can I be close to you?

I was going to make this a part of longer post on music videos, but now it's a gorgeous, sunny Friday morning and this song just fits. *happiness*

I like how the Paper Kites have layered this songs, without it loosing any of it's quiet smoothness. The whistling with the different acoustic instruments makes it just a little quirky while being quite melodious and sweet.

The lyrics are a like a love poem- the good, sincere kind, no roses are red cheesiness. I really appreciate love songs like this, that you can hear are a reflection of something deep and special, that just happened to escape into the outer world. True love songs are not written to be heard by the others, and that's what makes them so great.

Hoping you're having a great Friday.

Oh, the whole world is sleeping, 

But my world is you. 

Can I be close to you?

So we are moving to a lighthouse, you and I

On a rainy day, of which we've been having many lately, I love listening to a medley of Joshes.
Like Jon or James, Josh is one of those names that belong to a slew of good musicians. (Come to think of it, naming your son anything with a J seems to be a great idea.)
So, if you have a friend with this musically mystical name, give him a banjo and see what happens... alternatively, listen to my pick of Josh songs.

My favourite Josh for a rainy day is one Josh Ritter, who is one of those artists that manage to say something deep and emotional without losing your interest or scaring you. I love it how he can spend a whole song talking seemingly nonsense and in the last two lines change everything. Listen to my favourite, Girl In The War, and Rainslicker.

Most of my friends would be able to tell you that my ultimate morning-music artist is Joshua Radin. This guy and all his music has meant to me really does deserve a whole post, but for now, have a peek at No Envy, No Fear and his The Smith's cover Girlfriend In A Coma.

I've mentioned Josh Pyke in a previous post, but he really shouldn't be missing from this list. Have a listen to the Lighthouse Song, for some more of his relaxed Australian tunes. Also, lighthouses are the shiz. And how can you not like someone who goes cruising around in a guitar-shaped boat?

Some of Josh Kelley's stuff is a little to rom-com cliched for me, but songs like Bound To Keep Moving has a rustically romantic feel to it that's a little Country, but feels just right sometimes. He's the hubby of actress Katherine Heigel, in case you care.

Josh Rouse is on my list of Joshes just because he has a song called Hello Porcupine and I think that's awesome. Jokes, he is pretty good and a nice rainy day artist.

That was quite a full post, but I'm sure you can handle it. Now all you need is a snuggly bed and some rainy-ness outside. Enjoy!

I got a girl in the war,

her eyes are like champagne.

They sparkle, bubble over 

and in the morning all you got is rain 

image thanks to onigiri-kun here

You're so gorgeous and you don't even know it.

When I moved to university in a crazy little town, I thought it might be the end of my music-filled glory days.  Thankfully though, Grahamstown proved me wrong with it's little collection of local bands, one of which just launched their debut album and thus deserves a post.

Life of Riley played at one of the first gigs I went to here and they've had me singing along to their whimsical love tunes ever since. They mix emotional and carefree songs and show love the way it makes sense in the mind of a crazy, confused student. Terri-Lee Adendorff gives the folk-pop duo a touch of Florence Welch and is responsible for their feisty stage presence.

The debut album, The Golden Age of Us, has all their clap-along favourites one expects from their gigs and can now finally listen to whenever you want. But the real gem is the track Your Brand New Summer Dress, which is far more acoustic than the rest and is the only one sung by Nick Mulgrew.
It's very reminiscent of Sufjan Stevens, both in sound and thoughtful lyrics, and is plainly just a great song. 

Try... Green Eyes, which I've dubbed 'the clap song' and anything else you can get. (Unfortunately, being local, they don't have a fantastic online presence).

Listen to the Life of Riley... because Grahamstown does in fact have a music scene.

You and your brand new summer dress

you wear it well, you wear it best. 

it fits you close and tight on your hips

and fits your curves better than I ever did.

This is a ride, not a fight.

I'm all for moving forward, but there are times when you kind of get stuck on something. Stuck on a person, a place... a craving for cupcakes.

I seem to be getting stuck a lot lately, and it's only fitting that I've also been stuck on some good music at the same time.The Weepies were suggested to me recently in one of those wonderful spontaneous conversations with a stranger about music. At first it just sounded like some easy listening to me, but the beautifully woven lyrics behind the mellow tunes soon had my full attention.

These are weathered story-tellers that have made their peace with the reality of pain and loss, and turned it into something precious. They've surprised me time again by describing something I've felt with images I've never thought of. They take what life is and turn it into what it feels like. At the same time though, they stay rather chilled, without making you cry yourself to sleep Damien Rice style.

Try... any of it, pretty much. I had Old Coyote and World Spins Madly On on repeat for half a week, but How You Survived the War and Hideaway are decent too.


Listen to the Weepies...for when you're missing the right words.

This is not the official music video, but it's beyond beautiful. Watch till the end! 

Thought of You from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

Ring around rosie game 

always ends the same way

we all fall down.

Get up now, baby, it's your song playing.

-Old Coyote