My Soundtrack to the Summer of 2007
'Twernt the summer of love, that's for damn sure.
Die Gedanken Sin Frei - The Brazilian Girls
Sly - Cat Empire
Pompeii Am Gotterdamerung - The Flaming Lips
Into The Ocean - Blue October
1-2-3-4 - Feist
Signal Fire - Snow Patrol
No Cars Go - The Arcade Fire
Hang Me Up To Dry - Cold War Kids
Icky Thump - The White Stripes
Ah Mary - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Hold On - KT Tunstall
Better Way - Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Better Than That - John Butler Trio
Missed The Boat - Modest Mouse
Crooked Teeth - Death Cab For Cutie
Big Wheel - Tori Amos
I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
Not Too Late - Norah Johes
Gravity - John Mayer
Time is a Runaway - The Alternate Routes
Die Gedanken Sin Frei (Thoughts Are Free) - The Brazilian Girls
Comments: Well, at least, they should be. We went to a Brazilian Girls concert at the beginning of the summer. We couldn't stay long which was a shame. What I saw was remarkable.
Sly - Cat Empire
Comments: Every summer must have a party song. This one mentions coffee and sex in the same breath. Nothing wrong with that.
Pompeii am Gotterdamerung - The Flaming Lips
Comments: I spent a good deal of the summer reading alot of hippie lit, and have come to this conclusion: mind-altering substances do not make you wise. They just separate you from reality. As long as you know that, fine. I have no problem with those who indulge, and, Lord knows, I love my adult beverages. But don't pass off your bullshit ramblings as wisdom. For example, this song is all about "the happy death", a common theme for The Flaming Lips. In reality, death is awful. Death separates you from your loved ones to be eaten by worms and forgotten. I can't stand at the foot of my grandfather's bare-earthed and meager grave and feel joy at the extinguishing of what was once a brilliant fire now summarized as nothing more than "WWII Veteran". So, a big "fuck you" to that idea, and the idea that acid and pot expand your consciousness, or that whatever anyone says when they're drunk is actually how they really feel. If that were the case, the whole joke of the guy waking up the next morning with the ugly chick wouldn't be funny. Nevertheless, this is one hell of a beautiful song, and reminds me completely of a summer sunrise even though it's really about a volcano erupting.
Into the Ocean - Blue October
Comments: This is a new song, but it could've been on MTV 20 years ago. The video would've been awesome. "I thought of just your face / relaxed and floated into space." Whenever I tried to meditate, this song would pop into my head, probably because of that line. There are two things I've sworn off: meditation and empire waist clothing. I'm not built for either.
1-2-3-4 - Feist
Comments: "Old teenage hopes are alive at your door / Left you with nothing but they want some more ....Those teenage hopes who have tears in their eyes / Too scared to own up to one little lie" This summer, I felt the ghost of the teenage me wondering what the fuck am I doing. Time to get my shit together and stop this pissing around.
Signal Fire - Snow Patrol
Comments: Any summer fling has to be accompanied by a good love song. This song reminds me of my summer (fall, winter, and spring) fling of the last 15 years. I guess it goes without saying that I never saw "Spiderman 3" or else I'd associate it with that instead.
No Cars Go - Arcade Fire
Comments: If my son were to write a song, this would be the song he would write. The lyrics are things he says, and the music, which is all chaotic energy and gradeur, just reminded me of Ben from the first note. This, to me, is a song about little boys. I wouldn't change a thing about them.
Hang Me Up To Dry - Cold War Kids
Comments: To the bewilderment of my sane friends, I tend to collect other friends who are what even the most liberal-hearted among us would classify as the rejects, the crazies, the deformed of body and soul. I relate to them, and they don't judge me. But there comes a time when one must separate oneself from such foolishness for the sake of one's own self-preservation. I had an old friend who called it "cutting the fat". Unfortunately, I believe that she was talking directly about me at the time, but nevertheless one can only wrung out so many times.
Icky Thump - The White Stripes
Comments: Knoxville, TN was witness to the 1987 World's Fair. The Independence Day fireworks celebrated that fact, and Neil Diamond's immigration song. Looking out at the Southern, conservative crowd, my thought was, "What a bunch of fucking hypocrites." I wanted to comondere the sound system and replace "America" with "Icky Thump". Wankers.
Ah Mary - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Comments: Speaking of patriotism, this is another song that should've been played on the Fourth of July. "Ah Mary / She'll bake you cookies then she'll burn your town / Ah Mary / Ashes, ashes, but she won't fall down .... Ah Mary, America"
Hold On - KT Tunstall
Comments: This is the summer I finally started believing the old adage that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams". This song basically echoes that sentiment.
Better Way - Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Comments: Every summer has to have a campfire song. This is a good campfire song, and completely summarizes my feelings about my external world right now.
Better Than That - John Butler Trio
Comments: I live in a relatively affluent, mostly suburban town in the Southern United States. I am constantly bombarded with people suffering from an affliction The Man and I call "affluenza". But, as the song goes, "life's not about what's better than." This song summarizes my feelings about my internal world right now.
Missed the Boat - Modest Mouse
Comments: Isaac Brock and another one of his songs to swallow hemlock by. The kind of song one listens to while driving around in the damp summer evening, trying to forget what you felt at the foot of your grandfather's grave but not being quite able to do so.
Crooked Teeth - Death Cab For Cutie
Comments: "It was one hundred degrees, as we sat beneath a willow tree / Who's tears didn't care, they just hung in the air, and refused to fall, to fall. / And I knew I'd made horrible call, / And now the state line felt like the Berlin wall, / And there was no doubt about which side I was on." It was one hundred degrees quite often here in Tennessee this summer. It was a summer of disillusionment, or maybe a summer of reveleation depending on how you want to look at it. Nonetheless, I'm surprised at where I've wound up, philosophically speaking...materially speaking as well. I've been away from Cincinnati seven years now, and, even if I returned, I wouldn't really ever be back, you know what I mean?
Big Wheel - Tori Amos
Comments: I threw a 30th birthday party for my darling little sister at the end of June. She worships at the altar of Tori. I am not neccessarily among the faithful, but this album does kick ass, if you ask me. Bah to the haters!
I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse
Comments: This girl is a passing fancy but such a pleasurable one. And the more I learn about myself, the more I realize how much I really suck. Now what am I gonna do about it?
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
Comments: This summer, Knoxville was finally blessed with a decent radio station. It has truly enriched my life, especially considering I have no way of listening to tapes or cd's in my car, and I spend alot of time in the car. This is my current "happy" song.
Not Too Late - Norah Jones
Comments: Several years ago, I found myself commiserating with my psychic friend as we voiced our fears about running out of time to achieve our dreams. He's accomplished quite a few of those dreams since then, and he and his wife were recently blessed with a sweet baby girl whom I had the pleasure of meeting this summer. Her name is Norah.
Gravity - John Mayer
Comments: This song makes me think of my relationship with God. The more I try and learn about Him/Her/It, the more I realize I don't know, and no one knows, or can know, and then I get pissed off. But it's always the "wanting more that's gonna send me to my knees." Try as I might, I can't give it up. Maybe my grandpa's found something out.
Time Is A Runaway - The Alternate Routes
Comments: "Throw your windows down, the summer's nearly gone..." If I had to pick one song to sum up my summer, it would be this one. I love this band, and this song is better than zoloft.
Die Gedanken Sin Frei - The Brazilian Girls
Sly - Cat Empire
Pompeii Am Gotterdamerung - The Flaming Lips
Into The Ocean - Blue October
1-2-3-4 - Feist
Signal Fire - Snow Patrol
No Cars Go - The Arcade Fire
Hang Me Up To Dry - Cold War Kids
Icky Thump - The White Stripes
Ah Mary - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Hold On - KT Tunstall
Better Way - Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Better Than That - John Butler Trio
Missed The Boat - Modest Mouse
Crooked Teeth - Death Cab For Cutie
Big Wheel - Tori Amos
I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
Not Too Late - Norah Johes
Gravity - John Mayer
Time is a Runaway - The Alternate Routes
Die Gedanken Sin Frei (Thoughts Are Free) - The Brazilian Girls
Comments: Well, at least, they should be. We went to a Brazilian Girls concert at the beginning of the summer. We couldn't stay long which was a shame. What I saw was remarkable.
Sly - Cat Empire
Comments: Every summer must have a party song. This one mentions coffee and sex in the same breath. Nothing wrong with that.
Pompeii am Gotterdamerung - The Flaming Lips
Comments: I spent a good deal of the summer reading alot of hippie lit, and have come to this conclusion: mind-altering substances do not make you wise. They just separate you from reality. As long as you know that, fine. I have no problem with those who indulge, and, Lord knows, I love my adult beverages. But don't pass off your bullshit ramblings as wisdom. For example, this song is all about "the happy death", a common theme for The Flaming Lips. In reality, death is awful. Death separates you from your loved ones to be eaten by worms and forgotten. I can't stand at the foot of my grandfather's bare-earthed and meager grave and feel joy at the extinguishing of what was once a brilliant fire now summarized as nothing more than "WWII Veteran". So, a big "fuck you" to that idea, and the idea that acid and pot expand your consciousness, or that whatever anyone says when they're drunk is actually how they really feel. If that were the case, the whole joke of the guy waking up the next morning with the ugly chick wouldn't be funny. Nevertheless, this is one hell of a beautiful song, and reminds me completely of a summer sunrise even though it's really about a volcano erupting.
Into the Ocean - Blue October
Comments: This is a new song, but it could've been on MTV 20 years ago. The video would've been awesome. "I thought of just your face / relaxed and floated into space." Whenever I tried to meditate, this song would pop into my head, probably because of that line. There are two things I've sworn off: meditation and empire waist clothing. I'm not built for either.
1-2-3-4 - Feist
Comments: "Old teenage hopes are alive at your door / Left you with nothing but they want some more ....Those teenage hopes who have tears in their eyes / Too scared to own up to one little lie" This summer, I felt the ghost of the teenage me wondering what the fuck am I doing. Time to get my shit together and stop this pissing around.
Signal Fire - Snow Patrol
Comments: Any summer fling has to be accompanied by a good love song. This song reminds me of my summer (fall, winter, and spring) fling of the last 15 years. I guess it goes without saying that I never saw "Spiderman 3" or else I'd associate it with that instead.
No Cars Go - Arcade Fire
Comments: If my son were to write a song, this would be the song he would write. The lyrics are things he says, and the music, which is all chaotic energy and gradeur, just reminded me of Ben from the first note. This, to me, is a song about little boys. I wouldn't change a thing about them.
Hang Me Up To Dry - Cold War Kids
Comments: To the bewilderment of my sane friends, I tend to collect other friends who are what even the most liberal-hearted among us would classify as the rejects, the crazies, the deformed of body and soul. I relate to them, and they don't judge me. But there comes a time when one must separate oneself from such foolishness for the sake of one's own self-preservation. I had an old friend who called it "cutting the fat". Unfortunately, I believe that she was talking directly about me at the time, but nevertheless one can only wrung out so many times.
Icky Thump - The White Stripes
Comments: Knoxville, TN was witness to the 1987 World's Fair. The Independence Day fireworks celebrated that fact, and Neil Diamond's immigration song. Looking out at the Southern, conservative crowd, my thought was, "What a bunch of fucking hypocrites." I wanted to comondere the sound system and replace "America" with "Icky Thump". Wankers.
Ah Mary - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Comments: Speaking of patriotism, this is another song that should've been played on the Fourth of July. "Ah Mary / She'll bake you cookies then she'll burn your town / Ah Mary / Ashes, ashes, but she won't fall down .... Ah Mary, America"
Hold On - KT Tunstall
Comments: This is the summer I finally started believing the old adage that "the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams". This song basically echoes that sentiment.
Better Way - Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Comments: Every summer has to have a campfire song. This is a good campfire song, and completely summarizes my feelings about my external world right now.
Better Than That - John Butler Trio
Comments: I live in a relatively affluent, mostly suburban town in the Southern United States. I am constantly bombarded with people suffering from an affliction The Man and I call "affluenza". But, as the song goes, "life's not about what's better than." This song summarizes my feelings about my internal world right now.
Missed the Boat - Modest Mouse
Comments: Isaac Brock and another one of his songs to swallow hemlock by. The kind of song one listens to while driving around in the damp summer evening, trying to forget what you felt at the foot of your grandfather's grave but not being quite able to do so.
Crooked Teeth - Death Cab For Cutie
Comments: "It was one hundred degrees, as we sat beneath a willow tree / Who's tears didn't care, they just hung in the air, and refused to fall, to fall. / And I knew I'd made horrible call, / And now the state line felt like the Berlin wall, / And there was no doubt about which side I was on." It was one hundred degrees quite often here in Tennessee this summer. It was a summer of disillusionment, or maybe a summer of reveleation depending on how you want to look at it. Nonetheless, I'm surprised at where I've wound up, philosophically speaking...materially speaking as well. I've been away from Cincinnati seven years now, and, even if I returned, I wouldn't really ever be back, you know what I mean?
Big Wheel - Tori Amos
Comments: I threw a 30th birthday party for my darling little sister at the end of June. She worships at the altar of Tori. I am not neccessarily among the faithful, but this album does kick ass, if you ask me. Bah to the haters!
I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse
Comments: This girl is a passing fancy but such a pleasurable one. And the more I learn about myself, the more I realize how much I really suck. Now what am I gonna do about it?
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
Comments: This summer, Knoxville was finally blessed with a decent radio station. It has truly enriched my life, especially considering I have no way of listening to tapes or cd's in my car, and I spend alot of time in the car. This is my current "happy" song.
Not Too Late - Norah Jones
Comments: Several years ago, I found myself commiserating with my psychic friend as we voiced our fears about running out of time to achieve our dreams. He's accomplished quite a few of those dreams since then, and he and his wife were recently blessed with a sweet baby girl whom I had the pleasure of meeting this summer. Her name is Norah.
Gravity - John Mayer
Comments: This song makes me think of my relationship with God. The more I try and learn about Him/Her/It, the more I realize I don't know, and no one knows, or can know, and then I get pissed off. But it's always the "wanting more that's gonna send me to my knees." Try as I might, I can't give it up. Maybe my grandpa's found something out.
Time Is A Runaway - The Alternate Routes
Comments: "Throw your windows down, the summer's nearly gone..." If I had to pick one song to sum up my summer, it would be this one. I love this band, and this song is better than zoloft.