What is "it"? (and new playlist)

I got busted jamming out in my car last week but was completely unrepentant. (That's right United Van Rentals driver on west-bound Hwy 10 last Fri -- i'm talking to you.) While i like many different kinds of music, I'm a sucker for blow your hair back, make your dad mad, head banging rock with dirty guitars and loud drums. Sometimes you just want to (no -- need to) shake it, you know? That got me thinking about the ever elusive "it factor".

"The Blakes" put their first album out late last year and although most people haven't heard of them yet it's really good. Their sound is hard to pin down with some tracks sounding like throw-back brit pop and others like hard southern rock. The surprise hit though, is a number they didn't even expect to make it onto the album because the vocals were so rough and it wasn't as polished instrumentally as the others -- but people loved it. Take a listen on my newly added playlist (below my profile) to "Two Times." (warning -- if you're not into sweaty, greasy, bangin' rock don't bother -- you'll hate it. This means you mom and dad.)

"Two Times" just has something, that heart behind it, energy, the "it factor." Art and writing and music are all so completely subjective, but it's the "it" i'm always chasing. Something can be technically perfect, a story can be structurally sound and the wording well thought out, but still have a hollow ring. Same with visual art. Everyone's seen a painting that's amazingly accomplished, but in the end all you can say is, "yep, that's an apple alright," or whatever.

I've put a lot of music on the player and encourage you to support artists you enjoy by purchasing their music on itunes or wherever. I'll be directing your attention there from time to time. You know how music turns into "old people music" right? When you stop listening to anything new. Don't let your ears fill up with moss just yet folks.