sunny daffy | Kansas City, KS 2008
Spring always seems like a good time to restart and try again. A time of new beginnings. It can be easy to think of time wasted and time lost, because we don’t know how much time we will be given. But it is the unknown that holds possibility and hope.
day’s end | Dingle, Ireland 2001
If you haven’t listened to Mumford & Sons yet, let be this be the last word you needed to hear before you remedy that situation. Can you really say no to lively folk rock music that is brazenly honest and approaches even heartache with a good humoured sprightliness? I think not. Many of their songs blow me away lyrically — sometimes a line here or there, sometimes an entire song.
Today I want to share two Mumford & Sons songs; one from each of their albums. These two songs aren’t necessarily my favourites, but, similar to Jónsi’s Go Do song, they are rousing both musically and lyrically.
I was thinking about what to post today and immediately thought of one of my favourite wintry songs – Young Bride by Midlake. From the moment I first heard it, the tune and lyrics seemed to touch on some unspeakable “yes”. (I don’t want to say truth, because that hits at something too deep or serious; so I’ll simply call it a “yes”.) When I pulled up the lyrics though, they’re odd; they don’t necessarily make sense; they’re not particularly quotable. Until you get to one phrase near the end.
sometimes spring is right behind you | Kansas City, MO 2010
It’s winter and if you’re living in the Midwest, it is COLD outside. Streets are starting to get that midwinter dingy look; and even though it’s a new year, the magic of New Year’s has worn off, and the January grumble has begun. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
1. Push play on Jónsi’s Go Do. [track 1 on his 2010 album: Go]
2. Let that delightfully chirpy intro envelope you.
3. Try not to think of Spring.
Sweden | 2012
Sweden | 2012
I have always found Christmas Eve to be both somber and giddy. Alfred Delp‘s quote seems particularly fitting for today; and somehow holds the weight of that serious joy.
A few years ago, my friend, Isaac Anderson, wrote a Christmas song – It Won’t Be Too Long Now – which also carries that festive gravitas. This song sticks with you — even builds and grows in you. The words are few, but the message they carry is more than enough.
Hobbiton | Matamata, NZ 2010
Hobbiton | Matamata, NZ 2010
Hobbit Week is upon us here at Gimme Some and the countdown to Friday’s release of the long awaited Hobbit film is nearing its end. I am particularly excited because I can finally share my pictures from Hobbiton! See more pictures on this week’s {tuesday travels} post.
A Howard Shore soundtrack is a beautiful thing. I almost listened to his music for The Hobbit, but decided I’d rather be introduced to the music and the visuals at the same time, so I chose to wait. In Lord of the Rings, Shore created such a rich soundscape – I think Tolkien would’ve loved how the music for the different people fit their culture and carried a real historic weight.
It’s beginning to look a bit like Christmas, even though it’s been strangely warmish in the Midwest. Regardless of weather or whatever else is going on in my life, when December hits, I can’t help but feel a kiddish glee in whistling Christmas carols — be it Silver Bells or something from Sufjan.
tangerine & teal | Kansas City, KS 2008
»Listen to Call it a Dance by Waterdeep.
Thanksgiving week is already upon us. I’ve been participating in a thankfulness-venture, which I started last year, called thanks-squared. Basically, the month of November becomes a treasure-hunt for thankfulness; each day you look for something you are thankful for and you instagram it — reminding yourself, while sharing it with others.
Here on Gimme Some Reads, I want to start with a word and pair it with reads.
a visual melody | Colorado 2010
{monday melodies} is here to bring you a bit of song to start your day; you know, give you something to whistle while you work.
