A few weeks ago I was driving home and listening to the low end of the dial on my car radio. My car is kind of a piece and the radio dial can't be read so I can't rightly tell you what station I was listening to when Sherman "Blues" Johnson & His Clouds of Joy came across the airwaves. The tune was Hot Fish and for its time and place the song couldn't have been more perfect for an evening drive home at the end of a long day with the windows down and the city lights blinking an optimistic yellow through my windshield. It felt great, I felt good. I know that the music selection amplified these feelings and I've been thinking about it ever since. 

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As everybody probably knows already, R.E.M. has announced that they are breaking up. I never was hugely into the band, but as I thought about it upon hearing the news, I found that their music has been more present in my life than I realized. So in tribute, I'm sharing some of the moments to which R.E.M. provided the soundtrack.

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After the departure of dailybeatz from the blog game (you'll be missed!) and a discussion I had with some lovely bloggers on turntable.fm today, I came to somewhat of a revelation. Here's the thing: I love blogging and I love what Those Who Dig has become. The problem is, we started this site with a major focus on writing and analysis and for me, personally, the amount of time and energy it takes to flesh out a single post has become unsustainable. The crazy amount of things life tends to throw at me means that I don't always have the time or mental capacity to write deeply every night. There's such a huge amount of music I want to share and drop some thoughts about, and I end up having so little time to share it that I need to change things up.

So from this point out, I'm going to be switching up the way I post a bit. I'm going to be focusing on more frequent content and shorter, to-the-point write ups. This doesn't mean any of our features, articles, or in-depth band reviews will go away. They'll just be supplemented by a (hopefully) quicker and more consistent flow of all the weird, wild, and wonderful tunes I think all of our dear readers should be tickling their eardrums with.

I'll be shooting for a happy medium between a quick-post Tumblr style account and the in-depth, thought provoking style you've come to know and love at Those Who Dig. This will be a good thing for me, since it means the blog will start to be less of a chore, and a great thing for you, since it means more awesome music comin' atcha.

Hope you guys are into it. We have big, big plans for the future at Dig Central so keep on diggin'.

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Beardyman is the "King of Sound and Ruler of Beats" according to the BBC, and I am inclined to agree. His beat boxing skills put Doug E. Fresh in the corner and his improvisational skills coupled with his looping fluency make for one entertaining viral video.

This performance is from a recent appearance on the Conan O'Brian Show and it not only showcases Beardyman's obvious talent, but it had me thinking about my work as a high school music teacher, and the case for music education for cross curriculum benefits.

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For my money, Paul McCartney is at his best when he checks his emotions at the door and gets down to business. 

Why Don't We Do It In the Road is a prime example of how uncomplicated pop music can be and how this simplicity can still be viscerally groovy.

Today's post is a short reflection upon this song and idea. At the end of the day, I don't want a preacher, I want a Pop singer. I also want to do it in the road.

The Beatles: Why Don't We Do It In The Road

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Recently I've found that the way I listen to music has changed. Circumstance and schedule have really got me down in the past few weeks and my listening has been almost entirely driven by deadlines, and work functions. With a run out of shows in DC, preparation and rehearsal for a concert with the Peabody Camerata, a full time high school music education position, and a few miscellaneous free lance musician obligations my blogger research time has suffered. 

On the other hand I have had the opportunity to polish the dust off of a few old favorites that have been lost in the shuffle for way too long. This is a small selection of music I have been listening too lately because of work that is absolutely worth hearing, regardless of the context.

Check it out, you'll not find a more eclectic list of music in the blogosphere today!

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One quality of a truly remarkable performance is that there is often one note and/or one phrase that can encapsulate the grace, fire, virtuosity, subtlety, or authenticity of the artist. 

In addition, Ludwig Van Beethoven foreshadowed George Gershwin 103 years before Rhapsody in Blue and the alleged first collision of the classical and jazz idioms.

TWD takes a closer look at an overlooked moment in an underplayed piece that reveals how truly ahead of the curve Beethoven was.

Beethoven No. 32 Op 111

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Recently, I purchased Surfa Rosa by The Pixies on vinyl.

Although I've listened to this album an infinite number of times before, hearing it this time taught me something about myself as a classical musician.

Today, I present my epiphany as an induction into The Shrine for one of my favorite bands: The Pixies.

The Pixies – Vamos

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Recently I've been compiling a list.

The list is a collection of musicians.

What they have in common is that I would like to go back in time and run them all over with a bus.

I would kill these artists dead for the good of the civilian population, as well as to preserve their previously respectable reputation.

You Dig?

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I believe in self-imposed music listening rituals.

It is my opinion that routine and regularity are the best route for achieving the maximum absorption and enjoyment from your listening.

My Sunday morning routine is a favorite of mine; Bill Evans, coffee, and breakfast.

I would like to share this with you.

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