May first draft

The weather is finally getting more predictable here, predictably lame if you ask me, but at least the sun has made a few appearances. So May needs some upbeat stuff, light and airy. There are a few birthdays this month too, so I can't be too much of a downer. I predict some Sasquatch artists will make the cut as I prep for Memorial Day weekend, as well as some in-the-car-alone singable sunny day tunes.


Abba- Take a Chance On Me
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Zero
Elvis Costello- Tart
The Cardigans- Daddy's Car
Stars
TV on the Radio
Cloud Cult

We'll see how this continues to take shape as May day approaches.

Adds:

Peter Sarstedt- Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)

The Kinks- Sitting by the Riverside

Eric Hutchinson- Rock & Roll (I know this was in April too but it's so happy)

Brian Eno & David Byrne- Life is Long (and pretty much the rest of that CD)

Josh Ritter- Girl in the War

Cage the Elephant- Ain't No Rest For The Wicked

MGMT- Electric Feel

5/8/09

Just got the Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band cd... love it.  I think this may become one of the summer soundtrack cds. Here's the add for May:

Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band- White Shoes

Especially for an uncommonly warm May night.

5/9/09

Ok, so I just added the following 3 to the draft:

Andrew Bird- Fitz and the Dizzyspells

Wynton Marsalis- School Boy

The Airborne Toxic Event- Sometime Around Midnight (Acoustic Version)

Really, they only are on there because I got them from the free Starbucks pick of the week thing and I like to put those into whatever playlist I'm making just to see if I actually like them.  So far, they're holding their own, I'll put the May playlist to the test right now since it's pretty much the perfect May day.  Anything that gets skipped is going to be booted from the list and I'll have something final so I can just start sitting back and enjoying my work instead of continuing to labor over this thing...

Mendacem Memorem Esse Oportet

Starting things off with a nice Latin phrase always seems right. And how great is the internet that I can simply type "latin quote" into Google, and get a list of everything from legal jargon to "beam me up, Scotty!" in the ancient father-tongue.

Not only does my quote sound pregnant with importance, it is also coincidentally relevant to the content of this blog. "A liar needs a good memory," I couldn't have said it better myself, Quintilianus. Although I wouldn't call myself a liar, and my memory has proved itself to be capable according to american educational standards, my iTunes library is huge. So huge, in fact, that I usually end up listening to whatever random artist is on my mind, or one whose name starts with "A."

So for my own sensibilities, I have decided to make monthly playlists so that I can enjoy my music and customize my listening according to the weather, my mood (the two of which are inextricably linked.. stupid Washington), and any other cultural influences that may crop up.

I make no claim in regards to a genre of choice, I exercise my right to love both Joni Mitchell and Jack White, Britney and the Black Keys. I am an appreciator of music, and this is about me, what I am interested in and inspired by at a certain point in time. Sometimes ridiculous music just makes me happy, and I will apologize to no one for it! Having said that, rest assured that I have excellent taste and I'm convinced that the music industry will give a collective sigh when they find out about me and see some of my choices.

Welcome to my year of playlists.