Five Years & a Mixed Tape

A (rather cheesy) poem for my husband on our fifth anniversary. . .

(Music Review) Break Me Out by The Rescues

I've been in love with The Rescues since my husband discovered them this past spring. He bought the cd at Best Buy, forced me to listen to this song, and I was hooked. I must've listened to the cd at least a dozen times in the next week; over and over as I drove the 26 minutes to school in the mornings and the 26 minutes home in the afternoons.

The album is terrific. The group consists of two men, two women, and their harmonies remind me of youth choir -- which made my husband groan when I described it in those terms. They've got a pop-music feel -- which made my brother groan and say, "that's not my type of music."

But I love them. And I particularly love "Break Me Out."

This Mom's Quest to 'Roo the Day

On a midnight drive home after a September concert, I was completely sure about one thing. "We're going."

"Where?" my husband Ryan asked.

"To Bonnaroo. We're going to Bonnaroo."

And from that moment, we were in. It wasn't hard to convince my friend Gemi to go along, plans were made, and eventually, bags were packed -- a lot of 'em.

My Obsession with the Compact Disc

There's something about listening to a CD... an actual. compact. disc.

I don't know why exactly, but it makes me listen in a different way.  As much as I adore the iPod (okay, seriously adore the iPod) it's taken something away from my listening experience.

Maybe it's associated with the physical sensation... Plucking through the CD visor, the flaps too loose from overcrowding.  Holding a finger through one, two, sometimes six at a time while I search through pockets.  Cursing when I drive over railroad tracks and discs fly out.

Okay, maybe I don't miss that.

You see, one of the features I love most about iTunes is its ability to create playlists.  I've got Favorites, and Girls! Girls! Girls!, Early Morning, and Calm Me Down.  Playlists are the quintessential mixed tape, or perhaps her hotter, hipper, younger replacement.  When I belt out Martina McBride's Independence Day and go straight into Evanescence' My Immortal, that's a pretty awesome Sing Out Loud mix.

In recent weeks, though, I've been exploring new music, and there's a certain connection between artist and listener when the songs are played in order. When I pop in a new CD and listen from start to finish, the arrangement might affect me as much as the melody or lyrics.  In addition, I find that my "Music A.D.D." goes away.  If listening to my iPod, I'm constantly switching songs;  but when listening to a CD, I listen over and over, sometimes for days at a time.  When I'm done with a CD, I know the music -- better than anything I've downloaded straight to an iPod.

Which is probably why, when deciding the Holy Grail of my favorite albums, eight of the top ten are b.i.t. (before iTunes).  Just looking at the album covers invoke a homesickness in me. It's the same feeling I get when I think about my childhood home, or summers with my family at the beach.  I'll never feel the way I did in that place, in those moments, just as I will never feel the way I did when I fell in love with these artists, these albums.  The music takes me back, though, for just a moment. I can sing out loud with the same abandon I did when I listened in my first car, in my first apartment... feel the pain of heartbreak and the thrill of moving away from home.

Now that I'm aware of my listening disability, perhaps I'll go back to the way I did once upon a time.  Maybe I'll hang on desperately to the compact disc like so many have to vinyl records and cassette tapes.  Who knows, maybe the next few years will bring new sounds, new relationships, new memories into my top ten. I'm bonding strongly right now with The Rescues, The Civil Wars, and Mumford & Sons, so who knows?

Indeed, I love my iPod.  I love the listening diversity it's brought to long drives and my sing-at-the-top-of-my-lungs mood.  I revel in the ease with which I can carry it into class, on vacation, into the doctor's office.

But the compact disc is why I fell flat-on-my-face in love with my first albums.  Thanks to the compact disc, I'm holding on to memories.  Holding a finger through one, two, sometimes six at a time.

* * *

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The Albums I Love

** These albums accompany the post "My Obsession with the Compact Disc." Be sure to check it out!

Emily's Top Ten Albums | (Highlighted titles denote a Top Five)

Michelle Branch - Hotel Paper

Fell in love with her while living in Jacksonville, Florida.  I also love her album Spirit Room.

Deana Carter - Did I Shave My Legs for This

I was 15 years old when a boyfriend gave this to me for Valentine's Day.  That went to crap not long after but the albums's still around.

Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

Starbucks' coworkers gave me a Target gift card and this is what I bought!

Dashboard Confessional - MTV Unplugged

A friend recommended this band to me at a party, and later that same night finally asked me out.  Lucky for him we married that next year.

Hope Floats

This movie was my favorite for ten or so years, and this soundtrack another love from the days before I could drive.

Live in X Lounge II -- 107.7 The X

My first plunge into alternative music.  It featured greats like "Remedy" by The Black Crowes and "Sunburn" by Fuel.

Thank you for touching my life, 107.7 The X;  you are dearly missed.

Matchbox 20 - Yourself or Someone Like You

The guy who sat in front of me in high school World History told me about this great new band. I would go on to see them three times in concert before I was 25 and have considered them my favorite band for almost half my life.

Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill

Does this even need an explanation? Who hasn't belted out You Oughtta Know at one point or another?

Shinedown - Leave a Whisper

Thank you, Doug Roske, for introducing me to Shinedown and Fall Out Boy before they were cool.  I don't know how many nights I cranked this out in my tiny Florida apartment, screaming along with Brent Smith while I got dressed to go out.

Train - Save Me San Francisco

"Drops of Jupiter" has long been one of my favorite songs, but a month after this album released I won tickets to a concert, got a front-row spot, and touched Pat Monohan's hand.  Say what you want about its overplay -- this album is kickass. 

** Don't forget to read the accompanying post: "My Obsession with the Compact Disc." 

This Week's Creative Champs

Who doesn't love a great, FRESH new idea? Creativity is defined as the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules... and to create meaningful new ideas, products, etc.


(As always, thank you dictionary.com)


So here are a few things I've come across this week that blow my creative mind.  You're welcome.

The House of Mirth by Elizabeth Wharton


Published in the early 1900s, the novel details the trials of Miss Lily Bart as she struggles to maintain her place in the aristocratic New York society in which she's been raised.  Since it follows a truly naturalistic notion, you can probably predict how it ends.  


But what's truly unique about this book is how the author creates the sense that there is no other option.  I found myself wishing that Lily would kill herself and put both of us out of our misery.  Now let's be clear -- I am in no way supporting suicide, only applauding the conclusive means to which Wharton builds both her main character and plot.  

Girl Talk


Ahhh... Girl Talk.  The lovely board game of truth or dare I remember from my youth.  Oh wait, that's not right.  Girl Talk is this fabulous artist I've discovered thanks to my brother Brack and the 2011 Bonnaroo line-up!  Runners, are you looking for something to spice up your iPod? Girl Talk!!!  Cheerleaders everywhere, there's no need to hire someone to mash-up your favorite tunes! Girl Talk!!! 


You've got to experience what Gregg Gillis calls his "pop collages" to get the full effect.  Mixing in a little Ludacris and 'Jesse's Girl' melody... C'mon!  What's not to love?

(I guess here is where I say some kind of disclaimer about explicit lyrics and such)

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

And the best part?  The artist allows you to download his album FREE by visiting his label's web site.  


Girl Talk is definitely on my must-see list for Bonnaroo!

Barbie & Ken's Social Media Escapades 


That's right.  Barbie & Ken have (separate) Facebook pages & Twitter accounts, and were involved in a pretty publicized Valentine's Day reunion this past week.  Seriously.  Read all about it on All Doll'd Up -- Barbie's blog, of course!


That's darn creative publicity -- and if passing the 1-million-fan-mark is any indication of success, Barbie can add advertising exec to her list of careers (unless she's already done that.  Really, who can keep track?)


Now let's just hope Ken isn't tagged in any compromising photos -- because we all know he went a little wild during this last breakup.

Tuesday's Two Cents: Shake Up Christmas!

Today is the day I finally begin listening to Christmas music!  Although I've been jonesin' for my holiday tunes for well over a week, I've found that if I start too early I get burnt out before the day actually comes.  So in one of my few acts of willpower, I wait until the day before Thanksgiving (which is when I decorate my house, as well) and break out the tunes as I break out the ornaments!  Today I give you my all-time favorite band Train with their new single Shake Up Christmas!  I suspect this will become mine & my 3-year-old daughter's favorite song very soon!

Summer Favorites: 2009 Edition

Every now and then I post what I consider my "What's Hot" list, and here's my current edition!

Music - I don't have any one favorite right now, but I'm working on the mix for our Autumn Party coming up in October. Any suggestions? And I don't want any cheesy party songs like YMCA - right now I've got the following:

Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams
Just Dance by Lada Gaga
Come to My Window by Melissa Etheridge
Free Fallin' by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Just a Girl by No Doubt

You get the drift! Let me know any classic, fun songs (preferably that everyone will know and be inspired to sing along to!)


Movies - In February we got a Roku player for Ryan's birthday present - this allows us to watch movies instantly through Netflix on our television! Ryan has actually used it MUCH MORE than I have, simply because he's a movie junkie and I don't enjoy watching movies I've never heard or seen anything about. But this is such a cool concept! Netflix has a stash of favorites, such as Dirty Dancing and A League of Their Own and tons more, not to mention a lot of movies for kids. It's nice when I'm home alone at night to put an old favorite on, simply because I can watch without paying too close attention!


Books - Jodi Picoult is fabulous! She is the author of My Sister's Keeper which just recently came out in theatres! I haven't read it yet, simply because I fear the subject will be too painful right now, but I've read The Plain Truth and Salem Falls and they are both FANTASTIC! She has an amazing way of approaching the topic from all sides, so even days after I finish the book I'm thinking about another point-of-view and pondering the gray areas. If you're looking for a new author, I'd definitely check her out.

p.s. also finished Nora Roberts newest hardbook The Black Hills and as always, Roberts delivered!


Web Sites - Blogher.com is a giant venue for women everywhere to sound off about everything! Many of the blogs are extremely well-written and (although I don't use them) it provides chat rooms & social networking tools to connect with those that interest you! I enjoy reading them every now and again when I want to be inspired to write - it usually does the trick!


For Shannon - Some of you have heard me talk about The Tushy Book which we bought for Shannon back in April or May! Written by Fran Manushkin and illustrated by Tracy Dockray, it's all about (you guessed it!) tushies and includes super-cute lines like:

Every tushy's in the back!
Every tush has a crack!
Where would you put your underwear
If your tushy wasn't there?

Gotta love it! And Shannon saying "tushy" is about as cute as it gets!

I'm interested in hearing about your favorites, as well... Please feel free to share!


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i think tonight i'll take the long way...

"there's a song that they sing when they take to the highway..."

Music is such a big part of my life, and my iPod playlist is always a reflection of my mood... On a normal day I usually just pick my "Favs" which encompasses everything I love... When I'm in a particularly fabulous mood, I click over to my "No Boys Allowed" mix which contains a large quantity of "sing-at-the-top-of-my-lungs" chick songs (which I sing at the top of my lungs).

"on the way home this car hears my confessions..."

With my job I find myself on the road more often than not, traveling to my different counties. It's not unusual for me to spend 2-3 hours a day driving, which oddly enough, I enjoy. In the past weeks, however, as Megan's condition has worsened, I discovered something interesting.

"i think the hurt set in and I don't feel nothin'..."

When I'm hurting, really hurting, I listen to the same music, the same set of artists and songs, every time. You see, ten years ago (at the age of 17) when my parents were getting divorced, it wasn't uncommon for me to drive around for hours on end - listening to Matchbox Twenty, Fuel, Alanis Morissette... Over the next several years I added a few more heartbreaks, and thus added a few more artists... there's no rhyme or reason to why these songs are in my "Mellow" playlist, except that at one point or another a lyric echoed an ache inside of me.

"another sun soaked season fades away..."

It's been almost four years since this playlist has made its way back to my ears, but about six weeks ago I welcomed it back with open arms. The power is still dynamic. There have been several nights in which I've cried myself the entire way home, but these artists, these melodies, these "lyrics" have assisted me in purging all the emotion that builds up throughout the day.

"and there's nothin' there to ease this ache..."

With that said, it's evident that I'll be listening to these songs for an undetermined amount of time. There is an ache inside of me that will only get worse before it gets better...

"there are days every now and again I pretend I'm okay..."

One of the best conversations I had with Megan was, ironically, on the way to Children's Hospital when I had to take her to the ER. We discussed music as she scrolled through my iPod and chose what we listened to during the drive. She had much to say about my lack of Toby Keith, Dirks Bentley, and other contemporary country she considered appealing - but we eventually found a few songs we could agree on (including the one and only Rascall Flatts song I like).

"You have stolen my heart..."

I told Megan that when she got a little older, I'd introduce her to Matchbox Twenty and Dashboard Confessional and some other cool bands. She looked over at me from the passenger seat with wide eyes and said, "Oh cool, so you know them?"

"this old world well don't it make you want to scream damn..."

I try hard not to dwell on the "what if's," but at this point in time they seem to just keep sneaking into my head. And damn them! they pop up at the most random moments, bringing tears to my eyes and clogging my throat. But that is what my drive home is for... I let out the day's worth of pent-up emotions, and eliminate all that I can in hopes of peaceful dreams.

"we all look like we feel..."

I fathom that many family and friends do their own purging rituals each night with similar intent... and I hope each gets the relief he or she so desperately craves...


** My cousin Megan passed away two days later