Of all places, I would never think that the Cleveland Mall in Shelby would have good music playing over their speakers. But admittedly, it has been my source for almost all my new discoveries over the past few months. I mean, they really play good music! Not just new music, but really good old music (and by "old" I mean early 90's). I'm sure it's some kind of satellite radio station, which reminds me that I need to find out what station it is. but whatever it is, it's good. So anyway. Here is my "list of good songs I've discovered via the Cleveland Mall." Hope you enjoy.

1. "At My Most Beautiful" by R.E.M. - How did I not know this song before now?! It's such a good one. It just makes me smile, and the only qualm I have is that it isn't long enough.

2. "Accept Things" by Dolores O'Riordan - I should already be listening to her solo stuff, as I am huge fan of The Cranberries. I think other singles off this album were promoted more than this one so I'm not sure why it was chosen to be played on the radio but I'm glad it was. If you like her voice, I think you'll like this song.

3. "Here's Where the Story Ends" by The Sundays - Another one I'm thinking how did I miss this before now?? I am a big fan of the Cocteau Twins and iTunes kind of puts them in the same category. so yeah. Really good early 90's stuff that I'm sorry I missed the first go round. I was only five.

4. "If Only" by KT Tunstall - I really like KT Tunstall. And I have the entire album that this song is on...but didn't notice it until I heard it today. Just goes to show, there are probably hundreds of amazing songs hiding on our cd's that we don't ever thoroughly listen to.

There are more, but those are the most recent. In addition to these songs, I have been listening to Mates of State way more than any human being ever should. haha ok, not THAT much, but quite a bit. I know I will probably get tired of it real soon and not listen to them for a good solid few months. but right now I am loving their new cd...it's titled Rearrange Us. In addition to the fact that I just like their sound, I love the story behind them. They are a husband and wife duo, both had normal jobs...she was a teacher and he was a cancer researcher or something like that- but then they just decided they loved being on tour and playing shows everywhere so they quit their jobs and now music is all they do. I just think that is awesome.

On a sidenote before I end this, I added a blog to my list of blogs I read on the right called "Stuff Christians Like" and it is fantastic. I read it every day and always enjoy the posts...they are usually really funny and also very true. So I highly recommend you check it out.
http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com ...and yes, there are three f's in the word "stuff" in the url address.

Happy 4th of July week! :)

top fiiiiive!!!!!!!

I think it's time for another top five list!...I should be folding laundry or something but really, who wants to do that? All of the songs this week might not have lengthy explanations but you should listen to all of them anyway. ok here it is:

1. The entire Safetysuit album. I really like this band. My favorite songs thus far are "Annie," and "Something I Said." You can hear both of them on their myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/safetysuit.

2. "Real Love" by Regina Spektor. Originally by John Lennon. She does such a beautiful cover of this song...I've found the sheet music and it looks pretty easy to play so maybe you'll hear me singing it in a coffee shop one day or something. hah! Seriously though, it is such a pretty song and, even better, it's featured on the album Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. Good song, good artist, good cause.

3. "Tracing" by John Mayer. I love his songwriting. I also have full intentions of buying his as/is live album very soon because it sounds reealllly good.

4. "London Rain (Nothing Heals Me Like You Do)" by Heather Nova.

5. "Get Better" by Mates of State. If you haven't ever listened to Mates of State, you should. I am a big fan. It's basically a husband and wife duo- he plays the drums, she plays the organ. I know, you're thinking "umm...organ?" but it's a really good sound. And the song "Get Better" actually features the piano instead. Anyway, they are definitely unique. http://www.myspace.com/matesofstate if you're interested!

and that's it. Now that you have my stamp of approval on all these songs, you can go listen to them and soak up the musical goodness. :)

blogs, weddings, etc.

Just a note- everyone should take a look at the new blog I listed under my "frequented blogs and sites" list to your right...well, actually I'll just give you the link: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/waltrumfelt. Walt Rumfelt's story is pretty amazing, so I encourage you to take a look at his journal. He also spoke at The Foundation last week, and if you go to their blog (that link is also on my list) you can download the testimony that he gave. A short summary- Walt went on a mission trip to Nepal with my church here in Shelby and came back fine, but two weeks later fell ill to some unknown disease (doctors to this day have no idea what it was) and came close to losing his life. It's an amazing story of how God works in our lives and through us even in the most difficult times. I can't really do justice to the story here so I'll let you look into it.

In other news, my best friend got married this past weekend! I don't even know if she reads this but I am so happy for her and her new husband! (: yaaaay weddings! I have to mention something I just read in one of Walt Rumfelt's journal entries. He was thanking his wife for all she had done and talking about marriage in general and this is the excerpt I really liked:
"God doesn't see marriage as a contract but a covenant. Tommy Nelson says that when you marry that person, you make them the right person at that moment. In God's economy, there is no turning back once you say I do."
Wow...what would our society be like if people really honored that covenant? It's kind of scary to think about how casually marriage is looked upon now. Really scary, actually. But I especially like the part about "when you marry that person, you make them the right person." It seems like so many times people abandon marriages because they feel they just aren't right for each other anymore, or they don't love each other the way they used to. Commitment is a choice, and I hate how people act like it's something they have no control over. I am thankful that I have two parents to look up to in this department. Are there times my parents didn't think they loved each other anymore? I'm sure. Are there times they felt like the romance was gone? Most definitely. But they make a choice everyday to put in 100% and make things work...and they've come out on the better side. I just pray that my friends who are making that step will find the courage and the strength to stick things out. Anyway, didn't think I'd go off on that tangent but I did.

Onto other things. (: I have liked The Weepies for a while now but their new album was released today, I've downloaded and so far it's great. They have such a good simple sound and I always love their lyrics. um...what else...Alanis Morissette's new single "Underneath" is not too bad either. I'm listening to Lifehouse as we speak and I'm loving the songs they have on their myspace. I've always liked Lifehouse and I definitely love their new stuff. ok that was all really random but that's it for now!

THE list.

So I think this evening I will post a top five (or however many I decide) list of sorts. I usually go at least a couple weeks listening to a select few songs I've recently discovered and/or rediscovered...and they all automatically have my stamp of approval/recommendation.

the list (in no particular order, except the first one which I really love)
(1) "Steady On" by Shawn Colvin
(2) "Where Is My Mind" by the Pixies
(3) "So Long" by Guster
(4) "Weightless" by Nada Surf
(5) "Without Love" by Donna Lewis
(6) "Talula (The Tornado Mix)" by Tori Amos

also, I am loving this John Mayer song called "Say"...(and my new car, but that's another topic!) I love the lyrics. So here they are.

Take all of your wasted honor,
every little past frustration
Take all of your so-called problems,
better put them in quotations

say what you need to say

Walking like a one man army,
fighting with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment,
knowing you'd be better off instead
if you could only

say what you need to say

Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You better know that in the end
it's better say too much
than never to say what you need to say again

Even if your hands are shaking
and your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open

say what you need to say



Such a good song. I think it's on the soundtrack for The Bucket List, which would seem appropriate. Anyway that's it for tonight! (: Be looking soon for my next post that is almost certainly going to be about one of the best Nickel Creek songs in existence. and maybe another top however many list.

Living Well's the Best Revenge

I am loving this video. R.E.M. freakin rocks. You can also download this on iTunes for free! :D

So...quite possibly one of my favorite songs by The Supremes would have to be "My World is Empty Without You." It is the jam!! haha. I think the bari sax just makes the track. Love it.


Anyway. On a random note, I decorated my first cake tonight! I don't think it was very good...but I tried. I am lacking in the patience department, probably just because of not enough sleep and working all day. And the icing I made was really weird and hard to squeeze out so now my hand hurts real bad! Gah! lol. Either way, I'm hoping maybe later in life I'll have the patience to decorate cakes. I mean, I think it's a lot of fun, but sometimes I just don't think I would ever be able to spend such a long time on all the intricate details of a pretty cake. I think I'm bad about always finding a way to justify paying people for things (i.e. cakes). Maybe crafty things just aren't my kind of hobby.

but listening to music definitely is. (:

Stand Back

So this next video has to be one of most favorite live performances- Stevie Nicks performing "Stand Back" in 1983 on late night tv. I think her voice sounds really good in this particular performance. I mean- I'm a fan of Stevie Nicks in general, but I don't have a problem admitting that I think her voice tends to be on the very-nasal-sounding side of things. That nasal-sound just isn't as defined in this video and I like that. Also I LOVE this song. Stevie Nicks is freakin awesome. I always love the black flowy outfits with the really big sleeves and platform shoes she wears. I read in some article that she didn't like always being so much shorter than everyone on stage (she's like 5'1) so she always wore really high platform shoes. I can totally identify with that sentiment (not the on-stage part, of course). Anyway, she definitely has a spot on my list of the best female performing artists. If you can get past the cheese-tastic 80's dancing, it's a great video.


I did have the video posted, but it's a little sluggish when I actually post the video, so...you can watch it here!

Adele

this girl is just fabulous.




go here for more. (:

sometimes the best are undiscovered

A song called "Polaroid Millennium" by the UK group Sneaker Pimps is quite possibly one of my most favorite songs of all time. Or, well, it would at least make the top 50. I would venture to say it is almost entirely unheard of. I stumbled upon the song after buying the soundtrack to The Saint (good soundtrack and good movie). For some reason, the soundtrack doesn't list Sneaker Pimps as the artist for the song. So I never knew who it was by until I googled the lyrics today. Strange. But anyway. "6 Underground" is a more well-known song by the Sneaker Pimps, and it's also on The Saint soundtrack. Evidently, the Sneaker Pimps album that featured "Polaroid Millennium" never actually released because the record company rejected it...which would explain the lack of popularity. I'm pretty much a sucker for any song that features any form of strings, and this song qualifies. And you are in luck, I have the song here for you to listen to! I might just type all the lyrics out if I'm feeling extra ambitious. I especially like the part when (a little over halfway through) the electric-guitar sound is thrown in.

just press play :)



Pictures black and white or color
There's a postcard sent from heaven,
says 'make the most of never-never,
horizon starts right here,
the futures always near'
I know
I know this time is borrowed
I try to remember then forget my sorrow

Celluloid, monochrome, or color
Don't want to end in tears
I'll leave before my fear's confirmed,
scared to learn wasted knowledge
Give to the grave
These four walls could last forever
I could never be that clever

Celluloid, monochrome, or color
Don't want to end in tears
There's nothing left to discover
Did I learn to walk too soon
Is there time to turn the screw
Survive destiny, polaroid me
What's left to say about yesterday

I'll leave before my fear's confirmed,
scared to learn wasted knowledge
Give to the grave
These four walls could last forever
I could never be that clever

So new on the music-to-discuss list is Jose (pronounced "josie") Vanders. I originally discovered her music via perezhilton.com (that's kind of embarassing and I promise I don't visit that site on a regular basis). Then, I started to see these little clips on MTV of a singer followed by the name "Kate Nash" flashing on the screen. I'm pretty sure Kate Nash is Jose Vanders. Actually not, but they sound so alike it isn't even funny. I first thought maybe "Kate Nash" was a show on MTV that Jose Vanders was doing the music for or something, but I looked it up and it turns out Kate Nash is a singer. They both have this ridiculously thick British accent...which might have a lot to do with why I thought they were the same person.

I haven't really heard any of Kate Nash's music other than the MTV clips. However, I do like Jose Vanders. The accent gets annoying after a while, but she has some good songs. I can't say that I like all of the songs I've heard on her myspace, but I really like a couple. The song called "Faces Going Places" is cute, and I very much like "Alberto Morrocco." Her songs are kind of abstract, kind of. You might could say she's a tiny bit Regina Spektor-ish. You can actually listen to "Faces Going Places" here:


Anyway. On the list of things that made my Friday (yesterday): I was at Harris-Teeter on Fri morning, and I was in a ridiculously long line to check out and I only had a couple bottles of water. A cashier opened another register and told *me* that she could ring me up. Well another lady walking up behind me with a cart full of groceries hears the cashier tell ME this, but proceeds to push her cart up to the newly-opened register! I, of course, back down and kind of gesture to the cashier to let the other woman go ahead (even though it was clearly my turn). But the cashier said to the lady "no, I'm sorry ma'am, I told her I would ring her up first so I can't let you cut in...sorry." HAHA! I snickered at her on the inside. It's the little victories in life! Hope you enjoyed that story.

Goodnight!