The Sequoia Farm: enjoy

Showing posts with label enjoy. Show all posts

Q201: Why, indeed?

"If it's so great outside, why are all the bugs trying to get in my house?"

— Jim Gaffigan

Ain't no doubt about what it is...

The search for Abraham Lincoln continues...

Shed a little light...

"You can only love what you die for [...]"

— Foy Vance, in "Shed a Little Light"

Turn up your speakers, and I dare you not to like this song:

An Untenanted Bicycle Rolls Into View...

I've been watching readings of Edward Gorey stories on Youtube today. They are sometimes a bit dark and absurd, but that's half the fun right there. Here's a reading of "The Epiplectic Bicycle":

SQF Radio #7

How 'bout some music? Here's SQF Radio #7. (Spin the big list here.)

Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day. A sad song if ever there was one. "Oh, the glory that the Lord has made, and the complications you could do without...":
Blitzen Trapper - Stranger in a Strange Land. I'd stop putting Blitzen Trapper on these lists if they'd just stop writing excellent songs. They refuse to do so, however, so here you go. Some great lines in this song. If there is ever a film-student type documentary on the band, I think "All My Love Songs Fall on Wasted Ears: the Music of Blitzen Trapper" would be an awesome title. Also, can we all get together and have Bob Dylan cover this?
Counting Crows - Mercy. Speaking of great lines, I nearly wore this song out when it was released, just to hear the line, "but there is a train bound for Gilead" line over and over. If you need some new listening material, you could do far worse than the band's recently-released album of covers.
Spirit Family Reunion - Alright Prayer. Note to Spirit Family Reunion: you're doing it right. They are a New York-based band, and I'm not even sure they've released an album yet, but they combine bluegrass, Americana, folk, and old-time gospel influences into some feel-good music. Here's a sample:

The 12+ Songs of Christmas

So this is Christmas, or at least it will be. To help you celebrate, here are 12 songs (give or take half-a-dozen) that should, if applied correctly, assist in putting you in the Christmas spirit.

Sufjan Stevens - Royal David's City. I know it has become somewhat cliche to like Sufjan Stevens. That's neither here nor there to me: I wish to decide on the merits of the case, and you simply won't find a better late-model Christmas album (or albums) than his Songs for Christmas EP collection. I dare you to listen to this song twice and stop there:

No one can eat just one, so here are three more samples from that collection to choose from:

Sufjan Stevens - Lo! How A Rose E'er Blooming.

Sufjan Stevens - Holy, Holy, Holy.

Sufjan Stevens - Joy To The World.
Elizabeth Poston - Jesus Christ the Apple Tree. As near as I can remember, this is an American (late colonial) poem that got set to music late last century, and somehow became associated with Christmas, especially in the U.K. Most recordings of it that I've found are exceedingly boring, but when done right (as below) it is something to see. When they break into parts at the start of the second verse, well, the Grinch's heart starts its upsizing.
Age of Faith - That Winter's Night. I like this song. This recording is not quite as good as the album version, but it was available. The song sort of looks at the Nativity through a picture window, stopping on the question of what the singer might have done or felt, had he been there that winter's night...
Ralph Stanley - Children, Go Where I Send Thee. Even at this late date, I'm not sure I can pick out all of the numbered groups and identify where exactly they appear in the Bible. It doesn't really matter, though, as Dr. Stanley always brings it back to One.
Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here. You mean the Charlie Brown song? Yes. The Charlie Brown song. Jazz and Christmas are sort of like canned tuna and marshmallow cream: you wouldn't think they'd go together, but somehow, it works out.
Andrew Peterson - Matthew's Begats. As two astute social commentators claimed recently, the Indians always used every part of the firework. Likewise, Mr. Peterson sees no reason why the scraps and unused corners of the Christmas story should go to waste.
Heather Dale - The Huron Carol. "Jesous Ahatonhia" (Jesus is born) is, if I understand rightly, a kind of cultural translation of the Christmas story into the Huron Indian language done sometime in the 1600s. That makes it, I'd imagine, the earliest North American Christmas song.
The Innocence Mission - In The Bleak Midwinter. Searched around for decent version of this carol. I finally settled on this one. It's so quiet, empty, and cold, but by the end, the icicles are starting to drip a bit.
Jars of Clay - Christmas for Cowboys. Why have I never heard this before? Jars of Clay covers John Denver. A lonesome song that doesn't take a day off for Christmas.
The California Raisins - Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. No, America, it won't do to deny it any longer. This happened, and we know it happened. And the sooner we admit that it happened, the sooner the healing can begin. Seriously, though, why is this not available, remastered on DVD?

Still not willing to come to terms with it? Exhibit B, if it please the court:

Claymation Christmas - Here We Come A-Waffling.
Muppets - It Feels Like Christmas. I'm still confused on this point: of all of the adaptations of A Christmas Carol that have been produced over the years, why does the one billing itself as a children's comedy seem to be the most moving? Come in, and know this clip better, man!
David Francey - Good Christian Men, Rejoice. Like stepping out into a cold winter morning. This rendition gets your blood moving, and makes you want to get up and take up the song. Now ye hear of endless bliss: Jesus Christ was born for this!

Download original mp3...

And, as an added bonus, I present (after long searching), a reading of the "Cajun Night Before Christmas", true to the version I heard as a child on a cassette tape of some big Christmas production at my cousin's church in Louisiana. Laissez le bon Noël rouler! (or something to that effect)

Trosclair - Cajun Night Before Christmas.

Don't Look Back In Anger

Great performance, and I've never seen a crowd so into a song. Noel from Oasis, at a concert in Argentina:

Shufflin'...

Well-played, marching band.

SQF Radio #6

Why so serious, blog? What we need around here is some music. Here's the long-overdue edition number six of SQF Radio. (As always, the big playlist is here.)

Blitzen Trapper - Jericho. I'm still on the Trapper Train. On this one, they trade in referencing the Bible in a roundabout fashion for telling an actual Bible story. "It went down as a rout / we razed those walls with nothing but a shout...":
Danielson - Did I Step On Your Trumpet?. If anything, Danielson has gotten a bit more normal over the years. This is probably the least insane song they've produced. If you haven't heard, they've got a movie, too. The interviews in the movie are instructive. No matter how nutty Danielson gets, people seem to come out of the show talking about Jesus instead of the band. "Be just who you're made to be / Papa is so mighty pleased with thee."
David Francey - Borderline. If you've ever seen the sunrise while driving, this song will feel familiar. I first heard Dave Francey somewhat accidentally (or as accidental as things ever are). He was doing a live show in-studio on the radio in Cleveland. The batteries in my MP3-CD player (remember those?) had died, so I had to see what was on. I've been a fan ever since. Did I mention I was driving from Alabama to DC, through Cleveland? (I know, right?)
Kimya Dawson - Tire Swing. The Juno soundtrack is excellent all-around. This song shines with simplicity. Its subject matter (not finding love, always being on the road, etc.) usually gives birth to very, very sad songs, but this song insists on a joyful kind of warmth. Once you listen to it a few times, you'll be hard-pressed not to sing along. [Note: whoever transcribed the lyrics is 98% accurate, but they murder one of the best lines toward the end of the song. See if you can spot it.]

Pumas in the crevices...

SQF Radio #5

Let's try something different for the fifth installment of SQF Radio. Follow the thread. As always, the big playlist is here.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Up Above My Head. Sister Tharpe lights up that guitar such that Marvin Berry was seen running for the payphone backstage to call his cousin. You know that new sound you've been lookin' for? Well listen to this:
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us. After listening to a few of Rosetta Tharpe's songs, I realized that the titles sounded familiar. In fact, they keep showing up in the lyrics of this song, most famously sung by bluegrass ambassador Krauss and Led Zeppelin front-man Plant. I had no idea who it was about until I made that connection.
Sam Phillips - Five Colors. While Krauss & Plant sang "Sister Rosetta Comes Before Us" on their album, the song actually belongs to Sam Phillips (T-Bone Burnett's wife, for those diagramming this on a chalkboard at home). Here's another of her songs (one of my favorites).
Jamey Johnson - Four Walls of Raiford. C-C-C-Combo Breaker! I don't know what, if anything, this cover has to do with the previous three items, except that it's awesome. Doin' Ronnie proud.

SQF Radio #4

Look out Samson! Another edition of SQF Radio is upon thee. As always, the playlist keeps a-growing here..

Mississippi John Hurt - Since I've Laid My Burden Down. Simple, hopeful, and deep. Probably going to adapt this one for use as special music in church this Sunday.
Townes Van Zandt - Colorado Bound. "It's a mighty lonesome feeling...," Townes sings — and brother, he ain't kidding.
The Decemberists - June Hymn. This album came out of nowhere for me. It's one of the best I've heard. I've liked some of their songs in the past, but this album takes the band into new, country-tinged territory, and I can't stop listening.
Burlap to Cashmere - Closer to the Edge. A live performance of a song from their new album. The vinyl version is on its way to me now as I blog. Soon, precious, soon...

SQF Radio #3

Another week, another SQF Radio post. The blog's soundtrack rolls on with four new songs. A cumulative playlist is available here.

Rev. Dan Smith - Babylon is Falling. The good Reverend kicks it into high gear with a musical review of the book of Daniel.
Arcade Fire - Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains). This song captures the feeling of being in town at night. It's two parts sad to one part sparkly.
Burlap to Cashmere - Build a Wall. They're back, and the album is due in the next few days. Don't think I won't be buying it. This song increases your heart rate instantly.
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Hit 'Em Up Style. Getting back to a forgotten chapter in roots music's roots. In this song, CCD functions as sort of a hip-hop jug band. Awesome.

"Ordeal By Golf"

P.G. Wodehouse:

To lose one's temper at golf is foolish. It gets you nothing, not even relief. Imitate the spirit of Marcus Aurelius. "Whatever may befall thee," says that great man in his "Meditations", "it was preordained for thee from everlasting. Nothing happens to anybody which he is not fitted by nature to bear." I like to think that this noble thought came to him after he had sliced a couple of new balls into the woods, and that he jotted it down on the back of his score-card. For there can be no doubt that the man was a golfer, and a bad golfer at that.

Full text of short story...

SQF Radio #2

The second installment of the blog's soundtrack. Remember, the entire soundtrack is available as a Youtube playlist here.

Zac Brown Band - Fox on the Run. I'm trying to learn this one right now, but as it turns out, I can't sing four part harmony without three other people.
Matisyahu - Struggla. If you have something to do that you need to get done, but you don't have the resolve to do it, I'd recommend listening to this.
Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation. I like this band: sue me. More Biblical imagery in the lyrics, plus some kind of retro groove.
Fleet Foxes - Helplessnes Blues. Honesty in musical form. Don't know what else to say about it; I'll get back to you someday...

SQF Radio #1

The first installment of SQF radio, the esteemed soundtrack of the blog. From now on, all of the music clips posted to the blog will be collected on this Youtube playlist. Check back to see what gets added. This week:

Blitzen Trapper - Heaven and Earth. One of the finest songs I have met in a while. It had me from the "O" in "Over the Western world...".
The Dubliners - The Little Beggarman. The tune jumps around so much, you'd think it was drunk. And it may be.
Ozark Mountain Daredevils - Standin' on the Rock. Take y'a sip a' this.
Owl City - Air Traffic. This song tastes like eating clouds while asleep. Smooth...

That's it. I'll try to post some more next week.

But you're not alone, are you. Didn't Jesus say, "Lo! I am with thee always"? You, my friend, are in good company. And you're nobody's fool. You know the uses of careful exegesis. And if irony got the best of you and prevented you from pronouncing a blessing, raise your glass to your companion. That will suffice tonight.

Link to the whole thing...

ht: FPR