I can’t help but to keep going back to the Hype Machine’s Top 50 albums of 2009 for inspiration. Aside from albums I already had in my library on the list, I’ve probably added another 25 that I discovered. Some of them were bands I had never heard of - I love discovering something completely new (i.e. Mumford & Sons, see my post from last week). However, some of them were bands that I knew of, and had heard some of their music, but just never paid much attention to.
So, emo isn’t my thing. I’ll listen to it (and maybe enjoy it) if someone else is playing it, but 99 times out of 100, I’m not going to pick it on my own. That being said, though, I respect it and appreciate it for what it is. That’s why I really surprised myself when I really enjoyed exploring Paramore’s new album, Brand New Eyes.
Now, I realize I’m jumping on board a bit late here. I know they’ve been around since 2005 and that this is their 3rd album and that Riot! went platinum and all that, blah blah blah. I’m not going to say that I gave all of their albums that much attention, BUT from what I do know and what I’ve read from credible sources, this is their best album yet. The band co-produced the album with Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance, etc) and brilliantly proved themselves, despite being so young. Favorite Tracks: “All I Wanted” and “Turn It Off”. Hayley Williams’s voice in “All I Wanted” is, simply put, chilling and breathtaking.
I don’t have any hatred (in fact, the opposite) for the other members of Paramore, but what I want to know is: when will Hayley Williams go solo? She’s only 21 and she’s extraordinary. I just can’t help but wonder what she’d be like solo (the song “Teenagers” from the soundtrack for Jennifer’s Body DOESN’T count). Is that so wrong?
For those who read this and were tired of listening to banjos – this was for you. Well, it was for me, too. I’m always trying to expand my horizons. Dear emo music, I’m sorry for all the times I said I didn’t like you. Love, J.
(You can still listen to most of Brand New Eyes using Hype Machine's link above. Otherwise, try their last.fm page. If you like Paramore, and especially like a strong lead female vocal, try Metric's new album Fantasies - also one of the best from 2009.)
First thing’s first – I’ll credit A with introducing me to The Hype Machine, a great music blog for discovering new and eclectic material. Over the past two weeks, I’ve curbed my Pandora usage to exploit the availability of full album listening for 2009’s Top 50 on the blog. You mean I can just click here and listen a whole album? All of it? For free? Don’t mind if I do…
While most of the artists I ran into on the list were at least somewhat familiar, I definitely ran into some gems that flew under my radar this year. Of course, the Top 10 were the heavy hitters: Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Phoenix, Dirty Projectors, The XX, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Passion Pit, Antlers, Fever Ray and Girls. This week, though, my material is coming from the guys in the number 50 spot: Mumford & Sons. Dead last. Hadn’t heard of them. Love at first listen.
The guys have been together only since late 2007, released some of their first singles in mid-2008 and, finally, released their debut in October of 2009. They were lucky enough to produce Sigh No More with Markus Dravs, who has worked with the likes of Coldplay, The Arcade Fire and Bjork.
Favorite tracks: “Sigh No More” and “The Cave”. Although, I’ve listened to the whole album without skipping tracks about a bajillion times now. That says a lot, for me, about both the cohesiveness of the album and the quality of individual songs. I really enjoy the clever reference to Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in “Sign No More” and it offers a remarkably soulful opening. I can’t put my finger on why I like “The Cave” so much, but I do. So there. For something dark, try “Dustbowl Dance” – one line says “You will pray to the God you always denied/And I’ll go out back and I’ll get my gun…” Enough said.
If you check these guys out and like them, I also suggest Fleet Foxes. I don’t know who is actually reading this, but I’m sure you all are tired of me picking music with banjos (judge if you want, but I like it). So, for next week I’ve got something different in mind to waste my breath about…
As a genre, I don’t think indie folk really does Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros justice. A World Café article on NPR dubbed them a psychedelic folk troupe and I think that’s more like it. Their debut album came out in July and ever since, they’ve been all over the radar as an avant-garde band for 2009.
My first exposure to ESMZ (that’s what I’m going to call it, okay?) was “Home” as a part of NPR’s 2009 recap. You can’t help but to fall in love with that song, even if you don’t appreciate any of their other music. The lyrics are just unabashedly amorous and whimsical, enough to melt the coldest of hearts. The buck doesn’t stop there though, “Carries On”, “40 Day Dream”, “Simplest Love” and “Om Nashi Me” are equally as affectionate. Watch the 10 piece group fronted by Alex Ebert and Jade Castrinos and the feeling only grows. I can’t help but think about John & Yoko when they perform together, singing lines like “She got jumper cable lips/ She got sunset on her breath now/ I inhaled just a little bit / Now I got no fear of death…” or “Holy Moly, Me oh My, you’re the apple of my eye/ Girl ain’t never loved one like you…”
I’m a little bit in awe of what they are and what they do and I still don’t quite understand it. It’s like a bunch of random hippies got together (probably with at least a little pot) and just started playing and writing together. When I suggested one friend listen to it he says, “man, they just don’t make music like this anymore!” to which I responded, “it came out this year! don’t you feel like it’s from the 60s or something?!” I’m interested to see if there’s a large movement for this kind of revival of folk music that is reminiscent of the 60s and 70s, but I don’t expect it to trump Lady Gaga in the charts or anything (I also love her, no hate here).
Hope you enjoy listening, and if you don’t, well…oh well. Among those currently on my radar for future posts are: Mumford & Sons, Muse and Fanfarlo… be on the lookout!
So, I like to cook. Maaaaybe you read my post about grilling? If you didn’t, you should. Just earlier today I finally started blogging about music like I’ve been wanting to, and I mentioned as my final note that I wanted to start blogging about recipes and some of my cooking adventures. I’m not going to promise a weekly post like my music blogging, but as often as I try a new recipe or feel compelled to share.
For my first adventure in cooking: broken spaghetti risotto and chicken tenders saltimbocca. I originally saw these two recipes presented together on an episode of Rachael Ray’s 30 Minute Meals, the tenders served on top of the pasta or as a first course. I just kinda “served” them together.
First of all, let me say that this wasn’t a 30 minute meal. With the first experience behind me I MIGHT be able to get it all done in 30 minutes, but I wouldn’t bank on it. Risotto by its very nature is to be cooked slowly, although the broken spaghetti cooked faster than traditional risotto made with rice would have. Okay, second of all, I take issue with a few details Rachael uses to describe things in this recipe, a) “medium” saute pan and b) spaghetti broken in to “small” pieces. Note that the recipe calls for 1 pound of spaghetti. I don’t know what planet I was on when I thought 1 pound of spaghetti would fit in a “medium” saute pan - large people, go with a large, deep pan. And for the record, when she says small pieces, she means tiny. Like, we’re talkin’ 2-3”, max. The rest of the recipe, though, was pretty good. The mushroom stock was great and incorporated with the pasta quite well in about the time frame she suggests. Despite the little adventure I had with the not-quite-big-enough saute pan and a-little-too-big pieces of spaghetti, the pasta turned out delish.
Now, the oven roasted chicken tenders saltimbocca were easy as pie (actually, I don’t think that’s appropriate because some pies are quite complicated). Just wrap fresh chicken tenders with sage and prosciutto, coat them with S&P and EVOO and let the guys bake. Simple, elegant and delicious. Great served with the pasta, but would also serve well as a hors d'oeuvre.
I got a dutch oven for Christmas, so be on the look out for a recipe to be cooked in that bad boy (I REALLY want to try to make Julia Child’s boeuf bourguignon)...
Aaaand if anyone is interested, one of my favorite new sites for finding random recipes without any agenda is tastespotting.com.
This is a special time of the year for music lovers. The whole interwire is abuzz with “Best of 2009’s”. What’s even more special is that we’re closing out a decade, giving the opportunity for all sorts of lists for the best music from the last 10 years. I’ve been in heaven reacquainting myself with music from just this past year, let alone the entire decade. My quick and dirty assessment of 2009 in music: phenomenal. I will say that I have taken more interest in music in the past year, so that may have a little to do with it. However, I think this year saw some great new artists emerge and saw some artists that have been around the block really shine brilliantly. What I DON’T want to do is make another list - it’s been done, look ‘um up (shout out to A and her blog). I will give a nod to some of my favorites though:
Rather than having a fleeting post about one of my favorites from 2009 - I’m gonna get to it, hold on a sec - I’d like to post about an artist once a week. Ambitious, I know, but music is something I feel inspired enough to write about that often (I think). So what better time than now to start? Won’t necessarily be a new artists or new albums or anything like that, just someone who’s music I feel like sharing. SO, with that... I want to write my first post about Sarah Jarosz.
She hails from just outside Austin, Texas, which right away signals to me that she’s been exposed to great music her whole life. According to her bio, she’s been singing since she was 2, playing piano since she was 6 and mandolin since she was 10 (somewhere along the way she’s also added claw-hammer banjo and guitar to her repertoire). Her debut album Song Up in Her Head released in June, just a few weeks after she graduated from high school and turned 18 - you know, minor events. In my humble opinion, it’s beautifully executed. Of the album's 13 tracks, 11 are her own. The other two? Intelligently covered songs in “Come On Up To The House” (Tom Waits) and “Shankill Butchers” (The Decemberists). “Shankill Butchers” was haunting when I heard on The Crane Wife, but I get chills when she sings “...they used to be just like me and you/they used be sweet little boys/but something went horribly askew/now, killing is their only source of joy...”. Oh, and let’s not forget to mention that “Mansinneedof” is nominated for a Grammy (Best Country Instrumental) - no big deal right? It’s tough for me to pick a favorite track though, I really love the album as a whole.
So anyways, check her out *listen here*. She has a beautifully lissome voice that I think will impress you, even if bluegrass (I like to call it newgrass) isn’t your thing. I can’t wait to listen to her as she grows.
Next Up: did I mention that I want to write a weekly recipe/cooking post?
I love beer. Lots of people do. But I really love beer. I haven’t always felt this way, though. When I was in college, I definitely preferred liquor beverages and if I did drink beer it was Bud Light. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still have to drink cheap beer sometimes. I will drink Bud Light if I have to, although my light, watery beer of choice is Coors Light. And I love PBR. With lime. Redneck on vacation. Don’t ask.
When I can, though, I love trying new craft beers and enjoy learning about what goes into brewing, similar to what lots of people do with wine. I especially love supporting local and NC breweries. If I find a local beer I love, I’ll do what I can to get it. If they bottle, awesome! If not, most of the time you can pick up a growler and enjoy it that way. Aside from just buying their beer, it’s also really great to visit the breweries and tour them. So far, I’ve only seen Lonerider (alternating Fridays and Saturdays), but I can’t wait to tour Big Boss (every second Saturday at 2) and Triangle (every Saturday at 1).
Last weekend, with a group of great friends, I took on the Durham World Beerfest. A-mazing. Albeit, a little overwhelming. Now, it was really hard to remember all the beers that I tried, a) because there were over 100 beers and b) because after so many samples, anyone’s memory would be a little fuzzy. After looking back over the BeerFest Program, I was able to piece back together the most memorable beers to me and I wanted to share my opinion (duh). It will become readily apparent from the list of notables what kind of beers I prefer, but all of these breweries have other phenomenal beers for those who like IPAs, Stouts, Ambers, etc. I’ve included a company or two that weren’t at the BeerFest, but who deserve note, as well as companies whose beer I did not like/try, but that are from NC and encourage others to support. My new personal favorite is the Shotgun Betty by Lonerider. I may be biased since the guys let us hang out after the festival, but I had been looking for a new hefeweizen and I certainly found it. Some surprises of note in the bunch that I liked were Hazed & Infused dry-hopped ale (not usually a hops girl, but this was well-balanced) and the Beerlao lager (brewed with jasmine rice, interesting flavor). Hope you find a beer you’ll love from this list and maybe something new to try! Maybe I’ll find some time to start my own home brew…
NC Breweries:
Lonerider (Raleigh, NC) – Shotgun Betty
Big Boss (Raleigh, NC) – Harvest Time Pumpkin, Monkey Bizzness Farmhouse Belgian, Helle’s Belle
Triangle Brewing Co. (Durham, NC) – Belgian White Ale
Carolina Brewery (Chapel Hill, NC) – Santa’s Secret
Top of the Hill (Chapel Hill, NC) – Old Well White, Blue Ridge Blueberry
Red Oak (Whitsett, NC) – Hummin’ Bird Helles, Amber Lager
Every once in a while you really need a truck. Moving has recently brought this to my attention. In order to move a washer and dryer to the new place I called in a favor to my 16-year-old-oh-my-god-he-can-drive little brother. Being from Eastern North Carolina he, naturally, drives a Chevrolet Z-71 Silverado. With the lift, giant tires and dual exhaust. Duh.
Who the hell cares, right? Me. For some weird reason I love driving that thing around; I can think of a myriad of explanations for this. Among the most popular are: 1) Napoleon complex – little girl needs a big truck and 2) you can take the girl out of Edgecombe County, but you can’t take the Edgecombe County out of the girl.
Now, none of this alone would be worth blogging about. However, I experience another phenomenon when I borrow trucks: I can only listen to country music when driving them. I really enjoyed my Michael Jackson music emersion and thought I’d do the same thing here. So, for your enjoyment, amusement or maybe even disgust, here (in no particular order) are 10 of my favorite country songs to listen to while driving around in a big truck like a pseudo-redneck:
These songs are only the tip of the iceberg; I left out music from some of the greats: George Straight, Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Travis Tritt, CDB, Dixie Chicks, Hank Jr., Dwight Yoakam, Alison Krauss and the list goes on and on and on (I included Randy Travis twice because I absolutely love him). Would it be totally cliché of me to say that "they just don’t make country music like they used to”? Yes, but it’s true. Now that I’ve traded with my brother and have my car again, it’s back to being a hipster-wannabe with Kings of Leon stuck in my head…
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