Today feels like a Monday. The consequence of a long weekend, I suppose. I’m trying to orient myself to work-mode, but I’m having a very overwhelmed/scattered thoughts kind of morning. My anxiety is hanging out on the fringe, waiting to come front and center. When I feel this way I know what’s coming. I’m trying to stop it before it hits. Mindfulness helps be more self aware, but I’m trying to see if knowing can help me stop before it starts.

I have my coffee, water, a lavender candle lit, and music.

Let’s hope it all does some kind of magic today.

“So, I don’t mind if they don’t understand,
when I look at you and you hold my hand.
‘Cause they don’t know about us,
and they’ve never heard of love.”

A new album of cover songs by Pete Yorn? Yes and yes, and let’s just celebrate two of my favorite things to start the year out musically.

I remember hearing Pete cover “They Don’t Know” live at a show. It was in The Constellation Room at The Observatory, in Santa Ana. I believe he opened with it, if my memory serves. It was quickly one of my favorite covers I’d heard him do. I’m ecstatic that it’s recorded now.

This song is definitely helping my state of mind already.

The cover album is fantastic. You can get your own copy to stream, or on CD (vinyl coming soon, I believe), here. You can hear more Pete, and help support him, and his music, by clicking here, as well. Check out the music, merch, and PY Artifacts.

“But you can say baby,
baby, can I hold you tonight?
Maybe if I told you the right words,
ooh, at the right time,
you’d be mine.”

I have loved this song, and the self-titled 1988 album of Tracy Chapman’s, since it was first released. I worked at Sam Goody when it came out, and when I worked opening hours the shift manager and I would listen to it as we readied the store.

This album came back into full-rotation for me last year, and I haven’t stopped revisiting, and playing all the songs since. This has always been my favorite track.

Check out more of Tracy’s songs, and help support her and her music here

“Almost heaven,
West Virginia,
Blue Ridge Mountains,
Shenandoah River.
Life is old there,
older than the trees.
Younger than the mountains,
growin’ like a breeze.”

I’m in a cover song mood today. Digging this take on the John Denver classic.

It is a new cover-discovery, found in this week’s Spotify Discovery Weekly Playlist. Yay for new cover songs!

You can hear more from Whitney, and support them and their music here.

And to hear more, and support Waxahatchee, and their music, click here.

“Strangers on this road we are on.
We are not two,
we are one.”

Maybe I should call today cover day!

Another cover – this Kinks cover by Lucius – is another song I’m loving (and repeat listening to) today.

So good.

I haven’t listened to Lucius for quite sometime. I forgot how much I enjoy them

You can hear more from Lucius, and help support them and their music, here.

“In the middle of the night,
it feels alright,
but then tomorrow morning –
oh, oh, then you come down, oh.
Just keep on moving.”

It’s been far too long since I’ve binged some Pulp albums.

Today I’m starting with Different Class. I love Jarvis Cocker’s voice, and the songwriting/lyrics.

Do you have a favorite Pulp album?

Check back frequently to see what 5 songs will be added next to the Give Me Five Playlist for January 2021. You can listen as it grows on Spotify and YouTube.