudden cardiac arrest. The title refers to the 20 young people between 6 & 25 who die every day from cardiac ailments which often go diagnosed. 

34. "Chestnut" by Kiana Corley

Next up, we have a track from Take it or Leave It - the new EP from this exciting singer-songwriter from Pennsylvania.  Truly great music. 

35. "Bad Intentions" by Emma Garell

And, we close this segment of music with the new single from Richmond based Emma Garell whose music combines hard rock and pop in a most interesting way. A great ending to a rich and diverse segment of our playlist. 
 

    Featured Friday Playlist

E2TG 7/22/2020 - Blah Day - Easy Payment Mix (Can't Have Both Remix)

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Sorry for the late post, but I am a little under the weather today...

Today - Songs 22-27 of the Featured Friday Playlist: I never know how these Playlists are going to play out each week or how the different segments will come together.  As I previously alluded to, the order of the songs is not exactly random, but is rather arbitrary at times. As I am quickly putting the list together just before midnight on Thursday night, I slide the songs around until - purposefully moving some songs higher or lower in the order for  vague reasons,  but also somewhat casually letting other songs move up or down as it goes. Yesterday's list ended on a electronic and somewhat heavy note, the heaviness carries over and we have some good electronic music of various kinds. But also some more roots oriented music. Let's go!

22. "Eigenlicht" by Kalmhain

We start things off with the full-length debut from this experimental black metal band from Antwerp, Belgium. Mixing black metal, shoegaze, and post-metal sounds to make something dark, heavy, intense, and awesome. 

23. "Distance" by Stykfaktor

Our second St. Louis band - and our second darkwave pandemic inspired song. The band has been around since 2001, and I dig this track. 

24. "Treat You Better" by Laura Cortese & the Dance

We previously featured the pre-album single "Typhoon" by this band from Boston.  Now, the album, Bitter Better is out, and we have another track to feature.  I am really digging this band these days. 

25. "Driving my Mustang" by Ekat Bork

Next we have a new single from Swiss-based and Russian born electronic/alternative singer-songwriter Ekat Bork.  The artist has an album in the can to be called Ekat. Looking forward to hearing more. 

26. "Rock the Boat" by Jah Cure

Always room in the  playlist for a sweet reggae tune from Kingston, Jamaica.  

27. "TopBoy" by NineteenHateHate

We started this segment with some experimental black metal, and we close things out with a Seattle artist who combines black metal and trap metal into a exciting blend. Ending another segment on a heavy note.

Tomorrow, we round out the the playlist - who knows where the music will take us. 

    Featured Friday Playlist

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Reign of Thought Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

If you have read The Drift, please consider writing a review on Amazon. If you haven't read it, you can get your own copy through Amazon or if you are in Nashville, you can get them from me.

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed seven - January - July2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 
E2TG May 2018
E2TG June 2018
E2TG July 2018
E2TG August 2018 (coming soon!)
E2TG September 2018  (coming soon!)

SAVE THE DATE!!!!!  Thursday, November 15, 2018 - We have a pretty cool event in the works.  More to come! I can tell you this isn't really an E2TG event.  It is connected to my novel, The Drift, and we have some super cool guests lined up.  Announcement soon!


Tomorrow, I move - so no shuffle. Today, though, we dig back into the "New Music" playlist with a first listen and some cool music from the recent and relatively recent past.

Let's go.

Trending Tuesday Morning Shuffle - Elusive Waltz Mix

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All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed seven - January - July2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 
E2TG May 2018
E2TG June 2018
E2TG July 2018
E2TG August 2018 (coming soon!)
E2TG September 2018  (coming soon!)


Some thoughts:  At a certain point, you realize that things will not/cannot ever go back to the way things used to be. This is true in our individual lives and as a society. It is an existential truth, but often a slow, gradual realization.  There are many reasons that this is always, ultimately the truth. One being that often things never really were the "way they used to be".  Our perception of the past is clouded by nostalgia and selective memory and other filters that obscure. On a national or societal scale, what I am saying may be seen as a criticism of conservatism or an argument for progressive philosophies. And, I am fine with that, but my thoughts today are more on a personal nature. Remembering what ones childhood was like or even what the music scene in Nashville was like twenty, ten, five, or even two years ago.

Since this is a music blog, I will stick with the last example for now. Looking at Nashville's music scenes/communities, my perspective is unique. Nashville has seen incredible changes over even the last four years - since this current phase of my life began. What is difficult for me is determining where it is that the scene has changed (and I use scene in a neutral sense not - as some use it - in a derogatory sense) and how it is that I have changed or my perspective has changed. My perception is that there are more shows and more venues for the types of music I like to go see. My perception is that two years ago, when I went to see friends play music, other music friends were often hanging around more than happens now, and conflicting shows were rarer. But is that perception accurate, or is it that I know more people and thus have more conflicts or is it that my core group of friends are busier and more scattered. 

The bottom line is that it is a waste of my energy to try to recreate or recapture the feel of the scene of four years ago from my perspective. My time and energy are better spent finding my place in the present and experiencing it to the fullest extent possible.

Just some thoughts on a dreary Tuesday in early October - as the world spins on - oblivious to the chaos in the world and in my own heart and mind....

It's Tuesday - the day we dig into the "New Music" playlist and see what the shuffle brings up to tell us what is "trending" as of today.

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - What Will You Do? Mix

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Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

I am continuing to work on my Spotify playlists for E2TG.  So far, I have completed three - January - March 2018.  These are meant to be a cross-section of music I featured during those months - not necessarily music released in those months.   If you are interested, you can check out the playlists (links below)  and follow my personal profile to find out when new playlists are created.

E2TG January 2018
E2TG February 2018
E2TG March 2018
E2TG April 2018 (NEW!)


Check out the brand new E2TG Spotify Playlist for April 2018.  I'm eventually going to catch up to present time.

Check back here tomorrow, we have a Song Premiere that I am very excited to bring you.

A lot going on, so I'm just  going to jump right into the Trending Thursday shuffle!

Trending Thursday Morning Shuffle - Hills of Tennessee Mix

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Be sure to "Like" Ear to the Ground on Facebook!

All of this happened a long time ago when the world was a very different place. Of course, none of us knew that at the time.
(From The Drift - A Novel by Joe Wolfe-Mazeres) Available at Amazon.com (Kindle edition also available)

Well, here we are. It's Thursday.  Time keeps ticking. The world is a mess, and it's not in my kiss. 

I'm a bit short of time - so let's jump right in to our Trending Thursday Shuffle!