A Hodgepodge of Past and Present

A Medley of Past and Present from meganagitor on 8tracks Radio.

I was going to say that this one is a little out of character, but so was the last one, so maybe now it's becoming in character. Although this one is a different type of different. Whereas last one I kept in a direct timeline, this one is, well, not even close. The past (and present) few months have been hectic and hard to keep up with, and some of these songs I'm honestly not sure were from the month of April. But I know they made an impact, long enough for me to remember them past April into May. And being that my months kind of have been blending together excessively, I feel like there hasn't really been a definitive start and stop. Besides, even if they couldn't keep up, NO SONG LEFT BEHIND!

"The World You Love" - Jimmy Eat World

I never tire of this song, and the feels it gives me never diminish. More than anything, I always connect to the lyrics:
"I fall asleep with my friends around me, only place I know I feel safe, I'm gonna call this home."
I've always viewed home as a fluid concept, and while moving put a good distance between myself and my friends, I also know that I can go almost anywhere and still be home. And I knew that in another month, one more piece of home was moving to me.

"Songs For Teenagers" - Fake Problems

Immediately upon hearing the guitar I thought I needed this song for my mix. As soon as the lyrics started I was like, hmm, maybe not. But then I kept falling more in love with the melody and percussion. Finally, "It's a shame, all the ways we build ourselves up, just to let each other down." sold me, and here it is.

"Wandering Limbs" - Kimbra This song is one of those that I'm not really sure if it was April or not. I had notated it under the April heading, but it felt like so much longer than that. Then again, April had so much happen that it could've seemed shorter than it really was. More than anything though, when I marked this song as mix material, what caught me the most was the accompaniment by Sam Lawrence. Initially I didn't know who it was, but it reminded me of the singer from As Tall As Lions. Deep down I knew it wasn't, but I really really really wanted it to be, because now and forever into the future I will be sad that they stopped existing as a band.

"Dreams So Real" - Metric

When I went back over this song, I thought I had the wrong version, except it's the only version I have. Not gonna lie,  I keep wondering why this song caught my attention, because it just constantly seems like an unmemorable type of song. But I distinctly remember the lyrics "I'll shut up and carry on, the scream becomes a yawn." getting into my head and making me write down the song to come back to later. It's just such a great way to talk about how often people fall into complacency, and time moves on without them.

"All The Way" - Taking Back Sunday

Another one I'm not sure of when it came in, I just remember working at Best Buy and seeing that Taking Back Sunday had a new album, so of course I had to check it out. I listened through it at some point, and this one caught me just a little. What put it over the edge was that it kept coming on shuffle (of course.) It also helped; and maybe this isn't the right way to classify it; that some of the lyrics were.. I don't know, "country" ish? (I had to ask how to even start to describe, and I'm still not satisfied.) But how he uses "ain't" and instead of "I taught" it was "I done taught."

"Fairweather Friend" - Spitalfield

This I can blame mostly on my new friend Ben. Well, new friend, back in April. I basically started talking at him through the back "wall" of the kiosk where I work, whenever he was around, and, when it comes to making conversation with people I don't know anything about, I always start music. And, it took him just a smidge to start talking more than one sentence at a time, so it mostly just involved me telling him to listen to these musics once I realized that while our music paths crossed, it wasn't very often. Spitalfield was I think one of the first three bands I recommended to him, which, I think I force everyone to listen to them at some point or another because I love them so damned much. But this time I was a little bit surprised. Anyone I ever point to Spitalfield seems to enjoy Five Days and Counting the most, off of Remember Right Now, and in this case Ben was no exception. But the other song he told me he enjoyed was Fairweather Friend, and that was a first. It's actually one of the few songs in their entire collection that Mark Rose is not the main singer on. As a kicker, it came on shuffle maybe a day after he told me this. So yeah.

"The Whitest Lie" - Bayside

This was another album that I didn't realize existed until I walked by it at Best Buy. I still (2 months later) haven't really gone through the album more than once, which, once is good. But I haven't given in the same amount of consideration that I gave Killing Time. Which, at this moment I love the most out of all their albums, but it is entirely possible that Cults could surpass it, if I only give it the chance. However, when I actually happened upon this album I can't remember. Before this blog I went through all my statuses on Facebook for the past few months to try and even find out what month it was, because I was certain that I posted some lyrics, but couldn't find them. However, as I'm writing this, I'm starting to think I actually posted the lyrics to Twitter. Whoops.

"The House That Fire Built" - Mae

This was just straight unfamiliar nostalgia. Unfamiliar, because I did not recognize this song in the least when it came on. But nostalgia, because I most certainly recognized the voice as soon as he started singing and it immediately reminded me of late high school and seeing Mae perform in Davenport in the last few months before the venue closed for good. I can't even remember what it was called, I just remember it was near the bookstore. There's really not much more to say on the song, other than it's just so, so, good.

Honourable Mention:

"A Three Legged Workhorse" - This Will Destroy You

This one came on shuffle while I was at work, and the reason it's honourable mention is because, much like Metric, on second listen it didn't seem quite as memorable, but I still enjoyed it. Just no memorable lyrics to redeem it. I'm slowly (through shuffle) getting more into This Will Destroy You though, I'm not entirely certain how I came across them, but they're perfect for certain moods.

"Pyramids" - Two Door Cinema Club

I hope I don't get ostracized for this, but the intro of this song caught my attention at work, and I checked, thinking it was Slowdive, and wondering when I squished them onto my iPod. Listening to them side by side, well, it doesn't make any sense at all. But in the moment, it's the thought that occurred. The lyrics are very simple, but catchy, and it's just an overall feeling of exploration that the song gives me that left it lingering in my head.

"Little Black Backpack" - Stroke 9

This song is a beast on its own. Jake played this album in its entirety for me while we drove to his hometown, so I would know "what his childhood consisted of." I had not recognized the name Stroke 9, but as soon as this song came on I realized I had heard it before. I can't... this song is awful. But it deserves a mention not only for being part of Jake's childhood, but for following me into Illinois during my trip. My first foray outside of my parents house upon visiting, we stopped at the mall. And this song was playing. What.

Comics and Critters

Well, it seems that while I have mostly kept up with my music blogs, I have most definitely fallen behind on my charity resolution blogs.

Partly because I fell behind on donating in the month of March, but mostly because I am far from a professional writer and when my ideas come to me at work or in the shower, they don't do me much help. Especially when they make their escape before I ever navigate to a computer.

Because of this, and the fact that it is more than halfway thru May, I am combining my post about my charities for both March and April.

For March, I stayed local and donated to the Geneseo Animal Shelter, on behalf of them building a new shelter. Although the weather was a bit deceiving, spring was nonetheless on its way and with it many unintended baby critters. As much as I'd like to adopt a second (and third and fourth) kitty, in a few months I will be moving and unable to bring my Phoenix with me. At least initially. (I am beyond unhappy about it, but I keep reminding myself it is only temporary.) Because I can't offer my own place as a secondary shelter, I thought making my donation specifically for the new shelter would be a good idea.

HOWEVER, if you have a little extra room in your home and your heart, LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIES! They currently have an overflow and any help would be welcome! LOVE THEM. LOVE THEM ALL!

For April, I chose the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) because basically, well, fuck censorship.

Lazy, I know, but to quote their F.A.Q., the CBLDF is "...dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics art form and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians  and readers. The CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education in furtherance of these goals." Basically, the CBLDF helps protect and defend those from stupid people who take offense easily. Helping keep books & comics from being banned in schools, freeing authors/artists from uncalled-for arrests, etc. As an avid reader and purveyor of arts in general, I wholeheartedly support this. And I hope that if you are my friends, you do too.

For such a late post, I feel like I should have more to say, but being as the world "charity" alone tends to scare people away, I feel less is more.

And once again, if you have any suggestions as to what charities I should look into for upcoming months, please share!

Lyrical Indulgence

"Live & Direct" - Sugar Ray
This came on shuffle a few times over the past month, and it would always make me chuckle, and then I'd forget about it. I listened to this album constantly during high school, but this song in particular... Well... Supposedly the lyrics are "Whata bye bye bye" but all I can hear is "What about my butt?" And now so will you, and because of that, this song needed to be first.

"Love Is Greed" - Passion Pit
When this first came on, I realized I had heard it, possibly a few times before. I can't remember when or where, but it was extremely familiar. So this time I actually paid attention to the lyrics. I think it depends on context, but I really fell for the line "If we really love ourselves, how do you love somebody else?"

"I Couldn't Be Your Friend" - Tegan And Sara
Forgot that I had gotten Tegan and Sara's new album, and this song came on shuffle to remind me. I like the whole album, and there will probably be more on mixes in the future, but I mainly picked this one because it was the first that caught my attention and brought me back to them. I love these girls.

"Be Here Now" - As Tall As Lions
As Tall As Lions... in my opinion they're great lyricists. Again, one line caught me the most: "It's been a good life, I'll be sad to see it go." And the way it's sung. It just gives me goosebumps. Seeing this trend, I've now realized how to titled my mix. I usually write these posts after I finish the mix, but now I'm thinking I should write these before I actually publish it. Titles are always so hard.

"Walk On Air" - Minus the Bear
Well, besides the obvious reason being it's Minus the Bear, I should state that it's a new song from Minus the Bear, and it's glorious, and it's on the soundtrack of Injustice: Gods Among Us. Wait, what? Yeah. It's awesome.

"Wooly Mammoth" - Local Natives
This one was less about lyrics, and more... chord progression? for me. The underlying music. It snagged me and wouldn't let go. (Not to play down the lyrics, of course. They just weren't what first caught my attention.)

"Cough Cough" - Everything Everything
So much about this song I love. The background keyboards. The drumming. The subtle "cough cough." And of course, "I'm coming alive. I'm happening now." Yes. Just yes.

"Brennisteinn" - Sigur Rós
I'm not sure how to translate all my Squees and jaw-dropped facial expressions into a proper explanation. So I'll just leave it at that.