Simple Songs

I like the Shins...and their new album, Port of Morrow, is fantastic.  It sounds like the Shins I feel in love with so many years ago.  And again, thanks to npr music...a delightful acoustic performance of Simple Song by James Mercer.

First Aid Kit

I believe I have mentioned before how much I LOVE npr music.  Tiny Desk Concerts are one of the most brilliant ideas ever.  Each week Bob Boilen invites an artist into his office and they perform a mini acoustic concert.  This week it was a duo known as First Aid Kit.  They were fantastic.  There song Emmylou was a free download on iTunes a few weeks back so I was very excited to see that they were the Tiny Desk Concert AND that Emmylou was on the set list. Enjoy!





And as a bonus...one of my most favorite Tiny Desk Concerts ever!
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros!

Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)

A new little ditty from Regina Spektor!

(listen to me)
Don't Leave Me (Ne Me Quitte Pas)

three new songs for a Tuesday evening...or which ever day you happen to listen

Dead Hearts by Stars




IMpossible by Figurine




The Story of the Impossible by Peter Von Poehl

First Listen

Today on NPR there are a couple First Listens.  I LOVE First Listen.  You get to hear an entire album from an artist from beginning to end!  Today one of them is Of Monsters and Men's album, My Head Is An Animal.  This is not a first listen for me.  I actually have the album.  I LOVE IT!  Have a listen and see what you think.  It is fantastic.  Icelanders make some fantastic music.  In my humble musical opinion anyway...but listen soon because the First Listens don't stick around forever. (click the link below)

My Head Is An Animal-Of Monsters and Men

And as a bonus, M. Ward is previewing his forthcoming album as well.  I like M. Ward too, but he isn't as new as Of Monster's and Men, in my musical life.

A Wasteland Companion-M.Ward

a Sunday song for any day

This is one of my most favorite hymns of all...in fact it might be my second favorite...anyway...I LOVE when the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings it.  There is nothing quite like being there in person to hear it, but this video will have to do.  When they entire choir is singing acapella...chills every. single. time.

(listen to me)


My most favorite hymn is Let the Holy Spirit Guide.  I couldn't find a good version of it on YouTube or any where else for that matter...but it is simple and beautiful and has stuck with me since I was a little kid and learned it in Primary when we had this fantastic old man substitute during singing time.  I've included the lyrics below because as you know, I am a fan of good lyrics and this song takes the cake on the lyrics front.


1. Let the Holy Spirit guide;
Let him teach us what is true.
He will testify of Christ,
Light our minds with heaven's view.

2. Let the Holy Spirit guard;
Let his whisper govern choice.
He will lead us safely home
If we listen to his voice.

3. Let the Spirit heal our hearts
Thru his quiet, gentle pow'r.
May we purify our lives
To receive him hour by hour.

Text: Penelope Moody Allen, b. 1939.
(c) 1985 IRI

The First Days of Spring-noah and the whale

I really, really LOVE this wonderful weather we're having.  This weather, the way the temperature feels on my skin and the smells in the air...it brings to mind so many wonderful memories of my life and with that some great tunes.  Well here is another to add to the list of fantastic "WELCOME SPRING" songs.  From Noah and the Whale...

(listen to me)

THIS is why I love the internet

This little gem right here is exactly why I love reading blogs...you never know what yo might find!

favorite lyrics Wednesday

I know, I know...favorite lyrics Friday would sound better, but I don't feel like waiting until Friday. 


the title is pretty straight forward...I just want to share some of my most favorite lyrics.  I LOVE lyrics.  Some songs are just great to listen to because of the beat, or because the motivate you to run faster, or further, etc...but some lyrics...they...sing to my soul...I guess is the best way to put it...for example...


"and I won't follow you into the rabbit hole.
I said I would, but then I saw your shivered bones
they didn't want me to"
~terrible love (my preference is the Birdy cover...I love the National but this cover...I'm in love.  listen to the end...you'll fall in love too)


"But if your strife strikes at your sleep
Remember spring swaps snow for leaves
You'll be happy and wholesome again
When the city clears and sun ascends."
~winter winds


"and I've been a fool and I've been blind
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I'm always dragging that horse around
all of his questions, such a mournful sound
tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground"
~shake it out

Jakob Dylan

I love Jakob Dylan.  I love his father as well...and I am sure I will post on him at some point. But the other night I watched A Little Help ( I liked it by the way, in case you wondered) and Jakob Dylan had a couple songs in the movie and I was reminded of how much I love his deep voice and mellow style.  I am a proud fan of the The Wallflowers...especially Closer to You off the album Red Letter Days and I could listen to that song on repeat all day...well for a few hours anyway.  So if you are unfamiliar...give him a listen...or two.


(listen to me)


(listen to me)

the same-mackintosh braun

I guess I've been in a a Depeche Mode mood lately...Mackintosh Braun reminds me of them too...and I feel like this is fresh and new for me...and since it is the first day of spring...fresh and new seems appropriate.  Plus I feel like this would make a great back ground song to a tulip blooming time lapse video.

(listen to me)

Alabama Shakes-live in concert at SXSW

Do your ears a favor and listen

http://www.npr.org/event/music/148530119/alabama-shakes-live-in-concert-sxsw-2012?ft=1&f=1039

Without You by Badfinger (the originators)

In the previous post I shared my very, very guilty pleasure of Without You by Mariah Carey.  Today I found a live performance of Without You by it's originators, Peter Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger.  I am pretty sure it was in my musical heart to always love this song no matter who is singing it.

(listen to me)

Without You...of the Mariah Carey variety

In my last post, I mentioned that there is not room for being judgmental on this blog.  I would like to clarify...judge all you want...as far as my music taste is concerned.  But I beg of you, and will return the favor...do not judge me as a person for my musical tastes...at least not too harshly.  With that being said...

I wanted to share one of my favorites from an artist who I don't really love on the whole.  But this song...I don't know what it is...when I hear it, for some reason, yet to be discovered (perhaps hypnosis would word) it takes me back to my Green Valley High School days.  Aja, Mary...any idea why?  And my memories of those days are generally just fantastically pleasant.  It just puts smile on my face and I love belting it at the top of my lungs...although, as I discovered last night, my neighbors do not love it...though it was 10-ish and so that could have had something to do with it.  I am sure it was not my voice that was annoying.  I can match Mariah Carey note for perfect note...I am pretty sure anyone who has heard me sing is rolling on the floor with laughter right now.

Anywho...without very ado...Without You by Mariah Carey

(listen to me)

new song Tuesday-True Loves by Hooray For Earth

I bet you thought I would do "new music Monday" or "new tune Tuesday"...didn't you?  Well I might, but today I am going with "new song Tuesday" Mainly because I can't guarantee that I will have a new song every week.  Plus, who knows, maybe the songs that are on here already are new to you.  This post, which I would love to do every week, is going to be a new song and or new artist that is new to me...and maybe to you...

This week's song and artist comes from my friend and music guru Marie Heywood.  She and I have similar loves when it comes to music so I am always excited when she shares something new.  This week was no exception for her excellence.  I am really digging True Loves by Hooray For Earth.  Take a listen below.  It makes me want to watch a Mad Max movie and listen to Depeche Mode.

(listen to me)


If you love it...awesome sauce.  If you don't...cool bananas.  I don't judge...as long as you don't judge me.  That is not to say I am averse to sharing my opinion about songs I don't like, but if you happen to like something I do not enjoy, we can still be friends and I have no judgement.  What have you discovered this recently/?

Alabama Shakes part II

This post is originally from jokes, jeans & Jesus but it is so very appropriate that I am sharing it here as well.  If you read it on jokes, jeans & Jesus, read it again...you'll still love it.  And if you didn't...then definitely take a listen and a read now!

Before I make my official return to my blog (I know...it's been a little while) I just wanted to note that I saw Alabama Shakes live in concert.  And while I will for sure continue to listen to them on my iPod, YouTube, CD, etc...nothing, NOTHING will ever compare to seeing them live.  Brittany Howard can sing like nothing else.  She is like Janis Joplin and James Brown and Jimi Hendrix all rolled into one.  

Do yourself a favor and check them out.

I'm not saying Alabama Shakes is better than Janis or James or Jimi...but it is sure nice to hear there influence in the current music scene.

A little of this....
(listen to me)
 
A little of that...
(listen to me)
 

A heaping spoonful of her...
(listen to me)


 and what do you have?!

TA DA!!!!
(listen and LOVE me)

Birdhouse in Your Soul

Can someone please, Please, PLEASE tell me how in the world a show in which Kristin Chenoweth and Ellen Greene sing a duet of Birdhouse In Your Soul can get cancelled?!  I mean, Swoosie Kurtz is driving them in an over sized vehicle while following a fake bird!  You can't cancel a show like that!

(listen to me)

Young Blood

During my trip to Washington last year I heard Young Blood by The Naked and Famous.

(listen to me)

I immediately loved it.  But some of the lyrics were tough to understand without heading to a lyrics website. (I LOVE LYRICS)  And in truth, you can't always trust lyrics from a website...unless of course it is the artist's website.  But that didn't deter me from listening to and loving this song...and of course singing right along with the lyrics I know (and making up lyrics when I don't) while driving with the windows down.  

Then I got my lucky break.  I don't remember where or exactly when...autumn of last year?...I discovered Birdy...singing this cover.  Skinny Love is one of my favorites...a "go to" if you will...I can listen to it almost wherever and whenever...but there was something about this cover that was equally as wonderful as Justin Vernon's original.  (Sorry cover-haters...but I do love this cover...and others).  And again...like unto The Naked and Famous, Justin Vernon is sometime tough to decipher.  So with my great powers of being able to will things into existence (it's true...ask Aja...and then thank me for Reece's Peanut Buttercup minis) I managed to bring this musical gem into existence.  I can understand all the lyrics and I love this slowed down, mellowed out version as well.

(listen to me)

I like music

that is most definitely an understatement.  I love music.  and while I can't say I love ALL genres of music, I feel like my tastes are fairly varied.  I of course have my favorites and my "go-to" songs, but if something makes my musical heart sing, I am fan, regardless of genre.

this blog is dedicated to all things musical in my life.  whether it is a report on concerts I attend, or what I am currently "dancin' it out" to, or the sharing of songs and artists I love, or songs and artists I discover...it will be solely dedicated to music.  (if you want to read about other aspects of my life, you can...right here)

you may (or may not) be wondering about the origins of my blog address theshrimpshackshooters@blogspot.com.  it is a fictional band in the movie That Thing You Do based on the rise and fall of the fictional band The Wonders (originally The Oneders).  It is one of my favorite movies...a "go to" if you will.

anywho...I would love any suggestions for new tunes...I am open to giving anything a shot.