Quickly, Now
While my slides for tomorrow’s lectures are printing, I thought I would update you all (and my future self … while I write, I typically tend to think of “future Alex” reading “present Alex’s” musings) with my current musical enjoyments.
Dashboard Confessional
They’re coming to St. Thomas, and we are treated to an exclusive (St. Thomas students only), free (FREE!) concert. Intimate venue, big band, all going down about two hundred yards from where I’m typing this. The excitement builds.
John Mayer’s ‘Continuum’
Aptly titled, with simple clean slightly retro cover art indicative of the musical stylings within. Try “Slow Dancing in a Burning Room.” You’ll note that the best artists in history, The Beatles for one (and no, I can’t think of any other examples), move through musical phases - I think the talented if sometimes “over-popped” John Mayer is continuing on his musical journey, and delighting ears all around. Definite jazz and blues influences make this album more timeless than many.
Keane
Their recent release, “Under the Iron Sea” still needs a better listen by me. Regardless, their song “The Frog Prince” is upliftingly wonderful and a joy to sing along with. Try it, I dare you.
The Weepies
One of my top five new albums of this year. Brilliant. Breathtakingly brilliant. The mesh of lyrical flow and musical line is superb, the voices unique, the production appropriate to the “post folk” (made up word, mine) genre. They sing songs I love. Looking to catch them at the Fine Line in mid October. Very exciting. Try their “The World Spins Madly On” and “Painting by Chagall.” Heart stoppingly great.
Comments
Nils
I have heard good things about Mayer's newest, but I have heard the opposite of Dashboard's. But to me Dashboard has always been a band with a song here and there that I like. You piqued my interest in the Weepies though, Alex. I will have to check them out. I also have one emphatic suggestion: Guillemots. WOW! Definitely my favorite new band, and they have received rave reviews for their debut album "Through the Windowpane". They are British, and the lead singer's voice is a cross between Bono and the lead from Travis. Musically, they are simply astounding and bombastic, it has to be heard to be understood.
Elisabeth
Because of this post I just bought The Weepies (Say I am you) from the iTunes store, and I just love it! I had never heard of them before. Thank you! :-)
Nils
Good job Elisabeth. Now get Guillemots.
Elisabeth
I will! - As soon at their album is available in the Norwegian iTunes-store …
Nils
Wait, are you Norwegian Elisabeth? Kan du snakke norsk? I was just in Norway for a semester and it was awesome. But about the Guillemots, if you want it now, you can download a program called "Bit Torrent" and download the full Guillemot album "Through the Windowpane" by doing a Google search like this: guillemots torrent. Tons of sites with the album will come up. Torrents are great, fast, untraceable (mostly) and you can find almost anything you want. Or you can wait for Norwegian iTunes to catch up, but it could be a while. Ha det bra!