Supermoon Medicine – Playlist for March 21, 2011

While the moon tugs at the tides and our planet shifts and trembles, we all feel the reverberations.  Seeking to find some balance, I go to the haven of music.  When in doubt:  listen.

Vibrations of sound bring an elixir to the soul.  Suddenly all is well when a great bass line meets the ear drum.  There’s nothing like sweet poetry sung through a golden throat to touch our hearts.  Music is good medicine!  I say we dance our way through these days.

Today’s show had some odes to the moon woven through and I also featured a couple of great cover songs:

Adele meets Robert Smith.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And The Bird and the Bee meet up with Hall and Oates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s the playlist:
Dub is A Weapon – Turbulence
Marvin Gaye – Mercy Mercy Me
Calexico – House of Valparaiso
Lynx – Burning Bone
Eddie Vedder – You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away
Julian Velard – It Must Have Been Somebody Else
Kaki King – Goby
Junip – Always
Temper Trap – Love Lost
Djosos Krost – Better Place
Piers Faccini – Who Loves the Shade
Mark Farina – That Time of Day Again
DJ Vadim – sd1 Funk
Josh Garrels – Fire By Night
Bon Iver – Beach Baby
Air – La Femme d’Argent
The Bird and the Bee – I Can’t Go For That
Feist – My Moon My Man
Adele – Lovesong
Gomez – Blue Moon Rising
Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan – That’s Alright Mama
Rickie Lee Jones – The Moon is Made of Gold
James Vincent McMorrow – Hear the Noise that Moves So Soft & Low
Paul Simon – The Afterlife
Beck – We Dance Alone
Kasai Allstars – Beyond the 7th Moon
Nalepa – Pomme Granite Dub
Radio Utopia w/ Bjaka – Get Up Stand Up
Kaki King – Sloan Shore

Playlist for February 22, 2011 – Kauai Community Radio’s Music as Medicine

Today on the Garden Island we had cloud cover, some rain and big gusts that blew down coconuts and pushed open my front door!  Nothing like a little Mother Nature to put us all in our place.

As usual, I had a fantastic time hosting Music as Medicine, certainly getting my own little sonic elixir and dancing alone in the KKCR studio.  Some highlights of the show for me today were a couple tracks from one of my favorite music sharing venues:  www.daytrotter.com.  I played a fantastic version of Ra Ra Riot‘s “Boy”, as well another great recording with Ben Taylor, as he describes the song he wrote for his nephew, in utero, called “Turn on the Lights.”

Delving into the classic archive realms, I played Jeff Buckley’s “Last Goodbye” and Joni Mitchell‘s “All I Want”.  You know these songs are solid gold when you can hear them for the hundredth time and still be moved.

I’m currently enjoying some new music too.  Just getting to know James Vincent McMorrow’s album “Early in the Morning”, but really enjoying what I’ve heard so far.  And I’m also presently enraptured with Feist’s latest release “Look at What the Light Did Now”, offering live performances from her tour of The Reminder album (there is an accompanying DVD, as well).

courtesy of http://www.listentofeist.com

Lyrics from “Limit to Your Love” seem to ring even more poetic when heard with a live and loving audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There’s a limit to your love
Like a waterfall in slow motion
Like a map with no ocean

~ “Limit to Your Love” Feist

Here’s to Love in infinite possibility.  May the music gush forth with powerful force, oceanic in the depths of its reach.

Here’s today’s playlist:

Nomo – Round the Way
Lynx – Youngblood
Fink – Sort of Revolution
Calexico – Dub Latina
Tricky – Veronika
Ra Ra Riot – Boy
Ben Taylor – Turn on the Lights
Mark Farina – That Time of Day Again
Adele – Turning Tables
Junip – Rope & Summit
Frazey Ford – Goin Over
Jeff Buckley – Last Goodbye
Feist – Limit to Your Love (live)
Kabanjak – Blues Encore
Josh Garrels – Words Remain
JJ Cale – Travelin Light
James Vincent McMorrow – Early in the Morning, I’ll Come Calling
Joni Mitchell – All I Want
Scarlett Johanson – One Whole Hour
Lynx – Tricksters & Fools
Augustus Pablo – Bass & Drum Version
Buffy St. Marie – Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Makana – Reunion
Ben Harper – Morning Yearning
Four Tet – As Serious as Your Life
J. Irvin Dally – Sun Room
Makana – Bali Kamaha’o

How Many Ways Can You Sing Hallelujah – Sonic Elixir for February 7, 2011

I’m not religious, but when it comes to Music I am a devout follower. Today’s dose of Music as Medicine had a sonic theme and you’ll see where the thread weaves in the playlist below.

They say there’s a remedy for the blues (and I’ve discovered it to be true):  you can’t be in a funk when you’ve got an attitude of gratitude.

So, hallelujah!

Cochemea Gastelum – You’re So Good to Me
Lynx – Burning Bone
Local Natives – Wild Eyes
Radio Citizen (featuring Bajka) – Hope
Nneka – From Africa 2 U
Jack Johnson – The Upsetter
Mark Farina – Afros in Ya
Katie Gray – Hallelujah
Feist – So Sorry
Kalai – The Crown
Junip – Sweet & Bitter
Julian Velard – Heartless
Sheila Chandra – Speaking in Tongues III
Josh Garrels – Be Set Free
Youssoupha Sidibe – AlaDj B Bodian
Seryn – We Will All Be Changed
Gin Wigmore – Hallelujah
Adele – Rolling in the Deep
Sheila Chandra – La Sagesse
Piers Faccini – What Kind of Heart
Ray Barbee – Find Enjoyment
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Running Away/Crazy Baldheads
Martin Sexton – Hallelujah (live)
Etienne de Rocher – Six Feet
Tallest Man on Earth – Tangle in the Trampled Wheat
Kaki King – Sloan Shore
Bob Marley & the Wailers – Jamming

Playlist for January 24, 2011

Someone asked me the other day how I got all of my music.  There are multiple sources, for sure, but one great way to add to your collection is by checking out the websites that regularly offer free downloads.  Here are some of my favorite places to learn about new music and add to my library.

image courtesy of http://www.daytrotter.com

Daytrotter – one of the coolest websites I know.  Amazing art, beautiful writing and of course, great music – all live, unique recordings.  A must for any music lover.

Paste Magazine – easy place to get the latest on all things musical, with a special page dedicated to Free MP3s.

courtesy of http://www.pastemagazine.com

 

 

 

 

Sub Pop Records – they feature single song downloads from signed artists.  One of the great classic labels.  Their music is always superior.

image courtesy of Sub Pop Records

If you’ve got a rockin music resource, please feel free to post a comment here and share the wealth.

As for today’s sonic elixir, here’s the medicine mix.  Enjoy.  Stay tuned!

Tommy Guerrero – 1966
Ben Taylor – Given to Us
Josh Garrels – Patterns
Radio Utopia (feat. Bajka) – Get Up Stand Up
Laru Beya – Aurelio
Jason Collett – Cold Blue Halo
Piers Faccini – To Ramona
Local Natives – Wide Eyes
Charlene Soraia – Hello Again (live)
Caribou – Bowls
Feist – My Moon My Man (live)
Junip – Always
DJ Vadim – sd1 Funk
Ohmega Watts – You are Now Tuned In (feat Adam L & DJ Bombay)
Volcano Choir – Island, IS
Lissie – Everywhere I Go (live)
Calexico – Sonic Wind
Dave Matthews – Tomorrow Never Comes
Jesca Hoop – Whispering Light
Kelly Joe Phelps – Katy
Piers Faccini – Cypress Grove Blues
Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks Band – Space Captain
Madlib – Funky Blue Note
Edie Brickell – Always
Radio Citizen (Bajka) – Hope
Twin Shadow – Slow (live)
Snowblink – Human Nature (live)
Massive Attack & Mad Professor – Bumper Bali Dub (Karmacoma)
David Gray – Gossamer Thread

Playlist for January 10, 2011

So I’ve encouraged you to make an appointment with joy.  Schedule that time with something that brings you utter happiness.

However in the program today I felt like I was feeling my way through the dark.  To be honest, I wasn’t really feeling the joy.  And then I put on a Piers Faccini song I’d never played on the air before.

And just like that, there it was.  That sonic elixir.  A moment touched by the grace of music.   

“My Burden is Light” is like gospel.  A modern spiritual. 

Joy Joy I’m out of luck.  Joy Joy I give up.

Giving up never felt so good.

Here’s an excerpt of lyrics from “My Burden is Light” and you can listen to the whole song through the link here.

“My Burden is Light” – Piers Faccini

Together we’ll wake up together we’ll sleep
We’ve tied the knot this bond we’ll keep
Turn the lock from the outside in
This wheel of fate can roll and spin

Captive soldier betrayed by love
Sees no bars he sees the stars above
A link and a tie and a lover’s embrace
A paradise made touched by grace

Joy joy
I’m out of luck
Joy joy
I give up

– Piers Faccini “My Burden is Light”

And as promised, here’s the whole play list for today’s Dose.

Four Tet – As Serious as Your Life
Josh Garrels – Be Set Free
Horse Feathers – Drain You
Junip – Rope & Summit
Andrew Bird – A Breaks B
David Gray – Kathleen
Piers Faccini – My Burden is Light
Augustus Pablo – Hot and Cold Version
Curtis Mayfield – Check Out Your Mind
Butch Cassidy Sound System – The Putney
Fat Freddy’s Drop – The Raft
Nneka – Come With Me
Ben Harper – Whipping Boy (live)
One Self – Temptation
Land of Talk – Quarry Hymns
Jason Collett – Cold Blue Halo
Nicolai Dunger – What Tomorrow
Emily Wells – Symphony 9 & the Sunshine
Sean Bones feat. Norah Jones – Turn Them
Raphael Saadiq – 100 Yard Dash
Julian Velard – Been This Strange
Protassov – Flirtline
Edie Brickell – Circle
Gillian Welch – Everything is Free
Ane Brun – One More Time
Big Head Todd & the Monsters – Happiness Is
Plants & Animals – Good Friend

Playlist for 11/29

I dosed myself with the sonic elixir today, giving my raspy voice some musical medicine.  Not much talking with my hoarse throat, just a lot of music over the airwaves.

And like the show today, I’ll be a woman of few words here and let the tunes do the talking.  Below is the playlist from today’s Music as Medicine program…Enjoy!

Farid w/ Zeebo – Sound Champion
Toni Childs – Welcome to the World
Pretenders – Message of Love
Xavier Rudd – The Reasons We Were Blessed
Black Dub – I Believe in You
Josh Garrels – Fire By Night
DJ Sun – Dubai
Lissie – Little Lovin
Botany – Waterparker
David Gray – When I Was in Your Heart
KT Tunstall – The Entertainer
Lia Ices – Grown Unknown
Land of Talk – Magnetic Hill
Laura Marling – Blues Run the Game
White Denim – Shy Billy
Nneka – Walking
Fex Fellini – Ganesha
Nalepa – Pomme Granite Dub
Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Happiness Is
Maps & Atlases – Living Decorations – Breton Remix 1
Piers Faccini – Your Name No More
Sia – Breathe Me (Four Tet Remix)
David Gray – Gossamer Thread
Josh Garrels – Over Oceans
Ben Harper w/ INXS – Never Tear Us Apart
Zeb – Nafas
Theivery Corp – Shiva
Horse Feathers – Bonnet of Briars

My Appointment with Joy

I had plenty to do, lots of things that could have kept me away from the KKCR studio today.  Many practical things to tend to…all seeming so much more important than playing music for two hours on the radio.

But I showed up for the dose of Music as Medicine anyway and by the third song with Nneka I had my priorities straightened out.  Music is medicine.  Tune in and turn it up.  We all need a heaping dose of feeling good.

Nneka album cover

So the message I received today (and what I shall impart to you) is:

make an appointment with your joy

Don’t pencil it in.  Write it in ink and keep your appointment.

Whatever your joy may be.  Hiking the hills, surfing a wave, knitting a sweater, reading a book.  For me, it’s filling my soul with a sonic elixir of musical vibrations and then sharing it with you (yes, you).

The world needs us all to be filling up our hearts with joyful moments.  Put those moments on the agenda and keep them plentiful.  Here’s to a joyful schedule!

And here’s today’s playlist:

The Budos Band – Raja Haje
Ohmega Watts – Stay Tuned
Nneka – Walking
Sade – Soldier of Love
Ray Charles – I’m Gonna Keep on Singin
Black Dub – I Believe in You
Donovon Frankenreiter – Glow
Cochemea Gastelum – Guardian Angel
David Gray – Only the Wine
Sharon Van Etten – Peace Signs
Horse Feathers – Drain You
Keegan DeWitt – Say La La
White Denim – Our Get
Twin Shadow – I Can’t Wait
Julian Velard – Hyper-Ballad
Josh Garrels – Season of Rain
Youssoupha Sidibe – Xalem
Toni Childs – I Saw God in the Supermarket
The New Mastersounds – Witness (Smooth Remix)
Fat Freddy’s Drop – The Raft
DJ Vadim – Under Your Hat
The Revolutionaries – 79 Rock
John Cruz – Dream
Jaymay – One May Die so Lonely
Land of Talk – Hamburg, Noon
The Harlem Experiment – It’s Just Begun
Patty Griffin – Mad Mission
Ocote Soul Sounds – Pan, Chamba y Techo
Thievery Corp – Sound the Alarm

Follow the arrow – For the Archives post on the remarkable Toni Childs

My writing blog on a beautiful night with Toni Childs

Support of Kauai Community Radio

Today Music as Medicine gets to celebrate the power of listener-supported, volunteer-powered community radio at it’s finest.

KKCR-FM is a community radio station that brings independent radio to the entire island of Kauai and to the world at large. There’s nothing like it.

My program today will focus on raising the necessary funds to keep this unique gem alive and thriving on the airwaves. The goal is to raise $1100 during Music as Medicine’s two hour set. You can tune in 3-5 Hawaii Standard time (that’s 3 hours behind the West Coast). We’ve got some special ways to thank you for your support – one of them being a few select iTunes gift cards with a Recommended Dose of tracks I love.

Music lovers, artists, free-thinkers and those with a dream…tune in and support a hub of communication and art: Community Radio. www.kkcr.org.

Aloha!

The Best of the 1980’s Top 40 – Electric Avenue

Eddy Grant’s “Electric Avenue” made a huge musical impression on me. This was another one of those early songs that exploded into my South-Pacific-soundtrack-world and gave me a whole new beat to feel. It was exotic…it was electric! Who can forget that revving motorcycle and solid shout: “Boys!”?

It’s a boy I think about whenever I hear this song. I can’t remember his name. I didn’t know him well. But there we were beside the baseball field. I was nearing 9. He was on his BMX bike doing jumps on small dirt hills. He wore checkerboard Vans. Out of someone’s car in the distance was Eddy’s call to rock…and then take it higher.

Blonde-haired boy, BMX bike, checkered vans and Eddy Grant.

Imprint made.

I still love this song.