Month: December 2014

The Best Albums of 2014


Last year I was a little slow to post my hall of fame choices for best albums of 2013, but if any of you remember that post, you might recall that at the end of it I mentioned my two most anticipated releases for 2014.  Well, not too surprisingly both of those albums are at the top of my list for this year’s album hall of fame.  I sincerely hope you’ll take the time to click on at least a few of the links I’ve provided in this post & discover some new music to enjoy in the coming year.  eric church the outsiders

  1. The Outsiders by Eric Church (Country . . . with rock influences)

I already have an entire blog post about why Eric Church is such a musical genius which was largely inspired by this album, so I won’t spend too long describing the individual songs on this one (you can read that post here: https://athicketofmusingsblog.com/2014/02/25/why-eric-church-might-be-the-musical-genius-of-the-21st-century/).  I’ve seen Eric Church in concert twice in the past three months which makes for a total of three times in the past two years.  And I’d still go see him again tomorrow, no questions asked.  Eric Church just has such a raw, inspiring energy that his music, especially live, never gets old.  If you don’t normally like country music, I sincerely implore you to check out this album anyway.  This is clearly the most rock-influenced album Church has ever produced (listen to the title track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_P-YNJIdNc or to “That’s Damn Rock & Roll” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rknp0kkVzY), yet there are several pieces with some serious blues influence that bring to mind old-fashioned swamp music from the deep South (see “Cold One”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKvE-WoooLE).  But true to form, it’s the sometimes witty, sometimes heart-wrenching lyrics that are the greatest strength of all of Church’s music.  Church has stated in an interview “One thing I miss is turning on the radio & just having a song punch me in the gut, &, as a songwriter, knock me on my ass.  And I think we could use more of that” (see: Eric Church Misses More Substance on ‘Feel-Good’ Country Radio).  I miss that too, but I’m happy to say that every track on The Outsiders is one that has punched me in the gut, in one way or another.  Also, do yourself a favor & listen to the whole album from start to finish.  Church has stated that’s the way it’s meant to be heard, & he’s 100% right when he says that each song becomes more powerful when listened to in order.BSC Magic Mountain

  1. Magic Mountain by Black Stone Cherry (Rock/Southern Rock)

This was my second most anticipated release of 2014, & happily it did NOT disappoint.  If you’re not familiar with BSC, they are a four-piece rock band based out of a small town in Kentucky whose music has notable Southern rock influences.  There are plenty of upbeat “partying” type songs on this album, including the notable title track (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAtHWXtEV7w), but there are several more serious pieces as well.  The ballad “Sometimes” is easily one of the most well-written songs BSC have ever recorded (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrnUpoJ9sno).  The emotion in Chris’s voice in that song is just so palpable that it’s impossible not to be touched.  Additionally, check out “Remember Me” which was written the day the lead singer’s grandfather died (you can see the video & read about the inspiration for the song here: http://loudwire.com/black-stone-cherry-remember-me-exclusive-video-premiere).  For a great motivational “pick-me-up,” check out “Never Surrender” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ELngYG3IU).  BSC is one of those bands who clearly deserves more radio play than they get, so do yourself a favor & check out this album because there isn’t a single bad song on it.blood for blood

  1. Blood for Blood by Hellyeah (Hard Rock/Metal)

I had actually never heard of Hellyeah until I started seeing their song “Sangre Por Sangre” on a hard rock blog that I follow (https://hardrockdaddy.wordpress.com/).  Intrigued by the Spanish title of the song I decided to check it out on YouTube one day.  Rarely have I ever been so immediately blown away by a song as I was by this one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keZ-GsRRVlQ).  The words, the music itself, the message behind the song, all of it is just undeniably powerful.  I ended up buying the album & quickly fell in love with it.  With songs that touch on the horrors of war, child abuse, & violence in general, this album definitely isn’t for the faint of heart & probably shouldn’t be played around young children (though you ought to be able to guess that just by the band’s name), but please don’t let that stop you from enjoying one of the year’s best albums.  Be sure to check out “Moth” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIWeIChes5k), “Cross to Bier” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRBc8YqePrg), & “Hush” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PQd3HYHYXA).black widow ITM

  1. Black Widow by In This Moment (Metal)

I just bought this album a few weeks or maybe a month ago, & it’s been on almost constant replay in my car ever since.  ITM’s 2013 album Blood caught my attention & made my hall of fame for last year, but Black Widow is even more impressive than Blood.  Maria Brink wasn’t kidding when she said the lyrics to this album are largely based on her own personal experiences.  “Sex Metal Barbie” is Maria’s devilishly witty response to all those who trash her & her music (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–bhD1uItK8) while “The Fighter” is a piano-driven ballad about survival that is easily one of the most powerful songs I’ve ever heard in my entire life (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWNkqfn5oh4).  Even if you don’t traditionally like metal or ITM, I beg you to at least listen to “The Fighter;” it’s just that good.  I could go on & on about this album, but be sure to check out the title track with its infectious melody (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMEQ4aWnK2s), “Big Bad Wolf” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJBQzF1AwvU), & “Sexual Hallucination,” the haunting duet with Brent Smith, the lead singer of Shinedown (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fp4yRDEVyM).  Both lyrically & musically I have no doubt this is ITM’s best album to date, & you will be greatly remiss if you don’t give it a good listen.Godsmack-1000hp-album-cover

  1. 1000 HP by Godsmack (Hard Rock)

When 1000 HP debuted this year, it had been four years since the last Godsmack album & many of us weren’t quite sure what to expect.  While the title track describes the band’s rise to fame & is wildly fun (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rL4em-Xv5o), it’s some of the other pieces that I believe truly make this album one for the record books.  The current single “Something Different” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH_SbTsOBxo) showcases a lot of the Alice in Chains influence for which Godsmack is famous.  Sully’s growling voice is perfectly in place in this brooding piece, just as it is in “Turning to Stone” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xWNxdmXqe0), which is very reminiscent of “Serenity” & some of the other more melodic/acoustic pieces from earlier albums.  Being Godsmack, of course there are plenty of upbeat/angry pieces too including one of my favorites, “Locked and Loaded” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJGUB8ws8uQ).  While staying true to their signature sound, this album truly showcases the various different sides of Godsmack & a real maturity that is nothing short of scintillating.nikki lane all or nothin

  1. All or Nothin’ by Nikki Lane (Alternative Country)

Some of you may remember reading about Nikki Lane in one of my blog posts from November (https://athicketofmusingsblog.com/2014/11/14/the-6-best-bands-youve-never-heard-about/), but if not let me introduce you to one of the most fascinating voices in alternative country today.  I discovered Nikki Lane sometime this year & was immediately intrigued by her unique voice & her cleverly crafted lyrics.  This album was produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys & actually includes a duet with him, “Love’s on Fire” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUKZshEAWSg).  Check out Nikki’s rock & roll spirit in “Right Time” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzS3vU6wZa4), & then check out her more jazzy/bluesy side in “You Can’t Talk to Me Like That” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCRRO_IqVgs).stuck adelitas way

  1. Stuck by Adelita’s Way (Hard Rock)

I’ll be the first to admit that this album actually disappointed me a bit the first couple times I listened to it.  Before I purchased it I had already fallen in love with the lead single “Dog on a Leash” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqrNmlK2nog) so I was expecting a lot more songs like that.  As it turns out the album is a conglomeration of some more traditional harder songs like that one as well as quite a few softer, more ballad-like pieces.  With time though, I’ve come to really appreciate the entire album.  There is no question that this band is very talented both musically & lyrically, & if you read any of his interviews, you’ll quickly understand why I have so much respect for lead singer Rick DeJesus.  Be sure to listen to “Save the World” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3062FJuCZI), “Something More” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f926saj7Bvg), & “Blur” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kO4WYoawUA).the gallery band

  1. Restless by The Gallery (Soft Rock/Pop)

This is actually a 2013 album but I discovered it this year so I’m including it in my list for 2014.  (It’s my blog so I can do whatever I want anyway, ha!)  In any case, The Gallery is a four-piece soft rock band based out of Massachusetts who opened for Honor By August at the Pourhouse in downtown Raleigh this summer.  I was there to see Honor By August, but I was very impressed with The Gallery as well.  Being the music junkie I am, I of course purchased their album.  Being a hard rock fan, it took me a little while to warm up to the mellower sound of this band, but once I did I realized how truly ingenius their song-writing is, both musically & lyrically.  This band really knows how to write songs that pierce to the heart of 20-somethings today (probably because they are 20-somethings!).  Check out the infectious melody of “Fast Friends,” a tribute to the oh-so-popular “friends with benefits” arrangement & how it’s never as uncomplicated as it’s “supposed” to be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlRIczaovdw).  “The Catalyst” was the song that really caught my attention at the concert because the lyrics “You lit me up like a cigarette/Then you burned me down & now there’s nothing left/You were the one who put the spark to this/You were the gasoline, you were the catalyst” just struck me as so fascinating (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQnmzqvLAd0).  Also check out “The Runaround” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo1toCvDv8E).

As I did last year, I’ll end this year’s post with my most anticipated releases of the coming year.  I for one cannot wait to hear Halestorm’s third album which is scheduled to debut sometime in early 2015 (the sooner, the better!).  I’m also sincerely hoping Gemini Syndrome will come out with another album this year.  (If you don’t know them but you like FFDP or Tool, check them out NOW.  Their 2013 debut album Lux is amazing & has become a favorite of mine as well as my husband.)

Happy listening & happy 2015, everyone!

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Three Small Words That Will Improve Your Relationships


Thank you, James M. Sama, for reading my mind once again when you wrote this post. I could not possibly agree more with every word of this article. And you even quoted my favorite line from one of my all-time favorite books . . . Seriously, everyone needs to read this article & take it to heart.

James Michael Sama's avatarJames Michael Sama

Many people read through my articles or see what I post on Facebook or Twitter and tell me that they wish their relationship could be “like that.” They tell me the expectations I set for individuals and couples are unrealistic. That nobody is really that happy. That romance and chivalry are just…dead.

To all of you, absorb this: You have the power to do better.

Like anything in life, great things don’t come to those who wish, great things come to those who actually take action and make changes in order to attract the love, success, and happiness they desire.

standards2

Are you not happy with the person you’re with? Walk away.

Do they mistreat you or act in ways that are unacceptable? Communicate your concerns to them, and if they don’t change, walk away.

Are they physically or emotionally abusive in any way? Run away. Now.

I understand that it’s…

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Sweet Curry Squash


The last few weeks have been really busy for me & as much as I’ve wanted to blog, my mind has just been splintered in too many different directions to come up with anything decent to share with the world.  However, today I saw a recipe online that inspired me to try my own variation of it, & it turned out so well that I felt I ought to share it.  If you’re looking for a healthy (& easy!) side dish or appetizer for a Christmas/holiday dinner or party, this would be a perfect choice.

  • Ingredients:
    • 1 butternut squash
    • 2-3 TBS curry
    • 2-3 TBS brown sugar
    • 1-2 TBS olive (or coconut) oil
    • Grated goat cheese
    • Optional: Crumbled pecans (or walnuts, almonds, etc)
  • Directions
    • Peel 1 butternut squash.  Stand it on one end & cut it in half so that you have 2 long slender halves (see picture below).  Spoon out the seeds (a grapefruit spoon works great for this).butternut squash halves
    • Next cut the squash into bite-size cubes/slices.  Spread the pieces onto a cookie sheet covered with foil & greased with either olive or coconut oil.
    • Combine a few tablespoons of brown sugar & a few tablespoons of curry (y’all know I don’t measure; I just guess) & sprinkle this over the squash.
    • Bake for 20 minutes at 350 F.  At that point, drizzle with a little extra olive oil if the squash seems to be drying out.
    • Bake for another 20 minutes & then serve with grated goat cheese on top. For extra protein/healthy fat, sprinkle a few crumbled pecans (or walnuts, almonds, etc).sweet curry squash

To all my lovely readers, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukah, Happy Boxing Day, or whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of year.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Watch Bollywood


For almost as long as I can remember I’ve had a special fascination with India.  I’m not sure how it started, but I do remember reading a lot of books about other countries & cultures, including India, as a child.  (Yes, I was & still am a real nerd.)  In fact, as I may have mentioned on this blog before, I remember determining as a kid that I was going to marry an Indian man when I grew up.  This is pretty hilarious considering I grew up in a town with maybe one, and I do mean one, Indian family.  (As it turns out I married a white man, just for the record.)  Anyway, three years ago when I graduated from nursing school & first started working night shift, I discovered Bollywood films on Netflix.  One night when I was up late with nothing much to do, I just decided to watch one.  I honestly don’t remember which movie I watched first or why that particular one intrigued me enough to give it a try, but in any case I’ve been hooked on Bollywood ever since.  Here are five reasons why you should be too.Taj Mahal

  1. The music: Indian music is very different than Western music. Rhythmically & stylistically it’s just a whole different world.  But it’s beautiful!  Nevermind the fact that the lyrics rarely translate well into English, the music itself is just gorgeous.  I know some people can’t understand the idea of listening to music in a language you don’t understand, but sometimes I think it’s easier to really appreciate music for exactly what it is when you aren’t distracted by the actual words (if that makes any sense).
  2. The dancing: Going in hand in hand with the music, Bollywood films are often filled with lots of dancing. If you don’t like Western musicals, this might initially be a turn-off, but I implore you to give these movies a try anyway.  Indian dancing is very different than Western dancing, although you can definitely see elements of Western influence from time to time.  There are certainly plenty of Indian films that contain very little or no dancing, other than perhaps during the credits at the end, but most do have at least one or two dancing scenes.  Yes, the music & dancing contribute to the fact that most Indian films are 2-2.5 hours long, but trust me, you won’t even notice the extra length because of how fascinating the music & dancing are.bollywood dance
  3. The gorgeous people: Bollywood films are quite literally a feast for the eyes. Both the men & women are just drop-dead gorgeous.  While the female stars are definitely on the skinnier side, I can’t help but notice that they are not as skeletally thin as most Hollywood actresses.  To me this contributes to them being even more beautiful.  If you’re not yet convinced that you should give Bollywood a try, run a quick Google image search on a few of these names & you might change your mind: Shahid Kapoor.  Imran Khan (the younger one).  Arjun Kapoor.  John Abraham.  Ranveer Singh.  Shushant Singh Rajput.  Anushka Sharma.  Sonam Kapoor.  Kareena Kapoor.  Vidya Balan.  Parineeti Chopra.  Priyanka Chopra . . . See what I mean? jab we met
  4. The stories: Bollywood is probably most famous for romantic films but there are plenty of comedies, thrillers, & horror films as well, even sci-fi. I tend to stick with mostly romances or romantic comedies, but regardless of the genre these people really know how to tell a story.  Yes, the stories are spun a bit differently than most Hollywood films, but that is exactly what makes them so fascinating.  I don’t know about y’all, but Hollywood rarely impresses me anyway.  As a side note, I’m definitely not the first person to observe that Bollywood films contain considerably less sex than American films.  While I don’t necessarily have a problem with sex in movies & there are plenty of Bollywood films that do include sex, I also appreciate the way that Bollywood films somehow make even a hug extremely sexy.  Quite often there isn’t even a kiss until the very end of the movie, but trust me there is no lack of chemistry in Bollywood, far from it indeed.  (I’m sure the dancing contributes to this somewhat.)arjun kapoor 2
  5. The fascinating culture: Perhaps the most compelling reason to watch Bollywood films is that learning about a different culture is just plain fascinating & so much more rewarding than watching movies about your own culture. I’m sure there are plenty of things I miss in these movies because I don’t understand more than a handful of Hindi words, but the sub-titles are more than sufficient to help me understand the stories.  Additionally watching movies in a different language forces you to realize how much communication & human interaction are influenced by things other than the exact words people say.  While I appreciate the fact that Bollywood provides only a small glimpse into real Indian life & culture, just as Hollywood is far from a perfect picture of American/Western culture, I still find this glimpse into Indian culture fascinating.  I won’t pretend that I like everything I see because it’s quite apparent from watching these movies (& reading various articles) that there are some serious societal problems in India, particularly the stark contrast between the wealthy & the poor & the treatment of women.  But it’s not like Hollywood doesn’t reveal a lot of serious problems with American culture too.

To get you started, I’m including a list of ten of my favorite Bollywood films, many of which can be found on instant on Netflix.

  1. Jab We Met: This romance centers on a couple who meets on a train & is probably my all-time favorite Bollywood moviejab we met 2
  2. Dil Bole Hadippa: This romantic comedy about a woman who joins an all-male cricket team has a Twelfth Night vibe. You do NOT need to understand cricket to understand this movie, by the way.  This film also has a LOT to say about the state of women in India.dil bole hadippa
  3. Ishaqzaade: A romance/thriller with a Romeo & Juliet vibe that contains electrifying music aside from the thrilling story/romanceishaqzaade
  4. Band Baaja Baaraat: A romantic comedy that centers on the wedding-planning industryband baaja baaraat
  5. Shuddh Desi Romance: This romance examines commitment, live-in relationships, & the push for early marriage in India & how all of this affects the current generation of 20-somethings.shuddh desi romance
  6. Mere Brother Ki Dulhan: In this romance, a man sets out to find a bride for his brother only to fall in love with her himself.mere brother ki dulhan
  7. Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu: A couple meets & gets married in Vegas while drunk . . . The next morning they’re horrified to find what they’ve done. But what happens when one of them starts actually falling in love?ek main aur ekk tu
  8. Bewakoofiyaan: This romantic comedy focuses on the hardships of romance in a less than stellar economy & is extremely relevant to all 20-somethings today. Also the girl’s father is just plain hilarious.Bewakoofiyaan_Poster
  9. Kaminey: This thriller stars Shahid Kapoor playing identical twins with vastly different personalities & life choiceskaminey
  10. Wake Up Sid: In this romance, an unmotivated young man moves in with a female friend & is inspired to transform his life.wake up sid
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Best Hand/Face Cream Ever: Windrift Hill Goats N’ Oats


Last week’s post was very serious & deep so this week I thought I’d post something a bit more light-hearted & fun to even things out a little.

nubian goats

While in Montana, I came across the best hand/face cream ever.  After hiking 11+ miles at Glacier National Park, my husband & I stopped at a gift shop on our way out of the park, & it was there that I first encountered Windrift Hill’s products.  Windrift Hill is a Nubian goat farm in North Central Montana run by an occupational therapist & her family (see http://www.windrifthill.com/aboutwindrifthill.html).  They make lotions, soaps, & body butters from goat’s milk.  At the gift shop at Glacier National Park I came across a number of these products & immediately fell in love with the fresh, clean scents.  Unfortunately they only had a sample of my favorite scent, the Goats N’ Oats.  I was reassured by the staff at the gift shop that these products are easy to find in gift shops all across Montana so I decided to just keep looking elsewhere.  On our very last night in Montana my husband & I checked out a gift shop just up the street from the cabin in which we were staying in Cooke City, Montana (just outside Yellowstone).  Lo & behold, there was the sacred Goats N’ Oats body butter!  All of the Windrift Hill scents are pleasant, but the Goats N’ Oats, made with almond essential oil, strikes me as the most pure, simple scent of them all.  As my husband is allergic to many fragrances & my own asthma is often triggered by strong fragrances, this was a win-win for both of us.

As it turns out my husband & I have both ended up using this body butter.  In fact I just ordered a 2 lb tub of the stuff as a Christmas gift for both of us!  My husband has found it works very well as an alternative to beard oil.  And we both love it for our hands.  (As a nurse I ALWAYS have dry hands from frequent hand-washing.)  I have a tendency to get very dry skin in the winter, especially around my nose & the corners of my eyes.  Last year the corners of my eyes got so dry, red, & irritated that it was literally painful.  This year thankfully I have Goats N’ Oats body butter to help combat/prevent that.

Sorry this picture is slanted but I swear this really is the best hand/face cream ever!

Sorry this picture is slanted but I swear this really is the best hand/face cream ever!

Fortunately you do not have to be anywhere near  Montana to order Windrift Hill products.  They have a great website where you can order their products (http://www.windrifthill.com/).  I would suggest starting with the 4 oz size to see which scent you most prefer.  As I said, all of the scents I encountered at the gift shops in Montana were great.  But the Goats N’ Oats is definitely my favorite.  And most importantly it really is great for dry skin, even on the face.  Try it & let me know what you think!

 

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