Music, sweet music...

It's funny how long I can sometimes go without actually taking music in for real. I don't mean just the listening to the radio on your drive home kinda taking music in. I mean the kind where you put your headphones on, sit yourself in the middle of the room, put the newest CD you've bought on and just spend the next 45-50 minutes immersing yourself in it.
I haven't done that in a very long time... there just hasn't been much out there that I could get excited about.
And then just as the saying says "when it rains, it pours".
Out of almost nowhere music has found me again and I'm remembering what it's like to anticipate a new CD and look forward to some real good music time.

The first CD I got a few days ago was Steven McClintock's new CD. I adore Steven. From the moment I first heard his voice when he was singing background on Victoria's tour I fell in love with him. What an incredible talent, what a VOICE!
He and an old friend of his finally got their act together (literally, in this case, as they actually were an act that was signed by a record label many moons ago) and recorded a brand new CD with some killer songs on it. "After all this time" by Fertitta and McClintock is another piece of masterful songwriting and beautifully blended vocals. If you want to hear bits and pieces from this record, go here - Fertitta and McClintock - I highly recommend it!
I've been dying to hear Steven's voice on anything new again as it just evokes something in me that just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I'm finding it hard to compare his voice to anyone else's because he's truly unique.

Another part of my musical journey of the past few days was going to New York to see Victoria Shaw play at Joe's Pub on Saturday night. She did a songwriter's "In the round" with Bob DiPiero, Gary Burr, Chely Wright and Don Henry. I'm not even going to attempt to list all these amazing songwriter's number ones - I'd be spending an hour doing just that. In an intimate setting, those five played song after song after song and never gave you a chance NOT to shake your head and wonder "HOW does anyone have so much genius talent to write something as fabulous as this???"
There were sad songs, funny songs, fast and slow songs but they were all absolutely unique and made me remember what it was that made me want to be a songwriter so badly. If there is even the slightest chance that by writing something not nearly as good I could make someone smile/cry/laugh/shout/FEEL anything close to what I felt throughout the night, I'd die a happy woman. I was there to see Victoria and my main focus was on her but there is no way you could not sit there, jaw dropping at the amount of talent that is unfolding in front of your very eyes. The best news of the evening came from Vic herself when she said she's recording an album (after the gig she actually said she was recording TWO!). I know the gig was just a little taste of what's to come from her and I can't wait :-)

And then there's Amy. Amy Grant, who with her soothing voice makes all the pain and hurt and anxiety and stress go away. I've yet to come across a female singer that gives me as much peace when I listen to her as Amy does.
I had ordered her new Live CD and DVD a few weeks and when I got home tonight after choir rehearsal I found the package at my door. I ripped into it and have just finished watching the DVD. I can't even put into words how good it feels to listen to her, she has a magic in her voice that is hitting bull's eye in my heart. Like she knows what I need to hear and when I need to hear it. I've yet to uncover how she does it but any day listening to Amy is a much, much better day than one without her.

At this very moment I feel very peaceful and happy simply from having that music around me. And I keep trying to remind myself that I should remember this feeling later, when the new CDs aren't new anymore and I go through my day to day routine without giving music a second thought. Because it shouldn't ever even be a second thought. It's way too special for that...