"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

Winter 2009

I know I just posted one within the hour, but it was kind of a cheap cop out. I'll leave it up because, man, those songs are good. However, I'm rescinding it as this week's playlist. Instead, how about this beautiful, mellow playlist that I have creatively decided to title "Winter, 2009." I tend to make a couple of different playlists that reflect the music that I like to listen to in the various seasons.

So, these songs reflect the type of music that I have been into this winter. I typically mellow out for the Fall & Winter.Then, when the sun starts to shine & the temperature starts to warm, I get a littler peppier and more upbeat.

The Day I Lost My Voice - Copeland
Heavy Hearts - The Morning Benders
Panic & The Should Attacks - Nico Stai
Marigolds - Ryan Auffenberg
I Saw - Matt Nathanson
I'd Rather Be With You - Joshua Radin
When You Come Back Down - Nickel Creek
12:59 Lullaby - Bedouin Soundclash
The Animals Were Gone - Damien Rice
Near to You - A Fine Frenzy
Serpent-in-claw - Gary Jules
Keep Breathing - Ingrid Michaelson
I Am Still Running - Jon Foreman
Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard & Market Iglova (from the movie, Once - awesome)