The stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen and they're there for you.

[raybear]

This morning DYA mentioned having heard an old R.E.M. song on the radio and remembering how good it was, and there must be something in the air because I've been listening to "Country Feedback" a lot lately, which in my head, isn't really "old R.E.M." except when I remember that it did come out almost 15 years ago. I guess "old" will always be relative as long as time keeps going. Someone on my friends list not that long ago mentioned the song "You Are Everything" and so that's what I'm listening to this morning while trying to drink enough coffee until the caffeine kicks in. Such a simple beautiful optimism that I'm tempted to dismiss which makes me realize how unexpectedly cynical I've become under the guise of being "worldly".

Remember when the best songs on an album weren't the singles? When you'd buy an album opening week and listen to it on heavy rotation and then wait to see which ones would make it to the radio over the next few months? I don't think that really happens anymore, except for the top tier pop people, whether it's pop-pop, pop-rock, pop-rap, etc. And by "top tier" I mean bestselling, and by "happens" I mean more than one song gets released as a single. I can hardly remember the last time I listened to an entire album by an artist, especially if it wasn't a "Best Of". I mean, I'm a DJ, I've been in love with the mix back when it was on a tape dubbed from vinyl. Maybe I'm just creating my own radio.

I didn't mean for this to be a crotchety post about music and the good ole days, cause that's not how I feel at all, there's a lot of brilliant stuff out there being created. And g-d knows I love certain aspects of the state of things -- waking up with a song in your head, hopping on the computer and typing in a few words and being able to listen to the song in its entirety a few minutes later. There just seems to be more allegience to individual songs and less to artists as a whole. Sometimes I miss that feeling of going through the bins at record stores and finding that song you've been wanting for years, then going home and hearing it for the first time. I also miss being excited about a favorite band putting out a new album and having the money to go buy it and listen to it, all of it. Now I'm lucky if I hear 3 songs of an album. I have no one to blame but my own narrowing attention span and shrinking wallet. It's a tradeoff.

Funny, writing this out makes me want to make a mix of undiscovered or forgotten gems by favorite or unexpected favorite artists. Ha. Another mix. The monster feeds itself.

In Other News^TM.....

I'm two days behind a deadline and have a different deadline two days ahead of me and still trying to get the last of the coughing out of my chest and the house is a total mess which has added pressure because DYA's parents will be here next weekend and I want to go back to sleep and feel at times that I'm hanging only on by a string, but there are bright shining moments. They include:

* the song "The Closing of the Doors" by Roisin Murphy
* bigfatmama. and the mix CD she sent me, but esp. just her in general.
* reading a novel that makes me cry it's so beautiful
* homemade mashed potatoes
* watching Will&Grace on the couch with DYA snuggled in my lap
* Kelly Clarkson's too-short version of "Walk On By"
* any comment, text, or voicemail from sharkysmachine
* a few of my new students that I totally adore and want to eat up with a spoon
* the song "Happy 13" by Flotation Toy Warning. download this band now. yeah, i know, another indie pop band channeling pink floyd and david bowie, but whatever i love it.
* Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come". yeah, yeah, i know white hipsters and Sam Cooke. shut up.

I thought there was more, but I can't remember.

Comments

[littleblueworld.livejournal.com]

I have two favorite REM songs. Country Feedback and You Are the Everything.

I was startled to see the quote.

[raybear.livejournal.com]

i am very psychic. or maybe it's just i am very in tune with people that get drawn into my life through various means and vice versa.

[littleblueworld.livejournal.com]

"in tune"

I know that was unintentional, which makes it an even better pun.

[mintwaster.livejournal.com]

Remember that REM single that inserted in the pages of Sassy Magazine? What was it called?

[raybear.livejournal.com]

dude, that was "Losing my religion" before it blew up. And I still HAVE IT. it's in my copy of the cd.

[mintwaster.livejournal.com]

No, it wasn't. It was a slow song. A non-cd track. It was a little floppy record.

[sharkysmachine.livejournal.com]

I would love to have that mix. I almost called and sang Southern Nights to you!!!