New York - Rock Playlist

Hello All,

Ok, this is probably about as intimate as it can get. I pour my pathetic heart and preteen emotions out in these emails every day to a bunch of strangers that don’t know me. Knowledge is useless without understanding; so I’m pretty confident that I can somewhat try to remain a mystery to some. Maybe I’ll wear an eye patch just for the fuck of it. Whatever, I have a busy day so I won’t try to make this all special, but I wanted to offer up something that will give more insight into me than anything I’ve ever written. I’m giving you a playlist! It lets you know how I chunk my music and what context I listen to it in. So it’s not like, “great choice for listening.” It’s more like, “ok, he chose to listen to this, in that context..what the hell was he thinking?” And lord, you have no idea how strongly a playlist can shape your environment and influence the way you experience it.

Well, for the most part, instead of perpetuating the energy and chaos of Manhattan, I really wanted to counterbalance it. After all, though in the middle of everything, I was very much rolling solo and I couldn’t help but see each subway train and think, “Aren’t we really all just a bunch of lost souls? What’s really on our agenda? Why are we walking so fast? Do we really need to be there, that fast? Are we going to win gold medals? Or cookies? Is it to justify our existence? Like, ‘let’s walk fast and hurriedly so that people will think we’re going places and handling our bitness?’” Really though, I revel at sharing such intimate things like playlists, but thought you guys might find it interesting. Shit, maybe it might even compel you guys to make playlists of your own for certain moods, trips, etc. (please share with me, I’m very curious).

I don’t know. Either way, the city was sizzling and these songs helped my nerves simmer down (lyrics should be embedded in the files):

SWEET SWEET HEARTKILLER
Say Hi to Your Mom – cool nerd rock. Top 5 current bands right now. This song is one of my favorites that I discovered this year (I can’t thank you enough, Eric). Lyrics and story of the song are beautiful. “Her winks cut through me like a ginsu."

BLAH BLAH BLAH
Say Hi to Your Mom - again, another song that makes me think, “why the fuck aren’t these guys living in mansions and playing with their pet bengal tigers?” they’re so good.....gosh, I really hate the commercial music plight.

BOOKS FROM BOXES
Maximo Park – the name of the band reminds me of a Korean gladiator. And that’s why I picked this song.

BREAKFAST IN BED
Dntl feat. Conor Oburst – however you spell the whiny boy’s name. Well, he always draws comparisons to Dylan (I’m not sure if it’s Bob or the Luke Perry). Story revolves around a fling that takes place in New York, presumably under the context of an affair. Well, this song just makes me want to tell someone, “for real. No one has to know. If you want it, don’t let anyone other than you stop you; not your obligations or commitments.” The heart is a powerful thing, and you can’t control your feelings or what you think, but your mind can definitely sedate you and restrict you from really letting your soul take flight. That’s my case, no further comments. But on a side note, my dad taught me a lesson I’ll never fail, “never fuck around with your friends’ girlfriends. It’s a lot easier to find a desirable girl than it is to find a good friend.” Word up, pops!

FISTS UP
The Blow – her voice is soothing and her cute personality just oozes out. If I had to choose a wife based on voice alone, I’d pick her. Sure, Karen O (yeah yeah yeahs) and Chan (Cat Power) will probably be wild times, but when it comes down to it...I pick cute over sexy, or even psycho-sexy, anyday.

HOW MY HEART BEHAVES
Feist – this song reminds me of a rich, yuppie woman in a dark red dress overlooking a windowsill somewhere in San Francisco. Trying to see through the pattering rain, looking into oblivion for some sort of salvation. Perhaps holding her wine in one hand, clutching her pearl necklace in the other (the literal kind, perverts) And like she probably has a white, fluffy cat that reminds you of that lead cheerleader in high school that always had a bitchface and you didn’t understand why all the guys liked her so much? Here’s a hint, it’s because she looks like a bitch.

NO FIT STATE
Hot Chip – this is the gayest sounding band, like I want to pick up old school wrestler, Hacksaw Jim Dugan, and just go beat the shit out of all the band members. I do like them a lot, but I would never play them in front of my “ghetto friends." But still, this song made me feel cool, calm and cRaZY!!

SIMPLE X
Andrew Bird – this song, the entire album was real soothing and mellow. No real standouts other than this song. And even still it wasn’t an F-16 fighter jet, but it was still like, “look, that’s a cool plane.” Same mood inhibitor as Beck’s “Sea Change.” The marching band drumming made me walk with pride, like I had a posse as my backup, like all the dancers in the “Thriller” video.

SURPRISE ICE
Kings of Convenience - New York always seemed more cultured and mature than LA to me. So I picked this song because it made me feel older and more refined. This is probably the musical equivalent of a wool, pea coat. This is one of those songs that they'll play in the courtroom waiting rooms (to maintain all the pissed off people waiting because they got summoned) or the song they'll play when someone crazy gets reintroduced back into society. And like, I’m doing fine...I’m just getting buy...used the shrimp fork for the shrimp, napkin on my lap and all. Then all of a sudden, I get a sip of a mojito then I just flip the table upside down and go into a rage like, “fuck, shit!!?!?!?!!?!” and just go ape shit on everyone. The calm before the storm.

WEREWOLF
CocoRosie - This song is byoo-tea-full. Just listen to the lyrics. This song will make you like black licorice. I had this on repeat while perusing the hallways of MOMA, silently judging people by their handbags. You listen to this song on the subway and you’ll have this uncontrollable urge to bob your head to the slow drumming. This is one of those songs that you have to listen to for at least 2 hours on repeat to realize how monumental, flawless and how tragically beautiful it is. Then, after that you return to your subway car, and you’re like, “Shit, I want to just announce this band to everyone in here. I wish they could all hear the song I’m listening to right now! They have no idea how cool I am by playing this right now. Damn, if only they knew....they’d want me to kiss their babies.”

-- Sonnyred

Download the entire compilation here:
http://www.box.net/shared/9xa6yrqb14