This is such a beautiful song. And what powerful vocals. How come I never knew about it or Joan Baez.

They Bring Me To You

I'll Keep Your Memory Vague

This is just a good slow Rock song. Nothing particularly special maybe. But to me everything just fits perfectly in this one - the guitar, the organs, the riffs. The lead singer, by the way, is Jacob Dylan, son of Bob.

Josephine

I think I like this guy. I mean 4 posts! He sure seems talented and versatile. And how about this:

"Mraz is also an avocado farmer in California. He is a raw foodist, meaning he only eats uncooked and unprocessed foods."

It's energetic and sounds a bit like hip-hop / rap.

Wordplay

A very rich sounding acoustic guitar starts the song. And it continues throughout, along with occasional piano notes which form the many layers of this song. Adam Duritz's vocals are complemented beautifully by the backing harmonics. At more than 7 minutes, its almost like a ballad. Didn't like it the first time around but to use the cliche, it has grown on me. It has this nice flowing quality to it which soothes you during a typical office day.

This is the Heineken Music Hall version by the way. I like it much more than the studio version.

Hes got everything. An amazingly smooth voice and as distinctive a guitar playing style ( and sound ) that there can be.
9 out of 10 songs that I come across are about love and relationships. Within them, a majority about loving and losing. That's what makes this one all the more special.

Quality Shoe

You have to look at the lyrics when you listen to the song. Why aren't there more songs like these?

You got your toecaps reinforced with steel
Hard-wearing sole and heel
Make those tired feet feel like new
Take your pick, black or Brown
Great for the country or the man in town
You're gonna need a quality shoe

You don't want no stand-by pair
'Cos these'll take the wear and tear
Made to take good care of you
For that trip by road or rail
For extra grip on those rocky trails
You're gonna need a quality shoe

Now they maybe ain't too hot for dancing
But I don't foresee too much of that
You ain't exactly gonna be prancing
Around in the moonlight
With a cane and a top hat

If you could use a change of pace
And be excused from the rat race
Just take a look at what's on view
Lace 'em up, walk around
I guarantee you can't wear 'em down
You're gonna need a quality shoe

Now I wish you sunny skies
And happiness wherever you may go
But you got to realise
There'll be wind, there'll be rain
And occasional snow

You're gonna want to smile in them
If you're gonna walk a mile in them
There'll be times when you'll be blue
To laugh at rainy days and then
Make your getaways in them
You're gonna need a quality shoe

You got your toecaps reinforced with steel
Hard-wearing sole and heel
Make those tired feet feel like new
Take your pick, black or Brown
Great for the country or the man in town
You're gonna need a quality shoe

In many ways, Jackson Browne was the quintessential sensitive Californian singer/songwriter of the early '70s....
Thus starts Jackson Browne's introduction in Jango.

This is the first song I've heard. Don't think it would be the last.

And if you care for the lyrics...

Running down around the towns along the shore
When I was sixteen and on my own
No, I couldn't tell you what the hell those brakes were for
I was just trying to hear my song

Jimmy found his own sweet sound and won that free guitar
We'd all get in the van and play
Life became the Paradox, the Bear, the Rouge et Noir
And the stretch of road running to L.A.

Pages turning
Pages we were years from learning
Straight into the night our hearts were flung
Better bring your own redemption when you come
To the barricades of Heaven where I'm from

All the world was shining from those hills
The stars above and the lights below
Among those there to test their fortunes and their wills
I lost track of the score long ago

Pages turning
Pages we were years from learning
Straight into the night our hearts were flung
Better bring your own redemption when you come
To the barricades of Heaven where I'm from

Childhood comes for me at night
Voices of my friends
Your face bathing me in light
Hope that never ends

Pages turning
Pages torn and pages burning
Faded pages, open in the sun
Better bring your own redemption when you come
To the barricades of Heaven where I'm from.
Better bring your own redemption when you come
To the barricades of Heaven where I'm from.

Opportunity
Sometimes, its just the lyrics. A friend sent me the song on a Friday morning. Couldn't have asked for a better start to the day.
It's the kind of song I would want to listen to driving along the road.

Don't be scared of what you cannot see
Your only fear is possibility
Never wonder what the hell went wrong
Your second chance may never come along

Read the lyrics. Makes perfect sense to me right now.

And so it goes another lonely day
Your savin time but your miles away
Your fly was drownin in some bitter tea
For seeing lost opportunity

Find your mirror go and look inside
And see the talent you always hide
Don't go kidd yourself well not today
Satisfaction's not to far away

Hold on now your exits here
It's waiting just for you
Don't pause too long
It's fading now
It's ending all too soon you'll see

Soon you'll see

Your coffee's warm but your milk is sour
Life is short but your here to flower
Dream yourself along another day
Never miss opportunity

Don't be scared of what you cannot see
Your only fear is possibility
Never wonder what the hell went wrong
Your second chance may never come along

Hold on now your exits here
It's waiting just for you
Don't pause too long
It's fading now
It's ending all too soon you'll see

Soon you'll see

Hold on now your exits here
It's waiting just for you
Don't pause too long
It's fading now
It's ending all too soon you'll see

Soon you'll see

Immensely soothing and flowing. If you dont have Wine, I guess a can of Beer or a glass of Scotch wouldn't be too bad.

And simple, honest lyrics...

Wine
Don’t make me no dancer
Don’t give me no answers
Don’t bring you my way
Wine
Don’t paint me no pictures
Don’t make me no richer
Just leads me astray

Wine
Don’t make this a party
Don’t help me stay on key
Don’t throw me no bones
Wine
Don’t make me no lover
Don’t give me no cover
It don’t know my way home

It don’t make me feel better
But it makes me feel different
Something to hold
While I’m wonderin’ where I went
Fruit of the vine
Bottle of wine

Wine
Don’t make me no smarter
Don’t help me work harder
To right what I’ve wronged
Wine
Sweet as a berry
Bitter as envy
Soft as a song
It don’t make me feel better
But it makes me feel different
Something to hold
While I’m wonderin’ where I went
Fruit of the vine, baby, bottle of wine

The 'lightest' song from his album, I'm In Mumbai has, to its credit, a very catchy tune in general and a particularly Bluesy short guitar riff. As with most of his other songs, the violin is used extensively in a very Indian way. All of which means that the overall instrumentation is quite impressive and foot- tapping.

The first thing that hits you about Raghu Dixit's most popular song from his debut album is its 'Bob Marleyesque' groove. An eclectic mix of Indian Folk, Rock and Blues, Hey Bhagwan is, to put it very simply, different. Combine all that with his high pitched, bold vocals and you have a refreshing experience.

And how many of us could say the same thing:

hey bhagwan mujhko tu
zindagi dubara de

I stumble across a lot of songs. Almost on a daily basis. The last year or so has been especially prolific. Recommendations from friends, Jango, Pandora, Songza, Aurgasm, The Glorious Hum, random browsing during office hours....

If you like the stuff ( or even hate it ! ) or have anything to say, suggest, drop in a line at
atishdipankar[AT]gmail[DOT]com