unpiano: music

I was talking to a friend the other day and she mentioned that Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks was her perfect album. I though that was a pretty strong statement to make about a Van Morrison album, but then I went and re-listened to it. Holy Fuck was she right, it’s so good. In fact, it’s even better than I remembered. Maybe I was too young the first time? I dunno.. but it’s making me pretty happy lately and I think I might end up using it for some of this summer’s road trips. I really want to post the whole album but it gets kind of overwhelming with that many songs, plus it kind of sucks for the artists. So here are a couple of songs that will make you really sad or really happy depending on which one you click on..

Van Morrison - Slim Slow Slide
Van Morrison - Sweet Thing

Justin Vernon went to go hibernate in Northwestern Wisconsin after the breakup of his last band and instead returned with an incredible new record under the name Bon Iver. From what I read, he just chopped wood, took walks and recorded 12 hours a day. The whole album was recorded by him alone on some old crappy equipment. I love that about music. You don’t need any fancy gear, you don’t need anyone else, shit you don’t even have to live in New York. You just go and create songs and say fuck it. Next thing you know, you have an amazing album. I guess it didn’t hurt that he had some good contacts from his last band, but you get my point. Either way, ‘Skinny Love’ is one of those love songs that make you sad and happy at the same time. I really like those.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love
Bon Iver - Team
Bon Iver - Lump Sum

Bonus:
Bon Iver - Skinny Love live (video)

One of my favorites of the freaky folk revivalists, Marissa Nadler’s haunting voice and acoustic guitar work slay me. Her latest Songs III: Bird on the Water is a gorgeous follow up to one of my favorites of 2005, the spooky and beautiful The Saga of Mayflower May. She layers in some additional instrumentation and vocals this time around, but still stays rooted in husky voiced folk guitar ballads of heartbreak and death.

Marissa Nadler - Diamond Heart
Marissa Nadler - Dying Breed

Bonus:
Marissa Nadler - No Surprises (video, Radiohead cover)

This Elvis Perkins song kills me every time. The guy has a great voice and the songs is so sweet and so sad at the same time. I’ve heard rumors that this song is about his mother who was in one of the planes that crashed into the world trade center. That would make a little sense, but I learned to stop trusting the internet a long time ago. Either way, I understand his live shows are hard to stop watching and I can’t wait till he swings by the city.

Elvis Perkins - While You Were Sleeping
Elvis Perkins - All Night Without Love

Bonus:
Elvis Perkins - While You Were Sleeping (Live on Letterman)