It's Been a While

Failed. The whole blogging at least once a week goal I had going for me this summer, didn't happen (as you may have noticed). Believe me, I have a ton of excuses which I will write about in my next blog.

In the mean time, however, here's a guest blog I wrote for mouemagazine, an online blog magazine. Check it.... my musical blabbing

This is our weekly GUEST COLUMN. If you’d like to submit a Mix Tape, email Brandy at mouemagazine@gmail.com with “Mix Tape” in the subject line.

Tonight’s guest blogger is Shawn Connelly, musician/DJ/wanderer of the earth extraordinaire, who was gracious enough to share some favorites with us.

Over the past four years if I wasn’t in an 8ft by 6ft practice room working at becoming a better musician, I was keystroking my way through another pointless research paper. So when I heard I could be a guest at Moue and write about music, I leapt at the opportunity….that is a lie. Truthfully, I put it on the back burner as a definite “I’ll get around to doing that someday,” meaning a year or two from now, if ever. Then I was encouraged, rather cattle prodded, by a Moue blogger to get one in NOW. [He's overstating the case just a tad - ed.] So here I am, and in all honesty, I couldn’t be happier to do it.

I had a long drive last night and as I scrolled through my freshly loaded iPod Touch (gotta love Mac and their “you’re-a-student-have-a-free-iPod” policy) my only thought was, “what the hell has happened to me?” My music tastes have done a 180 and my car almost did too as I bounced along a bit too intensely to the beats.

From playing rock guitar at a young age, to joining high school musicals (truthfully to chase after a girl, but eventually loving musical theatre), to studying four years of classical music at the University level, and finally now landing on electronic and indie music after spending those same four years at a college radio station, I’ve mastered music appreciation (and also the run-on sentence).

Because it’s what I’m most into now, this mix tape will consist mostly of the electronic music and some indie that fires my pistons late at night, or any time of the day really. However, I’ll also toss in a few of those gems I’ve found from all sorts of genres that have molded me into the musician I am today.

Follow over the flip for the tunes:

Justice: Let There Be Light: Cross – Truth be told, this entire album makes me happy in all the right places. However, I found myself conducting along to this song in the car….yup, nerd.

Crystal Castles: Magic Spells: Crystal Castles – a head bobber, foottapper, whatever cliché term you’d like to apply to it.

Cut Copy: Lights and Music: In Ghost Colours - music + beats + singable lyrics = I’m pleased.

Daft Punk: Television Rules the Nation/Crescendolls: Alive 2007 – Daft Punk is nothing new, but this remix album/show (Lollapalooza 2007) took what they had and did something completely new with it. Another reason they rock - they don’t sue people for posting videos of their show on Youtube.

Hot Chip: Over and Over: The Warning – if this British electropop group doesn’t get you moving, check your pulse…in your neck and wrist just to be sure.

Hot Chip: One Pure Thought: Made in the Dark – taboo to put an artist twice in a mix tape? I don’t care. The contrast between these two songs yet their ability to stay true to their sound is worth the repeat.

Jose Gonzales: Killing for Love: In Our Nature- messed up music video, great musician.

Pat Metheny: Last Train Home: One Quiet Night – one cannot be guitar player and not appreciate Mr. Metheny, period..and I just played him on the jazz radio show I’m DJing right now.

Jason Robert Brown: She Cries: Songs for a New World – remember that musical nerd side of me? Well, this man began the new age of musicals as we know them, simply songs that tell stories that intertwine to make a stage show.

Joseph Stillwell: Bright and Energetic: Sonta No. 1 for Saxophone and Piano – academic music has given me a great appreciation for classical music. However, many are surprised to discover this post-modern side of classical music.