A Break from the Weight of Things -or- My Blog Seems Too Sad and Serious Lately and Needed Something to Cheer it Up

I just finished Dave and Hogan’s book, “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven but Nobody want to Die or (the eschatology of bluegrass). You must read this. It articulates some deep life things that need conversation and need to be discussed.

I still do no understand this life. How can so much good and so much bad coexist? Crowder and Hogan discuss this as “the weight of things”. Given my predisposition for the extremes of sadness and joy, I could (and have) fill(ed) many pages and pieces of blogging web space with reflections on the sadness and the joy of life. In fact, the last post (prior to starting Dave and Hogan’s book) reeked with the same “weight” of things. I think it is good to think about this and talk about this, but I also believe in taking breaks, and that is what this post is. Inspired by Craig Nash’s blog of songs playing on his ipod, I want to recommend some songs that I am loving right now. This is just fun and a great waste of the platform that internet blogging provides, and I believe in sometimes wasting things, particularly time. So take a moment to let your time be wasted, and mine, and take a gander at this list of songs that I can’t help but turn up loud and enjoy.

The following entries will be in the following formula:

Song – Artist – Album – Commentary

Gone – Kanye West – Late Registration – “We strivin’ home, we ride on chrome…” I dare you to not nod your head.

Drive Slow – Kanye West – Late Registration – “If you ridin’ around the city with nowhere to go, drive slow homey, Live today because tomorrow you never know…” This, plus H-town’s Paul Wall throws in a little Dirty South love. It will literally make you want to drive slow… and turn on hazard lights.

Roses – Kanye West – Late Registration – “I smile, the roses come to see me, and I can’t wait for a sunny day (I’m seeing it through your eyes), can’t wait for the clouds to break. Oh, who brings the sunshine?” This song is about family, community, disease, death, and hope. If you’ve been there, you get it.

Tock Tick – Kurt Vonnegut & Simon Heselev – Tock Tick CD Single – Basically Kurt Vonnegut reading an excerpt from Slaughterhouse Five to some contemplative music. It’s about being unstuck in time and watching World War II bombing raids backwards… it is absolutely beautiful and one of my favorite parts of the book. “German fighter planes flew at them backwards and sucked bullets and shell fragments from some of the planes and crewmen…”

Mathematics – Mos Def – Black on Both Sides – “Push too hard and even numbers got limits. Why did one straw break the camel’s back? Here’s the secret: the million other straws underneath it. It’s all mathematics.” For the “fight the power” in us all.

D.O.W.N. – Dead Prez – RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta – “We comrades we struggle, through any trouble. Sacrifice my life in combat for ya. So you know I gotta love ya, I’m down for my brothas and sistas.” Some of you will understand this. You know who you are.

Pavement Tune – The Frames – Set List – “So let me take you by the hand, and lead you through this troubled mind…” One of the best live songs I’ve ever heard… recorded.

You Got Me – The Roots – Things Fall Apart – “If you were worried ‘bout where I been or who I saw or what club I went to with my homies, baby don’t worry you know that you got me.” Welcome to the Roots. You are addicted.

How’s It Gonna Be – Third Eye Blind – Blue – Third Eye Blind still kicks ass. Every song. I don’t know why.

Chicago – Sufjan Stevens – Little Miss Sunshine Soundtrack – “You came to take us, all things go, all things go, to recreate us, all things grow, all things grow…” I’m new to Sufjan, and I think his name is ridiculously funny. So far I love every song I’ve heard.

How It Ends – Devotchka – Little Miss Sunshine Soundtrack – I’ve written a whole blog on this song several months ago, complete with lyrics. I just want to reiterate how amazing it is.

Sick and Tired – Nappy Roots – Wooden Leather – “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” An anthem for all those who have no money or are sick or frustrated or stressed or tired. They say what you want to.

Turn these on and listen to them at ridiculously high volumes. Even if they sound crazy, give them a try, you may find out you like them. Thanks for wasting time with me.