Bon Kanye

Bon Iver pops up numerous times on Kanye West's new album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and I, for one, am loving it.  It seems totally unexpected and yet makes so much sense at the same time.  Love him or leave him, Kanye once again demonstrates his willingness to find inspiration from many different music sources.  Plus, Bon Iver is fucking awesome.  Listening to his album For Emma, Forever Ago is like opening a gift on Christmas morning over and over again.  Having almost an ethereal quality, it gives you everything you are looking for in that type of album.  The type of album you listen to when you are feeling mopey and need a reminder that feelings are universal and you aren't the only one on the face of the earth that has felt bad.  It actually makes be feel better because it makes me feel less special.  


Chin chin to KW for bringing us a little morsel of Bon Iver.

Lyrical Funday

Tegan and Sara, "Empty in Between"

You wear that superstar status on your shoulder
Don't worry I won't lean on you when I get cold yeah
Sell a million copies and I'll buy back your love
Tell everyone I hate you and I'll blame the above

Love, you're breakin' me
Oh love, you're shakin' me
From the car to the front door
I'm left empty in between

You wear that chip like it makes up your wardorbe
Don't worry I won't tell anyone you're so bad
Sell a million copies and I'll buy back your love
Tell everyone I hate you and I'll blame the above
Love, you're breakin' me

Oh love, you're shakin' me
Oh, from the car to the front door
I'm left empty in between

Oh love, you're breakin' me
Oh love, you're shakin' me
Oh, from the car to the front door
I'm left empty in between

Sail Knot, Want Not

When I retire from this law gig I plan on sailing the world.  That's right, circumnavigating the globe in my own private boat, hopefully with my weathered husband of thirty years and a golden retriever named Fred.  I don't sail often nor do I have very much sailing experience, but I have been thinking and planning this since I was a teenager.  It's just one of those things that I decided upon years ago and there is no question in my mind that it will happen.  From the shores of the St. Lawrence to the Cape of Good Hope to the Italian Riviera, this is how I plan on spending my old age.  It's funny how quickly years pass you by and you realize you have not done much (read: nothing)  towards achieving goals in life that you most certainly intend on achieving.  Well, it's a Friday night in November, so I have absolutely no intention of taking up sailing on this brisk evening.  But you heard it here first folks.  In the words of the Avett Brothers (I sense a theme here), decide what to be and go be it.  This ain't no motivational poster, just a tip from one sailor to another.  And man, do I look good in breton stripes.

Lyrical Funday

The Avett Brothers "Murder in the City"

If I get murdered in the city
Don’t go revengin in my name
One person dead from such is plenty
No need to go get locked away

When I leave your arms
The things that I think of
No need to get over alarmed
I’m comin home

I wonder which brother is better
Which one our parents love the most
I sure did get in lots of trouble
They seemed to let the other go

A tear fell from my father’s eyes
I wondered what my dad would say
He said I love you
And I’m proud of you both, in so many different ways

If I get murdered in the city
Go read the letter in my desk
Don’t worry with all my belongings
But pay attention to the list

Make sure my sister knows I loved her
Make sure my mother knows the same
Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name
Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE7rkSELM3I&feature=fvw

La Musique

While some people associate memories with a scent, I almost always associate it with a song. Or a series of songs. Or a band. In good times and bad, music has always provided me with a sense of "rightness". That is to say, a particular song can make a good moment even better or a bad moment just that much worse.

Consequently, I just don't get it when people aren't into music. They clearly have never had that feeling. You know, the one where you hear a certain song and something inside of you just starts moving. And you're smiling, and suddenly the whole day melts away and it's just you and this song and it is as if the song was written just for you. And of course it is! Because obviously no one in the world could connect with this song the way you are, at this moment, in this place, with these emotions. 

There are three bands in particular lately that rock my socks. Mumford & Sons is a group from the UK who sing with such emotion that you can't help but be reminded that life is to be lived with vigor. Yeasayer is an outrageously awesome group whose clever arrangements make me want to dance every time. And Frightened Rabbit. That voice is the butter on my baguette of life.

Mumford & Sons, The Cave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KkUeRPjc-Y

Yeasayer, Ambling Alp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKXujEphWS8

Frightened Rabbit, Swim Until You Can't See Land

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzjERZU3wbY

Showing a little pomp and pride at Toots & the Maytals, Brooklyn, NY 2009.