I've been listening to Brandi Carlile for a few years now. I passed up on seeing here in Milwaukee a few years ago but was able to catch here on a follow up show in Madison last year with Jess. It was a wonderful show with another artist I plan on featuring sometime soon. Anyway, Brandi falls into a fun folk/country/rock/singer songwriter category that I just dig. One of her last albums included a guest spot from Elton John – so how do you even start to classify that?
When of the most entertaining things about seeing her live is that two of her band are twins. The guitarist and bassist. So on stage you see these two guys flank her that are identical in their expressions, style, etc and it's quite the optical illusion sometimes.
If you've heard any song of hers, it's probably this first one, “The Story,” the title track from her second album. The second song is from her new album “Live at Benaroya Hall With The Seattle Symphony.”
One of my most favorite bands in the last few years has been Sleeping At Last. Sleeping At Last, comprised of Ryan O'Neal & Dan Perdue, released three albums over 6 years (one in 2003, 2006 and 2009). Then in late 2010 they started the Yearbook Project, which has them releasing a 3 song EP every month. I can't get enough of their music so it's very exciting to get three new songs each month!
There is an emotionally haunting quality to their music, both instrumentally and lyrically that causes me to listen to their tracks on repeat all day long. Below the song videos below I've added some of the lyrics that speak to me. Their music overall is subdued and subtle (with a few upbeat songs now and then) which lends it to be great music to work to.
When we awake, we are left
With the eggshells inside of the nest
And the promise that one day soon,
It will come back to us…
When we reach into the night,
Where the water will rise,
Your wings will unbend.
In your brilliant display
All out worries will wash away.
Emphasis: Yearbook – November
Death is a cold, blindfolded kiss.
It is the finger pressed upon our lips.
It puts an unwanted emphasis on how we should have lived.
[…]
The smartest thing i've ever learned is that i don't have all the answers,
just a little light to call my own.
Though it pales in comparison to the overarching shadows,
a speck of light can reignite the sun and swallow darkness whole.
Next To Me: Yearbook – October
If time is money, then I'll spend it all for you
I will buy you flowers with the minutes we outgrew
I'll turn hours into gardens, planted just for us to take
I'll be reckless with my days, building castles in your name
