Are you like me? Do you love music? You probably do. There are few people I know that don't enjoy some sort of music. There is actually only one person I can think of that doesn't share an affinity for music like the rest of the world. His name is Daniel Reynolds (DR).
I hold nothing against DR for not particularly having a great passion for music. It is not that he hates music. It just doesn't resonate with him in a way that it does others. In fact I love Daniel Reynolds. He is a man, imperfect like the rest of us. I respect and admire him in ways that can only be achieved through being himself...that makes sense doesn't it? I can have a great appreciation for a man who openly claims he doesn't have a particular affinity for music albeit the majority of mankind loves music in general and would think his stance odd. Whether that is the case or not, music is not what ultimately is important in life. If it were I would trust DR to love music. Does music rattle into existence without the will of man? -or- Does man make music? (And I don't mean the rhythms of nature, the "music" of the ocean waves, the chirping of a song bird, etc...though I enjoy these, don't get all hippie on me in this blog post...I'm talking about the kind of music I can download in mp3 format with guitar rifts, bass drum,--violin if you're like me--, and the melodies of the human voice.) In any manner it should be man that is important to music not the other way around. (Though I can imagine someone arguing the opposite, try to look through the lens of straightforwardness for now.) I am privileged to call Daniel Reynolds my friend. Music is not a determinant for friendship; of course it can play a part, but it is certainly not a necessity. This is the end of my digression.
Finally the reason for this blog post is to share some music with you that I have been enjoying lately. So whether you are Daniel Reynolds or not, here is some good music! :)
Poison & Wine by The Civil Wars
Poison & Wine is a musical snapshot about the dichotomy of love - that while it can be the thing that destroys you, it can also be the very same thing that beckons and builds you. JP and I are both married have been for several years now - and we got to talking one day about what a tug and pull our individual relationships can be. The longer you know someone - and the longer you allow someone to know you - the more the light and shadows inside each person become more vivid. This song was our attempt at being as brutally honest about the dangerous and beautiful process of knowing and being known. (-Joy Williams, The Civil Wars)
Forgot Love by Public Radio The Perfect Space by The Avett Brothers
Fighter Pilot by Sanders Bohlke For Emma by Bon Iver
I hope you enjoy these videos and this music. I encourage you to check out these artists and some of their other songs. These are simply video versions of some of their songs I was able to find. I really enjoy some other songs by these artists that I did not post...i.e. "The Weight of Us" by Sanders Bohlke. Also if you search for Sanders Bohlke on Vimeo you can find a "full set at music in the hall" featuring many of his songs; this video and these songs are done very well. A fun fact is that Sanders Bohlke is a Mississippi musician, which I enjoy because I am a Mississippian.
Listen well,
DB
