The Really Big Music Post

Part I

The other day, I was thinking, “What do I look for in a song?” And the following is what I came up with. First, based on my deep and abiding love for female singer/songwriters, I love girl power—like the following strong female artists: Tori, Regina, Alanis, Amanda, Sarah, Joni, Ani, Kate, Suzanne, Sheryl, Kelly, etc. I’ve never really been a pop diva kind of gay—Madonna, Britney, Lady Gaga, Cher—being the alternative singer/songwriter mo that I am, but I do like me some Cher every now and then.

Another reason why I love singer/songwriters is because I love a story. As the former English major, I’m all about words. Even in movies the dialogue and story is usually more important to me than the visual aspects. And with songs, lyrics mean far more to me than music. See, I’ve never been the guy who can hear the story in a symphony. But I will happily listen to a girl (or guy) strumming basic chords on a guitar if they’ll sing me a story, especially if I can sing along to it. But my idea of sing-along-ability is probably different from most people—I don’t really go for the baby baby boom boom.

Along with stories, I look for literate lyrics. I’m all over lyrics that are essentially poems, and I love literary allusions. My favorite type of allusion is to religious symbols, but not so much in a faith-affirming, hymn-like way; I’m talking about iconoclasm. Break those images! My unofficial senior thesis was about “unprodigal” daughters who break apart/rewrite the patriarchal myths of religion.

So while lyrics trump music, the music is still important. One of the things I’ve noticed about songs I particularly love is the use of layered vocals—which I believe is technically called doubletracking(?). I love the rich, full sound that layered vocals give a song. I also like multitracking(?) where several parts are being played over each other in rich confusion. And I love a slow-burning crescendo—songs that start out at a whisper and slowly build up ending in a bang.

Finally, I like good beats and hooks as much as the next person; catchy tunes are great. But no matter how catchy a song is, if there’s nothing behind it (story; lyrics), then once I’ve listened to it several times on repeat, I’ll forget it about it in a week or so. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I like a song with emotional resonance. Something relatable—which is ineffable and different for every person. So that’s what I look for in a song. How about you?

Part II

My friend Elise posted one of those Facebook meme notes—top fifteen albums. One is supposed to list one’s top fifteen albums without too much thought. Well I thought a lot about it and took it to mean the top fifteen albums throughout my life and not just my favorite fifteen at this moment. Now I only have about 45 complete albums and EPs, and many of them I’ve just downloaded within this last year, so those are not in the running. I’ve listed the albums in the order that I listened to/purchased them.

The Phantom of the Opera by the Original Broadway Cast
Ander Lloyd Weber’s rock opera was the soundtrack to my childhood. It’s still pretty good.

Les Misérables by the Original London Cast
Because, yes, I’m also a bit of a musical theatre queen. I’ll tear up a bit if I listen to “Do You Hear the People Sing?” or the “Finale.”

Fallen by Evanescence
My friends and I liked Evanescence our senior year of high school. It was also one of the first CDs I ever bought—I listened to it a lot those first couple of years in college.

Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette
Alanis was my first love (that wasn’t a musical), but it wasn’t until the end of my freshman year that I bought her first (and best) album.

Little Earthquakes and Under the Pink by Tori Amos
I first heard Tori Amos in Jen’s dorm room (for which I’ll be eternally grateful), and it was instant love. I bought her first two albums the beginning of my sophomore year. Little Earthquakes is my desert island record.

Poses by Rufus Wainwright
I got this along with the two Tori albums. I listened to this album on and off throughout college, and it still reminds me of a road trip to Arizona with Rae and Slarue.

Wicked by the Original Broadway Cast
I got this soundtrack for Christmas sophomore year as most of my college friends were obsessed with the musical. I listened to it over and over again until I knew all the words—that’s how we musical theatre queens do it. “For Good” and the “Finale” get me every time.

Rent from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
I saw the film when it came out with Val; at the time I loved it though I’m more critical of the movie today. Nevertheless, I bought the soundtrack later that year. My sophomore roommates had to put up with a lot of Rent, Wicked, Tori, and Alanis that year.

Begin to Hope by Regina Spektor
Valerie gave me this album for Christmas our senior year, and “Samson” got me through finals. Since then I’ve purchased Soviet Kitsch, which has some of my favorites, and Far, which I think is her most cohesive record, but it’s her breakout album that introduced me to Regina’s world.

Mirrorball: The Complete Concert by Sarah McLachlan
I’ve liked Sarah since high school and I bought some of her songs through the years—“Building a Mystery” was my most listened to song junior year, just ask Chris—but I’ve never owned any of her studio albums. I got this live album post college.

Everything in Transit by Jack’s Mannequin
When I worked at Barnes & Noble, a coworker burned this album for me and I love it. It’s a great CD to zip around town to especially in the summer.

Garden State from the Motion Picture Soundtrack
Although I saw the film when it came out freshman year with James, and I kept thinking I should get the album for years, it wasn’t until after college that I finally got the CD. It's super relaxing--perfect for hanging out or long, meandering drives.

Boys for Pele by Tori Amos
It was only a couple of years ago that I bought Tori’s third album at a used record store. Critical reaction to her experimental and not very listener/radio friendly record was mixed, but it was embraced by fans as a cult favorite. And after many, many listens, I joined their ranks.

To Travels and Trunks by Hey Marseilles
I bought this album a year ago, just after moving to Seattle; Hey Marseilles is a Seattle band after all. They’re one of the hottest bands in Seattle currently—I’ve seen them live twice—and their first album is very enjoyable.

Part III

Well, it’s the middle of September, and the grey and rainy skies have returned to Seattle. It is fall. And with the changing of the seasons, it’s time to revisit/revise my fall playlist. I submit twelve songs for your consideration.

“Caramel” by Suzanne Vega
Don’t you think caramel is autumnal—like caramel apples at Halloween? I do. This cautionary song about longing is perfect for brisk fall days. “It won’t do to dream of caramel, to think of cinnamon, and long for you.”

“Honey” by Tori Amos
Honey, like caramel, also reminds me of fall. I don’t know why. And the warm, womb-like sound of the song (it was recorded in an adobe house) reminds me of an Indian summer. “So when we died I tried to bribe the undertaker / Cause I’m not sure what you’re doin’ or the reasons.”

“The Horror of Our Love” by Ludo
Amber introduced me to this song last year, and it’s perfect for fall with its tale of monstrous love (more Wuthering Heights than Twilight) inspired by this Dali quote: “I love Gala so much, if she dies I will eat her.” And what’s more appropriate for autumn than monsters and a litany of horrors? (Besides pies and sweaters, I mean.) “I’ve murdered half the town / Left you love notes on their headstones.”

“October” by Stephanie Smith
Perhaps a bit on the nose, but October is my favorite month of the whole year. Sadly, Stephanie doesn’t have such warm and fuzzy associations with the month. “But I’m still sleeping in your sweater / When I’d be better off to throw it out.”

“Be Here Now” by Ray LaMontagne
It’s almost a whispery lullaby that nestles you close like a pile of blankets. “Don’t let your soul get lonely / Child it’s only time, it will go by.”

“Haunted” by Evanescence
It’s spooky enough for Halloween. “Hunting you, I can smell you alive / Your heart pounding in my head.”

“I Miss You” by Blink-182
A nostalgic favorite from high school. It also references The Nightmare Before Christmas. “Hello there, the angel from my nightmare / The shadow in the background of the morgue.”

“Change of Time” by Josh Ritter
One of my favorite Ritter songs, it’s about dreams, memory, time, and moving on. “The black clouds I’m hanging / This anchor I’m dragging / The sails of memory rip open in silence.”

“Northern Lad” by Tori Amos
Everyone’s familiar with a red sunset, but in Seattle during the fall the Western sky is often tinged an ethereal pink. This song reminds of that for some reason. Though Tori’s lad is from Northern England, it rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest too. “I feel the West in you, but I feel it falling apart too.”

“Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap
Another whispery and haunting lullaby. “All those years / They were here first / Oily marks appear on walls / Where pleasure moments hung before the takeover.”

“Poses” by Rufus Wainwright
The song seems to be about time wasted, buying into the poses—façades—of life, and the inability to change. “In the green autumnal parks conducting / All the city streets a wondrous chorus / Singing all these poses, now no longer boyish / Made me a man, oh, but who cares what that is.”

“Somedays” by Regina Spektor
The song is a quiet lull, a tale of person who is only left with remnants of days—some of which aren’t yours at all. “I’m not here, not anymore / I’ve gone away / Don’t call me, don’t write.”

What are you listening to these days? What songs remind you of autumn?