MUSIC
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Mad Men is gone, but the Music lives on
~posted by Frank There’s so much to miss about Mad Men. Multi-dimensional characters. Deliberate pacing. Cryptic dialogue. Glamorous production. Perspectives on the 1960s. Smoking and drinking. And, the music. Although much of the music was limited to the closing credits, they often captured the essence of the episode, and introduced me to some great music from the 1960s… Continue reading
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Hearing History
~posted by Jenny C. I’m a fan of history – reading books based in historical times (yes, sometimes even the romances), enjoying biographies of interesting people, delighting in extensive footnotes, and recreating historical activities, like folk dancing and fencing. What I like even better is experiencing original materials – all the weird and wonderful vocabulary… Continue reading
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Let off some steam
— Posted by Chelsea W. I don’t know about you guys, but I have been super stressed out lately. And, when this happens, I find it best to find a good album and turn up the music really LOUD and to LET IT ALL OUT. Here are three albums to help that help… Continue reading
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Three for Free: Guardians of the Galaxy edition
In this summer’s most enjoyable movie, Guardians of the Galaxy, Peter Quill (aka Star Lord) is an Earthling snatched away from his home as a child in the Eighties and thrown into a life of crime and adventure on faraway alien worlds. His only reminders of his life on Earth and his beloved mother are… Continue reading
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Jazz concerts at the Library: Songs of Unsung Seattle
Guest blogger: Steve Griggs| I’m excited to be an artist in residence at the Seattle Public Library for Songs of Unsung Seattle. During this residency, the Steve Griggs Ensemble will present two programs over ten Sundays, performed at various branches. The first concert is 2 p.m. Sunday, August 3, at the Central Library. (Full schedule of free… Continue reading
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Three for Free – Random Edition
By Garrett D. Randomness doesn’t get a fair shake, in my humble opinion. People cherish order and the illusion of control. Anyone who has heard a playlist I’ve made has been exposed to my embrace of the random – at least in the musical sense. It’s not uncommon for tracks to skip from experimental rock… Continue reading
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Skip the Holds Queue with Hoopla!
By Matt K. Recently, I discovered that the musician Beck had put out a new, critically acclaimed album this past February. The glowing reviews for Morning Phase sparked my interest, as I’d been pretty unimpressed with his most recent releases. I thought that because it had been four months since the album’s release, maybe there wouldn’t… Continue reading
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Isn’t It a Pity
by Library Staff Are you tired of cookie-cutter songs with interchangeable melodies, sung by manufactured celebrities packaged in sound-bite-sized pieces? If so, I invite you to listen to one song which is the complete antithesis of this: “Isn’t It a Pity” by Nina Simone, from the album Emergency Ward (also available on Freegal). Continue reading
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Cold Weather Music, Part Two: Me Time Edition
With the holiday season coming to its end, I’m sure we’re all feeling a bit over-socialized. Parties, gatherings, reunions… And now a new year is coming on, and we all have a bit of thinking to do – a little planning and little resolution-making. Time to take a little “me time” and get, well, deep.… Continue reading
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Three For Free: Dance, Dance, Dance!
Sometimes, you just need to dance – get up off of your chair, onto your feet, and shake it. These three songs, which you can download for free from Freegal,* should entice you to do just that. “Freeway of Love” by Aretha Franklin from Who’s Zoomin’ Who? You may know Aretha Franklin as the Queen… Continue reading
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Freegal – Three for Free: I’ll Take Geographic Band Names for $200
All right everybody, set down your signaling devices and make your wagers, it’s time for Freegal “Jeopardy!” If this were an actual “Jeopardy!” category I would immediately assume the five answers given would be Chicago, Kansas, Boston, Phoenix and Europe. But in this case the bands are ones that have songs available for free download… Continue reading
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Backwards down the number line (Part 3)
In the words of Madeline Kahn’s character Lily von Schtupp in the movie Blazing Saddles, “Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome, c’mon in.” Come along as we conclude our quest “backwards down the number line” in search of numerically titled albums available for checkout in The Seattle Public Library’s BiblioCommons catalog. For those of you just joining us,… Continue reading
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Three for Free: YouTube edition
Remember when they had music on MTV? I don’t. YouTube has wiped that knowledge from my brain. Whenever I want to watch a music video, or even just listen to a song, it’s going to be on YouTube. But if I’m going to be in the car or on a bus with my mp3 player,… Continue reading
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Three for Free: Stand-out songs by Bumbershoot 2012 performers
Sure, the rain is back and we’re hunkering down for months of gray skies here in Seattle, but I’m still buoyed by the several rainless weeks that eased us into autumn. I’ve found a simple way to tap back into that sunny time–revisiting some of the outstanding music I heard at Bumbershoot, Seattle’s annual music… Continue reading