Brothers & Sons & This American Daughter

If I ever write a memoir, the first line is going to be, "I was supposed to be a rodeo queen."
Which quite honestly is the truth. I remember at one point in time my mother mentioned that her plans for me were to "rodeo hard."
Whoops.
I've apologized to my parents occasionally for turning out completely opposite of what they were hoping for. But it seems children have minds of their own and end up doing what they want. Mine (should they end up existing) may want to be, God-forbid, reality TV stars or money-hungry corporate salesmen. Blech!
I was supposed to be a rodeo queen, but then I started going to punk shows. Then hardcore shows. The post-hardcore shows. And now? Very few shows, sadly. But there are a few bands I really must see live someday. Among them include: Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, Fleet Foxes,The Swell Season, and My Morning Jacket. I think you'll see a trend. Beardy boys playing music from their roots. From my roots.
I have to say, I'm a fan of this new folksy, old-timey trend music is in right now. Some argue that bands are focusing too much on where music has been, and not where it's going, but I think these guys, and others, are doing a good job at blending the old with the new. Holding on to what's been great while embracing what's to come, musically.
And it works for me personally as well. My rodeo queen turned hardcore mistress turned borderline-but-hopefully-not-quite-a-hipster self is revelling in this neo-hillbilly style. It encompasses all that I've been, loved, left behind, and look forward to. And it does so rather harmoniously, if I do say so myself. And quite frankly, it makes me want to dance. And perhaps the most exciting bit of all, my mother and I can finally agree on what to listen to!
Here are a few favorites:

Every Tear is a Waterfall

Yep. Turns out I still love Coldplay.
I just moments ago finished watching the video for thier new song "Every Tear is a Waterfall." I liked it so much I apparently had to rush right on over here and write about it.
And by write, I mean process, usually. So here I go.

First...I'm going to go watch/listen to it one more time.

Yep. Still liked it. Though this time I was able to avert my eyes a bit. The first time I watched enraptured. This second time I was able to look away, not because of the bright flashy colors, but because I started thinking about the song, about music, about what this particular song means, about how dancy it is, about life.

Honestly, when I first saw the title "Every Tear is a Waterfall," I was a little hesitant. It's a pretty cheesey title. I had my doubts. I waited a while to watch the video, which would also be the first time I would hear the song. I wanted to be able to give it my full attention, and I'm often doing other things or only half awake while putzing around on this internet thing. I kind of imagined it to be a fluffy little piece about how it's okay to cry or you're beautiful just they way you are sort of thing. And I suppose those fluffy pieces have thier place. But I don't think that's the fate of this new Coldplay song. For one, it's way too danceable to be fluffy piano-y elevator crap. Unless there's a dance party in the elevator. Then it's perfect.

Bah! Coldplay is so damn hopeful! Their songs are happy and uplifting and not in the painful KLOVE way. And the word that came to mind during this song was "beauty." Perhaps because I find waterfalls to be some of the most beautiful things one earth. (Unless they're being chased...then they're a bitch.)
If every tear is a waterfall, then every single one of us emits beauty. (Some of us fairly regularly.) Beauty when we're happy. Beauty when we're sad. "You can't hurt me, hurt me bad."
Kids are dancing and there's singing coming from underneath the rubble.

No matter what, there is life, and there is beauty in that life. And here, within that life, "Heaven is in sight." and "My heart is beating and my pulses start cathedrals in my heart."
I'll leave out the excellent theology of that last line. That's a whole other thought process.

Jonny Buckland: Not that you'll ever read this, but that riff...yeah. Good job. <3

Lots of times, I wish I was a musician, because so often, music proclaims what words cannot. And so, I'll cease with the words for now and you should watch the video. And then go listen to more music or do whatever it is that moves you to soak up beauty.

2 Songs

These are two songs I can't get out of my head, and I'm not complaining.

The Death Cab for Cutie song is my present anthem. The Decemberists song is just really good and insanely catchy. I'm a little bit in love with Colin Meloy's voice. (The Decemberists)

An Evolutionary Soundtrack for the Apocalypse

So, via Studio 360 I have discovered that hipster magazine, L.A. Record is collecting soundtracks to the apocalypse (happening already tomorrow, you know!) from its readers. Here is my list. You may notice an evolutionary story unfolding from it, seeing as how if this actually is the apocalypse, we should move from mockery and despair to hope. Um...I'm kinda of betting on being around on Sunday, though. (Actually, I'm thinking that if I'm around on Sunday, the only song necessary will be American Idiot, by Green Day. That Camping fellow is American, yes?) Comment with the songs you would play!

1. Auto Rock-Mogwai (Because you need an epic intro)
2. It’s The End Of The World As We Know It-REM (Obvious, isn't it?)
3. The Angel of Death Came to David’s Room-mewithoutYou
4. Apocalypse Now- Squad Five-0 (This song is impossible to find on the net. Apparently it didn't survive to the technological age. How very punk rock of it.)
5. Hard Rock Hallelujah-Lordi (It's the aROCKalypse!)
6. I Think I’m Going To Hell-My Morning Jacket
7. The Battle of Evermore-Led Zeppelin
8. Goodbye, Cruel World-Pink Floyd
9. Greet Death-Explosions in the Sky
10. Death Will Never Conquer-Coldplay
11. Are You The One I’ve Been Waiting For?-Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
12. Come All Ye Weary-Thrice
13. Blackbird-The Beatles
14. When The Man Comes Around-Johnny Cash
15. Sorrow-Bad Religion (Jon Foreman of Switchfoot does a nice version as well.)
16. Here Comes The Sun-The Beatles
17. Daylight-Brave Saint Saturn (This generally stands as my all time favorite song.)
18. Where The Streets Have No Name-U2
19. Glosoli-Sigur Ros (Because I imaging just standing in awe upon arrival)
20. Amazing Grace-Dropkick Murphys (Because after the awe wears off a bit, you realize it's a party and if Heaven's a party, I picture it more like this than harps and togas)

Or just click here for the whole youtube playlist. Enjoy your remaining hours on earth. Catch ya'll...you know, wherever.

Werewolves, Rockstars, and Wild Flowers

I saw Mogwai on Saturday night. As expected, I stood enraptured, soaking in the beauty of the music and the unison of bobbing heads. While they were playing, I'm guessing because of the magnitude of the show, I wondered if it was a strange fact that I wanted to pick them wild flowers. I decided it wasn't (with the help of some friends, old and new.) The fellows of Mogwai seem to be the sort of chaps that would enjoy some wild flowers in their touring outfit. I could be wrong. They could laugh in the face of those who would bring them flowers. But I don't think they would.
Also, during the show, I decided that if there happens to be a bright and/or white tunnel to whatever happens to be heaven, Mogwai would be playing during the procession. (Sigur Ros would be perhaps an acceptable alternative.) Shortly after thinking this, they played my favorite song from their new album, with the video for the song (which I hadn't yet seen) on the screen above them. The end of the video made me think my decision was correct...and consequently, made me smile and very very happy. Then again, just seeing and attempting to absorb Mogwai made me very very happy. Here is that video. Soak it up.

Glosoli

A reminder of loveliness on a Sunday morning.

After The Storm - Mumford And Sons