Did you watch HBO’s Carnivalé? It remains one on my favourite shows. So haunting, and beautiful. The soundtrack, for the most part, fits those adjectives as well. My favourite tracks from the soundtrack have an elegant interplay between the banjo and the violin.

Dora Mae’s Funeral

Carnival Convoy

Beautiful and haunting.

Here’ s a pair of unconventional dance tracks to brighten your day

Grounded (original mix) – Style of Eye

We No Speak Americano – Yolanda Be Cool + Dcup

Janglin – Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

The tune that brings this Ford Fiesta commercial to life is by the Road 2 Nowhere favourite, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, called Janlin. You should get their debut album, Up From Below, because it too, is a pretty big deal.

When I need to focus, and I am finding my usual music catalogue to be distracting, I pull out these amazing string quartet tribute albums by The Vitamin String Quartet. They have put out an absurd amount of cover albums in tribute to modern, and classic rock artists of the past 4 decades. In checking out their list of albums available, it’s clear that I have some digital shopping to do!

Three of my current faves from the Vitamin String Quartet catalogue:

Do You Realize (Flaming Lips cover)

Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode cover)

Clocks (Coldplay cover)

What is it about clapping? Both a way of showing appreciation, and a way to join in with the music we appreciate. Our hands are like our own personal drum kits that we take with us everywhere we go. Is it any surprise that the simple act of clapping has been the focus of many a great song?

Clap Your Hands – A Tribe Called Quest

Clap Hands – Tom Waits

Clap for the Wolfman – The Guess Who

Clap Hands – Beck

Is this Love – Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
* Ok, this one is a bit of a cheat, but how could I leave out Clap Your Hands Say Yeah in a post about clapping?