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Spider-man candy canes adorn our Christmas tree. Braeden began hanging them on the tree down low (but high enough where he can reach) and then he decided he'd like to put some up higher on the tree.

"Mommy, can you put me on your shoulders?"

Oy. He's getting big, putting him on your shoulders is no longer as easy as it used to be. Alas, we have candy canes up high on the tree now.

Listen:
White Rabbits - "Kid On My Shoulders" (mp3)

White Rabbits are a band of six members. Lead by dual vocalists, Greg Roberts (Guitar / Vox) and Steve Patterson (Piano / Vox), rounded out by Alex Even (Guitar / Vox), Adam Russell (Bass), Matt "The Duck" Clark (Drums) and Jamie Levinson (Drums). You can't really listen to their music without wanting to dance in your seat (if you're sitting while listening of course). This isn't just music, this is art!

More to listen to:
White Rabbots - "The Plot" (mp3)

Buy their album!

Back track to an article I wrote about White Rabbits back in May on Indie Music Xposed.

Labels: White Rabbits

Tuesday isn't Monday but it isn't Friday either. I'm falling asleep at my office keyboard already. So instead of sending something new your way I thought I'd go back in time and throw out some classics.

I mean face it, even when you're feeling utterly exhausted you just can't go wrong with Dean Martin or Ella Fitzgerald. You can't find music like this anymore unless you head back a few decades and that is a darn shame.

Listen:
Dean Martin - "If" (mp3)
Ella Fitzgerald - "I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling" (mp3)

Labels: Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald

"He who thanks but with the lips
Thanks but in part;
The full, the true Thanksgiving
Comes from the heart."
~ J.A. Shedd

Listen:
Bright Eyes - "I Will Be Grateful For This Day, I Will Be Grateful For Each Day To Come" (mp3)
Christine Fellows - "Yours, and With Ever Grateful Wonder" (mp3)

Labels: Bright Eyes, Christine Fellows, Thanksgiving

This would be an instant crowd pleaser in concert. When you listen to this song you can just imagine how much fun the indie fans would have at one of Leigh Marble's shows. They would be bobbing their head, clapping their hands and tapping their toes. You'd hear the music snobs saying how great the music is and there would be comparisons to other indie artists. Someone would definitely mention the multiple textures and instruments involved in the talented display of audible goodness.

Leigh Marble's record Red Tornado released on Tuesday, October 23rd. There are eleven active tracks that are just begging for listener involvement. Laughing Stock Records says, "Red Tornado is a descriptor of the emotional state that each of these songs came out of, whether it be depression, frustration, or high anxiety. Whether it's album opener "Lucky Bastards", a song about ambition and poisonous envy, the American dream vexed to nightmare by the vapidity of pat aphorisms..."

Listen:
Leigh Marble - "Gave It All" (mp3)

Labels: Leigh Marble

You get this song on a chilly Friday morning because the track title made me laugh.

The Cribs - "Mirror Kissers" (mp3)

But then again it is a great song and definitely worth a listen and if you've got some extra dough; the album warrants a purchase.

The Cribs are a band of brothers from West Yorkshire. Gary and Ryan Jarman (twins) and their younger brother Ross Jarman. Man genetics are something else. The Cribs released a new single "Our Bovine Public" in October on their UK label Wichita. Of course they had good timing since they were supporting the Sex Pistols in London earlier this fall...always good to remain top of mind, right?

Another track for ya:

The Cribs - "Another Number" (mp3)

The Cribs are headlining the 2008 NME Awards Tour starting in Belfast on Jan 29th.

Labels: The Cribs

"I woke up early on a Monday and it suited me fine
Now that the leaves had started turning and its cold outside..."

It is Tuesday but I didn't have the energy to write here on Monday so there you have it. It's raining here which is actually making the autumn leaves look even more amazing. The colors seem more vibrant and they are certainly glistening.

You might remember the band "Letters to Cleo" who was mediocre in the early 90s. They did make the billboard with one of their albums but it was short lived. Well Kay Hanley was their lead singer. But in 2002 she went solo and released an album with Rounder Records.

"Fall" is a track off Hanley's debut album, Cherry Marmalade, from five years ago. The song seems perfect for the scenery outside my window and so I thought I'd share it today.

So what is Kay Hanley up to now? She sang for Rachel Leigh Cook in the Josie and the Pussycats movie awhile back. And now to further add to her teeny bopper repertoire she is part of the backing band for Hannah Montana. Oy.

And so here you can snag her "Fall" track. I love it and it just makes me shake my head to know she is now singing about Care Bears. But to each their own and at least her name is still floating around the music world.

Listen:
Kay Hanley - "Fall" (mp3)

Labels: Kay Hanley

Fortunately my commute to work is only 15-20 minutes and the time is due to traffic rather than distance. For those of you who had to drive far in the rain this morning I hope you made it safely!

Listen:

Imani Coppola - "Raindrops from the Sun" (mp3)
Shooting Star - "Rain Song" (mp3)
The Calm Blue Sea - "Clear Like After A Rain" (mp3)

Labels: Imani Coppola, Shooting Star, The Calm Blue Sea

It's November 1st and you're going to roll your eyes at me and call me names for this, but I already have a holiday song for you! Actually, I don't have permission to link the track but I'm listening to it right now and it's so AWESOME!

You'll remember my raving of Brandon Schott back in May (the tracks on the old post are no longer available on this site). Or maybe you won't remember but you should know he did not seek me out, I heard his music and befriended him because I was SO impressed!

The song "Winter in the Sun" isn't the traditional Bing Crosby, but it does have the same old school style of music that bridges the musical feel of Bruce Springsteen and the Partridge Family. I'm serious, when you get to hear it you'll know why. Not all of his music sounds this way, he has a wide range of talents, but this Christmas song is perfectly vintage in its newness. He manages to harmonize his voice with a plethora of fantastic instrumentation (baritone ukulele, pedal steel, guitar, bass, keyboards, glockenspiel, drums). There's a spirited creative kick to the entire song!

It's going to be available on iTunes on November 13, 2007 - and will be bundled with all purchases of GOLDEN STATE through Brandon's website and with select US retailers. And Brandon has let me know the track will be on his MySpace page by the end of the week. But I just checked and it IS online right NOW.

Listen:
Brandon Schott - "Hickory Wind" (mp3)

Buy his music!

Labels: Brandon Schott