Music Recs Round Extra, Extra

[icepixie]

To make up for my laxness in reccing over the past few months--and because I just downloaded a bunch of files for free from the Nashville Public Library--here's a short set.

The Jayhawks
Save It for a Rainy Day - The tune and instrumentation are peppy and jangly and happy-making. Despite the title and subject matter of the verses, it exudes sunlight.

Shawn Colvin
You know her from "Sunny Came Home," one of the more deserving songs to win a passel of Grammys and get played to death on the radio.* But did you know she made several albums before and after that one? The earliest ones were often more in the style of Suzanne Vega, while the later ones continue the folk/pop sound she developed for A Few Small Repairs. Attend.

Bound to You - Lately I've been interested in songs about devotion and commitment, whether romantic or platonic (I think it has to do with something I'm trying to write). This one, and indeed the whole album it comes from (2001's Whole New You) is very much about that. Interestingly, I think I actually heard it first when someone used it in a Sam/Jack (SG-1) vid.

A Matter of Minutes - From that same album. Somewhat slower and more contemplative, but fairly similar subject matter.

Climb On (A Back That's Strong) - From one of her earlier albums (1992's Fat City), although it sounds like it could come from the same one as the first two, rather than nine years earlier, and the lyrics address the same theme of loyalty and devotion. I find myself singing along with it a lot.

Brandi Carlile
Think of her (or at least the songs I'm reccing) as a stripped-down version of the Indigo Girls, or a more-country/less-gospel Patty Griffin. I'm not that familiar with KT Tunstall, but I think there's a comparison to be made there as well.

Closer to You - The peppiest of the three I'm reccing. Fun, and I love the guitar line between the verses.

Fall Apart Again - See the entries above about songs featuring commitment and loyalty. Plus there's still something about the chiming guitar I really enjoy.

That Year - The music is gorgeous, as is Carlile's voice when she reaches for the sky. I thought that was all there was to it, and then I read the lyrics and might have started to cry a bit.


* Completely irrelevant tangent: That song was all over the short period in which I listened to mainstream radio (approximately 1997-2000, when I was in middle and high school). We had a station in Nashville that was technically "alternative," but in reality appeared to play pretty much anything as long as it could be plausibly categorized as "rock" and wasn't by the frigging Backstreet Boys. I mostly remember it playing the Smashing Pumpkins, Sarah McLachlan, Sister Hazel, and the Cure, but I'm pretty sure that song made an appearance on this station as well. They also had a local bands program on Wednesday nights featuring some pretty good stuff. Naturally, in 2000 or so, it changed formats to country (because what Nashville really needed was another country station, you know?). My set in high school and I were all devastated, because this kind of thing is the end of the world when you're sixteen. [/completely irrelevant tangent]

Comments

[foursweatervests]

Naturally, in 2000 or so, it changed formats to country (because what Nashville really needed was another country station, you know?). My set in high school and I were all devastated, because this kind of thing is the end of the world when you're sixteen.

This happened to me in high school, too. My favorite rock/alternative station changed to country changed to terrible pop - seriously, it was so bad it went under in a month - changed to metal changed to rap/r&b changed to alternative three years ago, and has held since. \0/

Sadly, though, they no longer do the 4:20 pm shoutouts. Whatcha gonna do?

[icepixie]

Foolish radio stations. I gave up on terrestrial radio quite soon after my station's format switch; internet radio started to get big right around that time, thankfully, so I had something else to listen to. Now the only over-the-air radio I ever listen to is NPR, occasionally, when I'm driving (and even then I usually have a mix CD instead).

[foursweatervests]

Ooooh, NPR. Big hearts.

I've recently started listening to the radio again, but I vastly prefer cds. I mean, if I have to listen to the same twelve songs over and over again, why shouldn't I get to pick them? That said, sometimes I just don't have access to a cd player, which leads to a lot of musical radio stations. (get it? stations = chairs? heeeheee.)

[icepixie]

NPR appears to be the one station around here that comes even close to my musical tastes--classical is far better than rap or whatever else is playing. When I can remember, I try to catch up with "Thistle and Shamrock" and Prairie Home Companion online.

I've made some use of an iTrip, but it's useless if I'm not staying near the radio station it's currently set to, and it's a pain to cart it around, since I don't want to leave it in my car.

[foursweatervests]

Oooh, I love classical. I like to listen to it on long car rides, but my brother hates classical like I hate jazz in the car, and pitches an absolute fit if we don't listen to rap. Luckily, I like rap, so it's all good. I'm a fan of NPR's town halls, This American Life, and Car Talk. Seriously, those three things make my life so much better.

It can be a giant pain, trying to find a new radio station once you've outdistanced the old one, that's for sure. That's when it's useful to have someone in the passenger's seat; you can make it their job: to Keep The Music Going, No Matter What, Because I'm Sure You Want To Live To See Our Destination.

[icepixie]

I have particular preferences about classical--I like almost all Renaissance choral polyphony, most Baroque pieces, some-but-not-all of the actual Classical period, and a few of the Romantics. A good chunk of the twentieth century tends to make my head hurt, though. But usually NPR is playing something I can at least tolerate.

Heh. Sadly, I rarely have people in the car with me to tune the thing; the frequent three-hour trip between grad school and my parents' house is where I could have used one most.

[foursweatervests]

See, you know your classical. I've spent most of my life building my knowledge of indie, rock, punk rock, country and folk, and I've just started working on classical. I know I like Shostakovich, and John Adams, and that Gregorian music group. Other than that, I just kind of drift along. I try and figure it out as I go.

Well, if you really want someone to ride with you as the iTrip coordinator, you can always advertise rides on Craigslist when you're going somewhere. That way, at least, you get some gas money reimbursement. On the other hand, you could also end up as someone's dinner, so you have to weigh the pros and cons with that. ::arches eyebrow::

[icepixie]

See, you know your classical.

It's more that I took a music history class in college, actually. ;) I usually listen to the folky, indie stuff I put in my music recs.

I can't think of any Shostakovitch off the top of my head, but I like the Russian composers in general (Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet is great). If you like the Gregorians/medieval chant, you might be interested in Renaissance polyphony. Orlando di Lasso is my favorite composer of the many out there, and William Byrd is great as well.

Yeah, I think I'll skip the Craigslist hunting. ;)

[foursweatervests]

It's more that I took a music history class in college, actually.

You know, my first college wasn't cool enough to offer one of those. Smith did, but it always, always conflicted with my Spanish classes. And Spanish comes first in my heart, always. So, I did without.

I can't think of any Shostakovitch off the top of my head, but I like the Russian composers in general (Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet is great). If you like the Gregorians/medieval chant, you might be interested in Renaissance polyphony. Orlando di Lasso is my favorite composer of the many out there, and William Byrd is great as well.

Goddammit, I spelled his name incorrectly. ::scowls::: Despite my imminent self-flagellation, those sound like excellent recs. I've even heard some of those names before, though I'd be hard-pressed to tell you how and why. Time for some google!

Yeah, I think I'll skip the Craigslist hunting. ;)

Maybe the smart choice, yes?

(The icon's part of my self-flagellation, not aimed at you. Thought I should clarify.)

[icepixie]

Goddammit, I spelled his name incorrectly.

Actually, you spelled it correctly. It was me who was wrong.

Google is your friend! I think "Tristus Est Anima Mea" is my favorite of the Lasso/Lassus (it's spelled both ways) I've heard.

[foursweatervests]

Oh! Well, now I feel sheepish. :-/

Sounds like I know just where to start. After, of course, I finish watching "The Two Escobars".