Hammer Strikes the Metal

Top Songs from 2010

2011-01-07T05:43:00.009-05:00

The following songs may not have had the heaviest rotation, they may not have been on a favorite album or even be a top favorite artist of mine. These songs struck me somehow individually. They graced my ears at just the right time to really hit home. These songs remind me of spring, summer, fall, events, feelings, etc. Anyway enough with the rambling and on with the list.

Again, I cannot put these in any particular order, but I guarantee these have all been my #1 at one time or another the past year:

"You Were a House on Fire" by Listener off the album "Wooden Heart"-

This is the song that enthralled me. It was great to discover a new genre, though I must admit I have not found someone who does this quite like Dan Smith. His spoken word poems float over orchestrated sounds: violins, trumpets, and sometimes washing machines. "We all write songs about life, we just sing them different.", he sings through this track. Listener's approach is very different. But I like different. I'll be looking forward to more by this artist.

"Afraid of Everyone" from The National off the album "High Violet"

What is it about The National that I love? I've never really put my finger on it until the song, "Afraid of Everyone" played through my speakers. The album, High Violet, released early in the year, was never topped in my opinion. This is my top album of 2010, without a doubt. I am not giving anything away to those who have had to put up with me listening to this repeatedly all summer long. My neighbors probably can even guess due to the windows were open while I was blasting this stuff.

"I Found a Whistle" from MGMT's "Congratulations".

Their new album slowly grew on me throughout the year. This is the song that ended up with many, many plays. The album, as a whole, is in the running for my best of 2010. I think the song just exemplifies the feeling I get from the album as a whole.

The strumming guitar, over synth, along with intriguing lyrics equal beautiful simplicity to me. A rare track from a band that is known for overdoing the psychedelia.

"I Walked" Sufjan Stevens "Age of Adz"

A song writing machine, Stevens was hard at work in 2010 with an EP followed by a full length. 2010 was the year I woke up to this artist. I didn't even realize that I already had a couple tracks from him. I was caught by the buzz of his EP, "All Delighted People", and when his full length was announced, I went ahead and purchased a few more songs. For me, this music is something you have to be in the mood for. Each song ages as you listen like fine wine. Better & better with every spin!

"Twenty Miles" from Deer Tick's "Black Dirt Sessions"

I had the pleasure of seeing this band live in Austin in 2009 so I was excited to add their new CD to my library. I was not disappointed as the best track on the album has to be this one.

The catchy guitar lick that opens the song is only the beginning. It'll make you sway even as John McCauley allows his gravelly voice to soar in the chorus. Certainly, the lyric "Raindrops like bullets on my fragile skin" reminded me of the 40 minutes I spent listening to them in the rain last year. They continue to be one of my favorite bands.

2010 Lists Begin.....NOW!

2010-12-21T21:47:00.005-05:00

I want to begin with a list of music that has shaped me, or opened my eyes, or even shocked me this year. Keep in mind that the following list is simply music that I have discovered in 2010 that is pretty much unlike anything I had listened to in the past. The music, artist, or album may be from years past. The only qualification for this 2010 list is that I came across it this year.

In no particular order, we begin:

LISTENER- WOODEN HEART

Please don't call it rap music. This is spoken word at its best and most unique. I had to give this a few listens before I understood. Now I do. Dan Smith is from Arkansas. His poetic lyrics come from the heart. Though earlier albums were much more raw, and purists may disagree with me, I love the orchestrated background music clashing with his fervent prose.

The lyrics are dark yet there is always a message of hope intertwined. I never knew this art form existed and was quite pleased to discover it. To understand, you must just listen...

SUFJAN STEVENS- THE AGE OF ADZ

I have been aware of Sufjan for some time now and have some songs of his in my library. I became more and more curious as I listened more and more to his latest on "Adz". To listen to this artist, one must have patience. You cannot get the song in the 30 second previews on iTunes. I have learned to appreciate this music in those rare moments when I find myself with a bit of time and patience.

Like the epic "All Delighted People" that was released shortly before this, you must sit back and allow your ears to absorb Sufjan's music. This album is on my list here because in a year of much business, songs like "Too Much" & "I Walked" have taken me away for a moment or two and allowed me to escape.

THE TALLEST MAN ON EARTH- SOMETIMES THE BLUES IS JUST A PASSING BIRD

I cannot say enough how much this music is growing on me. The Wild Hunt introduced me to the "tallest man", Kristian Matsson, yet it wasn't until this little EP was released that I realized that I had a new favorite folk artist.

His reworked version of his own "Like the Wheel" sent shivers down my spine and I streamed this song into my consciousness this past fall. "The Dreamer" could be one of the best songs of the year in my opinion. It was a treat to have this EP drop unexpectedly, and cemented this gentleman's music permanently on my radar screen.

More to come......

Best of 2009 in Music

2010-01-03T12:09:00.008-05:00

Here is my 2 cents on the world of music this past year. My top 5 albums for the year, chosen more towards albums that changed and shaped my musical tastes rather than just albums with tracks that had the highest playcounts in my iTunes library. Included is a band that after seeing live, catapulted themselves into my Top 5, one of the best compilations ever, as well as a fantastic debut album.

Here we go:

#5- Dark Was The Night

Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National produced the best compilation of the year and I wouldn't hesitate to put this one up against any other previously. A host of artists including Arcade Fire, Beirut, Bon Iver, and The Decemberists (and that's just a few) get together for AIDS charity "Red Hot" and contribute some new material as well as some previously released. But I don't think you'll find a grouping quite like this anywhere else. If you haven't had a listen, you would be kicking off 2010 in a great way by checking this one out.

#4- The Felice Brothers- Yonder is the Clock

On a rain soaked day in Austin, Texas this past October, I was able to see The Felice Brothers live at the Austin City Limits Music Festival. I will tell you, these guys know how to put on a show. Back at the hotel, drying out that evening, I downloaded Yonder is the Clock and it has been on heavy rotation ever since. This is what American folk at its best sounds like- fiddles, washboards and stomping the stage. We have ballads about baseball (Cooperstown), an homage to their days busking in New York City stations (Penn Station), as well as just good old foot stomping fun on tracks like "Run Chicken Run" and "Memphis Flu". Seeing this band on stage for 30 minutes only left me wanting more and though this studio album cannot compare to their live performance, it'll have to do until I have the chance to see them live once again.

#3- Why?- Eskimo Snow

Why? Why not? Their previous effort, Alopecia, caught my attention, but overall that album was just not my thing. Their newest release finds this band seeming to come together with some sort of direction. There is less hip-hop beat and more melody, but plenty of Yoni Wolf's lyrical wordplay that makes much of this album such fun to listen to. Like:

"the small fry in the bow tie dies first,
acting wild like the spirit of god moving after church,
faking he's hard like he's packed down dirt,"

from "This Blackest Purse" or:

"and now my bike tire's flat,
i must have ran over some glass, in the dark
or it mighta got slashed,
'cause i was messing around with someone's, ex-girlfriend, again"

from "January Twenty Something"

There is not one song on this album that I would leave off the loop when I listen. Though the subject matter is sometimes on the dark side, the lyrics and instruments tend to brighten it up just a bit. Why? is making a name for themselves and that name is no longer a question.

#2- Fanfarlo- Reservoir

Thanks to Captain Obvious, this band came to my attention. If you haven't seen this gentleman's blog, please click on the link above. After my first listen, I went looking for more. To my surprise, this gem of a band was just releasing their debut. I have always loved a band with a trumpet player ever since I was turned on to Modest Mouse years ago. This group plays and writes songs like they've been together for generations. Like Beirut, we can hear pieces of the world within their melodies. But unlike Beirut, this music is not "throwback". This is fresh. It'll make you want to dance. It'll make you wish you played a ukulele. From the mesmerizing back-beat on "I'm a Pilot" to the Talking Heads-like upbeat tempo on "Harold T Wilkins..." and the piano anchored "If it is Growing", every track of this album is a masterpiece. I'm a sucker for great lyrics and this set has plenty.

"Fire Escape" concludes with:

"We were raised by strangers
The life that you had in mind
Was just a moth and a light...
was just a moth and a light... "

Overall, a very close second to:

#1- The Antlers- Hospice

I'll have to admit that many times I pull music a la carte from iTunes and the web. But there is always merit to listening to an album from beginning to end. My first experience with a "themed" album was "The Wall"- Pink Floyd, though I much preferred the less highly acclaimed and sometimes disparaged "The Final Cut", which left my friends at 16 years old perplexed, but I digress. With the The Antlers "Hospice", there is no other way to listen in my opinion. But I caution you, be prepared. As the album title suggests, the "theme" of this work is not for the light-hearted.

From what I understand this epic derives from personal loss or hardship by front-man Peter Silberman. Much like "For Emma" from Justin Vernon's Bon Iver, this album has an honesty that goes unmatched. Set in cancer wards, bedsides, and before "snowy televisions", the album conveys a mood of loss, hardship, and dealing with the death of a loved one. Yeah, well, I said it is not for the faint of heart.

From the shimmering, crackling intro aptly titled "Prologue" that sets the tone for what is to come, through the hauntingly honest "Kettering":

"you said you hated my tone
it made you feel so alone
so you told me i had to be leaving

but something kept me standing
by that hospital bed
i should have quit but instead
i took care of you

you made me sleep and uneven
and i didn't believe them
when they told me that there
was no saving you "

These songs are filled with lyrics like this that will send shivers down your spine. An almost up-tempo "Two" is probably the most accessible song on the album. Yet it's lyrics describe the moment of realizing you cannot save someone you love:

"There was glass inside my feet and raining down from the ceiling,
it opened up the scars that had just finished healing."

"Wake" is beautiful, mesmerizing, and sums up the entire feeling of the album before launching into the "Epilogue" which closes this work of art as it began, with a skipping, scratchy music box fading out. Art like this doesn't come around too often and I congratulate Silberman on turning such a difficult subject into a work of art.

I have to part with my honorable mentions:

Manchester Orchestra- Mean Everything to Nothing
Deer Tick- Born on Flag Day
Wilco- Wilco (The Album)
Pearl Jam- Backspacer
Modest Mouse- No One's First and You're Next

Looking forward to 2010!
Send "Kettering" Ringtone to your Cell

Happy Birthday Sam Harnish

2009-11-10T04:44:00.002-05:00

Have a great day!

Texas Trip

2009-10-08T12:45:00.004-04:00

The Riverwalk, the Alamo as well as 2 days in the rain and mud concertgoing. We had a great time, got really dirty and drank many Margaritas. The pictures posted here sum it up, but to see more, click on the pictures...

We had beautiful weather in San Antonio and it was a great day for walking, eating and drinking. Of course, we saw the Alamo. We also visited the Market Place, and walked the entire Riverwalk more than once. We stayed at a hotel on the Riverwalk which allowed us to leave the hotel, walk down the steps and be in the middle of everything.

The concert was marked by rain the first day, but we stuck it out long enough to catch Deer Tick, Bell X1, The Felice Brothers, Bon Iver, and a bit of Grizzly Bear. Soaked to the bone and starting to shiver, we skipped The Decemberists and Dave Matthews.

Sorry to miss them, but I was glad to survive for another day. We waited until mid afternoon to get to the park. The rain had moved on but left mostly mud and muck in its place. The pictures don't do it any justice. It was a mess! We wrapped it up by catching Heartless Bastards, Arctic Monkeys, The Dead Weather, and finally Pearl Jam.

It would be something I would want to check out each year if it wasn't so far away. Great concert and great venue. Enjoy the pics!

Mother's Day 2009

2009-05-10T07:23:00.002-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

I posted a couple of special pictures here on the blog. That way everyone could see that obviously Mom likes me best!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Hope you have a great day and wish we were there to spend it with you...

Lots of love from everyone here: Chris, Kristine, Kaity & Maddy

2008 4th of July

2008-07-05T17:31:00.004-04:00

Last night was trying my hand at fireworks photos.... in a small town called New Richmond. It took some practice and about 150 shots, but I like the results... Click on the picture itself for a better view if you like...

Then, to add a little interest- I opened the shutter and panned around during 3-5 second exposures. Some of the effects were awesome....

We were pretty happy with the fireworks show.Here is a highlight from the finale...

There are many more if you like these- please check them out at: http://www.harnishdigitalphotography.com/Gallery1/index.html

Hope everyone had fun yesterday- Kris & I are on a mini vacation that we are wrapping around Maddy's birthday- a 5 day weekend.

2008-07-02T17:28:00.002-04:00

Well Maddy has learned how to ride her bike on two wheels! Just before her 9th birthday....

Thought you'd like to see the pictures. These were taken the very moment she was up on 2 wheels!

Please notice the t-shirt.... :)

A Story by Maddy!!

2008-03-04T19:49:00.001-05:00

In it's original form, a classic. This is why I love having kids....

If you can't read it here, try clicking on the picture

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Now playing on iTunes: Wilco - In A Future Age
via FoxyTunes

Another Birthday!!!

2008-03-03T21:06:00.003-05:00

Hey! Happy Birthday, Steve....

Our siblings. They resemble us just enough to make all their differences confusing, and no matter what we choose to make of this, we are cast in relation to them our whole lives long. ~Susan Scarf Merrell

It was nice growing up with someone like you - someone to lean on, someone to count on... someone to tell on! ~Author Unknown

Hope your day was great!!!

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-23T12:11:00.003-05:00

My recent attempt at photographing the lunar eclipse...
As you can see, this was a bit more challenging than it might seem to be. Notice the "light" section of the moon being totally over exposed. It's hard to get a good reading on that small sliver of moon up there.

However, with a little tweaking, I got a couple keepers.

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Now playing on iTunes: The Shins - Sleeping Lessons
via FoxyTunes

Maddy Swimming lessons!

2008-02-20T08:42:00.003-05:00

Maddy is taking swimming lessons at the high school again. She is taking her last beginner's course and then will take an "advanced beginner's" course again in a couple weeks.
As you already know, she's quite the swimmer and I think she shows off for the buddies in her group. Thought you'd get a kick out of the pictures, though.

Our Cabin in the Woods- The Chimney

2008-02-19T16:10:00.005-05:00

This is where we spent our 16th anniversary and the rest of the weekend. It's near Nashville, Indiana in Brown County about a half an hour or so south of Indy.

As you can see, there was some ice and snow, but the weather was actually pretty nice.

It's nice to get away for a bit but we missed the kids and were glad to see them when we got back...

Happy Birthday!!!

2008-02-09T18:41:00.000-05:00

"Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever." ~Author Unknown

"My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."
~Clarence Budington Kelland

2008-02-05T21:37:00.000-05:00

Is it so small a thing
To have enjoy'd the sun,
To have lived light in the spring,
To have loved, to have thought, to have done...

-Matthew Arnold

The fog was thick all day. I was on the road for most of it. Coming across this cemetery in the mist, I could not resist a photo opportunity. I bring my camera with me all the time now.

This has to be one of the most unique headstones I've seen....

And the view from the driver's seat...

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Now playing on iTunes: Bob Dylan - Honest With Me
via FoxyTunes

Sledding today!

2008-02-03T20:54:00.000-05:00

We went sledding today, taking advantage of the snow before it all melts. Kaity decided not to go. We stayed for just a little while but we had lots of fun. Climbing back up the hill sure showed me how out of shape I have gotten, though.

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Now playing on iTunes: Beck - Ramshackle
via FoxyTunes

A bit more snow....

2008-02-02T08:36:00.000-05:00

We got another 3 inches of snow or so. Our total was about 6 inches, nothing to shrug your shoulders at, but not the huge snowstorm we were warned about. The next few days are supposed to be above freezing so it should all be gone soon. Maybe we'll try to go sledding this weekend before it's all gone!

We had someone come in and measure the house for flooring. We wanted wood laminate throughout, but he recommended going with tile in the bathrooms as laminate did not hold up to moisture as well as tile. We may be going and looking at tile sometime this weekend, too.

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Now playing on iTunes: Pearl Jam - Corduroy
via FoxyTunes

Snow! Just not too much- yet...

2008-02-01T11:09:00.000-05:00

We were supposed to get most of the snow last night, but we didn't get near as much as they were warning us of. Kids are home today- no school, though. These pictures were taken this morning. But it seems to me that we are getting really heavy snow right now. I shoveled the entire drive this morning and it is back to being covered.

Looks like I'll have to have another go at it this afternoon.

Here's another picture to help keep you cool....

It was almost 60 degrees a couple days ago. Then we had thunderstorms and high winds and now snow... You miss Indiana?

Snow on the way!

2008-01-31T20:34:00.000-05:00

The snow is just barely falling right now. We are supposed to wake up to quite a dumping though. I'll post some pictures up here for you to see if it's anything worth noting.

I would like to think that this should be our last blast of winter weather, but big snowstorms are actually possible for another 2 months!

Looks like a three day weekend for the kids!

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Now playing on iTunes: Damien Rice - Sleep Don't Weep
via FoxyTunes

Just to Begin

2008-01-25T16:48:00.000-05:00

A blog for family. It's here to share what's going on with me, your brother, your son, whatever....

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Now playing on iTunes: Pearl Jam - Life Wasted
via FoxyTunes