Spotify Me Part 4: The Scarlet Playlist

 Marks Playlist for the Week of 9/21/2015

At the start of this week, Elizabeth, my notorious Co-Blogger, invited me to a concert at the Vic to see the local band “Twin Peaks.” She was careful to explain to me that “No, it’s nothing to do with the TV show” and “I don’t think they knew about the show when it started, but have watched it since.” I still managed to have an awesome time at the show, witnessed the lead singer of Wavves jump from a balcony into a crowd surf. Both Twin Peaks and Wavves played great shows.

Then Sunday came around and I realized I had forgotten to work on something. That something was this article. So I’m sorry it’s a bit shorter than usual. Also, there were no songs about skeletons this week. There were however three total songs about ghosts. It would seem the skeletons are calling in support. Well played skeletons, well played.

Wild Frontier
Multiple Labels

Wild Frontier – The Prodigy

Its fast, loud, and aggressive; a good determined song. This song would make for great rave music. Although I think it repeats maybe a bit to much, I also get the impression that the song is more about the atmosphere is creates, and isn’t designed for focused listening. Which is fine, sometimes you just need a song to listen to. Sometimes you just need a pump up to get running or get working. The lyrics themselves state we will “face our fear in the wild frontier.” The song is pushing us forward, motivating listeners to get in gear and get it done. And that’s motivation everyone needs.

Godzilla Rehab Center
Daly City Records

Gigan - Mochipet

Gigan almost has you fooled at the very start, seeming light and distant. Although with the direction the music is headed, you know you should be expecting something big. It builds at a decent pace. When it finally hits full swing, it’s a hard driving beat, not fast but powerful all the same. Without any words, the song has to rely purely on instrumentals to keep things interesting. It does this but not only building and hitting, but by then dropping off to build again. The second time the song hits full swing it hits even harder, leaving a good impression for an exciting song. Also the album art is Godzilla in an explosion with a bunch of dragons, so things can’t be all that bad.

Cool for Cats
Multiple Lables

Cool For Cats – Squeeze

This is an older song, and to be honest I’ve heard it before I heard it on Spotify. My friend of British upbringing would sing this song constantly back in high school. And even though He probably no longer remembers doing this, the song was stuck in my head for months. When I heard it played over the car speakers, memories flooded back into my head. The song itself is a string of stories, told one after another. None of them are really linked in any way, but they each end on a bit of a disappointing note. The title of the song actually comes from an old UK series of the same name, where rock and roll was the key feature. The song is catchy, fun and a little ridiculous. Having it stuck in my head was a bit more pleasant this time around.

O, You Sinners
Eliza Rickman and Mark Greenburg

Pretty Little Head – Eliza Rickman

I’m a bit of a sucker for songs like this. The song isn’t necessarily “dark”, but its not bright and happy either. The impression the song leaves on me is a back and forth between bitter indifference, and sad longing. The repetitiveness of the lyrics adds the rhythm of the song, making for a very cool effect on the instrumentals. I also am a huge fan of the singer’s voice, which in a way makes the song for me.  I like this song because it touches on a tone that I love to find in music, even thought the feeling you get from it isn’t exactly pleasant.

Review: The Walters’ “Songs for Dads”

by Elizabeth

Chicago is burgeoning with up and coming rock bands, almost all of which have unmistakable retro influences but overall distinct - and most importantly new – sounds. Not least among them is the Walters.

Photo from thewalters.bandcamp.com

Word around town is that the Walters have harmonies that the Beach Boys can’t touch – and there definitely is some lovely vocal blending going on – but I think it’s important to reassure that this is not one of those bands that’s rehashing classic pop rock tunes with barely a hint of originality to be found. No, I love the retro vibes conjured up by the Walters, but what initially caught my attention and kept me binge listening for three weeks straight was that indescribable magic of “a new sound.”

Like many other Walters fans, my first encounter with the band was “I Love You So,” a track that sweetly drifts to a catchy-as-hell chorus that you’d be hard pressed not to move to. It’s the first tune on the band’s premier EP, Songs for Dads, released in November 2014. A listen to the lyrics will reveal an important insight into the band – much of their appeal comes from their contradictions. In the same way that they’re described as laid-back and yet put on wild live shows, their lyrics often swing between honeyed declarations of love and bad-boy warnings that “I’m going to pack my things and leave you behind.” I wonder if these five self-proclaimed hunks knew that this was the perfect recipe to get us ladies daydreaming about the men behind the music. Probably.

Luke Olson, lead vocalist on “I Love You So,” croons with a touch of twang, not really to a country western effect, but rather with the kind of lilt that might enter your voice when delivering an endearment. It’s a distinct voice, one that you’d quickly recognize even on a new song, and that’s half the battle, isn’t it? It’s just one more aspect of their music that can’t easily be brushed aside or deemed unexceptional.

Michael Tirabassi takes over lead vocals on two of Songs for Dads’ six tracks: “New Girl (Tom’s Song)” and “What’s Left.” “New Girl” holds the esteemed position of my favorite track on the EP (though please don’t expect the same answer from me tomorrow). It’s the Eagles’ “New Kid in Town” from the other perspective. Instead of watching the girl run into someone else’s arms, he’ll be doing the leaving. However, breaking up his hard to do and the new girl isn’t here yet, so they’re sticking together for now. Tirabassi’s voice is smooth and sweet, wrapped in those characteristic harmonies. One of their most upbeat tracks, the guitars on “New Girl” have a bit of Hawaiian flourish along with a ‘60s rock jangle – there’s that Beach Boy’s comparison for you. Tirabassi’s other appearance is on “What’s Left,” a “take me back despite my mistakes” song that’s all saccharine apologies amidst harmonies that take on a touch of doo-wop.

“Fancy Shoes” further displays the band’s range of style, featuring piano and trumpet, as well as some of their strongest lyrics. The ideas expressed aren’t incredibly complex, but they deftly conjure up images of the simple love at the heart of this song. “Let’s go walking in the city tonight. You wear that dress that makes you look so nice, like my dancing shoes. I wore them just for you.” This song is like a Wes Anderson romance – plenty of quirk, a touch of nostalgia and existential crisis, but mostly childlike certainty that love is beautiful.

After giving us some time to bask in the warm glow of Songs for Dads, the Walters released a new single from Canvasback in late June, called “Hunk Beach.” It’s everything that a band at this stage of the game needs: a song that stands apart from their previous work, but still has a distinct sound that I’ve already come to think of as Walters-esque. That sound includes Luke Olson’s tremory vocals, beachy guitars and, of course, dreamy harmonies. This time, though, we’ve got a little more intensity, which in the past was reserved for live shows but didn’t come through in recordings. They still wobble between sweet and corrupt (“I’m in the back room with this girl/She’s not like you.”) but ultimately always return to dreamy and genuine (“If you stick around with me I’ll show you/that everything’s fine/We’ll be okay.”)

Alright Walters, we’re ready a full album anytime you are!

Spotify Me Part 3: A Playlist in the Rye

Spotify Me Part 3: A Playlist in the Rye

Mark’s Discover Weekly Playlist for 9/14/2015

So, as I have stated in previous articles, I do most of my Spotify listening in the car. It's An important part of my routine. However, an unexpected villain arose into my routine this week: Tumblr. Tumblr can be a problem for any number of reasons, none of which I will bring up here. But this week the issue boiled down to this: That app drinks data like the 100 year drought just ended. I ended up using all the Data I had before this week even started. Because of this, this weeks article required significantly more legwork than usual. I ended up printing out the playlist, and searching the songs on youtube whenever I had the chance, or could be near my laptop to use the computer version of Spotify. But I did it, and it was well worth the time. 

I also need to make it known that this is the second time, two weeks in a row, that I have had a song on my playlist that had the word "skeletons" somewhere in the title. I don't know what Spotify is trying to tell me, but my guard is raised. I have consumed milk and heightened my calcium levels. Ball in your court skeletons. 

Fever Ray
ETCETC music

If I Had a Heart – Fever Ray

This is actually the first song that came up on my playlist for the week, and the only song I listened to in my car. I got about half way through it, but had to turn it off due to fear of Data overages. But as soon as I arrived at my destination, I hopped on wifi and listened to the whole thing. The song is dark, sinister, and haunting. It opens with one, low tone which never leaves. There is no drop, and it never gets louder. Everything stays just where it needs to be to create its atmosphere. After that the lyrics come in, but there aren’t very many. However, the message they convey runs right along with the tones of the instruments. The words can seem vague, but they all point to the singer’s corruption due to their overwhelming greed and lust for more. The singers no longer have a heart or voice, having filled themselves instead with what they have consumed. This song is a dark, captivating warning of the corrupting power of desire.

Red
Weebl's Stuff Records

The Driver – Savlonic

When things get serious in a relationship, it can get scary. Sometimes it can be hard to admit you feel so strongly about someone. It’s a feeling most people have had, which is what makes this a relatable song. It captures that fear and anxiety of deciding whither or not to stay in a relationship. The singer has left, but certain things like an empty gas tank and the wallet he forgot tie him to what he is trying to leave. And even though he states he simply forgot the wallet, the girl sees his wallet has been left next to his heart, which is not so easy to forget. The music does a good job of hitting this tone, never quite happy, never quite sad. It strikes somewhat of an aloof tone, floating in the air. This works well when the singer explains all the things he does to convince himself he doesn’t care. The electronic tones are catchy, and both singers have great voices. It’s an enjoyable song that has managed to get stuck in my head a few times over the week.

Ta-Dah
Polydor and Universal
Motown records

I Can’t Decide – Scissor Sisters

This is another dark song, but in a much different way. The song adopts a light, happy, and playful tone, which is overshadowed by dark sinister lyrics. You know how in a dark forest, your eyes adjust, and eventually the area isn’t so bad? But then your jerk friend who has never been camping before turns on a flashlight and the forest becomes darker in contrast to that one dimly lit portion, making the area seem almost more frightening? That is the light that the playfulness of this song casts over the terrifying words describing a man’s inability to decide the fate of a victim. The singer hits on several great themes: justification, paranoia, anger, and of course, murder. Meanwhile, the instrumentals include an actual slide whistle. I have liked the Scissor Sisters for a while now, having first heard this song in an episode of Doctor Who. One of their songs, Don’t Feel Like Dancing, was ironically featured in a Just Dance game. Their music is great, upbeat, and fun to listen to, even if it does tread into some darker themes.

The Last Werewolf
Six Degrees Records

Me and Mr. Wolf – The Real Tuesday Weld

Back along the darker route, we turn to a tale of doomed love. Mr. Wolf is of course trying to convince a Red-Riding-Hood character to take part in a love affair. The girl insists that this is a bad idea that it would never work out; claiming that for them to be together one will have to die. However, the lyrics of the song seem to be hinting that Red is not the one who is in danger. The song is fun, with a catchy tune, sleazy atmosphere, and great vocals. The chorus of the song has a wonderful melody that is sincere in nature. The song leans towards a city blues feel with great piano work, and include an instrumental break that features clarinet heavily. This song was for sure stuck in my head all week, and not even in a bad way. I need to be careful because I have a tendency to listen to songs I like so much I end up hating them, and it would be a shame if this song came to that fate.

2Nite
EP by TWRP

The Hit – TWRP, Ninja Sex Party

This song is Rock meets Disco meets Daft Punk meets and 80’s arcade and I love it. It’s great jamming or grooving music, the kind of song you would expect to hear right after a guy tells you he’s going to defeat you with the power of music. I have always been upset that my generation missed out on disco, because awkward dancing seems like a scene I really could have gotten into. But its good to know that even more modern music is still able to pull inspiration from that golden age of groove. Other parts of the song include your classic confession of love lyrics, and a backup singer with a robotic voice making some choice interjections. It’s a great collaboration effort between the two bands involved. After listening to the song several times, I then continued to then watch the music video where the band literally defeats the bad guy with the power of music.

Close Enough
DetErMine Records

Closer – The Tiny

Once again, this song has previously been featured on the Welcome to Night Vale podcast as The Weather. I don’t know who runs that part of their show, but I bet they’re really cool. This song is a song of need, and hope, and love. It touches on that loneliness anyone can feel, and the need to have that certain someone closer to you. The song is simple, sweet, and sincere. The singers voice has a quality you only hear in this style of music, a sound that crescendos and fades as the emotions of the song shift. IT is never made clear whither the person the singer is pining over, is their lover or someone they wish was their lover. The idea is so relatable that you can feel the pain that the singer feels. It’s a beautiful quiet song that doesn’t ask for attention; you have to find it.

(The album artwork in this article is not owned by the authors of this blog, but by the producers of the albums themselves.)

Spotify Me Part 2: A Familiar Sound

Spotify Me Part 2: A Familiar Sound

Mark’s Discover Weekly Playlist for 9/9/2015

You all know what its like. You wake up in the morning (late morning in my case) and immediately go about preparing for the workday. You put food inside you, some caffeinated beverage, cover yourself in the standard Human wrappings of professional attire, and hop in the car and plug in your music device. These are the things I have been lead to believe humans do aver the past few years. I should know. I’m a Human.

But when you, in early September, plug in the device and “crank the jamz”, you do not necessarily expect to hear the sound of the video game you fell asleep playing the night before. You certainly don’t expect to hear Halloween Music, unless you’re really into Halloween I guess. Half the songs on this weeks list were from game soundtracks, about games, from TV soundtracks, about TV, or one Halloween song. It made for an interesting commute, but a fun one all the same.

FTL Original Soundrack
Art by Justin Ma

Space Cruise (Title) – Ben Prunty

This song does a great job for setting the tone of the game “Faster than Light”, which is kind of like the Oregon Trail in space. The game on its own is frustrating, and can turn on you with a clicks notice. But at the start of the game, you are hopeful, and full of wonder. This song compliments that atmosphere well. And surprisingly, it does a great job standing on its own. Words I keep thinking while listening to the song are “small” and “quiet”. The tiny “bleeps” and “bloops” that make up the song are soft spoken and reserved, which makes for a great quiet song. Also, it does a good job of introducing new melodies and sounds without becoming distracting. The song is peaceful, like you are floating in space.

Not a Trampoline
Produced by Gregtronic

I’m Gonna Win – Rob Cantor

This is by far, one of the most oddly inspiring songs I may have ever listened to, While at the same time, filling me with strange a defeatist attitude. It comments on how hopeless life’s endeavors are, stating that many of them may outright destroy you. But at the same time, the singer is keen to remind us that He is determined to keep going. He will keep fighting on even though He is somewhat aware that he will be a broken person at the end of his journey.  While this is going on, the song switches between anger and glee smoothly, in accordance with the lyrics. And even during the grungier sections of the song, it carries a certain swing and charm, making the song great fun to listen to.

Moon Money
Produced by Ninja Tune

The Kid Who Drowned at Summer Camp – Hot Sugar

As you would expect from a song with this title, there is a mysterious and sinister atmosphere about this song. Without being outright horror, the song manages to create a sort of innocent haunting. The listener is not taken to the drowning of this kid, but rather, to the scene several years later, where young campers spread rumor about ghosts and stories around the fire at night. The tune is actually delightful in ways, reminding me more of the culture of a campfire ghost story rather than a ghost itself. It’s another quiet, and somewhat soft-spoken song, and with the title paired with the music itself, inspires the listeners imagination to fill in a scene of their own.

Album One
Produced by Steam Powered Giraffe

Captain Albert Alexander – Steam Powered Giraffe

I have actually known bout this band for several years now. But to be very honest with you, this is the first song of theirs I’ve ever actually listened to. I don’t know why I have been reluctant to give them a shot for so long. The face paint, along with other things kept me from taking them too seriously. But now that I have heard them, I’m glad I gave the song a shot. The listener is told the story of a captain, by the same name of the song, who had many a great adventure at sea. The story ends of course, with the captain going down with his ship, to have his story told by those who knew him. It’s such a sweet song that has a great sense of fantasy and melancholy. I find I can’t help cracking a small smile when I listen.

Perennial Favorites
Produced by Mammoth Records

 Ghost of Stephen Foster – Squirrel Nut Zippers

It seems that ghosts are a popular topic on my list this week. This song is a bit more aggressive, and has an almost angry tone. I really enjoy swing music, which is part of the reason this song caught my ear. But where most swing songs are playful, this one is bitter, and crude, which really works for the song. The lyrics bring to mind an angry drunk, shouting nonsensical judgments into the wind. This narrator is a defeated man, but rather than keep fighting like in “I’m Gonna Win” from earlier in this article, this narrator says “Screw it”. The song is ridiculous, but great fun to listen to, and would certainly make great swing dance music.



(The album artwork in this article is not owned by the authors of this blog, but by the producers of the albums themselves.)

Spotify Gets Me - And My Indie Rock Heart

Article by Elizabeth

Hey gang! As Mark introduced, we're finally getting around to sharing some thoughts we've been mulling over for far too long. We're kicking this off with a few reviews of our top picks from Spotify's Discover Weekly Playlist. Read on and get inspired to do some listening!

Salad Days
Captured Tracks

Passing Out Pieces – Mac Demarco

This is a tune for sitting back and smiling while the walls fall down around your ears.  Its elusive melody and jangling synths are contrasted against a darker dose of self-reckoning: “Passing out pieces of me/You know nothing comes free…What ma don’t know has taken its toll on me.” These lines, accompanied with a heavier base, break through the song’s initial light tone, pulling you out of the lull and making you aware of some deeper dilemma. But as quickly as it appeared, we’re back to the bouncing ease of the next verse. It’s like talking with someone who seems about to reveal that he’s been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, only to have him break into a grin and order another drink. Light-hearted ease that undoubtedly comes at a cost.

The Great Pretenders
Electromagnetic Recordings

Vertigo – Mini Mansions feat. Alex Turner

Suave meets sleazy in this Mini Mansions/Alex Turner colab. Before going any further I should mention that it’s my firm opinion that everything Alex Turner touches is gold, so I was going to be biased towards this track from the beginning. And it didn’t let me down. Starting off with an air of dark intrigue, it works towards the tumbling melody of the chorus that keeps things light. Alex Turner steps in with a solo that adds smooth-talking sex appeal. This sounds like a lot of different vibes – and it is – but they all mesh together in the overriding theme of seduction that permeates the song. There’s a sort of Hotel California feeling of being drawn in despite the warning bells going off. Listen to the song again – you can literally hear them.

We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors
of Peace & Magic
Jagjaguwar

Shuggie – Foxygen

I generally don’t like talking-singing tracks where it feels like the vocalist can’t decide just how much he wants to contribute. However, it really works in this song by LA duo Foxygen. The lazy slur of lyrics is fitting as the singer intones, “You don’t love me/That’s news to me.” Then in a single note the tempo picks up and the vocals take on greater power as the message of the song moves from melancholy towards motivational. Yet, as quickly as it came, we revert back to the dimness of lost love…and then back again. It’s the mental state of someone beating his head against the wall in sad frustration and alternately fining inspiration to keep moving forward. The melody jumps to an unexpected funky beat for a moment before trailing off with ba-da-da’s to that hopeful tune again. These phases take us on a stream-of-consciousness journey through the mind of, well, anybody. It’s not overly complex here, just that old tale of trying to make love and life work together – a tale that doesn’t go stale in this retelling.

Burn Your Fire For No Witness
Jagjaguwar

Hi-Five – Angel Olsen

Angel Olsen’s vocals are just incredible. She sounds so familiar and yet it’s thrilling to listen to her because she’s like unlike anything you’ve heard. This is due to the fact that she has undoubtedly drawn influence from some old time crooners like Patsy Cline – or maybe I should say Hank Williams, as she opens with the line, “I feel so lonesome I could cry.” Still, she artfully modernizes her sound with the help of guitar reverb. She has a lovely, feminine approach that’s not afraid to be rough around the edges, in the same way that Wanda Jackson sang sixty years ago. Her lyrics conjure up the image of her seated at a bar lamenting her loneliness. When she turns to the person next to her and asks, “Are you lonely, too?” the answer (obviously a yes) inspires a “Hi-Five! So am I!” Those retro vibes mentioned before serve to remind that loneliness is an age old feeling, so we might as well embrace it together.

Color of the Trap
Columbia

Come Closer – Miles Kane

In this indie-pop piece, Miles Kane takes on retro clichés with no hint of irony or kitsch, just reinvention. Every “ahhh” and “wooah” exudes temptation rather than innocence and dirty riffs punctuate this sultry take on “eyes meet across the room.”  It’s gritty pop designed to be sexy and fun, unlike rock songs that often take them selves too seriously.  Kane definitely owes a debt to sixties rockers like the Kinks, though his vocals are more reminiscent of Liam Gallagher (who was also has a constant eye on the sixties, so that may be no coincidence). It’s the perfect melding of upbeat pop and sordid rock ‘n’ roll.

Spotify Me: A Brave New Playlist

Spotify Me: A Brave New Playlist

Mark’s Discover Weekly Playlist for 8/31/15

Article By Mark

The workings of this article (really this blog as a whole) began at some late hour in a Steak and Shake round about a year ago. My friend and Co-Writer on this site, Elizabeth, expressed her interest in starting a blog. Well one thing led to another and naturally we sat around for a year doing absolutely nothing. Just goes to show kids, some things only happen because you make them happen! So, you know, follow your dreams.

Since this is the first Rodeo, here is the premise. This is a weekly article. It focuses on the Discover Weekly Playlist feature that Spotify provides. Once a week, Lizz and I are going to choose 5 or 6 songs from our individual playlists and talk about them. Then, I eat an entire 3 lb. bag of gummy bears as a reward for “putting myself out there.” So lets get to it then:

Maps of Non-Existent Places
Produced by Evil Ink Records

Blood on the Radio – Thank you scientist

I don’t usually like getting longs songs on my playlist, they are usually slow and I grow bored with them before the song ends. And the ones that do manage to keep my attention have mood changes so great I often feel like I still listened to more than one song. This song however, is a rare gem. Somehow, the song kept me engaged by having diverse enough instrumentals and lyrics without ever actually changing the main feel of the song. I felt I was listening to rock for sure, but with a Latin feel that wanders just over the line into jazz. The upbeat tempo of the song drives for the full 9:24 minute song which is good. Often driving songs like this are short and to the point, leaving me wanting more at the end. This song lingered on a bit longer, which I liked. The only thing that bothers me about the song, is how at times the singers smooth voice seems to clash with the more rough and tumble instrumentals. But the song is still one I saved, and have been coming back to throughout the week.

Rave Tapes
Produced by Rock Action Records

Remurdered – Mogwai

The trick with electronic music is mixing in new sounds and melodies so that just when the listener is getting bored, something new draws them back in. “Remurdered” does a fantastic job of just that. The song makes me feel like I’m in a TRON world, but not like I’m listening to Daft Punk. The beat and melody keep a reasonable pace, laying down a mysterious and somewhat sinister tone. The song then moves into a louder section, while maintaining is slow but driving pace, and utilizes heavy distortion to add to the mysterious and robotic atmosphere. At times, a small hopeful melody is thrown into the mix, but it never stays around for very long. I listened to this song several times over the week; it’s very good driving music, especially at night. After listening to the song I will certainly be looking into the band further. “Remurdered” has certainly been a highlight of this week.

Top two Photos by Nathan Holt Photography 
Bottom Left Cover Photo by James Mitchell 
Fox Logo by Chris Sinclair

High Tide Rising – Fox

This song was familiar in the worst way when I first heard it. That itch you get when you know you have heard a song before but cannot place remotely where or when. A short bit of research revealed that this song was featured as “The Weather” in the Welcome to Night Vale Podcast (the episode is called “Renovations” for the interested). The song is rough and full of gritty distortion, perfect for exaggerating the defeatist attitude of the lyrics. There is a great instrumental segment of the song where the band walks the fine line between loud distortion and “noise for noise’s sake” in a great way, jumping between guitar styles. It’s great anger music, with a slow and deliberate beat that hammers away the entire song. “High Tide Rising” is an easy fit with Night Vale’s typical off brand style of music, and certainly one of my favorite songs of the week.

Ylvis Volume 1
Produced by Urheim Records

Mr. Toot – Ylvis

A song like this is not surprising coming from the band that brought us “What Does the Fox Say?” However, where the aforementioned song is pretty much just outright annoying after the first time you hear it, this song is more fun, and actually quite catchy. We the listeners are treated to the story of Mr. Toot, a legendary music man of Istanbul. This mysterious man who plays the “Toot” from the rooftops, uniting all those who listen regardless of status, goes on a classic tale of the rise and fall of a musical sensation. He is discovered, built up to major fame, and then falls when he is rejected as he explores his self-expression.  The first listen though was mostly just me, giggling at the work toot, because apparently I am a 5 year old. Then on the second listen through, I appreciated the song even more, for the more subtle jokes like when Mr. Toot upgrades to a “midi toot”. The song leaves the listener with a haunting message, that “though you can kill the man, you can never kill the toot.”

Bremen
Produced by Ron Robinson Jr.

 Breman – PigPen Theatre Co.

The first time I listened to this song, it kind of flew by my radar. I don’t know what happened, stress from work or a bad driver perhaps demanded my attention at the time. However, The second time it came around on the playlist, it demanded my attention. It tells a sweet story of a journey, which is matched perfectly by the blue grass kissed instrumentals. I am an absolute sucker for the Banjo, the Accordion, and the harmony in the voices. The song is sweet, and beautiful in a way that captures me. The arrangement is wonderful, the instrumentals, vocals, and lyrics all fit together like a puzzle, every piece complimenting the other for a truly touching effect.

(The album artwork in this article is not owned by the authors of this blog, but by the producers of the albums themselves.)