Certain Songs

Too Quiet

2009-11-20T12:16:00.000-08:00

Nothing. I have nothing to say. At all. Hence the lack of blog-tivity lately. But I did take a really nice, relaxing late Autumn walk last night and had three marvelous songs pop up via the shuffle mode. And since this space was going unused, i figured I'd fill it with those songs.

* Mike Doughty - 'Pleasure On Credit' MP3

* My Morning Jacket - 'Phone Went West' MP3

* Cloud Cult - 'Love You All' MP 3

Craigslist Musical Dedication

2009-11-20T12:04:00.000-08:00

need someone to sit on lap

Date: 2009-09-22, 5:45AM EDT

I have bad back problems, and need someone to sit on my lap for four hours a day ,it helps me straigten my, back I know it sound weird but it helps , willing to pay ten dollars and hour for four hours , twice a week , has to be in good shape and looking for a male to do it because they are stronger to do this sort of job, if you are interested e mail , this is not bs ,you could watch tv, use computer I will even give you food, please respond , just want to let you know that I am not gay or anything like that , just need the weight of you leaning on me , that is all, and sitting on me helps , trust me this is not what I wanted but it helps, thank you

******

* The Avett Brothers - 'The Weight Of Lies' MP3

Craigslist Musical Dedication

2009-11-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

"Dancing Box"

(Georgesville Road)

Date: 2009-11-11, 3:35PM EST
Reply to: job-7r6yt-1461610096@craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

"Dancing Box" need to stand in front of our location holding sign and attracting attention. Fridays from 10am to 3pm, Saturdays from 10am to 3pm. Please apply if you can work every Friday and Saturday and are serious about this position

******

Serioulsy...don't waste their time unless you are serious about a career as a dancing box.

* Damien Jurado - 'Dancing' MP3

And it's only gonna get old if you let it get old....

2009-11-16T16:55:00.000-08:00

I love those lyrics...though they hit a little too close to home. I find myself getting bored with blogging...bored in general.

I gotta get out of this town, if it's the last thing I ever do.

* The Sun - 'So Long,Sundays' MP3

Sounds Like November

2009-11-12T16:01:00.001-08:00

Elliot Smith always sounded like November to me, God rest his soul. Just something about the bitter-sweetness of his voice that seemed to jive so well with this time of year in Ohio.

The reason I bring this up at all, is that the weird irony glitch in the Itunes shuffle mode seemed to kick in again this evening. I was just sitting here, minding my own business, returning a few emails when these two songs came on....back to back. Each one reminding me a lot of Mr. Smith...and thus, that November-esque sound. Had to pass them along...

* Liam Finn - 'Wide Awake On The Voyage Home' MP3

* The Dead Trees - 'My Friend Joan, She Never Asks' MP3

Craigslist Musical Dedication

2009-11-12T13:57:00.000-08:00

It kills me...

Date: 2009-11-12, 4:09PM EST

To think of us being pastence, I really don't think of us being pastence but it seems like you do and I have to respect that but if I can help it at all I want to try to win your confidence back because you meant the world to me and still do as far as I'm concerned. Sure, I lust for you but when I lust for you it is completely not just physically, I lust for everything about you and hopefully one day that will include your love again...

P.S.

What I feel for you will never end even if you don't want to make up I will always have feelings for you...

******

It kills me too, because this has to be one of my favorite spelling/grammatical errors ever. I like his version better though, "pastence" is just so much easier on the eyes.

* Pearl Jam - 'Present Tense' MP3

Craigslist Musical Dedication

2009-11-11T06:36:00.000-08:00

shark head - m4m - 28 (ravari room)

Date: 2009-11-04, 6:12PM CST

There you were, sitting and sweating looking confused and alone. I wanted you but you didnt seem to notice me, last wednesday at the ravari room. You have an enormous shark tattooed on your head, and an attitude that screams i'm a fucking dipshit. If you are interested meet me for a drink friday night at the ravari room ill be wearing a deer tatttoo!

******

How could you NOT fall for a guy with a giant shark tattoo on his head??

* Herman Dune - 'My Baby Is Afraid Of Sharks' MP3

File under: guilty pleasure...maybe

2009-11-11T05:56:00.000-08:00

At heart, I am a pop music lover. Sure, the pop music I listen to maybe be just a little left of center, and a bit sad times, but it's basically the same formula - 4 minute songs where boys sing about girls, or vice versa...verse, chorus, verse...that sort of thing. So I am not really sure if the term "guilty pleasure" fits when I am talking about Kate Miller-Heidke or not. But I know that I am liking her music and it makes me feel a little weird.

It's just not the sort of thing I usually find myself listening to. Ms Miller-Heidke is a singer/songwriter from Australia who I sort of stumbled into this morning. She writes really witty, really infectious pop tunes that will stick with you long after listening. And, she is pretty adorable. Enough of my inner-dialouge rambling. Here is a tune off of her second album, fittingly titled 'Curioser.'

* 'Caught In The Crowd' MP3

Craigslist Musical Dedication

2009-11-07T11:29:00.000-08:00

To the Music Department Frat Guy

Date: 2009-11-06, 4:58PM EST

To the Music Department Frat Guy:

I just want you to know that I find you incredibly attractive in every single way. I know that you will never read this, but I still think you ought to know. I see you every day, because, well, I am a music major, too. You sit at the piano next to mine in Class Piano, and I see you glance at me out of the corner of my eye every now and again. I watch you play out of the corner of mine, and I must say, you have beautiful hands.

That night at the talent show, backstage in the dark, when you stood a mere two inches from me and whispered, "Good luck," I think I almost died. You smelled so good and I could feel the heat from your body, and even though I couldn't see you, I knew it was you. I am not looking for a wild and crazy night of sex, although, let's face it, if that's all you wanted, I would certainly give it a go, I would much prefer to be in a relationship with you.

When you play your guitar and sing, oh my. If you sang to me I would simply melt into the carpet. That day in choir, when he had us face each other to sing, and I just so happened to turn to you, and you just so happened to turn to me, and we sang to each other, oh if I could go back and replay that moment forever in time, I would do so in an instant. When I see you in the lobby of our music building, my heart speeds up and I most likely begin to sweat embarrassingly in your presence. I occasionally become tongue-tied and I wonder if you can tell that I like you, but even if you can, you will never go for me.

Why? Because you're about five-foot-ten, one-seventy-five to one-eighty lbs, curly auburn hair, soft brown eyes, muscles to die for, and I? I am five-foot-four, about one-sixty-five lbs, shoulder-length brown hair, greenish eyes. Now, perhaps that doesn't sound too bad, but add in very light acne around my period, glasses, some extra chunk I wish would just go away, and the fact that I am a single mother, well, not exactly a good catch for anyone. That might sound as though I am only putting myself down, and in some ways, I am. And yet these are the bullshit excuses that I get when a guy finds out I like him.

I work my ass off to make sure things go well academically. I had a kid in high school by a guy I'd much prefer to not talk about. I still managed to graduate with a four-point-oh and the title of Valedictorian, and I still managed to snag the lead in the musical. But finding love? You may as well just ask me to surgically remove my right arm myself. That might actually be possible. You, Music Department Frat Guy, are such a good person, so nice, so easy-going, you are more my type than anyone else in the music department, not that there are many to choose from, but you...you will never notice me like that. Because on top of being in the music department, you also bear the title of "Frat Guy." And what does that mean?

Girls. Coming and going from the frat house at all hours of the day and night. Plenty of opportunities for you, even though you strike me as the type to not do anything with them. I personally find it very hard to believe that you are single. Why? What the hell is wrong with all these beautiful girls that hang all over you? If I looked like them, I would have asked you out a long time ago, kid or not. But I am just a timid freshman in college, hiding from you my true feelings because I think that you might just deserve better than me. I think that every guy I really truly like in a more than sexual way deserves to find someone who is beautiful and with whom they can start their very own family together, instead of having to inherit some other guy's child. Which, oddly enough, is the opposite of why some guys won't date me. They think I expect them to become "Daddy," which is utterly ridiculous.

I feel as though I ought to just give up on you, Music Department Frat Guy, because I will never make a move. I feel as though I should just stoop to the guys I really have no attraction to just so I don't have to be lonely any longer. Perhaps I should just continue to watch you from afar, but I don't really know what the point is, because one day you will get a girlfriend, and I will feel as though my heart has been ripped out and shattered into a multitude of variously sized and shaped pieces. Maybe you will read this one day, and realize that I am talking about you, and maybe you'll figure out who I am, and maybe you'll laugh every time you see me, but maybe, just maybe, you'll look at me differently and realize that I, too, am only human, and maybe, just maybe, you'll want to know more.

Signed,

Music Department Girl

******

Whoa...did anyone manage to finish this one? If you didn't, no hard feelings. It started out as a missed connection, then sort of transformed into a journal entry, and by the end it was like a giant cry for help...i love the random moments of peoples consciousness that craigslist captures.

* Stars - 'What I'm Trying To Say' MP3

Craigslist Musical Dedication

2009-11-03T13:54:00.000-08:00

Re - Queensryche Concert - w4m

Date: 2009-11-02, 11:50AM EST

I was at that concert. I was on the floor. I did get poked. What did I look like?

******

Wow, I can't believe someone responded to this! We are looking at would could very well be the first successful connection ever made via the CL missed connections section...and it happened over an eye-poking at a Queensyrche show. A sign of the apocalypse? Maybe.

* Elvis Perkins In Dearland - 'Doomsday' MP3

Long name, great song

2009-11-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

Sitting here listening to the new record from Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson...yep, four names. Still sort of on the fence about the entire record as a whole, but this song I am sharing is a keeper for sure...makes most excellent use of his rather unique voice.

* 'Trap Door' MP3

People Eating People

2009-11-03T08:26:00.000-08:00

People Eating People is the solo project of Nouela Johnston(formerly of the band Mon Frere). It's hard to listen to this self-titled debut record and not immediately think of artists like Regina Spektor and Tori Amos - you know, other talented girls who rock the piano. Not that is a bad thing, I am just thinking out loud here. This is an album that is definitely worthy of standing on it's own two legs though. Excellent, intelligent, and at times darkly humorous songwriting abounds. And her voice has a more soulful tinge to it I think. Enough of my babbling...it's a great record...enjoy the song.

* 'All The Hospitals' MP3

Because listing stuff is what music geekdom is all about

2009-11-02T15:23:00.000-08:00

The beautiful and really smart people over at NPR's All Songs Considered have taken on one hell of an ambitious list and they are leaving it up to us to decide how it shakes out. All of the details are right here. Yep. The 50 greatest voices of all time.

This was a brutal vote...and one that I probably could have done about 17 different ways. See, I am - at heart - an over-analyzer. First of all, I think there could probably be a completely separate post about the 126 "finalists" they picked, but what's done is done. So how do you interpret "greatest voices"? Most recognizable, most technically sound, most emotional, most socially impactful, etc etc etc. I could have spent all night agonizing over these, or I could do what I did, which is to just pick the five voices in the list that have had the most impact in my life. Still incredibly hard, but by doing this at least I didn't catch myself voting for Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn in some lame attempt to garner hipster cred from people I don't even know. Oh, I've caught myself doing it before. I am human after all, and sometimes I choose poorly in an ill-fated attempt at being cool...but I am working on that.

So, here are my top five...sort of a gut response...if you do vote, and feel like sharing, I'd love to read see your picks....just post them in the comments section here.

Van Morrison
Johnny Cash
Tom Waits
Otis Redding
Nina Simone

Craigslist Musical Dedication

2009-11-02T08:58:00.000-08:00

queesryche concert 10/28 -

m4w - 42 (pickerington)

Date: 2009-11-02, 8:00AM EST

I was standing by you on the floor of the concert.towards the end of the show...some drunk poked you in the eye. Give me an email if you see this..

******

Chivalry really is dead. This guy sees a girl get poked in the eye by a drunk dude, says nothing, but makes a mental note to write a missed connection when he gets home. Obviously, he could not turn away from the awesomeness that WAS Queensryche.

* Frightened Rabbit - 'Poke' MP3

Best Crisis Ever

2009-11-02T08:40:00.000-08:00

If I haven't mentioned it already, ApSci's 'Best Crisis Ever' is one of the funnest records of the year. There is so much happening musically on this album, I hear something new almost every time I spin it.

Today I am digging their version of one of my favorite vintage R.E.M. songs, 'Swan Swan H.' I am going to post both versions...give em a listen...talk about making a song your own!

* R.E.M. - 'Swan Swan H' MP3

*ApSci - 'Swan Swan H' MP3

Where the cross beats aren't so slow

2009-11-02T08:14:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here, fighting with the undeniable fact that it is already November. Too soon, too soon. I am not ready for the rush of capitalism that is unleashed this time of year. But, as always, I will power through with the help of music.

And speaking of music, I am listening to NYC's Freelance Whales at the moment. Their debut LP 'Weathervanes' is a stellar set of the sort of indie rock/folk sound perfected by bands like the Decemberists, etc.

Here is a tune for you...good stuff.

* Freelance Whales - 'Broken Horse' MP3

Craigslist Musical Dedication

2009-10-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

Trauma - m4w (Columbus)

Date: 2009-10-30, 4:29PM EDT

You, the blonde with the large red collar, who had the sweetest lips I've ever tasted. I was the young guy, in all black, with short hair in the grope room (not one of the overly aggressive mexicans). I wanted to ask to buy you a drink but never had the chance. Let me know, if you'd like to talk.

******

I LOVE the ones that I don't even have to comment on!

* Massive Attack - 'Collar Stays On' MP3

A Match Made In My Musical Heaven

2009-10-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

Sitting here, watching the clock, waiting for 5 o'clock to come...but at this very second, I am totally distracted by the audio bliss trickling into my ears in the from of the new record from Jason Molina(Magnolia Electric Co., Songs: Ohia) and Will Johnson(Centro-matic).

I love both of these bands, so I was counting on loving this album, but I am happy to report it is totally exceeding my expectations! It's the most beautiful sort of melancholy. Just gorgeous stuff..there is a sample for you below. The 'Molina And Johnson' record is available everywhere on November 3.

* Molina And Johnson - 'Lilly And The Brakeman' MP3

The Best Kind Of Insomnia

2009-10-29T16:21:00.001-07:00

There are points in every man's life where he must pause, assess where he is, and plan accordingly. Tonight was one of those nights. And the moment of truth came to me all at once and out of nowhere. It came as I was live blogging my local trick or treat night here in suburban Columbus,Ohio. I know, so ridiculous,right? This is not at all how I imagined my Thursday nights would be...ever.

At the same time, I was having an ongoing facebook conversation with an old friend...re-hashing some of our past adventures, which, when re-hashed, sound incredibly reckless! Ah, my 20's....how fun you were, but I am so glad you are over and I often wonder how I survived you.

All of this nostalgia and self-loathing led me to some soul searching, after which I arrived at this conclusion. I am TOTALLY OK with live blogging trick or treat night as a 34yr old guy. While all of this was going on, many friends were making plans and talking about going out on twitter and facebook...and for about half a second I was jealous. Then I wasn't. Honestly, the last place I would ever want to go at this point in my life is a night club. Or any other place with really loud obnoxious drunk people in costumes...I know! I was THOSE people for ten years! I survived, thereby earning my right to live blog neighborhood events on a Thursday night!

Wait, wait, wait...this is my music blog, not my therapy session. Sorry! I digress. In an attempt to tie this all in to music, this Jason Anderson song came up via the shuffle mode tonight. It is absolutely the sort of song that the 20yr old Blair would not have at all appreciated. The lyrics are WAY too pointed, way too brutally honest. In other words, the kind of song that the nearly middle-aged Blair adores.

* Jason Anderson - 'The Post Office' MP3

Trick (f)Or Treat

2009-10-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

It's Beggars Night here...the one night a year where it is totally socially acceptable to take candy from strangers...as long as you are wearing some sort of demonic costume! Go crazy kids...you will absolutely miss this when you get older!!!

* Neon Neon - 'Trick For Treat' MP3

Craigslist Musical Dedication

2009-10-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

Guy with chainsaw at haunted

hoochie oct 23

- w4m - 18 (palakstan)

Date: 2009-10-26, 11:42PM EDT

Hi im brittany, i went down to the haunted hoochie on friday october 23,2009and im looking for a guy who works at the haunted hoochie and had a chainsaw on the in side that i told who had his chainsaw on my leg and i told him not to do that to much cause it might turn me on....... please contact me at duckie_the_swimmer_8 for yahoo sn or britduckie for aim sn or my myspace is lil_swimmin_country_girl8...... please find me!!! my number is four one nie six six zero three one zero six eight

******

This girl is probably already dead. Not a real good idea to include the phrase "don't use the chainsaw to much, it may turn me on" followed by the sharing of your phone number . I mourn her death, but man, I would still LOVE to hear some of those voice mail messages!

* Hole -'Jennifer's Body' MP3

Get up, get out

2009-10-28T13:11:00.000-07:00

The other record that has been in my ear all week is the latest one from Toronto's Elliot Brood. EB are my kind of Canadians, as they make music with plenty of banjo, ukulele, and alt-country angst.

'Mountain Meadows' is the name of the record, and I recommend it highly...whiskey sold separately unfortunately.

* 'Without Again' MP3

When the stars are shining on you...

2009-10-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

File this one under debut albums I am looking forward to. Free Energy are a band out of Pennsylvania that love their guitars. And I love them for it. The sound is pure power pop bliss.

Their debut LP will be out in 2010 on James Murphy's(LCD Soundstyem) label. I will definitely pass along more details and tunes as they become available!

* Free Energy - 'Dream City' MP3

What Will We Be

2009-10-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

Been on a bit of a blogging hiatus, just because nothing really interesting had crossed my ears in the last few days. Leave it to Devendra Banhart and his freak folk to change all of that. His brand new record 'What Will We Be' is nothing if not interesting.

I've been listening to it all day, and I am still finding little nuggets of sonic gold hidden in the collage of his songs that I must have missed on the first or second listen. It's really a brilliant album...here is one of my favorite tunes, enjoy.

* '16th And Valencia Roxy Music' MP3

Craigslist Musical Dedication

2009-10-24T15:11:00.001-07:00

Hopeless Romantic

- 39 (Columbus)

Date: 2009-10-24, 5:50PM EDT

I am 39 years old 6FT tall 200 pounds . Christian, Looking for faithful woman 30 to 45 who would enjoy a very romantic man who enjoys a LOT of holding each other, giving her candle light bubble baths , opening doors for her, flowers, movies walks in the park holding hands or just out walking holding hands . I am extremely loving of the woman I would be with. even years later I would still be doing these things each day and I would not get out of bed before softly kissing her and whispering "I LOVE YOU" softly in her ears. I prefer women 5ft1 to 5 ft 7 and not heavy because I enjoy carrying her in my arms. If you wear it well send a pic, I'm not to picky if she's loving and faithful. I'm not looking for people with kids that are not grown. My kids are grown and not living with me so I'm alone and just single. I don't mind jealous or possessive women as long as your open with me and it don't cause problems between us. I do enjoy a woman who is not afraid to say I belong to her. I'm not looking for one night stands but as far as sex, If I love you what ever pleases you go's in the bed room as long as it between the two of us, I am very active in the bed room with who I'm with and I try hard to please the one I love in bed and out. I won't deal with an unfaithful person and I don't want ex's mine or yours in our life. I will NEVER cheat and feel free to test me on this when ever you feel like it. I Love the out doors and as much I love just being with you holding you. I want a woman who always wants to be held at home or out in public. I just went through a breakup and a layoff and I'm looking to hook up quick.. Send pics and tell me about your self. If I'm not interested I just won't respond. If you forget the pic I won't reply.
if your pic is to large to send thru this site reply and request my email and i'll send it to you .

******

I love that this "hopeless romantic" writes a heart wrenching manifesto about how badly he wants to hold somebody...and then concludes it with "I just went through a breakup and a layoff and I'm looking to hook up quick."

* Guided By Voices -'Hold On Hope' MP3