Welcome to another week of school/work/travel/life.  This past weekend I checked out the Dirty Bourbon Blues Band – a local group that was pretty damn fun, and went pretty well with all the beer I drank.  If you’re around the Rochester/Finger Lakes area and you get a chance to check them out, you certainly should.

Here are the next couple of tracks in my 1000 Minutes list.  If you have no idea what that means, catch yourself up over here.

113. Iron & Wine – The Trapeze Swinger (mp3) from Around The Well (9:30) [Time Remaining: 479:24]

There is an easy melancholy that runs through all of Sam Beam’s songs; it’s especially true for this one.  It unfolds slowly, deliberately, retelling the story of a couple – from the stupid adventures of two children to the eventual growing apart.  It’s a pretty obvious narrative that entangles the story with visions of the afterlife.

With the commercialization of music, it’s often easy to forget that it’s an art form.  Lots of people can try to create it, very few are actually good at it, but the ones who are good have the ability to render the listener speechless.  If this track catches me at the right time, it’s difficult not to cry.  And while I find plenty of songs good, fewer great, there are less than ten that have that power.

114. James Morrison – You Give Me Something (mp3) from Undiscovered (3:34) [Time Remaining: 475:50]

Thematically, this track is the complete opposite of the previous one.  Lyrically, it examines the uncertainty surrounding the beginning of a new relationship; both parties are still getting their bearings, still figuring out exactly what it is they are doing.  It’s relatable; everyone has felt that spark, experienced that trial period of a new relationship.  And James Morrison puts it into song form pretty damn well.

I don’t remember when I finally got myself around to purchasing Iron & Wine’s The Shepherd’s Dog, but I remember being disappointed in myself for having waited so long to do so.  Whenever I get around to purchasing Mr. Beam’s most recent release – the b-sides/rarities compilation from earlier this year entitled Around the Well – I’ll probably get a similar feeling of disappointment with myself.

In the meantime, his songs have been popping into my head via our #shuffleproject on Twitter.  (If you want to play and/or follow along, you can feel free to follow me and/or Dave via the links in the sidebar.)  This one came up recently, and it’s stuck with me for a couple of days.  See if it does the same for you.

Iron & Wine – House By the Sea (mp3) from The Shepherd’s Dog

Vacation – at least the portion that consists of me being away from my computer – is over.  I’m also off of work today in order to catch up on a few things I haven’t had a chance to get done – reregistering my car, for example – but I’ll be back to the workplace tomorrow.

This morning finds me rehashing my trip, taking tags off of the stuff we bought (since it will obviously be unable to be returned), uploading photos, unpacking and doing laundry.

Here are a couple of tracks that came up over the course of the trip that forced me – because of their special place – to play them again.

(On a complete side note, does anyone else who watches Entourage think that E’s new love interest is far below what he should pull?  After Sloan, this Ashley character leaves much to be desired.)

49. Iron & Wine – Naked As We Came (mp3) from Our Endless Numbered Days (2:33) [Time Remaining: 745:58]

Scene: A Saturday morning in the middle of spring.  Light shines in through the window curtains.  A couple in bed, lying on their sides, facing each other.

There’s not much to say for me about this one.  Despite the quasi-morbid vision of having your lover die inside your arms, “Naked As We Came” is just an absolutely fantastic song.

50. The Format – Sore Thumb (mp3) from Interventions & Lullabies (3:19) [Time Remaining: 742:39]

Band break-ups have little to no affect on me.  Creativity isn’t a static endeavor, to be certain, and I don’t have any personal connection to any bands that would make a particular dissolution upsetting.  With that said, The Format’s end was a surprise.  They seemed to be musicians that were talented, and they were upbeat enough to give the impression that they had fun playing.  It was, as we all know, not to be.

From their first album – 2003’s Interventions & Lullabies – “Sore Thumb” was a personal standout.  The subject matter was much more dark, and in 2003/2004, when my relationships were much less stable than they currently are, it felt applicable.  Even now, I like to joke with my girlfriend that the line “please just leave, well you don’t mean that much to me” is about her.  Luckily, she doesn’t take me seriously.

It’s a pretty good week for new music.  There’s a wide range – from Dane Cook to Kenny Chesney, and everything in between.  The Iron & Wine, Passion Pit and White Rabbits albums are all on our list.

If you’re looking for more, get yourself over to Amazon.  And if you need reminding of how an artist sounds, there are a couple of songs after the list as well.  Have a great week everyone.

Eminem – Relapse
Tori Amos – Abnormally Attracted to Sin
Kenny Chesney – Greatest Hits II
Iron & Wine – Around the Well
Dane Cook – ISolated INcident
U2 – Magnificent EP
Lionel Richie – Just Go
Mat Kearney – City of Black & White
Method Man & Redman – Blackout 2
Carbon Leaf – Nothing Rhymes with Woman
Jarvis Cocker – Further Complications
Busta Rhymes – Back on My B.S.
Passion Pit – Manners
Jason Lytle – Yours Truly, The Commuter
White Rabbits – It’s Frightening
Parachute – Losing Sleep

Iron & Wine – Naked As We Came (mp3) from Our Endless Numbered Days

Passion Pit – Sleepyhead (mp3) from the forthcoming Manners

White Rabbits – The Plot (mp3) from Fort Nightly

Happy Sunday. As I mentioned yesterday, the Oscars are tonight. And, as promised, here are a few songs that are available on various soundtracks.

Iron & Wine – The Trapeze Swinger (mp3) from the In Good Company soundtrack

Anthony Hamilton – Do You Feel Me (mp3) from the American Gangster soundtrack

Vampire Weekend – Ottoman (mp3) from the Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist soundtrack

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