Prairie Beauty: Music Monday

So, these Music Monday posts are really starting to be an overview of What I Listened To This Weekend... which I'm actually kind of liking. There's something very organic about really just writing about what I've actually been listening to recently, no matter how new or how old or how popular it is. Anyway, this weekend I finally switched CDs in my car from Sia... which I had been listening to for weeks, for the most part. The switch came because me and my boyfriend had to drive across town and I know he's not so much into my favored female singer/songwriters, so I chose to switch to this band because they're A) amazing, and B) have great percussion, which my boyfriend the drummer loves.

I discovered Half Moon Run last year when they opened for City And Colour here in Winnipeg and I was instantly sold. During the break, I dragged my friend to the merch table to buy the CD - and this is a thing that I pretty much never do. There was just something about them that drew me instantly to their music. I mean, this definitely falls in my typical taste wheelhouse, to be sure, but even still... In this day and age, to get me out of my seat to go buy a CD? Epic. I hadn't pulled out this CD for a while, but as soon as I put it on I remembered how much I love them.

This song feels to me like the kind of music that is certainly best listened to underneath a clear summer sky... which is funny because the lyrical content of this song is heavy and hard to swallow. For anyone who has dealt with a loved one who has struggled with addiction and all of the pain and rollercoaster than comes along with that, I think this song will hit close to home. I know it did for me. There's something about dealing with a drug addict that is infuriating and heartbreaking and terrifying all at the same time, and I think this song somehow captures all of that. I have to say, I've always loved music that does an amazing job of capturing emotion outside of the romantic, and I feel like this is a great example of that.

Anyway, I know this is heavy for a Monday morning, but it's what I've been listening to! I hope you all have a great week!

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Fiona Apple has been a favorite of mine since I was in high school... maybe even junior high. From the very beginning, with songs like Criminal and Shadowboxer, I felt things when I listed to her music. I felt connected to the lyrics and the emotion behind them. When The Idler Wheel Is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do was released, it had been a long time since I'd really listened to Fiona because it had been a long time since she'd released new music. Even though she'd fallen off my radar somewhat, I knew as soon as I listened to this album that it was likely going to become one of my favorites of all time.

Music has always been an emotional thing for me, I've always been drawn to music that I feel like I connect to, whether there's just a feeling in the musical composition or, more often, if I feel touched by the lyrics. I often say that I love music that feels like it's written and performed by women, rather than girls, and I've always felt like I connected with Fiona as a woman with shared emotional experiences. Maybe I have no idea what she's actually writing about, what she's been through, because I don't actually know her... but I don't have to in order to feel like we share a secret. Know what I mean? I feel like that's the draw for all fans of Fiona... somehow we all feel like she knows our secrets and it's okay, because they're her secrets too.

From where I'm standing, this song is about anxiety and strength. Again, maybe I'm projecting my own experiences onto this song, but I feel like I understand every word of it. When the night gets quiet and dark and the anxiety creeps into your brain, twisting your thoughts and your stomach so that you're roiling with it. I feel like I could have written this song. What I love most, though, is that in the end she's not cured of the anxiety... but she's okay and she still wants to experience everything in her life. "Every single night's alright, every single night's a fight, every single night's alright with my brain." That's the thing, I think... It doesn't necessarily go away, but you can find strength to be okay in spite of it and experience an amazing life. Also, I think there's something to be said for feeling your feelings, both the soaringly good ones and the excruciatingly bad ones.

My heart's made of parts of all that's around me
And that's why the devil just can't get around me

If this is your style and you haven't listened to this album... Seriously, go listen to it. Buy it on iTunes. Bask in it. Like I said, this is one of my all time favorite albums and she's one of my all time favorite artists.... Wish she'd put out another new album.

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As much as I'd love to just feature new music on Music Monday, I am admittedly not as tuned in to new music released as I used to be. Something to work on, I think. Either way, I have a huge catalog of music that I absolutely love and that I absolutely love to share, so I feel like there are really endless options of what I can share on these Music Monday posts. I was listening to one of my favorite playlists on my iPhone the other day and this song, as well as a couple of others from this band, came on and I knew I wanted to feature it. This song is a few years old, but the first time I heard it I was pretty much instantly obsessed and have loved everything that MSMR has put out since this one. They continued to be a staple on my playlists. For anyone who likes this darker indie pop sound, I think this is definitely a band to look into.

Anyone who has paid attention to these Music Monday features knows how I much female vocalists with a smoky, sexy tone their voices. Lizzy Plapinger has really clean, smooth vocals, but she also has that edgy tone to her voice that I always appreciate. I know this may be a bit of a weird way to put it, but I love vocalists who sound like they've been through some stuff. Talented, but with an edge. I think that's generally what I'm drawn to in people as well, so it really isn't surprising. Anyone else feel like that tends to be a drawing force in music? I feel like I'm always drawn to music like I'm drawn to people.

The lyrics of this song delve into insecurity in relationships that I think most of us feel. I'm amazed at the ability of some artists to be vulnerable like that. For me, I feel like this song is about falling in love, feeling unworthy of the person you're with, and ultimately ruining that relationship before the other person can see through you and leave. The self fulfilling prophecy of insecurity is a bitch, isn't it? I feel like this is an incredibly relatable song, if only because I feel like that feeling of falling in love always comes with, at the very least, amazement that the person you love could possibly feel that way about you, with all of your flaws. I feel like we've all experienced that, at least to some degree.

Didn't know what this would be

But I knew I didn't see what you thought you saw in me

A couple of others songs by MSMR that I love are Think Of You and Dark Doo Wop, which was actually the song that originally introduced me to the band and had such an interesting tone to it that I absolutely had to hear more.

Thanks for checking out Music Monday and check back next week for more!

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For the past 20 years of our friendship, me and my best friend have had our tastes intersect on a great many things, but it's a pretty rare occasion when our musical tastes converge. When she told me that I had to listen to this song, I knew that there was about a 50/50 chance that I would like it... but I'm pretty sure that she knew it was 110% certain that this would be my new jam. She knows me better than anyone. And she was correct. We're talking instant obsession, instant need to own this album, and then no other music playing in my world for several days at least while I soaked this in. Seriously, this took Sia's place in my car. For the moment, anyway.

I've always loved music by women that is really easy to listen to, but has that edge of a little bit of darkness. I've never been the type to be particularly impressed by intricate musicianship as far as instruments are concerned, though I can appreciate the talent that it requires and acknowledge it's value. What, instead, always draws me to music are vocals and lyrics. For me, in most parts of my life, it's always about the words, and in music it's also so much about the voice singing them. I want to feel the emotion in a singer's voice, find a way to relate to it and empathize because I can connect somehow to what I perceive the inspiration to be. It's all about perception with music, I think. We can't really know what a musician is thinking when they write, but I feel like the best songwriters find a way to drawn you in and make you really feel like you do know what they were going through.

Have I gone on and on enough about what I love about music?

Listen, my enjoyment of this song and also of Banks' album Goddess, really boils down to three things: 1) I love her voice. That smoky, sultry sound is always one that I'm going to be drawn to. 2) I love the lyrics because I feel like they're really well constructed and emotional. 3) I love the dark R&B sound of the music, it's a style of music that I've been loving a lot in the past few years. (See The Weeknd, whom Banks has toured with.)

So, what're you listening to this week? Any recommendations?

Check back next week for a Music Monday guest post!

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I've been thinking about doing something like this on the blog for a while, featuring music that I'm listening to at the moment and sharing it with those who are reading this blog, but this song is the one that really prompted me to go for it. Dallas Green, the man behind City & Colour, has long been a favorite of mine for his soft, moody music and beautiful lyrics, and thus far I've loved pretty much everything that he's done. This song is special though.

"Nowhere, Texas" is a new song for you, but an old song for me. I recorded it during my session for 'The Hurry And The Harm.' I knew as soon as I listened to it there was a better place for it than the album.

I've held on to it all this time and chosen to release it as a way to bring attention to something around us everyday: violence against women.

I wrote the song after watching a movie, 'Texas Killing Fields.' I couldn't shake the real story of a lonely road that became the final resting place of missing women. This song tells that story - but sadly this road does not stand alone. Places like this are everywhere.

This weekend marks the 25 year anniversary of the Montreal Massacre - the day 14 women were murdered and another 14 people were injured at the hands of a single gunman because they were women. December 6 is Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

"Nowhere, Texas" will be available to purchase digitally on Friday, December 5 worldwide. All profits will be donated to the YWCA of Canada's Rose Campaign as they work to reduce violence against women, increase public awareness and prevent violence before it starts."

~Dallas Green

This song is truly beautiful, but it's the message of the song that's truly haunting. And also truly important. There is an epidemic that still persists of violence against women and bringing a spotlight to that through music and popular culture is one real way to help effect change in the attitudes about it. All voices matter, but sometimes it takes someone with an international microphone to call a little bit of extra attention to the issues facing our society.

To purchase this song on iTunes and support the YWCA of Canada's Rose Campaign, click here.

Check back next week for another Music Monday... with perhaps a slightly lighter tone.

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