5/365 - New Music

5/365 - New Music, originally uploaded by freeloosedirt.

If you ask most people about their favorite music, most everyone would tell you about music that was recorded and released when they were in high school or college. Most of us were just finding our way into our own music during that time of our lives, and when we began taking on adult responsibilities, we found less time to dig into what could be happening with new bands and new types of music. Nostalgia gets a grip on our playlists, and what is familiar takes the reins from what might be new and exciting. I might be an outlier with this dynamic, as I still look forward to Tuesdays when new music comes out.

Most of you know that my prefered medium for playing music is the vinyl record: You just can't beat the analog and uncompressed sound. However, I still consume a lot of music through other mediums, such as Spotify. There are quite a few new releases today that I'm excited about, including Josh Ritter, Son Volt, The Replacements and even a “new” Jimi Hendrix album.

But the release I'm highlighting today is from a band called Great Peacock . They are a southern band of sorts; really just two guys Andrew Nelson and Blount Floyd. You might find comparisons with Fleet Foxes or even Mumford and Sons. What I find is the authenticity of a couple of guys who love what they are doing and talented enough to take what is in their heads and share it with all of us.

Throw off the familiar and check them out.

4/365 - Bulletin Board

4/365 - Bulletin Board, originally uploaded by freeloosedirt.

This is a bulletin board on the wall in my "listening room." It is full of buttons, decals, download cards from LPs, setlists and more. I've thrown in things from other things that I've done for good measure as well. I'm probably going to need a bigger bulletin board before too much longer. Click through to flickr, zoom in and see what you can find.

3/365 - No Depression

3/365 - No Depression, originally uploaded by freeloosedirt.

"No Depression" is a song by The Carter Family, and is covered by Uncle Tupelo on this album, their debut. The band went on to record three more records in the 1990s before breaking up and spawning two more bands, Son Volt and Wilco. However, the title of this song and album became a descriptor used by some to refer to the entire genre of music more aptly named Alternative Country. Alt Country is a favorite genre of mine, and this band in particular. I'm not alone in that. There is a group of us active on an email listserv named for another Uncle Tupelo song, "Postcard From Hell." We gather, discuss music, current events, share recommendations for the best TVs or Tacos and make lists ranking things. Reading "Postcard" is a daily part of my life, and many of the men and women there are close friends of mine.