Here they are, ladies and gentlemen: the 25 greatest albums of the decade; nothing byt the best from 2000-2009. And of COURSE these are the best -- I've picked them. Without any further ado...
25) Once: Music from the Motion Picture
24) In Rainbows - Radiohead
23) Our Endless Numbered Days - Iron and Wine
22) A Rush of Blood to the Head - Coldplay
21) Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie
20) O - Damien Rice
19) For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver
18) Med ud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust - Sigur Ros
17) Chutes Too Narrow - The Shins
16) Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
15) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!
Here we are at the dawn of another year and that can only mean one thing -- it's time for the drew's annual "Top of the Pops" list, my top ten albums of the year.
Thankfully, 2009 was exponentially better than 2008 -- possibly one of the best years for music in this decade. Last year, several bands brought the party -- this year, it seemed as though artists were tired from all the partying and decided they needed to provide some mellow tunes to give their listeners a chance to chill. This is one listener who was very pleased with their decision. For those of you who don't remember, here is last year's list:
10) Narrow Stairs, Death Cab for Cutie 9) Everything that Happens Will Happen Today, David Byrne & Brian Eno 8) Skeletal Lamping, Of Montreal) 7) Volume 1, She & Him (Zooey Deschanel & M. Ward) 6) The Stand Ins, Okkervil River 5) Modern Guilt, Beck 4) Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes 3) Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend 2) For Emma, Forever Ago, Bon Iver 1) með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, Sigur Ros
And now, without any further ado, the 2009 countdown...
Top Five Honorable Mentions:
5) Mo Beauty - Alec Ounsworth 4) I and Love and You - The Avett Brothers 3) Together Through Life - Bob Dylan 2) Working On a Dream - Bruce Springsteen 1) Taller Children - Elizabeth and the Catapult
10) Stockholm Syndrome - Derek Webb
9) Merriweather Post Pavilion - Animal Collective
8) Artificial Fire - Eleni Mandell
7) The Hazards of Love - The Decemberists
6) Noble Beast - Andrew Bird
5a) No Line On the Horizon - U2
5b) Strict Joy - The Swell Season
4) The Crying Light - Antony and the Johnsons
3) Wait for Me - Moby
2) The Life of the World to Come - The Mountain Goats
1) Dark Was the Night - Various Artists
Be sure to stay tuned for my ultimate countdown list, Top of the Pops -- the 2000's: the Best Albums of the Decade.
Here is the final track listing for my latest mixtape, Halloweenheads:
1) Scared - John Lennon 2) Halloween - Dave Matthews Band 3) I Am Stretched On Your Grave - Sinead O'Connor 4) I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab for Cutie 5) My Body's a Zombie for You - Dead Man's Bones 6) Halloweenhead - Ryan Adams 7) Friendly Ghost - Eels 8) Dracula's Wedding - Outkast 9) Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) - David Bowie 10) Earth Intruders - Bjork 11) Bodysnatchers - Radiohead 12) Spooky Girlfriend - Elvis Costello 13) They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Are Back from the Dead!! Ahhh!! - Sufjan Stevens 14) Scarecrow - Beck 15) The Boogie Monster - Gnarls Barkley 16) Thriller - Michael Jackson
Here is the final track listing for my latest mixtape, Rainy Day Music:
1) Your Letter - Mint Julep 2) Shot In the Back of the Head - Moby 3) David's Lamentation - The Good Players 4) House of Cards - Radiohead 5) Van Occupanther - Midlake 6) Charlie Darwin - The Low Anthem 7) Love Comes to Me - Will Oldham 8) Born - Over the Rhine 9) Save Me - Aimee Mann 10) Staralfur - Sigur Ros 11) Sweet Song - Blur 12) Heart's a Mess - Gotye 13) Wonderwall - Ryan Adams 14) Mad World - Gary Jules 15) Another World - Antony and the Johnsons 16) Baby's World - Chris Garneau 17) Jezebel - Iron and Wine 18) The Book of Love - The Magnetic Fields
Here is the final track listing for my latest mixtape, Book Notes -- a collection of songs about books and authors:
1) Novel Writing - Monty Python 2) Wrapped Up In Books - Belle and Sebastian 3) Paperback Writer - The Beatles 4) Shakespeare's Sister - The Smiths 5) Type Slowly - Pavement 6) Frodo (Don't Wear the Ring) - Flight of the Conchords 7) The Book I Read - Talking Heads 8) Bedside Story - Badly Drawn Boy 9) Sylvia Plath - Ryan Adams 10) Saul Bellow - Sufjan Stevens 11) Bookworm - Margot and the Nuclear So and So's 12) How's About Telling a Story? - Devendra Banhart 13) Write On - Sleeping In the Aviary 14) Write Your Story Now - Kevin Devine 15) Walt Whitman's Niece - Wilco 16) Emma, Dear - Drew Moody 17) Engine Driver - The Decemberists 18) One Short Story - Xavier Rudd 19) Bixby Canyon Bridge - Death Cab for Cutie 20) My Favourite Book - Stars 21) The Book of Love - The Magnetic Fields 22) Bookshop - Monty Python
Here is the final track listing for my latest mixtape, Earth Songs:
1) (Nothing But) Flowers - Talking Heads 2) There Is a Mountain - Donovan 3) The New Pollution - Beck 4) Earth - Imogen Heap 5) Once Upon a Time There Was an Ocean - Paul Simon 6) The Man Who Sold the World - David Bowie 7) Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - Marvin Gaye 8) Big Yellow Taxi - Joni Mitchell 9) Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth - Neko Case 10) After the Gold Rush - Neil Young 11) Mother Nature's Son - The Beatles 12) Hand Me Down World - The Guess Who 13) Citizen of the Planet - Simon and Garfunkel 14) Where Do the Children Play? - Cat Stevens 15) Disappearing World - David Gray 16) Golden Earth Girl - Paul McCartney 17) No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature - The Guess Who 18) There She Goes, My Beautiful World - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 19) After the Garden - Neil Young 20) Nature Anthem - Grandaddy
This mix was inspired by my new friend, Coffee Shop Girl (or as I now know her to be called, Amanda). The Village Grind (the cafe she works at and I frequent) plays absolutely horrendous music and she was told that some of the songs she was bringing in were too "rock and roll." I took it upon myself to create a mix of mellower songs for the shop, that she could play over the speakers while working. If the owner doesn't allow for that, I'll still have the playlist on my iPod!
With SO many mellow, acoustic songs in my collection to choose from, this mixtape proved to be a difficult one to compile. However, I think I've arrived at a pretty good collection of songs suitable for sipping coffee. At any rate, here is the final track listing for my latest mixtape, Venti: Chill Songs for Smooth Roasts:
(DISCLAIMER: I know "venti" is Italian for "twenty" and that there are actually 21 songs on this mix, but I just had an absolute dickens of a time trying to figure out which one song to cut. I decided I'd leave the 21st song on here -- for irony's sake, if nothing else.)
1) I Was Young When I Left Home - Antony and the Johnsons 2) Gold - Interference 3) A Few Honest Words - Ben Sollee 4) I Keep Faith - Billy Bragg 5) Everybody's Talkin' - Bobby Bare 6) Lay Me Down - The Frames 7) Ooh La La - Faces 8) Ghosts - Mark Geary 9) So Far Around the Bend - The National 10) You and I - Wilco (with Feist) 11) The Greatest - Cat Power 12) Heather, Remind Me How This Ends - Dolorean 13) Lord, Save Me from Myself - Jon Foreman 14) Something Else - Gary Jules 15) Dogs - Damien Rice 16) One of These Things First - Nick Drake 17) For Emma - Bon Iver 18) Decatur, or, a Round of Applause for Your Stepmother - Sufjan Stevens 19) At the Hop - Devendra Banhart 20) Dark As the Night - Doug Burr 21) Fresh Feeling - Eels
Here is the final track listing for my latest mixtape, This One Goes Out to All the Ladies:
1) Ladies of the World - Flight of the Conchords 2) Black Girl Pain - Talib Kweli 3) The Girls Want to Be with the Girls - Talking Heads 4) Love Her Madly - The Doors 5) No You Girls - Franz Ferdinand 6) Daytime Nighttime Suffering - Paul McCartney 7) Working Girls (Sunlight Shines) - The Pernice Brothers 8) Women's Realm - Belle and Sebastian 9) Killer Queen - Queen 10) No Man's Woman - Sinead O'Connor 11) Nobody's Baby - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings 12) Respect - Aretha Franklin 13) Woman Is the Nigger of the World - John Lennon 14) Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves - Eurythmics 15) Woman King - Iron and Wine 16) Army of Me - Bjork 17) She Just Wants to Be - R.E.M. 18) Girl In the War - Josh Ritter 19) She's Leaving Home - The Beatles
Here is the final track listing for my latest mixtape, Songs of the Sea:
1) Home at Last - Steely Dan 2) Stuck On a Boat - Port O'Brien 3) Chanty - Son Volt 4) I'm Shipping Up to Boston - Dropkick Murphys 5) March Into the Sea - Modest Mouse 6) Fisherman's Wife - Califone 7) Gulf of Mexico Fishing Blues - Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby 8) The Devil Down Below - Gaelic Storm 9) The Mariner's Revenge Song - The Decemberists 10) Petrov, Yelyena and Me - Flight of the Conchords 11) Goodbye, Goodnight - Jars of Clay 12) Sailor Song - The Felice Brothers 13) Sailor and Widow - Keren Ann 14) The Whaler - Thrice 15) The Downeaster "Alexa" - Billy Joel 16) Pirates - Mr. Gnome 17) The Family and the Fishing Net - Peter Gabriel 18) Fisherman's Song - Port O'Brien 19) Ships - Tyler Ramsey 20) Song to the Siren - Tim Buckley
I've decided I'm finally going to tackle a project that I've been wanting to do for years and years -- I'm going to record a full-length album of hymnsongs, both old-fashioned and modern and maybe even a few originals (and by modern, I mean songs recorded by secular acts during the Jesus Movement).
I don't have a full track-listing yet because I'm still picking out songs; but I figure there will be eleven songs and I've already gotten a few picked out that I'd like to do:
1) Jesus 2) Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing 3) Nearer Blessed Lord - Nina Simone 4) Precious Lord - Mahalia Jackson 5) It Is Well with My Soul 6) Holding On - Drew Moody 7) Be Thou My Vision/All Creatures of Our God and King 8) Jesus - The Velvet Underground 9) Prince of Peace - Drew Moody 10) Jesus Paid It All 11) Jesus (reprise) 12) How Can You Refuse Him Now? - Hank Williams
Other songs I'm considering:
"Lay My Burdens Down" "I Shall Not Walk Alone" - Ben Harper "All My Trials" "I Am a Stranger Here Below"
I picked up the new Derek Webb album, Stockholm Syndrome, this past weekend. I absolutely love Derek Webb and have ever since he left Caedmon's Call; his lyrics are so passionate, so challenging and, musically speaking, he has been a bit of a chameleon with every album. There was the jangly roots music of She Must and Shall Go Free, the stark, atmospheric darkness of I See Things Upside Down, the stripped-down acoustic guitar work on Mockingbird and a bit of 1960's Brit-pop revival on The Ringing Bell. For his latest release, he has left the majority of his instruments at home, save for an acoustic guitar on a couple tracks, and opted for a more digital approach. The entire album is dominated by drums, keyboards and computers. It's actually kind of reminiscent of if Moby were doing more upbeat stuff.
There's been a lot of controversy surrounding Stockholm Syndrome in the music industry since the time it was supposed to be released (in May) up until now. Of course, Derek Webb always stirs things up with every release and I've always wondered just how long it would take for his record label to say "enough is enough." Apparently, he's finally done it.
The original statement the record label, INO, released stated that the lyrics on the new album were too harsh and too risque for Christian audiences, so they wouldn't be releasing it unless he changed the lyrics (particularly for one song). Now, Derek Webb is a man who will not back down when he believes in something and so he refused to change the lyrics. According to him, that one song that is getting the most heat is the most important song on the album, so he was even more adamant about keeping it as is. Deliberation ensued over the entire summer and the compromise reached was INO agreed to release a censored version of the album that didn't include that one song. However, Webb could make an uncensored version of the album available to his fans on his website.
"That one song" is entitled "What Matters More."
So I downloaded the uncensored version (obviously) and wasn't surprised when I felt that I had been slapped in the face many, many times over with each song (some songs even slapped me more than once!). And it wasn't an offensive slap in the face, I don't think. A lot of Christians will be listening to the lyrics on this album and they will be incredibly offended (and they should be -- Webb is ruthless this time around!), but I wasn't. My slaps in the face were more like wake-up slaps; like "get with the program" slaps.
The song "What Matters More" was the biggest slap of all.
This song has served in my life as a call to arms. It awakened ancient feelings inside of me, stirred up emotions and passions that have been docile for a long, long time. But, before I continue, perhaps I should write down the lyrics for all of you so you can have perspective of what I'm talking about here...
You say you always treat people like you like to be I guess you love being hated for your sexuality You love when people put words in your mouth 'Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak
'Cause if you really believe what you say you believe You wouldn't be so damn reckless with the words you speak Wouldn't silently conceal when the liars speak Denyin' all the dyin' of the remedy
Tell me, brother, what matters more to you? Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?
If I can tell what's in your heart by what comes out of your mouth Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it's about It looks like being hated for all the wrong things Like chasin' the wind while the pendulum swings
'Cause we can talk and debate until we're blue in the face About the language and tradition that he's comin' to save Meanwhile we sit just like we don't give a shit About 50,000 people who are dyin' today
Tell me, brother, what matters more to you? Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?
Intense, right? Especially for a Christian artist! I applaud Derek Webb for his ability to step up to the microphone and let it fly. It takes a lot of courage to be able to preach Truth to a bunch of Christians who definitely don't have their hearts in the right place.
It is an undeniable fact that for the past, let's say 30, years, the two main issues on the average evangelical's agenda have been abortion and homosexuality. If there's one thing I can say about evangelicals over the past couple decades, it's that we have our eyes on the wrong things. Not only that, but we're proud of it! We flaunt it! There's another Derek Webb song that spoofs the old hymn, "They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love" -- his version is called "They'll Know Us By Our T-Shirts." We hold up big signs, form picket lines, firebomb abortion clinics, wear t-shirts with outrageously cheesy things written on them (like "My boss is a Jewish carpenter" or "In case of rapture, you may have this shirt").
But where is the LOVE?
That's the point Derek Webb is driving at in this song -- he's not just trying to ruffle feathers, he's asking "Why are you so concerned with condemning homosexuals and forsaking LOVE?"
Another thing I appreciate about the song (and this is a subtle thing) is his use of the words "damn" and "shit." Here are some of the comments people had about it on YouTube. First, the negativity:
AMP27890: I find it interesting how people try to excuse his use of vulgar words. If this is the state that Christian music is sinking to, I don't want it.
funglu: Derek Webb is becoming synonymous with cheap publicity stunt. This is creative? Really? He needs to credit his sources. He isn't the first nor the last to cuss for affect and try to appear clever.
swiftyguitar: First of all, "let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth", and "everything you do, do for the glory of God". Will these word choices profit the church? Not for me to judge.... But sidenote, weird style for Derek Webb.
cropfield77: in my opinion...derek webb was wrong when he used two vulgar words that are labeled as foul words by our culture...because..as JESUS commands it...we should not cause anyone to stumble from their christian faith...but i have no problem with derek webb's message of love towards everyone...no matter how 'sinful' they are...because in the end...we are all sinful...in need of saving grace
TheCartercrew: "hate what is evil; love what is good"...if we are going to hate the evil that exists in our churches regarding the selective loving...then we must also hate the use of profanity as well. both evils get thrown into the same pot. love d.w. just think that we shouldn't put sins on a scale. unholiness is unholiness! "be innocent in evil and wise in what is good." innocent in ALL evil...wise in all things that are good...the Lord doesn't even want us to know those words, much less use them.
Now, the positivity:
brahimdrunk: I love the fact that so many Christians are taking the bait that Derek Webb sets. What matters more to you: the fact that 50,000 people are dying every day due to malnutrition/starvation or the fact that I said shit?
coconut888: AMP27890 and sportzguy1984 have missed the point... completely. it would seem they care more about using "shit" over tens of thousands of people dying without Christ. and that's exactly what he wants us to think about. just as believers would "love our neighbors" in treating gays by harassing them for their sin instead of grieving over their own. is it not God who changes people through the gospel? let the message do its work. btw, the bible has even more controversial words than the song.
xkerchx: I enjoy the Tony Campolo allusion: "I have three things I'd like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don't give a shit. What's worse is that you're more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night." - Tony Campolo
parksj1: Paul used a lot of language that some considered offensive. Jesus did too, even if it was the truth behind the words and not the words themselves that offended people. What's funny is that he juxtaposed the word "shit" with 50,000 people dying just to make the point that "shit" would be more controversial than 50,000 people dying. And he was right. I haven't heard one person say "What?! Why are all those people dying??" But tons have talked about the use of the word "shit."
And my personal favorite... jw1453: I don't believe D.W. was wrong in his choice of words. I actually believe he was right on. I've been in ministry for 13yrs. and I see what he talks about in this song everyday. Granted, his approach is extreme, but these are extreme times. As christians, we've become so apathetic in our faith that it sometimes takes an extreme point of view to stir our souls again. If this song causes you to stumble, ask yourself why. Just because something is labeled socially taboo doesn't make it wrong.
I'd like to personally thank jw1453 for saying, "As Christians, we've become so apathetic in our faith that it sometimes takes an extreme point of view to stir our souls again." I never thought my personal walk with God would come to this, but I've been very, very apathetic in my faith. I've become selfish, self-centered and stagnant in my faith.
The reason I love this song so much is that it stirs up a memory of my former self. This song reminds me of a time when I cared about something, when I was passionate about something. I used to live for change and social justice. I used to go to protests and volunteer at soup kitchens and blog about my ideals and opinions and hold signs in Chicago that said "FREE HUGS!" and pray with random people walking around NIU. There was a time when I watched the news and saw reports of starving people, and terrorist attacks, and wars, and famines, and natural disasters and I would WEEP -- just break down in tears in front of the television screen -- because my heart was so broken for those people. There was a time when I loved people passionately.
And I was very outward with my love and passion. This wasn't just an internal thing for me, the externals definitely displayed my zeal as well. In high school, I was voted by my peers as "Most Likely to Impact the World." In college, I was president of a ministry group on campus that generated a lot of heat for things we said and did. Everyone around me knew I was ready to help change the world. I wanted to be put on the front lines.
Now, people are surprised when I say, "Hey, I'm Christian too!" Their eyes open wide and they ask, "Really!? I had no idea!" What a sad state my walk with God has sunk to. If the hymn is right (and I believe it to be so), everyone should know I am a Christian by my love. So, why is it so surprising when people find out that I'm Christian?
For the past four months, I have been wanting to write a song for Megan. I finally did it, but it was a long, painful process. I've discovered that writing a song FOR someone is a lot different than writing a song ABOUT someone, or even TO someone.
The most obvious reason is that when you're writing a song FOR someone, you want the song to be its absolute best for the person you are writing it for. You're giving that person your song as a gift, so you want it to be its best and as meaningful as possible (as is the case with Elton John's "Your Song"). When you're writing a song ABOUT someone, all you're really doing is using lyrics to describe the person's attitude or behaviour or your feelings towards the person. You're not really writing to impress anyone, except maybe your audience, because you don't really care what the person you're writing about thinks about your song (as is the case with Peter Gabriel's "Biko"). Then there's writing a song TO someone (which can be mistaken for writing a song for someone) -- the key difference between these two prepositions, TO and FOR, is that one is simply an address and the other implies a gifting. When you're writing a song TO someone, you're just making sure they got the message -- you're not trying to impress or please or shame them, you're just sending them a message (as is the case with Graham Nash's "Immigration Man").
I really wanted to impress Megan with this song that I wanted to write for her, but I struggled all the way through it. In fact, in an effort to write a meaningful song for her, I squeaked out a poppy ukulele song simply called "I Like You" -- deep, sentimental, meaningful? Probably not. Fun, upbeat and catchy? Most definitely.
So, for four months, this song became my labor of love. I sweated and toiled over it day and night, using alternate tunings and rhyming dictionaries and a thesaurus to come up with the most beautiful song ever written. Then I listened to Ben Folds' "The Luckiest" one day and after paying more attention to the lyrics than I ever have before, I realized that sometimes the most beautiful songs can be the simplest and most straightforward -- that maybe I didn't need to use a lot of flash and pizzazz; that maybe I could just say how I feel.
I asked myself "What do you really want to say to Megan? How do you really feel about her?" And the only answer I could come up with was "I want her to be near me."
And so I wrote "Champagne Eyes:"
I wish you here with me I wish you by my side And even if you can't be I wish you to be my bride
How long will it take? How long will you stay far from me? How long must I wait? How long will I be without you?
So, lay here by my side And I'll watch the sun rise in your champagne eyes
I wish you here with me I wish you by my side And even if you can't be I wish you to share my life
How long will it take? How long will you stay far from me? How long must I wait? How long will I be without you?
Although the song isn't completely finished (I'd like to add drums), the demo is available for download at www.myspace.com/drewmoodymusic.
That's right, ladies and gentlemen -- tonight you will be the first to see TWO mixtape track listings for the price of ONE!
These are the two toughest mixes I've ever made as there was no topic to work with -- instead I had the fit the mood of "dancing with your pants off." The toughest thing about it was that I didn't necessarily want to have them in any sort of order; rather, I wanted people to be able shuffle through it and be able to enjoy whatever popped up. Hopefully I achieved that.
Take Off Your Pants and Shake It!
1) Ocean of Lust - DeVotchka 2) I Feel It All - Feist 3) Minha Menina - A Band of Bees 4) We're from Barcelona - I'm from Barcelona 5) Shape of My Heart - Noah and the Whale 6) Is This the Last Time? - Donovan (w/ Variety Lab) 7) For the Price of a Cup of Tea - Belle and Sebastian 8) Toe Jam - David Byrne 9) A-Punk - Vampire Weekend 10) Meet Me In the Garden - Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele 11) Fair - Ben Folds Five 12) The Further I Slide - Badly Drawn Boy 13) Les Yper-Sound - Stereolab 14) Mr. Tough - Yo La Tengo 15) Selfish Jean - Travis 16) I Love You, You Imbecile - Pelle Carlberg 17) For Our Elegant Castle - Of Montreal 18) Sushi - Kyle Andrews 19) Scar That Never Heals - Jeremy Fisher 20) Closer - Jars of Clay 21) Another Day - Jamie Lidell 22) Turn On Me
Rock Your Socks Off! (and pants, shirt and, possibly, underwear)
1) I Like to Rock the Party - Flight of the Conchords 2) North American Scum - LCD Soundsystem 3) Dancing Choose - TV On the Radio 4) Napoleon Says - Phoenix 5) Valerie - The Zutons 6) Ever Present Past - Paul McCartney 7) Does This Mean You're Moving On? - The Airborne Toxic Event 8) The Good Ole Days - The Lodger 9) What Katie Did - The Libertines 10) Mother, We Can't Get Enough - New Radicals 11) I'm Not Crying, You're Not Crying, Are You? - Dear and the Headlights 12) Soma - The Strokes 13) The Angels' Share - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists 14) Alive with the Glory of Love - Say Anything 15) When Did Your Heart Go Missing? - Rooney 16) Talk About It - The Metros 17) Good Day - Jukebox the Ghost 18) Chelsea Dagger - The Fratellis 19) Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand 20) Alright - Supergrass 21) One Horse Town - The Thrills 22) Lover - Devendra Banhart
Here is the final track listing for my latest mixtape, Recovery: Songs of Healing. I'd like to dedicate this mix to Megan's father and wish him nothing but the best.
Slainte.
1) Getting Better - The Beatles 2) Recovery - New Buffalo 3) Reason to Believe - Bruce Springsteen 4) Don't Let It Bring You Down - Neil Young 5) With a Little Help from My Friends - Joe Cocker 6) Today Will Be Better, I Swear! - Stars 7) Still All Right - Adam Merrin 8) Living Life - Eels 9) Hold On Hope - Guided By Voices 10) Life Is Long - David Byrne 11) Sun Is Shining - Paul McCartney 12) Gold In Them Hills - Ron Sexsmith 13) Flowers In the Window - Travis 14) Everything's Not Lost - Coldplay 15) I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight - U2 16) Either Way - Wilco 17) And the Healing Has Begun - Van Morrison 18) Today - Smashing Pumpkins
I recently told Megan that I am the best mixtape maker in the history of mixtape makers; John Cusack in High Fidelity doesn't have anything on me! With such a bold claim, she clearly had reservations about believing me whole-heartedly, so I told her to challenge me: any subject or mood at all! I'll make a mixtape for it.
Her most extravagant suggestion was "Purple Dinosaur."
So, without further ado, here is the final track listing for my most recent mixtape, RAWR: Songs of the Purple Dinosaur:
1) I Love You - Barney 2) Purple Anteater - Damien Jurado 3) Start Wearing Purple - Gogol Bordello 4) Dinosaur Egg - Scout Niblett 5) Allosaurus Lunch Hour - Prehistoric Stomp 6) The Beast and the Dragon, Adored - Spoon 7) The Whale Song - Modest Mouse 8) Dinosaur Act - Low 9) I Want You to Know - Dinosaur, Jr. 10) Get It On - T. Rex 11) Do the Evolution - Pearl Jam 12) Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix 13) Purple Stain - Red Hot Chili Peppers 14) (Nothing But) Flowers - Talking Heads 15) We R the Dinosaur - The Shapeshifters 16) My Beloved Monster - Eels 17) Cold Blooded Old Times - Smog 18) Ice Age - Pete Yorn 19) Purple Rain - Prince
Here is the final track listing for my latest mixtape, THIS: The Mixtape:
1) I Like You - Drew Moody 2) Starting a New Life - Van Morrison 3) Every Night - Paul McCartney 4) I'm Sticking with You - The Velvet Underground 5) The Man In Me - Bob Dylan 6) If Not for You - George Harrison 7) All I Want Is You - Barry Louis Polisar 8) I'd Rather Be with You - Joshua Radin 9) Together - William Shatner 10) Catch My Disease - Ben Lee 11) You Are the Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne 12) Funny Little Frog - Belle and Sebastian 13) Us - Regina Spektor 14) Wouldn't It Be Nice - The Beach Boys 15) Such Great Heights - Ben Folds 16) Think I'm In Love - Beck 17) If You're Into It - Flight of the Conchords 18) Young Folks - Peter Bjorn and John 19) Mars Loves Venus - The Brunettes 20) This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - Talking Heads 21) Mushaboom - Feist 22) Beginnings - Chicago
Thank you, Megan, for the inspiration to create this mixtape.
Here is the FINAL track listing for my latest mixtape, All I'm Thinking About Is You: The Mixtape:
1) Love You In the Fall - Paul Westerberg 2) Got My Mind Set On You - George Harrison 3) So Happy Together - The Turtles 4) Dreaming of You - The Coral 5) All I'm Thinkin' About - Bruce Springsteen 6) Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - Marvin Gaye 7) I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers 8) Two of Us - The Beatles 9) Ghosts - Mark Geary 10) Dream About Me - Moby 11) Thinking About You - Pete Yorn 12) How Can I Tell You - Cat Stevens 13) All I Have to Do Is Dream - The Everly Brothers 14) Closer - Travis 15) Dreams - The Cranberries 16) I Want to Hold Your Hand - T.V. Carpio 17) Gotta Have You - The Weepies 18) In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel 19) Transatlanticism - Death Cab for Cutie 20) East from West - Denison Witmer
First of all, my apologies for not writing the past two days. I promise I have a good excuse.
I don't, that was a lie.
However, I have some photos that will cheer you up.
For a long time (about 10 years now), I've had an acoustic Ibanez guitar named Addison. She's a good lady, always treated me well and has stood by my side through thick and thin -- more than I can say for any other lady in my life. She's not the prettiest girl in the world and she certainly isn't the most elegant, but, boy, when she gets the right set of strings on her, she purrs like a dream.
I've taken her out for nights on the town, one night stands, camping trips, vacations, church services, even to strange streets in the middle of the night to serenade the passersby. Since she's treated me so well, there was always one thing I wanted to do for her, and that was to give her a complete makeover.
Well, thanks to my good friend, Josh Richter, I was able to make that happen for Addison.
Ladies and gentlemen, without any further ado, allow me to present to you, the new and improved Addison...
NO SUCH THING AS WAS is at Substack now!
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To all of my *No Such Things Was Was* followers, back in September I moved
my site—and its entire archives—from Blogger to Substack.
Here's my new addre...
Fall 2016
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This Thanksgiving season we are reminded of how good God has been to us and
how thankful we are for all of you. We are grateful we have four remarkable
chi...
Shameless Self-Promotion
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Hey there, fellow readers—I just wanted to take this opportunity to
shamelessly self promote my new blog "A Table In the Corner of the Cafe."
Feel free to ...
Faith and Doubt 10: Luke 3:21-22
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*Luke 3:21-22*
*21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been
baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, 22and the Holy Sp...
