From the iPod - Uplift

I was directed to a couple of new songs this week from my dear friend Mindy.  These two songs have been heavily played since they were added to my iPod.  I thought maybe you might enjoy them as well.


David Archuleta "Glorious" from the "Meet the Mormons" soundtrack.  I LOVE this song... the message is so uplifting and the music swells and just carries you along with it.  There is a free download of the song available here  that is totally worth taking advantage of. 


I love Tenth Avenue North, but I stopped paying attention to new music coming out these last couple of years, so I missed finding out they had a new album last year.  While the song is beautiful and powerful on its own, the video really brings the message home.

Thanks Mindy for sharing such wonderful music with me!

From the iPod - Break So Easy

New song in heavy rotation on my iPod.  Hope you enjoy!

Late in the summer children run without clothes
Chill of the winter not far down the road

And in the windows are silhouettes of husbands and wives
Watching in silence till the evening arrives

And there all around insects scream in the trees
The promise of rain can be heard on the breeze

Oh Lord,Oh lord we break so easy
Oh Lord,Oh lord we shatter like glass

The headlights glow and the sky will soon be black
The freeway riders are rolling, heading back
Heading back home

A dark haired woman is driving the roads
Breathing deeply she don't mind being alone

I spend my nights in the reservoir
Saying prayers for the passing cars

From the iPod... The Devlins

Wow, time flies, doesn't it?  I've been meaning to post here for awhile now, but I thought I would first do a  "from the iPod" post for two reasons.

1.  Its a fast way to get a post out there that still means something, and will tide you over until I can gather the thoughts in my head for a more intensive post.

2.  I love music and love finding new things to listen to and share with others.  In this case however , its the sharing of a band that I have loved for years.

The Devlins hit the mainstream back in 1993 with the album "Drift" and opened for Sarah McLachlan on her "Building a Mystery" tour.  I caught the show in Seattle and loved what I heard so much that I bought the CD the next morning.  As great of a performer as Sarah is, The Devlins stole the show that night.

Despite great reviews in Rolling Stone, it was a long 4 years until their next album, "Waiting" was released due to the band being cut from their label.  In order to convince the label Netwerk to sign the band, Sarah  used the album as prelude music on the first Lillith Fair tour.  While it was great to hear the new album, it was hard to wait for what seemed likes ages to finally get my hands on it.

It took 5 years before "Consent" would be released in 2002, followed by "Waves" in 2004.  2009 saw the lead singer, Colin Devlin, release a solo album that was well worth the wait.  The band still performs both together and with Colin's solo concerts, and I just learned that a new album by the band is scheduled to come out later this year... happy days!

So here is a couple of songs from each of their albums... I hope that you like it.  Oh, and if you are only going to give one song a chance, drop to the bottom of the list and listen to "Emelia"...


"Almost Made You Smile (live)" from the album "Drift".  


"Someone To Talk To" from the album "Drift"


"Alone in the Dark" from the album "Drift"


"Waiting" from the album "Waiting"


"Years Could Go By" from the album "Waiting"


"Static in the Flow"  from the album "Consent"


"There is a Light" from the album "Consent"


"Don't Let It Break Your Heart" from the album "Waves"

"Waves" from the album "Waves"


"The Heart Won't Be Denied" Colin Devlin, from the solo album "Democracy of One"


"Emelia" Colin Devlin, from the solo album "Democracy of One"

From the iPod - Jars of Clay

I haven't done a "from the iPod" post for awhile, so please forgive me if this one is a bit excessive in content.  Jars of Clay have been around for years now, first hitting mainstream and christian radio with "Flood" back in 1995.  Since then they have put out a fair share of albums, have songs on 4 soundtracks to-date, and are still going strong.  Yes, they are a religious bunch of boys, but the majority of their songs are simply good music that don't leave you thumping your Bible and shouting your praises to the heavens after listening.  Frankly, I am not a fan of the christian music scene, but these guys just charmed their way in and never really walked back out.....  here's hoping that you enjoy them too.


"Fall Asleep" (from their latest album, "Inland" c. 2013)


"Two Hands" (from the album, "The Long Fall Back to Earth" c. 2009)


"Portrait Of An Apology" (from the album "Much Afraid" c. 1997)


"Worlds Apart" (from the self titled debut album, c. 1995)


"Sunny Days" (from "Who We Are Instead" c. 2003)


"Lonely People" (from "Who We Are Instead" c. 2003 - this is a great cover of the song by America)


"Disappear" (from the album "The Eleventh Hour" c. 2002)


"Frail" (from the album "Much Afraid" c. 1997)


"Show You Love" (from the album "Who We Are Instead" c. 2003)


"Amazing Grace" (from the album "Who We Are Instead" c. 2003)


"River Constantine" (from the album "If I Left The Zoo" c. 1999)


"God Will Lift Up Your Head" (from the album "Redemption Songs" c. 2005)


"Work" (from the album "Good Monsters" c. 2006


"Road to Nowhere" (not officially released. This was performed during the "Noisetrade Eastside Manor Sessions" c. 2013 - great cover of the song by Talking Heads, but it is only available online in video form unfortunately)


"Out Of My Hands" (from the album "The Shelter" c. 2010)


"Sing" (from the album "Who We Are Instead" c. 2003)


"Fly" (from the album "The Eleventh Hour" c. 2002)

From the iPod: that Wild and Crazy Guy.... Steve Martin

Okay, if you're under the age of 40 you probably wouldn't understand the "Wild and Crazy" reference from the days when Steve Martin was doing a lot of comedy.  And you probably wouldn't remember a little ditty from the 70's called "King Tut" (from an SNL skit and later released as a single) performed by Steve and members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (renamed "The Toot Uncommons" for this little number).

Steve is a man of many, many talents... actor, comedian, artist, author... it seems like he is set to excel at whatever he extends his hand to, and this includes his amazing bluegrass albums.  Two were released with the Steep Canyon Rangers ("Rare Bird Alert" includes a wonderfully revamped-for-bluegrass "King Tut") and his latest album, "Love Has Come for You" is a collaboration with the ever lovely Edie Brickell.

Personally, I bought "Love Has Come for You" to listen to what Edie was up to lately, not thinking I'd get too much from it, and found I didn't want to stop listening.  I was so impressed that I went and downloaded Steve's stuff with the Steep Canyon Rangers.  Let me just say, I love these albums... and for a gal who isn't 100% on board with all things bluegrass, that's saying a lot.

But why not take a listen for yourself and check out what has been on heavy rotation on my iPod these last few months.....


Steve Martin with Edie Brickell, "When You Get To Asheville"


Steve Martin with Edie Brickell, "Get Along Stray Dog"


Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, "Orange Blossom Special" which then segues into a mean bluegrass version of "King Tut"


Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers, "King Tut" if you wanted to hear it by itself.

And last, but not least, if you want to have a good laugh, go here to see the original skit.  I'd have it embedded for you, but its "forbidden" due to copyright.  Bummer.... still, its worth zipping over to youtube to watch because its just so stinking funny to see Steve in all his comedic glory.

From the iPod....

Just what do all of these songs have in common? You'd probably never guess it, but these are some of the songs that I have sung in public (karaoke, play tryouts, etc). They also share the distinction of being songs that I still love, even after all these years.


"Passionate Kisses" Mary-Chapin Carpenter


"And So It Goes" Billy Joel


"Puff the Magic Dragon" Peter, Paul and Mary

From the iPod....

Today's focus is on a band I was introduced to not very long ago called Green River Ordinance. I admit I didn't pay much attention at the time, but it seems like their songs keep queueing up in my shuffle mix a lot lately, so I gave them another listen today...and loved it... lets hope you do too.



"Goodbye L.A."





"Heart of Me"





"Dancing Shoes"





"Lost in the World"





"Beauty of Letting Go"

From the iPod

I've been missing my brother a lot these last few weeks and, for the most part I've been strong. Its who I am.... the girl who holds her shit together so she can be there for everyone else. While I have cried and hurt during that time, its only these last few days that I have really allowed myself to let go, to stop focusing so much on the next task that needs to be done and simply looked at the tatters of my life and started pulling those pieces back together.

Jason loved Dustin Christensen, which is why I made sure we included this song for the music that played at his viewing... even with the tears it brings, it is still a favorite of mine. I want to thank you Jase for all of the beautiful music you brought into my life...



"Old House" by Dustin Christensen ... from the album "Highway Lines"



So take me home tonight

Tell me I'm all right

Tell me this picture frames got you now





You were my hand's glove

How I learned how to love

Tell me I ain't got it all figured out





Farwell my old house

Farewell my old life

Tell me I'm simpler

Alone without you now





So long my sad eyes

Don't say its goodbye

Guide when I can't see

I won't let you down





Here lies all my friends I've known

All my dreams just scatter in the air





Farewell my old house

Farewell my old life

Tell me I'm simpler

I know I am now





Lord let this hurt pass

Cos I don't know how to act

And it feels like I'm already gone from you now

So long now

From the iPod...

a-ha

Yes, that bubblegum pop group from the early 1980's who had a #1 hit with "Take on Me", remembered for its chorus being sung in an improbably high falsetto.

A lot of people think that a-ha didn't escape the 80's, but were rather relegated to the world of One Hit Wonders, however, they would be wrong.  The band was still strong when in 2009 they released what they announced would be their final album (their 9th, not counting a couple of greatest hits disks put out by their label).  Their final performance was the taped concert "Ending on a High Note" in 2011, which has since been released on CD and DVD.

Still fun to listen to even after all these years, each album has a slightly different flavor, but are still true to their overall sound.

Here are just a few of the songs I have come to love of theirs over the years.


"Foot of the Mountain" from the final album, "Foot of the Mountain" c. 2009


"Dark is the Night for All" from the album "Memorial Beach" c 1993.  "Memorial Beach" is my favorite of the albums


"Velvet" from the album "Minor Earth, Major Sky" c 2000


"I Wish I Cared" from the album "Minor Earth, Major Sky" c 2000.  You may have heard this one in a season two episode of "Smallville"


"Angel in the Snow" from the album "Memorial Beach" c. 1993


"Lifelines" from the album "Lifelines" c 2003


"Butterfly, Butterfly (The Last Hurrah)" from the greatest hits album "25".  This was the last studio recording for the band.

From the iPod...

Music from one of my all-time favorite movies... Elizabethtown.

Not only is this movie fantastic, but the music is amazing as well. In fact, its hard to pick just a few songs to highlight here. The entire soundtrack (both of them) are on frequent rotation on my mp3 player.


Wheat "Don't I Hold You"


Ryan Adams "Words". I couldn't find a copy of this song other than this one... just ignore the video because the song is worth listening to.


Tom Petty "It Will All Work Out"... I love Tom Petty's music.

If you haven't seen the movie, I highly recommend it... and the soundtracks are definitely worth a listen.