139.
artist:various
album:Mr. deeds soundtrack
i really like this soundtrack because it has a mix of stuff that was new at the time the movie came out as well as stuff that was new when my daddy was in high school. a lot of times i pick up soundtracks because of one or two songs, but this entire soundtrack makes me happy.
the story i decided to tell about this album comes from my very first few days at college at Monmouth. the transfer had been a lot harder on me emotionally than i was prepared for, and because there weren't enough dorm rooms, the stuck most of the transfers in a hotel a few miles from campus. i didn't have a car, so i was stuck trying to catch the unreliable shuttle and ended up being late/missing lots of classes during those first four or so weeks.
being a transfer student at Monmouth, and especially not actually living on campus to begin with, made it really hard to make friends, but luckily i had a really awesome roommate, who i got along great with. we were both transfers so we had that in common, but we both had really awesome tastes in music as well as all sorts of other things in common. i had gone through a bunch of really shitty roommate situations at Waynesburg so having a roommate that i had anything in common with was the best thing that i could think of.
i remember talking to her one night and her telling me that she and her boyfriend were going to see the band Travis. at this time i was obsessed with the song "sing" and so i was a bit jealous of her for that. she went home and went to the concert, and i went home and did nothing that weekend, but it wasn't really a big deal in the grand scheme of things, i mean, she didn't even know me when she bought the tickets. its weird, though, that i still think of that every time i hear the band or see that they are coming around again. i only know one song by them, but i was so heartbroken that i wasn't going to see them back then.
we got a letter under our hotel room door a few days later saying that we would be moving on campus, so we needed to pack up. we weren't able to stay together, because they placed us wherever they had room, and i don't think i ever spoke to her again after we moved out of that hotel room. it wasn't because we didn't like each other, but rather we just ended up running in different crowds, and my radio station and CA group friends weren't like hers, so that was that.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
365 project "who needs sleep? well you're never gonna get it! who needs sleep? tell me what's that for?"
138.
artist:barenaked ladies
album:stunt
this is one of my most favorite albums ever, but its so underrated. i remember deciding to put it on my ipod a few years back, and didn't realize it until later, but i had ranked every song on the album as a five star song. this was not done on purpose, but rather because i like the album so much.
i remember living in the dorm at waynesburg and listening to this album all of the time while i was doing pretty much anything in the dorm room. it made me happy there while most other things just made me sad and want to go home.
i used to know all the lyrics to the song "one week" but now i only know the stuff that everyone who has ever heard the song knows. i guess its been too long and the rest of the lyrics just kind of fell out of my head.
its really hard for me to pick a favorite song from this album. "call and answer" gets stuck in my head even when i haven't heard it for months..."if you call/ i will answer/ if you fall/ ill pick you up/and if you court this disaster/ill point you home." its such a sad, beautiful song. "light up my room" is another that i just love to hear, and tend to hit repeat when it comes on. "If you question what I would do/To get over and be with you/Lift you up over everything/To light up my room." i want to be in love like that. if you listen to the whole song, i feel like the main character is saying that no matter how awful things are, i love you and that is the most important thing. none of the other stuff matters, even being radioactive. its just such a sweet message.
i know this is one of the more popular albums i own, so there's a good chance that you own it, too, or did at one time. i suggest listening to it at the next chance you get and see what pictures you can draw in your mind.
artist:barenaked ladies
album:stunt
this is one of my most favorite albums ever, but its so underrated. i remember deciding to put it on my ipod a few years back, and didn't realize it until later, but i had ranked every song on the album as a five star song. this was not done on purpose, but rather because i like the album so much.
i remember living in the dorm at waynesburg and listening to this album all of the time while i was doing pretty much anything in the dorm room. it made me happy there while most other things just made me sad and want to go home.
i used to know all the lyrics to the song "one week" but now i only know the stuff that everyone who has ever heard the song knows. i guess its been too long and the rest of the lyrics just kind of fell out of my head.
its really hard for me to pick a favorite song from this album. "call and answer" gets stuck in my head even when i haven't heard it for months..."if you call/ i will answer/ if you fall/ ill pick you up/and if you court this disaster/ill point you home." its such a sad, beautiful song. "light up my room" is another that i just love to hear, and tend to hit repeat when it comes on. "If you question what I would do/To get over and be with you/Lift you up over everything/To light up my room." i want to be in love like that. if you listen to the whole song, i feel like the main character is saying that no matter how awful things are, i love you and that is the most important thing. none of the other stuff matters, even being radioactive. its just such a sweet message.
i know this is one of the more popular albums i own, so there's a good chance that you own it, too, or did at one time. i suggest listening to it at the next chance you get and see what pictures you can draw in your mind.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
365 project "listen up everybody if you wanna take a chance, get on the floor and do the new kids dance!"
137.
artist:NKOTBSB
album:NKOTBSB
when i woke up this morning, i saw a commercial for this CD and i knew that i needed it in my life immediately. i may be 31 years old, but I'm still eight when it comes to boy bands.
i remember when NKOTB did their first tour back a few years ago, and VH1 was awesome and showed the first few songs live from Boston. i was immediately transported back to elementary school, specifically Sarah's living room, watching NKOTB movies during sleep overs and just being the kind of little kids that little kids don't have the chance to be anymore.
admittedly, i was more of an N*SYNC girl than i was BSB, but i know the words to all the BSB singles, too. these are the deep, dark secrets of my soul. i love boy bands. i am also having a dance party alone in my living room at midnight when i should be icing cupcakes or sleeping, or really doing anything other than having a dance party. but this is the life that i lead. ill feel it tomorrow when i cant wake up, but tonight i dance!
artist:NKOTBSB
album:NKOTBSB
when i woke up this morning, i saw a commercial for this CD and i knew that i needed it in my life immediately. i may be 31 years old, but I'm still eight when it comes to boy bands.
i remember when NKOTB did their first tour back a few years ago, and VH1 was awesome and showed the first few songs live from Boston. i was immediately transported back to elementary school, specifically Sarah's living room, watching NKOTB movies during sleep overs and just being the kind of little kids that little kids don't have the chance to be anymore.
admittedly, i was more of an N*SYNC girl than i was BSB, but i know the words to all the BSB singles, too. these are the deep, dark secrets of my soul. i love boy bands. i am also having a dance party alone in my living room at midnight when i should be icing cupcakes or sleeping, or really doing anything other than having a dance party. but this is the life that i lead. ill feel it tomorrow when i cant wake up, but tonight i dance!
365 project "in the damp air, this car hears my confessions. i think tonight ill take the long way home."
136.
artist:dashboard confessional
album:summer's kiss EP
i was in love with the first two full length dashboard albums, as well as the so impossible EP, so i figured another EP, especially of songs i already knew i liked, was a sure-fire hit.
i was wrong.
you see, what i loved about dashboard at that time was the acoustic sound. i am and have always been a sucker for anything acoustic, so this new brand of emo that was rolling out was absolutely right up my alley. lyrically, i really dug his stuff, and a boy and his guitar make my heart swoon every single time.
but when that boy takes his guitar songs and goes back into the studio and returns with full-band versions, it doesn't always make me a very happy camper. in this case, it definitely didn't. i listened once or twice, decided i hated this crap, and stuck it on a shelf. some part of me in the back of my head must have known that there was a part of me that would like it eventually, though, because it survived several shelf-purges.
i listened to it again today, and you know something? its not so bad. i mean, its not my new favorite by any means, but its better than i remember it being. i had a good time singing along and bobbing my head to the drum beats. i guess its a good thing i kept it around.
and i have to say something totally unrelated to that story. i just right now listened to the dashboard confessional daytrotter session, and Chris covered archers of loaf's "web in front" and his voice sounded froggy and the cover really, really sucked. wow, that was terrible. that's depressing.
artist:dashboard confessional
album:summer's kiss EP
i was in love with the first two full length dashboard albums, as well as the so impossible EP, so i figured another EP, especially of songs i already knew i liked, was a sure-fire hit.
i was wrong.
you see, what i loved about dashboard at that time was the acoustic sound. i am and have always been a sucker for anything acoustic, so this new brand of emo that was rolling out was absolutely right up my alley. lyrically, i really dug his stuff, and a boy and his guitar make my heart swoon every single time.
but when that boy takes his guitar songs and goes back into the studio and returns with full-band versions, it doesn't always make me a very happy camper. in this case, it definitely didn't. i listened once or twice, decided i hated this crap, and stuck it on a shelf. some part of me in the back of my head must have known that there was a part of me that would like it eventually, though, because it survived several shelf-purges.
i listened to it again today, and you know something? its not so bad. i mean, its not my new favorite by any means, but its better than i remember it being. i had a good time singing along and bobbing my head to the drum beats. i guess its a good thing i kept it around.
and i have to say something totally unrelated to that story. i just right now listened to the dashboard confessional daytrotter session, and Chris covered archers of loaf's "web in front" and his voice sounded froggy and the cover really, really sucked. wow, that was terrible. that's depressing.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
365 project "she always wears blue..."
135.
artist:dashboard confessional
album:So Impossible EP
This EP brings back lots of fond memories, but the one that i always think of first is the one that makes me laugh the hardest.
I bought this EP right around the same time that i decided putting a metal bar through my tongue was a good idea. I was so busy doing college-y things during that week that I didn't bother taking it out of its plastic, but on the drive home that Friday afternoon in Denise's car I finally had the chance to take a look at the disk that i was so excited to own. I distinctly remember reading the lyrics to "hands down" and thinking about how great these songs were going to be.
now, because it had been a busy, rushed day, i had to wait to eat until i got into the car, but because i had fresh damage to my tongue, i was only allowed to eat baby food, and of course when i was done eating i had to rinse with Listerine to keep from getting an infection. none of this seemed to be a problem when i was planning it out, but the best laid plans...
i ate the baby food with no problem. (if you were wondering, it was strained peas...i really like strained peas.) then it came time to rinse, which i didn't really think through until i had a mouthful of Listerine burning a hole through the side of my mouth. i had no where to spit. Denise figured out what was going on and rolled the window down for me, which should have been a decent solution, except that we were on the Garden State Parkway and going easily 80mph. i really didn't have a better option, though, so i went for it.
it all splashed back in. on us, on the dashboard, all over the interior. the whole car smelled like Listerine.
it was pretty rock and roll.
artist:dashboard confessional
album:So Impossible EP
This EP brings back lots of fond memories, but the one that i always think of first is the one that makes me laugh the hardest.
I bought this EP right around the same time that i decided putting a metal bar through my tongue was a good idea. I was so busy doing college-y things during that week that I didn't bother taking it out of its plastic, but on the drive home that Friday afternoon in Denise's car I finally had the chance to take a look at the disk that i was so excited to own. I distinctly remember reading the lyrics to "hands down" and thinking about how great these songs were going to be.
now, because it had been a busy, rushed day, i had to wait to eat until i got into the car, but because i had fresh damage to my tongue, i was only allowed to eat baby food, and of course when i was done eating i had to rinse with Listerine to keep from getting an infection. none of this seemed to be a problem when i was planning it out, but the best laid plans...
i ate the baby food with no problem. (if you were wondering, it was strained peas...i really like strained peas.) then it came time to rinse, which i didn't really think through until i had a mouthful of Listerine burning a hole through the side of my mouth. i had no where to spit. Denise figured out what was going on and rolled the window down for me, which should have been a decent solution, except that we were on the Garden State Parkway and going easily 80mph. i really didn't have a better option, though, so i went for it.
it all splashed back in. on us, on the dashboard, all over the interior. the whole car smelled like Listerine.
it was pretty rock and roll.
Monday, May 23, 2011
365 project: "Sweepin the floors, open up the doors, Yeah turn on the lights, getting ready for the night"
134.
artist:jack Johnson
album:on and on
as far as I'm concerned, jack Johnson lived and died with bonnaroo experiences. as i have to jack Cd's in my collection, ill tell one story now, the story of how he came to life, and save the other, of his death, for another time.
i was never really a jack Johnson fan. id heard a few of his tunes on the radio, but i just never really understood the whole vibe, and couldn't really be bothered to give it enough mind to figure it out. i knew he existed, and that was about the extent of that.
he happened to be playing 'roo a few summers back, and as he was playing right before the headliner, pearl jam, a band i couldn't miss, we set up shop on a blanket in the grass and settled in for a long night of jam sessions. i was hanging out with a bunch of my favorite friends, the boy i liked, and about 90,000 of my favorite hippies. life was good.
jack Johnson took the stage, and we decided we were cold. friend went back to the campsite to get some jeans for both of us. after friend left, i texted her and asked her to bring back some other supplies, and this was the only time in my 31 years of life that i have ever asked for said supplies. at any rate, she came back, we put on our pants (i was really drunk at this point, and had been out in the sun all day, which didn't help, and could not for the life of me get my pants on. i remember it being really comical. i don't think the random phone call to ex about it was nearly as comical, though) and hung out.
i knew every single song of jack Johnson's few hour's long set. i was a mess by the end, and the night really did just get worse. i wanted to call my friend at one am TN time to tell her that i knew how her baby felt inside of her stomach because i was wearing my hoodie backwards and could kind of make out lights and the sound was muffled. yeah. that kind of night.
i did have fun, though. a lot of fun. it was one of those nights that ill probably always look back on fondly even if i don't speak to really any of those people anymore. and its the night that i learned that jack Johnson might not be that bad.
artist:jack Johnson
album:on and on
as far as I'm concerned, jack Johnson lived and died with bonnaroo experiences. as i have to jack Cd's in my collection, ill tell one story now, the story of how he came to life, and save the other, of his death, for another time.
i was never really a jack Johnson fan. id heard a few of his tunes on the radio, but i just never really understood the whole vibe, and couldn't really be bothered to give it enough mind to figure it out. i knew he existed, and that was about the extent of that.
he happened to be playing 'roo a few summers back, and as he was playing right before the headliner, pearl jam, a band i couldn't miss, we set up shop on a blanket in the grass and settled in for a long night of jam sessions. i was hanging out with a bunch of my favorite friends, the boy i liked, and about 90,000 of my favorite hippies. life was good.
jack Johnson took the stage, and we decided we were cold. friend went back to the campsite to get some jeans for both of us. after friend left, i texted her and asked her to bring back some other supplies, and this was the only time in my 31 years of life that i have ever asked for said supplies. at any rate, she came back, we put on our pants (i was really drunk at this point, and had been out in the sun all day, which didn't help, and could not for the life of me get my pants on. i remember it being really comical. i don't think the random phone call to ex about it was nearly as comical, though) and hung out.
i knew every single song of jack Johnson's few hour's long set. i was a mess by the end, and the night really did just get worse. i wanted to call my friend at one am TN time to tell her that i knew how her baby felt inside of her stomach because i was wearing my hoodie backwards and could kind of make out lights and the sound was muffled. yeah. that kind of night.
i did have fun, though. a lot of fun. it was one of those nights that ill probably always look back on fondly even if i don't speak to really any of those people anymore. and its the night that i learned that jack Johnson might not be that bad.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
365 project: "i realize, i can see it in your eyes, i've only got myself to blame"
133.
artist:men at work
album:business as usual
a while back i mentioned that i was struggling for inspiration for this project, and my dear friend Kristina recommended that i fall back on some of the albums that shaped who i am musically. this is probably the keystone album in the archway that leads to my musical library.
throughout my lifetime, this record has been playing. i can remember those days when id dance in front of the record player and if it wasn't the Beatles on the turntable it was this album. i can remember being a bit older and finding my mom doing housework to this album. in high school, we spent a lot of time listening to the stuff our parents grew up with, and this was one of those albums. by college, though, id forgotten about it and moved on to other things.
a few years back the song "i can see it in your eyes" popped into my head while in the bathroom at wawa, and i just couldn't shake it. i kept singing it for days on end, and then finally gave in and bought the single from itunes. at the time we didn't have a functioning copy of this album around the house and i was pretty broke, so this was the best i could do, but it wasn't good enough for me.
at one point in my car Mandy and i were talking about this album and she told me that she was pretty sure that she had two copies, and if that were the case, that i could have one. a little bit later i finally had a copy of this album in my hands again and i was the happiest kid ever.
i am not the only one in my family that grew up on this album. all of my brothers and sisters were also exposed to it, obviously. and as if that weren't enough, i walked into my niece's room one day when she was just a few months old and this was the CD that was playing in her CD player. nothing like starting them early!
i love men at work. i love Colin hay. that is all that you need to know, really.
artist:men at work
album:business as usual
a while back i mentioned that i was struggling for inspiration for this project, and my dear friend Kristina recommended that i fall back on some of the albums that shaped who i am musically. this is probably the keystone album in the archway that leads to my musical library.
throughout my lifetime, this record has been playing. i can remember those days when id dance in front of the record player and if it wasn't the Beatles on the turntable it was this album. i can remember being a bit older and finding my mom doing housework to this album. in high school, we spent a lot of time listening to the stuff our parents grew up with, and this was one of those albums. by college, though, id forgotten about it and moved on to other things.
a few years back the song "i can see it in your eyes" popped into my head while in the bathroom at wawa, and i just couldn't shake it. i kept singing it for days on end, and then finally gave in and bought the single from itunes. at the time we didn't have a functioning copy of this album around the house and i was pretty broke, so this was the best i could do, but it wasn't good enough for me.
at one point in my car Mandy and i were talking about this album and she told me that she was pretty sure that she had two copies, and if that were the case, that i could have one. a little bit later i finally had a copy of this album in my hands again and i was the happiest kid ever.
i am not the only one in my family that grew up on this album. all of my brothers and sisters were also exposed to it, obviously. and as if that weren't enough, i walked into my niece's room one day when she was just a few months old and this was the CD that was playing in her CD player. nothing like starting them early!
i love men at work. i love Colin hay. that is all that you need to know, really.
365 project "what if nothing is just that and suffering is all we're good at?"
132.
artist:as tall as lions
album:self-titled
i remember purchasing this album as clear as anything, because it was such an odd occurrence.
Mandy and i were at bamboozle back in 2007, (i had to look up what year this was, and i cant believe its been five years already. sheesh!) and spent some time wandering around looking at the things under the various tents. we both spotted a man with boxes FULL of records, and made a beeline over to him in order to see if there was anything either of us were interested in.
as we approached the man, he took one look at us and said "i don't have any neutral milk hotel." now, while we had both been listening to this album nonstop that entire spring, neither of us were wearing anything that would give away that we were into that band, at all. as a matter of fact, since we were gearing up to head down to Tennessee for bonnaroo the following month, we were both dressed like dirty hippies, in dresses and jeans.
we both looked at the man with questioning eyes, and he said, "well, isn't that what you girls listen to? neutral milk hotel?" of course we said yes, because it was the truth, and we got to talking to him about all sorts of things-which bands we loved, which ones we were there to see, how weird brand new's set was. he showed us his full sleeve tattoo, which had everything to do with "in the aeroplane over the sea" and we chatted about that for a bit. i distinctly remember the skull with roses for eyes, because that's one of my favorite lines from that album.
as all of this chatter was going on, i was thumbing through the records and the cover of the as tall as lions self-titled album caught my eye. as i was pulling it out of the box to have a closer look, the man behind the table, who i was sure by this point could see my soul, told me that this was a terrific album and that i would love it. i was still debating it when he said "i know you will love it. just go for it" so i figured what the hell, its only 13 dollars, and if nothing else the cover is pretty, so i picked it up.
that man really knew me better than i knew myself that day, as i ended up loving the album.
as i was listening to the album today, which i haven't done for a long time now, i noticed a lot of reoccurring themes that really hit home with me right now. a lot of unrequited love stuff, and the theme of being alone is all over the lyrics that i noticed, especially sleeping alone, which has been something I've been complaining about rather loudly this past week.
if you haven't checked out this band yet, or its been a while since you've heard them, id suggest a low-key day and a cup of coffee, and just sit and listen. its sad and beautiful and it kind of kills me a little bit, which is exactly what I've been looking for this week. i don't know that i have a favorite song on the album, but if you aren't sure where to start, ill suggest love, love, love (love, love). its the kind of song that makes me want to curl up into a ball on the floor and cry my eyes out, but in a good way.
artist:as tall as lions
album:self-titled
i remember purchasing this album as clear as anything, because it was such an odd occurrence.
Mandy and i were at bamboozle back in 2007, (i had to look up what year this was, and i cant believe its been five years already. sheesh!) and spent some time wandering around looking at the things under the various tents. we both spotted a man with boxes FULL of records, and made a beeline over to him in order to see if there was anything either of us were interested in.
as we approached the man, he took one look at us and said "i don't have any neutral milk hotel." now, while we had both been listening to this album nonstop that entire spring, neither of us were wearing anything that would give away that we were into that band, at all. as a matter of fact, since we were gearing up to head down to Tennessee for bonnaroo the following month, we were both dressed like dirty hippies, in dresses and jeans.
we both looked at the man with questioning eyes, and he said, "well, isn't that what you girls listen to? neutral milk hotel?" of course we said yes, because it was the truth, and we got to talking to him about all sorts of things-which bands we loved, which ones we were there to see, how weird brand new's set was. he showed us his full sleeve tattoo, which had everything to do with "in the aeroplane over the sea" and we chatted about that for a bit. i distinctly remember the skull with roses for eyes, because that's one of my favorite lines from that album.
as all of this chatter was going on, i was thumbing through the records and the cover of the as tall as lions self-titled album caught my eye. as i was pulling it out of the box to have a closer look, the man behind the table, who i was sure by this point could see my soul, told me that this was a terrific album and that i would love it. i was still debating it when he said "i know you will love it. just go for it" so i figured what the hell, its only 13 dollars, and if nothing else the cover is pretty, so i picked it up.
that man really knew me better than i knew myself that day, as i ended up loving the album.
as i was listening to the album today, which i haven't done for a long time now, i noticed a lot of reoccurring themes that really hit home with me right now. a lot of unrequited love stuff, and the theme of being alone is all over the lyrics that i noticed, especially sleeping alone, which has been something I've been complaining about rather loudly this past week.
if you haven't checked out this band yet, or its been a while since you've heard them, id suggest a low-key day and a cup of coffee, and just sit and listen. its sad and beautiful and it kind of kills me a little bit, which is exactly what I've been looking for this week. i don't know that i have a favorite song on the album, but if you aren't sure where to start, ill suggest love, love, love (love, love). its the kind of song that makes me want to curl up into a ball on the floor and cry my eyes out, but in a good way.
365 project "enough is enough. i know i was to blame, i just wanted to be the same, just shut up and make it right"
131.
artist:various
album:Angus soundtrack
1995 had big shoes to fill, because to this day, 1994 has proven to be the best year in music since I've been alive. id say that with the release of this movie and its soundtrack, 1995 did not let me down.
Angus is one of my favorite movies ever, and that is due largely to the soundtrack. i remember hearing J.A.R. on the radio and really digging the song. on my next trip to wherever i went to buy cassettes in those days (I'm thinking Kmart) i picked up a copy of this tape and couldn't believe the awesomeness that i was hearing. I'm still just as blown away today as i was 16 years ago by some of these songs-most notably "enough" by dance hall crashers and "am i wrong" by love spit love. (i just want to share with you all that this entry is taking forever tonight because mentioning that love spit love song sent me on a YouTube scavenger hunt that took me all across the musical landscape.)
goodness, now I'm exhausted and cannot concentrate on the words that I'm trying to say here, so i think ill just post a video and call it a night.
artist:various
album:Angus soundtrack
1995 had big shoes to fill, because to this day, 1994 has proven to be the best year in music since I've been alive. id say that with the release of this movie and its soundtrack, 1995 did not let me down.
Angus is one of my favorite movies ever, and that is due largely to the soundtrack. i remember hearing J.A.R. on the radio and really digging the song. on my next trip to wherever i went to buy cassettes in those days (I'm thinking Kmart) i picked up a copy of this tape and couldn't believe the awesomeness that i was hearing. I'm still just as blown away today as i was 16 years ago by some of these songs-most notably "enough" by dance hall crashers and "am i wrong" by love spit love. (i just want to share with you all that this entry is taking forever tonight because mentioning that love spit love song sent me on a YouTube scavenger hunt that took me all across the musical landscape.)
goodness, now I'm exhausted and cannot concentrate on the words that I'm trying to say here, so i think ill just post a video and call it a night.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
365 project "the bunny, the bunny, whoa i love the bunny. dont love my mom or my dad, just the bunny"
130.
artist:veggie tales
album:veggie tunes vol 2
i have more kiddie Cd's than anyone without kids should own. just throwing that out there. at first it was because I'm just a great big giant kid, but recently its been great because I'm around kids most of the time.
i work at a Christian school as an aftercare "teacher." i don't really teach them anything, i just kind of hang out with them and keep them out of trouble until their mommies and daddies can come get them, but they call me "teacher" so that's just the easiest way to think of it.
i have a little baby who is in aftercare nearly every day that i just adore. i love them all a great deal, but some of them have such fantastic personalities, even at such a young age. this particular baby is four and loves to sing. quite often she and i will start singing veggie-related songs, so i thought as a treat for her as well as the other kids, id bring in a veggie tales CD to listen to since it was a rainy day and we couldn't go outside to play.
my aftercare kids range in age from four years old up to second grade, so the oldest ones might be eight. the bigger kids tried to act like they didn't want to listen to the CD, but by the time it ended, everyone in that classroom was singing along. we were all playing and coloring and doing other things, but we were all singing. the four-year-old that I've already mentioned made herself a microphone out of connector blocks and i followed suit. we serenaded the rest of the class and of course were met with everything from giggles to weird looks, but for us it was a good time. later on, a few of the kids were still singing "CEEEEEEEEE-BBBBBBUUUUUUU" so i know they all had as much fun as i did.
i feel like i really got the chance to bond with some of the kids using vegetables. school is almost over for the summer, but i hope i get the chance to do this again soon.
i really do love hanging out with those kids. I'm going to miss them all summer.
artist:veggie tales
album:veggie tunes vol 2
i have more kiddie Cd's than anyone without kids should own. just throwing that out there. at first it was because I'm just a great big giant kid, but recently its been great because I'm around kids most of the time.
i work at a Christian school as an aftercare "teacher." i don't really teach them anything, i just kind of hang out with them and keep them out of trouble until their mommies and daddies can come get them, but they call me "teacher" so that's just the easiest way to think of it.
i have a little baby who is in aftercare nearly every day that i just adore. i love them all a great deal, but some of them have such fantastic personalities, even at such a young age. this particular baby is four and loves to sing. quite often she and i will start singing veggie-related songs, so i thought as a treat for her as well as the other kids, id bring in a veggie tales CD to listen to since it was a rainy day and we couldn't go outside to play.
my aftercare kids range in age from four years old up to second grade, so the oldest ones might be eight. the bigger kids tried to act like they didn't want to listen to the CD, but by the time it ended, everyone in that classroom was singing along. we were all playing and coloring and doing other things, but we were all singing. the four-year-old that I've already mentioned made herself a microphone out of connector blocks and i followed suit. we serenaded the rest of the class and of course were met with everything from giggles to weird looks, but for us it was a good time. later on, a few of the kids were still singing "CEEEEEEEEE-BBBBBBUUUUUUU" so i know they all had as much fun as i did.
i feel like i really got the chance to bond with some of the kids using vegetables. school is almost over for the summer, but i hope i get the chance to do this again soon.
i really do love hanging out with those kids. I'm going to miss them all summer.
Friday, May 20, 2011
trying to help out a friend
hey guys, since this is a music blog and I'm all "oh, i listen to indie stuff" i figured this should be something i should promote here.
my friend Erica kind of rules a little bit and writes songs that rule a lot. she is currently entered in a contest to be part of the soundtrack for the upcoming movie "Renee," which I'm kind of excited to see to begin with, as its the story of the girl who is the reason the awesome organization TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS was started.
anyway, if you'd be so kind, please take two minutes out of your day (I'm betting you can spare them) and go here and check out her songs and vote for them. you only have to listen to 30 seconds of each song in order to vote for them, but if you are smart you will listen to the whole thing, as Erica's stuff is pretty rockin.
anyway, the numbers on the left next to her songs are the current ranking. the goal is to get at least one of those two songs to 20 or less. as of this entry, the songs are at 60 and 68, so its pretty feasible that this could happen for Erica.
so go. listen. vote. if you can only spare 30 seconds of your time, please listen to her song "movin' on" and vote for that one. i really, really dig it.
my friend Erica kind of rules a little bit and writes songs that rule a lot. she is currently entered in a contest to be part of the soundtrack for the upcoming movie "Renee," which I'm kind of excited to see to begin with, as its the story of the girl who is the reason the awesome organization TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS was started.
anyway, if you'd be so kind, please take two minutes out of your day (I'm betting you can spare them) and go here and check out her songs and vote for them. you only have to listen to 30 seconds of each song in order to vote for them, but if you are smart you will listen to the whole thing, as Erica's stuff is pretty rockin.
anyway, the numbers on the left next to her songs are the current ranking. the goal is to get at least one of those two songs to 20 or less. as of this entry, the songs are at 60 and 68, so its pretty feasible that this could happen for Erica.
so go. listen. vote. if you can only spare 30 seconds of your time, please listen to her song "movin' on" and vote for that one. i really, really dig it.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
365 project: "im a carpetbagger baby. i am coming to your town. im gonna treat you kind, im gonna rob you blind. ill smile all the time, oh yeah."
129.
artist:jenny Lewis
album:acid tongue
i cannot believe that i have made it nearly halfway through the year and haven't mentioned jenny's solo stuff yet. i suppose that goes to show the immensity of my collection, or something.
i adore jenny Lewis. i don't think that there's ever been a question about this. i think i might like to be her. i definitely would like to be able to sing like she can.
of her two solo albums, acid tongue is the one i call up to the big leagues more often. i think its because its got more of an alt-country/folk-y sound to it, and i totally dig that. though, in all seriousness, i dig anything that jenny lends her voice to. this is turning into such a fangirl rant. sorry.
i wanted to write more about this album, but i just looked outside and saw the fog and i kind of want to go play with my camera now, so ill just tell you that while i love all of the songs on this album, the song carpetbaggers makes me dance every single time i hear it. there is also a line in the song acid tongue that i kind of really love.
"'Cause I've been down to Dixie
and dropped acid on my tongue
tripped upon the land 'til enough was enough"
i don't know why i love that lyric so much, but i really, really do. i think it reminds me of bonnaroo.
here. listen to jenny and Elvis Costello sing carpetbaggers at bonnaroo two years ago. you might love it as much as i do.
artist:jenny Lewis
album:acid tongue
i cannot believe that i have made it nearly halfway through the year and haven't mentioned jenny's solo stuff yet. i suppose that goes to show the immensity of my collection, or something.
i adore jenny Lewis. i don't think that there's ever been a question about this. i think i might like to be her. i definitely would like to be able to sing like she can.
of her two solo albums, acid tongue is the one i call up to the big leagues more often. i think its because its got more of an alt-country/folk-y sound to it, and i totally dig that. though, in all seriousness, i dig anything that jenny lends her voice to. this is turning into such a fangirl rant. sorry.
i wanted to write more about this album, but i just looked outside and saw the fog and i kind of want to go play with my camera now, so ill just tell you that while i love all of the songs on this album, the song carpetbaggers makes me dance every single time i hear it. there is also a line in the song acid tongue that i kind of really love.
"'Cause I've been down to Dixie
and dropped acid on my tongue
tripped upon the land 'til enough was enough"
i don't know why i love that lyric so much, but i really, really do. i think it reminds me of bonnaroo.
here. listen to jenny and Elvis Costello sing carpetbaggers at bonnaroo two years ago. you might love it as much as i do.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
365 project "never gonna break, never gonna break"
128.
artist:bon Iver
album:bon Iver
i have been holding my breath a lot lately. ill find myself just forgetting to breathe, and then when i realize it, i have to let out what ends up being a long sigh because my lungs are full of stagnant air. i cant find a root cause of my not being able to remember to breathe. i don't know if its because I'm so busy that my head spins, or stress, or life. its really hard to pinpoint, but its happening in all aspects of my life lately.
and now I'm sure you are wondering what my forgetfulness about breathing has to do with the new bon Iver album. that, actually, is something i can answer quite easily. when i first listened to this album last night, i noticed once again that id forgotten to breathe, but this time at least i knew why. this album took my breath away.
Justin Vernon's falsetto is beautiful, and there is something about bon Iver that is inherently heartbreaking. its definitely not "sunny day" music, you know? I've been in a mood for a few days now, and this album is about the only thing that suits it, so its a good thing that this happened along when it did.
i haven't really gotten the chance to get into the lyrics and the whole nitty gritty of the album, but I'm sure that will come in time. I've only listened to it three times so far, and because of the lo-fi sound, its sometimes hard to understand what Justin is mumbling. bon Iver is one of the very few bands that i don't care about lyrics, though, because the music speaks for itself. he could just sing la la la along to the rhythms and melodies and my heart would still be a shattered mess after making its way through an album...add the lyrics to that and you can see why its perfect for the mood that I'm stuck in.
i cant pick a favorite song yet, but i have a few front-runner songs. i reserve the right to come back and revisit this album after i get the chance to get to spend some time with it.
artist:bon Iver
album:bon Iver
i have been holding my breath a lot lately. ill find myself just forgetting to breathe, and then when i realize it, i have to let out what ends up being a long sigh because my lungs are full of stagnant air. i cant find a root cause of my not being able to remember to breathe. i don't know if its because I'm so busy that my head spins, or stress, or life. its really hard to pinpoint, but its happening in all aspects of my life lately.
and now I'm sure you are wondering what my forgetfulness about breathing has to do with the new bon Iver album. that, actually, is something i can answer quite easily. when i first listened to this album last night, i noticed once again that id forgotten to breathe, but this time at least i knew why. this album took my breath away.
Justin Vernon's falsetto is beautiful, and there is something about bon Iver that is inherently heartbreaking. its definitely not "sunny day" music, you know? I've been in a mood for a few days now, and this album is about the only thing that suits it, so its a good thing that this happened along when it did.
i haven't really gotten the chance to get into the lyrics and the whole nitty gritty of the album, but I'm sure that will come in time. I've only listened to it three times so far, and because of the lo-fi sound, its sometimes hard to understand what Justin is mumbling. bon Iver is one of the very few bands that i don't care about lyrics, though, because the music speaks for itself. he could just sing la la la along to the rhythms and melodies and my heart would still be a shattered mess after making its way through an album...add the lyrics to that and you can see why its perfect for the mood that I'm stuck in.
i cant pick a favorite song yet, but i have a few front-runner songs. i reserve the right to come back and revisit this album after i get the chance to get to spend some time with it.
365 project "the moon is full, my arms are empty..."
127.
artist:Dixie chicks
album:wide open spaces
if you were to ask me what one thing i crave more than anything else in the world right now, id tell you quite simply that i need wide open spaces. the lyrics to this song really hit home for me; i can absolutely understand where the writer is coming from. i really need to get my shit together enough to leave home and see what happens. who knows? maybe i do strike out? maybe i succeed? what i do know is that whatever happens, it'll be something, which is more than i can say for myself right now.
I'm not sure whats going on with me, but i haven't been right for a few days. i kind of feel like my heart is going to explode out of my chest and that everything that i know is wrong. i think maybe this is what a crazy person feels like. maybe I'm going crazy. maybe the stress is getting to me. i don't know.
as of June 15th, i will be unemployed with no income until September rolls around. i am looking for a job but nothing has come up yet, and I'm starting to get nervous. I'm trying to figure out what the next step is at this point. i really thought id be in Nashville by now, but i am not, and I'm thinking i don't know how much i still want to go down there.
when i was driving and listening to this CD, all i could think about was how awesome change would be...I'm generally not a big fan of change, but at this present moment i think id embrace it as it comes along, because change is what got me out of a crappy situation in September and change can be good sometimes, even if it is scary.
i don't know. i don't know what is going on. i guess I'm starting to realize I'm hanging on to a lot of things that aren't worth keeping around. it sucks.
artist:Dixie chicks
album:wide open spaces
if you were to ask me what one thing i crave more than anything else in the world right now, id tell you quite simply that i need wide open spaces. the lyrics to this song really hit home for me; i can absolutely understand where the writer is coming from. i really need to get my shit together enough to leave home and see what happens. who knows? maybe i do strike out? maybe i succeed? what i do know is that whatever happens, it'll be something, which is more than i can say for myself right now.
I'm not sure whats going on with me, but i haven't been right for a few days. i kind of feel like my heart is going to explode out of my chest and that everything that i know is wrong. i think maybe this is what a crazy person feels like. maybe I'm going crazy. maybe the stress is getting to me. i don't know.
as of June 15th, i will be unemployed with no income until September rolls around. i am looking for a job but nothing has come up yet, and I'm starting to get nervous. I'm trying to figure out what the next step is at this point. i really thought id be in Nashville by now, but i am not, and I'm thinking i don't know how much i still want to go down there.
when i was driving and listening to this CD, all i could think about was how awesome change would be...I'm generally not a big fan of change, but at this present moment i think id embrace it as it comes along, because change is what got me out of a crappy situation in September and change can be good sometimes, even if it is scary.
i don't know. i don't know what is going on. i guess I'm starting to realize I'm hanging on to a lot of things that aren't worth keeping around. it sucks.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
365 project: "finally i can see you crystal clear. go ahead and sell me out and ill lay your shit bare"
126.
artist:Adele
album:21
so i don't know if this counts as cheating, but the album is in my possession and i did listen to it all the way through, so I'm going to count it. we will ignore the fact that it wasn't listened to by choice. i was forced into it, actually, but its a record that i already had half of in my collection for some other reason, and I'm really behind, so I'm going to count it. my project, my rules.
as far as Adele goes, i could really take her or leave her. i don't mind listening to a song if it comes up on the radio, but honestly I'm not all over her shit like everyone else under the sun these days. shes got a voice and shes got soul, but i haven't picked out a phrase in a song that has stood out enough to me to mean anything at all.
i got excited when "lovesong" came on because i freaking love the cure, but the her version doesn't begin to do any justice to Robert Smith's original. its not a bad version, its just not the same. sometimes songs sound better being sung by a specific sex, and i think with this song it just needs to come from a man.
overall, ill probably listen to this CD again if I'm having a particularly blah day and want something as background noise but that i wont pay much attention to, but its doubtful that I'm going to wake up any time soon and need this album like i have with so many others.
artist:Adele
album:21
so i don't know if this counts as cheating, but the album is in my possession and i did listen to it all the way through, so I'm going to count it. we will ignore the fact that it wasn't listened to by choice. i was forced into it, actually, but its a record that i already had half of in my collection for some other reason, and I'm really behind, so I'm going to count it. my project, my rules.
as far as Adele goes, i could really take her or leave her. i don't mind listening to a song if it comes up on the radio, but honestly I'm not all over her shit like everyone else under the sun these days. shes got a voice and shes got soul, but i haven't picked out a phrase in a song that has stood out enough to me to mean anything at all.
i got excited when "lovesong" came on because i freaking love the cure, but the her version doesn't begin to do any justice to Robert Smith's original. its not a bad version, its just not the same. sometimes songs sound better being sung by a specific sex, and i think with this song it just needs to come from a man.
overall, ill probably listen to this CD again if I'm having a particularly blah day and want something as background noise but that i wont pay much attention to, but its doubtful that I'm going to wake up any time soon and need this album like i have with so many others.
Monday, May 16, 2011
365 project: "sometimes it hurts so badly i must cry out loud-i am lonely"
125.
artist:Crosby, stills, Nash & young
album:so far
i don't remember much about my first concert other than the weird cloud-movie on the stage, the lights, and of course the funny-smelling cigarettes, but seeing CSNY for my very first concert and at such a young age definitely set the tone for me for a lifetime of a really awesome taste in music.
i can remember being little and listening to this album on vinyl in the old house (i now own a copy of this album, though its not the same exact copy that i was raised on, but it looks like it could be...its beat to hell) and later on cassette in the dining room of this house. i was so good at rewinding and stopping exactly when the song was about to start...that was a true talent, friends.
i used to dance along the side wall of the dining room while listening to these songs, and ducking in and out of the now mud room, just being a kid and not knowing what i was singing but really loving it. i knew at the age of seven that those harmonies were silly good and that these guys were singing about something other than a broken heart, which i didn't understand, but knew that it was kind of a big deal. whether or not my parents would actually want to hear it, they built up the hippie side of my personality by exposing me to this kind of stuff when i was so little.
i don't even know that i could pick a favorite song on this album. for most of my life id have said "our house" was it, hands down, no contest, but now that I'm a bit older, its not quite as high on my list. its still a great song, and i actually really listened to the words for the first time in a long time this weekend, and its really a beautiful love letter, but, probably because i have a hard time believing in a love that works, i find that its just fallen out of favor with me.
its quite possible that "helpless" is my favorite from this album these days, because its how i feel. sometimes life just gets you down and you aren't sure how to pull yourself out of that, and sometimes, whey you feel that way, you just want to curl up and listen to a good song that conveys that. even just this past weekend on the drive back home, this was the song that i turned up and belted out along as best i could. (its really hard to sing four-part harmonies with one voice...)
so far is one of my favorite records of all time. that's such a big thing to say, really, for me, but its true. sometimes we have things that we carry with us for our entire lives, things of which we never tire, things that we will always love. this album, for me, is one of those things.
artist:Crosby, stills, Nash & young
album:so far
i don't remember much about my first concert other than the weird cloud-movie on the stage, the lights, and of course the funny-smelling cigarettes, but seeing CSNY for my very first concert and at such a young age definitely set the tone for me for a lifetime of a really awesome taste in music.
i can remember being little and listening to this album on vinyl in the old house (i now own a copy of this album, though its not the same exact copy that i was raised on, but it looks like it could be...its beat to hell) and later on cassette in the dining room of this house. i was so good at rewinding and stopping exactly when the song was about to start...that was a true talent, friends.
i used to dance along the side wall of the dining room while listening to these songs, and ducking in and out of the now mud room, just being a kid and not knowing what i was singing but really loving it. i knew at the age of seven that those harmonies were silly good and that these guys were singing about something other than a broken heart, which i didn't understand, but knew that it was kind of a big deal. whether or not my parents would actually want to hear it, they built up the hippie side of my personality by exposing me to this kind of stuff when i was so little.
i don't even know that i could pick a favorite song on this album. for most of my life id have said "our house" was it, hands down, no contest, but now that I'm a bit older, its not quite as high on my list. its still a great song, and i actually really listened to the words for the first time in a long time this weekend, and its really a beautiful love letter, but, probably because i have a hard time believing in a love that works, i find that its just fallen out of favor with me.
its quite possible that "helpless" is my favorite from this album these days, because its how i feel. sometimes life just gets you down and you aren't sure how to pull yourself out of that, and sometimes, whey you feel that way, you just want to curl up and listen to a good song that conveys that. even just this past weekend on the drive back home, this was the song that i turned up and belted out along as best i could. (its really hard to sing four-part harmonies with one voice...)
so far is one of my favorite records of all time. that's such a big thing to say, really, for me, but its true. sometimes we have things that we carry with us for our entire lives, things of which we never tire, things that we will always love. this album, for me, is one of those things.
365 project: "where is my shrink and my mind eraser?"
124.
artist:brand new
album:daisy
i have been putting this particular album off all year. if you noticed, i blew through the first three brand new albums within the first month (i believe) of starting this project, but i just didn't know what i wanted to say about this disk, so i kind of kept it off to the side, just waiting til i was ready.
to be honest, i still don't know exactly what to say about this album. i remember the day it leaked and how excited i was. i got a text from Chris, immediately texted Nicole and begged her to dl it for me, and then left a family party at jay and stephs to run to Nicole's and pick it up. i couldn't wait any longer-i needed this album.
i got into my car to go back to jay and steph's and put the disk in my CD player, and my initial reaction was "what the hell is this shit?" it was so not what i was expecting, and i knew that it wasn't going to be, but i didn't like what i was hearing. it was noise and distortion and yelling and not in the way that i like these things. it sounded like anger on a plastic disk.
i kept listening anyway.
i texted Chris after i heard it and said "i don't know if i like this?!" and his response was "you like it. its brand new. of course you like it. keep listening." so that's exactly what i did. i kept listening. i listened and listened and tried to convince myself that i liked what i was listening to. i remember talking to Cherie about it and her telling me that both she and Jason were terribly unimpressed, and my exact words to her were "i forced myself to like it. it grows on you, just keep listening." her argument was that she didn't want to have to force herself to like anything, which is a valid point.
i always said that Jesse Lacey could record himself shitting in a bucket for 45 minutes and call it a record and it would still be my favorite thing ever. this album is the musical equivalent of that, and i was wrong. i don't love it.
it has its moments. there are a few songs on there that i like. there are lyrics that i like blended with music that grates on my eardrums, and vice versa. i always find myself wondering if its an album i would like if it had been released by another band. that question's answer always flips back and forth, but lately the answer is yes, i think i would.
that's could change again in an instant, though.
artist:brand new
album:daisy
i have been putting this particular album off all year. if you noticed, i blew through the first three brand new albums within the first month (i believe) of starting this project, but i just didn't know what i wanted to say about this disk, so i kind of kept it off to the side, just waiting til i was ready.
to be honest, i still don't know exactly what to say about this album. i remember the day it leaked and how excited i was. i got a text from Chris, immediately texted Nicole and begged her to dl it for me, and then left a family party at jay and stephs to run to Nicole's and pick it up. i couldn't wait any longer-i needed this album.
i got into my car to go back to jay and steph's and put the disk in my CD player, and my initial reaction was "what the hell is this shit?" it was so not what i was expecting, and i knew that it wasn't going to be, but i didn't like what i was hearing. it was noise and distortion and yelling and not in the way that i like these things. it sounded like anger on a plastic disk.
i kept listening anyway.
i texted Chris after i heard it and said "i don't know if i like this?!" and his response was "you like it. its brand new. of course you like it. keep listening." so that's exactly what i did. i kept listening. i listened and listened and tried to convince myself that i liked what i was listening to. i remember talking to Cherie about it and her telling me that both she and Jason were terribly unimpressed, and my exact words to her were "i forced myself to like it. it grows on you, just keep listening." her argument was that she didn't want to have to force herself to like anything, which is a valid point.
i always said that Jesse Lacey could record himself shitting in a bucket for 45 minutes and call it a record and it would still be my favorite thing ever. this album is the musical equivalent of that, and i was wrong. i don't love it.
it has its moments. there are a few songs on there that i like. there are lyrics that i like blended with music that grates on my eardrums, and vice versa. i always find myself wondering if its an album i would like if it had been released by another band. that question's answer always flips back and forth, but lately the answer is yes, i think i would.
that's could change again in an instant, though.
365 project: "be my what, my open and shut, my everything but, my little hot slut."
123.
artist:the weepies
album:be my thrill
for a long while, there was an ad on the side of my facebook page telling me that i should like the weepies, because they matched the other stuff i liked and because 12 or so of my friends like them. i was tooling around and came across the CD so i figured whatever, why not, and grabbed it.
for the most part, its an album i could do without. there's not a whole lot going on, and honestly, i find myself getting bored listening to it. i could take it in small doses, probably, like one song scattered in between a bunch of stuff that i really like, but not straight through in album form. i get bored listening to it.
the one gleaming exception to this is the song "be my thrill." i am kind of obsessed with it, or at least i was, now i guess its more of just a comfortable love. i still get really excited when it comes up in a shuffle situation or when its that song's turn to play on the album. yesterday i was driving home and was sitting in traffic on 81 south somewhere between here and Devin's house, and this song popped up. i turned the stereo up and sat there singing and dancing in my car. i got a lot of weird looks because when three lanes of traffic are sitting still, people can definitely see you in your car, but i didn't care, because i really do like this song.
the video is terribly cute, too.
i probably wont listen to this CD much, but I'm sure ill keep listening to this song.
artist:the weepies
album:be my thrill
for a long while, there was an ad on the side of my facebook page telling me that i should like the weepies, because they matched the other stuff i liked and because 12 or so of my friends like them. i was tooling around and came across the CD so i figured whatever, why not, and grabbed it.
for the most part, its an album i could do without. there's not a whole lot going on, and honestly, i find myself getting bored listening to it. i could take it in small doses, probably, like one song scattered in between a bunch of stuff that i really like, but not straight through in album form. i get bored listening to it.
the one gleaming exception to this is the song "be my thrill." i am kind of obsessed with it, or at least i was, now i guess its more of just a comfortable love. i still get really excited when it comes up in a shuffle situation or when its that song's turn to play on the album. yesterday i was driving home and was sitting in traffic on 81 south somewhere between here and Devin's house, and this song popped up. i turned the stereo up and sat there singing and dancing in my car. i got a lot of weird looks because when three lanes of traffic are sitting still, people can definitely see you in your car, but i didn't care, because i really do like this song.
the video is terribly cute, too.
i probably wont listen to this CD much, but I'm sure ill keep listening to this song.
365 project: "so how are you doin since you did what you done to me?"
122.
artist:dierks Bentley
album:dierks Bentley
did i ever tell you about the time that i was lucky enough to see dierks Bentley twice in one week? a few summers back he played the XTU anniversary show, and then played 'roo later that same week, and i was at both. i was really kind of excited to see him twice. hes pretty hot and his music is fun times.
this past weekend i took a little trip and decided to spend that time in the car listening to Cd's so that i can try to catch up on this blog. this CD was perfect for driving to, but i find that most new country stuff (pop-country/top 40 country) has a good beat and is fun to drive to.
there are a few songs on this record that jump out as me as contenders for "favorite song" but i think that award has to go to "how am i doin'" because that's the song that really hooked me on dierks.
i like the fast-paced tone of the song and i really like the lyrics. its a good "F you" song, you know?
artist:dierks Bentley
album:dierks Bentley
did i ever tell you about the time that i was lucky enough to see dierks Bentley twice in one week? a few summers back he played the XTU anniversary show, and then played 'roo later that same week, and i was at both. i was really kind of excited to see him twice. hes pretty hot and his music is fun times.
this past weekend i took a little trip and decided to spend that time in the car listening to Cd's so that i can try to catch up on this blog. this CD was perfect for driving to, but i find that most new country stuff (pop-country/top 40 country) has a good beat and is fun to drive to.
there are a few songs on this record that jump out as me as contenders for "favorite song" but i think that award has to go to "how am i doin'" because that's the song that really hooked me on dierks.
i like the fast-paced tone of the song and i really like the lyrics. its a good "F you" song, you know?
Sunday, May 15, 2011
365 project: "the world begins to dissapear, the worst things come from inside here"
121.
Artist:counting crows
Album:films about ghosts: the very best of…
Do you have a go-to song? A song that can make you smile no matter how rough a patch you are going through? A song that just brightens your day, lightens your mood and puts a smile on your face?
For me, that song is “Einstein on the beach” by the counting crows.
I can remember hearing it on Y100 for the first time back when I was still pretty young, and just falling in love with the song. that’s the same case with most of counting crows’ catalog, but I digress. I knew the second I heard it that I needed a copy of this song somehow, though at that time it only existed on DGC Rarities vol 4. at 14 I didn’t really have much of a steady income and buying a 15-20 dollar CD for one song seemed awfully wasteful to me. I did end up buying the CD years later in a used CD shop for a few bucks, and at that time it wasn’t such a waste, as I actually knew something about music and liked more than just one song on the album.
If you research what this song means, its widely believed to be about Einstein and his creation of the atom bomb. I find it a touch ironic that a song about mass destruction and murder could make me so happy, but its funny how life works sometimes.
I had a rough day today. By six pm my blood was boiling and my skin was crawling. I am unable to get into specifics, but I was more angry than I can remember being since the day I quit Wawa. Seething, I suppose, is a better term. I got into my car knowing full well that my next stop was a trip to Wal-Mart, which always brings me such great joy (note:sarcasm alert) and just sat there taking deep breaths before I started the car. When I finally did turn the key, this song came blaring out of the speakers. I turned up the volume, started the song back and the beginning, and just let myself be calmed.
Music has such an awesome power over my mood. Its actually pretty insane to think that three minutes of noise can make that huge of a difference, but it does.
Artist:counting crows
Album:films about ghosts: the very best of…
Do you have a go-to song? A song that can make you smile no matter how rough a patch you are going through? A song that just brightens your day, lightens your mood and puts a smile on your face?
For me, that song is “Einstein on the beach” by the counting crows.
I can remember hearing it on Y100 for the first time back when I was still pretty young, and just falling in love with the song. that’s the same case with most of counting crows’ catalog, but I digress. I knew the second I heard it that I needed a copy of this song somehow, though at that time it only existed on DGC Rarities vol 4. at 14 I didn’t really have much of a steady income and buying a 15-20 dollar CD for one song seemed awfully wasteful to me. I did end up buying the CD years later in a used CD shop for a few bucks, and at that time it wasn’t such a waste, as I actually knew something about music and liked more than just one song on the album.
If you research what this song means, its widely believed to be about Einstein and his creation of the atom bomb. I find it a touch ironic that a song about mass destruction and murder could make me so happy, but its funny how life works sometimes.
I had a rough day today. By six pm my blood was boiling and my skin was crawling. I am unable to get into specifics, but I was more angry than I can remember being since the day I quit Wawa. Seething, I suppose, is a better term. I got into my car knowing full well that my next stop was a trip to Wal-Mart, which always brings me such great joy (note:sarcasm alert) and just sat there taking deep breaths before I started the car. When I finally did turn the key, this song came blaring out of the speakers. I turned up the volume, started the song back and the beginning, and just let myself be calmed.
Music has such an awesome power over my mood. Its actually pretty insane to think that three minutes of noise can make that huge of a difference, but it does.
365 project "and its all in how you mix the two and it starts just where the light begins"
120.
Artist:the used
Album:the used
In college, I lived in a house with four other girls and one boy. We were all very different in almost all aspects of our lives, but there was one thing that all six of us could agree on…the used was a really awesome album.
About one half of our housemates were comm. majors, so we generally had a lot of fun working on projects and other such things around the house. One of the things I remember most about that house was the night that Cricket had the party so that she could film a video for “pieces mended” for one of her TV production classes. We had a house full of friends, lots of adult beverages, and a video camera. Of course when the video was done, the party continued, because hell, this was college.
We, as a house, spent a lot of time with this CD, at least as I can remember. We had talked about going to see the band as a group, but only a few of us actually went. Every time we threw a party that year, this CD made its way into the stereo. It was not uncommon to hear it playing in some part of the house or in one of our cars at any given point during that year. Listening to it now is like a time machine, taking me right back to 2002-03.
There are really so many great songs on this album, and so many memories attached to it. it’s a sleeper favorite, I guess. As I sit here and listen to songs like “blue and yellow” and “on my own” I think about how much they related to things that were going on in my life when this album first came out, and how much they relate to things that are going on now. As far as I’m concerned, “blue and yellow” is one of the sweetest best-friend songs ever written. There is absolutely something to be said about having someone in your life that you’d rather waste time with than do anything else ever. Those are the people that you should hang onto.
I guess ill close with this thought…I’m glad I didn’t get a chance to see this band until AFTER Bert learned how to not throw his guts up on stage every night. Just sayin.
Artist:the used
Album:the used
In college, I lived in a house with four other girls and one boy. We were all very different in almost all aspects of our lives, but there was one thing that all six of us could agree on…the used was a really awesome album.
About one half of our housemates were comm. majors, so we generally had a lot of fun working on projects and other such things around the house. One of the things I remember most about that house was the night that Cricket had the party so that she could film a video for “pieces mended” for one of her TV production classes. We had a house full of friends, lots of adult beverages, and a video camera. Of course when the video was done, the party continued, because hell, this was college.
We, as a house, spent a lot of time with this CD, at least as I can remember. We had talked about going to see the band as a group, but only a few of us actually went. Every time we threw a party that year, this CD made its way into the stereo. It was not uncommon to hear it playing in some part of the house or in one of our cars at any given point during that year. Listening to it now is like a time machine, taking me right back to 2002-03.
There are really so many great songs on this album, and so many memories attached to it. it’s a sleeper favorite, I guess. As I sit here and listen to songs like “blue and yellow” and “on my own” I think about how much they related to things that were going on in my life when this album first came out, and how much they relate to things that are going on now. As far as I’m concerned, “blue and yellow” is one of the sweetest best-friend songs ever written. There is absolutely something to be said about having someone in your life that you’d rather waste time with than do anything else ever. Those are the people that you should hang onto.
I guess ill close with this thought…I’m glad I didn’t get a chance to see this band until AFTER Bert learned how to not throw his guts up on stage every night. Just sayin.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
365 project "where is your boy tonight? i hope he is a gentleman."
119.
artist:fall out boy
album:take this to your grave
word on the street is that this album just turned 8 a few days ago. that seems crazy to me, but I'm not sure why, exactly. it makes perfect sense that its been out that long, as new music stopped existing for me like five years ago, and i know this has a little bit of age to it, but 8 just seems nuts.
i don't remember why i first heard fall out boy. i feel like it happened on warped tour, but it could have just been me falling in love with a song on the radio. i do know that i didn't buy this album until way after the fact, and even then i only picked it up at a festival because FBR was there and had most of their stuff on the table for 5 dollars, and i figured for 5 dollars, why not.
its really not a bad album. i have a soft spot in my heart for pop-punk, as we all know, and i really love the tonal qualities of Patrick stump's voice.
and who can deny the awesomeness that is "tell that mick that he just made my list of things to do today." i haven't spent a whole lot of time with this album, but I'm sitting here now listening to this song again and just laughing at the lyrics. i mean seriously, with lyrics like "As when you wrap your car around a tree
Your makeup looks so great next to his teeth" how can you not smile? well, if you have never had your heart broken or ever been betrayed, i guess this song wouldn't apply to you.
the only real story i have about this album is that i once lent it to my niece, and she had it for about a year. the only way i got it back from her was by buying her a copy for her birthday the following march. i loved that she had a good taste in music, but id just picked up that CD and i never had a chance to listen to it! oh well, all's well that ends well, i suppose.
artist:fall out boy
album:take this to your grave
word on the street is that this album just turned 8 a few days ago. that seems crazy to me, but I'm not sure why, exactly. it makes perfect sense that its been out that long, as new music stopped existing for me like five years ago, and i know this has a little bit of age to it, but 8 just seems nuts.
i don't remember why i first heard fall out boy. i feel like it happened on warped tour, but it could have just been me falling in love with a song on the radio. i do know that i didn't buy this album until way after the fact, and even then i only picked it up at a festival because FBR was there and had most of their stuff on the table for 5 dollars, and i figured for 5 dollars, why not.
its really not a bad album. i have a soft spot in my heart for pop-punk, as we all know, and i really love the tonal qualities of Patrick stump's voice.
and who can deny the awesomeness that is "tell that mick that he just made my list of things to do today." i haven't spent a whole lot of time with this album, but I'm sitting here now listening to this song again and just laughing at the lyrics. i mean seriously, with lyrics like "As when you wrap your car around a tree
Your makeup looks so great next to his teeth" how can you not smile? well, if you have never had your heart broken or ever been betrayed, i guess this song wouldn't apply to you.
the only real story i have about this album is that i once lent it to my niece, and she had it for about a year. the only way i got it back from her was by buying her a copy for her birthday the following march. i loved that she had a good taste in music, but id just picked up that CD and i never had a chance to listen to it! oh well, all's well that ends well, i suppose.
365 project: "whats with these homies dissin my girl? why do they gotta front?"
118.
artist:weezer
album:weezer (blue)
this is one of those albums that has so many stories attached that i honestly don't know where to begin. 1994 is my ultimate year when it comes to music...so many great albums came out that year, and being 14 years old, that is when i started standing on my own two feet as far as making musical selections goes.
i have two stories of note that came to my head while driving around listening to this album, so while there are many, ill go through these two briefly.
the first happened not too long after the album came out, as "buddy holly" was still being played on the radio in heavy rotation. by this point, id already purchased the album, and i can remember being so fascinated by the "bang, bang, knock on the door" part. i listened to that song over and over again, which meant rewinding the tape to just the right point, because i was determined to learn the lyrics. there was no lyrics sheet in the album (the original "send a dollar, get a lyrics book" album. /bn jokes) so i had to sit and listen over and over until i learned the words. i couldn't hunt them down on the Internet because for the most part, the Internet did not exist. it definitely wasn't a place that i could go to hunt down song lyrics, at any rate.
anyway, we were at some odyssey of the mind competition probably during the end of my freshman year of high school, and we were in our staging room, as a team, getting ourselves psyched up to go do our thing. someone had Walkman speakers (holy smokes this story makes me sound older than dirt) and of course we all had that tape with us, so we decided to listen to it. that part that i had been studying for so long came on, and of course i had to show off my skills and sing the whole part. i distinctly remember Dan D looking at me across the table shaking his head in amazement and saying "how do you even know that?" i was proud that day.
the other story is more recent, though it was still about seven years ago. i was dating this guy and he was slowly getting to like all of the music that i liked. his taste in music sucked and i couldn't stand being in the car with him unless he was open to some changes, and one of the albums that i was really hellbent on getting him to listen to was this one. the way i see it, its a good jumping-off point into the "scene." I'm not sure if it was because i was so into him listening to the CD or what, but he just flat out refused. would not do it.
for my 24th (i think) birthday, we went to Michelle and Brooke's apartment to celebrate. i made the boy drive, and i picked the music because it was my birthday and I'm a princess. we were sitting in traffic on 76 on the way to chelles, and i decided that id just put the CD in when he wasn't looking and see what happens. about four songs into it, he stopped in the middle of what he was saying, looked at me, and said "what are we listening to? i really like this a lot." i just laughed.
that CD has been through so much with me. I'm sure that many of you have stories about this album, and id like to hear them. i know i cant be the only one with such great memories.
artist:weezer
album:weezer (blue)
this is one of those albums that has so many stories attached that i honestly don't know where to begin. 1994 is my ultimate year when it comes to music...so many great albums came out that year, and being 14 years old, that is when i started standing on my own two feet as far as making musical selections goes.
i have two stories of note that came to my head while driving around listening to this album, so while there are many, ill go through these two briefly.
the first happened not too long after the album came out, as "buddy holly" was still being played on the radio in heavy rotation. by this point, id already purchased the album, and i can remember being so fascinated by the "bang, bang, knock on the door" part. i listened to that song over and over again, which meant rewinding the tape to just the right point, because i was determined to learn the lyrics. there was no lyrics sheet in the album (the original "send a dollar, get a lyrics book" album. /bn jokes) so i had to sit and listen over and over until i learned the words. i couldn't hunt them down on the Internet because for the most part, the Internet did not exist. it definitely wasn't a place that i could go to hunt down song lyrics, at any rate.
anyway, we were at some odyssey of the mind competition probably during the end of my freshman year of high school, and we were in our staging room, as a team, getting ourselves psyched up to go do our thing. someone had Walkman speakers (holy smokes this story makes me sound older than dirt) and of course we all had that tape with us, so we decided to listen to it. that part that i had been studying for so long came on, and of course i had to show off my skills and sing the whole part. i distinctly remember Dan D looking at me across the table shaking his head in amazement and saying "how do you even know that?" i was proud that day.
the other story is more recent, though it was still about seven years ago. i was dating this guy and he was slowly getting to like all of the music that i liked. his taste in music sucked and i couldn't stand being in the car with him unless he was open to some changes, and one of the albums that i was really hellbent on getting him to listen to was this one. the way i see it, its a good jumping-off point into the "scene." I'm not sure if it was because i was so into him listening to the CD or what, but he just flat out refused. would not do it.
for my 24th (i think) birthday, we went to Michelle and Brooke's apartment to celebrate. i made the boy drive, and i picked the music because it was my birthday and I'm a princess. we were sitting in traffic on 76 on the way to chelles, and i decided that id just put the CD in when he wasn't looking and see what happens. about four songs into it, he stopped in the middle of what he was saying, looked at me, and said "what are we listening to? i really like this a lot." i just laughed.
that CD has been through so much with me. I'm sure that many of you have stories about this album, and id like to hear them. i know i cant be the only one with such great memories.
Monday, May 9, 2011
how i know i am insane.
i have been sitting up for easily the last two hours watching brand new/jesse lacey/kevin devine videos on youtube.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
365 project "i've a picture of you on our favorite day by the seaside"
117.
artist:iron & wine
album:the creek drank the cradle
some friends were raving about this album, so i went out and bought it. i listened to it once and didn't get it, so it went into the pile of disks on my desk and just sat around collecting dust.
i don't remember exactly what made me revisit this album, but i did it, and the results the second time were much different from the first. i know that i had downloaded a brand new gig in which Jesse Lacey sound checked with "upward over the mountain" but i was already listening to this CD by then, and i cant remember for the life of me why.
at any rate, i still find this CD to be the least accessible personally. i like it enough, and the lyrical content is top-notch Sam Beam stuff, but its so garbled and mumbled and lo-fi (there's that word again...I'm sensing a theme for the day) that i find it really hard to really get into. i think the problem here with me is that i typically listen to music in the car, and stuff like this album by iron & wine and oh, inverted world by the shins isn't really the kind of stuff one wants to listen to when driving around pedal to the metal. i don't know. maybe I'm wrong. personally, though, id much rather cruse around to some pop-punk or something with a little bit of funk to it.
these same songs with a little bit of funk added to them during a live show, especially in performances like the bonnaroo ones, are perfect. like i said, its not the lyrics, its the simplicity of the music, which, for me, is too simple.
however, this CD is absolutely perfect for sitting around on the porch on a summer morning just watching life go on outside of your little space...and of course all while drinking lemonade.
this video is the bonnaroo version of the song, but honest to Pete, iron & wine at bonnaroo was a life-altering experience for me.
artist:iron & wine
album:the creek drank the cradle
some friends were raving about this album, so i went out and bought it. i listened to it once and didn't get it, so it went into the pile of disks on my desk and just sat around collecting dust.
i don't remember exactly what made me revisit this album, but i did it, and the results the second time were much different from the first. i know that i had downloaded a brand new gig in which Jesse Lacey sound checked with "upward over the mountain" but i was already listening to this CD by then, and i cant remember for the life of me why.
at any rate, i still find this CD to be the least accessible personally. i like it enough, and the lyrical content is top-notch Sam Beam stuff, but its so garbled and mumbled and lo-fi (there's that word again...I'm sensing a theme for the day) that i find it really hard to really get into. i think the problem here with me is that i typically listen to music in the car, and stuff like this album by iron & wine and oh, inverted world by the shins isn't really the kind of stuff one wants to listen to when driving around pedal to the metal. i don't know. maybe I'm wrong. personally, though, id much rather cruse around to some pop-punk or something with a little bit of funk to it.
these same songs with a little bit of funk added to them during a live show, especially in performances like the bonnaroo ones, are perfect. like i said, its not the lyrics, its the simplicity of the music, which, for me, is too simple.
however, this CD is absolutely perfect for sitting around on the porch on a summer morning just watching life go on outside of your little space...and of course all while drinking lemonade.
this video is the bonnaroo version of the song, but honest to Pete, iron & wine at bonnaroo was a life-altering experience for me.
365 project "all these squawking birds wont quit, building nothing, laying bricks."
116.
artist:the shins
album: oh inverted world
i bought this album because of the garden state soundtrack. i hated it on first listen, and didn't pay much attention to the shins for a bit after that. somehow or another, the band worked its way back into my life with chutes too narrow, and i decided to go back and revisit this album today.
i think what i hated about this album is what i love about it now-the lo-fi sound. its the least accessible of the shins' releases, but I'm okay with that these days. I'm thinking it has a lot to do with my "grown up" tastes. I'm noticing more and more that everything-from the food that i eat to the music that i listen to-everything i consume is more "adult" than ever before. as I'm 31 years old, its probably about time that i started to grow up.
i had a good time listening to this album. i enjoy it a lot more than i ever realized. i am fairly certain that ill spend a lot more time listening. i suggest you pull it out of your collection and give it a spin, too. i know you have it. everyone who saw garden state does.
"you gotta hear this one song. it'll change your life, i swear." -Sam.
artist:the shins
album: oh inverted world
i bought this album because of the garden state soundtrack. i hated it on first listen, and didn't pay much attention to the shins for a bit after that. somehow or another, the band worked its way back into my life with chutes too narrow, and i decided to go back and revisit this album today.
i think what i hated about this album is what i love about it now-the lo-fi sound. its the least accessible of the shins' releases, but I'm okay with that these days. I'm thinking it has a lot to do with my "grown up" tastes. I'm noticing more and more that everything-from the food that i eat to the music that i listen to-everything i consume is more "adult" than ever before. as I'm 31 years old, its probably about time that i started to grow up.
i had a good time listening to this album. i enjoy it a lot more than i ever realized. i am fairly certain that ill spend a lot more time listening. i suggest you pull it out of your collection and give it a spin, too. i know you have it. everyone who saw garden state does.
"you gotta hear this one song. it'll change your life, i swear." -Sam.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
365 project "walk like an egyptian"
115.
artist:bangles
album:greatest hits
back in college, i took over the 80's show after my friend Kathi graduated. i "inherited" most of her Cd's for the show, but i did buy some on my own. this was one that i bought, specifically for one song, and no, its not "walk like an Egyptian."
"in your room" is one of my favorite songs ever. i don't know why, because there really isn't much to it, but i am so in love with that song. i can remember being on-air with pun and playing this song, dedicating it to "my stalker" (i still never did figure out who that was...creepy, actually).
of course, when i was like 8 years old, my neighbor had a "pocket rocker" and we used to dance to "walk like an Egyptian" on my front porch daily. remember pocket rockers? those things were awesome.
i feel like i should have more to say about the band that Loralie Gilmore was so obsessed with, but I'm not really a huge fan, save that one song. i mean, i don't harbor feelings of hate toward the bangles, but unless it was a situation like this, i cant really see myself pulling out the CD and rocking out to it. "in your room" WILL make it to my ipod tonight, though.
artist:bangles
album:greatest hits
back in college, i took over the 80's show after my friend Kathi graduated. i "inherited" most of her Cd's for the show, but i did buy some on my own. this was one that i bought, specifically for one song, and no, its not "walk like an Egyptian."
"in your room" is one of my favorite songs ever. i don't know why, because there really isn't much to it, but i am so in love with that song. i can remember being on-air with pun and playing this song, dedicating it to "my stalker" (i still never did figure out who that was...creepy, actually).
of course, when i was like 8 years old, my neighbor had a "pocket rocker" and we used to dance to "walk like an Egyptian" on my front porch daily. remember pocket rockers? those things were awesome.
i feel like i should have more to say about the band that Loralie Gilmore was so obsessed with, but I'm not really a huge fan, save that one song. i mean, i don't harbor feelings of hate toward the bangles, but unless it was a situation like this, i cant really see myself pulling out the CD and rocking out to it. "in your room" WILL make it to my ipod tonight, though.
365 project: "if this is love then kill me now and save me from my life."
114.
artist:jamisonparker
album:sleepwalker
i had such high hopes for this CD. it failed to meet any of my expectations. basically, it just fails.
the lyrics try so hard to be deep, but just come off as silly and over dramatic. i understand that this all happened for these guys (who, by the way, were two of the nicest guys i have ever met as far as musicians go) on the heels of the "emo" movement, but it just comes across as hokey. here's a video of the song i liked the best from this CD, recorded live at skate and surf several years ago. (this was also the day that i bought my jamisonparker hoodie from parker.)
it kills me that this CD was so unlistenable (laughable, even) because i really, really liked their first EP. I'm going to have to listen to that soon so i can talk about it.
i listened to sleepwalker. this was maybe the fourth time ever. it'll probably be the last. its just not good.
artist:jamisonparker
album:sleepwalker
i had such high hopes for this CD. it failed to meet any of my expectations. basically, it just fails.
the lyrics try so hard to be deep, but just come off as silly and over dramatic. i understand that this all happened for these guys (who, by the way, were two of the nicest guys i have ever met as far as musicians go) on the heels of the "emo" movement, but it just comes across as hokey. here's a video of the song i liked the best from this CD, recorded live at skate and surf several years ago. (this was also the day that i bought my jamisonparker hoodie from parker.)
it kills me that this CD was so unlistenable (laughable, even) because i really, really liked their first EP. I'm going to have to listen to that soon so i can talk about it.
i listened to sleepwalker. this was maybe the fourth time ever. it'll probably be the last. its just not good.
Friday, May 6, 2011
365 project "ahhh, look at all the lonely people."
113.
artist:the Beatles
album:1
this is the only Beatles album i own. I'm not entirely sure why i even own this one as i rarely listen to it. to be totally and perfectly honest, I'm not a Beatles fan. i don't get all nuts and turn their stuff off when it comes on the radio, and i don't mind listening to it, really, i just don't ever find myself going out of my way to put on a Beatles album...to the point that i don't really own any.
wait, I'm lying about this being the only Beatles album i own. i am pretty sure that "let it be...naked" is sitting on my CD rack, still in its shrinkwrap.
at any rate, my feelings towards the beatles weren't always so indifferent. though the song in which this story relates is not actually on this particular CD, I'm going to share it because this is likely the only chance ill get in this project, and its very important in the story of who i am and my love for music.
when i was very small, we are talking three or four here, i was totally unable to use the cable box. of course, in those days, there were toggle switches and dials and all sorts of funky things on the box, and they were a bit daunting for a child. i actually found a picture of one on the Internet, because you can find a picture of everything on the Internet.
anyway, i didn't care much for TV, so the fact that i couldn't really master that stupid box didn't bother me much. i knew how to find MTV, and that was all that mattered. mom found the smurfs for me on Saturday mornings.
i did, however, know how to properly play a record. i learned how to use a record player very early in life, and had a few of my own records. my favorite, though, was Sgt pepper's lonely hearts club band. i can remember being probably three years old, setting up my great-grandma-knitted blanket on the floor, putting this record on, and "dancing" (re:spinning in circles until i fell down) to "Lucy in the sky with diamonds."
there are no pictures of this, at least that i know of, for me to have "remembered" these days from photographs. i was little, and my mom was either as big as a house carrying twins or dealing with twin newborns and preggers again with my baby brother. at any rate, while i was far from neglected, i did have to find ways to entertain myself sometimes, and i did.
i think that growing up in a house where music was so prevalent and learning to use the record player before the cable box (though i was never allowed to touch the reel-to-reel) are absolutely the reasons that i am so invested in music these days. these were the things that mattered to me before i even knew what it meant to matter.
artist:the Beatles
album:1
this is the only Beatles album i own. I'm not entirely sure why i even own this one as i rarely listen to it. to be totally and perfectly honest, I'm not a Beatles fan. i don't get all nuts and turn their stuff off when it comes on the radio, and i don't mind listening to it, really, i just don't ever find myself going out of my way to put on a Beatles album...to the point that i don't really own any.
wait, I'm lying about this being the only Beatles album i own. i am pretty sure that "let it be...naked" is sitting on my CD rack, still in its shrinkwrap.
at any rate, my feelings towards the beatles weren't always so indifferent. though the song in which this story relates is not actually on this particular CD, I'm going to share it because this is likely the only chance ill get in this project, and its very important in the story of who i am and my love for music.
when i was very small, we are talking three or four here, i was totally unable to use the cable box. of course, in those days, there were toggle switches and dials and all sorts of funky things on the box, and they were a bit daunting for a child. i actually found a picture of one on the Internet, because you can find a picture of everything on the Internet.
i did, however, know how to properly play a record. i learned how to use a record player very early in life, and had a few of my own records. my favorite, though, was Sgt pepper's lonely hearts club band. i can remember being probably three years old, setting up my great-grandma-knitted blanket on the floor, putting this record on, and "dancing" (re:spinning in circles until i fell down) to "Lucy in the sky with diamonds."
there are no pictures of this, at least that i know of, for me to have "remembered" these days from photographs. i was little, and my mom was either as big as a house carrying twins or dealing with twin newborns and preggers again with my baby brother. at any rate, while i was far from neglected, i did have to find ways to entertain myself sometimes, and i did.
i think that growing up in a house where music was so prevalent and learning to use the record player before the cable box (though i was never allowed to touch the reel-to-reel) are absolutely the reasons that i am so invested in music these days. these were the things that mattered to me before i even knew what it meant to matter.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
365 project "she needs to hear she's beautiful, she's beautiful"
112.
artist:something corporate
album:played in space:the best of something corporate
i was all set to go to bed, but then my dear friend Kate posted the video and partial lyrics to "Konstantine" and i had to listen to that, and then "watch the sky" came on, and then i wanted to hear "i want to save you" and i figured i might as well just listen to the whole damn album right now and blog about it before bed, so here we are. sorry about that. blame KB.
so, my something corporate story...
for a really long time, i just couldn't find it in me to care about this band. i don't know what it was, the hype around them, maybe, or maybe i was just being stubborn (as I've been known to do) but i just didn't care. i only started to care about Andrew McMahon at all when he got sick and jack's mannequin's everything in transit got released within the same time frame, but i still didn't bother with soco. i actually remember sitting in the dining hall in college at MU and hearing "if you c Jordan" on the TVs in there and wondering what the hell these dorks were singing about. i just didn't care. and then the hiatus came and it didn't matter that i didn't care, because they weren't going to be on anyone's radar for a while.
and then the rumors started. there was going to be a tour. i knew actually before i heard the rumors, and already had my tickets in hand, because by this time id fallen in love with the song "Konstantine" and wanted to hear that song live, not to mention the fact that I've seen Andrew tour with jack's mannequin and i know how much fun he is to watch play piano...
i started listening to played in space... all the time to prep for the August show, and it really did end up becoming the soundtrack to my summer last year. i also went back and started building up my soco catalog because i knew that since i wasn't being a music snob anymore, there were some things on these albums that i needed to know about.
by the time we got to the show, i was just as big a soco fan as anyone else in that plaza. i had a few beers and hung out with my friends and sang along to every word to every song, just like anyone else in that space. no one could have known that i wasn't a soco fan until right before the show.
Nicole took some pictures that night, and since i didn't have a functioning camera at that point, I'm stealing hers because i feel like i need to put something in here besides text.
i could listen to "Konstantine" every day for the rest of my life and never tire of it. and my eyes would probably still well up every night.
artist:something corporate
album:played in space:the best of something corporate
i was all set to go to bed, but then my dear friend Kate posted the video and partial lyrics to "Konstantine" and i had to listen to that, and then "watch the sky" came on, and then i wanted to hear "i want to save you" and i figured i might as well just listen to the whole damn album right now and blog about it before bed, so here we are. sorry about that. blame KB.
so, my something corporate story...
for a really long time, i just couldn't find it in me to care about this band. i don't know what it was, the hype around them, maybe, or maybe i was just being stubborn (as I've been known to do) but i just didn't care. i only started to care about Andrew McMahon at all when he got sick and jack's mannequin's everything in transit got released within the same time frame, but i still didn't bother with soco. i actually remember sitting in the dining hall in college at MU and hearing "if you c Jordan" on the TVs in there and wondering what the hell these dorks were singing about. i just didn't care. and then the hiatus came and it didn't matter that i didn't care, because they weren't going to be on anyone's radar for a while.
and then the rumors started. there was going to be a tour. i knew actually before i heard the rumors, and already had my tickets in hand, because by this time id fallen in love with the song "Konstantine" and wanted to hear that song live, not to mention the fact that I've seen Andrew tour with jack's mannequin and i know how much fun he is to watch play piano...
i started listening to played in space... all the time to prep for the August show, and it really did end up becoming the soundtrack to my summer last year. i also went back and started building up my soco catalog because i knew that since i wasn't being a music snob anymore, there were some things on these albums that i needed to know about.
by the time we got to the show, i was just as big a soco fan as anyone else in that plaza. i had a few beers and hung out with my friends and sang along to every word to every song, just like anyone else in that space. no one could have known that i wasn't a soco fan until right before the show.
Nicole took some pictures that night, and since i didn't have a functioning camera at that point, I'm stealing hers because i feel like i need to put something in here besides text.
i could listen to "Konstantine" every day for the rest of my life and never tire of it. and my eyes would probably still well up every night.
365 project: "what if it was true, that everything we thought was right was wrong"
111.
artist:Manchester orchestra
album:simple math
the release of this album sort of snuck up on me. i mean, i "like" Manchester orchestra on facebook, so I've seen all of the updates about solving math equations to stream new tracks and things like that, but i honestly didn't pay much attention after hearing the first week's song, the title track of the new album, "simple math".
i didn't not like it or anything like that, i just didn't find myself drawn in enough to continue checking in every week. i figured id just wait til i could get my hands on the album and go from there.
i like the album. i don't love it, but i like it. I've listened through about three or four times now, though none of them straight through, and i cant even figure out if i have any clear favorites. there are parts of songs that I'm in love with, and that id marry if it were legal (not to mention feasible) to be wed to a part of a song, but then there are other parts that i just don't hear because they sound like everything else that i put in my ears these days.
there are a few times during the course of the album where the actual music makes me stop breathing because of how beautiful it is. i posted on facebook last night that the strings on a few of the songs on this album make me want to fall in love. its so bizarre for some notes or a melody to have that kind of effect on someone...makes that same piece of their heart jump that does when falling in love.
i need to spend more time with this album to make a full assessment of it, but i think i like it enough to keep in in the starting rotation. I'm sitting here reading the lyrics along while the song "simple math" is playing and it just kind of clicked for me whats going on in the song, and its so sad and so vulnerable.
"I'm lost and hardly noticed, slight goodbye
I want to rip your lips off in my mouth
And even in my greatest moment doubt
The line between deceit and right now
Simple math
It's how our bodies even got here
Sinful math
The ebb and flow to multiply"
those last two lines made me gasp. the song seems to be about infidelity, and those lines are written so perfectly to describe what is going on.
here's the song, since this seems to be what i do now. the video for this one is pretty superb:
I'm falling asleep at my desk. i need to go to bed. i either need to start doing speed or invent a way to add more hours to every day.
artist:Manchester orchestra
album:simple math
the release of this album sort of snuck up on me. i mean, i "like" Manchester orchestra on facebook, so I've seen all of the updates about solving math equations to stream new tracks and things like that, but i honestly didn't pay much attention after hearing the first week's song, the title track of the new album, "simple math".
i didn't not like it or anything like that, i just didn't find myself drawn in enough to continue checking in every week. i figured id just wait til i could get my hands on the album and go from there.
i like the album. i don't love it, but i like it. I've listened through about three or four times now, though none of them straight through, and i cant even figure out if i have any clear favorites. there are parts of songs that I'm in love with, and that id marry if it were legal (not to mention feasible) to be wed to a part of a song, but then there are other parts that i just don't hear because they sound like everything else that i put in my ears these days.
there are a few times during the course of the album where the actual music makes me stop breathing because of how beautiful it is. i posted on facebook last night that the strings on a few of the songs on this album make me want to fall in love. its so bizarre for some notes or a melody to have that kind of effect on someone...makes that same piece of their heart jump that does when falling in love.
i need to spend more time with this album to make a full assessment of it, but i think i like it enough to keep in in the starting rotation. I'm sitting here reading the lyrics along while the song "simple math" is playing and it just kind of clicked for me whats going on in the song, and its so sad and so vulnerable.
"I'm lost and hardly noticed, slight goodbye
I want to rip your lips off in my mouth
And even in my greatest moment doubt
The line between deceit and right now
Simple math
It's how our bodies even got here
Sinful math
The ebb and flow to multiply"
those last two lines made me gasp. the song seems to be about infidelity, and those lines are written so perfectly to describe what is going on.
here's the song, since this seems to be what i do now. the video for this one is pretty superb:
I'm falling asleep at my desk. i need to go to bed. i either need to start doing speed or invent a way to add more hours to every day.
365 project:" lost in fog and love and faithless fear, i've had kisses that made Judas seem sincere"
110.
artist:The Hold Steady
album:boys and girls in America
this is the album that started my love affair with the hold steady.
i had just finished reading the book love is a mixtape by rob Sheffield (if you haven't read that yet i suggest you check it out) and was tooling around in the CD section at the library trying to decide if anything looked good. i noticed this CD and i vaguely remembered the band name from the book id just read, so i figured id check them out.
i checked that CD out with a few others and went out to my car to head home. i popped it into my CD player when i started my car and i think i was in love before the end of the first measure. i listened to this CD nonstop for a few weeks, forcing it on all of my friends.
at some point after this initial meeting with the album, i was in Philly for some reason or another and bought the album on vinyl, and fell in love all over again. there is an adorable comic book inside that stands in for the liner notes, and i can vividly remember sitting on a bench at the train station waiting to come back to jersey and looking at the record and thinking about how freaking awesome it was.
my infatuation with this band has since died off, though i definitely still like them. i no longer can listen to them for extended periods of time, though. small doses for me.
if you take anything away from this, know that Craig Finn is a fucking amazing lyricist, and his delivery of those lyrics is absolutely what makes this band worth listening to.
artist:The Hold Steady
album:boys and girls in America
this is the album that started my love affair with the hold steady.
i had just finished reading the book love is a mixtape by rob Sheffield (if you haven't read that yet i suggest you check it out) and was tooling around in the CD section at the library trying to decide if anything looked good. i noticed this CD and i vaguely remembered the band name from the book id just read, so i figured id check them out.
i checked that CD out with a few others and went out to my car to head home. i popped it into my CD player when i started my car and i think i was in love before the end of the first measure. i listened to this CD nonstop for a few weeks, forcing it on all of my friends.
at some point after this initial meeting with the album, i was in Philly for some reason or another and bought the album on vinyl, and fell in love all over again. there is an adorable comic book inside that stands in for the liner notes, and i can vividly remember sitting on a bench at the train station waiting to come back to jersey and looking at the record and thinking about how freaking awesome it was.
my infatuation with this band has since died off, though i definitely still like them. i no longer can listen to them for extended periods of time, though. small doses for me.
if you take anything away from this, know that Craig Finn is a fucking amazing lyricist, and his delivery of those lyrics is absolutely what makes this band worth listening to.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
365 project "so when they tap our monday heads, two zombies walk in our stead. this town seems hardly worth our time"
109.
artist:the shins
album:wincing the night away
i know i have listened to this album a few times since the year began, but i just checked the tags and i haven't officially listened to it for this project, so here we go.
i might be in a minority here, but this is my favorite shins album. i mean, i really love all of them, don't get me wrong, but this one is the most accessible as far as I'm concerned. it still definitely has an indie vibe to it, but its got a bit more to it that makes me want to listen to it more than the other albums. i don't know if its the production quality or the lyrics, the music, or all of the above, but it ranks at number one for me.
i have had several days in my life since this album came out where i woke up and only wanted this album, nothing else. i seem to do that a lot with certain albums, where i want that record and nothing else will do.
i have this album on both vinyl and CD. i tend to listen to it on wax, though, because i like to dance around in my room and sing along with the lyrics sheet in front of me, because as many times as I've listened i still don't know them all. obviously, though, for days like today when I'm out and about, the CD works just fine.
i was just going through all of the songs trying to decide which one was my favorite, and when i heard the song "girl sailor" again, it reminded me of something that id forgotten about.
i had a pretty rough experience when i went to bonnaroo last summer. basically, the girl that i went down there with left me the first night on the farm and i didn't see her again until i got back to jersey. we drove down in the same car. you do the math. thankfully i have a freaking angel of a friend who only lived about 40 minutes from the farm who came down, scooped me up and took care of me for a few days. i needed some physical and emotional healing, not to mention a way home, and she helped me out with all of that.
i got onto the plane after what actually turned out to be an amazing 36-ish hours in Nashville and put my ipod on. i guess id turned it off last in the middle of a song, and the very first lyrics i heard were:
"A stronger girl would shake this off in flight,
And never give it more than a frowning hour"
which, at the time, were probably the most fitting two lines on my ipod. even after a good time in Nashville and all of the good experiences i had at bonnaroo despite the circumstances, i still had a lot to deal with...like the fact that my travelling companion had a rental car full of my stuff that i was thinking id never see again. i really was sure that she was throwing my stuff out of the car all the way up highway 81. thankfully she was a bit more mature than that, and after some nasty emails and police involvement, i got all of my stuff back unscathed.
these entries find ways of taking such strange turns...
artist:the shins
album:wincing the night away
i know i have listened to this album a few times since the year began, but i just checked the tags and i haven't officially listened to it for this project, so here we go.
i might be in a minority here, but this is my favorite shins album. i mean, i really love all of them, don't get me wrong, but this one is the most accessible as far as I'm concerned. it still definitely has an indie vibe to it, but its got a bit more to it that makes me want to listen to it more than the other albums. i don't know if its the production quality or the lyrics, the music, or all of the above, but it ranks at number one for me.
i have had several days in my life since this album came out where i woke up and only wanted this album, nothing else. i seem to do that a lot with certain albums, where i want that record and nothing else will do.
i have this album on both vinyl and CD. i tend to listen to it on wax, though, because i like to dance around in my room and sing along with the lyrics sheet in front of me, because as many times as I've listened i still don't know them all. obviously, though, for days like today when I'm out and about, the CD works just fine.
i was just going through all of the songs trying to decide which one was my favorite, and when i heard the song "girl sailor" again, it reminded me of something that id forgotten about.
i had a pretty rough experience when i went to bonnaroo last summer. basically, the girl that i went down there with left me the first night on the farm and i didn't see her again until i got back to jersey. we drove down in the same car. you do the math. thankfully i have a freaking angel of a friend who only lived about 40 minutes from the farm who came down, scooped me up and took care of me for a few days. i needed some physical and emotional healing, not to mention a way home, and she helped me out with all of that.
i got onto the plane after what actually turned out to be an amazing 36-ish hours in Nashville and put my ipod on. i guess id turned it off last in the middle of a song, and the very first lyrics i heard were:
"A stronger girl would shake this off in flight,
And never give it more than a frowning hour"
which, at the time, were probably the most fitting two lines on my ipod. even after a good time in Nashville and all of the good experiences i had at bonnaroo despite the circumstances, i still had a lot to deal with...like the fact that my travelling companion had a rental car full of my stuff that i was thinking id never see again. i really was sure that she was throwing my stuff out of the car all the way up highway 81. thankfully she was a bit more mature than that, and after some nasty emails and police involvement, i got all of my stuff back unscathed.
these entries find ways of taking such strange turns...
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