HipsterSpinster’s Top 10 Local Albums of 2011

Bloomington, Indiana has an amazingly impressive music scene, and not just for being located in the agricultural center of the US. The sheer volume of creative people in this town is unbelievable, from musicians and visual artists to authors and technology buffs, this town is overflowing with innovators just waiting to roll out something new. I started a list last month of albums released by Bloomington musicians/bands and came up with at least fifty-five albums/EPs, and if you have ever set foot in our small college town, you’d understand why that is an incredible amount of new music for only one year (and I know there are probably at least 5 albums that I  missed). Sorting through all of the sounds, here are the albums that stole my attention.

Daytrotter: Pattern Is Movement

Click image for Daytrotter Session

It’s been years since I last saw Pattern Is Movement perform, but I have not forgotten how much fun and how interesting this band is to hear and see. Check them out on Daytrotter performing three tracks, “Jenny Ono”, “Light Of The World” and “Make It Right”.

SOPA/PIPA – We Don’t Need This

A rare dip into politics on this blog. (I’m not trying to tell you what to do, I’m just asking you to at least educate yourself on this issue)

Please take some time out of your day to learn about the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and PROTECT IP Act (PIPA). If you use the internet to learn and share information, thoughts, media, etc. with others, this act directly affects you and the websites that you use to do so.

Do I support piracy? No. This is exactly why the music or video content you see on my blog is linked to or embedded from its original source and credited where possible. However, I also don’t believe that everyone should be punished for the mistakes of others. Our free and open internet has bridged cultural, societal, and physical gaps, allowed open and creative collaboration, and facilitated the sharing of information in ways that have re-defined our world. To cut that away with censorship would not only ruin the intended purpose of the internet, but also steals away the freedoms which this country has boasted upon for centuries. How’s THAT for piracy?

Read what these sources have to say:

Fight For the Future
WordPress.com (Offering censored blog posts, Jan. 18 in protest)
Google (Front Image is BLACKED OUT, Jan. 18 in protest)
Wikipedia (Homepage is BLACKED OUT, Jan. 18 in protest)
Craigslist

I write a blog using the FREE applications that WordPress provides
I use images, videos, and other media (giving credit where possible) to provide detail for the content of my blog
I use social networking websites to share thoughts, news, media, and information with friends
I utilize search engines, websites, blogs, etc. to find information, media, etc.

These acts affect me

These acts affect you

Please take some time to learn about it, and I hope you will contact your local legislator, and then ask a friend to do the same.

New Video: Dreamers of the Ghetto – “Connection”

Dreamers of the Ghetto recently released a new video for “Connection“, the next single from their debut album Enemy/Lover (Temporary Residence Ltd.). I knew from talking with the band that this song is very special for them, especially between husband and wife Luke and Lauren Jones, and this video highlights that relationship in a beautiful way.

New Year’s Eve with the Big Damn Band

I’m glad that I’m not a photographer or videographer, because any images I may have captured from this show simply would not justify what it was like to be there. This year, instead of my traditional route of going to a friend’s house, lighting sparklers, and ringing in the new year with a glass of sparkling cider and phone pictures ready for Facebook, I decided to go out to see some live music, celebrate with fewer friends and more strangers, and one big damn band.