Earshot PresentsAnother Place to Spend Your Time

Make Phosphorescent your Summer Jam.

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Phosphorescent is the vehicle of songwriter Mark Houck, formally of Athens, Georgia and now based in Brooklyn. Houck’s Phosphorescent seems to strike a amazing balance in all regards–at first coming across as simple southern-twinged pop rock but soon revealing a beautifully complex mix of sound and vocals and thoughtful, soulful lyrics. Particularly noteworthy is the pedal steel work that beautifully envelopes Phosphorescent’s new record like the flower John wrote about in the last blog post here. Please make Phosphorescent’s Here’s To Taking it Easy your summer jam.

Benji Hughes = Magnetic Baby Cakes

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Somewhere between the high-browness of Stephin Merritt’s Magnetic Fields and the endearing inanity of Brad Neely’s Baby Cakes, there’s a brilliant songwriter named Benji Hughes. Hughes’ 2008 album A Love Extreme is some true, cool stuff.

Can You Feel It? Can’t You Hear It?

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Apples in Stereo’s New Magnetic Wonder from 2007 is an amazing collection of hooks and fuzz and pure energy oozing from almost every one of the 24 tracks. One of my favorite parts of the album is found at the end of the lead track, Can You Feel It?, which was recorded live in Scotland. After some appaulse, you can hear a few different voices from the crowd begging for the band to “Turn it down! TURN IT DOWN!” The most amusing plea can be clearly heard (in a thick Scottish brogue), “Everything’s feedbacking! Can’t you hear it?” Sounds good to me. And New Magnetic Wonder never sounds better than in early spring.

Gettin’ Ready For Christmas Day

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In February 1999 a college radio disc jockey named Lance Ledbetter set out on a mission to compile rare and essential recordings of vintage religious music. Four and a half years later the result of this journey was released as a box set called Goodbye, Babylon. (more…)

Amazing Parallel Parking Job

This is one of those videos that you’re bet you can’t watch just once and you lose that bet.

Happy Thanksgiving 2009 from Earshot Presents

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. It’s time for the 2009 Thanksgiving slideshow from Earshot Presents. If you enjoy the video, please share it with your social media networks by using the “ShareThis” button on the bottom of the page.

The tune I chose for the video, “Be Thankful for What You’ve Got”, was an obvious choice. It’s been on very heavy rotation this year (one cover version at a time, each for months on end). For a lot of the country going through some hard times, the song’s message has never been so important to keep in mind:

Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac
Gangsta whitewalls, TV antennas in the back
You may not have a car at all
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Just be thankful for what you’ve got.

Have a great holiday.

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