You should be listening to Joshua Radin!

Joshua Radin is the wispy, hushed vocals singer/songwriter who got his start in the business by playing an early composition for his buddy Zach Braff (yes, that Zach Braff, he of Scrubs and Garden State fame).  Braff, clearly liked the song, and featured it on the soundtrack to his hit T.V. show Scrubs. 

This fortuitous event led to a recording contract for Radin and his music found its way on to other shows like Grey’s Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Brothers and Sisters, as well as movie soundtracks for The Nanny Diaries and The Last Kiss.  His debut album We Were Here was released in 2006.

Joshua Radin Discography:

• We Were Here
• Simpler Times

In 2008 Radin released his sophomore effort Simpler Times.  As with his debut, many of the tracks from Simpler Times made their way on to T.V shows such as House M.D., Bones, and 90210.  Prior to its release, Radin’s label asked him to add a more “radio friendly “song to the album.  Not wanting to capitulate to the man, Radin returned all of the label’s money and released Simpler Times on the aptly titled independent label Mom & Pop Music without changing anything on the album. 

Top 5 Joshua Radin Songs:

1. Today (We Were Here)
2. One Of These Days (Simpler Times)
3. Sun Drenched World (We Were Here)
4. Winter (We Were Here)
5. I’d Rather Be With You (Simpler Times)

Radin has a sleepy quality that leaves you imagining him waking up and serenading his sleeping companion.  His delivery is restrained and subtle but alluring and delicate as he draws you into each song.  His lyrics are clever and straight forward and typically accompanied by a sparse, acoustic guitar.

Check out Joshua Radin at www.joshuaradin.com

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIFknUShX_k

Note: This is the song that Joshua performed at Ellen DeGeneres Wedding

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-ExkrpHICU&NR=1

Another Note: Cover of Ben Harper’s Waiting On An Angel

Great music awaits!

Good music from unexpected places!

Ever have one of those days where good music followed you everywhere you went?  Yesterday was one of those days.  Got up early, courtesy of 4 dogs, and went to the Cowtown Diner in downtown Fort Worth.  This was a first time experience and well worth the trip both musically and culinarally (not really sure if that is a word but I’m going with it).  As we are walking to the table, I notice the siren song of the Cowboy Junkies emanating from the speakers then, James Taylor, Ray LaMontange, Josh Ritter, Shawn Colvin, Whiskeytown, Patti Griffin, Grant Lee Phillips and a litany of other great artists and songs for the duration of breakfast.  In case you are wondering, the breakfast tacos (1 bacon, 1 sausage) were my choice of the morning and more than I could eat in one sitting.  The biscuits and sausage gravy looked pretty good and I was told that the cheese grits were the highlight of the meal.

The next unexpected musical nirvana was Lowes, yes the home improvement store.  Williams Fitzsimmons was the first song I heard and it was followed up by Josh Rouse and then Brendan James.  After that, I was out in the garden center and out of the musical range.

The day culminated with watching a few episodes of House M.D.  If you are not a fan, you need to check it out.  Not only is it great television, there is some fine music wrapped in each episode.  Yesterday was Lucinda Williams and Brett Dennen. 

Unexpected great music is always one of those things that make the daily grind seem more tolerable or make the fun times that much better.

So, the questions of the day are:

Where have you found unexpected musical greatness?

What store or restaurant has consistently good music reverberating between their walls?

Thanks for playing!

Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Joseph Arthur!

Joseph Arthur is the singing /songwriting protégée of former Genesis front man and current world music guru Peter Gabriel.  Arthur was the first American recording artist singed to Gabriel’s Real World Records. 

 His 2000 release Come to Where I Am and the opening slot on tours with Ben Harper and Gomez helped Arthur attain a larger fan base.  He also briefly toured Europe with R.E.M. in 2004. 

 While Arthur’s name might be hazily familiar, you have probably heard one of his many songs on the following T.V. shows:

Scrubs	Dawson’s Creek	Grey’s Anatomy
The L Word	Without a Trace	As the World Turns
Numb3rs	Laguna Beach	Lie to Me
House M.D	True Blood	The O.C.
Friday Night Lights

 In addition to the litany of T.V. shows, his music also appears in the following movies:  

The Bone Collector	The Bourne Identity	Shallow Hal
American Wedding	Shrek 2

 Joseph Arthur Discography:

Albums	EP’s
Big City Secrets Come to Where I’m from Redemption’s Son Our Shadows Will Remain Nuclear Daydream Let’s Just Be Temporary People	Cut and Blind Vacancy Junkyard Hearts I-IV And the Thieves Are Gone Could We Survive Crazy Rain Vagabond Skies Foreign Girls

 Top 5 Joseph Arthur Songs:

1. In the Sun (Come To Where I Am)
2. Honey and the Moon (Redemption’s Son)
3. A Smile that Explodes (Our Shadows Will Remain)
4. The Real You (Come to Where I’m From)
5. Black Lexus (Nuclear Daydream)

In 2006, he created his own record label Lonely Astronaut Records.  In the same year, his song “In the Sun” was covered by Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) and Chris Martin (Coldplay) as a Hurricane Katrina relief EP.  The album is only available on iTunes and is 6 versions of the song with various artists including Justin Timberlake, Will.i.am, and Arthur himself. 

Check out Joseph Arthur at www.josepharthur.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QotZ7TIaztw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skjj16bUS2s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9jzTQuflFw

Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Alexi Murdoch!

Alexi Murdoch is a singer/songwriter who self published his 2003 EP “Four Songs” which ironically, had four songs on it.  “Four Songs” became the number one selling record in the history of indie online music store CD Baby (A great place to find awesome music).  In 2006 he released his debut album “Time Without Consequence”.  In 2009, in a rare display of accessibility, he toured the Unite States.  It certainly appears that Mr. Murdoch is pacing his musical output.

 Like other indie artists, Alexi Murdoch’s music has found its way on the silver screen and into the homes of millions due to the miracle of the World Wide Web and television.  You might have heard his songs on Dawson’s Creek, The O.C., House M.D., Prison Break, Ugly Betty, Grey’s Anatomy, Scrubs, Everwood, and Without A Trace.  Not a bad list for a dude with one album.  His song “Orange Sky” was featured in the move Garden State but did not make the soundtrack.

Alexi Murdoch’s delicate songwriting, folk/pop sensibility, and hushed, intimate vocals have endured him to his fans and have the music labels clamoring to sign him.  His reluctance to sign with any label does not appear to be hurting his ability to make a living as a musician.  He has performed at SXSW and the Sundance Film Festival.

Alexi Murdoch Discography

•  Four Songs (EP)
• Time Without Consequence

Top 5 Alexi Murdoch Songs according to Butler (Albums listed on right):

1. Breathe (Time Without Consequence)
2. It’s Only Fear (Four Songs)
3. Wait (Time Without Consequence)
4. All My Days (Time Without Consequence)
5. Orange Sky (Time Without Consequence)

 Check out Alexi Murdoch and let me know what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgsT-klFnXY&feature=related 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4-BCagHSz0&feature=related

Alexi Murdoch’s music is available is available on iTunes, record stores and www.aleximurdoch.com .

 Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Iron & Wine!

Iron & Wine is the moniker that the whispering Sam Beam uses when recording.  The name came from a nutritional supplement called “Beef Iron & Wine” that he stumbled upon while working on a film.  Prior to being a musician, Beam was a professor of film and cinematography at Miami University and Miami International University of Art & Design.

Beam’s debut “The Creek Drank the Cradle” was released in 2002 which is also the same year he covered The Postal Service’s then unreleased song “Such Great Heights”.  His version made it on to the soundtrack for the movie “Garden State” with Zack Braff and Natalie Portman. 

You may have also heard Iron & Wine on a smattering of television shows, including: “Grey’s Anatomy”, “House MD”, and “The L Word”.  He also had a song on the soundtrack of “Twilight”.

“The Creek Crank the Cradle” is sparsely adorned and relies heavily on rich harmonies.  While his sophomore effort “Our Endless Numbered Days” adds harmony vocals and slide guitar to the mix.  His ethereal whisper wraps around the beautiful and brilliant lyrics ever so gently that you don’t immediately recognize the ache in the words.  Musically, things get kicked up a notch with the release of his EP “Woman King” and on his third full length album “The Sheppard’s Dog”.  More instrumentation is used as are vocal harmonies.  Compared to his early work, “The Sheppard’s Dog” sounds almost festive and the vibe tends to weaken the natural beauty of his lyrics. 

Iron & Wine Discography

• The Creek Drank the Cradle
• Our Endless Numbered Days
• The Sheppard’s Dog
• Around the Well
• In the Reins (EP)
• The Sea and the Rhythm (EP)
• Woman King (EP) 

Top 5 Iron & Wine Songs according to Butler (Albums listed to right of song):

1. The Sea and the Rhythm (The Sea and the Rhythm EP)
2. Naked As We Came (Our Endless Numbered Days)
3. An Angry Blade (The Creek Drank the Cradle)
4. Lovesong of the Buzzard (The Sheppard’s Dog)
5. Gray Stables (Woman King)

Check out Iron & Wine and let me know what you think.  http://vodpod.com/watch/111302-iron-and-wine-naked-as-we-came-live

Iron & Wine’s music is available is available on iTunes, record stores and www.ironandwine.com.

Also, if you have a facebook page, you can become a fan of the blog.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#/pages/Music-you-should-be-listening-to/261897107787?ref=ts

  Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Ray LaMontagne

Ray LaMontagne burst on to the music scene in 2004 with his debut “Trouble”.  The title track was one of the biggest surprises to hit the music scene that year.  He has had his songs used in several movies, “The Devil Wears Prada”, “The Last Kiss”, and “I Love You, Man”  He has also had songs in the Dennis Leary television show “Rescue Me” and “House M.D.”

 With a voice that is wrapped equally in pain and sandpaper, Ray is able to communicate his stories of love and loss, leaving and being left, and the myriad of emotions that run in between. 

 It is the emotion and urgency of both his vocals and his lyrics that draw you in to his songs as he makes no attempt to reach out to you.  His music is sparse and the words and his vocals carry most of his songs even though it is barely a whisper.

 On his most recent release “Gossip in the Grain” Ray, is joined in the studio by his touring band which is a big departure from the largely solo work of his first two releases.

 Ray LaMontagne Discography

• Trouble
• Till The Sun Turns Black
• Gossip in the Grain

 Top 5 Ray LaMontagne Songs according to Butler (Albums listed to right of song):

1. Empty (Till The Sun Turns Black)
2. How Come (Trouble)
3. Jolene (Trouble)
4. Let It Be Me (Gossip in the Grain)
5. Three More Days (Till The Sun Turns Back)

 Check out Ray LaMontagne and let me know what you think.

 Ray LaMontagne’s music is available on iTunes, some record stores and www.raylamontagne.com.

  Great music awaits!