happening

Rancid was in my area the other day and I'd planned to see them (why not, they're like an old friend! hahaha) Why don't plans work out when you really want them to?

Now, I'm walking that thin rope between letting things happen to me and planning out my time on this earth. It's tough to do, because it always seems like everyone else is doing the opposite. But why not do the opposite of everyone else?

Sometimes the hardest road on your feet ends up being the easiest on your soul.

And I always have my constant companion and comfort, music!

If you're feeling semi out of touch or just confused by the rotation of the world check out these tracks:

"Communist Love Son" by Soltero

This song is cool because it's ultra low-key, like early Elliott Smith. The sentiment is real and the ideas aren't cliched which is always a plus, in fact the sentiment works perfectly with the quiet guitar strumming. Also, the lyrics are pretty awesome because you can take them seriously (seriously sad) or you can laugh at them (seriously funny.)

"...and if you're ever less than certain, I will be your Iron Curtain. I will be your Berlin Wall and I will never fall."

"Light The Sky" by Liqdzunshine

I like this band because the singer has kind of a hard funky voice that's juxtaposed over soft R&B beats or harder rock/hip-hop beats that sound like Rage Against the Machine. Also, you can't go wrong with these lyrics, they fluctuate from fun and groovy to hard-hitting political ideas.

"...I can blow the sun off his axis and get rich people to pay taxes..."

"Right Where It Belongs" by NIN

My brother turned me onto this track. I listen to a ton of NIN, but usually early stuff and I haven't listened to all of With Teeth yet. This song is really pretty in a hauntingly creepy way. The piano sounds like it's climbing. I'd love to hear it live.

"...What if everything around you,
Isn't quite as it seems?
What if all the world you used to know,
Is an elaborate dream?
And if you look at your reflection,
Is it all you want it to be?
What if you could look right through the cracks,
Would you find yourself...find yourself afraid to see?"

"Subbacultcha" by the Pixies

Off Trompe Le Monde (that freaky Pixies album none of your friends own with the claymation eyeballs on the front. Yeah, you know the one.) "Subbacultcha" what a freakin' awesome song. It's like the Pixies said we're so freaking cool without trying to be that we're gonna make fun of all the people who try to be cool like us, and then they did it.

"...i was all dressed in black
she was all dressed up in black
every thing was fine down here
what you call it here
call it what you will here
way down in this
subbacultcha..."

"Too Drunk to Fuck" by Nouvelle Vague

A cover of the psycho spazzy song originally done by the Dead Kennedys. When the DK's do it, it's hilarious, when Nouvelle Vague does it, it's sweet and bubbly and very very French pop sounding.

"...I like your stories
I love your gun
Shooting out truck tires
Sounds like loads and loads of fun..."

"Sink, Florida, Sink (LIVE)" by Against Me!

There's nothing like this song live with drunken fans screaming the "Whoa whoa oh oh oh oh oh" in the background. Live Against Me! in the dark lonely night is priceless.

"...and we sink and we drown
and what is lost can never be found..."

"We Care A Lot" by Faith No More

This '80s hit couldn't get any better. Big bass, funky vocals, punky lyrics. It should be on the soundtrack to a John Cusac movie, actually I think it already is.

"...oh it's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.."

"I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers

You know you've heard it a zillion times, maybe when doing something cool (or maybe just when watching one of the plethora of commercials that use it to sell shit.) Even if you heard it on a commercial for erectile disfunction meds it's still a killer song. This is the kind of music that makes me want to go to church, real, gospel singing church, not stuffy clothes incredibly uptight and uncomfortable people church.

"...Oh, oh, mercy
(I'll take you there)
Oh, let me take you there
(I'll take you there)..."