Tony Dekker, aka Great Lake Swimmers, has that kind of rare talent—the talent that can turn one voice and one guitar into something incredible, something beautiful. It’s absolutely compelling.

Moving Pictures, Silent Films

I don’t know if there’s really such a thing as a perfect song but if there is Canada’s Patrick Watson has surely hit upon it.

Watson is an immensely talented and creative performer who’s music is just nothing short of enchanting. This song is no different, but on track lists full of lots of other incredible music, it surely stands out. It’s simple, super-simple, but Watson’s voice over the gentle ebb and flow of the piano creates some kind of other-worldly bliss. With overly complicating things he captures some kind of raw emotion and, for me at least, it resonates big time. Performed live, as you’ll hear, this song is just breath-taking.

The Great Escape

This Guest Track is courtesy of A. Mantle, a sojourner, a scholar and a string band enthusiast. If you’d like to contribute to the Guest Track series, send an e-mail to guesttrack@thecorch.com.

One doesn’t always think to search for truth in a small wooden shack amidst the company of two shaggy white men and a black panting dog. Yet The Avett Brothers’ acoustic take on their song 10,000 Words proves that this isn’t a hopeless pursuit.

I first started listening to The Avett Brothers during my initial fascination with string bands last year. As an eMusic article explained to me, “A string band isn’t exactly cut-and-dried… generally speaking, it [refers to] groups whose foundations are in the old-time music of the ’20s and ’30s, before the early heyday of commercial country music and the subsequent rise of rock & roll.” In my experience, this usually means at least three things: acoustic instrumentation, vocal harmonization, and lots of twang.

And so we have the musical backdrop for the timeless wisdom of 10,000 Words:

Ain’t it like most people? I’m no different. We love to talk about things we don’t know about.

How often I feel the need to pontificate about how others choose to live their lives and to act as if I had a privileged perspective that they were not privy to. When I act this way, I know I play the fool and talk on things I don’t know about.

The Epistle of James, written nearly 2,000 years ago also dealt with similar concerns when the author reminded his recipients that they should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry (James 1:19b). Because The Avett Brothers remind me that in the age of Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, musicians might still have something intelligent to say, 10,000 Words is one of my favourite tracks.

10,000 Words

I like a good prank, or dupe, and this one is up there. Website Funny or Die hired singer Jewel, dressed her up with a wig, a fake nose, and “business” clothes and sent her with a group of other business persons to a karaoke bar. Disguised as “Karen,” a mild-manner and ostensibly shy employee of a frozen meat company she blows the bar away with her stunning renditions of Jewel songs.

It’s a great gag, and worth the watch.

This Guest Track is courtesy of A. Mantle, a friend, a scholar and a music enthusiast. If you’d like to contribute to the Guest Track series, send an e-mail to guesttrack@thecorch.com.

I envy Glen Hansard’s voice. Listening to his voice is often a cathartic experience for me, so I imagine that it’s pretty amazing to actually sing with it. It must also be useful to have his voice when you’ve had a bad day, or when you wonder about the point of life.

I can just see it; a long line at the grocery store, Glen’s running late and he’s not happy; Glen get’s into his car, throws back his head and howls: I had to waaaaiiiitttttt REAL LONG, I had to waaaaaiiiiittttttt REEEAAAALLLLLL LONG……..to get my food…..to get my foooooood, and just like that, he’s feeling better.

Seriously though, the almost over the top emotionalism in Glen’s music is what thrills me. Everything is a big deal to him. Since I tend to live my own life in that fashion, I’m thankful that someone else can appreciate this view of reality.

Leave is one of Hansard’s masterpieces. This song is a temper tantrum set to music. I’m amazed to think that so much passion and energy are possible with only an acoustic guitar. I think that you will be too.

Leave

When I first heard Andy Stochansky I was studying at the University of Waterloo. I can’t remember how I first heard about him, but I can remember where I first heard him live. It was in the great big atrium in the Student Life Centre. Billed as a much less important and well-known act than he really was, he somehow got slotted to play an acoustic solo show in the middle of one of the most highly-trafficked buildings on campus—the hub of student life. In the middle of the steady flow of cafeteria goers, bored students, and those taking a shortcut to class was Andy on a small riser stage, playing his heart out.

Andy Stochansky is a great musician and has a lot going for him. I’m never sure why he isn’t more popular in Canada alongside acts like Joel Plaskett or Jason Collett but he’s certainly just as talented. Here’s my pick for today’s Favourite Track.

House of Gold

1995 was a pretty good year. Still reeling from the death of Kurt Cobain we found some sweet solace in the likes of Hayden, a Canadian musician who hasn’t only survived the 90’s but did pretty well then too. With his debut album, Hayden introduced us to his super-slowed-down folk style and his super-low-down voice. We liked it, and continue to. Since then Hayden has gone on to record a whole bunch of really good music; his song-writing has steadily improved. I especially like his the story-telling style of his music and the fact that, as demonstrated on his famous live album, he can really do a lot with just a guitar and his voice.

Bad as it Seems (1995)