Rainy Day Tunes

As you read this, please take a listen to "Ambling Alp" by Yeasayer.

Seriously.  Click play now.

So today is gray and dismal, and therefore I would like to offer a few song recommendations that will help you avoid the rut that most people find themselves in on days like this.

Usually when its raining outside, I sit in my bed, turn on Bon Iver and question my life decisions (I shouldn't have eaten that second bagel smothered in cream cheese last night!!!!), but today is not that day.

"Ambling Alp" is not exactly rock and roll, but it rocks: "Stick up for yourself son, Never mind what anybody else does."

That's right.  Stick up for yourself. (I wanted that second bagel, and goddamn it, I ate it.  No regrets- Fall Semester 2012.)

http://s433.beta.photobucket.com/user/yeahifnsaidit/media/1291371993_cartman-whateva-i-do-what-i-want.gif.html

Hopefully Yeasayer got you pumped up and and in the mood to listen to some other inspiring tunes.  It's a mix tape kind of day ladies and gents, just warning you.

Now that you've let "Ambling Alp" grow on you (and it might take a few minutes, but trust me, it will) you'll have to check out this next song by the indie rock band The Shins.

I think of The Shins as the indie band of the 90s, and a few of my personal favorites are:  "Simple Song," "Caring is Creepy," and "New Slang."  These are perhaps the three most well-known songs by them... But there is a reason for that ok?!

The music video for "Simple Song" is one of my faves, so you can watch it here:

As for "Caring is Creepy" and "New Slang"- just click on the titles and it'll take you where you need to go.  I would say that of these two, the first is my favorite, but I'll let you decide for yourself, wise reader.

If you find yourself digging The Shins, I suggest you buy the Garden State Soundtrack.  Zach Braff not only wrote, directed and acted in Garden State, he also hand-picked the music.  And let me tell you, the guy has fantastic taste.

Some of these songs are a little low key though, and I'm afraid that if I keep this up- I'll be leading all of you astray and into the emotional rainy day I promised to help you escape.

So here's something that will hopefully pick you back up: it's Arctic Monkeys and it's kind of spunky.

Opening line: "You used to get it in your fishnets, Now you only get it in your nightdress."

I can only wonder: what does this mean?? Tell me Arctic Monkeys! My mind is going dirty places and I can't help it.

Anyways.

After your Arctic Monkeys indie rock experience, I'd like to take you in a totally different direction and have you blast this song at full volume, wherever you are:

Yes, I did make that transition straight from indie rock to pop rock, and it was glorious.

"Your Love" by The Outfield makes me incredibly happy and I can't even quite articulate why.  It is just the most amazing song to blast in the car, in your room, in the kitchen..

You can belt this baby any time of day as long as the people you live with don't start hating you for it.

I want to leave you with this song because I'm not sure if I'll be blogging again for a long time, and I think this is the perfect song to help me go out with a bang.  I can imagine the cheesy 80s movie scene now: me walking away triumphantly through the halls of my high school, pushing through the closed doors and out into the bright sunlight, fist raised, FREEZE FRAME!

(Did I steal that from The Breakfast Club?) Whatever. You get the idea.

Anyways, I'm going abroad next semester to Prague so this will be my last post for awhile.

In my absence, remember to rock on my friends.