Music Video Monday - A Thing for You

Without a doubt, one of the most original and clever music videos I've seen.

Top 10 Keane

1. Leaving So Soon? - Under the Iron Sea - I don't think this is my favorite Keane song of all time, but it energized and motivated me to create this list and it's a fabulous reminder of why I enjoy Keane so much: soaring pop-rock vocals, catchy melodies and creative instrumentation. And the giant inhale at the start is perfect.
2. This is the Last Time - Hopes and Fears - This is an altogether great album, but this song remains one of my all time favorites. I really like the beat the piano establishes from the beginning and then it's amplified by the drums and bass.
3. Your Eyes Open - Hopes and Fears - This song has a good groove, probably because of the bass part throughout. It's nice it doesn't drown out the piano though - they do a great job of balancing the instruments. I like the spacey bit around 2:20, which is definitely typical of Keane.
4. Time to Go - Perfect Symmetry - After many, many listens of the band's latest album, Perfect Symmetry, this song may be my favorite - and I really do like the whole CD. Oddly, this song is sort of the misfit on the album because it's the only acoustic song (just guitar, piano and vocals) and it's also one of the most straightforward, in terms of melody and form. In my opinion, it's also one of the most beautiful. Tom Chaplin really can sing.
5. We Might As Well Be Strangers - Hopes and Fears - Let lead vocalist Tom Chaplin turn an otherwise normal ballad into a wild, dramatic performance. It's nice when a rock band exhibits dynamics.
6. Spiralling - Perfect Symmetry - Wonderfully unique, bizarre and catchy, all at the same time. Love, politics, religion, rhetorical questions and a spacey bridge around 3:00. That about sums it up.
7. The Way You Want It - The Way You Want It Single - Great songwriting. Just piano. Different sound from the rest of their more electronic stuff.
8. Nothing in My Way - Under the Iron Sea - Love the chorus.
9. Snowed Under - Somewhere Only We Know EP - "You know sometimes I feel like I'm getting snowed under with the things you say, when I open my eyes and it's a lovely day"
10. Somewhere Only We Know - Hopes and Fears - Maybe a little cheesy and definitely overplayed on the radio for a while (think: the summer of 2004) but a classic nonetheless (along the lines of Coldplay's "The Scientist" or "In My Place"). This was the song that got me hooked on the band.

Snowed Under - Keane


Spiralling - Keane

Music Video Monday - Ben Lee

Is it just me or does Ben Lee look like Art Garfunkel in this video performance?

Top 10 Ingrid Michaelson

Ingrid is quickly becoming the standard by which I measure all my favorite female singer-songwriters: Meiko, Tristan Prettyman, Colbie Caillet, Erin McCarley, even artists who may have been around longer than Ingrid, KT Tunstall, (Leslie) Feist, the list goes on. This just goes to show the overarching influence Ingrid has had on my musical tastes these last few years. Katie introduced me to her music a few years ago and I immediately fell in love with the album Girls and Boys; I don't know if I can accurately describe it, but there's something about Ingrid's songs and her singing (even in recordings, I've sadly never heard her perform live), that sounds so personal and honest. I think there's some musicians who write music for others, the public, and there's musicians who write music for themselves. I don't think either is right or wrong, but I suspect Ingrid is the latter. Her songs are usually reflective and sensitive and always unique and beautiful. Unlike some of the other female singer-songwriters I've listened to, Ingrid has managed to succeed in the daunting task of sounding distinct and yet having variety within her songs. Any musician that accomplishes this challenging feat should be applauded. Admittedly, there's also something magnetic about a woman who plays an instrument, writes her own music and sings. Some presume only women think this way about men who play the guitar or piano, but trust me, nothing is more attractive than a woman who can play an instrument and sing well (yes, they're even sexier than girls dancing in skimpy outfits posing as musicians - you know who you are). iTunes classifies Ingrid as pop, but I think she's the exact opposite, whatever that is, anti-pop, the antithesis of pop, folk, good...



1. December Baby - Girls and Boys - In the last few lists I've written it's been difficult choosing a number 10; on this one, it was difficult choosing a number 1. I adore so much of Ingrid's music, but this one really stands out to me as a well-written, beautiful, sad, love story. And as if you didn't already know I'm a sucker for songs with accelerandos (that is, songs that speed up), I love the accelerando-jumble 4 minutes in, the musical rest and then clarity - it's like a good movie.
2. Far Away - Girls and Boys - Another wonderful narrative. Peppier than "December Baby" but equally brilliant and genuine. I love the verse lyrics and rhymes: "I will live my life as a lobsterman's wife on an island in the blue bay. He will take care of me, he will smell like the sea, and close to my heart he'll always stay."
3. Overboard - Girls and Boys - Being a guy, I don't know if women actually feel this way, but I suspect some do and it seems to me to be a realistic and healthy response to falling in love.
4. Charlie - Slow the Rain - I also really like "Empty Bottle" and "Porcelain Fists" from this album, but this one has received the most listens on my ipod.
5. Starting Now - Girls and Boys - Another, very different portrayal of love, but nonetheless valid and honest.
6. The Hat - Girls and Boys - "I knitted you a hat all blue and gold
To keep your ears warm from the Binghamton cold.
It was my first one and it was too small.
It didn't fit you at all, but you wore it just the same." Aw... first love.
7. Be OK - Be OK - Ridiculously catchy and infectious.
8. Breakable - Girls and Boys - I love how Ingrid's vocal parts surprise me. There's time when she sings a verse or line and I expect the note to go one way (based on listening to so many other artists and melodies) and it goes another way. Her originality is stunning.
9. Keep Breathing - Be OK - Plain and simple a beautifully written song - it's as if the piano and guitar parts are dancing.
10. Turn to Stone - Turn to Stone Single - This song is very new and hasn't withstood the test of time yet but out of Ingrid's most recent singles (see also "Maybe" and "All Love", I think it is the best and gets me very excited for her upcoming album Everybody which comes out next Tuesday, August 25th). Yes, the tempos change during the song :) For those of you who are interested, Ingrid is showcasing a new song from her upcoming album each day leading up the release on her website.

*Bonus video: Ingrid performs a rap remix of her hit single "The Way I Am" on the Bob & Tom show.

Top 10 Coldplay

Coldplay concerts have not only been some of the best concerts I've seen and heard, they've been some of the best times in my life: driving down to San Francisco with my wife and seeing Coldplay at the HP Pavilion Center in San Jose, going over to the White River Ampitheatre in Auburn, WA with my friend and most recently, this July at the Gorge. Perhaps there's something mysteriously uplifting about Coldplay's music that comes to the surface during live performances and creates a sense of euphoria. I think it can be heard in their studio recordings too; even the slow, somber songs sound hopeful. Their concerts also benefit from the fact they're fantastic performers who know how to put on a show. At the Gorge, giant yellow balloons floated across the crowd during "Yellow" and tiny paper butterflies flew over the audience during "Lovers in Japan", Coldplay left the stage to come in to the crowd to perform a few numbers including "The Hardest Part" and a cover of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean.

1. Warning Sign - A Rush of Blood to the Head - my favorite song of theirs to play on the piano. One thing I like about Coldplay's music is how simple their melodies are - they do an amazing job of orchestrating the different instruments to make the songs sonically interesting - one melody line may be played by a piano, guitar and sung all at different times or as harmonies at the same time. The piano parts aren't difficult to play, which allows me to enjoy their music in yet another way.
2. Shiver - Parachutes - This song is somewhat difficult to play on the piano, I don't know about the guitar parts, but I've never seen this song performed live and I really want to. I love the last minute of the song where you think it's going to end and Chris gives us one more verse.
3. The Scientist - A Rush of Blood to the Head - Simply a classic (you can watch the music video at the end of this post).
4. Clocks - A Rush of Blood to the Head - Regardless of how many times I've heard this on the radio, it's still one of my favorite songs. There's also this cool latin version by Coldplay and Rhythms del Mundo Cuba on iTunes - very, very cool.
5. Life in Technicolor II - Prospekt's March - Loved the original, love the extended version even more.
6. Don't Panic - Parachutes - So, so simple, and so, so beautiful. The poetic lyrics are perfect: "Bones, sinking like stones, all that we've fought for. Homes, places we've grown, all of us are done for. And we live in a beautiful world."
7. Yes - Viva la Vida - I love all the parts of this song from the strings at the beginning, to the haunting vocals and the electric guitar shift midway through. Probably some of their best songwriting.
8. Politik - A Rush of Blood to the Head - A classic by my books. This is about as "hard" as Coldplay gets (which incidentally is very, very soft) and I especially like the change of tone about 3 minutes in.
9. Brothers and Sisters - Trouble (B-Sides) EP - Great guitar part and another gorgeous melody.
10. Low - X & Y - This album is a bit more electronic sounding than their other albums, but it still offers many unique and enjoyable tunes, including "Square One" and "Swallowed by the Sea". Ironically, I think "Low" is one of the highlights of this album.


The Scientist (Edit) - Coldplay

Top 10 Dave Matthews Band

The thing I love about Dave Matthews Band's music is that there's so much going on; even after hearing their songs a thousand times, I'll hear a new guitar riff or a drum fill - and their recordings are always spot on - I can hear the velocity of Carter's sticks and LeRoi's dynamics on the various wind instruments he plays. Their music is the perfect example of a band that has a distinct sound and variety among their songs. For this list I only used studio albums - they have a plethora of phenomenal live recordings, but that would have added another 100+ tracks to choose from.

1. Crush - Before These Crowded Streets - to date my all time favorite DMB song from my favorite DMB album. I love the jazz influence. There's a radio edit version I've heard - avoid it! The final flute solo, guitar/violin jam is divine.
2. #41 - Crash - actually their 41st song (originally titled "41 Police"), this is my favorite numbered-song-title song of theirs. love the meandering nature, progressions and final transition into the following song on the album "Say Goodbye". Again, LeRoi is magnificent.
3. Rapunzel - Before These Crowded Streets - like most of their music, wonderfully non-mainstream in their rhythm and sequence (who needs a chorus?). Another transition into the next song. Remember when album's were recorded with the intent of listening to them in their entirety and the songs were all part of a cohesive whole? This album is one of the first time's I was exposed to that dying art form.
4. Pig - Before These Crowded Streets - "Is this not enough? This blessed sip of life, is it not enough? Staring down at the ground. Oh, then complain and pray for more from above, you greedy little pig. Stop, just watch your world trickle away. Oh, it's your problem now
It'll all be dead and gone in a few short years." These lyrics could've been in a emo-angst rock song, but they're not. This is one of the most optimistic and inspiring songs I've ever heard.
5. Two Step - Crash - Epic and beautiful. Stefan gets to shine on this song - I really like his bass part during the chorus, 2nd verse and the very end.
6. The Best of What's Around - Under the Table and Dreaming - I kinda feel like this is an underrated song. I've never heard it performed live, and no one seems to talk about it, but I think it's a great kick-off to a virtually perfect album (wait, it is perfect).
7. Ants Marching - Under the Table and Dreaming - I don't think a Dave Matthews Band concert would be complete without this song and Dave and Boyd dueling on the guitar and violin.
8. Tripping Billies - Crash - Carter's always amazing, but he's particularly impressive on this challenging song. The song title is supposedly inspired from a band member's girlfriend telling Dave they sounded like "a bunch of hillbillies tripping on acid". I don't hear it, maybe it was her...
9. Lie in Our Graves - Crash - surprisingly peppy given the title. I love the beat of this song. It's great for road-trips (along with "Drive In Drive Out") and a treat to hear live.
10. When the World Ends - Everyday - it's difficult choosing the last song, there's so many good ones, but I wanted to make sure I included the album Everyday in this top 10, because it really is fabulous, even if it does sound very different from the rest of their albums. Also recommended from Everyday are "So Right", "Fool to Think" and the title track.


Ants Marching - Dave Matthews Band

City of Black & White - Mat Kearney

I woke up to Mat Kearney's newest single "Closer to Love" this morning on the radio, so I thought it would be appropriate to blog about his album City of Black & White. I first heard Mat Kearney on the radio with his single "Nothing Left to Lose" and then I saw him open for the Fray at the Knitting Factory in Spokane. Strangely it wasn't until I picked up his album, also titled Nothing Left to Lose, that I really got into his music style - which I've heard compared to everything from Jason Mraz to Everlast to Coldplay (which truthfully, I can see comparisons to all of them). It's true, he raps in Nothing Left to Lose, and some of his best songs are the ones where he raps (see "Girl America" and "Undeniable" - the former does sort of remind me of "What It's Like" by Everlast). In City of Black & White, for some unknown reason, Mat doesn't rap. Theories range from "some people didn't like Mat's beat poetry/rap" to he wanted his songs to be "radio-ready" (both "theories" I found on Amazon.com reviews). Admittedly I do miss his beat poetry/rap (which I came to recognize as part of his style); fortunately, City of Black & White still manages to retain his sound.

Mat Kearney was born in Eugene, Oregon and has spent the last eight years living in Nashville, Tennessee. His songs have appeared on a plethora of popular television shows from Friday Night Lights to Grey's Anatomy. City of Black & White blends piano and guitar beautifully in an album of storytelling and hopeful love songs. Without the rap, I do feel like the album has less variety than Nothing Left to Lose - there's still variety among ballads, but I don't feel like I'm exposed to the same range of emotions from his previous album. Regardless, the slower, softer nature of the album does nothing to diminish Mat's energy and passion. My favorite tracks are "All I Have", "Fire & Rain (Acoustic)", "Never Be Ready" and I really do like the radio single "Closer to Love" - there's a music video for the song at the bottom of this post (I apologize for the ads, it's from Mat's site, but it's a pleasant video). Mat will be coming back to the Knitting Factory in Spokane on October 30th, 2009 and Seattle on November 2nd and Portland on November 3rd.

Fave tracks: "All I Have", "Fire & Rain (Acoustic)", "Never Be Ready" and "Closer to Love"
RIYL: The Fray, Coldplay, Jason Mraz, Everlast, Erin McCarley, U2

Music Video Monday - Funny the Way It Is

Happy Monday everyone! I haven't yet reviewed Dave Matthews Band's latest album Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King, but I own it, and it's a good one. Here's the music video to their first single from the album "Funny the Way It Is". Even by DMB standards, it's a little weird (starting around the part with the tape), but the song is fantastic.


Funny the Way It Is - Dave Matthews Band

Music Video Monday!

Happy Monday everyone and Happy Memorial Day!


Breakable - Ingrid Michaelson

Music Video Monday!

Katie introduced us to Meiko (pronounced "MEE-ko") a little over a month ago. Her self-titled debut album is a nice blend of gentle acoustics (a la Tristan Prettyman) and breezy melodies (I suspect fans of Colbie Caillet will enjoy Meiko.) Here's the music video to her catchy single "Boys With Girlfriends":


Boys With Girlfriends - Meiko

Mondays are for Music Videos

Mondays can be tough. Brutal even. And sometimes Mondays call for something to boost your spirits.

The Kings of Convenience, a quirky indie folk-pop duo from Norway, have just the booster.

Check out their video for "I'd Rather Dance With You." It's pretty funny (some might even call it "Gap-tastic").


Id Rather Dance With You - Kings Of Convenience

Kate Nash video

Happy Tuesday everyone, here's a music video for "Mouthwash" by Kate Nash - isn't she just adorable? Watch out for the sci-fi stage performance a minute in:


Kate Nash - Mouthwash - Kate Nash

Erin McCarley vids

A couple videos of Erin McCarley in the studio performing "Sticky-Sweet" and "Blue Suitcase":


Sticky-Sweet - Erin McCarley


Blue Suitcase - Erin McCarley

Also, her website now says she'll be performing in Denver, Colorado, which is still a fair distance from Spokane but it's in the right direction. You can visit Erin's website here or read my original post.

putting the ho in "Jai Ho"

I got that line from my favorite movie blog www.AwardsDaily.com*. They had a post about the Pussycat Dolls doing a rendition of A.R. Rahman's Academy Award-winning song "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire. Many film buffs were offended. The music community? Not so much. You can view it for yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_7AyQpsukM.

* By the by, this is a fantastic blog for you cinephiles out there; it has a great community of smart and devoted bloggers.

Coldplay vs. Joe Satriani vs. Marty Balin (?)

The Coldplay vs. Satriani affair has unearthed a 1980s single by Marty Balin (of Jefferson Airplane) called Hearts that some believe sounds like "Viva La Vida" and "If I Could Fly". Check out the steamy music video here:



I tell you what, if I had the software and the technical finesse I would splice these three songs together and make one heck of a music video.

Underground music video

No this isn't some secret, fringe, uncensored music video - this is the music video to Ben Fold's Five song called "Underground". I don't remember when I first saw it, but the album cover for Whatever and Ever Amen reminded me of it (even though it's actually on their self-titled debut album). The film quality is amateur at best, but it's a catchy tune and the video is kind of funny (at least to me). Enjoy!

Viva la Vida - Music Video

Coldplay's new EP Prospekt's March was released today It features six new songs and two remixes (stay tuned for the full review). Until then, here's their music video for "Viva la Vida" for those who haven't seen it.

"On the Radio" by Regina Spektor

At the risk of overdoing the whole "video thing", here is one of Regina Spektor's "On the Radio". I discovered Regina after listening to Ben Fold's latest single "You Don't Know Me" which they sing together. I promptly downloaded "Fidelity" and "On the Radio" on iTunes. You can't argue with lyrics like "On the radio / We heard November Rain / That solo's really long /But it's a pretty song /We listened to it twice / 'Cause the DJ was asleep"... a huge oversight on my part, November Rain should definitely have made my list of songs over 6 minutes in length. It clocks in at 8:56 and is definitely worth a listen or two :)

Have you heard...

So I was so impressed with Katie's music video she uploaded of Eric Hutchinson and I really enjoy his music, that I decided to upload a music video of an up-and-coming artist I really like: Tristan Prettyman. I've only listened to her first major album twentythree, but she just released a second album this year called Hello...x. Her music reminds me a little of Colbie Caillat or Mandy Moore's Coverage or Wild Hope. It is fun, care-free and great road trip/summer music.

In addition to this single from twentythree, I also recommend "Love, Love, Love", "Smoke" (my favorite song on the album) and "Shy That Way" (one exception to my "no Jason Mraz" rule). For more information on Tristan Prettyman you can visit her website here: www.tristanprettyman.com

Have You Heard of...

I've been listening to Eric Hutchinson since about June. I first heard his single "Rock & Roll" on my favorite Spokane radio station's New Music Monday program. I instantly fell in love. So, I looked him up on Pandora, listened to a few more songs, and stopped at Best Buy on my way home from work that day to buy his album, Sounds Like This. These days, it can be a difficult decision to purchase a full album. So often there are only a few tracks worth listening to, but that was not the case with Sounds.

Besides the perky "Rock & Roll," which I dare you to listen to without wanting to dance (see video below), my favorite track on the album might be "You Don't Have to Believe Me," where he tries to convince a woman she deserves to be treated with respect. Here, Hutchinson really lets loose. Although, I also love the album opener, "Ok, It's Alright With Me," which also makes me want to dance. A lot. On heavily piano influenced tracks like "It Hasn't Been Long Enough" Eric reminds me a bit of a rock and roll Michael Buble or Jamie Cullum. Honestly, though, there isn't a song I don't like.

I just found out that I missed Hutchinson when he was in Portland a few days ago for a charity show. However, he'll be back in Portland (and Spokane and surrounding cities) in November. Check out his website for tour dates and other info.