Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: derek webb, don chaffer, independent, lori chaffer, music, pink and blue, sandra mccracken, waterdeep
Last December, I went to see Derek Webb at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, GA. I have been a DW fan for quite some time, so I was excited. I had heard of the opening act, Waterdeep, but didn’t really know what to think of them. They seemingly started off as a Christian praise band, and while they had some undeniable talent, the product of their music just wasn’t something I was in to. All I really knew was their worship music of the 90’s. So, when I saw them play with Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken (they ended up playing a split set, side-by-side) there at Eddie’s, I was blown away. Their music was pure and real. Don Chaffer and his wife Lori combine in both musical and spiritual harmony and create something unique. Their music has an underground, independent feel to it, which allows for some expirimentation that pays off in the end. They are masters of unabashed layering throughout their mixes, which adds detail, and makes their music strikingly interesting. Their latest, Pink and Blue, is by far one of my favorite albums of this year, and has set the bar pretty high for the remainder of 2009. Below is a cut from P&B.
Waterdeep: Life of the Party
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: fall, fiction family, folk, jon foreman, music, nickel creek, sean watkins, spring, summer, switchfoot, when she's near, winter
I may be taking some liberty with the use of the word “Folk” here, but I have to share this one. I’ve recently been trying to determine who my favorite song writers are. To narrow that list down to 5 or so would be very difficult. Though, I am sure that any such list I were to concoct would definately have to have the nameJon Foreman somewhere near the top. Starting out with Switchfoot, Mr. Foreman has recently begin to dive head first into the solo artist world with the 2007/08 release of his four EPs (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer.) More recently, Jon has collaborated with Nickel Creek Alumn Sean Watkins on a widely-released project entitled “Fiction Family.”
With each new track Jon Foreman releases, my appreciation of his art form grows and grows. It’s not that his musical content is particularly complex or innovative. In fact, the music itself can often hover around routine, in comparison with his other work. The blaring appeal of Jon Foreman is his relentless expression of life and truth through the lyrics he awkwardly, but passionately, bellows throughout his releases. It was true of Switchfoot, as it is true of the new projects that he has turned to. Mr. Foreman continues to grow and evolve in his art of self-expression, and we should feel blessed to indulge ourselves in it. Here’s the single from Fiction Family, the new one.
Fiction Family: When She’s Near
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bluegrass, chris thile, folk, it'll happen, music, nickel creek, punch brothers
For some time now, I have been an enormous fan of Nickel Creek’s better third, Chris Thile (pronounced “Theé-lee.”) Time and time again, he has impressed me with not only his Trio-supported NC sound, but with his budding yet well paced solo and collaborative careers. His recent effort with “Punch Brothers” is in keeping with his tradition of quality folk music that doesn’t limit itself to folk music fans. While released in February 2008, Punch, thier first album, is full of beautiful compositions that wind throughout a headset like the Kentucky Blue grass after which the genre is named. The album’s final track, “It’ll Happen” feels stretched, perfectly thought-out and foreboding; an excellent expression of lost love and heartache. Have a listen:
Punch Brothers: It’ll Happen
Filed under: Uncategorized
Here’s the idea:
Real opinions on real music, presented and discussed by real music fans that have been in the game for a while. Not nesscarily what’s hot, or what’s trendy, just what is good. That’s the litmus test. Stick around if that sounds interesting.
