Playlist

After yesterday's somewhat downer of a post, and then after my world went to shit for about 10 hours, I decided that today's post would be light and airy, like a Three Musketeers bar or a fluffy marshmallow cloud.

What?

Ok, so we all know I'm a self-proclaimed Music Fan. I don't think there are too many things in my life that are more influential, outside of my Daddy issues and my never ending guilt parade. For me, at every point in my life; every moment that has stuck out as being a low point or a turning point or a high point...or even just a point...there has been a song associated with it. The Soundtrack of My Life, so to speak. The iPod has made this aspect of my life even more pronounced.

Music pretty much carries me through anything, and now that I have some of my favorite stuff within hands reach at all times, I am starting to notice some listening patterns; what I pull up and when.

As I alluded to earlier, yesterday around noon, and a scant half-hour after writing the New Order post, my personal life imploded and tough decisions are being bandied about as we speak. I went to the gym after work in an effort to steam out some of the lingering anxiety, and I was relatively successful, but once the endorphins wore off, I needed a little more help. Once I was in bed, I grabbed the iPod. I will now share with you what I played and the best lyric from each song.

Hour Follows Hour| Ani DiFranco | Not A Pretty Girl
Favorite Lyric: I have had something to prove, as long as I know there's something that needs improvement.
I love Ani DiFranco. I think she is an excellent singer-songwriter. I have to credit Sarah L. for introducing me to her in college, but thank Laura H. for bringing this song to my attention.

Sailing | Christopher Cross | The Definitive Christopher Cross
Favorite Lyric: Sailing takes me away to where I've always heard it could be
Not that the lyric itself is some brilliant construction of predicate and subject, but it really does a great job of conveying what it literally states. I feel like I'm sailing when I hear it. Awesome melody.

Aurora | Foo Fighters | There Is Nothing Left To Lose
Favorite Lyric: I just kinda died for you, you just kinda stared at me
Ouch. I love everything about this song, particularly the bass line, but all the lyrics cut me to the bone. It's like a condensed epic.

M.I.A. | Foo Fighters | There Is Nothing Left To Lose
Favorite Lyric: Getting lost in you again is better than being numb, better than playing dumb
I can't listen to this record without listening to this song before I'm done. This song is so L.A. to me, and applies even now to my life.

Crash Into Me | Dave Matthews Band | Crash
Favorite Lyric: If I've gone overboard, then I'm begging you to forgive me, oh, in my haste, when I'm holding you so girl, close to me
I'll be 90 and still love this song. There is something so sweet about this lyric and the idea of a boy getting so caught up in a girl that he feels compelled to apologize for it.

I Know | Jude | No One Is Really Beautiful
Favorite Lyric: You've got such a pretty smile, it's a shame the things you hide behind it
Oh man. This whole song slays me, because I closely relate to it and feel like it's very eloquent of some of my major malfunctions. What a great voice this guy has, too. It's like butter. No really. Or Yoo-hoo, the smooth chocolate drink. (Thanks, Dane.)

Ask (Live) | Kristoffer Carter | Salvation EP
Favorite Lyric: I wonder what it would take to set aside my hang-ups, and walk over to where you're sitting - get this all off my chest, even if I regret it...at least you would know what I've been thinking.
I wonder, indeed. I luuuuurv this song, and it's coincidental that I know and lurv the artist! This is such a great performance by Kristoffer, and such a fantastic song about having enough sac to be with the one you crave, even if someone else has something to say about it. That's my interpretation, at least. The guitar and the vocal performance is completely A game, and I think that's why I love it the most. Who wouldn't want to have a great rock 'n roll moment to share with the world?

I Will Sing You Songs | My Morning Jacket | It Still Moves
Favorite Lyric: There are only a few lyrics in this song, and they're not too spectacular, but this is an emotional song. I think it's very well done, especially the last four and a half minutes. It's lengthy, but never boring.

Transatlanticism | Death Cab for Cutie| Transatlanticism
Favorite Lyric: It's actually like the resolution to the "I need you so much closer" lyric that dominates this song about two lovers separated by distance and something a little more, I think. Another lengthy song, it builds and builds with repetitions of "I need you so much closer," until there is finally a chorus of "So c'mon, c'mon..." which I just love. Is it a dare? Is it an order? Is it a plea? I don't know, but I really am drawn to the earnest sentiment behind it.

So yeah, that's what I stayed up until 1:45 a.m. listening to. Thanks for hanging in this long.