Setlist Society

Move that @$$!

2010-04-08T08:52:00.001-07:00

Go go go! Spring time, getting warm out, time to stop hibernating and start exercising regularly again. Post those songs that motivate you to just keep going when you're out jogging, biking, at the gym, or what have you...

and if i sing you are my voice,

2010-03-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

I really love all of these songs, for various reasons that I figure I don't need to explain here (though I'd be happy to do so if there are any selections you're curious about). I hope that you find one or two in the list that you love as much as I do, if not more.

Enjoy!

(I'll have to email you 2--especially since I don't know who sings the version I nabbed from a friend's mix--and 4.)

"Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap
"Summertime" by unknown artist
"Blue in the Face" by Alkaline Trio
"St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244: No. 53 Choral - "Befiel due deine Wege" by Bach
"The Body Breaks" by Devendra Banhart
"Love Me Like a River Does" by Melody Gardot
"Gold" by Interference (from the ONCE soundtrack)
"Fantasie Impromptu Opus #66" by Chopin
"Golden Hair" by Syd Barrett
"Ghosts" by Laura Marling
"Hurt" as sung by Johnny Cash
"Romance in G, Op. 26" by Svendsen
"Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love" by Coldplay
"2 Dollar Shoes" by Rosie Thomas
"Heartbeats" by Jose Gonzalez
"War Requiem, Op. 66: XVIII. Let Us Sleep Now...In Paradisum" by Benjamin Britten
"Skinny Love" by Bon Iver
"Blood" by The Middle East

NYC is fine with me

2010-03-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the late post, but at least I got it in...

"City of Blinding Lights" from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb by U2
"Two Weeks" from Veckatimest by Grizzly Bear
"Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys)" from The Blueprint 3 by Jay-Z
"New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down" from Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem
"Manhattan" from Once Upon a Summertime by Blossom Dearie
"When I Fall in Love" from Portrait in Jazz by the Bill Evans Trio
"New York City (Radio Edit)" from New York City by Norah Jones & The Peter Malick Group
"I'm Waiting For The Man" from The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground
"Pretty Baby" from Parallel Lines by Blondie
"Judy is a Punk" from Ramones by The Ramones
"Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head" from They Might Be Giants by They Might Be Giants
"Digital Love" from Discovery by Daft Punk
"The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme) from The Empire Strikes Back by John Williams
"Rhapsody in Blue" from Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue/An American In Paris by George Gershwin, perf. Leonard Bernstein & The Columbia Symphony Orchestra
"Theme from New York, New York" from Trilogy: Past Present Future by Frank Sinatra
"The Only Living Boy in New York" from Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
"Seattle" from Seattle by Perry Como

Notes in the comments.

Georgia on my mind

2010-03-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

*Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics

How exactly do you go from Alan Jackson to T.I. in a playlist? It's not easy. But it's part of explaining the interesting combination that makes up Southern identity. I won't comment on the state of the South (because this isn't the place to politick), but suffice it to say, there're still the Alan Jackson folks, and the T.I. folks, and then people that are amalgamations of both. This setlist explains Georgia, my home, my ancestry, my youth, my present.

And, yeah, I've left out some obvious Georgia natives -- R.E.M., the B-52s, Widespread Panic, the Black Crowes. That's because they're not part of MY Georgia.

(Editor's Note: I'm super behind this week, so I didn't write out the list, and I got this up late. Sorry Lauren.)

Comma Songs

2010-03-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

Four years ago in London a freebird by the name of Shannon Mehner introduced me to the concept of a "comma song," which comes from the following ee cummings poem:

hate blows a bubble of despair into
hugeness world system universe and bang
-fear buries a tomorrow under woe
and up comes yesterday most green and young

pleasure and pain are merely surfaces
(one itself showing,itself hiding one)
life's only and true value neither is
love makes the little thickness of the coin

comes here a man would have from madame death
nevertheless now and without winter spring?
she'll spin that spirit her own fingers with
and give him nothing (if he should not sing)

how much more than enough for both of us
darling. And if i sing you are my voice,

See that comma at the end, how this poem hangs on that beautiful mark of punctuation? Did it make you tingle, shiver, or sigh a little bit? I hope so. If not, try to think of another poem or photograph or song or whatever that leaves you with a lingering ache. A comma song is any song that sort of submerses you in sublimity. Sometimes it's the whole song that does this, but sometimes it's just the comma-sized detail--the way Jeff Buckley breathes audibly before even the first pluck of the strings in "Hallelujah," or the amazing intro to Johnny Cash's "Solitary Man." Make sense? This week I would like for all of us to compile sweet, sweet mixes of all of the "comma songs" in our music libraries.

Paris, je t'aime

2010-03-21T20:58:00.000-07:00

Obvi.

"Montmartre" by Django Reinhardt
"La valse d'Amelie" from Amelie
"Pour Vous" by Django Reinhardt
"Les Champs-Elysees" by Joe Dassin
"Petits Mensonges" by Django Reinhardt
"Printemps" by Coeur de Pirate
"Les Yeux Noirs" by Django Reinhardt
"Tout Doucement" by Feist
"Bijou" by Django Reinhardt
"Comptine d'un autre ete, l'apres-midi" from Amelie
"Elats de Cuivres" by Django Reinhardt
"La Vie En Rose" sung by Madeleine Peyroux
"Ninouche" by Django Reinhardt
"Parisian Thoroughfare" by Clifford Brown & Max Roach
"Seul Ce Soir" by Django Reinhardt
"Under the Bridges of Paris" by Dean Martin
"Vous Et Moi" by Django Reinhardt
"Le Festin" from Ratatouille
"Petite Lili" by Django Reinhardt
"Les etoiles" by Melody Gardot
"Billets Doux" by Django Reinhardt
"Padam...Padam..." by Edith Piaf

(I got all but two songs on here, but they're both Djangos so I figure you've got the idea as far as his genius goes.)

Pick a city... any city

2010-03-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

OK kiddos, this week we've got another guest blogger picking the theme. This week it's my good friend Lauren. Perhaps you saw her list from last week? Anyway, she gave me this theme a few days ago, and I've been lazy about getting it up, but here it is, in her own words:

"Pick a city, any city. Describe it in songs. The artists can be from that city (or state), they can sing about that city (or state), or the song can simply invoke a feeling or memory that you relate to a city (or state)."

So, there we go folks. Figure out your city!

Damn the Man. Save the Empire

2010-03-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

This week we've got another guest list, this time from good friend and travel companion Lauren. Here's the list, check for explanations in the notes.

"Redemption Song" from Uprising by Bob Marley & The Wailers
"Police and Thieves" from Police and Thieves by Junior Murvin
"The Guns of Brixton" from London Calling by The Clash
"Alternative Ulster" from Alternative Ulster - Single by Stiff Little Fingers
"Kill the Poor" from Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables by Dead Kennedys
"Dissident" from Vs. by Pearl Jam
"Teen Age Riot" from Daydream Nation by Sonic Youth
"The Eraser" from The Eraser by Thom Yorke
"Y Control" from Fever to Tell by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Bad Kids" from Good Bad Not Evil by Black Lips
"Fight for Your Right" from Licensed to Ill by The Beastie Boys
"Five Corporations" from End Hits by Fugazi
"Rip it Up" by Elvis Presley
"Ladies Love Outlaws" from Ladies Love Outlaws by Waylon Jennings
"Killing Floor" from The Real Folk Blues by Howlin' Wolf
"Lucifer" from The Black Album by Jay-Z
"I Shall Be Released" from To Love Somebody by Nina Simone

Phooey on The Man

2010-03-15T07:14:00.000-07:00

This week I decided to go easy on the ordering and just put them in (mostly) chronological order. Maybe that will be interesting. Here's the list:

"Original Faubus Fables" from Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus by Charles Mingus
"Let's Get Together" from The Parent Trap by Hayley Mills
"Blowin' In The Wind" from The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan
"Like a Rolling Stone" from Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
"Taxman" from Revolver by The Beatles
"Fortunate Son" from Willy and the Poor Boys by Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Volunteers" from Volunteers by Jefferson Airplane
"Compared to What" from Swiss Movement by Les McCann & Eddie Harris
"What's Going On" from What's Going On by Marvin Gaye
"Think About It" from Flight of the Conchords by Flight of the Conchords
"Live and Let Die" from Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney & Wings
"Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man)" from Good Old Boys by Randy Newman
"Sheena is a Punk Rocker" from Rocket to Russia by The Ramones
"Bad Reputation" from Bad Reputation by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
"Love is All Around" from Greatest Hits by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
"What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes" from Impeach the Precedent by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
"Ewok Celebration/Finale" from Return of the Jedi by John Williams

Ok, a few notes. First off, you get the version of Faubus with the lyrics that Columbia wouldn't let Mingus use. I know you have to listen to it twice, but it's a good track. It's a little known fact that the next track is an anti-cold war protest song hidden inside of a Disney movie. Think about it. #4 is my choice for Electric Dylan sticking it to the masses at Newport, among other things. #9 and #10 are a kind of parodic call and response, and one of two places where music appears out of chronology. #11 challenges the societal notion that we should live and let live, which also happens to be an excellent intro to one of my least favorite Bond flicks. I like #15 because I think it works on a couple of levels - it's both Punk and speaks to feminine empowerment (though I'm a man, so what would I know?). And finally, we've got a track that both celebrates the Rebellion's victory over the evil Man that is the Empire, and should be the anthem of those of us who want proper versions of a trilogy that we love. Enjoy. I hope I haven't inflicted too much of my strange humor on you this week.

Count Me Out--In

2010-03-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Most of these songs tie into the stick-it-to-the-man theme in obvious ways (the Pink Floyd and Frank Zappa selections, for example), some are a a little less in-your-face (Coldplay, Monsters of Folk), and a few need a note of explanation. I've included "Back in the USSR" because here the Beatles are simultaneously paying tribute to Chuck Berry (who stuck it to the man in his own ways), parodying The Beach Boys, and supporting Russia (some say "Back in the USSR" could be taken as "Backin' the USSR," a la the 1968 campaign"I'm Backing Britain"). You gotta love the White Album. Like when they make fun of Bob Dylan's speaking/singing/mumbling habit in "Rocky Raccoon"--the guy changed folk by plugging in his guitar and introduced the Beatles to pot and still they are willing to poke fun at him on an album, he who was pretty dang good at stickin' it to the man himself? That's gutsy. And funny. But I digress. I put "Revolution 1" on here instead of "Revolution 9" for one reason:

"But when you talk about destruction,

Don't you know that you can count me out--in"

Take it as you will, but I take that "in" as a sign of the Beatles' humor and kinda post-modern self-awareness, some of the things I like most about them, especially during the Sgt. Pepper's/White Album phase. So great.

And, lastly, Stravinsky. If you don't know the story, Google it fool, 'cause it's awesome. This guy's work started a classical music RIOT at its premiere. How great is that? People just couldn't hack it--all those polytonalities, dissonances, and polyrhythms. Way to stir things up, Stravinksy.

Okay, that's all. Enjoy!

"School of Rock" from School of Rock
"Back in the USSR" by the Beatles
"A Rush of Blood to the Head" by Coldplay
"Welcome to the Machine" by Pink Floyd
"Piggies" by the Beatles
"Black or White" by Michael Jackson
"Don't Panic" by Coldplay
"Baby Boomer" by Monsters of Folk
"The Times They Are A-Changin'" by Bob Dylan
"Revolution 1" by the Beatles
"Plastic People" by Frank Zappa
The Rite of Spring" by Stravinsky

(Making a widget for this list was taking too long, so I'll just email the songs to you.)

Garner the masses!

2010-03-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

For this week's theme I selected a variety of songs that stick it to The Man in as many various ways possible: socially, culturally, and of course politically:

"They" from Finally Woken by Jem
"We Gotta Get Out of This Place" from We Gotta Get Out of This Place [single] by The Animals
"Gold Watch Blues" from What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid by Donovan
"Power to the People" from Power to the People [single] by John Lennon with the Plastic Ono Band
"Let Me Be" from You Baby / Let Me Be [single] by The Turtles
"Hot Topic Is Not Punk Rock" from The Graduate by MC Lars
"Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle" from Motorcade of Generosity by Cake
"Pop Lie" from The Stand Ins by Okkervil River
"Proud" from The Bruce Lee Band by The Bruce Lee Band
"I Should Be Allowed to Think" from John Henry by They Might Be Giants
"Rebels of the Sacred Heart" from Drunken Lullabies by Flogging Molly
"Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" from Indian Reservation by Paul Revere and the Raiders
"Fables of Faubus" from Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus
"For What It's Worth" from Buffalo Springfield by Buffalo Springfield
"A Simple Desultory Philippic (Or How I Was Robert McNamara'd into Submission)" from Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel
"Talking World War III Blues" from The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan
"99 Luftballons" from 99 Luftballons by Nena
"Zombie" from No Need to Argue by The Cranberries
"Prevenge" from The Spine by They Might Be Giants
"7 O'Clock News / Silent Night" from Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme by Simon & Garfunkel
"Blowin' in the Wind" from The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

The setlist opens with "They," generally suspicious of the vague and shadowy authorities that dominate the sundry aspects of our lives. 2-5 stick it to The Man socially, transitioning with track 6 into a more culturally-specific protest. 7-9 continue that cultural sticking with music-industry specific jabs. Track 10 refers to music and culture, but also provides a nice segue into the section on government--any song that starts out by quoting Allen Ginsburg has to have some anti-government angst in it.

The government section of the playlist comprises the rest, but is divided into two specific themes. 11-13 deal with the oppression of ethnic groups. Track 14 marks the beginning of the war section, which comprises the rest of the list, even though the song was actually inspired by clashes between unrestful youths and police in L.A. But For What It's Worth has long been used as a reminder of the anti-Vietnam protest songs, demonstrated here by Simon & Garfunkel. After that you have a couple of songs expressing trepidation at the potential for nuclear holocaust, a track by an angry Irish woman who doesn't like war in general, and a song that is almost certainly about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Wrap it up with two classics, one an ironic Christmas carol recorded in 1966, and one that offers a vague answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything.

Good grief

2010-03-08T19:28:00.000-08:00

I assumed the worst when Christina suggested a list to cope with a terrible day, week, whatever. And the worst means that there will be a few stages of coping.

First comes the need to drown out sorrow with hard-hitting riffs and licks. A little build-up at first, perhaps, but then it's drive, drive, drive. The hard-hitting sounds get more and more jaded in their lyrics, until...

Stage two completes the journey from hard-hitting sounds to hard-hitting lyrics. It's the blue phase of coping. Life is hard. I kind of feel like whining. I need a hole to just hide in. But this too shall pass into...

Stage three brings me up out of my hole and reminds me that there are lovely things that still soothe the soul. It ends with some resolve that I should go ahead and plan on getting out of bed tomorrow and try to be optimistic. Who doesn't want to feel good after going through all that?

"The President's Dead" from The President's Dead [single] by Okkervil River
"Dope Nose" from Maladriot by Weezer
"Flathead" from Flathead [EP] by The Fratellis
"Rumble in Brighton" from Guitar Slinger by The Brian Setzer Orchestra
"Everything Went Numb" from Everything Goes Numb by Streetlight Manifesto
"Scott Farcas Takes It on the Chin" from Hello Rockview by Less Than Jake
"Cabrón" from By the Way by Red Hot Chili Peppers
"The Likes of You Again" from Swagger by Flogging Molly
"My Friends Over You" from Sticks and Stones by A New Found Glory
"Five Long Years" from From the Cradle by Eric Clapton
"Kiss with a Fist" from Lungs by Florence and the Machines
"The Modern Leper" from The Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit
"Mean Old World" from The Blues [Disc 1] by Eric Clapton
"The Pharaohs" from Middle Cyclone by Neko Case
"Dig Me a Hole" from Fireproof by Dawn Landes
"Horses on the Range" from Citsuca by Timmy Curran
"Into the West" from The Lord of the Rings - Return of the King soundtrack by Howard Shore with Annie Lennox
"Sweetness Follows" from Automatic for the People by R.E.M.
"3. Saturday Night Waltz" from Rodeo by Aaron Copland
"Pick Yourself Up" from When I Look in Your Eyes by Diana Krall
"Bright Spring Morning" from Rump Shaker by Suburban Legends

Stickittodamaniosis

2010-03-08T12:55:00.000-08:00

In perhaps an all-too-perfect followup to Christina's guest appearance, this week's theme is "Sticking It to the Man!" Pick the songs in your playlist that best exemplify this concept, whether through lyrics, historical context, musical style... as long as you can justify how it fits the theme, it works.

Guest blogger Christina: Panacea playlist

2010-03-08T11:31:00.000-08:00

After a series of weeks of frustration, disappointment, stress, heartache and sadness, things are finally looking up. Ahhhhh. Thank goodness. Thanks, specifically, to the music I turned to for a little symphonic soothing. While a hellish week might suggest angry chick rock to one and mopey emo tunes to another, as a musical panacea for all that ails me this go 'round, I've really craved a gradual progression from beautifully melancholy to happily peppy songs. Follow my progression thusly, won't you?

"Both Sides Now" from Hits by Joni Mitchell - If you've ever seen "Love Actually", you will also remember the scene where Emma Thompson listens to this song alone in her bedroom after realizing that her husband is cheating on her. Thompson's heartbreaking performance coupled w/ Joni's mournful song...well, if you haven't seen it, it says it all.
"What Happens When the Heart Just Stops" from Strict Joy (Deluxe Edition) by The Swell Season (originally written/performed by The Frames) - I just love the last 2 lines - "There's a bad bone inside of me. All my troubles started there." The lyrics of this entire song are perfect, actually. I've definitely had this one on repeat in the last few weeks. I love you, Glen.
"Hallelujah" from Grace (Legacy Edition) by Jeff Buckley - Heartbreaking, slow, and beautiful. Amen.
"Fake Plastic Trees" from The Bends by Radiohead - This song has always made me kind of weep inside. Perfect for the days when you're feeling like weeping on the outside too.
"Breakable" from Girls and Boys by Ingrid Michaelson - Picking up tempo here. Simple lyrics, but easily very relatable. And sometimes I feel like a breakable girl.
"Way I Am" from The American by Martin Sexton - Progressing into the feel good section here. Martin's voice does things for me that penicillin never will.
"The Flower Duet" from Lakme by Leo Delibes - Mmmmm. Close your eyes and listen to this one. I actually can't listen to this duet without involuntarily closing my eyes.
"O mio babbino caro" from Gianni Schicchi by Giacomo Puccini - Transportation to a beautiful place...probably Italy. This may or may not have something to do w/ the movie "A Room With A View".
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from Alone in IZ World by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - No matter how many times you've heard this one, tell me it doesn't make you smile.
"Sweet Disposition" from (500) Days of Summer Soundtrack by Temper Trap - The opening of this song forces my eyes closed and utterly transports me. As silly as it might sound, it makes me feel like I'm floating. I love that.
"This Too Shall Pass" from Of the Blue Colour of the Sky by OkGo - Because every so often we need full, orchestral reminders that this too SHALL pass! Also, if you've never seen the most recent video for this song...it is pure genius and will add another smile to your face.
"Little Secrets" from Manners by Passion Pit - Just a few weeks ago when I was having a really rotten day, a friend shared this one with me and it instantly made me smile from the inside out...and may have poured out of my eyes a little bit.
"Bohemian Rhapsody" from Classic Queen by Queen - Entering the "sing along as loud as you can" section! I dare you to try NOT to sing along!
"Island in the Sun" from Weezer [Green Album] by Weezer - I thought of including any number of other Weezer songs, but I just really loved the feeling of being on a holiday. Go ahead. Take a musical holiday from your problems for 3 minutes and 20 seconds.
"Lollipop" from Life in Cartoon Motion by Mika - Jared, thanks for reminding me of this song. I love it and I love Mika's infectious peppiness. Also, this has some pretty apt lyrics.
"Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" from Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend - VW never fails to infuse me with some much needed pep and feelgoodery. I could have included Paul Simon, because he often has the same effect, but I thought I'd give VW a shout out.
"Diner" from Black Sheep by Martin Sexton - Because Martin is just too good NOT to include twice. And doesn't this happy little ditty make you start moving in your chair or beating your knee/desk along w/ the beat?
"Chelsea Morning" from Hits by Joni Mitchell - The worst is over and you can wake up to your own Chelsea Morning. Who doesn't want to feel the sun pour in like butterscotch and stick to all your senses? Mmmm. Thank you, Joni, for being able to express my melancholy and my happiness!
"Here Comes the Sun" from Abbey Road by The Beatles - Cue The Beatles. Joni asked for the sun and here it comes.

Are you smiling yet? You should be.

The Melon Collie

2010-03-07T22:38:00.000-08:00

Yeah, so, like Amanda, some of these songs require certain context for me to listen to them in the manner of the theme. Also, some of these songs I don't really listen to in said context much anymore -- but included them because they have been songs I've used in the past.

I also confess that sometimes it's not the lyrics of the song that I need to hear, it's usually the music style... Anyways, enjoy!

"Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" from (500) Days of Summer - Music From the Motion Picture by The Smiths
"Everything You Want" from Everything You Want by Vertical Horizon
"Bulletproof" from (iTunes Single of the Week) by La Roux
"Superman (It's Not Easy)" from America Town by Five for Fighting
"Climbing the Walls" from The Else by They Might Be Giants
"Cyclops Rock" from Mink Car by They Might Be Giants
"Love On the Rocks" from The Jazz Singer by Neil Diamond
"Reasons" from Not Without a Fight by New Found Glory
"Nothing Else Matters" from Metallica by Metallica
"If You Could Only See" from Lemon Parade by Tonic
"Sonny" from Sticks and Stones by New Found Glory
"Goodbye" from It Means Everything by Save Ferris
"Cheer Up" from Cheer Up! by Reel Big Fish
"Señor Burns" from Songs in the Key of Springfield by Tito Puente
"When Your Lover Has Gone" from The Summit: In Concert by Frank Sinatra
"What Kind of Fool Am I?" from The Summit: In Concert by Sammy Davis, Jr.
"Just a Girl" from Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt
"9 Years" from The Ska That Broke the Camel's Back by Button Hooked
"Bad Days" from Batman Forever by The Flaming Lips
"I Want More" from Suburban Legends by Suburban Legends
"If It Was Up to Me" from Fire the Cannons by Jet Lag Gemini
"You Can't Hurry Love" from Phil Collins: Hits by Phil Collins

A couple notes about the grooveshark playlist: #'s 15 and 16 above are different from what's in the playlist, but close enough to give you an idea (I like MY version of the Frank Sinatra song a lot better... The Sammy Davis, Jr. one is comparable but still not quite as good, either). "9 Years" is a track from some old roommates' ska band and hopefully Jared will have that e-mailed out to the group soon.

Dr. Dave's Cure-All

2010-03-07T16:18:00.000-08:00

I'm not going to lie, this was one challenging list. I'll explain myself at the bottom.

"Amazing Grace" from The Gang's All Here by Dropkick Murphys
"Rock and Roll" from Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
"Hanging on the Telephone" from Parallel Lines by Blondie
"One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces" from Whatever & Ever Amen by Ben Folds Five
"Tessie" from Tessie - EP by Dropkick Murphys
"The Distance" from Fashion Nugget by Cake
"Sinnerman" from Pastel Blues by Nina Simone
"Country Mile" from Let's Get Out of This Country by Camera Obscura
"Waterloo Sunset" from Something Else by the Kinks by The Kinks
"Beast of Burden" from Some Girls by The Rolling Stones
"These Days" from Chelsea Girl by Nico
"Linger" from Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? by The Cranberries
"I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" from Transcendental Highway by Colin Hay
"No Woman No Cry" from Legend by Bob Marley & The Wailers
"Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" from Hatful of Hollow by The Smiths
"Whole Wide World" from Wreckless Eric by Wreckless Eric
"My Lament" from Evanescence by The Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra
"Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43: Variation XVIII: Andante Cantabile" from Rachmaninov: Rhapsody On a Theme of Paganini composed by Sergei Rachmaninoff and preformed by The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, dir. Arthur Rubinstein
"Here Comes the Sun" from Abbey Road by The Beatles
"Buonanotte Fiorellino" from Rimmel by Francesco De Gregori

So, when it comes to music helping me through the hard times there are mainly two ways it works - either by letting me live vicariously through it, or by calming me and helping me to clear my mind. When I'm in the mood for one form of treatment, I'm usually not in the other, but in this list I've tried to make them play nicely. It shouldn't be hard to figure out where I'm going in this list - get the bad feelings out, hit the inevitable post-rockout crash, and clear my mind. It even ends on a happy note. Consider it therapy on a disc. More notes in the comments.

Dance Dance Evolution

2010-03-04T21:54:00.000-08:00

This musical panacea theme is a tricky one, I think, because the context of my disappointment or frustration totally determines what music I listen to, so I just picked a specific context to work with: love.

My first instinct was to follow that urge to wallow, so I picked out some Coldplay, some Johnny Cash, and some Melody Gardot, for starters. Then I thought, nah, I'd rather go for some fist-pumping raucousness, indulge in some rage and fury--turns out I don't have much music that fits into this category. Perhaps I could go for the musical shaman thing? But that would turn into a list of my favorite classical pieces, the stuff that really heals and binds me, and that felt a little serious for this theme. So I opted for power. Power to the ladies--but before you roll your eyes or glimpse the obligatory Shania Twain track out of context, I'll ask you to consider the playlist as a whole:

We start off with a few classics about earnest but illusory love before learning that, more often than not, love leaves us battle weary and broken. In our brokenness, we fall back on shallow reassurances of our sexuality and the superficial strength of it, but this quickly fades (hopefully) as we wizen up, dig a little deeper, and put some soul into it. By the end, we feel better, we feel stronger, and then it's time to dance with somebody new, someone who is actually ready for "a love that burns hot enough to last." And so we dance our way back into love.

Enjoy!

"Like a Prayer" by Madonna
"Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks
"Love Is a Battlefield" by Pat Benatar
"Some Days You Gotta Dance" by Dixie Chicks
"Independence Day" by Martina McBride
"I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor
"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" by Shania Twain
"Fancy" by Bobbie Gentry
"Single Ladies" by Beyonce
"Superwoman" by Alicia Keys
"Video" by India Arie
"Respect" by Aretha Franklin
"I Wanna Dance with Somebody" by Whitney Houston

Skeletoniest skeleton?

2010-03-03T13:36:00.001-08:00

I propose we the contributors vote for which track was the worst of the worst. The boniest skeleton. The guiltiest pleasure.

Two rules:

1. Everyone gets three votes.
2. No voting for any of your own.

Put your votes in the comments of this post to keep them consolidated.

And to make this a true interlude (and in light of the prominence of boy bands in this week's posts), please enjoy this tritest of trite songs:

Guest week: Christina and the Panacea Playlist

2010-03-03T07:17:00.000-08:00

Shannon is taking a bye this week, so we have Christina filling in with a guest theme:

Ya know when you've had the day or week from hell and you feel like screaming, crying, shaving your head and joining a monastery, punching something (or someone), or just going to sleep for a long, long time? You, my friends, are not alone. If you're anything like me, you may occasionally feel like wallowing in all that self-pity, frustration, and sorrow. Other times you have so much anger or frustrated energy that you need help releasing it. Time for a little music therapy with the perfect panacea playlist! Let's hear yours. Who are your musical shamans? No one is the same, so I'm looking forward to a group of setlists as broad and varied as the emotional spectrum. Let's dance/sing/scream it out.

I will prove to you how cool I am by embarrassing myself in public

2010-03-03T06:07:00.000-08:00

I contend that I'm still cool, just busy. And here's my list - every shameful bit.

"Doctor Jones" from Aquarium by Aqua
"C'est la Vie" from B*Witched by B*Witched
"I Just Want You To Know" from Never Gone by The Backstreet Boys
"Toxic" from In The Zone by Britney Spears
"Ven Conmigo (Solamente Tú) from Mi Reflejo by Christina Aguilera
"Hello" from Can't Slow Down by Lionel Ritchie
"I Want You" from Savage Garden by Savage Garden
"Wannabe" from Spice Girls by Spice Girls
"In The Navy" from The Best of the Village People by The Village People
"Woo Hoo" from Bomb the Twist by The 5.6.7.8's
"Put Your Records On" from Corinne Bailey Rae by Corinne Bailey Rae
"We Are The World" from We Are The World - Single by USA for Africa
"Fly" from Floored by Sugar Ray
"Hung Up" from Confessions On a Dance Floor by Madonna
"Stay (I Missed You)" from Tails by Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
"Waiting On the World to Change" from Continuum by John Mayer
"A Little Respect" from The Innocents by Erasure
"Escapar" from Escape by Enrique Iglesias
"Not Ready to Make Nice" from Taking the Long Way by The Dixie Chicks
"Tubthumping" from Tubthumper by Chumbawamba

I didn't bother to order these this week. You'll find notes in the comments, once I have time to get them there.

I regret nothing!

2010-03-03T05:43:00.000-08:00

"Party in the U.S.A." from The Time of Our Lives (EP) by Miley Cyrus
"Gonna Make You Sweat" from Gonna Make You Sweat by C+C Music Factory
"Hard Habit to Break" from Chicago 17 by Chicago
"Are You Giving the Least to Those Who Matter Most?" from Sound Tracks by Michael McLean
"Karma Chameleon" from Colour by Numbers by Boy George and the Culture Club
"Weekend in New England" from This One's for You by Barry Manilow
"Rock Lobster" from Rock Lobster (single) by The B-52's
"White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" from White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) (single) by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five
"In the Navy" from In the Navy (single) by The Village People
"Ten Feet Tall and Bulletproof" from Ten Feet Tall and Bulletproof by Travis Tritt
"Afternoons and Coffeespoons" from God Shuffled His Feet by Crash Test Dummies
"Mormon Rap" from Mormons Are Crazy by Walter Hayes Band

Make sure you check the comments. One of them includes a link to the "Mormon Rap."

Shameless O'Reilly

2010-02-23T08:47:00.000-08:00

"Girl You Know It's True" from Milli Vanilli: Greatest Hits by Milli Vanilli
"Phantom of the Opera (Remix)" (Unknown Source)
"Bring Me To Life" from Fallen by Evanescence
"I Am A Paleontologist" from Here Comes Science by They Might Be Giants
"Heut ist mein Tag" from Jasmin by Blumchen
"Every Other Time" from Life is Good by LFO
"I'm On a Boat" from I'm On a Boat (Single) by The Lonely Island
"Turtle Power" from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Original Soundtrack by Partners in Kryme
"Yo No Soy Esa Mujer" from Paulina by Paulina Rubio
"Poetically Pathetic" from The Possibility and the Promise by Amber Pacific
"It's All About the Pentiums" from Running With Scissors by Weird Al Yankovic
"Gettin Jiggy Wit It" from Big Willie Style by Will Smith
"Wunderkind" from The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by Alanis Morissette
"It's Gonna Be Me" from No Strings Attached by *NSYNC
"Heaven" from Heaven by DJ Sammy and Yanou
"Bastian's Happy Flight" from The Never Ending Story (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by Klaus Doldinger

For #1 is a remix. I actually prefer the original, but it's not an option. I'd have the song itself if iTunes would get some real Milli Vanilli music already.

#4 isn't THAT guilty of a pleasure, but given that it's on an album geared toward kids and I get a kick out of it, I feel like it belongs. #10 is mostly a guilty pleasure because the band describes themselves as emo rock, which makes me uncomfortable.

It Is What It Is

2010-02-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

Alright, friends, here are my guilty pleasures--dunno if any of them are really skeletons in the closet material, though:

Theme from Anne of Green Gables
Indian Outlaw by Tim McGraw
Single Ladies by Beyonce
Just Around the Riverbend from Disney's Pocahontas
The Climb by Miley Cyrus
Take Me or Leave Me from RENT (movie soundtrack)
Love Story by Taylor Swift
A Whole New World from Disney's Aladdin
Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson
Another Day from RENT (movie soundtrack)
Theme from PRide & Prejudice

Some of these, I think, warrant explanation, and some of them don't.

Anne of Green Gables and Pride & Prejudice (along with You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle, Little Women, Sense & Sensibility, and Stranger Than Fiction) are the movies I watch most often. I don't know that I'll ever get tired of them. Yes, I know perfectly well their myriad flaws, but that's why they're guilty pleasures!

Indian Outlaw is an awful song. There's good reason why the Native American community did not like it when it first came out. And yet. Here it is in my library, calling to mind some of my favorite high school memories.

Single Ladies, The Climb, Love Story, and Breakaway: No explanation necessary, I think.

As for RENT, the movie: Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, Rosario Dawson, Jesse L. Martin, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Idina Menzel, Tracie Thoms, AND Taye Diggs? Yes please, and thank you.

I have many qualms with Disney movies, but that doesn't mean I don't love watching them and singing along to their soundtracks. Hypocritical? Of course. But sometimes this girl just wants to sing about magic carpet rides and what's next along the river without thinking too hard about things.

Musical skeletons in the closet

2010-02-22T07:31:00.000-08:00

I waited a week to post the new theme because I figured people were still getting back into the swing of posting. Looks like it mostly worked, and we got four out of six posts up!

While you enjoy everyone's traveling setlists, start compiling the guilty pleasures and the past follies that are hiding in your music collection. We've all got them.

These setlists might be a little shorter than usual, but that's okay. I'm sure we'll all enjoy seeing a glimpse into the shadowy corners of everyone's iTunes.

Moving Right Along

2010-02-20T10:48:00.000-08:00

I don't really have a ton of songs that I would call normal road trip/travel tunes, so instead I picked music that always makes me think of specific travels I've made over the course of my life.

"Green River" from Chronicle: 20 Greatest Hits by Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Thunderbird" from The Spine by They Might Be Giants
"The Way You Do the Things You Do" from My Girl: The Very Best of the Temptations by The Temptations
"Endless Love" from Number 1's: Diana Ross & The Supremes by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
"Hey Jude" from Mono Masters, vol. 2 by The Beatles
"Mr. Roboto" from The Best of Styx by Styx
"The Beatles, pt. 2" from The Very Best of Stars on 45 by Stars on 45
"Take a Letter Maria" from R.B. Greaves by R.B. Greaves
"Your Guts (I Hate 'Em)" from We're Not Happy 'til You're Not Happy by Reel Big Fish
"You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" from The Summit: In Concert by Frank Sinatra
"The Way You Look Tonight" from My Best Friend's Wedding by Tony Bennett
"I Don't Wanna Be In Love (Dance Floor Anthem)" from Good Morning Revival by Good Charlotte
"I Will Survive" from Fashion Nugget by Cake
"Hi de Ho Man" from The Scat Song by Cab Calloway

Note that the Sinatra recording I have is from their live album as opposed to the studio version in the Grooveshark playlist.

I won't individually label which song reminds me of which trip, but let's just say that among these memories are a trip to CO with Amanda and Baida, my most recent trip to DC, some Duck Beach, and NYC. Enjoy!

Get on the bus, Gus

2010-02-18T12:28:00.001-08:00

"American Girl" from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
"Where The Streets Have No Name" from The Joshua Tree by U2
"I Get Around" from All Summer Long by The Beach Boys
"Rebel Rouser" from Have 'Twangy' Guitar Will Travel by Duane Eddy
"She Wolf" from She Wolf by Shakira
"Eleanor" from The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands by The Turtles
"Jessica" from Brothers and Sisters by The Allman Brothers Band
"Colorado" from A Sky Underground by Paper Bird
"Graceland" from Graceland by Paul Simon
"When I Go" from When I Go - Single by Slow Club
"Skinny Love" from For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver
"On and On" from The Sound by Mackintosh Braun
"Stepping Stone" from Rockferry by Duffy
"Summer Wind" from Strangers in the Night by Frank Sinatra
"Jolene" from Jolene by Dolly Parton
"Search and Destroy" from Raw Power by The Stooges
"Fortunate Son" from Willy and the Poor Boys by Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Don't Stop Belevin'" from Escape by Journey
"Sexual Healing" from Midnight Love by Marvin Gaye
"It's All Too Much" from Yellow Submarine by The Beatles
"America" from The Jazz Singer by Neil Diamond
"Knight Rider Theme" by Stu Phillips

There's no getting around it, my list is a roadtrip in a nutshell. When picking the songs, I took in to account several factors, including Americana, a sense of movement, sing-a-long-itude, and handshakefulness. OK, so I've been watching a lot of 30 Rock lately. Basically, it starts out as exciting and fun as any roadtrip, with great songs to sing along to and to encourage you to do some speeding, silly pop song of the moment included (this will become the anthem of the trip whether you like it or not). After a few long jams and odes to our nation, the trip transitions into the part where everyone has decided it would be better to sleep than to keep you company (usually around Idaho). Inevitably, you begin to join them, and decide to wake everyone up with some hard hitting stuff, followed by the requisite power ballad. As soon as those two kids in the back seat (you know who you are) begin to display a bit too much affection for a small car, you call on Marvin to embarrass them out of their sinful ways. Once the palate is cleansed, everyone sings along to the guilty pleasure song of the trip that serves to bind the group together with a secret shame, like conspirators in a murder plot as the black Camaro that is your trip fades into the sunset.

Songs of Wandering (Aengus)

2010-02-17T20:46:00.000-08:00

Here's my list--some explicitly about places, some that just seem like they'd be great to listen to while away from home. And track 16 is one of my new favorite songs of all time. This was definitely a fun mix to make. Enjoy!

"Map of the World" by Monsters of Folk
"Gobbledigook" by Sigur Ros
"Comme Des Enfants" by Coeur de Pirate
"Cayman Islands" by Kings of Convenience
"Mexico" by James Taylor
"Amsterdam" by Coldplay
"Under African Skies" by Paul Simon
"Aqueous Transmission" by Incubus
"Montmartre" by Django Reinhardt
"Shanghai" by Ed Harcourt
"Space Oddity" by David Bowie (Seu Jorge version from the soundtrack of "Life Aquatic")
"Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight & The Pips
"Chicago" by Frank Sinatra
"Ohio" by Damien Jurado
"River Road" by Crystal Gale
"Appalachia Waltz" by Mark O'Connor (solo cello version performed by Yo-Yo Ma)
"Homesick" by Kings of Convenience

Travelin' Man

2010-02-16T22:32:00.000-08:00

"No Repy" from Beatles for Sale by The Beatles
"Mystery Train" from I Forgot to Remember to Forget (single) by Elvis Presley
"Route 66" from Route 66 (single) by Nat King Cole
"Diner" from Black Sheep by Martin Sexton
"Express Crossing" from Jump Start and Jazz by Wynton Marsalis
"Hobo Blues" from Thicker than Water by G. Love & Special Sauce
"America" from Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel
"Freight Train Blues" from Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan
"Roll My Blues" from Catalpa by Jolie Holland
"Southern Cross" from Daylight Again by Crosby, Stills, and Nash
"Five State Drive" from Hello Rockview by Less Than Jake
"Chicago" from Illinoise by Sufjan Stevens
"Hearts and Bones" from Hearts and Bones by Paul Simon
"Wagon Wheel" from O.C.M.S. by Old Crow Medicine Show
"Never Did No Wanderin' " from A Mighty Wind by The New Main Street Singers
"I'm a Steady Rollin' Man" by Robert Johnson
"Wandering Boy" from Soon Be Time by Bruce Molsky
"Sweet City Woman" from Sweet City Woman by The Stampeders
"So Long to the Red River Valley" from Timeless by The Quebe Sisters Band
"Black Water" from What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits by The Doobie Brothers
"Take the 'A' Train" from Study in Brown by Clifford Brown & Max Roach Quintet
"King of the Road" from King of the Road (single) by Roger Miller

The first track is an homage to the immortal Stars on Long Play cassette released by the group Stars on 45. That tape was a staple of Gillins family road trips for as long as I can remember. The rest of the tracks are either songs that have to do with traveling, or songs that make me feel like driving, or maybe both. A lot of songs about trains and a lot that have the word "blues" in the title. Hmm.

Also, I just realized that Shark already used Less Than Jake's "Five State Drive" in another playlist, but I offer no apology. It's a great highway driving song.

We're back!

2010-02-08T11:40:00.001-08:00

And since it seems like we've all been on vacation for a while, this week's theme is Traveling Music!

Some Days You Gotta Dance

2009-12-22T22:16:00.000-08:00

Popular/mainstream music concerts I have attended in my lifetime: NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Philly Chili Cookoff (Pinmonkey, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw, etc.), Dixie Chicks, Warped Tour (The Starting Line, The All-American Rejects, Brand New, Less Than Jake, etc.), Coldplay, and Imogen Heap.

This playlist kinda cracks me up; however, in no way is it representative of all my concert going experiences. I grew up attending concerts by the Philadelphia Orchestra (it was sort of my family's version of Family Home Evening--we had season tickets to a lot of cool stuff back then). Once I got to BYU, I went to tons of free recitals and inexpensive concerts. One of my favorite memories of my BYU years involve a big group of us driving down to MOAB for the annual music festival there. We trekked up to the top of a mesa overlooking the Colorado River, gathered under a white tent, and--as the sun set--listened to a piano quintet perform classics by Russian masters like Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff. I spent most of my free time on a London study abroad watching plays and musicals, but I got to see a few concerts there, too. Then during the year I lived in D.C. I was lucky enough to catch a lot of concerts at the Kennedy Center for free, as well as a few others for pretty cheap. Anyway, I offer these details as a stand-in for a more legit, comprehensive playlist...

And then there's the readings I've attended. Sure, they're not musical concerts, but they're arguably similar, right? Eh, I'll spare you that, at least. :)

(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You - NSYNC
Larger Than Life - Backstreet Boys
Barbed Wire and Roses - Pinmonkey
Independence Day - Martina McBride
Where the Green Grass Grows - Tim McGraw
Some Days You Gotta Dance - Dixie Chicks
Best of Me - The Starting Line
Swing, Swing - The All-American Rejects
The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot - Brand New
Look What Happened - Less Than Jake
Till Kingdom Come - Coldplay*
Just For Now - Imogen Heap

*This song is actually a tribute to Johnny Cash. Coldplay first wrote it with the idea in mind of one day performing it with Cash, but he died before they could do it. At the concert, they performed a killer cover of "Ring of Fire" before playing "Till Kingdom Come."

Great Big Sled...

2009-12-22T19:39:00.001-08:00

Hi guys,

I already posted my Christmas setlist, but I wanted to post this song as well. I bought it last year, but it didn't really hit me how much I loved it until this Christmas season. Now it's definitely one of my favorites! Don't know what's going on with Grooveshark, but YouTube has it, enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzMeZI7fNJg

'Tis the Season

2009-12-07T18:39:00.000-08:00

Sorry guys, I've been getting behind on my playlists. Here's my Christmas set...

1) Another Christmas Song - Stephen Colbert
2) First Snow - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
3) Christmastime - Smashing Pumpkins
4) Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
5) Don't Shoot Me Santa - The Killers
6) Christmas Canon - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
7) Oh Come All Ye Faithful - Twisted Sister
8) Faith Noel - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
9) Oi to the World - No Doubt
10) Grown-Up Christmas List - Michael Buble
11) Silent Night - Sarah McLachlan
12) Wizards in Winter - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
13) Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World
14) Anno Domine - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
15) We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Weezer
16) My Little Drum - Vince Guaraldi Trio
17) O Come All Ye Faithful - Weezer
18) Do You Hear What I Hear? - Bing Crosby
19) A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives
20) Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano
21) Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Vince Guaraldi Trio

I was there

2009-12-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

Since Scrumpestuous D is globetrotting this week, he and I are swapping our turns.

The theme for the coming week's posts is going to be concert memories--songs that represent shows you've witnessed. Outstanding performances, fun shows, whatever. Let us know what you heard.

Glo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oria!

2009-11-29T15:57:00.000-08:00

"O Tannenbaum" from A Charlie Brown Christmas by Vince Guaraldi
"A Cradle in Bethlehem" from The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
"Christmas in Killarney" from Merry Christmas by Bing Crosby
"Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)" from The Complete 50's Masters (Disc 3) by Elvis Presley
"O Come O Come Emmanuel" from It's a Cool, Cool Christmas by Belle & Sebastian
"Wexford Carol" from Spirit of the Season by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
"The Christmas Song" from Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas by Ella Fitzgerald
"The Bells of Dublin/Christmas Eve" from The Bells of Dublin by The Chieftains
"Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance" from Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens
"Away in a Manger" from The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
"Christmas" from This Warm December: A Brushfire Holiday Vol. 1 by Rogue Wave
"Silver Bells" from Merry Christmas by Bing Crosby
"Cantos para Pedir las Posadas" from A Dave Brubeck Christmas by Dave Brubeck
"Like an Angel Passing through My Room" from Spirit of the Season by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir with Sissel
"Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" from Sweet Tracks 2005 by Feist
"White Christmas" from Merry Christmas by Bing Crosby
"Santa Claus Is Back in Town" from The Complete 50's Masters (Disc 3) by Elvis Presley
"Zat You Santa Claus?" from It's Christmas Time by Louis Armstrong
"River" from Blue by Joni Mitchell
"In the Bleak Midwinter" from Spirit of the Season by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir with Sissel
"Santa Bring My Baby Back (to Me)" from The Complete 50's Masters (Disc 3) by Elvis Presley
"No Christmas for Me" from This Warm December, A Brushfire Holiday, Vol. 1 by Zee Avi
"Silent Night" from The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
"Angels, from the Realm of Glory" from Spirit of the Season by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir with Sissel

A few notes: I'm actually not a big fan of #1, but I love this rendition of it. Way to go, Guaraldi. I wish #2 were more standard in the Christmas music canon; I think it's a beautiful song. I love the vibes on #7. In #9, the line "Santa Claus is coming, hear the banjos strumming" just gets me pumped up for some reason. Merry Christmas! God bless us, every one.

Amanda's Christmas setlist

2009-11-29T11:49:00.000-08:00

I didn't find all of the songs. Sorry to blemish your record, but I figured people might like to peruse at least most of your list. Merry Christmas! Here it is:

'Tis the Season!

2009-11-28T23:49:00.001-08:00

I just flew in from Phoenix a few hours ago and tomorrow I'm off to Munich, so I'm going to post a setlist sans widget--I'm not quite as on top of things as David over there. I hope that's cool with everybody. (Most of these are easily accessible and/or very familiar, anyway.)

A few comments: 1) I love love LOVE the first track. Judge all you want--it won't phase me a bit. I have glorious memories of this song, most of which involve dancing and eating candy. 2) The last track is from The Snowman, which I loved watching over and over as a kid, melancholy as it is at times, and I assume you have all seen it, too. (If this is not the case, repent!) 3) The primary reason for including track 11 is because every time I hear the brass blast after the first line I think of Jared shaking his dang hobo-gloved hands at me at BR in Provo. 4) If I had more time, I would download Barbara Streisand's album so I could include her version of "Jingle Bells." I think that's it.

All I Want for Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Bing Crosby
White Christmas - Michael Buble
Winter Wonderland - Dean Martin
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas - Bing, Frank, and Nat
Carol of the Bells - Home Alone soundtrack
Sleigh Ride - Harry Connick Jr.
Winter Song - Ingrid Michaelson & Sarah Bareilles
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Bing Crosby
Baby It's Cold Outside - Louis & Ella
Let It Snow - Harry Connick Jr.
O Tannenbaum - Nat King Cole
I'll Be Home for Christmas - Bing Crosby
Christmas Is All Around - Love Actually soundtrack
New Year's Eve - Harry Connick Jr.
Silent Night - The Carpenters
Ukranian Bell Carol - Vienna Boys Choir
Merry Christmas Darling - The Carpenters
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
Walking in the Air - Howard Blake (The Snowman soundtrack)

Don't listen until the turkey is digesting

2009-11-24T05:19:00.000-08:00

I'm submitting my post early this week, since I'm taking off for Italy tomorrow. My holiday music collection is probably pretty anemic compared to most, but I think there's enough unique stuff in here to keep things interesting.

"White Christmas" from Home Alone by The Drifters
"Melekalikimaka" from Christmas With The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys
"Please Come Home for Christmas" from Please Come Home for Christmas / Funky New Year - Single by Eagles
"Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" from Santa Claus is Comin' to Town - Single by Bruce Springsteen
"Run Rudolph Run" from Run Rudolph Run/Pressure Drop - Single by Keith Richards
"Feliz Navidad" from Feliz Navidad by José Feliciano
"That Spirit of Christmas" from The Spirit of Christmas by Ray Charles
"Blue Christmas" from Harry for the Holidays by Harry Connick, Jr.
"Santa Baby" from Platinum & Gold Collection: Eartha Kitt by Earha Kitt
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" from Elf by Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone
"Sleigh Ride" from A Christmas Festival by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Orchestra
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" from 20th Century Masters - The Christmas Collection: The Best of Brenda Lee by Brenda Lee
"Jingle Bell Rock" from For Christmas by Johnny Mathis
"Jingle Bells" from Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas by Ella Fitzgerald
"What Are You Doing New Years Eve" from Christmas Songs by Diana Krall
"Christmas Time Is Here" from A Charlie Brown Christmas by The Vince Guaraldi Trio
"I Have a Little Dreidel" from Barenaked for the Holidays by Barenaked Ladies
"Frosty the Snowman" from Harry for the Holidays by Harry Connick, Jr.
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" from Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas by Ella Fitzgerald
"Sussex Mummer's Christmas Carol" from Percy Grainger Plays Grainger by Percy Grainger
"Little Saint Nick" from Christmas With The Beach Boys by The Beach Boys
"The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" from Greatest Hits: Still Squeaky after All These Years by Alvin & The Chipmunks
"The Christmas Song" from 20th Century Masters - The Millenium Collection: The Best of Mel Tormé by Mel Tormé
"Christmas TV" from Christmas TV - Single by Slow Club
"Last Christmas (Studio Version)" from Christmas EP by Jimmy Eat World
"Sleigh Ride" from A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector by The Ronettes
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" from A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector by Darlene Love

Sorry about the pops and hisses on "Run Rudolph Run," they're not supposed to be there. This version of "White Christmas" is my all-time favorite and is might be my favorite Christmas song of all time. Plus, it's featured in Home Alone which plays a pivotal role in my personal history, being one of the first movies I ever saw without my parents. Harry's version of "Blue Christmas" isn't as good as the one I heard two years ago at the JALC Orchestra's Red Hot Holiday Stomp, but it's as close as I could get in a recording. The Mel Tormé track is included more for historical reasons, since the guy composed the song. I think I like the Nat King Cole version better, but I don't own it. Finally, "Jingle Bell Rock" will always remind me of my Mom. Anyway, Merry Christmas to all of you!

Holiday Magic...

2009-11-23T21:12:00.000-08:00

Hey guys,

It always seems like the holidays go by so fast. That's why I would like to make this week about everyone's favorite holiday music. That way I'll have enough time to accumulate a few more new favorites for this year. :)

Stringy...

2009-11-23T20:52:00.000-08:00

1) Nutshell (Unplugged) - Alice in Chains
2) Please Don't Let It Go (Acoustic) - HIM
3) Broken (Acoustic) - Seether
4) Running Blind (Acoustic) - Godsmack
5) Tamacun - Rodrigo y Gabriela
6) The World I Know - Collective Soul
7) Landslide - Smashing Pumpkins
8) Vermilion, Pt. 2 - Slipknot
9) Song or Suicide - HIM
10) We're Going to be Friends - White Stripes
11) No Excuses (Unplugged) - Alice in Chains
12) The Funeral of Hearts (Acoustic) - HIM
13) Pennyroyal Tea (Unplugged) - Nirvana
14) Grin - Guster
15) Heard the World - OAR
16) Medicine - Guster
17) Lullaby - Creed
18) Have You Ever Seen the Rain? - Creedence Clearwater Revival
19) The Wrestler - Bruce Springsteen
20) I'm Sorry That I Got Fat - Wesley Willis
21) Hotel Yorba - White Stripes
22) Would? (Unplugged) - Alice in Chains

uh-KOO-stik

2009-11-23T18:46:00.000-08:00

I've been packing and compiling the playlist, so the list is short--but oh so sweet. Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

On Love, In Sadness by Jason Mraz
In Memoriam a Capella from Les Choristes
Simple Twist of Fate by Bob Dylan
I'll Be by Edwin McCan
Just to Be the Next to Be With You by Mr. Big
Raindrop Prelude No. 15 in D flat Op 28 by Chopin
More Than Words by Extreme
Tune Out by The Format
Yellow by Coldplay
Romance in G, Op. 26 by Svendsen

Acoustique

2009-11-23T11:17:00.000-08:00

So, this week's list was fun to put together, and I got a little eclectic with my choices. Hope you're feeling a bit adventurous (not much, just a little). Yes, I've got a dupe from Cabeza's list, but I think it's deserving of a double listen. African Dream is a band I heard on the street in Cape Town last year. I bought their CDs and they became the soundtrack for that trip. As for the classical tracks, #1 is the 1984 Karajan recording, #10 was done in 1959 with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra (really the New York Philharmonic) and #12 was done in... well, I'm not sure. And I'm 99.999% certain that every bit of this list is acoustic. Enjoy folks.

"Prelude (Sonnenaufgang)" from Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op.30 by Richard Strauss performed by Herbert von Karajan and the Berliner Philharmoniker
"O Death" from O Brother, Where Art Thou? by Ralph Stanley
"Thank God I'm a Country Boy" from An Evening with John Denver by John Denver
"Down By the Riverside" from The Best of the Early Years by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
"I'll Fly Away" from O Brother, Where Art Thou? by Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch
"Malted Milk" from Unplugged by Eric Clapton
"Oliver James" from Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
"The Times They Are A-Changin'" from The Times They Are A-Changin' by Bob Dylan
"Mug Shots: Wild Coffee" from Charms of the Night Sky by Dave Douglas
"Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin performed by Leonard Bernstein with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra
"La Paloma Azul" from Bravo! Brubeck! by Dave Brubeck
"Fanfare for the Common Man" by Aaron Copland performed by Aaron Copland and the London Symphony Orchestra
"Homeless" from Graceland by Paul Simon
"Uthando Lkakhe" from Uhambo Lwethu by African Dream
"Sufi Bhakti" from Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey by Debashish Bhattacharya
"Wigwam" from Self Portrait by Bob Dylan

A-Coudle-Doodle-Doo!

2009-11-23T00:41:00.000-08:00

Much shorter list from me this week, because either Jared already used some of the songs I have or I just didn't want to be redundant by using too many from the same genre and/or artist. (Like Jared, I'll insert the player later.) Plus I'm very tired right now.

"The Universe is Laughing" from Tiger by The Guggenheim Grotto
"Falling Slowly" from Once by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
"A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" from A Mighty Wind by Mitch & Mickey
"Other Father Song" from Coraline by They Might Be Giants
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World" from Facing Future by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
"Silent and Still" from Somewhere Between Starving and Stardom by Samantha Murphy
"The Ballad of Jebediah Springfield" from Go Simpsonic with The Simpsons by The Simpsons
"Union Strike Folk Song" from Go Simpsonic with The Simpsons by The Simpsons
"Sam's Song" from The Summit: In Concert by Sammy Davis, Jr. & Dean Martin
"The Five Pennies" from The Five Pennies by Danny Kaye
"The Way I Am" from Girls and Boys by Ingrid Michaelson
"(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" from Elvis #1 Singles by Elvis Presley

"Sam's Song" is a live recording on my playlist as opposed to the studio version in the player, but it's pretty similar. For the Samantha Murphy song, click on this link for a YouTube video that includes the song. Please ignore the random footage of a puppy and cat. Seriously. I'm actually really worried that you guys are going to be forever tainted to this song by the dumb imagery, so click to a different tab at least for the first time you listen to the song. It's really quite good.

Jacques Acousteau

2009-11-22T19:44:00.000-08:00

"I'll Fly Away" from O Brother, Where Art Thou? by Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch
"To Sing for You" from What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid by Donovan
"Streets of Laredo" from American IV - The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash
"Sunshine Lady" from Open Field by Taken by Trees
"Emo Gold" from The Ska that Broke the Camel's Back by Button Hooked
"Fields of Gold (New Version)" from Songs from the Labyrinth by Sting
"Fare Thee Well Blues" from Soon Be Time by Bruce Molsky
"Variations for the Healing of Arinushka" from The War: A Ken Burns Film by Arvo Pärt, performed by Kalle Randalu
"Blue Eyes" from Citsuca by Timmy Curran
"Lullaby" from A Sky Underground by Paper Bird
"Mr Hanelei" from The Bruce Lee Band by The Bruce Lee Band
"Hey Hey" from Unplugged by Eric Clapton
"Gerkin for Perkin" from Study in Brown by Clifford Brown & Max Roach
"Walking Blues" from Robert Johnson: The Blues Biography by Robert Johnson
"Birds and Ships" from Mermaid Avenue by Billy Bragg & Wilco with Natalie Merchant
"Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" from Red Headed Stranger by Willie Nelson
"Demon Lover Improv" from Catalpa by Jolie Holland
"Balloons" from Left Right Wrong by Julia Nunes
"Limehouse Blues" from The Best Of Django Reinhardt by Django Reinhardt
"You Alone" from FIREPROOF by Dawn Landes (bonus track--"I Won't Back Down," a Tom Petty cover)

A few notes:
Yes, #5 is a parody. Take that, Dashboard Confessional!
#6 is perhaps the best re-recording of a song by an artist ever. Two lutes instead of the original version, which was muddied by over-arranging and poor instrumentation.
If you don't understand #11, you may be too young, or you just didn't watch nearly as many reruns growing up as I did.
#15's album, Mermaid Avenue, is a worthy purchase. Woody Guthrie songs that he never recorded. Brilliant stuff.

Best Acoustic Cover I Heard Last Night

2009-11-20T05:33:00.000-08:00

Went to the Joshua Radin concert last night here in NYC, and for the encore he came out into the crowd to cover Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right." It just so happened he came to play right where we were standing. My buddy Mark caught it on his iPhone (thanks 3GS!), and put it on the YouTubes. Since it's acoustic week, I thought I'd share with you. So, without further ado, Joshua Radin and the Watson Twins (oh, and if you look closely, I'm on the left for a bit):

Acoustica

2009-11-17T08:47:00.000-08:00

Acoustic (uh-koo-stik]

adj.

1. pertaining to the sense or organs of hearing, to sound, or to the science of sound.

2. (of a building material) designed for controlling sound.

3. music

a. of, pertaining to, or being a musical instrument whose sound is not electrically enhanced or modified.

b. arranged for or made up of such instruments.

noun

4. Obsolete. A remedy for deafness or imperfect hearing.

Friends, let us set aside the electrically enhanced and modified things of the world for a time; let us blow each other away with the science of sound; let us cure each other's imperfect hearing. I want to hear your all-time favorite acoustic songs!

I Cover the Waterfront

2009-11-17T07:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry I'm late folks. Here's this weeks goodness:

"Hey Jude" from The Royal Tenenbaums by The Mutato Muzika Orchestra
"Everyday" from Stubbs The Zombie: The Soundtrack by Rogue Wave
"Starman" from All Day by Mates of State
"Heroes" from War Child - Heroes by TV on the Radio
"Forever Young" from Casino Twilight Dogs by Youth Group
"Overkill" from Man @ Work by Colin Hay
"Inside and Out" from Let It Die by Feist
"Your Song" from Moulin Rouge by Ewan McGregor and Alessandro Safina
"Silly Habits" from Mel Tormé and Friends by Mel Tormé (and presumably, his friends)
"Mona Lisa" from Take a Break by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
"Common People" from Has Been by William Shatner
"Waterloo Sunset" from Live Sessions (iTunes Exclusive) -EP by The Submarines
"Louie, Louie" from Funky Kingston by Toots & The Maytals
"With a Little Help from My Friends" from With a Little Help from My Friends by Joe Cocker
"Money (That's What I Want)" from With The Beatles by The Beatles
"This Land is Your Land" from Naturally by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings
"Hold On! I'm Comin'" from Riding with The King by Eric Clapton and B.B. King
"Ziggy Stardust" from The Life Aquatic - Studio Sessions featuring Seu Jorge by Seu Jorge

So, I've got Wes Anderson to thank for the bookends of this list, which happens to include 3 Bowie covers. #7 is a Bee Gees cover (I didn't know that at first). #9 is another track from that Mel Tormé album that I can't more highly recommend. The rest is pretty self-explanatory, I think. Enjoy!

Recover

2009-11-15T22:07:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my favorites. Also, a few of them I like simply because they are so different than the original. In a purist sense I generally prefer the original but, good covers are fun. Enjoy!

Yeah, duck and cover

2009-11-15T20:01:00.000-08:00

"Across the Universe" from the Pleasantville soundtrack by Fiona Apple (The Beatles)
"It Ain't Me Babe" from It Ain't Me Babe by The Turtles (Bob Dylan)
"The Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo) from Mighty Quinn by Manfred Mann (Bob Dylan)
"A Whiter Shade of Pale" from Medusa by Annie Lennox (Procol Harum)
"Astral Weeks" from various concerts by The Swell Season (Van Morrison)
"Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" from b-sides and rarities by Cake (Kenny Rogers)
"Frankie & Johnny" from A Prairie Home Companion by Lindsay Lohan (traditional)
"How Can I Keep from Singing?" from Shepherd Moons by Enya (Shaker hymn)
"Take Me Home Country Road" from Facing Future by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (John Denver)
"Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" from YouTube by First Aid Kit (Fleet Foxes)
"Young Folks" from Young Folks by Dawn Landes (Peter Bjorn and John)
"Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" from Raising Sand by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss (The Everly Brothers)
"Dedicated to the One I Love" from Deliver by The Mamas and the Papas (The Shirelles (who covered it off of The "5" Royales))
"Honky Tonk Women" from Blue Light Boogie by Taj Mahal with James Cotton (The Rolling Stones)
"Tiny Dancer" from Ben Folds Live by Ben Folds (Elton John)
"A.C.D.C" from Sinner by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (Sweet)
"On the Outside" from Dead Band's Party by Suburban Legends (Oingo Boingo)
"Major Tom (Coming Home)" from On the Cover II by MXPX (Peter Schilling)
"There Is Nothing Like a Dame" from Vacationing in Palm Springs by Reel Big Fish (South Pacific)
"She's an Angel" from The Bruce Lee Band by The Bruce Lee Band (They Might Be Giants)

Like Shark, one of these songs is actually not in my library--but it would be if I could get it. I saw The Swell Season recently and Glen Hansard's amazing strumming on "Astral Weeks" blew all of us away. I've embedded a video below the playlist. I also couldn't find Dawn Landes' cover of "Young Folks" on Grooveshark, but I figured that instead of uploading it I'd let you all watch the video she put up on YouTube, which features some delightful old gentlemen. Oh, and you can find the First Aid Kit song on YouTube, but someone happened to put it in Grooveshark too, so I put it in the widget for your convenience and pleasure.

I got it covered...

2009-11-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

1) Don't Fear the Reaper - HIM
2) Carry On Wayward Son - The Showdown
3) Have a Cigar - Foo Fighters
4) The Man Who Sold the World - Nirvana
5) Solitary Man - HIM
6) Blue Monday - Orgy
7) Renegades of Funk - Rage Against the Machine
8) I Fought the Law - Green Day
9) Orion - Rodrigo y Gabriela
10) Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
11) (Nothing But) Flowers - Guster
12) Oh Come All Ye Faithful - Twisted Sister
13) Tonight, Tonight - Panic! at the Disco
14) Turn the Page - Metallica
15) I Walk the Line - Live
16) Careless Whisper - Seether
17) Black - Staind
18) Behind Blue Eyes - Limp Bizkit
19) So Long, Farewell - The Vandals

Yeah, "Undercover Brother"

2009-11-14T14:42:00.000-08:00

"Strangers in the Night" from B-Sides and Rarities by Cake
"Always Be My Baby" by David Cook
"99 Red Balloons" from Stomping Ground by Goldfinger
"Straight Up" from Punk Goes 80's by Halifax
"Mystery Science Theater 3000 Love Theme" from Live Transmissions from Uranus by Man or Astro-man?
"Don't Get Around Much Anymore / I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" from The Great American Songbook by Mel Torme and The Great American Songbook Orchestra
"Spider-Man Theme" by Michael Buble
"Heaven is a Place On Earth" from On the Cover II by Mxpx
"Somebody to Love" from On the Cover II by Mxpx
"Lovefool" from From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II by New Found Glory
"Don't You (Forget About Me)" from From the Screen to Your Stereo Part II by New Found Glory
"Time After Time" from When All That's Left is You by Quietdrive
"Brown Eyed Girl" from Fame, Fortune, and Fornication by Reel Big Fish
"Come On Eileen" from It Means Everything by Save Ferris
"Careless Whisper" by Seether
"Bright Spring Morning" from Dance Like Nobody's Watching by Suburban Legends
"New York City" from Factory Showroom by They Might Be Giants
"Maybe I Know" from Long Tall Weekend by They Might Be Giants
"Lady is a Tramp" from Then: The Earlier Years by They Might Be Giants
"Under Pressure" by The Used/Chemical Romance
"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" from Spaced Out by William Shatner
"All That She Wants" by Wizo
"Wreck of the Sloop John B" from Alone in a Crowd by Catch 22
"Cupid" by Westbound Train

Sorry, I wasn't as thorough as Amanda in that I didn't credit the original versions at all -- but if you are interested, most of these shouldn't be too hard to figure out.

#16 is a cover done by the same band who sang the original (with a couple players changed up), but the versions are so different that I felt it was worth mentioning. Also, #24 I don't actually have on my playlist, though I would if it were available for download, but I have provided a link to a YouTube video of it, as well as links to any other songs that are missing from the embedded player, after said player:

#6: (can't find a link... sorry!)
#8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI01b5suDgA
#9: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7ToIjQqCdA
#16: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUc_wrwE89o (the original is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJqXzBlfNsk&feature=related )
#24: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIDNMYNWs0o&feature=related

Undercover

2009-11-09T20:44:00.000-08:00

Songbird - Coldplay (Oasis)
On the Street Where You Live - Harry Connick Jr. (My Fair Lady)
Spooky - Imogen Heap (Dusty Springfield)
Twist and Shout - The Beatles (Top Notes via The Isley Brothers)
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley (Leonard Cohen)
Over the Rainbow - Melody Gardot (Wizard of Oz)
Hurt - Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails)
Leaving on a Jet Plane - Chantel Kreviazuk (John Denver)
Save the Last Dance for Me - Michael Buble (Ben E. King & The Drifters)
Cat's in the Cradle - James Taylor (Harry Chapin)
Do You Realize - Postal Service (The Flaming Lips)
My Favorite Things - John Coltrane (The Sound of Music)
All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix (Bob Dylan)
Baby It's Cold Outside - Ella & Louis (Frank Loesser)
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing - Sufjan Stevens (Robert Robinson)

This is my last full week of classes & teaching before finals, so I'm just gonna go ahead and post early, since I expect by Sunday I'll be pretty much outta commission.

Aaand count it: Third time I've gotten every song on the widget. Word.

"Everybody needs a bosom for a pillow..."

2009-11-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

Oh man, these songs take me back...

1) U Can't Touch This - MC Hammer
2) About a Girl (unplugged) - Nirvana
3) Come Undone - Duran Duran
4) Crazy - Aerosmith
5) Selling the Drama - Live
6) Linger - The Cranberries
7) The Man Who Sold the World - Nirvana
8) Come Out and Play - The Offspring
9) Uninvited - Ruth Ruth
10) Shine - Collective Soul
11) Bound for the Floor - Local H
12) Zombie - The Cranberries
13) Teenage Dirtbag - Wheatus
14) Pray - MC Hammer
15) Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
16) Shimmer - Fuel
17) Round Here - Counting Crows
18) Losing My Religion - REM
19) Basket Case - Green Day
20) Black or White - Michael Jackson
21) Brimful of Asha - Cornershop
22) How Bizarre - OMC

Oh man, does this take me back.

2009-11-09T07:53:00.000-08:00

This was a really fun list to put together, and it's made me real happy. I hope you enjoy as well. Notes in the comments.

"Midnight Star" from In 3D by Weird Al Yankovich
"Fletch Theme" from Fletch by Harold Faltermeyer
"Graceland" from Graceland by Paul Simon
"Free Fallin'" from Greatest Hits by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
"Loch Lomand" from Live at Carnegie Hall by Benny Goodman
"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" from Flood by They Might Be Giants
"Stayin' Alive" from Saturday Night Fever by Bee Gees
"Today" from Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins
"Mr. Jones" from August and Everything After by Counting Crows
"Blue Train" from Blue Train by John Coltrane
"Winchester Cathedral" from Winchester Cathedral by The New Vaudeville Band
"Wedding Dance" from Fiddler on the Roof by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick
"The Stripper" from Tease: The Best of Burlesque by David Rose
"Wonderful Tonight" from Slowhand by Eric Clapton
"Torn" from Left of Middle by Natalie Imbruglia
"Zorba's Dance" from Zorba the Greek by Mikis Theodorakis
"Un Sueño" from Un Sueño by Los Angeles de Charly
"Rayando el Sol" from Unplugged by Maná
"Swing Down Sweet Chariot" from Amazing Grace: His Greatest Sacred Performances by Elvis Presley
"9 to 5" from 9 to 5 and Odd Jobs by Dolly Parton
"Take a Letter Maria" from R.B. Greaves by R.B. Greaves
"Adios, Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehn" from Champagne and Romance by Lawrence Welk

Cover!

2009-11-08T22:48:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not telling you to run from a bomb or to stop having a skanky fashion sense (looking at you, Darren).

This week's assignment is to list some great covers you've enjoyed at one time or another. I think this will be interesting for two reasons: (1) We'll get to discover new takes on songs we already know and love, and (2) we just might find out that a song we THOUGHT was unique is actually the cover of a less-popular original.

Autobots, roll out!

Shan-time Memory!

2009-11-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

So far, sooooo good....I am loving the lists from this theme. And, I am excited to share mine. I do have to confess, I am in the process of aquiring some of these songs- I couldnt believe I didnt have them. I will post my brief explanations in the comments- like everyone else :)

Ghosts of Amandas Past

2009-11-08T20:38:00.000-08:00

Rumbly In My Tumbly - Disney's Winnie The Pooh
Cruella De Ville - Disney's 101 Dalmations
Bella Notte - Disney's Lady and the Tramp
A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes - Disney's Cinderella
Chim Chim Cher-ee - Disney's Mary Poppins
A Whole New World - Disney's Aladdin
Beauty and the Beast - Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Castle On a Cloud - Les Miserables (preferably the Original London Cast)
Theme - Batman: The Animated Series
Theme - X-Men
Theme - Pinky and the Brain
Theme - Bill Nye the Science Guy
Theme - Duck Tales
Blue Moon - The Marcels
Runaround Sue - Dion & the Belmonts
Men In Tights - Mel Brooks' Men In Tights
Aqueous Transmission - Incubus
Theme - Pride & Prejudice (the long one)
Politik - Coldplay
Just for Now - Imogen Heap
Killing Me Softly - Lauryn Hill
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams
All I Want for Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
Hello - Lionel Richie

As you can tell, I was a kid who liked me some Disney movies and Saturday morning cartoons...also after-school programming....and these are just a few of my favorites...so I watched a lot of t.v. with my brother, alright? :) A lot of songs on the list are therefore pretty self-explanatory, but I'll add some notes to the comments anyway. As for organization, this is in rough chronological order.

Once there was this kid

2009-11-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

"Eight Days A Week" from Beatles for Sale by The Beatles
"I Get Around" from All Summer Long by The Beach Boys
"The Christmas Waltz" from Christmas Portrait by The Carpenters
"Super Chicken" from Super Chicken by Sheldon Allman
"Do You Love Me" from Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance) by The Contours
"The Cold Miser Song" from The Without a Santa Claus by Cold Miser
"Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away" from Chicago 16 by Chicago
"Go West" from Very by The Pet Shop Boys
"Theme from Rocky XIII" from In 3-D by Weird Al Yankovic
"Sloop John B" from Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
"Road Movie to Berlin" from Flood by They Might Be Giants
"It's Alright with Me" from We Are in Love by Harry Connick, Jr.
"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" from God Shuffled His Feet by Crash Test Dummies
"Lightning Crashes" from Throwing Copper by Live
"Blue Rondo a la Turk" from Time Out by Dave Brubeck Quartet
"Superman" from The Bruce Lee Band by The Bruce Lee Band
"Bogoroditse Dievo, Raduysia" from Vespers by Sergei Rachmaninoff, performed by the Lake Washington High School Choir (1997)
"All of Me" from August End by Jon Schmidt
"America's Wang" from The Ska That Broke the Camel's Back by Button Hooked
"Endless Love" from Endless Love by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie
"Mess Around" from Mess Around by Ray Charles
"We Used to Be Friends" from Welcome to the Monkey House by The Dandy Warhols

Like Shark, I've got way too much to say about these to put it all in an over-long post. So I'll stick some notes in the comments. Just know that I tried to order my list based on order of nostalgic memories, starting from the earliest, then working my way up through junior high, high school, and college. Trip.

... For Sharkimental Reasons

2009-11-05T22:16:00.000-08:00

Found myself with a relatively free evening, so thought I'd get this out of the way before the busy weekend. The songs are ordered roughly chronologically from those I associate with childhood to songs I associate with adulthood.

"Reading Rainbow Theme Song" from Reading Rainbow's Greatest Hits by Reading Rainbow
"Leader of the Pack" from The Best of the Shangri-Las by The Shangri-Las
"Pop Goes the World" from The Silver Collection by Men Without Hats
"Something to Believe In" from Smash by The Offspring
"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" from '70s Greatest Hits by The Looking Glass
"The Impression That I Get" from The Best of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
"Danny Boy" from Come By Me by Harry Connick, Jr.
"Put On Your Sunday Clothes" from Hello, Dolly! by Cast
"Breakfast At Tiffany's" from Home by Deep Blue Something
"Ants Marching" from Under the Table and Dreaming by Dave Matthews Band
"Boat of Car" from They Might Be Giants by They Might Be Giants
"Say My Name" from The Writing's On the Wall by Destiny's Child
"Rhapsody in Blue" from The Essential George Gershwin by George Gershwin
"Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" from Guys And Dolls by Walter Bobbie & Ensemble
"Turtle Power" from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Soundtrack by Partners In Kryme
"Kryptonite" from The Better Life by 3 Doors Down
"Medley: Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu)/On An Evening In Roma" from The Summit: In Concert by Dean Martin
"Five State Drive" from Hello Rockview by Less Than Jake
"Hide and Seek" from Speak for Yourself by Imogen Heap
"I Believe in a Thing Called Love" from Permission to Land by The Darkness

Wow, what a hard list to compile. Most of my music collection wreaks of nostalgia, and my iTunes is riddled with songs that I've purchased solely for the memories.

Every song on my setlist is found in the embedded player, but note that (1) "Reading Rainbow" is a much higher quality on my personal playlist, and (2) the version of the Dean Martin medley I own is a different live recording than the one provided, but this is comparable.

I have notes on each song included in the comments (didn't want to flood the main page with a huge post). Each contributor to this blog, with the exception of Shannon (if only our paths had crossed sooner), has at least one memory I affiliate with certain songs in this post.

Nearing Nostalgia...

2009-11-04T08:49:00.000-08:00

The weather is changing, the leaves are still turning and the holidays are around the corner. This time of year I get a little reflective! And so, this week the theme is musical nostalgia. What songs evoke memories, smells, laughter, etc? This isn't about holiday music per-se, simply those songs that make you turn up the volume or rattle off a "remember when" as soon as you hear the intro. Enjoy!

So-lo you cant hear me....

2009-11-04T08:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I apologize for my delinquency. For starters, I realized I don't really choose to listen to songs with solo's in mind. This week I discovered that I am a lyrical kinda girl....regardless, I pawed through ALL my music searching for any songs that could fit this weeks bill. Ergo, A LOT of jazz. I do like jazz and that music is known for some killer improv/solo work. And yes, there is a repeat. It was intentional folks. I love that two jazz greats can have such a completely different take on the same song. I couldn't decide between the two, so I just posted both! Toward the end, I got a little punchy and wanted to include some fun stuff. I mean, who doesnt like the cheesy solo in the Eurythmics song? And I selected a nice crazy polk song to spice up the day -the Circus Polka by Myron Floren. Who doesnt love a good jam on the accordian? So while some of my music is serious, I hope you all enjoy the little tongue in cheek stuff I seemed to find in my library as well...

Sharko Mio

2009-11-03T01:01:00.000-08:00

"Mr. Frump in the Iron Lung" from Weird Al Yankovic by "Weird Al" Yankovic
"Main Title" from Rudy (Soundtrack from the Motion Picture) by Jerry Goldsmith
"Sealed with a Kiss" from Brian Hyland: Greatest Hits by Brian Hyland
"Carrie-Anne" from The Hollies' Greatest Hits by The Hollies
"Runaway" from Runaway with del Shannon by del Shannon
"Please Forgive Me" from Transitions by Westbound Train
"She's Just My Style" from The Legendary Masters Series by Gary Lewis & The Playboys
"Oh, Canada" from Our Newest Album Ever! by Five Iron Frenzy
"Me and My Shadow" from Tenority by Lew Tabackin
"We Will Fall Together" from Somewhere In the Between by Streetlight Manifesto
"No One Knows My Plan" from John Henry by They Might Be Giants
"Nothing Else Matters" from Metallica by Metallica
"Fit to Be Tied" from Fire the Cannons by Jet Lag Gemini
"Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" from Young Lust: The Aerosmith Anthology by Aerosmith
"Let It Be" from Let It Be by The Beatles
"Money for Nothing" from Private Investigations by Dire Straits
"Tribute" from Tenacious D by Tenacious D
"Brotherhood of Man" from How to Succeed in Business (Without Really Trying) (written) by Frank Loesser
"Hello, Dolly!" from Hello, Dolly! (performed) by Barbara Streisand & Cast
"Skeletons of Quinto" from A Mighty Wind by The Folksmen

Check it. I start off the list with one of the more original solos: that of an iron lung beating repeatedly in rhythm. This is followed by a soothing flute solo from the Rudy soundtrack, a harmonica solo, a steel drum solo, a (tenor clarinet?) solo, two songs that feature steel guitar solos, a trumpet solo, and two songs featuring (I believe) saxophone solos. TMBG's "No One Knows My Plan" features both a trumpet solo and electric guitar, while the next 5 songs on the list also feature electric guitar solos. "Tribute" has, again, electric guitar, as well as a nifty vocal/scatting solo by Jack Black. The next track gives another jazzy scat performance.

This version of "Hello, Dolly!" merits a love/tolerance sentiment from me. I consider Carol Channing -- NOT Babs -- to be the definitive Dolly, but Barbara does make it fun in her own way, and this particular version of this song always makes me smile so much because it unorthodoxically features Louis Armstrong in a cameo-solo in the number, a fitting tribute to a man who became well-known for performing this song in his jazz shows.

The final track features another vocal solo, with a particular point of interest being the Spanish dialog delivered. Christopher Guest is so awesome at subtle-ish comedy.

All but a couple tracks should be found in the embedded widget. The exceptions are: "Let It Be," of course, which features George Harrison at his best; "Me and My Shadow" by saxophonist Lew Tabackin, which is from a CD I blindly (but thank-heavensly) bought in high school. I recommend checking out Tabackin's work -- his jazz is kind of fun to listen to during evening drives through downtown Seattle.

Han's solos

2009-11-02T20:24:00.000-08:00

"Five Long Years" from From the Cradle by Eric Clapton
"How High the Moon" from Ken Burns' Jazz: Ella Fitzgerald by Nancy Hamilton and Morgan Lewis, performed by Ella Fitzgerald
"It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing" from The Great American Songbook - Live at Michael's Pub by Duke Ellington, performed by Mel Torme with John Colianni (piano) and John Leitham (bass)
"Cottontail" from The Great Summit by Duke Ellington, performed by Louis Armstrong & His All Stars with Duke Ellington (clarinet solo by Barney Bigard, trombone solo by Trummy Young)
"Let Me Off Uptown" from The War: A Ken Burns Film - I'm Beginning to See the Light: Dance Hits From The Second World War by The Gene Krupa Orchestra with Anita O'Day (trumpet solo by Roy Eldridge)
"M'appari, tutt'amor" from Martha, Act III by Friedrich von Flotow, performed by Mario Lanza
"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" from 9:30 Club - Washington, DC 11/23/2007 by They Might Be Giants (solo by Dan Miller)
"Far More Drums" from Time Further Out by Dave Brubeck Quartet (solo by Joe Morello)
"Let It Be" from Let It Be by The Beatles (solo by George Harrison)
"Lester Leaps In" from Ken Burns' Jazz: The Story of America's Music by Count Basie's Kansas City Seven with Lester Young
"Time of the Season" from Odessey and Oracle by The Zombies (solo by Rod Argent)
"Body and Soul" from The War: A Ken Burns Film, Sentimental Journey, Hits From The Second World War by Coleman Hawkins
"Wait Until Tomorrow" from TRY! - John Mayer Trio in Concert by John Mayer Trio
"Jimmy Olsen's Blues" from Pocket Full of Kryptonite by Spin Doctors (solo by Eric Schenkman)

The list starts out with the song that gave me the idea for the week's theme. Clapton's extended guitar solo over the bridge melts my soul. Tracks 2-4 are explorations into different scatting styles, then 4 goes together with 5 so that the listener can observe the trumpet stylings of two different masters. I placed track 6 right there to kind of cap off the vocal solos set and also change it up after several jazz pieces. I actually found this aria watching a sadly forgotten movie called Breaking Away (1979). Great piece, great vocal by Lanza.

Shark and I were there for Dan Miller's amazing acoustic guitar intro to track 7. Notice how he gets annoyed with the audience clapping. They're throwing off his groove. Track 8 is pretty much a song-length drum solo for Morello. 9 is to give praise to George Harrison (and prove that The Beatles can be found on Grooveshark if you search creatively). 10 and 12 are tributes to two saxophone greats with 11 in there to both break it up a little and to pay homage to the Hammond B3 organ. Love that old-timey sound.

I stuck 13 and 14 on the end to try and shake some stereotypes while simultaneously showcasing some great electric guitar solos. John Mayer is, above all else, a masterful guitarist. He made me cry when I saw him play "Crossroads." And the Spin Doctors are much more than "Two Princes." Enjoy!

Face Melting Solos...

2009-11-02T20:13:00.000-08:00

1) Fade to Black - Metallica
2) Lonely Day - System of a Down
3) One - Metallica
4) Knights of Cydonia - Muse
5) The Great Gig in the Sky - Pink Floyd
6) Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
7) Burnin' For You - Blue Oyster Cult
8) Like a Stone - Audioslave
9) Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
10) Tribute - Tenacious D
11) Moby Dick - Led Zeppelin
12) Six - All That Remains
13) Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
14) Carry On Wayward Son - Kansas
15) Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz
16) Rise Above This - Seether

Flyin' Solo

2009-11-01T21:14:00.000-08:00

1. School of Rock (from the movie of the same name)

2. I Got a Woman by Ray Charles

3. While My Guitar Gently Weeps by George Harrison

4. Roll Over Beethoven by Chuck Berry

5. All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix

6. It's All Over Now by the Rolling Stones

7. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight by Bob Dylan

8. Sonny Listen by Nate Gephardt

9. Butterfly Nets by Bishop Allen

10. Crayola Doesn't Make a Color by Kristen Andreassen

11. DOT by Jose Gonzalez

12. Never Never Land by the Vince Guaraldi Trio

13. Giant Steps by John Coltrane

14. Brandenburg Gate by Dave Brubeck

15. What A Little Moonlight Can Do by Billie Holiday

16. Mood Indigo by Duke Ellington

17. Stompin' at the Savoy by Clifford Brown

18. Violin Romance #2 in F, Op. 50 by Ludwig van Beethoven

19. Les Choristes (from the movie of the same name)

20. Ande Yo Caliente by Ramon Jimenez

21. Pretend I Don't Exist by Melody Gardot

After once managing to get every song on my playlist onto the widget, it seems my luck has run out. Also, I can't tell the difference between what is and is not a solo. Maybe I'm over thinking it? I figure so long as one instrument is featured prominently in a part or all of a song, it'll fit in this category, right? Meh.

My playlist starts out rock and roll, then transitions via harmonica from Dylan to Gephardt and several other alternative tracks before transitioning via piano from Gonzalez to the Vince Guaraldi Trio and several jazzy tunes. The last four are just random songs I love. So there. :)

(I'm gonna email the missing tracks to you guys--widgets be damned.)

O Solo Dave-o

2009-11-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

"Eruption" from Van Halen by Van Halen
"Etude No. 3 in G-sharp monor, S 141 'La Campanella'" by Franz Liszt
"Doggin' Around" from The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz by Count Basie
"Jack the Bear" from Highlights From The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition (1927-1973) by Duke Ellington
"I Got Rhythm" from The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz by Don Byas and Slam Stewart
"St. Thomas" from Saxophone Colossus by Sonny Rollins
"Giant Steps" from Giant Steps by John Coltrane
"Blue in Green" from Kind of Blue by Miles Davis
"Bemsha Swing" from Conversations With Myself by Bill Evans
"Bags' Groove [solo section]" from Bags' Groove by Miles Davis
"Song For My Father" from Song For My Father by Horace Silver
"Moody's Mood for Love (I'm in the Mood for Love)" from At The Jazz Workshop by James Moody
"Love For Sale" from Mel Tormé and Friends by Mel Tormé
"Foggy Mountain Breakdown" from 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Flatt & Scruggs by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs
"Moto Perpetuo, Op. 11" from Carnaval by Wynton Marsalis
"Layla" from Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs by Derek and the Dominos
"San Francisco Bay Blues" from Unplugged by Eric Clapton
"Free Bird" from Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd by Lynyrd Skynyrd

So, oddly enough, this post is a lot more biographical than the last one. First of all, you either know or might have guessed that I'm a big jazz fan, and that I played in jazz bands through college. So, the jazz entries in this list tend to be either textbook examples of well crafted solos or personal favorites I've studied on my own. And, since I'd like to explain why I picked some of them, here are my list notes: #3 - Compare Basie's solo at the end to the previous track. It's amazing how space can be just as effective in conveying an idea. #4&5 - Ellington gave Jimmy Blanton the first bass solo, which eventually paved the way for many others, including Slam Stewart. #6 - Good solos all around. Rollins' is a great example of structure and Max Roach shows that it's really about how you use your drum kit, not how many pieces it has. #7 - Very difficult chord changes to solo over, which leads to a very great solo (when you happen to be that good). #8 - Amazing examples of lyrical soloing. Pay attention to Bill Evans' piano at the end, I happen to think it's very beautiful. #9 - Bill Evans overdubbing himself, twice. #10 - This is only the solo section, played by Thelonious Monk, and it's an amazing example of how to build a solo. #11 - Amazing Joe Henderson solo, which contains one of my favorite licks of all time. #12 - Vocalese, which takes instrumental solos and mirrors them with lyrics for vocalists. #14 - I was, at one time, an aspiring young banjo player (though I played Dixeland, not Bluegrass). #15 - more technical than musical, but as a trumpet player, I've got to give credit to anyone who has the technical prowess to pull this off. #17 - J. knows why I picked this one.

Amanda as a setlist

2009-10-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

1. Gobbledigook - Sigur Ros
2. Born to Hum - Erin McKeown
3. Fantasie Impromptu, Opus 66 - Frederic Chopin
4. Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez
5. 3 x 5 - John Mayer
6. Dream a Little Dream of Me - Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
7. Be Gentle With Me - The Boy Least Likely To
8. Libertango - Astor Piazzolla (Yo Yo Ma version)
9. The Scientist - Coldplay (acoustic version)
10. Wishful Thinking - The Ditty Bops
11. Calico Skies - Paul McCartney
12. I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
13. Whether You Fall - Tracy Bonham
14. Sonnet - Will Stratton
15. Volare - Dean Martin
16. A Sunday Kind of Love - Etta James
17. Gold - Interference
18. Around and Around - Mark Kozelek
19. O Divine Redeemer - Mark Gounod (MOTAB version)
20. You and I - Ingrid Michaelson
21. Dies Nox Et Omnia - Carl Orff (from Carmina Burana)
22. Two Step - Dave Matthews
23. I'll See You Soon - Coldplay

And I guess you could say that's my musical (and, to an extent, my personal) self in a nutshell.

O solo mio

2009-10-27T07:40:00.000-07:00

So that was a lame attempt at a clever post title. What you should take from it is: we're looking for songs/pieces featuring great solos this week. Guitar solos, drum solos, bass solos, trumpet solos--whatever. Let's pay tribute to the virtuoso.

The Shark as a Setlist

2009-10-26T12:27:00.000-07:00

"If I Were a Bell" from Guys and Dolls by Josie De Guzman & Peter Gallagher
"I Want To Hold Your Hand" from Mono Masters, vol. 1 by The Beatles
"Stickshifts and Safetybelts" from Fashion Nugget by Cake
"The Promise" from When in Rome by When in Rome
"Shake the Disease" from The Singles 81-85 by Depeche Mode
"47" from Not Without a Fight by New Found Glory
"Is This Love"? from Motorcade of Generosity by Cake
"Walk Like a Man" from Anthology by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
"I Fought the Law" from I Fought the Law - Single by Green Day
"I Should Be Allowed to Think" from John Henry by They Might Be Giants
"Pork and Beans" from Weezer (Red Album) by Weezer
"If It Was Up to Me" from Fire the Cannons by Jet Lag Gemini
"California Dreamin'" from The Mamas & The Papas Greatest Hits by The Mamas and the Papas
"We're All Dudes" from Good Burger: Music From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Less Than Jake
"Play It Loud" from Before Everything and After by MXPX
"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" from The Beatles (White Album) by The Beatles
"Me and My Shadow" from The Summit: In Concert by Frank Sinatra & Sammy Davis, Jr.
"Forever in Blue Jeans" from 12 Greatest Hits, vol. 2 by Neil Diamond
"Yo No Soy Esa Mujer" from Paulina by Paulina Rubio
"American Anthem" from The War Soundtrack by Norah Jones
"Superman" from Lifes Rich Pageant by R.E.M.
"The Flash (Theme)" by Danny Elfman
"Alternative is Dead" from Suburban Legends by Suburban Legends
"Thank You for Not Moshing" (clean version) from Greatest Hit and More by Reel Big Fish
"In the Middle, In the Middle, In the Middle" from No! by They Might Be Giants
"Good Enough" from Transitions by Westbound Train

My list is more like Jared's, where I tried to pick songs that mostly describe who I am as a person, how I look at life and certain situations, and my tastes/background. It starts out pretty organized, going from the excitement of romance to the awkwardness of it to the reactions of being spurned. Next I go into the ideologies of "sticking it to the man," escapism, embracing rock, and then it sort of falls into an eclectic look at Shark attributes and history. Specifically:

#16 reflects my philosophy on life in general; #17 not only embodies my love for the Sinatra era, but was a number my friend and I sang in high school that won us first place in the school talent show; #18 was my theme song from ages 3 through 8, basically; #19 encapsulates all the Latin music I heard while walking the streets of Dallas on my mission; #20 is the patriot in me; #21 and #22 are my hobby; #23 and #24 are my attitude toward the recent generation of punk/ska enthusiasts; #25 is me resisting the urge to run over pedestrians who think they own the road; #26 is the never-ending search for employment.

As for the embedded player above, a couple notes:
Of course, neither of the two Beatles songs were available. Oddly enough, neither was TMBG's "I Should Be Allowed to Think," which you should look up if you haven't heard. Westbound Train's "Good Enough" is an EXCELLENT, soulful number which deserves everyone's discovery, but alas, also was unavailable. I didn't include Reel Big Fish's "Thank You For Not Moshing" because the only version the widget builder could find was the unedited one. If you can find a cleaned up version, and you enjoy rock concerts, you should listen to this.

Finally, the version of "The Flash" that I have is from the actual T.V. show, not the cover that was recorded sometime later and included in the player.

Shannon as a [short] pLaYliSt

2009-10-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

1. "Read My Mind" from Sam's Town by The Killers

2. "World" from Two Lights by Five For Fighting

3. "32 Flavors" from Blame it on me, by Alana Davis

4. "All American Girl" from My Private Nation by Train

5. "Girl from Ipanema" from Astrud Gilberto's finest hour by Astrud Gilberto & Joao Gilberto

6. "I feel it all" from The Reminder by Feist

7. "Dream On" from Aerosmiths Greatest Hits, by Aerosmith

8. "Straighten up and Fly Right" from the World of Nat King Cole by The King Cole Trio

9. "Landslide" from the self titled album Fleetwood Mac by Fleetwood Mac

10. "Thats The Way It Is" from All The Way...Decade of Song [UK] by Celine Dion

11. "Madly" from Madly, Single By Tristan Prettyman

12. "Can't Go Back Now" from Say I Am You by The Weepies

13. "California" from The Day Everything Became Nothing by Tripping Lily

14. "North on Hwy 95" from Beneath The Velvet Sun by Shawn Mullins

15. "Shape of My Heart" from Ten Summoner's Tales by Sting

16. "Many The Miles" from Little Voice by Sara Bareilles

17. "You Are Goodbye" from Bird by Holly Conlan

18. "Reason Why" from Happenstance by Rachel Yamagata

19. "Walk On" from All That You Can't Leave Behind by U2

20. "Viva La Vida" from Viva La Vida by Coldplay

Compiling my "self" as a playlist was quite difficult. Anyone who knows me, knows I am fairly obsessed with music. As a singer/songwriter I am equally obsessed with lyrics and the emotion of a song. I interpreted this weeks topic to be a playlist that lyrically described who I am. Since that would be a really long list, I decided to narrow that down by compiling a collection of songs that describes my recent journey to DC and who I am in this present moment. By no means is this list an exclusive look at who I am...

alright...I am feeling pretty cool as I just finished compiling a little "widget." Not all the songs were on grooveshark, and one of the songs isnt the correct version (32 flavors) but, this will do.

Jared as a setlist

2009-10-26T07:17:00.000-07:00

"The Littlest Birds" from Catalpa by Jolie Holland
"Get Rhythm" from The Complete Sun Singles by Johnny Cash
"Blackbird" from The Beatles [The White Album] by The Beatles
"I'm Old Fashioned" from Blue Train by John Coltrane
"Watch the Girl Destroy Me" from Possum Dixon by Possum Dixon
"America" from Bookends by Simon & Garfunkel
"Exquisite Dead Guy" from Factory Showroom by They Might Be Giants
"Great Pumpkin Waltz" from Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits by Vince Guaraldi Trio
"Alleluia" from Choose Something Like a Star composed by Randall Thompson, performed by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
"Both Sides, Now" from Clouds by Joni Mitchell
"Concorde" from Concorde by The Modern Jazz Quartet
"For the Good of Your Country" from Ride On by Count Basie & His Orchestra
"Belles of Blackville" from The Essential Chieftains by The Chieftains with Bela Fleck
"Dig Me a Hole" from FIREPROOF by Dawn Landes
"The Twist" from The Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit
"Better Git It in Your Soul" from Mingus Ah Um by Charles Mingus
"Yeh Yeh" from Mink Car by They Might Be Giants
"I'm Only Sleeping" from Revolver by The Beatles
"Coffee in the Pot" from Road to Rouen by Supergrass
"Bright Spring Morning" from Rump Shaker by Suburban Legends
"Getting Better" from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
"Fingertips" from Apollo 18 by They Might Be Giants

David and I were chatting and we determined that we took different takes on this assignment. He composed a setlist to describe his musical self; I tried to make a setlist that described me in general. Kind of fun--I'm hoping to see even more takes.

Hopefully the widget embedded above works for you. Like David, I wasn't able to get any of the Beatles tracks on mine, plus I couldn't find the Randall Thompson "Alleluia," the Count Basie number, or the Chieftains/Bela Fleck collaboration. If you can, find yourself a copy of these tracks and take a listen. Great stuff.

Oh, and a note--the last 20 tracks on the embedded widget are all part of the last song listed on my setlist: "Fingertips." It's a montage piece.

Dave as a setlist

2009-10-23T17:12:00.000-07:00

"The Kid From Red Bank" from The Complete Atomic Basie by The Count Basie Orchestra
"Do You Wanna Dance?" from Today! by The Beach Boys
"Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show from Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond
"On and On and On" from Super Trouper by ABBA
"Cecilia" from Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel
"Kate" from Whatever and Ever Amen by Ben Folds Five
"New York City" from Factory Showroom by They Might Be Giants
"Lipstick Vogue" from This Year's Model by Elvis Costello
"This Time Tomorrow" from Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround, Part One by The Kinks
"God Only Knows" from Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys
"It Never Entered My Mind" from Workin' With The Miles Davis Quintet by Miles Davis
"Oclupaca" from Latin American Suite by The Duke Ellington Orchestra
"Miles Ahead" from Miles Ahead by Miles Davis
"Mumbles" from Oscar Peterson Trio + One by The Oscar Peterson Trio feat. Clark Terry
"Eyesight to the Blind" from Mose Allison Sings by Mose Allison
"Take Me Home Country Roads" from In the Dark by Toots and the Maytals
"I Just Dropped In to See What Condition My Condition is In" from Daptone 7" Singles Collection, Vol. 2 by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings
"Let's Get It On" from Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
"You Can't Hurry Love" from The Supremes A' Go-Go by The Supremes
"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" from Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson
"Crossroads" from Wheels of Fire by Cream
"Here Comes the Sun" from Abbey Road by The Beatles
"Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight" from Abbey Road by The Beatles
"Heroes" from Heroes by David Bowie
"A Heart in New York" from The Concert in Central Park by Simon and Garfunkel

There are some brutally obvious holes in this list. It's no easy task reducing myself musically to one CD. My life could easily be a double album. But I do feel that it gives an accurate view of who I am musically. I hope you enjoy it. If you're not familiar with a song, you can play it in the widget (except for the Beatles tracks, which I'm guessing you all know).

Knowing Me, Knowing You

2009-10-21T12:35:00.000-07:00

Since some of us might not know each other, this week's theme is, "Me as a setlist."

Go.