Clare Burson - Baby Boy

My musical tastes have changed quite a bit since I started this little project. Not that many years ago I was still in school, listening to Sirius on the way in each day, tuning in to some pretty lame music more frequently than I'd care to admit. More than a few CDs I bought during that period are hidden away in a drawer, safe from curious eyes. These days, I can barely stand listening to the garbage on FM radio, unless it's the classic stuff I was listening to a decade ago anyway.

I think I might be getting old. I don't even own a subwoofer anymore.

Not everything changes, though. I'm still a big fan of Van Morrison, and I still want the Yankees to win.

Shifting gears, it's time for another mellow acoustic selection: Clare Burson's "Baby Boy" from her Silver and Ash album. Exceptionally crisp vocals and a well-played acoustic guitar can be found here. I can't quite recall the circumstances, but I'm pretty sure I ran across her music on NPR. Or an NPR listener referred me.

What's most interesting about this song, and the album as a whole, is that it's an exploration of the artist's Jewish roots, as told through the eyes of her grandmother who fled Nazi Germany. I figured a remembrance of one's Jewish heritage would be appropriate for this week of High Holidays.

In case you were wondering, I did end up going to see The Weepies when they were in Boulder in late August, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

CD or MP3

The Weepies - World Spins Madly On

You know how sometimes you hear a bunch of songs you dig, and upon further research, they turn out to be from the same artist? That's what's happening with me and The Weepies lately. A husband-and-wife indie folk-pop duo, maybe they just have a good publicist, but listen and judge for yourself.

First, I heard their song "Can't Go Back Now" played over the final scene of the movie Adam, a film about a guy my age-ish that has Asperger's syndrome. Just a few days ago on Reddit (my 2010-present internet addiction), I ran across this gem of an animated video, set to the tune of their hit "World Spins Madly On", linked above.

And I just found out, thanks to a nifty link on YouTube, that they're playing in Boulder toward the end of the summer. I just might have to drop by. I haven't been to a show in years.

The Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

The DJ on KBCO this evening said he "couldn't get enough of this song."

I concur.

It's been a good several months since I've heard something both new and good on the radio, so here's something new for you. It's a poetic, mournful, folk-sounding track, which almost reminds me of Cat Stevens. And there's that piano again!

The flow of the lyrics sounds a little rushed at times, but the poetry they've written here is delightful.

"That woman, she's got eyes that shine, like a pair of stolen, polished dimes."

Yes, dear reader. It's a hidden gem.

Hem - Half Acre

Hi there. It's been a while, hasn't it? Did you miss me?

The title of this song refers to a scrap of paper torn from a map, a comforting reminder of where the singer grew up. She knows that whatever tragedies or misfortunes befall her, she'll always have a piece of her childhood to hold on to. A place where innocence and comfort still reside, if only in her memories.

Of course, can't that be taken too far? Maybe that's my problem - I'm not content to be comforted by a small reminder of home. I prefer the real thing, to this day and for the foreseeable future. But why haven't I chosen to break free from my safe place? Is it complacency? A lack of confidence? A sense of obligation? Satisfaction with "good enough?"

Is there somewhere out there that is a better place for me?

Led Zeppelin - Gallows Pole

This seems to be morphing into a Saturday thing, doesn't it?

Of course you all know Led Zeppelin. Cadillac even used "Rock and Roll" in their commercials a few years ago. Let's not forget that "Stairway to Heaven" is widely regarded as one of the top rock and roll songs of all time. But it seems like some of their just-as-worthy songs, especially those from the more acoustic Led Zeppelin III album, like this one, are ignored.

This song, adapted from a centuries-old Pan-European folk tale, features the guitar, banjo, and mandolin. The banjo gives it a bit of a rural sound, a bit like Tangerine from the same album.

Marc Cohn - The Things We've Handed Down

You've probably heard of Marc Cohn before. He's famous for his hit single "Walking in Memphis." As you might expect, there's more to his music than that one.

The last track from 1993's The Rainy Season, this song, at the very least, should make you think fondly of your family. The lyrics can be summed as the thoughts of an expecting father, although this song was released about a decade before Marc and his wife had their first child. If you're expecting a baby, or know anyone who is, you MUST listen to this song.

Marc recently released his first new album in nearly ten years, Join the Parade.

Especially recommended if you like:

• Bruce Hornsby
• John Hiatt
  

Jason Spooner - Mirror This Morning

Jason Spooner is a "Singer-Songwriter/Acoustic Musician," according to his website.

He's a guitarist, and he sounds uncannily like Paul Simon, only with a bit more bass. He has a half-dozen tracks available for free download at his website (linked in the title). He's only released two albums to date, but has begun to gain recognition in New England and further across the USA and Europe.

If anything, Jason Spooner demonstrates that the concept of a Singer-Songwriter is still alive and kicking.