Musical Connectedness

A quick post (as I am sick, and therefore am house-bound with not a lot to report) on music. I *did* get out to a concert on Friday (which spurred the sickness on, I'm afraid) and this, as well as a new album coming soon by a favorite artist, made me think that perhaps this would be a good venue to share my Artists of Europe. These are the musicians I've listened to from the beginning, and it's a much smaller list than it probably should be, because my iPod broke, which forced me to get a cheap mp3 player here and put only the music on my computer plus whatever I acquired here in rotation. I recommend looking into all of these artists. Their genres and talents are varied, which means you won't be bored by any of them!

Caitlin's Artists 'o Europe 2008 -
Sigur Ros: this is the group with the new album coming out on the 23rd. They sing in Icelandic, and sometimes in a made-up language called Hopelandic. I believe the new album is all in Icelandic, though. It doesn't matter that all of the individual words can't be understood - it's the mood, the overall effect, that crosses language barriers and captures the imagination. This is brilliant, brilliant stuff. AND, added bonus, the new album was recorded at Abbey Road. How do I know this? Well, ultimately, because I checked on their website. But more importantly, because I saw the band's signatures on the graffiti-wall outside of the studio (that I added my name to.) Freakin' awesome. And if you check the band's myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/sigurros) you can stream the entire album (there is a box you click if you scroll down a little; it's on the left.) You can also just hear the first song come on when you go to the website, and then the next two audio tracks will teach you Icelandic! They explain how to say the name of the album and the song titles:) Genius!

Jason Mraz: just came out with a new album. It's awesome. I don't know what else to say - if you know me, I've been promoting this guy for 7 years now to friends and family and anyone who would listen. Also, apart from the music, his web journals are moving and heartfelt - a good read if you want some self-improvement summer reading.

Amanda Rogers and the Sketchy Indians: apart from the uncomfortable political incorrectness of the latter half of the group's name, the music is quite awesome. This was the group I saw here in Freiburg on Friday. I was skeptical at first, seeing as Miss Rogers touted herself as the "love child of John Lennon and Thom Yorke." Yeah, right. And she isn't. Those two are waaaay too brilliant. However, she is a good poet and has a beautiful voice (think Vanessa Carlton without the whiny annoyingness, or The Hush Sound.) It was just really great to be in a concert setting and hear some live music! And she didn't disappoint.

Flogging Molly: their Irishy tunes are too much fun, and far too appropriate for my walks around Europe. There's a piratey good-heartedness to the group that is absolutely contagious. And listening to "If I Ever Leave This World Alive" while riding a train from the Stansted airport into London is an unforgettable experience.

Twin Atlantic: do an AWESOME cover of 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.' Seriously. If you ever wanted to hear a bunch of Scottish boys sing this song, this is your group. This was a group Jason Soudah helped me discover, and they are too much fun not to get hooked. It's the accents.

Damien Rice: the haunting voice. The jarring lyrics. The raw intensity. Damien Rice is incredible, that's really all there is to it.

Ane Brun: discovered her at SxSW two years ago. I remembered her recently, and she is still as fantastic as she was back then. Check her out for yourself, words won't do her justice.

(The rest I'm just going to list and link, not because they are worth ANY less than the rest, but merely because I am exhausted and need a nap.)
Gogol Bordello
Peter Moren
Peter Bjorn and John
Eric Hutchinson
Bob Dylan
The Beatles
The Swell Season
MUSE
Radiohead
Teitur
Sondre Lerche / Dan In Real Life soundtrack
Regina Spektor
Rachael Yamagata