March Artist: Dry the River - No Rest

I thought I'd wrap up my Dry the River love fest with "No Rest" My fingers are crossed that they will find their way stateside this year so that I can catch them live (which by all accounts they put on one hell of a show what will all that punk roots energy flowing through them) I hope you've fallen as madly in love with them as I. And if you haven't well there's always April.

Back to the song at hand and its awesomeness... I'm not going to lie, the video gets a little weird at times. But hey, when that happens just do as I do and focus on the awesome beard bassist Scott Miller's rocking. What can I say I'm a sucker for them (see pics of the hubby).



"Did you see the light in my heart? Did you see the sweat on my brow?
Did you see the fear in my heart?"

March Artist: Dry the River - Bible Belt

"Bible Belt" just sets me adrift. Its a feeling that's always been hard to explain, its not an overly sad or happy feeling but magical and consuming. I never get the feeling that Liddle is trying to sound like Jeff Buckley as there is certainly a uniqueness there, instead I think its a matter of seeing the world... of being overcome with passion in a very similar way. Whatever it is, wherever it comes from, my heart is so happy to be able to feel it again. That familiar feeling I spoke of a few weeks ago is at its strongest for me during "Bible Belt". This song brings such a calm over me and I find myself listening over and over again; drifting along, my hands skimming the surface of a calm sea and my eyes drinking in the final flames of the sunset.

"If its dark outside you light the fire yourself"

March Artist: Dry the River - History Book

Dry the River are actually a relatively new band and are releasing their debut album, "Shallow Bed", this month. (Spectacular album by the way) Most of the guys come from punk backgrounds. And while there are certainly pastoral/gospelly energies that flow in their songs, none of the guys claim to be religious. I still think its hilarious that despite my unshakable agnostic beliefs I still find myself loving big hymnal energy. (See Tori Amos, PJ Harvey, Jeff Buckley, Florence and the Machine, ect)

Today's song, History Book, is the song that Becca w/ Girls Gone Child posted. When the chorus kicks in oh be still my heart.

"And maybe when the bitterness has gone, there'll be sweetness on our tongues once more"

March Artist: Dry the River

I've been a longtime follower of Girls Gone Child for awhile now. Becca has such a magical way with words and I adore her thoughts on parenting and nurturing imagination and self esteem in her children. I also love her taste in music. I've often posted about certain artist she turned me on to. But let me say this...if it wasn't a little creepy, and way too expensive to travel across the country, I would drive to California just to kiss her (most likely on the mouth) in gratitude of introducing me to Dry the River.

I've been a bit of a sucker for the earthy, hymnal kind of sound as of late. I know everyone and their hipster mother are singing the praises of Mumford & Sons and Fleet Foxes ect. But they just doesn't speak to me, although they should what with their poetry and beards. However I do think them solid bands and I'm glad that they are getting attention.

But I digress. Dry the River has oh so many ingredients that just rendered me all mushy inside. First and foremost frontman Peter Liddle and his voice; which awoke in me sensations and feelings I thought had died 15 years ago and oh my god was it amazing to feel them again. The web they weave both lyrically and musically is just intoxicating. I cannot stop listening. I'll admit, like my Jeff Buckley these guys aren't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but dammit they are mine.

"Just because we're beasts of blame by nature, doesn't mean that you should carry it again"

February Artist: Gogol Bordello

It started with the stache, more specifically this picture:

... on pinterest no less. I found it in a music board I follow. She likes all of my faves: Henry, Bob, PJ, The Clash, Tribe, ect ect. So I looked him up. This is Eugene Hutz and he is the frontman and mastermind of Gogol Bordello. A quick click to you tube and I was intrigued. My first introduction to Gogol Bordello was the song "Wonderlust King". (Wonderlust is such an awesome word isn't it?)

Don't they look like fun! Reading a bit more about them it seems that THE album to check out is 2007's Super Taranta!. So this month I will. I've got a good feeling about these guys. Its my February hope to make up for the Temper Trap, who let me down mid album.

January Artist: The Temper Trap - Fader

All this month I'm getting to know The Temper Trap and their debut album "Conditions". See Sweet Disposition and Love Lost. "Fader" is near-abouts the point on the album they lose their umph. It starts taking on this cookie cutter formula and the lyrics, the emotion behind the songs just fizzle. Its an okay song, there is a good riff but nothing about this song really stands out for me and certainly based on their previous offerings I expected more.

January Artist: The Temper Trap - Love Lost

Continuing in my discovery of The Temper Trap; this week I present Love Lost. Its another solid song. Something I'm noticing with the album that this and Sweet Disposition are off of (Conditions) is that there is a common thread that binds the hooks. Just different enough to have the song stand solidly alone while still connecting well with other songs on the album.

The littlest boy (from the beginning) in this video absolutely steals my heart, he's trying so so very hard to keep up and stay in time, as we all feel sometimes in life I think. The curly haired boy will no doubt become a charismatic front man for a band one day. The boy at the end brings back not so fond memories of PE for me.

January Artist: The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition

Keeping with the spirit of my 35 List, let me present my January Artist. I discovered The Temper Trap and their song Sweet Disposition while watching the movie "500 days of Summer" (a very sweet movie with a great soundtrack) and let me tell you this song felt so familiar I was certain it was a cover. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it wasn't. The Temper Trap is a group of talented Aussie boys. I've been listening to their debut album Conditions these past few days and its not bad. But this song just creeps into your soul and wont go away. I just love that this feels like something that would have been a college radio mainstay in the late 80's/early 90's. It wraps around me and warms my heart with great memories. Its just a fantastic song.