WTF Wednesday Morning Shuffle - Planet Earth Mix

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Like many (but not all, I know) of my friends, I am devastated and saddened and confused by what has transpired.  I am kind of, but not totally, at a loss for words right now. I do know this... I am not moving to Canada or anywhere else because of what has happened. (As tempting as that thought may be). And I hope none of my friends who feel so compelled do either (although as I said, I understand the thought). The fact is that right now, the very people who feel so compelled are needed now more than ever. Anyone in a minority (racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, disability) needs us.

Here is a little truth bomb.  That factors that lead to this outcome (be that ignorance, fear, bigotry of any kind, anger) those factors did not begin with one man - they were exploited and revealed.  Those who reject all of those things... we now have a better idea of how big a fight we have.

And for the record, to me, this is not about politics. I understand and respect that we all have different out looks.  I may not support fiscal conservatism, but I understand it and accept that it is a valid viewpoint. What I cannot understand or accept as a valid viewpoint - is misogyny, mocking the disabled, xenophobia, homophobia, racism, etc.).  Maybe, I am an eternal optimist, but I choose to believe that the majority of people who voted for that candidate (who opening displayed and supported those things) did not do so for those reasons directly - but rather for reasons I cannot begin to fathom but which I could at least accept on some level.

I also understand that not everyone who reads E2TG will agree with what I have just written. E2TG has always been and will continue to be about music and the power it has to uplift and move and comfort and to transform.

So, again, I turn to music.... I have not created (and may not create) a "Wild Wednesday" playlist.  Rather, today's shuffle includes every single song currently residing on my phone memory card.

Also, just for today, I changed the name of the shuffle... because, seriously, WTF!

Friday Morning Music Shuffle - The Thrill is Gone Mix

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Of course, the dominant news of the day is the passing of B.B. King, and my Facebook feed is filled with people from all different genres of music weighing in on the passing of this legend.  King's death comes just days after the death of a much lesser known Blues singer named Captain Luke Mayer at the age of 87 and serves as a reminder that we are losing/have lost so many of the greats of the modern music era. I do not see a need to compare and contrast the  lives and careers of B.B. King and Captain Luke (at least not here and now), just to say how grateful I am that the music will endure.  Which means I am grateful for all the groups and people who are making sure that the music lives on.  And for me that means, the preservationists and historians and traditionalists as well as those who are continuing to innovate to keep all forms of Roots music (no matter how broadly that term is defined) a living breathing thing.


R.I.P. B.B. King and Captain Luke.  Thank you for the gifts of your music.

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - All Rise Mix

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I was out of the office, so today's shuffle comes from yesterday's drive home.  and I have to make it quick.

Very quick...  JUMP NOW

Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Convenience Store Mix

Man, it's been a busy few weeks... Please be sure to check out our Featured Artist for July 2012.  I am going to try to get some more info up about each of the bands.  Also, the Band of the Month Poll will be opening probably on Sunday or Monday so keep an eye out for that.

Shamelessness to follow:  If you like this blog, please spread the word and subscribe.  If you do shopping on Amazon.com, you can use any of the Amazon links (most of the album covers and some links on the right sidebar) and navigate to what you need, and Ear to the Ground gets a percentage of the sale. Does Amazon sell houses?  You could buy a house, that would be cool....

Okay - it's about the music, and we had a neat shuffle today which I would like to share with you:


Last week marked the 25th Anniversary of the seminal Replacement's album, Pleased to Meet Me.  If you keep up with me on Facebook you already knew that.  Well, today we have a cover of one of the great songs from that album.  Micah Schnabel is a singer/songwriter who is also a member of the Alt-Country/Rock band Two Cow Garage.  His minimalistic and ragged cover of Can't Hardly Wait is on his 2010 solo album, When the Stage Lights Go Dim.

A early demo version of Can't Hardly Wait which was recorded around the time of the Tim album.

Adam Carroll is a Texas Singer/Songwriter, and I cannot believe I have missed out on his music for so long.  Blondie and Dagwood comes from his 2000 album Lookin' Out the Screen Door, and Carroll turns the long running comic strip into a John Prine worthy twangy, folk ballad.  I loved every single moment of this song.

  

And finally, the shuffle concluded with another instant classic from Anais Mitchell's Young Man in America. Tailor sounds like a folk standard, and I have the feeling it will be in due time.  Mitchell's unique voice and incredible songs completely blow me away.

 

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HADESTOWN BY MITCHELL,ANAIS (CD) *Artist:  MITCHELL,ANAIS *Genre: Popular Music *Release Date: 9-MAR-2010