I’ve been so busy placing Christmas orders all week I haven’t made any more posts.

But I’ve been keeping my brain filled with the Holiday spirit of Peace with these tunes.

Today’s presentation comes from a site called Noise Trade – you have two options to get the music:

• share 5 of your friend’s e-mail addresses recommending the album to your friend (not spamming them)
• pay what you want, from $5 to $20

First is a group called Sojourn, with a collection called Advent Songs tinged with a light Americanna rock/folk blended between male and female vocals.  Hearing Joy to the World re-imagined is refreshing and engaging way to share Christmas with your friends, and not have them tune it out – like in all the department stores. The big band rockin ‘What Child Is This’ brings the rock-opera flavor to your christmas party!

Second up is a compilation album out of Nashville with that Wilco or Dylan’ish flavor of stripped down rock/folk.  Their arrangement of Silent Night, mixing vocals in the round and stripped down rock vibe - definitely makes you pick up and listen again.  

Last weekend I was doing some painting to Sufjan Stevens “Songs for Christmas” which used to be free but at $15 for a 5 disk set is an absolute christmas classic for me.  So if you’re looking for a big selection of holiday music like you’ve never heard before – that set is definitely for you!

One last collection for your Christmas joy – this direct folk sound on ‘The Bewildering Light’

What say’s “I love you” more than a mix tape?

Custom mixed cd – or even tricky series of e-mails with MP3’s attached?

Mix up trackes from these Free Albums on amazon.com:

• This Is How I Roc: 2008 Yep Roc Label Sampler: MP3 Downloads: Various Artists
• Light In the Attic Label Sampler: MP3 Downloads: Various Artists*
• Vanguard Records And Sugar Hill Records: The Amazon New Music Digital Sampler: MP3 Downloads: Various Artists
• This is Daptone Records…: (modern authentic motown! Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Sugarman 3, Mighty Imperials
• P Is For Panda Mix Tape Vol. 1: MP3 Downloads: Various Artists
• Very Best of Naxos Early Music: MP3 Downloads: Jeremy Summerly
• Badman, Has It Really Been 10 Years?: (Innocence Mission, My Morning Jacket, Hayden)

If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for your favorite wedding photographer artist who just gifted you 6 disks of free music, an Amazon card is perfect!

 

I would like to get a complete set of Sigur Ros, and the new Helios album!

Ah – a musical post – for Black Friday – calm your mind while you stand in line:

[audio:http://audio.wnyc.org/radiolab_podcast/radiolab_podcast082608.mp3]

Download MP3 of Quantum Cello interview by Jad Abumrad, music by Zoe Keating

Read the article that goes with the performace and fill up your iPod with this ethereal ambience to keep your mind off the lines, traffic, and chaos if you’re out and about today.

 

 

GIRL TALK – FEED THE ANIMALS – ILLEGAL ART a stream of consciousness re-mix – free album that will tear down everything you expect from your music!

Tales Of The Forgotten Melodies – by Wax Taylor has had me on the hook since you heard one of the top tracks in the Blogger Search Contest video.

 The kid’s favorite dance tune right now is Alice (Drop The Lime-Heavy Bass Remix) by Moby I need to grab the video camera sometime when they’ve got the family room stereo cranked — and are rippin new moves to the driving beat.

 I’ve been sleeping to Buddha Nature by Deuter while Liesl is up in New York shooting her weddings.  She’s been away 9 day’s so far and the kids have only missed the bus once (cause it was early) so

Enjoy the sample player – and let me know what was your favorite tune if you buy a couple…

 

 

I was thrilled when Liesl announced she had tickets for Friday’s performace.

The kids were filled with dread.

Eben had such a foul attitude leaving his friends playing on the street that I had to discipline him for what he was saying.

“Art show, music – WHY do we HAVE to go” they whined, feeding on each other’s negativity.

We got them dressed and out of the house, and went for a look through the Gallery Crawl in the North Davidson (NoDa) area of Charlotte which is loosely the ‘arts district’.  We made it to the corner of 36th and Davidson to start our crawl at the Boulevard at NODA where Liesl and Tia enjoyed browsing all the jewelry and gifts.  Eben and I wandered and waited for the Lark & Key to open their doors for the evening.  We really enjoyed the quality of work shown at the Lark & Key, here’s their info so you can stop by:

453-B East 36th Street | 704.379.1826 | Sandy Snead
www.larkandkey.com | www.larkandkey.wordpress.com

There seemed to be two loosly organized shows on the walls at the Lark, Eben & Tia gave their consideration to the emotional work by Duy Huynh:

The contrast on that reproduction is a little higher than my memory, but the work is very contemplative even if it’s a little lonely or isolated.  The generously activated surfaces speak well of their studied application of color and development of form.  I enjoyed the unstated narrative of the pieces that quietly spoke of a sly, thoughtful wit.  You can see more of his work on his own website.  Eben & Tia appreciated the snacks which lifted their mood at the Lark (big thanks from the parents to the gallery!).

We then sauntered next door to visit the Green Rice Gallery opening of ”NOSTALGIA” Featuring New Works by Kate Vasseur.  I was looking forward to looking through as I was considering renting gallery space from them.  The opening was quiet, but we didn’t get a greeting which we felt was odd.  I enjoyed her treatments of a couple landscapes, but didn’t find a theme or strong vein to hold onto. 

Time’s up so we scooted back downtown to park in the Hearst Tower, and the kids began to get excited.

Upon walking out into the downtown streets among the skyscrapers, Eben’s face lit up with a giant grin.

Eben and Tia were captured by the excitement of being in the big city and entering the glass doors of the Bloomenthal Performing Arts Center.  We picked up our tickets from the will call booth and made our way down to our front row seats.  The North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s simple directions to the theater were easy to follow even on my second time to downtown Charlotte.  Eben and Tia were caught up in the late night exploration of the glass atrium and didn’t mind being early while Liesl and I people watched and joked with one eye on the kids snapping some pictures….

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