Four for (a relaxed) Friday

Back with four song picks.  This round sticks pretty close to home base.  Chillaxin.

Blue Scholars – Lumiere (feat. The XX) / thanks to gar for turning me on to them

Cloud Cult – The Strength – Forces of the Unseen

The War on Drugs – Comin’ Through

Junip – Always

Four (Random Things) for Friday

Ok, while I know each of you looks to this weekly post for the very best in music, I’m making a slight departure from my normal routine.  Instead of four of the finest for your listening enjoyment, I’m putting up four things that I found interesting this week.

Here goes…

1)  dalton ghetti – This stuff is pretty fascinating.  I spoke this week on the intimate nature of God’s creative work.  I think these photos capture that idea some.

2) Man Crisis” – Kind of hard to top the pencil art, but saw this video a few days ago and after a string of posts on man-stuff, this one sort of slapped me in the face.  I’m not buying everything he’s selling, but at least the video is well done.

3) 180° South – A good friend passed this doc/movie my way this week.  And given my love for mountains and such, they had me at “Patagonia.”

The idea is cool.  The story was a bit thin.  The message was simplistic, vapid, and blunt.  But the cinematography was incredible!  The whole time I’m watching, I’m thinking, “Who is the Bad A filming all this?”  I wasn’t even a little surprised when the credits rolled to discover that Jimmy Chin was one of the men behind the camera.  Oh yeah, and the soundtrack is slammin’ too.

4) Great Cover – For all you Journey fans out there (and honestly, who isn’t a Journey fan?), here is a cover of one of their all time classics.

Clem Snide – Faithfully (Journey Cover)

Bonus – I feel guilty for not giving you the goods on music, so here’s a little foretaste of what’s to come from good ol’ Sufjan Stevens.

Sufjan Stevens – I Walked

He just released an EP entitled All Delighted People.  So far, there are a couple of standouts for me.  This track is off a full-length album, The Age of Adz, that he’ll be releasing sometime this fall.

Happy weekend!

Four for Friday

Here they are…

Wolf Parade – Ghost Pressure

Stereophonics – Innocent

Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling – to darkness (dharohar project)

Good Old War – That’s Some Dream (thanks @rebeccacabrera)

Four for Friday

As always – or almost always – four fine tracks to get the weekend started.

M.I.A. – Tell Me Why

Alcoholic Faith Mission – My Eyes to See

The Roots – Right On (feat. Joanna Newsom and STS)

Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs – For the Summer

Four for Friday (Returns)

A while back, I was putting some songs up every Friday.  I know that the A.A. Bondy rant as of late has been all you’ve needed to keep you musically happy for a while…  but there is more!

Each of these are songs from albums that have been eagerly anticipated by some (or just by me).  Have at it.

Arcade Fire – Ready to Start

The National – Conversation 16

Menomena – Taos

Lissie – Bully

a slow parade

A.A. Bondy – A Slow Parade

Well, last night was all that one could ask for in a live performance. It was a packed house down at Stickyz and for those who made it out, they were treated to one fine show. Like I said, I saw him in the same place last November and there were half or less there then. I guess word has gotten out.

We got to hear several songs off of When the Devil’s Loose (2009), as well as some newer things. His songs aren’t necessarily the most diverse music you’ve ever heard. He does his thing, sticks to it, and does it well. Listening to tracks online, or on iPod, or on a disc might mislead you to think that seeing him live is sort of sleepy affair. You’d be wrong. The room was filled with an energy on par with an AC/DC concert. Albeit, a different sort of energy, but nonetheless.

The track included here is one such example. Enjoy.

A.A. Bondy

So tonight, I’ll be seeing Mr. Bondy at StickyFingerz, a local music venue.  I came across his music early in 2009 and then had the chance to see him play last November.  It was a great show.  Here’s a sample of what’s probably in store for tonight.

A.A. Bondy – I Can See the Pines

A.A. Bondy – Mightiest of Guns

A.A. Bondy – I’m on Fire (Bruce Springsteen Cover)

a few songs

I obviously don’t have much going on if I’m resorting to posting random music.  The day has been filled with tidying up things that have been accumulating for weeks, months, and years in various corners of my house.  The sad thing is that I’ve got several more corners needing similar attention.  These songs make work like this slightly more tolerable.

Tokyo Police Club – Breakneck Speed

Cloud Cult – Running with the Wolves

Ghosts I’ve Met – Payphone Patience

Sleigh Bells

If you need a little something to make your music collection more interesting, you’ve just found it.  They took a some getting used to, but now I can’t get them out of my head.  Sleigh Bells… Enjoy!

Sleigh Bells – Crown on the Ground (this was a huge hit at middle school camp this summer)

Sleigh Bells – A/B Machines

Sleigh Bells – Ring Ring

Four for (Party) Friday

Ok, so by my reckoning, I’ve neglected this blog for about a month and a half.  I’m not sure what any of you have done to fill the empty void left by my blogging absence.  Probably just watched a few more minutes of American Idol or NBA playoffs.

There are a few reasons to explain the lack of activity around here, but frankly they are pretty uninteresting. So I’ll spare you.  My return would have been delayed indefinitely, but I got tired of visiting here only to see the lame excuse for a post staring back at me.  Not that this is going to be much of an improvement.  Its only redeeming quality will be that it is different.

So…  this edition of Four for Friday was inspired by the fact that this weekend there are some parties around town that are sort of a big deal.  These four should pretty much carry you all the way through.

1)  Miley Cyrus – Party in the USA

I understand that it might be a bit shocking to see something so blatantly mainstream on here.  But my favorite moment yesterday was driving around town with my nearly thirteen year old son and embarrassing him by blaring this song with the windows down.  He was literally sinking down in his seat to avoid being seen by others.  A great choice to get the ball rolling this weekend.

2)  Sleigh Bells – Crown on the Ground

This one brings things up a notch.  Hard not to love.

3)  Broken Bells – The High Road

This one is for when you are hanging late night with your friends and want to look like you are in the know on what is hip.  That’s right… hip.

4)  Romany Rye – All the Boys

When you are winding down things on Sunday, this is a good one to help you get there.  Romany Rye is largely made up of some great local musicians.  They are on tour with Delta Spirit this summer.  That’s sort of a big deal.

Alright, my work here is done.  Enjoy the weekend!