May 15, 2007

Music In My Soul.

I'm sure you can all relate to this on some level or another: I have been in a musical slump for a veeerrrry loooonggg timmeee.

All of my old CD's have been played so much that I put them in and then immediately tune them out because the sound of them has become a bit like the mind-killing drone of that frickin' frackin' ice cream truck that parks a few streets over every evening and the CONTINUES TO SIT and play that one ice cream truck song over and over and over again until Chris and I start looking for face masks and heavy objects with which to bludgeon said truck.

"deedle-dee-dee-do!deedle-dee-dee-do!deedle-dee-dee-do!
deedle-dee-dee-do!deedle-dee-dee-do!deedle-dee-dee-do!
deedle-dee-dee-do!deedle-dee-dee-do!deedle-dee-dee-do!
deedle-dee-dee-do!deedle-dee-dee-do!deedle-dee-dee-do!"


I feel as if I have been in this slump since before Ezra was born. I am realizing that this is true because 3 of the CDs in my car disc changer at this very moment are labeled 'Labor Mix 1', 'Labor Mix 2', and 'Labor Mix 5'. Chris lovingly put together about 6 compilation CDs of my most relaxing and enjoyable music for when I was in labor, but we listened to none of them because the room didn't have a CD player and the thought of beautiful music wafting through that labor room was pretty much the VERY LAST THING ON MY MIND when it came down to it. These CDs have made for some great road trip music since then, however. But when you begin to know exactly what song is coming up next on SIX CDs containing 20plus songs each, you know it's about time to move on...

I am delighted to inform you, though, that there has been BREAKTHROUGH! From the most unexpected place imaginable! I feel slightly embarrassed to admit it, but the CD that has made music enjoyable again for me has been none other than John Mayer. I have never ever been a John Mayer fan-- except for my deep, dark, hidden secret crush on his 'Your Body Is A Wonderland' song. It sort of makes me giggle and give Chris "the eyes". You know- the eyes? Nudge nudge wink wink?

Anywho, his new album 'Continuum' hasn't left my stereo for weeks now, and I am officially a music lover again. I heard his song 'Gravity' from that album played once every 4 minutes or so on the radio stations in Reno when I had my unplanned extended vacation there a couple of months ago. And then Laura recommended the whole album so I went out and bought it. It is so good, people.



And then tonight I was reading my friend Flo's blog and she recommended a band called The Weepies and I'm falling in love all over again over here.

Music has been a driving force in my life for as long as I can remember, and I have always wanted to surround Ezra with a rich variety of it as he grows and becomes more confident in who he is. There is nothing like music when it comes to capturing emotion... nothing like SINGING OUT what's about to burst your heart open, or closing your eyes and bobbing your head to a guitar that is somehow able to convey everything you're feeling without a single word. Songs have helped me through difficult times. Songs are still helping me through difficult times. I have always had a very poor memory, but certain songs trigger memories for me that probably would have been lost forever if it weren't for them embedding themselves into music in my brain.

Here are some of my all time favorites...UNAPOLOGETICALLY.
These are the ones I can return to over and over again without weariness:

Anything by Ben Gibbard
Counting Crows
Ray LaMontagne
Patti Griffin
Duke Ellington
The Gloria Record

What are some of your favorites?

dukealicious.

6 comments:

IndianaJones said...

you and I may have been stuck in the same slump...only for less time cause my girl is only 15 months...still her birth music (that we too didn't listen to) is on repeat.
The Duke is also a favorite of mine along with Mr. Gibbard I would add to that
Over the Rhine
Indigo Girls
Portis Head
Massive Attack
and just to satisfy the ghetto side of me RJD2.
ahhh music, I could go on and on...I love it so.
I am also thankful to Ms. Flo for the Weepies, I keep returning to their site to listen...

Anonymous said...

That's so funny about the labor music. Music was in my plan too, but putting in the cds never even came close to happening. LOL!

I absolutely love the Counting Crows, too. They're one of my all-time favorites. Just a few others are The Cure, Bob Marley, Johnny Cash. I always recommend one of my new favorites, Harrison Hudson, to everyone, so I'll do the same to you. He's indie rock, so the only place to find him & his music is MySpace...look him up if you're interested.

Oh, & our ice cream truck does the same thing. Aargh.

Anonymous said...

Incidentally, Ray LaMontagne's latest album is FABULOUS. It's a favorite, too.

Unknown said...

I heartily second The Weepies. God, their voices just blend together perfectly!

I would reccommend the following to you:

The Knife - brother/sister duo from Sweden. They make some very bizarre amazing music together that makes you dance and makes you think.

TV on the Radio - five guys from Brooklyn. Sick beats, harmonies and lyrics.

Phoenix - electropop boy band from France. Yay!

Jesca Hoop - um, can't even really explain. You just have to listen to her. Plus one of my best friend's boyfriends plays in her band.

Feist - same goes for this girl. I LOOOOOVE her voice and her clever lyrics. She makes me cry.

Did you get the new Bjork album yet??? sicky gnar gnar!!!

ok should I stop now?

Anonymous said...

Regina Spektor who sings:
I hear in my mind, all of these voices
I hear in my mind, all of these words
I hear in my mind, all of this music
and it breaks my heart, and it breaks my heart

lorieloo said...

This is the second day that I've gone to the Weepies website to listen to their 5 songs play over and over...you've created a monster. They remind me slightly of a less bluegrass version of Nickel Creek. Beautiful harmonies!