compulsive compartmentalization

I was handed the baton, so I suppose it’s time to expand the music category of my blog.

I don’t talk about music with very many people. The exceptions being a few musician friends, and, every once in a while, someone who I know will like something I’m into. Music is deeply personal to me, so I don’t really air my tastes in public. Because in the event that someone should trash my tastes, I’d have to beat them soundly.

But, I’m not one to drop a baton when it’s handed to me (especially since this is the first one to be in my posession since my 8th grade field day.) So here we go…

Amount of music on your computer?
Not a whole lot, I burned a ton to CD’s not too long ago because I needed more hard drive space. At the moment I have 218 songs and around 700 MB on my computer.

Currently listening to?
This is hard to answer because my listening habits are chaotic and eclectic. There’s usually some Rockapella in my mix. I’ve been listening to The Empire Strikes Back soundtrack lately. I almost put in Stevie Ray Vaughn this afternoon, but opted for Weird Al instead. See…there’s no pattern.

Five songs that mean a lot to you?

This will be tough. These are by no means my “top five favorite” or anything…but five songs that stand out for one reason or antoher. Most of them are because they’re connected with some period in my life, I suppose. (By request of someone who likes to prey upon my synesthesia, I have included what color each song is as well.)

“Country Road” by James Taylor. I have to have JT somewhere on this list, so I’ll pick this song. No special memories associated with it, I just never get tired of listening to it. [song color: yellow]

“Rock of Ages” by Glad. Okay, sure this is a hymn. Can hymns go on this list? I love the lyrics to this hymn, but have never thought the melody was dynamic enough to accomodate the range and progression of emotion found in them. That is until Glad came out with their a cappella arrangment of the song. It’s perfect, in my opinion. [song color: red]

“The Devil Went Down to Georgia” by The Charlie Daniels Band. Okay, I’m 99.9% sure that no one who has previously held this baton has put Charlie Daniels on their list. But I will. Why? Because I don’t care what you think. There. I grew up listening to CDB, and when I was a kid I used to love to hear this song come on the radio. [song color: yellow with slight shades of orange]

“Down Under” by Men at Work. The reason this song is here is because it is the FIRST pop song I ever remember hearing. I was really little (like 6 or 7 or something) and I can remember playing the 45 over and over while playing with my star wars figures. I still have to crank it up when I hear this one come on the radio. [song color: a beautiful shade of orange]

“Maple Leaf Rag” by Scott Joplin. I’m going to be different and post something non-popular. I like this because I like to play it on the piano. I have yet to commit the whole thing to memory due to my colossal lack of perserverance, but have about half of it on automatic. I also think one reason it stands out is that for a piano piece, it’s intensly red. Which is odd. [also, the reason this one is here is because I can't think of any other pop songs that would fit...they're all just a blur to me now.]

Top five albums?

Again, not easy. But here we go.

SeanDEMOnium by Sean Altman. – Sean was the co-founder of Rockapella as well as the group’s musical center for years. He left them in the mid 1990’s and compiled this album of original song demos. The album, in addition to having some very well written songs, has a sonic quality that’s hard for me to describe. It’s obviously not overproduced (most of the songs having been recorded in his dressing room on the set of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego, or in his New York City Apartment) but at the same time doesn’t make you feel like it was recorded as merely a demo. It’s just raw enough and just well done enough to leave you with a good aftertaste in your ears.

Jars or Clay by Jars of Clay. I loved this album. This one I have some memories attached to since my wife and I went on our first date to a Jars of Clay concert. It was just after this album came out, I think, back in January of ‘96. Also, it’s one of the most appealing albums to my synesthesia. It’s a wide range of deep to medium valued green in a 3-dimentional space. Hmmm…maybe THIS is why I never talk to anyone about music. “Yeah I love that song..it’s so….red.” “Um…that’s nice. Hey! Look at the time, gotta go.” Anyway I thought the album had a good feel to it too, and I haven’t grown tired of listening to it after all these years.

The Essential Doc Watson by Doc and Merle Watson. Actually this album is by their old record company. I’m sure they didn’t sit around and say “You know, we really should put out an essentual ‘us’ album.” Back in college (10…years…ago) I was full throttle into my bluegrass guitar phase. Doc Watson was my hero. And, still is, though I haven’t really listened to him in a long while. This was, I believe, my first album by him and used to play it on repeat, drooling over his dexterious guitar runs…trying my best to emulate every pick.

Primer by Rockapella. This album is old now. It’s not nearly as slick as their later ones, but it was the first one I bought, and the sounds they got out of five voices live blew me away. I hold a special place in my heart for this one due to it’s impact on my future CD purchases (also, this album sells for around $50 on Ebay now…it’s out of print…so I’m apparently not alone on this.)

Nickel Creek by um…Nickel Creek. I loved their debut album. Though I will admit I was a little late in picking them up on my radar. A large portion of my musical roots is in bluegrass, so I have to like any bluegrass band that comes along with talent. And Chris Thile has it out the wazoo. I remember in high school, seeing an 11 year old Chris Thile tear up a mandolin on tv and thinking…”man, I hate him.” But, now I’m older, wiser and smart enough to give props where props are due. Excellent album. An album that alternates between hues of sandy yellow and deep green with a pleasant mixture of intrumental and vocal tracks.

Last album bought?
It’s been a while, but I think it was Lucky Seven by Rockapella. I found it on Ebay and had to order it. I used to buy CD’s all the time, but stopped buying them for some reason. Maybe Napster got me out of the habit. Who knows. Though I’d like to start buying again…only now I have no money. Oh well.

Recent discoveries?
I was driving home listening to NPR on a Saturday night (which is folk and bluegrass music night for those of you not in the know) and heard a song by a lady and thought “I kind of like this.”
It turns out that lady was Patty Griffin. Since then I have been provided a disc of mp3s to sample her musical wares. So far I like what I hear…though I haven’t listened enough to really get the songs ingrained yet. I guess I need to move the CD into my truck.

And the baton goes to:

my wife

(who will never do this)

This entry was posted on Friday, June 3rd, 2005 at 8:22 am and is filed under Life, Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.