Random Acts of Journalism

As i hinted last week, this will be the last Monday Morning Shuffle. It’s been a good run — tomorrow marks the anniversary of the very first MMS ever – it has been a lot of fun, we’ve had some good talks, heard some good music and shared some good stories that connected with that music. But recently, it’s become kind of a chore and has stopped seeming so original, at least to me. The algorithms in iTunes do a really shitty job of actually shuffling the songs, so we get a lot of repeats and blah, blah, blah, you don’t care my reasons. Anyway, it’s over. May it rest in peace.

In it’s place, i’m going to emphasize something i said in the above paragraph, that being the part about ”…shared some good stories…” I think this is one of the most important things about music, how it is so interconnected and intertwined with moments in our lives, etc. So i’m introducing “Soundtrack Stories” which, as it sounds, will be a discussion of how music is the soundtrack of our lives. I’m going to pick a song, album or band that reminds me of a particular setting or moment and i’m going to focus on the song and my memories that associate with it and basically write a part review and a part personal narrative. This should be an interesting writing exercise for me as i don’t usually write about myself (but have been more often of late) and it will probably divulge some pretty personal thoughts that i’ve decided to not be so hesitant to share. Hopefully it turns out to be a good read. We will see.

 Also, for all you Radiohead fans, the internet is all twitterpated with the way they’re releasing their new album…read about it here.

 On with the shuffle (for the last time):

1. Romulus – Sufjan Stevens, off of Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State
Sufjan Stevens is planning to write one album about each state in America…Michigan came out in 2003 and Illinois came out in 2005. Stevens is 32. So at an average rate of 1 album every 2 years and with 48 more states to go, he’ll roughly be 129 years old when he wraps this project up. Good luck Sufjan.

2. I don’t Know Much, But i Know i Love You – The Neville Brothers
My freshman roommate at CU – Boulder loved this song so much so that it became our song. Yup, it was a terrific joke that you absolutely had to be there for but yeah, you can imagine what it would be like to walk into our dorm room, full of mountain bikes and snowboards and posters of half naked ladies on the walls and hear this song playing. We could have made a living off of irony…

3. Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart – Johnny Cash, off of Live from Folsom Prison
This is a terrific song and just exactly what you’d expect from a Johnny Cash concert at a prison. It’s hilarious. Just listen to it. My favorite: “At the elevator of your future, i’ve been shafted.”

4. Nothingman – Pearl Jam
This is one of my favorite Pearl Jam songs of all time and i’m glad it decided to pop up here today. The lyrics are pretty basic and almost obvious at some points (Once divided, nothing left to subtract…or, You could have been something, nothingman.), but they’re only obvious because they make so much sense you’re probably pissed at yourself for not thinking of them. Sometimes, beauty lies in simplicity…

5. I’m going to hand select this one because it’s the last song(s) we’ll be shuffling, a Top 5 list of the best “Goodbye” songs.

5. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover – Paul Simon
4. So Hard to Say Goodbye – Boyz II Men
3. Say Goodbye – Dave Mathews Band
2. Goodbye Sky Harbor – Jimmy Eat World
1. Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You – Led Zeppelin

Alright, that’ll do it. I hope you guys have enjoyed reading the last year as much as i’ve enjoyed writing it. Stay tuned for the next big thing.