Bryan John Appleby

If you read through my Thursday Happy Thoughts 

you probably could have guessed that I would choose 

this particular individual for Music Monday... 

(photo source)

My obsession with Bryan John Appleby hasn't let up! 

I must be early on the train because currently there isn't even a 

wikipedia article about him. How am I supposed to stalk an artist 

without a publicly edited biography? Geeze. 

Having listened to both albums about a million times by now, 

I can safely announce my absolute favorites from each. 

His newest release, Fire on the Vine, is fantastic. 

However, two songs stand above the rest in my humble opinion... 

First: Noah's Nameless Wife. Gah. Heartbreaking. Please listen: 

Do you see what I mean? The little gosling who's three of a kind 

and doesn't get on the ark and can't fly? All the little children who 

don't get on the ark either?? If I think about the lyrics too much 

I just can't handle it but the song is so beautiful I can't help myself. 

Second: Honey Jars. An old man who's wife has died. 
I could only find a video recorded in a classroom 
(p.s. how sweet is it that Bryan does classroom recordings??) 
so you'll need to turn the sound way up... 

"I read that old men will see visions 

and young men will follow dreams 

and I believed it when I read it 

I see your face in everything. 

And now your honey jars are frozen 

and in the window your books have browned 

and there's too much room inside our bed 

I think I'll join you in the ground." 

Haunting and beautiful. I can't stop listening to/singing this song. 

It's another one I can't think too much about or I'll start bawling. 
But so. damn. beautiful! 

Ok I'm making this sound like the album is depressing but truly it's not! 

Many people who know me well have commented on how mellow 

my music collection is. I like me a sad song, what can I say. 

Thus, these are the favorites I have chosen. 

You can buy the album and listen to the upbeat ones. 

And because I think it's a good idea to post a video three times 

on my blog, my favorite song from Bryan's first album: