8.28.2008
it coulda killed me.
7.22.2008
all my relationships i fucked up in all the right ways
Last night while he was sleeping, I finished his first mix. I'll let you figure out the rest:
1. Fuckup - Rock Plaza Central
2. 5 Years Time - Noah and the Whale
3. Jackeyed - Micah P. Hinson
4. Red and Purple - The Dodos
5. Fools Rush In - Etta James
6. Baby - Os Mutantes
7. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight - Bob Dylan
8. Please Don't Be Gentle With Me - The Minutemen
9. Give You My Lovin' - Mazzy Star
10. In My Lady's House - Iron and Wine
11. When I Hold You In My Arms - Neil Young
12. Welfare Bread - King Khan & His Shrines
13. July, July! - The Decemberists
14. White Water Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
15. Tume To Go - Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs
16. Paper Tiger - Spoon
17. Glad Tidings - Sound Team
18. Be Still My Heart - The Postal Service
19. Way Too Good - Figurine
20. Sweepstakes Prize - Mirah
21. My Slumbering Heart - Rilo Kiley
22. While You Were Sleeping - Elvis Perkins
23. Thirteen - Elliott Smith
1. Fuckup - Rock Plaza Central
2. 5 Years Time - Noah and the Whale
3. Jackeyed - Micah P. Hinson
4. Red and Purple - The Dodos
5. Fools Rush In - Etta James
6. Baby - Os Mutantes
7. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight - Bob Dylan
8. Please Don't Be Gentle With Me - The Minutemen
9. Give You My Lovin' - Mazzy Star
10. In My Lady's House - Iron and Wine
11. When I Hold You In My Arms - Neil Young
12. Welfare Bread - King Khan & His Shrines
13. July, July! - The Decemberists
14. White Water Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
15. Tume To Go - Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs
16. Paper Tiger - Spoon
17. Glad Tidings - Sound Team
18. Be Still My Heart - The Postal Service
19. Way Too Good - Figurine
20. Sweepstakes Prize - Mirah
21. My Slumbering Heart - Rilo Kiley
22. While You Were Sleeping - Elvis Perkins
23. Thirteen - Elliott Smith
Labels: lovedones, mixtapes, music
6.18.2008
Miniature Soundtracks : Episode Six
Miniature Soundtracks is my small experiment in mp3 blogging. I'll be using a beloved image from my flickr photostream or favorites, reflect on it for a few sentences, and then give you a song that evokes the same feelings. If your photo or song is featured and you'd rather it not be, let me know and I'll take it down immediately.
When people leave, it's kind of exciting at first. It's like a wedding: you get the chance to express all of your emotions and be as cheesy as you want without being seen as a sap fest or corny or uncool. Leaving mix CDs are the best ones I've ever made. There's a tertiary goal of most mixes where, in addition to just sharing music or making someone happy or expressing some feelings, you're also trying to create a tie between you and something beautiful in the person's mind. It's a wonder to think that every time Freeman hears New Slang he thinks of me, and I'd like to think it's because I'm that beautiful, but really it's probably because I put it on the first mix tape I ever made for him, four years ago. When someone leaves, it's even better, because they are missing home and everything in it, hopefully yourself included, and the songs you hang them before they go are the closest thing they've got. You can make your own ghost self as beautiful as you want. When Rissa left the first time, I made her a CD that brought the waterworks on the greyhound. I think it's a good half of the reason why we're as close as we are now. The thing is, after the fun of getting to say "I love you" and hugging and mix CD giving and send offs and back pats wears off, someone is gone. And when they are the one person you want to see, you can't. Maybe they're coming back after awhile, and maybe it will be good for them, and maybe it will even be good for you. But they're gone -- gone! and all the songs in the world won't help much when you really want their face. Prepare yourself.
Unravel : Okkervil River [Bjork cover] from 'Sham Wedding / Hoax Funeral.
When people leave, it's kind of exciting at first. It's like a wedding: you get the chance to express all of your emotions and be as cheesy as you want without being seen as a sap fest or corny or uncool. Leaving mix CDs are the best ones I've ever made. There's a tertiary goal of most mixes where, in addition to just sharing music or making someone happy or expressing some feelings, you're also trying to create a tie between you and something beautiful in the person's mind. It's a wonder to think that every time Freeman hears New Slang he thinks of me, and I'd like to think it's because I'm that beautiful, but really it's probably because I put it on the first mix tape I ever made for him, four years ago. When someone leaves, it's even better, because they are missing home and everything in it, hopefully yourself included, and the songs you hang them before they go are the closest thing they've got. You can make your own ghost self as beautiful as you want. When Rissa left the first time, I made her a CD that brought the waterworks on the greyhound. I think it's a good half of the reason why we're as close as we are now. The thing is, after the fun of getting to say "I love you" and hugging and mix CD giving and send offs and back pats wears off, someone is gone. And when they are the one person you want to see, you can't. Maybe they're coming back after awhile, and maybe it will be good for them, and maybe it will even be good for you. But they're gone -- gone! and all the songs in the world won't help much when you really want their face. Prepare yourself.
Unravel : Okkervil River [Bjork cover] from 'Sham Wedding / Hoax Funeral.
Labels: miniaturesoundtracks, music
6.14.2008
Jeff Wins!
The genius / BFF / hero Jeff Freeman made me this album cover. I am so excited I could just explode. Off to practice the banjolele. Photo by Annie Brooks.
Labels: music, premadebears
6.13.2008
12 Tracks From Your Favorite Fuckup!
Ridiculous. My life, that is. Completely farcical.
Since that's the case, why spend time doing anything other than coming up with names for "my band" 's future albums?
Premade Bears - A Grey Zone For Baby-Faced Adults
Premade Bears - Is In Your Extended Network [online release only EP]
Premade Bears - Fuck Trains, Fuck Boys, Fuck All
Premade Bears - Blue Balls For Your Heart Parts
Premade Bears - An Animal Makes A Mistake
Premade Bears - ;s are for Lovers
Premade Bears - Boom Boom! [girl groups covers EP]
Premade Bears - Another Mysterious Bruise On My Arm?
Since that's the case, why spend time doing anything other than coming up with names for "my band" 's future albums?
Premade Bears - A Grey Zone For Baby-Faced Adults
Premade Bears - Is In Your Extended Network [online release only EP]
Premade Bears - Fuck Trains, Fuck Boys, Fuck All
Premade Bears - Blue Balls For Your Heart Parts
Premade Bears - An Animal Makes A Mistake
Premade Bears - ;s are for Lovers
Premade Bears - Boom Boom! [girl groups covers EP]
Premade Bears - Another Mysterious Bruise On My Arm?
6.09.2008
4 Top 10 Lists
As you may have gathered if you have ever been within ten yards of me on the internet or IRL, I like lists. Because I am a self-indulgent and somewhat bored little lady, here are some lists.
Favorite Bob Dylan Songs [Today]
10. Going, Going, Gone
9. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
8. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
7. To Ramona
6. Boots Of Spanish Leather
5. Girl Of The North Country
4. Standing In The Doorway
3. Restless Farewell
2. Most Of The Time
1. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
Favorite Drinks Available At The BookPeople Cafe
10. Hot Soy Chai.
9. Coca Cola. In a can. Cold.
8. Strawberry/Vanilla Italian Cream Soda.
7. African Nectar Hot Tea.
6. Mocha Shake.
5. Lavender Lemonade.
4. Double Shot of Espresso + Honey.
3. Vanilla or Almond Macchiato
2. Iced Coffee.
1. Double Short Soy Almond Latte.
Things To Draw
10. Robots.
9. 'People' with human faces and robot bodies.
8. Owls.
7. Bears.
6. Bunnies.
5. Girls in animal (almost always bunny) suits.
4. Boys in animal (usually bear or bunny) suits.
3. Monsters, with my eyes closed.
2. Jeff and everyone else I know.
1. Myself.
Things To Mix With Scrambled Eggs To Make Me Happy
10. Fresh basil.
9. Fake chicken.
8. Bell peppers.
7. Potatoes.
6. Cheese in any other form.
5. Tomatoes.
4. Tofu.
3. Mushrooms.
2. Onions.
1. Cheese in queso form.
Favorite Bob Dylan Songs [Today]
10. Going, Going, Gone
9. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright
8. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
7. To Ramona
6. Boots Of Spanish Leather
5. Girl Of The North Country
4. Standing In The Doorway
3. Restless Farewell
2. Most Of The Time
1. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
Favorite Drinks Available At The BookPeople Cafe
10. Hot Soy Chai.
9. Coca Cola. In a can. Cold.
8. Strawberry/Vanilla Italian Cream Soda.
7. African Nectar Hot Tea.
6. Mocha Shake.
5. Lavender Lemonade.
4. Double Shot of Espresso + Honey.
3. Vanilla or Almond Macchiato
2. Iced Coffee.
1. Double Short Soy Almond Latte.
Things To Draw
10. Robots.
9. 'People' with human faces and robot bodies.
8. Owls.
7. Bears.
6. Bunnies.
5. Girls in animal (almost always bunny) suits.
4. Boys in animal (usually bear or bunny) suits.
3. Monsters, with my eyes closed.
2. Jeff and everyone else I know.
1. Myself.
Things To Mix With Scrambled Eggs To Make Me Happy
10. Fresh basil.
9. Fake chicken.
8. Bell peppers.
7. Potatoes.
6. Cheese in any other form.
5. Tomatoes.
4. Tofu.
3. Mushrooms.
2. Onions.
1. Cheese in queso form.
Labels: drawing, food, lists, music
The Perfect Summer.
I need to get away. Would anyone like to go to the ocean? Right now?
I'll provide the boombox, mix CDs, and sugary snacks if you provide the car.
OH AND IN CASE YOU DIDN'T GET THE MEMO: THIS IS THE OFFICIAL JAM OF SUMMER of 2008:
K, THX.
6.06.2008
Miniature Soundtracks : Episode Five
Miniature Soundtracks is my small experiment in mp3 blogging. I'll be using a beloved image from my flickr photostream or favorites, reflect on it for a few sentences, and then give you a song that evokes the same feelings. If your photo or song is featured and you'd rather it not be, let me know and I'll take it down immediately.
This is me. Sometimes when I'm alone and bored, I take pictures of myself. I don't think it is all that weird of a way to pass the time in and of itself -- it's just like looking at a mirror, but fancier! But because of the internet inviting us all to share more and more of our alone time with everyone else on the face of the planet, it has become pretty weird. I'm certainly not the only one, as a quick glance at flickr can reveal, but... still. It seems to be a symptom of a larger phenomenon of the control that 'social networking' gives us over our own image. I had an argument about this a few days ago in which I asserted that we exercise plenty of control over our persona in real life too, and the internet isn't really so different in this regard as people make it out to be. I think that's true. I don't think that trying to assert a charming, intelligent, attractive face on the internet is all that much more common or different from dressing well, choosing your words carefully, or cleaning your apartment before people come over IRL. That said, the internet -- especially lately -- does provide us with a particularly juicy chance to reinvent ourselves and to pick and choose the qualities and angles we reveal. But it's more complicated than that: the internet provides us with the opportunity to be 'alone' and to communicate and interact with other people, at the same time! I don't even think twice about sitting in front of my computer in my underwear and a t-shirt and some kind of weird food like an entire bowl full of broccoli or an ice cream container with a package of pecans dumped into it, all the while composing some kind of stunningly poetic list of the times and places I like to hear music so that my friends and crushes can marvel at my magic heart. Or LastFM!! You know that I'm listening to Alejandro Escovedo at my apartment at 5:34 in the morning! Why am I awake? Shit!
I digress.
A couple years back, I remember having a conversation with Sarah Go about how the pictures we like most of ourselves and the pictures our friends and family like most of us rarely overlap. The pictures where I think I look my best are, for the most part, decidedly not pictures that my momma would put in a frame. I'm grabbing at straws as to why this is, but I'm thinking that we don't see our own faces all that often when we're having any kind of real life experience: laughing, crying, arguing, or even listening. We see our faces in the mirror (or the digital camera viewfinder) and our brains are relatively free from outside experience in those moments. Your face when you're alone is the face you're used to, but your loved ones see you differently: they see you reacting to them (and the world in general). I'm not arguing that the picture above is 'fake'. It's me, just as real as laughing, dancing, or laying on the floor at the Texas Women's Conference with a hoodie scrunched over my face is me. But... I'm alone. This picture is like a tape recording of a tree falling in a forest with no one around to hear it. For better or for worse, the internets (and the cameras and the iphoto) encourage us to do with photos what people have been doing for centuries with words: communicate the impossible beauty and mystery of our solitary inner lives. Or, y'know, feel pretty.
Just Be Simple (acoustic) - Songs:Ohia from the Magnolia Electric Co. bonus disc.
This is me. Sometimes when I'm alone and bored, I take pictures of myself. I don't think it is all that weird of a way to pass the time in and of itself -- it's just like looking at a mirror, but fancier! But because of the internet inviting us all to share more and more of our alone time with everyone else on the face of the planet, it has become pretty weird. I'm certainly not the only one, as a quick glance at flickr can reveal, but... still. It seems to be a symptom of a larger phenomenon of the control that 'social networking' gives us over our own image. I had an argument about this a few days ago in which I asserted that we exercise plenty of control over our persona in real life too, and the internet isn't really so different in this regard as people make it out to be. I think that's true. I don't think that trying to assert a charming, intelligent, attractive face on the internet is all that much more common or different from dressing well, choosing your words carefully, or cleaning your apartment before people come over IRL. That said, the internet -- especially lately -- does provide us with a particularly juicy chance to reinvent ourselves and to pick and choose the qualities and angles we reveal. But it's more complicated than that: the internet provides us with the opportunity to be 'alone' and to communicate and interact with other people, at the same time! I don't even think twice about sitting in front of my computer in my underwear and a t-shirt and some kind of weird food like an entire bowl full of broccoli or an ice cream container with a package of pecans dumped into it, all the while composing some kind of stunningly poetic list of the times and places I like to hear music so that my friends and crushes can marvel at my magic heart. Or LastFM!! You know that I'm listening to Alejandro Escovedo at my apartment at 5:34 in the morning! Why am I awake? Shit!
I digress.
A couple years back, I remember having a conversation with Sarah Go about how the pictures we like most of ourselves and the pictures our friends and family like most of us rarely overlap. The pictures where I think I look my best are, for the most part, decidedly not pictures that my momma would put in a frame. I'm grabbing at straws as to why this is, but I'm thinking that we don't see our own faces all that often when we're having any kind of real life experience: laughing, crying, arguing, or even listening. We see our faces in the mirror (or the digital camera viewfinder) and our brains are relatively free from outside experience in those moments. Your face when you're alone is the face you're used to, but your loved ones see you differently: they see you reacting to them (and the world in general). I'm not arguing that the picture above is 'fake'. It's me, just as real as laughing, dancing, or laying on the floor at the Texas Women's Conference with a hoodie scrunched over my face is me. But... I'm alone. This picture is like a tape recording of a tree falling in a forest with no one around to hear it. For better or for worse, the internets (and the cameras and the iphoto) encourage us to do with photos what people have been doing for centuries with words: communicate the impossible beauty and mystery of our solitary inner lives. Or, y'know, feel pretty.
Just Be Simple (acoustic) - Songs:Ohia from the Magnolia Electric Co. bonus disc.
Labels: miniaturesoundtracks, music
I [heart] The Internets Roundup: 5.30.08 - 6.6.08
Wooo-ey!
Sweet urban clothing + well loved Nintendo characters. I wish I had thought of it first, really. Christmas presents for all my boys!
I know my previous post was a link to him, but start reading Michael Ian Black's blog already. He's kind of my favorite, ever.
RE: becoming a better person, altruism, resolutions, and all that other shit I've been talking about all the time lately.
Gobama! by Ben Brown. Oh, pixels.
I started a wordie account, which is pretty and fun.
I've always had a fondness for the more esoteric aspects of traditional animation.
NEW. TILLY. VIDEO.
Right on the heels of Jim Davis saying he finds Garfield Minus Garfield fascinating, this new one might be my favorite yet. I laughed out loud at four in the morning.
Hey look, it's the most horrifying terrible movie trailer of all time, ever!
Mary Gairskill reading Nabakov... Mmmmhmm!
ICE on MARS, y'all.
This is getting linked all over the place (congratulations!), but John's post about gender rules and the disadvantages of being a man prompted me to stay up wayyyyyy too late last night reading and thinking about the topic. There's a lot of talk in the comments field about the MetaFilter deletion, but the issue at the heart of the post is going to be runnin' around in my brain for awhile.
My recently discovered third favorite music video of all time is this Phosphorescent video (this is number one, in case you're new to me and I haven't forced it down your throat already, and this is number two. Yes, I like sad music. Nice to meet you, I'm Summer.) :
Sweet urban clothing + well loved Nintendo characters. I wish I had thought of it first, really. Christmas presents for all my boys!
I know my previous post was a link to him, but start reading Michael Ian Black's blog already. He's kind of my favorite, ever.
RE: becoming a better person, altruism, resolutions, and all that other shit I've been talking about all the time lately.
Gobama! by Ben Brown. Oh, pixels.
I started a wordie account, which is pretty and fun.
I've always had a fondness for the more esoteric aspects of traditional animation.
NEW. TILLY. VIDEO.
Right on the heels of Jim Davis saying he finds Garfield Minus Garfield fascinating, this new one might be my favorite yet. I laughed out loud at four in the morning.
Hey look, it's the most horrifying terrible movie trailer of all time, ever!
Mary Gairskill reading Nabakov... Mmmmhmm!
ICE on MARS, y'all.
This is getting linked all over the place (congratulations!), but John's post about gender rules and the disadvantages of being a man prompted me to stay up wayyyyyy too late last night reading and thinking about the topic. There's a lot of talk in the comments field about the MetaFilter deletion, but the issue at the heart of the post is going to be runnin' around in my brain for awhile.
My recently discovered third favorite music video of all time is this Phosphorescent video (this is number one, in case you're new to me and I haven't forced it down your throat already, and this is number two. Yes, I like sad music. Nice to meet you, I'm Summer.) :
Labels: internets, music, roundup, youtube
6.02.2008
twenty albums that changed my life.
This list concept is absolutely and shamelessly ripped off of the brilliant and beautiful Patton Quinn, who loves lists as much as I do.
She disclaims her list this way, which I will repeat here: "This list is not exactly complete. This list is not meant to be read as my 'favorite albums of all time.' These albums are landmarks in my life that I associate with a change in the way I think about music and a change in the way I perceive reality. It may have not been these albums that changed the way I 'perceive reality'; it just so happens that the change occured around the same time these albums were on my rotation."
In chronological order:
1. They Might Be Giants - Flood
they might be giants were my first everything the same way that isaac was. my first favorite album, the first music i tried to share with friends, and my first show - at age twelve, with my friends from the bbs i posted on all the time in the DC area. when i watched the documentary about them, gigantic, for the first time, i cried. this album is totally underrated and they might be giants is not a novelty band, i swear, and i will love them forever and ever.
2. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection
this was the first album i remember really really wanting to dance to. i also used to bike around my neighborhood singing 'like a virgin' at the top of my lungs. good times.
3. Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks
i've written about this album many times before. i had it on tape when i was thirteen or fourteen and walked all over town letting dylan write definitions for romance, love, and loss all over my young brain. i've probably spent more time with this album than any other and it continues to blow me away every time i hear it.
4. Joni Mitchell - Blue
joni mitchell helped me become a woman.
5. Nirvana - Nevermind
like most things that were in any way 'cool' that i liked before i was eighteen, nirvana was courtesy my older brother. i never really liked 'hard rock' until much later, but the plainative emotion of cobain's voice appealed to me in a way that rock didn't. eventually, i grew to adore the distortion and banging as well, but it was 'something in the way' that got me started.
6. Counting Crows - August & Everything After
didn't we all? don't deny it.
7. Ani DiFranco - Dilate
this was the first time that my taste in music verged away from the strictly mainstream except for the happy accident of the aformentioned they might be giants (which we discovered via NPR, so really they don't count). i went to not back to school camp and a plethora of relatively under the radar musicians unfolded. ani was the most signifigant. it's easy to be bashful about her and let her be lumped in with the boring femmey pop of the 90s (all of which i loved as well, if you're good with google you can probably find my jewel fan mailing list posts. yikes.) but, honestly, i still maintain that she's better than all that. this album is a love letter and the dissection of heartbreak. it's pitiful and strong and sad and beautiful, which is why it's the perfect album for a teenage girl to listen to while wallowing in unrequited 'love'.
8. Elliott Smith - XO
jeremy loomis norris told me about elliott smith when we were sixteen or seventeen and, for that, i want to kiss his cheeks a thousand times every time i run into him.
9. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
set me up to have unreal expectations of love and romance for the rest of my life.
10. Daniel Johnston - Fun
sometime in my late teen years, i managed to purchase this album apropos of no outside influence that i can recall. i'm not sure how it happened, but i am pleased to report that i bought it at the now long gone record store sound exchange, where daniel first started selling his cassettes in austin in the late 1980s. anyway, what i hate about the johnston revivial is that i am exceedingly uncomfortable with people listening to these songs because they are 'funny' or 'cute.' sad sac and tarzan is funny and all, but i listened to this album because it articulated my heart in the simplest way i never thought possible. this is how i learned to love lo-fi.
11. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
the first time i heard 'two headed boy part two' i was at work and i started crying.
12. Cat Power - Moon Pix
the first time i heard 'american flag' i was on the bus and i started crying.
13. Nick Drake - Pink Moon
nick drake was my best friend after my first breakup.
14. Bright Eyes - Letting Off The Happiness
i struggled with which bright eyes album to put on this list. honestly, it could just as easily be 'fevers & mirrors' here, or 'lifted' a little bit later. but i remember the months of this being in my stereo literally constantly, of backtracking and playing 'the difference in the shades' and 'june on the west coast' over and over and over and over and over, and i feel overwhelmed. i know people love to diss on the bright eyes, but i refuse to back down from the earlier albums. there was this simple profound beauty in conor's openness, in his voice cracks, in his parent's basement... it is the beauty of any creative person who hasn't yet felt the pressure of success and who just wants to let everything piling up inside of them out, to be set free. it was lovely. even though i've been less and less impacted by each successive album since 'lifted', no one -- dylan, will sheff, neil young... -- has a voice that makes me feel quite as much empathy, nostalgia, and love as coco burst's does every time. did you just finish puking? let's continue...
15. The Silver Jews - Starlight Walker
the boys i knew via toy joy placed the silver jews into my hands and i think it might be the only reason i'm cool now.
16. Okkervil River - Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See
"we have come from ugliness to find some refuge here."
17. The Walkmen - Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone
hamilton leithauser is the darkest part of my heart, paul maroon is the rest.
17. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
this is that one album that i really hope my kids listen to and associate it was the good part of 'mom music'
19. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
"You're out singing songs, and I'm down shouting names at the flickerless screen, going fucking insane."
20. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
when i first heard this album, i thought it was overrated. then i saw the arcade fire play at emo's and this album didn't leave my ears for months after, because i desperately wanted the every day to feel even a fraction as superconnected and magic as that show. sometimes it works.
She disclaims her list this way, which I will repeat here: "This list is not exactly complete. This list is not meant to be read as my 'favorite albums of all time.' These albums are landmarks in my life that I associate with a change in the way I think about music and a change in the way I perceive reality. It may have not been these albums that changed the way I 'perceive reality'; it just so happens that the change occured around the same time these albums were on my rotation."
In chronological order:
1. They Might Be Giants - Flood
they might be giants were my first everything the same way that isaac was. my first favorite album, the first music i tried to share with friends, and my first show - at age twelve, with my friends from the bbs i posted on all the time in the DC area. when i watched the documentary about them, gigantic, for the first time, i cried. this album is totally underrated and they might be giants is not a novelty band, i swear, and i will love them forever and ever.
2. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection
this was the first album i remember really really wanting to dance to. i also used to bike around my neighborhood singing 'like a virgin' at the top of my lungs. good times.
3. Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks
i've written about this album many times before. i had it on tape when i was thirteen or fourteen and walked all over town letting dylan write definitions for romance, love, and loss all over my young brain. i've probably spent more time with this album than any other and it continues to blow me away every time i hear it.
4. Joni Mitchell - Blue
joni mitchell helped me become a woman.
5. Nirvana - Nevermind
like most things that were in any way 'cool' that i liked before i was eighteen, nirvana was courtesy my older brother. i never really liked 'hard rock' until much later, but the plainative emotion of cobain's voice appealed to me in a way that rock didn't. eventually, i grew to adore the distortion and banging as well, but it was 'something in the way' that got me started.
6. Counting Crows - August & Everything After
didn't we all? don't deny it.
7. Ani DiFranco - Dilate
this was the first time that my taste in music verged away from the strictly mainstream except for the happy accident of the aformentioned they might be giants (which we discovered via NPR, so really they don't count). i went to not back to school camp and a plethora of relatively under the radar musicians unfolded. ani was the most signifigant. it's easy to be bashful about her and let her be lumped in with the boring femmey pop of the 90s (all of which i loved as well, if you're good with google you can probably find my jewel fan mailing list posts. yikes.) but, honestly, i still maintain that she's better than all that. this album is a love letter and the dissection of heartbreak. it's pitiful and strong and sad and beautiful, which is why it's the perfect album for a teenage girl to listen to while wallowing in unrequited 'love'.
8. Elliott Smith - XO
jeremy loomis norris told me about elliott smith when we were sixteen or seventeen and, for that, i want to kiss his cheeks a thousand times every time i run into him.
9. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
set me up to have unreal expectations of love and romance for the rest of my life.
10. Daniel Johnston - Fun
sometime in my late teen years, i managed to purchase this album apropos of no outside influence that i can recall. i'm not sure how it happened, but i am pleased to report that i bought it at the now long gone record store sound exchange, where daniel first started selling his cassettes in austin in the late 1980s. anyway, what i hate about the johnston revivial is that i am exceedingly uncomfortable with people listening to these songs because they are 'funny' or 'cute.' sad sac and tarzan is funny and all, but i listened to this album because it articulated my heart in the simplest way i never thought possible. this is how i learned to love lo-fi.
11. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
the first time i heard 'two headed boy part two' i was at work and i started crying.
12. Cat Power - Moon Pix
the first time i heard 'american flag' i was on the bus and i started crying.
13. Nick Drake - Pink Moon
nick drake was my best friend after my first breakup.
14. Bright Eyes - Letting Off The Happiness
i struggled with which bright eyes album to put on this list. honestly, it could just as easily be 'fevers & mirrors' here, or 'lifted' a little bit later. but i remember the months of this being in my stereo literally constantly, of backtracking and playing 'the difference in the shades' and 'june on the west coast' over and over and over and over and over, and i feel overwhelmed. i know people love to diss on the bright eyes, but i refuse to back down from the earlier albums. there was this simple profound beauty in conor's openness, in his voice cracks, in his parent's basement... it is the beauty of any creative person who hasn't yet felt the pressure of success and who just wants to let everything piling up inside of them out, to be set free. it was lovely. even though i've been less and less impacted by each successive album since 'lifted', no one -- dylan, will sheff, neil young... -- has a voice that makes me feel quite as much empathy, nostalgia, and love as coco burst's does every time. did you just finish puking? let's continue...
15. The Silver Jews - Starlight Walker
the boys i knew via toy joy placed the silver jews into my hands and i think it might be the only reason i'm cool now.
16. Okkervil River - Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See
"we have come from ugliness to find some refuge here."
17. The Walkmen - Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone
hamilton leithauser is the darkest part of my heart, paul maroon is the rest.
17. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
this is that one album that i really hope my kids listen to and associate it was the good part of 'mom music'
19. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
"You're out singing songs, and I'm down shouting names at the flickerless screen, going fucking insane."
20. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
when i first heard this album, i thought it was overrated. then i saw the arcade fire play at emo's and this album didn't leave my ears for months after, because i desperately wanted the every day to feel even a fraction as superconnected and magic as that show. sometimes it works.
Miniature Soundtracks : Episode Four
Miniature Soundtracks is my small experiment in mp3 blogging. I'll be using a beloved image from my flickr photostream or favorites, reflect on it for a few sentences, and then give you a song that evokes the same feelings. If your photo or song is featured and you'd rather it not be, let me know and I'll take it down immediately.
Rissa and Braedyn, from Rissa's flickr
Moms that I know have a lot to live up to, because my mom is a singularly spectacular human being who imbues everyone she meets with her infectious love and kindness, patience, creativity, and awe. I was the luckiest girl in the world and most people can't compare. But I lived with another mom -- and kiddo -- for the past two years, up until a couple months ago, and she has managed to exceed my expectations every single day I have known her. As it turns out, Rissa's son is the luckiest person I know, tied with myself. His mom pours an unreal amount of unselfish love his way and remains beautiful and funny and sharp and smart and interesting in the process, setting the best possible example for adulthood that a boy could have. She's lucky too, because Braedyn is an exceptional small person who is equally excited to talk to anyone who walks into his world about anything from The Karate Kid to scorpions. Watching them together sometimes will make you insufferably jealous because they have a bond that is so far above and beyond what most of us experience in our every day lives. It's complex, sure, but at the same time it isn't. It's the kind of bond that defines the word family -- more broadly than just blood, because they're both in mine. Together, they're an unstoppable example of the beauty of the relationships you don't have to question. Unconditional is the word I'm looking for.
Entry Way Song - Bright Eyes from the Amos House compilation.
Rissa and Braedyn, from Rissa's flickr
Moms that I know have a lot to live up to, because my mom is a singularly spectacular human being who imbues everyone she meets with her infectious love and kindness, patience, creativity, and awe. I was the luckiest girl in the world and most people can't compare. But I lived with another mom -- and kiddo -- for the past two years, up until a couple months ago, and she has managed to exceed my expectations every single day I have known her. As it turns out, Rissa's son is the luckiest person I know, tied with myself. His mom pours an unreal amount of unselfish love his way and remains beautiful and funny and sharp and smart and interesting in the process, setting the best possible example for adulthood that a boy could have. She's lucky too, because Braedyn is an exceptional small person who is equally excited to talk to anyone who walks into his world about anything from The Karate Kid to scorpions. Watching them together sometimes will make you insufferably jealous because they have a bond that is so far above and beyond what most of us experience in our every day lives. It's complex, sure, but at the same time it isn't. It's the kind of bond that defines the word family -- more broadly than just blood, because they're both in mine. Together, they're an unstoppable example of the beauty of the relationships you don't have to question. Unconditional is the word I'm looking for.
Entry Way Song - Bright Eyes from the Amos House compilation.
Labels: love, lovedones, miniaturesoundtracks, music
6.01.2008
in which i crack myself up on google chat.
me: there's a song on the upcoming okkervil river album called "On Tour With Zykos"
like, really.
gomillis: haha
so are you still down for hanging out tomorrow?
me: yeah man.
"on tour with zykos" though? really? i can't stop wondering what that song will sound like.
gomillis: it'll just be about hanging with the dudes
having fun, playin jams
me: i'm hoping he actually sings 'booher' at some point during the song
'booher is everywhere'
'look at his hair'
'bear'
'bare'
that's a really good impression of okkervil river lyric stylings right there.
like, really.
gomillis: haha
so are you still down for hanging out tomorrow?
me: yeah man.
"on tour with zykos" though? really? i can't stop wondering what that song will sound like.
gomillis: it'll just be about hanging with the dudes
having fun, playin jams
me: i'm hoping he actually sings 'booher' at some point during the song
'booher is everywhere'
'look at his hair'
'bear'
'bare'
that's a really good impression of okkervil river lyric stylings right there.
Labels: funny, internets, lovedones, music, okkervilriver
5.29.2008
Miniature Soundtracks : Episode Four
Miniature Soundtracks is my small experiment in mp3 blogging. I'll be using a beloved image from my flickr photostream or favorites, reflect on it for a few sentences, and then give you a song that evokes the same feelings. If your photo or song is featured and you'd rather it not be, let me know and I'll take it down immediately.
Special Other People's Memories Edition! Mandy and Jen and I ("Another Day, Another Man") visited Uncommon Objects on South Congress on Memorial Day (in between mimosas at South Congress Cafe and swimming at Jen's apartment). Some of the sellers have bins and baskets of old greying mystery photographs for sale for 50 cents or a dollar. I've pawed through them and picked a few out every time I've ever been over the last decade, amassing probably about a hundred of these heartbreaking gems over the years. Once I spent a couple hundred dollars at the store -- mostly on pictures, plus three volumes of a mennonite girl's diary from the 1940s. Oops. The most beautiful and special displaced artifacts need a loving home and I can't ignore their call. Here are four from that most recent trip and the songs I want you to listen to while you stare at them and imagine the lives that surrounded these moments.
Sipping On The Sweet Nectar : Jens Lekman from Night Falls Over Kortedala
Sun Giant : Fleet Foxes from the Sun Giant EP
Bird : Jana Hunter from There's No Home
Wildflowers : Tom Petty from Wildflowers
Special Other People's Memories Edition! Mandy and Jen and I ("Another Day, Another Man") visited Uncommon Objects on South Congress on Memorial Day (in between mimosas at South Congress Cafe and swimming at Jen's apartment). Some of the sellers have bins and baskets of old greying mystery photographs for sale for 50 cents or a dollar. I've pawed through them and picked a few out every time I've ever been over the last decade, amassing probably about a hundred of these heartbreaking gems over the years. Once I spent a couple hundred dollars at the store -- mostly on pictures, plus three volumes of a mennonite girl's diary from the 1940s. Oops. The most beautiful and special displaced artifacts need a loving home and I can't ignore their call. Here are four from that most recent trip and the songs I want you to listen to while you stare at them and imagine the lives that surrounded these moments.
Sipping On The Sweet Nectar : Jens Lekman from Night Falls Over Kortedala
Sun Giant : Fleet Foxes from the Sun Giant EP
Bird : Jana Hunter from There's No Home
Wildflowers : Tom Petty from Wildflowers
Labels: miniaturesoundtracks, music
5.28.2008
swear I was born right in the doorway.
Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz's first wedding dance was 'First Day Of My Life' by Bright Eyes.
... I really have nothing to say about that, I guess, I just needed y'all to know.
... I really have nothing to say about that, I guess, I just needed y'all to know.
Labels: music
5.26.2008
Miniature Soundtracks : Episode Three
Miniature Soundtracks is my small experiment in mp3 blogging. I'll be using a beloved image from my flickr photostream or favorites, reflect on it for a few sentences, and then give you a song that evokes the same feelings. If your photo or song is featured and you'd rather it not be, let me know and I'll take it down immediately.
Matthew, by me. March 15, 2005 (was it that long ago? really?)
There are photos. Rare ones. That capture a second you remember so perfectly that it's time travel to look at them. The smell and the feeling in your heart and the music you listened to that day, the way your cat acted, the way it was at the airport, and later walking across the town lake bridge, and later still playing pool in a dark place. The sun and the gate of the apartment and the tiny sidewalk in front of it. It's even weirder when a person is like that, where just looking at them brings on a wave of senses and feelings and sounds so intense that you feel like you're drowning in it just to see them. It's weirder still when a person does that to you right at first, when you barely know them, when you've ended up at their apartment and you're stepping on their feet dancing to Sigur Ros. Then a week later you're on a bus crying over a Prince song and everything has been rearranged. The world feels like a tetris cube in and after those precious moments. You just turned a corner you didn't know was there. Suddenly, there's a whole side of red! And then, the moment or the week or the person is gone and you flip the cube over and realize the other side isn't matching at all, and you have to start over again.
When those times happen, you lose your sense of time and space but grab on tightly to everything else in the world -- the wooden attic, the shoulders, the way the words sound like 'it's you' even though they're actually in a foreign language, the people outside and the memories wrapped up in them, the tiny pieces of skin you're biting off of the inside of your lower lip. I posed Matt for this picture and it was a time when I knew as I was pressing the shutter that it would be this beautiful, because I knew it was one of those days and Matthew is one of those people. Before the picture was ever developed in a darkroom, it was stamped behind my eyelids forever. Sometimes, still, when the world is dark and cold and scary, I can close my eyes and be right there, right then. And that, my loves, is forever.
Sometimes In Snows In April : Prince from Parade
Matthew, by me. March 15, 2005 (was it that long ago? really?)
There are photos. Rare ones. That capture a second you remember so perfectly that it's time travel to look at them. The smell and the feeling in your heart and the music you listened to that day, the way your cat acted, the way it was at the airport, and later walking across the town lake bridge, and later still playing pool in a dark place. The sun and the gate of the apartment and the tiny sidewalk in front of it. It's even weirder when a person is like that, where just looking at them brings on a wave of senses and feelings and sounds so intense that you feel like you're drowning in it just to see them. It's weirder still when a person does that to you right at first, when you barely know them, when you've ended up at their apartment and you're stepping on their feet dancing to Sigur Ros. Then a week later you're on a bus crying over a Prince song and everything has been rearranged. The world feels like a tetris cube in and after those precious moments. You just turned a corner you didn't know was there. Suddenly, there's a whole side of red! And then, the moment or the week or the person is gone and you flip the cube over and realize the other side isn't matching at all, and you have to start over again.
When those times happen, you lose your sense of time and space but grab on tightly to everything else in the world -- the wooden attic, the shoulders, the way the words sound like 'it's you' even though they're actually in a foreign language, the people outside and the memories wrapped up in them, the tiny pieces of skin you're biting off of the inside of your lower lip. I posed Matt for this picture and it was a time when I knew as I was pressing the shutter that it would be this beautiful, because I knew it was one of those days and Matthew is one of those people. Before the picture was ever developed in a darkroom, it was stamped behind my eyelids forever. Sometimes, still, when the world is dark and cold and scary, I can close my eyes and be right there, right then. And that, my loves, is forever.
Sometimes In Snows In April : Prince from Parade
Labels: love, lovedones, miniaturesoundtracks, music
5.24.2008
Oh, internet.
Oh man, one of my favorite things to do when I'm bored (is it sad to be writing about this during the prime part of a Saturday night?) is watch (usually adolescent) youtubers cover Okkervil River songs. It's simultaneously surreal, heart-warming, and terrifying. Y'know... learning to play & sing along with your favorite indie rock band is something that all of us probably did as teenagers, but it's not really something that I ever would have shared with, well, the entire world.
For the two people out there who care about this topic:
These kids, covering an old song called 'Auntie Alice,' are my absolute favorites. They are really, really, really genuinely good. I love the 'talent farm' banner in the back, the kid's pretty voice, the smattering of applause at the end that sounds like about a dozen old people, their clothes, and especially the fact that Auntie Alice is the song they picked. Cute! I love love love this without irony. The kid in the middle playing tambourine? Awesome.
This guy is who you would hire to do an impression of Sheff's voice on one of those CDs of pop songs covered by studio bands that they used to sell. But then you see what he looks like and it's totally a weird match. I would never see this guy somewhere and think that he was an Okkervil River fan. I guess that's my bad. Love.
Something about this whispered, Iron & Wine type version of Westfall kind of scares the shit out of me.
Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe as performed by a 16 year old Conor Oberst.
??????
BONUS! Okkervil River in Wales covering my second favorite ABBA song and splitting my heart open in the process:
For the two people out there who care about this topic:
These kids, covering an old song called 'Auntie Alice,' are my absolute favorites. They are really, really, really genuinely good. I love the 'talent farm' banner in the back, the kid's pretty voice, the smattering of applause at the end that sounds like about a dozen old people, their clothes, and especially the fact that Auntie Alice is the song they picked. Cute! I love love love this without irony. The kid in the middle playing tambourine? Awesome.
This guy is who you would hire to do an impression of Sheff's voice on one of those CDs of pop songs covered by studio bands that they used to sell. But then you see what he looks like and it's totally a weird match. I would never see this guy somewhere and think that he was an Okkervil River fan. I guess that's my bad. Love.
Something about this whispered, Iron & Wine type version of Westfall kind of scares the shit out of me.
Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe as performed by a 16 year old Conor Oberst.
??????
BONUS! Okkervil River in Wales covering my second favorite ABBA song and splitting my heart open in the process:
Labels: internets, music, okkervilriver, youtube
5.23.2008
Miniature Soundtracks : Episode Two
Miniature Soundtracks is my small experiment in mp3 blogging. I'll be using a beloved image from my flickr photostream or favorites, reflect on it for a few sentences, and then give you a song that evokes the same feelings. If your photo or song is featured and you'd rather it not be, let me know and I'll take it down immediately.
Photo by reallycrumby, whose photostream is beautiful and worth looking at before you read on.
I collect ephemera. Every time I look inside a drawer, empty a purse, or check the pockets of my laundry, I come across scraps of paper representing laughter, sadness, and secrets. I have boxes full of birthday cards, photographs, notes, ripped-out journal entries, pieces of poems, letters, post-it notes, and crappy sketches spanning the entirety of my twenty-five years. It's strange when a part of your life closes and there are still physical manifestations of it falling into your hands every time you open anything. It's as though you're reading a book that's filled up your brain and as you turn the page, it explodes in your hand, showering you with confetti. There are so many pieces that you could never hope to collect them all in one handful and you don't even try. Sometimes you find pieces and try to remember what the ending you were waiting for was. Years later, you'll walk past the place where it happened and find a single scrap and unfold it to find the final word, and it will all start to make some sense.
The Things That Bind You : Rock Plaza Central from The World Was Hell To Us
Photo by reallycrumby, whose photostream is beautiful and worth looking at before you read on.
I collect ephemera. Every time I look inside a drawer, empty a purse, or check the pockets of my laundry, I come across scraps of paper representing laughter, sadness, and secrets. I have boxes full of birthday cards, photographs, notes, ripped-out journal entries, pieces of poems, letters, post-it notes, and crappy sketches spanning the entirety of my twenty-five years. It's strange when a part of your life closes and there are still physical manifestations of it falling into your hands every time you open anything. It's as though you're reading a book that's filled up your brain and as you turn the page, it explodes in your hand, showering you with confetti. There are so many pieces that you could never hope to collect them all in one handful and you don't even try. Sometimes you find pieces and try to remember what the ending you were waiting for was. Years later, you'll walk past the place where it happened and find a single scrap and unfold it to find the final word, and it will all start to make some sense.
The Things That Bind You : Rock Plaza Central from The World Was Hell To Us
Labels: miniaturesoundtracks, music
5.21.2008
Miniature Soundtracks : Episode One
While I'm in the mood to spend some time with this blog, I'm going to try an experiment in mp3 blogging. A couple times a week, I'll be reflecting an image I like -- probably from my flickr photostream or my flickr favorites -- and choosing a song I think you'll like to match it. Make sense? Let's try.
I was seventeen, Isaac was nineteen. We met at a grocery store where Isaac worked and where I bought strawberry popsicles as a lame excuse to talk to him. It's a movie theater now and sometimes I go there and walk by the counter where I would stall and flirt for months, before Theresa made my first move for me and invited him over for s'mores. After the night of our first kiss, he came over and told me he didn't want to see me romantically anymore and then a thunderstorm blew through and I laid in the front yard of my dad's house getting soaked to the bone. Theresa and Jerry were there and the four of us made tea in the kitchen and waited out the storm. I didn't see Isaac for a couple months after that night. Later, he told me that when we kissed he felt like I was attacking him. Then the night he walked back into my life, he and Rhymi and I stayed up until the middle of the night assaulting eachother with wet white chalk. We were together for more than three years after that. He hated this particular photo, which I kept in a frame by my bed for most of our relationship and a long time afterwards. I love it because he looks so alive that when I stare at it for more than a second, I get the distinct feeling that Isaac's nineteen year old self is going to jump out of the photo, take me by the hand, turn back time, and make everything simple again.
Kiss : Scout Niblett from This Fool Can Die Now
I was seventeen, Isaac was nineteen. We met at a grocery store where Isaac worked and where I bought strawberry popsicles as a lame excuse to talk to him. It's a movie theater now and sometimes I go there and walk by the counter where I would stall and flirt for months, before Theresa made my first move for me and invited him over for s'mores. After the night of our first kiss, he came over and told me he didn't want to see me romantically anymore and then a thunderstorm blew through and I laid in the front yard of my dad's house getting soaked to the bone. Theresa and Jerry were there and the four of us made tea in the kitchen and waited out the storm. I didn't see Isaac for a couple months after that night. Later, he told me that when we kissed he felt like I was attacking him. Then the night he walked back into my life, he and Rhymi and I stayed up until the middle of the night assaulting eachother with wet white chalk. We were together for more than three years after that. He hated this particular photo, which I kept in a frame by my bed for most of our relationship and a long time afterwards. I love it because he looks so alive that when I stare at it for more than a second, I get the distinct feeling that Isaac's nineteen year old self is going to jump out of the photo, take me by the hand, turn back time, and make everything simple again.
Kiss : Scout Niblett from This Fool Can Die Now
Labels: love, lovedones, miniaturesoundtracks, music
5.20.2008
mix.
Sorry to have two mix'tape' related posts in a row, but, hello, I'm Summer, nice to meet you. I was telling Ryan last night about how sometimes when a situation gets to a point where I'm still thinking about it all the time but I've said everything there is to say and talking doesn't seem to help anymore etcetera etcetera, I make a mix - for myself - about it, just so I can continue to excavate my heart parts and 'let it out'. It's like writing a letter you'll never send, or talking into a tape recorder in your bathroom, or taking pretty pictures of yourself for someone who will never see them, or kissing a pillow, or punching a wall. It's like that. You should try it, it's good medicine.
Drink Myself Sober.
1. Bang On : The Breeders (Mountain Battles)
2. No Christmas While I'm Talking : The Walkmen (Bows and Arrows)
3. Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime : Beck (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind Soundtrack)
4. Everyone Else In The World : Stina Nordenstam (This Is...)
5. The Wolves (Act I and II) : Bon Iver (For Emma, Forever Ago)
6. Sleep : The Notwist (The Devil, You + Me)
7. Pretend : Marvin Gaye (A Tribute to the Great Nat King Cole)
8. Here Comes That Feeling : El Perro Del Mar (El Perro Del Mar)
9. The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be : The Magnetic Fields (69 Love Songs)
10. He Don't Care : Kelly Willis
11. Love To A Monster : Okkervil River (Overboard & Down)
12. Milk Thistle : Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band (Live At 400 Bar, 12.29.07)
13. 'Iron and Sun' : Billy Harvey (unreleased)
14. Strange Empty Hollow : Jr Corduroy (Amos House Compilation)
15. Archipelago : Mirah (You Think It's Like This, But It's Really Like This)
16. Make Me Down A Pallet On Your Floor : Gillian Welch (Soul Journey)
17. Figure : Richard Buckner (Devotion + Doubt)
18. Baby Blue Sedan : Modest Mouse (Building Nothing Out Of Something)
19. Get Me : Dinosaur Jr (Where You Been)
20. Middle Of The Night : What Made Milwaukee Famous (What Doesn't Kill Us)
21. Roll On : DNTEL w/ Jenny Lewis (Dumb Luck)
22. Good Start : Maria Taylor (Lynn Teeter Flower)
Wooooo-ey!
All of that aside, I feel really good today. My yoga this morning was excellent despite bruises from wrasslin' and falling down stairs. Oh and I'm deleting my myspace tomorrow, so keep an eye here for more updates, writing, pic-shures, etcetera. Love love!
Drink Myself Sober.
1. Bang On : The Breeders (Mountain Battles)
2. No Christmas While I'm Talking : The Walkmen (Bows and Arrows)
3. Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometime : Beck (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind Soundtrack)
4. Everyone Else In The World : Stina Nordenstam (This Is...)
5. The Wolves (Act I and II) : Bon Iver (For Emma, Forever Ago)
6. Sleep : The Notwist (The Devil, You + Me)
7. Pretend : Marvin Gaye (A Tribute to the Great Nat King Cole)
8. Here Comes That Feeling : El Perro Del Mar (El Perro Del Mar)
9. The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be : The Magnetic Fields (69 Love Songs)
10. He Don't Care : Kelly Willis
11. Love To A Monster : Okkervil River (Overboard & Down)
12. Milk Thistle : Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band (Live At 400 Bar, 12.29.07)
13. 'Iron and Sun' : Billy Harvey (unreleased)
14. Strange Empty Hollow : Jr Corduroy (Amos House Compilation)
15. Archipelago : Mirah (You Think It's Like This, But It's Really Like This)
16. Make Me Down A Pallet On Your Floor : Gillian Welch (Soul Journey)
17. Figure : Richard Buckner (Devotion + Doubt)
18. Baby Blue Sedan : Modest Mouse (Building Nothing Out Of Something)
19. Get Me : Dinosaur Jr (Where You Been)
20. Middle Of The Night : What Made Milwaukee Famous (What Doesn't Kill Us)
21. Roll On : DNTEL w/ Jenny Lewis (Dumb Luck)
22. Good Start : Maria Taylor (Lynn Teeter Flower)
Wooooo-ey!
All of that aside, I feel really good today. My yoga this morning was excellent despite bruises from wrasslin' and falling down stairs. Oh and I'm deleting my myspace tomorrow, so keep an eye here for more updates, writing, pic-shures, etcetera. Love love!
5.05.2008
Mix Projects.
Hi. Sorry I have been lax in updating; life happened to me and I haven't fully recovered.
However, I will let you in on the best idea we [Mandy and myself] ever had.
Project Mix Tape!
It started at Hole In The Wall a few months ago. We wrote out a list of 'categories' and people we knew loved music, had lots of it, and actively make mixes. (Btdubs, we had to keep the list of people pretty short to accommodate party plans, and many of the people including were Mandy's friends, so please don't be hurt if you meet those criteria and you weren't part of the original group...). We sent the list out and everyone made apropos mixes, and then we had a party where we listened to some of the categories and drank and danced and loved each other's faces off. The party for the second go round happened Friday night. Both have been two of the best nights of my life. As I've explained it to some people -- "this is what parties would be like if everyone always acted exactly how I want them to."
Here are the lists & my picks:
Volume One:
The Theme Song To The Movie Of Your Life: That Summer Feeling - Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
A Song That Always Makes You Happy: Love Power - Dusty Springfield
Your Favorite Song When You Were 13: Runaway Train - Soul Asylum
Your Mom's Favorite Song: What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
A Song You Remember From the Best Live Show You've Ever Seen: Westfall (live) - Okkervil River
The Song You Would Most Like To Hear Live, But Haven't and Can't: Summer Babe (Winter Version) - Pavement
Your Bender / Lost Weekend Anthem: Kiss Off - The Violent Femmes
The Song You Want To Be Playing The First Time You Kiss Your 'One True Love': Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
The Ultimate Doin' It Song: Come On In My Kitchen - Robert Johnson
Your Favorite Beatles Song: Blackbird
A Song You Wish Was Written About/For You: Love And Some Verses - Iron and Wine
A Song For Riding Your Bike Around After The Apocalypse: Wake Up - The Walkmen
High Speed Car Chase Song: Let The Poison Spill From Your Throat - The Faint
'Guilty Pleasure' [A Song You Love But Would Never Put On A Regular Mix For Someone]: Bathwater - No Doubt
A Song You Should Have Written But Someone Else Did It First: A Better Son/Daughter - Rilo Kiley
A Song In A Foreign Language You Wish You Spoke: Tengo un Trato - La Mala Rodriguez
The Song That Always Makes You Cry: Two-Headed Boy Part Two - Neutral Milk Hotel
A Love Letter To Someone Specific: I'll Be Yr Bird - M. Ward
A Song You Want Played At Your Funeral: When I'm Gone - Phil Ochs
The Ultimate Dance Track: Let's Go Crazy - Prince
Volume Two:
Your Fight / Duel / WWF Song: To Hell With Poverty - Gang of Four
Your Favorite Song From The Last 12 Months: Paper Planes - M.I.A.
Explain 'Rock and Roll' To Aliens: Good Lovin' - Young Rascals
Your Father's Favorite Song: Be Here Now - Mason Jennings
Your Favorite Cover: Dancing In The Dark - Mirah
The Vocal Performance You Wish You Could Replicate: Bye Bye Baby - Mary Wells
The Ultimate Singalong Song: If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out - Cat Stevens
Your Favorite Instrumental Song: La Valse d'Amelie (piano version) - Yann Tiersen
A Song That Reminds Someone Of You: New Slang - The Shins
A Song Dedicated To Your Current Crush: Season Of The Shark - Yo La Tengo
The Ultimate Breakup Song: Do What You Gotta Do - Nina Simone
Your Favorite Country Song: Blue Wind Blew - The Flatlanders
Your Favorite Bob Dylan Song: You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
Your Favorite Holiday Song: Rebel Jesus - Jackson Browne
The Ultimate Summertime Roadtrip Song: Jogging Gorgeous Summer - Islands
The Best Fast Skate Song: A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturday - De La Soul
Your Favorite Song About Death: Black Eyed Dog - Nick Drake
Volume Three is in the works. A slightly different format has been called for, and it might go something like this:
1. What does the place you're from sound like?
2. What does your heart sound like?
3. What does your brain sound like?
4. What does your body sound like?
5. What did being little sound like?
6. What did high school sound like?
7. What did college sound like?
8. What does DRUNK sound like?
9. What does winning sound like?
10. What does an orgasm sound like?
11. What does eye contact with a stranger across the room sound like?
12. What does falling in love sound like?
13. What do your dreams sound like?
14. What loneliness sound like?
15. What does your best friend sound like?
16. What does waking up sound like?
17. What does your future sound like?
We'll see! Do it with your friends! It's the most fun ever!
Pictures from the last party to give you an idea just how much fun we're talking here:
However, I will let you in on the best idea we [Mandy and myself] ever had.
Project Mix Tape!
It started at Hole In The Wall a few months ago. We wrote out a list of 'categories' and people we knew loved music, had lots of it, and actively make mixes. (Btdubs, we had to keep the list of people pretty short to accommodate party plans, and many of the people including were Mandy's friends, so please don't be hurt if you meet those criteria and you weren't part of the original group...). We sent the list out and everyone made apropos mixes, and then we had a party where we listened to some of the categories and drank and danced and loved each other's faces off. The party for the second go round happened Friday night. Both have been two of the best nights of my life. As I've explained it to some people -- "this is what parties would be like if everyone always acted exactly how I want them to."
Here are the lists & my picks:
Volume One:
The Theme Song To The Movie Of Your Life: That Summer Feeling - Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers
A Song That Always Makes You Happy: Love Power - Dusty Springfield
Your Favorite Song When You Were 13: Runaway Train - Soul Asylum
Your Mom's Favorite Song: What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
A Song You Remember From the Best Live Show You've Ever Seen: Westfall (live) - Okkervil River
The Song You Would Most Like To Hear Live, But Haven't and Can't: Summer Babe (Winter Version) - Pavement
Your Bender / Lost Weekend Anthem: Kiss Off - The Violent Femmes
The Song You Want To Be Playing The First Time You Kiss Your 'One True Love': Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
The Ultimate Doin' It Song: Come On In My Kitchen - Robert Johnson
Your Favorite Beatles Song: Blackbird
A Song You Wish Was Written About/For You: Love And Some Verses - Iron and Wine
A Song For Riding Your Bike Around After The Apocalypse: Wake Up - The Walkmen
High Speed Car Chase Song: Let The Poison Spill From Your Throat - The Faint
'Guilty Pleasure' [A Song You Love But Would Never Put On A Regular Mix For Someone]: Bathwater - No Doubt
A Song You Should Have Written But Someone Else Did It First: A Better Son/Daughter - Rilo Kiley
A Song In A Foreign Language You Wish You Spoke: Tengo un Trato - La Mala Rodriguez
The Song That Always Makes You Cry: Two-Headed Boy Part Two - Neutral Milk Hotel
A Love Letter To Someone Specific: I'll Be Yr Bird - M. Ward
A Song You Want Played At Your Funeral: When I'm Gone - Phil Ochs
The Ultimate Dance Track: Let's Go Crazy - Prince
Volume Two:
Your Fight / Duel / WWF Song: To Hell With Poverty - Gang of Four
Your Favorite Song From The Last 12 Months: Paper Planes - M.I.A.
Explain 'Rock and Roll' To Aliens: Good Lovin' - Young Rascals
Your Father's Favorite Song: Be Here Now - Mason Jennings
Your Favorite Cover: Dancing In The Dark - Mirah
The Vocal Performance You Wish You Could Replicate: Bye Bye Baby - Mary Wells
The Ultimate Singalong Song: If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out - Cat Stevens
Your Favorite Instrumental Song: La Valse d'Amelie (piano version) - Yann Tiersen
A Song That Reminds Someone Of You: New Slang - The Shins
A Song Dedicated To Your Current Crush: Season Of The Shark - Yo La Tengo
The Ultimate Breakup Song: Do What You Gotta Do - Nina Simone
Your Favorite Country Song: Blue Wind Blew - The Flatlanders
Your Favorite Bob Dylan Song: You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
Your Favorite Holiday Song: Rebel Jesus - Jackson Browne
The Ultimate Summertime Roadtrip Song: Jogging Gorgeous Summer - Islands
The Best Fast Skate Song: A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturday - De La Soul
Your Favorite Song About Death: Black Eyed Dog - Nick Drake
Volume Three is in the works. A slightly different format has been called for, and it might go something like this:
1. What does the place you're from sound like?
2. What does your heart sound like?
3. What does your brain sound like?
4. What does your body sound like?
5. What did being little sound like?
6. What did high school sound like?
7. What did college sound like?
8. What does DRUNK sound like?
9. What does winning sound like?
10. What does an orgasm sound like?
11. What does eye contact with a stranger across the room sound like?
12. What does falling in love sound like?
13. What do your dreams sound like?
14. What loneliness sound like?
15. What does your best friend sound like?
16. What does waking up sound like?
17. What does your future sound like?
We'll see! Do it with your friends! It's the most fun ever!
Pictures from the last party to give you an idea just how much fun we're talking here:
Labels: lovedones, mixtapes, music
1.01.2008
2 0 0 7, y'all.
Albums of the year:
1. The Stage Names / Golden Opportunities mixtape - Okkervil River
2. Cease To Begin - Band Of Horses
3. Neon Bible - The Arcade Fire
4. Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - Of Montreal
5. In Rainbows - Radiohead
6. Kala - M.I.A.
7. Armchair Apocrypha - Andrew Bird
8. The Shepherd's Dog - Iron & Wine
9. Ola Podrida - Ola Podrida
10. Night Falls Over Kortedala - Jens Lekman
EP of the year: my friend Seth's band The Tiny Tin Hearts' demo.
Saddest: the death rattle of Dinosaur Jr's 'Beyond' and, even though I usually hate this accusation, the actual selling out of Rilo Kiley.
Movies of the year:
1. No Country For Old Men
2. Darjeeling Limited
3. Juno
4. Paprika
5. Grindhouse (really, Planet Terror)
Overrated: Waitress
Way, way, way better than I thought it would be: Enchanted
I still don't really know if it was brilliant or terrible: I'm Not There
(I still haven't seen Atonement, Into The Wild, and lots of other lauded films. It's been a bad year for me and movie-time.)
Love:
1. The Stage Names / Golden Opportunities mixtape - Okkervil River
2. Cease To Begin - Band Of Horses
3. Neon Bible - The Arcade Fire
4. Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - Of Montreal
5. In Rainbows - Radiohead
6. Kala - M.I.A.
7. Armchair Apocrypha - Andrew Bird
8. The Shepherd's Dog - Iron & Wine
9. Ola Podrida - Ola Podrida
10. Night Falls Over Kortedala - Jens Lekman
EP of the year: my friend Seth's band The Tiny Tin Hearts' demo.
Saddest: the death rattle of Dinosaur Jr's 'Beyond' and, even though I usually hate this accusation, the actual selling out of Rilo Kiley.
Movies of the year:
1. No Country For Old Men
2. Darjeeling Limited
3. Juno
4. Paprika
5. Grindhouse (really, Planet Terror)
Overrated: Waitress
Way, way, way better than I thought it would be: Enchanted
I still don't really know if it was brilliant or terrible: I'm Not There
(I still haven't seen Atonement, Into The Wild, and lots of other lauded films. It's been a bad year for me and movie-time.)
Love:
Labels: lists, lovedones, music
11.07.2007
WinterCrush!
I made this mix. I'll make copies for most of the folks I see regularly. It's a 'sequel' to a 'SummerCrush' mix I made a couple years ago. Sweater weather!
1. Winter Wooksie - Belle & Sebastian
All that snow makes it hard to see her, but did she wave to me?
2. Everything Disappears When You Come Around - Of Montreal
Birds have no heads when you come around. Everything loses it's legs when you come around.
3. You Trip Me Up - The Jesus And Mary Chain
Love's like the mighty ocean, when it's frozen, that is your heart.
4. Turn Me On - Nina Simone
My hi-fi is waiting for a new tune, my glass is waiting for some fresh ice cubes. I'm just sitting here waiting for you to come on home and turn me on.
5. Baby I'm In The Mood For You - Bob Dylan
But then again, but then again, I said oh, I said oh, I said oh babe, I'm in the mood for you.
6. Just Can't Get Enough - Nouvelle Vague
We walk together, we're walking down the street. I just can't get enough, I just can't get enough.
7. You Are Something - Love
But you do something to me, you’re driving me straight through the floor. Even if it should snow, still I want you to know -- love love, come on, come on and love!
8. Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken - Camera Obscura
Hey, Llloyd, I'm ready to be heartbroken. Cause I can't see further than my own nose at this moment.
9. When My Boy Walks Down The Street - The Magnetic Fields
There are whole new kinds of weather when he walks with his new beat.
10. Angel, Won't You Call Me? - The Decemberists
Though I am a lost cause, Angel won't you call me?
11. The Cold Swedish Winter - Jens Lekman
The cold Swedish winter is right outside, and I just want somebody to hold me through tonight.
12. Somebody's On My Mind - Billie Holiday
To dream my dream could be my mistake, but I'd rather be wrong and sleep right along than wait.
13. Poison Cup - M. Ward
If love is a poison cup, than drink it up.
14. Give You My Lovin' - Mazzy Star
When I see you, I want to kiss you. But I know that ain't right so I ask if I can hold you. Oh, babe, I need you so bad. Oh babe, I only want to make you glad.
15. I Touch Myself - Scala Choir
I love myself, I want you to love me. when I feel down I want you above me.
16. Hock It - The Blow
Your mean tricks, like the wetness of your lips when you say 'just put your heart here in my hand.' And though I know you might hock it, I can't keep it in my pocket. I've tried, but I can't. Oh man.
17. Gumboots - Paul Simon
I said 'hey Senorita that's astute' I said 'why don't we get together and call ourselves an institute?'
18. Gingernsaps - Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham
You can cut my hair, you can fill my cup, you can tell me lies, you can make it up. We're gonna make it after all.
19. Steady Boyfriend - April Young
We will party with your swinging crowd, when you're mine all mine I will be so proud.
20. Who's Your Boyfriend? - Adam Green
I joke around, but I don't look down because you could break my heart.
21. I Wanna Be Your Dog - Uncle Tupelo
So messed up, I want you here. In my room, I want you here.
22. Baby That's Me - The Cake
She always tells me just how nice you are, and how you kiss goodnight in your car. But maybe someday you will see all the things I want to be.
23. Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight - Whiskeytown
This situation keeps me drinking every goddamn day and night. This situation don't seem so right. So excuse me if I break my own heart tonight.
24. Share Your Love With Me - Aretha Franklin
Oh, how lonesome, how lonesome, how lonesome you must be. I tell you it would be a shame, a shame if you don't share your love with me.
25. I Want You - Tom Waits
Give you all my love, if only you would say 'I want you, you, you.'
26. Angel In The Snow - Elliott Smith
I'd say you make a perfect angel in the snow. All crushed out on the way you are, better stop before it goes too far.
27. Your Name - Tricky
If you like-a-me, like I like-a-you, and we like-a-both the same, I'd like-a say, this very day, I'd like-a-change your name.
28. Winte Weather - The Squirrel Nut Zippers
There's nothing sweeter, finer, when there's ice and snow. Don't you know I'll hold you tightly to me? And I will get that love that is due me.
1. Winter Wooksie - Belle & Sebastian
All that snow makes it hard to see her, but did she wave to me?
2. Everything Disappears When You Come Around - Of Montreal
Birds have no heads when you come around. Everything loses it's legs when you come around.
3. You Trip Me Up - The Jesus And Mary Chain
Love's like the mighty ocean, when it's frozen, that is your heart.
4. Turn Me On - Nina Simone
My hi-fi is waiting for a new tune, my glass is waiting for some fresh ice cubes. I'm just sitting here waiting for you to come on home and turn me on.
5. Baby I'm In The Mood For You - Bob Dylan
But then again, but then again, I said oh, I said oh, I said oh babe, I'm in the mood for you.
6. Just Can't Get Enough - Nouvelle Vague
We walk together, we're walking down the street. I just can't get enough, I just can't get enough.
7. You Are Something - Love
But you do something to me, you’re driving me straight through the floor. Even if it should snow, still I want you to know -- love love, come on, come on and love!
8. Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken - Camera Obscura
Hey, Llloyd, I'm ready to be heartbroken. Cause I can't see further than my own nose at this moment.
9. When My Boy Walks Down The Street - The Magnetic Fields
There are whole new kinds of weather when he walks with his new beat.
10. Angel, Won't You Call Me? - The Decemberists
Though I am a lost cause, Angel won't you call me?
11. The Cold Swedish Winter - Jens Lekman
The cold Swedish winter is right outside, and I just want somebody to hold me through tonight.
12. Somebody's On My Mind - Billie Holiday
To dream my dream could be my mistake, but I'd rather be wrong and sleep right along than wait.
13. Poison Cup - M. Ward
If love is a poison cup, than drink it up.
14. Give You My Lovin' - Mazzy Star
When I see you, I want to kiss you. But I know that ain't right so I ask if I can hold you. Oh, babe, I need you so bad. Oh babe, I only want to make you glad.
15. I Touch Myself - Scala Choir
I love myself, I want you to love me. when I feel down I want you above me.
16. Hock It - The Blow
Your mean tricks, like the wetness of your lips when you say 'just put your heart here in my hand.' And though I know you might hock it, I can't keep it in my pocket. I've tried, but I can't. Oh man.
17. Gumboots - Paul Simon
I said 'hey Senorita that's astute' I said 'why don't we get together and call ourselves an institute?'
18. Gingernsaps - Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham
You can cut my hair, you can fill my cup, you can tell me lies, you can make it up. We're gonna make it after all.
19. Steady Boyfriend - April Young
We will party with your swinging crowd, when you're mine all mine I will be so proud.
20. Who's Your Boyfriend? - Adam Green
I joke around, but I don't look down because you could break my heart.
21. I Wanna Be Your Dog - Uncle Tupelo
So messed up, I want you here. In my room, I want you here.
22. Baby That's Me - The Cake
She always tells me just how nice you are, and how you kiss goodnight in your car. But maybe someday you will see all the things I want to be.
23. Excuse Me While I Break My Own Heart Tonight - Whiskeytown
This situation keeps me drinking every goddamn day and night. This situation don't seem so right. So excuse me if I break my own heart tonight.
24. Share Your Love With Me - Aretha Franklin
Oh, how lonesome, how lonesome, how lonesome you must be. I tell you it would be a shame, a shame if you don't share your love with me.
25. I Want You - Tom Waits
Give you all my love, if only you would say 'I want you, you, you.'
26. Angel In The Snow - Elliott Smith
I'd say you make a perfect angel in the snow. All crushed out on the way you are, better stop before it goes too far.
27. Your Name - Tricky
If you like-a-me, like I like-a-you, and we like-a-both the same, I'd like-a say, this very day, I'd like-a-change your name.
28. Winte Weather - The Squirrel Nut Zippers
There's nothing sweeter, finer, when there's ice and snow. Don't you know I'll hold you tightly to me? And I will get that love that is due me.
5.07.2007
Okkervil River much?
Hey guys,
I have a strange little favor... I am writing an epic and overly long personal essay on the subject of Okkervil River. Right now, I'm writing it for no reason in particular, just because I had a lot to say about them and their influence on my musical world and my emotional state, the high I get after their shows, the way I've watched them grow up... I wanted to get some of the thoughts on all of that and more out of my system, maybe just in an effort to stop talking about it to anyone who will listen.
But it's coming along kind of nicely and I'm thinking about doing "something" with it, like possibly submitting it for publication to some yet undiscovered publication that publishes several thousand word essays about girls and their favorite bands.
I am wondering if any of you have any thoughts or ideas or memories or emotional blathering about the first or eighteenth time you heard or saw Okkervil River. I don't have to have introduced them to you for you to qualify, I'm just interested in other people's experiences and how they relate or differ from mine. I'd probably quote you and this might (might, might, might) be published, but I'll certainly email you a copy before I do that...
If you have anything, comment or email me. Thanks!!! Love!
I have a strange little favor... I am writing an epic and overly long personal essay on the subject of Okkervil River. Right now, I'm writing it for no reason in particular, just because I had a lot to say about them and their influence on my musical world and my emotional state, the high I get after their shows, the way I've watched them grow up... I wanted to get some of the thoughts on all of that and more out of my system, maybe just in an effort to stop talking about it to anyone who will listen.
But it's coming along kind of nicely and I'm thinking about doing "something" with it, like possibly submitting it for publication to some yet undiscovered publication that publishes several thousand word essays about girls and their favorite bands.
I am wondering if any of you have any thoughts or ideas or memories or emotional blathering about the first or eighteenth time you heard or saw Okkervil River. I don't have to have introduced them to you for you to qualify, I'm just interested in other people's experiences and how they relate or differ from mine. I'd probably quote you and this might (might, might, might) be published, but I'll certainly email you a copy before I do that...
If you have anything, comment or email me. Thanks!!! Love!
Labels: music, okkervilriver
3.07.2007
Pass.
I had a debate a couple days ago that made me revisit some thoughts I've had before about celebrities and artists -- musicians, specifically -- and the expectations that people have of them. I always find myself on the side of this debate where I am defending an artists right to basically act however they want. I'm not much for accusations of 'selling out' and I'm especially disinterested in analyzing any celebrity's behavior towards their fans. I don't really think that choosing to make art means that you should have some special responsibility that the rest of us don't have to go out of your way for everyone who wants a piece of your time. For larger celebrities, or just musicians with especially rabid fans, giving everybody what they want is literally impossible, much less something they should feel obligated to do.
Our debate revolved around a local musician who I'm good terms with, but who I've been told dozens of times is "actually" a pretentious asshole, based on their second or third hand anecdotes, or on the way people think he comes across in interviews. My argument is actually two-fold. One part of my problem is that I don't really care if he IS a pretentious asshole. It wouldn't affect my perception of what a good songwriter, singer, and performer I think he is whatsoever. The other part of my problem is that the person in question has had plenty of opportunities to be a pretentious asshole to me or in front of me, or at the very least ignore me or be indifferent, but instead he has always been exceedingly pleasant, accomodating, and sweet -- going out of his way on many occasions to make me feel appreciated and more like a friend than a fan, even though I am clearly a completely obsessive freak about him and his band. I don't think it's unreasonable or biased to think that my own personal experience counts for more (for me) than some vague story someone heard once about him being a jerk.
It's funny because the former argument, that I don't care if the musicians I love are jerks, is something I believe to be true but have never really had the chance to test. I like plenty of musicians who have nasty reputations but every interaction I've ever had with them has been nothing but sweetness and light. Conor Oberst laughed at my jokes and hugged me and all my friends when he had plenty of blonder girls waiting to kiss his feet, or drugs to do, or U.S. States to offend, or whatever... But, you know, I wouldn't really care if he HAD just walked past us instead. I honestly believe that it doesn't matter to me much. Lots of people like to point out to me this one time that Conor was asked in an interview whether or not he used the internet to communicate with his fans and he said that he didn't really care about communicating with fans. And my reaction to that is to laugh. And I don't think it's crazy or mean or terrible of him to say. No one has enough time to communicate with their friends, much less hundreds of thousands of adoring teenagers. All he's supposed to do is write good songs. And, actually, if he wants to stop doing that and start teaching elementary school again, whatever. I'll miss the songs but I won't think he's a jerk. Why must we hold musicians to standards that we don't hold anyone else to?
Anyway, I feel like I'm rambling. But I'm interested in other people's opinions about whether or not they believe all the stories about so-and-so being terrible and whether or not they would care if it was true. What kind of obligations to musicians have to be nicer than the rest of us? And if they're not, does it affect the way you hear their music? How much do you factor stories you've heard about someone into your perception of them? Is just ignoring your fanbase okay if you're making amazing music?
Our debate revolved around a local musician who I'm good terms with, but who I've been told dozens of times is "actually" a pretentious asshole, based on their second or third hand anecdotes, or on the way people think he comes across in interviews. My argument is actually two-fold. One part of my problem is that I don't really care if he IS a pretentious asshole. It wouldn't affect my perception of what a good songwriter, singer, and performer I think he is whatsoever. The other part of my problem is that the person in question has had plenty of opportunities to be a pretentious asshole to me or in front of me, or at the very least ignore me or be indifferent, but instead he has always been exceedingly pleasant, accomodating, and sweet -- going out of his way on many occasions to make me feel appreciated and more like a friend than a fan, even though I am clearly a completely obsessive freak about him and his band. I don't think it's unreasonable or biased to think that my own personal experience counts for more (for me) than some vague story someone heard once about him being a jerk.
It's funny because the former argument, that I don't care if the musicians I love are jerks, is something I believe to be true but have never really had the chance to test. I like plenty of musicians who have nasty reputations but every interaction I've ever had with them has been nothing but sweetness and light. Conor Oberst laughed at my jokes and hugged me and all my friends when he had plenty of blonder girls waiting to kiss his feet, or drugs to do, or U.S. States to offend, or whatever... But, you know, I wouldn't really care if he HAD just walked past us instead. I honestly believe that it doesn't matter to me much. Lots of people like to point out to me this one time that Conor was asked in an interview whether or not he used the internet to communicate with his fans and he said that he didn't really care about communicating with fans. And my reaction to that is to laugh. And I don't think it's crazy or mean or terrible of him to say. No one has enough time to communicate with their friends, much less hundreds of thousands of adoring teenagers. All he's supposed to do is write good songs. And, actually, if he wants to stop doing that and start teaching elementary school again, whatever. I'll miss the songs but I won't think he's a jerk. Why must we hold musicians to standards that we don't hold anyone else to?
Anyway, I feel like I'm rambling. But I'm interested in other people's opinions about whether or not they believe all the stories about so-and-so being terrible and whether or not they would care if it was true. What kind of obligations to musicians have to be nicer than the rest of us? And if they're not, does it affect the way you hear their music? How much do you factor stories you've heard about someone into your perception of them? Is just ignoring your fanbase okay if you're making amazing music?
Labels: music
3.04.2007
Because there is nothing i like to do more...
than picture myself stranded on a desert island. And write lists about music. And bore you to death.
Inspired by Kester and Grainer and my entire life.
Edited and in order since I posted it as a comment. So if you think I should only get five or ten or eighteen, you can just trim them from the bottom. Sexy!
Twenty Five Albums for me and my island:
1. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
2. Paul Simon - Graceland
3. Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks
4. Joni Mitchell - Blue
5. Bright Eyes - Lifted Or The Story's In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground
6. The Beatles - Abbey Road
7. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
8. Okkervil River - Down The River Of Golden Dreams
9. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
10. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker
11. Rilo Kiley - The Execution Of All Things
12. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
13. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
14. Nanci Griffith - The Flyer
15. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
16. Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
17. One Kiss Can Lead To Another box set of girl groups (I'm now counting this as one, even though it's four discs, because I love cheating)
18. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
19. The Beatles - White Album
20. Elliott Smith - Elliott Smith
21. Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
22. The Velvet Underground - Loaded
23. Nirvana - Nevermind
24. Cat Power - Moon Pix
25. Mazzy Star - Among My Swan
Albums I feel really weird and overly sad about leaving out even though 25 seems like a lot:
Neil Young - Tonight's The Night
Tilly And The Wall - Bottoms of Barrels
M. Ward - Transfiguration of Vincent
Micah P. Hinson - And The Opera Circuit
Willie Nelson - Redhead Stranger
All the other Bright Eyes, Wilco, and Okkervil albums.
Several other Bob Dylan and Beatles and Paul Simon albums.
Tom Waits - Blood Money
Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk
Shearwater - Winged Life
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Mirah - You Think It's Like This But It's Really Like This
Bjork - Debut
The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts
Beck - Sea Change
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Inspired by Kester and Grainer and my entire life.
Edited and in order since I posted it as a comment. So if you think I should only get five or ten or eighteen, you can just trim them from the bottom. Sexy!
Twenty Five Albums for me and my island:
1. Neutral Milk Hotel - In The Aeroplane Over The Sea
2. Paul Simon - Graceland
3. Bob Dylan - Blood On The Tracks
4. Joni Mitchell - Blue
5. Bright Eyes - Lifted Or The Story's In The Soil, Keep Your Ear To The Ground
6. The Beatles - Abbey Road
7. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
8. Okkervil River - Down The River Of Golden Dreams
9. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
10. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker
11. Rilo Kiley - The Execution Of All Things
12. The Arcade Fire - Funeral
13. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
14. Nanci Griffith - The Flyer
15. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
16. Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan
17. One Kiss Can Lead To Another box set of girl groups (I'm now counting this as one, even though it's four discs, because I love cheating)
18. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy
19. The Beatles - White Album
20. Elliott Smith - Elliott Smith
21. Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
22. The Velvet Underground - Loaded
23. Nirvana - Nevermind
24. Cat Power - Moon Pix
25. Mazzy Star - Among My Swan
Albums I feel really weird and overly sad about leaving out even though 25 seems like a lot:
Neil Young - Tonight's The Night
Tilly And The Wall - Bottoms of Barrels
M. Ward - Transfiguration of Vincent
Micah P. Hinson - And The Opera Circuit
Willie Nelson - Redhead Stranger
All the other Bright Eyes, Wilco, and Okkervil albums.
Several other Bob Dylan and Beatles and Paul Simon albums.
Tom Waits - Blood Money
Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk
Shearwater - Winged Life
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Mirah - You Think It's Like This But It's Really Like This
Bjork - Debut
The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts
Beck - Sea Change
Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
2.15.2007
Four Sqaure
[1] My valentine this year is my new house. All I want to do, ever, is be there. Cooking in our giant kitchen, hanging out on our huge patio, sleeping in my new bed, staring at the extra room in my closet, peeking in on Braedyn sleeping under dinosaur sheets, and staring at the giant pile of boxes we've unpacked.
[2] It's a busy weekend, which makes me sad because even though I am excited about seeing Jules' band (tonight), and Of Montreal (tomorrow), and ladies night (Saturday); there is a huge giant part of me that really, really just wants pick up the discs of Lost Season Two that arrived today and maybe rent Science of Sleep and watch movies on the floor with Rissa and Patrick and big cokes.
[3] Sometimes the headlines on pitchfork media news totally read like Onion parodies... See: 'Gnarls Barkley holds haiku contest'.
[4] New Bright Eyes EP... Not that awesome*. What is happening????????????????????????????
* Not bad, per se, just not up to par. Except for the song 'Tourist Trap', which I like a lot.
[2] It's a busy weekend, which makes me sad because even though I am excited about seeing Jules' band (tonight), and Of Montreal (tomorrow), and ladies night (Saturday); there is a huge giant part of me that really, really just wants pick up the discs of Lost Season Two that arrived today and maybe rent Science of Sleep and watch movies on the floor with Rissa and Patrick and big cokes.
[3] Sometimes the headlines on pitchfork media news totally read like Onion parodies... See: 'Gnarls Barkley holds haiku contest'.
[4] New Bright Eyes EP... Not that awesome*. What is happening????????????????????????????
* Not bad, per se, just not up to par. Except for the song 'Tourist Trap', which I like a lot.
1.31.2007
Imma have so many chickens!
Bands releasing albums in the next few months: Bright Eyes, Okkervil River, Wilco, The Arcade Fire, Of Montreal, Andrew Bird, Voxtrot, Grand Champeen.
Everytime I’m really down I’m just going to think about Will Sheff telling me that the new Okkervil sounds like Spector girl groups sung by him (singing the 'most complex' Okkervil lyrics ever), and I'll slough through.
2007 is going to be the best year ever!
Everytime I’m really down I’m just going to think about Will Sheff telling me that the new Okkervil sounds like Spector girl groups sung by him (singing the 'most complex' Okkervil lyrics ever), and I'll slough through.
2007 is going to be the best year ever!
Labels: music
1.30.2007
My friends...
are awesome.
If you use the iTunes Music Store, you can download the new Grand Champeen record 'Dial T For This' for 9.99. That's a deal for 13 perfect bar pop songs. My favorite at the moment is "Cities on the Plain". Check it out and then, if you live in Austin, come with me to the Kinks tribute at Emo's on Saturday night, where Champeen will be kicking out the jams, yo.
And meanwhile, Brad has uploaded his new JFK music video. You will pee laughing. I did, anyway.
If you use the iTunes Music Store, you can download the new Grand Champeen record 'Dial T For This' for 9.99. That's a deal for 13 perfect bar pop songs. My favorite at the moment is "Cities on the Plain". Check it out and then, if you live in Austin, come with me to the Kinks tribute at Emo's on Saturday night, where Champeen will be kicking out the jams, yo.
And meanwhile, Brad has uploaded his new JFK music video. You will pee laughing. I did, anyway.
Labels: internets, lovedones, music
1.27.2007
'People' Mix 2007. Limited Edition.
When I was eighteen or nineteen my friend Rhymi and I started making tapes for each other with a theme. We would pick out songs that very specifically reminded us of the loved ones (or arch enemies) in our lives and mix them for each other, explaining who they reminded us of in the case notes. Michelle made one too (Quiche Lorraine reminded her of Josh Gauthreaux!)
Later, the tapes were expanded into elaborate CD plans. By the time the project lost it's steam, I had bought an entire set of children's books on manners I planned to use as packaging for the ultimate people mix CD collection. I still have Rhymi's elaborate tracklists, and some notes of my own.
Fast forward to a couple months ago, Larissa and I revisit the project and make lists of 20 of the most important people in our lives and assign them all songs. In the people projects, some of the songs remind you of people because you once listened to them together, or kissed to them, or danced to them. Others are intangible -- some part of the essence of the song bears a relation in your heart to the essence of that person. Others are very literal -- the lyrics of the song could easily be your own love letter to that particular friend. It just depends. Anyway, it's a fun experiment and you should try to remember some of the songs that remind you of your favorites.
Now, just because I am sick and bored, is a miniature version for you. This one is obviously incomplete in covering the important people in my life, and is really just a collection of a few songs that immediately spring to mind as being intrinsically linked to this person or that one.
Nature Anthem - Grandaddy dedicated to Braedyn.
Incidentally, a recording of Braedyn singing this song is the ringtone on Riss's phone right now.
Pale Blue Eyes - The Velvet Underground dedicated to Isaac.
Neither of us has pale blue eyes. When I got my wisdom teeth removed I listened to Isaac singing this song on repeat during most of the surgery.
Eau D' Bedrrom Dancing dedicated to Rebekah.
Even if she didn't love it so much I think it would remind me of her.
New Slang - The Shins dedicated to Jeff.
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procul Harum dedicated to Brad.
I can't even remember why this song reminds me of Brad but a long time ago I started thinking of him when I heard it and now I always do.
The Ballad of El Goodo - Big Star dedicated to Kester.
So Begins Our Alabee - Of Montreal dedicated to Margaret.
For lots of reasons, beginning with the fact that Kevin Barnes' voice reminds me of Margaret's heart.
Later, the tapes were expanded into elaborate CD plans. By the time the project lost it's steam, I had bought an entire set of children's books on manners I planned to use as packaging for the ultimate people mix CD collection. I still have Rhymi's elaborate tracklists, and some notes of my own.
Fast forward to a couple months ago, Larissa and I revisit the project and make lists of 20 of the most important people in our lives and assign them all songs. In the people projects, some of the songs remind you of people because you once listened to them together, or kissed to them, or danced to them. Others are intangible -- some part of the essence of the song bears a relation in your heart to the essence of that person. Others are very literal -- the lyrics of the song could easily be your own love letter to that particular friend. It just depends. Anyway, it's a fun experiment and you should try to remember some of the songs that remind you of your favorites.
Now, just because I am sick and bored, is a miniature version for you. This one is obviously incomplete in covering the important people in my life, and is really just a collection of a few songs that immediately spring to mind as being intrinsically linked to this person or that one.
Nature Anthem - Grandaddy dedicated to Braedyn.
Incidentally, a recording of Braedyn singing this song is the ringtone on Riss's phone right now.
Pale Blue Eyes - The Velvet Underground dedicated to Isaac.
Neither of us has pale blue eyes. When I got my wisdom teeth removed I listened to Isaac singing this song on repeat during most of the surgery.
Eau D' Bedrrom Dancing dedicated to Rebekah.
Even if she didn't love it so much I think it would remind me of her.
New Slang - The Shins dedicated to Jeff.
A Whiter Shade of Pale - Procul Harum dedicated to Brad.
I can't even remember why this song reminds me of Brad but a long time ago I started thinking of him when I heard it and now I always do.
The Ballad of El Goodo - Big Star dedicated to Kester.
So Begins Our Alabee - Of Montreal dedicated to Margaret.
For lots of reasons, beginning with the fact that Kevin Barnes' voice reminds me of Margaret's heart.
Labels: lovedones, mixtapes, music
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
