It's Something Unknown That Drives You And Carries You Home

There was a time when you couldn't just look things up on the internet to get an answer. You had to work for those answers. Somethings, you never found out. Others, you stumbled on. But generally if you really wanted to find something out, you had to do some work to get the answer.

There was also a time when I really loved Guns N' Roses (don't worry, this all ties together). They were my everything. I bought the albums, t-shirts, posters...all of it. I also bought their double VHS release of their Use Your Illusion tour shows in Japan. 3 hours of early 90s rock excess. They were great.

In the middle of the show, before a certain song that I don't remember, Axl sang a bit of a song by another artist and it always stuck with me:

sail away sweet sister
sail across the sea
maybe you'll find somebody 
that loves you half as much as me
my heart is always with you
no matter what you do 
so sail away sweet sister
i'll always be in love with you

I don't know. I just liked it. And it was a nice, sweet, quiet Axl moment. And I liked Axl.

I knew it wasn't from a Guns N' Roses song and I didn't recognize it from anywhere else. He didn't say where it was from and it wasn't credited anywhere on the packaging.

But I knew it had to come from somewhere. But I had no way of knowing where.

I could do what one did back then: call radio stations or walk up to record store employees and sing the lyrics and hope they recognize it and tell me what it is.

But who's going to actually do that?

So I just went through life not knowing, but always keeping my ear out.

And then a few weeks ago I was listening to the radio and there it was. Those words. Out of the blue. Over 20 years later.

It's Queen.



I'm also a huge fan of Queen and have been since my Guns N' Roses days. I could probably credit being introduced to them via Axl Rose and his love for them - and also Wayne's World. But I don't have their entire discography. If only I would have picked up all of their albums years before...

...but that wasn't the first or the last time that had happened.

Keeping with the Queen theme, after Freddie Mercury died, a big benefit concert happened that EVERYONE played at - Guns N' Roses included. Their performance is still one of my favorite videos:



But anyway...

Robert Plant came out to sing some Led Zepplin songs. I was pretty young and hadn't fully been introduced to Led Zepplin at this time, except for the songs I'd hear on the classic rock station KQ92. But Robert Plant performed a song that I sure thought was pretty:

if the sun refused to shine
i would still be loving you
when mountains crumble to the sea
there will still be you and me

I now know this song as "Thank You". BUT, there was a typo or exclusion on the back of the VHS copy of this concert that was released (that I of course purchased). It said it was "Kashmir" - which is an entirely very different song on an entirely different album.

"Kashmir"


"Thank You"


So I went to the record store (because back then you couldn't preview the album ahead of time) and bought the album Physical Graffiti because "Kashmir" was on it. Oh, and I bought it on cassette.

I rushed home and placed the cassette in the tape player, so excited to hear the pretty song. I started to fast forward the tape as "Kashmir" was towards the end and at that moment, it was all I wanted to hear. I fast forwarded, rewound, let it play a bit...but nothing. The song that I knew as "Kashmir" was nowhere to be found. I was so confused. And disappointed.

Every once in a while I would try to find it on the tape again, but - obviously - I never could. Physical Graffiti just ended up collecting dust at the bottom of my tape collection.

Sorry, Physical Graffiti.

I don't even know when I discovered it was the wrong song. Obviously I did eventually. But oh the time wasted hitting fast forward and rewind on repeat trying to find that little song.

But the first song that left me searching for years was "Run for the Roses" by Dan Fogelberg.





When I was 7, 8, 9 years old,  I used to listen to the radio at night to fall asleep. My station of choice for this was Lite FM WLTE. WLTE consisted of mostly big ballads and soft rock. There was a lot of Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Gloria Estefan...that sort of thing.

And there was Dan Fogelberg and "Run for the Roses" (and his song "Leader of the Band" which is also awesome but not the subject right now).

"Run for the Roses" is a song about horses and the Kentucky Derby. As a young girl who loved horses, it was the Best. Song. Ever. But I was very young and never payed attention to the DJ breaks when they would announce what they just played - and I only ever caught the song by chance, usually while lying in bed trying to fall asleep. But I loved it so and I would get so happy when it would come on.

It wasn't until years later when I was in my teens and I started buying albums on my own that I thought to look for this song. It became an obsession.  I had guessed the song was called "Run for the Roses" or something along those lines and I knew it was a soft rock 70s or 80s male singer/songwriter. So I would spend time reading the tracklistings on the backs of records by the likes of John Denver, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Kriss Kristofferson...anyone that came to mind.

Dan Fogelberg never came to mind.

And then, one day, I had stayed over at a friend's house. I took a shower the next morning. In the bathroom they had a stereo. Her mom liked to listen to music while she took baths. Next to the stereo was a CD. A Dan Fogelberg's Greatest Hits CD. I picked it up just out of random curiosity and flipped the case over to see if I recognized anything by this guy.

And there it was..."Run for the Roses".

I nearly screamed with excitement. All that time searching and there it was.

The funny thing is, after all the time, it was still a while before I picked up the song. I was just so relieved to finally know what it was. It wasn't until my later teens when I started picking up vinyl that I grabbed this greatest hits collection on vinyl and discovered the 70s/80s soft rock awesomeness that is Dan Fogelberg. I was also thrilled to learn he also sang "Leader of the Band". And then, of course, once iTunes came around, it was an early download for me.

Just look at his awesomeness.

Needless to say, I am thankful for the internet and it's easy access to information. I will never be lost wondering what song I just heard. A quick lyric search of one or two lines gets me the info I need. But I do miss some of those discussions we all used to have - trying to remember the theme songs to TV shows - that sort of thing. Now it's all just a click away.

I'm going to stop now before I sound too old.

My Favorite Music Of 2014

This has been an interesting year for music for me. I bought A LOT of albums this year and it made narrowing it down to 10 albums quite difficult. As always, there were the obvious favorites, the albums that never left my side all year long (or at least from the time they were released). Then there were the ones that came out later in the year and so have not had the chance to fully engross themselves into my life. There were also plenty of surprises and some disappointments along the way.

So with that, here are my favorite albums from 2014:

1. Alpha Consumer: Meat
80% Devo and 20% Ryan Adams alt-country stylings, Meat mixes some amazing weirdness with the right amount of heart and a major dose of musicianship that makes this album one of the most fun albums that, really, I've ever heard. From the first notes of "Miss Positron", I was hooked. The head starts bopping and the fingers and feet start tapping. The album slides from fuzzed out guitar rock ("Brain Doctor"), to 80s New Wave danceable numbers ("The Eat"), to oddly sweet country ballads ("You Ain't Alone") with out ever feeling like a song doesn't belong.

Top Three Tracks: "Miss Positron", "You Ain't Alone", "Cry Bullets"

2. Haley Bonar: Last War
Haley is back again with another brilliant album of exceptionally crafted songs. I still stand by it: I don't think it's possible for her to write a bad song. Last War sonically has a bit more grit to it than previous albums with songs like "No Sensitive Man", "Woke Up in My Future", and the title track barreling through with electric guitars and spitting vocals. But her softer side still comes through on "From a Cage" (which features Bon Iver's Justin Vernon on backing vocals) and the hauntingly beautiful album closer "Eat for Free". A stunning album and a perfect next step in her discography.

Top Three Tracks: "Eat for Free", "Last War", "From a Cage"

3. Sylvan Esso: Sylvan Esso
It was their live show that did it for me. I heard the song "Coffee" and liked it enough to pick up the album. Every time my iPod would shuffle onto a song from the album, it would catch my ears and I'd find myself paying more and more attention. But their live show was outstanding and made me completely fall in love with them. That's quite an accomplishment for a band that consists of a singer and a guy hunched over a computer and mixing board. The beats are great and Amelia Meath's vocals and lyrics are perfectly charming.

Top Three Tracks: "H.S.K.T", "Dress", "Play It Right"

4. S: Cool Choices
This album is probably the biggest surprise of the bunch to make the list because I had never hard of this artist until a couple of weeks ago. I was in the car listening to Radio K and her song "Brunch" was playing and I instantly fell in love with it, got home, looked her up online, gave the the samples from the rest of the album a listen, downloaded it, and immediately went to all of her social media things and liked them all. It's a mix of cool guitar driven tracks and simply beautiful piano ballads led by biting and humorous and painfully honest lyrics that take me back to the early days of Juliana Hatfield. Really excited about this artist and I'm eager to pick up her earlier albums once I've fully given Cool Choices the attention it deserves.

Top Three Tracks: "Losers", "Brunch","Remember Love"

5. Ani Difranco: Allergic To Water
Ani has a new album out, so Ani makes the list. I don't mean for that to sound like the album doesn't deserve it on its own, because it does. It's just that I always love an Ani Difranco album so it's no surprise it made it. Allergic To Water might be the most cohesive album of Ani's in years. She completely took the reigns again on this one and she really needs to do that more often. Her guitar is back out front. The album has a flow and feel to it that has been lacking on her last couple of albums. She said she mixed this album through headphones while her newborn baby slept and you can tell as the album has a quietness to it, even on the more rocking tracks like "Dithering" and "Genie", as if she's decided to whisper you her thoughts this time. The lyrics are grown-up Ani. She's married, settled down, with kids and that's what she reflects on these days. But she does it in that Ani way like on the truthfully funny "Harder Than It Needs to Be".  It just feels like she knew exactly what she wanted out of this album and that's what she got - and it works.

Top Three Tracks: "Allergic to Water", "Harder Than It Needs to Be", "Dithering"

6. Sharon Van Etten: Are We There?
A much more subdued, yet way more raw album than her previous release Tramp, Are We There? is filled with beautiful piano ballads that showcase Sharon's gorgeous vocals. It's a break-up album that feels like it was created right at the breaking point. There's less looking back and reflection and more calling out and realization. I mean, with songs called "Your Love Is Killing Me", "I Love You But I'm Lost", and "Nothing Will Change", it's an album where hope has pretty much sailed. But even with all of that, it never feels like its wallowing. The songs are powerful. They have a statement to make.

Top Three Tracks: "Every Time the Sun Comes Up", "Afraid of Nothing", "Tarifa"

7. Leonard Cohen: Popular Problems 
At 80 years old, Leonard Cohen is still kickin' it and kickin' it well. He's truly a poet so age was never going to get in his way. He's not making rock songs that require him to strut around on stage in leather pants. He writes sonnets. After all this time, he still finds intriguing ways to look at things. Of course, maybe that great insight comes with age. His wonderful back up singers are still there and possibly a little more up front to smooth out Leonard's elder grumble. Their harmonies and his words are laid out over simple grooves. It's a very chill record.

Top Three Tracks: "Did I Ever Love You?", "Almost Like the Blues", "You Got Me Singing"

8. Southside Desire: Southside Desire
Soulful, groovy, smart, fun. Southside Desire has always gone beyond their excellent rhythms and amazing harmonies. Lead singer Marvel writes some of the best lyrics. There is a lot to really listen to on this album...and you can do it all while dancing and singing along to those awesome vocal arrangements.

Top Three Tracks: "Missing", "Make or Break", "Double Dutch/Recognize"

9. J Mascis: Tied To A Star
Another surprise entry on this list. I've never been much of a Dinosaur, Jr. fan - I liked the one song they had as a hit in the 90s ("Feel the Pain"), but that was about it. I certainly never explored his early works. But I scored some tickets to his show at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts back in October and he completely won me over. I picked up this album AND a show poster at the show. I think his voice just really suits these laid back, mostly acoustic numbers. He has an interesting voice and it stands out so much more. The guitar work is great (which is something he's known for anyway). It's just a very charming, quiet little album.

Top Three Tracks: "Every Morning", "And Then", "Come Down"

10. Mimicking Birds: Eons
Mimicking Birds came back this year with another album full of interstellar, evolution via alien origins, sci-fi, introspective thought provoking songs - and if those themes don't interest you, then you will still most likely enjoy the intricate guitar, subtle harmonines and just total chill out vibe. Light the candles, grab a glass of wine, and just...listen.

Top Three Tracks: "Bloodlines", "Owl Hoots", "Wormholes"



Honorable Mentions:
I really try to keep my favorite list to just 10 albums, so these are the ones that just missed the cut (in no particular order):

Jenny Lewis: The Voyager (Really wanted to love this album, but I just don't. But I LOVE the songs "Head Underwater" and "The Voyager". Like LOVE LOVE LOVE them. But that does not a favorite album make.)
Wye Oak: Shriek
The Eels: The Cautionary Tales of Mark Oliver Everett
We Are The Willows: Picture (Portrait)
Graveyard Club: Nightingale
Sun Gods to Gamma Rays: A Ghost to Find
Erica Russo and The Good Sport: Split EP
Taylor Swift: 1989

Additional Mentions:
These are albums that I felt like I'd have to put a disclaimer by if I included them in the Top 10, so I'm just going to put them here - though they could have easily made the Top 10.

Beyonce: Beyonce
Disclaimer Reason: Technically this album came out mid-December of last year, but it was a surprise release so I (and everyone else) had already put out their best of 2013 lists. It wasn't fair. Because this album has not left my iPod since it was released and would definitely be my #1 album of 2014 - if it was actually released this year.

Anais Mitchell: Xoa
Disclaimer Reason: This is kind of a compilation album. Anais re-recorded a bunch of previously released songs and then mixed in some new/unreleased tracks. It's a beautiful record and these solo, raw takes on some of these older songs are definitely preferred over the originals.

Rank Strangers: I Am Thinking About You
Disclaimer Reason: Not an actual release - but a teaser release of the trilogy of albums they are releasing next year. This album has 3 songs from each of the 3 albums - just enough to leave us wanting more.

She and Him: Classics
Disclaimer Reason: It's a cover song album and it seems weird for it to be a part of the best of list for that reason. But they are delightful covers and it's a great album for this time of year.








Favorite Songs:
Here's some songs that I loved that are not off of one of the Top 10 albums.

Jenny Lewis: "Head Underwater"


Lizzo and Caroline Smith: "Let 'Em Say:


Taylor Swift: "Shake It Off"


Future Islands: "Seasons (Waiting on You)"


Beyonce: "***Flawless"


Wye Oak: "Before"



We Are The Willows: "Dear Ms. Branstner"


Erica Russo and The Good Sport: "Roller Coaster"

Recording Days 9 And 10....And Other Things

The vocals are done, man.

Last week, Colleen and Laura finished their beautiful backing vocals and last night I finished mine.

Listening back to the rough mixes and I'm just so incredibly happy with them. Things are sounding really good. I cannot wait for this album to come out.

I put together this little video with a snippet of a new song...



I think, if all goes according to plan, we have just one more day of recording left. Just all those bells and whistles I've been talking about.

Deep breaths...

In other updates, I sang at a Uke Fest last weekend. Uke Fest is a festival started by musician Katy Vernon. All proceeds go to The Arc Greater Twin Cities. It was super fun. Only ukulele players allowed. So I got my uke out - after way too long of not bringing it out - and played a couple of songs: "Blue Whale" and  "Walking" (which I had never played live before). Then Katy and I led a sing along of Taylor Swift's new song "Shake It Off"...on our ukes. I love that song. Have you heard it? (Beware the earworm)



Katy also had these super cute ukulele necklaces made so I had to get one:

I guess other than that, not much else has been happening. Just trying to get the album finished. Going to see Ani Difranco tomorrow, so expect a write up about that. Oh, and prepping for our next show. Full band. We'll be in St. Paul next Thursday, October 23rd. See you there?

Three Things Full Of Happy

I can't believe I haven't written about the Sylvan Esso show last Wednesday...because it was phenomenal.

I was wary of going to this show because - although I enjoy this kind of music - I despise paying money for shows just to watch someone play on a laptop. I just feel like it's not that hard to get a band to recreate the sounds.

But these two put on a hell of a show. The laptop was there along with a mixing board, but Nick Sanborn played those things like he was behind a guitar or a drumkit. There was a ton of passion there. And dancing.

Amelia Meath is a wonderful front woman with a killer voice. I first noticed her when as a part of the group Mountain Man. They sang backup for Feist on the tour I saw and she completely stood out - nearly stole the show with her enthusiasm. She's darling and I think it's great that she's getting this success with her own stuff.

They got First Avenue dancing. That just doesn't happen. Minnesotans don't do that at concerts, but the place was jumping. It was a fantastic show.

This is their video for their single "Play It Right":



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I had been craving margaritas. That's a weird thing to say. But really I think I was just craving sitting outside on a beautiful summer day with friends and having some fun drinks. So I arranged a get together at a place in town that serves margaritas and a bunch of us had fun drinks on the patio on what was probably the most perfectly gorgeous weather day of the summer. Then we all headed back to my place and had a fun just hanging out together. I have nothing more to add to that (or pictures to share) but it was just a really great day.

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Then on Sunday it was Dog Day at the MIA (Minneapolis Institute of Arts). They open the doors to dogs and their humans and host activities for dogs in the courtyard. They can contribute to a mural and make their own art. They have photo booths and a caricature artist. Placed around the lot are water bowls. It's really fun and dogs are everywhere and the cuteness is overwhelming. It was also another gorgeous weather day. We took Robbie last year and it was muggy and cool, but this year it was gorgeous and the place was packed with dogs and people. It was super fun. And Robbie made more art. He's so talented.

Up Up Up And Down

It's been one week since Birthday Week ended and I wanted to document the highlights.

I wish I would have written this post last Saturday morning as originally planned when the glee from a most excellent Birthday Week was still there shimmering. But then Saturday night happened and everything went to hell very quickly and I'm still trying to shake that off. It was getting better.

But then I ran over a squirrel on my way home today.

I cannot describe the awfulness of that event. Animal rights advocate vegetarian here. I tried to stop. But he came out of nowhere. He was trying so hard to get across the street. I was in the midst of a turn. If I stopped, I would have been rear ended and possibly hit from the side. I had hoped he had gotten through.

But he didn't.

It was awful.

A lot of people would just say "oh, it's just a squirrel".

But I am not one of those people. The squirrels in my yard are fed by us. When Murray died, those squirrels became our surrogate pets. I love watching them play. They brighten my day.

I feel terrible.

I want to puke.

I am afraid to look at my tires. I am afraid to drive in that intersection. I don't want to see what I did.

Ups and downs. Highs and lows. The constant rollercoaster.

I had written about some of the Birthday Week happenings already. My show at The Nomad in which my sister Jackie completely shocked me by showing up. She moved to Montana two years ago and I hadn't seen her since then.

There was my recording session. Vocals night #2. The record is coming along.

There was the most amazing nap I've ever had. Curled up with my dog. He's such a good boy.

My mother-in-law made a most delicious chocolate birthday cake that I spent the whole week enjoying.

Matt and I partook in late night frozen pizzas twice and a 3am viewing of The Big Lebowski. Because he gets to enjoy some of the perks of Birthday Week, too.

Both Ani Difranco and Leonard Cohen released new songs from their upcoming albums due out October 14th and September 23rd, respectively.




And I went to the Minnesota State Fair. Twice. And it was awesome.

So, you take the good, you take the bad, right? Thus is life.

I'm not going to get into what happened on Saturday. Because, as with everything, it will pass.

I donated $50 to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota. It was a suggestion from Matt to try to make myself feel better about the accident that happened. And it did help. Hopefully some other little squirrel somewhere will get the help it needs.

My Thoughts On Aerosmith's "Cryin'" Video

Just had an urge to watch the video for Aerosmith's "Cryin'", the first video in the Alicia Silverstone starring trilogy from their Get a Grip album. I was 13,14 when these videos came out. Grunge and flannel were everything. Alicia was iconic in these videos. That's not hyperbole. She was The It Girl. I remember having a shirt just like the one at the end of the video when she jumps off the bridge and my jeans and boots and I called it my Alicia Silverstone outfit. She was the coolest. (I also had a shirt I called Eddie (Vedder) and another one called Ethan (Hawke).)

But I was barely a teenager and it's weird to watch things you thought were awesome as a teenager as an adult. I would still wear the bridge jumping outfit, though.

Really, the character in the video is a fucking psycho.

She catches her boyfriend cheating on her in a movie theater. 

Actually, back up. It starts with her and her boyfriend - played by early 90s douchebag, Stephen Dorff - making out and they have matching tattoos. Not sure how old they are supposed to be in this video. Guessing 18 or 19 and they got matching half heart tattoos so that when he cups her boob, the heart becomes one. Classy. (And this is coming from the girl who thought getting a tribal tattoo was a good idea.)

Then she catches him making out with another chick at the theater.

So she picks him up and drives him to a remote location and acts like he's gonna get some, but instead pulls away, punches him, kicks him out of the car and leaves him in a trail of dust. And he just stares at her with a "wow...what a woman" look on his face.

Her next decision is to run off and get the heart tattoo covered up. Okay, I can see wanting to do that. But she gets this smallish heart tattoo covered by inking some giant woman on a horse or dinosaur or something monstrosity in its place. She is so going to regret that in 10 years.

Next step in the "tryin' to forget you" parade, a belly button ring. 

I know it sounds like I'm making fun, but I'm not. Everything in this video is so 1993, it's a fucking time capsule. Yes, to Gap flannels and belly button rings and stick straight hair parted down the middle and bad tattoos in bad places and big combat boots and Stephen Dorff. Yes to Aerosmith making one last grasp for relevancy with their own music and kicking ass at it. This album was HUGE. And it was all thanks to Alicia Silverstone and this crazy girl she played in three of their videos. They came back again huge with the Dianne Warren penned "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" for the Armageddon soundtrack. But now they host games shows and hide out on yachts. 

And, yes to music videos still being a really big deal. Sure, YouTube has brought them back, but they are no longer the mini-movie event watching things they use to be. Bands put out videos like this and they had hit albums. MTV still mattered.

But back to that video...

She's got her tattoo replaced and her belly button ring. She and Stephen Dorff meet up again for one last romp. She takes off and ends up on the side of a mountain road in her classic convertible (because of course) which has just broke down. Ugh. The worst. What to do? How about pull out the jean shorts you keep in the trunk of your car for such an occasion, take off the perfectly nice dress you were wearing and start walking. What else could you do? There were no cell phones.

She ends up at a cafe drinking her coffee. Black. Because that's how we liked it in 1993. She looks over. A handsome man gives her a smile and holy shit that handsome man is Sawyer from Lost! For reals! Craziness. But, just like Sawyer, he's just a thief and steals her backpack (talk about being typecast from the beginning). But she is a badass and chases him down, high kicks him in the head, and gets her backpack pack. (Also, yes, us girls in 1993 carried backpacks not purses. The only thing that would have made this better is if it was a tiny black baby backpack.)

Now she's all fired up and comes up with her ultimate revenge plan against Stephen Dorff because she still can't let it go. Because she is crazy. She calls him to a highway overpass. He finds her standing on the ledge. THE GIRL PRETENDS SHE'S GOING TO KILL HERSELF. WTF, Alicia. That is some psycho stuff. He reaches over. He tries to talk her down. But she jumps. Over a busy highway with tons of cars that are probably like HOLY SHIT SOME GIRL JUST JUMPED OFF THE BRIDGE! I imagine many tires squealing. Probably a ton of accidents. But, oh look! She's got a bungy cord so she's safe. And she gives him the finger. And everyone is like, wow. She is so fucking cool. I know I thought that. Even Stephen Dorff thought that. He's back to his "wow...what a woman" face. And you know what? She probably totally got him back.

I might have to go watch Bon Jovi's video for "Always" next. That video was my everything back then. (And the best part is that I went to go grab the embed for "Cryin" and "Always" is in the related content list. Because of course it is.)

The Good Stuff

I'm trying not to dwell on how my somewhat half-assed, stay-at-home vacation is almost over. Sure I still have the weekend, but that doesn't count. Because I always have the weekend. It's the not working on the work days that count. And that's almost over.

BIG SIGH.

But life has not been all bummer lately, I guess.

1. I got to go the full electric route with the band and that was so much fun.
2. I made a music video. I don't think I've talked about that here yet.


3. I did manage to write one new song during my time off. It's not the happiest of tunes by a long shot, but I did create something.


4. I took my dog to the lake on a gorgeous Wednesday in the middle of the day and then he posed for this adorable selfie with me.

5. I have officially become obsessed with PJ Harvey. She's always been a favorite. But lately, it goes beyond all the others.


6. I now like The National's most recent album, Trouble Will Find Me. I put it on when I was in a very very down mood and every single lyric hit me.
7. I picked up Series 3 of Sherlock and it is so much better the second time around. Initially I was sort of disappointed by this season, but now I love it. Highly entertaining.

8. Community has been amazing this season. Absolutely back to its fantastic form.
9. I watched seasons 1 and 2 of New Girl on Netflix and am obsessed and waiting and waiting for season 3 to be over and put up on Netflix. It's a very comforting show. I miss them.

10. My friends in the band Grickle-grass reunited for two nights only. They were an awesome band and it was so much fun to hear their songs live again after TEN YEARS! It was a bit of a high school reunion situation. Lots of faces I hadn't seen in a long time. So much fun.

Thoughts On Ani Difranco's Righteous Retreat

When I first heard about Ani Difranco's Righteous Retreat - a 4 day intimate gathering of musicians and poets to discuss writing and inspiration hosted by Ani herself along with her friends and comrades Toshi Reagon, Hammel on Trial, and Buddy Wakefield - I was all OMG this is the most amazing thing ever how much is it and where do I sign up????

I never got any further than that because the price for a single room was $2700, but you could get a place to sleep for the starting price of $1100. Add in a plane ticket and you're looking at - at least - a $1600 trip. Money I just don't have and I really don't think many Ani fans - or at least the very starving artist just getting started person that this event would most benefit. True, the price includes a place to sleep and 3 meals and small workshops with and a performance by Ani herself, but still, the price just didn't sit right. The whole thing just seemed so not Ani. She's not someone who really likes to hang out with her fans beyond the one-sided concert conversations she might have during a show. In fact, she seems to do her best to avoid any interaction with anyone who might ask for a picture or an autograph or just someone who wants to tell her what her music means to them. And I don't hold that against her. It's gotta be weird to be asked for those things by someone freaking out over you just being you. So, yeah, this event just seemed weird.

That was before I ever even took into consideration where it was going to be held.

I will openly admit seeing the word 'plantation' in the location title didn't even phase me at first. I'm a white girl from Minnesota who doesn't deal in plantations and all they stand for that often. I didn't even put two and two together that Plantation + Louisiana = not a great place for this kind of thing to go down. It wasn't until I started to read the comments on her Facebook page and the event page filled with people disgusted by the location itself. So then I looked into it and then it hit me:

Ani, what the fuck is wrong with you???

Nottaway Plantation House is listed as a "stunning historic plantation" that has been "restored...to her days of glory". What? Gross. The thought that she thought this would be a good place for her fans to hang out for a few days just floors me. That she didn't think that it might make people uncomfortable for people to relax and "sun tan" (as her invite suggested we do) and then adding in the price of the "all-inclusive" trip - really just makes it so very un-inclusive and gross.

Oh, but she did think about it. And her thought was "woah".

After sitting on the internets frustration for 2 weeks, she finally wrote a message via Facebook to explain the decision and to let everyone know that she was canceling the event to "restore peace and respectful discourse between people". Basically, she wants everyone to shut-up. Her full letter can be read here: http://www.righteousbabe.com/blogs/news/11177617-righteous-retreat-cancelled

The whole letter reads like a bitter condescending ranting whine about she wishes everyone would stop picking on her. Calling fans who voiced how they were offended by the location choice as being full of "high velocity bitterness". Telling everyone that she was going to fill the place full of positive vibes and start anew. How everyone was going to visit an music school for underprivileged kids and inspire their creativity and musical outlets, but now they will just have to continue to be ignored because people don't want to chill out at a former slave plantation for the weekend. This so irks me. I really hope she still works to plan something for those kids. What a snotty thing to do. It's all or nothing. Now they get nothing because we weren't nice to Ani.

There were a million ways to handle this and she chose the absolute worse way. Her letter reads like nothing I could ever imagine coming out of her mouth.

But going back, how did this come to be in the first place?

I think (hope) we can all agree that Ani Difranco is not a racist. She has fought her entire career to bring equality to everyone. What this all boils down to is how absolutely removed and uninterested she's become to her musical career and all that entails. She no longer lives in Buffalo, her hometown she vowed to work to restore and the home of Righteous Babe Records. She moved to New Orleans, got married, had two babies and lived happily ever after. And that's great. I don't begrudge her personal happiness. But she just really doesn't seem to care about her music anymore and that has been growing ever more clear over the last 5-6 years. It really just feels like a means to an end her these days. She needs to put food on the table. She has a record label to uphold and people there who have paychecks that require her to keep touring and putting out albums. Both the tours and the albums have slowed down immensely - and that's fine, too. She deserves the rest after 20+ years of being on the road and releasing an album - if not two - every year.

But her biggest issue has always been her inability to see beyond her little bubble. Her songs are incredibly personal dealing with very specific personal situations. Her political songs are definitely wide  reaching and worldy, but they've become fewer and far between in recent years and are now living on some goddess resort where everything would just be super if only women were in complete control and we all ate leaves from our own gardens and never once turned on the TV for any reason ever. It's like a weird case of celebrity where, instead of being attention whoring and plastered on the cover of magazines, she's reverted to this little bubble where she doesn't interact with the world around her enough to see how real people live.

But I don't know her personally. I'm probably wrong.

What I do know is that the Ani Difranco I grew up with and admired would NEVER have even given this plantation a moment's hesitation as a place for her to commune with her fans. NEVER. The idea that it was a plantation alone would have been enough. But then once discovered that the owner is a right-wing billionaire who supports anti-gay, anti-aborition, and anti-women legislation and that these fees would find their way into his pocket and then into those causes should have just been the absolute no from a woman who has fought tirelessly for women's and LGBT's rights.

As her letter states, she saw the location and thought "woah" and decided to go through with it anyway thinking she could come in there and just wash away an entire disgusting history with a couple of folk songs. She didn't look any further. She even goes on to say that she can't be expected to look into everywhere she plays and who owns it and where the fees go. True. She can't. But some places just call out for a little more investigation, don't you think? There are places that even I have drawn the line that I won't or would never play. I honestly don't understand how this was all so overlooked. My assumption is that, as I said, she's become so far removed from the details of her music that she just gets told where to play and how much she'll make and says okay fine. She's turned her production on her albums over to her husband who, honestly, really muffles her sounds and puts way too much gloss on everything. And when asked about this, for example, how on Red Letter Year her guitar is really hidden and she seems to have made her guitar work less and less of the musical focus she was floored that anyone thought her guitar was missing on any of the songs. I mean, did she even listen to the album?

All of this just seems like stuff she has to do now. I guess that's bound to happen for everyone at some point. But, maybe I just wish she could fake it a little better?

My hope is that this situation wakes her back up and makes her realize her name stands for something now and maybe she should take better care of what its attached to. That doesn't mean she has to start spending all of her time on Righteous Babe and away from her family - but maybe just read the fine print on some things. Know that her fan base is a passionate one. Know that we look at things like this because she's fortunate enough to have fans that care about the world around them. Know that we aren't out for harm. Maybe look to someone like Amanda Palmer who openly engages with her fans and works with them to make things better. EMBRACE THE INTERNET for cryin' out loud. She could leave home so much less if she just got to know the internet a little more and all the cool things she could do from the comfort of her living room.

Right now, I am very disappointed in Ani Difranco. This whole situation was just confirmation that she just doesn't care anymore. I hope I'm wrong. I hope she proves me wrong.

Things I Love Right Now

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and everything I encounter is making me grumpier so I thought that this would be a good time to take a look at the things that I am actually enjoying right now - the things that are making me happy.

Focus on the positive, right?

1. My New Winter Coat
I finally got a winter coat a few weeks ago. I live in Minnesota and I haven't had a winter coat in two years. It is wonderful. It's from Old Navy - so it probably won't last past this winter - but it was only $40 so that's cool. It really is super warm and exactly what I wanted/needed.

2. Mazzy Star
Oh, it's been so nice to reacquaint myself with Mazzy Star again after seeing their show last month. They opened the show with the song "Look on Down From the Bridge" off of Among My Swan, which is an album I never got around to picking up back in the day, but this song is just lovely. Also, the first track off the new album, Seasons of Your Day, is pretty much the kind of song that I want to make a whole album of. Love it.


 
3. Trailers for the Return of My Two Favorite Shows Were Released
Facing the beginning of winter and knowing that there are still 6 months of this crap to go and you already can't stand it and feel like you're going crazy is difficult for everybody. So you have to try to find things that help you get through it. For me, I am super excited that January brings the return of both Community and Sherlock. I AM SO EXCITED!!! Also, Downton Abbey returns, and I will watch that, too, but with a bit less enthusiasm.

Anyway, it's obvious that the only way for Community to continue is to do what they are doing with Jeff Winger, though I can't imagine how the rest of the gang factors in.

As for Sherlock, the first 3 weeks of January are going to be so difficult as the show returns in the UK on New Year's Day and everyone will know the answer to the big cliffhanger from the last season (that was 2 years ago!!!) and I will have to stay off the internet so as not to be spoiled. Sigh. Stupid internet.

 

4. My Husband's Awesome Cooking
My husband has taken up cooking and baking and he is very good at it and I am very lucky. He's started making banana bread and corn bread (two of my favorites) almost on a weekly basis. Last weekend he made eggplant lasagna and it was delicious! This weekend he is going to make a homemade pizza. I am excited for all of the foods to come.

For Your Viewing And Listening Pleasure

Two of my favorite musicians, Haley Bonar and Tristen, released new music videos this week.

Great videos. Great songs.

Enjoy!

Daylight Savings

It's Daylight Savings today. That one day a year you wake up and look at the clock and remember it's actually an hour earlier and so you go back to bed. It all seems so silly and it's also depressing knowing that when I drive home from work tomorrow it will be dark. Where is this daylight we are saving? It will be gone for now and for the next few months.

Sigh.

Still sick but not terrible - except first thing in the morning when I feel like death. But by the time I've brushed my teeth and said good morning I start to feel okay. I've got a cough, though. Coughs are gross. Now I am the gross person with the gross cough. I don't like to be that person.

Whine.

I just spent the last 20 minutes sucked into a YouTube chain of Janelle Monae videos. Got to get that album.



Groove.

I've got to get a lot of albums. My list of new music to buy is ever growing. I swear there is a new album every day I want to pick up. It doesn't help that I live in a state overflowing with amazing music of its own that I barely have time to look into the Janelle Monae's of the world. But, really, that's a good thing. It's good to be surrounded by good music.

I've set up my own musical game plan for the winter months. These shows at The Nomad will be the last for us for a while. We will take the winter and work on new songs, tweek some old ones, and hopefully start recording the new ones sometime around March. We'll probably start playing shows around that time, too. Really excited to really start tackling these new songs and new arrangements. We've got some new people joining us in the group, too.

Excited.

Very excited.

Friday Brain Waves

I've been wanting to write a blog post on aging and how fucking terrifying it is. I've been bombarded with stories and situations that remind me how fucking terrifying it is lately. But I just can't because who wants to think about that?

So instead, I'll stay positive (which is really hard because I have to go to Atlanta next week for a work thing and I have to stay in a hotel room and I am ridiculously and embarrassingly afraid of discovering bed bugs and the hotel I'm staying at shows up on the bed bug registry as having had a case of them 3 years ago and that's enough to scare the crap out of me and I have been paranoid and stressed about it for the past month).

So, yeah, anyway, positivity...

I've got another residency happening in November at The Nomad in Minneapolis. This will probably close out my year for shows (unless I get offered something totally awesome) and the band and I will turn our focus to new songs and potential recordings of them in the early spring of 2014 (hopefully).

I've been working out some vocal arrangements with my lovely friends, Laura and Colleen. I'm so excited to have backing singers. They are such pros, too. It's fun to sing with others. Here's a sample of an acoustic take on a new song that they've added some parts to:



Next weekend is Cannonball! My annual road trip/scavenger hunt/film festival competition thing that my friends and I do. Every year I get excited about it and every year when it's over I swear I am never doing it again as it is exhausting. But last year my team won so I really didn't have a choice. As reigning champs I had to come back and help defend the crown. But I was smart this time and took the Friday before and the Monday after off of work. Plenty of time to gear up and wind down.

But, in the meantime, I'm just going to listen to the new Britney Spears song on repeat because OMG how can you not just start moving and dancing to this? Way to go, Ms. Spears!

Why Is This Song So Good???

Ugh. I have loved it so much for so long now.

Let Go Of Your Weather Balloon

Been feeling a little melancholy these past couple of days. I could probably blame it on this sudden change in weather. And I will as I am generally pretty happy these days. More so than I have been in a long time. So that's nice. It's been raining on and off this week and it hasn't done that in a while, so I'm sure that's all it is.

But I've been thinking back on such random things like past pieces of clothing that I owned and miss and wish I still possessed. So silly to long for clothing of days gone by, but I liked those clothes.

I've been having dreams upon dreams upon dreams lately, too. Every night just massive amounts of one dream to the next - and they are never all that interesting. Just random happenings filled with random people that I haven't spoken to in a long time. I'm sure that's adding to the melancholy.

I also haven't seen (or spoken) to my dad in a while and that just heaps on the guilt. I finally got a hold of him last night and sat on the phone for about 5 minutes, neither of us with anything to say. But he's difficult to chat with on the phone, so that's nothing new.

But, overall, things are on the up side lately and that makes everything a little easier.

I'm looking forward to a fun week next week filled with live music nearly every night, including a show of my own on Wednesday.

Busy times ahead over the next couple of months. This weekend I'll look to relax before the craziness begins.

For now, I'll leave you with this song. It's another one of those songs that, beyond just being a beautiful song, completely bowls me over. Like, I can't do anything while it plays. I don't know why or what makes it so different than other beautiful songs. But it just has that thing.

Random Observation

I went to a comedy club Tuesday night to see my friend Jenn Schaal perform. Before the show, the club shows a montage of life in the Twin Cities of Minnesota: various city skyscapes, musicians, clips from comedy shows, random non-Minnesota related movie clips - all to the sound track of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy" because, well, because of course. Oh, hey, welcome to Minnesota! Did you know Prince is from here??? OMG, can you believe it???? And he STILL lives here!

But that's not the point of this post.

Naturally, I tuned out for a second because, as much as I love Prince, I get so sick of Minnesota name dropping him ALL The Time. Then the first note of the screeching guitar solo begins and my heart fluttered and I got all excited because I thought, for just a second, they were about to play "Cover Girl" by New Kids on the Block - because the song starts with the exact same guitar solo screech. For reals. A lot went through my thoughts in that second, like:

Huh, this is so cool and random.
I am so excited to hear this song right now!
Still, very weird and I'm not getting the connection.

Finally landing on, oh, wait....this is "Let's Go Crazy". Yep. That makes much more sense.

I would post both songs to show you proof, but Prince is very anti-internet and so there is nothing I could post that wouldn't be pulled right away.

But I can post New Kids on the Block's "Cover Girl". You're welcome.

Cloud Cult at First Avenue 4/28/13

Not sure where to begin with this review. I took no pictures last night as I didn’t want to interrupt the moment. I wanted to just be in the beauty of the show and not worry about writing up a blog post about it later and needing a good picture that visualizes what I am writing about.

Cloud Cult is a band I fell in love with 6 or 7 years ago after their album Advice From the Happy Hippopotamus came out and I heard the simplisticly beautiful song “Transistor Radio”. I was immediately smitten. Their songs are orchestral, yet folky, industrial, yet rock. They perfectly combine every element of the rock music world seamlessly. And they are positive. Uplifting. They make it a point to show you that the world is a beautiful place – even in its most heartbreaking. Yet, it is never cheesy or corny. Just beautiful.

I love this band with all of my being, yet sometimes I forget to listen to them. And then I see them live and I’m just left awestruck. They are such a force. They play with complete engagement. Each and every person on stage (and there are 8 of them) is completely into the performance and gives it 100%. And the audience was one of the best I’d ever been a part of. I guess when you sing songs geared towards being positive, the jerks stay away. Everyone around me was completely into it, singing along with such earnestness. Usually people screaming along next to me really bugs me, but not last night. Maybe because everyone seemed to be singing along when they should. Cloud Cult is a sing along kind of band, too.

I always cry at Cloud Cult shows, too, and last night was no different. When they went ahead and played “Transistor Radio” (which I’d never heard them do live before) and dedicated it to their sound man whose grandmother had died that day, I knew the tears were coming soon. But it was when they followed it with “When Water Comes to Life” that I started to lose it. That song just breaks me. Just go listen to it (really cool fan made video below).

That was followed by “The Man Jumped Out the Window”, which is one of their songs that I never really paid much attention to, but last night – after the two songs that preceded it – I think it might have moved up to one of my top songs of theirs.

Then there’s the song “There’s So Much Energy In Us” – which might be the most beautiful song about dying that I’ve ever heard (at least that’s my take on the song – but I think it has way more meaning to it than that – video below. Once again, just listen). The whole place sang along and you could tell everyone was just – I don’t know – feeling something. I tried to sing along but I just kept getting choked up so I had to stop.

Seeing Cloud Cult live, for me, is as close to going to church and having a religious awakening that I’ll ever experience. You see them and you want to be a better person. You want to take all the ideas they present and put them out there into the world. And all they are really getting at is just to be good to each other and enjoy the days you are given.

Happy Days

I just got some incredibly good news.

These past 7, 8 months I've had this incredibly stressful, nagging, potentially life altering thing hanging around. I can't even say what it was because I am so ridiculously superstitious that I'm afraid if I talk too openly about it that it will all come crashing down. But, I'm told whatever that thing was, it's over. And life can move on.

Finally.

I am so happy.

AND, work called a snow day. That NEVER happens in the real world. But it happened today.

AND, The National released another awesome track from their upcoming album.

AND, I have an amazing husband and the best dog.

Feeling like a lucky girl right now. Going to bask in that for a bit and be okay with it and not be superstitious and weird about enjoying a moment.

So let's dance.

Long Weekend

Wow. That was a weekend.

Seriously. I haven't had one like this in a long time. Maybe it's the weather finally letting up (although the forecast says snow and cold again later this week. ugh.) but I finally got out of the house. A lot.

I also am currently on the tail end of a 4 day weekend.  A little much needed breather after a very stressful winter.

Thursday night: I had a show. The first one in over a month. We played at The Nomad, kicking off The Broken Bicycles month long residency there. It was fun show. Full band. New song. Few mistakes (I'm getting better with that).

Setlist for The Nomad 4/4/2013

• Good
• Adore
• The Woods
• Lens
• Flavor
• Blind (first time played!)
• Float
• Beg, Borrow, or Steal
• Introvert

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Friday: I spent my first day of my mini vacation tired and slightly hung over from being out late at the show the night before. It wasn't ideal. There was a lot I wanted to get done. Instead, I'm pretty sure I sat on the internet all day. I think. I honestly don't remember.

I did spend part of the day with the new Rilo Kiley album, RKives. Although, calling it new seems weird since it's a collection of b-sides and rarities - most of which I've already heard. But it's nice to have official versions of them.

But Friday night was wonderful. One of those really great nights where you're just in that perfect mood and everything just goes exactly as it should. The Husband and I started out at Eli's (the NE Minneapolis location) for appetizers and drinks. We love Eli's. A really excellent menu, reasonably priced, with a great atmosphere. Then we headed over to The Local for dessert. We had the chocolate s'mores cake. OMG. So good. 

But the highlight of the evening was seeing the fantastic Bethany Larson and the Bee's Knees play a 2 hour set at the Dakota Jazz Club. These guys are the real deal. Bethany has one of my favorite voices and the Dakota was a perfect place to showcase it. We got a really great booth in the corner with a perfect view. Everybody was there to listen. Just a really wonderful venue. I highly recommend seeing some music there. (I'm also going to try to get myself a show there). 

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Saturday was another especially tired and groggy day after, once again, being out until 2 and then not sleeping. I was due to have a band practice/recording session, but it got cancelled at the last minute. This came as somewhat of a relief as I just was not feeling it. Sometimes when you're not feeling it, it's best to not force it. 

So The Husband and I took the dog for a walk around the lake and then I spent the day trying not to fall asleep. 

I also recorded a quick demo to my iPhone and put it up on Soundcloud. This is just a little new song that was bubbling up. It is nowhere near fully realized, but it's something.

We once again went out that night to a house party to celebrate the birthdays of two of my friends. And we brought Robbie. It was his first party and I was a bit nervous, but he is such a good dog. We are so lucky to have him. He was a little social butterfly soaking in the attention. He got to spend some time with the house dog and figure out the house cat. And the party was super fun. 

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And then Sunday. Once again, tired and hungover from being out until 2 and not sleeping. But, I had nothing to do all day, which was nice. And Shawn stopped by and dropped of a disc of all the songs we've been working on remixed with some added touches and it's so good and I am so excited about it and can't wait to share them. We have one more song to record and a few little things to fix, but the EP is almost finished. 

And then Sunday night I was watching YouTube videos from Amanda Palmer's show on Saturday night and she debuted a new song called "The Thing About Things" that is just gorgeous and has a killer line in it that, my god, must feel so amazing to have written: "the thing about things is that they can start meaning things nobody actually said" Love. It. Here's the song:

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Now it's Monday and my mini vacation is almost over. But I woke up this morning to find that The National have posted a new song from their upcoming album and, of course, it's fantastic. 

I heard that the new album features guest vocals from both Sharon Van Etten and Nona Marie (from Dark Dark Dark) so yeah, pretty sure this album is going to be making my Favorite Albums of 2013 list.

And so now it's time for lunch and back to songwriting. Working on some piano songs....

Happy International Women's Day!

I’m told today is International Women’s Day. So I thought I’d put together a list of some of my favorite (international) women in music. Most of these people I’ve mentioned on this site countless times before. And some of them I don’t listen to at all anymore. But whatever. They were a big part of my life at one point and influenced me musically in some way. Here’s a list (in alphabetical order) for you to come back to if you’re ever looking for something to listen to.

Fiona Apple

I love this song with all of my being. The perfect heartbreak song.

Babes in Toyland

When I was in high school, I was pretty sure that if I ever became a musician, I would be making music like this.

Belly

Belly's album Star is one my favorite albums ever. EVER.

Beyonce

The is a perfect song and Beyonce rules all.

Bjork

This video was the first time I saw/heard Bjork. I was mesmerized. And frightened. These days I sometimes just can't listen to her. But everyone once in a while, I get in a mood.

Belinda Carlisle

People will say I should put The Go-Gos here instead. But The Go-Gos were just slightly before my time. I loved solo Belinda first and whenever this song came on VH1, I was glued to the TV singing along. I also thought we shared similar facial features (round face yet pointy chin, small turned up nose) and being an insecure kid, it made me feel good to see someone on TV with those features.

Cat Power

Beautiful. 

Kelly Clarkson

She's just amazing. And I love that she is totally respected as a singer now. I've always loved her voice but seeing this performance blew me away. Girl. Can. Sing.

The Cranberries

I was obsessed with The Cranberries in the early 90s. 

Ani Difranco

My biggest inspiration on this list. She inspired me to play guitar and the way that I play today is all due to learning her songs. Not sure I should say thank you since I never learned to play with a pick because of it. 

Elastica

Cool.

Feist

When I started to write Sea Salt, I was listening to Feist's The Reminder on repeat and really thought that's what Sea Salt would sound like. Of course, that's not the case. Still trying to write this song.

Garbage

I so wanted to be as cool as Shirley Manson.

Juliana Hatfield

This video played every morning on MTV as I got ready for school. Juliana is the coolest.

Heart

I've often tried - but always failed - to both 1) learn how to play this guitar intro and 2) sing this song. 

Kristin Hersch

This was probably the first super intense, raw album I ever bought. I was obsessed with it. Pretty much the coolest album I owned at the time.

Hole

This song could possibly be in my 10 favorite songs ever. I still love Hole. Live Through This is a fantastic album. One of the last true classics.

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston helped me get through my mother's death. She will always be important to me for that. Rest In Peace, Whitney.

Janis Ian

I recall always hearing about this song. Then I caught her SNL performance of it on late night TV when I was 17 and I totally felt it. I ordered the album and fell in love with the whole thing. It is my favorite get drunk and sing along to every word of every song album.

Janet Jackson

Ms. Jackson is The Queen. I remember watching this video as a little girl and running around our apartment trying to mimic every move/scene.

Joan Jett

My karaoke jam.

Jewel

Don't judge. This was the first non-strumming song I learned on the guitar. I was very proud of myself. And back then you just didn't see this kind of performance on TV. 

Janis Joplin

The original karaoke jam when my girlfriends and I would all go up on stage to sing together.

Cyndi Lauper

Cyndi was probably my first favorite lady. 

Annie Lennox

When this video came out, I was just transfixed by how goddamn beautiful she is. Then I listened and her voice is so amazing. And this song is one of the best. Ever.

Jenny Lewis

I feel so honored whenever my songs get compared to Jenny's. You just know she's going to be around for a long time. An excellent songwriter.

Lykke Li

Just try to stop watching this video. Lykke Li is dance music with feeling. The lyrics are not thrown aside. She is super super good and both of her albums are top notch.

Lisa Loeb

Don't judge Part 2. And just try not to sing along. I blame her and Jewel for getting me started on my folky side.

Madonna

I can't not include Madonna. When I was kid I knew this whole dance routine. Probably my favorite Madonna song.

Mazzy Star

This was my "I'm so cool" album in high school.

Erin McKeown

Erin is lovely in every way. And she's an amazing guitarist. 

Anais Mitchell

I always say Anais is the new Paul Simon. Lyrically, she reminds me of him, the way the words just happen so perfectly. 

Alanis Morissette

I also can't not include Alanis. I loved her back in the day. I really can't listen to her now and by the time her Unplugged happened, I was over her. But I always secretly liked this song, but couldn't bring myself to buy the album.

Joanna Newsom

This song will cut you. Deep. A new favorite artist of mine.

No Doubt

Seeing this video for the first time, I knew I had to have the album and like every girl back then, I wanted to be Gwen.

Sinead O'Connor

I feel like my purchase of - and liking of (beyond "Nothing Compares 2 U") - I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got, was when I realized I liked music beyond all the fluff.

Amanda Palmer

This was the first Amanda Palmer song I fell in love with.

Liz Phair

The first time I heard this song, it blew me away how much I related to it. My group of guy friends also left suspicious things in the sink and egged me on and kept me mad. 

PJ Harvey

Whenever I say how much I love PJ Harvey, this is the video I post because it just wraps up all that is awesome about her.

Salt N Pepa

"Shoop" was my jam back in the day and they paved the way for me to start listening to rap.

Regina Spektor

It was hard for me to pick a Regina song to post, so I went with the prettiest.

Tiffany

For reals. Go back and listen to her first record. It's an amazing and mature pop record that still holds up. This is my favorite song of hers.

Sharon Van Etten

Sharon is new to me, but I'm already so inspired by her. This is the latest favorite.

Suzanne Vega

I spent a summer in my early twenties unemployed and trying to beat Super Mario Bros. 3. I had bought her album 99.9 on a whim and played it as I played this game. I've loved it ever since.

Gillian Welch

A true talent.