New Music Worth Your Time

There appears to be a resurgence in music lately.  Not a resurgence in the sense that there are a lot of good 'new' bands coming out with albums, but familiar bands coming out with great albums.  2010 was the worst.  Excitement about getting a new album felt forced and cds wore out there welcome after 1 or 2 full listens.  Recently the Decemberists have come out with a great record called The King is Dead.  Gillian Welch sings on it and the songs have a country feel that didn't exist on their other previous records.  Iron and Wine (Kiss Each Other Clean) still has great songwriting, but now adds some electronic stuff that I have to say I have always enjoyed.  It doesn't seem out of place and the listening experience is enjoyable.  Bright Eyes (The Peoples Key) comes out in a couple weeks.  If you order it from Saddle Creek right now they will send you a digital copy to download right now.  Or you can go to NPR and listen to the album in its entirety without spending a penny.  I am doing that right now because the download thing doesn't work and so far it seems pretty great.

Here are some other things The Sun Sets On Indiana is enjoying:

Television: (Here are some recommendations for the people who 'don't watch too much television' because their lives are too important)

1.  Portlandia-  Carrie Brownstein (Slater Kinney, NPR All Songs Considered) and Fred Armisen

This is on IFC and they put on little short skits about Portland.  Two episodes in and its nothing less than hilarious.

2.  Breaking Bad- (Bryan Cranston) Chemistry teacher/cancer patient selling meth.  Always a recipe for success.  Didn't catch it when it first came out.  Heard about the hype but never watched it.  We have purchased the first two seasons and its amazing.  

3.  Parks and Recreation-  Rob Lowe is a highlight, but so is each character on there.  Aziz Ansari, Amy Pohler just two more funny funny people.  Its hard to overshadow 30 Rock, but Parks and Rec is coming close.  Good thursday night of tv there.  

Beer:  We did thing we had a beer guy willing to do a weekly, monthly column on beer recs, but I think he forgot about us.

1.  Bells Hopslam- 10.0% a/v IPA.  A six pack costs around $15 but if you think about it there are about 12 beers worth of alcohol in each six pack of beer.  If you can find it, buy it and enjoy it.  Its not around often and its delicious.

2.  3 Floyds Gumballhead- A wheat IPA.  If you aren't in Chicago you are not going to find this.  It's my favorite beer I have ever had.  I think its hard to get even if you live in Chicago.

This is ice not snow.  If I tap a tree right now I think it might crumble.

Winter Blues

As the Midwest gets bombarded with more inclement weather, I'm bottled up in my apartment hoping that it passes or limits the damage to only rain. Wishful thinking. Probably won't know until the morning when I wake up at the crack of dawn to check for school closings. The life of a substitute teacher. So, if you are in the same predicament enjoy the time off and use it to your advantage. I'll probably spend my time reading, listening to tunes, and praying for an early spring. How bout a great tune for a miserable day inside?

LA---Ce N'est Rien

Another video to watch and enjoy.


Untitled from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.

New Bright Eyes tune---Haile Selassie

More new music to look forward to.  Seems like we went a year without getting excited about anything.  And now we have Iron and Wine and Bright Eyes and The Mountain Goats all with new albums here or coming in the near future.  Here is a new one from Bright Eyes.  Have a great listen.  It will be sent to your email.

Tree By The River by Iron and Wine in a Take Away Show

Here is Sam Beam playing a song under your floor boards or below the steps of your basement.  New album comes out tomorrow so go buy it.

Iron and Wine | Tree by the river | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Blind Dead Duck-James Alley Blues

A nice New Years performance by Blind Dead Duck.  Halfway through, what appears to be an earthquake, is just the camera holder clapping along.  And the hits just keep on coming...

Blind Dead Duck from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.

A New Installment of Live From New Years. He is ADAM and this is the Eagles.

Sit back and listen to the silky smooth vocal stylings of Adam and the metronomic rhythm of Mere.  Nice work!  Due to some technical difficulties the performance is in two sections.  This is Part I.

Untitled from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.


This is Part II

Untitled from Ryan Connors on Vimeo.