Songs That Might Otherwise Pass You By


Oh yeah, for many reasons (the main one being I forgot my EZShare password), I'm posting these songs using ZShare. That means you can't directly click on the links to download the songs, but if you left-click on each song it'll take you to a page where you can either stream the song or download it. If anyone has a hard time finding the download link (it is tricky), please e-mail me or comment.


The Oaks, "For Hugh Thompson, Who Stood Alone. My Lai Massacre, Vietnam, 1968" (radio edit) (.mp3 sent to me by the band)

The OaKs ask, on their website, what 2 years spent with Aghganistan refugees sounds like. Judging by this song alone, it sounds strange, sad, beautiful, and isolated. This song is almost perfectly put together--not a note out of place, not an unnecessary instrumental flourish to be found. It's music borne from people who've had to pare down and know exactly what is needed and not needed. Lyrically, the song isn't related to Aghganistan--the song is about Hugh Thompson, a person who did the opposite of what less conscience-troubled soldiers did in Vietnam--he was instrumental in stopping a blood bath instigated by U.S. soldiers against civilians in Vietnam (NPR audo and article on Hugh Thompson). There is a connection between what happened in Vietnam and what is still happening today in so many devastated areas of the world: there are still people out there who take notice of the suffering and contribute in whatever way they can to alleviate it.

Website
Myspace


The OaKs record beautiful music

Goodtimes, Goodtimes, "Sea Shanty" (the band sent me the .mp3)

Franc Cinelli, an Englishman of Italian ancestry, but this song reminds me of some of my favorite modern celtic songs--my first thought was of Paul Brady, whose song "Help Me To Believe" (stream) still makes me stop whatever I'm doing and sit quietly to listen. It's modern folk, but with a hint of traditional Irish folk. Lyrically, the song seems to be about something as simple as living more "happyly" (see the video), but sometimes that message can be more profound than one realizes.

Website
Myspace


These are Goodtimes, Goodtimes

Wayne Petti, "Moment By Moment" (downloaded from his Myspace)

It's not often that you hear a song that echoes both the certainty and uncertainty of love so well. He's living "moment by moment", but it's not with ease. Love can take all ease away, leaving only the certainty that you have to wait out the resolution and the uncertainty of when, and how and if it will resolve. He may have to wait until "the stars align", but he knows he has to keep trying.

Wayne Petti is on one of my favorite labels
(the website address listed on his label page leads to his Myspace)


Wayne Petti looks behind him, but looks forward, also


PODCAST LATER TONIGHT!