I am Joey Churchill's mustache (#21)

Sound of Souls turns 21 this week! Hooray!!! We can now belly up to the bar and order a frothy one with all of the adults (responsibly, of course). To mark this momentous occasion I invited someone very dear to me to do this weeks playlist.... my mustache. Yes, it's true! Mustache even agreed to sit down for a few minutes and chat about it. Here's how it went down.

Listen to Joey's mustache's playlist!!
----

Joey: Thanks so much for doing this. It really is cool of you.

Mustache: No problem. I'm a big fan of the blog. Especially Jessica. She's great. Really, the pleasure is all mine.

Joey: Alright. Awesome! Well, let's get right to it. What'ya got?

Mustache: Well, first off I have Cause For Alarm, by The Heavy. It's a lurking Reggae Rock song that forces you to bob your head.

Joey: Oh, that's nice! You're right! I'm totally bobbing my head.

Mustache: Well I hope your neck doesn't get sore cause up next is Glorified High, by Sarah Jaffe.

Joey: Sweet! I've never heard her stuff before but she sounds great! I want more, right now.

Mustuche: Too bad. No more Sarah Jaffe for you, but I do have some Hussle And Cuss, by The Dead Weather. This song is like a cool pill. If I could actually get this song into a pill and sell it, I would be a billionaire.

Joey: Just what the doctor ordered.

Mustache: Hahaha. That's cute. So, my next selection is Summertime Clothes, by Animal Collective. The core of this song to me kinda sounds like a alien spaceship landing! I can relate to this song because it sounds really aggressive and intense, but it's really just a sweet song at it's core about wanting to spend time with someone.

Joey: That's so true. Thanks for sharing that Mustache.

Mustache: No problem. Champion, by The Chevin is number five on my list. If you are a fan of Keane you should love these guys. Big time UK buzz band at the moment.

Joey: No doubt helped by their SXSW show. The Chevin is officially on our radar!

Mustache: You know, I'm real fortunate to have a lot of friends out there to keep me company. I do realize that not everyone is as lucky as I am. This one goes out to all of the lonely souls... Lonesome, by Dr. Dog

Joey: I am REALLY warming up to the Dog!

Mustache: Who's up for a classic? I know I sure am! Paper Planes, by M.I.A.

Joey: Awww yeah! It has been only four years, but I totally agree. Classic!

Mustache: If there is such a thing as the perfect fusion of soul, hip hop, and rock, it has to be Saint John, by Cold War Kids. There is something about this song that grabs me!

Joey: Wow. I am really pleased with this playlist so far Mustache. Keep going!

Mustache: Ok! Death By Diamonds And Pearls, by Band Of Skulls.

Joey: Oooo... Aggressive. I like it.

Mustache: You remember the days when Rock music was just drums, bass, and vocals? Those were the days.... Gun Has No Trigger, by Dirty Projectors.

Joey: I'm pretty sure Rock music was never just drums, bass, and vocals, but whatever. Good song.

Mustache: You know, as a mustache, people just assume that my music of choice is either straight rock, classic rock, or country. What?! Because I'm a mustache I can't like Rap? Man, that's whack.... Sleep Rules Everything Around Me, by Wugazi

Joey: Big fan of that project! A couple of local artists splicing and mixing away to create something unique and awesome. What's next?

Mustache: I got U.R.A. Fever, by The Kills. You like?

Joey: No. I love. Double dipping on Alison Mosshart too. First with The Dead Weather and now The Kills. Never a bad thing.

Mustache: No words for this next one. Just puttin straight vibes out there. Dub The Mic, by The Beastie Boys.

Joey: More Hip Hop flava in my ear. We're rollin. Don't stop now Mustache!

Mustache: Some people think mustaches are really creepy. Some people think they are awesome. This song is both creepy and awesome. Enjoy! Running From The Cops, by Phantogram.

Joey: That is really creepy and really awesome. Well, here we are Mustache. Take us home, it's been a good ride.

Mustache: Well Joey, as you know the most vicious natural predator a Mustache has is the dreaded wife, and yours is closing in on me right now. My time left now is short, but before I go I wanted to leave you with one last song. I think you know what song I'm talking about.....

Joey and Mustache: You're My Best Friend, by Queen.

Joey: I love you Mustache, til November.....



Wow. That got a lot more emotional that I expected. Laughs and cries all compressed into one little blog entry. Uffda! Well, there's a good chance Danny and Jessica will fire me with no severance package after they read this so, it's been fun sharing music with you. Keep it real, y'all!

Spring forward!! (#20)

This is a mix of what I'm listening to lately and also a little of a playlist a new friend gave me - so you and I are discovering some of this together!  Also a lot of these bands will be playing in Minneapolis over the next few months - want to go check out some music together?

Listen to Jessica's Playlist!


1.  Bright Whites by Kishi Bashi
I'd never heard of these guys, but I think I love them fifteen seconds in.  They just opened for Of Montreal last month, DANG.  He also works with Regina Spektor.  I think this cd is going to carry me right into warmer weather. 

2. Welcome Home by Radical Face

3.  Truth by Alexander Ebert
I love a good solo project.  This is the lead singer from Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes and Ima Robot.  He recorded the album Alexander while on tour with the Zeroes - quite a change since the Zeroes are a ten man band, while on this solo album, he literally did every bit of it himself.  I'm interested to hear more of it.

Because light's blinding, no way dividing
What's yours or mine when everything's shining?
Your darkness is shining, my darkness is shining.

4.  Your Ex-Lover is Dead by Stars

5.  Don't Think Twice, It's Alright by Bob Dylan
I ain't saying you treated me unkind.
You coulda done better, but I don't mind.
You just kinda wasted my precious time.
But don't think twice, it's alright.

6.  Sabali by Amadou & Mariam
This song makes me SO HAPPY.  And they're from Indonesia, a place I have so much fondness for.
The translation for the lyrics at the end is:
Baby, I give you a great big kiss.
I give you a great big kiss.
I hug you hard.  
Bye bye!

7.   Love Will Save Your Soul by Grouplove
Another happy tune - not sure how long it will stay on my radar.  This band is super fun, they'll be here in May, and they met while living in a commune.  So...

8.  The Way You Wish You Could Live in the Storm by Moonface
This is another band I ran across when I was digging through the Jagjaguar site. 
Yay keyboardists!  Yay Canadia!

9.  Om Nashi Me by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes
Sharpe is apparently Alexander Ebert's alter ego, whom he developed into a messianic figure, saying
"He was sent down to Earth to kinda heal and save mankind, but he kept getting distracted by girls and falling in love."  Ain't that the truth.
Om nashi me, I love you
And I love you forever 
And I'm loving you now

10.  Surgeon by St Vincent
Golly I'm really loving her new album.  This is probably going to be the hardest show to miss this summer.  If you're around, GO, for goodness sake. 

11.  Kanske är jag kär i dig by Jens Lekman
My words are just c c c coming out all wrong
I sure could use a little help
I think I'm gonna drop my cool now
The best way to touch your heart is to make an ass of myself.

Cute. 

Matt's Playlist (#19)

Hello, all! I'm glad to be making a guest appearance on the Sound of Souls blog with a playlist of my own. I tend to make playlists for the heck of it, but I thought I would (since this is my first entry here) choose a list of songs that have taught me about music, or ones that have represented some key events or people in my life. Enjoy!

Listen to  Matt's Playlist (#19)

1.     For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti – Sufjan Stevens

I have called you preacher, I have called you son
If you have a father or if you haven't one
I'll do anything for you, I'll do anything for you…
I did everything for you, I did everything for you

Of course, this begins with a banjo tune. But more than that, we’re getting right into the deep stuff. I largely grew up without a father, and I realized over time that I’m pretty sure that has affected my view of God. However, as beautifully voiced by Mr. Stevens, I’ve felt that God is able to take that and show me that He’ll do anything for me… and that he has. 

2.     Another Day – Jamie Lidell

I was planning on including lyrics for all of these entries. BUT, a lot of times it’s more than just the lyrics, or I’ll love a tune DESPITE the lyrics. This is definitely a case of the former, but just enjoy. This is fun.

3.     Three Little Birds – Bob Marley

Don't worry 'bout a thing, 
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.

That’s all that was needed to get me out of a funk… and it was a deep funk. It’s strange that you can hear a song dozens or hundreds of times, but it only takes that one time to make a difference. I really needed to hear this at the time. Not gonna lie, I teared up. Thanks, Bob.

4.     Torches Together – mewithoutYou

We'll be like torches
With whatever respect
Our tattered dignity demands
Torches together
Hand in hand

It’s hard to pick out just one chunk of lyrics from this song to highlight, but this song, written by an always-vulnerable Aaron Weiss, has to be one of the best I’ve ever heard about community. It just takes active listening. Try not to skip over this one.

5.     Brand New Colony – Postal Service

I'll be the platform shoes and undo what heredity's done to you...
You won't have to strain to look into my eyes
I'll be your winter coat buttoned and zipped straight to the throat
With the collar up so you won't catch a cold

This is a song I judged… by the first few notes.  There were a number of times I just passed right over it because it sounded like a video game. Seems like that would be appealing, but for some reason it wasn’t for a while. Then I listened to the song and loved the poetry Ben Gibbard used to let a gal know that he’s there for her.

6.     Mad Tom of Bedlam – Jolie Holland

Another song that isn’t about the lyrics for me. This was one of the tunes I first heard on The Current and my roommate and I at the time kept expecting additional instrumentation to kick in… and it didn’t. Then I knew we had something different here. I have since found out that Jolie is kind of pretentious, but this song still holds a special place for me.

7.     Mute With A Bullhorn – Ben Sollee

And a blind man with a brush,
Paints the trash he finds on the street.
The art collectors love his work,
And fetch money that he’ll never see.

Yes, and we all need to be heard.
There are some that will need to be found, 
But we don’t always know how.
No, we don’t always know how.A cellist singer/songwriter from Kentucky. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen live. He could have played all night long, and I'm pretty sure all of us there would have stayed. Love his voice, love his work.

8.     New Law – Derek Webb

don’t teach me about moderation and liberty
i prefer a shot of grape juice
don’t teach me about loving my enemies
don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit
just give me a new law

i don’t wanna know if the answers aren’t easy
so just bring it down from the mountain to me

Derek Webb’s album Mockingbird has probably been one of the most influential that I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. This definitely got me to question a lot of the options often provided by the Church, but absolutely for the better.

9.     Echo – Incubus

There's something about the look in your eyes
Something I noticed when the light was just right
It reminded me twice that I was alive
And it reminded me that you're so worth the fight

One of my favorite bands in high school. Actually, they were flat out my favorite. I felt that this song highlighted their versatility and once I listened to it after beginning to date Damaris, the lyrics seemed to fit perfectly.

10. Brother – Annuals

I fell down in a creek bed.
Brother wept.
In his face I met fear; 
that I could die right there.
But I climbed right out.

So, it wasn’t a creek bed, but my brother and I went on a couple of “adventures” while growing up. One was to a park that we were explicitly told not to visit, but we did and I crashed my bike pretty badly down the hill out there. My brother saw me disappear behind a different hill, only to not show up out the other side. I hit the “death-wobble” and flipped over my bike and probably slid 15 feet down the pavement. I got up with a decent amount of blood and such. Helmet saved my life, though, or at least protected me from major head/brain damage.

The main reason I included this track though was just to reminisce of how, after having horrible fights and nearly hating one another at times growing up, music is what brought us together. We haven’t discussed this song at all, or listened to it together, but this goes out to him; a very dynamic song for a very dynamic brother.

11. Fire & Rain – James Taylor

Won't you look down upon me, Jesus, 
You've got to help me make a stand.
You've just got to see me through another day.
My body's aching and my time is at hand 
And I won't make it any other way.

This one goes out to my mom. Though not a musician, she introduced us to some great music growing up. There are a few other reasons to include this song for her, but that’s a whole other rabbit hole.

12. Oh Happy Day – Sister Act 2 Soundtrack

I was a choir kid. I loved this song.

13. After All – Sondre Lerche

You daren’t define which has happened to us
Well, I’ve had a name for it for some time
You try to find what it is that you feel
I long to tell you so truly

Another tune for my lovely wife. This was on a mixtape I made for a party at her old ministry. She was convinced this song was on there because of her, but it wasn’t. However, it did take on a Damaris-flavor once I really started liking her.

14. Beautiful Children – Jeremy Messersmith

I’m not going to put any of the lyrics on here for this one. I first heard it at one of his shows, and had a moment at the end where everyone just let out a sigh and didn’t want to even clap. Just listen.

15. Prelude to a Kiss – Duke Ellington (*I grabbed the version from the album "Digital Duke")

Although this isn’t the exact version with which I became familiar, Duke did something special here. I was quite moved once I heard the soaring sax and such. I later found out that there are lyrics to this song, but I can’t even bring myself to listen to them.

16. Tailor – Anais Mitchell

When he said, when he said he was leaving
I took up the violin
When he said, when he said that my body he'd not miss
I became a sculptress
When he said, when he said that my face he'd soon forget
I became a poet

I figured I’d put a recent addition onto this playlist. As with most of Anais’ songs, she draws you into the lyric pictures she paints. She speaks about her identity being in a person, and explores what happens when that person is gone. I just love the symmetry in her lyrics and the twists she puts in there. There is a bit of a shocker line near the end… just go with it. Also, she’ll be at the Entry on the 22^nd if anyone is interested…

17. Everything – Lifehouse

You calm the storms, 
And you give me rest. 
You hold me in your hands, 
You won't let me fall. 
You steal my heart, 
And you take my breath away. 
Would you take me in, 
Take me deeper now.

This song has been with me on and off since high school. I first thought it was about a girl, and then I realized it was a different kind of love song. I have a moment with this song where I distinctly remember sitting on the bathroom counter singing it aloud when it clicked and made so much more sense. Again, I got teary-eyed.

18. April – Scattered Trees

Help me to speak how you spake;
Help me to live how you lived.
Help me to see as you see; 
Help me to dream as you dream.
…please help me to live as you’d ought me to.

Seems like an appropriate way to end this. Nate Eisland set out to make an album of songs for each calendar month of his school year. One song per month – no more, no less. This is what he wrote in the month of… can you guess it… April! And it is beautiful.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this… at least a little bit. Next time there will be a tighter theme, but a good introduction to where I’ve come from seemed to be apt for a first attempt. Thanks, all!

he is risen (#18)

this playlist has nothing to do with easter... or does it....? i'm feeling upbeat right now. i like these songs. maybe you will too. no funny business this week y'all. short & sweet! enjoy!

Listen to Danny's Playlist!



1. State Of The Art by Gotye - uhn!


2. Tongue Tied by Grouplove


3. Disparate Youth by Santigold - oh ah!


4. California by Delta Spirit


5. Two Way Street by Kimbra - can't believe how incredible this chick was live. BLEW. MY. MIND. she let us come inside her mind.


6. The Grand Experiment by Doomtree - Dessa happened to be at the Gotye/Kimbra show. i think she waved at me cause i was staring at her. maybe she was waving at matt though... not sure. either way i froze & just tried to play it cool & nod at her. awesome.


7. A Commotion by Feist


8. Midnight City by M83 - the city is my church.


9. Marrow by St. Vincent - H.E.L.P.


10. Get Real Get Right by Sufjan Stevens - barricade the bathroom doors!


11. Faces by Yeah Yeah Yeahs - i. i. i. i. U!

First Quarter Music Highlights! (#17)

Can you even believe that we are already a quarter of the way through the year? Three months have gone by and there has already been a healthy amount of good music that has come out. That always surprises me for some reason. I have this weird fear that good music will run out someday. Like there are only so many instruments, and so many notes, and music has been around for so long that the tank has to be running on E. I know this is ridiculous, and even if my fears do come to fruition down the road we are most certainly not there yet as these past three months have so awesomely proven. Here are some Q1 highlights for you and yours.

Listen to Joey's Playlist!

Gold On The Ceiling - The Black Keys, This duo comprise what might be the most consistent Rock band out there. The Black Keys were put in the impossible position of having to follow up their massively successful album "Brothers" (which was already their 6th by the way). Well follow it up they did, and they knocked it out of the park again. "Gold On The Ceiling" is the 2nd single off of "El Camino" and every second of it is tasty. Listen to that organ growl at you. Careful, it bites!

Hold On - Alabama Shakes, I do not know much about these guys. I don't even know if they're actually from Alabama. I do know that this song awesome though.

Simple Song - The Shins, The Shins are back and with an almost entirely new line up. It is clear now, more than ever, that James Mercer was, is, and always will be The Shins, regardless of who's playing drums or bass. Phew!!!

Cruel - St. Vincent, Holy Annie Lennox vibe! I am late comer to the St. Vincent party, but now that I'm here I like what I'm hearing. Especially that sax!

That Old Black Hole - Dr. Dog, I have had a hard time enjoying Dr. Dog in the past because he sounds almost exactly like Adam Sandler, especially his older stuff. This song forced me to get over it. Great tune!

Sidewalk Safari - Chairlift, Yes, I'm putting this on two of my playlists in a row. Deal with it!

Emmylou - First Aid Kit, I like to imagine that someday when I get to Heaven, there will be a small wooded grove where I can go and sit with my legs crossed and just listen to these sisters sing to me all day long...... Hook it up Jesus!!!

Eyeoneye - Andrew Bird, Mr. Bird is back in all of his Looping Pedal and whistling glory!

Video Games - Lana Del Rey, Poor Lana. Saturday Night Live was not kind to you, and neither was the twitterverse after your performance. It was a tad on the shaky side, but she deserves some slack. She is only 25 , and it was SN-freaking-L! That can't be easy. This has been one of my very favorite songs of the year so far.

Alone - Trampled By Turtles, I think I am one of the few Trampled fans that enjoy their tamer side more than their "face melting fiddle" side. This song is perfectly tempered and easy to listen to.

Beirut - A Candle's Fire, Bust out the Brass!

Bad Girls - M.I.A., Super catchy world pop. I love this chick! Everything she does is different and fun. Please take a moment at some point to watch the music video for this song. It's so cool!

Love interruption - Jack White, I am so pumped for this album. I have literally gobbled up everything that Jack has put out there, and there has been a lot of it. Six White Stripes albums, two Dead Weather albums, and two Raconteur albums, not to mention all the stuff he has produced. I have high hopes for his solo stuff! So far so good...

Well that's pretty much the gist of it... actually I just scratched the surface. There were loads of other yummy tracks, but I thought I would trim'er down for all of our sakes. Here's hoping for a stellar second quarter!