Easter Island, "Proud"

Easter Island, "Proud" (Thanks to Team Clermont for the mp3)

Band Camp

Soundies (videos of Athens bands)

Low-rent version of The Bachelor. (Hey, this is how we do everything in Georgia...)

Cowboy Junkies

Junkies in defiant mode

You know all that Folk/Americana type music I like? One of the first bands I listened to that had that country flair was Cowboy Junkies. It was a new concept to me: a rock band with a country overlay. Like salty and sweet, it worked. Until that revelation, my country music interest began and ended with Loretta, Dolly and that song "Take This Job and Shove It". Cowboy Junkies opened me up to more facets of "country" music. It can be sincere without being maudlin. It can be sexy and not rednecky.

Cowboy Junkies have recently released and are releasing new albums. You can stream "Demons" on their website ("Flirted With You All My Life" is excellent) and if you sign up for their mailing list, you can get that song and a few others free.

Cowboy Junkies' page on NPR
Videos ("Sweet Jane" is one of my favorites)

Then soon after I discovered Mazzy Star, and the top blew open for me.

Carla Morrison

Abigail Washburn

This area has very colorful trees.

Abigail Washburn

I hit a zenith of serenity today, just for a brief few moments. I was sitting at the bus stop, the wind was light, the sky was perfectly clear, there was no humidity, and all I wanted to do was let this woman's voice send me off to sleep. I was listening to Abigail Washburn's Daytrotter session, and her song "Bring Me My Queen" came on, and I thought I could drift away. Traffic didn't matter, hair whipping in my eyes didn't bother me, and the cologne invading my space from the man next to me didn't seem so obtrusive. I just sat there and looked at the planes going overhead.

Website
Facebook (Listen to more of her music under the "music" tab)

Fake Problems, ADT

Thanks to Matt for sending me this on Last FM

The Mountain Goats, "Damn These Vampires"

Because one Brian Ferry isn't enough

I really like The Mountain Goats. They have a new single out called "Damn These Vampires". I understand completely - that glowy Robert Patterson vampire is everywhere. Enough already!

The song is being hosted at Stereogum - relax, DMCAers, the promotional company Shorefire sent me this link. Right click on "download" to save the mp3.

Website
Fansite




*If you don't know who I'm talking about when I talk about Bryan Ferry, well, then, just...just...listen to Avalon. Or Slave to Love. Here's an article on him with a picture.

The Veils, "Bloom"

The Veils, "Bloom" (MP3 courtesy of KEXP Song of the Day)

*Well, crapola. The MP3 is available in their iTunes feed. It was always available on KEXP's blog before.)

Website
Allmusic


("Bloom" live)


The first Veils song I heard


More videos at their site

Lost In The Trees

I saw this excellent band last night called Lost in the Trees. Cello, tuba, violin - they incorporated all manner of instrument into their gorgeous, provocative songs. Haunting vocals, anguished emotions - everything that makes me go all gooey inside.

Lost In The Trees, "Walk Around The Lake" (more mp3s can be found at their label site)

They did a live session with Daytrotter which can be found here.
NPR Tiny Desk performance
Website
Project Symphony

Their other label, Trekky Records, also has a re-release of their previous album. They also have a few mp3s, like this one for "Tall Trees".




Lost In The Trees | A Take Away Show | Time Taunts Me from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

The Head and The Heart

I couldn't find an MP3 for these guys, but they're awesome. Just signed to Sub Pop, they're what I would consider the "quintessential" Sub Pop band: Natural, self-aware, stream-of-conscious.


Website
KEXP Live session

Even Blondie has to adapt to the times

Sub Pop page

Intro to Cerulean's Love of Pop Culture

Just this took me several hours. I won't post future episodes on here, because that's what the Pop Culture blog is for. I just wanted to post that it was up there.

I also wanted to show why I may not get a music post up. I'm exhausted. Controlling the volume on Audacity is...a challenge.