Year in Review - Part 1 - Music
So: it's that time of year again.
I'm breaking it up a bit this year. As I've done aquiring music this year (but still have books I want to read and movies I want to see) I think I'll start with music.
So here it is folks- 2014 albums that I listened to in 2014 and though were great:
1. Parker Millsap by Parker Millsap. Not only one of my favorite new artists, but also one of my biggest musical disappointments. Disappointing because he played a song on Mountain Stage that he hasn't recorded yet - "Heavan Sent". It's a letter written by a gay preacher's son to his father. It is a beautiful call for acceptance and love. And I can't own it yet! You can hear it here though.
In truth Parker has a lot of songs that seem to view Christianity from the outside. There's "Truck Stop Gospel" about a reborn Christian trucker who starts driving around giving out bibles - a humorous and harmless song. But there's also "Old Time Religion" about a man who justifies murder and wife-beating through the book (he gets his comeuppance).
If you hear no other song by Parker though - I recommend "Disappear."
2. O Vertigo! by Kate Miller-Heidke. Kate is an Austrailan opera singer who also writes and sings her own music. And you can hear her talent in every song. You might think that the ending notes of the title song "O Vertigo" are autotuned - I assure you as someone who has seen her live- she needs no software to get that noise right. She's capable of jazzy songs too - see "Bliss."
The one song I would introduce you to her though is "Sing to me." (Starts at 1:52)
3. Twin Forks by Twin Forks. A new band that Chris Carraba formed during a Dashboard Confessional hiatus. Americana to the core. Highlights include "Kiss me Darling," "Can't be Broken" (both love songs). The song from the album that I would like recommend though is "Back to You."
4. Put Your Needle Down by The Secret Sisters. A sister dou (I know...I know...it's right there in the name) that have beautiful harmony and dark lyrics. Notable songs are "Dirty Lie" a song proclaiming that the singer DOESN'T love the reciepiant. And "Let There be Lonely" a torch song. I would introduce you with their murder ballad though - "Iuka."
5. Half the City by St. Paul & the Broken Bones. If you know me on Facebook - admit it, you waiting for this. I can't seem to shut up about them. Is the gospel sound any good without the gospel word? HELL YES! (Can I get an amen?) You can take anything on thier album and understand their sound from the pleading "Grass is Greener" to exuberant "Like a Mighty River" and the soulful "It's Midnight." What you need to hear though, is "Call me."
I'm breaking it up a bit this year. As I've done aquiring music this year (but still have books I want to read and movies I want to see) I think I'll start with music.
So here it is folks- 2014 albums that I listened to in 2014 and though were great:
1. Parker Millsap by Parker Millsap. Not only one of my favorite new artists, but also one of my biggest musical disappointments. Disappointing because he played a song on Mountain Stage that he hasn't recorded yet - "Heavan Sent". It's a letter written by a gay preacher's son to his father. It is a beautiful call for acceptance and love. And I can't own it yet! You can hear it here though.
In truth Parker has a lot of songs that seem to view Christianity from the outside. There's "Truck Stop Gospel" about a reborn Christian trucker who starts driving around giving out bibles - a humorous and harmless song. But there's also "Old Time Religion" about a man who justifies murder and wife-beating through the book (he gets his comeuppance).
If you hear no other song by Parker though - I recommend "Disappear."
Click to view2. O Vertigo! by Kate Miller-Heidke. Kate is an Austrailan opera singer who also writes and sings her own music. And you can hear her talent in every song. You might think that the ending notes of the title song "O Vertigo" are autotuned - I assure you as someone who has seen her live- she needs no software to get that noise right. She's capable of jazzy songs too - see "Bliss."
The one song I would introduce you to her though is "Sing to me." (Starts at 1:52)
3. Twin Forks by Twin Forks. A new band that Chris Carraba formed during a Dashboard Confessional hiatus. Americana to the core. Highlights include "Kiss me Darling," "Can't be Broken" (both love songs). The song from the album that I would like recommend though is "Back to You."
4. Put Your Needle Down by The Secret Sisters. A sister dou (I know...I know...it's right there in the name) that have beautiful harmony and dark lyrics. Notable songs are "Dirty Lie" a song proclaiming that the singer DOESN'T love the reciepiant. And "Let There be Lonely" a torch song. I would introduce you with their murder ballad though - "Iuka."
5. Half the City by St. Paul & the Broken Bones. If you know me on Facebook - admit it, you waiting for this. I can't seem to shut up about them. Is the gospel sound any good without the gospel word? HELL YES! (Can I get an amen?) You can take anything on thier album and understand their sound from the pleading "Grass is Greener" to exuberant "Like a Mighty River" and the soulful "It's Midnight." What you need to hear though, is "Call me."