I realize this is the so-called "title track" of the accompanying playlist. But other than this is the inarguable opening track to the 2022 year, it also sets the stage for this year's compilation title "United In/Difference".
I had the opportunity to see Kendrick this year with Phineas and nephew Ben for the World Steppers Tour. And it did not disappoint. In fact, I would place it as a top five show of all time. The set. The choreography. The energy. The multi-layered compositions. The lyrics.
It's art.
I've been goin' through somethin'
One thousand, eight hundred and 55 days
I've been goin' through somethin'
Be afraid
...
I went and got me a therapist
I can debate on my theories and sharing it (whoa)
Consolidate all my comparisons
Humblin' up because time was imperative (whoa)
Started to feel like it's only one answer to everything, I don't know where it is (whoa)
Popping a bottle of Claritin (whoa)
Is it my head or my arrogance? (Whoa)
...
I grieve different
I hope you find some peace of mind in this lifetime
Tell them, tell 'em, tell them the truth
I hope you find some paradise (tell them, tell 'em the truth)
Tell 'em, tell 'em, tell 'em, tell them your-
I've been goin' through somethin'
One thousand, eight hundred and 55 days
I've been goin' through somethin'
Be afraid
What is a bitch in a miniskirt?
A man in his feelings with bitter nerve
What is a woman that really hurt?
A demon, you're better off killin' her
What is a relative, making repetitive narratives on how you did it first?
That is a predator, hit reverse
All of your presidents evil thirst
What is a neighborhood rep'table?
That is a snitch on a pedestal
What is a house with a better view?
A family broken in variables
What is a rapper with jewelry?
A way that I show my maturity
What if I call on security?
That mean I'm calling on God for purity
I went and got me a therapist
I can debate on my theories and sharing it (whoa)
Consolidate all my comparisons
Humblin' up because time was imperative (whoa)
Started to feel like it's only one answer to everything, I don't know where it is (whoa)
Popping a bottle of Claritin (whoa)
Is it my head or my arrogance? (Whoa)
Shaking and moving, like, what am I doing? I'm flipping my time through the Rolodex
Indulging myself and my life and my music, the world that I'm in is a cul-de-sac
The world that we in is just menacing, the demons portrayed religionous
I wake in the morning, another appointment, I hope the psychologist listenin'
The new Mercedes with black G Wagon
The "Where you from?" It was all for rap
I was 28 years young, twenty mill' in tax
Bought a couple of mansions just for practice
Five hundred in jewelry, chain was magic
Never had it in public, late reaction
50K to cousins, post a caption
Pray none of my enemies hold me captive
I grieve different
I grieve different
Huh
I met her on the third night of Chicago
North America tour, my enclave
Fee-fi-fo-fum, she was a model
Dedicated to the songs I wrote and the Bible
Eyes like green, penetratin' the moonlight
Hair done in a bun, energy in the room like
Big Bang for theory, God, hopin' you hear me
Phone off the ringer, tell the world I'm busy
Fair enough, green eyes said her mother didn't care enough
Sympathize when her daddy in the chain gang
Her first brother got killed, he was 21
I was nine when they put Lamont in the grave
Heartbroken when Estelle didn't say goodbye
Chad left his body after we FaceTimed
Green eyes said you'd be okay, first tour, sex the pain away
I grieve different
I grieve different
Huh
The new Mercedes with black G Wagon
The "Where you from?" It was all for rap
I was 28 years young, twenty mill' in tax
Bought a couple of mansions just for practice
Five hundred in jewelry, chain was magic
Never had it in public, late reaction
50K to cousins, post a caption
Pray none of my enemies hold me captive
So what? Paralyzed, the county building controlled us
I bought a Rolex watch, I only wore it once
I bought infinity pools, I never swimmed in
I watched Keem buy four cars in four months
You know the family dynamic's on repeat
The insecurities locked down on PC
I bought a .223, nobody peace treat
You won't doo-doo me, I smell TNT
Dave got him a Porsche, so I got me a Porsche
Paid lottery for it, I ain't want it in portions
Poverty was the case
But the money wipin' the tears away
I grieve different
Everybody grieves different
Everybody grieves different
I grieve different
Huh
If you've been around music at all over the last few decades, you should be able to identify who's actually behind this smooth experimental rock jam in the first 30 seconds. And if you don't get it then, you'll sure as hell get it when the vocals kick in.
The Smile is an offshoot of Radiohead – comprised of vocalist Thom Yorke and guitarist Johnny Greenwood and (non-Radiohead) drummer Tom Skinner.
While The Smile doesn't detour far from Radiohead's roots, there does seem to be a bit of post-punk-jazz infused throughout the album. This track was an immediate summer fav.
It's easy to leave me
We should give ourselves another chance
Let go of our troubles
Into our caress
Our caress
And we set ourselves on fire
We set ourselves on fire
Easy, easy
It begs me while I'm sleeping
A desire, second chance
I have set myself on fire
It's easy
Don't mess with me
Don't mess with me
As I die in the flames
As I set myself on fire
Uh
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
A one true revolution
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me
It's easy to leave me
We should give ourselves another chance
Let go of our troubles
Into our caress
Our caress
And we set ourselves on fire
We set ourselves on fire
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from my sleep
Yeah
This is somewhat of a throwback to Favorites 2005, where Bright Eye's "First Day of My Life" first appeared on the compilation.
Well, 17 years later and Conner Oberst has re-imagined the song with an electronic flare and a distinctly tight beat. I typically don't like remixes, but this one maintains that bright-catchy-vibe throughout.
A love story... well, the beginning of one.
So if you wanna stick with me
With these things there's no telling
We just have to wait and see
But I'd rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery
Besides, maybe this time is different
I mean, I'm really feeling lucky
This is the first day of my life
Swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed
They're spreading blankets on the beach
Yours was the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
And I don't know where I am, I don't know where I've been
But I know where I want to go
And so I thought I'd let you know
Yeah, these things take forever, I especially am slow
But I realized that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home
Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning?
And I thought it was strange, you said everything changed
You felt as if you'd just woke up
And you said
"This is the first day of my life
I'm glad I didn't die before I met you
But now I don't care, I could go anywhere with you
And I'd probably be happy"
So if you wanna stick with me
With these things there's no telling
We just have to wait and see
But I'd rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery, ah-ha, mm-hmm
Besides, maybe this time is different
I mean, I really think you like me
Here's proof that you can create a roll-down-the-windows-catchy tune with just about any lyric you can imagine.
I mean...
Oysters in the pocket
We're saving for lunch
Not that we are shellfish
We just haven't learnt much
Oysters in the pocket
We’re saving for lunch
Not that we are shellfish
We just haven’t learnt much
Oh well that’s miles away
Oh well that’s miles away
Couldn’t take the fourby out
The peddies too much
Send me on my bicycle
The chain is all rust
Oh well that’s miles away
Oh well that’s miles away
Paying off the limousine now
We’re in no rush
Tried to give my number away
But I haven’t heard much
Oh well that’s miles away
Oh well that’s miles away
Oysters in the pocket
We’re saving for lunch
They say that you waste
But we’re having more fun
Oh well that’s miles away
Samia has out-scheduled me again. She's on my "still to see" list and I've now had tickets to three shows that I've either I've been sick and/or out of town.
Still, one of my favorite additions to the emerging sad-girl-music canon. She earned two spots on this year's favorites.
And yeah I know, she's going a little pop-py here. I blame papa.
Hiding is easy, it's like a daydream
You can be nowhere all the time
Hurts to be somewhere, 'cause you gotta stay there
After you say what's on your mind
Couldn't afford to, why would I want to
Pick up the glass I'm stepping around?
You shut the door as soon as I whispered
"Do you ever wish you weren't a coward?"
Are you still
Mad at me?
Are you still
Mad at me?
Hiding is easy, it's like a daydream
You can be nowhere all the time
Hurts to be somewhere, 'cause you gotta stay there
After you say what's on your mind
Are you still
Mad at me?
Are you still
Mad at me?
I don't wanna know, I don't
I don't wanna know anymore
I don't wanna know, I don't
Anymore, anymore
Why you gotta stay so private?
Everything you think, so violent
So violent (oh)
I kept it right behind us, yeah (ooh)
And I shouldn't have to sit around here watch you play with fire
That bitter taste, so, so sweet, so full of memories
Hey, John Doe, notice me
Clear the cache, watch your feet, keep going
Are you still (on and on and on and on and on and on and on)
Mad at me? (It's going on and on and on and on and on and on and on)
Are you still (it's going on and on and on and on and on and on and on)
Mad at me? (It's going on and on and on, on and on and on, I don't wanna)
I don't wanna know, I don't
(Mad at me?) I don't wanna know anymore
(Are you still) I don't wanna know, I don't
(Mad at me?) Anymore, anymore
This is off of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's new album Cool it Down and features the insanely talented favorites alumn Perfume Genius (also on my "still to see" list). The Yeah Yeah Yeah's Karen O said this about the track:
"I see the younger generations staring down this threat, and they’re standing on the edge of a precipice, confronting what’s coming with anger and defiance,” she said. “It’s galvanizing, and there’s hope there.”
I think my favorite track on this side of the compilation.
Mama, what have you done?
I trace your steps
In the darkness of one
Am I what's left?
Silver lines whisper to me
"Wounded arms must carry the load"
(And the kids cry out)
We're spitting off the edge of the world (out in the night)
Never had no chance (nowhere to hide)
We're spitting off the edge of the world (nowhere to run)
Never had no chance (out comes the sun)
Spitting off the edge of the world
Cowards, here's the sun
So bow your heads
In the absence of bombs
Draw your breath
Dark, dark places shall be none
She's melting houses of gold
We're spitting off the edge of the world (out in the night)
Never had no chance (nowhere to hide)
Spitting off the edge of the world (out comes the sun)
Never had no chance (nowhere to run)
Mama, what have you done?
I trace your steps
In the darkness of one
Am I what's left?
Silver lines whisper to me
"Wounded arms must carry the load"
We're spitting off the edge of the world (out in the night)
Never had no chance (nowhere to hide)
We're spitting off the edge of the world (nowhere to run)
Never had no chance (out comes the sun)
Spitting off the edge of the world
Winds from the sky (never had no chance)
Will watch us rise
I've always wanted to create a "Black List" (and no, this is not a race reference) companion list that is a highly curated list of songs that should find its way into a film score or soundtrack one day. This song would be on it.
Sadly, the feature here, MF Doom, is post-humous as the highly celebrated British underground-hip-hop artist passed in 2020. I love how DOOM remembers Estrada's name some dozen verses down.
DOOM get rude with the dude off Chips
The mood switch, he chewed off strips off a brewed witch
Danger make him groove off a glitch
Makes your boo booty twitch and the crew rich, bitch
Always wanted to say that
Ever since the days in hallways tauntin' a stray cat
The one he often frequently slapped around
All the while, waited then graduated, cap and gown
Hated the rap sound
Debated the crap until he felt he had it mapped out
Enough to have the game trapped abound
Scratched the crown off the names of lames who yapped the noun
Or verb for that matter
Had no data for a herbal chat chatter
Oh, Erik Estrada
Away from you
Yo, I'm sick, no lymph nodes is swollen
They told me even when the records skip, keep it rolling
On his shoulder like a California highway patrolman
Launch codes was stolen and sold by Ed Snowden
Then I fled to Rome and told 'em address me as a Roman
I'm still in photos, posted with my own omen
A thumping kicker for me to slam like Hulk Hogan
It's something like a plane bumper sticker, no slogan
This something for the shooters and back-and-forth commuters
Who never knew the difference in laws and jurisprudence
I feel as though it's safe to assume that you the students
Are non congruent to the way that me and DOOM do this
You checking the top-two of a thousand intelligent chaps
With rap projects in housing developments
Cool the cross-legged on a crate like it's elegant
Try to hate, I'm puffing up your face like a pelican
Highly enveloped in, activating my melanin
Y'all failin' to see what's shaken besides gelatin
News bullets and I refuse to take the medicine
Fuck a thick skin, I got me an exo-skeleton
The black Colin Farrell in The Lobster
That living like an obstetrician but not a doctor
Bring the Cambridge, the Websters, the Oxfords
The picture too long to watch, see the synopsis
Compensated for playing nice, it's optics
Product of the last poets and the watched prophets
Ock, stop it, it's beyond out-of-pocket
Dunzo, I hit the gun show and got a rocket
Catastrophic, supreme microphone is
In Mexico, we the legendary dos cojones
Brothers both components of the close to coldest
Court holders with bars as hard as Angola
Away from you
DOOM get rude with the dude off chips
The mood switch, he chewed off strips off a brewed witch
Danger make him groove off a glitch
Makes your boo booty twitch and the crew rich, bitch
Always wanted to say that
Ever since the days in hallways tauntin' a stray cat
The one he often frequently slapped around
All the while, waited then graduated, cap and gown
Hated the rap sound
Debated the crap until he felt he had it mapped out
Enough to have the game trapped abound
Scratched the crown off the names of lames who yapped the noun
Or verb for that matter
Had no data for a herbal chat chatter
Oh, Erik Estrada
Fat rat, the mask made him batty as a mad-hatter
Known for his absurd word choices
And will ignore you if you ask him if he heard voices
Look, the energy is crazy
Far as he's concerned, the enemy was lazy
Hm-hm-hm, your attention please
Freeze, he came to seize the free cheese
Before he flees to Belize
In case you forgot to mention squeeze these
Just keep it on a need-to-know basis
They knew he was a negro so no need to show faces
Back in the days of no laces
On a slow pace, they used to say he might, could go places
Meh, whatever the case is
The card he played was Ace of Spades but no races
A spastic, some call him loony
When he spit a tomb sarcastic, it's Paul Mooney
Away from you
Away from you
For those who don't think they can be an artist and also hold another full-time job, meet Ka. Ka's a fire chief in Brooklyn but has been DYI'ing his music/albums for the last decade. And this year, he dropped two albums.
I stumbled upon "Ascension" via a radio playlist of Kendrick this year and was immediately drawn in to both the layered swells and the rich lyrics.
A vet of unpleasant and misery
Jah bless, didn't digest what they fed us in history
Not too nice, see the true stripes of letters officially
Don't waste ink, I'm succinct, it's measured efficiency
...
Every mention is for hood ascension
May not be a good man but got good intention
Got good intention
May not be a good man but got good intention
I mean, she was the one who was warm and you know, like, friendly to me
The one that I felt some kind of emotional ties to
And my father was, you know, just the opposite
He's like a cold motherfucker, he never spoke
You know he never really like showed any signs of emotion
A vet of unpleasant and misery
Jah bless, didn't digest what they fed us in history
Not too nice, see the true stripes of letters officially
Don't waste ink, I'm succinct, it's measured efficiency
Felt I had a curse first when I was bad at cursive
Baby sister named me and since was six, I had a purpose
Writings I drug cite in my court, I bought a surface
It comes from these meant to accompany, though they callin' 'em verses
Every mention is for hood ascension
May not be a good man but got good intention
Got good intention
May not be a good man but got good intention
I talk to you like a old uncle, that's my nuance
Got killed, couldn't build with my uncles, just my two aunts
Life grim, learn to fight and swim, Hopkinson and Dumont
When I moved from runaways, the last day I had true calm
As more I understand my posture, 'til I'm posthumous
'Til little me's thinking critically, I got no accomplishments
Descend to dark continents, center spark confidence
Correct the sea, speak of split second deeds, long consequence
If you a deep person, keep searching, amass facts
I believe they call him father, 'cause you supposed to get past that
If never won, run every one like it's the last lap
Handing ends to family and friends, never expecting that cash back
When you dorm with roaches, every day long as the solstice
I said parents ain't have no bread, I was born in ketosis
Always precocious, never quarreled with randoms, was drawing with focus
Since kids, they tried the colors 'cause only source is corpus
Heed to what they tried to feed they deceiving in doses
Bottom line, not the time for bikinis, Bellinis, mimosas
Never want war, but I'm for sure cleaning my toasters
'Cause when crabs don't go for roe, all I seem is ferocious
Every mention is for hood ascension
May not be a good man but got good intention
Got good intention
May not be a good man but got good intention
Every mention, hood ascension
Got good intention
(So, for as far as I was concerned, that was a man
That was how a man was supposed to be)
May not be a good man but got good intention
(So in order for me to be a man, I had to-)
rum.gold (also the actual URL of his website) first made an appearance on the Favorites in 2020 alongside Jamilia Woods with "Waiting For". For those familiar, rum.gold has some serious Moses Sumney-like vocal vibes going on – which the music world could certainly use a little more of anyway.
I want you to be human
You can sin however you'd like, baby
'Cause I wear mine on my sleeve
We can take forever or a minute, baby
It's all the same to me
Let down your fears
Take down your walls
It's only our shadows
That dance in the dark
Tell me no lies
Brace for the fight
I'll be your shelter in the night
Human
I want you to be human
I want you to be human
I want you to be free
And while you're here with me
Human
I want you to be human
I want you to be human
And there's no guarantees
But while you're hеre with me
I parted thе ocean to find you
Jumped from your Venus to your moon
Left a trail of tears to flow into your soul
And I am yours to choose
Let down your guard
Follow the signs
Teach me your game of hearts
It's all in your mind
Tell me no lies
Brace for the fight
I'll be your shelter in the night
Human
I want you to be human
I want you to be human
I want you to be free
And while you're here with me
Human
I want you to be human
I want you to be human
And there's no guarantees
But while you're here with me
Human (ooh)
Oh-oh (ooh)
Human (ooh)
I want you to be human (ooh)
Such a great song. Such a mediocre movie.
Is this our first? Or second nature?
When's that rapture? Will there be merch?
Is this our first? Or second nature?
When's that rapture? Will there be merch?
Where is mother? She was a stunner, can we page her?
What my eyes have seen could really take the purse
Are we charged now? Or are we fakers?
Parade around or get in work? Or just desert?
We will see you next time
There'll be water in the rain
Territories pay fines
All long day (say it will be! Say it will be!)
All may not be just fine! (All long day!)
There is another fate away
To not be too late and obfuscate
Is this our fault? And are we just too damn used to it
The cypher too elusive, that tale, it just won't stop
You could be vaguely on top, strike the key, lay down the mop
As if endings ain't endings and feet they just won't drop
Ain't this real-time? And aren't we takers?
You want what's more and don't excuse
And just refuse
We will see you next time (Is this mercy?)
They'll be water in the rain
Territories pay fines
All long day (say it with me! Say it with me!)
All may not be just fine! (All long day!)
There is another fate away
To not be too late
We will see you next time
There'll be water in the rain
Territories pay fines
All long day (say it with me! Say it with me!)
All may not be just fine! (All long day!)
There is another fate away
To not be too late and obfuscate
This isn't the first time this song has appeared on the favorites. Back in 2009, I did a "Best of the Last Decade" and featured the original recording by the great Gillian Welch. While the OG is hard to compare against, Valerie June does revive the song with a fresh look at Miss Ohio some 20 years later with her crisp and mesmerizing vocals.
I know all about it, so you don't have to shout it
I'm gonna straighten it out somehow
Yeah I want to do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio
She's a-running around with her rag-top down
She says I want to do right but not right now
Gonna drive to Atlanta and live out this fantasy
Running around with the rag-top down
Yeah I want to do right but not right now
Had your arm around her shoulder, a regimental soldier
An' mamma starts pushing that wedding gown
Yeah you want to do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, would ya look at Miss Ohio
She's a-runnin' around with the rag-top down
She says I want to do right but not right now
I know all about it, so you don't have to shout it
I'm gonna straighten it out somehow
Yeah I want to do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio
She a-runnin' around with her rag-top down
She says I want to do right , but not right now
Oh I want to do right but not right now
Angel Olsen started her singing career as a backup vocalists to Bonnie "Prince" Billy. You'll hear the influence in this album.
The "Lady in Red" reference is for you girls... you know who you are! ;)
A love song.
Take to the lake, playing "Lady In Red"
Hanging onto every word that you said
Staying up all night, out by the fire
Singing your song now, you know I'm a crier
And I'm losing, I'm losing, I've left it behind
Guess I had to be losing to get here on time
And I'm living, I'm loving, I've loved long before
And I'm loving you big time, I'm loving you more
Good morning kisses, giving you all mine
Pull back the curtains, show me the sunshine
Needing this coffee, needing some nature
Need it right now, it can't wait until later
We're always busy, baby, not this time
Lay in the tall grass, talking with your eyes
Talking with your eyes before we knew we were
Thinking the same things, I'm a believer
And I'm losing, I'm losing, I've left it behind
Guess I had to be losing to get here on time
And I'm living, I'm loving, I've loved long before
I'm loving you big time, I'm loving you more
Take to the lake, playing "Lady In Red"
Hanging onto every word that you said
Staying up all night, out by the fire
Singing your song now, you know I'm a crier
And I'm losing, I'm losing, I've left it behind
Guess I had to be losing to get here on time
And I'm living, I'm loving, I've loved long before
And I'm loving you big time, I'm loving you more
And I'm losing, I'm losing, I've left it behind
Guess I had to be losing to get here on time
And I'm living, I'm loving, I've loved long before
And I'm loving you big time, I'm loving you more
And I'm loving you big time
And I'm loving you big time
And I'm loving you big time
I'm loving you big time
Over the last few years, Adrianne Lenker is likely to show up on the favorites via Big Thief and/or her solo work. While this album came out in 2022, the single "Change" came out in 2021 and made last year's favorites. "Certainty" is my second favorite on the album and one of rich lyrics and Lenker's trademark campfire vocals.
At the age of 31, Lenker is just waiting to have a movie made about her... born and raised in a Christian cult, wrote her first song at 8, first album at 13, 3x state champion in martial arts, married Big Thief co-founder Buck Meek, then divorced, then dated Indigo Sparks ("Pressure in My Chest") briefly, and yet kept "Big Thief" together throughout, remaining "deep friends" with Meek. It's no wonder she has the ability to write with such tension and certainty...
Maybe.
Maybe I love you
Maybe I love you is a river so high
Maybe I love you is a river so low
I love you, still don't know
My certainty is wild, weaving
For you, I am a child, believing
Name on the line, last request
Pull the car over to find some rest
Saying "I love you"
Need to lie here, need to leave
Living in the debt of make-believe
Saying I owe you
Crooked as a crow gnawing on dawn
Shadow from the grass in the dirt on the lawn
Why do I string you along?
My certainty is wild, weaving
For you, I am a child, believing
You lay beside me sleeping on a plane
In the future
Sit on the phone, watch TV
Romance, action, mystery
Wanted to show you
Sine wave is a particle ride
Bring your light out, then in on the tide
Maybe I love you
Maybe I love you is a river so high
Maybe I love you is a river so low
I love you, still don't know
My certainty is wild, weaving
For you, I am a child, believing
You lay beside me sleeping on a plane
In the future
My certainty is wild, weaving
For you, I am a child, believing
You lay beside me sleeping on a plane
In the future
Some of you will know of this married duo via their former moniker Mandolin Orange, which I imagine felt "cute" a decade ago. But I concur... it was time for a name change.
Here's one for those of you still hiding from the "monsters" – wherever they may be.
Oh, the star-eyed troubadour sleeps with the eternal
and wakes up in the gutter with a song to sing
The magic of the evening is so fleeting
and when it's gone, how we long
We punish our souls for being unclean
and bask in the glory of living obscenely
The fringe is a friend and our friends build the memories
we sacrifice for the song
Oh, the star-eyed troubadour sleeps with the eternal
and wakes up in the gutter with a song to sing
The magic of the evening is so fleeting
and when it's gone, how we long
We punish our souls for being unclean
and bask in the glory of living obscenely
The fringe is a friend and our friends build the memories
we sacrifice for the song
Oh it's maddening, running to the feast
Hiding from the monsters in the belly of the beast
Just give me your love, it's all I need
Hide me from the monsters in the belly of the beast
I'd like to call home, tell em about this town
A northwest gem just nestled in a mountain
Greeted me early with the peaceful sounds
of the wind in the evergreens
I should go walking, it's not something I do
A feeling this light makes me miss the blues
The gutter is lonely, it's a tool I use
It's the road I'm traveling
Oh, it's maddening running to the feast
Hiding from the monsters in the belly of the beast
Just give me your love, it's all I need
Hide me from the monsters in the belly of the beast
Oh, it's maddening running to the feast
Hiding from the monsters in the belly of the beast
Just give me your love, it's all I need
Hide me from the monsters in the belly of the beast
Just give me your love (It's all I need)
Just give me your love (It's all I need)
Just give me your love (It's all I need)
It's all I need
This track caught my attention this summer and was drawn in by its slow-ballad vibe and lyrical structure. It's a style that has deep roots in both folk and gospel and even made a brief, albeit fairly shallow, appearance in the big-hair band scene in the 80s.
All this said, admittedly, the second verse is a little cringy and almost got it knocked off the favorites all together, but I'm trying to include a little bit of everything here. ;)
'Oh, it's a little bit of everything,
It's the mountains,
It's the fog,
It's the news at six o'clock,
It's the death of my first dog,
It's the angels up above me,
It's the song that they don't sing,
It's a little bit of everything.'
With his back against the San Francisco traffic,
On the bridges side that faces towards the jail,
Setting out to join a demographic,
He hoists his first leg up over the rail.
And a phone call is made,
Police cars show up quickly.
The sergeant slams his passenger door.
He says, 'Hey son why don't you talk through this with me,
Just tell me what you're doing it for.'
'Oh, it's a little bit of everything,
It's the mountains,
It's the fog,
It's the news at six o'clock,
It's the death of my first dog,
It's the angels up above me,
It's the song that they don't sing,
It's a little bit of everything.'
An older man stands in a buffet line,
He is smiling and holding out his plate,
And the further he looks back into his timeline,
That hard road always had led him to today,
And making up for when his bright future had left him,
Making up for the fact that his only son is gone,
And letting everything out once, His server asks him,
Have you figured out yet, what it is you want?
I want a little bit of everything,
The biscuits and the beans,
Whatever helps me to forget about
The things that brought me to my knees,
So pile on those mashed potatoes,
And an extra chicken wing,
I'm having a little bit of everything.
Somewhere a pretty girl is writing invitations,
To a wedding she has scheduled for the fall,
Her man says, 'Baby, can I make an observation?
You don't seem to be having any fun at all.'
She said, 'You just worry about your groomsmen and your shirt-size,
And rest assured that this is making me feel good,
I think that love is so much easier than you realize,
If you can give yourself to someone,
Then you should.
'Cause it's a little bit of everything,
The way you choke, the way you ache,
It is waking up before you,
So I can watch you as you wake.
So in the day in late September,
It's not some stupid little ring,
I'm giving a little bit of everything.
Oh, it's a little bit of everything,
It's the matador and the bull,
It's the suggested daily dosage,
It is the red moon when it's full.
All these psychics and these doctors,
They're all right and they're all wrong,
It's like trying to make out every word,
When they should simply hum along,
It's not some message written in the dark,
Or some truth that no one's seen,
It's a little bit of everything.
Indigo Sparke hasn't messed around from having some fairly respected and established kick her career off... her first album was co-produced by Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker (who was conveniently her partner at the time). And this album, Hysteria, is produced by Aaron Dessner of The National.
And yes, this one does go out to you if I've ever heard you say "I feel a pressure in my chest."
Wide mouth open
Clouds fall will you follow me
Ive made it to the wasteland
Of my forgotten screams
I'm alive and hungry
I taste the salt of my fears
All this holy silence in my bones
I fall through
I carried you with me
To the mountain of my dreams
Sweet cold and icy
A landscape of white trees
And the light is filled with wonder
And the echo of our love
Huge wide open sky above
And the messages at dawn
I am searching
I am lost and found
Turquoise blue and apricot set my heart free
But there's a pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
When no one is around a conversation with myself
The big old house is talking
Smoke dancing in the wind
Time is a circle
And time is a cage
I got lost in the void but now I burn I burn through
But there's a pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Wide mouth open
Clouds fall will you follow me
Ive made it to the wasteland
Of my forgotten screams
Im alive and hungry
I taste the salt of my fears
All this holy silence in my bones I fall through
And there's a pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Rosie Thomas made her debut feature on the Favorites way back in 2005 with "Since You've Been Around." As a close childhood friend of another dear friend of mine (Jen), I had the opportunity to meet an interview her circa 2006/2007. Rosie is a sweet soul that exudes empathy and care – while also being one of the legit funniest artists I've ever met.
"All is Full of Love" is a Björk cover. What a simple statement that most of us want to believe is true, but continue to operate as if it isn't.
Thank you for the reminder Rosie (and Björk).
You'll be given love
You'll be taken care of
You'll be given love
You have to trust it
Maybe not from the sources
You have poured yours
Maybe not from the directions
That you've been staring
Turn your head around (turn your head around)
Look all around you (all around you, all around you)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
You'll be given love
You'll be taken care of
You'll be given love
You have to trust it
Maybe not from the sources
You have poured yours
Maybe not from the directions
That you've been staring
Turn your head around (turn your head around)
Look all around you (all around you, all around you)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all around you, all around you)
It's all around you
It's all around you
It's all around you
It's all around you
All is full of love (all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you
All is full of love (all is full of love)
You have to trust it
All is full of love (all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all is full of love)
You have to trust it
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (in every way)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
You have to trust it
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you
All is full of love (all is full of love)
You have to trust it
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (in every way, all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all is full of love)
You have to trust it (all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all is full of love)
It's all around (love)
It's all around, it's full of love (love)
It's all around (love)
It's all around, it's full of love (love)
It's all around (love)
It's all around, it's full of love (love)
It's all around (love)
It's all around, it's full of love (love)
It's all around you (all around you)
It's all around you
Humanity, relationships, self... it can be cyclical. One may say repetitive. Well, here you go...
I'm on a ribbon
Of concrete
I am a blurred shot
A bright streak
Coming back to you
I'm on a ribbon
Of concrete
I am a blurred shot
A bright streak
Coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm on the ocean
I'm out to sea
I know my fortune
It's you and me
Coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I am the sound
The one you think
The one you can't find
The one you need
I'm 85
I'm 60
I am a mother
A baby
Coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I am the root
I am the leaf
I am the big tree
You grew beneath
Coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
Back to you
I'm on an airplane
I'm in a boat
I'm in a car now
I'm losing control
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back
I'm coming back
I'm coming back
I'm coming back-ack
To you
Coming in at 0:58, this may be the shortest song to ever appear on the Favorites.
When we're not in our bodies
When we're up in a spaceship
That's when I feel the greatest
I've been trying to tell ya
I've been dying to tell ya
Want you all to myself
I want you all to myself
And when we leave all the parties
When we're not in our bodies
When we're up in a spaceship
That's when I feel the greatest
I made a wish on an eyelash
Made a wish on elevens
Made a wish on my birthday
Talk about you to Heaven
I plan my days all around ya
Planets orbit around ya
I was lost 'til I found ya
I think angels surround ya
Funny thing is that when I was doing the initial playlist order, I had no conscious awareness that "Smithereens", which comes in at a lengthy 0:59, after the prior track (0:58).
Fun fact: Dan, who is largely unknown, does most of the production for his albums, which includes actually building the instruments you hear.
A song weighing the "benefits" of speaking/not-speaking what we're always thinking.
She ain't saying what she's thinking
And neither
Neither is he
'Cause they both know
That if they do
This whole thing
Gets blown all to smithereens
She ain't saying what she's thinking
And neither
Neither is he
'Cause they both know
That if they do
This whole thing
Gets blown all to smithereens
I'm sure there are lots of musicians out there that find a catchy riff that never see the light of day – often from a lack of producing/production vision and/or poor lyrics. I imagine this is what would have happened to this memorable guitar melody if it weren't for the talented and experienced collab group (Coco) behind behind it.
Coco is the side project of Dirty Projectors' Maia Friedman, Lucius' Dan Molad and Pavo Pavo's Oliver Hill.
Walk into a mystery
Feel a pattern in me
Look away and stay over there
Still I see it everywhere, an omen
Blazing in the wild
Reaching out for miles
Escape tomorrow, escape today
Still I see it anyway, an omen
Heavy hangs the sunshine
Yellow, thick and unkind
Look away and stand over there
Still I see it everywhere, an omen
Walk into a mystery
Feel a pattern in me
Look away and stay over there
Still I see it everywhere, an omen
A simple prayer and timely plea.
Time is all we have
I hope I have enough
Enough to show you love
Before my time is up
Before you wake the dead
Take a pause instead
Of deafening nonsense
Share silence
No violence today
Time is all we have
I hope I have enough
Enough to show you love
Before my time is up
Before you wake the dead
Take a pause instead
Of deafening nonsense
Share silence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
Like driving with the window down
All I was will disappear
I only have you now, you only have me here
And we can't count on tomorrow night
Or wait for brighter light
I can hear you through my eyelids, sheer silence
No violence today, oh
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
Ryan (aka Sleeping at Last) is one of my closest and dearest friends. But this isn't why he's a regular on the Favorites (he was long before we were friends). He regularly shows up because he's an insanely talented composer and lyricist.
I typically can't keep up with all of the various projects, accolades, etc... Ryan is a part of in any given year, but I did happen to catch his feature on one of Spotify's flagship playlist "Life Sucks" – which I found fairly amusing. Thanks Ryan for helping us embrace all of Life's suck-y-ness. ;)
With these tired eyes
I've seen enough for tonight
As my eyes close, my guards come down
An armistice was signed
Predator and prey on equal ground
I lose my balance at the water's edge
A Freudian slip
But I can't remember what was said
I'm not certain I'm not a ghost
Is this free will or am I doing as I'm told?
I know shadows follow the rules
But what if tonight
By the mercy of light
I could choose?
Watercolor lucid dreams
I'll paint a future
That I can redeem
For just one precious third of my life
I'm not hypnotized
By the glow of a screen
Or the darkness I've seen
With these tired eyes
I've seen enough for tonight
As my eyes close, my guards come down
An armistice was signed
Predator and prey on equal ground
I lose my balance at the water's edge
A Freudian slip
But I can't remember what was said
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Saturn
Sleeping At Last
Sun
Sleeping At Last
Moon
Sleeping At Last
[Chorus 2]
Watercolor vivid dreams
Under lock and key
Vague silhouettes
Are all I've got left
Till I fall back asleep
An afterimage of the divine
Or just my restless mind
A broken cassette
Can't help but forget
And fade over time
[Post-Chorus 2]
I'll press rewind
Twenty-seven thousand times
Give or take
[Bridge]
I'll paint a future
That I can redeem
I'll paint a future
[Chorus 3]
Watercolor vivid dreams
Watercolor vivid dreams
Watercolor vivid dreams
I'll paint a future
Watercolor vivid dreams
I'll paint a future
I'll paint a future
For all of you Gen Zs out there, just before the world almost perished in Y2K, an English pop singer released an album with a track called "Thank You" on it. And while the song (and album) caught the attention of some fans and critics, it wasn't until circa 2005 when Eminem released "Stan" – which sampled Dido's original "Thank You" did this song blow up. This is that song, done with reserve and care by the superbly talented Lennon Stella.
All I see is you
And even if my house falls down now
I wouldn't have a clue
Because you're near me
I want to thank you
For giving me the best day of my life
My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why
I got out of bed at all
The morning rain clouds up my window
And I can't see at all
Even if I could, it'd all be grey
But your picture on my wall
It reminds me that it's not so bad
It's not so bad
I drank too much last night, got bills to pay
My head just feels in pain
I missed the bus and there'll be hell today
I'm late for work again
Even if I'm there, they'll all imply
That I might not last the day
And then you call me
And it's not so bad, it's not so bad
I want to thank you
For giving me the best day of my life
Oh, just to be with you
Is having the best day of my life
Push the door, I'm home at last
And I'm soaking through and through
Then you handed me a towel
All I see is you
And even if my house falls down now
I wouldn't have a clue
Because you're near me
I want to thank you
For giving me the best day of my life
Oh, just to be with you
Is having the best day of my life
I realize this is the so-called "title track" of the accompanying playlist. But other than this is the inarguable opening track to the 2022 year, it also sets the stage for this year's compilation title "United In/Difference".
I had the opportunity to see Kendrick this year with Phineas and nephew Ben for the World Steppers Tour. And it did not disappoint. In fact, I would place it as a top five show of all time. The set. The choreography. The energy. The multi-layered compositions. The lyrics.
It's art.
I've been goin' through somethin'
One thousand, eight hundred and 55 days
I've been goin' through somethin'
Be afraid
...
I went and got me a therapist
I can debate on my theories and sharing it (whoa)
Consolidate all my comparisons
Humblin' up because time was imperative (whoa)
Started to feel like it's only one answer to everything, I don't know where it is (whoa)
Popping a bottle of Claritin (whoa)
Is it my head or my arrogance? (Whoa)
...
I grieve different
I hope you find some peace of mind in this lifetime
Tell them, tell 'em, tell them the truth
I hope you find some paradise (tell them, tell 'em the truth)
Tell 'em, tell 'em, tell 'em, tell them your-
I've been goin' through somethin'
One thousand, eight hundred and 55 days
I've been goin' through somethin'
Be afraid
What is a bitch in a miniskirt?
A man in his feelings with bitter nerve
What is a woman that really hurt?
A demon, you're better off killin' her
What is a relative, making repetitive narratives on how you did it first?
That is a predator, hit reverse
All of your presidents evil thirst
What is a neighborhood rep'table?
That is a snitch on a pedestal
What is a house with a better view?
A family broken in variables
What is a rapper with jewelry?
A way that I show my maturity
What if I call on security?
That mean I'm calling on God for purity
I went and got me a therapist
I can debate on my theories and sharing it (whoa)
Consolidate all my comparisons
Humblin' up because time was imperative (whoa)
Started to feel like it's only one answer to everything, I don't know where it is (whoa)
Popping a bottle of Claritin (whoa)
Is it my head or my arrogance? (Whoa)
Shaking and moving, like, what am I doing? I'm flipping my time through the Rolodex
Indulging myself and my life and my music, the world that I'm in is a cul-de-sac
The world that we in is just menacing, the demons portrayed religionous
I wake in the morning, another appointment, I hope the psychologist listenin'
The new Mercedes with black G Wagon
The "Where you from?" It was all for rap
I was 28 years young, twenty mill' in tax
Bought a couple of mansions just for practice
Five hundred in jewelry, chain was magic
Never had it in public, late reaction
50K to cousins, post a caption
Pray none of my enemies hold me captive
I grieve different
I grieve different
Huh
I met her on the third night of Chicago
North America tour, my enclave
Fee-fi-fo-fum, she was a model
Dedicated to the songs I wrote and the Bible
Eyes like green, penetratin' the moonlight
Hair done in a bun, energy in the room like
Big Bang for theory, God, hopin' you hear me
Phone off the ringer, tell the world I'm busy
Fair enough, green eyes said her mother didn't care enough
Sympathize when her daddy in the chain gang
Her first brother got killed, he was 21
I was nine when they put Lamont in the grave
Heartbroken when Estelle didn't say goodbye
Chad left his body after we FaceTimed
Green eyes said you'd be okay, first tour, sex the pain away
I grieve different
I grieve different
Huh
The new Mercedes with black G Wagon
The "Where you from?" It was all for rap
I was 28 years young, twenty mill' in tax
Bought a couple of mansions just for practice
Five hundred in jewelry, chain was magic
Never had it in public, late reaction
50K to cousins, post a caption
Pray none of my enemies hold me captive
So what? Paralyzed, the county building controlled us
I bought a Rolex watch, I only wore it once
I bought infinity pools, I never swimmed in
I watched Keem buy four cars in four months
You know the family dynamic's on repeat
The insecurities locked down on PC
I bought a .223, nobody peace treat
You won't doo-doo me, I smell TNT
Dave got him a Porsche, so I got me a Porsche
Paid lottery for it, I ain't want it in portions
Poverty was the case
But the money wipin' the tears away
I grieve different
Everybody grieves different
Everybody grieves different
I grieve different
Huh
If you've been around music at all over the last few decades, you should be able to identify who's actually behind this smooth experimental rock jam in the first 30 seconds. And if you don't get it then, you'll sure as hell get it when the vocals kick in.
The Smile is an offshoot of Radiohead – comprised of vocalist Thom Yorke and guitarist Johnny Greenwood and (non-Radiohead) drummer Tom Skinner.
While The Smile doesn't detour far from Radiohead's roots, there does seem to be a bit of post-punk-jazz infused throughout the album. This track was an immediate summer fav.
It's easy to leave me
We should give ourselves another chance
Let go of our troubles
Into our caress
Our caress
And we set ourselves on fire
We set ourselves on fire
Easy, easy
It begs me while I'm sleeping
A desire, second chance
I have set myself on fire
It's easy
Don't mess with me
Don't mess with me
As I die in the flames
As I set myself on fire
Uh
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
A one true revolution
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me
It's easy to leave me
We should give ourselves another chance
Let go of our troubles
Into our caress
Our caress
And we set ourselves on fire
We set ourselves on fire
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from
Wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from my sleep
Smoke wakes me from my sleep
Yeah
This is somewhat of a throwback to Favorites 2005, where Bright Eye's "First Day of My Life" first appeared on the compilation.
Well, 17 years later and Conner Oberst has re-imagined the song with an electronic flare and a distinctly tight beat. I typically don't like remixes, but this one maintains that bright-catchy-vibe throughout.
A love story... well, the beginning of one.
So if you wanna stick with me
With these things there's no telling
We just have to wait and see
But I'd rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery
Besides, maybe this time is different
I mean, I'm really feeling lucky
This is the first day of my life
Swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed
They're spreading blankets on the beach
Yours was the first face that I saw
I think I was blind before I met you
And I don't know where I am, I don't know where I've been
But I know where I want to go
And so I thought I'd let you know
Yeah, these things take forever, I especially am slow
But I realized that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home
Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning?
And I thought it was strange, you said everything changed
You felt as if you'd just woke up
And you said
"This is the first day of my life
I'm glad I didn't die before I met you
But now I don't care, I could go anywhere with you
And I'd probably be happy"
So if you wanna stick with me
With these things there's no telling
We just have to wait and see
But I'd rather be working for a paycheck
Than waiting to win the lottery, ah-ha, mm-hmm
Besides, maybe this time is different
I mean, I really think you like me
Here's proof that you can create a roll-down-the-windows-catchy tune with just about any lyric you can imagine.
I mean...
Oysters in the pocket
We're saving for lunch
Not that we are shellfish
We just haven't learnt much
Oysters in the pocket
We’re saving for lunch
Not that we are shellfish
We just haven’t learnt much
Oh well that’s miles away
Oh well that’s miles away
Couldn’t take the fourby out
The peddies too much
Send me on my bicycle
The chain is all rust
Oh well that’s miles away
Oh well that’s miles away
Paying off the limousine now
We’re in no rush
Tried to give my number away
But I haven’t heard much
Oh well that’s miles away
Oh well that’s miles away
Oysters in the pocket
We’re saving for lunch
They say that you waste
But we’re having more fun
Oh well that’s miles away
Samia has out-scheduled me again. She's on my "still to see" list and I've now had tickets to three shows that I've either I've been sick and/or out of town.
Still, one of my favorite additions to the emerging sad-girl-music canon. She earned two spots on this year's favorites.
And yeah I know, she's going a little pop-py here. I blame papa.
Hiding is easy, it's like a daydream
You can be nowhere all the time
Hurts to be somewhere, 'cause you gotta stay there
After you say what's on your mind
Couldn't afford to, why would I want to
Pick up the glass I'm stepping around?
You shut the door as soon as I whispered
"Do you ever wish you weren't a coward?"
Are you still
Mad at me?
Are you still
Mad at me?
Hiding is easy, it's like a daydream
You can be nowhere all the time
Hurts to be somewhere, 'cause you gotta stay there
After you say what's on your mind
Are you still
Mad at me?
Are you still
Mad at me?
I don't wanna know, I don't
I don't wanna know anymore
I don't wanna know, I don't
Anymore, anymore
Why you gotta stay so private?
Everything you think, so violent
So violent (oh)
I kept it right behind us, yeah (ooh)
And I shouldn't have to sit around here watch you play with fire
That bitter taste, so, so sweet, so full of memories
Hey, John Doe, notice me
Clear the cache, watch your feet, keep going
Are you still (on and on and on and on and on and on and on)
Mad at me? (It's going on and on and on and on and on and on and on)
Are you still (it's going on and on and on and on and on and on and on)
Mad at me? (It's going on and on and on, on and on and on, I don't wanna)
I don't wanna know, I don't
(Mad at me?) I don't wanna know anymore
(Are you still) I don't wanna know, I don't
(Mad at me?) Anymore, anymore
This is off of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's new album Cool it Down and features the insanely talented favorites alumn Perfume Genius (also on my "still to see" list). The Yeah Yeah Yeah's Karen O said this about the track:
"I see the younger generations staring down this threat, and they’re standing on the edge of a precipice, confronting what’s coming with anger and defiance,” she said. “It’s galvanizing, and there’s hope there.”
I think my favorite track on this side of the compilation.
Mama, what have you done?
I trace your steps
In the darkness of one
Am I what's left?
Silver lines whisper to me
"Wounded arms must carry the load"
(And the kids cry out)
We're spitting off the edge of the world (out in the night)
Never had no chance (nowhere to hide)
We're spitting off the edge of the world (nowhere to run)
Never had no chance (out comes the sun)
Spitting off the edge of the world
Cowards, here's the sun
So bow your heads
In the absence of bombs
Draw your breath
Dark, dark places shall be none
She's melting houses of gold
We're spitting off the edge of the world (out in the night)
Never had no chance (nowhere to hide)
Spitting off the edge of the world (out comes the sun)
Never had no chance (nowhere to run)
Mama, what have you done?
I trace your steps
In the darkness of one
Am I what's left?
Silver lines whisper to me
"Wounded arms must carry the load"
We're spitting off the edge of the world (out in the night)
Never had no chance (nowhere to hide)
We're spitting off the edge of the world (nowhere to run)
Never had no chance (out comes the sun)
Spitting off the edge of the world
Winds from the sky (never had no chance)
Will watch us rise
I've always wanted to create a "Black List" (and no, this is not a race reference) companion list that is a highly curated list of songs that should find its way into a film score or soundtrack one day. This song would be on it.
Sadly, the feature here, MF Doom, is post-humous as the highly celebrated British underground-hip-hop artist passed in 2020. I love how DOOM remembers Estrada's name some dozen verses down.
DOOM get rude with the dude off Chips
The mood switch, he chewed off strips off a brewed witch
Danger make him groove off a glitch
Makes your boo booty twitch and the crew rich, bitch
Always wanted to say that
Ever since the days in hallways tauntin' a stray cat
The one he often frequently slapped around
All the while, waited then graduated, cap and gown
Hated the rap sound
Debated the crap until he felt he had it mapped out
Enough to have the game trapped abound
Scratched the crown off the names of lames who yapped the noun
Or verb for that matter
Had no data for a herbal chat chatter
Oh, Erik Estrada
Away from you
Yo, I'm sick, no lymph nodes is swollen
They told me even when the records skip, keep it rolling
On his shoulder like a California highway patrolman
Launch codes was stolen and sold by Ed Snowden
Then I fled to Rome and told 'em address me as a Roman
I'm still in photos, posted with my own omen
A thumping kicker for me to slam like Hulk Hogan
It's something like a plane bumper sticker, no slogan
This something for the shooters and back-and-forth commuters
Who never knew the difference in laws and jurisprudence
I feel as though it's safe to assume that you the students
Are non congruent to the way that me and DOOM do this
You checking the top-two of a thousand intelligent chaps
With rap projects in housing developments
Cool the cross-legged on a crate like it's elegant
Try to hate, I'm puffing up your face like a pelican
Highly enveloped in, activating my melanin
Y'all failin' to see what's shaken besides gelatin
News bullets and I refuse to take the medicine
Fuck a thick skin, I got me an exo-skeleton
The black Colin Farrell in The Lobster
That living like an obstetrician but not a doctor
Bring the Cambridge, the Websters, the Oxfords
The picture too long to watch, see the synopsis
Compensated for playing nice, it's optics
Product of the last poets and the watched prophets
Ock, stop it, it's beyond out-of-pocket
Dunzo, I hit the gun show and got a rocket
Catastrophic, supreme microphone is
In Mexico, we the legendary dos cojones
Brothers both components of the close to coldest
Court holders with bars as hard as Angola
Away from you
DOOM get rude with the dude off chips
The mood switch, he chewed off strips off a brewed witch
Danger make him groove off a glitch
Makes your boo booty twitch and the crew rich, bitch
Always wanted to say that
Ever since the days in hallways tauntin' a stray cat
The one he often frequently slapped around
All the while, waited then graduated, cap and gown
Hated the rap sound
Debated the crap until he felt he had it mapped out
Enough to have the game trapped abound
Scratched the crown off the names of lames who yapped the noun
Or verb for that matter
Had no data for a herbal chat chatter
Oh, Erik Estrada
Fat rat, the mask made him batty as a mad-hatter
Known for his absurd word choices
And will ignore you if you ask him if he heard voices
Look, the energy is crazy
Far as he's concerned, the enemy was lazy
Hm-hm-hm, your attention please
Freeze, he came to seize the free cheese
Before he flees to Belize
In case you forgot to mention squeeze these
Just keep it on a need-to-know basis
They knew he was a negro so no need to show faces
Back in the days of no laces
On a slow pace, they used to say he might, could go places
Meh, whatever the case is
The card he played was Ace of Spades but no races
A spastic, some call him loony
When he spit a tomb sarcastic, it's Paul Mooney
Away from you
Away from you
For those who don't think they can be an artist and also hold another full-time job, meet Ka. Ka's a fire chief in Brooklyn but has been DYI'ing his music/albums for the last decade. And this year, he dropped two albums.
I stumbled upon "Ascension" via a radio playlist of Kendrick this year and was immediately drawn in to both the layered swells and the rich lyrics.
A vet of unpleasant and misery
Jah bless, didn't digest what they fed us in history
Not too nice, see the true stripes of letters officially
Don't waste ink, I'm succinct, it's measured efficiency
...
Every mention is for hood ascension
May not be a good man but got good intention
Got good intention
May not be a good man but got good intention
I mean, she was the one who was warm and you know, like, friendly to me
The one that I felt some kind of emotional ties to
And my father was, you know, just the opposite
He's like a cold motherfucker, he never spoke
You know he never really like showed any signs of emotion
A vet of unpleasant and misery
Jah bless, didn't digest what they fed us in history
Not too nice, see the true stripes of letters officially
Don't waste ink, I'm succinct, it's measured efficiency
Felt I had a curse first when I was bad at cursive
Baby sister named me and since was six, I had a purpose
Writings I drug cite in my court, I bought a surface
It comes from these meant to accompany, though they callin' 'em verses
Every mention is for hood ascension
May not be a good man but got good intention
Got good intention
May not be a good man but got good intention
I talk to you like a old uncle, that's my nuance
Got killed, couldn't build with my uncles, just my two aunts
Life grim, learn to fight and swim, Hopkinson and Dumont
When I moved from runaways, the last day I had true calm
As more I understand my posture, 'til I'm posthumous
'Til little me's thinking critically, I got no accomplishments
Descend to dark continents, center spark confidence
Correct the sea, speak of split second deeds, long consequence
If you a deep person, keep searching, amass facts
I believe they call him father, 'cause you supposed to get past that
If never won, run every one like it's the last lap
Handing ends to family and friends, never expecting that cash back
When you dorm with roaches, every day long as the solstice
I said parents ain't have no bread, I was born in ketosis
Always precocious, never quarreled with randoms, was drawing with focus
Since kids, they tried the colors 'cause only source is corpus
Heed to what they tried to feed they deceiving in doses
Bottom line, not the time for bikinis, Bellinis, mimosas
Never want war, but I'm for sure cleaning my toasters
'Cause when crabs don't go for roe, all I seem is ferocious
Every mention is for hood ascension
May not be a good man but got good intention
Got good intention
May not be a good man but got good intention
Every mention, hood ascension
Got good intention
(So, for as far as I was concerned, that was a man
That was how a man was supposed to be)
May not be a good man but got good intention
(So in order for me to be a man, I had to-)
rum.gold (also the actual URL of his website) first made an appearance on the Favorites in 2020 alongside Jamilia Woods with "Waiting For". For those familiar, rum.gold has some serious Moses Sumney-like vocal vibes going on – which the music world could certainly use a little more of anyway.
I want you to be human
You can sin however you'd like, baby
'Cause I wear mine on my sleeve
We can take forever or a minute, baby
It's all the same to me
Let down your fears
Take down your walls
It's only our shadows
That dance in the dark
Tell me no lies
Brace for the fight
I'll be your shelter in the night
Human
I want you to be human
I want you to be human
I want you to be free
And while you're here with me
Human
I want you to be human
I want you to be human
And there's no guarantees
But while you're hеre with me
I parted thе ocean to find you
Jumped from your Venus to your moon
Left a trail of tears to flow into your soul
And I am yours to choose
Let down your guard
Follow the signs
Teach me your game of hearts
It's all in your mind
Tell me no lies
Brace for the fight
I'll be your shelter in the night
Human
I want you to be human
I want you to be human
I want you to be free
And while you're here with me
Human
I want you to be human
I want you to be human
And there's no guarantees
But while you're here with me
Human (ooh)
Oh-oh (ooh)
Human (ooh)
I want you to be human (ooh)
Such a great song. Such a mediocre movie.
Is this our first? Or second nature?
When's that rapture? Will there be merch?
Is this our first? Or second nature?
When's that rapture? Will there be merch?
Where is mother? She was a stunner, can we page her?
What my eyes have seen could really take the purse
Are we charged now? Or are we fakers?
Parade around or get in work? Or just desert?
We will see you next time
There'll be water in the rain
Territories pay fines
All long day (say it will be! Say it will be!)
All may not be just fine! (All long day!)
There is another fate away
To not be too late and obfuscate
Is this our fault? And are we just too damn used to it
The cypher too elusive, that tale, it just won't stop
You could be vaguely on top, strike the key, lay down the mop
As if endings ain't endings and feet they just won't drop
Ain't this real-time? And aren't we takers?
You want what's more and don't excuse
And just refuse
We will see you next time (Is this mercy?)
They'll be water in the rain
Territories pay fines
All long day (say it with me! Say it with me!)
All may not be just fine! (All long day!)
There is another fate away
To not be too late
We will see you next time
There'll be water in the rain
Territories pay fines
All long day (say it with me! Say it with me!)
All may not be just fine! (All long day!)
There is another fate away
To not be too late and obfuscate
This isn't the first time this song has appeared on the favorites. Back in 2009, I did a "Best of the Last Decade" and featured the original recording by the great Gillian Welch. While the OG is hard to compare against, Valerie June does revive the song with a fresh look at Miss Ohio some 20 years later with her crisp and mesmerizing vocals.
I know all about it, so you don't have to shout it
I'm gonna straighten it out somehow
Yeah I want to do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio
She's a-running around with her rag-top down
She says I want to do right but not right now
Gonna drive to Atlanta and live out this fantasy
Running around with the rag-top down
Yeah I want to do right but not right now
Had your arm around her shoulder, a regimental soldier
An' mamma starts pushing that wedding gown
Yeah you want to do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, would ya look at Miss Ohio
She's a-runnin' around with the rag-top down
She says I want to do right but not right now
I know all about it, so you don't have to shout it
I'm gonna straighten it out somehow
Yeah I want to do right but not right now
Oh me oh my oh, look at Miss Ohio
She a-runnin' around with her rag-top down
She says I want to do right , but not right now
Oh I want to do right but not right now
Angel Olsen started her singing career as a backup vocalists to Bonnie "Prince" Billy. You'll hear the influence in this album.
The "Lady in Red" reference is for you girls... you know who you are! ;)
A love song.
Take to the lake, playing "Lady In Red"
Hanging onto every word that you said
Staying up all night, out by the fire
Singing your song now, you know I'm a crier
And I'm losing, I'm losing, I've left it behind
Guess I had to be losing to get here on time
And I'm living, I'm loving, I've loved long before
And I'm loving you big time, I'm loving you more
Good morning kisses, giving you all mine
Pull back the curtains, show me the sunshine
Needing this coffee, needing some nature
Need it right now, it can't wait until later
We're always busy, baby, not this time
Lay in the tall grass, talking with your eyes
Talking with your eyes before we knew we were
Thinking the same things, I'm a believer
And I'm losing, I'm losing, I've left it behind
Guess I had to be losing to get here on time
And I'm living, I'm loving, I've loved long before
I'm loving you big time, I'm loving you more
Take to the lake, playing "Lady In Red"
Hanging onto every word that you said
Staying up all night, out by the fire
Singing your song now, you know I'm a crier
And I'm losing, I'm losing, I've left it behind
Guess I had to be losing to get here on time
And I'm living, I'm loving, I've loved long before
And I'm loving you big time, I'm loving you more
And I'm losing, I'm losing, I've left it behind
Guess I had to be losing to get here on time
And I'm living, I'm loving, I've loved long before
And I'm loving you big time, I'm loving you more
And I'm loving you big time
And I'm loving you big time
And I'm loving you big time
I'm loving you big time
Over the last few years, Adrianne Lenker is likely to show up on the favorites via Big Thief and/or her solo work. While this album came out in 2022, the single "Change" came out in 2021 and made last year's favorites. "Certainty" is my second favorite on the album and one of rich lyrics and Lenker's trademark campfire vocals.
At the age of 31, Lenker is just waiting to have a movie made about her... born and raised in a Christian cult, wrote her first song at 8, first album at 13, 3x state champion in martial arts, married Big Thief co-founder Buck Meek, then divorced, then dated Indigo Sparks ("Pressure in My Chest") briefly, and yet kept "Big Thief" together throughout, remaining "deep friends" with Meek. It's no wonder she has the ability to write with such tension and certainty...
Maybe.
Maybe I love you
Maybe I love you is a river so high
Maybe I love you is a river so low
I love you, still don't know
My certainty is wild, weaving
For you, I am a child, believing
Name on the line, last request
Pull the car over to find some rest
Saying "I love you"
Need to lie here, need to leave
Living in the debt of make-believe
Saying I owe you
Crooked as a crow gnawing on dawn
Shadow from the grass in the dirt on the lawn
Why do I string you along?
My certainty is wild, weaving
For you, I am a child, believing
You lay beside me sleeping on a plane
In the future
Sit on the phone, watch TV
Romance, action, mystery
Wanted to show you
Sine wave is a particle ride
Bring your light out, then in on the tide
Maybe I love you
Maybe I love you is a river so high
Maybe I love you is a river so low
I love you, still don't know
My certainty is wild, weaving
For you, I am a child, believing
You lay beside me sleeping on a plane
In the future
My certainty is wild, weaving
For you, I am a child, believing
You lay beside me sleeping on a plane
In the future
Some of you will know of this married duo via their former moniker Mandolin Orange, which I imagine felt "cute" a decade ago. But I concur... it was time for a name change.
Here's one for those of you still hiding from the "monsters" – wherever they may be.
Oh, the star-eyed troubadour sleeps with the eternal
and wakes up in the gutter with a song to sing
The magic of the evening is so fleeting
and when it's gone, how we long
We punish our souls for being unclean
and bask in the glory of living obscenely
The fringe is a friend and our friends build the memories
we sacrifice for the song
Oh, the star-eyed troubadour sleeps with the eternal
and wakes up in the gutter with a song to sing
The magic of the evening is so fleeting
and when it's gone, how we long
We punish our souls for being unclean
and bask in the glory of living obscenely
The fringe is a friend and our friends build the memories
we sacrifice for the song
Oh it's maddening, running to the feast
Hiding from the monsters in the belly of the beast
Just give me your love, it's all I need
Hide me from the monsters in the belly of the beast
I'd like to call home, tell em about this town
A northwest gem just nestled in a mountain
Greeted me early with the peaceful sounds
of the wind in the evergreens
I should go walking, it's not something I do
A feeling this light makes me miss the blues
The gutter is lonely, it's a tool I use
It's the road I'm traveling
Oh, it's maddening running to the feast
Hiding from the monsters in the belly of the beast
Just give me your love, it's all I need
Hide me from the monsters in the belly of the beast
Oh, it's maddening running to the feast
Hiding from the monsters in the belly of the beast
Just give me your love, it's all I need
Hide me from the monsters in the belly of the beast
Just give me your love (It's all I need)
Just give me your love (It's all I need)
Just give me your love (It's all I need)
It's all I need
This track caught my attention this summer and was drawn in by its slow-ballad vibe and lyrical structure. It's a style that has deep roots in both folk and gospel and even made a brief, albeit fairly shallow, appearance in the big-hair band scene in the 80s.
All this said, admittedly, the second verse is a little cringy and almost got it knocked off the favorites all together, but I'm trying to include a little bit of everything here. ;)
'Oh, it's a little bit of everything,
It's the mountains,
It's the fog,
It's the news at six o'clock,
It's the death of my first dog,
It's the angels up above me,
It's the song that they don't sing,
It's a little bit of everything.'
With his back against the San Francisco traffic,
On the bridges side that faces towards the jail,
Setting out to join a demographic,
He hoists his first leg up over the rail.
And a phone call is made,
Police cars show up quickly.
The sergeant slams his passenger door.
He says, 'Hey son why don't you talk through this with me,
Just tell me what you're doing it for.'
'Oh, it's a little bit of everything,
It's the mountains,
It's the fog,
It's the news at six o'clock,
It's the death of my first dog,
It's the angels up above me,
It's the song that they don't sing,
It's a little bit of everything.'
An older man stands in a buffet line,
He is smiling and holding out his plate,
And the further he looks back into his timeline,
That hard road always had led him to today,
And making up for when his bright future had left him,
Making up for the fact that his only son is gone,
And letting everything out once, His server asks him,
Have you figured out yet, what it is you want?
I want a little bit of everything,
The biscuits and the beans,
Whatever helps me to forget about
The things that brought me to my knees,
So pile on those mashed potatoes,
And an extra chicken wing,
I'm having a little bit of everything.
Somewhere a pretty girl is writing invitations,
To a wedding she has scheduled for the fall,
Her man says, 'Baby, can I make an observation?
You don't seem to be having any fun at all.'
She said, 'You just worry about your groomsmen and your shirt-size,
And rest assured that this is making me feel good,
I think that love is so much easier than you realize,
If you can give yourself to someone,
Then you should.
'Cause it's a little bit of everything,
The way you choke, the way you ache,
It is waking up before you,
So I can watch you as you wake.
So in the day in late September,
It's not some stupid little ring,
I'm giving a little bit of everything.
Oh, it's a little bit of everything,
It's the matador and the bull,
It's the suggested daily dosage,
It is the red moon when it's full.
All these psychics and these doctors,
They're all right and they're all wrong,
It's like trying to make out every word,
When they should simply hum along,
It's not some message written in the dark,
Or some truth that no one's seen,
It's a little bit of everything.
Indigo Sparke hasn't messed around from having some fairly respected and established kick her career off... her first album was co-produced by Big Thief's Adrianne Lenker (who was conveniently her partner at the time). And this album, Hysteria, is produced by Aaron Dessner of The National.
And yes, this one does go out to you if I've ever heard you say "I feel a pressure in my chest."
Wide mouth open
Clouds fall will you follow me
Ive made it to the wasteland
Of my forgotten screams
I'm alive and hungry
I taste the salt of my fears
All this holy silence in my bones
I fall through
I carried you with me
To the mountain of my dreams
Sweet cold and icy
A landscape of white trees
And the light is filled with wonder
And the echo of our love
Huge wide open sky above
And the messages at dawn
I am searching
I am lost and found
Turquoise blue and apricot set my heart free
But there's a pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
When no one is around a conversation with myself
The big old house is talking
Smoke dancing in the wind
Time is a circle
And time is a cage
I got lost in the void but now I burn I burn through
But there's a pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Wide mouth open
Clouds fall will you follow me
Ive made it to the wasteland
Of my forgotten screams
Im alive and hungry
I taste the salt of my fears
All this holy silence in my bones I fall through
And there's a pressure in my chest
A pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
Pressure in my chest
My breath
Rosie Thomas made her debut feature on the Favorites way back in 2005 with "Since You've Been Around." As a close childhood friend of another dear friend of mine (Jen), I had the opportunity to meet an interview her circa 2006/2007. Rosie is a sweet soul that exudes empathy and care – while also being one of the legit funniest artists I've ever met.
"All is Full of Love" is a Björk cover. What a simple statement that most of us want to believe is true, but continue to operate as if it isn't.
Thank you for the reminder Rosie (and Björk).
You'll be given love
You'll be taken care of
You'll be given love
You have to trust it
Maybe not from the sources
You have poured yours
Maybe not from the directions
That you've been staring
Turn your head around (turn your head around)
Look all around you (all around you, all around you)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
You'll be given love
You'll be taken care of
You'll be given love
You have to trust it
Maybe not from the sources
You have poured yours
Maybe not from the directions
That you've been staring
Turn your head around (turn your head around)
Look all around you (all around you, all around you)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all around you, all around you)
It's all around you
It's all around you
It's all around you
It's all around you
All is full of love (all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you
All is full of love (all is full of love)
You have to trust it
All is full of love (all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all is full of love)
You have to trust it
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (in every way)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
You have to trust it
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you
All is full of love (all is full of love)
You have to trust it
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (in every way, all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all is full of love)
You have to trust it (all is full of love)
All is full of love (all is full of love)
It's all around you (all is full of love)
It's all around (love)
It's all around, it's full of love (love)
It's all around (love)
It's all around, it's full of love (love)
It's all around (love)
It's all around, it's full of love (love)
It's all around (love)
It's all around, it's full of love (love)
It's all around you (all around you)
It's all around you
Humanity, relationships, self... it can be cyclical. One may say repetitive. Well, here you go...
I'm on a ribbon
Of concrete
I am a blurred shot
A bright streak
Coming back to you
I'm on a ribbon
Of concrete
I am a blurred shot
A bright streak
Coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm on the ocean
I'm out to sea
I know my fortune
It's you and me
Coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I am the sound
The one you think
The one you can't find
The one you need
I'm 85
I'm 60
I am a mother
A baby
Coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I am the root
I am the leaf
I am the big tree
You grew beneath
Coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
Back to you
I'm on an airplane
I'm in a boat
I'm in a car now
I'm losing control
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back to you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Back to you
I'm coming back to you
I'm coming back
I'm coming back
I'm coming back
I'm coming back-ack
To you
Coming in at 0:58, this may be the shortest song to ever appear on the Favorites.
When we're not in our bodies
When we're up in a spaceship
That's when I feel the greatest
I've been trying to tell ya
I've been dying to tell ya
Want you all to myself
I want you all to myself
And when we leave all the parties
When we're not in our bodies
When we're up in a spaceship
That's when I feel the greatest
I made a wish on an eyelash
Made a wish on elevens
Made a wish on my birthday
Talk about you to Heaven
I plan my days all around ya
Planets orbit around ya
I was lost 'til I found ya
I think angels surround ya
Funny thing is that when I was doing the initial playlist order, I had no conscious awareness that "Smithereens", which comes in at a lengthy 0:59, after the prior track (0:58).
Fun fact: Dan, who is largely unknown, does most of the production for his albums, which includes actually building the instruments you hear.
A song weighing the "benefits" of speaking/not-speaking what we're always thinking.
She ain't saying what she's thinking
And neither
Neither is he
'Cause they both know
That if they do
This whole thing
Gets blown all to smithereens
She ain't saying what she's thinking
And neither
Neither is he
'Cause they both know
That if they do
This whole thing
Gets blown all to smithereens
I'm sure there are lots of musicians out there that find a catchy riff that never see the light of day – often from a lack of producing/production vision and/or poor lyrics. I imagine this is what would have happened to this memorable guitar melody if it weren't for the talented and experienced collab group (Coco) behind behind it.
Coco is the side project of Dirty Projectors' Maia Friedman, Lucius' Dan Molad and Pavo Pavo's Oliver Hill.
Walk into a mystery
Feel a pattern in me
Look away and stay over there
Still I see it everywhere, an omen
Blazing in the wild
Reaching out for miles
Escape tomorrow, escape today
Still I see it anyway, an omen
Heavy hangs the sunshine
Yellow, thick and unkind
Look away and stand over there
Still I see it everywhere, an omen
Walk into a mystery
Feel a pattern in me
Look away and stay over there
Still I see it everywhere, an omen
A simple prayer and timely plea.
Time is all we have
I hope I have enough
Enough to show you love
Before my time is up
Before you wake the dead
Take a pause instead
Of deafening nonsense
Share silence
No violence today
Time is all we have
I hope I have enough
Enough to show you love
Before my time is up
Before you wake the dead
Take a pause instead
Of deafening nonsense
Share silence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
Like driving with the window down
All I was will disappear
I only have you now, you only have me here
And we can't count on tomorrow night
Or wait for brighter light
I can hear you through my eyelids, sheer silence
No violence today, oh
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
No violence, no violence
No violence today
Ryan (aka Sleeping at Last) is one of my closest and dearest friends. But this isn't why he's a regular on the Favorites (he was long before we were friends). He regularly shows up because he's an insanely talented composer and lyricist.
I typically can't keep up with all of the various projects, accolades, etc... Ryan is a part of in any given year, but I did happen to catch his feature on one of Spotify's flagship playlist "Life Sucks" – which I found fairly amusing. Thanks Ryan for helping us embrace all of Life's suck-y-ness. ;)
With these tired eyes
I've seen enough for tonight
As my eyes close, my guards come down
An armistice was signed
Predator and prey on equal ground
I lose my balance at the water's edge
A Freudian slip
But I can't remember what was said
I'm not certain I'm not a ghost
Is this free will or am I doing as I'm told?
I know shadows follow the rules
But what if tonight
By the mercy of light
I could choose?
Watercolor lucid dreams
I'll paint a future
That I can redeem
For just one precious third of my life
I'm not hypnotized
By the glow of a screen
Or the darkness I've seen
With these tired eyes
I've seen enough for tonight
As my eyes close, my guards come down
An armistice was signed
Predator and prey on equal ground
I lose my balance at the water's edge
A Freudian slip
But I can't remember what was said
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Saturn
Sleeping At Last
Sun
Sleeping At Last
Moon
Sleeping At Last
[Chorus 2]
Watercolor vivid dreams
Under lock and key
Vague silhouettes
Are all I've got left
Till I fall back asleep
An afterimage of the divine
Or just my restless mind
A broken cassette
Can't help but forget
And fade over time
[Post-Chorus 2]
I'll press rewind
Twenty-seven thousand times
Give or take
[Bridge]
I'll paint a future
That I can redeem
I'll paint a future
[Chorus 3]
Watercolor vivid dreams
Watercolor vivid dreams
Watercolor vivid dreams
I'll paint a future
Watercolor vivid dreams
I'll paint a future
I'll paint a future
For all of you Gen Zs out there, just before the world almost perished in Y2K, an English pop singer released an album with a track called "Thank You" on it. And while the song (and album) caught the attention of some fans and critics, it wasn't until circa 2005 when Eminem released "Stan" – which sampled Dido's original "Thank You" did this song blow up. This is that song, done with reserve and care by the superbly talented Lennon Stella.
All I see is you
And even if my house falls down now
I wouldn't have a clue
Because you're near me
I want to thank you
For giving me the best day of my life
My tea's gone cold, I'm wondering why
I got out of bed at all
The morning rain clouds up my window
And I can't see at all
Even if I could, it'd all be grey
But your picture on my wall
It reminds me that it's not so bad
It's not so bad
I drank too much last night, got bills to pay
My head just feels in pain
I missed the bus and there'll be hell today
I'm late for work again
Even if I'm there, they'll all imply
That I might not last the day
And then you call me
And it's not so bad, it's not so bad
I want to thank you
For giving me the best day of my life
Oh, just to be with you
Is having the best day of my life
Push the door, I'm home at last
And I'm soaking through and through
Then you handed me a towel
All I see is you
And even if my house falls down now
I wouldn't have a clue
Because you're near me
I want to thank you
For giving me the best day of my life
Oh, just to be with you
Is having the best day of my life
