Ultimate break-up mix

You guys, I broke up with my boyfriend a few weeks ago. It was amicable/mutual/logical or whatever, but it still sucks a lot. Especially since I'm in a new town, and I have a lot of alone time to watch cheesy teen dramas from Australia and sob. (But I mean seriously, the curveball at the end of season 2 was heartbreaking.) Anyway, in the interest of full self-pity, here are some songs to cry to.



1. "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston (1993)
I just watched The Bodyguard (1992) this afternoon,* and this song just spoke to me in the way that only early 90s pop ballads can.



2. "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton (1974)
Speaking of The Bodyguard, the original version of "I Will Always Love You" is effective in its simplicity. The speaking parts are perfection.



3. "Bell Bottom Blues" by Derek and the Dominos (1970)
Just a reeking of desperation.



4. "Over You" by Miranda Lambert  (2012)
Okay, so no one died or anything, but it gets the general idea that losing someone sucks.



5. "Caroline No" by The Beach Boys (1966)
Ugh, Beach Boys, you make an ending relationship sound so beautiful.



6. "It Makes No Difference" by The Band (1975)
First class lyrics and mournful guitar and saxophone solos. It certainly helps that Rick Danko's voice sounds like it's going to give out at any minute.



7. "Marvin's Room (Can't Do Better)" by Jojo (2011)
This song is so embarrassing, it's perfect. NSFW.




8. "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac (1975)
This was one of the ex's favorite songs. Seems apropos.



9. "Let It Die" by Feist (2004)
Possibly the saddest chorus I've ever heard.



10. "The Shrine/An Argument" by Fleet Foxes (2011)
Epic folk, ending in chaos.



11. "Now At Last" by Blossom Dearie (1956)
This is what it feels like.



12. "St. Swithin's Day" by Billy Bragg (1984)
A man, his guitar, a beautiful chord progression, and an overabundance of lyrics.



Feel better? Me neither. Have a good cry.


*My sister's really accurate commentary. 

This may be my summer album

Much like Local Natives' album Gorilla Manor took over my summer last year, I'm pretty sure Fleet Foxes' album Helplessness Blues will define this summer.

1) "Montezuma" - Let's not beat around the bush, I'm a choir girl, and the background harmonies resonate just like a boys' choir in this song. The "oh"s that underscore "Oh man that I used to be" are just heavenly.

2) "Bedouin Dress" - I woke up with this song stuck in my head, from the filler guitar riff, to the violin(?) solo filler, to the bouncy "ooh"s. It's a good album for vowels.

3) "Sim Sala Bim" - Witchcraft? I don't know. It's folky and dynamic and I love it. It reminds me of Zeppelin's "The Battle of Evermore", but with less LoTR and more Biblical references.

4) "Battery Kinzie" - This song takes a turn for the Simon & Garfunkel. The consistent harmonies and snappier tempo are pure 60s folk rock.

5) "The Plains/Bitter Dancer" - One of their longer songs, this song has a few movements. The first is mesh of vocal prettiness. The second is a Crosby, Stills, Nash, and/or Young harmony-driven mid-tempo piece marking the comeback of the rock flute. The third is another vocal pretty party, but this time with more sass.

6) "Helplessness Blues" - It's like if Bob Dylan and Paul Simon collaborated on a song and then Simon and & Garfunkel performed it. Meaning, interesting lyrics with an actual melody, and beautifully performed. But what really makes this song perfection is the breakdown at the end where the vocals go from full harmonies to solo Robin Pecknold and back again.

7) "The Cascades" - Instrumental titled for the mountains I can see if Seattle is actually sunny. Again, very Zoso.

8) "Lorelai" - Not this love song, it's full of realizations and regret, maybe. Anyway, it's beautiful.

9) "Someone You'd Admire" - This song is precisely what it feels like to be lying awake at 3am thinking too much.

10) "The Shrine/An Argument" - Another song with movements, this song is some sort of ode to a former relationship. The first movement contains the grittiest vocals I've ever heard from Robin Pecknold, and I wish I could hear more of it. In fact, this haunting part reminds me a little of Traffic's folkier forays. Then the second movement is a chugging train of anger. Yes, I just wrote that sentences. The third movement is just a complete loss of center, complete with disconcerting prog rock woodwind solo. I guess it's a deeper break-up song than "Without You."

11) "Blue-Spotted Tail" - I hate to compare again (that's not true, I'm just using the same example), but solo Paul Simon with a tinge 21st century hipster. Maybe the Shins? But mostly just solo Paul Simon.

12) "Grown Ocean" - New comparison? Fine. Brian Wilson-like precision.

Overall assessment: Similar flavor to their previous work, but more adventurous. I can see echoes of late-60s/70s harmony-driven folk rock and brilliant but sometimes distancing prog rock. I'm just glad it leans more toward the folk rock end with a dash or two of pop. Great album.

Everyone covers Dylan: "It Ain't Me Babe"

This weeks Dylan adventure, 1964's "It Ain't Me Babe" from Another Side of Bob Dylan. This song seems to change meaning with every cover.

Dylan himself from a delete scene from Don't Look Back (released 1967):

Have you ever run after a celebrity?

1. The Turtles with their fun-loving 1965 pop cover.

When did the vocal style in the "no, no, no" part go out of style?

2. I kind of always want to punch Joan Baez in the face, but I have to admit that I like the melancholy tone of her cover as performed in 1965.


Douchiest introduction to a song ever?

3. Johnny Cash and June Carter originally recorded a version in 1965. Here they are performing their flirtatious version live.

Where can I get June's dress?


4. From a 2009 BBC Session with Fleet Foxes, Robin Pecknold soloing a straight forward cover:

I just found out this guy is basically the same age as me. That's all.


5. Silvertide's generic '00s rock cover that appeared in the Lady in the Water (2006) soundtrack:

And just because it made me love them despite their pretentiousness, a wacky version with both Bob Dylan and Joan Baez!

100 Favorite Songs: 21-25

Most eclectic 5 yet?

21. "Interstate Love Song" by Stone Temple Pilots (1994)

'90s alternative always sounds homey to me, especially this understated break-up song. Here's a 2001 performance:


Love Scott's moves.


22. "Bring It On Home to Me" by Sam Cooke (1961)

Sam Cooke's vocals are perfect in this song when balanced out with Lou Rawls' lower harmonies.


Perrrrfection.


23. "Electric Feel" by MGMT (2008)

MGMT seems to be a decent live band, but nothing beats the studio polished reverb on every "ooo girl" and "baby girl."


Hipster jungle?


24. "Alison" by Elvis Costello (1977)

This is one of the better songs that's on permanent rotation in my head.


Have you ever met an Al(l)i/yson you didn't like?


25. “Mykonos” – Fleet Foxes (2008)

I love vocal harmonies. So much. Also, this song held up to several iterations a day during my crappy summer kiosk job.


Rock sensibly.

Medley of the Day: It's sunny edition

I hope by making this playlist, the weather gods won't curse me with another round of snowstorms, but I really just want to celebrate the sun and spring and being excited that school's almost out for summer.



1. "Someday Someway" by Marshall Crenshaw. Possibly one of the best pop songwriters ever, Mr. Crenshaw wrote one of the catchiest, most upbeat songs ever. Love.

2. "Mykonos" by Fleet Foxes. I love a good melody and sweet vocal harmonies--especially when they take a turn for the Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.

3. "When the Day Met the Night" by Panic at the Disco. One year later, still in love with this album.

4. "Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey. Possibly one of the cheesiest songs ever produced, it sounds like a middle school crush.

5. "Copperline" by James Taylor. I can't resist. It reminds me of jumping on the trampoline and smelling freshly cut grass.

Love love Fleet Foxes

Shout out to my brother Sam for introducing me to Fleet Foxes. I'm addicted to their song "He Doesn't Know Why". It has a gorgeous melody and sweet harmonies. There's so many things to love about the video, too: beards, vests, goats, a goat on a piano, did I mention beards?


Fleet Foxes He Doesn't Know Why from Grandchildren on Vimeo.

Also, bearded claymation with their song "White Winter Hymnal":


White Winter Hymnal from Grandchildren on Vimeo.