Last weekend I spent some time in downtown San Antonio at The Alamo and on the Riverwalk with my sister and a couple friends.
I used a Photoshop color curve, summer blend, by Bliss to edit the photos. She has it up on her blog for free and it's really wonderful. She's one of my favorite photographers; I love her work.
July 17th Releases: Broken Brights by Angus Stone The Acoustic Sessions (Live) - EP by Kari Jobe Carry Me Back by Old Crow Medicine Show The Ol' Razzle Dazzle by Missy Higgins
Angus Stone has stepped out on his own from making music with his sister Julia for his solo debut, Broken Bright. I love it! I'm actually a way bigger fan of his effort than his sisters recent solo release. My favorite tracks on the album are "Clouds Above" and the title track, "Broken Brights." "Only a Woman" and "The Wolf and the Butler" feel Paul Simon-esque to me, maybe even a little Bob Dylan influence too. The entire album has a nice nostalgic vibe to it; put me in a field with a flower crown and this album.
These girls are so ridiculously talented. I'm just waiting for them to show up Ellen.
I'm not a huge Laura Marling fan, but I did appreciate the stripped down acoustic feel of this. Even though she's not one of my favorite artists, I have so much respect for her songwriting. So much talent.
A couple months ago I had written about Regina playing a show in New York City and it streaming on NPR.com. Well in case you missed the live stream, you can go back and watch it now! I plan on watching it again. Regina is just so darn cute and her music is magical.
I saw this and it made my whole life... my favorite news of the day! Mumford & Sons is releasing their second album, Babel on September 24th. The artwork, track listing and tour dates are up on their website. I've heard one of the songs, "Lover of the Light" from seeing them perform it live. I'm stoked it's on the album. Cannot wait! This band speaks to my soul.
Here are some new bands/artists I'm really getting into:
River City Extension
songs: "If You Need Me Back in Brooklyn", "Down, Down, Down"
There's this amazing light that streams through my front door in the afternoon and I've been wanting to set myself in it for a while and finally found the time yesterday. The sun hits the glass in the door and creates all these lines and rainbows.
I had a family session today and I think it went well. Those types of shoots are the hardest for me. Posing people is definitely something that I need to work on. I feel so much more relaxed and confident when I'm observing a natural moment rather than staging a moment. I need to figure out how I can create natural and comfortable moments. I have so much to learn.
A few weeks ago my co-worker found a couple packages of expired polaroid film in a closet here at the office. I'm in love with the vintage yellow coloring.
I suppose by now it's more like tunes-night, right? One day I'll get myself back together...
July 10 Releases:
Electra Heart by Marina and The Diamonds
The songs have catchy beats, she sounds like UK's version of Katy Perry.
Uncaged by Zac Brown Band
Don't judge me, but I've been known to like a few Zac Brown Band songs.
Voyeur by Saint Motel
I was listening to this earlier and I really liked the sound... I'll be going back to this over the next couple weeks.
In Currents by The Early November
I love the first track on the album, "A Stain On the Carpet".
Nothing came out today that I was super stoked about... so that's a bummer. But I'm really liking Saint Motel. That was a cool find.
This is a new song by The Killers. For some reason I always seem to forget about The Killers til I hear a song on the radio or it comes up randomly on my iPod. But once they pop back up I just get so wrapped up in them again... I'm excited for a new release and I'm digging this song. Brandon Flowers is so brilliant.
Band of Horses is a band that gives my heart wings... I could travel the entire world with these songs as my soundtrack and not have a care in the world. My first listen of this song was just ok... I'm thinking it'll grow on me. Their new album Mirage Rock is set to release September 18th and they already have pre-orders available on their website. So that's cool... and they are cool and it's cool music.
There's a Fleetwood Mac tribute album coming out August 14th and if you know me even a little bit, you'll know how I am deeply and madly in love with Fleetwood Mac. Lykki Li is covering "Silver Springs" and it's pretty good...
However... not as good as Stacy Dupree's cover...
This album is my most recent obsession. I guess the multi-singer, big group, folksie, hand-clapping, "hey"-shouting, and harmonizing type band is really in right now... but I don't care I love it! Unlike The Head and The Heart or Of Monsters and Men, The Lumineers only have three members. The whole album is really great... my favorite track is "Big Parade." "Ho Hey" is the other track that I really love... the video is really pretty too.
I can't believe so much time has already gone by since the wedding, it's consumed my life for the last two weeks and now I'm just tired. I don't have much to say other than it was wonderful and I was sad to see everyone go.
The film Grace and I put together was very much an experiment for me. I knew what I wanted to see and feel artistically, but I went into it with the very basics of what I was doing technically. I'm so happy that Jesse trusted me with capturing such an important moment in her life.
That combined with the deadline for this to be finished I have to be content with the end result. I spent a little bit of time beating myself up because I felt like there's so much more I could have done and so many ways that it could be so much better. But I had to let that go and let it be what it is. So I decided to be really happy with how everything turned out... I learned so much! Grace was a huge help on this... I can't tell you how much I owe her.
Anyway.. this is it:
Here are just a few of my favorites from the whole event... there are more on my facebook page.
So there's not too many albums out today that I'm stoked about. I mean... Chris Brown doesn't really do it for me, sorry. Actually nope... not really sorry about that one. I don't like Chris Brown.
Out today: I am excited about this! Hillsong delivers some of the most honest worship music that I've heard. I feel like too often worship music comes across shallow lyrically and I feel like they're pretty good at keeping centered on the purpose of worship. I don't like a lot of "who-ha" [;
Since we're on the topic of worship music... I really love this album, The Loft Sessions by Bethel Music. It's coffeehouse worship. I don't know if that's a cheesy way of describing it, but it has the same honesty lyrically that Hillsong has with a more intimate feeling. I really love it.
Since it's summer time I started a summer playlist with all my go-to summer tracks as well as some ones that are new to me this summer. I titled it, "Summer-y", creative right? [;
I add new tracks occasionally, but it's just a little collection of songs that are becoming the soundtrack to my summer. If you subscribe to the playlist Spotify lets you know when I've added tracks, so that's pretty cool. Do you have any fun go-to summer tracks? One of mine is "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit. Dumb song... but it's always been super nostalgic for me.
This is a song on the playlist and oh my gosh I love this song! I want to roll the windows down and drive forever. So good... [:
This is another song on the playlist... it feels like summer.
I found this the other day... and since John Mayer is not performing at all for this album I've been eating this stuff up. If I hear of any videos or audio of him doing something acoustic off the new album, I drop everything. [: This man is just so cool... my family and I have his Where The Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles DVD on about every 2 weeks or so. Obviously I love John Mayer.
My birthday was last week and my family gave me two records:
I've heard both albums, but I can't tell you how much better they sound on a turntable. more and more i'm convinced that it's the only way to experience an album. I was blow away. Also the records in the Of Monsters and Men album are hot pink. That just put me over the edge. [:
