Ramblings from a Tired Traveler

On Wednesday I calculated that, during the past weekend, I'd driven twice as many hours as I had slept. This coming weekend will be much the same. Once I make it through, I'll work on collecting my thoughts, memories & emotions enough to blog about my time following Mumford & Sons (again), but for now I thought I'd share what I've been listening to during all my time on the road.

Laura Marling, I Speak Because I Can
I've owned this album roughly 6 months but I already know that it will be a timeless favorite in my collection of music. There are certain times of the day when I feel the overwhelming urge to sing. Sometimes I start with Sugarland or Patsy Cline or Pink but I always come back to Ms. Marling. It's so rare for a female vocalist (or any vocalist, really) to be able to sing of anger and heartbreak and still come out sounding, well, pretty and soft. She does an excellent job. Her songs crack open old wounds the way they sometimes need to be, to feel the pain again and give you the reminder you need to never let it happen again. This album takes me back to my dark places in small intervals, always leaving my current place looking brighter than it did at the beginning.

Cadillac Sky, Letters of the Deep
It's new country/bluegrass for old souls and young hearts. This has been on a lot lately. They're opening for Mumford & Sons and since I'll have seen them 6 times in two weeks, I knew I needed to learn the words. I had no idea when I bought this album as research for the road trip, though, that I would end up loving it as much as I do. 'Trash bag' is absolutely beautiful. 'Ballad of Restored Confidence' turns me both bitter and triumphant at the same time. And 'Hangman' is pure, unadulterated bluegrass at it's absolute finest. I simply adore Cadillac Sky. They're a "must-see" on the live circuit, too. The boys put on an excellent, energy-packed show.

The Complete Million Dollar Quartet
There are very few people I love in this world more than Mumford & Sons. Johnny Cash is one of them. And on my very long list of favorite musicians, JC, Elvis Presley & Jerry Lee Flippin' Lewis are all at the tip top. This album caught my eye a few weeks ago and I'm still unsure how I missed it until now. It's the entire recordings from a set that Cash, Presley, Lewis & Carl Perkins did at Sun Records over 50 years ago. From 'Jingle Bells' to 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man,' it's sheer joy. They tells stories and make fun, just like all boys do, tinker & tune and make my heart swell with each passing second. It's the closest I'll ever come to being there in the room with them, but the recording makes me feel like I'm pretty damn close.

Also getting a lot of airtime in the car: All the new, still unreleased, songs by Mumford & Sons. This brand, brand new one (made-up, partially, of one of their much older songs) has me tied in knots every time it starts. I hope it makes it on their second album. Broken Crown.