Music To My Ears

I have been listening to so much great new music lately and it makes me HAPPY.

Recently I have bought:

Kings of Leon: Only By The Night
Miranda Lambert: Revolution
Carrie Underwood: Play On
John Mayer: Battle Studies
Norah Jones: The Fall

I draw so much inspiration from listening to music... so it's funny that I find myself NOT listening to music that often. I think it's just life on the road. (And part of it was the switching of computers... I kept putting off transferring all my music because it was such a pain... pitiful, right?) But I find that when I am listening to music, I am happier in general. I am more creative and more inspired. So that needs to happen more. I am making a conscious effort to listen to more music this year.

I was surprised at how much I LOVE the Kings of Leon cd. I love "Use Somebody" and it was hard not to hear that song everywhere you go for a while there. But I heard a lot of people talking about how "it's nothing like their old stuff" and kind of bad mouthing them for changing up their style a bit. I want to listen to their older stuff, too, but I LOVE their cd. It's different and the lead singer's voice is just awesome.

Miranda is just ridiculous. She's the all around package. And I love how she's so much more raucous and raw emotionally than other country girls. She's such a great writer and her lyrics always surprise me. And every time I see her on a show singing live, I am so impressed with how much she's grown as an artist.

Carrie's cd didn't hit me the way her last two have on the first listen through. I was surprised. And with someone like Carrie Underwood, her cd's are much more a "collection of great songs" rather than every song making sense with each other like some albums. It's just a different approach. (As say, from Kings of Leon) But I love both extremes. The cd is really growing on me, and I feel like she is really maturing as an artist... with her choice of songs. And even as a writer. She is co-writing a LOT more of her material than she ever has before, which is just cool.

John Mayer. Never get tired of him. Ever. His lyrics just kill me every time. He has such a beautiful way with words. And I love hearing what he is gonna do next. Sometimes I almost think he's too smart musically... there's about 3 moments on the cd where he goes a little too "Berklee" for me. But at the same time, that's why I love him. He's truly an artist, and is always gonna do what he feels is right... even if it wouldn't have been my choice. :)

Norah Jones: what a surprise!!! Her new cd has SUCH a different sound from her last 3. And I was not at all expecting it! This is the one I haven't REALLY listened to yet. I have heard it a couple of times, but not when I could pay attention like I wanted. But I can't wait to dive into this one. It's so fun and flirty and a little more rawkin than she's been before.

So I guess this turned into a mini "CD review" which was not my intention.

Before I sign off... I have to tell you... Cinnamon keeps scaring herself from eh em... "letting em rip" :) She keeps looking back at her butt... running away and then looking at me, like "What is happening to me??" It's been going on the entire time I have been writing this blog... Poor thing. I don't know what she ate. But it's pretty funny.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Boyd, Big Byrd, and Train Ridin'

So I am a little late on this.... but I have to go back to our show in Columbia, SC at Wild Wing Cafe.

1st of all.... one of my favorite people in the entire world showed up to surprise me! BOYD!!!!!!! He ad I met at NACA a little over a year ago, and we discovered we are both from Columbia, TN - Mule Town USA!!!! We grew up 2 streets away from each other and his Daddy was always the BEST host of the Liars Contest :) That is a tradition from Mule Day - one of the most fun events of the weekend.




The show was AWESOME. The "Ruth" party :) brought about 15 of the most fun people!
It was Big Byrd's birthday. :)
What is it with these unbelievably tall people at the shows lately? I mean, I know I am a shorty, but seriously?




The night ended with a conga line to "Come On Ride The Train" - I never noticed how LONG that song is!!!! I was one tired girl at the end of the night!