The Fratellis are a Scottish band out of Glasgow.  They based their name on the crooked and dysfunctional family in The Goonies.  Remember them?  With that mom that played all of those terrible roles in the 80′s?  And they kept poor old Sloth in the basement?
Well, the band is nothing like that.
The band is really good.

For this week’s Mi4M, I am just going to recommend one song.
Just one.
It is a selection you should have on your playlist — your wake-up-in-the-morning playlist or especially your running playlist.  It has helped me push through many a rough runs.
The song is called “Whistle for the Choir.”
It has such a Euro-alt-acoustic feel that makes you wish you had a cool accent.  In fact, when I sing this song, I belt out the notes with the richest accent I can humanly muster without being deported.
You should try it.
And then go to a drive-thru and carry on with your accent and smile to yourself.
With “Whistle for the Choir” blasting in the background.

The Bowerbirds have music that I would liken to a piece of earthen clay that has been crafted by a skilled artisan at a well-known folk festival.
In other words, I think that their music has fingerprints.
Bowerbirds were formed in 2006 in Raleigh, NC and are comprised of Phil Moore, Beth Tacular and Matt Damron.

I have a few Bowerbirds essential tracks for your playlist.
“Hooves” and “In Our Talons” from their album Hymns for a Dark Horse. And from their more recent album, Upper Air, I prefer “Teeth” and “Northern Lights.”
This is creative music.
By that, I mean it is music to play whilst drawing, sketching, sculpting, cooking — anything that requires you to tap into a deep place and make something — this is the theme music.
So get some of their ear candy and go create.

This is a first on the 11ty Million Dollar Blog.
To be able to combine 2 majestic things, beards and music — it is a wonderful thing.
I had the distinct pleasure to spend some time with this week’s combo feature, Brian Wurzell.
Brian’s 10 song worship album, Grace Ocean, debuts tomorrow — you’ll want this album.

Me: I am being joined by musician, Brian Wilson.  How do you spell — no, it’s not Wilson, it’s…

Brian: Brian Wilson was actually part of the Beach Boys — which is totally fine.  We’ve only been together for 4 days, so I understand [how you] don’t remember my name.  [Consensual laughter ensues] It’s Brian Wurzell.  And you can spell that — it’s Brian with an “i” — B-R-I-A-N.  And then the last name is W-U-R-Z-E-L-L.  It’s German.  [Pronounces it German-style] It means “root.”

Me: So I can say, [Slaughters name with hokey German accent]?  We are just getting back to our roots here.  Speaking of roots.  Let’s talk about whiskers.  Let’s talk about facial hair.  It’s obvious, people can see from the photo that you are a fellow Beardy — which is very exciting.  I’m here at Ridgecrest at a conference for people who are in Christian camping, and you are leading worship here with a lot of good people — who were some people on stage with you?

Brian: We had The Technicolors who were backing me up — 3 of the guys from The Technicolors.  And then Audrey Assad, who’s also an amazing musician — on tour, you can catch her this Spring with Jars of Clay.  Um… yeah.  So that’s kind of the band.

Me: As a musician, one who leads worship, are there ever times where your beard presents a problem for you?  Maybe it’s the lighting, maybe it’s getting in touch with the microphone — giving you some extra acoustic or percussion you’re not planning on?  Tell us about that.

Brian: So, probably the most trouble with my beard — from the musician’s standpoint on the stage, is oftentimes the bottom part of my beard [points to beard], as I eat the mic if you will, it gets tangled in the little rivets of the mic.  So I’ll pull away and…

Me: [Makes a cartoonish hair-being-pulled sound]

Brian: Yep — there’s a couple gone right there.  But the funny part is it’s stuck in the mic, so you cannot only see it, but then you are trying to eat the mic again to sing  — and there are whisker hairs… in the mouth.  In the mouth.

Me: Brian, at least they’re your whisker hairs.  Maybe.

Brian: Unless you’ve been on the mic before me of course.

Me: That is always a possibility.  Wow.  So, see — not only are the general Joe Shmoes at home making a ham sandwich gonna have trouble with his beard — getting it hung up on his attire.  As a musician, [a beard] gets hung up on the microphone.  So, ladies and gentlemen — trouble everywhere.

Brain: [Nodding in resounding agreement]

Me: You are a musician, who are some people you listen to that some of our listeners might be interested in?

Brian: A good Beardy out there is John Mark McMillan.  I mean he’s got a firm, solid beard.

Me: Typically worn with like a white V-neck too, like he just walked out of his house on to stage somewhere.

Brian: That’s just how he rolls.  American Apparel deep V — that’s just how it goes down in the South, you know?  I think he’s from the South…

Me: Well I can attest to this Brian, you are a Beardy, so you are a musician that folks can follow.  Can they pick up your music anywhere?

Brian: Yeah, absolutely.  Depending upon when you are listening to this, I have a brand new worship project coming out January 4th.  It will be on iTunes and Amazon or whatever else like that.  Yeah, check it out.  January 4th is the release date.  BrianWurzell.com.  W-U-R-Z-E-L-L.

Me: [Pathetically attempts a German pronunciation of Brian's last name]

Brian: [Corrects me]

Me: Sorry.  What’s the name of the album?

Brian: It’s called Grace Ocean. It’s a little 10 song worship project.

Me: Brian, thank you for your time and good luck with your beard.

Brian: Keep growing it.

To get to all of the glorious gems from my chat with Brian Wurzell, click below for the full one-on-one interview.

His name is Johnny Cash.
In fact, though everyone in the building knew him, he would still step to the microphone and introduce himself as if it were his first appearance on stage.  He would then be met with uproarious applause and cheers, then the performance would begin.
Today’s Mi4M is a bit different.

I am so excited about The Johnny Cash Project.  This venture is described as, “…a unique communal work, a living portrait of the Man in Black.”
The project is simple.  You enter the site and select “contribute.” Then you are shown three slides from which to choose.  The stills are from a video set to the song, “Ain’t No Grave.”  You select the frame of your choice, and then you draw over top of that frame and it is added to the thousands of other frames drawn by people all over the world.  The result is an amazing work that celebrates a man, his music and communal art.
So go and watch the video.
Be inspired.
By the man.
By the music.
By the legacy.
By art.
Go make your unique mark.
I have my frame selected…

Do you have a particular Johnny Cash favourite?  I will go first.

It is hard to find a lot of info regarding the artist AM.  It is also possible, according to his site, that spammers from Turkey have taken over his web page.
I cannot confirm or deny that.
What I do know is that AM plays with a certain “melodic swagger” that is easy to fall into.

My swagger is usually not that melodic.  As soon as I put some AM in my Walkman, my swagger took on a whole new groove.
I have one piece of ear candy to offer you this Mi4M edition: it is the song “I’ll Be Your Mirror (Acoustic Version” by AM and Julianna Raye from the album Side By Side – Duets, Vol. 1.  This is one of those songs best fit for when you are sitting on a dark stage with just a spotlight on you and your gal.  I know that happens every now and again, so the next time you two are front and center, cue this song and woo the audience.
I don’t say this often, but you must get this one.
Seriously.
Stop reading and go get it.
And while you are doing that, I’ll be over here going through your stuff.

Little Joy is a Brazilian/American rock band that has a blog written in a language I can’t understand.  They have a website that doesn’t offer much but a photo of the band looking very happy to be next to lots of water.  Little Joy also has a Twitter account that is as helpful as their blog and their website.  While I don’t get their online presence, I do get their music.

Their music is just so… it’s just so… listenable.
Really.
It is the perfect background music that doesn’t distract but is excellent mood music for small gatherings.  While you can have it filling the air you breathe with a marvelous and melodious sound, you can also really get into it.  I mean, really let it make you smile.
Have you ever wanted theme music for those times you feel like you should be in a commercial for some hip and/or trendy product?  This is the music that would be playing as you are looking awesome in your casual yet fashionable attire. You pull into a Middle Eastern restaurant with your gal/guy, and as you exit your shiny black vehicle, you throw your head back in laughter as you close the car door and exit the frame in slow-motion …
A few bits of ear candy you should have are from their self-titled album, Little Joy.  The songs are “The Next Time Around,” “Unattainable” and “Brand New Start.”  In that order.
I have included a video of “Unattainable,” a song sung by Binki Shapiro.  When she opens her mouth, her marvelous voice almost startles me it is so perfectly matched to the music.
Plus, this video is weird because it is exactly how I chill with my two Brazilian friends that live in a penthouse.

Unattainable

LITTLE JOY | Myspace Music Videos

Torch songs are not typically acquainted with Christmas music.  This year, I appeal to you, add this music to your holiday playlist.  Over the Rhine is awesome for numerous reasons.
Is it because they are from Ohio?  Yes.
Is it because they are a husband and wife band?  Yes.
Is it because they make incredibly delicious ear candy?  Yes.

This pair of musicians, pianist/guitarist/bassist Linford Detweiler and vocalist/guitarist Karin Bergquist, produce some of the most heartfelt, raw, soulful, forlorn music of which I am aware.  There are two Christmas tunes that I would highly recommend, especially if you are aching.  They are “All I Ever Get for Christmas is Blue” and “Darlin’ (Christmas is Coming),” both from the album Snow Angels.
Be forewarned — these songs can cause one to wallow in pain in misery during an otherwise delightful and restorative season of Christmas.  So if you feel as though you are covered in the muck and mire of the pain and misery in which you wallowed earlier, turn on some Nat King Cole or Judy Garland for an instant lift.  If that doesn’t work, hit the eggnog.
I hate eggnog.

Do you have some go-to Christmas music that is like an arrow through the heart?
Are there some Christmas tunes that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face?
Is there a song, that when you hear it, you are instantly transported to a certain place and time?  Where and what?

The Tallest Man on Earth is no stranger to the Eleventy Million Dollar Blog.  Some time ago, I featured an animated video featuring the music of Swedish folksinger/songwriter Kristian Matsson.  At the time, I didn’t know that he was the Tallest Man on Earth, I thought it was this guy.

THIS IS A WHITE LINE OF TEXT THAT IS MEANINGLESS
Matsson wrote the theme song (“A Field Full of Birds”) for the Yellow Bird Project , but since then, I have found several songs that grab me by the collar and kick me in the throat whistle.  Those songs are “I Won’t Be Found,” “The Wild Hunt” and “Honey Won’t You Let Me In.”

…and in case you missed it, below is the video for the Yellow Bird Project.

Clutchy Hopkins is a bit of a mystery.  He is shrouded in curiosity, and no one really knows much about him/her/them.  In fact, it is so peculiar, you should just go to the website and read all about the story.
What I do know is this — the grooves and beats and rhythms of Clutchy are the sounds that can make your life feel more awesome than it really is.
I am just being real here.
You know just as well as I that there are times we are entertaining or have someone in our vehicle, and we want to put on the right mood music for just relaxing.
This is the music.  No words.  No lyrics — just magnificent tunes.
This stuff taps into the pretentious feelings we get when we are in a bookstore and feeling better than everyone else because the coffee in our hand has 5 words in its name and we are browsing in the cutting edge social commentary non-fiction reality aisle.  And when we are at the height of our own awesomeness, this music is playing in the background.
I know this photo makes him/her/them look like a sweaty-toothed madman, but the music is amazing.  A few pieces of ear candy I recommend are 3:06, 3:24, Sound of a Ghost, The Old Spot and Lord Kenj featuring Jim McComas (some of you who have known me or been around me might recognize the last two).

Am I alone in my moments of pretentiousness at a bookstore?
Are you out there?

In recognition of all of you that are trying to stick to the rule of No-Shave November (the simple rule that states: don’t shave your beard), I have a couple bits of ear candy that focuses on our follicles and also tickles our ears (like our beard hairs oft times do).

Clem Snide is described as being somewhat of an alt-country band.  I honestly don’t hear it.  What I do hear is a serene and a melodic stream of music that flows like a newly discovered creek that runs through a dense forest.
I adore their song of stubble called Beard of Bees. It is a gentle love song.  Burn the Light is another amazing offering by Clem Snide .

Neil Halstead also has a song for those with fuzzy faces.  In Baby, I Grew You a Beard, the British folk singer creates an ethereal tune focusing on growing his beard for the girl he loves.  What a lucky gal, yes?
Yes.
He also has another great tune called Elevenses. I loved it for the title.  I bought it and it gets a lot of play on my trusty iPod.

So, how is No-Shave November coming for those of you participating?
Maybe you are a dude that wants November to go all year long…
Maybe you are a lady reaping the enormous benefits of having a man with a sweet beard…  Maybe you are a lady ready for December…
Whatever the case — let your beard bashing/blazoning begin!