My Music
This may be news to no one but me, but I've recently realized I don't have any taste in music (ok Mark, you can stop chortling now.) Sure, I know what I like and find new songs every now and then (mostly the sappy country ones, like that I Loved Her First tearjerker!), but mostly I like to listen to songs that remind me of people or places. Here are some "for instances":
AC/DC / Ozzy
Before seventh grade, I mainly listened to Beethoven cassettes on my Sony Walkman; then I met my friend Chris and started spending time at his family's house, which for me was sort of like The Beatles coming to America: music of all kinds was always on there, usually quite loud, and the house was full of various instruments that every member of the family seemed to know how to play. Chris's dad loved jazz and German beer-hall music, his mom loved classical and piano, and Chris & his brother loved hard rock. The more outrageous, the better - Slayer, Ozzy, AC/DC, you name it. And this was back in the days that listening to AC/DC was still tantamount to Satan worship.
Neil Young
A fading bonfire in a stand of trees, Saranac beer and a red Jetta parked on the edge of the field with its trunk open, booming music. My friend Danny always closed his bonfires with the Harvest Moon album (or maybe that's just when I always happened to fall asleep): Monument to Nature still reminds me of how it felt to be outdoors with my best friends.
Tom Waits
Late nights in architecture studio, when everyone was nodding off and the regular all-nighter folks (Eric, Adam, Jessica, Kevin) were just hitting their groove. Somehow listening to Waltzing Matilda didn't totally put them to sleep, but listening to that song still reminds me of that cozy, mellow, all-nighter feeling.
Pantera / GWAR
Cruising in the car with John. My high school commuting pal and college roommate hasn't lost his love of music, and still manages to sneak out to concerts while working round the clock for a certain childhood hero. When we were in college he took me to see GWAR twice I think, although once they were opening for themselves as the Ex-Cops.
Metallica
Late evenings in architecture studio, when everyone was still rowdy and not yet delirious; the older folks were still down at Zeno's. My roommate Jason cranked up his boom-box and often made up his own personalized lyrics: I'll never forget him singing "Faster! Faster! I can't draw this any faster!" while we were racing towards a crit deadline.
Chemical Brothers
Watching Ingar and Matt glide effortlessly through WipeoutXL to the Chemical Brothers' soundtrack. When I tried it and ground my vehicle into every turn, the same music just seemed to taunt my lack of skilz.
John Williams / James Horner / Howard Shore
Early mornings at work, with Sammi and Eula. I have to thank my friend and former desk-mate Geoff for reinvigorating my interest in classical music (we've now come full circle back to my cassette tapes). He would frequently crank out some great piece from a film soundtrack from his desk for my benefit, and continually inspires my appreciation of film. Check out his website on the sidebar (Movie Theatre Reviews) and write a review for him today!
Pretty Much Everything Else
My wonderful life with my wonderful wife: my B Street apartment, our Mission Avenue apartment, the house in Petaluma, etc. Other than stuff on NPR, most other music I listen to reminds me of Brandie: Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Foo Fighters (see her post), Pearl Jam, Patty Griffin, Jack Johnson, etc. In the words of "our song", I got what I wanted and what I needed. Thanks hon, I love you.
AC/DC / Ozzy
Before seventh grade, I mainly listened to Beethoven cassettes on my Sony Walkman; then I met my friend Chris and started spending time at his family's house, which for me was sort of like The Beatles coming to America: music of all kinds was always on there, usually quite loud, and the house was full of various instruments that every member of the family seemed to know how to play. Chris's dad loved jazz and German beer-hall music, his mom loved classical and piano, and Chris & his brother loved hard rock. The more outrageous, the better - Slayer, Ozzy, AC/DC, you name it. And this was back in the days that listening to AC/DC was still tantamount to Satan worship.
Neil Young
A fading bonfire in a stand of trees, Saranac beer and a red Jetta parked on the edge of the field with its trunk open, booming music. My friend Danny always closed his bonfires with the Harvest Moon album (or maybe that's just when I always happened to fall asleep): Monument to Nature still reminds me of how it felt to be outdoors with my best friends.
Tom Waits
Late nights in architecture studio, when everyone was nodding off and the regular all-nighter folks (Eric, Adam, Jessica, Kevin) were just hitting their groove. Somehow listening to Waltzing Matilda didn't totally put them to sleep, but listening to that song still reminds me of that cozy, mellow, all-nighter feeling.
Pantera / GWAR
Cruising in the car with John. My high school commuting pal and college roommate hasn't lost his love of music, and still manages to sneak out to concerts while working round the clock for a certain childhood hero. When we were in college he took me to see GWAR twice I think, although once they were opening for themselves as the Ex-Cops.
Metallica
Late evenings in architecture studio, when everyone was still rowdy and not yet delirious; the older folks were still down at Zeno's. My roommate Jason cranked up his boom-box and often made up his own personalized lyrics: I'll never forget him singing "Faster! Faster! I can't draw this any faster!" while we were racing towards a crit deadline.
Chemical Brothers
Watching Ingar and Matt glide effortlessly through WipeoutXL to the Chemical Brothers' soundtrack. When I tried it and ground my vehicle into every turn, the same music just seemed to taunt my lack of skilz.
John Williams / James Horner / Howard Shore
Early mornings at work, with Sammi and Eula. I have to thank my friend and former desk-mate Geoff for reinvigorating my interest in classical music (we've now come full circle back to my cassette tapes). He would frequently crank out some great piece from a film soundtrack from his desk for my benefit, and continually inspires my appreciation of film. Check out his website on the sidebar (Movie Theatre Reviews) and write a review for him today!
Pretty Much Everything Else
My wonderful life with my wonderful wife: my B Street apartment, our Mission Avenue apartment, the house in Petaluma, etc. Other than stuff on NPR, most other music I listen to reminds me of Brandie: Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Foo Fighters (see her post), Pearl Jam, Patty Griffin, Jack Johnson, etc. In the words of "our song", I got what I wanted and what I needed. Thanks hon, I love you.
Clint recently took me to a belated birthday dinner at Chez Nous, a French restaurant in downtown Austin. Seated at the table next to us was Patty Griffin. That tiny little woman sure can put away a steak!
no brand new?? or taking back sunday?? get in touch with your emo side bro haha
I can't believe "Loops of Fury" doesn't also remind you of you, me and McGee pulling out of the Los Gamos parking lot and pressing The Button.
Matt & Dan are right, there are definitely a lot I've overlooked!
Brandie & I both spent last night trying to remember the song Dan practiced daily on his guitar and got quite good at: I think it's 'Collide'?
I've also been meaning to update the post with Journey's Escape album (my mom exercising in the morning), Roy Orbison (riding in the car with my dad) and some classic Aerosmith and Lynyrd Skynyrd (my sister's beautifully painted closet doors).
You knw what song reminds me of Brandie.
Pearl Jam's "Wishlist".....that and the theme to
"Blossum"
Every time I hear that thing I find myself
picturing her doing that ridiculous dance, and cue hilarity........now.
-cgy
The song that reminds me of Jake is "Crash" by Dave Matthews. Reminds me of our first Valentine's Day together, making paella and dancing in that tiny apartment.
I'm glad you chose to write one of the non-offensive, made up lyrics. I didn't remember that one, but I'm cracking up. Those albumns will always remind me of late night studio and the concert we saw in Binghamton. I've seen Metallica since and they were not even close to being as good- old softees. Don't forget Ministry. For me that's the computer lab.