the carpenters- let me be the one

i don't have alot of friends. not to say i'm an unpopular guy. i just don't have that many people i'm very close to. i have hermit tendencies. usually if i'm out, i'd rather be in.
music has always been my comfort. in high school (cliche alert!) i was a lonely kid. i felt very much on the outside. i spent most of my time in my room listening to records. i can honestly say that paul westerberg and elvis costello saved my life. that's the reason they appear on this blog so much. i owe those guys. i love them.
songs can sometimes connect in a way that people you know can't. i mean, people can tell you how much they understand and empathize with you. but it's basically lip service. they love you and they want to help. it's nice and it means alot. but it doesn't always do the trick.
sometimes there's a song tho. a song maybe recorded years ago. before you were born even, that can make things better. let you know that things will be ok. there is love and compassion and sweetness in the world. it's there. and it's so hard to see sometimes, i know.
but i've seen it. i know you have too. it't there.
i've heard it. i hope you can too.

lefty frizzell- she's gone, gone, gone

lauryn hill- ex-factor

i miss lauryn hill. one of the great soul singers of all time, in my humble opinion. this is how you exorcise a demon.

nick lowe- true love travels on a gravel road

happy valentines day.

happy lonely hearts club day!

i always thought this video was incredibly touching. a beautiful song.
happy feb. 13th, kids! it's lonely hearts club day!!!

blue moon- big star

i am a bit wistful about valentines day approaching. what?!! yeah, i know. out of character. what can i say? i'm an old softee.

i was having dinner with a friend tonight. i did my usual 'valentines day is for suckers, blah, blah, blah' rant. you've heard it before. i don't really believe it but it seems like something i should.
she countered with some interesting points. i'll paraphrase. sure, it's a commercial day, but the sentiment behind it can be beautiful. a day to celebrate love. a day to stop and think about the person who makes you come alive, who makes you laugh, and think, and cry, and feel.
we all have, or want, that person.
and what happens when we get them?
do we take them for granted? or do we worship the ground they walk on? are we in love with them, or are we in love with the way they make us feel about ourselves? do we love the idea of love more than we love that actual person? does it matter?
i don't know. i really don't know anymore.
if you love somebody you should tell them. not just on feb. 14th. every day. every morning. every time they walk in the door. let them know how the room shivers and glows and how the world fades away when you look into their eyes, when their lips split into a smile, when their hands lightly touch yours.
tell them.
because, otherwise, they might not know.

lou barlow- round and round

yeah, it's the ratt song. a great tune no matter who does it.

my psychology today

i haven't been around much lately, kids. sorry. i've been collecting myself. 'how are you doing?', you might ask. thanks for asking. here are the songs that ran through my head today. that's how i'm doing.

1. psychopharacology- grandpaboy
2. bonnie brae- twilight singers
3. car- built to spill
4. yours to keep- guided by voices
5. sugar in my bowl- nina simone
6. sleeping is the only love- silver jews
7. fooling you- terry reid
8. bent out of shape- the replacements
9. must i paint you a picture?- billy bragg
10.downed- cheap trick

honestly, this list doesn't make a bit of sense to me. i think it's ok tho'. i think it's gonna be ok.

i go to pieces- peter and gordon

this and 'needles and pins' are the two greatest 'the one that got away' songs ever. this one is in my head daily. you know how sometimes you talk to me and i have that far away look in my eye? i'm probably humming this song ro myself.

p.s. best bridge ever.

bruce springsteen- the girls in their summer clothes

happy birthday, rose throat.