Friday Morning Music Shuffle - Miles Standish Proud Mix

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 Well... it's the end of the week, and I'm hoping to get some time this weekend to listen to all of the music that has come my way over the past week or so.  Looking forward to a quiet weekend...  

Let's get right to the Morning Shuffle:

First up we have the opening track from the brand spanking new album by Nashville resident Andrew Osenga - late of The Normals and more recently part of Caedmon's Call. His new record which dropped September 18 and is called Leonard, the Lonely Astronaut. Today we feature - Brushstroke.

Next we have Neil Young's chilling 1970 song, Ohio.  Our version today comes from a 1971 Bootleg.  The song was originally recorded by CSNandY. It was included on their So Far album in 1974.  The song is a reaction to the May 1970 shootings during a Vietnam War protest on the Campus of Kent State University in Ohio.

Next up we have Legalize It the title track to the 1976 from the solo debut by the late Peter Tosh of The Wailers.  

Finally, we wrap things up with a song (Yesterday (Circa Summer 80 somethin) )  from Cory Branan's first album in six years, Mutt, which came out in May.  This album also marks his debut with the Bloodshot Record Label. 

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Thursday "Morning" Music Shuffle - Skinny Jeans Mix

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It's the late night edition of the Morning Music Shuffle.  The shuffle was from this morning, the post drops now!


First up, we have Sugar and the Hi Lows from their self-titled album that came out back in February with See It For Yourself. Sugar and the Hi Lows are Trent Dabbs and Amy Stroup who are Nashville residents and part of the Ten out of Tenn collective.  They play a rootsy mix of vintage soulful music.  

Next up we have experimental hip-hop artists from Toronto, Valued Customer with their song, Frank Ocean from the Album Voice/Drum which came out (no pun intended) back in June.

Next we have another New Jersey band which came to us via Popatunes.  It's Conor and the Stonehill Kids with the title track from their 2011 EP called Don't Move.

Here is a video for a different song by the band...

And finally, we have a song from one of current Featured Artists who are in the running for Band of the Month (polls now open - here).  On this shuffle we have True Mad North taking it into a rocking country direction with Glass of Gasoline of their self-titled album that came out late last year.

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Band of the Month Poll - September - A Voting Guide

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Are you confused about your choices?  Not sure who you should support?  Torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool?  Never fear! Here at E2TG, we don't pick the Band of the Month and we don't tell how you should vote - we're waaaay to codependent for that... no but we will lay it out for you in black and white... and sometimes weird font colors if we are in that kind of a mood...but I digress. Without much further ado... here is the September edition of the Ear to the Ground Band of the Month Voter's Guide.  Just the facts, a few opinions, a couple of conjectures and at least one out right lie...

Why you should vote for...

...Alex Bennett:  If you like nifty folksy blues and/or trains. Also, if you are trying to get over that bad association you have with the name Alex from that weird kid in sixth grade.

...And the Giraffe: Cause when else are you going to be able to say to vote for a band with Giraffe in it's name? Also, if you like your indie sounds, smooth and lovely... also Josh works or has worked at Historic Studio B where Elvis Costello recorded Almost Blue. 

...Friday Night Music Club: If you like great songs well played...also if you like Fridays, Nights, Music and/or Clubs... 

...The Great American Novel: If you like your indie pop with intelligence and fun... also if you like to read... and if Vonnegut and Morrissey together makes sense to you.

...The Grimm Generation: If you like fresh and timely music... if you can spell Connecticut... if you do or don't like the television series Grimm...  If you can spell Generation...

...Grounded: If you're feeling old and need some loud, snotty, non-pretty music played with energy and not a little bit of attitude... if you've ever been grounded... if you can spell Tallahassee.

...Korby Lenker: If you like the name Korby... if you like it even more, when it's connected to an excellent singer-songwriter... If you know good hook when you hear it, and/or if you have an awful slice that it totally screwing up your golf game.

...Man on Earth: If you like your rock capitalized... if you don't mind a big sound... if you live on Earth and/or are or know a Man...

...Sad Baby Wolf: If you like excellent modern, indie rock... if the image of a sad baby wolf gets you right here... if you can spell Albuquerque.

... True Mad North:  If you like killer riffs with a spacious sound... if you want to the band to come off of this hiatus if that's what it is... If you don't like the False Happy South.

So there you have it... now --- go vote!

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Polls are Open - Band of the Month - September 2012

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Wednesday Morning Music Shuffle - Buzzy Mix

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 Well... some nice Fall temperatures has descended upon Middle Tennessee.  That crispy chill that feels so good. Of course, this is Middle Tennessee, so we likely have some more 90 degree days in store, but I'll take this.  Autumn has always been my favorite season, and although it's still officially a day or so away, this is a nice preview.


We have a nice Morning Shuffle to compliment the sweet weather, and per the new usual, we are pressed for time... so let's do it!



Rodney Crowell's late Saturday set at The Station Inn was a highlight in a weekend full of highlights, and his song, Earthbound from his 2003 album Fate's Right Hand was a highlight of that set.  I will have a full post about the set soon... "My life's been so sweet I just can't stand it, I must admit I've made out like a bandit"

 

Roger Alan Wade is the cousin of Johnny Knoxville and his music has been used in all of the Jackass movies.  Apparently, his songs can be raunchy and funny.  Cars and Guns from his 2008 album Stoned Traveller is neither of those things.  What it is is a damn fine classic sounding country song full of regret and lost opportunities and the inescapable pull that music has on someone who is born to make music. 

"And I never gave a damn about cars and gun Long as they'd shoot and as long as they'd run I guess it's a good thing I never had a son."

 

Next up we have another track from one of our Featured Artists for September. The Great American Novel make great American music. I Believe in Love!   is from the band's album You and I which is available from their bandcamp page:

And finally, we close things out with another song from those Connecticut pre-teens, The Foresters.  The band got their instruments two years ago yesterday when the average age of the Nork brothers was just over eight and their amps only went up to ten.  Take a listen to what two years of practice and sick amount of talent can do... Here is Rubber Band

couldn't locate a video for Rubber Band, so here's another video of the band.

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Americana Music Festival - Part III - Delta Spirit Live on the Green

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After The Dunwells' set, the sun went down and it was dusk or so when the next band took the stage.  I had been pumped to see Delta Spirit since the show was announced, and apparently, I wasn't the only one.  A mostly young (most everyone is young to me...) and enthusiastic crowd was electric as the stage was set.  

 I was still pressed up against the barricades in front of the stage.  Delta Spirit are a remarkable band.  The band formed in 2005.  I was a little late getting on board with them, in fact I first became aware of them in 2010 when I heard about Middle Brother the band that features John McCauley of Deer Tick (who I was already into), Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes (who I dig) and Matthew Vasquez of Delta Spirit.  That was what prompted me to really give them a listen, and I've been a fan ever since.  They have made some amazing records, but seeing them live was a revelatory experience. 

I was impressed by the energy and the passion evident in the music. You had to clap along to the songs. No I mean, you literally didn't have a choice - it seemed like Matt Vasquez was going to leap off the stage, hurdle the barricade and throttle you if you didn't clap along.

This felt like a punk show, but Delta Spirit is not punk. They play Indie Rock with a soulful and (appropriately) Americana spirit. What struck me is that it was interesting to see - over thirty years later, how the punk spirit has infused all kinds of music.  For Delta Spirit, who in a pre-punk world, would have probably been a folk-rock act with a CCResque soul streak, punk added an aggression and power which quite frankly make them so remarkable.  

I was bummed that my pre-arranged schedule for the night meant I had to bail before the set was over, but at least I got to hear another song and a half while I bungled my way through a crowded that filled the large park.  I was also bummed to miss The Wallflowers set which closed the Live on the Green portion of the evening... such is the life of a singular music blogger with places and people to experience... 

So yeah, I really dug Delta Spirit.  If you get the chance to see them live, do it.

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Tuesday Morning Music Shuffle - 47 Percent Elegance Mix

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Man you guys, I think I need an intern or something.  I mean if Kramer could have an intern, I could - right?  So much goodness going on - Our good friends, The Dead Exs dropped their sophomore album, Relovolution, while we were AMAing, and we are going to have a lot to say about this one.  Cosmonauts are just a week away from unveiling the video to the song they recently debuted and which we had in the shuffle yesterday, Cold Harbor. The Disappointment have a new video, we just heard a killer new song from Dogs of Oz. There is new music out or coming soon from The Avett Brothers, Mumford and Sons, Band of Horses, John Hiatt and just about everybody else.  We made some good contacts at the Americana to-do, and some big things are coming for little ole us.  So of course, by nbl (non-blogging life) is also exploding and time become a precious commodity, but it's all good.

Our shuffle today features two artists we saw live last week plus a song from the early 2000s and a relatively new song that sounds like an old song...  Let's jump into the shuffle:

First up we have Leeds' own, The Dunwells, who we saw last Thursday at Live on the Green with I Could Be A King off of their debut record, Blind Sighted Faith.

 

 

Up next, we have a retro-sounding fuzzy guitar-driven, Garage Rock song called Driven by Love from the band 45 Spider which comes from Supercharged Sounds (the 8th Volume of the Best of GaragePunk Hideout) which came out in July. 

Next, we have the debut single by California ska-punk band OPM from way back around the turn of the century. Heaven is  Halfpipe promises skating after death. The debut album was called Menace to Sobriety (see what they did there?)

And finally, we have another song from the fantastic Marvin Country! album by Marvin Etzioni who at The Station Inn in Nashville along with his Marvin Country! String Quartet. I had the chance to talk briefly with Mr. Etzioni, and hope to have the opportunity to have a longer chat with him soon.