Sweet Aussie music finds, part 2

I know I'm revealing my inner music geek here--you know, the same one who in jr. high thrilled to find obscure British bands she thought no one in Cache Valley had yet discovered? But the good Aussie music finds just keep coming and I really love sharing music gems. So here are a few more favorites (see part 1 here). 

Mia Dyson
- Blues singer with a sound similar to Brandi Carlisle
- moved to the US, has toured with Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, and Chris Isaak
- try I Meant Something to You Once

Matt Corby
- mellow acoustic singer with a sound a little like Jeff Buckley 
- beautiful, melancholy songs
- try Made of Stone,  Light Home

San Cisco
- indie pop band with a low-fi garage band sound--reminds me of the Ting Tings
- upbeat tempos and hooks (but some mellower stuff, too)
- try Awkward, Reckless 

Boy & Bear
- a bit of a Mumford & Sons sound
- won breakthrough songwriter of the year 2012 from APRA
- toured with Mumford & Sons, Angus & Julia Stone and others
- try Mexican Mavis, Feeding Line 

Paul Greene & The Other Colours
- mellow, upbeat, versatile
- reminiscent of Neil Finn (Crowded House), Elvis Costello
- Greene's also a runner and competed in the Atlanta Olympics (!) 
- try Her Minor Key , Behind the Stars

p.s. I've compiled many of our favorites onto an Australian Alternative playlist here.

Sweet (new-to-us) discoveries

Part of the fun of moving across the globe is sampling a whole new music scene. Happily, there is a lot going on here in Australia with a wealth of talented artists that just don't get the exposure in the states--at least not yet or not as much. While we were already fans of some of these before we came here (I'm looking at you, Angus & Julia Stone and The Temper Trap), it's been fun to discover what we've been missing out on. 

Here are a few new-to-us Aussie faves that you might like, too (and, yes, for those of you who are Australians, it's probably old news):

Little Red
- 4-piece indie pop band (sadly they just broke up in July, though)
- upbeat, happy energy and a bit of a retro sound in some of their songs
- try Rock It , Coca Cola

Angus & Julia Stone
- brother-sister duo with unique voices and close harmonies
- Big Jet Plane was their big breakout, also used on movie soundtracks and commercials
- try Big Jet Plane, I'm Not Yours, Just a Boy

The Temper Trap
- The lead, Mandagi, was originally a busker in Melbourne
- I first loved them on the soundtrack for 500 Days of Summer 
- try Sweet Disposition, Trembling Hands

Lanie Lane
- blues+jazz singer-songwriter-guitarist (and florist, to raise money for her album)
- charming, eclectic sound
- just won best independent blues & roots album
- try That's What You Get for Falling in Love with a Cowboy, What Do I Do

The Rubens
- a fairly new band (started in 2011) but they are gaining fast
- soul + blues + rock, reminiscent of the Black Keys (who they opened for here)
- try Lay It Down, My Gun, Never Be the Same

More to come...

Playlist: Early days in Oz

The moving vans have arrived and we are busy unpacking and setting up house here! (Huzzah!) In the meantime, I thought I'd share some of our favorite music showing up frequently in the rotation around here.

Hiking with friends in Tidbinbilla

For the rest of my life when I hear one of these songs, I will think of our early days in Australia: of eucalyptus trees and long walks, of driving around in our little red hatchback rental car with the windows down, of our delight in seeing Aussie creatures, of being both excited and slightly woozy from jetlag and turning our lives upside down. 

These links take you to hear each of the songs on Spotify; here's the whole playlist:

Once Upon Another Time (Sara Bareilles)
Be My Witness (Bahamas)
Bread (Yellow Ostrich)
Gnossiennes No. 1 Lent (Satie)
Take It With Me (Tom Waits)
Flowers in Your Hair (The Lumineers)
On My Way Back Home (Band of Horses)
Forever Young (Bob Dylan)
Stay (Sara Bareilles)
The Lord Bless You and Keep You (John Rutter)
Normal Song (Perfume Genius)
If I Didn't Know Better (Sam Palladio, Clare Bowen)
Bring It On Home to Me (Sam Cooke)
If You Want Trouble (Nick Waterhouse)
My Heart Stood Still (Chet Baker)
You're the One That I Want (The Lennings)
Big Jet Plane (Angus and Julia Stone)
T-Bone Shuffle (T-Bone Walker)
Wisely and Slow (The Staves)
Come Back Down (Greg Laswell & Sara Bareilles)
Heart & Bones (The Pines)
We're Going to Be Friends (The White Stripes)
Fade Into You (Palladio & Bowen)
I Saw You Blink (Stornaway)
1000 Sundowns (Emma Louise)
Are You Ready Yet? (Clare Bowditch) 

 p.s. I'm a big fan of the show Parenthood; if you are, too, you might notice that I lifted a few of these from the Bravermans (that show just keeps getting better and better, right?). And here's a little bonus for your viewing pleasure, some "kangaroo" high jinx  (thanks to Sam, who shared it after seeing it at school today): 

Good Long Reads

Somewhere in the last month or so, I discovered Longreads. Where have I been? It's a curated site that recommends the best long essays and articles from a wide array of magazines, journals, and newspapers. They link to the original article and even give the word count and estimated time it takes to read it. It's heaven--vetted to pass along consistently breathtaking writing + captivating topics. 

So, in an especially meta move, I offer you my best of Longreads' best, from recent weeks:

Fade to Light by Dave Cameron, published in Walrus Magazine: a poignant and insightful look at a couple who are living with Alzheimer's Disease. I dare you to read this and not fall a little bit in love with Lowell.

Coach by William Browning, published in SBNation: A real life portrait of a tough, beloved Friday-Night-Lights high school football coach, paralleled by a boy's search for himself.

At Home at the End of Google Earth by David Kushner, Vanity Fair: An amazing tale of how a young man used Google Earth to find his family he lost at age 5 in Calcutta.

The Dead are Real: Hilary Mantel's Imagination by Larissa Macfarquhar, The New Yorker: Fascinating interview with Hilary Mantel, author of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies (for which she just won her second Booker Prize).

What are you reading lately? 

Summer obsession #2

Cheap Foster Grant aviators. I bought these in desperation at a drug store two years ago for about $9. I adore them and hope they last forever because I can't find their twin anywhere. Luckily, they were cheap so I will never lose them. (I only lose expensive ones, of course!) I wear them and channel Tami Taylor. 

Which leads me to summer obsession #2b. This summer I've introduced Maddy to Friday Night Lights. (It's our little treat together now and then. I think 16 is a good age to get it and it's also a fabulous entree to some good discussions about issues brought up in the show. Because it's not without its prickly issues, y'all.)

So, anyway. I've been re-immersed in Tami Taylor appreciation lately. (Seriously, is there a graduate program to become Tami Taylor? Because I'd enroll.) I know I've already sung its praises several times here through the years but it's such a terrific show. And my favorite t.v. portrayal of a real, true, imperfect, loving marriage. If you're looking to get immersed in a series this summer, you could treat yourself to FNL. Clear eyes, full hearts can't lose.

Okay, I won't go all crazy with clips but here's the final promo trailer encompassing scenes from the entire series: