2nd Anniversary • Smoke Free

Clockwise: Angus & Julia Stone; Patti Smith; Declan Bennett; and k.d. lang.

Well, it has been just over two years since I had my last cigarette. Sometimes, it is incredible for me to think I actually made it that long. I mean, I have to be honest, I had smoked for more than 30 years, and had thought I would have little shot of giving it up at this point. But through a strange series of events, I got sick, and had bad congestion, and couldn't smoke for a few days. I quickly decided to see how far I could ride it out. At that point, I was paying over $50 a week for cigarettes, and decided since I wanted to purchase an iPad, if I managed to not smoke for 10 weeks, I would have paid for the iPad. So I had a goal, which I found to be an important part of those early days. To date, I have saved over $6,000, and have clearly paid for my iPad. I thought this was cause for celebration, and so let us begin. The first song I would like to offer up is the fantastic brother/sister duo from Australia, Angus and Julia Stone, as they sing "Chocolates and Cigarettes".

Next up, we have a song written by American composer Willard Robison, and sung by some very exceptional jazz singers. That list has included Nina Simone, Peggy Lee, Julie London, and so many others. But this time, give a listen to the brilliant Patti Smith as she sings "Don't Smoke In Bed".

Next up, there is another brilliant vocalist that has long been on my playlists. Very early on in her recording career, k.d. lang was making her own very special flavor of Country music. Here is "Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray", off the 1987 release 'Angel With A Lariat'.

And finally, I offer you the always addictive Declan Bennett with a song off his 2004 album, 'The Painter's Ball'.  Actually, he released that under the name "sumladfromcov", and it was the first album I found of his, and instantly fell in love. On it, he sings "Smoke".

So, it there anything you'd like to give up?

Great 2011 Releases

Clockwise: Hotels & Highways, Nathan Leigh Jones, Angus & Julia Stone, and Mikey Wax.

With my next to the last post in 2011, I thought I would try to show some appreciation for some of the breeders on my playlist. Look, I know you must feel like a real minority on my iTunes playlists, but you really are appreciated. I refuse to discriminate against you just because of who you sleep with. That said, there was some great music from this group, and I loved listening to that music whenever I could.

I first found out about the music of Hotels & Highways because I was a big fan of Syd's music. So when he got together with Lisa Piccirillo and Patrick Thomas, I couldn't wait to hear what came of it. When they released Lost River, I was blown away, and couldn't hear it enough. They fuse together the rootsy sound with a modern edge like few can, and made a great, complete album. Watch this video from a live performance of Train Whistle from their debut.



You can purchase Lost River from iTunes and Amazon.

I have David Raleigh to blame for my preoccupation with the music of Nathan Leigh Jones. David and the handsome Aussie are friends, and Nathan has produced some music of David's, including the beautiful That's What Friends Are For with Raleigh, Sir Ari Gold, Alan Cumming, and Billy Porter. But it was his great music that really won me over, from his 2008 EP, The Way I'm Missing You, to the newly released Sooner Or Later, I just love it all. In fact, I had to go to New York City to see Jones and Raleigh perform with my dear friend David Dust, and it was a magical night. Only recently, Nathan released the video for Beautiful You, off the latest album.



You can purchase Sooner Or Later from iTunes and Amazon.

I still remember the point when I first decided I would be a Mikey Wax fan for a long time to come. It was when I happened across his video for La Vie En Rose, looking for something to use on the blog. Well, I hit play, and developed a big crush on him, one that has not ended yet. I bought the last couple of EPs and a full album he put out, but with the release of his latest album, I was blown away. Mikey focused his energy on the music, and put out a Pop wonder called Constant Motion. I just love it, and think it should be a mandatory listen for all music lovers. Give a listen as Mikey sings Counting On You, which has recently started to get some airplay on the radio!



You can purchase Constant Motion from iTunes and Amazon.

I don't know where I've been for the last few years, but for some reason, it hasn't been on the same plane as Australian siblings Angus & Julia Stone. However, since finding them, I am completely loopy about their quirky music, and lap it up like it was pudding. I found some of their older music, and love it, just like the latest stuff. And it doesn't hurt I am totally crushing on Angus, damn, he's beautiful. They started the year with a single at the top of the Australian charts, and soon that song made it on to a commercial in the US, and I discovered my new obsession. Watch the video for Big Jet Plane off the album Down The Way.



You can purchase Down The Way from iTunes and Amazon.

You're The One That I Want • Angus & Julia Stone

When I first came across the music of siblings Angus and Julia Stone, I was blown away by the fact I was enchanted by it immediately. They combine exquisite musicality with amazing harmonies and a charming distribution of quirk to make truly special songs. I just recently came across a wonderful cover they did in 2007 while promoting the Down The Way album. Enjoy their take on Olivia Newton-John's song from Grease, You're The One That I Want.



You can find the song on the EP for the single Big Jet Plane. It is on iTunes here, and on Amazon here. You can find more about Angus and Julia on their official website here. You can also find them on Twitter here.

Sunday Morning with Angus & Julia Stone

On some Sundays, I am not looking for the romance of music, or the inspiration, either. Sometimes, I am just looking to be bathed by the sound. It takes a special type of music to do that. I will admit that when I was trolling around looking for some new music - yeah, I actually do that sometimes, spending countless hours going through YouTube or, in the old days, MySpace - when I first came across Angus & Julia Stone I was taken aback by the beauty of Angus Stone. He left me a bit breathless, but I managed to catch up, and start to listen. While a pretty face can turn my head, it is really the music that captures my heart, and that is exactly what the brother-sister team of Angus & Julia Stone did. They stole my cold, cold heart and warmed it with their simple yet enchanting music, an odd mix of folk, classical and pop, with a healthy amount of quirk tossed on the barbie. Take, for example, their song, Yellow Brick Road, off the 2010 release, Down The Way.



That was Angus out in front, but there are also times when Julia takes her turn at the microphone. In fact, the title track from the 2006 EP, Chocolates & Cigarettes, is a prime example of the beautiful and touching personal songs the siblings are putting out.



But then we can return to Angus, here singing one of my very favorites, Paper Aeroplane. The song first appeared on the 2006 EP Chocolates And Cigarettes. While it has the strong charms of a romantic tale, it is the multidimensional and rhythmic beat of the song that makes me thing of a more sensual nature of the music.



For more about Julia and Angus, you can find their official website here. The music is available on iTunes. You can find their 2010 release, Down the Way, here.