On My Way To Work 2

Here it is again, some songs you should check out.

• Sufjan Stevens - Casmir Pulaski Day
• Beck - Girl
• Yusuf (a.k.a. Cat Stevens) - City After Dark
• Mason Jennings - Gentlest Hammer
• Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running
• Yo La Tengo - Stockholm Syndrome
• Sean Lennon - Headlights

Ben Folds (Five)

Today's spotlight article is about two artists rolled into one. Ben Folds Five is a trio (yes, there were only three members) formed in 1994 in North Carolina. The band had an amicable break up in 2000, and Ben Folds has had a very successful solo career since then.

Ben Folds Five had a very piano-and-drums driven sound, and although Ben Folds uses both instruments heavily as a solo artist, he also experiments with more instrumentation.

Ben Folds Five consisted of lead singer Ben Folds, bassist Robert Sledge and drummer Darren Jessee. They released their first self-titled album in 1995 and it was moderately successful. Their biggest hit, "Brick," came on their second album, Whatever and Ever Amen. The band released a total of four albums, and each member has continued their careers in music.

Ben Folds has since released multiple albums, most notably Rockin' the Suburbs, Songs for Silverman and Ben Folds Live. On these albums he continues to use ironic/comedic lyrics as well as catchy piano ballads to capture the listener's attention.

Ben Folds has said that he will release his next album in October, and I'm looking forward to it.

Recommended Tracks

• Rockin' The Suburbs
• Still Fighting It
• Landed
• Annie Waits
• Zak and Sara
• Brick
• Army
• One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
• Fair
• Underground
• The Luckiest
• Bruised
• Jesusland
• Late
• Gone

On My Way To Work...

So here I am today at the Big Fish, trying to figure out a way to share my favorite songs with you. The Spotlight is going well, but there's times that I just want to burst out of the one artist bubble. This is how I'll do it, by posting the songs I listened to on my way to work. It's simple but effective. Check them out, listen to them, enjoy. Simple.

• Cary Brothers - Ride
• Slightly Stoopid - Somebody
• Ben Folds - Still Fighting It
• Death Cab For Cutie - Photobooth
• The Decemberists - Sons & Daughters
• Rocky Votolato - White Daisy Passing

The Shins

The Shins started as a side project of lead singer James Mercer, who at the time was focusing on his band Flake Music. They released their first album Oh, Inverted World in 2001, and have been at the forefront of the indie music scene since then.

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After some lineup switches and the loss of some members, the Shins began touring with Modest Mouse. During this tour, a representative from Sub Pop Records saw the band, asked them to record a single, and eventually signed them. Thanks to an intense touring schedule, Oh, Inverted World was set in history as one of the indie music's most influential albums.

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The band began recording new material Mercer's basement in the summer of 2003 in an effort to retain the same "home-recorded-with-a-studio-finish" feel of their previous album. Chutes Too Narrow was released that fall. The band again had a rigorous touring schedule all over the world, and the album became another success.

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The band's latest release Wincing The Night Away was released early this year, and debuted at #2 on the Billboard charts. The album sold over 800,000 copies and since the band's inception they have sold more than two million albums worldwide. Not bad for an indie band.

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Recommended Tracks

• New Slang
• Phantom Limb
• Caring is Creepy
• Australia
• Kissing the Lipless
• We Will Become Silhouettes (Postal Service Cover)
• Saint Simon
• So Says I
• Young Pilgrams
• Mine's Not a High Horse
• Girl Sailor

Josh Rouse

Pandora has been a great tool to use when I'm trying to find new music. You simply type in the names of artists or songs you like, then Pandora plays songs with similar musical qualities. If you like the song playing, you rate it a thumbs up. Likewise, if you don't like the song, it gets a thumbs down. After an hour or so of rating you have a station customized to your music tastes. One of my personalized stations began playing a guy named Josh Rouse, and I have been listening ever since. As a matter of fact, Josh's song called "Hey Porcupine" just started playing on my "Neato" station. That has to be some sort of sign.

As is true with many great artists today, it is difficult to pinpoint Josh's sound. I've been sitting here for twenty minutes trying to compare him to another artist, and the best I can do is say that he's a more upbeat Jack Johnson. But that really doesn't do Josh justice.

Josh was born in Nebraska, and grew up a fan of the Smiths, the Cure, and other British bands. He leanred to play the guitar from his uncle and wrote his first song at age eighteen. After some time in college, he moved to Tennessee and began recording some material. His first release, called Dressed Up Like Nebraska, was released quite successfully in 1998. He released an album in each of the next eight years, and his latest project, Country Mouse City House, is set to be released in July.

I'm going to switch up the format of this spotlight a bit by reviewing by song rather than album. The first Rouse song I ever heard was called "His Majesty Rides." It is quite different than any other song by him, and makes me want to do that stepping forward and back old-guy type of salsa dance. Once you listen to it you'll know what I mean (maybe).

Everyone from here in Whitefish, Montana can relate to "Quiet Town," a song that speaks of living in a small town even though you enjoyed some of the things big city life has to offer. The song is very soft spoken and would be great to listen to at a secluded lake or on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

"It's the Night Time" is a great power pop song, embracing the use of several instruments and upbeat lyrics. "Winter in the Hamptons" is also very similar, as is "It Looks Like Love." Those three songs with similar qualities still jump out at the listener as unique.

No matter what song you're listening to, it is sure to have a catchy beat and some thoughtful lyrics. Explore Josh's wide library of music, I'm sure you'll find a lot of material you'll like.

Recommended Tracks

• Quiet Town
• Sad Eyes
• It's the Night Time
• Winter in the Hamptons
• Looks Like Love
• His Majesty Rides
• Summertime
• 1972
• The Last Train
• Carolina

More Like A Flashlight...

You know that feeling when you find a new musician while browsing through iTunes or Amazon or Pandora or the radio or a friend's car or whatever? Well I was lucky enough to stumble upon a new artist yesterday, and since I'm pressed for time I will share this tidbit with you.

The guy's name is Xavier Rudd. He hails from Australia and spends a lot of his free time surfing. He plays a plethora of instruments, usually at the same time, during his performances, and has become quite popular on the festival scene. From what I've heard so far (which hasn't been much) his songs are soft spoken but upbeat and they use a lot of instruments that don't overpower. At times he sounds like Cat Stevens, at others he sounds like Paul Simon, and I've even heard a bit of Ben Harper in his voice. Rudd's voice (and style) is distinct though, and his songs are great for any time you simply want to be at peace or relax. Give him a listen.

Elliott Smith

New changes at WhitefishRadio.com and my upcoming graduation have kept me quite busy in the last couple weeks, but I was able to spare a few seconds of my day today to update "Shane's Spotlight." Today I am going to share with you my thoughts on my favorite artist of all time, Elliott Smith.

Elliott Smith was born Steven Paul Smith on August 6, 1969. He grew up in Texas and spent many years in Portland. He played with the band Heatmiser in Portland for a few years before releasing his first solo album, Roman Candle in 1994. The nine-track release was recorded on any equipment Smith could find, and uses very few backup instruments. The primitive recording technique is noticeable, but adds a more personal quality to the simple guitar and lyric songs. My favorite songs from the album are probably "Condor Ave.," a song that Smith wrote when he was seventeen years old, and "No Name #1," a song about a man at a party who decides that he will make no impression and slips away unnoticed. Roman Candle was an indication of greatness sure to follow for Elliott Smith.

The next year, Smith released a self-titled album under the Kill Rock Stars Label. Songs such as "Needle In The Hay" and "The White Lady Loves You More" seem to elude to drug problems Smith may have developed during this time, even though he claimed to have stayed away from drugs during the 1990s.

Another low-fi release followed in 1997, called Either/Or. This album was given favorable reviews, and three of the songs were used in Good Will Hunting. The movie's director also used a previously unreleased song from Roman Candle and Smith wrote a new song, "Miss Misery" to be included on the soundtrack. "Miss Misery" was nominated for an Academy Award, and Smith was unwillingly thrust into the limelight. He was not eager to perform his song during the awards, and had to be convinced to do so. He walked out onto the stage, appeared a bit nervous at first, but then gave a simple yet memorable performance.

Smith's first major label release came in 1998 on DreamWorks records. The CD, titled XO, was much different from his previous efforts, and included deeper sounding musical arrangements and more background instruments not normally associated with Smith.

Figure 8 in 2000 was yet another change for Smith. It sounded a lot like XO, but seemed to be more upbeat and positive. It was essentially a mash up of sounds that comprised his previous efforts. The opener, "Son of Sam," embraces the use of deep instrumentation and fun piano solos. "Happiness" regresses to his early career, with most of the song using very minimal instrumentation.

The next few years were full of depression and addiction for Smith. Many people commented on his longer hair and unshaven appearance, and some sensed trouble ahead. During this time he became addicted to heroin, abused alcohol, had difficulties performing songs, and was involved in some legal trouble. He couldn't seem to record any material, and developed paranoia. Rehab sessions were unsuccessful, partially because Smith felt that he couldn't admit to his problem.

Things did begin to look up though, as Smith was able to get through rehab and give up many things that had haunted and begin recording music again. He had a few projects lined up, including the soundtrack for Thumbsucker.

Elliott Smith died on October 21, 2003 of an apparent suicide. Many songs had been recorded before then, and From a Basement on the Hill was released a year later. Smith's musical abilities are apparent on this disc, with every Smith-style displayed. Deep guitar riffs and intense vocals are heard in "Coast to Coast" and "King's Crossing," while Smith's recognizable guitar plucking are displayed in "Memory Lane" and "Let's Get Lost"

Elliott Smith was a highly skilled musician with a story that has become too common among musicians. A rarity in today's music, his songs are completely personal and heartfelt. Elliott Smith's life was cut too short and it is impossible to tell how far this musician would've gone.

Essentials

• Condor Ave.
• Needle In The Hay
• Between the Bars
• Rose Parade
• Angeles
• Say Yes
• Sweet Adeline
• Waltz #2 (XO)
• Son of Sam
• Happiness
• Coast to Coast
• A Fond Farewell
• King's Crossing
• Twilight

Recommended Tracks

• No Name #1
• St. Ides Heaven
• Ballad Of Big Nothing
• Pictures of Me
• Pitseleh
• Somebody That I Used To Know
• Junk Bond Trader
• Let's Get Lost
• Pretty (Ugly Before)
• Memory Lane