Sometimes I get the urge to share my taste in music with others, it’s uncontrollable and it usually happens when I happen onto a particularly excellent song on the iPod as I work away at my desk. The best moments are when the song gives me goosebumps, a rush of emotion, and a sense of the impossible awesomeness of the song. The drive to immediately tell someone about it, and let someone else either agree completely with me, or realize that yes, I am in fact a musical genius and yes my taste is impeccable and compelling.
Before you start on me, I know I’m not a genius, and I also know that for most, artists like Bob Dylan (heard House Carpenter today, had a religious experience, and then wrote this post) and John Prine aren’t going to appear on any “Five Star” iTunes playlists like they do for me. There’s just no arguing with that feeling, though, so sometimes I attack Nikki with this stuff. She’s very patient with me, and seems to even enjoy some of the stuff I make her listen to. Sometimes it’s too much even for her though, like if I push a particularly twangy or bluegrassy Steve Earle song.
Even though I have been listening to that same stuff for literally more than a decade now, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen with newer stuff. For instance I recently have become addicted to Weezer (the post title is a nod to a Weezer song) like it is crack. You just can’t find better crafted, hookier pop rock these days. It’s clever and sometimes funny, it’s not all the same, and it will grab you by the ears and make you listen over and over. On the less rocky side of things, there’s Moonlight Graham (the guy from Barstool Prophets) which is excellent, thoughtful and his voice is a pleasure to listen to. Then all the way to gravel road, whisky bottle, dusty pickup folk-country is Fred Eaglesmith (thanks Shawn), who writes and sings as raw as it gets.
I could go on, but there’s only so much music you can really process to this extent. I mean sure I listen to the radio, but most of those songs come and go without really staying with you. Quality is hard to come by it seems.
Are there any songs like that for you, or is it just me?
nikki says:
Bron-y-aur Stomp. Don’t know but when that gets goin’ in the van, the whole family starts rockin’ out. I love it!!!!
June 8, 2009, 12:11 pmCourt says:
Good one! Another is Cherry Cherry by Neil Diamond..
June 8, 2009, 1:31 pmnikki says:
The kids eat up Nth Degree by Morningwood. I’d rather shove bamboo shoots up my fingernails with that song at this point but….that’s THEIR thing I guess.
June 8, 2009, 2:26 pmCindy says:
You’re going to laugh, but “All of Me” by Willie Nelson…..takes me back to care-free summer evenings after a full day on the beach with the sun setting over the lake and something yummy cooking on the BBQ.
June 10, 2009, 6:56 pmCourt says:
Nice one Cindy, that’s a great song. I like this idea, this may have to become a regular thing on the blog.
June 11, 2009, 7:28 am