Not Mad but Still Yelling

Turns out, music exists. I thought it didn't anymore. I thought, while I was away in Raffiland, music had simply stopped. It had driven down to the levy, and the levy had been dry. But it hadn't. It has been going on without me, and I can't say I'm very happy about it. Why didn't it even call?

And you! Some kind of friend you turned out to be. I bet you knew the music hadn't died, didn't you? Didn't you? And did you tell me? No, you didn't. Not even a simple phone call, saying, "Hey, The Dad, I was, you know, down at the mall and, well, I kinda heard some music. I just thought you ought to know. Don't be mad."

But I'm not mad, not anymore, not now that he shock has worn off. How could I be mad when I'm dancing around my house for two hours everyday listening to WHATEVER I WANT. Yes, that's what I'm doing instead of writing posts for you. Or laundry. Or making money. Don't get me wrong, I'm always one song away from doing all those things, one song away from sitting down and bringing you the funny, but then the next song starts and, wow, it's another one not about little red cabooses, or kangaroos, or how five is such a pretty number and how awfully glad I should be that I have five people in my family but right now its me, just me, and I'm dancing around to songs that are about drugs and booze and sex and say words that I can't say here because my mom reads this and that I sure couldn't say in front of my kids even though I'm pretty sure Lila said motherfucker yesterday as she crapped behind the couch but she didn't hear it from me and she didn't here it from my music although she'd sure be hearing it now because that's what somebody is yelling from my speakers and I'm yelling right along with it and it doesn't matter what else I need to be doing because this is rock and roll and rock and roll waits for nobody. Except when I pause it to go pee, because I evidently drank way too much coffee this morning.

I'm listening to it all. Everything I have. There are albums here from back when I wore an earring and thought I was alternative. There are albums here from back when I wore a nipple ring and really was alternative. There are albums here from when my hair was longer than my wife's and from when my head was shaved bald. There are even a few from the past few years that friends have sent me or I have gone out and gotten myself, but have never really listened to. Not like they should have been listened to, you know?

You know that slightly disturbed friend you had in college who made mix tapes for every occasion? The one who would sit down in front of his stereo and put together 90 minutes of music for every break-up, every first kiss, every grade better than a D in Spanish class? That was me. When I listened to music, I really listened, with every pompous fiber of my being I listened. And so did everybody in my dorm, because I turned my stereo up to eleven and made them. And they should have thanked me, instead of calling the campus police. Ungrateful bastards.

So here's what I was thinking: Let's make a mix tape. Right now, together. Throw out a song, a good song, in the comments. You can explain your choice or just let the song speak for itself. It doesn't have to be deep or pompous or obscure and it doesn't have to show off your amazing indie cred, unless of course you live in the Lower East Side and then you can't help it. It just has to be good. And then maybe I'll do something with it. I don't know what that something will be, maybe nothing if you guys have really sucky music taste, but maybe I'll compile it all onto a disc or two and give it away as the prize for our next poetry contest.

I'll start. The opening song on our mix tape, which will, incidentally, be titled Turned Up to Eleven, is Elise, Elise, by The Real Heroes. (Click on the link and find it under "Listen." You'll be happy you did.)

What's next?

Comments

[The L Factor]

Ok, first thing's first. Let's get you caught up on the music of today. Don't wait another second before you go here:

http://thelfactor.typepad.com/the_l_factor/2007/10/just-tryin-to-1.html

and listen to the song in the video.

Immediatly after listening, you should write a thank you note to your girls from inadvertanly sheilding you from this music.

Next, I'll add my contribution to your better-be-cool playlist.

Ben Folds, Jack and Sarah. Don't know it? Can't find it? Just let me know.

[Jordan]

Andrew Bird, "Imitosis". http://www.andrewbird.net/armchair.htm

Also, another vote for Come On, Eileen. I put it on a mix for some friends just last year.

[loren]

Ooh, Army of Me by Bjork, that's a good one!

Criminal by Fiona Apple
Like a Stone by Audioslave (or anything Chris Cornell)
I used to be really into Republica. And Sheryl Crow. And Foo Fighters. I love me some Foo.

Metallica S&M is possibly my all-time favorite album. (Do people still say "album"?)

[Tammy from Twinstuff]

I have to tell you about a song that just came out this week from Alter Bridge(Mark Tremonti/Myles Kennedy). It's "Blackbird." It takes you on an amazing musical journey back into old school rock and roll. I've never heard anything compared to this song. The song about the death of the singer's(Myles Kennedy) friend to cancer. You can listen to it at AOL Music by putting
Alter Bridge into the search. Then, select 'songs' on the menu. The album list should come up. It's a very powerful song. Other great songs on the album are Rise Today, Before Tomorrow Comes, Wayward One, Watch Over You, and Brand New Start.

[pkrgscott]

West Van Girl by The Awkward Stage
On the Radio by Regina Spektor

[TateandSophie'smom]

I am totally obsessed right now with "The Underdog" by Spoon

[Micah]

umm, isn't zack actually spelled without a "c" and sarah actually spelled without an "h"?

anyway, how about "Minor Threat" by Minor Threat?

[Hatchet]

I really like No More Kings: Sweep the Leg. They also have another really fun one called Zombie Me that you can find on their MySpace page.

Sweep the Leg is especially fun if you also like/liked The Karate Kid. Heh.

[Meredith]

I miss mix tapes! They remind me of the 80's...so here goes:

Uncertain Smile by The The
The Cutter by Echo and the Bunnymen
Somewhere in Summertime by Simple Minds

[Anne Prince]

Unfortunately I missed the mix tapes you kooky kids were listening to in the 80's.

However, if you want a really awesome stream of music check out www.radioparadise.com - this is the best commercial free internet radio station I have ever found. I can't tell you how many CD's I have gotten since I've started listening to them. Extremely eclectic.

[vbd93]

"Break Out" by Foo Fighters brings out a side of me my husband and child will never see.

[SpartanFan]

I'm either nerdier or younger (or both) than some of the commenters here, but here are my suggestions (past and present) I'm obviously not as eclectic as others here, so sorry if my choices are a little dorky:

Past:

Chains of Love by Erasure
Closer to Fine by Indigo Girls
He thinks He'll Keep Her by Mary Chapin Carpenter
(those all have significance from high school or college)

Modern stuff:

High School Never Ends by Bowling for Soup
Teenagers by My Chemical Romance

Both of these are ironic since I teach high school, but my students also keep me current on what music they're listening to.

[Finn]

Ah, you've discovered the secret to my happy place: the great songs from that fairy tale time of before kids :) Glad you could join me.
Boomtown Rats - I Don't Like Mondays
Cowboy Junkies - Misguided Angel
The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I Go
New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
Run DMC & Aerosmith - Walk This Way

[Dog Mom]

I would suggest "A Flinty Kind of Woman" by Dar Williams. It's a hilarious story about a group of women ("hippy-dippy ... braless wonders") who chase down a child molester.

You can view the lyrics here: http://www.rhapsody.com/darwilliams/thehonestyroom/flintykindofwoman/lyrics.html

[KB]

Within your reach- The Replacements
Can't stop losing myself- The Dirt Clods

[KK]

Figured You Out by Nickleback...

[Kerri]

Here I Go Again - Whitesnake
Harden My Heart - Quarterflash
Little Red Corvette - Prince
Hit Me With Your Best Shot - Pat Benetar
Beat It - Michael Jackson
Who Can It Be Now - Men At Work
Gloria - Laura Branigan
I Love Rock & Roll - Kizooks
Freeze Frame - J. Geils Band
99 Luft Balloons - The Fabulous Rudies
Whip It - Devo Freedom of Choice
Bright Eyes - Bonnie Tyler
Living On A Prayer - Bon Jovi
Call Me - Blondie
We Will Rock You - Queen

...just to name a few... ;-)

[KK]

Dancing Barefoot by U2. I've always said if I was a stripper, this would be "my" song.

[KK]

Fat Bottomed Girls by Queen

[Gordo]

I always thought "Packt Like Sardines In A Crushed Tin Box" spoke best to a Dad's condition:

"I'm a reasonable man, get off my case, get off my case..."

[Meredith]

OK, it looks like I might be a lot older than most of you, but what is better to rock out to than Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love?
Anything Zeppelin will do a body good.

[The Godfather]

"Everybody must get stoned"

If I have to tell you who sang it, then you just wouldn't get it...

[Magpie]

Bring your music to your kids! Ween them off of kid music with The Ramones. My three year old goes nuts for them, and, thankfully, they slur so much that any bad words are unintelligible. And, you can all sing the chorus of "Beat on the Brat" together with much glee! It's quite cathartic, really.

[Meagan]

Read My Mind by The Killers

also? you should check out www.LastFM.com. Are you familiar with this? You type in a band you like and it builds you a personal streaming radio station around that. It's a great way to find new music you're likely to enjoy. Pandora.com is the same, but lastfm has a larger library, I think.

Rock on.

[Renata]

White Stripes' "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" seems appropriate!

My favorite rock-outs lately have been:
Scarlover by Maria McKee,
Chick Habit by April March,
How Much Reality Can You Take by Banco de Gaia, and
No One Lives Forever by Oingo Boingo.