Hungrytown Makes Music Videos Like We Do

You may recall having seen Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson (Hungrytown), about whom I've previously blogged, perform at my Library in November, 2007.  If not, you missed a superb show.  But now this talented pair of songwriters, musicians, and producers (they wear many hats) has hit the really big time--posting some music videos on YouTube.

According to the group's latest email newsletter, the Newsdumpster (Jan. 2012), this music video (above) presents "a slideshow of antique winter imagery, set to" Hungrytown's "Year Without a Summer," from the CD Any Forgotten Thing (2011).

Last month, Hungrytown posted a music video for "Calliope," also from the Any Forgotten Thing album.  As noted in the description, the video used "haunting, dreamlike, antique [movie] footage of Coney Island" set to the song.

These are wonderful visual renderings of the underlying musical and lyrical beauty, for which Hungrytown's original compositions and recordings are rightly famed.  Any Forgotten Thing has received critical praise from musically knowledgeable people, but I'll add my feline seal of approval.  I highly recommend this, or any of the duo's previous, albums.  Visit Hungrytown's website for purchasing information, as well as the inside scoop and latest news about the band.  Drop by Hungrytown's YouTube Channel to see more great music videos.

Do you see anything stylistically familiar in Hungrytown's music videos?  They have incorporated some of the same video-crafting techniques that my Library uses to make its videos, which are uploaded to the MPL YouTube Channel.  Ours are not as good as Hungrytown's, but, for a small public library, we do our best.  I wonder if they use Mac iMovie or Windows Movie Maker, like we do?  We'd like to learn Adobe Premiere Pro CS 5, but time is a dear commodity, and none of my minions has had a chance to delve deeply into its mysteries.

We're glad to share Hungrytown's music and hope you enjoy it.

Maybe They'll Record a Cover of My Theme Song--Just Saying,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Music News Beat

P.S.  As our musical closer today, here is a video of Hungrytown performing live with the Virginia Ramblers at the Gravity Lounge, in Charlottesville, Virginia (2008).

Friends, Roamers, Country-Cats, Lend Me Your Ears!

By Junior, of Junior's Farm
MPL Special Feline Correspondent
Arts & Crafts News Beat

We listen to all kinds of cool music at my Library, which helps us concentrate on our many demanding tasks like basking in the sun, rolling around in the dirt, snarfing down snacks, and hacking up the occasional hairball.  Oh, well, that's what we special feline correspondents and our Library Roving Reporter do.  Our people colleagues actually work.

Cauli often ends her blogs with a postscript featuring various types of great music.  Since my news beat is arts and crafts, today we're concentrating on the musical arts.  Lend your ears, if you please, to the wonderful "retro-folk" sounds of Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson, who together comprise Hungrytown.

Rebecca and Ken performed in concert at my Library in November, 2007, but that was frankly before my time.  I am told that Cauli hung around their trailer to get warm milk and autographs, but she didn't show them to me (the autographs, not the warm milk, which, in all probability, would be a tad bit spoiled by now).  I bet she has them (again, the autographs, not the milk) stored in a safe place for posterity.  Collectors' items, you know.

Rather than blather away endlessly (I'm not Scowl-Face, after all) with a whole lot of words, my approach to music appreciation is to listen and decide what I like.  I have, and I do.  Now it's your turn.  There are several videos and listening samples from Hungrytown's website, and you can click on the group's albums for sale.  You may want to read some reviews about the band, so here you go.  For those who like press kits, go for it.

Hungrytown has a new CD available, and there are many others you can buy.  Since I was listening this afternoon to Rebecca Hall's second album, I'd like to include it for this posting.

Released in 2002

Rebecca, with Ken producing and lending instrumental and vocal support, presented primarily her own original compositions on this CD.

• To hear Hungrytown's live rendition of "Going North" (track 6), watch this video (above).

I don't mind telling you that I truly enjoyed all of this album's selections, but my favorites are tracks 6 and 7 ("Going North" and "Thanks Just the Same").  I'll leave you to pick your own favorites.  I'm confident you will find several.

Lend your ears (and eyes) to Hungrytown's other CD song samples (and videos).  It is fabulous music, however you wish to categorize it.  You can tell how much we enjoy Hungrytown (and Rebecca & Ken's earlier works).

My Special Happy Place When I'm Listening to Great Music

Harley Enjoys Listening While Sunbathing

Trust me, Hungrytown delivers terrific songs, both lyrically and instrumentally, and you can't go wrong kicking back and relaxing to any of their tunes.  As Cauli would say, you can take that to the bank.



Glad to Share Great Music With My Readership Legions,

Junior, of Junior's Farm

MPL Special Correspondent

Arts & Crafts News Beat

P.S.  Watch Hungrytown perform the title song from the group's new album, Any Forgotten Thing (2011).