Music: Apply Directly to Your Ears. Aloha Friends! Here is the July Compilation for Music Morsels. Sorry for the delay, but its worth the wait. I got some good stuff for ya here. I like it. Buddha likes it. You will like. For best results, turn up, relax, and mellow out brah.
*I left the songs with the original album titles so its easy for you guys to upload the artwork if you're using iTunes.
1. "Feeling Alright" -Rebelution. This song gets solid airplay on local radio here in Honolulu. Download the whole album Courage to Grow. Its excellent.
2. "Keepsake" -State Radio. Formerly the voice behind Dispatch, Chad Stokes writes simple and memorable melodies. This is my favorite tracks, off their EP- Peace between nations.
3. "Excited but not Enough" -Midlake. When I first heard this I thought I was listening to Thom York. The chorus of this over distorted song is like enlightenment. After the 3rd or 4th listen, you'll feel it.
4. "Messages" -Xavier Rudd. Super catchy tune. You think Simon and Garfunkle was an influence?
5. "Your Rocky Spine" - Great Lake Swimmers. Yeah Banjo! I've got a fever. And the only cure is more Banjo. This is my second favorite Banjo song behind Sufjan Steven's "Windows in Paradise..."
6. "Crosses"- Jose Gonzalez. This classically trained Swede can fingerpick like no other. All his stuff is really mellow and relaxing. This if one of my favorite tracks off his first album Veneer.
7. "Fallin" - Braddigan. More from dispatch here. Great little ditty from Brad Corrigan, hence Bradgigan.
8. "Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, and Wives" -Voxtrot. Sounds like a young band from the U.K., but these guys are straight outta Austin, TX. They're my favorite Austinians behind Spoon. Is that what people call themselves there? Austinians? Austinites?...
9."Mykonos"- Fleet Foxes. Etherial Choir Rock. The bridge around 2:15 makes this one of my favorite songs. Flipping awesome.
10. "Low is a Height"- Great Northern. There's a mall in Northeast Ohio called Great Northern. And now theres a band from L.A. called Great Northern. I Love the harmony on this song. Super mellow tune. Good one to add to the "sleep" playlist.
11. "The Great Escape"- Patrick Watson. I must admit I found this one from watching Grey's Anatomy with my girlfriend. But this guy is a solid musician. I highly recommend his album "Close to Paradise" and check him out collaborating with The Cinematic Orchestra on "Ma Fleur", another great album.
12. "Right Me Up"- State Radio. Awesome tune. This one's on the beach playlist. A mix of rock and reggae, this is one of my favorite songs from these guys.
13. "Through Toledo" -Greg Laswell. This guy has put out some promising music. This is the title track from his Album Through Toledo.
14. "Ohio" Damien Jurado. O-H.... I-O! This isn't exactly a buckeye fight theme, wayyyyy more mellow. Guitar and Harmonica mixed with solid writing makes this one of my favorites. Reminds me a lot of Brett Dennen.
15. "I love you and Buddha too"- Mason Jennings. I was lucky enough to catch one of his shows at Jack Johnson's Kokua Festival. This was one of the song he played from his new album. Love the lyrics. Mason Jennings is single handedly bringing the religions of the world together with mellow surf rock. Right on.
16. "Apply Some Pressure" -Maximo Park (Mark Ronson Version). Take a catchy song, add the brass of Daptone Horns, and have it mixed by one of the best producers out there you get this gem. The last minute of the song with the strings... awesome.
17. "Blow it out" The Features. This is one of those songs you want to blast while driving down the highway with the windows down. Heavy, Upbeat, and Weezeresque, this is my favorite tune from these guys.
18. "Sinnerman"- Nina Simone. I watched the Thomas Crown affair for the first time last week. Since then I can not stop listening to this song. This version is about 10 minutes, you'll have to deal with some piano interludes, but shit, its wayyyy worth it. Kick ass song.
