John Grant - Tiny Desk Concert

Willie Watson, Folk Singer, Volume I

In case you have been wondering what Willie Watson has been up to (after leaving the Old Crow Medicine Show), a quick google search has informed me that he released a solo album just last month! The Seattle Pi wrote a kind review of his album Folk Singer, Volume I, praising, "Folk music has found a new champion, and it couldn't be in better hands." The article/review is a sweet little tribute to folk music in general. A nice read.

Old Crow Medicine Show, Remedy

NPR (First Listen) is streaming Old Crow Medicine Show's new album, Remedy, this week at npr.org. I was very excited to listen to this abulm, and the whole family agreed Remedy was the perfect 'dinner at the picnic table on this beautiful summer night' soundtrack for tonight... The album starts out super engaging, and ends dynamiclly, but they lost me somewhere in the middle. In two songs, I felt in complete disagreement with NPR's smiling review, but they would end and my foot started tapping again. I can't quite put my finger on what was off... Perhaps I just miss Willie Watson. His special twang was a signature sound in the band. Either way, worth a listen!

OK Go, The Writing's On the Wall

Here it is! The new OK Go video! It's pretty great:

My favorite OK Go video, This Too Shall Pass (marching band style):

And finally, their humble music video beginnings, Here it Goes Again:

I'm glad they do this.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

This movie came out in December (2013), so isn't 'new'... but I just watched it last night. I've been familiar with the Jose Gonzalez song 'Stay Alive' since it's release, thanks to thecurrent.org. It was written by Ryan Adams, and Gonzalez's delivery is beautiful. I hadn't relized it was linked to this movie. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty was lovely surprise. While it is not exactly a comedy, and 'romantic comedy' seems to shallow to describe it, it was funny, charming, and very imaginative. Watching the movie and listening to the songs, I realized I was its target demographic. If you are reading this post, you are likely the movie's target demographic as well. Next time are looking to rent a movie, I would recommend this be your next selection. An all around good movie for the 30 somethings out there.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Trailer:

Jose Gonzalez, Stay Alive:

Hurray for the Riff Raff

Hurray for the Riff Raff is a new-ish band (released their first album in 2010... new to me) out of New Orleans. I've only heard a few of their songs, but I'm hooked. I look forward to hearing more from them.

I Know It's Wrong (But That's Alright):

Look Out Mama:

St. Roch Blues:

Tori Amos, Unrepentant Geraldines

This morning I caught the last few minutes of Rachel Martin's interview with Tori Amos on Weekend Edition on NPR. The last question and answer seemed like a very fitting way to begin Mother's Day:

MARTIN: I imagine the answer is yes, but I'm going to ask anyway - has parenthood, in particular raising a daughter, a teenager now, changed how you approach making music?

AMOS: It's changed everything, Rachel. I'm a different person. Becoming a mom was what I needed to refocus my attention. Magic glasses, I would call them. So I took off my other glasses, which might have been - I'll raise my hand - self-involved glasses, and then take off those glasses and put on mom glasses and all of a sudden it's in technicolor.

Here's to life in Technicolor! Happy Mother's Day!