Day: 20 Aug 2018

Poetic kissing in an off-kilter key
A Monday Playlist
Lyriquediscorde

Listen on Spotify and YouTube

“Real Love” by Beach House
“Henry Lee” by Nick Cave, featuring Polly Jean Harvey
“New Town Velocity” by Johnny Marr
“See How We Are” by John Doe and Exene Cervenka
“I Feel Like Going Home” by Yo La Tengo
“Sleep the Clock Around” by Belle and Sebastian
“No More Affairs” by Tindersticks
“These Days’ by Nico
“Crown of Love” by Arcade Fire
“One Day” by Sharon Van Etten
“Now It’s On” by Grandaddy
“Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles
“When We Were Young” by The Killers
“Know Who You Are At Every Age” by Cocteau Twins
“Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service
“Unreflected” by Mazzy Star
“I am Trying to Break Your Heart” by Jeff Tweedy
“Something About What Happens When We Talk” by Lucinda Williams
“The Desperate Kingdom of Love” by Polly Jean Harvey
“Love is Overtaking Me” by Arthur Russell
“This is Where I Belong” by The Kinks
“Jealous Guy” by John Lennon
“Stumbling Through the Dark” by The Jayhawks
“America” by Simon and Garfunkel
“Still Life” by The Horrors
“New Slang” by The Shins
“Running Away” by Richard Ashcroft
“Fault Line” by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
“7/4 Shoreline” by Broken Social Scene
“Tiger Lily” by Luna

Poetic kissing in an off-kilter key

Monday is here again, and I don’t feel quite ready for it. The weekend went by far too quickly, and I would have really liked one more day off. I feel like both days got away from us in some ways, and that when we were finally able to stop, relax, and spend time together that time sped up even more. I’m looking forward to the coming three-day-weekend, though I’m sure I’ll be back here on Tuesday wishing for one more day still. I honestly feel like I never get enough time with Chris, even though we live together, and even though we’ve never had a day apart since we met. I’m always wishing for more time.

But, we have tonight, and we have words and songs traded back-and-forth through the day. We have each other to come home to, and that is a wonderful thing.

Most of today’s songs came from listening-while-driving I did yesterday and this morning. One is from the Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify, one is from the Spotify Daily Mixers, one was sent by my love this morning, and the other two are from old playlists of mine that I’ve been revisiting, on shuffle.

Music is magic. So is love. Both of them together can combat any Monday, I think.

Top 5 Music Obsessions – Monday, August 20, 2018

Listen via Spotify and YouTube

1. “Tender” by Blur
from the album, 13 (1998)

“Tender is the night,
lying by your side.
Tender is the touch,
of someone that you love too much.
Tender is the day,
the demons go away.
Lord, I need to find,
someone who can heal my mind”

One of my favorite Blur songs, and one of my favorite love songs. Though I don’t think anyone can fix anyone else, I think that being together, companionship, friendship, real love, can help fix another person. It isn’t a cure, but it is a remedy, an elixir, something to hold on to and get through things together. I think that is more than true for the two of us. I honestly do.

2. “I Feel Fine” by The Beatles
from the album, Beatles ’65 (1964)

“Baby says she’s mine,
you know,
she tells me all the time,
you know,
she said so.
I’m in love with her and I feel fine.”

Chris sent me this song this morning. I love when he sends me songs. When we trade songs back-and-forth. It is part of who we are, and who we have been, since the first day we started talking to each other. I hope it never goes away. I know I always miss it when it wanes, or stops for a bit. I feel like it is one of the many things that keep us connected.

3. “Cigarette Daydreams” by Cage The Elephant
from the album, Melophobia (2013)

“You can drive all night,
looking for the answers in the pouring rain.
You wanna find peace of mind,
looking for the answer.
If we can find a reason,
a reason to change,
looking for the answer.
If you can find a reason,
a reason to stay,
standing in the pouring rain.”

When this came on while playing an older playlist of mine I was immediately reminded of Veronica. This was a track she used to play in the car all the time for a two or three-month stretch. I always loved hearing it.

4. “Travelling Light” by Tindersticks
from the album, Tindersticks (1995)

“You travel light.
Everything I’ve done,
you say you can justify,
you travel light.
I can’t pick them out,
I can’t put them in this saddle bag.
Some things you have to lose along the way.”

This song was in the Discover Weekly Playlist from Spotify. I’m pretty sure I’ve heard the Tindersticks before, but not this song. This song is beautiful. I love the two voices, the way they compliment each other, the differences in tone and light. I love that this song feels like a story, but just part of one. It is one of those kinds of songs that make me want to write a bigger story for. The kind of song that feels like a writing launch pad, just waiting for me to take off and create something with.

5. “We Don’t Deserve Love” by Arcade Fire
from the album, Everything Now (2017)

“Keep both eyes on the road tonight,
’cause I’m driving home to you.
Terrible song on the radio.
Baby, what else is new?”

I keep re-discovering last year’s Arcade Fire album. I keep finding more songs I can’t get enough of on it. I know I liked it when I first listened to it, but I also think its one of those “grower” albums, the kind that gets better the more times I listen to it.

On the surface, this is a sad song, but on further listens I think it is the opposite. I think it is full of hope and want, and love. Or maybe that’s just how I’m “reading” it because that is so much where my heart is now.

Top 5 Music Obsessions – Week of August 20, 2018

“Angel Mine” came on this morning as I drove to work. It is one of my favorite Cowboy Junkies and has been since the first time I heard it. I’ve always appreciated the sentiment of the song that we are all flawed, imperfect people, but we can still love in those big ways, and be true to each other, in love. It reminded me of the love in my life, and how we struggle sometimes, but how committed and determined we are with each other. I can feel that part of us growing, becoming stronger, as our love grows, and becomes stronger.

I know that there is supposed to be a “honeymoon phase” at the start of a relationship, and I’m aware that in many ways we are still new. That said, I think that there is not one of those phases for us. Not in a typical way. Maybe its because we moved so fast together. Or, perhaps it is because we have already dealt with some rough spots and bumps. Whatever the reason I think that phase was bypassed, and instead the joy and bliss we felt at the start is just expanding and becoming better with each day that goes by. I think the fact that we didn’t have one of those “phases” is a really good thing. I think it speaks to how enormous this love is, how lasting, and how unshakable.

At least that’s how I see it.

“Angel Mine” is track 8 from the 1996 album Lay It Down. It was my first favorite song from the album and stayed my favorite ever since. The music video (see below) features Janeane Garofalo and was filed at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles (just a few blocks from where I work now). I’ve always been fond of the video, too. It feels very Los Angeles, the video. The song, too, has something about it that reminds me of this city. Maybe its because this is the so-called “city of angels” – full of flaws, and full of promise. It could also be because I’ve always associated it with my favorite book, God-Shaped Hole, which is set in Los Angeles.

“Angel Mine” by Cowboy Junkies
from the album, Lay It Down (1996)
Song of the Day

“I search all the time on the ground for our shadows cast side by side,
just to remind me that I haven’t gone crazy,
that you exist and are mine.
And I know that your skin is as warm and as real as that smile in your eyes,
but I have to keep touching and smelling and tasting,
for fear it’s all lies.”