Getting Spun

Here are some albums that I've been listening to a lot lately that I'm really enjoying. I definitely recommend everything on this list

• Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger ::> [Amazon] [Rhapsody]
  I think Ryan Adams is one of the most prolific songwriters of our day. He just never stops, and this album is outrageously good. Not many artists can compare to releasing
  
• The Hives - The Black And White Album ::> [Amazon]
  Rocking album! Pretty fun and very solid musicianship. For some reason, not what I expected. Can't figure out where or how I had gotten some incorrect pre-conceived idea of who this band was and what they sounded like. I really like this album!
  
• Josh Ritter - Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter ::> [Amazon]
  This album has probably gotten more play than any of the others in this list. Ritter is an incredible talent and is often compared to Bob Dylan. A very prolific creative nature and a force to be reckoned with as we watch him continue to grow and write.
  
• Queen - Queen Rock Montreal ::> [Amazon]
  Holy Shit! This band really was something else. My first time ever hearing Queen live, other than one or two live hits.
  
• Nathan Moore - In His Own Words ::> [Amazon]
  Oh man... Where can I possibly start with a person as incredible as Nathan Moore?! The man really knows how to write a song. One fourth of the band Surprise Me Mr. Davis, along with The Slip, he has this uncanny ability to relate to everyone in his songs. His words are so clever and meaningful but also full of incredible stories, stunning puns, and knock-out one-liners that will force you to ponder upon for weeks. While the album is not his best, it's still great. I favor him in Surprise Me Mr. Davis, but I'm biased to that band - The Slip is one of my most favorite bands ever.
  
• The Killers - Sawdust ::> [Amazon]
  I didn't really care for their first album, nearly brushed them off as some spin off of a glam rock band. But their new album is full of B-sides, covers and
  
• Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight ::> [Amazon]
  I played this album to death, yet I still find myself spinning it again and again sometimes. Who would have thought Jenny Lewis had such a dirty mind?
  
• Steve Earl - Washington Square Serenade ::> [Amazon]
  Alt-Country rocker moves to New York City and shows off a new side! Same old Steve Earl with a NYC perspective. A very talented songwriter and musician.
  
• Southeast Engine - A Wheel Within a Wheel ::> [Amazon]
  One of JamBase's top writers, Dennis Cook, has incredible taste in music. His feature articles, CD reviews and show reviews always get me interested in new tunes. I got turned onto Southeast Engine by Dennis's CD review of the album. What a great disc! I can hear vocal influences from Wilco (Jeff Tweedy), with a ting of Margot & The Nuclear So & So's. Its a pretty fun album and I'm still spun.
  
• Cloud Cult - The Meaning of 8 ::> [Amazon]
  Jesus, I love this band. Seriously, if you don't know who they are you have to go out and get The Meaning of 8 and Advice From the Happy Hippopotamus. Both fantastic albums, and one of the most creative bands I've heard in a while. Makes me proud to be from the Midwest when I listen to this Minnesota band
  
• Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand ::> [Amazon]
  Wow! What an unlikely pairing, with wonderful and relaxing songs that transcend time. I'm hearing "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" on the radio out here a lot. Soon I'll be sick of it, but the first time I heard it - I couldn't figure out who it was. It sounds like an Elvis song!!
  
• The New Pornographers - Challengers ::> [Amazon]
  Cool disc! Their previous work never impressed me as much as this album does. Check it out.
  
• Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga ::> [Amazon] [Rhapsody]
  Yup, that's 5, count 'em, FIVE Ga's! This band, now touring, writing and peroforming for more than a dozen years, are just finally on the upswing they've been waiting for. It's uncertain why they didn't get bigger much sooner because they're an amazing band, and pretty fun live! Saw them at Bonnaroo 2007 for the first time. Favorites: "My Little Japanese Cigarette Case",
  
• Sea Wolf - Get To The River Before It Runs Too Low ::> [Amazon]
  This is the EP release just months prior to the full LP they released. Some of the songs spill from the EP onto the album, but in comparing the two, the EP is much stronger than the full length album.
  
• Jonathan Rice - Further North ::> [Amazon]
  Where has this guy been? I'd never heard of him, and then stumbled upon his stuff on Rhapsody. Shortly after, a friend mentioned him to me and thought "Woah! People do know this guy? Great!" Excellent disc, wonderful songwriting, his voice, songs and the production make this disc nearly perfect.

Many many more to come that I couldn't squeeze into this post.
P.S. I wanted to include more links, but that shit's time consuming!

Songwriters Circle

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Oh wait?! Am I awake, or dreaming? Am I at work or am I.... well, I have a few things to catch you up on, hopefully they won't all run together.

Last Saturday I hosted a Songwriters Circle at my place. It was supposed to be a bit larger than it ended up being, but we had Nick Z, Quinn, Fancy Dan, Adam Balbo and myself. We were missing a few, but we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.

I think it's safe to say that we are all pretty serious about our songwriting and love for music in general. So we wanted more than just an open mic feel to the gathering. Anyone could play whatever they wanted, but if you were looking for specific feedback, this was your chance to ask for it; ask and ye shall receive.

It's what I always crave, constructive criticism. Not only do I actively seek this out in my songwriting, but other areas of my life as well. Music. Work. Habits. Personal interaction.

So a good time was had by all. Great feedback was openly welcomed and I look forward to another event like this again - hopefully with a few more of our friends.

WorstSpace

I tell you what, I'm not sure why the hell I have 2 MySpace profiles for a site that I absolutely hate. Always hated it. Ever since the first day I visited it and thought "what's the big deal?" Well the big deal is their tipping point, that's it. A concept that is becoming pretty common nomenclature is driving entire industries. It's no longer the cool social network, it's the required marketing tool to push your newest movie, song, band, website or whatever else you can think up to clutter the internet some more.

Last night I logged into my MySpace artist account to update it with a few links to marketplaces where my album can be purchased. Now usually, when a person goes to a site, logs in and then shuts down their browser without logging out, it's not a big deal, but with MySpace - it seems to be a huge no-no! It's happened to me before, but I got burned once again. This morning I received 23 new friend requests and messages. Not a single one was from someone I knew. Sorry, I don't know any "HunnyBunzz" please go away.

Yep, I hear you - "Stop complaining and just turn your profile to private" ... but then why have an account at all? I feel like I want to put a "No Soliciting" sticker on the front page. How can MySpace hold up amidst the girl spam, guerrilla marketing and just plain idiots? Charging tens of thousands of dollars for mediocre ad space. It really scares me when I hear friends or acquaintances say "I love MySpace!" It makes me cringe... I hate it.

WorstSpaceEver.