I've been listening to my "The Very Best of Randy Travis" disk in the car for the past week or two, and after it cycled around for about the fifth time today, I came to a conclusion. It may as well be titled "The Very Best of Country Music."
Sure, he's got that twang that some people can't stand, but if you love the country aesthetic, there is no reason you shouldn't love Randy Travis. He sings with effortless and likely subconscious nuance that just couldn't have been taught. His songs are of consistent quality and style, while still offering a variety of subject matter, tempo, and feel, fit to fall in love to, fall out of love to, or just bop your head along to. The best part, though, is that it's all so timeless. His best known song, "Forever and Ever Amen," became popular in 1987 (I was just a year old) and 21 years later, it is every bit as relevant and enjoyable as it used to be. It's fitting, too, don't you think? "As long as old men sit and talk about the weather, as long as old women sit and talk about old men..." I'm gonna love that song, and I'm gonna love Randy Travis, forever and ever amen.
Here's the track list to "The Very Best of..."
I can honestly say that I love every one of these songs. If you don't know them, check them out.
1. Diggin' Up Bones--I'm digging up bones, exhuming things that's better left alone, resurrecting memories of a love that's dead and gone, tonight I'm sitting alone digging up bones...
2. On the Other Hand--but on the other hand there's a golden band, to remind me of someone who would not understand, on one hand I could stay and be your loving man, but the reason I must go is on the other hand...
3. Forever and Ever Amen--I'm gonna love you forever, forever and ever amen, as long as old men sit and talk about the weather, as long as old women sit and talk about old men, if you wonder how long I'll be faithful, I'll be happy to tell you again, I'm gonna love you forever and ever, forever and ever amen...
4. Too Gone, Too Long--you've been too gone for too long, it's too late to come back now, it's been so long since you walked out my door, now you're just an old song nobody sings anymore...
5. I Told You So--...would you tell me that you love me too, and would we cry together, or would you simply laugh at me and say, I told you so, I told you so, I told you someday you'd come crawling back and asking me to take you in, I told you so but you had to go, and now I found somebody new and you will never break my heart in two again...
6. I Won't Need You Anymore--when you see me walk on water, when the sea don't reach the shore, when the fires of hell freeze over, I won't need you anymore...
7. Honky Tonk Moon--outside the dark is falling, stars are twinkling bright, that old hoot-owl is calling everything's alright, honky tonk moon keeps shining on my baby and me...
8. Deeper Than the Holler--I had to sing a song about all the things I knew, my love is deeper than the holler, longer than the river, higher than the pine trees growing tall upon the hill, my love is purer than the snowflakes, that fall in late december and honest as a robin on a spring time windowsill, and longer than the song of a whippoorwill...
9. Is It Still Over?--is it still over, are we still through? since my phone still ain't ringin', I assume it still ain't you, and I've half a mind to take the time to find somebody new, but I'm not too sure that I'm still over you...
10. Just a Matter of Time--I know, I know, one day you'll wake up and find that my love is a true love, it's just a matter of time...
11. Hard Rock Bottom of Your Heart--I keep waiting for you to forgive me, and you keep saying you can't even start, and I feel like a stone you have picked up and thrown to the hard rock bottom of your heart...
12. I Thought He Walked on Water--He said he was a cowboy when he was young, he could handle a rope and he was good with a gun, and my momma's daddy was his oldest son, and I thought he walked on water, if the story was told, only heaven knows, but his hat seemed to me like an old halo, and though his wings they never were seen, I thought he walked on water...
13. Heroes and Friends--your heroes will help you find good in yourself, your friends won't forsake you for somebody else, they'll both stand beside you through think and through thin, that's how it goes with heroes and friends...
14. Forever Together-- forever together, 'til death do we part, forsaking all others I'll give you my heart, through good times and bad times wherever we are, forever together in each others arms...
15. Better Class of Losers--I'm going back to a better class of loser, this city life has really got me down, I need friends who don't pay their bills on home computers (an aside--good luck with that anymore) and buy their coffee beans already ground, you think it's disgraceful that they drink three-dollar wine but a better class of loser suits me fine...
16. I'm Gonna Have a Little Talk--Gonna have a little talk with Jesus when I get home tonight, tell him all about my troubles and I know He'll make them right, then I'll ask him to forgive me for the things that I've done wrong, gonna have a little talk with Jesus tonight when I get home...
17. If I Didn't Have You--If I didn't have you I'd have long ago been left in the dark out in the cold, blowing around from town to town like a feather in the wind, if I didn't have you you know I'd be floundering around like a ship sea, lost in the rain of a hurricane, that's where I'd have been... you know I wouldn't have nothing if I didn't have you
18. Look Heart, No Hands-- no chains, no strings, no fences, no walls, no net, just you to catch me when I fall, look heart, no hands...
19. Whisper My Name-- I heard music bring a heart of stone to tears, I heard peace ring like an anthem through the years, I heard hatred fall from grace, when I heard you whisper my name, I heard angels rise and praise when I heard you whisper my name...
20. Three Wooden Crosses-- there are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway, why there's not four of them, Heaven only knows, I guess it's not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it's what you leave behind you when you go...
And as more proof that Randy Travis is indeed a timeless classic, listen to Carrie Underwood's version of "I Told You So." (yeah... that's Vince Gill on back-up--another timeless legend.)
I had so much fun finding these videos-- especially the old "Nashville Now" footage. Incredible. I hope you enjoy the music.
And if you can find videos for anything I couldn't, let me know and I'll post them.
What's your favorite Randy Travis song? Country song?
Monday, September 8, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Some Things Never Change
I've had my iTunes library on shuffle the past few days. That's something I don't normally do, because I have the tendency to hit the "next" button more often than not, as I have a wide variety of music and have to be in a certain mood to listen to most of it. I've loved the shuffle lately, though, as it's reminding me how much I love certain artists.
Earlier today I was reminded of my love for Gentry Morris, who, since I checked up on his myspace today, seems to have moved from Tennessee to Ireland. This bums me out, as I am hopefully headed for Tennessee soon, and would have loved to see him live. If you like well-written, soulfully sung folk/indie rock, you'll like Gentry. Plus, the boy is hot.
Just now, Bethany Dick's song "Some Things Never Change" started playing. That is the song that truly made me fall in love with her as an artist, and she's only gotten better. She's bluegrass/traditional country, with a voice like Alison Krauss, songwriting chops, and incredible musicians to back her up.
"I'm Not Alright," by Sanctus Real is currently playing-- I saw them for free about a year ago, though I'd never heard of them, and even though I generally think that the entire genre of Contemporary Christian basically just rips off current music trends without ever adding anything to them, the vocals are great and the lyrics are well thought out and very honest, not contrived like a lot of CC can be.
"Hold Whatcha Got," originally a Jimmy Martin tune, was crooned at me earlier as a tribute by JD Crowe and a whole host of other bluegrass greats. It's one of my favorites off the Jimmy Martin tribute album, and Jimmy Martin's version is even better (of course).
And then I heard a voice that was more than familiar. My friend Jim Vilandre's voice came pouring out of my speakers singing, "The Heart of God." It felt like being back with some of my best friends, just for a moment.
My own (new!) song even popped into the mix tonight. It's a rough demo, but I love listening to it, because it served the purpose I wrote it for more than successfully, and it's great to revel in success, isn't it? Check out "23" at my myspace page if you're interested.
Plus, pieces of the Rent original broadway recording keep sneaking their way in. That's just pure bliss.
Music. I love it.
Some things never change.
Earlier today I was reminded of my love for Gentry Morris, who, since I checked up on his myspace today, seems to have moved from Tennessee to Ireland. This bums me out, as I am hopefully headed for Tennessee soon, and would have loved to see him live. If you like well-written, soulfully sung folk/indie rock, you'll like Gentry. Plus, the boy is hot.
Just now, Bethany Dick's song "Some Things Never Change" started playing. That is the song that truly made me fall in love with her as an artist, and she's only gotten better. She's bluegrass/traditional country, with a voice like Alison Krauss, songwriting chops, and incredible musicians to back her up.
"I'm Not Alright," by Sanctus Real is currently playing-- I saw them for free about a year ago, though I'd never heard of them, and even though I generally think that the entire genre of Contemporary Christian basically just rips off current music trends without ever adding anything to them, the vocals are great and the lyrics are well thought out and very honest, not contrived like a lot of CC can be.
"Hold Whatcha Got," originally a Jimmy Martin tune, was crooned at me earlier as a tribute by JD Crowe and a whole host of other bluegrass greats. It's one of my favorites off the Jimmy Martin tribute album, and Jimmy Martin's version is even better (of course).
And then I heard a voice that was more than familiar. My friend Jim Vilandre's voice came pouring out of my speakers singing, "The Heart of God." It felt like being back with some of my best friends, just for a moment.
My own (new!) song even popped into the mix tonight. It's a rough demo, but I love listening to it, because it served the purpose I wrote it for more than successfully, and it's great to revel in success, isn't it? Check out "23" at my myspace page if you're interested.
Plus, pieces of the Rent original broadway recording keep sneaking their way in. That's just pure bliss.
Music. I love it.
Some things never change.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Tequila on Ice
I have never been a Darryl Worley fan. Can't think of a single song of his I've ever fallen in love with, and really most of them flat out irritated me.
And then there was "Tequila on Ice."
He finally uses his sultry baritone to his advantage and comes out on top with a lyrically clever, melodically and stylistically sexy song.
Darryl, you've got my attention.
And then there was "Tequila on Ice."
He finally uses his sultry baritone to his advantage and comes out on top with a lyrically clever, melodically and stylistically sexy song.
Darryl, you've got my attention.
Musical Realization
For the self-proclaimed music enthusiast that I am, and for the self-proclaimed musician I am, it sure did take me a long time to really find my own musical taste.
I always thought I knew, and when I was kid I proclaimed that I hated anything that wasn't country. I only listened to country (and in one weird twist of musical indecency, Ace of Base). I was stubborn. But time when on, and something in the back of my mind started nagging at me, telling me that this Top 40 Country Radio stuff wasn't all there was to life. Growing up in rural Montana, though, where driving four hours to play basketball and driving home again was a normal occurrence, there wasn't much else to listen to, unless you were a big fan of the 1960s. I was content, though. Music speaks to certain demographics, or as my pop/rock teacher last year put it, "tribes." I led a perfectly charmed childhood, and so had no need to seek out angsty indie punk, and even found it hard to feign interest in Avril Lavigne when the rest of the world either loved or hated her. Popular country fit my small town life perfectly.
Something unknown tugged at me, though, in certain new artists something inexplicable would whisper to me, and I began feeling a distinct lack of satisfaction with my musical choices, the older I got. When I first went to college, the friends I made, though not purposefully, were based directly on our similarities in musical taste, and so even then, I didn't branch out too much. Finally though, about half way through my sophomore year, I met an incredible fiddle player who introduced me to bluegrass. I didn't know bluegrass existed beyond the stuff grandfathers were rumored to listen to, and that fiddle player, who has since become a best friend, really opened my eyes to this entire world. In it I found the aesthetic that I'd been so subtly drawn to in the more contemporary traditional country music I'd since been listening to. I also found a real purity in much of it--of course it was commercialized to some extent, but not nearly to the extent of the stuff I'd been listening to my entire life. I was immediately hooked.
From there, my taste only expanded. While truly a fan of the bluegrass aesthetic, I began realizing that the non-commercial purity existed everywhere, if I only opened my eyes and ears to it. Not only that, but I began connecting with artists who had significant commercial success, but I had never given half a thought to in the past, because of declared influences and "sounds like" recommendations.
The old adage, "You can take the girl out of Montana, but you can't take Montana out of the girl," has proven somewhat true-- I'm not a big fan of radio, but when I do listen, I still tune into the local country station. Most of what I hear is a contrived commercial product (sorry Nashville, but it's true), but now and then something real rings through, and I fall in love all over again.
I find the rest of my music largely online-- and I'll admit to being completely susceptible to TV and ad placement as well (Landon Pigg- I think that possibly maybe I'm falling for you. Oh, swoon.) And what all of that has taught me is that my musical taste is ever evolving.
Sadly, I missed out on much of my generation's life soundtrack because of my slow musical realization.
What should I know?
Do you have any suggestions for me?
I always thought I knew, and when I was kid I proclaimed that I hated anything that wasn't country. I only listened to country (and in one weird twist of musical indecency, Ace of Base). I was stubborn. But time when on, and something in the back of my mind started nagging at me, telling me that this Top 40 Country Radio stuff wasn't all there was to life. Growing up in rural Montana, though, where driving four hours to play basketball and driving home again was a normal occurrence, there wasn't much else to listen to, unless you were a big fan of the 1960s. I was content, though. Music speaks to certain demographics, or as my pop/rock teacher last year put it, "tribes." I led a perfectly charmed childhood, and so had no need to seek out angsty indie punk, and even found it hard to feign interest in Avril Lavigne when the rest of the world either loved or hated her. Popular country fit my small town life perfectly.
Something unknown tugged at me, though, in certain new artists something inexplicable would whisper to me, and I began feeling a distinct lack of satisfaction with my musical choices, the older I got. When I first went to college, the friends I made, though not purposefully, were based directly on our similarities in musical taste, and so even then, I didn't branch out too much. Finally though, about half way through my sophomore year, I met an incredible fiddle player who introduced me to bluegrass. I didn't know bluegrass existed beyond the stuff grandfathers were rumored to listen to, and that fiddle player, who has since become a best friend, really opened my eyes to this entire world. In it I found the aesthetic that I'd been so subtly drawn to in the more contemporary traditional country music I'd since been listening to. I also found a real purity in much of it--of course it was commercialized to some extent, but not nearly to the extent of the stuff I'd been listening to my entire life. I was immediately hooked.
From there, my taste only expanded. While truly a fan of the bluegrass aesthetic, I began realizing that the non-commercial purity existed everywhere, if I only opened my eyes and ears to it. Not only that, but I began connecting with artists who had significant commercial success, but I had never given half a thought to in the past, because of declared influences and "sounds like" recommendations.
The old adage, "You can take the girl out of Montana, but you can't take Montana out of the girl," has proven somewhat true-- I'm not a big fan of radio, but when I do listen, I still tune into the local country station. Most of what I hear is a contrived commercial product (sorry Nashville, but it's true), but now and then something real rings through, and I fall in love all over again.
I find the rest of my music largely online-- and I'll admit to being completely susceptible to TV and ad placement as well (Landon Pigg- I think that possibly maybe I'm falling for you. Oh, swoon.) And what all of that has taught me is that my musical taste is ever evolving.
Sadly, I missed out on much of my generation's life soundtrack because of my slow musical realization.
What should I know?
Do you have any suggestions for me?
Thursday, August 28, 2008
All I Ever Wanted
I've become ENAMORED with Chuck Wicks.
Yes, part of it is the fan-girl in me just swooning over his boyish good looks.
Part of it is the fan-girl in me imagining dancing to "Stealing Cinderella" with my dad at my and Chuck's wedding (don't judge).
Mostly it's THIS SONG.
I did a little research last night after deciding that my love for this song was much more than passing interest, and it turns out that not only can this boy sing, not only is he mind-numbingly gorgeous, he also WRITES. I have no idea if he actually wrote this song, or co-wrote it perhaps, but I know that a guy that sings and writes and looks like that?
Oh, I have to have that album.
I may be a lot less Country Music than I used to be
but that Montana in me
it'll never go away.
"All I Ever Wanted" is a fantastic song, with a very Rascal Flatts kind of melodic vibe, but with an enthusiasm and a vocal that just seems fresh and genuine. I mean, as far as mainstream country goes, it does seem pretty typical when intelligent review is attemtped-- but it caught my attention and that's hard to do in country music anymore.
So I definitely recommend it.
Especially if you're a girl who loves a pretty boy.
And an amazing song, executed perfectly, of course.
Yes, part of it is the fan-girl in me just swooning over his boyish good looks.
Part of it is the fan-girl in me imagining dancing to "Stealing Cinderella" with my dad at my and Chuck's wedding (don't judge).
Mostly it's THIS SONG.
I did a little research last night after deciding that my love for this song was much more than passing interest, and it turns out that not only can this boy sing, not only is he mind-numbingly gorgeous, he also WRITES. I have no idea if he actually wrote this song, or co-wrote it perhaps, but I know that a guy that sings and writes and looks like that?
Oh, I have to have that album.
I may be a lot less Country Music than I used to be
but that Montana in me
it'll never go away.
"All I Ever Wanted" is a fantastic song, with a very Rascal Flatts kind of melodic vibe, but with an enthusiasm and a vocal that just seems fresh and genuine. I mean, as far as mainstream country goes, it does seem pretty typical when intelligent review is attemtped-- but it caught my attention and that's hard to do in country music anymore.
So I definitely recommend it.
Especially if you're a girl who loves a pretty boy.
And an amazing song, executed perfectly, of course.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Wishlist
For quite awhile--months even--I was fairly content with my music collection. It's large, and while not exactly eclectic, I have a little something for any mood I could possibly be in (Sugar Hill Gang, anyone?). But this trying to save money thing has really taken a toll on me lately, and my list of MUST HAVE NOOOOW PLEASE albums is getting longer by the day. It hurts, really.
Now, I do have a way of acquiring most of this music without breaking the bank--it's called shopping in the new & used section of Amazon.com. But still... I can't afford to do even that just yet. So they sit there, looking at me with their bright beautiful puppy dog eyes from my wishlist.
Hi little guys. I'll give you a home soon! Promise.
And yes, I'm fully aware that some of this music was released years ago. I'm slow sometimes. Forgive me.
- Rebecca Lynn Howard, No Rules
- Sugarland, Love on the Inside
- Lady Antebellum (more out of curiosity than anything)
- Duffy, Rockferry
- Keri Noble, Fearless
- Joshua Radin, Simple Times
- Ben Folds, Way to Be Normal
- Chuck Wicks, Starting Now
- Melonie Cannon, And the Wheels Turn
- Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, Diamonds in the Dark
Now, I do have a way of acquiring most of this music without breaking the bank--it's called shopping in the new & used section of Amazon.com. But still... I can't afford to do even that just yet. So they sit there, looking at me with their bright beautiful puppy dog eyes from my wishlist.
Hi little guys. I'll give you a home soon! Promise.
And yes, I'm fully aware that some of this music was released years ago. I'm slow sometimes. Forgive me.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Perfect Songs
There are some songs that just make me feel better no matter what. Songs that pop up when I've forgotten they were songs at all, and just when I need them. That happened to me today.
Yesterday, making a three hour drive with an iPod that had pooped out on me, I started searching my car for stray CDs, and I found an old WOW compilation from 2000. I popped one of the discs in the player, and though I honestly didn't even recognize any of the titles when I looked at the case, I found that I knew most of the melodies and words. It's funny how music comes back to you like that.
I popped in the second disc, but made it home before I'd listened to the whole thing. I left it in the player, as I usually do, figuring I'd either listen to the rest the next time I drove, or switch it out, depending on my mood.
I had to drive to the store really quickly today, which didn't warrant a CD change, but it did mean that I was bored with the last couple songs on the CD so I started shuffling my way through the tracks until I came to number 16. At first I had completely confused myself. I had forgotten there were 17 tracks on the disc, considering only 15 were listed. I stopped at 16 out of curiosity, and in the first beat, a feeling of relief washed over me.
The song was "I Am," by Jill Phillips. I don't know any of Jill Phillips music but this song, but sometimes I am convinced that Jill Phillips was put on this earth to make music and write that song for ME.
Oh gently lay your head upon my chest
and I will comfort you like a mother while you rest
The tide can change so fast, but I will stay
the same through past, the same in the future, the same today
I am constant
I am near
I am peace
that shatters all your secret fear
I am holy
I am wise
I'm the only one
who knows your hearts desires
your hearts desires
Oh weary, tired, and worn, let out your sighs
And drop that heavy load you hold, 'cause mine is light
I know you through and through, there's no need to hide
I want to show you love that is deep and high and wide
I am constant
I am near
I am peace
that shatters all your secret fear
I am holy
I am wise
I'm the only one
who knows your hearts desires
your hearts desires
Oh gently lay your head upon my chest
and I will comfort you like a mother while you rest...
The funny thing is, I was listening to much of that WOW compilation, and realizing why, even as a Christian, I really never got into the Contemporary Christian music thing. The point of that music isn't to push any kind of boundaries, and I have to have real musical creativity in my music--not just carbon copies of popular music laced with Jesus-loving lyrics. While at times the lyrics can be clever, too often they're just Bible stories that aren't retold very well or another variation of a praise song. There's nothing wrong with it, but for me, it takes a really special spiritual song for me to fall in love. I can't have the contrivance. It has to feel SO GENUINE, it's like God wrote the thing himself, just through somebody else's pen.
I felt that way about this song from the moment I heard it. The aesthetic is so perfect--light and acoustic with a lovely fragile female voice on top. And I remember some time ago reading a bit about Jill Phillips and the way she'd written this song, and she said it was like it just came to her. Like maybe God had written it and blessed her with the gift of sharing it. And that holds true to me--it's what it feels like to me. And I needed to hear it today.
There are other songs that can make me feel better just like THAT, and of course I can't name them all, because they often come out of nowhere. However, I will list a few, and if you don't know them, check them out.
I was strong today, but I may need them tomorrow.
Yesterday, making a three hour drive with an iPod that had pooped out on me, I started searching my car for stray CDs, and I found an old WOW compilation from 2000. I popped one of the discs in the player, and though I honestly didn't even recognize any of the titles when I looked at the case, I found that I knew most of the melodies and words. It's funny how music comes back to you like that.
I popped in the second disc, but made it home before I'd listened to the whole thing. I left it in the player, as I usually do, figuring I'd either listen to the rest the next time I drove, or switch it out, depending on my mood.
I had to drive to the store really quickly today, which didn't warrant a CD change, but it did mean that I was bored with the last couple songs on the CD so I started shuffling my way through the tracks until I came to number 16. At first I had completely confused myself. I had forgotten there were 17 tracks on the disc, considering only 15 were listed. I stopped at 16 out of curiosity, and in the first beat, a feeling of relief washed over me.
The song was "I Am," by Jill Phillips. I don't know any of Jill Phillips music but this song, but sometimes I am convinced that Jill Phillips was put on this earth to make music and write that song for ME.
Oh gently lay your head upon my chest
and I will comfort you like a mother while you rest
The tide can change so fast, but I will stay
the same through past, the same in the future, the same today
I am constant
I am near
I am peace
that shatters all your secret fear
I am holy
I am wise
I'm the only one
who knows your hearts desires
your hearts desires
Oh weary, tired, and worn, let out your sighs
And drop that heavy load you hold, 'cause mine is light
I know you through and through, there's no need to hide
I want to show you love that is deep and high and wide
I am constant
I am near
I am peace
that shatters all your secret fear
I am holy
I am wise
I'm the only one
who knows your hearts desires
your hearts desires
Oh gently lay your head upon my chest
and I will comfort you like a mother while you rest...
The funny thing is, I was listening to much of that WOW compilation, and realizing why, even as a Christian, I really never got into the Contemporary Christian music thing. The point of that music isn't to push any kind of boundaries, and I have to have real musical creativity in my music--not just carbon copies of popular music laced with Jesus-loving lyrics. While at times the lyrics can be clever, too often they're just Bible stories that aren't retold very well or another variation of a praise song. There's nothing wrong with it, but for me, it takes a really special spiritual song for me to fall in love. I can't have the contrivance. It has to feel SO GENUINE, it's like God wrote the thing himself, just through somebody else's pen.
I felt that way about this song from the moment I heard it. The aesthetic is so perfect--light and acoustic with a lovely fragile female voice on top. And I remember some time ago reading a bit about Jill Phillips and the way she'd written this song, and she said it was like it just came to her. Like maybe God had written it and blessed her with the gift of sharing it. And that holds true to me--it's what it feels like to me. And I needed to hear it today.
There are other songs that can make me feel better just like THAT, and of course I can't name them all, because they often come out of nowhere. However, I will list a few, and if you don't know them, check them out.
- Every Season by Nichole Nordeman
- Anyway by Bethany Dick
- Stand by Rascal Flatts (but by all means, DO NOT listen to the rest of the CD when you're depressed. MAN.)
I was strong today, but I may need them tomorrow.
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