Winter Song

This song has been stuck in my head for a few days. It's kind of fitting as winter has finally made its way to these parts. I don't usually enjoy cold or snow, but I am delighted by both at the moment.

the tube

for your listening pleasure.

No Moment

No {this moment}  this week as I didn't take any photos. Instead I have been knitting up a storm and working when I am called in. But seriously, knitting up a storm. I will take photos today to show you what I have made in the last five days.

For now I will leave you with this little video. Erik and I were obsessed with it a while ago and my sister-in-law recently posted it to her blog reminding me of how much I love it. It sometimes hits me just so and makes me all teary eyed and nostalgic.

Fleet Foxes

So.Dang.Good.

this brings me back

I used to listen to this song on repeat as I studied in the wee hours of the morning in high school. I haven't heard it in years and I don't know what made me think of it, but I'm so glad I did! It will hopefully serenade me to sleep. G'night!

Listen and Repeat

I have been listening to this song on repeat. I especially love when you can hear both voices -- the melodic feminine and the raspy masculine creating a complementary contrast.

I like the original just as much. I couldn't pick a favorite if I had to. This is what one of the commenters said about Tom Waits and this song:

"There is no other music that makes me think and feel more deeply than Tom Waits. I know of no other artist who has so captured such a wide range of human emotions and experiences and presented them in raw, unpolished and mesmerizingly beautiful forms."

The Signal

Ashley is always asking me to post on her blog.  I am not apposed to it completely except for the fact that I know that if I ever started I would face never ending requests from her to write about this experience or that experience.

I would like to take the opportunity to write about The Signal, something I've been amazed with for the last year and a bit.  The Signal is a radio show on CBC radio 2 which plays weekdays from 10pm-12am.  I don't get to listen to it all that often anymore since moving to a day time job but I still listen to past episodes using the CBC radio 2 website.

http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/thesignal/listenagain.html


This radio show has been a source of fantastic new music for me and I very much appreciate the hosts stories, thoughts, and musings on life and music.  They play songs you may never here from any other source but once heard they become instant classics.  Songs can range dramatically; alternative, classical, jazz, contemporary, folk, blues, and more are all represented.  Each show I hear at least one song that I absolutely love and at least one song that I don't like at all.  I especially love the songs I don't like because they are not bad songs, just not my style.  I do not dislike them because they are devoid of creativity or obviously written by some other person and sold to the newest teen sensation, I dislike them simply because it is not something I'm not interested in at the moment.

Ashley has posted some of the songs of the Signal I'm into once in a while but I really felt like I should share this little gem with everyone, perhaps even some adventurous people will check it out.  I often put it on when I'm doing paper work.  I'll be focusing on something and then all of a sudden my brain will register that a certain song is actually amazing, usually half way through the song; those moments are my favorites.

Maybe I'll post every so often with some of my signal favorites past and present... maybe.  Here are a couple from this last week that I can't get out of my head.

The first is "Way go lily" by Sam Amidon.  Love everything about it.



The second is "Group autogenics II" by the Books.  Some background is required for this I believe.  This group takes audio recordings, whatever strikes their fancy, and makes it more interesting.  They have a song called "Cold freezing night" that is taken from some recordings one of the members found from when they had stayed at a friends house and recorded stories on tape when they were 10 years old or so.  This song is taken from some relaxation tapes they got a hold of.  I love how absurd it all is; creepy, disjointed, nonsensical, and yet somehow extremely relaxing and fun!



"Look out their now.  Look.  There's an L and then there is an O and then there is a V and then there is an E.  A box, of love, in the matter, of your mind, keep a lid on it!"

Hah!

Hope you enjoy!

By the way, tomorrow is Ashley's birthday.  I think she's turning 20 or something?  Make sure to wish her happy birthday.

E

Sufjan - Age of Adz

Sufjan is amazing. We went to his concert in Seattle this weekend and I came home with a huge crush on him. He is everything I love: super awkward, super quirky, and super talented. Don't worry, Erik has a crush on him too so we have an understanding.

His concert was amazing. He's gotten a bit of flak because of his new album, Age of Adz. It is a very different than his previous albums and there are more than a few people who don't like it. I, however, love it! He played through almost the entire album at his concert and it was awesome!!!! He warmed us up with Seven Swans and then dove right into his new stuff... and I loved every minute of it. It probably helped that I had been listening to his new album incessantly. 

Sufjan though. Back to him. I love him! We were in the 10th row (only $30!) so I had a very nice view of the man and I certainly enjoyed it. He is so awkward and I adore awkward. I don't even know how to explain why I enjoyed him so much... He's just Sufjan. I know the photo below is blurry, but it's the best one I have. It was difficult for me to focus on both holding my camera still and enjoying the show. 

The concert was October 30 so Sufjan had his band dress up for halloween which was pretty funny.  One of his band  members, a trombonist, came out in a little dress with an umbrella that he twirled around. I know it sounds pretty typical, but it was hilarious!! We were laughing so hard every time he graced us with his presence.

We had the pleasure of enjoying the concert at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. It was an absolutely stunning venue. Erik says it was originally built for ballet. It was gorgeous! There were chandeliers all over the place as or even more beautiful than this one.

The ceiling looked like this!

And this is what the balcony looked like (Erik snuck up there to take this picture). All of my pictures from our seats were blurry because I couldn't hold my hand still. Imagine it as magnificent as this though. It was incredible!

And in case you aren't sick of hearing about Sufjan yet, listen to this next song. It's in two parts because the song is 25 minutes long. It is wonderful for car rides... eight times through and I would be at my parent's doorstep. 

Vesuvius

A little Sufjan for you.

Bloodbuzz Ohio

I love this man's voice. There is something about this song that makes me want to weep but at the same time it is so peaceful. And at the same time when I watch the video rather than just listening I want to laugh hysterically. I'm a big fan.

take a listen

I first heard this song on SYTYCD and loved it. I somehow stumbled across it again a couple days ago and am still loving it.

Samson

I am loving this song.

Glasgow Love Theme

This is the very song my niece played while my sisters and I walked down the aisle at my wedding. One of my favorite memories is standing at the top of the stairs with my sisters and my dad while my niece started playing this. It was so beautiful. She did a fabulous job! I didn't cry walking down the aisle, but I shed a tear or two standing there with my daddy and hearing the whole room grow silent as Jessie Bessie started playing this.

The song still makes my eyes well up with tears. I love it.

I.Can't.Stop.Dancing.

Try listening and not bouncing... even if it's only a little bounce. I know I can't stop myself.

Dreamt For Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain

Erik showed me this yesterday. We sat in silence and listened to it on repeat. I would recommend taking ten minutes to sit and listen.
It is beautiful.