Driving to work yesterday morning there was this moment when the song playing through my car speakers, and the world I could see out the window as I drove, linked up and became something breathtaking.
I was coming up on this bridge, nearing it, just about to drive underneath it. It’s one of those bridges which are architecturally striking, yet familiar. I’m sure it’s been caught on film before in one more, or many. It happens around here. Places I see so often in my days of living in and around Los Angeles that are also part of on-screen stories that I’ve seen at the theater, or on my TV screen.
The wind was still blowing hard. It was like that all last night, too. Beating at the windows and the roof. Leaving a litter of leaves and tree branches on the streets to greet the morning commuters with. The wind, she was still swirling bits of things around in the air this morning.
“But I gave you all.
I gave you all.
I gave you all.”
The music, and this song, I don’t know why it all clicked, but it fit just perfectly with the way the morning city looked, and felt. It brought tears to my eyes.
It made me feel damn lucky to be alive.
“I Gave You All” by Mumford And Sons
from the album, Sigh No More (2009)
Song Of The Day – February 3, 2011
I’ve had a few instances when this happened. Mostly recently, I was listening to a song by Underworld as I was driving. The sun was warm and my windows were open. It all came together as if the universe was showing me something I had been missing.
I love your writing and the songs you post. You turned me on to Ryan Adams a very long time ago on an old blog of yours.
Thanks for introducing me to so much music.. oh, and Tiffanie DeBartolo. I’m re-reading “How To Kill A Rock Star” for the 3rd time.
I love when things like that happen, when the universe gets our attention for a moment, especially when music is involved.
I’m so thrilled that it was something I shared/wrote that turned you on to Ryan Adams. I love his music so very much. A good friend of mine turned me on to him years ago by something she wrote, too. The sharing of music is awesome to me.
HTKARS!!! Love it. Have you read God-Shaped Hole, too?
I read “God-Shaped Hole” and cried for a good long time after I put it down. I haven’t been able to pick it up again, but it may be time to read it. I’m really hoping she puts something out again. I was reading on her Facebook page that something was in the works.
So, after reading this post, I went and got the Mumford and Sons cd. I have to tell you that when I first heard “Little Lion Man” on the radio, I hated it. So, I was sure I wouldn’t like this cd.. Boy, was I wrong. It reminded me quite a bit of Glen Hansard and The Frames. It’s gorgeous. I’ve had it on repeat all morning. Thanks again for another find!
I’m assuming you’ve seen “Once”. 🙂
I hope Tiffanie writes something new, too. I know she’s working with music and with the band Ours (who the band in HTKARS was based on/singer was who she used as inspiration for Paul). She does have a blog where she writes a lot of poetry/prose – http://shinebarlow.blogspot.com/
I did not like Little Lion Man very much either. I know a lot of people were raving, but I just did not take to the song, at all. I had the album though sitting around in my media player unlistened to – and then I listened and yes, I love it. I’m so glad you are enjoying it, too.
They do remind me some of Glen and the Frames – and yes, I love Once.
I’m going through a shoegaze phase at the moment, so it was good to listen to Mumford and Sons. I tend to get stuck in one phase until I get tired out. But, I have discovered so many bands because of it.
I have an RSS for Tiffanie’s blog and I have her on Facebook and Twitter.. I guess it’s a little stalker-esque. 🙂
I got a few of the Ours cd, and I also downloaded the Jimmy Gnecco cd as well. It’s pretty good.. I really like a song he did for the band “Neverending White Lights”.
I keep an eye on her that way, too. I like to think it is my respect of her as an artist and my fangirl instincts that cause my “following” her, and not stalking. (How is that for justification? *wink*)
I love Ours song “I’m a Monster” off of the album ‘Precious’. I’ve not heard what he did with Neverending White Lights.
Can you give me some shoegaze reccomendations?
The band I’ve listened to the most lately, is “The Depreciation Guild”… I highly recommend their last cd “Spirit Youth”. It’s been in heavy rotation for the lsat few weeks. I’m also a big fan of Mogwai and Explosions in the Sky. I also just heard a track from this band, “Belong” that I’m really digging. That cd doesn’t come out for a a month or so, but I heard a track and I’m totally in love with it. You can check it out here http://pitchfork.com/forkcast/15394-perfect-life/
My favorite band of all time is “Slowdive” though.. I never get tired of them. I also love a band called “The Radio Dept.”
Anyhow, sorry for all that.. 🙂
If you haven’t checked out Neverending White Lights, I recommend that as well. He has been working on a new cd for over a year now, and it’s supposed to be out this year.
I’ll have to go back and re-listen to “Ours” again. I haven’t picked it up in a very long time. Do you ever go through times like that where you rediscover something?? 🙂
We should swap music sometime 🙂
We should swap music sometime, definitely!
I like The Radio Dept and love Slowdive. Thanks for the link/reccomendation; I will give them a listen this week.
I do re-discovery of music (and books, too) often. I love when it happens. Sometimes some of the best music is music I overlooked, or forgot about.