There are so many Ani Difranco songs that make me cry - or that easily invoke me to become passionate about things I didn't know I had any passion for.
There is no way to explain how much impact Ani has had on my life and my feelings. It has been a mind-opening trip and there are so many choice albums to delve into.
One of these amazing albums is called Reveling and Reckoning.
It's a double CD with everything you can imagine to offer, including for the first time in Ani's album history, some guitar ramblings (sans vocals) by Ani that don't necessarily need a song structure to express a strong emotion/sentiment/story.
some of my favs include: School Night, Grey, and Garden of Simple.
Today I'm posting a song that still puts me in a state of aw. The crafting of poetry and chords and dynamics is unmatched. Like nearly every Ani song.
Just an ode to devotion and the tough times we go through for the people we fall for. I guess that could be referred to as life for some of us...which does make it pretty big. Ani has a way of explaining the hardships of the world in the most poetic and comforting ways...so that you never feel like you're alone, even when your "little pink heart" is aching. (Ani Difranco, Grey)
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 7, 2010
Almost Blue - Elvis Costello (as performed by Chet Baker)
Rumour has it that Elvis Costello was pretty fond of Chet Baker and loved his rendition of The Thrill is Gone (another "slit your wrists" kinda song). Apparently, Almost Blue is inspired by The Thrill is Gone.
I'm not sure of the circumstances that led to Chet singing Costello's composition, but I am sure that it is one soulful, mournful rendition.
Every part is necessary in this recording -- Chet's trumpet solo, the piano - everything falls perfectly into place. I love that the intro is long...it's impossible to skip over it and get the full effect and idea of it's beauty.
And CHET - oh Chet...even though it was later on in his life, and he was obviously missing some teeth...he does such a bang-up job of telling you things without TELLING you things just from the mastered tone of his instrument...it's like another appendage. That's the magic of a real jazz musician...
Enjoy.
Rumour has it that Elvis Costello was pretty fond of Chet Baker and loved his rendition of The Thrill is Gone (another "slit your wrists" kinda song). Apparently, Almost Blue is inspired by The Thrill is Gone.
I'm not sure of the circumstances that led to Chet singing Costello's composition, but I am sure that it is one soulful, mournful rendition.
Every part is necessary in this recording -- Chet's trumpet solo, the piano - everything falls perfectly into place. I love that the intro is long...it's impossible to skip over it and get the full effect and idea of it's beauty.
And CHET - oh Chet...even though it was later on in his life, and he was obviously missing some teeth...he does such a bang-up job of telling you things without TELLING you things just from the mastered tone of his instrument...it's like another appendage. That's the magic of a real jazz musician...
Enjoy.
Monday, September 6, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 6, 2010
Cinematic Orchestra, Featuring Roots Manuva: All Things To All Men (2002)
why am I posting this song today? This is something that time and time again rips my heart out of my chest.
The lyrics are so sad (might be a contender for the number one heartbreaking song out of all the songs this month) - and universal, just a moment in time when a higher power brings down some extra force into the writer and gives them a hit of unexplainable magic.
That's why.
...timeless, beautiful, inspiring, and full of empathy for the world.
That's my kind of sad.
why am I posting this song today? This is something that time and time again rips my heart out of my chest.
The lyrics are so sad (might be a contender for the number one heartbreaking song out of all the songs this month) - and universal, just a moment in time when a higher power brings down some extra force into the writer and gives them a hit of unexplainable magic.
That's why.
...timeless, beautiful, inspiring, and full of empathy for the world.
That's my kind of sad.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 5, 2010
Bon Iver (yes, happy winter without the "h"): Frontman Justin Vernon. Well, let me say, the man expresses a unique, and warmly familiar heartbreak and yearning.
I loved the album For Emma, Forever Ago. [no doubt having an impact was Vernon's run-in with Mono, a band breakup, AND a lover breakup too (Wikipedia, 2010)]
Every tune made me feel a sense of longing, a calm after the storm of something that took a lot out of the body and soul...something like lost love haunting the subject - or at least working it's calming numbness - with bouts of pure pain and passion.
I love it in any case - this is the first Bon Iver track that I fell in love with (not true, it was one called Brackett wi, but this one stuck). It's called RE: STACKS...
If you like it, please guide your ears to: The Wolves Act I and II, and Blindsided; both equally amazing in their own special ways.
Enjoy...and don't forget to let me know how you like them - or your reactions.
Happy Labour day long weekend.
I loved the album For Emma, Forever Ago. [no doubt having an impact was Vernon's run-in with Mono, a band breakup, AND a lover breakup too (Wikipedia, 2010)]
Every tune made me feel a sense of longing, a calm after the storm of something that took a lot out of the body and soul...something like lost love haunting the subject - or at least working it's calming numbness - with bouts of pure pain and passion.
I love it in any case - this is the first Bon Iver track that I fell in love with (not true, it was one called Brackett wi, but this one stuck). It's called RE: STACKS...
If you like it, please guide your ears to: The Wolves Act I and II, and Blindsided; both equally amazing in their own special ways.
Enjoy...and don't forget to let me know how you like them - or your reactions.
Happy Labour day long weekend.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 4, 2010
As a segue from Little Dragon, I would like to now present you with a great Saturday morning tune by Jose Gonzalez.
Yukimi Nagano's muse? or friend? or I dunno what, or how, or when they met or why...but in any case - Jose Gonzalez is top 5 on my list of amazing writers (at the moment, you never know when these things change - I use to think Bryan Adams was pretty amazing).
Also from Sweden, Jose Gonzalez has released two albums, Venner, and In Our Nature. Both are on par with each other and this is very hard to accomplish after a 1st time big success. As a matter of fact, I introduced my boyfriend to the second album first, and he liked it better than Veneer.
I love Jose so much that it is almost impossible for me to choose one song. But for the sake of keeping it "sad" and autumn-like, I will choose one of my favourites: Cycling Trivialities. This one made me cry while I was cleaning one random day years ago now - so out of nowhere heart-wrenching. He has this great vibe of insight and warmth and kindness. Like he wants to always spread love around - in every song, even the dark ones.
The version I've found includes Yukimi and is live for a telethon (not sure which cause, maybe someone can figure it out for me).
Have a great Saturday morning - until tomorrow. Enjoy
Yukimi Nagano's muse? or friend? or I dunno what, or how, or when they met or why...but in any case - Jose Gonzalez is top 5 on my list of amazing writers (at the moment, you never know when these things change - I use to think Bryan Adams was pretty amazing).
Also from Sweden, Jose Gonzalez has released two albums, Venner, and In Our Nature. Both are on par with each other and this is very hard to accomplish after a 1st time big success. As a matter of fact, I introduced my boyfriend to the second album first, and he liked it better than Veneer.
I love Jose so much that it is almost impossible for me to choose one song. But for the sake of keeping it "sad" and autumn-like, I will choose one of my favourites: Cycling Trivialities. This one made me cry while I was cleaning one random day years ago now - so out of nowhere heart-wrenching. He has this great vibe of insight and warmth and kindness. Like he wants to always spread love around - in every song, even the dark ones.
The version I've found includes Yukimi and is live for a telethon (not sure which cause, maybe someone can figure it out for me).
Have a great Saturday morning - until tomorrow. Enjoy
Thursday, September 2, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 3, 2010
Song of the day: Little Dragon "Twice"
I have recently been turned on to Little Dragon despite my best efforts not to take well to Yukimi Nagano. She might just bother me because I'm jealous --- which is highly likely because she's absolutely aesthetically perfect to look upon, has this stoic sense of maturity both musically and personally (from what I've seen), and has killer pipes. Oh, and did I mention that her writing style is both refreshing and soulful?
I was introduced to her accidentally while indulging in my love for Jose Gonzalez live on YouTube. She sings back-up for Gonzalez and does a pretty humble job of it too.
"Little Dragon is an electronic music band, based in Gothenburg, Sweden. It consists of Swedish-Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano (vocals, percussion) and her close high-school friends Erik Bodin (drums), Captain Källgren Crunch (bass), and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards)." (Wikipedia, 2010)
It's just beautiful and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
I have recently been turned on to Little Dragon despite my best efforts not to take well to Yukimi Nagano. She might just bother me because I'm jealous --- which is highly likely because she's absolutely aesthetically perfect to look upon, has this stoic sense of maturity both musically and personally (from what I've seen), and has killer pipes. Oh, and did I mention that her writing style is both refreshing and soulful?
I was introduced to her accidentally while indulging in my love for Jose Gonzalez live on YouTube. She sings back-up for Gonzalez and does a pretty humble job of it too.
"Little Dragon is an electronic music band, based in Gothenburg, Sweden. It consists of Swedish-Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano (vocals, percussion) and her close high-school friends Erik Bodin (drums), Captain Källgren Crunch (bass), and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards)." (Wikipedia, 2010)
It's just beautiful and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
SadSeptemberSongs: September 2, 2010
Going with the general folk-feel of the last post, I want to share with you one of my favourite Sufjan Stevens tunes.
This one is sad - the lyrics are everything in this song - Stevens is an incredibly gifted writer and his words are as epic, and as cinematic as his music.
It's called Casimir Pulaski Day, from the album Illinoise (2005)
here's a live version of the song that I love - except for the fact that it's out of sync. But maybe you can just close your eyes and appreciate the 'liveness' of it on a sound level alone.
(if you're interested, also listen to "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois" and everything else by him for that matter, cause it's all THAT amazing)
This one is sad - the lyrics are everything in this song - Stevens is an incredibly gifted writer and his words are as epic, and as cinematic as his music.
It's called Casimir Pulaski Day, from the album Illinoise (2005)
here's a live version of the song that I love - except for the fact that it's out of sync. But maybe you can just close your eyes and appreciate the 'liveness' of it on a sound level alone.
(if you're interested, also listen to "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois" and everything else by him for that matter, cause it's all THAT amazing)
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