Man-oh-man-oh-man. Much has happened since we last spoke, person reading this blog. First and foremost, I have finally declared a big and impressive major. Thus far, it is set as English, but that sure as hell ain’t to say that it might not change. Also, whenever I write these posts, I feel the most important thing towards gaining my effectiveness, if you will, is writing the way that I would tell you something in person. Therefore, if I start a sentence with “and,” or if I fail to properly use quotations, italics, etc. around things that need to be quoted or italicized, etc. and when I overuse hyphens - well, please don’t let that make me lose any of my credibility as a budding English major. Really. I do know the rules. This blog is like my English rebel yell. Word.
Okay, now that we’ve got that out of the way, I have to quickly settle into what this post is all about:
Here at the blog, you know I like to tell you all about my dreams and aspirations. As a quick, written montage of some of those dreams, let me provide a list:
1. There was the dream I had about my car, Nelson, when he told me about his dreams of wanting to become an honorary member of the TMNT. Best dream ever.
2. There was my aspiration/dream to be a cast member on Glee where I would sing “Tomorrow,” of LOA fame. I’m sorry what? What’s “LOA?” Little Orphan Annie, bitches. That’s what.
Alright. So, now we have established that I do, in fact, tell you about my dreams/aspirations. I hope you care to know. And I really care to know about yours. Let’s meet up later and talk about them.
Anyhow, it’s now time for a big number three dream/aspiration:
Clearly, good music is a big component of the blog. In fact, it’s probably the most important component. I take great pride in the tunes that I select to pass onto you, my faithful and groovy reader. And it’s always been a dream of mine to be there when good music is getting its up-and-go.
[SIDENOTE: I’m not sure if the same is true for you, but apparently the Youtube videos are occasionally showing up as nothing more than white squares. Clearly, that sucks. Clearly, I’m working on it]
Alright, back to it:
For instance, when I first started jammin’ to John C. Mayer, I used to sit around and think how awesome it would have been to have been there when he was just playing at Borders and what-not. Basically, how cool it would be to say that “I knew him when.”
Good people, I feel that dream has come true. Let me explain:
If you’re a good reader of the blog and someone who follows the guidelines that I set in place for this epic blog, then you’ve listened to the songs that I put up. And if you’re an even better reader of the blog, then you’ve even ventured to go so far as to click the links. Now, those are links to [mainly] Myspace pages. And even though I don’t have a Myspace, I have always respected the musical prowess that this Web 2.0 site houses. Really.
What I’m getting at is that first link. It’s the one that reads “there’s ghosts in them woods.” Now, at first, the main reason for this post was my realization that I have never really talked about the ghosts in the blog. I know! It’s crazy. I mean, I’ve talked about all sorts of great music, but I’ve never told you all about ghosts in the woods. Well, the time is now.
First, let’s set into place that ghosts in the woods, or as I like to call them “g’s in the w’s,” are c.carden and s.jenkins. These two also have a righteously cool dog named wall-e. That alone should be reason enough for you to go check them out, but just in case you need more…
Good people, this is some good music. And, once again, I feel I have certainly established a reputation of someone who genuinely recognizes epic tunage. So, you can trust me. Feel free to go now and open that link somewhere so you can be groovin along whilst reading the rest of this post. It would be very appropriate.
Anyway, getting back to the dream and the point of this post:
After a series of fortunate events [like how I did that, L. Snicket fans?] I really feel safe in saying that I knew them when. Or now. Hm. Well, anyway, the sad news is that ghosts in the woods have since moved from good Kingsport to Nash Vegas. And I’m not going to say anything else about it because I’m a firm believer in the power of a jinx. Plus, the whole thing really gets me down. So, we’re not going to go there. But just know that I’m jealous of Nashville.
And, honestly, their move couldn’t have occurred at a worse time. Things were already heading south, as a direct result of another one of those damn twilight movies hitting the box office like a ton of bricks. The end of June/beginning of July 2010 was tough. Really. And now, here at the winding down of July, I have to ask one question to the good people over at that Em-Tee-Vee: “What in the hell am I gonna do without The [damn] Hills? Seriously.” Also, I am now going to confess my love for some Justin Bieber tunes. Gees. Things are really getting low here in k-town. But at least I have Fun Fest. And it is in Fun Fest that I see the light.
At any rate, good reader, I feel like I could go on and on telling you about how great them ghosts in the woods are, but on some level, that sort of talk seems to cheapen the whole thing. I mean, it’s not every day that I can’t seem to come up with a word that’s important enough to describe something. Ergo, I’m not gonna try. But they really are something pretty special. And I feel good about sharing that information with you.
And, so, I’ve been thinking about what ghosts in the woods fans would call themselves. You know, like how Adam Lambert fans are “Glamberts.” Or, how Jimmy Buffet fans are “Parrot Heads,” not to be confused with “Dead Heads.” Well, anyway, here’s what I’ve got so far:
1. Ghosties … no, that’s too obvious
2. Forest Rangers … i.e. “woods” ??
3. White Sheets … not very effective if I don’t somehow incorporate two holes for eyes
4. Ghost Busters … I feel that has definite potential
Also, I need to tell you something else in this post. I am really impressed with myself. Once again, good readers of the blog know about past posts and hold them dear to their hearts. In a post about hm, I believe it was Avatar, I gave you a wonderful poem by W.S. Merwin. Guess what homies? He’s just been announced as the 17th American Poet Laureate. Holy smokes. CALLED IT!
Furthermore, I have, in past posts, given you lists about songs/bands/new albums that I have been groovin to. On NPR’s awesome website, they listed the top albums of 2010, so far. Actually, fans voted. Anyway, much of the albums listed have, at one time or another, lent their auditory bliss to the blog. Again. CALLED IT.
So, with that information locked into your lovely brain, go ahead and re-heed my advice about bumpin a little ghosts in the woods. Cause let’s face it. I know my shit.
ONE MORE THING:
The blog would like to send out a big ole bitchin b-day wish to a good reader of the blog, m.fox. Okay, here goes: Happy Birthday to your friend and mine, Madelyn: Alias Madge. I hope your day is both rockin’ and rollin’.
Yours,
katie beth
PS: http://www.myspace.com/ghostsinthewoods
^ here’s that link again, so click it and get familiar. By the way, I know if you click it or not. I have a blog radar/computer x-ray vision gun. And I really do want you to click it right the hell now. I feel like it’s my duty in life to head up the Kingsport chapter of ghosts in the woods’ fan club. No, really. It’s completely legit. Also, I will now be incorporating what will be known as the blog’s “Final Word.” Or, you know, sentence.
FINAL WOR
D: I ♥ g’s in the w’s. And you should, too.
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.”
D: I ♥ g’s in the w’s. And you should, too.