Most of the music I listen to fills the background of my day with rhythm, energy, and inspiration. I love my music, but it is rare that music touches me or resonate with my soul. On rare occasions, an album like Cripple Crow, breaks free of the background and forces you to engage it. You wrestle with it, you dance with it, you are transformed by it, and it becomes a part of you.

When I heard Devendra Banhart’s newest album, Cripple Crow, I felt something that I couldn’t pin down. I wanted to save the music for a time when I could be alone with it. I took it home and stayed up late being mesmerized and hypnotized. As I started to absorb this music, I remembered the last time I had this feeling. I closed my eyes and remembered my boyhood hiding place. I remember crawling in there, putting my headphones on and being transported to a different place. There alone in that little womb I really connected with the music. It became a part of me. Perhaps it is fitting that Devendra Banhart chose a “Sergeant Pepper” style cover for this album. No doubt, many children retreated to their secret place and wrestled with that album. Like that Beatle’s masterpiece, I think this album has the power to engage its listeners and really connect with people.

Last Friday I got to see Rogue Wave in concert. I saw them about a year ago, and am happy to report that they sound even better than before. A year of touring has really tightened up their set. In fact, all the songs seem to have a new energy that makes me wish they would rerecord their first album, Out of the Shadow which was made before there was really a band. I guess that might have been part of the reason for their iTunes Exclusive.

As a teaser to their new album that comes out October 25, you can pick up their latest single, 10:1. It is only 4 songs, but it does what a good teaser should: it gets you excited for the full length album. And as an added bonus, if you buy the single, you get to enjoy the album art of Jeff Kleinsmith. Good stuff…