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Mar. 28th, 2008 | 08:32 am

On gray, wet, cold morning such as this, my morning commute music is often debatable. Do I want to wallow in the grayness with depressing music? Or fight it off with cheeriness? This morning I tried to construct for myself the ultimate, most irresistibly happy playlist. It did indeed chase away the gloom. And now I want more suggestions!

So what I'm looking for are songs that make it practically impossible to be glum. Not songs that make you happy because they are so good, or songs that remind you of good memories, but songs that exist on their own as gleeful little entities.

What I listened to this morning:

They Might be Giants- Birdhouse in your Soul
Replacements- Alex Chilton
Belly- Slow Dog
Killers- Mr. Brightside
Erasure- Respect
New Order- Regret
Bowling for Soup- 1985
Velocity Girl- Nothing
Promise Ring- Is This Thing On
Architecture in Helsinki- Do the Whirlwind

More suggestions?



In book-related thoughts- I'm reading Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, and I'm not quite sure what to make of it. Can it really be 100% true? It's detailing exactly the kind of "corporatocracy" that I believe exists, but to have it all spelled out as "this actually happened, I really did this" makes me wonder about the veracity of the source. Oh god, I'm such a librarian.
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Comments {49}

A contagious state of being

from: [info]innerbrat
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 01:10 pm (UTC)
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Don't need the sunshine - Catatonia
Heavenly Day - Picture Day

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 01:17 pm (UTC)
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Sweet! That reminds me that Catatonia's "Road Rage" should also be on the list!

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dying_everyday

from: [info]dying_everyday
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 01:19 pm (UTC)
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Pumping on Your Stereo - Supergrass (Far too upbeat and peppy, probably due to the gospel-esque clapping. If it doesn't put a spring in your step, nothing will.)
Welcome to the Jungle - Guns'n'Roses (Go on, YOU try and frown when this is on.)
Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
Kokomo - Beach Boys
I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
Song 2 - Blur
Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da - The Beatles

This is REALLY hard... Very few songs are particuarly happy in and of themselves.

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 01:48 pm (UTC)
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Ooh, Welcome to the Jungle is so true. I've never heard that Supergrass song, but clapping in songs is awesome, so I'll have to check it out!

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Dr. Peanut, Lady of Mystery... and Hugs

from: [info]dr_alycat
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 01:42 pm (UTC)
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Ach, as usual, I'm totally drawing a blank (just like when I walk into a music/bookstore and magically forget everything on my wishlist...). But I'd definitely add:

Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Beck - a good 7 out of any 10 of his songs
Thrill Kill Kult - Hit & Run Holiday

:)

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 01:50 pm (UTC)
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Oh my god, I so do the same blanking out in bookstores. Bookstores should have little computers where you can look up your Amazon wish list! Sometimes when I know I'm going out book shopping I even print out my wish list and take it with me, but I usually forget to do that. =)

I think I'm the only person ever who doesn't like Beck (aside from Loser, and maybe Devil's Haircut), but that Postal Service song is totally awesome. And I've never heard any Thrill Kill Kult but I will totally snootle around the internets to see if I can find that song!

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Dr. Peanut, Lady of Mystery... and Hugs

from: [info]dr_alycat
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 02:04 pm (UTC)
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Ah well, I guess not everyone is as big a Beck fan as me. :)

Yeah, do look for that TKK song (on the album of the same name)! Their other albums are pretty goth-heavy (no toe-tapping there!) but for some reason they made this fantastic, loopy, upbeat album.

I looooove the initial sample, it must be taken from an old 50s show or something:

"I'm tired of driving around, let's go someplace!"
"Alright, like, where we goin'?"
"Anywhere, just as long as we stay out good and late!"

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tenillypo

from: [info]tenillypo
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 02:28 pm (UTC)
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Postal Service always cheers me up!

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nudity-hating voyeur advocate (presumably)

from: [info]komos
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 01:48 pm (UTC)
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It's become increasingly popular for men who were involved in the geopolitical machinations of the late 20th century to come forward with confessions of their sins. The most obvious of these was McNamara's bio-doc, Fog of War.

Honestly though? I'd be more surprised if his account represented the full scope of what went on.

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Tormenta eléctrica

from: [info]aphorisic
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 03:09 pm (UTC)
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Seconded.

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:16 pm (UTC)
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So there could be even more delicious conspiracy? Fascinating!

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from: anonymous
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:55 pm (UTC)
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It's not even conspiracy. It's just unrestricted marketeering based on ends-justify-the-means thinking.

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timepiece

from: [info]timepiece
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 01:56 pm (UTC)
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I cannot believe that no one has mentioned Walking on Sunshine yet. Seriously, happiest song ever.

Personally, I adore my Schoolhouse Rock collection, which takes me back to fun times.

I would think almost anything Beach Boys would qualify, not just Kokomo.

I also like the sillier songs from my favorite band back home, Eddie From Ohio. Try Let's Get Mesolithic, Tommy the Canexican, Very Fine Funeral (no, seriously), or I Don't Think I Know Me for silliness, although most of their stuff is pretty happy. Oh, and Doin' Time Under the Lifeguard Stand.

The only other stuff that springs to mind is Too Much Joy - That's a Lie or My Past Lives, and pretty much anything by They Might Be Giants.

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Samantha

from: [info]starflow
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 02:54 pm (UTC)
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And The New James Bond, and Maylee, and Tom Burleigh's Dead, and Smoke...I do love me some EFO. But I don't like Let's Get Mesolithic. I always skip it.

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timepiece

from: [info]timepiece
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 03:42 pm (UTC)
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And I'm not fond of 3 Fine Daughters..., though I know it's a big favorite. I love Mesolithic - it's so funny.

I almost put New James Bond and Eddie's Concubine, but I figured the list was getting a little long at that point.

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timepiece

from: [info]timepiece
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 07:43 pm (UTC)
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So ... you must be from Virginia, right? Or you went to college there? You seldom find an EFO fan who does not fall into one of those categories.

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:17 pm (UTC)
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Walking on Sunshine- yes! I will totally check out Eddie From Ohio, I'm getting so much new music from this post, this is awesome!

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Samantha

from: [info]starflow
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:26 pm (UTC)
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I have quite a few Eddie From Ohio CDs, if you find yourself interested. I haven't shared them with anyone yet because I didn't think they were anyone's style, but I'd love to have people like them with me!

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:30 pm (UTC)
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Sweet, I'll check them out on the intarwebs and will let you know if I find them to my liking!

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nudity-hating voyeur advocate (presumably)

As for the music

from: [info]komos
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 02:08 pm (UTC)
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Al Foul - Shitty Little World
Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
Bebe - Men Señará
Beirut - Elephant Gun
Belle & Sebastian - Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying
Björk - Hyperballad
Cake - I Will Survive
The Clash - Lost in the Supermarket
Emiliani Torrini - Unemployed in Summertime
Gogol Bordello - Unvisible Zedd
Koop - Waltz for Koop
Nickel Creek - Toxic
Regina Spektor - Fidelity
Spoon - I Turn My Camera On

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Gimme Indie Rock!

Re: As for the music

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:23 pm (UTC)
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If I were to append my request with the request: "please nothing that can be described with the following words: circus, vaudevillian, gypsy, or steam-punk" which of these bands should I knock off the list? =) I keed, I keed, I just... Gogol Bordello is like everything I hate in music wrapped up in one neat little package. *shakes fist at kids on my damn lawn*

I do love Lost in the Supermarket so much, and it is totally what I'm looking for. Which is funny, because I hate every other Clash song. Also, the version of Hyperballad from Telegram is the best thing EVAR.

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nudity-hating voyeur advocate (presumably)

Re: As for the music

from: [info]komos
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:53 pm (UTC)
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Bah. You'd lose Gogol Bordello and probably Beirut. On the other hand, these crazy things would still be kicking around:

Al Foul - rockabilly
Bebe - Spanish pop
Koop - Scandinavian jazz
Nickel Creek - cover of Brit-Brit using bluegrass instruments

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Gimme Indie Rock!

Re: As for the music

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 05:40 pm (UTC)
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Hee! Danke.

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Gimme Indie Rock!

Re: As for the music

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 05:41 pm (UTC)
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And wait- the Nickel Creek is a Britney cover? ZOMGZORRZ. Must have.

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nudity-hating voyeur advocate (presumably)

Re: As for the music

from: [info]komos
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 06:20 pm (UTC)
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Yes. It's awesome, but I'll have to get it to you later since the link is broken. Still, you might recognize this ditty.

Yael Naim (the artist responsible for "New Soul," which plays on the Macbook Air commercials) has a beautiful and creepy version as well.

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Re: As for the music

from: anonymous
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:57 pm (UTC)
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It's like you think my tastes are limited or something. :\

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nudity-hating voyeur advocate (presumably)

Re: As for the music

from: [info]komos
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:57 pm (UTC)
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It's like you think my tastes are limited or something.

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Gimme Indie Rock!

Re: As for the music

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 05:42 pm (UTC)
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Not true! In fact the extreme opposite, I know you like a lot of styles that I don't like. You are so Extreme!

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Psalm 23:5

from: [info]c_m_i
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 02:21 pm (UTC)
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I, on the other hand, listed to my 'i gots teh depressions' playlist on my way in.

You might want to check out my Upbeats list as it has the same purpose as the one you made.

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:23 pm (UTC)
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Muffin!

I will check out your upbeats list!

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tenillypo

from: [info]tenillypo
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 02:27 pm (UTC)
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I actually have a playlist on The Precious entitled 'Sunshine & Lollipops' for just this reason. I use it mostly for days when it's warm and I'm driving with the windows down and the wind in my hair:

Magnet - Lay Lady Lay
Blind Melon - No Rain
The Cure - Just Like Heaven
Erasure - A Little Respect
George Michael - Faith
Queen - I Want to Break Free
Cream - I Feel Free
Mr. Big - To Be With You (shut up...hair bands make me happy!)
Toto - Africa
Dandy Warhols - We Used to Be Friends
Christina Aguilara - Make Over (shut up, some more...heh, I feel like there should be some old skool Brit Brit on this list as well)
The Hollies - The Air that I Breathe
Reindeer Section - You Are My Joy
Radiohead - Let Down (oddly an uplifting song)
INXS - Beautiful Girl
The Pogues - Love You 'Till the End
Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes
The Who - Baby O'Riley
Tori Amos - Sweet Dreams
Rilo Kiley - A Better Son/Daughter (for a song about depression, this one always lifts me up)

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:27 pm (UTC)
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Hee. I have a "summer days" list, but a lot of it is stuff that reminds me of summer for one reason or another, so there are a lot of things like Modest Mouse's "3rd Planet" that aren't really happy, but I listened to them so much in the summertime that I can't help but think of sitting on porches near Bates, smokin' cigarettes, eating bagel sandwiches, drinking tall boys, and listening to those songs.

Also, songs like "Carry on my Wayward Son" and "Straight Outta Compton" make me happy because they remind me of 1) Supernatural or 2) eating brownies and hanging out with you guys. Hee.

Also, I see your Mr. Big and I raise you one Damn Yankees- "High Enough" Oh yeah. Also, also- Queen's "Under Pressure" though I'm not sure if it counts because it reminds me of John Cusak holding a baby in Gross Pointe Blank.

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tenillypo

from: [info]tenillypo
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 05:31 pm (UTC)
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(Hah! I just realized you already had Erasure on your list. Great minds!)

Man, I need to get my hands on Straight Outta Compton.

Damn Yankees is made of awesome. WHEN WILL ROCK BAND GET THEM?

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 05:42 pm (UTC)
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I have that NWA cd, and if you remind me tonight I'll dig it out and lend it to you!

We need Rock Band: Hair Bands of the 80s. I need some 18 and Life on there!

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Samantha

from: [info]starflow
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 02:52 pm (UTC)
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This explains why I got a request for ABBA in my inbox! ABBA is the hap-hap-happiest! Also, I suggest some BeeGees. Can't go wrong! Stayin' Alive!!

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Samantha

from: [info]starflow
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 02:55 pm (UTC)
Link

Oh, and Grace Kelly by Mika. That's super happy.

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timepiece

from: [info]timepiece
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 03:44 pm (UTC)
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ABBA - why didn't I think of ABBA?

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:27 pm (UTC)
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Hee-hee! This is totally why, after listening to Erasure I was like "My GOD I need some ABBA! Srsly!"

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Cheeseman Quay

from: [info]ms_ntropy
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 03:24 pm (UTC)
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First let me preface this list by reminding everyone that my taste in music is CRAPTASTIC at very best:

"Bandages" - Hot Hot Heat
"Run Around" - Blues Traveller
"Ballad of John and Yoko" - The Beatles
"Rock This Town" - Brian Stezer Orchestra
"Better Version of Me" - Fiona Apple
"Love Fool" - The Cardigans

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:28 pm (UTC)
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Love Fool! Yes!

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watchamacallit

from: [info]watchamacallit
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 03:27 pm (UTC)
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Pretty much anything by The Rosebuds or New Pornographers.

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 04:29 pm (UTC)
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I have never heard of these Rosebuds you speak of, I'll have to check them out!

And yes, totally NP, though more Electric Versions and Twin Cinemas than Challengers (though I do like Challengers quite a lot, but for some reason it feels more like a driving around at night kind of album to me).

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faux_eonix

from: [info]faux_eonix
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 06:49 pm (UTC)
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Dancing Queen - Abba
Pumping Fe for Enya - Atom and his Package
Private Idaho - B52's
Cannonball - The Breeders
Whip it - Devo
Labor of Love - Frente!
Paradise City - Guns-n-Roses
Tennessee Stud - Johnny Cash
Like you Crazy - Mates of State
Yalil (la fin des haricots) - Mickey 3D
Planet of Sound - Pixies
This Mess We're In - PJ Harvey
Well Thought out Twinkles - Silver Sun Pickups
Dig Me Out - Sleater Kinney
Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
I'm sticking with you - Velvet Underground
Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
In the Garage - Weezer

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faux_eonix

from: [info]faux_eonix
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 07:03 pm (UTC)
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One More:

Rocket Man - Me First & The Gimme Gimmes

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 11:11 pm (UTC)
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Oh man, I so have to agree with Paradise City, I listened to it on my way home from the T this evening, and I was smiling like mad and totally swaggered a bit. Awesome! That also reminds me that I think I have Labor of Love somewhere and need to locate it.

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doplar

from: [info]doplar
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 09:23 pm (UTC)
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Hah - You don't even want to know my answers to this question. You also probably don't want to hear that I only know 1 song on this list of yours.

First, though, is it that PIXIES tunes do not make you ecstatically happy? Because when I think feel good musak, I've got to have me a Pixies song, probably Debaser.

Second, You need to send me a MIX sometime chica!! I am so deprived of new awesome tunes. Can I request this as my birthday present, even though we rarely send each other birthday presents? I promise not to send you another mixed CD :) I'll send you chocolate or cupcakes or something.

OKAY, and since I'm not afraid to embarass myself in front of all you folks > Beastie Boys, No Sleep Til Brooklyn. How can that song not put you in a rockin good mood?

I will not go into any Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, or Jerry Garcia selections. . .

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Gimme Indie Rock!

from: [info]wildflowersoul
date: Mar. 28th, 2008 09:55 pm (UTC)
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I completely agree with No Sleep Til Brookly, it's my favorite Beastie Boys song! (though I'm not sure if it's because the song is happy or because it reminds me of when we went to the "activities fair" thingy Freshman year of college, when the 'RBC table was blaring Beastie Boys and I was all intimidated and scared of how cool they were)

I've been thinking a lot lately of making you a mix, actually! I will totally get it done (and before your brithday!). I loved the mix you made me, silly lady! In fact, I could make 2 mixes for you if you wanted to make me a second. =)

I was wondering about the Pixies, but so many of their songs are tied up in memories for me that I'd have a hard time choosing. Also, there are a bunch of songs that I love because they remind me of lazy weekend days hanging out at the old Holland Street (? was that the street?) house.

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doplar

from: [info]doplar
date: Mar. 29th, 2008 04:10 pm (UTC)
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I'm so excited!! New musak that isn't purchased by Dukey off Jerry Garcia's official fan website. Yeah!

I will have to peruse my iTunes to see what I could come up with for a second mix for you ---

The thing about No Sleep Til is that it automatically makes me want to headbang (i know, its not heavy metal, but...) and for me headbanging is a happy thing, its letting loose, reconnecting with being a wild and crazy college gal. Nowadays I typically only dance when Dukey and I have imbibed a few drinks and are at home alone together and we can act stupid and flail about -- though, unfortunately, Packy seems to get very afraid when we do so, so we've curtailed such activities we adopted the huskies.

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Nation of Tire Sale

nineties, nineties, nineties...

from: [info]tdaschel
date: Mar. 29th, 2008 12:13 am (UTC)
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Pitchblende !

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