Crowning the King of Soul: Sam Cooke

With the holiday season in full swing here, I've been hit by a heavy wave of nostalgia. Listening to the sweet sounds of the old crooners singing their holiday hits just makes me crave music that takes me back to some older days of music. I'm not going to focus here on Christmas tunes, because doubtless you've already been served a colossal dose of that. Before I head back to the 40s by watching A Christmas Story for 24 hours, I making a stop in the 60s.  Today is my day for the King of Soul, Sam Cooke, a man you've probably heard, but may not have heard of. Normally in my drawing class I throw on my earplugs and listen to my own music, but the day my teacher put on Sam Cooke, I was much happier to listen to his music. I was amazed how one great song followed the next and I was never once tempted to stop listening. His voice is "like buttah", it's soulful and smooth at the same time. By that I mean Otis Redding has a very soulful voice, but Sam Cooke's has an element of smooth that makes it easier to sing along to than Otis. Sam Cooke reminds us that soul is an element that should never be overlooked. I could spend all day talking about his music, song by song, but I'm just going to let him take over now.
1. A Change Is Gonna Come
2. Wonderful World
3. You Send Me
4. Chain Gang
5. Cupid
6. Twistin' the Night Away
7. Nothing Can Change This Love
8. Always On My Mind
9. When I Fall In Love
10. Another Saturday Night

Green Gloves - The National

Describing poetry with words will never do it justice. I'd rather just listen to this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBhGFu84u90

Among the Pines with A.A. Bondy

 Listening to A.A. Bondy is like listening to a friend that has been with me for years, a constant companion traveling by my side through thick and thin, trouble and peace. His voice, harmonica, and guitar can be the best thing to have with you no matter where you're going. Simply put, his songs are beautiful. The folk genre consisting of a guy and guitar isn't a new one, nor is it a very small playing field. That A.A. Bondy can stand out among this crowd attests to his artfulness. I believe his greatest strength lies in his lyrics and the voice that delivers them. His voice paints the scenes that his words create with such sincerity and emotion you feel the songs more than hear them. If you listen to him, I suggest that you listen to him live, or his Daytrotter.com session, because that sincerity is even greater felt in these performances. Though I may have commitment issues when it comes to artists and bands, I have a strong feeling that A.A. Bondy won't be going anywhere. He is the wise, old friend that I am very thankful to have in my music world.

Blue Blood - Foals

It's hard for me to find a way to start channeling my thoughts on this song because when I'm listening to it  they are silenced by the incredible sound I'm hearing. To me, it's more about feeling this song than just hearing it. I have to agree with my dad and say it adds something special to a song when it starts out soft and then slowly builds up into a more powerful sound. With this song, this style works incredibly well. You really get a sense of honesty and connection to the lyrics when the song begins with just Yannis Philippakis singing with a really nice guitar sound complementing him. Slowly, the sound builds with just a slight hint of bass and drum. Then there's that magic moment when the bass line decides to run away with the song, leading the drums and guitar with it to make THE sound. The sound where a guitar, bass, and drum find their own melodic groove but still fit together seamlessly. To me, it is one of music most supreme sounds and what makes me truly love a band. Foals does this incredibly well. They are a band that attracts your ear to both the individual instruments and their sound as a whole. Beyond a doubt my favorite part of this particular song, is the bass line. I've come to realize many of my favorite bands are labeled as such because they know how to treat a bass line. Make it melodic and prominent in your sound and you've got pure music gold on your hands. Check out the music video cause it's pretty sweet. 
Blue Blood - Foals

Ballad of Geraldine - Donovan

1960s folk music. I know I said that I enjoyed 60s pop music, but folk is the real winner for me from this great time in music history. Folk music doesn't have a lot to rely on. It essentially is only words, a voice, and an acoustic guitar. And with these simple tools, incredible songs are born. One master of the art of folk is a singer/songwriter named Donovan. His voice is a lovely pure Scottish one that weaves together words of classic folk subjects. I find love in this kind of song in its simplicity and beautiful melody. With all of the different resources that artists have on their hands these days, the pure essence of what makes a song great can be lost. Folk brings us back to days when artists relied on a simple, solid foundation of concrete lyrics, playful, soulful melodies, and the spirit that music is a way to tell a story that relates the essence of the human experience. Music today can only get better if it remembers its folk past, and I think, for example, Mumford and Sons has embodied this. Hopefully there are many more to come. For now, we have the sweet sound of this ballad from Donovan.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jIj1H7RQ-k (Sorry the audio is a little rough)

Introducing: Mike Mains and the Branches

My first dive into the local music scene was definitely unforgettable. Local music venues in Fort Wayne, Indiana for those of us that are under 21 bring the good, the bad, and the "please stop, I really am having trouble keeping myself from running out of the room and freeing my ears of the horrible noise you are making" (looking at you Sleeping with Sirens). My best friend and I had the greatest fortune of meeting an exceptionally excellent kind of band at our first show: Mike Mains and the Branches. There's nothing like listening to wonderful music and knowing that the people making it are sweet awesome people that you've had the good fortune of meeting. Especially if you met them in the Dunfee Missionary Church, but that is another story entirely which we will get to later. Mike Mains and the Branches make great music. period. The members of the group that I have met, David, Mike, and Shannon, are simply marvelous people and I am so honored to introduce their music to you if you have never heard them before. I don't come across a ton of bands where I just have to have the whole album, but with this band I feel compelled to purchase every single song. So here I am, trying my best to introduce Mike Mains and the Branches, one of my favorite discoveries that I have made locally. What better to do on a Monday then check them out right now?
Mike Mains and the Branches Facebook
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z4ruIbCYZ0

O.N.E. - Yeasayer

Today is the day I profess my love for Yeasayer's "O.N.E." Anytime it comes on my iPod, no matter what mood I'm in, I can't not listen to it. Why do I love it and why do I think that you might enjoy it too? Let me count the ways.
1. Yeasayer has created a sound that matches innovative and ear catching electronic sounds with strong vocals and songwriting. With O.N.E., your ear is drawn to a plethora of electronic sounds that make the song fun and upbeat. They add that special kick to a song that is still wonderful and poignant played acoustically (video evidence is up on the youtube.) You know a band is really something when they don't need a lot of fluff to make a song great. This song just happens to get even greater with all the extra sound.

2. Vocals - sometimes the vocals can make or break a band in my opinion. In Yeasayer's case, the vocals make me love them even more. These guys are passionate about their vocal sound and you can tell by watching the many videos of them putting on little impromptu shows where they are mostly just singing. The lead vocalist on O.N.E., Anand Wilder, not only sings the song but connects vocally with the words that he is singing, adding that extra level of passion that draws the listener in even more.

3. The video - my friend showed me the video one day and I immediately asked to watch it again. For someone who has a hard time sitting still and focusing, I was totally enthralled. I'll put the link up.
4. Lyrics - The lyrics really capture the emotional struggle of trying to break away from something controlling. You don't normally get this depth of lyrics with songs you can hear on a dance floor. And you know what goes great with an emotional struggle? A song that relates to you and makes you feel a little more empowered when you listen to it.
    Here's to Yeasayer for making one gem of a song : O.N.E. Official Video