My Media

I haven't blogged in a while, and it should probably be about something besides media, like an update on my life, but my Alaska friend, Melissa, asked me about music and magazines I like and it got me excited about them. So, enjoy. It's probably more exciting than reading about the latest wedding details anyway.

Music
My mother has had a large influence on my music exposure and, to a lesser extent, my tastes. In college I was surprised when people talked about going to their "first concert." I didn't understand the concept. I went to all kinds of concerts all the time. Not always huge concerts with thousands of people and pyrotechnics, but sometimes. I went to lots of small coffee shop or outdoor concerts. I also went to a lot of Christian concerts with the youth group. My family went to Merlefest quite a few years in a row. There I saw The Dixie Chicks before they made it big, Nickel Creek, Dolly Parton, Allison Krauss, and lots of other people you have probably never heard of like Donna the Buffalo, John Cowan, John Lauderdale, and Gillian Welch. Experiences like Merlefest gave me a slightly different range of musical knowledge. I am still not a big true bluegrass fan, but there are segments of the folk/acoustic genre that I really enjoy. So, in honor of those experiences, here is an eclectic, folk, soulful mix of songs. Some Cody shared with me, but they are all in the same spirit.

The Waybacks are incredible musicians. They are kind of a goofy bunch as well. I am not sure when I first heard them. It was either at Merlefest or at a concert they did in my hometown. Check out their album 'Devolver.' I went to see them in concert a few years ago and once there discovered that a few of the members had left and their sound had changed. They weren't bad, they just weren't the same. So, I was disappointed with their new sound, but another band, The Duhks, performed and they put on an incredible concert. See their song below.

The Duhks are great musicians and have great voices. Like I said, their concert was amazing. Very high energy and fun. Here is their song 'Travelin' Shoes' off their self-titled album.

This is a group called The Rankin Family. They have a celtic/folk sound. I enjoy them. Their album 'Collection' is a good one. I also like their song 'Roving Gypsy Boy.' This song is 'You Feel the Same Way Too.'

I haven't really listened to other songs by Sandi Thom, but this song is good and fun. Here is 'I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker.'

This is a guy named Joshua James. This is the only song I have heard by him. Click on 'Playlist' and click to listen to 'Coal War.' Soulful. I like the clap/stomping sound and harmony.



This is 'Hymn 101' by Joe Pug. Cody is a big fan of Joe. This song is good. He has an interesting voice. I like it.





Magazines
Melissa also asked if there are any magazines I read regularly. My mother subscribes to all the good southern magazines - Better Homes & Gardens, Southern Living, and, my favorite, Country Living. I also recently acquiesced  her request to use a Groupon to get her a subscription to Garden & Gun magazine. It sounds like a slightly more redneck southern magazine. When I would come home from Baylor or Mississippi College, I would catch up on all the gardening, housing, craft, and travel ideas. This summer I have been able to read them when they come out. Really, I just want to live in a Country Living magazine. I love the antique decorations and beautiful kitchens and huge gardens and renovation projects. I love the community parties and family trips and big porches. It feels like home. It is similar to my parents' home and is what I want my home to be like. I want it to be comfortable. I want people to come over. I want to have dinner parties and make amazing food and have stories about things I own. I want to grow my own vegetables and do DIY projects. I want to eat at quaint restaurants and take interesting trips. Mostly I want to involve other people in my life and do fun things.

M...TV Shows
So, there's no way to make TV shows start with M. At least not that I can think of at the moment. But that's okay. Here are my favorites.

Bones
I became addicted to Bones after moving to Mississippi. It came on TNT from 6-10pm every weeknight. I didn't have much to do at that time having just moved there, so I watched a lot of Bones. I am currently working my way through all the seasons on Netflix. I have actually not watched very many episodes lately, but I will catch up to the current season by the end of the year.
I like Bones because the characters are interesting and it makes you think about the world differently. A lot of crime shows are mostly about the crime and there are personal story lines kind of interwoven to keep the cases tied together. I would say Bones is almost more about relationships than crimes. The characters all have depth and complex relationships. Booth's "moral," heart-based way of thinking contrasts with Bones' literal, scientific mentality and it makes you think about the way we think and view the world. It makes you question what is really most important - truth or relationships, or a host of other things. I like it.

Royal Pains
I like Royal Pains for its MacGyver-esque nature. It combines business/entrepreneurship, healthcare, innovation, and fun. It's a light-hearted, fun show to watch.


Pushing Daisies
This show is ridiculous. Completely. But, like most things ridiculous, you can't stop watching. There are all the parallel names - Boutique Travel Travel Boutique, the Darling Mermaid Darlings, Coeur d'Coeurs, etc. There is the tension of Ned and Chuck being in love but unable to touch. There are the ridiculous mermaid aunts and their cheese fetish. There are strange murders of weird people.
I don't even really know how to describe this show. It's fun and surreal and you should check it out. It's like a combination of real life and Willy Wonka, but better than both.

Psych
I'm seeing a theme - crime and ridiculousness. This show has both. The main attraction of this show is the clever dialogue and extensive pop culture references. Most of which I do not understand. But I imagine they are clever and funny. And Gus is just a good character that you can't help but like.


I also watch White Collar and was sad when Monk ended, but my tv attention span is exhausted, so I will wrap it up.


I should write a paragraph wrap up, but I'm blogged out. So, here goes:

I think that's all the media I can talk about. It's good stuff. You should check it out. Let me know what you think.