We’ve Moved: Now justplaythefield.com

WordPress has been good to me, But everyone has to grow up. New home: justplaythefield.com. I hope you dig the new look.

David Byrne & Brian Eno: Life Is Long

David Byrne is one of those seminal musicians that too often gets forgotten amid the chaos of modern music. Always looking for good music, sometimes I get too caught up in the search for the new. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that the artists of yesterday continue to produce incredible music that deserves our attention. Life Is Long is a good enough reminder as any. Written by the former Talking Head and long time friend, Brian Eno, Life Is Long’s charm lies in its simplicity. It doesn’t need flare, or hooks, or fireworks to impress you. Beautifully melodic and seemingly effortless, Life Is Long cuts through all the overproduction with lyrics and arrangement that speak to the wisdom and talent of its writers. Here’s to looking to the past. Links below.

Briand Eno & David Byrne – Life Is Long

TV On The Radio: Second Song

TV On The Radio is a hard band to pin down. They make everything from Art Rock to Post-Punk and Free Jazz. Past contributors include David Bowie and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. You get the idea they make an eclectic mix.  A lot of bands would get lost in this formless approach to music making. TV On The Radio excels. They have a knack for transforming your ears into a kid in the musical  candy store, hoping you can taste everything at once. TV On The Radio are in essence the collage makers of music. Second Song is a perfect example of their style. Second Song starts slow and formal, ascends for the high energy, falsetto ridden chorus, then comes down only to start the process over again. Only these guys. Enjoy the roller coaster ride. Tickets below.

TV On The Radio – Second Song

Bonus Track:

TV On The Radio – Wolf Like Me

The Futurebirds: Hampton’s Lullaby

Hampton’s Lullaby is the first release by the Athens six piece, The Futurebirds. Featuring 4 part harmonies and flying steel guitar over an array of banjos, mandolins, and bass, this album is an excellent mix of what makes the country spectrum great.  This is an album for outdoor keg parties. This is an album for spitting and chewing tobacco. This is an album for late nights around a bonfire. Not a bad way to break onto the scene. The best part? Hampton’s Lullaby only gets better with time. Top tracks include Battle for Rome, Ski Chalet, APO, and Sam Jones. Links below.

The Futurebirds – Battle For Rome

The Futurebirds – Ski Chalet

The Futurebirds – APO

The Futurebirds – Sam Jones

Elliot Smith: St. Ides Heaven

Elliot Smith died October, 21st, 2003 and this blog also has a strict policy against communing with ghosts; thus this song, you must have just realized, is not new. Don’t let that stop you from soaking up the excellent guitar and spider web thin delivery of Mr. Smith. Link below.

Elliot Smith – St. Ides Heaven

Foo Fighters: Wasting Light

Good but not outstanding. That is what I think of the Foo Fighters new album, Wasting Light. A staple of the 90’s rock music scene, the Foo Fighters practically invented the punk tinged guitar riff vs. soft harmonic vocals formula. The music produced by that formula was great, but every formula has a limit. What hits me hardest is that for the seventh release of a seasoned group of musicians, Wasting Light could have been better, it could have pushed the boundaries. It’s not that the album is bad, the issue isn’t as cut and dry, its just that you’d hope they’d bring something new to 2011. If I wanted to listen to their old stuff, I would have stuck to my iTunes library. Don’t get me wrong, its not that their aren’t some gems, there are and they are posted below. The bummer is that the album as a whole isn’t a gem, or at the very least, a breath of fresh air. I was hoping one of my favorite childhood bands were to be freshly reincarnated as one of my favorite adulthood bands. Not so. Here’s to hoping for their next album. Links below.

Foo Fighters – Rope

Foo Fighters – Bridge Burning

Foo Fighters – I Should Have Known

Cover: Mumford & Sons Play Wagon Wheel

On a day of awesome covers, I had to throw this contender into the ring. These Brits have got a good one here. Enjoy it Bailey. Links below

Old Crow Medecine Show – Wagon Wheel (Mumford & Sons Cover)

The Botaniks: Fond of Jane (feat. Bernhof)

“Fond Of Jane wiggles and thumps with heavy sensuality that almost seems like the music is flirting with me. It’s like a beautiful woman eyeing me from across the dance-floor, her hips like tractor beams moving in a rhythmic trance. This may not be safe music to drive to.” -The Burning Ear

-Yeah, what they said.

The Botaniks – Fond of Jane ft. Bernhoft

Cover: Ray Lamontagne is Crazy

No, this isn’t an incendiary headline meant to increase viewership. It’s a notification that Ray Lamontagne has covered the Gnarls Barkley song, Crazy. Nothing but strumming and Lamontagne’s epic intonations were necessary to turn Crazy from an alternative chart topper to a soulful acoustic jam. And it’s awesome. The raspy voiced former carpenter has worked his magic so well, you’d be crazy not to give this track a chance. Links below.

Gnarls Barkley – Crazy (Ray Lamogntagne Cover)

A Song For: Feeling French

Not sure why I like this. Things don’t make sense sometimes. Oh well. Why question when you can enjoy? If you feel in the mood, grab a baguette, snag a bottle of red, lose your backbone, and throw this track on. Guaranteed to help you get your francophile on. Ridiculous mustache and beret not included. Links below.

Flight Facilities – I Crave Paris