I WAS ASLEEP...

And this song woke me up again.

If you've never heard Sufjan Stevens, I recommend that you listen to two of his albums: Michigan and Seven Swans. Both are tremendous and ingenious collections.

A bit about Sufjan Stevens: His music often has spiritual themes, and many songs (most notably on Seven Swans) draw inspiration from Biblical allegories. He incorporates several instruments, layering notes from the Banjo, Sitar, Vibraphone, French Horn, Recorder, Xylophone, & Oboe throughout his albums. In effect, Stevens uniquely blends classical, international, folk, baroque, jazz, and rock elements. What's more, his voice is soft and does not overpower the music; you can tell that he considers himself an instrumental layer, rather than a lead vocal. He's such a humble chap. And he looks great with wings.

I guarantee you will love this performance! I'm begging you to.

THE DAILY GRIND.

Ah, the beginning of the work week.

Sedentary life is exhilarating, I must say. I bet people who move around all day for a living are probably jealous of me. Sad face.

But on a serious note, most days I wish Richard Simmons, my fitness and fashion idol, would hire me as his apprentice. Only because he moves his body beyond a fifteen-foot radius on a daily basis. My sister, a teacher, also moves more in one day than I do all week. Unfortunately, my job only allows me to bob up and down in my cube. Occasionally, I gesticulate, allowing the blood to flow back to my hands and cerebral cortex.

Admittedly, I envy you wage earners with superior cardiovascular health. So today, I am taking a stand against sitting. I guarantee that this song will get me out of my swivel chair. With Richard as my witness, I intend to stand up, shake my hips, and actually dance. If you suffer from high blood pressure or are pregnant, I recommend that you avert your eyes.

SOUTHERN GIRL.

Ever since my visit home to Texas last week, I have been reflecting on my childhood and my life before moving to the big city. I'm a southern girl by birth, and I often lose sight of that while I'm adjusting to the urban jungle in front of me. There's something special about returning to the comforts of home; to the warm, sultry evenings; to the Southern social graces and hospitality; to the Western-themed stores and restaurants; to the familiar laid-back and easy-going lifestyle.

There's no wonder, then, that my first post-vacation post features the sensual Amos Lee with his tune "Southern Girl." Enjoy, and welcome back :)

COVER BAND OF THE BAND.

OMG.

This cover of The Band's "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" is the best I've ever heard. True, the Black Crowes' version is not as true-blue or pure-of-heart as the original, but Chris Robinson's jazzy voice gives the song a little more soul. And I'm okay with that. I'm not saying the Crowes are better than The Band, so relax.

I must say, however, that I searched high and low for multiple renditions of this legendary song, and this version by far outshines the same covers by Jerry Garcia, Joan Baez, and Johnny Cash. I know, it's a bold statement. But I made it and I'm sticking to it.

I'm speaking with such authority tonight. Maybe because I had three Diet Cokes with dinner. Caffeine always makes me sound smarter than I really am. Sometimes you gotta fake it 'til you make it, people. I haven't made it big in cyberspace yet, but I'm getting there. 20 page views a day, people! Eureka!

ACOUSTIC SUNRISE.

Welcome back everyone! It's Sarcastic Wednesday here at my office, in case you were wondering.

After yesterday's long-winded exposition of blues-rock, I have no desire to get into nitty-gritty music history details this morning. This next band suits my simple-minded morning temperament. They call themselves the Avett brothers; I'm guessing because they are probably brothers with the last name Avett. I'm a quick one. I think they might also be twins.

Singer-songwriters have always struck a chord with me. No pun intended. But really, this duo does it up right. Simple instrumentation - two guitars, a piano cameo, two voices in harmony. Doesn't get any easier to analyze. The song I'm featuring is "Murder in the City." The tune is an ode to family: it speaks not only to the bonds and inherent tensions of brotherhood, but also to the importance of sharing how we feel about our loved ones, given our short-lived existences on earth.

If I get murdered in the city
Go read the letter in my desk
Don’t worry with all my belongings
But pay attention to the list
Make sure my sister knows I loved her
Make sure my mother knows the same
Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name

They sound a lot like Iron & Wine (particularly the song Love Vigilantes), with a twangy vocal lead that sounds a lot like Ryan Adams. They also look like my good friend Jesus. Which is cool with me, obviously. I'm just saying. Trim it up a bit.

MIDNIGHT IN HER EYES.

Let's get the ball rolling on this lovely Tuesday afternoon with The Black Keys. The featured song is "Midnight In Her Eyes" from their second album entitled Thickfreakness.

The Black Keys are, by definition, a blues-rock band. According to my music history source (Wiki), blues-rock is a combination of "bluesy improv, the 12-bar blues, extended boogie jams from the electric guitar, and a heavier, riff-oriented sound...The core of the blues-rock is created by the electric guitar, bass guitar, and drum kit. The electric guitar is usually amplified through a tube guitar amplifier or using an overdrive effect."

Jimi Hendrix was the quintessential blues-rocker. The Keys sound a lot like Hendrix, mostly because Auerbach (Keys' guitarist) also produces that distinctive growl and distorted effect on the electric guitar. Like Hendrix, Auerbach also employs the wah-wah pedal, a guitar effect used to mimic the human voice. To boot, Hendrix and the Keys have these smoky and soulful voices - they sure know how to make the girls swoon.

So give "Midnight In Her Eyes" a listen. It's a sexy and sultry lamentation of love. It's one of those songs that you wish were written with you in mind.*

*On that note, I will pay one lucky man to let me break his heart, suffer tremendous pain, and then write a song about it. I've done it before. Don't believe me? Ask Boyz II Men what inspired them to write "Water Runs Dry."

TONIGHT'S TODAY. TODAY'S TONIGHT.

If you're like me, you never want the weekend to end. When the sun goes down on Sunday, part of me dies. The fun part, that is.

In his new sexy video for the song "Tonight's Today," Jack Penate imagines a world where the party never stops. His fantasy replete with diamonds, women, dance parties, yachts, and masquerades, Penate metaphysically abandons time, so that his days flow into nights, his nights flow into days...etcetera, etcetera. Insert infinity symbol here.

From the lyrics, however, Penate cannot seem to sustain himself in his own Adventureland:

Tonight just became this morning
The sun waves at the moon
The thought has just started dawning
That there's still so much more that I can do
I shuffle into the sunlight
A zombie roaming on the day...

I guess reality can never live up to fantasy. Bummer.

P.S. The tortoise in this video rules. I love reptiles.

A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR.

Here we are, back to the daily grind. I'm officially hyped up on caffeine, ready to Pump. You. Up.

I figured I would ease you back into the work week with a PEPPY tune. Easy on the ears, this song is a "Spoon"-ful of folk-rock sugar that will help you swallow that (completely unwarranted) criticism from your boss. Did I mention the song is by Spoon? (I'm so clever.)

To me, Spoon comes across as a musical amalgamation of Billy Joel, the Stereophonics, O.A.R., Dispatch, and a little Fatboy Slim. In effect, I feel like I'm time-traveling while listening to their 2007 album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. It's like Billy Joel is a teenager again. Only the good die young, right?

Here's Spoon with "The Underdog." No need to check your inbox until you're done listening.

GREAT DAY FOR GIPSY KINGS.

Happy Friday! I don't know about you, but I'm jonesing for an exotic vacation rife with pasion. All I need is a bungalow, a view of the beach, and limitless patatas bravas. Maybe add a pitcher of sangria or six to wash the tapas down. Why not add a Spanish lover to the picture?

Ay Caramba! I need a vacation.

For now, I think I've found a temporary replacement with "Caminando por la Calle" by the Gipsy Kings. Slow, sexy, and sensual. Sounds like a typical day in my office.

Please note: Gipsy Kings are originally from France, not Spain. Their parents were gitanos who fled Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War.

One more fun fact: Gipsy Kings are known for bringing Rumba Catalena, a pop-oriented version of traditional Spanish flamenco music, to worldwide audiences.

-Thank you Wikipedia.



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DEVIL'S CRAYON.

Ah! Tremendous energy in this song by the Wild Beasts. Not to mention an intense operatic falsetto emanating from lead singer Hayden Thorpe.

Thorpe uses the word "devil" at least 75 times. That has to be a record of some sort. To boot, this video is like walking through an animated inferno. Satan, fire, and skeletons, oh my!

But seriously, this song rules. In a bone-chilling type of way. Goosebumps galore.

DREAMS OLD MEN DREAM.

This acoustic version of the Cold War Kids song "Dreams Old Men Dream" is the best I've found online. I snatched this video from the Black Cab Sessions (BCS) website. If you've never been to blackcabsessions.com, I totally recommend checking it out!

The BCS are a brilliant way to bring music to the "common" people. Essentially, the BCS production team eyes concert schedules in London for performances by up-and-coming, contemporary bands (with a few legends thrown in there). The team "ambushes" one of these bands and requests an impromptu performance. The team uniquely situates the band not in a concert hall to perform, but in the backseat of one of London's famous Black Cabs.

The result is a backstage (re: backseat) pass to raw, unadulterated music: sans frills, lights, or amplifiers. Trust me, it's one thing to see a band perform with the assistance of a technical crew. It is quite another to see them shine without a light.

Enjoy the ride.

LAST EMBRACE.

I'm ending the day with one of my favorite songs of all time, by one of my favorite artists of all time.

With Jeff Buckley, my motto is "less talk, more music appreciation."

I also can't think clearly when my eyes are glued to his face, and my thoughts default to images of the children we could have had.

HIGH PLACES.

Found this tune today and I'm really into it. I entered the day feeling heavy, emotional, tired, and a bit worn out. I love how this song has the power to transport me, if even for a few minutes. "From Stardust to Sentience" feels very light, airy, and fanciful.

Ingredients: no real beginning or end, hypnotic repetitions of melody and rhythm, easy-listening whimsy marries ambient electronica.

Bake at 450 degrees; remove from oven, allow to cool overnight. You've got yourself some Folktronica pie, baby.

Save me a piece.

From Stardust to Sentience - High Places