What's The Guru Listening To - May Edition

Welcome to this brand new monthly feature, What’s The Guru Listening To? I get asked this question a lot. What am I currently enjoying and what would I recommend? And since time is severely limited these days, it gets harder and harder to post a full review of the outstanding music that I am discovering (or re-discovering). Hence the birth of this new column. Every month I will fill you in on the latest song, album, or band that I am obsessed with.  

Here’s what The Guru is listening to this month:

The Shins – Name For You

I first heard this song on The Spectrum and immediately fell in love with it. I haven’t stopped listening to it since. The Shins are an American indie rock band from New Mexico that have been around since 1996 and hit their stride in 2004. Oddly enough, I’ve never heard their music until now. Better late than never I suppose. “Name For You” is the fantastic lead track from their latest album, Heartworms. Honestly, I haven’t listened to the rest of the album (yet), but this one song is worth the price of adding this gem to your collection.

Junkyard

Considering that I just saw this band live at M3, it makes sense that I am listening to a lot of Junkyard lately. Before my trip to Maryland I listened to their debut album a few times. Now that I am back, I am still listening to their debut album, but I am also enjoying their new release, High Water. This is the band’s first album in 26 years. That’s a long time between releases, but Junkyard proves that they still have what it takes to rock and roll. If you like your hard rock sleazy with a touch of blues, check out Junkyard---and buy a copy of their new CD.

Breathe (2 AM)  – Anna Nalick

I asked my Amazon Echo to play music one morning and this song came on. I immediately stopped everything that I was doing and listened to the entire song. Then I listened to it 3 more times before I resumed working. This is an amazing ballad by an extremely talented artist. I can’t get enough of this song and I have a feeling I am going to continue to play this one for months and months. I realize now that this song is 12 years old and that I am late to the party, but it’s okay. Sometimes being late pays a higher reward.

The Strumbellas – Hope

I just can’t get enough of this album! I discovered The Strumbellas by watching a Lumineers video. When that video ended a song by this band came up next and I decided to check it out. I was simply blown away. They’ve been around since 2008, but it is this album, Hope, that is giving them much deserved attention. Almost every song on this record is perfect. If they continue to make music this good, I can see a very bright future for this Canadian Indie Rock band.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats

I can thank my good buddy Rob Rockitt for this one. He texted me one day out of the blue and told me that I had to check this band out. Naturally, when Rob recommends something, I try to listen to it right away, because it’s usually gold. Well, this album was platinum! Even though I can stream it on Amazon music, I still went out and bought the CD so that I can have it with me wherever I go. With songs like “S.O.B.,” “Howling At Nothing,” and “I Need Never Get Old,” Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats is one amazing record. I’ve played it dozens of times over the last two weeks, sometimes putting it on a constant loop. It is just that good!

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