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SONG: Free Josh Ritter cover + a bunch of Josh Ritter covers!

September 8, 2010 in PLAYLIST, SONG by Tobler | No comments

jrdawn500miles

Hey everyone! It’s hard to believe, but this is our 400th post here at WiAC. Kind of crazy, I know. And I couldn’t think of better news to grace this very historic post (not really), than the news that Josh Ritter just released a free song on his website – a cover of an old Hedy West song called “500 Miles” (no, not that 500 Miles). It’s pretty lo-fi, very pretty, and features Dawn Landes on vocals. Check it out:

Link: Josh Ritter & Dawn Landes – 500 Miles (Hedy West cover)

And because just a single link didn’t seem like a sufficient milestone post, here’s a few other Josh Ritter covers that I happen to love. Thanks for reading guys! Hope to see you all in 400 more!*

mp3: Josh Ritter – Blame It On The Tetons (Modest Mouse cover)

mp3: Josh Ritter – Mexican Home (John Prine cover)

mp3: Josh Ritter – Moon River (Johnny Mercer/Henry Mancini cover)

mp3: Josh Ritter & Sarah Harmer – Long May You Run (Neil Young cover)

mp3: Josh Ritter – Chelsea Hotel No. 2 (Leonard Cohen cover)

mp3: Josh Ritter – Daddy’s Little Pumpkin (John Prine cover) – live

mp3: Josh Ritter – The River (Bruce Springsteen cover) – live

mp3: Josh Ritter & Blake Hazard – Tonight You Belong to Me (Billy Rose/Lee David cover)

mp3: Bridget Matros & Josh Ritter – Angel From Montgomery (John Prine cover)

*actually “hope to see you” is pretty loose for “hope you’re still reading this little blog on the internet anonymously” – but that sounds a lot less pleasant…

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SONG: New Edward Sharpe remix – Janglin (RAC remix)

August 27, 2010 in SONG by Tobler | No comments

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Here’s a fun remix of one of my favorite acts at Lollapalooza – and it’s a perfect tune to send us into the weekend. Also, you can grab Edward Sharpe’s album Up From Below over at Amazon for just $2.99 all weekend. So do that.

mp3: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Janglin (RAC remix)
originally from the album Up From Below (buy it here)

As a bonus, here’s another RAC remix that I love:

mp3: Mates of State – Now (RAC remix)
from the album Re-arranged: Remixes Volume 1 (buy it here)

Re-arranged: Remixes Volume 1

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SONG: “Goodbye England (Covered In Snow)” by Laura Marling

August 19, 2010 in SONG by Tobler | No comments

Laura Marling RESIZED

Whoops! I just fell in love with this song!

I know I might be a little behind getting on Laura Marling’s bandwagon, but I’m just discovering what a ridiculous talent she actually is. This song kind of sums it all up pretty perfectly – her amazing lyrics, her silvery voice, her fantastic accompaniment (provided by the blazing Mumford & Sons). It all sounds very familiar, almost cozy – but in a completely brilliant way. Just listen and you’ll see what I mean.

mp3: Laura Marling – Goodbye England (Covered In Snow)
from the album I Speak Because I Can (buy it here)

My absolute favorite part starts with these beautiful lines and ends in a swelling crescendo:

I wrote my name in your book, only God knows why,

and I bet you that he cracked a smile,

and I’m clearing all the crap out of my room,

trying desperately to figure out what it is that makes me blue,

and I wrote an epic letter to you,

and it’s 22-pages front and back but it’s too good to be used,

and I tried to be a girl who likes to be used,

I’m too good for that, there’s a mind under this hat,

and I called them all and told them I’ve got to move.

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SONG: “Bullet” by Steel Train

August 4, 2010 in SONG by Tobler | 4 comments

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Ok I’ve been in love with this song by Steel Train for about 2 weeks now, and it’s time I admit it. The weekend before last my wife and I went on an impromptu storm chase after being awe-struck by some of the coolest cloud-to-cloud lightning we’d ever seen – and as we went racing around some of the state routes east of Indy this was the song that was blasting from our open windows. And can you even try to think of a better storm-chasing song? I dare you to.

Well I just got my hands on the rest of these New Jersey boys’ album, and so far I’m loving every bit of it. The fantastic blogger who turned me onto these guys described them as “indie kids doing their best, brilliant shot at Springsteen”, and I think she hit it right on. It’s got all the fist-pumping power of Born To Run’s finest moments all wrapped into one little song. In addition to their NJ forebear, I also hear shades of The Format in their grand shimmering sound, which really puts a smile on my face. How funny then that just this afternoon I got an email from Nate Ruess about his latest project (fun.), in which he added:

“Oh, and if you haven’t purchased the new Steel Train yet, you’re crazy. I’m a competitive person, so for me to say that it’s the best record of the year, prolly means that it’s my favorite record of the last 5 years. Truly inspiring. Run, don’t walk over to their website.”

‘Nuff said.

mp3: Steel Train – Bullet
from the album Steel Train (buy it here)

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SONG: We Don’t Want Your Body by Stars

July 27, 2010 in SONG by Tobler | 2 comments

Stars-The-Five-Ghosts

Although on first listen I wasn’t so impressed with Stars‘ latest record, The Five Ghosts – I’ve slowly been coming around to its many charms, mostly thanks to this song worming it’s way deep down into my bones. It’s a perfect bite-sized portion of what Stars do so well, and I’m just really loving it right now.

mp3: Stars – We Don’t Want Your Body
from the album The Five Ghosts (buy it here)

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SONG: Boy by Ra Ra Riot

July 23, 2010 in SONG by Tobler | No comments

rrr-boy-608x608

We really like Ra Ra Riot (like kind of alot). So we’re pretty excited about their new record, The Orchard, slated to come out August 24th. So far the first full song we’ve heard from it is called “Boy”, and it bodes well for this dynamic group’s sophomore effort.

Leading off with an energetic little organ bit and anchored with some punk-like strummed bass, this understated first taste makes great use of every corner of Ra Ra Riot’s camp, from Wes Miles’s lighter-than-air vocals, to Milo Bonacci’s playful guitar licks, to Alexandra and Rebecca’s evocative mini-string section. The lyrics reflect the same kind of thoughtful longing that colored The Rhumb Line so richly, adding dimension to this foot-tapping tune. Ra Ra Riot is one of the flat-out most talented young bands making music right now, and I’m excited to hear what they have in store for us.

The Orchard is out on 8/24/10 on Barsuk Records.

mp3: Ra Ra Riot – Boy
from the album The Orchard (pre-order it here)

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SONG: Where I’m Going by Cut Copy

July 19, 2010 in SONG by Tobler | No comments

CC2

A new track from Cut Copy just hit the internet, and it’s just about everything you could ask for in a summer jam – sunny harmonies, a bangin’ rhythm, and enough ooh’s and yeah’s to last us all the way until September! There’s also an organ break-down at about the 2:07-mark that sounds like some kind of euphoric mash-up of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and The Beatles’ “Tomorrow Never Knows” – which is to say, it is awesome. Enjoy!

mp3: Cut Copy – Where I’m Going
from the album (we have no idea yet! it’s so new!)

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SONG: Subliminal Message by Happy Birthday

July 14, 2010 in SONG by Logg | No comments

happy_birthdayI really don’t intend on taking a summer hiatus, but I’ve been blissfully away from my computer for the past month…and life couldn’t be better. I don’t look forward to that time in my life, which is fast approaching no doubt, when there is no such thing as “summer break.”

And as much as I enjoy sitting around reading and watching TV, I still need to share the occasional awesome song. Truthfully, I have been enjoying this song along with many other songs by Happy Birthday for some time. (Ex. ‘2 Shy’, ‘Pink Strawberry Shake’, and ‘Maxine the Teenage Eskimo’) But was saving this post until today, July 14th, because it just makes sense to post on a band with a name like Happy Birthday when we are actually celebrating a birthday here at WiAC.

mp3: Happy Birthday – Subliminal Message
from the album Happy Birthday (buy it here)

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SONG: How Deep Is That River (Cabin Version)

June 22, 2010 in SONG by Tobler | No comments

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I love Mason Jennings, and I try to stay up on just about everything he’s doing, but up until a few months ago I hadn’t heard this version of the In The Ever stand-out track “How Deep Is That River”. The album version is pretty great, but it always seemed like it could use a bit of backbone – something to drive home it’s Southern spiritual roots. Well, Mason must have thought that too, because this version does it in spades. Be sure to listen all the way through to the breakdown at the end. It’s become one of my many Mason highlights.

mp3: Mason Jennings – How Deep Is That River (Cabin Version)
from the album One Percent For The Planet (buy it here)

And as a bonus, I’ve included one of my all-time favorite Mason tracks: “Jesus Are You Real” – which I’ve always felt is the natural predecessor to “How Deep Is That River”. Here’s what I wrote a couple years ago about the relationship between the two:

“Finally, my personal highlight has to be ‘How Deep is that River’, with its quiet guitar and pump organ, its one of the prettiest points on In the Ever – a spiritual entreaty and pseudo-answer to Boneclouds ‘Jesus Are You Real?’. That song (’Jesus Are You Real?’) has come to be one of my very favorites of all time, and is probably one of the most beautifully and starkly honest songs ever written. A search for truth and a reaching for something greater than ourselves, ‘Jesus’ left off with the feeling that Mason was starting a spiritual journey – in ‘How Deep is that River’, he sounds like he’s well into that journey and is simply asking for an assurance that where he’s headed is where he wants to be.”

mp3: Mason Jennings – Jesus Are You Real
from the album Boneclouds (buy it here)

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SONG: Stay Lucky by The Gaslight Anthem

June 16, 2010 in SONG by Logg | 1 comment

gaslight_anthem

It really is shaping up to be the “Summer of The Boss” for me. Just as I’m finding myself entranced by all things Bruce Springsteen, my old roommate (not knowing who I was listening to at the time) sent The Gaslight Anthem’s latest record American Slang my way.

Although this roommate is pretty much the man, we’ve never shared a love of the same music. He is into punk music and besides the occasional foray into The Ramones or The Clash, I am not, and although its not necessarily punk music, I was still a little hesitant to listen to The ‘59 Sound when it first came out and he presented it to me, just to take it on a test drive and see what I thought. I can honestly say I liked it, but I don’t remember it.

However, here I am in 2010 unable to stop listening to American Slang, wondering what’s changed between now and then, with me, that makes this album resonate so strongly. Maybe its like my brother said, when we found out we were both listening to Bruce Springsteen at  the same time without knowing it, “Must be something in the wind.” This music really was made for the summer. Perfect summer music for when you’re barreling down the highway with the windows rolled down.

The album itself is stunningly insightful. Touching on topics like life, death, and youth (specifically the loss of youth). The song “Stay Lucky” is an anthem on the loss of youth and the surprising swiftness in which maturity and adulthood seems to descend on us.

Enjoy.

mp3: The Gaslight Anthem – Stay Lucky
from the album American Slang (buy it here)

mp3: The Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
from the album American Slang (buy it here)

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SONG: The Ghost of Tom Joad

June 15, 2010 in SONG by Logg | 2 comments

ghost_of_tom_joad

Every now and then I get sucked into a song and can’t ever get enough of it. “The Ghost of Tom Joad” by Bruce Springsteen (and Rage Against the Machine’s version) have been playing constantly on my computer for the last two days. I can’t say I’m relating to the song, I’m probably the least oppressed person in the world. Oppressed or not, I think its one of the most powerful songs ever. The kind that leaves that revolutionary flavor in your mouth after listening to it (be careful though, one listen too many and the next thing you know you’re wearing a ski mask and smoking a pipe in Chiapas).

And now with my finals coming to a close this week I’m thinking of picking up The Grapes of Wrath for a little summer reading and maybe drifting across the country for awhile. Or what is more likely, I’ll just delve into Bruce Springsteen’s catalog. Who knows? The prospect of a free and open summer is exhilarating.

mp3: Bruce Springsteen – The Ghost of Tom Joad
from the album The Ghost of Tom Joad (buy it here)

mp3: Rage Against the Machine – The Ghost of Tom Joad
from the album Renegades (buy it here)

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SONG: Bushwick Blues by Delta Spirit

June 11, 2010 in SONG by Tobler | No comments

delta_img01_hires

Woops! Did I say I’d start posting regularly again? Sorry about that. I’ll do better. Promise.

During my short break from school we’re visiting friends and family in California and it’s been so great. On Monday night we were lucky enough to catch a free show by Delta Spirit at the Amoeba Music in Hollywood, the day before their sophomore album, History From Below, hit the shelves. They’ve beefed up their live sound considerably since I saw them a few years ago, and they put on a mean rock n roll show. I haven’t heard much of the new album, so I couldn’t sing along as much as I’d have liked, but that’s ok. They were still very fun, and I still got to root through all of Amoeba’s used music for hours afterwards… 1 Delta Spirit concert for free and 5 used CDs for $14? Sounds like a successful night to me.

mp3: Delta Spirit – Bushwick Blues
from the album History From Below (buy it here)

mp3: Delta Spirit – People C’mon
from the album Ode To Sunshine (buy it here)

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