Runnin' around this town, on the corner

So thanks to my brother, sister-in-law (Thanks Jenny!), and a few half-marathoner/triathaloner friends I have been inspired to start running jogging.. i.e., their running has inspired me to start jogging. I refuse to mar the good name of running by calling what I do, which is lifting my legs in the fashion of running but at a much. slower. pace, running (no, seriously, I will never ever post the time it takes me to jog a mile because you will sit there scratching your head and wondering why my jogging a mile takes longer than it does your toddler to walk a mile).

Anyhoo, with running comes listening to music. As I ever-so-gently put it to Justin when I was ranting about my iPod not working, when I don't have music to distract me, my brain screams at me: "Ahhh I'm DYING, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO YOURSELF... GAH my LEGS! DYING!!"  I had a few songs in my 'Work it OUT' mix on iTunes, but it became repetitive listening to Michael Jackson over, and over.. and over as I jogged. Upon realizing that I do not jog at nearly a normal pace, I was able to add some music that features slower tempos and expand my repertoire. Hence, the following very-eclectic list of my favorite songs, in no particular order, that make me want to dance and thus encourage me as I'm panting through my 20-minute, 1-mile jog. I may or may not dance/jog along when I think I'm alone in the woods only to turn around and realize there's a 20-person field trip group visiting the nature center I jog at, staring at me. Awesome.

1. Some Nights (Explicit)- Fun
2. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere- Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova (I'm Not There Soundtrack)
3. This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) (Remastered LP Version )- Talking Heads
4. The Good Life- Weezer
5. Mr. Blue Sky- ELO
6. Dog Days Are Over- Florence & the Machines
7. Sunday Bloody Sunday- U2
8. Lights- Elie Goulding
9. Crazy For You- Best Coast
10. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough- Michael Jackson
11. Praise You- Fatboy Slim
12. Gold Dust Woman (LP Version)- Fleetwood Mac
13. Dancing With Myself (2001 Digital Remaster)- Billy Idol
14. The Galway Girl- Steve Earle
15. Too Close- Alex Clare
16. For Once In My Life- Stevie Wonder
17. I Wish- Another Stevie Wonder classic
18. Speed Of Sound- Coldplay
19. Giving Up The Gun- Vampire Weekend
20. Squeeze Box- The Who
21. Church On Sunday (Album Version)- Green Day
22. Fences- Phoenix
23. Paint It, Black- The Rolling Stones
24. September- Pomplamoose (cover)
25. Rock The Casbah- The Clash
26. Pretty Vacant (Album Version)- The Sex Pistols


For those who are curious, I'm following the Hal Higdon novice 5K training program. I would've gone with the very popular Couch-to-5K, but after finishing INSANITY: 60-Day Total Body Conditioning Workout DVD Program, I was able to run 1.5 miles (kinda sorta without dying) so I wanted to build from there.

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Playlist of the week- 10/22/12

Justin's back for this week's theme: songs that I hate, by the artists I love.

Even the greats have bad days.. or decades.  Here are the top three songs I can't stand by artists I love.

The Long And Winding Road by The Beatles


I know Paul McCartney is well known for being more mannered and sentimental than John Lennon, but this song takes it to levels unfit for The Beatles legacy.  This was recorded during the tense 'Let It Be' sessions where the band seemed tired of each other.  'Road' had a string section added by Phil Spector in the original release.  The version featured on 'Let It Be.. Naked' stripped away much of the arrangement and somehow made the song even less compelling.

Transformer Man (LP Version) by Neil Young

This one is laced with techno lameness (that was bad even for the 1980's) and featured heavily synthesized vocals. The entire album seems to have been a huge misfire for the man better known for his distorted guitar solos and country-tinged acoustic songs.  The thing that made this one stand out as even worse is that I get the sense there is a decent song there.  This was reaffirmed when I heard the Neil Young Unplugged version of the song.

Paradise by Coldplay

Coldplay is a great singles band with one masterpiece (Parachutes).  'Paradise' leaves me cold with the annoying repeating 'P' word hook that seems to come up a lot in pop music right now- case in point: Para para paradise vs. papa papa paparazzi. 


I noticed Justin did not mention any of Bob Dylan's 'born-again'-phase albums, he is wise in that disrespecting Bob Dylan is seen as blasphemy in this household. We just don't mention the 1980's. 

Playlist of the week- 10/15/12

Justin will be doing a regular playlist here, being the music expert and all. No, seriously, he knows his music. I get to pick the theme so this week I chose 70's disco 90's grunge. 

I always hated the term 'Grunge'.   To me there is a huge difference between what Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and the Pumpkins were doing.  Usually the common thread was a big guitar sound and lyrics that were not well suited for the frat house keg party. If you want that kind of rock you can shout along to Paradise City by GNR.  These are 4 of my favorite 'Grunge'-era acoustic based songs that make you focus on just how different these bands were from the crop of hard rock bands they were destined to eradicate.   

Daughter- Pearl Jam

This comes off Pearl Jam's second album VS.  This was a well-known song for them, despite not having a music video and covering a downer subject.  Check out how Eddie Vedder plays with words to subtly suggest the abusive nature of the relationship discussed in the song.  Is it violins or violence?  

Luna- Smashing Pumpkins

The final song off the Pumpkin's smash hit Siamese Dream.  After all the guitar blaring and existential angst displayed within, Billy Corgan decided to end the journey with a life-affirming and sweet lullaby that would make The Beatles proud. Check out the sitar among the sweet backdrop of strings.  

Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam- Nirvana

Off of the beautiful Nirvana - Unplugged album.  Almost half of the set list from this album were covers and this is my favorite among.  Check out bass player Krist Novoselic picking up the accordion for this and Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl providing back up vocals.

Burden In My Hand- Soundgarden

A decent hit for the band in the last days of the 'Grunge- era'.   The tempo for the song is a bit more energetic and it shows off Chris Cornell's voice beautifully.  




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Playlist of the week

Justin wanted to share some music on my blog. At first, being the selfish person that I am, I said "No It's MY BLOG and I do what I want!" But then he sent me this and of course I had to let him. Gah he's too sweet. 

Songs for my wife, these all make me think about her.

1. Tomorrow Is A Long Time by Bob Dylan (The Witmark Demos)
There is no other song that summed up the loss I felt in the Middle East without her.  Somehow the fact that she didn't know the song made it feel more true.

If today was not an endless highway,
If tonight was not a crooked trail,

If tomorrow wasn't such a long time,
Then lonesome would mean nothing to you at all.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin',
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin',
Only if she was lyin' by me,
Then I'd lie in my bed once again.

I can't see my reflection in the waters,
I can't speak the sounds that show no pain,
I can't hear the echo of my footsteps,
Or can't remember the sound of my own name.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin',
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin',
Only if she was lyin' by me,
Then I'd lie in my bed once again.

There's beauty in the silver, singin' river,
There's beauty in the sunrise in the sky,
But none of these and nothing else can touch the beauty
That I remember in my true love's eyes.
Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin',
Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin',
Only if she was lyin' by me,

Then I'd lie in my bed once again.


2. And I love her by the Beatles
3. Til Kingdom Come by Coldplay
4. Crazy For You by Best Coast
5. First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes


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Relaxation rituals

I have found it very beneficial to my sleep and well being to reinstate the lost ritual of taking nightly candle-lit bubble baths complete with 'Sleepytime' tea (and aromatherapy bubble bath scents... I'm very into this whole bath time thing). An essential key to this tradition is the 'bath mix' of music specifically for these baths. Without further ado, I present my current 'bath mix' on iTunes:

1. Corrina, Corrina- Bob Dylan
2. Linger- The Cranberries
3. Sail Away- David Gray
4. Make You Feel My Love- Adele
5. You Can Close Your Eyes- James Taylor
6. Hallelujah- Jeff Buckley
7. Carolina On My Mind- James Taylor
8. I Found a Boy- Adele
9. Jealous Guy- John Lennon
10. Fire and Rain- James Taylor
11. Love- John Lennon
12. Someone Like You- Adele
13. Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness- The Smashing Pumpkins
14. Imagine- John Lennon
15. Wish You Were Here- Pink Floyd
16. Something in the Way She Moves- James Taylor

Do you have other suggestions? Apparently I'm  looking for acoustic or instrumental, with a soothing honey voice (mostly)... I guess having David Gray or Chris Martin serenade me on that grand piano I've been meaning to get for the bathroom wouldn't be half bad.