WORLDS ARE FORMING

Explosions in the Sky.

If you have read my blog for any length of time, you know that I'm always a big fan of new-to-me music. I was first introduced to Explosions in the Sky by my buddy, Ben. It is a band based out of Austin with an ambient, jam band, acoustic sort of thing going on. Very "driven" stuff. For now, I only have their album The Rescue, which you can download here, for free. Day #5 is my favorite for now. Some of their stuff is a little harder and darker, other songs are relaxing, good study music. Enjoy it. (Oh, and I like their design skills.)

Come, Ye Sinners...

This is one of my favorite hymns, but I always forget about it.  It has been stuck in my head all morning.  Such beautiful lyrics.

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
Weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, love and pow’r.

I will arise and go to Jesus,
He will embrace me in His arms;
In the arms of my dear Savior,
Oh, there are ten thousand charms.

Oh, Patty.

I love Patty Griffin.  Throughout the summer, these words from Time Will Do the Talking have gone in and out of my mind and heart as a word or two from God, just for me.  I love it when God speaks to me through music, especially when Patty is singing it to me.

Time will do the talkin'
years will do the walking
time will tell you, baby
what you can't hear now

Seriously, folks.  Simple, I know, but I need to hear that over and over again.  Good stuff.

Homegrown Tomatoes! Lycopene Galore!

This summer, I have enjoyed getting my hands dirty by helping my parents tend the garden. For the first time, we planted tomatoes, and as August has come and gone, it has been sweet to reap the harvest.  Homegrown tomatoes...nothin' like 'em.  (And we men need our lycopene...so I figure, why not eat 'em up?) 

The words of Guy Clark's Homegrown Tomatoes have been sung throughout the Cleveland home  and garden for the past few weeks, and rightly so...

Ain't nothin' in the world that I like better
Than bacon & lettuce & homegrown tomatoes
Up in the mornin' out in the garden
Get you a ripe one don't get a hard one

Plant `em in the spring eat `em in the summer
All winter with out `em's a culinary bummer
I forget all about the sweatin' & diggin'
Everytime I go out & pick me a big one

Homegrown tomatoes homegrown tomatoes
What'd life be without homegrown tomatoes
Only two things that money can't buy
That's true love & homegrown tomatoes

Imogen and I. New Best Friends.

She's been part of my life for awhile.  I mean, she's been on my iPod for awhile, but I've neglected her.  The other day, she shuffled her way into my mix on my iPod, and I said, "Perfect." 

Imogen Heap has some crazy good music -- not necessarily my usual fare -- but unique.  Hers is the kind of music that  you want to listen to when you need to walk down the street confidently and don't care that you just may look a little stupid -- you know, like you are in a music video or an iPod commercial or something.  Or, she'll let you just sit and think and be, too.  It is good CPE-decompression music, for sure.

That's why we're friends.  I've been listening to her Speak for Yourself album.  She's been around awhile, I've been a little slow to get on her train, so you probably already know about her.  But if not, give old Imogen a try.

Hook a Brother Up.

It is the middle of summer, and I am hankering for some new music...at least to listen to on Pandora. What are you listening to? Any suggestions?

Hallelujah! It's a Foggy Day, Hollaback Girl!

I love music.  However, when a song gets stuck in my head, it can get...well...a little old.  You know, there are some stuck-in-your-head-songs some that you love, others you can handle, and still others you could really do without.

I am going to be vulnerable here....wait for it...

All of these songs I like, in and of themselves.  However, let me tell you the currently stuck-in-my-head-songs that...

a. ...I love and can definitely handle: Hallelujahs by Chris Rice.
b. ...I really can handle:  A Foggy Day by Michael Buble
c. ...I could do without:  Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani.

What about you?

Fun New Spring Music: The Weepies.

April introduced me to Deb Talan a few months ago.  I liked Deb!  Then, Adam introduced me to The Weepies this past week.  Deb Talan is one half of The Weepies.   Fun! 

They have such a unique sound, good lyrics, just fun to listen to.  I'd classify them as good Spring music, for sure.  (And if I had a band that had an album, I'd have a CD cover just like theirs.  I really like it.)

The Ransom Notes.

What a sweet day in Princeton!  My friend Eric from Austin has been on Spring Break, touring with his 12-member choir in Philadelphia.  The Ransom Notes is a select Acappella choir from the University of Texas.  They made an impromptu visit to Princeton, and I basically got a private concert all day long.  They are a gifted group -- make their own vocal arrangements, and obviously have a fun time.  I took them around, they sung in the Blair Arch, University Chapel, and in the courtyard by the Octagon, all places with great acoustics for singing.  SO great to see Eric (one of my favorite people from Austin), and to be with a fun and gifted group of college folks. 

Antje Duvekot.

Have you heard of her? I hadn't until April introduced me to her music last fall.  Duvekot reminds me of Dar Williams and Ani DiFranco. 

Great guitar, a good sound, raw lyrics, etc.  You can hear some of her sound clips here.  My favorites: Judas, Long Way.

Check her out.