The Most Awesomest Song of the Day: “Are You Listening?” by Billy Brandt and Sarana Verlin!!!

I have a feature to recognize a slice of good music: The Most Awesomest Song of the Day! 

Here’s a link to the complete list: https://philmaq.com/most-awesomest-songs/

I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my weekly “Theme Attic” show, Wednesdays, from 1PM-4PM ET!

The show can be heard on WHFR 89.3 FM in the Dearborn-Detroit area of Michigan, or it can be streamed with this link: https://www.whfr.fm/streamer/!

If you’d like to know what I think are even better than the awesome songs, have a look at “The Greatest Songs Ever Recorded”:https://philmaq.com/the-greatest-songs-ever-recorded/! Occasionally, an “awesome song” crosses over to become a “Greatest Song!”

But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.

Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.

Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!

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Local music is great! Let’s stay here!

Singer/Songwriter, multiple Philby Award Winner, and Theme Attic Hall of Fame member, Billy Brandt, along with Singer/Songwriter, and multiple Philby Award Winner, Sarana Verlin‘s (Billy Brandt and Sarana Verlin), most recent release, “Are You Listening?” is full of wonderful duets!

Billy has been a consistent creative musician in the Detroit area for many years, both as a solo artist, and as a member of several groups.

Sarana currently resides in England, but she started out in the Detroit area, too!

The relationship between Billy and Sarana plus their current overseas connections has influenced their music!

Billy brings the Americana while Sarana supplies the Celtic, but, of course, there are plenty of common places that the two overlap from their own histories.

Earlier in the year, when I saw the two perform at 20 Front Street in Lake Orion, Michigan, if I remember correctly, Sarana introduced the title track of the album as being about how whales can communicate between themselves.

Not only that, whales have been around longer than humans and know plenty more about areas that we are just beginning to learn about.

Their language is transported to each other over long distances.

She feels that whales can teach us many things, as well as other creatures and spirits if we are aware and willing to listen to them!

The album cover perfectly captures that mystical concept!

The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Are You Listening?” by Billy Brandt and Sarana Verlin!!!

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I have plenty of other musical areas to explore:

Here’s a link for my weekly list of Fave Songs:

https://philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-songs/

Here’s a link for my weekly Fave Album lists:
philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-albums

My somewhat unusual Hall of Fame can be explored here: https://philmaq.com/hall-of-fame/!

Lastly, but most importantly, is my Philby Awards link! A Philby is my annual award for outstanding musical achievement! https://philmaq.com/philbys/!

If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!

#BillyBrandtandSaranaVerlin #AreYouListening  #PhilMaq #TheMostAwesomestSongoftheDay

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The Most Awesomest Song of the Day: “Every Day” by Mental Health Day!!!

Here’s a link to the complete list: https://philmaq.com/most-awesomest-songs/

I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my Monday night show, “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)

Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu )

But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.

Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.

Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!

Please share the post to help spread the word!

Regardless of everything going on in the world that is way more important than my daily post, I will continue, nonetheless, in case someone is looking for a few minutes of respite.

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Let’s continue to stay local!

Today’s selection is from Downriver Detroit area band and multiple Philby Award winners, Mental Health Day.

Their most recent release, Iterations,” came out last year and is another fine batch of songs!

It’s currently #1 on my Faves Albums List for this weeK!

I want to reach back to their previous album, You Could Be Anywhere.”

At the time the band consisted of Jeff Cantwell (vocals and guitar), Dave Houston (vocals and guitar), Dan Martin (bass), and Sean Nasrey (drums).

I still have the song “Every Day” from that album on my player for several reasons.

I like the song!

When other family members are with me in the car, they also like the song!

It’s one of the few we all like!

The song, although called “Every Day,” references a never identified “she.”

It could be the singer’s significant other, but it could also be any female.

I usually equate it to my wife.

The lyrics are vague and contradictory:

“But she doesn’t know a thing/

She just knows everything.”

What I like most about “Every Day” is the way it’s structured.

It starts out with an acoustic and electric guitar strumming chords before everyone else joins in as the drummer (Sean) plays a country styled shuffle. (I don’t think the song sounds country. I think it sounds like a pop song, but it does have a little “flavoring.”)

Here’s where the structuring takes over.

On the first, Jeff sings the verse by himself.

In the instrumental break before the next verse, Dan lays down a moving lead bass line.

On the second verse, his vocal is surrounded with a tight harmony vocal.

When the chorus kicks in, a piano provides the right amount of melodic tinkling to keep the song changing, but moving it along, too. And Dave adds some nice complimentary lead notes.

The landscape of the song constantly changes.

There’s some guitar chord accents.

There’s some sliding chord play on the neck.

And the song breathes!

It sounds like it almost comes to an end, but then segues into an intoxicating instrumental section with some ascending guitar chords and notes!

Then it almost ends again–there’s that breathing thing I mentioned, before it comes back for a final verse and chorus.

“Every Day” has so much in it, it’s like it’s filled with Easter eggs!

It sounds like the kind of song Mike Nesmith would have written after The Monkees!

And the message is so positive:

“Happiness is just around the corner…Every Day!”

The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Every Day” by Mental Health Day!!!

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If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!

#MentalHealthDayBand #EveryDay #YouCouldBeAnywhere  #PhilMaq #TheMostAwesomestSongoftheDay

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The Most Awesomest Song of the Day: “Canadian Shield” by Gifts or Creatures!!!

Here’s a link to the complete list: https://philmaq.com/most-awesomest-songs/

I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my Monday night show, “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)

Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu )

But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.

Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.

Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!

Please share the post to help spread the word!

Regardless of everything going on in the world that is way more important than my daily post, I will continue, nonetheless, in case someone is looking for a few minutes of respite.

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I’m going to keep it local again.

Today’s selection is by Philby Award winning Kalamazoo artist Gifts or Creatures.

The group consists of Brandon John Foote on guitar and Bethany Foote on keyboards.

Not only are they a musical duo, they are also a married couple that literally plays beautiful music together!

Gifts or Creatures, an Earthwork Music artist–my current favorite label because it exists for more reasons than making music, write songs about historical themes.

Therefore, the whole Great Lakes timeline becomes their source material.

They meld harmonies and poetic descriptions about a variety of subjects.

Gifts or Creatures most recent album is called Fair Mitten: New Songs of the Historic Great Lakes Basin.”

If your someone who isnn’t crazy about history, not to worry!

The music is peaceful and relaxing, and you only have to delve into the history as much as you want to! (I’ve certainly looked things up after listening to them, but it’s not required!)

When I was a kid, I did not appreciate Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It seemed like it was cold and rainy every time I was up there.

My love and respect for The U.P. came from spending a summer on the Canadian Shield, which is what the Pre Cambrian rock of the peninsula is called. It’s the oldest and hardest rock on the planet. (Look it up!)

When I listen to “Canadian Shield,” I am transported back to that magical summer!

The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Canadian Shield” by Gifts or Creatures!!!

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If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!

#GiftsorCreatures #CanadianShield #FairMittenNewSongsoftheHistoricGreatLakesBasin #EarthworkMusic   #PhilMaq #TheMostAwesomestSongoftheDay

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50 Awesomest Songs!!!: What Do You Think?

So, I’ve been doing this for a couple of months now, and I’m trying to assess how effective it is.

First, I’d like to say I think the list is pretty, well…, awesome!

There’s a wide variety of music from silly to serious, from quiet meditative to rockin’, jazz, ska, classical, pop, garage, anthems, tributes, and more!

For fifty random songs, I think that’s a fairly good starter variety, with more to come.

I hoped that listeners would first read the fairly short post and then listen to the song.

I tried to give some reasons for selecting the song with either personal thoughts about my own experiences, or at least some fun observations.

After checking it out, I was hoping that it might be shared–at least by the artist!

I was surprised to find that several artists didn’t share it.

Don’t get me wrong, because some posts were shared many times.

A few were shared more than I ever could have imagined!

But many just sat there.

I was hoping that an artist would look at it like a billboard that could be shared to build a larger audience, both for the musician and myself!

Anyway, it wasn’t mandatory to share them, and I humbly thank everyone who read any of my posts and/or shared them!

I also thank everyone who didn’t just hit the “like” button for the post and actually did explore the music with me!

Where do I go from here?

I’m not sure, but I have more ideas I’m working on.

But I’ll stick to what my initial plan: Trying to shine a spotlight on independent music artists!

Here’s the list for the first 50 Awesomest Songs:

The Most Awesomest Songs of the Day

I thank you!*Thank you!*Thank you!*Thank you!*Thank you!*Thank you! 

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I do a radio show when there isn’t a pandemic, called “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)

Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu )

If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!

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The Most Awesomest Song of the Day: “Look at Yourself” by Blueflowers!!!

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Here’s a link to the complete list: https://philmaq.com/most-awesomest-songs/

I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my Monday night show, “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)

Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu )

But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.

Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.

Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!

Please share the post to help spread the word!

Regardless of everything going on in the world that is way more important than my daily post, I will continue, nonetheless, in case someone is looking for a few minutes of respite.

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Let’s stay local for another day.

Blueflowers, a multiple Philby Award winning artist including last year’s Circus on Firealbum, have been making their dark moody music for Detroit denizens for a number of years!

Dynamic lead singer, Kate Hinote, fronts the slow, plodding, hypnotic attack on “Look at Yourself.”

The atmospheric song has powerful dynamics that kick in strong on the chorus!

The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Look at Yourself” by Blueflowers!!!

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If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!

#Blueflowers #KateHinote #LookatYourself #CircusOnFire  #PhilMaq #TheMostAwesomestSongoftheDay

 

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The Most Awesomest Song of the Day: “No One’s Fool” by Rod Johnson!!!

Here’s a link to the complete list: https://philmaq.com/most-awesomest-songs/

I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my Monday night show, “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)

Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu )

But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.

Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.

Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!

Please share the post to help spread the word!

Regardless of everything going on in the world that is way more important than my daily post, I will continue, nonetheless, in case someone is looking for a few minutes of respite.

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Let’s keep it local and have some Friday Music Fun!

Put your dancin’ shoes on!

Crank up the cowbell!

Cue the back-up singers!

Prepare for those fun bell hits on the cymbal!

Get that groove started, and let’s get down to an R&B flavored song that might have filled the floor of The Cavern Club when The Beatles were on break!

Singer/Songwriter/Rocker Rod Johnson released a Philby Award winning album, When My Baby Comes Around,” that’s jammed full of songs ranging from personal introspective memories to just plain heat seekers like “No One’s Fool!”

It’s an album that works on many levels, and the listener can choose how deep they want to go on the varied types of songs!

But all I know is, you don’t want to be a fool by not dancing and singing to today’s selection!

The Most Awesomest Song of the Day, (“Bop shoobop shoobop!”) is “No One’s Fool” by Rod Johnson!!!

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If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!

#FridayMusicFun #RodJohnson #NoOnesFool #RodJohnson #PhilMaq #TheMostAwesomestSongoftheDay

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The Most Awesomest Song of the Day: “Makin’ Lemonade” by Kathy Wieland!!!

Here’s a link to the complete list: https://philmaq.com/most-awesomest-songs/

I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my Monday night show, “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)

Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu )

But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.

Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.

Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!

Please share the post to help spread the word!

Regardless of everything going on in the world that is way more important than my daily post, I will continue, nonetheless, in case someone is looking for a few minutes of respite.

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It’s not going to be anywhere near as hot as yesterday, but I won’t mind another glass of lemonade.

Since I normally cover musical themes on my show, I can’t resist picking a complimentary song by local singer/songwriter Kathy Wieland to go with yesterday’s choice by Seth Bernard!

Kathy’s Philby Award winning album Momma Liked to Fish included a song called “Makin’ Lemonade,” which is her take on the cliche’ to turn lemons into lemonade!

Sounding happier than is humanly possible, Kathy sings along as she plays her uke and turns all of her problems into sweet juice!

The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Makin’ Lemonade” by Kathy Wieland!!!

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If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!

#MakinLemonade #KathyWieland #MommaLikedtoFish #PhilMaq #TheMostAwesomestSongoftheDay

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Phil’s Faves: Albums, June 7, 2020

Over time, my listening habits have changed and at the moment I usually listen to albums completely through. I haven’t done that in years, but it’s actually very rewarding—particularly when the album is good. Every album that will be on this list will fit that category.

Songs from the albums on this list forms the basis of my countdown list for the “Top 9 at 9:09” segment of my “Prime Time Theme Attic Show,” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)

(Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu)) on mostly alternating weeks, along with my “Phil’s Faves, Songs” lists!

It’s another peak into my listening habits—which is a goal of mine. If you want to know where I’m heading or what I think about some new music, you will find it here.

I honestly don’t expect there to be much volatility on this list because these albums are what I have been basing many of the sets on my show.

Once again, there will be no boundaries. I will go wherever my musical muse takes me.

Here’s the link to the complete list of Fave Albums: https://philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-albums/

If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq!

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Mental Health Day feel better with their second #1 Faves album!!
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Top 10 Albums for the Week of June 7, 2020

1. Iterations—Mental Health Day
2. Lost on the Range—The Whiskey Charmers
3. Lines and Spaces—Heather Pierson
4. Scarecrow—Linden Thoburn
5. You and Me and the Sun—Annie Fitzgerald
6. Here to This—Downriver Dan
7. When My Baby Comes Around—Rod Johnson
8. Sweet Love—M French
9. All Mine—Sarah Morris
10.Upside Down—The Rallies
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Don’t forget to like my Facebook page!

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The Most Awesomest Song of the Day: “Honey in Your Heart (Lemonade)” by Seth Bernard!!!

Here’s a link to the complete list: https://philmaq.com/most-awesomest-songs/

I want to emphasize mostly, relatively newer music, just like on my Monday night show, “Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)

Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu )

But I can promise this: I will not force my selections. If something doesn’t hit me, I won’t post one.

Everything I do has always been about shining a spotlight on the artist and their music.

Now I will have the potential to shine 365 more spotlights if I want to!

Please share the post to help spread the word!

Regardless of everything going on in the world that is way more important than my daily post, I will continue, nonetheless, in case someone is looking for a few minutes of respite.

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It’s going to be hot today, so let’s keep it local and have a nice, cool beverage–like lemonade!

Seth Bernard‘s catalog is full of adventurous songscapes that challenge the listener to pay attention!

He is another artist that does not talk down to his audience, and I’ve looked up subject matter to try to understand his music more!

Seth advocates getting involved in civic projects like clean water, and often uses his music to encourage the listener to engage, too!

A multiple Philby Award winner, he has released a series of “Eggtones” albums on various subjects, and I have chosen a song from Eggtones for Peace.”

“Honey in Your Heart (Lemonade)” turns a cliche into a tasty melodic song–after a psychedelic guitar noise intro!

When life gives you lemons/

You’ve got to make that lemonade!

Trying to keep our daily lives positive in an ever changing pandemic world, The Most Awesomest Song of the Day is “Honey in Your Heart (Lemonade)” by Seth Bernard!!!

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If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq and by sharing this post!

#SethBernard #HoneyinYourHeartLemonade #EggtonesForPeace #PhilMaq #TheMostAwesomestSongoftheDay

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Phil’s Faves: Songs, June 7, 2020

This is a weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best songs that I listened to the previous week. Most songs will be current, but there are no boundaries. I’ve already stated on this web site that I am obsessed with music. I am constantly hunting it down whether it’s online, on CD, from my personal collection, from a library (Yes, I think the library is a great source of music–especially for music that you aren’t sure about.), TV, or radio. Since most of these sources mostly emphasize new music, the odds are pretty good that most of the songs on this list will be new. But in my search, I don’t use any boundaries for the other sources. I am just looking for good music that I haven’t heard, or happened to forget about. Everyone, including myself, has forgotten way more great music than they can ever remember-even if they are also music fanatics.

Also, there will be no rules concerning songs on this list. A song can show up or drop off a number of times. This will be the most volatile of my lists. It all depends on how much music I am exposed to during the week and what I find interesting. On really obscure stuff, I will try to include the source, if I know it.

Most of the songs heard on this list have been played on my radio show, “Prime Time Theme Attic,” Prime Time Theme Attic.” (Monday nights 8PM-10PM ET when it returns.)

(Here’s the link for when that day comes: http://rdo.fm/r/4qntu)

This list forms the basis of my countdown list on the “Top 9 at 9:09” segment of my “Prime Time Theme Attic Show” on mostly alternating weeks, along with my “Phil’s Faves, Albums” lists!

Here’s a link for the complete history of all the Fave Songs:

https://philmaq.com/phils-lists/phils-faves-songs/

If you like what you see, don’t forget to spread the word by hitting the “like” button on my Facebook page, Phil Maq !

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Building Birds “Step Right Up” for their fifth #1 Faves Song!!!!!
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Top Ten Songs for the Week of June 7, 2020

1. Step Right Up—Building Birds (If a Tree Falls…)
2. Crazy—The Slackers (Peculiar)
3. Tragedy in A MinorSkinny Lister (The Devil, The Heart, and The Fight)
4. Dirt Roads and Dandelions—Mike Gentry (Mike Gentry)
5. When the Bloom Falls From the Rose—Sarah Jane Scouten (When the Bloom Falls From the Rose)
6. Declined—The Claudettes (High Times in the Dark)
7. Hard Times in the Land of Plenty—Kenny Parker (Hellfire)
8. Blessed Be the NationJudy Banker (Single)(Here’s the link for a FREE download of the song: https://judybanker.com/pete-seeger-blessed-be-the-nation-project )
9. Honey I Love You—The Dustbowl Revival (The Dustbowl Revival)
10.Never to Part—Birdsong at Morning (A Slight Departure)
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