I found some more tonic

So the exact definition of tonic is a medicinal substance taken to give a feeling of vigor or well-being or something with an invigorating effect. I've already established that music brings a soothing quality into my tired little life. The strumming on a guitar or the sultry moan of a love haggard singer are able to bust me out of my slumps. Well I found some new tonic that's pumped a little get up and go into my life force and I just have to share it with you. Two artists came to my attention today, one I had already heard of and actually seen play live (however, I don't remember it well because I was using a different kind of tonic that night as well and I'm miffed I can't remember the performance) and the other is a brand new discovery for me.

The one I knew about was Chris Koza. He's a local musician who gets a lot of play on my favorite radio station 89.3 The Current here in Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN. There is a song off his new album "The Dark, Delirious Morning" that I'm absolutely addicted to because it feels so good to hear each and every word and note. The song is "Straight to Video" and there's a mystical quality to it provided by the use of violins. I can't quite describe it and I think I love it even more for that very reason. I just bought the album and I haven't quite delved into the whole thing yet, but it's very promising so far!

The second musician that was my tonic for today is a new discovery for me and she's just simply amazing. Her name is Nicole Reynolds and she's based out of Pennsylvania. Her song "Juliana" is absolutely haunting. Her sweet and raspy voice is not quite like anything I've heard before. The composition of the song is relatively spare and it features her voice beautifully. Since I just discovered her today I don't know much about her, but let's say she's got a new fan and I'll be keeping my ears open in preparation for her next song.

Today has been a tough one, actually the whole week has been and it's weeks like this one that really do need tonics. There are so many of us out there in the world that need a little something special to get them through the day. May I suggest Chris Koza and Nicole Reynolds be your tonic sometime soon.

I've been cheated.

"I've been cheated" is always the sentiment I feel when I discover an artist, singer, movie, book, restaurant, or person that is wonderful and I feel like I've been cheated because I JUST discovered this thing and didn't know about it all along. It's a cruel world that keeps us from beauty. This is how I feel about Martha Wainwright. She's a Canadian/American folk/pop singer-songwriter. I just discovered her music through a daily song Podcast I get through 89.3 The Current (the best radio station in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area-- and perhaps the world!). The song they played was "You Cheated Me" from her newest album. How ironic that was the song title because that is how I feel. How unfortunate that it's taken me this long to find her! I suppose this is the same sentiment that lovers feel when they finally find the one person who fills their heart with joy: why didn't I find you sooner? Maybe I was supposed to slug through other musicians work that left me feeling unsatisfied and incomplete until I finally started finding people who's music makes my heart sing. Listening to Hootie and the Blowfish and The Goo Goo Dolls for years before I discovered good music was like kissing a swamp full of frogs before I started to find the true princes and princesses of music!

I highly recommend checking out Martha Wainwright. Her myspace page is a good place to get a taste of her unique voice and lyrics: www.myspace.com/marthawainwright.
Martha comes from a long line of singer-songwriters. She is the sister of Rufus Wainwright and the daughter of Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle. I enjoy both her father and brother as musicians, but there is something about her voice that catches in my memory and makes me feel like I can't stop listening to it. Is it possible to get addicted to a voice? Because I seem to have this reoccurring problem where I find someone and get addicted to their voice and I go on a bender where all I do is listen to their music for hours on end until I start to feel I've overdone it. I can't quite describe her voice. It has so many layers to it that it's hard and rough sounding at times and silky smooth and soft at other times. She has the ability to add so much dimension to her songs because of her amazing voice. You know when you eat something decadent and wonderfully sweet and you love every moment you spent eating it. Even the aftertaste is wonderful so you happily let it linger on your tongue and lips. That's how I feel about her voice. Its so delicious I'm letting it stay with me because I don't want to get rid of it.

There's this moment in "You Cheated Me" where she's been singing in a certain more restrained style until about 2 minutes into the song and she hits this long and soaring note that propels the song to a new level. Please listen to her and let her voice take you to a new level.

When nothing helps.

So the title of this blog is "tonic for a tired soul" but sometimes nothing works as a tonic. Oftentimes my tiredness is caused by pain. I'm a chronic pain sufferer and it shreds at the very fiber of your being some days. It takes all the energy you gain from a good night's sleep, a giant cup of cafe au lait, or a good job well done and crumples it into a ball and throws it away with a giant and resounding thud. So I run around when the pain hits and try and head for the covers. Like a squirrel as I'm running for cover I gather books, CDs, movies and TV shows like they're nuts and I run for the safety of my bed. I turn it into my little hibernation hovel. In that entertainment I seek solace and relief. Most times solace comes and relief usually doesn't. But in the solace comes a little relief. However, some days solace and relief just don't come. They stand me up. They jilt me. They abandon me and leave me with no hope.

To cut to the chase... I'm having one of those days. Where nothing helps release the pain. Music, books, movies, podcasts, talk radio... sleep even and nothing helped. So instead of giving a list of songs or others things that helped me through my day I just want to put out a little sigh. I kind of give up today. Not really, obviously I'm still fighting the fight, just with no inspiration to get me through it today.

Tonic for a tired and jagged soul.

Music often acts like the tonic for my troubles. I don’t sing. I don’t play the guitar and I don’t frequent tiny coffee shops playing my heart out. I’m just a listener. And through the act of listening to these talented singer-songwriters my troubles are cured for the day. They somehow manage to permeate my soul and sooth the troubles of mind and soul that no amount of drugs and alcohol could cure. Putting thoughts and sounds to melody and music that just make sense, that’s what these musicians do and I thank them with all of my heart for that because their songs help me get through the day. Whether it’s the smooth and dreamy vocals of Priscilla Ahn to the rusty and silky sounds of Iron and Wine, whatever it is that gets me through the day it changes from day to day. I gravitate towards the musicians who have talent, who write and compose their own songs and usually play most of the instruments in their arrangements. They don’t rely on auto-tuning magical recording devices to make them sound good. Instead they rely on their god-given talents. They sound as good in person blazing through a 15 song set as they do on the radio or mp3. If I could sing and compose music I would want to sound like a mix between all of these people.

Songs that helped me through today:
“The Devil Never Sleeps” -Iron and Wine
“FM Radio” - Joshua James
“Dream”- Priscilla Ahn
“My Only Offer” - Mates of State
“Vanilla Rain” – Alexa Wilkinson
"Glue Girls"- Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
"Mr. Pitiful" - Matt Costa