It’s been awhile since I’ve written anything about music. Which is odd considering how much of an impact it has on my life.
While working on some projects over the last couple weeks I’ve averaged over 100-songs a day – that’s anywhere from eight to ten hours of music, most in one sitting – so yeah, I should have something to say.
Favorite musician right now:
William Fitzsimmons – I’m not sure exactly how I came upon his music, but it only took a couple notes to hook me. Initially I compared Fitzsimmons to another unkept bearded musician: Sam Beam of Iron & Wine, and while the musical styles are at times similar, Fitzsimmons has an uncanny ability to do far more with less than any other songwriter that comes to mind.
Last month I had the privilege of seeing several of my favorite artists perform live; in addition to seeing Fitzsimmons perform, I saw Coldplay, Greg Laswell, Switchfoot and Blue October. While Coldplay was an incredible experience, it will be Fitzsimmons intimate show with about 50 attendees that will live in my memory forever.
Fitzsimmons ability however, goes far beyond his exceptional guitar skills. The man is an epic songwriter who, unlike so many who try and fail, captures the perfect lyrics for love and heartbreak. He recently appeared on an NPR segment discussing the inspiration for his lyrics.
If you’re only going to listen to one Fitzsimmons song: “Just Not Each Other.”
Other musicians getting lots of play:
Jenny Owen Youngs, who opened for Fitzsimmons at the show I attended. In particular, her song, “Last Person,” which is her singing to a man sitting at the bar alone who fears being “the last person on earth tonight” – a feeling I can really relate to at this point in my life.
Brenden James’ debut album “The Day is Brave” has been listened to so many times on my computer/iPhone I fear I must be wearing out the digital files. There isn’t a bad song on the album, and “Hero’s Song” is a war protest song on par with anything heard during the Vietnam War.
Bon Iver is probably the “most trendy” pick on this list, since it seems six months ago no one knew of him and now he’s everywhere. Yet, I just can’t get enough of his musical stylings, so here he is. From beginning to end “For Emma, Forever Ago” is a masterpiece of an album, but his more recently released four-song EP “Blood Bank” may be even better.
Ingrid Michaelson has been a constant on my playlists since that Old Navy commercial a couple years ago featuring “The Way I Am.” Unfortunately, Michaelson has fallen into that “one hit wonder” trap that so many great singer-songwriters fall into (See: Vanessa Carlton, et al). Mainstream success aside, Michaelson is a fantastic artist, and her new album “Everybody” features a couple jewels, including: “Are We There Yet,” and the single, “Maybe.”