Music's important in our own lives. This weekend, Elaine was at Mike's and she and his father spent most of their time selecting various CDs and vinyl albums to play. Trina wrote about the marathon of music. Kat wrote about the importance of music in her life this week -- and often writes about it. Cedric wrote about a new favorite album yesterday. At all of the sites, you'll read references to music or a passage on music and that's because music is an important part of our lives -- something more than mere background music. C.I.'s "And The War Drags On . . ." entries utilize the song made famous by Donovan. Betty rarely does a chapter that doesn't include a musical reference.
Although it was that too as we heard music while working on this edition. Mike's father has filled the house with music this weekend. Not only did it bleed through our discussions as we wrote this edition, he asked that we note music in some form.
So we're offering "5 CDs that got us through the week." How it worked was we all listed the CDs that we had listened to this week (limit of ten) and then compiled a list. From the list, everyone was able to vote their top five and based on the votes and the way they were ranked, we came up with this list.
Top of the list is pictured above: Ben Harper's Both Sides of the Gun. This is a double disc album (triple, if you buy the deluxe package). And it's one that we all listened to this week. Favorite tracks: "Morning Yearning," "Better Way," "Black Rain" and "Cryin' Won't Help You Now."
Second was James Blunt's Back to Bedlam. The album's gone to number one and, for a change, it was a deserved chart topper. "You're Beautiful," "Cry" and "No Bravery" are the three favorite tracks.
Third was Etta James' All The Way. "Holding Back The Years" improves on the original (by Simply Red) by being less frantic. At the start of the week, some of us knew of this album. By the end of the week, we all did. For optimal listening, turn the lights down low and the volume up high.
Fourth on the list was Bright Eyes' Motion Sickness. It's a live album and, yes, it contains "When A President Talks To God." The song "Barney" and his New Republican pals can't stomach. We applaud the song, we love the song. We also love a recent "dedication" of it.
From "Stipe, Moby rock against Iraq War" (Billboard/Reuters):
Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst unleashed the scathing "When the President Talks to God" during his three-song set, declaring it "a song that goes out to the New York Press and the New Republic magazine."
The All Puff No Politics set can't get behind it, but for anyone not suffering from a fatal case of either "War Got Your Tongue?" or Extreme Centrism!, it's a must listen. The entire live disc in fact.
Our fifth and final disc is the Cowboy Junkies' Early 21st Century Blues which makes a nice segue to or from All The Way. Standout tracks include "You're Missing" (written by Bruce Springsteen) and Richie Havens' "Hands Out in the Rain." This one's been on our playlists nonstop since October, 2005. Give it a listen and we think it will be on your playlists nonstop as well.
Music's important. It can lift your mood or give you the push to explore. It can wash over you and make you feel energized when you thought you were tapped out. Think about what five would make your playlist for last week and, if you haven't 'had time' to listen to music, try to make time. Nothing restores your soul faster.
