What I'm Listening To: June

I've fallen behind on my Weekend Listening posts (like most other posts on here... blimey!). I'll try to get back on that. In the meantime, I thought I'd share with you what I'm listening to for the month of June. My best friend Kelly started sending me her monthly playlists many moons ago, and since then we've be exchanging playlists each turn of the calendar. Braden has gotten in on the action a little bit, too. So I thought I'd share my June list with you! I hope you enjoy it.

What are you listening to this month? Any favorite musicians or bands you can't stop listening to? I'd love your recommendations!

PS - Some more tunes if you're in the mood to boogie.

Best Break-Up Songs

Happy Valentine's Day! How about some good break-up songs, eh? If you agree with Peter Wolf and think love stinks, then this list is for you.

NME.com recently published a list of the best break-up songs. You can check out the list and reasons why here, or you can simply listen to (most of) them below.



What say you? Got a good break-up/I hate you/love is for morons song you'd like to include, let me know in the comments and I'll try to get them added to the mix (Gotye has got to be on there, fo' sho). And if you are in a more lovey-dovey mood, don't forget to go enter the giveaway for a combo gift pack from Tate's Bake Shop!

Weekend Listening: Holiday Playlist from Jillian

It's been a while since we did a Weekend Listening post, so I'm gonna start it up again. Holiday tunes are on the docket this weekend, and I can think of no one better than my very music-savvy friend Jillian to tell us about the best holiday songs we should be listening to while we sip eggnog and trim trees. Jillian... take it away!

Weekend Listening



Woot Woot! It's Friday! Another week in the books. Got any plans for the weekend? I took most of today off, and made biscuits for breakfast. Edie and I picked about 15 pounds of strawberries this morning, and the rest of the day has been spent working on expanding my veggie and cutting garden. We had planned on having a bonfire to burn some remnant wood from the old barn we removed, but I think those plans have gone amok. Instead, Dave and I are going to hang out in the yard tonight and watch fireworks, I'll be doing more gardening tomorrow and making strawberry jam, and Sunday we'll have a nice family day to celebrate Father's Day.

So, a busy weekend, no doubt. I'll need some music I can jam-out to and keep me motivated. I think Passion Pit fits the bill, especially the songs "Little Secrets" and "To Kingdom Come." Both are on the album Manners, which is also a great driving album for those long summer road trips. Do you have any suggestions for other bands that help maintain productivity?

I hope you have a great weekend, hug your dads, and see you on the flip side!

Weekend Listening

 

I L-O-V-E Johnny Cash. I know he can be a bit polarizing in certain circles (kind of like Bob Dylan - people tend to love it or hate it. I tend to fall on the favorable side in either case). The recently released Bootleg, Volume 2: From Memphis to Hollywood is exactly how I like to hear the Man in Black - raw, gritty, and gripping. So many great songs that I find myself signing when I'm cleaning, cooking, or doing "everyman's" work - songs like "Get Rhythym" and "Big River." This album is great because it features so many forgotten Cash songs, while not being so obscure that the listener can't immediate be drawn to it. If you're in a foot-stompin' mood this weekend, definitely check it out!

Weekend Listening

I don't know about you, but this week went by fast. I hope the opposite is true for the weekend! Tomorrow I'm planning to take Edith with me to an antiques festival (I'm searching for new nightstands for my bedroom) and if the weather holds out, yard work is in order. How about you?

This edition of weekend listening features one of my all-time favorites, Josh Rouse. I just love him, and I really want to see him in concert. The Best of the Rykodisc Years compiles some of my favorite Josh Rouse songs onto one album. "Under Cold Blue Stars" reminds me of a boy I used to date. "Nothing Gives Me Pleasure" is the song I wish was written about me (so romantic!). And I always find myself doing the subconscious catchy-song headbob/sway/toetap when "Love Vibration," "Come Back," or "It's the Night Time" come on. If you're ever looking for a good Pandora station, type in Josh Rouse. Check out this album if you get the chance!

Have a sunny weekend, friends!

Weekend Listening

Happy weekend everybody! What are your plans for the next few days? I've had a general feeling of ennui the past week or so, and need some perking up - I'm thinking I might try to grab drinks with friends (did you know it's really hard to find a Pimm's Cup in the US?) and go see "The King's Speech." Anyone care to join me?

One thing that is definitely on the agenda for the weekend is finishing up a few projects and jamming out to some good music. My current obsession is Fitz and the Tantrums. The band's album, Pickin' Up the Pieces, is perfect for grooving and getting motivated to tackle a task. I could listen to "Moneygrabber"  or "Rich Girls" on repeat for an hour! Head over to the band's website for a free download of "Moneygrabber."

By the way, how AWESOME is this band's name? One of the best I've heard of in a while. I found Fitz and the Tantrums through our local independent radio station, WEXT. If you are a lover of great music (or news), please support independent radio.

Have a good weekend!

Weekend Listenting - Holiday Edition

Merry Christmas Eve! The big holiday is upon us, and if you're like me, you have just as much anticipation over the pending festivities as you did when you were eight. I think I get more excited for everyone to open the presents I gave them than opening my own presents! Before you nuzzle into bed and dream of sugar plums, grab a cup of eggnog, cozy-up by the fire (don't forget to put it out for poor Santa!), and put on some good Christmas music. I think the following selections are perfect backgrounds for wrapping those last-minute presents and stuffing stockings.

I love classical guitar, and the Windham Hill Holiday Guitar Collection  is no exception. Each track is driving and exciting, but still mellow and melodic. The version of "The Holly and the Ivy" does justice to one of my all-time favorite holiday songs, and I only wish my version of "Angels We Have Heard on High" that I begrudgingly sang each Christmas Eve in church sounded as beautiful as this one.

A Scottish Christmas by Bonnie Rideout, Maggie Sansone and Al Petteway is a fun spin on Christmas classics. "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and "O Come All Ye Faithful" have that traditional Celtic sound, merged with the familiar melodies of Christmas. I definitely think this album deserves to be listen to with a nice glass of Scotch, you know, to keep with the theme.

Well, lovelies, have a wonderful Christmas! I hope tomorrow morning brings lots of smiles, love, and okay, a present or two. Enjoy the day and be grateful for all the goodness in life! I'd love to hear about how you spend Christmas.

Weekend Listenting - Holiday Edition

Wowie, can you believe it? Only one more week until Christmas! I don't know where 2010 went, but I know it's been an exciting and fortunate year for us here at Silly Goose Farm. To keep us in the holiday spirit, let's explore some holiday tunes, shall we?

First up: Jingle All the Way by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, one of my favorite bands. I can only dream of playing the banjo as perfectly and effortlessly as Bela. Bela and the boys have some great, inventive covers on this album. I love Victor Wooten's bass solo on "The Christmas Song," and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" makes me want to put on my dancing shoes. My nostalgia-loving heart really swells when "Christmas Time is Here" and "Linus and Lucy" are queued up. Speaking of which...

...Here the original versions on A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Original Sound Track Recording of the CBS Television Special by Vince Guaraldi Trio. Of course we all know and love the movie, but the music, I believe, is great anytime of year. It just makes me laugh thinking about all the Peanuts characters pointing their little noses in the air and "Oo Oo Oo-ing" their favorite Christmas carols. I think "Skating" is my favorite song on the whole album, although truly, each song is a gem.

Good luck with the final push towards Christmas!

Weekend Listenting - Holiday Edition

Today, I am prepping for Edie's birthday party tomorrow. Even though I'm in "birthday mode," "holiday mode" isn't far from my mind. Over the next few weeks, I thought I'd share some of my favorite holiday music to help us all get through that final seasonal push!

First up, James Taylor. The original "JT." The album At Christmas is timeless, and I could listen to his ethereal voice any time of year. I especially love his duet with Natalie Cole on "Baby, It's Cold Outside," (why can't JT try to convince me to spend the night with him? Such a cutie), as well as his version of "In the Bleak Midwinter," one of my favorite holiday songs ever.

Next, is a compilation of some jazz favorites, Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Christmas. I like to dance around to these tunes, and Billie Holiday's "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm" makes me want to throw on my best party dress and heels and head out to a fancy Christmas party.

Happy Listening!

Weekend Listening

Happy weekend everybody! I'm currently holed-up in a hotel room in Rochester, NY for a conference for one of my clients, and watching Jeff Bridges on Larry King Live. It hasn't been too bad, but I would certainly rather be cozied up at Silly Goose Farm and snuggling up my kids. And I miss them. While getting a good night's sleep is welcomed, I really miss those little buggers. Nothing a little music can't fix...

Especially if that music is from some of their favorite movies! I love a good Pixar movie, and I especially like the soundtracks. I so vividly remember going with my mom to see the first Toy Story when it came out (I was 9) and marveling at how cool the animation was. It is such a neat memory, and this music makes it even more vivid. I hope my kids will hear this music and think of the movies they love. How nice, then, that the lovely folks at Pixar compiled some of the most memorable songs into one album. Voila: Disney Pixar Greatest Hits. The best thing about it is that the entire album is family friendly, but still something mom and pop can get behind. Besides, who doesn't love a little Randy Newman every now and again?

So, what are you up to this weekend? If you live in the Northeast, I hope you are staying dry (this rainy Nor'Easter has been hitting us hard, eh? At least it's not snow... yet). I'd love to hear your plans!

Weekend Listening

Happy Friday friends! This week has been another whirlwind, and I don't see things slowing down anytime soon (in my book, however, busy is good). The good news is that it's a holiday weekend here in the States, and I can't wait for a little break. In fact, Dave, the kids and I are taking a little road trip to visit my folks. While back home, Dave and I will be slipping away for a few days to visit this fabulous inn and do a little wine tasting.

Anyone else taking a road trip this long weekend? No good road trip is complete without good music. My playlist for this weekend will include myriad musicians, but will not neglect one of my favorite bands, Gomez. The band's latest album, A New Tide, is so fun, fabulous and moody all at the same time. From the kitchy, upbeat "Airstream Driver," to the melodic and laidback "Mix," the album is one of my favorites by Gomez and makes the perfect soundtrack for driving through falling leaves.

I hope everyone finds time to relax this weekend, and I'll see you back here next week (with my final installation of our Rockport trip and pictures from our weekend jaunt!). Until then, my friends...