[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Townes Van Zandt - To Live Is To Fly
I almost always listen to country or bluegrass on Sunday mornings, so I’m going to start a new weekly post: Country Music Sunday.
Townes is a Texas Country standard. He enjoyed no commercial success during his lifetime but has been cited as an influence by a long list of noteworthy artists including Dylan, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Bright Eyes, KOL and more. Steve Earle, who was a close friend and student of Van Zandt, released a tribute album of covers a few years ago. “To Live Is To Fly” is a classic.
223 plays
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Lana Del Rey - National Anthem
I’m not sure if this is great or dreadful. It’s no Video Games, but I can’t resist a refrain like “Tell me I’m your national anthem.” LDR continues to be a catchy caricature of herself.
483 plays
Wilco, Nick Lowe, and Mavis Staples - The Weight (The Band cover)
Beautiful. Happy Friday!
lauraemily:millionsmillions:
This is a good thing for your ears. Wilco, Nick Lowe, and Mavis Staples rehearse “The Weight” backstage at Chicago’s Civic Opera House.
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Brother Ali - Writer’s Block
Hot off the presses!
From Rhymesayers:
As Brother Ali and Jake One put the finishing touches on his upcoming new album Mourning In America and Dreaming In Color, the two start the year off right with a free new track titled “Writer’s Block”…enjoy!
5,281 plays
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Gary Clark Jr. - When My Train Pulls In (Live)
Gary Clark Jr. can play the guitar. Imagine BB King x Lenny Kravitz x Dan Auerbach. I even hear a little D’Angelo on Things Are Changin’, another great track on The Bright Lights EP. Listen on SoundCloud.
11,725 plays
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
The Walkmen - In The New Year
I know that it’s true, it’s going to be a good year.
764 plays
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
The Roots - Right On (feat. Joanna Newsome, STS)
More from the Illadelph. Beautiful morning!
388 plays
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Sway (Rolling Stones cover)
I almost forgot Cover Friday! Austin bluesmen Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears add a rough edge to the Stones’ “Sway,” from the 1971 classic Sticky Fingers. This is from MOJO’s January compilation. But you knew that.
Download 129 plays
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Dr. Dog - Warrior Man
Hello, Philadelphia! It’s a little chillier than that late summer day I saw Dr. Dog play a free show in Rittenhouse Square, but nice to be here nonetheless. This is from Dr. Dog’s forthcoming Be The Void.
113 plays
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Drive-By Truckers - Cartoon Gold
From Go-Go Boots, one of the most under-appreciated albums of the year, by Drive-By Truckers, one of the most under-appreciated bands of the decade. Another track from Go-Go Boots, “Used To Be A Cop,” was on my Top Tracks of 2011 list.
I’m not good with numbers, I just count on knowing when I’m high enough.
136 plays
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
My Morning Jacket - When The Bells Start Ringing (feat. The Head and the Heart)
daryn:
Happy to be taking this week off and hanging out with the family.
1,122 plays
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Akron/Family - Joy To The World (Santana said, God made the world round so that everyone could have center stage)
Posted by Seth Olinsky:
Xmas songs recorded on Christmas Eve 2011 in Montoursville Pennyslvania, just off Warrensville road, near Loyalsock Creek, and a wild armed stones throw from the Susquehanna river.
Thanks to John Fahey for arrangement inspirations (and his arrangement of Silent Night).
Listen to three other tracks on SoundCloud.
374 plays
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
The Muppets - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover)
We saw The Muppets with my mom last night and it was fantastic. The barbershop quartet cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit was one of my favorite scenes. So much fun. Go see it!
118 plays
It’s easy to assemble your top tracks of the year when you post your favorite tune everyday. That’s one of my favorite things about writing this blog. I have a daily music journal of the past four (!) years.
It’s impossible to rank these, but my top favorites are pretty clear: Jay Z & Kanye West - Lift Off feat. Beyonce, Elbow - lippy kids, Laura Marling - Night After Night, R.E.M. - Oh My Heart. And the undisputed number 1 is Azealia Banks - 212. Track of the year hands down.
Here’s the full list in alphabetical order on song name. Why not.
Spotify playlist: Chewable Vitamins’ Best Tracks of 2011 Sadly it’s missing a few, so I linked to my past posts about these tunes. Happy holidays!
Azealia Banks - 212
DJ Shadow - (Not So) Sad And Lonely
Beyoncé - 1+1
Alexander - A Million Years
Bill Callahan - Baby’s Breath
Future Islands - Before the Bridge
Tune-Yards - Bizness
Ryan Adams - Black Sheets of Rain (Bob Mould cover)
The Low Anthem - Boeing 737
EMA - California
Destroyer - Chinatown
Wye Oak - Civilian
The Mountain Goats - Damn These Vampires
Robyn - Dancing On My Own
The Black Keys - Dearest
The Felice Brothers - Fire At The Pageant
The Kills - Future Starts Slow
White Denim - Handwriting
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
Alabama Shakes - Hold On
Bon Iver - Holocene
My Brightest Diamond - I Have Never Loved Someone
Pretty Lights - I Know the Truth
Jay Z & Kanye West - Lift Off feat. Beyonce
James Blake - Limit To Your Love
Elbow - lippy kids
The Roots - Make My
M83 - Midnight City
Youth Lagoon - Montana
Laura Marling - Night After Night
R.E.M. - Oh My Heart
Tune-Yards - Powa
The Antlers - Putting The Dog To Sleep
Fucked Up - Queen Of Hearts
The Decemberists - Rise To Me
Tom Waits - Satisfied
Motopony - Seer
Sharon Van Etten - Serpents
Adele - Someone Like You
St. Vincent - Surgeon
Shabazz Palaces - Swerve… the reeping of all that is worthwhile (Noir not withstanding)
Beirut - The Rip Tide
Gillian Welch - The Way It WIll Be
Dawes - Time Spent in Los Angeles
Amanda Palmer - Ukulele Anthem
Drive-By Truckers - Used to Be a Cop
Lupe Fiasco - Words I Never Said feat. Skylar Grey
Tyler, The Creator - Yonkers
The Naked And Famous - Young Blood
