More than music

I've been listening to a lot of music lately; a lot of different genres, and I've been struck by everything so much more than usual. It's a rough time right now, for a lot of people, and I can relate to that. I'm going through it, too.

Music is more than an escape. I don't really know how to describe it, to be honest. My discussions as of late tend to fizzle down to incoherent "guh" sounds. It's like I can't make the other person truly understand how incredible that song is we're listening to. "Don't you get it?! Can't you hear what I'm hearing right now?!"

I'm very passionate about things I love. I probably get on a lot of people's nerves when I go all "MUSIC, DO YOU HEAR IT? MUSIC!". I don't want to apologize for that, because music deserves to be flailed over.

Lately, songs are getting me so high that I feel like I'll never come down. So many of them, they just go so deep it's like they're seeping into my bones. I can feel a song pulsing through my veins, pumping through my heart, flowing through. Music is more than sound; it's something I feel I can't describe properly. It makes me hurt inside, like I'm just ready to burst when I hear a song start.

I wish everyone felt this way.

Jeffrey Foucault - "Wild Waste and Welter"

I am completely and utterly in love with this song. It's the epitome of Blues: the lyrics, the guitar, just the whole feel of it. I love Blues, but it's hard to find really good Blues.

This song does something incredible to my ears, and I'm not sure if there is a right word for it. It makes me want to sing and dance and learn how to play the guitar. And the lyrics are truly haunting; a perfect pair to the incredible beat of this song.

And can we talk about his voice for a moment? Because damn. Foucault sings this song with his soul. He makes it sound a bit lazy, but still with an intensity that makes me take a step back while trying to remember to breathe.

This is a song I can listen to over and over without getting sick of it.

You can listen here: http://new.music.yahoo.com/jeffrey-foucault/tracks/wild-waste-and-welter--31793316

But I highly recommend the acoustic version, if you can find it. Because it's a completely different listening experience.

Ryan Levine - "Don't Walk Away"

I'm not exactly sure how long this link will last, but click it and listen to "Don't Walk Away" by Ryan Levine:

Don't Walk Away

The song is beautiful, and the singer has this kind of haunting loneliness in his voice, in the way he sings it.

I never knew exactly what I'd find
Looking down the road of another life
And I never really meant to leave your side
Looking down the road of another life

There is such an intense longing in the lyrics.

No, don't walk away
Tell me all the steps I need to take
No, don't walk away
I know what a fool I've been, and I'll clean the mess I've made

Desperation, and sadness. But the music is soft and beautiful, like his voice.

I heard this song on Numb3rs, my new love affair, and I'm thrilled I heard it. It has made me cry more than once today.

But I'm OK with that.

Matt York - "Death Came a Knockin''

I can only find a live version of this song, but click the link and you'll be pretty happy you did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrkctt5SLa4

I can't even blog about this properly. This song, and his voice, and the fact that I've had it for a long time and didn't even REALIZE. Listen to that voice!

Just listen to it. And then listen to anything else you can by him, because his voice will blow you away!

Talk about SOUL.

This song is worth the $0.99 on iTunes.

Lynam - "It's All in Your Head"

Lynam. Found these guys completely by accident, flipping through mom and dad's satellite radio channels when I was visiting one weekend. And since then, they never let me down.

The thing I love about this band is they have such a unique sound. It's kind of like reinvented old school rock, and every now and again they mix it up with a hint of bluegrass. Two of my favorite things.

I chose "It's All in Your Head" because I'm in a rocking kind of mood today :-P I love the way this song starts, and true to Lynam fashion, they completely rock that guitar.

There are some songs I listen to and love the lyrics so much that I end up loving the song more. And then there are some songs I listen to and the music trumps the lyrics. The lyrics to this song are somewhat forgettable, not anything thought-inducing, in my own opinion, but the music is just plain awesome that it doesn't even matter.

And speaking of awesome? That guitar. Wait until you're about 2/3 in, and you'll know what I'm talking about. These guys know what they're doing. And if you doubt their guitar playing skills, check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JultSpWdhQc

That kid knows how to play.

I also highly recommend their songs "Save My Soul" and "Just Say Anything".

Check out a live version of "It's All In Your Head" on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5UqJTpHJR0 (caution: explicit language)

Nightwish - "Over the Hills and Far Away"

My little sister doesn't realize I listen to other albums by Nightwish besides their Once album. Just because Once is my favorite, doesn't mean I don't love others.

"Over the Hills and Far Away" is an earlier Nightwish song and it's just plain amazing. One of my favorite things about Nightwish (besides Tarja Turunen) is the fact that their songs, such as this one, tell stories. Their lyrics are really simple stories, but they make such an impact. They take me to a completely different universe, so to say, because their songs/stories have this fantasy, mythical vibe that make you think of heroes and magic and supernatural creatures.

Tarja Turunen, the singer of this song, is no longer a part of Nightwish. She's the lead on most of the albums they have out, but they've since replaced her with Anette Olzon (I think in 2007). Anette is a strong, decent singer, but she doesn't hold a candle to Tarja. Really, not many do. The woman is an incredible vocalist, which you can plainly hear if you listen.

I'm definitely a fan of this symphonic metal stuff, and this song has all the things I like in an epic song: Amazing singing, awesome lyrics, and a powerful chorus. One of the things I love most is a song that's going along and you're interested, you're thinking "Okay, I can get behind this", and all of a sudden you hear the chorus and it blows your socks off.

That's what this song does for me.

My favorite part of this song? 3:24 to 3:38, and you'll know why.

Check out "Over the Hills and Far Away" on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylhrQewk6lI

Blitzen Trapper - "Furr"

I heard Blitzen Trapper's "Furr" watching the TV show "Chuck" one night (watch it, it's awesome). As soon as it started, I knew I was going to be looking for this one.

So how do you describe this band? It's a little different, like mixing Folk music with Rock music. And it's a pretty awesome combination. Not only are the lyrics great, but there's just so much to listen to in this song. And not the overwhelming kind of "so much", we're talking the Goldie Locks "Just right" kind. I mentioned I'm not much of a country fan, but I do love Folk music and I'm a big fan of bluegrass because, if you're good, then you really know how to incorporate the right amount of instruments without sounding like you're trying too hard.

It's a pretty easy going song. They have more upbeat ones, but that's for another day.

Oh, and their harmonizing skills are masterful. They give me chills, it's so awesome.

Check them out on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/blitzentrapper