Once, Twice, Thrice

In the spirit of giving, where I am currently situated (his almighty stomach is m'jassive!), I hereby offer a trio of playlists. They're probably the one and the same, but I'm too close to them to tell. Or care.

Right, here we go. 3 playlists, and 30 mp3s to boot! Don't say I never get you anything. Down from 89 songs to 10, and then up to 30 again. I've attempted to keep it under 10 songs each. Can you imagine the strain I've put myself through?! I'm fairly sure my eye-twitch is from this.

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This first one is all about feeling quiet & attentive. I've tried to make it so that every track is whisperingly sinister. For some of the songs, I can't shake the feeling that they're singing about having killed someone, or that they're gonna kill you. In others, the melodies and chords invoke a feeling that I can't distinguish from nostalgia (mainly from first year at Uni, but it was 5 years ago, and those were indeed some very happy times). There's some of my all time favourite songs on these playlists. I suggest only playing these songs together. Everyone has lists for certain moods right? Next time you're on your own, sunk (emotionally) low on a sofa with your headphones on, perusing the interweb, try it. It ends on a high, so you're ready for the next playlist.

1. Jon Brion - Here We Go
2. Madeleine Peyroux - Between the Bars
3. Sufjan Stevens - The Lord God Bird
4. Iron & Wine - Naked As We Came
5. Elliott Smith - Needle in the Hay
6. New Buffalo - I've Got You and You've Got Me.mp3
7. Liz Durrett - The Mezzanine
8. Jim White - Bluebird
9. Low - Murderer
10. Frou Frou - Let Go

So, can't stray too far, as it must link somehow! Mood wise, anyway. This playlist is a more well-rounded person, with you downloading...the limbs? For shame! Hackensack is a prime example of a quality song, with a followable story, a great melody, and it's short & sweet. Welcome, but you'll want it to carry on, like the way listening to Everlong makes you curse when it ends. Damn you, restrained songwriters!

1. Jon Brion - Knock Yourself Out
2. Fountains of Wayne - Hackensack
3. Ian Love - The Only Night
4. Tunng - Bullets
5. St. Vincent - Now. Now.
6. Beirut - Elephant Gun
7. Tim Fite - Away From The Snakes
8. The Delays - Long Time Coming
9. Soltero - I'll Be A Writer
10. Hawksley Workman - Stop Joking Around

Next! Upbeat! Even better, upbeat with wedge of emotionally satisfying chord changes and shouty bits! I get a bit giddy from some of these songs. Once again, I'm doing that associating thing but, statistically speaking, that's where at least 40% of a songs enjoyment comes from. Fact. Plenty of great songs, great lyrics, and they get much, much better with repeat listenings. That sounds obvious, but how often does a song, no matter how optimistically you approach it, refuse to make its case? Be damned, you shit! Shit off! Okay, I've not made as much effort with this one, but it definitely suits the mood, and the songs are great. It's mainly...louder, with added up. Enjoy.

1. New Pornographers - Mass Romantic
2. Pavement - Stereo
3. The Rapture - Whoo! Alright-Yeah... Uh Huh
4. Spoon - The Way We Get By
5. Field Music - You Can Decide
6. Bricolage - Footsteps
7. Josh Ottum - Who Left The Lights On
8. Son of Dave - Life is So Easy Now
9. The Little Ones - Cha Cha Cha
10. The Be Good Tanyas - The Littlest Birds

Fulllllll Stop.