Year in Review - 2012

For the last six or seven years I've documented the prior year of music listening on a mix CD. The rules I impose on myself:

-One song max. from each album, and one song max. from each artist.
-Has to fit on one CD. 
-Must mix well. I often end up with less than a CD's worth of material because of this rule.

There's no limitation on the year it was created; the song does not have to be from 2012.

Challenges this year:
-I didn't do as great a job of keeping track of what I was obsessed with this year. Most years I keep a little folder of music going on my computer, but tech issues interfered this time around and I realized at the 13th hour that I left off Coldplay (Paradise! Charlie Brown!) and Gotye. Poop!



1. "October" by The Helio Sequence from Negotiations

*Pacific Northwestern Soul*

Many of The Helio Sequence's tunes resonate with me on a visceral level, and they encourage and sustain me. I appreciate that people and connection are at the heart of their music.

In a perfect world
there would be no divide
In a perfect world
we could both open
and see the other side

2. "Life 'O' The Party" by Prince from Musicology

*You Can't Listen to it on the 'Net*

Party is right! It's impossible to remain still when this song is playing. Great grinding drum, single-note piano line, and Prince-tastic vocals, from overwrought to rap to screams to sexy-talk voice. Prince's sense of humor is on display throughout.

Favorite lines: 

Twenty five years to life
The judge sentenced me to hard labor with a knife 

makin cuts for y'all 

*OOOHH!*

3. "The Keepers" by Santigold from Master Of My Make-Believe

*Goddess*

There is no one in the music business that's better than Santigold. She can make any genre of music she wants, and it's all compelling! Furthermore, her lyrics and album imagery have many layers. She's always thrilling to listen to: Santigold for President!

What happens when you get stuck
Get to the bottom of the illusion that you're in?

4. "Broken Promise" by New Order from Brotherhood

*Exercise Music*

I went through a New Order remaster renaissance in 2011, but somehow Brotherhood got left out of the bulk of my listening. I vowed I would take it on this year...and it went to the gym with me. This album rules for exercising! And Bernard's vocal/lyrical emotions match my sassy attitude when I'm working out and feeling good about how awesome my body is for doing what I want it to (someday we will be elderly [or injured] and unable to say that).

5. "Mother Protect" by Niki & the Dove from Instinct

*Turn the Lights Low and Dance*

Recent house guests unknowingly hummed along to this song during their first listen. It's that good. Enjoy!

6. "Rowena's Theme" by Edge from Captive soundtrack

*Soundtracks Rule*

Finally got around to listening to this LP I've had sitting around for a while #obsessiveU2 fanproblem. I was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful/emotional the album is (kinda makes me want to see the movie), as well as by how awesome Edge is all alone. Edge could go solo. Bono knows.

I highly recommend folks checking this out if they like ambient or soundtrack music.

7. "Every Glance" by Jack Peñate from Everything is New

*Colleen's Most Listened Album of Year*

If I had to choose an album of the year according to how many times I played it, this would be the one. Everything is New is a short record, at about 35 minutes long. For a while I couldn't get past the first track (cause it was on repeat, yo!), but eventually this song emerged as my favorite. I had dreams about finding this album on vinyl before I ordered it from CD World...

This is a fun song to harmonize with and sing along to. Check out the choice ending to the track!

8. "I Go to Sleep" by Pretenders from Pretenders II

*A Band I Was Wrong About*

Alright, so I've never cared for Pretenders. Though I've been intrigued by Chrissie Hynde as a fellow animals rights activist/vegetarian, their radio-in-the-00's-played-singles cause me to change stations.

Turns out, I just hadn't heard the right album.

While I was researching songs for my F Horn player mix (which I will post here one day), I stumbled across this gem. I figured if "I Go to Sleep" is so dang good, I'd better give the album it was from a shot.

And now I can say: I like Pretenders (at least the albums from before half the band died off...sad!).

9. "Amanaemonesia" by Chairlift from Something

*Surpasses the Sum of Its Parts*

Something is an album it takes multiple listens to wrap the brain around. While it's immediately apparent that Caroline Polachek has serious singing chops, it can take a bit longer to disassociate the ear from the recognizable 70s/80s references and just enjoy the songs.

I love the old school keyboards/dramatic wordless singing on the bridge, as well as the Nina Hagen "singing in German" vocal reference right after.

Chairlift's lyrics can be very serious or very playful ("There's a dog in the yard with a manner that's ruff"), and the uniqueness of their sound is inspiring.

10. "Walking On a Dream" by Empire of the Sun from Walking On a Dream

*Pandora find of the year!*

I am a huge fan of this album, and I must add that there are rarely four single-worthy tracks in a row opening a record (Joshua Tree is the only other one I can think of). Empire of the Sun is onto something magical, and I can't wait to hear their second album sometime this year.

This track is a danceable, good vibes, love song. Their use of falsetto, flexibility about word pronunciation (for realz! in the chorus mostly), and use of the rhythm/texture of words hugely contribute to the appeal.

11. "When the Movie's Over" by Twin Shadow from Confess

*Great song for air keyboarding!*

Um, so yeah...I love dramatic music. While I still think that Twin Shadow's debut is superior, Confess is solid and well worth the money. I appreciate the self-effacement George sings with in these songs because the amount of confidence and sex he exudes can be overwhelming (and not always in an attractive way). I can sympathize with the characters in his songs...and wowza, confess, indeed!

Here you have a tasty slice of tortured love. The keyboard touches are what make this song.

12. "Make it Easy on Yourself" by Burt Bacharach from Make It Easy On Yourself

*Nothing like Burt Bacharach singing his own songs!*

As a band geek 4-ever, I can really visualize the recording space-- and I think it's the dynamics of the song, going from loud to quiet to mid, etc.-- the instrumentalists performed this song in. "Make it Easy on Yourself" is a masterful piece of group work; each instrument has its part to play, some very brief (F Horn! Cello!), and comes in to color just the right shade at the right moment. You can tell that Burt's a master songwriter who enjoys playing with the band when you listen to recordings like this.

Also, Ryan and I listened to a Burt Bacharach cd on our way to Portland last Spring and didn't realize the disc was skipping til we looked at the dash clock and noticed twenty minutes had passed and the same chorus + bridge buildup was still on! You're devilish, Burt! Devilish!

13. "After the Gold Rush" by Patti Smith from Banga

*Best Cover Song*

The perfect closer. Not many people can get away with covering a song as famous and dearly loved as this one, much alter lyrics!

Patti's cover retains the delicate sweetness of the original, and *spoiler* that chorus of kids at the end, dear reader, really brings it home for this teacher.

PS: Patti Smith has sung about aliens in other contexts (see "Birdland"), so I think that makes Patti an even more righteous cover artist.

"Speak of the Devil" Part Two

A Mix by Colleen

9. "In Limbo" - Radiohead

The Devil find himself in the literary device known as limbo. Mise-en-scène: The devil falls through the sky, the purples, oranges, and navy blues of twilight are endless. His arms windmill frantically until he accepts that this is a one way journey, and gravity is in control.



 10. "Sleep Alone" 909s in DarkTimes Mix - Bat for Lashes

 A suitably dark remix of the Bat for Lashes song finds Mr. Devil in a low-lit room, supine on a cheap spring mattress of a rat-infested motel whose neon "vacancy" sign zaps on and off like a camp-light being assaulted by mosquitoes. He's smoking, flicking brimstone ashes onto the bed covers .

Last night's parties and last night's heart has shown
Smiling and welling and kissing all I know
Give my soul, give my soul, sing it free across the sea
Lonely spell to conjure you, but conjure hell is all I do

11. "Way Down" - Tori Amos

That night, his dreams are fevered.

Don't you hear the laughter on the way... down.

12. "The Devil" - PJ Harvey

But in the morning the slippery Devil begins to sense that there are places for him to exact revenge on humanity for his own crimes, insinuating himself into the lives of people weakened by the difficulties and confusions of mortality.



 13. "Look Back in Anger" - David Bowie

And why not punish humanity? This life could be crafted into a hell! 



14. "Do You Feel Loved" - U2

A song about a drug-induced euphoria (one of the sonically dirtiest songs I know) brings us to the point in our story where the Devil feels really pleased with himself, seeing all the destruction-by-illusion he's accomplishing in the world.

...My tongue to tell you the sweetest lies

 ...Do you feel loved?

 

 15. "The Devil" - Anna Calvi

The Devil makes this promise, "Wait for God/ Fall for me." He wants us to believe that the physical world is all we have, and the Devil will deliver. He's pleased to continue to deal with us, and hey, "The Devil will come" when called. It's his best line, his biggest trick, and it works far too well. Though, in the end, the Devil's over-confidence will accomplish about as much for the Devil as Frank Costello's (Jack Nicholson's character in The Departed) did for him. His time will come to a close, but he can't see it yet.

The second half of my booklet.

"Speak of the Devil" Part One

A Mix

Ryan's coworkers have started a group dedicated to making and sharing mix cds called, "The Order of the Mixtape." A few months back, the Order decided that we would all contribute a phrase that would be randomly assigned to another group member to create a mix for the month. I was thrilled when I got "Speak of the Devil" from Katie, and became consumed with the task of creating the perfect mix: I spent much of my free time incubating the mix and went so far as developing a storyline for the songs. Today's post will cover the Devil's time prior to being cast out of heaven, while part two's installment (out soon!) will begin with the Devil in limbo and bring things to the current state of affairs.

Before I get started on relating the storyline, it's important to note that the English Major nerd in me was a big reason I got so enthused about this project. In college I read Milton's Paradise Lost and frequently found myself saying, "You know, the Devil really has a good point here when....WHA! I'm agreeing with THE DEVIL?!" Now, Mr. Milton really knew what he was doing in inking a devil that seems so RIGHT in his thinking at times: Milton is making a statement about the spiritual condition of humanity that we would find the Devil's arguments so seductive and agreeable (side note: Hitler was good at this too). And why not? Don't we all have a lot in common with the Devil? Isn't his story a pretty human story?

1. "I Wanna Be Adored" - The Stone Roses

Our tale opens with a scene of Satan, the most beautiful of creations, feeling really great about himself, enjoying the attention he knows he so rightly deserves. Already he's pride is his strongest trait and, according to many Christian theologists, the original sin is the sin of pride. Satan's aspiration for adoration is the beginning of his fall from heaven because it eclipses his adoration for his creator as well as the tasks he was created to fulfill.



Admittedly, for this mix, I enjoy the song's oblique reference to Satan, "I don't have to sell my soul/ he's already in me." I was so proud of myself when I figured it out.

2. "Closest Thing to Heaven" - Tears for Fears

Satan is still enjoying the fruits of being "the closest thing to heaven," but he's starting to shirk his duties at the expense of others. He even ignores his reminders: "Throw your arms round the world /Make love your destination."



3. "Be Kind to My Mistakes" - Kate Bush

The Devil has the gall to think he can persuade God into letting the Devil's self-obsession off this time. I imagine many lovers have tried this line of argument.

"I don't know what you are looking for in me.
 I don't know what I want, but my heart is needing.
Am I yours? Are you mine?"

"Please... Please... Please... Please be kind,
Be kind to my mistakes.
Be kind, Be kind To me."



4. "It's Personal" - The Radio Dept.

The Devil plots and schemes and-- with no intention of changing his behavior-- hopes God will continue to allow him a place of power and honor. (The Devil wants to be adored!) The Devil feels personally attacked when it becomes clear that things won't work out the way he wants them to.



5. "Into the Light" - Siouxsie & the Banshees

The Devil's iniquities are exposed: don't fear, he has his excuses.

"Standing in the light/ I never wanted to be right/ Now I'm attracted by the light/ And blinded by the sight."

It's not HIS fault. He was just doing what came naturally.



6. "Ocean of Noise" - Arcade Fire

In fact, it's clearly God's plan that the Devil act so out of tune with what was expected of him in heaven. Perversely, the Devil still thinks these problems can be worked out, that the lies he's beginning to tell might buy him the time he needs to keep a hold on his place in glory. "Now who here among us/ Still believes in choice?/ Not I/ ... You've got your reasons/ And me, I've got mine/ But all the reasons I gave/ Were just lies/ To buy myself some time/ And can we work it out?"



The stormy sounds of the beginning of this song seem in-keeping with the  trouble that's brewing for the Devil: he's gonna get his butt kicked out of heaven.

7. "Judas" - Depeche Mode

The Devil goes so far as to accuse God of betraying him by creating him to be the wrong-doing creature he is. The Devil taunts God in his anger, knowing that he's on his way out. Listen to that snide tone: "Is simplicity best/ Or simply the easiest/ The narrowest path/ Is always the holiest/ So walk on barefoot for me/ Suffer some misery/ If you want my love." The Devil just doesn't think God'll do it.



8. "Someone's Got it in for Me" - James

Obviously, the powers that be have it in for the Devil. Part of him wishes he could have a do-over, but he was given his chances and must now accept the consequences: "Someone's got it in for me/ I don't want your sympathy/ Life just never turned out how I wanted it to/ Should have been a shooting star/ ... / Fall, let it fall away these lies/  To be born again"





Notice how much time the Devil spends making excuses? Sounds familiar to my inner-monologue-listenin'-ear. Join us next time as we find the Devil IN LIMBO.

I had crazy big plans for epic illustrations but ran out of time. Above is the first half of the booklet that I made to go with the CD.

Year in Music - 2011

For the last five or six years I've documented the prior year of music listening on a mix CD. The rules I impose on myself:

-One song max. from each album, and one song max. from each artist.
-Has to fit on one CD. 
-Must mix well. I often end up with less than a CD's worth of material because of this rule.

There's no limitation on the year it was created; the song does not have to be from 2011.

Peculiar challenges this year:
-too many slow songs on my list of things to cram onto the CD! Usually I have the opposite problem.
-in my haste I left off an OMD song. See note on track 8.

The complete playlist is embedded at the end of this post.

1. "The Time it is Today" by The Association from Birthday

As a kid, I used to grab The Association's greatest hits LP from my parents collection and play it on my orange and tan Fischer Price record player. It's part of family legend how my dad used to play "Cherish" and pine away over his high school crush, and "Never My Love" is a classic. This year it is the pop/psychedelic track "The Time it is Today" that caught my attention. Some lines are uttered in irony, but there's not mistaking the defiance in this stanza:

They're lying, killing, they're pushing their rules
They tell you the prophets all are just fools
But I know different and I won't be used
It's they that are lost, it's they are confused 

All that feeling, and beautiful harmonies too!


2. "The Glorious Land" by PJ Harvey from Let England Shake

I simply cannot say enough good things about this album (follow the link above to see my review of Let England Shake). Here is a masterwork equivalent to any feat of rock 'n' roll storytelling brilliance. Harvey is always great, but her lyric work on this album, her vision and dedication to her theme make this album a classic.

3. "Love Etc." by The Pet Shop Boys from Yes

I refuse to feel guilty about my appreciation for PSB, and this song shows why. I find the video very enjoyable, as well!

4. "Are You Experienced" by Patti Smith from  Twelve

Living in Eugene has caused me to rebellious in some of the only ways I know how: I don't own Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Willie Nelson, or Pink Floyd albums. I only have burned copies of Bob Marley, and I refuse to attend the Oregon Country Fair. Yes, in Eugene, this is like being a turncoat. I do own Bob Dylan records though, so I think I'm allowed to stay.


Basically, the first time I ever appreciated a number of songs from the 70s (like "Are You Experienced") is when I heard them on Patti's album Twelve. Patti is a great cover artist because she really understands what the music is about, and gets inside it. (Her cover of U2's "Until the End of the World" is stellar.)


5. "Out to Get You" by James from Laid

I went through a James obsession in the early '00s. About the middle of last school year I got discouraged and downtrodden due to the ever increasing craziness of what it means to be an educator in today's culture (less money, less personnel, more expectations, larger class sizes, etc.). I returned to the warm nesting place that is this album; it was like a vitamin B shot to get me to a positive place for the students.

Insecure, what you gonna do?

Feel so small, they could step on you.

6. "Scarecrow" by Siouxsie and the Banshees from Peepshow

The Banshees were often inspired by film in their songwriting and "Scarecrow" sounds cinematic. The keyboard sounds are fantastic (I'm feeling a little programmable-analog-keyboard research coming on!), the bass line vaguely sinister, the guitar part compelling. Hearing the many colors of Siouxsie's voice in this song is like looking over a painter's shoulder to see their color palette, whispers, growls, and high"ohs" mixed across it. This is an irresistible song, and I'm dancing in my chair as I type these words.



7. "Mercy Street" by Peter Gabriel from  So

There is a palpable sense of unrest and longing in "Mercy Street," with harmonies on the choruses that feel like mercy made audible. Pondering the oblique lyrics, it was neat to learn that this gentle, compassionate song is about the poet Anne Sexton, a woman whose poetry I admire, and who had difficulty with her mental health.

8. "Oh Berlin" by U2 from Achtung, Baby Sessions Bonus Tracks

or

"The Misunderstanding" by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark from Organisation

My personal mix contains the song "Oh Berlin" by U2. I was bummed to discover that I couldn't find it online, so I figured the playlist of Year in Music- 2011 would just have to make the hop over it from "Mercy Street" to "The Upstairs Room." When I realized I'd forgotten OMD though-- !! -- well, it gave me the chance to make it right and include one of their numbers.

I've been listening to OMD a lot this winter, starting with the meager prior knowledge of just knowing "If You Leave," from Pretty in Pink. It's a good song, but I've been pleasantly surprised from the darker, less poppy edge of their work. It's a bit like art history, finding out who they were influenced by, what keyboards they started with, how they helped influence the sounds of other bands, and their connection to some of my Mancunian favorites (can I include Peter Saville in that?). I managed to listen to the first three records in 2011, and of them, Organisation is my favorite.

"The Misunderstanding" has some great sampled sounds, live drums alongside the keyboards, and my personal favorite...overwrought vocals! See lines like the following:

For as we get older we've become less aware
Security lies at the heart of our lives
Attaching ourselves to ourselves
We're extinguished but we're still alive

9. "The Upstairs Room" by the Cure from Japanese Whispers

Dance-y rock that gets my feet moving! "The Upstairs Room" features one of those guitar lines that I can't help but sing along with as well as a fantastic, vivid lyric.

Oh, the kiss!
So alcoholic and slow

10. "Too Late" by M83 from Saturdays = Youth

M83 is my Pandora find of the year. Of course I'm a bit behind as they've a whole new album out now, but this album is just SO good. Usually ballads aren't my territory, but this one takes my breath away, the woodblock at the beginning and the keyboards building into the chorus tickle my ears pink.

11. "Blink and You'll Miss a Revolution" by Cut Copy from  Zonoscope

Feel good, sound good, musical revolution! My only complaint is that the video does not feature more of Dan Whitford. Just sayin.

If you are a keyboardist and lead in a band, go see Cut Copy live and take notes on Dan's moves. I have never seen a better lead singer for getting a crowd involved...and the man knows how to telegraph hand clapping and jumping to the crowd...all from behind a keyboard!!

12. "Suzanne and I" by Anna Calvi from Anna Calvi

It is fitting that Calvi's visual persona is that of a (male) flamenco dancer. Her music is dark, precise, and moody, filled with quietness and roaring passion. You can hear Jeff Buckley and Edith Piaf playing heavenly backup as her inspiration.

13. "Cuddle Up" by the Beach Boys from Carl & the Passions

Dennis Wilson...wow. When you think of folks writing heart-melting love songs, you don't think of drummers. This song was on my iPod when I went to England, and listening to it made me think of my boy. It's a warm note to go out on, 2011. You were a good year.



Below, for those of you who might prefer to listen to the mix as intended-- one song after another!-- a youtube playlist is embedded. The notable exception is track 8 ("Oh Berlin" from the Achtung, Baby Sessions); it has been replaced with OMD's "The Misunderstanding."

Ryan's 30th Mixtape

My bedroom at 20.

This whole decade thing is weirding me out. Tomorrow I will be one day older than I am today, but for matters of categorization I pass out of the turbulent twenties into a whole new bracket. (People who walk into my classroom assuming I am a teacher's assistant or high school student will be even more embarrassed!) Admittedly, any discomfort with the number 30 is due to endless harassment of older friends (and "Old Man Boyd" as I like to call Ryan) on my part.

I'm fond of my twenties. This is my decade of learning how to teach, how to be a good spouse, how to retain my idealism while dealing in the real, my decade of learning what I really believe in every centimeter of my heart, my years of finally getting so see some of the world, my years of taking the lead, the leap, the unsure steps into knowing it's okay not to know.

There were years there in my twenties where I was just living for the end of the day and the weekends, but I've learned to make a point of enjoying my day-- each part-- because I am not living for the day I retire, I'm living right now. I'm working in the only (albeit more difficult each year) job I can imagine investing myself in. My Horn is in the shop fixed and ready to be picked up, my bass amp is plugged in, and I am still reading and writing.

In much appreciation of my twenties (and the determined teenage me), I am excited to start a new measurable chunk of living. It'll be nice to be able to look back when I hit 40 and see the growth I've made in this next decade. In the meantime, I'm gonna comfort myself through the end of 29 with this mix I made Ryan for his 30th birthday.

***I originally included "Grew Up Fast" by Tom Petty as track four, but couldn't find it on Youtube.

1972 (Anniversary Mix)

Who knew that 1972 was filled with such positive, poptastic energy? This mix is sending golden summer goodness through my veins like a tasty hefeweizen, causing me to throw on lps I haven't given a proper listen to since I first got my fingers grimy with record bin dust.

My parents got married in '72-- my mom's color choices were yellow, green, and orange-- and my fair-haired father donned a white tux (detailed in black) with a pink cummerbund. My mom's three brothers took my dad camping the night before...and he awoke to find himself very near the edge of a cliff. Those sneaky brother-in-laws. I hope my parents were filled with optimism as they took "the plunge" into commitment; it's wonderful to see that they still love each other after 39 years!

In putting together this mix for their anniversary, I could feel the love and hopefulness radiating from the artists. Many of these people faced life-diminishing challenges and yet chose to channel a generous energy into their fellow humans. It's hard to imagine a time when trying to love the world wasn't viewed as cheesy, naive, or far-fetched. Today's pop radio, with it's distinct lack of abstract thinking, stands in stark contrast.

I've decided to hop in my time machine (it looks like a phonograph and time travel is achieved in the same manner as Superman's in Superman I) and spend some time experiencing the pop music of the 1970s. Please consider tagging along! I've got an extra suitcase.

Mike & Sue 1972

1. "Let's Stay Together" - Al Green

2. "I Saw the Light" - Todd Rundgren

3. "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond

4. "All This is That" - The Beach Boys

5. "Got to Be There" - The Jackson 5

6. "Crocodile Rock" - Elton John

7. "Top of the World" - The Carpenters

8. "Garden Party" - Ricky Nelson

9. "Mary Had a Little Lamb" - Wings

10. "I Believe (When I Fall in Love it Will Be Forever)" - Stevie Wonder

11. "Happy Xmas (War is Over)" - John Lennon & Yoko Ono

I Can't Wait

I Can't Wait for Summer, I Can't Wait for June

I've been hankering for summer, a distinct body ache for sunshine gnawing at me on cloudy days. This is a mix to get me through to summertime, to aid school year recovery and spark my dreams for next year. It's a mix with a lot riding it, and oh,

I cannot wait for summer,

I cannot wait for June,

When all the ghosts are quiet,

and everything is new. 

To be refreshed, to shake off sorrows, to turn my face to the sun.

Embedded below is a playlist of "I Can't Wait for Summer" for your listening enjoyment.
Brief commentary follows.

1. "I Can't Wait" by Twin Shadow

The song that inspired the mix! I think the first stanza is an incredible description of what I feel at the end of every school year. 

2. "Cemetry Gates" by The Smiths

"A dreaded sunny day" ;) Catchy, up-tempo, great lyrical fun.

3. "Shed Your Love" by The Helio Sequence

This song is warm like a summer night, atmospheric and tender.

4. "1979" by The Smashing Pumpkins

O Nostalgia!- coming of age: the guilt of our parents, the ground we walk on, the freedom we hope to achieve.

We don't even care as restless as we are
We feel the pull in the land of a thousand guilts
And poured cement, lamented and assured
To the lights and towns below
Faster than the speed of sound
Faster than we thought we'd go
Beneath the sound of hope

5. "Where I'm Going" by Cut Copy

This Beach Boy's song descendent has an exuberance that get's me shouting with the "Yeah!"s and the "Woo!"s every time. Undeniable. 

6. "Love is Stranger" by Eurythmics

Sweet Dreams is one of the first cds I bought as a teen. Annie Lennox; she gives the icy stare then lets that amazing voice of hers drag ya in.

7. "Lost in the Supermarket" by The Clash

One of my favorite Clash songs, vocal by Mick Jones. Most danceable critique of the isolated lives modern culture creates? Oddly jubilant considering the lyrical content. 

I wasn't born so much as I fell out
Nobody seemed to notice me

This is the story of a lot of kids lives. This song may be the topic of conversation on TSMM on another occasion.

8. "Please Let Me Wonder" by The Beach Boys

Vocal by Carl Wilson, one of the sweetest voices to grace pop music.

9. "Will You Be There" by Michael Jackson

I won't lie, the first time I heard this song was when it was attached to the movie Free Willy. The vulnerability and love emanating from this song can make me cry every time I listen to it if I let myself. I love MJ's vocal on this track- he starts in an open mezzo-piano and by the end of this song has pushed his voice to the other end of the spectrum. The pop-song choir can't be employed better than here!

10. "Strawberry Swing" by Coldplay

This song sounds like summer. There's a haze to the edges of it that warmth, sunshine, and being with someone special create.

Now the sky could be blue

I don't mind

Without you 

It's a waste of time

11. "Roll With It" by Oasis

Liam swagger, rock 'n' roll delicious.

12. "Say Something" by James

The desire for connection is an oft visited theme for James, a band that produces cool lyrics by the dozen. You can read 'em here.

13. "Empty Room" by Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire turns it up to 11! Loneliness is part of summer, too.

14. "We Walk" by R.E.M.

This song, while seemingly about nothing (I did Google Marat bathing, though), is contagiously happy.

15. "Your Cloud" by Tori Amos

The Western concept of "separate" is not shared by all cultures.

If the rain
Has
to separate from
Itself
does it say
"pick out your
cloud?"

If there is a Horizontal Line
that runs from the MAP
off your body straight through
the Land shooting up
right through my heart
Will this Horizontal Line
when asked, know how to find
Where you end
where I begin
"pick out your
cloud"

16. "These Are the Days" by Paul Westerberg

Days can run into one another when the sun is shining...

17. "Fireworks" by Siouxsie & the Banshees

This song was released as a single only. Banshees' brand fusion of strings and rock, John McGeoch guitar. Sonic fireworks!

We are fireworks – slowly, glowing
bold and bright
We are fireworks – burning shapes
into the night

18. "Miami" by U2

The hot stickiness of this song is very Miami...the keyboard floating menacingly above the song is a bright, hot sun hanging on the edges of a polluted sky.

19. "Never My Love" by the Association

Classic, yearning love song that resonates with as much power today as it did yesterday.

 

Music Time Machine: Night Music

I have a journal dedicated to mixes I make...it gets misplaced periodically then pops up again somewhere like a lost sock. I am rededicating myself to efforts to keep its location consistent by posting a mix from 3/21/02 entitled "Night Music"

While I fail miserably at keeping a journal with any regularity, I have done a good job of keeping my mixes. Music lovers know what this means; hit the play button on a mix and emotions, places, people, and events come rushing.


I'm gonna try something new (for me) and embed a playlist of these songs below. You can play it in the background of your activities if you feel so inclined. Brief descriptions/song details included further down the page. Some of these songs are ubiquitous to the music community, but some deserve special attention.





1. "Mojo Pin" from Grace, by Jeff Buckley. This is one of my "big four" albums. I wrote about it here.


2. "Time After Time (Annelise)" from Reckoning, by R.E.M.
     This jangly number reminds me of songs from the 60s...maybe it's the bongos.


3. "Damage" from I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One, by Yo La Tengo.
     As simple bass lines go, there are not many as bewitching as this one. 


4. "30" from the single Good Fortune, by PJ Harvey.
     PJ has some of the best b-sides ever...a mysterious song full of hazard. Her guitar playing bespeaks her blues background.


5. "Blue Dress" from Violator, by Depeche Mode.
     I think DM is probably one of the few testosterone-filled, male-gaze oriented bands I passionately love. Nice Martin Gore vocal. Sense of ownership over woman...weird.


6. "Ava Adore" from Adore, by The Smashing Pumpkins.
     Me encanta la canción y es un video fabuloso.


7. "Sometimes" from Loveless, by My Bloody Valentine.
     This is the album I listened to after my childhood dog passed away, and I found it very comforting. I'm a lyric fan from the word go, but I almost don't care what the lyrics are to MBV songs because the music is SO GREAT! Cool line from "Sometimes" that sort of sums up this album for me:

Turn my head
Into sound

Thanks, Kevin and MBV. It totally worked.


8. "Exit Music" from OK Computer, by Radiohead.
     Another well known gem...I remember seeing grinning-Radiohead-bear patches on people's backpacks in high school and wondering who they were. Is it good or bad that I found out about them during Kid A? I think loving Kid A has prepared me well for King of Limbs. More about that later?
    PS Enjoy the crescendo...I know I do.


9. "Mysterons" from Dummy, by Portishead.
     I am shocked to realize that this album came out in 1994...


10. "It's Not Up to You" from Vespertine, by Bjork.
     A song about being in love...a song about living in the present moment with joy:

I can decide
What I give
But it's not up to me
What I get given
Unthinkable surprises
About to happen
But what they are

It's not up to you

Well it never really was

11. "Bethlehem Steel" from Copperopolis, by Grant Lee Buffalo.
    Imagine the drum/bass of this song as the rhythm of a steel factory. This is American history mingled with the religion of industrial revolution...the lyrics are heady stuff. LYRICS


12. "Grateful" from Gung Ho, by Patti Smith.
     A gentle song about death from a wise woman who's experienced the deaths of many loved ones. This is a song that cuts through pretense and straight to the heart; a close listening often results in heartache, tears, and joy: 

Die little sparrow
And awake 

Singing

13. "Beside You" from Astral Weeks, by Van Morrison
     Enthralling.


14. "We Never Change" from Parachutes, by Coldplay
     One of the sweetest albums around. Gimme heart over facade-of-cool any day.

I wanna live life and never be cruel.
I wanna live life and be good to you.

15. "Keep Your Dreams" from XTRMNTR, by Primal Scream
     This song helped me move past some bad relationships:

I believe in forgiveness
Hate will eat you whole
Bad blood, a lifelong curse,
You've got to let it go

It kept me going towards the end of college...and helped me develop some soul-attitude.

Keep your dreams, don't sell your soul
Be careful 

And still, nothing is gonna stop me from having heart, cause

I'm going down to the underground
As deep as I can go

16. "Here Comes a Regular" from Tim, by The Replacments
      Oh man, that piano...this song's a killer from the start to finish...a classic.The vocal is an everyman's, raw, on the verge.

These lines are a bumper sticker I'd like to own (they might be two different stickers):

All I know is I'm sick of everything that my money can buy
The fool who wastes his life, God rest his guts

Backsides Only

My jaw is hanging open right now....this is Webster's definition of a B-side:

B-side
noun
the less important side of a pop single record.

Uh, to quote Depeche Mode, WRONG ! Every single lovin' kid since Elvis' cover of "Hound Dog" knows that the "b" stands for buried treasure!

I've got two fistfuls of b-sides here for your listening enjoyment.

These are songs I've listened to obsessively because they are every bit as good as an A-side. ¡No te preocupes! I've limited myself to one per artist, so this isn't just a page full of PJ Harvey, Tori Amos, and Smiths b-sides, although it rightfully could be. In no particular order...

"Orpheus," Grant Lee Buffalo single Mockingbirds, from the album Mighty Joe Moon

This is an incredible song, musically and lyrically. There's a melancholy and menace here that has something to do with starlight and the American plains...this is an American band...more so than any other I've heard.

"Carry Us All," the Oasis single Sunday Morning Call, from the album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants

One of the wonderful things about being a Yankee that loves British music (should I say EngRock?) is that I don't have to take sides in the Blur/Oasis love match (to the death!). I can quite jump in on the intense Noel worshiping. And though Liam is hilarious, and a great stand-up comic who plays a mean dumb-arse, Noel is ultimately the better, more heartfelt singer. I also relate to Noel's working-class idealism, and find his faith in humanity touching.

Be forewarned, there are more pictures of Noel in this video than you ever wanted to see.

"Take to the Sky," Tori Amos single Winter, from the album Little Earthquakes 

This song was really good to me and became one of my anthems when I was first realizing the position the world puts women in. If life was a musical, I'd hope for a rousing, pint-raising, stool-spinning rendition of this song in the local pub. This song is simply meant to be sung along to.

"Love in a Void," Siouxsie and the Banshees single Mittageisen.

One of Sioux's earliest lyrics. I find this absolutely irresistible. I love Siouxsie's voice, every growl, rumble, and shriek. She's a great and underrated singer.  The version below is a Peel session recording from 11/29/77.

"Sands of Time," the Cut Copy single Far Away, from the album In Ghost Colours

This is the only new track released as a b-side from this album; the rest of the b-sides are remixes.

One of the great things about this album are the lows that provide the foundation for the dance-tastic-ness that ensues. Give this song a minute to get your feet moving.

Also, the sand/art process here is pretty interesting.

"Piss Factory," Patti Smith's single, Hey Joe 

You want punk? Patti DIY'd this in 1974. It doesn't get more punk than this.

Warning: explicit content...not for the faint of heart, or the sensitive of ear.

"Pencils in the Wind," Flight of the Conchords. Another Record Store Day vinyl-only release of AWESOME!

I love that amidst their silliness, FOTC really are aficionados of music, and do the soul style with zeal and skill. Also, teachers, this is a great way to teach similes and metaphors!

"Memphis," PJ Harvey's single Good Fortune, from the album Stories From the City, Stories from the Sea.

You may have already read my entry about Jeff Buckley and his album, Grace...this song is about him.

All of PJ's singles are great (and the gal's got a lot of them), but this one hits me like a knockout punch when I hear it. I know I use religious terms to describe my most intense musical liaisons, and this one's right in the mix. When I hear this song, I feel the spirit and hear the voice of Jeff Buckley in there. He is palpably present. Exquisite.

"Luminous Times (Hold on to Love)," from U2's single With or Without, from the album The Joshua Tree

Bono does a great job of landing on lyrics by just singing along to a melody. Hear here an unfinished song from the studio. Brian Eno, shame on you for not finding time to finish this gem!

"Hold on to love
Hold on to love
Love won't let you go
Hold on to love
Hold on to love
She the sunlight in her song
See the sunlight in her soul"

"Wonderful Woman," The Smiths' single This Charming Man, from the album Hatful of Hollow (and later the American release of the debut album)

There's not much to say (about this song) that hasn't already been said...so I'll say nothing at all...

It's almost enough to convert the hardest of hearts.

Year in Music - 2010

For the last four or five years I've documented the prior year of music listening on a mix CD, created every January. The rules I impose on myself:

-One song max. from each album, and one song max. from each artist. If I didn't follow the second part of that rule I would have an album full of New Order this year!
-Has to fit on one CD.
-Must mix well. I often end up with less than a CD's worth of material because of this rule.

There's no limitation on the year it was created; the song does not have to be from 2010.


2010 Brought the Goods! 15 Tracks o' Awesome

1. Converter- Helio Sequence B-side
This is a fantastic song. Thank you Record Store day 2010! It's a shame the world doesn't know more about Converter; this song motivates me to keep trying to make a difference. Take a listen.





2. With a Shout- U2 October
When I was gone for a month with YCEW high schoolers in Aguascalientes, Mexico, all I had was my 2GB iPod shuffle. It was filled with early U2 songs. Angela E. I get why October was (is?) your favorite U2 album. Took me a while, eh? :)





3. Stretch Out and Wait- The Smiths from The World Won't Listen

I've liked this song since I first attained Louder Than Bombs in high school. This is the version that has lyrics that start with

"All the lies that you make up/
What's at the back of your mind?/
Oh, your face I can see and it's desperately kind/
What's at the back of your mind ?"

Who can't relate to this song? And isn't Morrissey adorable in the picture below?

4. Suffer the Children- Tears for Fears, The Hurting
I know that everyone on the planet knows who this group is, but mostly for a couple of songs...and Tears for Fears deserve to be held up with all the best groups of the 80s. Also, as Ana Boyd can attest, they still got it! ;)

If you know/like them, listen to "Suffer the Children" again. Love the chorus of kids!





5. Kingdom- Working for a Nuclear Free City, Business Men & Ghosts
I found out about this Mancunian band listening to Pandora. Some great stuff on this two-disc collection. This was a song I found particularly appealing.





6. Many Moons- Janelle Monáe, Metropolis
A five foot, bundle of music GODDESS! Watch her live, that's all I've got to say. 





7. Appalachian Memories- Dolly Parton, Burlap and Satin
I have always liked Dolly, but 2010 marked the year of making a point to start buying her early music. Anything before 1977 is consistently great. Sadly, a lot of the songs she performed from then on were not so good...to put it mildly. Go listen to "Potential New Boyfriend" if you don't believe me. What I can deduce is that the songs others wrote for her were dreck, while her own songs (like this one and "A Gamble Either Way" from Burlap and Satin) were gems in the commercial garbage her music drowned in during the 80s.





8. Seal it With a Kiss (demo)- Grant Lee Phillips, Little Mono
Little Mono is a collection of demos for the album Little Moon. Only Grant would sing a line like "Now you know my loving is/ deadly serious." If you ever get the chance to see him live, you should. He's a great live performer with funny and endearing dialogue between songs. (Oh, and I SHOOK HIS HAND ONCE!)





9. Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)- Shakira, 2010 FIFA World Cup Theme
I sang this song in Mexico with wonderful Esther...I didn't know the Spanish version, she didn't know the English version, but BOY you should have heard us on the chorus!

10. 10 Mile Stereo- Beach House, Teen Dream
I really enjoyed this album, and it was hard to narrow it down to one song to include in my mix. A warm album with catchy melodies and a great singer. The Beach Boys have grand children, folks! (yeah!)





11. Take Me Over- Cut Copy first song released from Zonoscope
I pretty much live for Cut Copy. I'll be writing a whole entry about In Ghost Colours one of these days, and I'm loving Zonoscope. These guys have such charisma, love, and joie de vivre (French! Watch out multilinguists- what now!?)...and it's catching. Hands down, Cut Copy are the best live show I've ever seen...and that's saying a lot.  This song doesn't disappoint, it's just as catchy and warm and full of heart as any of their songs.

"Do you hear the voice inside your head/

Whispering to live your dreams instead?/

Some people cling to what they know/

But I woke up and now it's time to go"

PS I love Dan Whitford. Ryan knows and accepts this. :) 

PSPS Cut Copy are more grandchildren of the Beach Boys...but not related to Mike Love, thank you very much.

12. Tyrant Destroyed- Twin Shadow, Forget
Now here's an incredible find (thanks to Tutt and Ian for spreading the love to Ryan, and therefore me)! George Lewis, Jr. played every instrument on this album when he recorded it...the guy is amazing, especially considering that there's a lot going on in the songs, much of it pretty subtle. The whole album is great. The songs are catchy, moving, warm. Very 80s inspired, very now. HIGHLY recommended- the best album of 2010!





13. Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)- Arcade Fire, The Suburbs
I'm turning 30 this year. I'm at an age where I've seen a lot of people give up their dreams and ideals, give up on themselves. It's important to acknowledge the places we're not listening to ourselves, to nurture ourselves and stop listening to the people who tell us it's all over. Go you!

"They heard me singing and they told me to stop/

Quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock/

These days my life, I feel it has no purpose/

But late at night the feelings swim to the surface."

14. Heaven is 10 Zillion Light Years Away- Stevie Wonder, Fulfillingness' First Finale 
When I was making a mix for Ryan's birthday, I knew I had to add some Stevie Wonder. As I was listening to this album, "Heaven..." especially struck me. A beautiful song full of yearning and faith.

"Tell me people
Why can't they say that hate is 10 zillion light years away
Why can't the light of good shine God's love in every soul
Why must my color black make me a lesser man
I thought this world was made for every man
He loves us all, that's what my God tells me
And I say it's taken Him so long
'Cause we've got so far to come..."

And we are still traveling to that destination...





15. Face Up- New Order, Low-Life
Last year was the year of New Order re-issue listening. Low-Life might be my favorite...but I would hate to be forced into a decision. New Order is a band that can explore all shades, from dark to light, and sometimes the darkest and lightest at the same time. Need I mention "Ceremony"? How can that song make me feel so good when the lyrics are so horribly depressing? Also, Hooky is one of my favorite bassists of all time...nobody plays bass like he does. Melody bass, I tell you! Fantastic!

Face Up appeals to me because it makes me dance, it makes me happy, and it tells the world off with a swagger despite some prior, nebulous hurt or loss. This is perfect for where I work. Nothing is going to get me down!