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Best of 2011: Music Part III

January 5, 2012 in Music with 0 Comments

This is the final entry to my favorite music of 2011.  There’s so much more I would like to add.  I wrestled narrowing it down to only ten.  I hope you enjoy the list!

seryn – this is where we are

what a wonderful album to listen to as you write/work.  This group from Denton, TX are remarkable.  Who know something so un-twangy could come out of Texas?  I kid, I kid.  Enjoy one of their popular songs, We will all be changed

bon iver – bon iver

I am so grateful that this release finally happened.  It was long overdue since their initial full length release in 2007.  This music allows me to escape to a more beautify tranquil place.  Listen and I think you’ll agree.  besides, this music video is by far one of my favorite. Ever.  I want that kind of freedom for me – and Caedmon – and everyone else around me.


sunbears – you will live forever

Jonathan Berlin is a freaking genius.  Psychedelic Rock to the rescue.  Give love a try? Give love a try!

civil wars – barton hollow

The story of how Joy and John Paul met and became an international success at what seems like over a night is awe-inspiring.  I’ve probably listened to this album more than any other this year.  As much respect I had for their recordings, it grew when I saw them live.

So that’s it for my top music of 2011.  Again, I can’t begin to tell you how hard it was to narrow it down to just 10.  Those just missing the cut with their latest releases: Wilco, Fleet Foxes, Beirut, John Mark McMillan and James Morrison.

Best of 2011: Music Part II

December 29, 2011 in Music with 1 Comment

Here’s the second segment featuring some of my favorite music from 2011.  Enjoy!

cults – cults
This band hails from Manhattan. Their indie-pop sound is addicting and after you listen below you’ll see why.  I listen to this song, Go Outside, when I want a little pick-me-up.

the belle brigade – the belle brigade
what do you expect from John William’s grandchildren?  John Williams has always been one of my favorite modern composers and his ability to create incredible music has been passed down through his bloodline.  This brother-sister duo has left me speechless at times.  Check out their song/video to Losers

ryan adams – ashes & fire
A North Carolina native who probably doesn’t need much of an introduction.  This was another album that provided me much needed company at many late hours and past many white lines on these carolina roads.  Here’s the opening track, Dirty Rain.

 

Be sure to check out Part I featuring the head and the heart, dawes, and milo greene. 

Best of 2011: Music Part I

December 27, 2011 in Music with 1 Comment

With 2011 coming to a close I decided it would be nice to look back at some of my favorite releases this year.  Check back this week for more of my favorites. Be sure to share some of yours in the comments below.

the head and the heart – the head and the heart
Based out of Seattle this band has quickly became one of my favorites.  The meta tag on their website describes their music well. “The Head and the Heart live authentically in that crux, finding joy and beauty wedged there.”  Technically this album was originally released in 2010 and re released in 2011, but we’ll let that slide.  Enjoy a live rendition of their song Ghosts, recorded live on KEXP in Seattle.

dawes – nothing is wrong
This album has helped keep me sane on some late night drives this year. These guys are from Los Angeles and actually were a post-punk band before abandoning that for a folk rock sound. I couldn’t imagine the world any other way.  This is their latest music video, Time Spent in Los Angeles.

milo greene – the hello sessions

Another band from Los Angeles.  Their haunting 4-part harmonies mixed with their unique yet distinguished vocals leaves you with a 4 song EP  that will leave you wanting more.  Thankfully, I got my hands on some of their unreleased material that will debut in 2012.   I caught wind of this band early this fall and was really excited to find out they were touring with The Civil Wars.  Thankfully that concert was rescheduled and I was able to pick up some tickets on eBay.  You must see these guys live if they’re in your area.  Trust me. Enjoy a live recording of their song, 1957.

be sure to check out Part II featuring: Cults, The Belle Brigade and Ryan Adams

Free Music – [re]birth EP

November 10, 2011 in Music with 0 Comments

It’s been a long and eventful year since I last posted.  I’ll save you from the details and just let you know that the future is bright.

It’s been an interesting journey musically as well.  Most of you are accustomed to hearing me play just acoustic guitar.  While leading worship over the last year the tone of my music became edgier and driven more by electric guitar.   This summer I began experimenting with digital loops in worship.  I became intrigued by creating digital music.

Over the last two months I have spent time with my iPad and Reason on my MacBook Pro. The result is a new EP entitled [re]birth. It’s an electronic instrumental collection.  There were really no words that I could express about the journey, so it’s fitting this is what came out.  I hope you enjoy.

You can download the entire EP for free on Noise Trade.

What Was Your First CD?

September 14, 2010 in Music with 4 Comments

What Was Your First CD?
I was thinking this morning about all of the CD’s I own personally.  I had well over a thousand CDs before I moved earlier this year.  It pains me to think about how much money I spent on music in my life, especially on music that I thought was good but later discovered to be a bad decision.  (No worries – I gave or got rid of those CD’s when I moved.)

This morning I was thinking about how excited I was to get my first personal CD player/ CD for Christmas way back in 1992.

George Strait - Pure Country

Can you believe I wanted to look like this when I got older?

Don’t hold this against me, but my first CD was the Pure Country soundtrack featuring George Strait.  I am not much of a country music fan these days – but who can pass up movies about songwriters and the struggle to live a normal life.  (I just wanted to be like Garth Brooks at that point in life, but I’ll save that for another post.)

It got me thinking: What was your first personal CD? Are you embarrassed by what you listened to back then?

Let me know by leaving a comment below and maybe we can have some quality conversation on the lyrics of Too Legit to Quit… Oh wait, I had that on cassette tape.

Tour Complete

July 27, 2005 in Life, Music with 2 Comments

It is Wednesday. After 8000+ miles of travel, I am back at home. And yes, it’s lonely out there. Same roads, same songs. New places, new faces. No place foreign, but all things new.

Sometimes I think it’s my body that takes most of the beating from the endless touring, when in fact, it may actually be the dashboard of my car. Whether I’m venting my frustration (aloud to myself), enduring for hours on end my CD player’s belching, my talking to myself in quiet tones, braving the enigma that is modern radio, or the vast silence of radial tires humming for hours on end. The dashboard is a slave to the turning wheel, which is, in turn, a slave to me. They go where I bend them. In good running order they will succumb quietly. Aside from that, their submission is not so peaceable.

If only dashboards could talk…….. What would mine say about me? It’s seen me laugh hysterically with my friends, seen me pick my nose, seen me dry my tear-filled eyes, watched me eat scores of grilled steak soft tacos, heard me rant and rave about the lack of quality radio, heard me pray, heard me swear like a proud sailor, and seen me humble as a mouse. Were it possible, all the incriminating evidence a judge and jury would ever need to convict me of the “crime” of Insecurity could be wrested from the endless dials and knobs of plastic and metal moulds that comprise this dashboard. But it knows no better. It is a slave in the master’s hand. It goes where its master’s will bends it. It knows no rebuke, no rebellion, no angst. It bears me where I willingly go that I may bare my soul; sometimes into a lion’s den. I am a $34-a-night musical prostitute, willing to give all that is dear and within me for an on-the-house meal and some gas money. I am no saint for doing it. The dashboard can tell you that I am most assuredly not.

Is it worth the miles? The money? Worth the endless cycles of knock down, drag out fights within myself and worth the dashed hopes within my own soul? Probably not. But is it worth gleaning an ounce of respect from an audience of 10? Is it worth offering a moment, if only brief, of edification? Worth receiving that moment of edification? You bet. But just like the odometer, ask me that tomorrow and I may have changed my mind……

In the Studio

July 25, 2005 in Music with 0 Comments

I am currently here in the studio laying down some tracks.  Keep an eye out as the site will be changing soon. www.wellwatermusic.com

Seattle, my love.

July 20, 2005 in Life, Music with 1 Comment

seattle has always been like another home for me. trip number seven for me. i’m glad this is where the tour ends. i’m glad i get to spend a few extra days with some of my amazing friends. here’s some shots for those of you who have never been able to grace this wonderful place. i love you seattle. such a romantic place…le sigh.

Wednesday July 13, 2005

July 13, 2005 in Life, Music with 2 Comments

the shows with jacob’s well went extremely well, minus the entire losing my voice part.  rob and i are going to record some tracks next week when i get to seattle.  we drove 6 hours back south today.

lesson learned. choose wisely who you tour with.

i miss you.

goodnight from san francisco.

Los Angeles

July 10, 2005 in Life, Music with 2 Comments

one of the reasons i love the west coast is because of the diversity. i love walking around and hearing numerous languages being spoken, and not having to think twice about it.  to be honest the only time a voice has stuck out was when i met a guy from mississippi.  i love diversity.

i have a 5 hour drive to elk grove, ca tomorrow to hang out with some good friends of mine, jacob’s well.  rob and i have an in-n-out date where we will get a double-double animal style and a #3 around the world style.  yes, they have a secret menu!! that made my day.

monday we’ll drive another 5 hours north to fortuna where i’ll be opening for jacob’s well at a nazarene church. then we’ll head back south to san francisco and play a few shows on wednesday and thursday, waiting to hear back about friday. 

i’ve written a few new songs…im thinking about sharing the lyrics for one of them on here.  what do you guys think? and yes, i’m playing golf…i need something to do when all of you east coasters go to bed ;-)

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