Tunes
I've been listening to music the way I used to in middle school. One artist, one album at a time - for hours, days, weeks uninterrupted. In high school I focused on certain songs / mix CDs that got me all emotionally revved up, then in college I started monitoring the indie and local scene. I wanted something I could see live or that I could dance to or that I could talk about - music was fun and functional. I got sick of the indie scene pretty fast, and thus haven't downloaded much new that wasn't a show tune or big band since late 2006.

Now I'm back to listening to music seriously - not as background, not as an activity enhancer. I read artist background and liner notes, mentally rank albums and EPs. For the past couple weeks I was all about Kaki King. Now I've moved on to Nine Inch Nails. Boards of Canada is next up, but after that I'm taking suggestions. Doesn't have to be new, just something I haven't spent time exploring in depth. Bring 'em on - but you have to tell me why you think I'd enjoy/appreciate it. No exceptions!


Indie pop will always be my greatest old flame, but lush music is probably my one true love. Lots of layers, electronic and otherwise, none of that bare singer-songwriter acoustic guitar shit. Things I love and have already explored extensively include The Smiths, TV on the Radio, Wolf Parade, MGMT, The Helio Sequence, Stars, DeVotchKa, AIR, Badly Drawn Boy, Weather Report, Interpol.

Sound is way, way more important than lyrics. Actually, I can take or leave lyrics, and I leave the ones that are overly sentimental / distractingly political.