Project 2010

#1: The Early November is totally a band that I have listened to more of since I've started this project. I really seem to like them every time they come up. Today I listened to "I don't know how to say this."

#2: Ben Kweller just has such a unique voice. The second I start to hear him sing I totally know that it's him. Not a ton of people like that. Today I listened to "I don't know why." Not my favorite of his but still.

#3: R.E.M.'s Monster still sounds great. It has to be at least 15 years. Probably more. After "I don't sleep but I dream" I was startled when Star 69 didn't come on immediately afterward. Yet another odd thing about this project, I suppose.

#4: One of the things I like about Straylight Run is that sometimes you get Matt doing the vocals, sometimes his sister, and sometimes they sing together. There are a few bands where different songs have different lead vocalists (I listened to Out Of Time this weekend and forgot that on at least a couple of tracks Michael Stipes gave up the microphone). I think in a lot of cases this really works and lets the band expand their sound. I listened to "I don't want this anymore."

#5: Heard my favorite Conor Oberst song (solo, not Bright Eyes):



#6: Since I'm a sucker for war protest songs, I was all happy about Country Joe & the Fish singing "I feel like I'm fixing to die rag."

I'm on 2,746 of 7,178. Don't really feel like I'm getting closer to finishing.

Project 2010: Starting the I's!

#1: I really like Muse. I'm not sure why. I think it's maybe because they are one of a very few bands that still make music that could still be called Rock and Roll. Maybe not. Maybe it's just because they're music is interesting, and you can belt it out in a car.



#2: In 1996 my friend Rachel wore a Live T-shirt a lot this one particular summer. Not all the time, but it was a distinctive shirt, and pretty cool. Whenever I hear Live I think of her.



#3: I have way too many favorite R.E.M. songs, but any song with Superman is a winner. Really.



#4: Wilco's "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart" has already become a classic in my head. I don't know what an aquarium drinker is, but I assume I am one.

#5: "I and Love and You" by The Avett Brothers. Find it. Listen to it. Love it.

I'm on 2,699 of 7,132

Project 2010

#1: For some reason I consider anything that R.E.M. did after "Monster" to be late R.E.M. Ridiculous, I know, but really at that point R.E.M. stayed great but much of the world seemed to have lost track of them. This is all my way of saying "Hope" off of "Up" is great. I love it. Unfortunately I couldn't find a version to embed, so you'll just have to trust me on this.

#2: "Horchata" by Vampire Weekend. Horchata is non-alcoholic. Gotta be honest, makes the song less fun for me, but like all Vampire Weekend songs I'm not 100% sure what this song is really about.



#3: Nothing is more fun than getting through a totally random 9 second track in the middle of everything else. Here it is for your enjoyment:



#4: Today I've been hearing a lot of Beck. Apparently he likes writing song titles that start with the letter H. The sentence "I'm the enchanting wizard of rhythm" is pretty great.

#5: And I've been hearing even more R.E.M. I'm up to maybe four R.E.M. songs so far. Scratch that. I'm up to five. Really. Almost half of an R.E.M. album at this point. And nothing from before "New Adventures in Hi-Fi." Crazy.

#6: I think I've talked about how much I love Snow Patrol when just one random song of theirs comes on. Can't really explain it. Today was "How to be Dead." I think I just enjoy how this song feels like it is building and building until it... well doesn't quite explode, but it does go somewhere.



Today I made it to 2654 of 7,132. The newest album on my ipod is The National's "Boxer." It's really great but again I'm super late to the game. The new Paste Magazine Sampler should be getting on my ipod pretty soon, and I can't wait for that.

Project 2010: Day 90 - Firsts

Wow. 90 days of listening to my iPod in order of song title, yet I'm only on the F's. Oh well. Here are some comments on some things that I've listened to today, which brought me deep into the "Firsts".

I'll spare you the R.E.M. "Finest Worksong," but that doesn't mean I didn't love listening to it.

"Fire and Rain" is one of those songs that I thought I liked more than I actually like. It's always longer than I think it is, and slower than I think it's going to be. See for yourself:



On the other hand "Fire Island, AK" by The Long Winters gets better every time. Also the lead singer of The Long Winters has been hanging with John Hodgeman, which makes him even cooler in my nerdy mind.



Fireworks is one of my favorite Animal Collective songs that isn't on Merriweather.



I have posted this video before because it is maybe my favorite video in the history of the world to go with a song that I am in love with. Hooray for Bright Eyes!



And yet another song I love came up today- again, I know I've posted about Noah and the Whale before, but today was actually "First Days of Spring" day, which it totally is. Apt. Although I'm not going through a horrifying break up at the moment. Here's hoping!

Project 2010

So today I ended the E's and moved into the F's and mad it to 1,708 of 6,854. Here a selection of what I listened to today:

I have an unnatural love of Straylight Run. When we get to the S's I'll do an entire post on the Straylight Run / Brand New / Taking Back Sunday nexus. I'll also talk more about them when I get to a song off of "Prepare to be Wrong" which is an album that I love for both its music and its politics, but for now I'll just give you "Existentialism On Prom Night."



The answer to the question is yes:



And I love this song. I love this video. Very angry. Very cool.



More REM. Cause I love them. And you do too.



I find I have no idea what this song means, but I'm still positive that it is as relevant today as it was in 1986.

Here's another of my top 5 Phish songs:

Project 2010

Today was a really great day of music. I made it through a ton of songs and hit on a bunch of songs that I really, really love. I'm now on 1,257 of 6,714.

I was surprised to find a really great cover of Phish singing "A Day In The Life" live. It was really well done, and you can hear the crowd singing along. It definitely put a smile on my face.

A discovery- I have two The Mars Volta CD's. Everything about The Mars Volta points to the fact that I should really enjoy them. They mix a lot of things in that I like about other bands- long songs with jams, horns, and interesting orchestration. However, every time I hit one of their songs I find myself just waiting for it to end. Right now I am litening to the 12 minute long "Day of the Baphomets." And. It. Just. Will. Not. End.

I talk quite a bit about R.E.M. I will talk about them even more as things go on. Today got to "Daysleeper," which is yet another amazing song by them.



Also, hit The White Stripes "Dead Leaves and Dirty Ground." The White Stripes are just an all around great rock duo and when this song came on it made me happy and bob my head. Nothing wrong with that.



"Dear Anonymous" by Juliana Hatfield came up today as well. I just find that interesting, because every time I hear her I think a little bit about My So-Called Life. I definitely like that show a little too much, and probably watch TV just a little too much.

Made it to "Debaser" by The Pixies which added to my good day of music- I really find myself digging the D's.



"A Decade Under The Influence" might be my favorite Taking Back Sunday tune. Lyrics like "Close your eyes, just settle," "My worst brings out the best in you," and "I've got a bad feeling about this" all (sadly) appeal to me.

Project 2010

Sometimes you just want to yell. Like really yell. Or at least listen to someone yell, and that is where Taking Back Sunday comes in. OK, they are not one of the best or even better bands to come around, but when I'm in the right mood I love listening to them. Today I hit "Cute without the E." It is probably the perfect example of what I love about them (but I can totally respect you not being into it at all).



Also today, Cuyahoga from R.E.M. Growing up in Cuyahoga County in Ohio, I always get a little bit excited about this song, and seeing R.E.M. play it live in Cuyahoga County was amazing. The crowd went crazy. Probably the only place on Eath that the crowd goes wild over that song.

honestly, didn't make a lot of progress today. I'm only on 1,162 of 6,714 but I did listen to the new Gorillaz album and the new Broken Bells album. I was lukewarm on both.