What is it about rock movies that just hit the spot sometimes... I just finished watching High Fidelity. That movie makes me appreciate the need to have a running soundtrack to one's life.

What else is there, really.

So... my top songs to shuffle out 2008 and ring in the new year? Here's 19 of 'em, in no particular order...


1. Thoughts of a Dying Atheist, Muse
2. On the Radio, Regina Spektor
3. Walk on the Wild Side, Lou Reed & the Velvet Underground
4. Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine), Bob Dylan
5. Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
6. Many Shades of Black, The Raconteurs
7. For Emma, Bon Iver
8. Bangers & Mash, Radiohead
9. Rockers to Swallow, Yeah Yeah Yeahs
10. Summer Is Coming, Matt Pond PA
11. Say It To Me Now, Glen Hansard
12. Time to Pretend, MGMT
13. Manhattan, Kings of Leon
14. Rock n' Roll Suicide, David Bowie
15. Just Couldn't Tie Me Down, The Black Keys
16. Dry the Rain, The Beta Band
17. Rev 22:20 (Dry Martini Mix), Puscifer
18. Crazy for You, Adele
19. You Really Gotta Hold on Me, She & Him

SotD: Lady by Regina Spektor

Yes, my love affair with Regina Spektor is endless.

Listen.

lady sing the blues so well
as if she mean it
as if it's hell down here
in the smoke filled world
where the jokes are cold, they don't laugh at jokes
they laugh at tragedies

corner street societies
but they believe her
they never leave her while she sings
she make them feel things

she says "I can sing this song so blue
that you will cry in spite of you
little wet tears on your baby's shoulder
little wet tears on your baby's shoulder

and I have walked these streets so long
there ain't nothin' right, there ain't nothin' wrong
but the little wet tears on my baby's shoulder
little wet tears on my baby's shoulder"

lady lights a cigarette, puffs away, no regrets
takes a look around, no regrets no regrets
stretches out like branches of a poplar tree
says "I am free", sings so soft as if she'll break

says "I can sing this song so blue
that you will cry in spite of you
little wet tears on your baby's shoulder
little wet tears on your baby's shoulder

and I have walked these streets so long
there ain't nothin' right, nothin' wrong
but the little wet tears on my baby's shoulder
little wet tears on my baby's shoulder
but on this stage I've learned to fly
learned to sing and learned to cry
little wet tears on my baby's shoulder
little wet tears on my baby's shoulder

but now it's time to say goodbye
some might laugh, but I will surely cry
little wet tears on my baby's shoulder
little wet tears on my baby's shoulder"

lady lights a cigarette
puffs away
and winter comes
and she
forgets

SotD: Hotel Chelsea Nights, Ryan Adams

This song is off an album called "Love is Hell."


Need I say more?

How long's it gonna be, babe
Before I get over you, doll
You're tearin' the stuff right out of me kid
What with you living right up the hall

And I'm tired of living in this hotel
TV and dirty magazines
And I'm tired of livin' on 23rd Street
Strung out like some Christmas lights
Out there in the Chelsea night

Maybe you just didn't read me right
The lights went out and you just sitting on the stair
I played your song but I couldn't get the melody right
Why don't you just shoot up like a ball of rubber bands

And I'm tired of living in this hotel
Fire and ashes blowin' cross the sheets
And I'm tired of livin' on 23rd Street
Strung out like some Christmas lights
Out there in the Chelsea night

I fell like getting rid of all my things
Maybe just disappear into the fall
The traffic roars and my stomach screams
Sittin' here watchin' roaches climb the wall

And I'm tired of living here in this hotel
Following a rainbow into town
And I'm just trying to get a little sleep
Strung out like some Christmas lights
Out there in the Chelsea night

SotW: Samson, by Regina Spektor

listen.

Watch:




Read:

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the sheets of paper lies my truth
I have to go, I have to go
Your hair was long when we first met

Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
He ate a slice of wonder bread and went right back to bed
And history books forgot about us and the bible didn't mention us
And the bible didn't mention us, not even once

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first, I loved you first
Beneath the stars came fallin' on our heads
But they're just old light, they're just old light
Your hair was long when we first met

Samson came to my bed
Told me that my hair was red
Told me I was beautiful and came into my bed
Oh I cut his hair myself one night
A pair of dull scissors in the yellow light
And he told me that I'd done alright
And kissed me 'til the mornin' light, the mornin' light
And he kissed me 'til the mornin' light

Samson went back to bed
Not much hair left on his head
Ate a slice of wonderbread and went right back to bed
Oh, we couldn't bring the columns down
Yeah we couldn't destroy a single one
And history books forgot about us
And the bible didn't mention us, not even once

You are my sweetest downfall
I loved you first

SotD: The Lengths by The Black Keys

The Black Keys are really fucking cool. I saw their live show a few months ago and they are just straight up blues rockers. It felt just like hanging out in their rehearsal space (but with a lot of people and lights...)


Their album, Rubber Factory, is getting me through the late afternoon work blues right now... and I am declaring "the Lengths" the song of the day because it fits my present disposition. Listen.

tell me where you're goin or
what is going wrong
I felt you leavin before
you'd even gone
and hold me now
or never ever hold me again
no more talk
can take me away from this pain I'm in

see the moonlight shinin on
your window pane
see it leave you as
faithful as it came
please yourself so you
don't have to be afraid
make amends
or carry on another way

tell me what you were thinkin
to treat somebody so
the care he took the
lengths to which he'd go
coals are hot to walk
across without your shoes
but in the end
know that you got nothin to lose

The Short List

Thought I'd make a mention of the new music I've been listening to lately...since... that's the purpose of this little blog. On recommendations from a few musical friends, here's the quick list:

1. Bon Iver, For Emma Forever Ago- I Should have written about this a while ago when I first started listening to it. It has been oxygen for me for a while now. It just hits the right heart strings. It is still heavy in the rotation and if you're lucky enough to have tickets to the sold out show this week, I hate you a little bit.

2. MGMT, Oracular Spectacular- I just got this yesterday and I'm already on listen #4. Think Flaming Lips meets The Talking Heads meets David Bowie's optimistic side. 5 hours into an ecstasy trip. (That about sums it up for me...) It's happy music, but not in an annoying way.

3. She & Him, Volume One- I'm pretty sure I like this music. It's a little poppy, but it has enough twang to get away with it. And Zooey Deschanel is cool enough to pull it off.

That is all. Now taking recommendations.

(music will save your life every time)

SotD: Disappointed, by The Frames

Glen Hansard is beautiful. He wears all of his emotions right on his face. He's like a mirror for anyone who's ever been broken-hearted. This video isn't all that interesting, but the song is great and he's great to watch. So, here you go:




The future takes us where it leads
Our heads just go beneath the waves
Time tells all and we obey
But how can I be mad at you
You did what you did
And you followed through
You were the one who always said
'Forget it and move on'

But I'm not sad, I'm just disappointed
And I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed

Well the years they get on top of you
The working load it tallied up
And you went down
Beneath it all like anybody would
And I'm just ambling on in this town
I can't get out and it drags me down
And these words don't really fit what I'm feeling now

But I'm not sad, I'm just disappointed
And I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed

And you're not lost, you're just misdirected
And we're not going, oh nowhere