Are We Not Horses?

So it’s Monday, and a great one because it’s a PA day. But it’s even greater because it’s Random Playlist Monday.

1. Sleigh Ride – KT Tunstall (we’re starting off in a Christmasy way today, works for me )
2. Painting By Chagall – The Weepies
3. Black Bird – The Beatles
4. All The Way Down – Glen Hansard (this is quite the quiet playlist so far)
5. Mick’s Blessings – The Style Council
6. I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You – Tom Waits
7. Shout Bama Lama – The Detroit Cobras (quiets over, but that’s okay ’cause it’s a great song)
8. Rain – Hawksley Workman
9. Bongo Bong – Manu Chao
10. I am an Excellent Steal Horse – Rock Plaza Central

So, that may have been one of my favourite playlists so far. Even with the Christmas song. Of all these great songs I think I’m going to have to go for Rock Plaza Central. You know the saying. When in doubt go for the crazy shouty, indie rock band.

So before going any further I need to say – although I am a  huge fan now – I wasn’t always. All discovery credit goes to my dad. Although, even though I can’t quite believe it, I didn’t always appreciate the…specialness (?) of them. It is a bit of an aquired taste. Once you get past the initial phase and enter into the realm of their true greatness your world is opened up and there is so many more options. I think I really fell in love with them after I saw them at Hillside. The lead singer brought his daughter on stage, and it was love from there on in.

My dad discovered them after they released their first CD Are We Not Horses, a crazy mix of songs all related to..you guessed it, horses. I must say I’m not as well aquanted with their newer CD’s, especially their newest At The Moment of our Most Needing. If you’re looking for an intro to them I’d try checking out Anthem for the Already Defeated (love it’s name), and I am an Excellent Steel Horse. Below is the video for I am an Excellent Steel Horse in all it’s horsey glory.

I think it’s an interesting video, with a really simple idea. But somehow it works, maybe because the song isn’t simple. Either way it’s a great video and a fantastic song. For now though, I must be off, enjoy the rest of your rainy gloomy night.

I Love You

Alright, so it’s Monday and it’s been quite a long time since I last wrote. Plus, today is extra special because…are you ready for it? This is my 100th post!! WOO-HOO! And to celebrate this I’m going to do a 100 song Random Playlist Monday. I know, I’m pretty dedicated. So, without further ado, here it is (just a warning: I am about to completely embarrass and humiliate myself because I have a feeling some very weird things are about to come up, brace yourselves).

1. War of the Worlds – Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
2. The City is a Drag – Hawksley Workman
3. To The Dogs or Whoever – Josh Ritter
4. Neon – John Mayer (so far so good)
5. Joy to the World – Sufjan Stevens
6. Woods – Bon Iver
7. Depot Depot – Tom Waits
8. Fool – Neutral Milk Hotel
9. The Girl You Lost to Cocaine – Sia
10. Back Broke – Swell Season
11. Cape Canaveral – Connor Oberst
12. New Years – Ohbijou
13. At the Airport – Old Man Luedecke
14. Motion the Eleven – Cornershop
15. Extra Ordinary – Dave Mann Collective
16. Sixteen – Justin Trawick (Freaky, no!?)
17. Come Together – Across the Universe Soundtrack
18. Late Bloomer – Sarah Harmer
19. Never Going Back Again – Fleetwood Mac
20. An Open Door – Illinois
21. Dream About Flying – Alexis Murdoch
22. South Australia – The Pogues
23. Trouble – Ray LaMontagne
24. Here Goes Something – Nada Surf
25. Waiting on the World to Change – John Mayer
26. To Go Home – M. Ward
27. Language is a Virus – Laurie Anderson
28. Doot Doot Plot – The Hidden Cameras
29. I Don’t Mind – The Cave Singers
30. Whole Lotta Losin’ – Monsters of Folk
31. Home – Wintersleep
32. Perfect – Danny Michel (It’s about time!)
33. Say Hey (I Love You)  – Michael Franti and Spearhead
34. Sula – Jeremy Fisher
35. Violins – Lagwagon
36. The Clearing in the Woods – Harry Nilsson (It’s getting strange now!)
37. Oviedo – Blind Pilot
38. Little Nancy – Fionn Regan
39. Junkie Song – The Be Good Tanyas
40. Jimmy Jazz – Clash (Good changeup there!)
41. Chelsea Dagger – Fratellis
42. Free Until They Cut Me Down – Iron and Wine
43. Low Day – Capra
44. Gypsy Boys Reprise – David Francey
45. I Am a Rich Man – Old Man Luedecke
46. Sammy – The One Night Band
47. The First Snow of the Year – Hawksley Workman
48. Run Devil Run – Jenny Lewis with the Watson T
49. On My Way – Ben Kweller
50. I’ve Just Seen a Face – Across the Universe (Go see this movie if you haven’t already, and if you have go watch it again I know I’m going to)
51. Toothpaste Kisses – The Maccabees
52. A Matter of Minutes – Shawn Colvin
53. Black Wave-Bad Vibrations – Arcade Fire
54. We Go -   Thao
55. Story of My Life – Done With Dolls
56. Had Me a Girl – Tom Waits
57. Blake’s View – M. Ward
58. Salt Bean Fumble – The Penguin Cafe Orchestra (Great name for a song if not a little strange)
59. Close to Me – The Cure
60. With or Without You – U2
61. Why Didn’t You Call Me? – Macy Gray
62. To Your Love – Fiona Apple
63. Never Know – Jack Johnson
64. Sold – Dan Mangan (Going to see him next week: can’t wait)
65. Anti-social – Cuff the Duke
66. Satisfied – Bruce Peninsula
67. Cowgirl in the Sand – City and Color
68. No Sleep – Sam Roberts
69. Last Leaf – The Cake Sale
70. Basket – Dan Mangan
71. Happier – A Fine Frenzy
72. Hearts in the Park – Patrick Watson
73. Our Velocity – Maximo Park
74. Midnight Lullaby – Tom Waits (With 3 songs, Tom now dominates, but how could he not?)
75. House in Motion – Talking Heads
76. Hello Seattle – Owl City
77. Oxford Comma – Vampire Weekend
78. Run (I’m a Natural Disaster) – Gnarls Barkley
79. Patience – Take That
80. Hours Last Stand – Elvis Perkins
81. (Past-due) – The Weakerthans
82. State of the Union – David Ford
83. Gomni – Ali Farka Toure
84. A Call to Arms – Beirut
85. The Saga – The Libertines
86. Shelter from the Storm – Bob Dylan
87. Sweet Baby James – James Taylor (some classic cheese, but we all love our cheese, well except for lactose intolerant people)
88. True – The Frames
89. The Dozens – Amelia Curran
90. 1234 – Feist
91. Champion Angel – Low Anthem
92. Try (just a little bit harder) – Janis Joplin
93. Sweet Hallelujah – Hawksley Workman
94. Quiet – Rachael Yamagata
95. All is Love – Karen O and the Kids (if you haven’t seen “Where the Wild Things Are”, go see it NOW)
96. Hannah – Freelance
97. Whales – Personal Stars
98. This Feeling — Danny Michel (just in time)
99. Relax – Frankie Goes to Hollywood (a terrible song! Yet so very good)
100. Brainy – The National

So, that was quite the list. There were some really good things on there, and a few questionable ones. Now is the appropriate time to laugh at that list. I must admit I’m slightly embarrassed by it, especially the Frankie Goes to Hollywood, but oh well I guess. Of course, there was an extremely large amount of Danny, Tom and Hawksley, but there always is. Today though out of all those songs I’m going to go for Michael Franti, because we all need a music pick-me-up every once and a while, and a little reggae never hurt anyone.

I first discovered Michael Franti through his Obama Song. I was really into Obama and all he stood for (and still am) and the song just seemed really cool to me, it also proved to me that I can like hip-hop/rap/reggae music (other than Bob Marley). After the intial discovery I went in and found a few more of his songs. I especially fell in love with Say Hey (I Love You). Sure it’s a little cheesy, but it’s a damn good cheesiness. And there’s just some kind of appeal to Michael Franti, I’m not entirely sure what it is, but he has that “thing”. This song just always makes me especially happy, and it can give you a good outlook on the world, this is especially shown in the video. The video for Say Hey (I Love You) has just made it up pretty high on my list of top videos. It’s pretty fantastic and incredible cute, see for yourself.

I love this video, I especially love that it’s real people and his background looks real, not Hollywood perfect. I think that’s what makes the song not come across totally fake and cheesy. It has a certain real-ness to it not expressed in most things. I really love that the people look like real people of different sizes, cultures, and are allowed to show real emotions. It’s a pretty darn cute video, and I think it can even make all you cynics out there smile (it achieved that for me, and I’m about as cynical as it gets). So, please smile away for the rest night, and if you’re like me you’re going to watch this video about a million times more. For now though I’m out, thanks for putting up with me for this long, it’s greatly appreciated, and feel free to continue, that would also be greatly appreciated.

P.S. Feel free to get up and dance a bit to, it may actually be a requirement. Awkward dancing especially.

To The Dogs Or Whoever

Okay, so this Monday really sucks. Not only is it the very first day of the week, which never works out well, but I also happen to have a sucky cold. How much do colds suck! Your all snuffly and sneezy, and feel really crappy, but yet you’re not flat out sick. It really sucks, but maybe some good music will change things. Get ready for what I hope to be a pretty awesome Random Playlist!

1. The Temptaion of Adam – Josh Ritter
2. September Lily – Hawksley Workman (I’ve been in a very Hawksley mood lately, he’s perfect for fall)
3. The Second Cigarette – The Burning Hell
4. Hollerado Land – Hollerado (this a great new Indie boy band I’ve discovered)
5. Semi Suite – Tom Waits (you gotta’ love yourself some Tom, especially on a sick day)
6. The Ecstacy of Dancing Fleas – Penguin Cafe Orchestra (you also gotta’ love yourself some Penguin when your sick too, it’s also very good for studying)
7. That’s Amore – Dean Martin (enough said)
8. Poli High – Harry Nilsson (if you haven’t ever heard The Point, get on it, as a kid it was one of my favourite things to listen to, and still is)
9. He Drinks Gas – Donovan Woods
10. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen (the perfect way to end a random playlist)

So, this was a pretty good playlist, if not a little strange. And after reviewing all possibilities I think Josh Ritter is perfect for today. Nothing fixes a cold better than a folky indie guy, in my not-so humble opinion anyway.

Once again, my dad discovered Josh Ritter, right after his CD The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter came out in 2007. After listenening to his CD’s, The Historical Conquest is for sure my favourite. I really love the Bob Dylan-esque country twang, but mixed in with a little more folk. He’s always really reminded me of Fionn Regan in that way. In The Historical Conquest of Josh Ritter, I find each song just gets better and better. I’m especially a fan of To The Dogs or Whoever, The Next To The Last Romantic, The Temptation Of Adam, and Still Beating. Below is the video for The Temptation Of Adam. It has a real old-timey feel, which makes sense because I find his music has this old country blues thing going on.

I think it’s a really interesting video, and his voice is really something else. His lyrics are really interesting to, if you actually listen to them. Not quite what you’d expect him to be singing about. Plus, after watching this video I started to see a bit of a resemblance to Horse Feathers, both in voice and looks. I hope you enjoy the video and the artist, he’s pretty awesome. And I’ll talk to you later, ’cause it’s nap time.

Lowside Of The Road

It’s Saturday, and a deliciously rainy and miserable one at that. And to perfectly match that cold, miserable, gloomy day I have the perfect topic. This is one I’ve discussed quite a few times, so bear with me and “come on up to the house”. Yes, that’s right, Tom Waits is the topic for the day. If I could talk about him every day I would, but sadly I can’t so I guess I’ll just have to make the most of this post.

Over the past month I’ve bcome even more into Tom Waits than I thought possible. I’ve been starting to explore some of his stuff, other than Heart of Saturday Night. And it turns out it just gets better. Who knew? I’ve been especially in love with Closing Time these days, and most of all Ol’ 55. What I love most about Tom though, is the fact that he can be so many different people, yet still be Tom Waits. I mean would you think the same guy who wrote the unbelievably sweet and sad San Diego Serenade could also write the unbelievably creepy What’s He Building? Or the same guy who sang Ol’ 55 in a lovely and angelic way (can you say that about the devil himself?), can also sing Anywhere I Lay My Head with the craziest growl I’ve ever heard. I’m reading a biography about him right now written by Barney Hoskyns where Tom talks about truths and how sometimes it’s best to let people create their own visions of you. Well reading this biography has changed some of my views of him. I guess I always picture Waits as this young and handsome bad-ass musician who smoked a lot of cigarettes and sang in a lot of dingy bars. Like the guy on the cover of Heart Of Saturday Night who looked young and mysterious and like he really didn’t give a damn what other people thought. And I guess at one point he could have been this guy, but I never imagined Tom Waits married with three kids (how cool would that be, oh yeah Tom Waits is my dad, no big deal). In my head I’m still going to keep my picture though.

Below I’ve decided to show you what I think is a fan-made video although I can’t quite tell. It’s for Come On Up To The House, another of my very favourite Waits songs. It’s funny just today I realized my mom, dad and I all want Tom Waits songs for our funerals. My mom, Come On Up To The House, my dad, Anywhere I Lay My Head (so everyone marches out when the horns come in at the end) and me, San Diego Serenade. We really are quite the die-hard family (haha, get it die-hard..funeral, probably not my best joke). But back to the video. It’ really something else. If it is a fan-based video, well, I’m impressed.

The concept of the video is pretty simple, but there’s something so perfect about the tattoos. At first you think oh this is cool, and the effect grows more and more until (for me anyways) you’re kind of brought to this feeling of…happiness. Like everything somehow seems really right and perfect (cheesy I know). The video reall is quite ingenious. The haunting tattoos and his perfectly fantasic growl are a odd mixture but they make something pretty special. Plus the lyrics to the song are really something else. I especially love the line “Come down off that cross, we can use the wood”, whether he means it politically, religiously or any other way, it’s a pretty great line. With that I am going to say goodnight until next time.

P.S. Saw “Easy A” last night, it was very fantastic in a quirky kind of way.

P.P.S. Check out his website here, it’s actually really cool, especially the wit & wisdom section.

You Won’t Make A Fool Outta Me

It’s Monday! And the last Monday of the summer! It feels like just yesterday I was writing my first post about school being over and now here we are talking about school starting. So this Random Playlist better be pretty darn good to make up for the crappy day.

1. Rolling Sea – Vetiver

2. You Won’t Make A Fool Out of Me – Flogging Molly (especially tomorrow)

3. Song For The Road – David Ford (another really great indie boy)

4. One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong – Leonard Cohen

5. Don’t Bring Me Down – Electric Light Orchestra

6. Body – Thao with The Get Down Stay Down

7. Emergency Exit – Beck

8. Ol’ 55 – Tom Waits (this is one of my favourite Tom songs right now)

9. Josephine – Teitur

10. Here We Come a’Wassailling – Arthur & Friends (Before judging me, let me explain. I’m pretty huge into Christmas and Arthur and one year my parents bought me Arthur’s Christmas CD. It became one of my favourite CD’s at Christmas and I need to listen to it every year. I also loved the fact that it drives my Dad crazy. Plus I love feeling like a little kid again. It’s slightly embarassing to have it but I’m going to embrace my childhood as much as I can!)

I think today is the perfect day for David Ford. He has this I don’t care what anyone thinks air about him and I personally really appreciate that. Plus he makes pretty awesome music. Especially his songs Song for the Road, and State of the Union. He has this really interesting sound and a pretty awesome voice. Below is a video of him singing Song for the Road. I like how down-to-earth he seems, not to mention how well he sings. So sit back, relax and if you’re in the same boat as me, enjoy your last night of freedom.

I think it’s pretty cool to just see him sing. Not to mention how great of a song it is. But for now I have to go to bed because sadly it is a school night.

A Double Dose of Monday

It’s Monday! And this Monday I’m actually going to do my Random Playlist. Now I think I’m going to do 20 songs this week just for the fun of it (and to catch up a bit). So sit back relax and enjoy, I have a feeling today is going to be a good one.

1. Anywhere I Lay My Head – Tom Waits (there’s always Tom Waits, and this happens to be my dads funeral song)

2. Let My Love Open The Door – Pete Townsend (old school)

3. Somebody Got Murdered – The Clash

4. Sh0t In The Back Of The Head – Moby (this is quite the playlist so far)

5. I’ve Just Seen A Face – Across The Universe Version (and a great version at that, if you haven’t see that movie, go do it, NOW!)

6. Thunder In The Mountain – Danny Michel (always Danny as well, now all we need is Hawksley)

7. (Bit Part) – The Wooden Sky (this is one of my new favourites, it’s fantastic)

8. Atlantis! – Shane Koyczan (this is a great one, not quite as sad)

9. Action/Reaction – Choir Of Young Believers

10. Old Bloody Orange – Hawksley Workman (and there’s the Hawksley, with quite the lovely title)

11. Too Many Nights – Matt Giraud

12. Hello Goodbye – The Beatles (this is one of my favourite Beatle songs)

13. Sweet Medicine – Jason Castro

14. Please Call Me, Baby – Tom Waits (more Tom. I think this is the song where I finally start to fall asleep on Heart of Saturday Night)

15. Airplanes – Local Natives (I’ve been really loving this song lately)

16. Dashboard – Modest Mouse (this is a classic. One of my favourite Modest Mouse songs)

17. Tickle Me Pink – Johnny Flynn

18. What Katie Did – The Libertines (I loved this song and this band when I was little. It’s really to bad they broke up so early)

19. Sweater Song – Hedley

20. Kids – MGMT (you just can’t help but love this song. Even my mom likes it)

So after perusing all the songs on this list (and it really is quite the list), I’ve decided to go with Modest Mouse today. I find that I often forget about Modest Mouse, but than I remember and think “how could I ever forget about this, I won’t this time” but than it just happens again. I’m not sure what that is because they really are awesome and seem unforgetable. As Modest Mouse goes their CD Good News For People Who Love Bad News is my favourite CD. It has classics like Dashboard (of course), Bury Me With It (the perfect funeral song) and Bukowski. For today though, here’s the video for Dashboards. I kinda like this video, it’s a little quirky, but quirky is good.

It’s an old man video so of course I like it. It also includes cool beards and the water not to mention monsters. All my favourite things (well maybe minus the monsters). But for now I’m off to bed ’cause my mom and I are off early on a bit of a culinary adventure inlcuding the Moosewood Restaurant, perfect for a vegetarian like myself and a foody like my mom. I’ll see when I get a chance to blog, but between awesome veggie dishes and pastry over-doses I may not have much time for music.

Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

Okay so today once again is about a new band I’ve discovered, well my dad discovered, but who discoverd it isn’t what matters, what matters is how awesome it is and eyetuners, this is your warning, it will blow your socks right off, if you’re not wearing socks, well it will just blow your whole entire foot off. This is your first and only warning.

I’m not sure if any of you have ever heard of Low Anthem, but if not well you’ll soon know a lot more than before (obviously). The Low Anthem is pretty awesome. Their a “folk quartet” from Providence, Rhode Island, and their super. Mainly their music is quiet, melancholy, haunting, beautiful, but not always. On a few of their songs like The Horizon is a Beltway, and Home I’ll Never Be (a Jack Kerouac song, not that I’ve ever heard of him, maybe I better go and check it out, before I keep talking about it like I know what I’m saying). I find those songs really channel a Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Springsteen, foot-stomping, sing-along, chanting, gravelly voice thing, but not in a copy-cat kind of way. Of course my three favourite songs by them are quiet (nothing new there). I’m a huge fan of Ticket Taker (which is the first song I heard by Low Anthem, and a fantastic one), To Ohio (once again my Ohio thing), and Charlie Darwin (the worlds prettiest song, EVER, talk about falsetto). It’s funny I mean if you listen to Charlie Darwin or Cage the Songbird and than The Horixon is a Beltway you’d never guess it was the same band, yet the CD still works as a whole. That’s impressive in itself.

The whole CD is fantastic. And the name Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, well any band that names their debut CD about the man who came up with concept of “evolution” is fine by me. If you listen to the song Charlie Darwin knowing the concept of the CD, well it’s actually pretty funny. The whole CD has a bit of whimsical feel, but in a very serene and pretty way. It’s a great new discovery and I’m hoping for more soon, I’m also hoping to catch a live show ’cause I think that would be awesome, plus I’m curious if there is more than one singer in the band.

Okay, so watch the video for Charlie Darwin which in my opinion in heartbreaking. I’m not sure if the man is supposed to be Charles Darwin figuring out evolution but whoever it is they look mighty lonely.

It really is a bit of depressing video and than with the heartbreakingly beautiful song, well if you’re that kind of person it’s enough to make you cry.

P.S. how do you think Charles Darwin would feel knowing there was a whole CD about him? Honored, annoyed, pleased, exasperated?

Buzz, STING!

Okay, so I completely forgot about random playlist Monday, WHOOPS! So that’s what today is going to be. And here it is.

1. You Can Always Come Home (feat. Serena Ryder) – Jason Castro (how many times has this song come up on shuffle)

2. Driven To Tears – Sting (not sure why I have this, but a classic all the same)

3. Shout It – Mitchell Musso (not at all embarrassing that I have this…)

4. One Of Those Days – Joshua Radin

5. Stranded – Hope For Haiti Now Version (a somewhat bearable version)

6. Make The Most – Brett Dennen

7. Walcott – Vampire Weekend

8. Rosie – Chubby Checker (apparently every week, we continue my old guy music thing)

9. Lonely – Tom Waits (I don’t know what is up with Tom and my playlists, but he’s always there)

10. Don’t You Fall – The Be Good Tanyas (this always makes me think of my mom)

That was incredibly strange. Sting to Mitchell Musso (a very sappy Disney guy), than Vampire Weekend to Chubby Checker. Goes to show how strange my iPod is. Anyways, I’m thinking Sting, because it’s one of the only things on that playlist I haven’t talked about or atleast mentioned, which is what I love about random playlsits, I always find something new.

So I’m not entirely sure what to write about, on the topic of Sting. The song came from the Hope For Haiti Now CD, which is superb, but I can’t say I’m a huge Sting fan, although I actually quite like the song. I just went and downloaded a few more and may becoming more of a fan. I think the name may have been a bit of a turn-off, seems more rockier (nice word) than he is. Anways thank you playlist for introducing me to this song, that I didn’t even know I had. Below is Sting singing Driven To Tears, which is a fantastic song, the lyrics are very interesting too. Enjoy the video, the show he played this for really was awesome, a great fundraiser, I advise you to go buy the CD and check out the telethon at youtube.

I can’t believe I may have just become a Sting fan. One day I talk about the Zac Brown Band, the next Sting. This was a fantastic discovery, hope you enjoyed it, and have been taking more advantage of Sting than I have over the years.

My final conclusion: never jugde a band by it’s name!

P.S. Lee won American Idol, YEAH!!! Check out his version of Beatiful Day by U2, although nothing could compare, it’s pretty well done.

It’s Creepy Out There

It’s Monday, once again. The only upside for Monday (for me anyway and hopefully you) is *drumroll please*, yes you got it Random Playlist Monday! Hooray! So sit back, relax and enjoy as my music library astounds you (hopefully in a good way).

1.  Heads Will Roll – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2.  Make You Crazy (feat.Femi Kuti) – Brett Dennen

3.  Semi Suite – Tom Waits (sleepy time for me)

4.  You Got Growing Up To Do – Joshua Radin (awesome song, featured on my duets playlist)

5.  Liar – Mumford & Sons

6.  Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite – Across The Universe (fantastic movie)

7.  What’s He Building In There – Tom Waits (I guess it’s a Tom day. This song used to always freak me out)

8.  Loddy Lo – Chubby Checker (another one of my guys. His is one of my favourite record covers)

9. Whole Lotta Losin’ – Monsters Of Folk (the perfect combination of folky guys)

10. I’m Not Gonna Beg – Natalie Merchant

Okay, so I’m thinking that wasn’t my best, but it could have been worse. More of my happy old guys which is always good. A little Monsters Of Folk thrown in there and than a whole lotta Tom. I’m actually thinking Tom is perfect today.

The song Semi Suite is one of my favourites from what I call my  “sleepy CD”. For some reason I always fall asleep to it. I never would have called Tom a soothing kind of guy. Anyone who can play a good devil shouldn’t be lullaby material, but somehow he is. Trust me. But today I’d like to talk about What’s He Building In There. When I was little my dad was a huge Tom fan (and still is) and he always used to play this song. It really freaked me out and when it was dark I had to switch the song. I have to admit even now I’m freaked. Tom was a big deal at my house and he still is. I guess when I was still little one of my parents friends got one extra ticket to see Tom and my dad got it. I think to this day my mom is still bitter and I would be too. I think of all the musicians I want to see, Tom is number 1 (well except for The Pogues). Featured below is What’s He Building In There. Prepared to get freaked out. Really listen to the lyrics there quite strange.

It really is a weird video. Truly creepy.

Sleepy Tom

It’s been almost a week since my last post. I just didn’t get a chance in between being sick with the flu and being piled with homework. It’s now the weekend, and I have time for a post. I’ve been debating all day what to write about. In the end I decided today was a good day for Tom Waits.

As a kid my parents always played Tom Waits. It used to really freak me out, especially What’s He building In There? from Mule Variations. I remember asking my dad multiple times to switch the song because it freaked me out too much. As a little kid I didn’t really get Tom and his music. That deep, husky voice is enough to scare anyone. One of my friends always says it sounds like he’s singing in the bath tub. I always thought that was pretty funny and kind of true.

When I was around 10 I discovered The Heart Of Saturday Night which became my lullaby for years, literally. For quite a while I fell asleep to that CD every night. I still do sometimes and it never fails (I think sleep therapists need to start using that one). I’ve always had troubles falling asleep and weirdly enough, Tom never failed me.  In this CD his voice is much softer which may be one of the reasons I fall asleep to it. When I was little and falling asleep I used to always picture Tom young, like the picture on the cover of the CD (possibly a scary picture?). When I tell people that I fall asleep to it they think I’m kidding, I mean I guess it’s a little weird, but that’s me. I definitely march to my own drum (is that the saying?).

As I’ve gotten older I’ve started to appreciate Tom Waits even more and not just for the one CD. What’s He Building In There? doesn’t freak me out like it used to and I’ve started to listen to his CD’s not  just to fall asleep (I’m not sure if he would take that as a compliment). Another one of my favourite CD’s is Closing Time. I recently got a new cousin named Rosie and for the Rosie CD I made her I included Tom’s Rosie from that CD (that was a lot of Rosie’s!). On The Heart Of Saturday Night my favourite songs are the Heart Of Saturday Night, San Diego Serenade and Fumblin’ With The Blues. I never got much farther then that song and can’t say I know much of the ending really. I was usually asleep around Diamonds On The Windshield. I mean how could you not want to fall asleep to a song talking about a cold well digger’s ass?

I’m sure I will continue to talk about Tom. Maybe more of him and his not so sleepy music. For now enjoy the song I’ve posted and try falling asleep. Close your eyes and mellow out to that lovely melodic voice.

If you haven’t already purchased The Heart Of Saturday Night I highly recommend you go and check it out and while you’re there pick up his other CD’s too.