SPIN and TELL

A MUSIC BLOG: disc dialogue. music magazine memorabilia. concert catalogue.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Spinning This Week:

Michael Franti and Spearhead : Yell Fire!
Paisley Dave : Standing
Mary Said : Detergent
John Mayer : Continuum
Paul Wright : Sunrise to Sunset
Matisyahu : Youth
Maroon 5 : Songs About Jane
U2 : How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
The Dresden Dolls : Self-titled
David Crowder*Band : A Collision
Core : Self-titled
Core : More Than Oceans
Polarboy : Back from Nowhere
P.O.D. : Testify
Sufjan Stevens : Illinois
No Hit Wonders : Courageous
Mat Kearney : Nothing Left to Lose
Ray LaMontagne : Till the Sun Turns Black
Linford Detweiler : I Don't Think There's No Need to Bring Nothin'

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Friday, January 26, 2007

Burlap to Cashmere Plays Nashville

Speaking of Burlap to Cashmere, I just found out that the BTC boys will be in town on Feb. 14, followed by none other than The Wooten Brothers. Sounds like a great Valentine's Day to me!

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Monday, January 22, 2007

Spinning This Week:

Kierra Kiki Sheard : I Owe You
Derek Webb : Mockingbird
Josh Schicker : Wonderful Fool
Leeland : Sound of Melodies
James Taylor : The Best of James Taylor
Mute Math : Reset
Fold Zandura : Self-titled
Fono : GoesAroundComesAround
Switchfoot : Oh! Gravity
The Episode : Now in Full Color
Rachel Carrozziere : Just for Today
Marzuki : No One Likes a Nervous Wreck

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Saturday, January 20, 2007

Old Enough to Know

Am I getting old or just changing? Don't get me wrong -- I love and need a good rock-n-roll anthem, and even a good urban jam, when the time is right. (Never underestimate the power of a powerhouse hook or a hot beat!) I just find myself with less and less interest in alternative, rapcore and rap/hip-hop tunes these days.

For example, for the last many years, I have named Skillet one of my favorite bands. A few months ago, the band released its most critically acclaimed record to date. I bought the album and can understand the celebration behind it, but, surprisingly, I am not thrilled with Skillet's success the way I may have been just a few years ago. In fact, despite this major victory, I recently removed Skillet from my list of favorites, shocking even myself.

Of course, I know that I am changing and developing as a person and an adult, as I continue to seek growth and health. I welcome wellness, wisdom and maturity. But is my commitment to growth responsible for my morphing musical tastes?

Perhaps some of it is due to the fact that I am purposefully engaging my writing gifts, with the intent to develop them more fully. Acknowledging the fact that, arguably, some of the best lyrics are sung by singer-songwriters, folksters and thoughtful rockers, it makes sense that I've been drawn to those genres more exclusively.

I also confess that in my personal and spiritual advancement of late, I am beginning to see the world with new eyes. I am appreciating the beauty of a good line or a good melody more than ever before. In light of that, I suppose that hard, harsh, dark, trite music is less and less appealing.

Or maybe I'm just getting old.

Note: Admittedly, if all I listen to is deeply moving, beautiful music with well-crafted lyrics, I eventually crave a good dose of party music to break up all the intensity.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007

For Whom the (Wedding) Bell Tolls

Yesterday I learned that singer-songwriter Josh Schicker was recently married. In honor of the recent nuptials, I've been spinning some of his tunes. Josh is a fellow Hope College alumnus. I had one of those harmless "musician crushes" on him years ago. Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Schicker, and many blessings on their new family.

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Back to the Future

The fabulous folksters of Burlap to Cashmere recently reunited. The band will tour with Jars of Clay beginning next month.

Also, frontman Steven Delopoulos' sophomore solo album is due to come out later this year.

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Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Spinning This Week:

Kirk Franklin : Hero
Cool Hand Luke : The Balancing Act
Michelle Malone : Beneath the Devil Moon
Over the Rhine : Drunkard's Prayer
Sufjan Stevens : Seven Swans
Mat Kearney : Nothing Left to Lose
Josh Schicker : Self-titled
Burlap to Cashmere : Anybody Out There?
Aaron Sprinkle : Lackluster
Josh Schicker : Wonderful Fool
Josh Schicker : Moonlighting
Garrison Starr : The Sound of You & Me
David Andersen : Midnight
John Mayer : Continuum

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Saturday, January 13, 2007

To See or not to See

Just found out that Derek Webb will be playing at Rocketown on the 25th. Trying to decide whether or not to go. On the positive tip, there's a good chance it will be a sit-down event...

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Monday, January 08, 2007

Spinning This Week:

Mindy Smith : Long Island Shores
Ray LaMontagne : Till the Sun Turns Black
Downhere : Wide-Eyed and Mystified
Over the Rhine : Patience
Leeland : Sound of Melodies
Jeff Buckley : Grace
Kirk Franklin : Hero
Over the Rhine : Films for Radio
Sufjan Stevens : Illinois
Phil Wickham : Self-titled
Velour 100 : Songs from the Rainwater EP
Velour 100 : Of Colour Bright
Ray LaMontagne : Trouble
Cool Hand Luke : The Balancing Act

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Sunday, January 07, 2007

Best of 2006

TOP 5 FAVORITE ALBUMS:
~ in alphabetical order ~
Mat Kearney - Nothing Left to Lose
Leeland - Sound of Melodies
My Brightest Diamond - Bring Me the Workhorse
Over the Rhine - Snow Angels
Phil Wickham - Self-titled

FAVORITE NEW ARTIST:
Phil Wickham

FAVORITE CONCERT:
Sufjan Stevens with My Brightest Diamond - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 11

FAVORITE SONG:
Nate Sallie - Breakthrough

FAVORITE ARTWORK/DESIGN:
Jennifer Knapp - Live

FAVORITE NOVELTY PROJECT:
Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas

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Saturday, January 06, 2007

Sufjan Contributes to Joni Mitchell Tribute

Asthmatic Kitty Records reports: Nonesuch Records has invited Sufjan Stevens to open the new Joni Mitchell tribute album. Sufjan will be sharing space on the record with Björk, Prince, Evis Costello and James Taylor. The album, appropriately entitled A Tribute to Joni Mitchell, will be released this spring.

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Thursday, January 04, 2007

For Nostalgia's Sake: Phantom Moon

I remember sitting in September Woods, a coffeehouse in Holland, Mich., and hearing a singer-songwriter that caught my ear in the late 90s/early 00s. I inquired about the music the shop was playing and discovered that it was an artist named Duncan Sheik. I liked the laid back, night time melodies and decided to look into purchasing his music. Shortly thereafter, I found Phantom Moon at the Tulip City's Meijer discount store. It's funny, I could probably tell you a story about each CD in my collection. As I often say, the little things that mean a lot make every day a holiday.

Side note: Having acquainted myself with the music of Teitur these years later, I have to wonder if Mr. Sheik has influenced him. I can hear it.

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Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Patience Is a Virtue

I found Over the Rhine's second release, 1992's Patience, on eBay AND HAD THE WINNING BID of $10.50. I just received the package today. The remarkable thing about this purchase is that Patience is now out of print [though the band is selling the disc without the artwork (booklet, etc.)]. This helps to alleviate the pain I suffered from my two previous eBay losses. (See my 10/15/06 and 10/30/06 posts, Poster Child and Defeat Repeat.)

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So Long, Farewell

According to ChristianMusicToday.com, bassist Phil Joel has retired from the Newsboys and P.O.D. guitarist Jason Truby announced his departure just two weeks following official word that the rapcore's original axeman, Marcos Curiel, had returned to the Payable On Death lineup. For more, click here.

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Tuesday, January 02, 2007

My Two Cents: Begin to Hope

: JAZZY, CLASSICAL POP :

I had seen and heard a lot of good things about Regina Spektor and her latest record, and had been contemplating a purchase. So, when I saw that Target sells the disc for $9.99, I doled out the cash. Sadly, I don't really care for the album. It's not terrible, but it doesn't do anything for me. Ms. Spektor does not provide the same pizazz that My Brightest Diamond and Over the Rhine do (both of which have similarities to Spektor's style). Perhaps a live performance will win me over someday. I do like "Us," a cut off of her previous project. I've read that that record is more "sparse" than Begin to Hope. Accordingly, I fear that I may prefer Soviet Kitsch to this album.

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Spinning This Week:

Regina Spektor : Begin to Hope
Mindy Smith : Long Island Shores
Jill Parr : Me Again
Over the Rhine : Patience
Switchfoot : Oh! Gravity
Duncan Sheik : Phantom Moon
Ray LaMontagne : Til the Sun Turns Black
Dynamic Twins : No Room 2 Breathe
Over the Rhine : Snow Angels
Sufjan Stevens : Seven Swans

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