time to give you more than your poor bones could ever take...

May 19, 2009 

Last month, in conjunction with independant record stores around the country, Iron & Wine released a live album from a show in Norfolk, VA in 2005.  Beam will hit the road for a brief tour, playing at smaller venues and unfortunately, won't be coming near Louisville.   

And now on Tuesday, May 19, Iron & Wine released Around the Well, a double disc album full of previously unreleased, rare, or out-of-print tracks.  The title is a lyric from "The Trapeze Swinger," an already acclaimed song by many, including PTC, that was previously released on the soundtrack for In Good Company.   Sam Beam continues to provide our world with an ecclectic, original sound backed by tremendous lyrics.  He's figured out a way to consistently use simple, yet unique percussion as a backdrop for his music.  Even though his voice's range is limited, his tone is true and his messages are clear.  His weaving, imaginitive lyrics hook listeners early and often.   His topics aren't wide ranging, continually coming back to life, love, relationships, and religion, yet for years now he's kept listeners eagerly awaiting his next release or tour.   Check out the album, pay attention to it all, but a few that stick out are "Belated Promise Ring," "God Made the Automobile," and "Arms of a Thief."

Listen hard, sing loud and as always, enjoy.

Cover It Up

A list of covers that PTC thinks dominate the original.  

The Format - "Simple Twist of Fate" (Bob Dylan)
It's tough to outdo Dylan, but Nate and Sam did it.  

Jason Mraz - "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" (Bob Dylan)
Mraz was somebody I leaned on hard in the first year of college and have drifted away from since, but the way he goes at this song is just tremendous.

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds - "The Maker" (Daniel Lanois)
Off their live at Radio City Music Hall album.  I hadn't heard the original before I heard their version, and theirs is better.  Dave needs to drop the band and just stick with Tim.

Eddie Vedder - "Hard Sun" (17 Queens)
The song that was the driving force of the soundtrack to Into the Wild.  Eddie's voice at its best in this one.  

Ra Ra Riot - "Suspended in Gaffa" (Kate Bush)
The original is a miserable experience.  The cover, however, is a blast to listen to.

Rage Against the Machine - "Ghost of Tom Joad" (Bruce Springsteen)
A super cool take on the simple Springsteen tune.  I once wrote a paper tying these two songs to the The Grapes of Wrath.   

You Don't Need to Listen to Baz Luhrmann To Feel Nostalgic

I failed miserably at posting pre and post Derby tunes.  I sincerely apologize.  However, I've been digging into some old stuff and am going to share some personally nostalgic tunes.  Some are songs by artists still putting out good work, but most are ones I don't pay attention to anymore, some have become annoying artists, but regardless, all of them hit me at the right time and place.  After all, we all have our guilty pleasures....or, at least Laura Shine allows us to feel good about them every afternoon.

 Sing loud, listen hard and as always, enjoy.

1. Hopeless - Train
"Meet Virginia" blew up when I was in high school, and I became a fan for the next few years.  I've dropped off considerably since then, but I heard this song for the first time in years the other day, and to me it's still a gem.

2.  "Leaving on a Jet Plane" - Chantel Kreviazuk
The Canadian singer-songwriter covers the John Denver classic, and in my opinion, dominates the original.  In case you couldn't understand the lyrics to this slow tune, they're provided for you on this video....I know that's what you wanted.

3. "Hungerstrike" - Temple of the Dog 
I watched a VH1 special on Pearl Jam and their re-release of Ten, had a conversation about how they're the best rock band of our generation, but how even though they have progressed and produced terrific albums over the years, that their first two albums are still their best.  And this tune, off the tribute album to Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone, just does it for me.  

4. "Shine" - David Gray
Another high school reference here....David Gray's music and words found me at the right emotional location when I was 17, and though I've stopped buying his records, I still love his original, all acoustic stuff.  

5. "Rattle the Cage" - The Mike Plume Band
Another group of Canadians....whom I saw when I was 16 back in ND.   A small bit of research shows they're still around, or, at least they went away and have recently come back together.  Their first album, Song and Dance, Man had a huge influence on me.  

6. "Three Libras" - A Perfect Circle
This version is perfect.  Though the linked video isn't actual video, all you have to do is listen.  I was hooked on this song for a full year, and am now addicted again.

7. "23" - Jimmy Eat World
This was on a heavy rotation when I was about to turn the age of the title.  I'm really confused/annoyed with the video it's linked to here....but it's the best I could do.  Just minimize the browser, unless of course you heart Superman.

8. "Sunscreen" - Baz Luhrmann
Just in case you do need Baz to feel nostalgic, or if these songs didn't do it for you, maybe he will.