Put this playlist together this morning so it’s ready for tomorrow. Wondering what music you’ll be playing on Thanksgiving as you cook and eat and, well, listen to music. Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!
This is obviously a tiny image, but if you click on it it will explode….
My favorite recent discovery is a kid out of Toronto named Matthew Barber. He’s a very thoughtful songwriter, kind of a David Gray without the severe depression. In other words, his stuff is easy to listen to but doesn’t make you want to kill yourself. Also, Sara Groves has a new Christmas album out, and she is always worth listening to. The Fray is coming out with a new album, so I hear, and that will no doubt be good. Leigh Nash’ solo record was terrific, this year, also. The song Along the Wall might be my favorite song from 2008. It seems to sum up the year for me. Anyway, this playlist is really not so much about my favorites from the year as it is a playlist that will work as background music for hanging out. And for that matter for getting my Christmas mailing out….Enjoy the holiday….
Hey! Who knew you had such good taste in music? I’m impressed.
Hmmmmm……for someone who’s getting a whole lot of play out of this whole “jazz” metaphor thing, I don’t see a single jazz tune on your whole list! Is it possible that you’re not really a jazz fan after all? C’mon, Miller. No Coltrane. No Davis. Not even any Ella or Louis? What gives??
Enquiring jazz musicians everywhere want to know!
Don
Thanks for the post. You should really check out William Fitzsimmons. Very cool tunes in my opinion. I think you may enjoy.
Enjoy your turkey.
Aaron
Aha! Your musical taste is a bit more ecclectic than I thought! Did you ever get my package with the bonus CD? I hope you enjoyed. And thanks for the response to my memories of Dad. May you have a joyful and blessed Thanksgiving, as well.
Don – thanks for the Matthew Barber reference – you’re right, Gray without the grey.
Check out Zach Williams and Josh Moore – you’ll dig these guys.
http://www.zachwilliams.com/
http://www.myspace.com/joshuamoore
Michael
99.5 The Wolf (“the wuhl-hoo-hoof”)
And if I’m REALLY lucky, the station will come in nice and clear in my kitchen. It usually involves strategic placement of the coffeemaker and the toaster, but I’m up for the challenge.
SG is also a favorite, really the favorite, and Oh Holy Night has been my constant car companion since its release. My only wish for the holidays would have been for the Love Came Down tour to have come somewhere remotely close to the Northwest.
No way! Get outta town!
Our musical eccentricities align like cellestial maps. I immediately had to dial up “Along the Wall” on my iPod (a.k.a. iPaul). But, I really like “Ocean Size Love,” too.
My so-called friends mostly razz me about my musical tastes. They claim I am the only one that listens to the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Sondre Lerche, Denison Witmer, and Patty Griffin.* You list will be Exhibit A in my apellate brief to overturn their decision.
[P.S. I found that Frontline episode with Thomas Lynch -- available on iTunes. I'm gonna download it to my iPaul, because iCan.]
____________________
* In fact, you are the first person I’ve ever encountered who references Denison Witmer…and only the second to acknowledge the existence of Sondre Lerche.
If you like Matthew Barber, you should definitely take a listen to his sister stuff too – Jill Barber. There be some talent in that family.
Great list… my pastor and friend Andy just turned me on to Fleet Foxes. For me, it’ll be the “acceptable for the old folks” mix … a lot of Jon Foreman’s recent solo work mixed in with some Johnny Cash, Aimee Mann, old Crowded House, a bit of DMB and more mellow Eric Johnson tunes. Maybe a bit of Coldplay and Farewell Flight too.
You know, I read (i.e., simultaneously savored and devoured) BLJ a couple of years ago and was astonished. Then I read the afterword in which you wrote about the music you listened to while writing it. I then knew exactly why your lyrical message resonated with me on so many levels.
I am glad to see Peter, Paul, and Mary on your list. I will have to listen to them while I clean my place up. Thanks for the idea.
great call with martin sexton. constantly on my playlist. and rufus. and griffin house.
also, rosie thomas has a new christmas CD. you probably already knew that. it’s great, though. check it out if you haven’t already. track 2 is so happy and so perfect.
Have you heard of Derek Webb? You might like his Mockingbird album. Christian perspective/social justice. Reminds me a lot of Imago Dei’s vision.
Have you heard of Sufjans christmas box set? My fiancee Sean got it for me last year and it’s so spectacular. It’s 5 cds (I think? maybe 4) each with charming sufjan renditions of christmas songs and hymns, and a bunch of great original works too. The illustrations are wonderful, and he includes hilarious stories and even sheets guitar tabs so you can learn his songs.
Also, I hear Rosie Thomas came out with a new Christmas album as well. Haven’t listened to it yet, but knowing her it will probably be good.
btw, I think Thad Cockerell lives just up the street from me. If you ever want to stalk him, you can stay in our garage apartment. That way, it’ll be easy for us to stalk you while you’re here. Happy Thanksgiving!!
My playlist is pretty much the Twilight soundtrack. Great, addictive mix there.
Thanks for the playlist recommendations!
I was pretty excited to see The Be Good Tanyas and The Weepies on there a couple times- they’re two of my favorite groups 
Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
mmmmm…. love me some Mason Jennings…..
Sufjan is always good for the holidays. His voice always reminds me of falling leaves or snow.
And I was quite happy to see Patty Griffin. She’s an amazing talent.
Check out Jon Foreman for some great lyrics.
Thanks for posting your music selections.
I’m almost done with Blue Like Jazz. I don’t think of God in the same way. And I’ve known Him since I was 5.
It’s so encouraging to understand that God still provides adventure to those who seek Him.
So, is it possible for you to send me some info on how to get my church involved with the mentoring group? I’m really excited about this. Thanks!
good choices with a few canadians on the list…but you missed justin rutledge….
Don, nice ecclectic mix. You know the boys from My Morning Jacket are from my neck of the woods in Louisville. Sara Groves is an angel. I was introduced to her in ’02 at an AACC conference I attended. I’ve been hooked every since. I didn’t see Bon Iver on your list; my favorite of ’08.
I am wondering with such an obvious love of music you possess, could you be able to construct a “Life Soundtrack” of sorts – recalling the most powerful and influential music in your life, and dare I say it, narrow it down to a playlist of 13 songs – I’ll even grant you a hidden bonus track if necessary.
It is more challenging than it might seem . . . I should know, after completing my first one 10 years ago, I am now on my “Life Soundtrack #3″ – can’t help it, it seems that every 5 years or so, the events, experiences, trials, and themes in my life change and therefore, my list transforms.
Try it.
we all knew you were cool don… but now that i know you listen to kathleen edwards and matthew perryman jones, you just got slightly cooler. have you heard of the avett brothers? you might like em. also, check out this band i found online, from london, called the cedars. i’m sure you read all these comments. happy kwanza!
ps… if you read any of this, you should seriously consider checking out “gill landry”. he’s the banjo player from old crow medicine show. his stuff is amazing. no lie.
Don, thanks for the new music! I am a native Southerner-turned-Portland-lover myself, and there is this awesome band from good ol’ Music City, USA, that you need to hear about: The Glorious Unseen. They’re the worship band at my church here in Nashville, and they are just beautiful.
Also, I spent most of this past summer in Portland, experiencing the beauty and of the northwest, and serving at the PUMP Church in Northeast. Look them up…they are doing great things in the kingdom through loving and mentoring kids in that neighborhood!
you might like these ones:
page france–jesus came up from the ground so dirty
radicalface–wrapped in piano strings
bon iver– re:stacks
hem–not california
and i think it would be rad if this song was somehow in the movie:
sigur ros–odin’s raven magic (chapter 3)
enjoying your blog!
hope thanksgiving was lovely!
I need to do some music learnin. Half these bands I don’t know. But I loved the bands I did know: Patty Griffin, lyle lovett and the weepies. “All That I Want” is my new fave Christmas tune, though it will never beat “Gaudete” by Steeleye Span or “Est is ein ros entsprungen” by .
I will attempt to play this list while making turkey soup ..
Thank You, pretty Fantastic of you to share…really good stuff there too…
I think you may have forgotten the Indigo Girls, though, yea? Not sure, could be there, I’m a skimmer, I’m afraid…but, a lovely list all the same…
Thank You as well for blessing my life so immensely with your words, truly I do appreciate God making you…
(and I didn’t skim your books, for really real)
I’ve been listening to a lot of Tom Waits, Joanna Newson, and Nick Drake lately. If your in for something beautifully different check out any of them.
My song for this Thanksgiving is/was Ooh La La by Faces. It’s just one of those songs where you know the guy was feeling great and just had to write a song about it. I think it would fit the mood of your playlist quite well.
Thanks for letting us see a bit of your musical tastes, as I have always been interested
Hooray for Canadian music! I haven’t heard anything from Matthew Barber in a while. Perhaps I’ll have to peruse the ITunes store. Anyways, hope you enjoyed your thanksgiving. And the thanksgiving related football.
Greg Laswell’s EP, How the Day Sounds is tickling my fancy…that was a weird thing to say.
Always I’m listening to Crowded House, the best band on the planet. Also Over the Rhine and Bic Runga for some amazing lyrics and ecclectic sounds.
Counting Crows and Augustana for me right now. I’ going to be volunteering at the Blood Water Mission concert in Grand Rapids next Saturday, so the sounds of Sixpence and Jars will move me as I work.
check out Gregory Allen Isakov,
http://www.myspace.com/gregoryalanisakov
Especially 3am and The Stable Song
Also, my buddy Ben Sollee is amazing:
http://www.bensollee.com/
And shameless is as shameless does:
http://www.jasonburton.net/music.htm
I’ve reeeeally been diggin’ Sara Bareilles’ “Gravity.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3SfAv_d6tU
Great post Don!
From the looks of your playlist you need to listen to Corey Chisel and the Wandering Sons… if you haven’t heard of them already.
Great stuff!
You might want to check out The Spares out of Chicago.
Playlists are fun are’nt they? I enjoyed yours. In my opinion Christmas music for the most part has it’s origins in hell (not refering to the religious right stance of Santa is Satan…nothing like that…just can’t stand the stuff) so I was wondering if you could compose a playlist for the Christmas season too? Anything to replace “Christmas Shoes”! Please Don! For the peace and good will of all men?
Matthew Barber = Thanks, I got the album and its the best new stuff I’ve heard in a while. Thanks for posting the playlist. If I had a boat, is gold, its a song both my Grandpa and I can dig.
I think looking at someones playlist speaks more volumes about a person nowadays than the books on his shelf or even his friends. I’ve found there is something so vulnerable about a person sharing the music that makes them cry, laugh, love or live. Often times when a person is like “hey listen to my favorite music,” it, more times than not, fails to impress.
Thanks
I have very similar musical tastes to you although I am leaning heavy towards blues, freak folk, alt-country and roots stuff lately. I am also getting into the “Bored Again” podcast and some NPR now and then for a talk radio fix.
Mary Chapin Carpenter has a new Christmas album out that seems real different and a little less “traditional”.
For some great new worship music by an up-and-coming singer/songwriter, check out Carmen D’Arcy! http://www.carmendarcy.com
love this! might you come out w/ a 2009 version? i’d be thankful for that.