Falling

Here it is, nearly the end of October, and I haven't said anything about September music - so lame.  It's been a busy month - Annalise turned 6 last weekend.  The downtown foundation hosted our annual meeting. Jeff ran a three-day tournament. My youngest sister got married, Jeff took his #1 & 2 players to Alabama for a week. But the real problem is that I'm too easily distracted by all the entertainment available in the world - like the new TV season.  So happy that Life, Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies, Grey's Anatomy and all the rest are back.  And I cannot look away from the news  - cnn.com, Jezebel.com and planetmoney.com and constant low- level anxiety.  A music discussion will be a great distraction:

The Proof I Use to Measure What is True

1. Be OK - Ingrid Michaelson:  bouncy and good-natured, this goes down easy

2. Love Love Love - Tristan Prettyman:  Madly was a free single of the week last spring, featured on the Heart Wide Open mix in May; found this searching around iTunes

3. Brandy Alexander - Ron Sexsmith:  I like this version more than the Feist recording, apparently inspired by John Lennon's favorite drink

4. It's Alright - Dar Williams: I love the jangly guitars and sunny feel

5. Hide From You - Angela Desveaux: again with the jangly guitars

6. Sweeter Than the Rest - Joan Osborne: since 1995, when I wore out the Relish CD (no lie, I wore that puppy out driving back and forth between Bozeman and...well, anywhere) I have loved her soulful sound.  Her Christmas album is one of my faves.  And you know I'm already planning Ben Jammin' 2008.

7. It's You - Pictures and Sound:  It's you I love and not the thought of you; you're the proof I use to measure what is true.  Simply sublime pop.

8. Stuck to You - Nikka Costa: a series of couplets about how she will complete her love.  My favorite?  "If you're a bride, I'll be your wedding; if you're the soul, I'll be your Otis Redding; If you're the verse, I'll be your song; if you're the King, I'll be your Kong."

9. Another Day - Jamie Lidell: completely impossible to stay in a blue mood with this song

10. How Am I to Be? - The Watson Twins: previously known for Rabbit Fur Coat, the record with Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley - Jeff created a Pandora station using these lovelies.  It's one of our favorites!

11. Pieces - The Bridges: I read about this family group - a brother, two sisters and a cousin - in Paste, and there they were on the next month's sampler.  Great harmonies, among other virtues...

12. The Show - Lenka: frothy and fun, loving this new voice

13. The New Love Song - Joshua James: this song cracks me up!  Great lyrics.

14. So What - Pink:  I dedicated this to a strong woman going through a messy divorce, transitioning from stay at home mom to single working mom.  A delightful kiss-off.

15. Violet Stars Happy Hunting! - Janelle Monae:  what Prince might be like if he was a girl. 

16. Black & Gold - Sam Sparro: Micah introduced me to this one day on YouTube - the video is rather trippy

17. Come Over Here - Sarah Bettens:  Heard this on one of the earlier seasons of L Word and again on a summer show called In Plain Sight - mesmerising! 

18. Gone - Matt Nathanson:  I really just need to hit the Complete my album button on this.

19. You Are Goodbye - Holly Conlan:  Things were pretty cheerful until this, but I really like her - funnily, I created this mix and then friend Amy invited me to join her in Portland for the Hotel Cafe tour, featuring Lenka and Holly Conlan, among other familiar faces.

20. Leave Me in the Dark - Keri Noble: heard her on Pandora, found her EP, couldn't possibly just get one song.

It's your Birthday...

Two of my favorite people in the world have birthdays in September, Jill and sister Katie, and I made this for them.

1. Mushaboom - Feist: that iPod commercial (1,2,3,4) opened up a whole new world for me

2. Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk - Rufus Wainwright:  a lovely, lilting melody detailing all the things he craves that are terribly bad for him.  Sounds familiar.

3. Temptation - Diana Krall: Torchy

4. In the Sun - Joseph Arthur: this was on one of the first Starbucks Hear Music mixes I ever bought (2000? Earlier?), and I've loved it ever since.  The rawness of his voice, the emotion, really move me.

5. Give a Little Love - Rilo Kiley: Jenny Lewis, et al, can do no wrong - they performed this on Austin City Limits and it made me love her even more.

6. Musicbox - Regina Specktor: a little piece of this song was featured on a whimsical JC Penney commercial last thanksgiving.

7. Moon Over Bourbon Street - Sting: having recently finished the Twighlight series (yes, fiction for young adults written by a mormon housewife - you try putting it down once you start) I had this ode to vampires in my head.

8. Long Ride Home - Patty Griffin: from the Elizabethtown soundtrack (unredeemable movie, outstanding soundtrack - c'mon Cameron, bring us something worthy of you) and what led me to her.

9. Morningside - Sarah Bareilles:  I can't wait to hear her sophomore album - I love nearly every cut from Little Voice and sing along with her lead, then replay so I can sing along with the backing track.  Genius.

10. Sara Smile - Joan Osborne: you know how I said above about loving Joan since the what if god was one of us era?  My very favorite songs are her covers - and Joan covering Hall and Oates?  How could I resist?

11. I Can See Clearly Now - Holly Cole Trio: this one was really for Katie, jazz chanteuse that she is.  I love how Ms. Cole plays with the tempo and phrasing in this familiar song.

12. Everyday - Erasure: Because I really can't make a mix without some reference to the 80's.  Just can't do it.

13. I'll Be Around - Tierney Sutton: This woman's rich and gorgeous voice spoke to me (sang, I guess) during a pedicure and I had to recall and search the lyrics to find it.  A 1958 hit for the Mills Brothers, apparently.

14. All This Love - Leigh Jones: Did I mention that I'm a sucker for a cover?  Especially a lovely blonde white woman who sounds like she could be front and center in a gospel choir?

15. Don't Let Me Fall - Lenka: The orchestration, at the intro, at the bridge - it's just wonderful.

16. Uninvited - Bostonian of Boston U: friends Tony and Megan found a fabulous compilation of college a cappella groups.  If only the Sirens of Swank or Schwa had been around when I was a student at Whitman.

17. Lovely Tonight - Joshua Radin: I alternate between loving and being annoyed by his breathy style.  This one I love.

18. Love is Love - Minnie Driver:  Yes, that Minnie Driver.  She's sweet and lovely and a little raspy and I enjoy her latest cd very much.