Back from the Dead

I swear to you that I have fully intended to write on this blog just about everyday for the past six weeks.  I've also intended to pay off my student loans, train for a half-marathon, reduce my carbon footprint, learn how to polka, and adopt a three-legged goat.  You know what they say about good intentions.

I don't think I'm unique, and while I wouldn't say that I've got a lack of a motivation, I would have to admit that my motivation is lacking.  And so, for the past six weeks, the post that remained at the top of this page concluded with an especially crude joke that no one got except my mom.

I'm so proud of her.

--

I think sometimes we just need a little prod.  Some of us need a big prod.  This morning, my cousin Dan tapped me on the shoulder from Kentucky to make a post called iPod tag.  It's a simple concept, you put your iPod or mp3 player on shuffle, and you MUST post, for the world to see, the first 15 songs it plays.  It's a neat idea.

Here we go...

La-Di-Da by Farryl Purkiss

The Fjords of Oslo by Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

Champagne Supernova by Oasis

A Love Supreme by John Coltrane

Lady Madonna by Paul McCartney

This Side by Nickel Creek

Cannonball by Damien Rice

Best of What's Around by The Dave Matthews Band

Satisfaction by Otis Redding *

Come Downstairs and Say Hello by Guster

All the way Up to Heaven by Guster

Menuett I-II by Bela Fleck & Edgar Meyer

When the Saints Go Marching In by Louis Armstrong

Dream On by Kelly Sweet **

The Luckiest by Ben Folds

* He covered the Rolling Stones; I like the original better.

** She covered Aerosmith; I like her version better.

In other news, it's good to be back.*  See you soon.

* And that makes it sentimental crap.

Playlist Monday

Playlist Monday is a weekly feature at the Drawing Board. Once a week I post one playlist from home, more or less, at random. For special occasions, I'll post a themed track list.

In honor of the return of American Gladiators, I thought I'd put together a playlist of some of the greatest songs from the early 90s. That's the last time it was okay to be as over-the-top as last night's telecast was.

Early 90s Music

Free Fallin' by Tom Petty
Mysterious Ways by U2
Friday I'm in Love by The Cure
Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
Walk on the Ocean by Toad the Wet Sprocket
Runaway Train by Soul Asylum
All that She Wants by Ace of Base
Mr. Jones by Counting Crows
Disarm by Smashing Pumpkins
Man on the Moon by R.E.M.

Playlist Monday

Playlist Monday is a weekly feature at the Drawing Board. Once a week I post one playlist from home, more or less, at random. For special occasions, I'll post a themed track list.

We're going to finish up the best of 2007 list right here and right now:

Car Crash by Matt Nathanson
This guy is easily my favorite new artist of 2007. If you check his bio, he's been hanging around since the 90s, but this is his first song of any success. It's a good one with soaring vocals, a catchy, hooky, melody, and a really cool drum part.

Killing the Blues by Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
When the front man from Led Zeppelin collaborates with a modern bluegrass virtuoso, their song has to make the list. That's a rule I have. The album is not nearly a compromise of styles - Plant definitely crosses over onto the bluegrass turf. Incredibly, it works.

I'll be Waiting by Lenny Kravitz
I usually don't like this guy, and to be honest, there's not a lot in this song to make me change my mind. It's otherworldly simple, but I'm most impressed by the production here. In order to capture the raw emotion of the lyrics, the production is raw. The simplicity of each part - and there aren't many parts - equates to something raw and painful. The drums honestly sound like they were recorded on a tape deck in a garage. Gimmicky? Yeah, but cool this time. Lenny, don't overdo it.

Impossible Germany by Wilco
Wilco's Sky Blue Sky is a good album, although it's probably been overstated as being among the best of all time. Still, this track is indicative of what Wilco does. Understated melodies over grown-up chords. The net result is a product that's plenty good for now. It'd probably be best to wait and see how it winds up in history, though.

Honestly by Cary Brothers
I've been writing these playlists for just a few months now, and this is Brothers' third appearance. This track is my favorite - soulful lyrics flirt with piano descants over the top of a beautiful guitar line. You owe it to yourself to check this one out.

Playlist Monday

Playlist Monday is a weekly feature at the Drawing Board. Once a week I post one playlist from home, more or less, at random. For special occasions, I'll post a themed track list.

Christmas Music
This week, I'm bringing ten of my favorite Christmas songs. Please note that one of these songs isn't actually very good -it's corny, cliche Euro-metal, and that's kind of what makes it so awesome. Furthermore, I've picked my favorite arrangements of common tunes - artist matters!

Christmas / Sarajevo 12/24 by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Christmas Time Is Here by Sarah McLachlan
A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives
Little Drummer Boy by Jars of Clay
You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch by Thurle Ravenscroft
Sleigh Ride by Ella Fitzgerald
Frosty the Snowman by Harry Connick, Jr.
Trepak by Tchiakovsky
Carol of the Bells by Westminster Choir
O Come All Ye Faithful by Third Day

Playlist Monday

Playlist Monday is a weekly feature at the Drawing Board. Once a week I post one playlist from home, more or less, at random. For special occasions, I'll post a themed track list.

We're going to do things a little differently today, and I'm going to visit a little bit of the past year with ten popular songs from 2007 - we'll get five with commentary this week, and the last five will come on New Year's Eve.

How to Save a Life by The Fray
Here's a song that was originally recorded in 2004, started to hit big in late 2006, and peaked in early 2007. I "discovered" it shortly after its peak. It's the title track from a great album, and is, I feel the best track there. That's why it made the list.

For the Glory of It All by David Crowder Band
Crowder's 2007 release, Remedy, was another fantastic offering, and this track is perhaps its best song. Crowder's mastery of tension and the very, very slow arrival at an incredible climax is on display here, as it takes almost two-thirds of the track to build to that epiphany moment.

Shadow of the Day by Linkin Park
I can't believe that this song made the list either. The dudes still can't figure out what a guitar is supposed to be used for, the drums hang bland, like beige wallpaper. Truth be told, it sounds like a song U2 might have written when they were 12. But it's a Linkin Park song that I actually really, really like. Congratulations universe, you win.

Slow Dancing in a Burning Room by John Mayer
More than anything else, this is a recognition of an incredible album. Sure, it came out later in 2006, but most its most acclaimed tracks - "Belief" and "Dreaming..." were released in 2007. This just happens to be my favorite track on the album.

1973 by James Blunt
I can't tell you how glad I am that this song happened. As a big James Blunt fan, I couldn't stand the thought that people would just know him for the cliche tune "You're Beautiful." Here we've got another terrific track from the understated artist, and I like it a bunch better.

The rest comes on New Year's Eve!

Playlist Monday

Playlist Monday is a weekly feature at the Drawing Board. Once a week I post one playlist from home, more or less, at random. For special occasions, I'll post a themed track list.

Snow Day Songs
My top ten songs to listen to on a snow day.

When You Come Back Down by Nickel Creek
Kiss from a Rose by Seal
Sleeping In by The Postal Service
The Space Between by The Dave Matthews Band
Svefn-G-Englar by Melo-M
Honestly by Cary Brothers
I'm in Love with You by Sonya Kitchell
Shut Your Eyes by Snow Patrol
Ring them Bells by Sufjan Stevens
The World I Know by Collective Soul

Playlist Monday

Playlist Monday is a weekly feature at the Drawing Board. Once a week I post one playlist from home, more or less, at random. For special occasions, I'll post a themed track list.

Fireplace Music
This list visits my roots in discerning pop music. It's my top ten tracks to listen to at a fireplace, discounting holiday music.

1. Breathe on Me by Jennifer Knapp
2. Grey Street by Dave Matthews Band
3. Time by Hootie & The Blowfish
4. For the Glory of It All by The David Crowder Band
5. Crush by Dave Matthews Band
6. Come Downstairs and Say Hello by Guster
7. Remember when it Rained by Josh Groban
8. Song for You by Michael Buble
9. Breathe Me by Sia
10. Name by The Goo Goo Dolls