Non-Sequiturs

Music, as most people who know me know, is a huge, almost all-consuming, aspect of my life. It constantly amazes me how music can transform and illuminate my life. I've often sat down and attempted to address why certain music appeals to me, and other music doesn't. Like most art, music is highly subjective. It amazes me when there can be a consensus on why something is good as opposed to bad. In a nutshell, and a completely off-the-cuff nutshell at that, I just like what I like. What brings this up is that three situations have come up recently that intrigued me. First, I bought a cd from a new UK act called LoneLady, which has gotten very good reviews. When I listened to it the first time, I loved every song and immediately began listening to the cd over and over again. Strangely, with each listen, I began liking it less and less. To the point now where I really can't stand it whatsoever, except for one or two songs. Odd that I could go from hot to cold that quickly. I do love the song "Marble."



Second, I had my iPod on shuffle the other day and a song came on I didn't recall (this is pretty easy considering my iPod has 15 thousand songs on it). The artist sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it. I looked at the menu and it was a song called "Gravity" from the German band The Notwist. It came off their last cd The Devil, You + Me, which was a huge disappointment from their brilliant cd Neon Golden. I couldn't even get through the cd and quickly never listened to it again. After hearing "Gravity," I was stunned at how I could have let such an amazing song pass me by. I immediately set forth to listen to the cd again with a more open ear. Unfortunately, "Gravity" is by far the only song on the whole cd I like, so there was no reprieve from my initial assessment of the cd. I am glad I was able to find one redeeming song off the cd though.



Third, and in direct contrast with The Notwist, I also heard a song on shuffle called "Colorado" from my current favs Grizzly Bear, off their second cd Yellow House. I am a huge fan of Veckatimest, which was my cd of the year last year, but Yellow House just never did much for me. After hearing "Colorado" I wondered again if I maybe gave the cd short shrift. Again, in contrast to The Notwist, I rediscovered a cd I wish I had spent more time on. It is a fabulously dense and rewarding cd, and is easily on par with Veckatimest at the least.



All of this goes to show me that I can never be sure why I like something or why I don't. A lot just depends on timing, mood, and other various factors. Sometimes the timing is right, sometimes not.


Song Lyrics Rattling Through My Head

"If everyone in the world
Would give me their treasure
I would not want for more
Than I have right now"

Sade
"I Couldn't Love You More"

"When I clung to you there was nothing to hold on tight with, you left me adrift. Colorado, what now?"

Grizzly Bear
"Colorado"

"Bring in the savage
Bring in the loud
And fill our house with all the holy astronauts
Bring in the trouble
It's where we live
Up on the roof a prayer for love and disbelief"

The Notwist
"Gravity"

"I want to make it up
I want to make my skin adapt to the sun
no barrier fun"

Liars
"No Barrier Fun"

Appealing Things

Healthcare reform
Spring weather
A smooth job interview
Honesty
Forgiveness
Pot roast, carrots, mushrooms, and garlic mashed potatoes
Returns to form
BMB
Coachella soon!
Nosaj Thing opening for The xx

Annoying Things

Republican scare tactics
Winter weather that won't go away
Waiting for word on said job interview
jj opening for The xx