July Music Challenge: Day 6 -- F is for Fleming (& John)

Husband and wife team Fleming & John created one of Christian Alternative music's most original and unique albums, Delusions of Grandeur. Their next album, I'm just starting to listen too.  It hasn't grabbed my attention quite like the first, but is still pretty good.

When making my list for the July Music challenge, I chose Fleming and John because I like their music, not realizing that F would fall on a Saturday, when I am spending lots of time n the car listening to music.  Imay be tired of F&J by the end of the day, but here we go!!

This vieo is a lyric video for my favorite F&J song.

July Music Challenge: Day 5 -- E is for Erasure

I decided to skip the obvious classic rock choices for E of the Eagles or Emerson Lake and Palmer.  And I passed on the current rush of girls named Ellie (Goulding, Holcomb and Lawson), and planted myself firmly in the late 80's dance pop that is Erasure.  So please join me if you'd like and spend today reliving the late 80's

I first heard Erasure and their Innocents album at a strike party at one of the shows at Arena Theatre in Wheaton, as my workout friends and I broke the pledge by dancing around the theatre like the crazy young fools we were.  I still hold Erasure close to my heart because of the wonderful Wheaton Theatre connection.

July Music Challenge: Day 4-- D is for Daniel Amos

I was about 14 when I saw this picture staring out at me from an ad in Campus Life magazine.  I had never heard of these guys, but I somehow knew this album would change my life, and my musical tastes.  I was not wrong, and for the last 33 years, the music of Daniel Amos (a band, not a person) has been a huge part of my musical journey.  Along with the solo work of front man Terry Taylor, and spin off bands The Swirling Eddies and Lost Dogs, their body of work is huge.  Today as we celebrate July 4th, I will be listening exclusively to the music of Daniel Amos, from their first two country flavored offerings, through the four volume Alarma series, right on up to the kickstarter funded project Dig Here Said The Angel (Not available for sale yet).  I will be skipping Terry's Solo albums, and the other band because the 16 albums I have should provide plenty of material.

Here's a video of a live performance of Sanctuary, one of my top ten DA songs

July Music Challenge: Day 3-- C is for Christina

My love affair with Christina Perri began, as so many people's did with a dance routine on So You Think You Can Dance.  The song Jar of Hearts instantly became an iTunes success story, leading to the seemingly overnight transformation of this waitress into a music superstar. As we await her second full album of original music, we still have plenty to shuffle through on this third day of July.  Here is the official music video of Jar of Hearts, choreographed by the woman who choreographed t for the show, and starring several SYTYCD dancers.

July Music Chalenge: Day 2-- B is for Bourgeois

In the mid 80's there was an under-rated group from Sacramento named Bourgeois Tagg. They had a few moderate hits.  Then one half of the title duo, Brent Bourgeois became an under-rated solo artist who released 2 albums to critical success, but not huge sales.

In the mid 90's Bret released his one and only album to the Christian music market. "Come Join the Living World" was my number two album in 1995 and made last years list of my desert island album.

For the second day of my July challenge I will be playing on my iPod on music by Brent Bourgeois and his band Bourgeois Tagg.  If you haven't heard his music yet, I suggest you try and find it.

Here is a video from MY "B" artist...who is yours?

July Music Challenge: Day 1-- A is for Amy

Kicking off July's music challenge we give you the letter A. And representing A this morning is Amy Grant/  Throughout the day today I will be playing music exclusively by Amy Grant.

I first discovered Amy's music at Summer Camp while in Jr High, or maybe High School. The album they played music from was Age to Age  This album, and Amy Grant were my gateway into Christian music.  I have discovered much more to Christian music than just Amy, nut it is always nice to come back home.

Not the greatest voice on the planet, but always smart enough to sing music in her range. With a new album for 2013, Amy proves she still have it. Amy Grant is my "A" artist...who is yours.

July Music Challenge...an introduction

Welcome to July.  Wedding month is over, and now we will concentrate on music.  Last summer I had you pick your desert island albums, and listen only to them for a month.  This July I am challenging you to give me the alphabet.   From July 1st through the 26th each day will take one letter of the alphabet, and pick a group or artist that starts with that letter, and play only that artist for that day.  For individual artist you may choose to go by first or last name (i.e. David Bowie could be "D" for David, or "B" for Bowie) but I ask you as much a possible to choose one way or the other.  I personally will follow iTunes nomenclature and go by first name.

For the last 5 days of the month, pick your top 5 groups or artist.  I will be giving my top 5 in no particular order.  My "A" blog will be coming in a few more hours.  Hapy July, get your iPods going!!