It’s back to work! Take a timeout and listen to these two version of the song Parachute. Which do you like better?
Original artist, Cheryl Tweedy! She super sexy but the question is… does her voice give the song justice? I heart this video.
Post Script: Can I be Cheryl? She is seriously gorgeous and is an awesome dancer. sigh.
This is Ingrid Michaelson covering Parachute. Pure bliss, but definitely misses the sexy Cheryl Tweedy element!
This kid has some amazing talent, I tell ya. When I lived in Utah I was introduced to his music and saw him play at a local hot spot. I instantly fell in love with his music.
“Russell’s life would be forever changed at the age of fifteen, when his mother Elizabeth lost her valiant battle with cancer. The experience would propel the young blues guitarist into previously unchartered territory – he would turn to song writing in an attempt to make sense of her senseless death.
I held my sparkler as I walked
Death was inevitable but nobody talked
We’d just forget love
We’d strike the match
And the fuse was life and the light was death”
You can listen to more music and read more about him on his website http://www.isaacrussell.com/
Dallan never reads the blog. I like to tease him and say “it’s because you don’t support me.” When, in all actuality, he’s not a big computer person {just six months ago I taught him about the “insert” button -- saved 1 week of his life}. Although he never reads the blog, you can bet your bottom dollar that ever Monday morning he magically texts me a name of a band I should highlight.
“Look up the band Horse Feathers”
About 75% of the time I take his “music” texts and run with them. Today, was one of these days.
For more information on Horse Feathers visit: their facebook, myspace, twitter or website.
Big Hug and Little Kiss,
Camberley
Here is a new band Dallan introduced me to -- The Besnard Lakes.
The Besnard Lakes are a Canadian indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They were formed in 2003 by the husband and wife team of Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas, and they have released three albums. (Wikipedia)
A couple of years ago, Dallan and I attended a Brandi Carlile concert {with Tamara and Jimmy}. At this particular concert, Brandi Carlile had A Fine Frenzy open for her. Instantly, I fell in love with this girl {Amanda Sudol} and her piano.
Sudol, age 24, is the leader of A Fine Frenzy, which she introduced to the world with the 2007 album ONE CELL IN THE SEA. The project established her as one of the most talented young singers and songwriters around; it received rave reviews, was widely exposed through songs being licensed to numerous television shows, and reached Number One on Billboard’s “Heatseeker” charts. A Fine Frenzy was chosen as a VH1 “You Oughta Know” artist, and much was made of the young redheaded singer’s literary interests (including a band name taken from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream).
But with the follow-up, BOMB IN A BIRDCAGE, Alison Sudol is most certainly revealing another side of A Fine Frenzy. While the album retains the tuneful charm and whimsical language of the debut, it adds new colors and textures, with louder guitars and beats that sometimes veer into New Wave-y dance territory.
Here is a song from her new album {BOMB IN A BIRDCAGE: Electric Twist} -
“I think some people may be surprised,” says Alison Sudol. “They think that I’m all fragile and ethereal—and that’s lovely, it’s flattering. It’s all I’ve really let anyone see, up to this point. But I have a wild side too. I like to bang on things and cause a ruckus every now and then. I’m a quiet person with a loud streak. I like both. This record is a testament to that.”
Follow A Fine Frenzy and Alison Sudol on her website www.afinefrenzy.com or follow her on Twitter @afinefrenzy
~~~Camberley~~~
“Since they formed in December 2007, the members of Mumford & Sons have shared a common purpose: to make music that matters, without taking themselves too seriously. Four young men from West London in their early twenties, they have fire in their bellies, romance in their hearts, and rapture in their masterful, melancholy voices. They are staunch friends -- Marcus Mumford, Country Winston, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane -- who bring their music to us with the passion and pride of an old-fashioned, much-cherished, family business. They create a gutsy, old-time sound that marries the magic of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young with the might of Kings Of Leon, and their incredible energy draws us in quickly to their circle of songs, to the warmth of their stories, and to their magical community of misty-eyed men.”
To read more about this incredibly talented band visit www.mumfordandsons.com or click here. My favorite song my Mumford & Sons is called “Little Lion Man“; however, I didn’t post this song because they use a few f-bombs. If you would like to see this music video, click here.
~~~Camberley~~~
Does this first video make you cry with overwhelming emotion (or unexpectedly like it did moi)or die of boredom? I’m pretty sure that it’s impossible to die of boredom when my GURL Carrie be singing… however I could be wrong.
If for some reason you do NOT want to watch the video above, take a listen to this Gem. I love this song. It has a great message and a catchy tune.
“Like a good cry-and like the best country music-Jill Andrews and Sam Quinn’s songs are all shuddering sighs, aching confessions and upturned hearts spilling out over layers of pedal steel, fiddle and acoustic guitar, delivered by two of the most disparately beautiful voices to ever meld.” —Paste Magazine
Tristan Prettyman is my girl.
I have spent countless hours studying, cleaning my room, burning scented oils, etc..etc… to her music. Her CD is the one I choose to pop in when I know the ride is going to be long. Its got that windows down, sunglasses on, sing your face off kind of feel.
I love this clip- especially her intro speech. I found it funny:
Happy listening 
-kiersten
{Image via thestarscoop.com}
I know this is a shout out to music, but since I have been gone for a few days I want to quickly shout out to a few others who made my trip to Utah fabulous. Let’s get started:
First and foremost, Debs and Gare Bear for coming to Eric’s graduation. It meant a lot to us! And we hope you start feeling better Gary.
Aren’t they cute? Anyways, next on the list is the lady who sat behind us at the graduation with her bazillion family members. Thanks for making sandwiches the entire time. Yep, that included during the speeches too. Can’t say that I have seen a picnic inside an auditorium during a very important event before. I think what made it seem even more tacky is that everyone was dressed in their sunday best.
I had Debs pretend like she was taking a picture of me to snap this shot. The timing was impeccable– she was holding a jar of mayo. Can you see it? ODD very very odd. Next on the list is Eric the graduate himself. He waited a very long time at the baggage claim for our bags last night, while I walked around and read my book. He even waited through a bag jam. He is definitely more patient than I ever thought.
Lookin’ good kid! I caught his good side. I am very proud of him for graduating too, I should probably mention that. So now let’s get on with our music shout out. Amos Lee.
Please take the time to watch his amazingness here—–>watch
I think I might name my first born Amos.
That’s all for now!
–Kiersten–
I’ve been on a huge Radiohead kick. Most of their music helps me forget the stresses of work. The perfect anti-anxiety drug. 
Enjoy!
“Sometimes I feel like I shoot myself in the foot just so that I can write a song about it. I feel like one begets the other. I’ve gone through two great heartbreaks in my life and said I’d never do it again, but I do”
Greg Laswell
To learn more about Greg Laswell click here. Or visit his website at www.greglaswell.com
“Yamagata sometimes worries that her need to analyze heartache in her songwriting is too often mistaken as depressed obsession. After all, her songs are famously populated by breakups. ‘I see it more as a fascination with human relationships and behavior,’ she says, ‘the struggles we create and the strength we gain.’ Her lyrics display an ability to draw new wisdom and confidence from every devastating experience in the hope that the next time will be different. Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart, reveal a woman not only undaunted by such losses, but smart enough to know she deserves a lot more than she’s been asking for”.
“‘My mother said recently that Happenstance is the beauty of your ’20s, this one is the richness of your ’30s – of someone who’s been through the mill and is trying to make the choice between optimism and defeatism,’she says”. (Information taken from Rachael’s bio)
For more information about Rachael Yamagata visit her website: www.rachaelyamagata.com
The first time I heard this song was at one of Brandi’sconcerts in Tempe. Before performing this song, she explained that she wrote it for a friend who committed suicide in high school -- this is a very powerfully sad song.
~Camberley
“Samuel Beam (born July 26 1974), better known by his stage and recording name Iron & Wine, is an American singer-songwriter.”
“Beam was raised in South Carolina before moving to Florida to attend school and now resides outside of Austin, Texas. The name Iron & Wine is taken from a dietary supplement named “Beef Iron & Wine” that he found in a general store while shooting a film.”
“Beam earned a bachelor’s degree in art from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.He specialized in painting. He graduated from the Florida State University Film School with an MFA degree. Before the release of the first Iron & Wine album, Beam’s main source of income was as a professor of film and cinematography at the University of Miami and Miami International University of Art & Design. He had been writing songs for over seven years before a friend loaned him a four-track recorder. He made demos which his friends distributed and eventually the owner of Sub Pop Records contacted him to propose a deal.” (Info from here)
For more information about Iron & Wine, visit Beam’s website at www.ironandwine.com
Dallan and I stumbled upon Esperanza Spalding a couple of years ago and we were both instantly drawn to her talent. This girl is AMAZING. Just take a look at her bio & music video -- see for yourself.
“Spalding grew up in the King neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, a neighborhood she herself describes as ‘ghetto’ and ‘pretty scary.’ Her mother, who raised her and her brother as a single parent, was an independent, industrious woman.”
“By the time Spalding was five, she had taught herself to play the violin and was playing with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon. Spalding stayed with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon until she was fifteen and left as concertmaster. Due to a lengthy illness when she was child, Spalding spent much of her elementary school years being homeschooled, but also attended King Elementary School in Northeast Portland. During this time she also found the opportunity to pick up instruction in music by listening to her mother’s college teacher instruct her mother in guitar. According to Spalding, when she was about 8 her mother briefly studied jazz guitar in college; Spalding says, ‘Going with her to her class, I would sit under the piano. Then I would come home and I would be playing her stuff that her teacher had been playing.’ Spalding also played oboe and clarinet before discovering the bass in high school. She is able to sing in English, Spanish and Portuguese.”
“Spalding left high school at 16 and after completing her GED, enrolled on a music scholarship in the music program at Portland State University, where she remembers being ‘the youngest bass player in the program.’ Although she lacked the training of her fellow students, she feels that her teachers nevertheless recognized her talent. She decided to instead apply to Berklee College of Music on the encouragement of her bass teacher, and did well enough in her audition to receive a full scholarship. In spite of the scholarship, Spalding found it a challenge meeting living expenses, so her friends arranged a benefit concert that paid her air fare and a little extra.”
“But the money didn’t last long, and being at Berklee wasn’t always easy for Spalding, who had to carry her bass two miles to a train station as part of long commute. Broke and exhausted, she considered leaving music and entering political science, a move jazz guitarist and composer Pat Methenydiscouraged, telling Spalding she had “the ‘X Factor’” and could make it if she applied herself.”
“Almost immediately after graduation from college, in 2005, Spalding was hired by Berklee College of Music, becoming one of the youngest professors in the institution’s history. As a teacher, Spalding tries to help her students focus their practice through a practice journal which can help them recognize their strengths and what they need to pursue. As of 2008, she was also in the process of developing several courses for students at Berklee, including one that focuses ‘on transcribing as a tool for learning harmony and theory’. Unfortunately, she has been removed from the Berklee faculty.” (Info from here)
Visit www.esperanzaspalding.com/ for more information about this artist.
~Camberley
Chit Chat