Fall Playlist (10/24/2010)

Good morning from Rochester!  I've been delaying writing this installment for two reasons:  1) This playlist keeps growing, and I don't want to miss something earth-shattering; and C) It's already ballooned over 80 tracks, which makes it impossible to post here in its entirety - so I've been debating exactly how to capture fall.  I think we'll go with pivotal tracks with shout-outs to complete albums and see where we land.  I've got most of Brand New "Deja Entendu," The Classic Crime "Albatross," and a large chunk of Escala's self-titled album, which is tremendously baller.  (If you haven't had the distinct pleasure, may I particularly recommend their cover of Led Zepplin's "Kashmir," re-recorded featuring Slash from Guns and Roses on guitar.  True story.)  I've also got a bunch of Audioslave from their self-titled and off "Out Of Exile" - but that's just because Chris Cornell and Tom Morello rock real hard.
UPDATE:  Wow.  This post is wayyy late!  Let's see if I can't hammer something out this morning. :-)

• Au Revoir Simone - Stay Golden [Verses of Comfort, Assurance & Salvation]: Simple and beautiful; "for times when Sigur Rós and only Sigur Rós will do."  (I realize that this is not, in fact, Sigur Rós.)
• Bush - Glycerine [Sixteen Stone]:  Recently the answer to a trivia question, this song captures the change of seasons for me; "don't let the days go by..."
• Dream Theater - Wither [Wither]:  Definitely one of my favorite Dream Theater tracks ever (though "Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence" is pretty much amazing), I love this entire song.  Highlights?  Check out the bridge at 3:43 into a massive rock-ballad guitar solo at 4:00 into the final chorus at 4:16.  Beautiful.  "...like reflections on the page, the world's what you create..."
• Fuel - Hideaway [Sunburn]:  Fuel put out Sunburn back in 1998, but I still say it's one of their best albums (I've previously posted about Shimmer, off this same album).  Like Glycerine above, this song takes me back, which is good for a reflective season like autumn.
• Incubus - The Warmth [Make Yourself]:  My brother put me back on to this song recently.  Though I forget the exact circumstances, he and I both had the same response to this song:  the verses are ok, but check out the chorus!  (I won't spoil it additionally for you.)
• Jimmy Eat World - Blister [Clarity]:  Like most of us, I didn't really hear about Jimmy Eat World until Bleed American came out in 2001.  (Interesting piece of trivia, the album was released in the United States as a self-titled following the 9/11 attacks.)  Blister is definitely a little rough around the edges, but it undeniably shows promise.  (Additional tidbit:  Goodbye Sky Harbor, also off Clarity, is over sixteen minutes long, and includes an a cappella riff at the end of the song!)
• The Juliana Theory - Into The Dark [Emotion Is Dead]:  I believe The Juliana Theory is one of the most underrated bands of all time, especially in regards to song writing.  The song starts with a very cool organ sample on a loop which slowly fades into the texture as the verse unfolds.  Enter huge chorus, complete with harmony:  "In your eyes I see a darkness that torments you/and in your head where it dwells. / I'd give you my hand if you'd reach out and grab it. / Let's walk away from this hell..."
• Kate Havnevik - Nowhere Warm [Melankton]:  At the temperatures drop, I feel like I'm more attracted to music from the cold north.  Off the Norwegian singer's debut album, the track is simple but attractive (much like her album art), fitting perfectly with my bi-weekly drive across the frozen landscape via I-90.  (I will throw out the warning that every song on her album sounds like it's off a Grey's Anatomy soundtrack.)
• Linkin Park - Hands Held High [Minutes to Midnight]:  I'm not an overly-political guy, but I've always liked this song.  Mike Shinoda doesn't mince words (see Kenji off The Rising Tied) and his message comes through crystal-clear in this song:  "when the rich wage war it's the poor who die."  What surprised me most about this song though is the ending, after Mike stops rapping at 2:37.  "With hands held high into the sky so blue / As the ocean opens up to swallow you..."
• Matt Pond PA - Champagne Supernova [Music from the O.C. Mix 4]:  For some reason, it took me forever to find a copy of this song originally.  Very odd.  Originally by Oasis, Matt Pond PA brings a nice orchestral spin to the famous song (certainly owing it's fame partly due to the unknown meaning of the lyrics).  The body of the song is quite similar, so if you're in a rush, skip to 6:00 and listen to the end. :-)
• Meg & Dia - Here, Here and Here [Here, Here and Here]:  I'm including this mostly for irony:  I've already written about this track, and proclaimed that it would likely "not last much longer on my playlist..."  So much for that prediction!
• Ms. John Soda - A Nod On Hold [Notes and the Like]:  Another European artist, Ms. John Soda combines elements of several artists I like (Imogen Heap / Frou Frou, Goldfrapp, Azure Ray, Stars) without sounding like an imitator.  The production on this album is also superb.  
• Natalie Walker - Quicksand (Thievery Corporation Remix) [Quicksand - EP]:  I love Natalie Walker's voice - I think it's really stellar.  That having been said, the Thievery Corporation Remix of Quicksand is the perfect mind-clearing song:  In my opinion, it's actually got a little too much bass in it... but for me, that's what I find so soothing about this song.  The warm, tube-saturated bass just fills the car and empties my mind.  Very relaxing.  Also check out her cover of "Colorblind" (see my previous post).
• Nelly - Just a Dream [Just a Dream - Single]:  Standard infectious pop.  Funny side-note:  I recall having a conversation with someone about Nelly years ago, and they famously declared "I will buy a Nelly album when he puts out something that doesn't suck."  I couldn't agree more.
• Nine Inch Nails - Where Is Everybody [Things Falling Apart]:  Since I've not yet written about NIN, I'll take a moment on this one.  I went through a big NIN phase in high school (as many of us did at the time).  It was part of a teenage, rebellious, "what does it all mean" phase that naturally I grew out of.  That having been said, I still think Trent Reznor is a musical genius and was way ahead of his time with this album.  (People were blown away when Linkin Park released Reanimation in 2002, but Reznor had been releasing remix albums of NIN songs since 1995!  I also believe that Things Falling Apart was a strong influence in the production of Reanimation.)  Anyway, released in 2000 as a sister-album to The Fragile, Things Falling Apart included a variety of remixes, including a heavily industrial remix of "Where Is Everybody."  Even if you don't like the song, you kind of have to agree that Reznor is good at what he does...
• Porcupine Tree - Collapse The Light Into Earth [In Absentia]:  My brother would be proud of this entry.  "Collapse The Light Into Earth" is weighty, expansive, and beautiful.  If your drive is less than thirty minutes,  you probably don't have enough time to devote to this six-minute track.  That having been said, when you have a moment, just relax and take it all in.  You will be rewarded in kind.
• Red Hot Chili Peppers - I Could Die For You [By the Way]:  I've apparently never discussed a RHCP song.  Very odd.  Let me start by saying that By the Way is easily one of my favorite albums, even though it contains very few of my favorite songs (does that make sense?).  It's a nice quiet song, perfect for the setting sun on an early-autumn evening.

There are certainly other songs on this playlist, but I feel they will come up at other times.  For now, I will leave you all with wishes of joy this holiday season.  I hope you spend it with friends, family, and loved ones, and that your holiday travels are safe and expeditious.  PS - I finally finished the album.  "Say Goodbye to Rover" is officially complete.  Thanks to everyone who helped get me here - it's been a long road and a busy four weeks.  Already starting to think about the next project... ;-)

Warm fuzzies to you and yours this Christmas.

-JB