Flightless Bird, American Mouth

My love for Iron & Wine has recently been rekindled.

I have to admit, I’m a bit guilty of letting bands that I love fall out of regular rotation whenever I’m in a specific state of mind… I was REALLY into Iron & Wine a few years ago, during an emotionally turbulent time when I craved either slow melodies and folky lyrics OR the fast I’m-angry-because-I’m-better-than-you stuff.

But I’ve been so stable lately that I just can’t get enough of catchy pop tunes (like American Boy by Estelle.. OMG!) and my usual iPod staples like the Beatles, Oasis and Death Cab – my tried-and-true-good-for-any-mood music. Unfortunately, whenever this happens, nothing else seems to get past the sunshine radiating from my speakers… and beloved bands with abstract lyrics like Iron & Wine fall out of context.

But thanks to Twilight, (yeah, I know), I’ve recently remembered why Iron & Wine is so amazing. It’s not just this song, and it’s not just because of the story, but when I downloaded The Shepherd’s Dog and listened to it intently while chain-smoking out my window, I was blown away by what is perhaps Iron & Wine’s best album yet.

Sam Beam’s voice is angelic… as usual. And the songs on here put folk classics like Simon & Garfunkel to shame. Turns out I’ve been missing out, because this album actually falls perfectly into my current context. To describe it in a few adjectives, I would use: hopeful, honest, artistic, tortured but optimistic, contemporary but traditional, beautiful and painful, all at the same time. Which means, I’m either projecting… or my theory about discovering the right music at the right time really does hold up.

I’m not a professional music critic, but I know what I like… and I ADORE this album. And so I’ve been listening to it non-stop. It’s amazing… GET IT!!!

p.s. While you’re at it, go see TWILIGHT!

The feeling that you gave me

Anybody could scroll through my iTunes music library and discover that I have eclectic taste. I like a variety of music… from classic Beatles, to indie kids like Death Cab, to mega-popstars like Michael Jackson.

But there are only a few artists that I can really call exceptional. I think that in order to fit into that category, the music needs to be timeless and have the ability to penetrate the soul like some sort of spiritual epiphany. One artist that does just that for me: Jack White.

I know that I talk quite a bit about Jack – but I can’t help it. Every time he comes out with something new, whether it’s with The White Stripes or The Raconteurs.. or some solo project, I’m amazed even more at how infinite his ability is as a musician. The man understands music, and the soul – and he just shares it with the world.

I saw The Raconteurs live for the 2nd time over the weekend @ The Joint /Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. They are incredible.

Of all the concerts I’ve been to – which number somewhere in the hundreds in my lifetime, I don’t think I’ve ever felt closer to being an ACTUAL PART of the music than when I saw The Raconteurs this weekend.

Me and seven of my friends made the trek out to sin city to see them and somehow secured a spot inside The Joint that was right up against the stage. I swear Jack made eye contact with me and gave me a smile during “Steady as she goes.” I know that was a really groupie-thing to say, but fuck it – let me dream.

“If you lose all your money, break all the windows in the hotel on your way out.” – Jack White

Anyway, their show was flawless. The set list couldn’t have been better. If there were any mistakes, nobody heard them. They played the crowd as well as their own instruments and for the most part – it felt like we were all stuck in a giant amplifier, putting out the sound of perfection as one autonomous thing. I don’t mean to make this sound romanticized at all… it’s just how I felt.

There was one particular moment that I will never forget. Right after Jack’s spontaneous guitar solo in “Blue Veins,” this look came over his face that so exemplified what their band had just done to everyone in the crowd. It was that “I know I just got you off” kind of look. He knew it… they were manipulating everything that was going on at that moment – and the room might as well have imploded right there.

I really look forward to the next time I see these guys. And I am so glad they exist, because they really know how to make their audience a part of their music, not just bystanders.

And in general, what Jack White can do with his guitar and his voice makes me feel fulfilled in a way that’s a bit difficult to fully describe. I believe that there’s a common connection between people and things. By nature, I think that we’re all a part of each other. And no other force besides incredible music, especially what comes out of Jack White, reminds me of that feeling.

Get me outta here!

It’s days like this that I wish “going to work” meant “rocking out.”

If it weren’t for responsibility, I’d be down to “kick the plan before the plan kicks me.” Careers where “the man” is involved are totally overrated.