Today’s Top 5 Music Obsessions range from melancholic alt-country to indie-folk to a bit of folk punk and post-punk. There’s a song shared with me from my love, a song that I shared with him in the early days of us, and a few other songs that I’ve been playing off-and-on today. Its been an emotional two days, and I’m a bit frayed from it. There are things in the works that I wish would complete. Waiting is so hard. Being away from each other even harder. But, at the end of the day, we have each other and we have a big love between us. No matter how hard the days are that is what really matters. That is what we have to hang on to.
Top 5 Music Obsessions of the Day – July 10, 2018
Listen here on Spotify and YouTube
1. “Gossamer Thin” by Conor Oberst
“I don’t want to eat,
or get out of bed.
Try to recall what the therapist said.
Ego and Id,
the Essential Self.
You are who you are,
and you are someone else.”
I’ve not delved completely into Conor Oberst’s solo work. I was such a huge fan of Bright Eyes, especially the two albums that came out in subsequent years, 2006 and 2007. So, now I’m digging into his solo albums, starting with 2017’s Salutations. His songwriting never disappoints.
2. “Shiver and Shake” by Ryan Adams
“Maybe I’m a fool,
doesn’t matter anyway.
My chest is all tight,
my heart still aches.
These are the days you need double what it takes.
I’ve missed you so much,
I shiver and I shake.”
There are so many Ryan Adams songs I love. The newest to be added to the list is this track – “Shiver and Shake”. As with all his other music, as amazing as the songs are, they are even better live (see a not great video below that still sounds amazing).
I hope he tours again soon. I’d like to take my boyfriend with me to see him.
3. “If We Were Vampires” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
“If we were vampires,
and death was a joke,
we’d go out on the sidewalk and smoke,
and laugh at all the lovers and their plans.
I wouldn’t feel the need to hold your hand.
Maybe time running out is a gift.
I’ll work hard ’til the end of my shift,
and give you every second I can find,
and hope it isn’t me who’s left behind.”
Forever is as long as I will love him. However long forever is will never be long enough, but I will take every moment I can get.
4. “A Pair of Brown Eyes” by The Pogues
“And the only thing that I could see,
Was a pair of brown eyes that was looking at me.
But when we got back,
labeled parts one to three,
there was no pair of brown eyes waiting for me.
And a rovin’ a rovin’ a rovin’ I’ll go –
for a pair of brown eyes.”
This is one of the songs he sent me today. I love The Pogues. I love when we send music to each other. I love him.
5. “The Ship Song” by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
“Come sail your ships around me,
and burn your bridges down.
We make a little history,
baby,
every time you come around.”
We are going together to see in October. His music is parts of us, the early us, the now us. This will be another memory for us, another part his music will be in.
Though I love the recorded version of “The Ship Song”, it is the live version below that is my absolute favorite.
