2007年 Jun 20日 Wednesday, 23:21

One of the things I enjoy more than anything is putting together a new playlist. I take it pretty seriously, because they're for the most important person in the world: myself. I don't give them to anyone else, and I don't hold up a boombox outside some poor girl's window hoping she's gonna give me a chance. Nope, these songs are for me.

A good list is not something I try to rush. The end result will be songs on said lists that I will end up skipping. It's hard to make a good one, even harder to make a great one. But the greatest thing of having these lists is that I can always look back on them and they'll tell me a lot about the mood I was in during that time period.

I just finished #34, and I think it's probably the last list for awhile that is going to be generally filled with good vibes. See, the lists tell stories. Starting with #29, I've been on a streak of overwhelming positivity. I'd been listening to music that was full of upbeat songs, party lyrics, etc.

Here's what #29 looked like:
Florida
Always Mine
Get Away
Come Save Us
I Was A Lover
Unmade Bed
Kill the Power
Phantom Limb
Beehiver II
Echoes
Lord, Let Us Shine

With #29 you've got some poppier stuff like the Shins and some spacier feedback stuff like Serena Maneesh. Loud at times, heavy at times, atmospheric at times. I'd been listening to a lot of The Black Angels, The Dandy Warhols, Kings of Leon…for the most part just good, fun rock.

See, usually my lists are anywhere from 10-14 songs and tend to start off poppier and trend down toward melancholy. That way each list captures each end of the spectrum, as far as moods go.

But as fun as #29-#34 were, I have two lists (#13 and #14) that are probably filled with some of the most agonizingly depressing songs ever created. Songs like Have You Forgotten and Which Will are prevalent here, and with good reason. They're songs that make me reflect and think things over, which is probably my the worst thing I can do, because as a reflective person, it tends to put me in a mini rut. But maybe I enjoy those ruts. Sometimes, I think, it's ok to wallow. I'm good at it.

This past week, I've been doing a lot of reflecting, and I think my charts will show that. I've been listening to a lot of Owen (songs like Bad News) and the new Cinematic Orchestra (such as Child Song). Pearl Jam's Indifference has been getting a lot of plays, not only as my favorite Pearl Jam song ever, but as a song that holds a deep personal meaning to me. Also, About Today by The National pretty much sums up everything concisely right now…if only there were 13 other songs this perfect, I'd have one hell of a #35 to keep me company.

And so I ask you, what's on your current playlist? Happy, sad or otherwise. Let's hear it. Or not. It's really up to you.

Today you were far away
and I didn't ask you why
What could I say
I was far away
You just walked away
and I just watched you
What could I say