I Could Feel My Heartbeat Taking Me Down
I was having trouble writing a memoir piece in my creative writing class in high school. I knew what I wanted to write about, but it was about an unpleasant experience so I was scared. I remember my professor Andrea Dinan told me that if I couldn’t be painfully honest when writing something it wasn’t worth writing about. Very few artists truly write that way. Unprotected. They tend to write in generalities, but they can’t lay it all out on the table. Manchester Orchestra has a song called I Can Feel A Hot One that grabbed me the very second I heard it. It paints such a heartbreaking picture and you can see this story unfold right in front of your eyes as you listen. Not just this song alone, but many of their songs are captivating. And not only are the lyrics captivating, but the music is fantastic. Their songs are so diverse in style that I think anyone who listens to their music could like it. Read the lyrics below and then listen to the song. They are one band I don’t want to forget because, to be honest, they rock my world.
If you are in Chicago August 7th, 8th or 9th check them out at Lollapalooza. I’ll see you there!
www.myspace.com/manchesterorchestra
www.themanchesterorchestra.com/us/home
I CAN FEEL A HOT ONE – Manchester Orchestra
I could feel a hot one taking me down
For a moment, I could feel the force
Fainted to the point of tears
And you were holding on to make a point
What’s the point?
I’m but a clean man, stable and alone man
Make it so I won’t have to try
The faces always stay the same
So I face the fact that I’m just fine
I said that I’m just fine
I remember, head down,
After you had found out
Manna is a hell of a drug
And I need a little more, I think
Because enough is never quite enough
What’s enough?
I took it like a grown man crying on the pavement
Hoping you would show your face
But I haven’t heard a thing you’ve said
In at least a couple hundred days
What’d you say?
I was in the front seat, shaking it out
And I was asking if you felt alright
I never want to hear the truth
I want to hear your voice, it sounded fine
My voice, it sounded fine
I could feel my heartbeat taking me down
And for the moment, I would sleep alright
Invading with a selfish fear
To keep me up another restless night
Another restless night
The blood was dry, it was sober
The feeling of audible cracks
And I could tell it was over
From the curtains that hung from your neck
And I realized that then you were perfect
And my teeth ripping out of my head
And it looked like a painting I once knew
Back when my thoughts weren’t entirely intact
To pray for what I thought were angels
Ended up being ambulances
And the Lord showed me dreams of my daughter
She was crying inside your stomach
And I felt love again
*Heard on One Tree Hill (as always)
Tags: Lollapalooza, Manchester Orchestra, One Tree Hill, Rock
Dirt Poor Robins
Jul 28, 2009 Artists
I’m going to keep this one short and sweet because you have to listen to believe. Have I told you before that I love husband and wife duos? Well, in case that’s a no let me just tell you: I love husband and wife duos! Words really can’t explain what amazing music happens, like The Weepies, and especially with the Dirt Poor Robins. I stumbled upon them by accident a couple weeks ago and can I just say, best accident ever. They haven’t produced a cd since The Cage was released in 2007 which saddens me. I’m sure life and all that entails has gotten in the way, but the music they bring to the table is so intricate and full of depth. I mean who doesn’t love a little whistling in a song? They just have an amazing way of making a song sound ominous and magical at the same time.
I dare you to love them and if you do let them know. I want more!
http://dirtpoorrobins.com/#/contact/
Tags: Dirt Poor Robins, Rock, Rock Opera, The Weepies
Love, Save the Empty
First, I love the title of this cd. Love, Save the Empty. It’s a very good song lyrically too. Simple, yet leaves room to interpret the message. Second, I love the feel of her music. It’s perfect car music. Not depressing and not overly upbeat, just right. And on top of that she’s got serious pipes. Oh yeah, i’m talking about Erin McCarley. And I promise I will stop writing about female artists at least for the next week or so. I’ve just been on a kick lately.
Anyways, I heard her on The Hills a couple months ago. And yes I do hate myself for watching that show. Just in case you were wondering. Nothing revolutionary about her music, but still good nonetheless. She sounds a lot like KT Tunstall, but I just need more from her. Not much depth in her songs. She doesn’t pull at the heart, but maybe she doesn’t want to. The fact that she is coming with Paolo Nutini to a local Indy club, The Vogue, this coming Monday makes me much more excited about her. If you’re in Indy this next Monday check her and Paolo out. Great fun music!
Tags: Erin McCarley, Paolo Nutini, Pop, The Hills
Oh oh Valentino
You know how music sort of puts a time stamp on your life? Like how you’ll hear a song from 5 maybe 10 years ago and immediately it takes you back to wherever it was you were at in your life when you heard it. Maybe a certain relationship. Well, the other day I found a new artist that made me question all of that. I was listening to her music and it made me feel as if I had lived once in a earlier time period and just forgot about it. I was picturing a version of myself and my life that I’ve never seen before.
Diane Birch brings an old soul to her music that makes you wonder why God didn’t bring her to life 40 years ago. Maybe so that right here and now I can experience the kind of music my parents fell in love with. In a way, her voice reminds me where music started and how important it is in shaping our society.
Diane’s album Bible Belt was just released last June and I truly suggest you take a listen. Perhaps it will remind you how you came to know music. If you are in Indy, you can see her at Radio Radio on Tuesday, August 4th and make sure to check out her website for a list of upcoming tv performance dates.
To Listen and Learn:
Tags: Classic Rock, Diane Birch, Pop, Soul
She’ll make you cookies then she’ll burn your town
Jul 16, 2009 Artists
There is this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant near my house that I’ve been to once and I’ve been dieing to go back. The atmosphere is very mismatch. No table is the same shape or color and the people are so nice. Like creepy nice. I feel like I’m in South Carolina when I walk through the door, which is a bit of a stretch from Indiana. Anyways, what I’m trying to get at is that this restaurant is so unique and it drew me in. I think sometimes today I come across a lot of just ok musicians because they are trying too hard and they end up sounding either boring or fake. Grace Potter is about as real and unique as they come. Perhaps because most of her and her band members have been together since college. Perhaps it’s Vermont’s water. Whatever the reason, her music is full of angst and passion and truth and it is hard not to love and hate. You’ll see what I mean. If you like Susan Tedeschi’s sound you’ll love what Grace gives you. And of course I have to pay tribute to One Tree Hill for bringing her to me.
To Listen:
www.myspace.com/gracepotterandthenocturnals
To Learn:
Tags: Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, One Tree Hill, Pop, Rock, Susan Tedeschi
Rock the District
This past Saturday I was super excited to go to this little festival near where I live, Rock the District. A Canadian band Red Umbrella was supposed to perform at 5:00, but they got rained out. Since I only went to the festival for them, I was a little upset to say the very least. Red Umbrella is a rock/pop boy band and believe it or not they have the uncanny ability to not make me want to slit my wrists after listening to their music, like ummm Dave Matthews perhaps. They are very fun, produce good catchy melodies and the lead vocalist Jeremy Michaelis has a nice smooth tone. Anyways, back to my story. So I stayed at the festival to hear one more musical act on Saturday, because I wasn’t going to leave empty handed. And low and behold, Aimee Allen gave me more than just a handful. This skinny little white girl came out hippy-dancing on stage and singing reggae music. Her voice kind-of reminds me of Adele, only a little roughed up. Not only does she have a good voice, but her band was out of this world for such a small act. Her lead man on guitar and backup singer were just as good as her, in my opinion, which made the concert that much better.
With all that said, check them out. Aimee Allen’s album A Little Happiness comes out July 21st. Two very different sounds, but just as delightful.
Tags: Aimee Allen, Pop, Red Umbrella, Reggae, Rock
Hard to Know
Jul 8, 2009 Artists
When I was a sophomore in college, my friend handed me Mindy Smith’s debut album One Moment More. Instantly, I fell in love with her soft voice, folk harmonies and spiritual lyrics. Her music has a way of getting to the heart of things and it really affected me emotionally. That is why I got really excited when I recently found out she has her fourth album coming out August 11th, Stupid Love. To be honest, her other 2 records didn’t grab me as much as her first. Still, she is definitely someone you want to hear and not just because of the pretty sounds she makes, but because her music can change how you live your life. If you truly embrace it.
“Hard to Know”
Well, you should’ve heard the way
I’ve been talking to myself
Treating her like common trash
On the side of the road
And you should’ve seen the ride
I was taking straight to hell
Handing my soul
To the likes of the devil
Sometimes it’s hard to know
That you need to be saved
‘Til you hit the bottom
And rattle that cage
Sometimes you just gotta keep
Digging awy
Until you break through
To the light of day
I really didn’t care
‘Cause I was trying to hurt myself
A sticky situation
I’m still trying to work it out
And I didn’t want to know
That I was the one to blame
Pointing my finger
Tryin’ to push all the blame away
Sometimes it’s hard to know
That you need to be saved
‘Til you hit the bottom
And rattle that cage
Sometimes you just gotta keep
Digging awy
Until you break through
To the light of day
I don’t wanna die this way
I don’t wanna die this way
I don’t wanna die this way
I know Jesus is alive
And He’s saving me everyday
It just took a little while
To figure out I had to pray
Sometimes it’s hard to know
That you need to be saved
‘Til you hit the bottom
And rattle that cage
Sometimes you just gotta keep
Praying away
Until you break through
To the light of day
The light of day
The light of day
Tags: Amanda loves, Folk, Indie, Mindy Smith
The City is At War
Jul 7, 2009 Artists
The New York band Cobra Starship is a hot mess for sure. A band that you definitely won’t be able to listen to while sitting down. Even while writing this I want to get up and dance or at the very least yell at someone. Ok, so maybe their lyrics aren’t the deepest and most soulful, but sometimes it’s best to listen to lyrics that are, well, elementary for lack of a better word. I feel like I am 14 again listening to them, but sometimes that is a much needed feeling. Listen to them and have for yourself a little playtime. It’s not just for the young and rich.
Tags: Afro-beat, Cobra Starship, Grindcore
I Don’t Wanna Wait
Jul 6, 2009 Artists
A couple months ago I was searching the online music directory from the tv show One Tree Hill.
http://www.cwtv.com/music/one-tree-hill
I know, a little juvenile, but that show has amazing music. Anyways, I found what I now claim is the most mythical music I have ever heard . Her name is Rosi Golan, born in Israel, and her voice and music can put you into a dream-like state. I listen to a lot of music that sounds the same, but Rosi has a unique sound and style with words that are so simple and real. If you have the honor of seeing her live, she will leave you mesmerized. Listen to her ENTIRE cd and I promise you you will get a much more than $10 in return. My personal favorites are:
> The Drifter & The Gypsy
> Come Around
> Think of Me
> Hazy with William Fitzsimmons
> Been a Long Day
Ok, I think that’s enough favorites. 
Tags: Acoustic, Amanda loves, CW, Folk, Indie, One Tree Hill, Pop, Rosi Golan
Hello music lovers!
Jul 4, 2009 Uncategorized
Just a quick introduction since this is a new blog. All you really need to know is that I am a music lover and I am going to post new unsigned music that I find right here. Just so you have a feel for what music I’m into, I like Edwin McCain (hence the title of this website), Anita Baker, Lauryn Hill, Ginny Owens, Mindy Smith, The Weepies, 50 cent, Kanye West, Taylor Swift (because she’s so freakin cute) Black Eyed Peas, Regina Spektor, Incubus, the list goes on. I typically listen to Indie or Folk, but as you can see, I am open to other genres as well. Anyways, I hope to like the blog and if you find great music you want me to share, send it my way!
