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Griffin House
“Only Love Remains”

There’s something very powerful and reminiscent in this song for me. Years ago in college when I was a music major, I’d go to the concert hall and lock myself away in one of the small and intimate piano auditoriums. I would turn out all the lights and just play the piano. No words. No light. Only music. I will forever remember how the echoing chords touched me in a very literal sense. The notes would hang in the air forever as if they didn’t want to leave that dark room. The beginning of this song reminds me of what I used to play in that dark room. I hope you let the first few chords seep into you.

Just when I thought this song couldn’t get any better, the harmonica rings out. It’s brilliant.

On a side note, I thought the production of this song was interesting – especially the ending. He sings an octave above and at a much louder dynamic (as you should be able to tell in his vocal inflections), but he’s standing further away from the microphone, and it is almost like he’s singing in a room too small for his voice.

By the way, this version of the song isn’t the same one as on the CD attached to this post. I honestly can’t tell you where to get this copy. (other than here)

I hope you enjoy.

All my things, melt away.
Only love… love remains.

Billy Joel
“And So it Goes”

Billy Joel holds a special place in my heart. I’ve listened to his music with great fondness since I was a young child. For some reason, listening to him reminds me of my dad. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that dad and I (and my brother) often took long weekend trips in a car to see his mom (my grandmother). On the way, we would regularly hear a Billy Joel song. Dad’s favorite (if memory serves) was “piano man”.

Aside from the fond memories, Billy Joel is an amazing pianist and singer/songwriter. This song is so honest and so powerful.

The closing phrases…hit so hard…

so I would choose to be with you
That’s if the choice were mine to make.
but you can make decisions too
and you can have this heart to break.

And so it goes, and so it goes…
and you’re the only one who knows.

Honorable mention: If you dig choral groups, You’ve got to hear the King’s Singers version of this song. It’s pretty amazing.

Sara Bareilles
“Gravity”

I’ve had this song on standby since before I left for my Jamaica Vacation in early September.
I just never got around to posting it — sorry.

Sarah reminds me of Sarah McLachlan a bit. I hope you like it.

I’ve been busy lately. I’m in the process of buying my first house. This website might be quiet for a couple weeks more.

Hem
“The part where you let go”

Like the indigo girls, the harmonies in this song are actually lower than the melody. I absolutely love the result. If I were to classify this group, I’d say it’s nickel creek meets Indigo girls. It’s a bit more complex than just that though. You’ll find many more instruments in HEM’s arsenal. If you listen to “Half acre” you’ll hear a bassoon, an oboe, piano, xylophone, clarinets, and strings.

If a sense of musical folk is your thing, you’ll really dig this music.

Chris Hawkes
“Falling Into Doubt”

This song played on MTV tonight. Chris is a great Texas (yay!) artist. I love his chord progressions. If you’ve ever listened to old school seven mary three, you’ll notice a lot of resemblance in the sort of dissonant chord patterns, and similarly how they resolve. It’s great music. I also have a thing for falsetto lately. This guy will be making a splash in the coming days, you can be sure.

Quantic & Nickodemus
“Mi Swing es Tropical”

I fell in love with this tune the first time I heard it in a commercial for Apple’s iPod. This Spanish number has been stuck in my head for days. Posting it here was the only way to get it out of my system. This song is featured on the CD associated with this post as well as a CD for Quantic, since this track was apparently a collaborative effort.

I hope this song is as fun for you as it is for me.

Marié Digby
“Umbrella”

She’ll be making big news by tomorrow. This song was just added to iTunes today. It’s a pretty good cover. A non-produced version is on youtube. Check it out. This version aired on MTV at the end of the season premiere of “The Hills” (3rd season). Don’t start. It’s not my fault I started watching it. Someone twisted my arm.

Marié has been recently in the studio (re?)recording 3 songs. You can find them on her myspace page (linked below). I love Rihanna’s version of this too, but I like acoustic takes on popular songs even more. Enjoy.

Jason Reeves
“Photographs & Memories”

If you didn’t know, Jason Reeves helped Colbie Caillat cowrite most of the songs on her new CD “CoCo”. If you are a fan of this site, you might remember I posted a song by Colbie already, before the CD was released. This was not well-received by the RIAA, but thankfully Colbie’s online marketing agency saw fit to give me clearance to post the music afterward.

Enjoy This song by Jason. He’s pretty good on the guitar and a good singer on his own.

Matt Nathanson
“Bulletproof Weeks”

Matt finally gets posted here with this amazing guitar/piano/vocal combo. This is no cheap radio song, but I’m sure I’ll be singing it (or at least humming). It’s a great, wonderful song about fixating on the wonderful times summer gave us, only to realize they’re now gone, and being sadly nostalgic.

Ahh, summer love. :) Enjoy, and thank Matt Nathanson by buying his new CD.

Matt Wertz
“I will not take my love away”

I’ve wanted to post a Matt Wertz song for quite a while now. Stacy reminded me tonight that I hadn’t yet. We listened to a few of his songs, and this one was the first one that I felt was right for the site. Just the other day, I was listening to a song playing on the TV as the end credits were rolling by at the end of a movie. It was a Matt Wertz song. This one – “I Wll Not Take My Love Away” – is fairly short, but just long enough for him to tell us exactly what he wanted to with the song. I love it when a song leaves you wanting more at the end. It’s usually the #1 reason I hit the replay button, and also serves as evidence that I’m hooked (on a feelin’).