Musical Wanderings

I was really not sure what I wanted to listen and to share with you today. So lets put the musical machine on random and see what pops up shall we...

But before we get to that, it is a grey morning and if I didn't know any better I would think it was Nov, the only difference is that it is to warm for that. I am hoping that it will burn off and while I do not like it super hot I do like it when there are some blue skies and some sunshine out there. So heres to hoping.

Laird Baird - Charlie Parker

Oh this is kind of nice. Opening things up with a little bit of jazz this morning and some jazz from one of the masters. I have grown to like jazz more and more in the last few years. I am not sure if that is a sign of maturity or if my tastes have just gotten better. Either way I am enjoying listening to some of the greats.

Queen Anne's Revenge - Flogging Molly

This is one of my favorite bands and they have been a part of some great memories for me. One of which is seeing them with the Maestro and Eric and I will always remember and hold on to that as one of my favorite musical memories in a long line of amazing musical memories. I miss you Eric.

Hold On To What You Believe - Mumford and Sons

Well things seem to have taken a somber turn, but that is okay with me because today seems kind of like a somber day all things considered. I do enjoy this song and this band a lot and I honestly do not care if they wear vests all of the time or are to hipster for some. I just plain enjoy the sound of their music and if I sound defensive about it then so be. If you don't like it then jog on. pfffffft

Let Me Put My Love Into You - AC/DC

I love it. Nothing puts a bigger smile on my face then when some classic AC/DC pops up. I have lots of them in the player but I rarely pick them to listen to. I am not sure why that is. Because whenever they pop up on random I am thrilled by it. The very first air band I was in was in grade school and we did an AC/DC song. "Back in Black" I believe was the song and we rocked it so hard. I remember cutting out a guitar outline or tracing it from a Sears catalogue so that I could have a cardboard cut out to play for the show.

Insert Supertramp song here that I was unable to find a video for. No big loss and we are just going to move on.

Hard As A Rock - ACDC

Oh my we are doublin down on the AC/DC this morning but sadly this song is no where near as cool as the earlier one. As the band as gotten older the voice of the lead singer has gotten worse and worse and it really was not all that good to begin with. Now the chugging guitar and the drums and the antic of Angus Young are still just fine. But the vocals are pretty rough. It might be time to pull a Judas Priest and bring on a new younger singer. Hmmmm I wonder if Justin Bieber would be interested?

Underground - Men At Work

Nice back to back from the Aussies. I really do like Men At Work and this is a nice treat for me to hear as well. I may need to do some more listening to them today. I also like that this is a deeper cut from the album.

That is it for now folks. You guys have a great day if possible and keep on rockin!

The Fundamentals of Music

I am going to be bringing something a little new to the blog. I just received a nice large batch of music that my friend Steve felt like I would enjoy listening to and I am looking forward to sharing that with my readers. Now some of the music are bands that I have heard of and some are bands that I have only a little awareness of . There are also a couple that I have never heard of at all and the music tends to be of all kinds of genres so I am really looking forward to bringing my experience to you and I hope you are able to enjoy the experience. I just hope I am able to find music videos as well so that I can really share it with you.

This first artist is the great blues singer Billie Holiday. This is a name that I have heard before and probably heard bits and pieces of her music but I haven't ever sat down and actively given her an extended listen and I have to say, that while this is not the typical style of music that I listen too, I really do enjoy it.

I am probably not going to do a lot of biographical stuff with these artists. You can all use google for that. I am just going to be following my usual method of putting up a video of the song if possible and then detailing a little bit my feelings about the song as I was listening to it.

I've Got It Bad and that Ain't Good - Billie Holiday

I really wish that I knew more about who played in her band. Because along with the smoothness of her voice and the overall just mellow feelings that she brings to me I also really enjoy the piano in this number and I have in most everything that I have listened to so far. My music player is listing this as blues but the more that I listen to it the more I am impressed by the jazz like nature of it. The instruments especially. It is all just so nice.

I Loves You Porgy - Billie Holiday

This one is music composed by George Gershwin so that explains why they music is so good in it. I am having a hard time really giving this the explanation that I feel like it deserves. The music is so good and the whole package of what is going on with her vocals and the instruments weaving shapes and patterns together and really creating a picture of sound is hard for me to fully explain to you in words. I just have to say that I am enjoying it.

Keeps On Rainin' - Billie Holiday

 Such a good song. I honestly find that I do not have the words for this other then that to sit quietly and to listen to this is a very pleasant experience. There is no other way for me to put it, other then that.

Lover Man - Billie Holiday

This is a love song and a very poignant one. Another beautiful song. All I can say. folks, is do yourselves a favor and track down some of her music. I do not think you will regret it and I realize that I am not discovering something new. I am just discovering something that is new to me and I am very much enjoying the experience.

(This is part of my Discovering Music Series)  

Getting a Little Jazzed

So I have a few friends that are fans of Jazz music. But it has not ever been something that I have been fully able to get into. Though thanks to their encouragement, I try to listen to it now and then. So in the spirit of that, I decided to give the album Oh Yeah by Charles Mingus a listen. Please do yourself a favor and put some headphones on and give it a listen.

I honestly do not have the words to describe the experience I hope this gif can began to do it justice.