…the almost right word

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some of those that i’ve played over and over again within the past few years…

death cab for cutie — title and registration — the first death cab song that really won me over. this, along with the following song, were the theme songs for my last break-up in 2006. i remember not being able to get the tune, nor the lyrics, out of my head. death cab recently released a new c.d., anyone heard it yet?

the postal service — nothing better – great frackin’ lyrics, in fact, it may be my top “break-up song” of all time. i know everyone just swooned over their album, but this was the main track that i actually swooned over. though this place is a prison wasn’t too shabby. the rumors are that we won’t be seeing another postal service album anytime soon…

the album leaf — always for you — discovered this week after hearing another track of theirs on grey’s anatomy. simple, yet sweet. most of his music is instrumental, but the tracks that have lyrics are all good. i recommend writing on the wall and wherever i go as well.

tegan and sara — dark come soon – this is only one of many ‘t and s’ tracks that i’ve played on repeat over the last year. i think the entire album (the con) is rocking, with the exception of the first track. and yes, we know i’ve been rather infatuated with these girls for some time.

ani difranco — recoil – i go through ani phases (as i’m sure has become clear). sometimes i won’t listen to her music for months, and then, out of nowhere, *bam*! she’s back in the mix! i rediscovered this song a few months ago and my itunes still says it’s second on my top 25 most-played list.

timbaland — the way i are — last summer, a friend of mine got a new car. we drove through tesuque, way too fast, blasting this track. timbaland always knows how to make a hit. this one is no exception. and yes, i’ve even enjoyed his collaboration with justin timberlake (gasp!).

outhud — the stoked american – who knows what genre these guys fit into, but they rock. this is, yet again, only one of the songs from this album that i have listened to too many times (see below: !!! (chk chk chk). to give you a better idea of what they’re like, rolling stone said: Art-funk students non-pareil, this cool and collected Brooklyn band uses guitars like proper rhythm instruments, meshed best (as on “My Two Nads”) with penetrating drums, space synths and a dash of sticky dub.

snoop dogg — drop it like it’s hot — my friend and i listened to this song all the time after work, driving around santa fe to get booze. eventually i printed out the lyrics and memorized them — yes, that’s right, i can actually keep up with snoop and yes, i do rap out loud in my car when i’m alone (or not alone), and yes, i’m a white girl.

the notorious b.i.g. — get money (with junior m.a.f.i.a.)– anyone who ever loved biggie knows this song. i got into it after seeing the movie ‘prime’ (cheesy, but worthwhile: uma thurman + bryan greenberg = hot). probably my favorite b.i.g. song.

!!! (chk chk chk) — shit schiesse merde, pt. 1 and pt. 2. – discovered these guys in college. they’re crazy. this track is a bit political i.e. the lyric: “what did george bush say when he met tony blair? shit schiesse merde.” classic. they’re also the group behind ‘outhud’ (see above).

tabi bonney – elevator – i randomly found this guy through myspace and bought the album a fly guy’s theme. this is some great underground, undiscovered hip hop. dope is kick-ass. bonney is originally from west africa and has opened for ll cool j and outkast, among others.

rilo kiley — close call – the first rilo kiley song that won me over. i’m pretty sure they played this at coachella, which, of course, drives me craaaazy. npr says that this track is about “an adult who is getting money for sex.”

phish — you enjoy myself — last, but in no way least. rolling stone recently voted this song as #85 of the top 100 greatest guitar songs of all time. phish has been a favorite since high school. i never did have the opportunity to see them live, but if they ever do a reunion tour, i’m there.

1. birthday # 26
2. a 5 day trip to l.a.
3. renting a car in l.a.
4. driving a prius
5. driving in l.a. (yes, even with the traffic — it’s home, what can i say?)
6. a camp reunion — ten years (yes, i went to camp and i’m one of those ‘camp nerds’)
7. first time at camp since 2002 when i was fired (another story, for another time)
8. catching up with friends i’ve missed
9. spending time with my dog
10. follow your heart

1. sun bathing - lotion = sunburn (and quite possibly, cancer…but we’ll ignore that for now)
2. too much garlic = stomachache
3. nails - nail polish = nail-biting
4. two shots of tequila = fine
5. three shots of tequila = not so fine
6. short haircut = look like my mother
7. red wine - water = purple teeth
8. sun bathing - lotion = sunburn (this one cannot be said enough)
9. dropping cell phone = bad idea
10. dropping ipod = even worse idea

1. philadelphia museum of art:
pollock. frida kahlo exhibit. mark rothko. gilbert & george. picasso. joan miro. cy twombly. marc chagall. sol lewitt. bruce nauman. &c.
2. rodin museum
3. philadelphia city hall (pictures to come, if they’re any good)
4. lot’s of walking
5. no good coffee
6. lot’s of drinking
7. a tapas bar: tria
8. a dark, cool dive bar (most of which is blurry)
9. driving the rental car: ford escape (quite fun)
10. bits of shopping. few purchases.

i haven’t even seen the city yet, except for a traffic-filled drive in to the hotel, but i love it so far:

1. automatic soap dispensers, automatic everything in bathrooms (yes, this is pathetic)
2. different ethnicities (yay for no more santa fe white folks!)
3. restaurants, restaurants, restaurants, & more restaurants (coming from a waitress, more pathetic)
4. traffic and noise (yes, i like it)
5. tall buildings (yes, occasionally i like this too)
6. hotel bars ($9.50 for a 1/2 inch shot of tequila…what up!?)
7. public transportation (guess who can’t wait to take the subway!?)
8. architecture

sure, sometimes i hate cities. but sometimes…i think i love them.
however, we are just not going to cope with hotel windows that don’t open!

why we’ve been anxiously awaiting tuesday, april 29th (and happy day-after-your-birthday ms. tanner!):

1. tegan and sara in albuquerque (!!!!), which means
2. dinner at zinc, which we’ve been wanting to try + they have a tequila tasting! (yes, right up the a.r.w.’s
alley, but unfortunately not going to happen due to the inevitable hour drive after the concert)
3. the release of a new portishead album
4. one day closer to the philly trip

speaking of which, are philly cheesesteaks that good?

i have spent the day in and out of anxious thoughts and grumpy moods. i have to cover a shift tonight at the restaurant which makes this week three nights of work instead of my usual two. two is already more than enough, thank you. don’t get me wrong…i do (mostly) enjoy working at the restaurant, but then there is the…

1. blisters on the bottoms of your feet
2. pretending
3. kissing ass
4. watching other people enjoy food and alcohol
5. cleaning up after other people enjoy food and alcohol
6. tourists
7. vacuuming at 10 or 11 p.m. (with the blisters on the bottoms of your feet, mind you)
8. having to wait until the last customer leaves

……….i could go on………..

it’s been beautiful here. summer-like.
i revel in the warmth and the light.

tonight it’s back to the restaurant. two days a week can still be too much, believe it or not.

because i have little to say today, i post my itunes ‘top 25 most played’ list:

1. ani difranco - recoil (knuckle down)
2. timbaland - the way i are (timbaland presents shock value)
3. radiohead - all i need (in rainbows)
4. radiohead - reckoner (in rainbows)
5. radiohead - house of cards (in rainbows)
6. tegan & sara - i won’t be left (so jealous)
7. radiohead - faust arp (in rainbows)
8. rilo kiley - close call (under the blacklight)
9. handsome furs - what we had (plague park)
10. santogold - creator (creator/l.e.s. artistes)
11. laura veirs - phantom mountain (saltbreakers)
12. tegan & sara - walking with a ghost (so jealous)
13. tegan & sara - i can’t take it (so jealous)
14. iron & wine/calexico - burn that broken bed (in the reins)
15. radiohead - jigsaw falling into place (in rainbows)
16. sean hayes - 3 a.m. (big black hole and the little baby star rock)
17. tegan & sara - dark come soon (the con)
18. tegan & sara - downtown (so jealous)
19. tegan & sara - so jealous (so jealous)
20. radiohead - videotape (in rainbows)
21. tegan & sara - time running (if it was you)
22. tegan & sara - underwater (if it was you)
23. laura veirs - don’t lose yourself (saltbreakers)
24. shout out louds - you are dreaming (our ill wills)
25. massive attack - teardrop (mezzanine)