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music monday : ELO

it was hard to choose just one, because - let's face it - the Electric Light Orchestra is pure amazingness.  for your enjoyment, i give you:

"insufficient data coming through."  really?!  so.  flipping.  awesome.  that "no no no, don't know what i'm gonna do-hoo-hoo" kills me every time.  and when the band cuts out?  and does hand claps?  hallelujah.

want more?  thought so.  me too:

xoxo

music monday : the soundtrack of our lives

TSOOL are brilliant brilliant brilliant.  you may be familiar with their single from a few years back - sister surround - the video is awesome.

check it.

because they are superamazing, i thought it best to share another gem of their making (below) which i came across this weekend.  what a find!

pretty pretty music + great storytelling = so good.

happy monday, friends!  xoxo

music monday : a pep song

our girls both start first grade in a few days.  oh.  my.  

i'm putting together a new playlist for them.  a sort of soundtrack for the school year.  and to kick it off, we need a pep song.  hmm...

just the right song to prepare them for their new school, and all the new adventures that lie ahead.  a song to empower them, reinforce feeling brave + strong + confident.  something full of adventure and a bit of whimsy.  something that reminds them that they are superheroes.

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[wait for it]

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that'll work.  xoxo

music monday : mild mannered

hello, friends!

today, i am thrilled to share a bit of what my band - mild mannered - has been working on the past year+ of late nights in our big city.

in true DIY fashion, the little engine that could just did.

[cover design by T. Kellers]

BELIEVELAND = Mild Mannered’s debut tour de force, a 10-song testament to hard work and perseverance, believing in something and making it a reality.

quite frankly, we're pinching ourselves.  incredible limited edition letterpress artwork + CDs are finally in hand as we prepare for its release on 27-Sept-2011.  it has been a long journey:  songwriting in the basement, recording in cleveland, mixing in los angeles, manufacturing in milwaukee, letterpress + printing in portland, and then back home again.  we are so very happy and excited to launch it into the universe.

and... our shiny NEW website has launched - check it out HERE

• listen + download a FREE mp3 of "The Demand"
• watch a promo VIDEO featuring snippets of all 10 tracks
• keep up-to-date about all things Mild Mannered
• order the album the moment it's available  

tell everyone you know!

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD!  share it on facebook, follow us on twitter and RT to all your people, play it in your car, on your iPod, belt it out in the produce aisle + in da club.  we think you can.  we know you can. 

buckle up.  xoxo

music monday : pearl and the beard (+ a giveaway!)

a few weeks ago i apparently blinked on the radar of a publicist for the brooklyn-based indie folk trio, Pearl and The Beard. and i’m so glad i did. who would have thought my music + knitting would bring a new band into my world.  how cool is that?

say hello to Pearl and The Beard - go on, don't be shy.  click.

that was "sweetness" - without a doubt my favorite track on the album, which is filled with beautiful harmonies, tender lyrics and some really clever instrumentation.  pearl and the beard have such a unique sound, what with the vocals swarming around one another throughout that are punctuated by percussive use of acoustic instruments (guitar + cello) and a healthy dose of hand claps.  and then there is a glockenspiel.  you had me at glockenspiel, to be honest. 

my impression of their sound is one part folk, one part indie, one part poetry, one part smarty-pants, a bit of romance slow dance, and a goodly dash of whimsy.  i'm pleased to be able to share a free download of their song Reverend to share with you all - enjoy!

so, that cocktail of music + knitting i mentioned up there...

well, Jocelyn Mackenzie created a three-person sweater that graces the cover of their album, Killing the Darlings.  HERE is a little video where she explains why + how she did it.  in this age of instant downloads, you really need to offer something visual to get people interested in actually buying the album itself.  how about liner notes with a schematic + pattern to knit a 3-person sweater?  yep.

and yes, today i have a GIVEAWAY!

i am thrilled to be able to offer a copy of Pearl and the Beard's album, Killing the Darlings, to one of my blog readers.  to enter:  simply leave a comment on this post.  and do say hello while you're at it.

comments will remain open until this saturday, 30-july when a winner will be chosen at random.  one entry per customer, please.

i hope you've enjoyed this week's music monday!  i'm looking forward to sharing music finds in this new feature on my blog and think it's a terrific way to kick off the week.  enjoy yours!  xoxo   

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disclaimer - i was contacted by Pearl and the Beard's publicist to see if i would be interested in hearing their CD.  i listened to a few tracks online (and really liked it) and so they sent me two CDs - one for me and one to give away on my blog.  i was not asked to write this post.  i wanted to, and so i did.  everything is my opinion, and a good one at that.  read more about my position on writing reviews on my FAQ page.