daytrippin' on daytrotter.

What is up, dudes and dudettes? I have something really important to tell you about: DAYTROTTER.COM.

I have been meaning to bring daytrotter.com to the blog. I don’t know why I would have ever forgotten. I think it’s probably because I fill up so much of my day with Daytrotter, that, on some mental level, I thought I had already done it. Really.

And so, that’s what we’re gonna talk today. DAYTROTTER.COM
Do it.

Anyhow, I know that you and me both are always searching for great music. And if you gots the poison, I gots the remedy. Okay, so Jason Mraz isn’t a featured artist on Daytrotter, but that’s okay. We already know him.

At any rate, let me give you a quick tutorial on DT.

So, the whole premise is that sort of thing that you toss and turn over at night in your bed because you didn’t think of it first. How cool do these people have to be that they decided to use The Horseshack in Rock Island, Illinois as a place where righteous bands come to record songs that you and me can download FO FREE [for the most part] and listen to whenever we feel like it? I’ll tell you how cool you’d have to be: you would have to be so cool that there is no word available for which to describe you. Ergo, the good people over at Team Daytrotter are just so ______.

Also, here’s what Daytrotter.com has to say about their studio. And I quote:

“About the studio: The Horseshack, Rock Island, Illinois:

Daytrotter Sessions are engineered by Mike Gentry, Patrick Stolley, Brad Kopplin, Brett Allen or Nick Krill.

The Daytrotter recordings are made with minimal mic’ing, through discrete preamps and with some limiting to the mixing console, where they are printed to 1/4” analog tape running at 15 inches per second (usually BASF 468). The analog master is later transferred to a computer and converted to MP3.

There is no set formula or pattern to the recordings, no specific mic setup, etc. They are all live, no overdubs, straight to tape. What you hear is what happened in the room that day.”

Isn’t that just the coolest thing ever? Really. Let’s be honest with each other. That’s the coolest thing ever.

Anyway, the thing is, you create a quick little account [so you can comment and what not] and then you download. It is as simple as that. A new folder is created, you drop those sweet files into your itunes library, and you can thank me later. Plus, while you’re waiting [and it’s not a long wait] for those songs to download, there is always a wonderful write-up about the tunes you’re about to bump. PLUS AGAIN those drawings of the bands are, quite possibly, the coolest things I have ever seen. Genuinely.

Also. There’s an app for that.

So, being a true fan of DT, I thought I’d tell you about my top 7 sessions that you too! can download FO FREE. Has that settled in yet? I said FO FREE. Check it.

7. Sara Watkins
Alright, kids. As good people of the musical realms, we know about that great trio we used to call Nickel Creek. And, we all remember our good friend from that trio, Miss Sara Watkins. Guess what?! She is totally doing a solo stint. And, it’s quite lovely.

6. Josh Ritter
Okay- quick: what five letters spell apocalypse? WWIII. I think that explains it.

5. Fleet Foxes
Really, all I should have to say is Fleet Foxes. That alone should be enough for you to go ahead and download it. And that’s all I’m gonna say.

4. The Temper Trap
We love some Sweet Disposition here at the blog. Ergo, it gets even better live. Especially that first song. Whoa nelly.

3. The National
OMG. I heart The National more than life itself. I don’t care how good of a mood you’re in. I don’t care if the sky is vomiting rainbows. I don’t care if you have an unlimited supply of tootsie roll pops. The National will ALWAYS bring you down to a sense of complete and total dejected lament. And it’s kind of the greatest thing ever. Ugh. I love.

2. Local Natives
OKAY. There are a few sessions available for download by the Local Natives. What I need you to make sure that you do is download “Wide Eyes” and “Airplanes.” AND, if you’re a good reader of the blog, you know that “Airplanes” is most definitely one of those sweet songs available for your click, over on the right.

1. Bon Iver
HOLY SMOKES NUMBER ONE SESSION! Okay, guys. Now, I feel that the real point of recording something live for your fans is giving them something different. It’s no different than a live show. Don’t play me your record- I’ve got that at the house. Well, Bon Iver has done it again. I am sure that every time I hear the songs of my beloved Bon Iver, that there is no way I could ever love them any more than I do in that moment. Alas, I am always surprised. This session is like money in the bank. It is so beyond any tangible realm of greatness. I am being completely serious. Also, I am now positive that I am supposed to marry Justin Vernon. Once again, our love is real.


And, I read where JV did some work on Kanye West's new album. Nice. AND I read that a new Bon Iver album is no longer just a phantom dream I constantly have. It's coming, kids. And it's going to be major.

Now, for the most part, these are all bands/peeps that we have discussed before, here at the blog. And that’s the point. Nothing is more glorious than hearing a song you already love turned into something that you want to completely blast out loud like a revival in the church of righteousness.

And, there is plenty more where that came from. Daytrotter has hosted a veritable smorgasbord [I have always wanted to use that word on the blog. Nicely done] of impressive music. Let me give you a quick little rundown of SOME of their really awesome stuff:

Death Cab for Cutie
Avett Brothers
Dr. Dog
Grizzly Bear
Yeasayer
Ra Ra Riot
Metric
Okkervil River
We Were Promised Jetpacks
Woods
Noah & The Whale
Here We Go Magic
Neon Indian
Peter Wolf Crier
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Islands
The Morning Benders
Nathaniel Rateliff
Horse Feathers
One EskimO
Amos Lee
Ingrid Michealson
Ben Taylor [yes, the son of James Taylor & Carly Simon]
Of Montreal [shout-out to mikey.p]
Brett Dennen
Au Revoir Simone
Justin Townes Earle
LIGHTS
Cold War Kids
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
J. Tillman
Bear Hands
Mat Kearney
The Get Up Kids
Beach House
Colin Hay
Dawes
Vampire Weekend

AND, speaking of Vampire Weekend, you should download their session, if nothing else, for their “Welcome to Daytrotter” bit. It is kind of hilarious.

But, really. Did you read that list? I mean, that was just a few. It’s nothing short of incredible. YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE WEBSITE NOW.

Well, kids, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it all night: Daytrotter is where it’s at. And therefore, it’s where you should be, too. Also, I ordered one of their summer tees and I got some sweet shades as well. You bet they say “Daytrotter” on the side! AND they sent me some stickers and buttons. To which I say, “right on.”

Friends of the music-sphere, I bid you good listening. Also, it would be wise of you to LIKE! And give the thumbs-up, via Facebook to Daytrotter.com. It’s the best way to get your tunage on. So do it.

Also, Team Daytrotter is working on a documentary. LIKE! it on Facebook and then, build your music karma by sending your pennies and nickels their way. These things take money.

Finally, [sort of] I just saw where, if you e-mail teamdaytrotter@gmail.com with my name in the message, citing that I gave you the resources to check out some DT, then I could get a cool package of some sort. For the record, I had been working on this post long before I knew of this. Honestly. Do you know how long it took me to insert all of those damn hyperlinks? Let me just tell you that it wasn't easy. Okay, you can e-mail if you want, but then will I have to send you a package saying, "thanks" ?? Cause guess what, good reader? I totally would. Let's bring back the Pen Pal Club.

What's more, you can use that same email address to let Team Daytrotter know that you would like to help them out, via your campus life. You should really do it. I can sense that you're a responsible person.

Okay, go download.

Yours,
katie beth

WAIT. I just wanted to tell you something that, in most ways, relates to music. You know I now have a new little ipod shuffle? Well, I do. Anyhow, I’m still getting used to it, and I really think we’re getting along quite well. At any rate, there’s this new feature where, when I hold down the button on the earbuds, there’s a lady’s voice who provides me with the song and the people/person singing it. So, I am not too proud to tell you that I have one Ke$ha song. So, here’s the point, if you can even call it that:

The voiceover lady said, “Your Love is My Drug, Key Dollar Sign Ha.” Well, I thought that was quite clever of her. In some ways, it was like voiceover lady was making fun of Ke$ha. I like that about her. By saying the literal spelling of her name, voiceover lady was like, being a little bitchy. Anyhow, that was the point. And I really do kind of like that song. Also, I like your beard. See how I did that? Sorry.

PS--
There are some sweet new songs on the blog's impressive line-up to your right. You're welcome.

DAYTROTTER 4 LIFE.

bring may flowers.

Hey, doesn’t that title sound a little like a British person when you say it out-loud? That wasn’t the intention, but it’s working.

Well, it sure is nice to see you back here on the blog. You know it usually takes me half a page to give a proper hello, but I’m going to bypass my innate want to tell you over-and-over how much I like you coming on over to read these posts because we have much to talk about:

May is quickly approaching, and I don’t feel bad about pulling a jump-ahead over the month of April. Why? Because great things are going to happen in May, people. And that’s what we’re going to discuss:

Okay, first and foremost, there are going to be ridiculous amounts of good things happening in the incandescent world of music. To make sure I get them all in, we’re going to make a chronological list of what’s going to happen, along with some other things happening this May of 2010. Most of them are on here so that I’ll do a good job of keeping-up with things:

1 May
Things to remember:
Seriously think about starting to study for final exams.

2 May
Things to remember:
Okay, now really start studying for exams. Really.

3 May
Events:
Birthday Eve
Things to remember:
Learn everything humanly possible, well, sort-of, about: the history of paintin’ and the good people who did it, the minds who talked and what they said, communicating with the masses, the discouragement of holy matrimony.

4 May
Albums:
Broken Social Scene “Forgiveness Rock Record”
New Pornographers “Together”
Events:
Turn 20, but don’t celebrate too much, on account of: 1. Art History Exam 2. Philosophy Exam 3. Speech Final 4. Marriage & Family (yes, the class is just as the title states) Exam. And THEN, cram stuff about Anatomy for exam the next day. Pretty sure the universe is saying: “happy (insert explicit word that begins with ‘f’ , and tack an ‘ing’ right there on the end) birthday.”
Things to remember (this one’s for you, good reader):
Send help and bring balloons.

5 May
Events:
Cinco De Mayo
Anatomy Final
Things to remember:
Send more help and bring tacos.

[jump-on-ahead to the 8th of May]

8 May
Events:
Betty White hosts SNL with the musical sounds of Jay-Z, and I couldn’t have even imagined a more-perfect match-up.

[we’re skipping a few days, but that sure-as-hell ain’t to say that nothing exciting won’t happen between Saturday night and May 11th]

11 May
Albums:
Kaskade “Dynasty”
Keane “Night Train”
The National “High Violet”
Sleigh Bells “Treats”
Woods “At Echo Lake”

WAIT, did you hear me? I said HIGH VIOLET. That’s right, I know we’ve waited for what’s felt like forever, but we’ll finally be able to hold The National’s new album right here in our hands. AND, they’re already streaming it. And I’d like to take this moment to thank the good people over at the NY Times for doing so. Not only was I super-exited to listen-on-in, but there is also some good reading to be had by all, but I stopped somewhere around the third page. Don’t worry, though. I plan on reading it all tonight. Anyhow, I want you to be able to experience it, so here’s the link. You’re welcome:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/magazine/25national-t.html?pagewanted=1

let’s talk about it for a little bit:
Alright, that first song is going to blow your mind, but you’ll have to sew it back up, because it’s just gonna keep on happening. All of the songs are completely boss, but I’d just like to state that the song called “England” has got to be a shout-out to Manheim Steamroller. Trust me, you’ll hear it, and you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. Also, “Lemonworld” is just flat-out great, and so is everything else. I can’t get enough of it. Make a date with that article, click that playlist on the left, and don’t ever stop listening. I am being completely serious. Especially that last song. Gees.

[skipping ahead again]

18 May
Albums:
Band of Horses “Infinite Arms”
The Black Keys “Brothers”
LCD Sound system “This Is Happening”

[skip almost ten days, but not quite]

27 May
Sex and the City Two will be playing in a theater near you. That rhymed, and I am super-excited about it.

Okay, those were the important things going to happen in May, among many others that you’ll just have to see about on your own. Also, I have lots o’ friends who have birthdays in this great month, and know that those are definitely on my calendar, because birthdays are super-important. Plus, that means that lots of my people are fellow members of the Taurus segment of Astrology. IDEA! I am totally going to write a post all about Astrology, because it blows my mind. Really. It’s so neat-o.

Wait, there’s more: I also just purchased some books. I am so excited to read some things that I actually went out and found on my own. And, as I was standing in line, I was just getting so excited about the four books I had. And about the Bicycle Eco-Friendly deck of cards. And the two bookmarks I bought that look like little Oriental rugs. And the little Yankee Candle thing that hangs around for your car that smells like sunscreen and good times. But then, the girl who was behind the counter ruined it all.

[the following is a slightly long story. I can understand if you just want to bypass it, but I feel like it’s important for me to share it with you. If it pleases you to do so, continue on, and know that I will like you even more for doing so]

She was so obnoxious. I mean, really. She had quite possibly the highest, most nasal-ish, voice I have ever had the displeasure of listening to. And I felt sorry for her. I thought, “man, that’s got to be rough to have that voice,” but then she really started to talk. And she went through that whole song-and-dance of getting some piece of plastic card with the store name stamped on it, and I just sort of told her that I wasn’t really interested.

But she wouldn’t stop. And she was getting smart, and really, she was getting rude. I tried to be funny and alleviate the awkward situation, what with her giving me these dirty looks, and all. I told her that it was a good sales pitch, but she said it obviously wasn’t good enough. And I laughed. But she didn’t. She was honestly mad at me. And she started crunching numbers and telling me, in that awful voice she had, that I could have saved seven dollars. Wow. And then she said that I could I have nearly paid for half of the cost of the card in just one visit.

And she asked me if I shopped there often. And I said, “I guess so.” Clearly, that wasn’t good enough for her. She almost asked it as if I was illiterate. I know that sounds like I was reading (haha, pun definitely intended) too far into it, but you just had to hear the way she said it. And then I said that, really, you shouldn’t be all that frequent of a shopper in a bookstore. I mean, at some point, you actually go home and read the damn things.

Well, she kept on going. And she just kept on, and it really takes a good lot for me to get honestly ticked off at people, but holy smokes, I was there.

And then I said that I would gladly pay her the seven dollars that I could have saved, just to shut her the hell up. No, I didn’t really say that, but I did say it in my head. I’m good at maintaining my composure, and keepin’ it classy. And I guess that’s why I missed her saying that I didn’t have to fill out my check, because she was just going to give it right back. Which, that whole new situation makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t want it back. That’s why I gave it to you.

Anyway, when I kept on filling it out, I can’t remember now exactly what she said, but I can remember that is was awfully snarky, but not in a good way. Snarky can be good. I always enjoy a snarky sense of humor, but she wasn’t being funny. Anyhow, a friend was most certainly not made that day, but I do have the books, and the cards, and the bookmarks, and the scented cardboard. And they are happily home safe with me and glad to be far-far-away from the girl who works behind the cash register. Also, if you should visit the Books-A-Million store, in this fair town of Kingsport, keep an eye out for her. Better yet, keep an ear out, because I was honestly partially deaf for at least twenty minutes.

At any rate, I sure am looking forward to reading those books and don’t worry. I’ll be sure to tell you all about them. Also, I put the little cardboard scented thing on the dashboard and I put my cell phone right there with it, and now, my phone has the scent like that of a new Cabbage Patch Kid. Epic win.

[okay, story’s over]

Also, one more thing. Before we get too pumped about May, let’s talk a little April, just out of common-courtesy to the current month: April does mean showers, but most importantly, it means prom. I’m not going to explain it all here, but just know that I have a video of E. Byerley that is hands-down, one of the most hilarious things you and me both will ever see. I can’t put it on here, by way of my phone, cause it’s too long, but if you should see me out, you just ask. And I will gladly show it to you.

Alright, my friends, now that you have so many good things to look forward to, this post has now reached its end. I know that makes you sad, but here’s two more things to look forward to, coming in the new month of May: flowers and new posts. Well, that seemed more exciting before I actually typed it.

Anyhow, May is going to be legendary, I am sure of it. So, mark those important events on your dry-erase calendars and let’s get excited.

And don’t stop thinkin’ about tomorrow, cause June will soon be here. And guess what that means? That’s right. Come June 1st, Clay Aiken’s new album is gonna drop like a ton of bricks.

[this is the part where you laugh]

Yours & soon to be a year-older,
katie beth
PS: I’ll be waiting by the mailbox for that birthday card you’re gonna send me. Also, I have no idea who that is in the bikini, but I can tell you one thing: I really like his style.

xmu > coffee house.

How is it honestly going, good reader of the blog? I sure do hope that things in your life are going well. And I really mean it. Your happiness means the world to me. And, speaking of happiness, the camper is back-in-action.

That’s right. Last night, I once again reconnected with my sleeping bag and let me tell you something: we have really missed each other. It was high time that we got back together.

Anyhow, what I’ve really come here to tell you is that I am listening-in to a new radio station, by way of those satellites. Though I am still in complete love with the Coffee House, it was time for a change. It started to feel like they were playing the same stuff, and it wasn’t the stuff that I really liked. There was this one song called “Magic Marker” by Monsters of Folk that they kept-on playing for what seemed like every single damn second. Don’t waste any minute of your life looking that song up. So not even worth it.

But, anyway, it was time for a change. So, I bumped a few stations down and got real-into a station that they call Sirius XMU. The U may or may not stand for University, and I think that’s what it really does stand for, but it should really stand for Ungodly amounts of greatness. This station is receiving the official stamp of totally and completely boss.

So, I can’t just sit around and enjoy all of these songs that I am currently feelin. I had to share some of them with you. And it’s really exciting to know that I can actually listen to these people outside of the internet and i-tunes. Whoever said that radio is dead needs to turn their ears on over to XMU, because it’s there that they will find a righteous revival.

Alright, I have listed below eleven songs so that you can get a vibe of what I am currently enjoying on this station, on the radio. That’s right, people. ON THE RADIO. It’s incredible that actual good music is getting a little well-deserved air-time. Suck on that, FM.

Okay, here they are:

11. "Cold War (Nice Clean Fight)" The Morning Benders

10. “Quiet Little Voices” We Were Promised Jetpacks

9. “Shadow People” Dr. Dog

8. “81” Joanna Newsom

7. “World Sick” Broken Social Scene

6. “A Little Lost" Arthur Russell

5. “Diplomat’s Son” Vampire Weekend

4. “The High Road” Broken Bells

3. “What a Drag” Bear Hands

2. “Go Do” Jónsi

1. “Bloodbuzz Ohio” The National

Okay, I hope you liked my list, cause I worked real-hard to bring it to you. Actually, not hardly, but I do keep a stack of orange post-its with me, so I can write down the names of songs that I really like. So far, listening to this station for the past three days has successfully filled-up four of those post-its. And that’s pretty impressive.

Now go forth and listen to some of the ones that I posted for you over on that video list to your immediate right. I would have put all of them on here, but that list is starting to get obnoxiously long. I’m gonna have to take some of those off of here. It’s getting to be ridiculous. But you can feel free to go look up the others on your own. They would totally deserve your attention.

Alright, now go get into them. Also, Jónsi is from Iceland. I know, it’s completely awesome.

Yours through the frequencies,
katie beth

wait, there's more: did you like the number one song on that list? Well, get excited because that album (High Violet) is gonna drop into your atmosphere on May eleventh. And here's what it's gonna look like:

life in technicolor.

So, let's kick this off with an important question: have you ever had the pleasure of listening to the song “life in technicolor,” by those giants Coldplay? You’ve gotta check it out. It doesn’t matter how many times I listen to it, I still can’t get over it. I love music like that. So much so, that I’m going to dedicate this post to the songs that I just simply can’t get over.

[SPOILER ALERT: as a direct result of the list at the end, (no, don't scroll down yet. it's not the time and you'll be seeing it too soon) this is an awfully long post. If you’re not in it to win it, go ahead and venture somewhere else. This is for true fans of the blog, and therefore, the people that I will endlessly love]

…decided to stay? well, it's official: I really like you.

When I say that I can’t get over these songs, I mean that I can’t wrap my head around their awesomeness. You know, they're the ones that you hear and you find yourself talking in all capitals about them and if people tell you to "calm down" or "be quiet" you just move onto the next person, anyone, who's willing to listen. And you get them to sit down in front of the nearest computer and you frantically pull up a video and wait for their expression to change because you've brought them to something so incredible.

With these certain songs, I can come close to fully understanding all that they are, but then, I just never get there; and that’s the best part.

The best things (or in this case, songs) in our lives are those that we can’t completely understand. Lyrically speaking, you can hear a song and feel like you’ve understood the meaning, but you can turn around five years later, hear the same thing and have a totally different understanding. Music’s pretty incredible that way.

That’s a great feeling. You know when you hear a song and it finally hits you; you never really got it until this very moment? Well, I love that. And I sure do hope that you do, too.

I also love sitting down and thinking about how music can come full circle. One of the best things is to see what I first started listening to and then seeing what I listen to now, or rather, hear. No matter how many people I hear that I think I could love more than I love John Mayer, I still give him credit.

I give lots of credit to JM’s songs because they were my first musical loves. I know that sounds sort of ridiculous, but I really mean it. When I was about twelve or thirteen, I woke up and turned on my TV. The channel locked in was VH1 and it was once again time for some sort of countdown. Anyway, I saw the video for “No Such Thing,” and that was pretty much it.

At that point in my life I could have easily been swallowed into the succubus of giggly pop, but instead, I heard my main man JM and thought he was pretty alright.

Now, I listen to new people. And I feel like, in some sort of way, that I owe John Clayton Mayer a whole-hell-of-a-lot of credit. I wouldn’t appreciate the people that I just can’t enough of now if I hadn’t first heard him.

I posted a video of the best thing he’s ever done. Keep with it, even through the whistling. It’s not that I don’t like the sound of the whistle, I just get jealous cause I can’t do it. Anyhow, I hope it changes your life. It sure did for me. And I really like it because it was back when JM wasn’t all that well-known. He was still just keeping it real.

Anyhow, I know that got a little tough to follow, but I sure hope you got it. I’ve listed some of the songs by people that I want - nay - need you to check out and if you've already heard them, go back and bump them again because they certainly deserve it.

Also, here’s to never forgetting our first musical loves. May we be proudly belting out their lyrics years from now during their farewell tours.

Yours,
katie beth

In no particular order: these are the songs that, upon first hearing, really did something for me. I hope they continue to do something for you:

1. “No Such Thing” John Clayton Mayer

2. “I Will" Alison Krauss + Union Station

3. “It Never Entered My Mind” Miles Davis

4. “Smoothie Song” Nickel Creek

5. “Broadway" Alison Krauss + Union Station

6. “Skinny Love” Bon Iver

7. “Moth’s Wings” Passion Pit

8. “The Guy that Says Goodbye” Griffin House

9. “Closing Time” Semisonic

10. “Bittersweet Symphony" The Verve

11. “Little Secrets” Passion Pit

12. “Things an Old Man Keeps” Ghosts in the Woods

13. “Island, IS” Volcano Choir

14. “Help I’m Alive” Metric

15. “Man on the Side” John Clayton Mayer

16. “Out of the Woods” Nickel Creek

17. “Forty Mile Town” Eric Johnson

18. “Fix It” Ryan Adams

19. “Little Lion Man” Mumford & Sons

20. “Blackie’s Dead” Pete Yorn + Scarlett Johansson

21. “Lump Sum" Bon Iver

22. “She Is” The Fray

23. “The Cape” Eric Bibb

24. “First Day of My Life” Bright Eyes

25. “Vultures” John Mayer Trio

26. “Crazy Faith” Alison Krauss + Union Station

27. “Cannonball” Ghosts in the Woods

28. “Stick With Me Baby” Robert Plant + Alison Krauss

29. “Fake Empire” The National

30. “The Cave” Mumford & Sons

31.“Fast Car” Tracy Chapman

32. “Angels” Flight of the Conchords

33. “I’ve Seen All Good People” Yes

34. “Sex On Fire” Kings of Leon

35. “Still” Volcano Choir

36. “Re: Stacks” Bon Iver

37. “Over My Head” Martin Sexton

38. “Get Me Through December” Alison Krauss

39. “Let Your Love Grow Tall” Passion Pit

40. “Born” Over the Rhine

41. “Hometown Glory” Adele

42. “Happy” Brandi Carlile

43. “Drunkard’s Prayer” Over the Rhine

44. “Red Light” Jonny Lang

45. “In Your Atmosphere” John Clayton Mayer

46. “Hummingbird” John Clayton Mayer

47. “This I Know” Sam + Ruby

48. “Keep it Loose, Keep It Tight" Amos Lee

49. “Let My Love Open The Door" Pete Townshend + Raphael Rudd

50. “Life in Technicolor” Coldplay

Well, friends, sorry it got to be so long, but I just couldn’t stop myself. And I posted a few videos by some of the very-very favorites that found their way onto this ground-breaking list. I probably could have kept going, but it’s getting to be a little much. And I feel like I’m going to go the rest of the day and night just thinking of songs that should have been on this list, but I digress.

Consider it a top 50, but also consider that I have a new favorite song every day. Make yourself a date with this list and look these songs up and look hard. And really do it, people. These are epic songs that will, no doubt, change your life. yes, even the one by Flight of the Conchords.

to whoever is still reading this: “thanks for sticking around.”
to John Clayton Mayer: “thanks for being the first.”

I got 99 problems and a ticket's one.

Man, people. have you seen the line-up for this year’s Bonnaroo? holy hell. they’ve got Tori Amos, KOL, Tenacious D,---did you hear me?? I said Tenacious D--- Norah Jones, Brandi Carlile, Blues Traveler WHAT?

Oh my gosh. I didn’t realize. That’s major. PLUS, they’re gonna have The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band -oh snap- The National - also, major. And… Jeff Beck. Sweet lord. I’d do a lot of things to be there.

WHAT? Regina Spektor’s gonna be in the house, too? I can’t handle this.

CLUTCH? Clutch of “Ace of Cakes” fame??? Gees. I really CAN’T handle this. CHROMEO???

Okay, let’s just stop. I can’t take it. Plus, they go on to say “more artists to be announced.” Rip my heart out, Bonnaroo. Rip it out and stomp on it. Then, stick a fork in it and light it up with your Zippo.

Yours,
katie beth
















what?.....what did you say? Jay-Z?? are you serious??? really?



shit.