What I'm listening to: Spring '09

I found some new music that I like a lot, and for whatever reason I've lately felt compelled to promote some music I've had for a long time. I have started writing down song titles that I think friends might like in my phone. That's great, but I never write down why I think the friend might enjoy the music, or what made me think of it. I do the same thing with Netflix, and the result is the same: I'm always wondering why the hell did I get this movie (or song)?

These songs are from my list of music for bill, one of the two (three?) readers of my blog. I had already published Mum's "Nightly Cares" here, so I left that out, and unfortunately I was unable to easily download an MP3 version of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Cheated Hearts". Perhaps the industrious reader can find it himself. Of the remaining five songs, two are old favorites: PJ Harvey's The Wind, and Cash by Sugar Ray.

The other three are new(er). Everybody loves M.I.A., but not everybody loves her new, weirder album. That's because not everybody has heard "Mango Pickle Down River (with the Wilcannia Mob)". I hope to rectify that lack here. Similarly, some may have heard Simple Kid's "Little King Kong" on the radio, while not realizing that his album is actually fantastic. "Serotonin" is a nice example, but really the whole thing is good. Last and definitely not least is the little gem that apparently made everybody's 2008 top ten list: "For Emma, Forever Ago" by Bon Iver. I'm posting Blindsided, but in fact every track on that album is fantastic, especially if you like quiet music to go into a remote shack in the woods and shoot yourself to. Well, actually I don't really think it's that depressing, but it is darkly emotional and moody. Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as me.

The Wind, PJ Harvey

Cash, Sugar Ray

Mango Pickle, M.I.A.

Serotonin, Simple Kid

Blindsided, Bon Iver