Sometimes I escape into music.
I have some CD's in my collection that I simply could not live without, they speak to me and calm my weary mind. As The Verve sang in Bittersweet Symphony - I need to hear some sounds that recognise the pain in me, never a truer word has been sung.
There is something so magical about hearing lyrics that really speak to your soul and a melody that hums along with the rhythm of your life. There is a real peace in that space, a private exchange between performer and listener that can't really be explained.
And music is so personal, what you chose as your 'jam' is your own. No-one is going to have the exact same playlist as you do, but isn't it awesome when you meet someone that has the same taste in music as you do? Rejoice!
When Craig and I shacked up together, back in the days of cassettes and albums, we were astounded by the amount of similarities we had in our collections. We had doubles of dozens of things, and then we got to introduce each other to the stuff that we hadn't heard yet, and no surprises, we loved a lot of each others music too.
It is common for us to have our playlists on over the weekend and to be singing along to our faves at the top of our lungs. And don't songs have an amazing power to transport you back to another time or place? Some random moment or memory that was locked away is suddenly re-ignited by a few simple chords from a favourite tune.
I love the power that music has; the power to set a mood, to enhance an experience or take you back decades in time. I think that music will always be one of my favourite forms of expression (next to cinema - of course!) and I think that you can tell a lot about people from the music that they listen to.
Not long ago I was asked to list the top ten albums that I couldn't live without. And I tell you, it was a tough choice for me - almost got me to thinking about a Spicy-listen website, but then I thought better of it.
After much re-listening and contemplation I came up with this ten, but I tell you there were some things that didn't make the cut that I adore too. However, if these CD's were to go missing from my personal collection, I would be fricken furious!
1. High Violet by The National - probably the most beautiful and meaningful album ever written and one that I go back to again and again - amazing!
2. Tough Love by Magic Dirt - my favourite rock chick album of all time, bought for me as a 30th birthday gift. But it was hard to decide between this and Joan Jett's Greatest hits.
3. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins - a wonderfully rich double album offering with a stellar mix of music that has been a favourite of mine for years.
4. Dark Horses by Tex Perkins - loved him in the Beasts of Bourbon, loved him in The Cruel Sea, adore him solo. Dark horse indeed!
5. August and Everything After by The Counting Crows - mellow and moody, meaningful chill out music, I know every word of this album.
6. God Shuffled His Feet by Crash Test Dummies - fricken love this album, the lyrics are great and I can sing along to every track, reminds me of my 20's.
7. Grace by Jeff Buckley - a voice like no other, hauntingly good. Beautiful stuff!
8. Homogenic by Bjork - I am a huge fan of hers, always have been and this album has some awesome lyrics and unbelievable range.
9. Crystal Visions by Stevie Nicks - magical Stevie, love her! Loved her in Fleetwood Mac and always dug that weird arse voice of hers.
10. The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails - because it was so new and different in it's time, it introduced me to Industrial music and it's still fantastic to listen to.
God, I could list another 20 without blinking, but I'll stop there. Have a think about your own collection, what could you NOT live without? It's an interesting experiment.
I have some CD's in my collection that I simply could not live without, they speak to me and calm my weary mind. As The Verve sang in Bittersweet Symphony - I need to hear some sounds that recognise the pain in me, never a truer word has been sung.
There is something so magical about hearing lyrics that really speak to your soul and a melody that hums along with the rhythm of your life. There is a real peace in that space, a private exchange between performer and listener that can't really be explained.
And music is so personal, what you chose as your 'jam' is your own. No-one is going to have the exact same playlist as you do, but isn't it awesome when you meet someone that has the same taste in music as you do? Rejoice!
When Craig and I shacked up together, back in the days of cassettes and albums, we were astounded by the amount of similarities we had in our collections. We had doubles of dozens of things, and then we got to introduce each other to the stuff that we hadn't heard yet, and no surprises, we loved a lot of each others music too.
It is common for us to have our playlists on over the weekend and to be singing along to our faves at the top of our lungs. And don't songs have an amazing power to transport you back to another time or place? Some random moment or memory that was locked away is suddenly re-ignited by a few simple chords from a favourite tune.
I love the power that music has; the power to set a mood, to enhance an experience or take you back decades in time. I think that music will always be one of my favourite forms of expression (next to cinema - of course!) and I think that you can tell a lot about people from the music that they listen to.
Not long ago I was asked to list the top ten albums that I couldn't live without. And I tell you, it was a tough choice for me - almost got me to thinking about a Spicy-listen website, but then I thought better of it.
After much re-listening and contemplation I came up with this ten, but I tell you there were some things that didn't make the cut that I adore too. However, if these CD's were to go missing from my personal collection, I would be fricken furious!
1. High Violet by The National - probably the most beautiful and meaningful album ever written and one that I go back to again and again - amazing!
2. Tough Love by Magic Dirt - my favourite rock chick album of all time, bought for me as a 30th birthday gift. But it was hard to decide between this and Joan Jett's Greatest hits.
3. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins - a wonderfully rich double album offering with a stellar mix of music that has been a favourite of mine for years.
4. Dark Horses by Tex Perkins - loved him in the Beasts of Bourbon, loved him in The Cruel Sea, adore him solo. Dark horse indeed!
5. August and Everything After by The Counting Crows - mellow and moody, meaningful chill out music, I know every word of this album.
6. God Shuffled His Feet by Crash Test Dummies - fricken love this album, the lyrics are great and I can sing along to every track, reminds me of my 20's.
7. Grace by Jeff Buckley - a voice like no other, hauntingly good. Beautiful stuff!
8. Homogenic by Bjork - I am a huge fan of hers, always have been and this album has some awesome lyrics and unbelievable range.
9. Crystal Visions by Stevie Nicks - magical Stevie, love her! Loved her in Fleetwood Mac and always dug that weird arse voice of hers.
10. The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails - because it was so new and different in it's time, it introduced me to Industrial music and it's still fantastic to listen to.
God, I could list another 20 without blinking, but I'll stop there. Have a think about your own collection, what could you NOT live without? It's an interesting experiment.
SCHOOL OF ROCK
Release Date: 2003
Rating: PG
Running Time: 108 mins
This hilarious comedy written by Mike White and directed by Richard Linklater is a winner. The soundtrack is totally kick ass and made it into my own CD collection; the kids are amazingly talented and Jack Black is hilarious as the fake substitute teacher that just wants to get to the battle of the bands.
Dewey Finn is a wannabe rock star that has been just been kicked out of his band for his over the top behaviours. When an opportunity arises for him to moonlight as a substitute at an uptight private school, he sees it as way to raise some much needed funds. However, when he realises how musically talented his students are, he changes course and decides to take his bunch of fourth graders to the "battle of the bands" competition instead of teaching them.
This is seriously funny stuff. Joan Cusack is gold as the Stevie Nicks loving principal , the kids are all stellar and rock their tiny hearts out and the overall effect is spirited and thoroughly enjoyable. I think that this is one of the best family movies around, everyone will get a laugh and have a lot of fun.
FINAL SAY: Dude, I service society by rocking!
4 Chili Peppers
Release Date: 2003
Rating: PG
Running Time: 108 mins
This hilarious comedy written by Mike White and directed by Richard Linklater is a winner. The soundtrack is totally kick ass and made it into my own CD collection; the kids are amazingly talented and Jack Black is hilarious as the fake substitute teacher that just wants to get to the battle of the bands.
Dewey Finn is a wannabe rock star that has been just been kicked out of his band for his over the top behaviours. When an opportunity arises for him to moonlight as a substitute at an uptight private school, he sees it as way to raise some much needed funds. However, when he realises how musically talented his students are, he changes course and decides to take his bunch of fourth graders to the "battle of the bands" competition instead of teaching them.
This is seriously funny stuff. Joan Cusack is gold as the Stevie Nicks loving principal , the kids are all stellar and rock their tiny hearts out and the overall effect is spirited and thoroughly enjoyable. I think that this is one of the best family movies around, everyone will get a laugh and have a lot of fun.
FINAL SAY: Dude, I service society by rocking!
4 Chili Peppers
RSS Feed