Keeping It Fresh

Today I have some really great music for you from some phenomenal movies. This first song comes from the movie Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. This movie was an absolutely beautiful movie for many reasons. First of all, the entire movie is all about the human experience, and what it means to be a human. It begins with the story of a man and woman who work office jobs, behind a desk, only to come home to a lonely existence. But as the movie progresses, the characters evolve, learning more about themselves and learning that there is so much to offer the world and that there is even more to receive. Even when things go wrong, or the unexpected arises, we have to look forward and keep our spirits high. Because at the end of the day, there is nothing more spectacular and wonderful than our own ability to believe. This is where the song of the day comes in. This song is the most perfect auditory description of this feeling. It is such an apt and charming and magical way to summarize the mov...

Today I have music for you by the band Goodnight, Texas. Now the first time I heard this song I was immediately captured. I am not normally one for country music, but this had such a folk twist to it that it made the song a million times better. There is something that older folk sounds do to music that turns it from being a typical country tune into a song that is powerful and intense. The percussion in this song pounds like the beating of a heart and it suits the mood that the guitar sets so incredibly well.  The vocals are minimal in this song, but the way that they are slightly fuzzed out is really fitting to give the song that intense and hardy sound. This is a song that I imagine the constant beating of a pick axe to the ground, the way you may see it in movies. That synchronized slamming to the ground, the way everything seems to be parts of a machine is kind of what I feel when I listen to this song. This does have that Wild West kind of s...

Today I have some music for you by a band called Judah & the Lion. This is a band that plays a style of music that is slowly becoming popular. I was very impressed with this song when I first heard it because it has such a hearty sound to it. That Southern soul which isn't country music is what makes up this song. I really really like it! This might sound like music Mumford and Sons or The Lumineers put out, but Judah & the Lion have a very different soul to their music. Part of it may be easier for me to recognize because I am from the South. But there is less country to this song and more Americana in it. This is more folksy fiddle music and carries over a lot of the sub genres that make up Americana music. I really like the way they perform this song in the video. You can tell that Judah & the Lion has fun doing what they do and really enjoy making music. There is enthusiasm and energy which carries over into the song itself. This song does have a liv...

Today I have some interesting music for you, in the sense that you may find it a little bit quirky. Today's first song is by the ever incredible band by the name The White Stripes. Now The White Stripes is probably one of the most iconic bands of the late 90's and early 00's. This is a band that everyone seems to know, even if they have never heard a song by them. It is just one of those names that you know, regardless of what kind of music you listen to. What I like about this band is the blending of grunge rock and blues rock to create songs that have some really great bass guitar work in accompaniment with heavy drum work. The White Stripes tends to ditch the dependence on the electric guitar in favor of the lower tones and deep thrum of the bass guitar. This is a song that makes you automatically feel like a badass and a rebel. That is one of the things that The White Stripes can do to you-make you feel like the coolest and most suave person in the world. This song just...

Today I have some music for you by a band called Judah & the Lion. This is a band that plays a style of music that is slowly becoming popular. I was very impressed with this song when I first heard it because it has such a hearty sound to it. That Southern soul which isn't country music is what makes up this song. I really really like it! This might sound like music Mumford and Sons or The Lumineers put out, but Judah & the Lion have a very different soul to their music. Part of it may be easier for me to recognize because I am from the South. But there is less country to this song and more Americana in it. This is more folksy fiddle music and carries over a lot of the sub genres that make up Americana music. I really like the way they perform this song in the video. You can tell that Judah & the Lion has fun doing what they do and really enjoy making music. There is enthusiasm and energy which carries over into the song itself. This song does have a liveliness to it an...

Today I have some really great music for you from some phenomenal movies. This first song comes from the movie Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. This movie was an absolutely beautiful movie for many reasons. First of all, the entire movie is all about the human experience, and what it means to be a human. The movie starts out with the day to day job that most of us have. It begins with the story of a man and woman who work office jobs, behind a desk, only to come home to a lonely existence. But as the movie progresses, the characters evolve, learning more about themselves and learning that there is so much to offer the world and that there is even more to receive. Even when things go wrong, or the unexpected arises, we have to look forward and keep our spirits high. Because at the end of the day, there is nothing more spectacular and wonderful than our own ability to believe. This is where the song of the day comes in. This song is the most perfect auditory description of this feeling. It i...

Today I have music for you by a band called Viva Voce. Now this is a band that really likes to keep their genres open in terms of what kind of music they produce. They like to span all kinds of the rock spectrum, which I think is really cool. This song in particular takes on the more folk sound of things. The guitar is what really makes this song what it is, and gives it that Wild West flair. That moment when that first intense guitar strum is made, the song molds itself into something radiates a sense of power and danger. And I love it! This song makes me feel like I could walk in like I own the place, makes me feel like I can stride wherever I go. That guitar work is so integral to making this song have that effect. There is a great simplicity to the musicality of this song in general. A harmonica, percussion beat, and guitar is all we get, and it is all the song needs. This song has a desert-dry kind of sound, one that makes you think of all those old cowboy movies we watch. This so...

Today's song is by a lesser know band called Band of Horses.The lead singer has a very distinct voice and style of singing that is very soothing and it sounds great with the music. The song is kind of sad, but I really love this band and this song. Its so nice to listen to when its raining outside....this song is a beautiful blend of soft, soothing music and rock. Band of Horses is a band that really knows how to get into the depth of music and lyrics combined. The lyrics are not always as easy to understand and the music is gull of complexities which gives the song depth. Though the instrumentation seems simple and clear cut, there is more happening in the background than you may realize. I think that is one of the things that makes Band of Horses stand out. They maintain their style of music and character throughout, but add many layers of separate thoughts and ideas to make up what we hear now. This is a band worth checking out in the future and just to really listen to. Today...

Today I have music for you from the movie Inside Llewyn Davis. I am not going to lie, this movie has one of the greatest blues, acoustic, and guitar albums I have ever heard. This song in particular features the voices of the main actor, Oscar Issac and the incredibly talented, Marcus Mumford. This song is performed at the very beginning and end of the film, which makes gives this movie a complete circular plot. Its nice to show how the origins are so similar to the ending. This song has extremely beautiful acoustic work, and it has a very distinct sound to it. Mumford and Issac's voices blend so well together, one providing a folksy sound and the other providing a soulful blusey voice. Oscar Issac is a Juliard graduate, which makes it quite interesting as to how he got into folk music. Generally speaking, Juliard is a school for classical music, but Oscar Issac delivers a beautiful folk rendition of his song. Oscar Issac has a beautiful voice that is gentle and warm. He has the ki...

Today I have some interesting music for you, in the sense that you may find it a little bit quirky. Today's first song is by the ever incredible band by the name The White Stripes. Now The White Stripes is probably one of the most iconic bands of the late 90's and early 00's. This is a band that everyone seems to know, even if they have never heard a song by them. It is just one of those names that you know, regardless of what kind of music you listen to. What I like about this band is the blending of grunge rock and blues rock to create songs that have some really great bass guitar work in accompaniment with heavy drum work. The White Stripes tends to ditch the dependence on the electric guitar in favor of the lower tones and deep thrum of the bass guitar. This is a song that makes you automatically feel like a badass and a rebel. That is one of the things that The White Stripes can do to you-make you feel like the coolest and most suave person in the world. This song just...

Today I have some music for you by the famous country singer Jason Aldean. Now I know it has been a long time since I posted anything country, so hopefully this will be a nice change. I am going to keep this one a little short today. Jason Aldean is such a big name in the world of country music and it is clear to see why. He has that rich and powerful tone to his voice with a slight twang to make things sound really country. He takes more of the intense and energetic route with this song and I like that! This song features more electric guitar work than acoustic guitar but I think that is perfect for this song. The electric violin makes a spectacular entrance in this song. We really hear that fiddle twist of the violin and it seems to soar above all other sounds in this song like it has a solo of its own. And of course you can never go wrong with the sick banjo work. I mean if there is anything that people should love about country is that the fiddle and banjo really make or break the ...

Today I have music for you by the band Goodnight, Texas. Now the first time I heard this song I was immediately captured. I am not normally one for country music, but this had such a folk twist to it that it made the song a million times better. There is something that older folk sounds do to music that turns it from being a typical country tune into a song that is powerful and intense. The percussion in this song pounds like the beating of a heart and it suits the mood that the guitar sets so incredibly well.  The vocals are minimal in this song, but the way that they are slightly fuzzed out is really fitting to give the song that intense and hardy sound. This is a song that I imagine the constant beating of a pick axe to the ground, the way you may see it in movies. That synchronized slamming to the ground, the way everything seems to be parts of a machine is kind of what I feel when I listen to this song. This does have that Wild West kind of sound, but more so in regards to the...

Today I have music for you by the singer known as George Ezra. This song is so charming in this slightly antique way. I kind of like that sound a lot because it is both soothing and warming. This song just has this coziness that rides the sound waves. George Ezra has a style that is extremely different from all other folk groups out there. He taps into the older and earlier forms of folk music. He even goes a little bit americana for this song. George Ezra seems to channel some Bob Dylan in both musical style and vocalization. George Ezra has this rich tone baritone voice that can only be described as something wonderfully manly but subtly gentle. His voice is perfect for that blusey guitar sound, that original blues-rock feel that came before people like John Mayer. There is this grace to the way George Ezra sings. The words are discernible but also kind of run together in a way that makes the end of one note the beginning of another. George Ezra has this soulful and old voice that yo...

Welcome to 2015! I am so excited that I get to keep sharing music with you now, as the new year begins. I hope this does continue along through the year! So to start us off, I have some music that is both calming and beautiful. This is music that seems to transcend the entirety of your being. These are songs that wash over you in that special way that only music can. These are songs that make you stop. They make you stop and reflect and be present in the moment. These are songs that make you really immersed in the world around you, not distracted by the noise and the lights, but rather puts you in tune with all the beauty the world has to offer. That being said, there is something that music alone can capture. There is something that only music can do that touches the soul in a way that can make you truly understand your emotions. Music can make us laugh, cry, ponder, and revel in the bliss of ecstasy. These two songs today are instrumental and come from movies that are both beautifull...

Today's song is by a lesser know band called Band of Horses.The lead singer has a very distinct voice and style of singing that is very soothing and it sounds great with the music. The song is kind of sad, but I really love this band and this song. Its so nice to listen to when its raining outside....this song is a beautiful blend of soft, soothing music and rock. Band of Horses is a band that really knows how to get into the depth of music and lyrics combined. The lyrics are not always as easy to understand and the music is gull of complexities which gives the song depth. Though the instrumentation seems simple and clear cut, there is more happening in the background than you may realize. I think that is one of the things that makes Band of Horses stand out. They maintain their style of music and character throughout, but add many layers of separate thoughts and ideas to make up what we hear now. This is a band worth checking out in the future and just to really listen to. Today...

Today I have some music for you by a band called Judah & the Lion. This is a band that plays a style of music that is slowly becoming popular. I was very impressed with this song when I first heard it because it has such a hearty sound to it. That Southern soul which isn't country music is what makes up this song. I really really like it! This might sound like music Mumford and Sons or The Lumineers put out, but Judah & the Lion have a very different soul to their music. Part of it may be easier for me to recognize because I am from the South. But there is less country to this song and more Americana in it. This is more folksy fiddle music and carries over a lot of the sub genres that make up Americana music. I really like the way they perform this song in the video. You can tell that Judah & the Lion has fun doing what they do and really enjoy making music. There is enthusiasm and energy which carries over into the song itself. This song does have a liveliness to it an...

Today I have a very interesting song for you by David Guetta. Thanks to Avicii, the idea of electronic bluegrass is now a reality. David Guetta took a stab at it and didn't do too shabby! I won't lie, this is not one of my favorite songs by Guetta, but I do like the fact that the song sounds like it should have come straight out of a Western film. It is actually kind of fantastic! Most of this song is done in that country western feel, but there are some really awesome moments of David Guetta's electronic music. The main electronic melody is really catchy and exciting, but the only problem I have is that it isn't long enough. In my opinion there needs to be a little bit more of David Guetta. But the vocalist Sam Martin is extremely phenomenal and completely brilliant. His voice is the perfect match for this kind of song. He is able to get that gritty Western sound to his voice but when it comes time for the main chorus, he is able to pull a very powerful and soulful voi...

Today I have music for you from the movie Inside Llewyn Davis. I am not going to lie, this movie has one of the greatest blues, acoustic, and guitar albums I have ever heard. This song in particular features the voices of the main actor, Oscar Issac and the incredibly talented, Marcus Mumford. This song is performed at the very beginning and end of the film, which makes gives this movie a complete circular plot. Its nice to show how the origins are so similar to the ending. This song has extremely beautiful acoustic work, and it has a very distinct sound to it. Mumford and Issac's voices blend so well together, one providing a folksy sound and the other providing a soulful blusey voice. I highly recommend you go listen to this soundtrack because it is amazing. Today's instrumental song is by the famous Bob Dylan. This man has such amazing talent and I can see why he had such an influence on the world of music. This song has a strong guitar strum as its main theme and a great ha...

Today I have new music for you by one of my favorite country artists, Hunter Hayes. I firmly believe that he is genuinely talented, with such a wide range of skills and versatility. Not only is he a great singer, but he can play the drums, his lyrics are meaningful, and the way he plays the guitar is just incredible! And of course, he is a cutie but that's beside the point. Every song of his has a certain meaning and his melodies match what he is trying to say in a way that can really make you feel it. His new album comes out soon so go check it out! Today's instrumental song is from the movie Brave. It has a longer intro, but bursts into an energetic piece filled with bagpipes and excitement. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!

Today's song is a really cool one out of South Africa by the band Kongos. There are so many awesome things happening in this song. For example the first sounds you hear is this really sick accordion work, and yes, these guys made the accordion look even cooler than any other musician out there has. I love the way they use the accordion and the tone of it. And then you hit the chorus which has these really strong vocals and you get the feel from the multiple voices with these sweet guitar licks and such a loud presence with the electric guitar. This song just kicks some major ass! Today's song is by the Beastie Boys, and is one of my favorite songs by them. For those of you who don't really know the Beastie Boys, you may recognize this song from Star Trek. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!