Listening While Driving #1

Listening While Driving

I listen to music while I drive to work. My commute is about 45 minutes and sometimes I put all of the songs on my iPhone on shuffle. Periodically I will try to blog about what I think of the songs I listen to if I have the chance. I skip at my own discretion!

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Wednesday, 2/18/15, 9:30 AM:

1. The Appleseed Cast “Blind Man’s Arrow” Low Level Owl: Volume I

I had The Appleseed Cast on my list of ‘music to check out’ for a year or so because I saw something about them on Pitchfork and I am a big fan of good post-rock, which is the impression I got of this band from its album reviews. This (along with Volume II) appeared to be their best-reviewed albums, so I went for this one first sometime last year. This is one of the songs I like better on the album; it has a direction and doesn’t just lie there. I wasn’t really blown away by anything I heard from The Appleseed Cast, but this song does the job. It has words, too.

2. Matisyahu “Interlude” Shake off the Dust… ARISE

One of four tracks named “Interlude” on Shake off the Dust. Normally I skip these, but I wanted some Torah as I drove to work. It wasn’t the most eye-opening (ear-opening?) thing I’ve ever heard, but it has a good message. I’m not sure which “Interlude” this was, but the speaker spoke about having to find yourself before you can really commit to prayer. I first saw Matisyahu live in 2005 at a yeshiva in Baltimore during a basketball tournament and that kind of blew my mind. We’ve hit a snag in our relationship over the years, but I still respect where he’s coming from and this album as a whole is impressive to me.

3. Bright Eyes “First Day of My Life” I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning

Just a sweet love song. I’m Wide Awake began the departure for Conor Oberst in his next phase as a singer/songwriter as his recordings started to stray away from being lo-fi and haphazard. Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, released the same day, is certainly a different sound, but with this release he moved past the adolescent phase of his career and started to see clearly. “This is the first day of my life / Swear I was born right in the doorway.” He has fallen hard for someone, quickly and deeply. There is so much weight in that lyric.

4. Kings of Leon “True Love Way” Because of the Times

My friend Matan turned me on to the KoL back in 2007 on the heels of their 3rd full-length, Because of the Times. I subsequently went back and listened to their first two albums, but this one was and still is – by far – their best. They’re not trying too hard and they excel at what they’re attempting; this is before they really went for arena stardom on Only by the Night and somewhat country on Mechanical Bull. KoL sounds invigorated here, with their (at least, once upon a time) trademark mumbled/sometimes nonsensical lyrics and erratic guitar playing combining for a fun few minutes of yearning for that female touch.

5. Druze Bluze “Chair Without Arms” Waiting to Hear Back

This is my song! Listening to it almost three years after I recorded it, I wish I could re-do it now because I would definitely make it sound better, but I think this is one of the best songs I’ve written. It was inspired by The National’s music, and the lyrics were about my pursuit (or lack thereof) of a job and going in and out of New York City during my first year out of college. “Chair Without Arms” was originally just a phrase that popped into my head, but it turned out to be an apt metaphor for how I was feeling at the time in terms of where I was headed.

https://druzebluze.bandcamp.com/track/chair-without-arms

6. The Album Leaf “The Outer Banks” In a Safe Place

I heard this song approximately 7.5 hours ago and I have heard it multiple times in the past, yet just by the title I cannot recall or differentiate it between the rest of their songs. I’m sure it was nice, though.

7. Phantogram “Black Out Days” Voices

I like this song a lot, though I have not been able to get into their full albums. The staccato “ey ey ey” that encapsulates the song is intoxicating, as is the melody that accompanies the song from the beginning to the last 15 seconds. I like the way this song ends, with just lead singer Sarah Barthel’s voice and the piano leading us out. It’s just a good song that makes you feel a little something.

8. Fastball “Warm Fuzzy Feeling” All the Pain Money Can Buy

Oh boy. Taken from the first album I ever got (that wasn’t a NOW CD, anyway…), this is a sub-two minute exercise taken from the middle of the album. Despite Fastball solely being known for two smash singles from this record back in 1998, this is a solid album front-to-back, even now. Maybe I’m biased because this was my first album, but it’s solid alternative rock/power pop. This particular song is also fun to sing along with, and being only two minutes long, it keeps your interest and doesn’t overstay its welcome.

9. Black Kids “I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You” Partie Traumatic

This song was the JAM back in college, circa 2008. Why would a group of musicians who weren’t all black call themselves Black Kids? Is that insensitive? I don’t know. But we never even heard from these guys (and girls) again, and this song was catchy as hell and actually made a guy who doesn’t like dancing kind of want to shuffle his feet a little bit. The lead singer has a weird voice, but the synths and guitar draw you in for the whole flight. “You are the girl that I’ve been dreaming of ever since I was a little GIRL?!” Did not see that lyric coming, especially from a guy. Weird and fun.

10. Ugly Casanova “Things I Don’t Remember” Sharpen Your Teeth

Ugly Casanova is the somewhat secretive offshoot of Modest Mouse ringleader Isaac Brock. In fact, I’m not sure who else from mm is also in Ugly Casanova off the top of my head, but whatever. This is a kinda fun song about… I’m not sure what. Brock simply recalls things he… can’t remember. Things that don’t make sense. This song doesn’t make sense. But it’s a good idea and it keeps things interesting for a few minutes. A fun track on a solid side project.

11. Real Estate “Out of Tune” Days

Real Estate has become one of my favorite bands since I first discovered them in the WRGW office back in 2011. This tune comes from their second LP, Days, which I think is their best so far. The production quality is much improved from their self-titled debut, and this song is one of the best of the bunch. Ah, of course they’re pretty much all the best of the bunch. Like a lot of other Real Estate songs, listening to this one makes you feel like you’re riding your bike in the park on a hot summer day and the sun is just ever so slightly in your eyes and making you squint. But I also like the lyrical component here: to me, lead singer Martin Courtney is lamenting how a lot of other musicians simply take and spit out what they’re fed, what’ll sell. Out of tune, indeed.