I don't know why but today really wasn't a very good day. It started off with me waking up in the small hours of the morning every twenty minutes or so until my alarm went off. It followed with me having to be at University at a horribly early time. And from then on out it was simply blah. Blah blah blah. Blah. BLAH.
vovat sent me some fantastic mix cds which I received a month ago. There were quite a few bands and individual artists I'd only heard of because of him, such as Cracker and Hypnotic Clambake. Then there were some I've been very interested in but too lazy to search out like XTC and They Might Be Giants. There were also artists I already know quite well, such as Belle and Sebastian and Ben Folds Five - but songs of theirs I don't have.When I was first listening to the cds, I made a list of songs which really leapt out at me. I was going to pad out a description of why I like them a bit more, but I've always been the kind of person who enjoys a lot of music but isn't especially good at commenting why. This is in direct contrast to my engagement with visual texts. Yeah. I don't get it either.
They Might Be Giants
- A Self Called Nowhere
- Birdhouse in your Soul
- Hovering Sombrero
- Metal Detector
- Pet Name
- Sleeping in the Flowers
- Stalk of Wheat
- The End of the Tour
- The Guitar
- Where Do They Make Balloons?
I pretty much always suspected I'd adore the wider range of TMBG tracks. They're musical. They're amusing. They're slightly odd. They have clever lyrics and fascinating, often catchy melodies. I think A Self Called Nowhere is my favourite of them all, actually.
Belle and Sebastian - Stay Loose
Some fantastic guitar work in this one. I love how versatile Belle and Sebastian are.
Ben Folds Five – Where’s Summer B?
Okay, so I've always liked Ben Folds Five, but this song is especially good.
Camper Van Beethoven – Take The Skinheads Bowling
vovat said that the leader singer of CVB David Lowery doesn’t like John McCrea of Cake because he thinks he’s ripping him off. I have to say, I didn’t think that on this track John sounded anything like him. I was more forcefully reminded of Hugh Dillon. But then I moved onto The Humid Press of Days and I totally heard what he meant.Cracker – Big Dipper
I tend to stop whatever I'm doing when this song comes on. It's slow and mesmerising. I love it.
Da Vinci’s Notebook – Metal Shop
A Cappella! Yes, this track is made of awesome. It would have been in my a cappella post if I'd mp3'd the cds sooner and asked
vovat if he minded me sharing it again. I actually have more Da Vinci's Notebook tracks on a mix cd thethirdman sent me, which I recently acquired back from my brother (the sneaky so-and-so.)Frank Black – The End of the Summer
He reminds me of Nick Cave in a good way. That should actually probably be the other way, right?
Hypnotic Clambake – Psychadelic Polka
I have a not so secret love of Polka music, which
vovat would know, because he is aware of my Weird Al Yankovic adoration. This was no exception.Moxy Früvous – BJ Don’t Cry
This is weirdly brilliant. The talk-singing amuses me greatly.
Neko Case – Favorite
Neko Case has an amazing voice. I want it.
Pixies – Velouria
I felt like I already knew this song. Maybe I do. I adore the introduction.
Rilo Kiley - The Execution of All Things
I can't quite pinpoint why I like this song. It appeals to my eclectic taste in music. It's kind of got everything in it.
Sgt. Major - The World Inside
Another fantastic introduction. An incredibly long song as well (It was part of a mix of incredibly long songs.)
Sloan - Don't You Believe a Word
This has to be one of the most conventional songs on the cds
vovat sent me. It's catchy and melodic and harmonic.The Flaming Lips - It's Summertime
Relaxing. It's spring here at the moment, and soon it will be summertime, and this is going to be perfect for the slow creep of heat.
The Minus 5 - Popsycle Shoppe
Um. Parts of this remind me of The Magic Roundabout - which
vovat wouldn't know anything about, sadly. Tom Lehrer – Smut
This song makes me giggle like a loon. No really. A loon.
That's just some of them. You have to understand. I am ridiculously lucky. There wasn't a track I disliked on the cds. Not one. That's very rare for me. Thanks again
vovat! 