After two weeks of exams and a short glimpse of summer, the write-competition took up another two weeks of my favorite month. Now, I am finally ready to catch up sleep, exercise, and some sorely missed guitar playing.
Since I had limited playing time last month, I took advantage of Truefire.com’s free 30-day trial. They have a ton of good video lessons, , they’re very convenient, and even better when they’re free.
I’m also excited to check out Wes Montgomery/Grant Green class at the Nashville Jazz Workshop starting next week. Their course listing looks awesome, and I can’t wait to check out the workshop and meet some other local musicians. In the mean time, I’m trying to work off the rust by playing through some arpeggio studies and Wolf Marshall’s Best of Jazz Guitar book.
Additionally, I finally spent the $100 iTunes gift card that came with my laptop. I did it in style, too, spending it all in one day! I picked up some new releases, but I also reacquired some albums I only had on CD or had even lost. It was like catching up with old friends, especially when some of the artists are in fact my friends!
Here are some of the highlights of the iTunes binge:
Cary Ann Hearst - "Dust and Bones"
When I moved back to Charleston after college, Cary Ann was playing with the Gun Street Girls. They were the first Charleston band to really blow me away when I got back in town. Cary Ann has an amazing stage presence, and Lee Barbour was a jazz pyrotechnician trying out his country chops at the time. In the following months I got to know Cary Ann and other musicians in Charleston's music scene, and I had an amazing time building these friendships and sharing the stage with many talented and kind musicians. This album takes me back to those times. Check out "Long Road," "1200 Miles," and "Dresden Snow." Heck, get the whole thing.
Beach House - "Bloom"
With album opener "Myth," Beach House pick up right where "Teen Dream" left off. The sound is quintessential Beach House, yet their growth is obvious. The best way I can describe their live show was like a "bizarro 80s prom," and this album retains that vibe. Makes me want to dust off the drum machine and play along.
My Bloody Valentine - "Loveless"
Classic album. I think it's probably the third time I've bought it. One CD copy was scratched beyond recognition, and I lost another. Why wasn't it on my computer? Well, problem solved now. If I lose this album again, I am really in trouble because I'd need a laptop too...This album is genre-defining and launched about a gazillion shoegaze/noise-rock bands in its wake. Some people might not get it on the first listen, but after a few spins, Loveless=Timeless.
Wilco - "The Whole Love"
Given my devotion to this band, you may be surprised I was so late to pick this up. For their previous 3 releases, "late" would have been any time after release day. Well, I listened to it on NPR enough to memorize most of it before its official release, and I had a burnt copy as well. I saw the Deluxe version on iTunes (I'm a sucker for these things), and made a proper purchase. Hopeful my 10 bucks went toward another boutique guitar pedal for the Loft.
Alabama Shakes - "Boys & Girls"
This album pays immediate dividends. Guitarist Heath Fogg's style rang true with me, and the first time I heard "Hold On" while driving home, I could just picture those hammer-ons in my head. I hadn't been inspired to learn a whole album in one sitting like this since My Morning Jacket's "Evil Urges." Perhaps because the style felt similar to my own, I thought this was a manageable goal. Great stuff.
Lee Barbour - "Nonfiction"
Lee was the first Charleston-based guitarist to blow me away (see Cary Ann's blurb above). He continues to do so with this full-length album of jazz/rock greatness. After seeing several of these songs performed live over the years, it's great to get lost in this collection of recordings. Lee is a formidable guitarist, so look him up if you're in the Charleston area.
When I moved back to Charleston after college, Cary Ann was playing with the Gun Street Girls. They were the first Charleston band to really blow me away when I got back in town. Cary Ann has an amazing stage presence, and Lee Barbour was a jazz pyrotechnician trying out his country chops at the time. In the following months I got to know Cary Ann and other musicians in Charleston's music scene, and I had an amazing time building these friendships and sharing the stage with many talented and kind musicians. This album takes me back to those times. Check out "Long Road," "1200 Miles," and "Dresden Snow." Heck, get the whole thing.
Beach House - "Bloom"
With album opener "Myth," Beach House pick up right where "Teen Dream" left off. The sound is quintessential Beach House, yet their growth is obvious. The best way I can describe their live show was like a "bizarro 80s prom," and this album retains that vibe. Makes me want to dust off the drum machine and play along.
My Bloody Valentine - "Loveless"
Classic album. I think it's probably the third time I've bought it. One CD copy was scratched beyond recognition, and I lost another. Why wasn't it on my computer? Well, problem solved now. If I lose this album again, I am really in trouble because I'd need a laptop too...This album is genre-defining and launched about a gazillion shoegaze/noise-rock bands in its wake. Some people might not get it on the first listen, but after a few spins, Loveless=Timeless.
Wilco - "The Whole Love"
Given my devotion to this band, you may be surprised I was so late to pick this up. For their previous 3 releases, "late" would have been any time after release day. Well, I listened to it on NPR enough to memorize most of it before its official release, and I had a burnt copy as well. I saw the Deluxe version on iTunes (I'm a sucker for these things), and made a proper purchase. Hopeful my 10 bucks went toward another boutique guitar pedal for the Loft.
Alabama Shakes - "Boys & Girls"
This album pays immediate dividends. Guitarist Heath Fogg's style rang true with me, and the first time I heard "Hold On" while driving home, I could just picture those hammer-ons in my head. I hadn't been inspired to learn a whole album in one sitting like this since My Morning Jacket's "Evil Urges." Perhaps because the style felt similar to my own, I thought this was a manageable goal. Great stuff.
Lee Barbour - "Nonfiction"
Lee was the first Charleston-based guitarist to blow me away (see Cary Ann's blurb above). He continues to do so with this full-length album of jazz/rock greatness. After seeing several of these songs performed live over the years, it's great to get lost in this collection of recordings. Lee is a formidable guitarist, so look him up if you're in the Charleston area.
