John Vanderslice — Exodus Damage

I might have posted this before as Pixel Revolt is an amazing album and this song being a favourite of mine. The way it stirs around, and the anxieties that sort of resigns into being normal but still not. A taste of bitter-sweet lingers through-out the whole song.

Common Rotation — Union Dues

I was sittin’, thinkin’, worryin’ about today
When I think about tomorrow then you’re gone away
It’s a mystery child, bought and sold
I was sittin’, drinkin’, wonderin’ what to say
When something comes up, down Broadway
It’s another round, heart and soul

There ain’t no doubt about it
Ain’t never gonna shine these shoes
There ain’t two ways around it
One ain’t got time for these blues
I will spend all of my better days
Just payin’ my union dues

And so on.

Garfunkel and Oates — As You Are

The very sappy night of Thursdays in May.

I know that you can get sad sometimes
I see it mostly when you smile
Let go of all of your supposed crimes
Just be with me for a while

Thea Gilmore — I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine

I think Thea has bigger balls than most. Do a track-for-track re-recording of John Wesley Harding? Sure, why not? This song might be the oldest one since she recorded it in 2002 but damn, it is one of my favourite covers ever.

Cat Power — He War

This is related to the dream I had this night. It was a Cat Powers gig, with special effects in 3D of mechas fighting, synchronised running towards battle stations and all that. Bright colours and fantastic music. Some friends were a bit sceptical but Rikard looked at them in disdain and said “Didn’t you watch Balatack?” It was amazing even though for some reason my ticket was for seats with the back resting against the stage. I revolted and didn’t sit down.

Also present were some people I haven’t thought about in a long time. That was odd.

Kate Bush — Somewhere in Between

Why not have a theme day? Or at least listen to the A Sky of Honey part of this double album.

Lelia Broussard — Shoot For The Moon

Summer music.

Ane Brun — Temporary Dive

Sitting on the cold dirt floor
I want to finish
the counting of days on the walls
I build a ladder from broken wish bones
And square-shaped stones
That my friends threw down in the hole

The night requires soft and melancholic songs! (And hugs, but there are none. There never are. Perhaps not never, but mostly there isn’t any. Huge design flaw in life.)

Ted Leo and The Pharmacists — Me and Mia

This could have been any Ted Leo song, there’s something about them that brings me into the happy headspace. I think it’s the guitars, or just the creative centre of Ted Leo himself. Either way, happy music for me.

And happy music is needed. Nothing has happened really, today has been quite good all in all, but “nothing happened” is also part of the problem. When nothing happens, nothing happens. Obviously. Good or bad would both be preferable to this.

inthefade:

Hüsker Dü - Plans I Make

4:22 for 4/22 for Lisa’s Date Song meme.

Let me tell you something about this album, New Day Rising.

It’s one of the best albums ever recorded.

Most Hüsker Dü fans will point to Zen Arcade or Flip Your Wig as their favorite. In my eyes, New Day Rising was their absolute pinnacle.[…]

I actually prefer Warehouse over Zen Arcade. But yes, I agree about this I think. Despite loving to make lists, ranking is not my strongest ability.

Boiled In Lead – Army (Dream Song)

This is one of my hundreds of favourite songs. One of the first I learned to play on guitar too. I think I discovered it largely due to the acknowledgements in the book War For the Oaks by Emma Bull. Or was it the introduction? Or another book? I don’t remember that part. But I’m fairly sure she’s to blame. Or Steven Brust. One of them — and yes, I think you can blame people for good things as well.

Julie Fowlis — Mo Ghruagach Dhonn

I know Julie’s Scottish, but listening to this made me realise that I really wish I had studied Irish vocabulary a lot harder. That part if always the hardest for me in any language. I need to start practice and read up, make the knowledge more current again because that language is too fucking beautiful to just waste in the brain like this. (I never studied Scottish Gaelic, but damn, I want to learn that too.)

Howling Bells - Low Happening.

Because of low happening. No, that’s a lie. Not because of, not really. Good music is just needed. This is good music.

The Postmarks — No One Said This Would Be Easy

I might have posted this one before but I can’t be arsed with that now. Pretty songs are needed, then listening to pretty songs it is.

The Flash Girls – Neil’s Reel/Star Of The County Down

If you want me to pick a favourite record, there will be quite a problem as there will be lots of them, I’m really not good at playing favourites. This would come as no surprise if you’ve seen the few follow Fridays I’ve done. I always feel horrible doing those. Someone will be left out and I’ll get the anxiety twine in the stomach. But albums, rest assured that Maurice & I will be among the dozens mentioned.

I just wish two things: that more people would listen to the Flash Girls and that they’d find time and geographical location to do more songs. All three albums are fucking fantastic, a great blend of songs both traditional and original.