I need to listen to something new. Something I haven’t heard before. Something that will move me and let me feel the music, the passion, the intensity, and the Spirit. The last record that did this for me was The Illustrated Band’s Forever Of Now. But I’ve pretty much run that into the ground. I’ve heard some wonderful music this year, and am finding myself hugely enthralled by the likes of the top 5 I posted a few weeks back. But I haven’t really felt anything yet this year musically.
Can anyone recommend something?
Here are some guidelines: Sufjan Stevens and Danielson both suck. If it sounds like them, don’t bother. I’m not a big indie-rock fan so much anymore, but if it’s good, I’ll give it a try. I won’t listen to anything remotely related to country music (unless it’s Nickel Creek or Allison Krauss…but I already have all of their stuff) so, it would probably be a waste of time for you to recommend that too. As a general rule, I don’t like CCM/Christian pop-rock, but I’ve been digging Delirious and Leeland (at least what Leeland offers on their MySpace page) lately, so maybe we could go that route…as long as it’s not Third Day, Casting Crowns, Audio A, or Among Thorns…who all suck tremendously. Oh and Nickelback, Creed, Evanesence, Three Doors Down, and any other modern-day butt-rock sounding music will also be ignored. Last night, I listened to Sixpence None The Richer’s This Beautiful Mess. That album is easily one of the 10 best records of the last 16 years. August And Everything After is on that list too, as is Fumbling Towards Ecstasy.
Good Lord…am I picky or what. I sure do know what I don’t like.
Anyhow, help me out. I’m bored by my musical selection tonight and need something new and refreshing to listen to.
The past few days have been the best weekend in recent memory with one of the best collections of people I know. You folks know who you are. Thanks for that.
It’s out today, folks. Finally. One of the greatest concert videos ever filmed with easily the best single guitar solo ever played. Best Buy has a great release-day sale too. I’ll be picking this one up.
New posts and pictures over at patrick and raquel dot com. Go check it out.
Can you believe that 2006 is more than half over already? Yeah…me either.
In January I wrote a long winded article on my top 10 albums of 2005. You can be certain that I will be doing the same for this year’s music in six months. For now, though, I thought I’d just point out what my current top 5 of the first half of 2006 are. The links below will open the iTunes Music Store.
- Umphrey’s McGee – Safety In Numbers
- Dan Radmacher – In The Space Between
- Stavesacre – How To Live With A Curse
- The Appleseed Cast – Peregrine
- Paul Simon – Surprise
Honorable mentions go to to Tool and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. The verdict is still out on the new Muse (but technically that’s not first-half-of-2006 so it doesn’t matter for this conversation), but I’m not expecting much from it.
Although I’m thoroughly enjoying the most-excellent selections from the above list, I’ve not yet been completely blown away by anything this year like I was by some of last year’s offerings with the possible exception of the Umphrey’s album. That is just a dang good collection! And Radmacher’s album is possibly the best collection of worship songs I’ve heard in a long time. Dare I say better than Crowder’s album last year? I think I’ll throw that one out there…amazing theologically-soud lyrical content backed by some great music. Of course, I may be biased…but again, that’s okay. This is my blog.
As far as the second half of the year, I’m looking to hearing some more from a band called Leeland later this year as well as the new John Mayer record. The first single–while not really my cup of tea–sounds promising. The John Mayer Trio live disc from late last year was one of the best things this guy has ever put out and I’m thinking that will be a sign of things yet-to-come from him. He is an amazing musician.
I have a few other thoughts about upcoming music this year but I will just wait to see how this year pans out before I comment further.
So, then. There that is.
