Music

Jason Isbell on Fresh Air

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The more listens I give to Jason Isbell's remarkable album, Southeastern, the more I love it.

I point you to a lot of music and most of the time I blog on albums when they are on sale. Finding a good album for $5 or cheaper is joy. Southeastern is full price. It's $9.99. And it's worth three times the price. If you wait and spend your money only when albums are on sale, you will miss something remarkable. 

I submit into evidence Jason Isbell's recent appearance on NPR's Fresh Air podcast. Isbell plays a few of his songs live and talks about his own struggles with addiction. It's a great interview. And every song on this album makes me think. I hope you'll check it out.

Music Monday 7.15.13

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Music Sale

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Music Monday 7.1.13

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Music Monday 470The fine folks from Bifrost Arts has a new worship album out. I've liked everything they've done to this point, so this is worthy of our attention.

Music Sale

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  • Jason Isbell: Southeastern | Getting a remarkable amount of play. A fantastic album.
  • Vampire Weekend: Modern Vampires of the City | This is getting the most play. Best album they've made. My kids love it too.

Summer Music

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You need summer music. Summer music doesn't have to mean listening to something either super poppy or power-fun. You can find fun, power, and thoughtfulness at the same time. You can listen to fun summer music with huge, retro hooks that also is on an album that will stand the test of time.

My favorite album of the year that sounds best on a hot, sunny day with the windows of the car down and the radio turned up is Mikal Cronin's MCII. And it's only $6.99. I think you are gonna love this one.

Cronin

New Music Tuesday 5.21.13

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National

The National: Trouble Will Find Me | 8.4 Pitchfork "Best New Music" 

Delusions of Adequacy: "The National are such a powerfully gifted band, they need no theatrics to deliver an absolutely stone-cold beast of an album. With the music that is on here there is yet another thirteen songs to savor and salivate over until the next batch of songs comes about."

Daft

Daft Punk: Random Access Memories | 8.8 Pitchfork "Best New Music" 

The Telegraph: "Their return should be heralded from on high, because it is the boldest, smartest, most colourful and purely pleasurable dance album of this decade."

Music Monday 5.13.13

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You should be checking out Vampire Weekend's new album, Modern Vampires of the City, streaming free on iTunes. It's out tomorrow and I will be buying it.

The Handsome Family: Wilderness is an enjoyable listen. Stream it free. Soothing.

Still $5, but ending today, is Deerhunter: Monomania. I picked it up and really dig it. All Deerhunter stuff is excellent.

Do check out the $5 albums for May, including some of the best albums I own.

If you haven't heard of Colin Stetson, and most of you probably haven't, check this out. He plays for Bon Iver, but this is from his album New History Warfare Vol 3: To See More Light. Stick with it. Quite interesting. He does circular breathing, has a mic on his throat, a mic for percussion on his sax, and more. Wowzers.

Jesus Wants My Heart by Daniel Renstrom

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I'm listening to Daniel Renstrom's new album, Jesus Wants My Heart. It's a family worship album of songs that kids and parents will both enjoy. enjoy singing together. I can tell you that right off the bat I was singing along. A wonderful balance of Gospel and theology in song.

Here are five things Daniel hopes this album will do. Go Read more at Daniel's blog. 

  1. I hope that families will have rich theological discussions because of the songs on JWMH.  
  2. I hope that families have fun listening to these songs.
  3. I hope that these songs give your kids good categories to love God and fight sin.
  4. I hope that these songs help parents fulfill Deuteronomy 6:6-7.
  5. I hope these songs will have evangelistic fruit.

There are songs Renstrom wrote and some hymns. I think you will love it.

New Music Tuesday | Oblivion Soundtrack

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I'm no expert on soundtracks and scores, though there are some I just love. Part of the reason some are so appealing to me is they are cohesive and I occasionally find one that is a joy to play as I work, write, study, etc. One new soundtrack that fits my tastes and is by a band I just love, M83, is the Oblivion Soundtrack. I have no idea if the movie is any good, and at this point I don't care. I'm just enjoying the sounds as I work. And it's only $5 for a short time! Go get it.Oblivion

$5 Albums | April 2013

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If you haven't seen them yet, here are some albums you need to check out that are only $5 right now!

Streaming FREE Albums 4.8.13

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Iron & Wine: Ghost on Ghost | Whoa. A whole different sound. Interested in your feedback.

The Flaming Lips: The Terror | "Sounding almost post-apocalyptic in its scabrous, searching bleakness — Coyne himself describes the album as "disturbing"..." Yikes. 

The Shouting Matches: Grownass Man | Includes Justin Vernon of Bon Iver playing mostly falsetto-less blues-rock. I hear Wilco, Black Keys, & other flavors here. This isn't your hipsters' Justin Vernon. And it may be impossible for this to have been recorded in a rural cabin. Check it out.

The Knife: Shaking the Habitual | One of my favorite, creepy, beat-centric bands. Get ready for quirk.

New Music Tuesday 3.19.13

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Several significant albums released today. I wanted to point out the ones I recommend you check out. There are even more than these I'm checking out but don't know well enough to recommend for you. This week I'm struggling to choose which to buy. I want all of these, and maybe a couple more. A good problem to have!

Low: The Invisible Way | One of my favorite bands with what sounds like is another great album. Highly recommend you check Low out. Many good reviews too.

Justin Timberlake: The 20/20 Experience | Before you roll your eyes, Pitchfork gives it 8.4/10. I think JT has been making some of the best, coolest, most fun pop music around...and that was 7 years ago. Now finally with a new album, we get one of the most interesting, engaging, funny, and talented performers of our time with fresh lungs and sounds. Enjoy!

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Specter at the Feast | $5 right now. A bit of return to form to earlier albums I really loved. Paste: 8/10. I think this is a band often overlooked and who should have a wider appeal.

Phosophorescent: Muchacho | Getting great reviews. Pitchfork 8.8/10. I heard this streaming free and really liked it and will be picking it up.

Anais Mitchell & Jefferson Hamer: Child Ballads | Not "ballads for children," but Celtic & British ballads compiled by Francis James Child. You'll struggle to find an album more thoroughly beautiful this week.

Stornoway: Tales from Terra Firma | Wonderful acoustic, folksy sounds. Very interested in this one.

Woodkid: The Golden Age | Fascinating sounds, from haunting vocals and to a visual quality to the music. It's engaging. Reminds me of Antony & the Johnsons as well as my album of the year a couple of years ago, The Poison Tree.

Les Miserables Soundtrack (Deluxe Edition) | If you can't stop singing it (see: my wife and daughter), this 42 track double album is the whole dealio. A must for lovers of the film/musical.