Though iMtired, iTunes

Most of you know by now that if I'm iTunesing, I'm in New Jersey. Hopefully this plight will soon find its end and I will be able to iTunes from the bowels of Brooklyn. Alas, until that glorious moment when my computer can take the Tiger update like a champ, my opportunities for updating my iPod are limited to those times when the lure of a cheesesteak becomes too difficult to bear, and I board 4 consecutive trains and endure mass transit for four hours straight in the quest for one worthy of such a caloric bacchanalia.

Sadly, I keep forgetting the iTunes gift cards one of my teams at work gave me for the holidays, but I still had enough $$ left over from a very generous Christmas gift certificate to pick up these here gems:

In order of purchase:

When It Don't Come Easy | Patty Griffin | Impossible Dream
I've admitted before that I trawl Celebrity Playlists for music recommendations because 1.) I'm lazy and 2.) it's always interesting to know what your favorite artists like to listen to. This one I yanked from Melissa Etheridge and Tammy-Lyn Whatshername's "Couples" playlist. What? Patty Griffin is awesome. I love her voice; it's so clear and pure and could probably cut through any sound. I'm already obsessed with this song and I've only had it for 13 hours. I would like to dedicate it to Meghan.

Sacrifice | The Roots | Phrenology
Sometimes I get tired of all the Next Big Thing New Wave Indie Rock I love so much. After a while it just sounds like do much white noise and it's difficult to differentiate from one band from the next. I don't think it's a coincidence that every time I attempt to download something "different" and a little more "organic," a track from this Roots record ends up on my iPod. I should just buy the whole thing, but I think I'll wait for the rest of it to reveal itself to me. Perfect Philly Soul.

When The Sun Goes Down | Arctic Monkeys | When The Sun Goes Down - EP
Speaking of Next Big Thing New Wave Indie Rock, I've been reading about these guys for a little while now, and Blender just did a little profile on them which, of course, means I'm WAY behind the curve on checking them out. Their shit is always so damn late. Anyway, I couldn't even begin to tell you what the difference is between these guys and all the rest of them, other than the fact that their accent seems real. This is a good little rock song.

P.Y.T.(Pretty Young Thing) | Michael Jackson | Thriller (Special Edition) [Remastered]
Yeah, that's right. Some motherfucking Michael JACKSON for your ass! Say what you want about the guy, because he is a freaky effin' pervert, but it's hard to find fault with anything he put out during this period of his career. Here's a pathetic little personal note: I used to listen to this song on my brick-sized, state-of-the-art Sony Walkman over and over again as I did "curbs." You know, when you stay in one spot and run up and down on the curb? Yeah, because even then I was chubbilicious and aware that it was no longer "cute."

Tender Love | Force MD's | Chillin'
There's a new iTunes Essentials compilation on the R&B/Soul page of the Music Store called "New Jack Swing." If I was rich, I woulda bought the whole damn thing. Levert, Guy, Bel Biv DeVoe, New Edition... All groups I was into in a huge way back in the day. The first time I heard this song was when I saw it performed live after a 76ers game. We were really close to the court and I watched these guys stand there and perform this and I was completely mesmerized. Admittedly, I find myself in that state several times a day. I always snap out of it before the drool starts, though.

Finally, there was actually a surprise download for me. MANY, MANY months ago, I looked up and downloaded this one particular song from a movie, but something happened and it never ended up in my library. Instead, another song by the artist made it in, through a mouse-click mishap.

Tonight, when I was wandering around in iTunes, I decided to "Check for purchases" and a song started downloading. I got scared and crampy. I played it when it was done downloading and, lo and behold, it was the song from the movie. The song is Chariot's Rise, the artist is Lizzie West, the movie is Secretary, and the dedication is for Owen Wilson.