All Categories - Ears Like a Hawke

Aimee Mann - "Goose Snow Cone"

3/18/2018

As I sift through the many, many nominees from this year's list, the Grammys once again bring on some different sounds. Aimee Mann has a long-standing reputation, and this album's mood for its nomination (and win!) for Best Folk Album is set right from the start with this opening track.

It's a light track to ease you in, with lyrical content to confuse you just enough to draw self-conclusions. Personally, I think this is the epitome of what folk is, but I have my own biased opinions on these things. Welcome to my personal blog. :)

Gotta keep it together when your friends come by
Always checking the weather but they wanna know why
Even birds of a feather find it hard to fly

Thought I saw at my feet an origami crow
It was only the street hidden under the snow
Always snatching defeat, it's the devil I know

Maroon 5 - "Leaving California"

3/13/2018

I miss Songs About Jane so badly. Maroon 5 came at us with this incredibly unique jazz technique to their pop music, and we all fell for Adam Levine and his falsetto for life.

In rising success, the band seemed to go this odd pop route where the falsetto became less attractive and the sound less unique. I couldn't tell you is this was because the band chose the direction, or everyone else came in to mimic it.

V brought along a few good tracks again. While not quite what it had been, the band's experimentaiton seemed to pay off a little more. This song has this great steady marching beat in the background and Adam's voice is enjoyable. I love when there are silver linings that remind you how good music can be.

Pack your things and go, oh
But if you run away
I won't be alright

Even if the sun crashes into us
I won't let go, I won't let go
And I can be your light
Stay with me tonight

Aida Cuevas - "Nuestro Gran Amor"

2/11/2018

One of the reasons I've always loved exploring the complete Grammy nominations, beyond the ones that get televised, is that you get to discover some truly incredible music in a variety of genres you may never get to hear on a regular basis. That's the case here with this really lovely acoustic piece from her full album that was nominated for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano).

Worth a listen just for the guitar playing along, the entire song has a beautiful tone. Then you read the lyrics (translation below just to give you a taste), and it's all perfect.

Como el sol le hace falta a la luna pues sin el no podría darnos luz como el aire hace falta en el mundo así me haces falta tú

Translation:
As the sun lacks the moon because without it it could not give us light as the air is needed in the world so you need me

Ariana Grande - "Break Free"

1/30/2018

What a great belting feel-good song. I mean it, really, this is power in a loud way. No matter how you feel about Ariana and her music, this is a track that would have us all up and yelling out the words on the dance floor.

Not a bad one to randomly come on the catch-all play list before a pivotal birthday.

You were better, deeper
I was under your spell
Like a deadly fever, yeah, babe
On the highway to hell, yeah

This is the part when I say I don't want ya
I'm stronger than I've been before
This is the part when I break free
'Cause I can't resist it no more

Jordan Fisher, Angie Keilhauer - "Happily Ever After"

1/29/2018

Yes, it's a sappy, sweet, Disney love song, and yes, I love it. Come on - the inner princess in us all can't help but still get swept up in the magic that imagination can bring. This is apparently the new theme song for Disney's new fireworks show too!

Plus, there's Jordan Fisher, and if he didn't win your heart during last season's "Dancing With The Stars," then you are ice my friends.

The battles, the stories, the losses and all the glories
We're changed by the way we live every day
Just look up and reach to the sky
We all have the courage to fly

The story comes alive, when we look inside
A new adventure there in your life
There in your eyes It's just beginning
Feel your heart beat faster
Reach out and find your happily ever after

Luke Bryan - "Roller Coaster"

1/16/2018

I don't love the Bro Country trend that seemed to attack us in the past few years, but Luke Bryan holds a special place in my heart. I've met him a few times, and once he accidentally kissed me on the cheek. It was magic, y'all.

And anywhos, it doesn't suck thinking of warm summer fun on these cold, bitter winter days.

The rest of those days
Turned into long crazy nights
When the music got loud
We'd sneak away from the crowd under the boardwalk lights
And with all the things we said
What I just can't get past
Is the way we let it end
Now I'm wonderin' where she is
Knowin' I can't get that goodbye back

Billy Redfield - "Die For You"

1/15/2018

It's kind of lovely when your Discovery Playlist starts off with guitar strumming and sweet love songs. I'm an unashamed hopeless romantic who's a sucker for them, so you can bet they're (a) always a win for me, and thus (b) always heading up by Discovery list each week because Spotify knows me too well.

March the earth 'til I fell through
Yeah I would die for you
Pass this life onto a new I would die for you
But I hope it ain't soon

6LACK - "PRBLMS"

1/14/2018

Look, I can't say this is one of my favorites, but we've got to start Grammy Sundays somewhere, so why not the first artist alphabetically? The style is, granted, unique (we'll elaborate more when I get to the full album review), and for sure shows a shift in musical mentality when it comes to awards.

Nominations:

Best Rap/Sung Performance
Best Urban Contemporary Album (for Free 6lack)

And she said
You a God damn lie
I ain't mean to say that shit girl I was God damn high
So we left the crib now we in the God damn ride
She lookin' God damn fine
I wanted a bitch who was down to Earth
But she want the God damn skies

Chris Janson - "Buy Me A Boat"

1/13/2018

(Excuse me as I play catch up.)

Saturdays feature friends, and while I don't know Chris Janson personally, and may never have been a fan of this song on its own, my friend Ellen was a huge fan of the quirky nature of this one. We celebrate her as the first one in the group to hit 30, and her engagement to my other good friend James, tonight, so it seems appropriate to let her take control of this all-important song decision today!

I ain’t rich, but I damn sure wanna be
Working like a dog all day, ain’t working for me
I wish I had a rich uncle that’d kick the bucket
And that I was sitting on a pile like Warren Buffett
I know everybody says
Money can’t buy happiness
But it could buy me a boat, it could buy me a truck to pull it
It could buy me a Yeti 110 iced down with some silver bullets
Yeah, and I know what they say
Money can’t buy everything
Well, maybe so,
But it could buy me a boat

Phillip Phillips - "Into The Wild"

1/12/2018

I included Phillip Phillips in my Geekade article earlier this week not knowing how muchI would enjoy his new style. I'm biased because he opened for the Goo Goo Dolls last summer, but the music actually does stand up on its own.

We've broken out of the mini Dave Matthews mold ehre and have begun experimenting with new styles, instruments, and sound. This guy is moving on to become a real rocker and someone I'd actually be excited to see live. Watching an artist evolve, especially for the better, is always awesome.