New Music

Do you have your favorite type of music? Or even a favorite singer or band? I have several from very different genres, but it really depends on my mood.

Music to clean house by? I listen to something upbeat like Earth, Wind and Fire. (no snickering!)

Really depressed? Want to be more depressed? Listen to Danny Elfman's "Music for a Darkened Theater" volumes 1 and 2.

General good listening? Billy Joel and Elton John.

Crossover Country/Pop? Shania Twain and Faith Hill.

Crank it up and rock out music? How about Aerosmith, Journey, Styx, Kansas or Boston? (methinks I'm showing my age here)

Some Classical Orchestra music I like: Handel Flute Sonatas, Bach's Brandenburg Concerti, (isn't fun to use a word like *concerti*?) Leonard Bernstein, Gershwin, Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.

I also like the variety of soundtracks. Broadway music sort of fits in this. But some movie soundtracks have a whole bunch of different types of music in one nice little package.

These are all typical of me. Those who know me well are not surprised at all by the above list, and could even have named some without even looking at my list. So I figure it's time to branch out and listen to new music.

I did that a couple of years ago and found out that I liked some groups I would never have thought I would. Like Good Charlotte. Have you seen those guys?? Holy Tatoos!!! Whoa. But some their songs speak to me. Like "Hold On". And whoever would have thought I would like Nickelback or Hoobastank?

So now I'm listening to a cd by a group that I purposely picked to listen to because I had never heard of them. (and because I could listen to the cd for free online!) Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Show Your Bones."

I have to be careful, because, as a musician, I tend to listen to the music as a whole and not hear the lyrics. I don't like lyrics that swear, talk about violence, have blantant sexual meanings, or have a truly negative message. But it's easy to miss that. So don't bash me about Yeah Yeah Yeahs just yet. It's hard to type and think AND listen to the lyrics of a new group. The music is okay. Sounds sort of like a grunge band with a female lead singer. A really not that talented lead female singer. A great drummer and lead guitar player though.

Okay, that wasn't too bad. I listened to the entire cd without turning it down or off. Next up...

Matt Costa.

Never heard of him. But since today is my new music day, I'll give him a shot. He is described as "This skateboarder-turned-musician blends acoustic pop with hints of blues, classical, folk and country." Yeesssss. Sounds more like me. (I enjoy the music of Jason Mraz, John Mayer, above mentioned Elton and Billy, James Taylor, etc.)

Listening....

Enjoying...

I can definitely recommend Matt Costa for those times when you just want to lay back and enjoy some music. Nice acoustic guitar licks. Ahhh, but what about the lyrics?