when you were young you were the king of carrot flowers.
I must say, I’m really getting my money’s worth in satellite today. Not only did I get a rather inexpensive coffee [due to lack of quarters and the charity of the stranger behind the counter], but I also am receiving a free sauna session. Yes, the humidity inside satellite today makes me wonder if I should put a bucket at the end of my spine. [was that too much information?]
Moving on, its the kind of heat that is all enveloping. No sharp sensation; just heaviness. And everything gets slower. Your eyelids pull like sandbags; I’ve caught myself nodding off at least three times [but maybe that speaks more to my current insomnia and inability to afford a refill more than anything else]. Anyway, it was reminding me of the heat of summer as a kid—the days of my youth when I was so active, that the greatest and simplist relief was lying on the grassy hills around my neighborhood. The blend of the heat and sod gave off that perfect, natural aroma that still takes me back to junes and julys when it was perfectly acceptable [and actually possible] to thrown oneself onto the earth. Even if it meant a stern look later when it came time to get the grass stains out. It was worth it.
these songs are ones that, if I were to recreate those moments, would come along for that midsummer’s outdoor nap.
Comfort Inn|Lewis & Clarke//Soldier|Angus & Julia Stone//She’s the One|Caribou//Paint or Pollen|Blind Pilot//Country Caravan|Eric Earley of Blitzen Trapper//Cities|Cabinet of Natural Curiosities//The Screen (Philadelphia)|Adam Arcuragi//Night Train|Brown Recluse Sings//Lamplight|Cavalier Rose//I Could Be Nothing|Great Lake Swimmers//Waiting…|City and Colour//Morning Glory Cloud|DM Stith//Rainbow Sign|Fruit Bats//Your Siren Song|Jeff Zentner//Charlie Darwn|The Low Anthem//Like Lavender|Horsefeathers//You Belong to Me|Jason Wade//This Old Love|Lior//Smith Hill|Deer Tick//Comme Des Enfants|Coeur de Pirate//
Because new music I’m excited about turns me into an absolute chatterbox, I feel compelled to mention a few of the names above.
Angus & Julia Stone - Sydney, Australia based brother and sister; definitely a well established duo in Aus, but rather fresh on the U.S. circuit. The song structure is relatively simple, but the dynamic of her floating, airy soprano and his smokey tenor mixed with a reliable acoustic guitar makes it readily accessible and something to be treasured. The occassional appearance of a harmonica or piano always adds extra points in my book as well.
Cabinet of Natural Curiosities - I’m always impressed when artists are able to transform their instruments from necessary compliments to actual voices themselves. Cabinet of Natural Curiosities does this remarkably well; they bring the guitar, as well as a determined glockenspiel, and ever present synth, into the limelight. Instead of chords to mark vocal progression, the instruments themselves have their own melodies, their own harmonies, their own solos. Not that Jasmine Dreame Wagner needs overshadowing; the vocals are dark and delectable and her voice seems to teeter on a distinctly sharp edge, yet remarkably self assured. Fantastic.
Adam Arcuragi - An established part of Philadelphia’s respected local community, Adam is gearing up to release his second full length album, I Am Become Joy, in early September. And while the syntax of his album title will leave the obsessive compulsive with much to be desired, I can’t help but promise the coincidence is rather ironic. Adam’s lyricism is for the most part rather straightforward, messages left dangling for easy and maleable interpretation; its really something when you can hear the artist directly inserted into his or her lyrics. With I Am Become Joy, through sweeping choruses and well rounded instrumentation, one feels as if Adam is placing himself on the line, without any bad grammar to confound or befuddle.
