Category Archives: Uncategorized

Uncategorized 4 Comments

Wasted: The iTunes Shuffle Meme

by

Courtesy of my friend Ryan McManus, here's today's music-inspired afternoon-waster. Here's the rules:

1. Put Your iTunes on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the 'next' button to get your answer. (or listen to each song, like I did.)
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. (I added this in myself) – Tag some peeps you want to do the same.

What do your friends think of you?
Shakedown on 9th Street – Ryan Adams
I'm pretending this is on 6th St. and is talking about Austin or
else it's insinuating that I'm hookering it up in the 'hood of SF.

If someone says, “Is this okay?” You say?
I Can Feel Your Pain – Manchester Orchestra
Surprisingly fitting.

How would you describe yourself?
Lord I'm Discouraged – The Hold Steady
iTunes shuffle is CLAIRVOYANT!

What do you like in a guy/girl?
Dream – Priscilla Ahn
Pluralize it and, ok, that's about right.

How do you feel today?
Tunnelvision – Here We Go Magic
This keeps getting eerier and eerier…

What is your life’s purpose?
The Canadian Dream – Sam Roberts
Hell yeah, I always wanted ketchup potato chips to be a mainstay in my life

What is your motto?
Safe and Sound – Hawksley Workman
I prefer "Livin' on the Edge" but sadly have a dearth of Aerosmith in my work iTunes library

What do you think about very often?
Mirror in the Sky – K-OS
No clue

What is 2 + 2?
Warm It Up – Girltalk
Well, it covers "My Humps" so that would be logical

What do you think of your best friend?
Wild Wind – Black Mountain
Wait – WHO is my best friend?

What do you think of the person you like?
On Tour with Zykos – Okkervil River
Shit, I didn't want anyone to know about my sordid Patrick Pestorious love affair. Sigh – too late.

What is your life story?
Scythian Empires – Andrew Bird
Not gonna lie – had to Google 'Sycthian' (def: a member of the
ancient nomadic people inhabiting Scythia) In that case, I'm reading up
on reincarnation

What do you want to be when you grow up?
In a New York Minute – Don Henley
Sure! If New York will have me, I'll head on over there.

What do you think of when you see the person you like?
Dark Come Soon – Tegan and Sara
No comment

What will you dance to at your wedding?
Huddle Formation – The Go! Team
First dance, most def.

What will they play at your funeral?
Working Man – Plants and Animals
I'll sit up in my coffin and veto this if it happens

What is your hobby/interest?
We Both Go Down Together – Colin Meloy
LOLOLOLOLOLOL. Also, yes.

What is your biggest fear?
Evening's Heights – Coast
Like I said, iTunes Shuffle KNOWS my ass.

What is your biggest secret?
Trouble – Ray LaMontagne
Oh come on. That's no secret.

What do you think of your friends?
Plus Ones – Okkervil River
Well, if it's for a VIP list, then sure. Otherwise, that's just cruel.

What will you post this as?
Wasted – South
Done.

Your turn – hyperlink your post in the comments. And…GO.

Uncategorized 4 Comments

100 Things

by

Every two or three months or so, I get a forward from one of my college roommates with the typical list of questions on it. The point is to answer the questions, and then send it BACK to the person who sent it to you (plus a few other friends.) It's the recipe/underwear/book-free latter day version of a chain letter, and – to be honest – they're getting kind of old. We've done these so often that I know I would easily win a 'color/food/ice cream preference'-based Family Feud with any of these girls, so if you know anyone casting for that, LET ME KNOW.

That said, my friend Ryan recently posted a Facebook note with 25 things you wouldn't know about him, and I loved it. He tagged a few people in it (the goal is to prompt them to do something similar; which I will, I've just been compiling things you don't know about me since my life is an open book) and in the meantime, came across this 'lazy list of 100 things' and figured it would be an easy starting point. The point is to add color to the things you've done, and it was actually fun (for this erstwhile lazy blogger) to complete it. Alas, my 100 Things.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disneyworld, yes. Disneyland? No. A travesty perhaps…)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a mobile phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Uncategorized 16 Comments

In The Daylight Anywhere Feels Like Home: Best of 2008 Mix

by

FEELSLIKEHOME

This time of the year, it seems like everyone is taking a look back and making their ‘Best of…’ lists. Time picks a person of the year. News websites review the biggest stories. It makes sense – it’s only natural to feel reminiscent about the people and things that got us where we are today. And for me, that comes in the form of music.

I grew up surrounded by music. My grandfather played the organ in church (and had the most beautiful, baritone voice that would warm even the coldest of hearts.) My Mom was constantly playing the piano, and my Dad was in a band in high school that was featured in TimeLife magazine, so there was always a guitar or drum practice pad laying around. The record player – later, the tape deck and the CD player – were constantly blaring The Mommas and the Poppas, The Carpenters, or – and if you say a nasty word about my slight obsession with her I will block your IP from downloading my musical goodness – Barbra Streisand. Basically, I grew up with a healthy, if not gratuitous, love affair with music.

And so it’s no wonder that once again, as the days continue to get shorter and the nights, even here in California, call for woolen scarves and mittens, I find myself looking back over the past twelve months and capturing what inspired me most. The songs that I put on repeat on my iPod. The ones that got me through a really rough month or two, and somehow brought me through to the other side, mostly unscathed (albeit a bit warier than before). The songs that made me listen to, and learn from, the lyrics. The songs – while not all released in this last year – that served as my soundtrack of 2008.

I titled this mix “In the Daylight Anywhere Feels Like Home” which is a line from the soon-to-be-released song Daylight by Matt & Kim that reflects the transient nature of the year about to close. I spent a lot of time in a lot of different cities & countries these last twelve months, and found myself – while loving seeing and experiencing new places – taking a bit of home with me wherever I was. Many of these songs were the connection between home and away, and it seemed like a fitting title. 

I contemplated sending this mix to just a select few of my close friends, but realized that while I was traveling, while I was learning and growing and moving on, a lot of people I *don’t* know in person – through their kind emails or notes on Twitter or my website – also served as that connection I was seeking, near and afar. And so I’m choosing to share it with all of you.

Download: In The Daylight Anywhere Feels Like Home

1. You and What Army – The Parkas
This song was on constant rotation in the early part of the year; I got a chance to see The Parkas live at SXSW, and I think it was the best show of the entire week. Unfortunately, they didn’t play this song as their bass player wasn’t with them, and alas, I must find them whenever they play next (within reason) and request it. (The lead singer – who is hot, and sadly, married – is now my Facebook friend. So I consider that a win.)

2. Sex on Fire – Kings of Leon
This song has everything going against it. It was first introduced to me by someone I was dating, which ended badly. It was playing on Saturday Night Live the very night that very same person chose to make out with someone else (after I chose to stay home from the party that was the scene of the crime, a decision I think was probably one of the wisest ones I’ve ever unknowingly made, in retrospect.) It is – God forbid – ON THE RADIO. And yet, hot DAMN it’s got a catchy beat and never fails to pick me up and make me sing along. Perhaps you *can* find love in unexpected places after all…

3. Daylight – Matt & Kim
Though it’s not technically released yet, I think this song garnered the most playtime in the shortest period of time, ever. Something like 16 plays in two days. Matt & Kim put on an AMAZING, energy-filled live show, and they’re still playing smallish venues, so I urge you to go see them when they come to your part o’ town. Also, I dare you to stay in a bad mood while listening to this.

4. Better Things – Passion Pit
Another jubilant, bouncy, upbeat lil’ ditty. Another one that instantly puts you in a better mood. Another one that picked me up when I was upset and angry and hurt while attempting to keep my shit together on minimal sleep, minimal food and maximum stress in London.

5. Backwards Walk – Frightened Rabbit
Anyone who follows me on Twitter or reads DailyTuneage.com will know that The Midnight Organ Fight is a likely contender for my favorite album of 2008. Anyone who reads this website right NOW will learn that it actually tops that list. I’ve now seen them six or seven times live, and they’re very different – even better, if you can believe that – in person. This song was my daily mantra in late Spring when I was attempting to extricate myself from a very difficult, very personal, very emotional situation. (It was successful, and I still adore the song.)

6. Fix It (live in Albany, Sept. ’08) – Ryan Adams and The Cardinals
If any song was the soundtrack for a wronged woman, and if that wronged woman was yours truly, this would be the song. I chose the live version because it’s the one I had and played incessently before the album version came out. It’s also a few minutes longer than the one on Cardinology, which means I love it even more.

7. Song for Gypsy Rose Lee – The Coast
I discovered this band midway through this year, and absolutely adore them. This song is the slowest one on their album Expatriate, and also my favorite. Still haven’t been able to see them live, but hope to remedy that really soon. (Also, their manager Ben, is super rad.)

8. Skinny Love – Bon Iver
Justin Vernon’s epic album, For Emma, Forever Ago, tops many a music editor’s “Best of 2008” list. It’s one that I’ve listened to all year, but has only recently been put into high rotation. I’m angry at myself for not loving it earlier, but I suppose all things in time.

9. About Today – The National
This comes off of their older album, Cherry Tree, and I think I heard it on a TV show and had to immediately Google it to find out the name. It is THAT beautiful. I want to drink Matt Berninger’s voice…it’s like dark, sultry molassas.

10. Going, Going, Gone (live version) – Stars
Released this fall on their Sad Robots EP, I hadn’t been acquainted with the original version of this song until I heard this live version. I prefer this one, and often found myself waking up with the lyrics in my head.

11. Innocence – The Airborne Toxic Event
Found out about this band from my friend Keith, purveyor of fine music. Haven’t yet seen them live, but will next month, and I can’t wait. I hear only good things, and I do love this song. (Check out their entire self-titled album; the song Somewhere After Midnight is also amazing.)

12. Rocky Took A Lover – BellX1
They were opening for The Submarines at Cafe du Nord earlier this summer, and I fell in love. There’s a lyric in the song that says “My ass is the perfect height for kicking” but that’s NOT TRUE. The lead singer has a disproportionately high butt, so you would have to kick a little higher than average. Just in case you needed to kick his ass. (I’d suggest that you don’t, however…this band – who used to play with Damien Rice before he spun off to do his own thing – is pretty phenomenal. And really, what did he ever do to YOU?!?)

13. Calling and Not Calling my Ex – Okkervil River
I sometimes hear this song on Sirius/XM, and get a little angry. Ok, a LOT angry, as I’ve found myself being somewhat possessive of this tune and kind of want to keep it as my own. But I won’t – Okkervil River is one of my favorite bands, and they, too, put on a great live show. Also, I’m kind of in love with Patrick Pestorius.

14. Ready for the Floor – Hot Chip
Makes me dance in my chair. ‘Nuff said.

15. Rooftops – Pela
This song is a paltry 2:49, and that’s a travesty. I want AT LEAST 3 more minutes of the instrumentalized awesomeness. (I ‘discovered’ Pela while at Sasquatch back in May; we were waiting for another band to start at one of the side stages and they were playing and I was instantly hooked. Went home and downloaded – legally! – every single one of their songs.)

16. Blood Bank – Bon Iver
Happy Holidays, everyone…this is my little treat to you, since this EP doesn’t come out until January. It’s one of four songs on the EP and even though I just head it last week, I can’t stop listening to it. Would have been on my ‘Best of 2009’ mix most certainly, but I couldn’t finish this mix in good conscience without including it. It represents my favorite song as I close the year, and transition into the next.

17. Where Have You Been? – Manchester Orchestra
There is something raw and needy and beseeching about this song. It gets under my skin and makes me melancholy and nervous, yet has a triumphant feel about it as well. Somewhere in this dichotomy, it makes sense.

18. Hallelujah – The Helio Sequence
This song has ended nearly every mix I made in 2008. The last 2:11 is a jubilant celebration, the perfect ending to the mix; in this case, my perfect ending to my imperfect year. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Music makes me want to live and laugh and love, and do better. BE better. It urges me on to whatever is next, reminds me that wounds do eventually heal, and that a healthy dose of perspective is often all it takes to move on. That’s probably how I would succinctly describe 2008: learning how to move on. And this was the soundtrack of it all. I hope you enjoy it – and the experiences that it accompanies – as much as I have.

Happy Holidays.

*The mixtape artwork was lovingly created by the ever-talented Ryan McManus, who serves as my musical muse many times over. Also, as he so succinctly says, “And if you find an unfamiliar song and want to hear more, I encourage you to buy the album. The best music is, after all, made by friends.” I couldn’t agree more – you’ll find most of these songs on iTunes or Amazon or the artists’ website, so please support them and their music.