Anthem Tour

Last night I went to my fourth Hanson concert. No, I'm not ashamed. IT WAS AWESOME. I've been a fan since my senior year of high school, when my sister and I had Middle of Nowhere on repeat. Since then they've gone indie and released five more albums and who knows how many B-sides and EPs. When people laugh that Hanson began and ended with MMMbop, it just shows that they haven't paid attention. The overall musicianship of these brothers is amazing. They've been playing together as a band almost their entire lives, and it shows. They even did an instrument round-robin in the middle of the show - how many groups can do that? Did I mention that they also fundraise for wells in Africa and created their own craft beer called MMMHops?

My friend Hillary was game to go with me even though she's not a huge fan. I warned her ahead of time that I would be acting extremely uncool during the show. Now that she's seen me in the Hanson Zone and still wants to be friends, I feel that we've advanced to a new level. ♥ But I did miss my sister, and my friend Bethany, both of whom would have been acting a fool and singing every word along with me.

Taylor is considered the heartthrob, but Isaac (the oldest brother) has always been my favorite. And now I have this fantastic picture of him looking RIGHT AT ME. I may have swooned a little. But just a little because all of them are married and have lots of kids. ;)

Each of my Hanson experiences has been a little different. For some reason, the nostalgia was especially strong at this show. I felt like I'd re-lived the past 15 years of my life, remembering where I used to listen to these songs and what was going on at the time. From walking around the U of M campus listening to "A Minute Without You" on a Discman, to car-dancing in my 2013 Elantra to "Get The Girl Back"... we've all come a long way.

Hiding Places Giveaway Winners

Thanks to everyone who entered the Myla Smith Hiding Places giveaway! The lucky winners are:

Congrats to Erin, Emily, and Bethany! I'll mail these out to you no later than Monday.

For everyone else, Hiding Places will be available on iTunes, Amazon, Bandcamp, etc. next Tuesday, September 10! Also, Memphians, come out to Myla's release show with Misti Rae at Minglewood Hall next Friday the 13th. You can enter to win free tickets at her Facebook page.

Happy weekend!

Myla Smith "Hiding Places" Giveaway

My friend Myla Smith will release her third studio album, Hiding Places, on September 10! She and the album were featured in Billboard magazine last week (and also the Memphis Flyer).

I've been singing along to Myla's songs since her coffee-shop days ten years ago, and she's come 100% into her own on this record. Recorded in Nashville with a whole slew of legendary musicians and producers, Hiding Places is confident, honest, and really catchy. It's about bravery and hope and what it means to really love someone. It has something for everybody.

I can't wait for this album to be unleashed on the world... but three of you won't have to wait! I have three copies of Hiding Places to give away. Comment below to enter, and tell your friends. The giveaway will close on Friday at 3 pm, at which time I'll randomly select three winners. Yay!

Flutie Patootie

Something personally momentous happened last night. I went to my first practice of my suburb's community band!

I've played the flute off and on for most of my life. Since leaving my old church (which had a wonderfully inclusive music ministry) over three years ago, I haven't been involved with a band or orchestra, so many people who've met me since then don't even know about my flute side. I'm not a professional or even a very talented amateur - especially after a LONG hiatus. But I do love to play, and have hoped for a low-pressure opportunity to play with a group again.

The community band put on an impressive show at our fireworks on July 3rd. Listening to them, I remembered that I had intended to look into that when I moved to the neighborhood... almost seven years ago. (Hey, my life was a lot crazier back then.) I made a mental note to do some research. A little while later I ran into my yoga teacher, who knows I used to play. We started talking about the band, and it turned out that one of her companions was in it! She introduced us, and he encouraged me to come to one of their weekly practices. He assured me that it's very low-key, there's no audition process, and you can come and go as needed. The whole encounter felt like a neon sign from God. So I decided to check it out.

No matter how long I'm "away," the band room atmosphere always feels like coming home to me - rustling music, clicking buckles on instrument cases, conversations half-shouted over scales and that timpani that just won't be quiet. It's a unifying experience even if you're in a room with total strangers. My playing was rough (seriously, I have a LOT of work to do - my intonation is long gone), and the music was tougher than I expected, but I really enjoyed it. Not for the first time, I felt thankful to my mom for insisting I take up an instrument when I was a kid. When music is drilled into you in your formative years, it's like riding a bike when you're an adult. You can always come back to it.

Everyone was really welcoming (including the director), but I could see that, as is usually the case, they already have a lot of flutes. In my church band I was needed to fill out the sound, but clearly this community band doesn't need another mediocre flutist. (We're a dime a dozen, which is partly why, if I had it to do over, I think I would have chosen the oboe.) Still, they're willing to let me play! So I plan to keep going and see what develops. I really don't need another weekly commitment, but I think getting back in touch with my musical side (even temporarily) will be great for my overall health and maybe even my writing. I'm thankful for the opportunity.

The New Paramore

Throughout my life, I've had symbiotic experiences with several of my favorite musicians - records that fully expressed whatever I was going through at the time of their release. Paramore, band of my heart since 2006, has never let me down in that regard. Their 2009 album Brand New Eyes roughly coincided with, and reflected, the implosion of my marriage... to the point that I can't listen to some of those songs now. But their new self-titled release has lived up to happier expectations! Like me, the band seems to be turning a corner.

Paramore comes from a much lighter, more hopeful place than Brand New Eyes, while maintaining its honesty and edge. It's about putting down baggage and looking forward, not back; embracing your dreams and your current reality. With the dual influences of the 80s and Los Angeles (where Paramore wrote and recorded the album), it's also a LOT of fun. Hayley Williams said in an interview that she was listening to a lot of Blondie at the time, and it shows in the best ways.

I'm sure I'll adopt new favorite tracks as I keep listening to this record, but my first-impression favorite is "Ain't It Fun" - both for its punchy, relatable lyrics and for the gospel choir that joins in about halfway through. How can you not love a pop/punk/rock band that incorporates a gospel choir?? The ukelele interludes made me laugh (especially "I'm Not Angry Anymore"), "Last Hope" almost left me in tears on the elliptical, and "Part II" blew me away artistically. It's a wiser, minor-key reprise of their most zealous anthem, "Let The Flames Begin" from Riot! I find it extremely cool and brave when artists revisit their old work and basically say, "Here's what has stood the test of time, and here's where I've changed my mind."

If you already love Paramore, you'll be thrilled by this album. If you've been wanting to check them out, "Now" is the time (see what I did there?) because this is their best work yet! ♥


PS - I've always admired Hayley's bold haircolor choices, but I am not loving the microbangs. Though if anyone can pull them off, it's her.

February Music Mixup

This month I participated again in the Music Mixup hosted by Kim at TheKOStory! Each month Kim chooses a theme and assigns partners to swap mix CDs. It's fun to see how people interpret the themes differently. February was about, of course, LOVE! My swap partner was Breanna from Sweet Silver Lining. I stuck to a romantic theme on the CD I made (you can see what I sent her here), but Breanna's tracklist celebrated love of all kinds (even love of shoes!). It also had a strong American Idol factor. :) We chose several of the same artists, too.

Tracklist:
1. Cruise - Florida Georgia Line
2. Beautiful - Bethany Dillon
3. King of Anything - Sara Bareilles
4. Valentine - Kina Grannis
5. I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz
6. God Gave Me You - Blake Shelton
7. This Kiss - Carly Rae Jepsen
8. Like My Mother Does - Lauren Alaina
9. Don't Stop Believin' - Glee Cast   :)
10. If I Didn't Have You - Thompson Square
11. Home - Phillip Phillips
12. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
13. Follow Through - Gavin DeGraw
14. Open Toes - Katharine McPhee
15. The House That Built Me - Miranda Lambert
16. Halo - Bethany Joy Lenz
17. If It Makes You Happy - Sheryl Crow
18. Sweet Silver Lining - Kate Voegele


A lot of artists I like were represented here, plus a few I've been interested in hearing, like Florida Georgia Line. "Follow Through" is a favorite of mine too, and this was an acoustic version I hadn't heard before! Also, I think Bethany Joy Lenz (aka Haley from One Tree Hill) is awesome, but I'd never heard any of her original music. Finally, Blake and Miranda are my favorite couple in country music, so it's fun that they're both on here. Thanks, Breanna!

Music Mixup Swap: January

Very old picture of my iPod... back when my phone matched!

I love putting together mixes and playlists. It's practically my spiritual gift. So when Kim at The K.O. Story (a fellow Memphis blogger) announced a Music Mixup Swap, I was in! The theme for this month was, appropriately, New Beginnings. Kim matched me with Christine from A Day In The Life. I checked out her blog to get an idea of her musical taste, and sensed right away that we would be sympatico. Unfortunately, thanks to the lovely U.S. Postal Service, Christine hasn't received her mix yet. It has a lot of my usual suspects on it, though. The CD she made for me arrived right on time:

  

I already know and like most of these songs, and have even put a few of them on my annual soundtracks. The songs I didn't know were great too. This CD was the perfect accompaniment this weekend as I drove around enjoying the sunshine! Thanks Christine! :)

I'm looking forward to next month's swap!

The 2012 Soundtrack

 

I've been making annual soundtracks - musical yearbooks - since 2002. My soundtrack is frequently on my mind throughout the year. Since I'm old school and limit it to what will fit on a CD, the final selection usually requires multiple tweakings and tough decisions. Even though I'm the only one who cares about it, it's a labor of love.

I usually say a little something about each selection, but this year it would be very repetitive, because many songs just reflected exactly how I was feeling about something. In some cases, I liked the song purely for itself. For others it was a combination. So if I have an observation, I'll make it, and if it was a strong "This is my life" choice, I'll just star it. Okay? Okay.  

1. Afterlife - Switchfoot
One of the first songs I glommed onto after the New Year.
  
2. Wishing Heart - Lisa Loeb*  

3. Drive All Night - Needtobreathe
Probably my favorite track from The Reckoning. I got SO PUMPED when they played this at Music Fest.  

4. Crazy Beautiful - Hanson
As a devoted Hanson fan, it's my tradition to include one of their songs every year. I was hooked on this one in 2012 for no apparent reason. If you're about to make an "Mmmbop" joke, go listen to the four indie albums they've released since then. Start with The Walk.  

5. Shake It Out - Florence + The Machine
2012 was such a Florence-heavy year that I basically chose this one at random.  

6. Here's To Us - Halestorm
This was one of the numbers from Glee's Nationals episode this year, and before it was over, I was looking up the original. Why it hasn't taken off is beyond me. 

7. Too Close - Alex Clare
Another song that grabbed me immediately - like most people, I first heard it in a Microsoft commercial. As my brother summed up, "This song is legit." Viva la dubstep.  

8. Pieces - The Bridges
I think this came from an old Paste sampler, but I just "discovered" it on my iPod this year. The Bridges have a great, slightly retro sound.  

9. Half Moon - Blind Pilot
This song opened the series finale of One Tree Hill, and even though I'd never heard it before, I knew it was the perfect choice. I can't understand half of the lyrics, but it has a poignance that gets me every time.  

10. The Age of Worry - John Mayer*

11. Part of Me - Katy Perry
Forget "I Will Survive." To me, this is the greatest breakup/divorce anthem of all time. I'm serious. The first few times I heard it while running, I felt like I could run forever, and had to fight the urge to pump my fists in the air and shout-sing along. The effect is milder now, but it remains.  

12. Wild Ones - Flo Rida featuring Sia
This probably seems like a throwaway choice, but of all my workout music this year, this was the song that lodged most securely in my head. Once I hear it, I'm guaranteed to be singing it for at least two days. I also have an unfortunate habit of changing popular songs to be about cats and singing them TO my cats, and this lends itself really well to that.  

13. Hello - Kelly Clarkson*  

14. Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys
I trust that this one needs no explanation.  

15. Lonely Boy - The Black Keys
THIS SONG ROCKS. END OF STORY. I want to do something cool enough that this song could play over the footage.  

16. Some Nights - fun.*
I like "We Are Young" fine, but it's been played to death. This song is far better, and Freddie Mercury would be so proud.  

17. Hello - Karmin
I was hard pressed to choose a Karmin track, but this one never fails to energize me. And yes, this is the second song on the list named "Hello." It is what it is.  

18. Slow Down - Myla Smith
Myla's breakout hit, which I need to hear every time! (Though, confession: "This Time I Mean It" is probably my fave from Drugs.)  

19. Heartbeat - The Fray
Years after first hearing The Fray, I've finally become a real fan.  

20. U.F.O. - Coldplay*  

21. Try - Pink*  

22. New Redemption Song - Over The Rhine*
As we go into a new year, this song is my prayer - for myself, and for our country, which isn't in the happiest place. Right now I'm struggling with a (perceived) lack of redemption in my own life. I pray that God will bring bold redemption for all of us in 2013.

If you have Spotify, you can listen to this playlist here. Or if you know me in person and you want a copy, let me know.

My Favorite Christmas Songs

Today I want to share my top ten (or so) Christmas recordings! Not necessarily my favorite songs or carols, but the tracks I most look forward to hearing when December rolls around. Google Readers, you'll have to pop this one out. Sorry. :)

I'll say right up front, without shame, that Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas album is my favorite Christmas album of all time. I bought it when it first came out in 1994, and I can't imagine that anything will ever top it for me. In fact, it'll be generally obvious here that I came of age in the 90's. :)  

Jesus, What A Wonderful Child - Mariah Carey

 

Christmas Song - Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds




For Unto Us A Child Is Born - from Handel's Messiah. I have the London Philharmonic version, but here's the London Symphony Orchestra.



Winter Song - Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson
I rarely listen to this whole song without tearing up. There's something inherently sad about it, but it's also hopeful and beautiful.



Jesus, Born On This Day - Mariah Carey




Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
In all honesty, my enjoyment of this song is partly attributed to our family story of my loose-cannon uncle taking a swing at Jose Feliciano at a Delta Airlines ticket counter in the 60's. FOR REAL.



The Twelve Days of Christmas - Straight No Chaser




The Christmas Song - Hootie and the Blowfish



Merry Christmas Baby - Hanson
I just found this video with the song over clips from A Charlie Brown Christmas! TOO MANY FAVORITE THINGS I MAY EXPLODE.



And my #1: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings - Barenaked Ladies featuring Sarah McLachlan.



BONUS! This version of "All I Want For Christmas Is You" with Mariah, my main man Jimmy Fallon, and some cute kids is bringing me joy this holiday season. I hope it makes you happy too!

Your Art Matters (Right?)

Last Saturday night, Derek Webb performed a concert at my church. I took this (blurry as usual) pic while he sang "She Must and Shall Go Free," a song that's meant a lot to me in this phase of my life. Most of the concert was a front-to-back performance of his new concept album, Ctrl. (Verdict: Not really my cup of tea, but I appreciate what he's trying to do.) The opening act and backup band was Page CXVI, who lived up to their hype. Overall, it was an unusual but interesting show.

Between songs, Latifah of Page CXVI talked naturally and insightfully about the creative process and being a creative person. I was surprised to feel envious of her freedom to express herself and her emotions - the good, the bad, and the ugly - through music, and her assurance that that expression is valuable and even glorifying to God. And her assumption that someone will care about it. Most of the time, I don't feel that way about my writing at all. I rarely get the satisfaction of knowing that I said exactly what I wanted to say, and it meant something. I don't write what I really think (at least publicly, and often not even to friends) because it's too negative, too controversial, too personal, and no one really cares anyway. I tend to feel that God isn't honored by that stuff. But if King David had felt that way, we wouldn't have a lot of the Psalms. If Alanis Morisette had felt that way, we wouldn't all still be singing about Dave Coulier 15 years later.

I sometimes struggle with a sense of futility and meaninglessness. Writing is obviously a big component of this. When does my writing count? Is it enough when it's between me and God? Is it enough if it means something to just one other person? When does my art matter? Do I even have a right to call it art, or to call myself a writer? Isn't "real" writing limited to books that are read by millions of people, not silly blog posts?

If anyone has some answers or general thoughts, I would love to hear them.

Slow Down Speeds Up

On Friday, my friend Myla Smith released the music video for her latest single, "Slow Down," from her new EP Drugs. I'm excited to say that I participated in the filming of the video about a month ago! Myla needed another pair of arms to do things around the periphery of the shot, and I was happy to help. The shoot was SO much fun! Especially for a Pop-Up Video junkie like me - I now have a much better understanding of the behind-the-scenes process. It's all more complicated than it looks!

(My arms may be eligible for a SAG card. I'll look into it.)

By Saturday morning, the video had 45,000 views. Now the count is over 75,000! On top of that, Drugs hit #1 on Amazon's singer-songwriter album charts this morning. #1!!! I am THRILLED and proud to see Myla get some of the attention and exposure she deserves after years of perseverance and hard work. I'm also not surprised that the message of "Slow Down" is resonating with so many people. I need to hear it every time. May this be the beginning of even bigger things!!!

PS - next time my elbows will be seen by 75,000 people, I'll be sure to exfoliate.

New York Part Two

On our second (and last) full day in NYC, Emily and I took a Circle Line cruise! I had booked the three-hour tour - they have several shorter tours, but I wanted to go all the way around the island. I doubted we'd make it far north on our own, so I could at least see those places from the water. First we swung past Ellis Island (where I know some of my ancestors came through):

And Lady Liberty:

Seeing the Statue of Liberty in person was very moving. Of course I've seen a million pictures of it, but being there was different. I think I took a picture from every angle! It's beautiful.

The guide said this was the "authentic view" because it's how the immigrants saw it. :)

We also went under the East River bridges. The bike tour guide taught us BMW to remember the bridges: Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg. That helped me a lot!

I'm told this is an important hospital. Whatever, it's really the building Jason Bourne jumped out of to freedom. :) (Among other things, NYC taught me that some fiction is more real to me than reality. I should be more troubled by this.)

As we headed north, the river got much narrower and shallower, and we had to slow down a lot. We saw Harlem on the left and the Bronx on the right. There were fewer people and more trees.

At the northernmost point of Manhattan, there was a train bridge too low to pass under, so we were told it would open for us. Em and I went out onto the bow for a closer look. In my South Florida experience, bridges open vertically, so I was a little alarmed as we got closer and closer to the bridge with no drawbridge action. Then I saw it was swinging open like a gate. Pretty cool.

When I first mentioned going to NYC, Sarah e-mailed me to ask if I wanted to meet. Sarah and I were LiveJournal friends for several years and now keep in touch via blogs and Twitter. We decided lunch on Friday would work well, so after Em and I got off the boat, we met her at a little Mexican place in SoHo. It was great to meet in person, catch up, and talk book stuff - she's in publishing and surprised me with an ARC that I'm really excited about. :) Yay for online friends!

I couldn't go to SoHo and not shop, so after lunch Em and I hit a few stores. I understand now why people take special trips to New York just to shop. The sheer volume of merchandise and people overwhelmed me, and I wasn't really in the right headspace for it, so I just made a few bargain purchases at Uniqlo. I'll have to try again another time. It was fun though!

Emily's husband Daniel really wanted us to see Rock of Ages (the play, not the movie), so he got online and bought us tickets the night before! Thanks again Daniel! :) He's seen it three times and even has a designated pre-show restaurant, the Blue Fin in Times Square. So we ate a delicious meal there and went to the show. (I have no pictures of this night because my camera battery died suddenly.)

If you're extremely conservative, Rock of Ages may not be for you... but if you have fond memories of late 80s hair bands and are part of the Wayne's World generation, YOU WILL LOVE IT. Who knew a tale of rock and debauchery on the Sunset Strip could make me feel so great and hopeful about life? I even downloaded the original Broadway soundtrack when I got home.

After the show, we got Pinkberry (for me) and pizza (for Em) and walked around some more. Even around midnight, the streets were still packed with people and most places were still open. I knew New York never sleeps, but it's different to see it for yourself. I felt excited and thankful to be a part of it.

One more trip installment to come!

Take Me To Vegas

This early Sara Bareilles masterpiece is becoming one of my 2012 theme songs. It's about living in a perpetual atmosphere of Things About To Happen... and then they don't. I've been thinking about how much weight ambition should have in the Christian life; how much responsibility we have to "make things happen" for ourselves; and whether it's worse to "stay surrendered" and expect God to take care of everything, or keep striving toward something that might not be what God wants for you.

It's always just around the corner, or you're on your way to somewhere
That is bigger or better, if you could only get there
It's never your fault, you can't start your own winning streak
But I'd hate to lose you to the fortune you seek.

Wild On Wednesday 5/9

I'll tell you who I'm wild about at the moment: Florence + The Machine.

I love "Dog Days Are Over" - it was one of my 2010 anthems - but I wasn't really that into Florence until recently. Then I started hearing songs from Ceremonials everywhere, downloaded the album, and basically became a superfan overnight. Florence Welch has the melodrama of Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries, infused with the spirit and courage of Eowyn from Lord of the Rings (who, as we all know, is my hero). Her songs are equally full of heartbreak and hope, mystical references and rallying cries. This is Gryffindor music, people.

I braved Beale Street Music Fest last Friday night to see Florence (and Needtobreathe, who played before her!). I remembered pretty quickly why I don't go to Music Fest anymore - I'm too short to see much, I feel claustrophobic and icky when hundreds of strangers are touching me, etc. But the show was totally worth it. Florence was a spitfire on stage, and the instrumentation was amazing. I mean, how many popular acts tour with a harp?

I can't embed any of the official videos, but my current favorite tracks are "Rabbit Heart," "Shake It Out" and "No Light, No Light." It's hard to choose though. I think I'll go listen to them now!

Wild On Wednesday

As I often post on Wednesdays, here are a few things I'm currently wild about:

(source)

Tarragon vinegar. It's the best salad-dressing vinegar ever. Trust me.

 

These skirts (from Banana Republic and J. Crew). I'll probably try to find similar patterns - all Butterick patterns are a dollar at Hancock this week. I really wish I had more time for sewing.

Karmin. If you haven't heard of them, they're an adorable couple who make fun, clean party music. Their album comes out in just a few weeks! I love the singles they've released so far, and of course, their impressive rap covers. This one is still my favorite:

Aaaand.... the finale of One Tree Hill airs tonight! I discovered OTH in reruns on SoapNet a few years ago and was instantly hooked. I've seen the first four seasons multiple times, but haven't kept up as well with the later seasons - though I've stayed current since January since I knew this was the last season. In terms of major plotlines, the show has never been realistic: teen marriage, teens in trouble with the mob, teens going on concert tours, a group of college-aged friends all becoming millionaires and running business empires, heart transplants derailed by stray dogs, evil men and evil nannies wreaking havoc, multiple kidnappings, repeated near-fatal car accidents, and PTSD severe enough to make a man forget he has a son... just to name a few. But under all the ridiculousness, I love the heart of the show. I love the depth and complicated quality of the relationships. Over time, OTH has inspired me as a writer in a way I can't really put into words. I hope it gets a worthy ending!

2011 Soundtrack

After much deliberation...






If you're on Spotify, this soundtrack is uploaded to my account. If I know you in person and you want an actual CD, let me know. I purposely limit the playlist to the length of a CD - otherwise I could never narrow it down!

1. Radioactive - Kings of Leon
To me, this song is what going fast on a boat would sound like if it was translated to music. :) Add the references to family and "the water where you came from," and it basically plays over a photo montage of my childhood in my head.

2. Strip Me - Natasha Bedingfield
One of the MANY empowering pop songs I loved this year.

3. Rolling In The Deep - Adele
This was the most covered song of 2011 for a reason. Despite the overexposure, I'm still not tired of it. I loved the video too.

4. Take Me Or Leave Me - Glee Cast
I've performed this in the car (and the shower) countless times.

5. Die Alone - Ingrid Michaelson
Yeah. I can relate.

6. Animal - Neon Trees
I just generally love this.

7. Why Do You Let Me Stay Here - She & Him
In a sense, I dedicate this to the entire male race. :P

8. Bright Lights Bigger City - Cee-Lo Green
This song must have subliminal messages, because it makes me feel carefree and like a million bucks. I heard it in many dressing rooms this year, so I doubt I'm the only one who responds to it. If anyone ever needed me to model, they could play this (and hand me these shoes) and I could OWN IT all the way down the runway.

9. Super Bass - Nicki Minaj
I cannot explain my love for this song. It just makes me happy.

10. Ready to Start - Arcade Fire
One of only two Arcade Fire songs that truly grab me.

11. Machine Gun - Sara Bareilles
Sara Bareilles wrote this about one of her critics (Sara being on the receiving end of the machine gun). I often listened to it with my own everyday critics in mind. :|

12. Good Life - OneRepublic
On one of my many drives to Nashville, this song came on the radio and really defined my jet-setting summer.

13. Why Don't We Just Dance - Josh Turner
Josh Turner is dreamy. We do a dance to this at line dancing that's my current favorite dance. It's really swingy.

14. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People
People seem to either love or hate this song. Well, I love it. I read that Mark Foster purposely wrote it to combine gangsta rap-esque lyrics with a mellow melody. Weird juxtapositions are irresistible to me.

15. Captive - Sarah Harmer
My most-played from the brilliant album Oh Little Fire. It was hard to pick just one!

16. Momma's Boy - Elizabeth & The Catapult
E & the C (as they're known on Twitter) opened for Sara Bareilles on her Kaleidoscope Heart tour. I liked them right away.

17. Baggage Claim - Miranda Lambert
Like many Miranda tunes, this makes me smile uncontrollably and thank God for, uh, lost luggage. :) It's already on my mental karaoke short list.

18. Hurts Like Heaven - Coldplay
Again, almost impossible to choose just one from Mylo Xyloto, but I keep coming back to this. Use your heart as a weapon!

19. Valley of Tomorrow - Needtobreathe
I first heard of Needtobreathe in May. A few months later, I owned all of their albums. They're amazing. 2011 has been a year of soul-searching and re-direction for me, and I like the final song of my soundtrack to summarize the old year AND set a tone for the new one. This pretty much does it.

Wild On Wednesday: Mash-Ups

Lauren often encourages other bloggers to join her in Wild On Wednesday, so I'm participating this week! (WOW is specifically for discussing things you're currently wild about.)

I've written a lot of materialistic posts lately, so rather than harp on another product I love, or more pretty clothes, I want to talk about something intangible that gives me deep satisfaction: musical mash-ups. I've always loved making mix CDs for friends and/or specific occasions. Mash-ups take that innate mix sense to the next level. It's an art, really - taking two independent entities that shouldn't go together and bringing them into harmony. (Sort of like marriage!) The more diverse the mashed artists, the more impressed I am. When I hear a great mash-up, I feel like two little puzzle pieces have snapped together in my soul.

The annual mash-up episode of Glee aired last night, so this topic was already on my mind. Then this morning, I heard this song on the radio - the DJ took note of it recently when he watched Just Go With It. It's The Police mashed with Snow Patrol (and if I like it, you know it was done well, because I think Snow Patrol is sooo overrated).

Every Car You Chase


Of course, the band Rock Sugar owes its existence to mash-ups:

Don't Stop the Sandman


I know there are a bunch of other great ones out there, but I can't think of more examples! There's also the sub-genre of mash-up medleys. My two all-time favorites:

40 Songs, 4 Chords (there are a few versions of this floating around - warning, language at either end)


Jimmy Fallon sings hits of the 80's over "U Can't Touch This"


Do you love mash-ups too? Recommend your favorites!

New Music Review

Last Monday was exciting for me - both Kelly Clarkson and Coldplay released new albums on the same day! After steeping in both for about a week, I have some thoughts:

Even as a diehard Kelly Clarkson fan, I have to admit that Stronger fell a little flat for me. It's more My December than All I Ever Wanted. As one great review (which I regret not bookmarking because I can't find it again) noted, is Kelly surrounding herself with an endless supply of losers? I enjoy a sassy musical kiss-off as much as anyone, but enough is enough. I loved some of the songs immediately, but with others, I wondered how they made it past the final cut. Kelly, you're better than this!

That said, my emerging favorites are "You Love Me," "Let Me Down," "You Can't Win," and the title track. And though many pixels have been spilled over "Einstein" with its chorus of "Dumb plus dumb equals you," it really is a guilty pleasure (and still better than anything Ke$ha has produced).

One of my favorite things about Coldplay is their ability to deliver a cohesive album (including cross-references to the other songs!). Apparently the concept of Mylo Xyloto is a star-crossed couple in a dystopian society, which surprised me because of the hope that pervades the entire thing. Where Viva la Vida was dark and brooding, MX is overwhelmingly joyful - joy in the face of despair? Maybe I'm just projecting my own emotional state onto this record, but I'm extremely moved by it. I don't care what the electronica influences mean for their direction as a band, or how supposedly inane the lyrics are. I can't even pick a favorite track because I love them all. (The chipmunk effects on "Charlie Brown" are a little annoying, though.)

BONUS: I planned to write a "real" review of Needtobreathe's The Reckoning (which was released in September) and try to submit it to a website. But I think it's too late now, so I'll go ahead and talk about it here. I wasn't sure this band could top The Outsiders, but they've moved to a different level. The consistent message of The Reckoning is the importance of seeing and facing truth - the need to stop running, open our eyes, and accept the healing that comes with knowing the truth. I appreciate that message, and the fact that it also rocks as only Needtobreathe can is just icing on the cake. My current favorite selections are "Slumber" and "Drive All Night" (which seriously makes me want to drive all night).


What new music are you enjoying right now?

Current Musical Obsessions

The only problem with iTunes and related services is that it's so easy to go on a music shopping spree. You go there to download one or two songs, but it turns into "Oh yeah, I liked that song too!" and "I might as well get the whole album, it's only $8!" Then you're in the kind of trouble that was more avoidable when you had to pay for a physical stack of CDs at a physical register. (Another good reason why I still don't have an e-reader - applying this principle to books would lead to financial ruin for me.)

All that to say, I've been buying a lot of music lately, and I feel almost evangelical about some of it:

About ten years ago (!), Jenn sent me a mix CD with a couple of Sarah Harmer songs on it. I immediately liked them, bought Sarah's album You Were Here, and have continued enjoying her music ever since. Her latest album, Oh Little Fire, is absolutely her best yet. From the musicians I'm blessed to have in my life, I've absorbed some knowledge of what makes a well-written song, and every one of these songs is like a jewel. LOVE IT.

I'm soaking up the huge Americana trend in music right now (although I'm afraid it's nearing saturation :\). Needtobreathe sounds like a combination of Kings of Leon and Mumford and Sons. Every song on their latest album, The Outsiders, is fantastic. I didn't know at first that Needtobreathe is a Christian band - and, as someone who hit her limit of CCM years ago, I mean that in the best possible way. I also find their music somehow manly - none of these songs would be out of place on Deadliest Catch or something. Anyway, my brother introduced me to this album, so I think of him when I listen to it.

Miranda Lambert has a freshness and honesty that comes across in everything she sings. "The House That Built Me" consistently makes me cry, even though I have no deep longings for my childhood house. There's just something powerful in every note of that song. I also love "Heart Like Mine" and "Only Prettier."

I'm also excited about a few upcoming releases!

I confess: Until recent years, I wasn't very into Coldplay. I thought they were okay, but they were so excessively hyped that I didn't want to hop on the bandwagon. But when Viva La Vida came out, it swept me away with its awesomeness, and I felt dumb for resisting so long. (See also Caedmon's Call and the release of 40 Acres when I was in college.) Now I'm excited for new works of genius! Last I heard, the album was almost finished.

GAVIN!!!

I'm not sure how I feel about the Tim Burton-ish vibe she's rocking here, but I've waited and waited for Anna Nalick's follow-up to one of my all-time favorite albums, Wreck of the Day. There's no official release date yet, but I remain hopeful!