Run Without Judgment

I worked out on the treadmill at the Y the other day (WOAH, WHAT?) and let me tell you something. When I work out, my music choice is generally not one that I take great pride in. I love to run to some Flo Rida or Kanye. Throw a little Rihanna and Fergie in there while you're at it. Spice Girls? Bring it. It's like every standard I have about music (Except my abhorrence of Nickelback - that doesn't go away no matter my heart rate) gets thrown out the window for that 30 minutes to an hour that I am running. And I like it.

It doesn't have to be that way. There are a number of songs that are excellent for working out and running that don't ruin your music street cred. Now, let me step up in my own defense here. It's ok for me to love shaking my booty or going for a run to some Spice Girls. That doesn't mean I have a bad taste in music. That just means that I like to have fun no matter what I'm doing and that I'm not afraid to suspend my musical prejudice for a time to do so. It's a positive thing, really. I just really, really, really wanna zig a zig ah every now and then. I'm fun. You'd like me.

Back to my theme. Perhaps you feel that you haven't quite transcended the musical spectrum enough yet to assert your independence in your work out. Perhaps you would be more secure in your musical tastes if you had a solid lists of songs to work out to that were beyond reproach to those who for some reason hold musical power over you. I can help here. I happen to know quite a few really great songs that you can also take on a run. Sometimes, when I need a break from feeling G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S during my cardio, I switch to this playlist (*disclaimer - you will want to order these songs on your own to mold to your workout):

Endlessly - Muse
Bandages - Hot Hot Heat
The Restless - The Matches
Hey Driver - Lucky Boys Confusion
Give it Up - Midtown
A Favor House Atlantic - Coheed & Cambria
The Taste of Ink - The Used
Until the Day I Die - Story of the Year
Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn - hellogoodbye
Reinventing Your Exit - Underoath
Beating Hearts Baby - Head Automatica
Feeling This - Blink 182
I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
Last Night - The Strokes
Somebody Told Me - The Killers

Awesome. Now, who wants to go for a run?

My 5 Favorite Ways (other than friends) to Find New Music

1. www.indierockcafe.com
- I first discovered this website back during the Christmas season when I did a google search for alternative/indie groups singing Christmas songs. Boy did this site deliver, with mp3's of over 100 versions of various seasonal songs by excellent artists. It's not just that though - it's all kinds of otherwise obscure yet excellent bands featured in blog entries with the occasional mp3 posted.
2. www.hypeful.com
- I think I found this one when I was google searching cover songs. Does that make sense? I was trying to figure out which covers were considered the best by people who's music tastes I respected. I stumbled upon this site, which has lead to my introduction to countless new bands in just a couple of weeks. I check it daily. On Tuesdays they post the best of new releases, which leads me to number 3...
3. www.spinner.com
- This site has what it calls a "cd listening party." Weekly, on Tuesdays, they post full new release abums of several artists. The albums stay posted for the whole week. You can listen to them in their entirety as many times as you want to. I'm pretty sure there are 4 0r 5 new (to me) artists that I will be pursuing in the near future thanks to this site. (I found this site linked from hypeful)
4. www.pandora.com
- So far my most productive station (in the way of introducing artists that I seek out further) has been the Matt Nathanson themed station I set up.
5. www.relevantmagazine.com
- Great reviews & articles on bands. There are some other thought provoking and awesome articles too.

Anyone else have good sources for quality music? I'm pretty certain that music is my preferred hobby and companion.

My Valentine's Day Songs

So, I was basically a cliche yesterday, which annoys me. I purposely learned to like Valentine's Day because I think it's cliche and stupid for single people to dislike it. Blah, blah, it's a Hallmark holiday, blah, blah Single Awareness Day, blah, blah get a new joke. I did have a good day. I even enjoyed it, immensely. However, my choice of activities, upon reflection, was quite cliche. After running a couple errands in the late afternoon, I picked up some take out Chinese food, and chilled at home. Alone. Watching love movie marathons on USA and TBS. With my cat. Crap. Did I somehow become a character in a chick flick romantic comedy without knowing it?

Whatever, I don't mind. I really like chicken fried rice, so there. And so what if I sat around in sweatpants and watched three romantic comedies in a row that made me cry while my cat Tony Gonzalez (Gonzo for short) curled up next to me? I wasn't wallowing in self pity by any means. I actually LIKE being single. I'm content. It's not a problem that needs a solution, but rather a state of being that should be enjoyed. It's a season of life that I (hopefully?) won't have forever, and therefore I make the best out of it. So, I enjoyed it. That being said, on to music. I got an iTunes giftcard from my mom, and I spent it (and then some) on some great new music.

My purchases are as follows (in Artist - Album format):
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
The All American Rejects - When The World Comes Down

Yeah, that last album doesn't really fit in - but they're fun and I enjoy them, so judge if you must. I can take it. I'm confident enough in my musical tastes that it doesn't bother me what you think.

I've also downloaded some other great stuff recently, and purchased a couple of other great albums via iTunes and, uh, Target.

This week's playlist isn't going to be as much of a playlist as it is going to be a top 10 list of favorite recent downloads and purchases.

Top 10 recent downloads/purchases (in no particular order)
My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson (I'm a sucker for a Kelly song - that's the truth)
A Teenager in Love - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (it's not as cheesy as it sounds, actually)
The Horror of our Love - Ludo (the lyrics are weird, bizarre, over the top, and kind of hot)
Your Protector - Fleet Foxes (it's sweet)
Gives You Hell - The All American Rejects (again, judge if you must)
Innocence - The Airborne Toxic Event (the strings in the intro to this song almost move me to tears)
Boys Better - The Dandy Warhols (I'm just now starting to get into this band)
Everything With You - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Normally I try not to double up a band on a playlist, but this is ok because I'm only talking about recent purchases/downloads)
White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes (This group is very folksy. I like it.)
Another Heart Calls - The All American Rejects (it's a duet with a chick band - the Pierces I believe - and it's very pretty)

So that's it. Music is my Valentine. I love ALL of my new music.

T&T Love Songs

This mix CD is an inspiration to my playlist making. I probably first heard and fell in love with it in the Summer of 2005, though my most extensive memories of it come from the 06 and 07 Summers. The LVR staff would all be at Trigger's house for one gathering or another, and we would decide to put on some music. Anytime this was remotely up to me, I chose this mix CD from Trigger's stash. It is quite possibly the best Mix CD ever made. (Hooray superlatives!) I can only aspire to creating a love song mix quite so perfect. I'm pretty sure this was a mix made for his sister's wedding. I copied it before I left "for good" in 2007, but a bunch of the songs were corrupted and wouldn't play. So, I finally was able to put it back together in its entirety this weekend. Anyhow, I figured that because Valentine's Day is coming up, I would throw it in as a bonus playlist for the week. I'm not tagging the artists in it because there are too many. Besides, it's just a bonus playlist. I didn't really create it. I just love it. A lot. I'd give kudos to the original creator of the mix CD, but I honestly don't think I ever found out who it was.

T&T Love Songs
Everyday - Buddy Holly
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - The Platters
(They Long to Be)Close To You - The Carpenters
That's Amore - Dean Martin
Can't Hurry Love - Diana Ross & The Supremes
I Want to Walk You Home - Fats Domino
Your Love Is Lifting Me Higher - Jackie Wilson
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch - The Temptations
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles
For The Longest Time - Billy Joel
Take My Breath Away - Berlin
You're My Inspiration - Chicago
I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra
Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers
Unforgettable - Frank Sinatra
You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
How Sweet it Is - James Taylor
Something - The Beatles
Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins
Somebody - Depeche Mode
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

"Turtle Wings"

There are several qualities that I feel music should have for me to consider it to be worthy of my respect and approval. The best way for a song to impress me would be for it to have lyrics that blow my mind. A couple of the best lyricists that I can think of off the top of my head are Jesse Lacey and Ben Gibbard (of Brand New and Death Cab for Cutie, respectively.)I also GREATLY appreciate depth of sound through the use of a variety of instruments. When a song has a heavy use of strings (especially cello or bass) or piano I'm likely to fall in love. Andrew McMahon (Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin) is one of the artists that I'd marry given half a chance for that very reason.

I tend to lean toward the mellow side when it comes to music I truly admire. That's not to say that an upbeat, fast-paced, loud song can't have lyrical depth and instrumental variety. I just probably wouldn't like it as much as a more mellow, low key song. To me, the slower or softer songs have more of a subtlety feel to them. That's what I like.

None of this has any bearing or relevance to this week's playlist. I just wanted to say it, so I did. I do what I want. I mean, quite a few of these songs are mellow, melodic, and have deep lyrics. So, I guess this is relevant after all. Kudos, me.

Most of these songs are sad and kind of about heartbreak. Don't worry though, I'm not heartbroken at the time. I figure I'll do a heartbreak playlist this week, and next week I'll find some really excellent love songs for Valentine's day. I like Valentine's Day, by the way. That's right - a single girl that likes Valentine's day. Refreshing, right? I'd like to think so.

Catharine thinks I should call this playlist "Turtle Wings." I think that's incredibly bizarre, and I like it.

Turtle Wings
Runaway Train - Soul Asylum
Everybody Hurts (REM Cover) - Dashboard Confessional
Love Hurts - Heart
Breathe (2am) - Anna Nalick
Bad Day - Daniel Powter
Say It To Me Now - Glen Hansard (from Once)
Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt
Almost Lover - A Fine Frenzy
Sometime Around Midnight - The Airborne Toxic Event
A Bad Dream - Keane
Somebody's Baby - Jon Foreman
So Far Away - Carole King