Diario

I started making new mixes again and it's kind of funny to look back on my last playlist over two years ago and see that I listen to a lot of the same things. Anyway, here's one from this past November:

1. Get Your Head Around It - Headlights
2. 1901 - Phoenix
3. Helicopters - The Stills
4. Electro-Socket Blues - Rogue Wave
5. Swimmers - Broken Social Scene
6. Lucky Ones - Kevin Drew
7. You Only Live Once - The Strokes
8. Hallelujah - The Helio Sequence
9. Elouise - Say Hi
10. No One's Better Sake - Little Joy
11. For Emma - Bon Iver
12. Middle Management - Bishop Allen
13. Like Or Like Like - Miniature Tigers
14. Hand of God - Kevin Devine
15. Turn on Me - The Shins
16. Kingdom of Rust - Doves
17. Wake Up - Arcade Fire
18. Detlef Shrempf - Band of Horses


This playlist was mostly thrown together in a hurry but it turned out well. A good people pleaser list at least.Headlights

These were my favorite artists, albums and tracks in 2009, calculated solely on playcount basis. May this be a snapshot in time of my ever changing taste of music.

Top Artists
1. Metallica (playcount: 532) http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/252/16036851.jpg Metallica are an American metal band formed in 1981 in Los Angeles when drummer Lars Ulrich posted an advertisement in The Recycler. Metallica’s line-up originally consisted of Ulrich, rhythm guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield, and lead guitarist Dave Mustaine. Mustaine was later fired due to problems with alcoholism and drug addiction - he went on to form the band Megadeth. Exodus guitarist Kirk Hammett took his place. Metallica has been through several bassists, including Ron McGovney, Cliff Burton (who died in a bus crash while the band was on tour), and Jason Newsted.
metal, thrash metal, heavy metal, hard rock, rock
2. Wolfmother (playcount: 519) http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/252/33889367. …

So the 00's wasn't generally a great decade for music. Yes, the music industry complains about the lack of CD sales, but honestly, that is due to the fugacious nature of music the past several years. The most popular tracks have more often than not, been about the immediate sales of singles. With iTunes coming to fruition in this decade, it saw the rise of those with little pocket money (and sometimes little music taste either) deciding what the 'top tracks' are. However, with the internet becoming a big source for more independent new music, this saw the rise of several great bands. Call this the 2000's, or the Naught'ies, or whatever you will, but hidden amongst most of the rubbish out there were some brilliant music groups that came into existence, and established themselves well in the past 10 years. Some of the following bands had EP's out previously, but this list is from album releases beginning in 2000. You may agree, or disagree, though more often than not I tend to disagree with most countdowns. …

For everyone out there suffering from a broken heart, let the collective knowledge of these artists and their lyrics soothe you (or not), maybe this list will help more than just my good friend. Because good songs express the most universal of emotions.

Pain:
ABBA - SOS
Aerosmith - Cryin'
Alicia Keys - If I Ain't Got You
Badfinger - Without You
The Beatles - Oh! Darling
Bee Gees - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart
Bon Jovi - You Give Love a Bad Name
The Bravery - Split Me Wide Open
The Caesars - My Heart Is Breaking Down
Cat Stevens - The First Cut Is The Deepest
Coldplay - Warning Sign
Dusty Springfield - You Don't Have To Say You Love Me
Elvis - Heartbreak Hotel
Garbage - Cup of Coffee
The Guess Who - These Eyes
Guns N' Roses - Since I Don't Have You
Haddaway - What Is Love?
Janis Joplin - Piece Of My Heart
Jeff Buckley - Lover, You Should've Come Over
The Left Banke - Walk Away Renee
Lit - Miserable
The Magnetic Fields - Epitaph For My Heart
…

1. How did you get into 29?

Well, that would start with Pavement. I bought Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (far too late, may I add), then started to love everything Pavement, and Stephen Malkmus. When I discovered he had a solo career, I had to hear it. And here I am.

2. What was the first song you ever heard by 22?

By The Strokes? Probably Last Nite, from Is This It?

3. How many albums by 13 do you own?

I own three Coldplay albums, A Rush of Blood to the Head, X&Y, and Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

4. What is your favorite song by 15?

Oh man, tough one. Favourite Wilco song? It would have to be I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, or maybe Jesus Etc?

5. What is your favorite song by 5?

My fave blink-182 song, you want to know my favourite song by my favourite childhood band?? Okay, lets go with Josie.

6. Is there a song by 6 that makes you happy?

Hahaha, so many Sufjan Stevens songs make me happy. Decatur would have to take the prize, though.
…

In that vein, I'm looking for some summer music! Sometimes I think too much of what I listen to is slightly dreary :P So while it's great to kick back and zone out to a few songs by The Shins, maybe in the spirit of the beastly hot weather, I should start listening to something a little more seasonally appropriate and a little less seasonal affective disorder. Suggestions?

Also... I've been getting in to a lot of new music! Well, I guess that's always true - last.fm has really helped with my whole expansion-of-musical-knowledge efforts - but it's been particularly true now that:
a) It's summer, and I'm mildly in control of my schedule and
b) I actually have an internet connection fast enough to download music... YAY!

Okay. So, Alanis Morissette has a new album coming out on June 10! That's Tuesday! Of course, I already pre-ordered it on iTunes... wow, new Alanis? I remember hearing Jagged Little Pill for the first time and how AMAZING it was... …