lesley's cd liner notes
Ellie is schooling me in the fine art of mix CDs, and so I decided to post some details about the songs on my CD. I hope you all got it and enjoy it! Sarah and Hannah, yours are coming soon!
As I was writing this up, however, I realized how bittersweet and rather depressing this mix is! Please don't worry -- I'm quite happy! Really! But I love meaningful, somber songs about memories, I guess. So when I was listening to Ellie's CD last night and crying during "Nightswimming," I was actually really happy. Really! Hope no one got too sad listening to my CD.
"Divine" Uncle Earl
It's very much a spiritual, but I like the staccato crispness of the verses followed by the wailing refrain. I am revealing a soft spot for the gospel sound of this song, but it's also really haunting. A bit spooky actually – so very much in keeping with the otherworldliness that most gospel music strives to evoke. And would you ever think that a group called Uncle Earl would be full of women? With these voices? (I think of the name "Earl" and it's all bbq stains and Dixie Chicks and that new TV show with Jason Lee that Topher loves!)
"What Are You Waiting For?" Kathleen Edwards
OK, you may be skeptical of what I'm about to say, but Entertainment Weekly knows its stuff when it comes to reviewing music, for the most part. I read their review of Kathleen Edwards' Back to Me, went right out to buy it, and I can't stop listening to it. I think she's an Alanis for me now that I'm older – okay, so I know Alanis is 30, too, but seriously, I'm just not that angry anymore. And I probably never was. Still, don't you love the edge of Edwards' voice? I thought you would all like her sound, too. "Then we drive through the old neighborhood / all the corners where we stood / An hour passes you don't even blink/ I'm writing you off and you still can't speak." This song is angry, yes, but there's realism in that anger. Hmmm – I know I've felt like this even though I'm not sure when.
"Reuben" The Be Good Tanyas
It was actually Mark who suggested I listen to the Be Good Tanyas (he claimed that his bandmates made fun of him for listening to this group – but can't you see how he and the rest of us would enjoy this group's sound?) And how could you not want to listen to a group with this name? All the tracks I've included here are from Chinatown. I like how this song keeps building, and then just ends – of course, I want it to keep going with the great "Reuben"(that's 4 syllables) chorus.
"Gravity" Alison Krauss & Union Station
This first track on their latest really struck home with me. "The people who love me, still ask me / When are you coming back to town? / And I answer, quite frankly, when they stop building roads / and all God needs is gravity to hold me down." Maybe some of you feel like this? Tied to roots in some way but wanting to keep moving away from them to some extent?
"My Friends" Dar Williams
Beauty & greatness are in you all, my friends. You are all those friends in bright and distant towns who remember every part of me.
"Let It Be So" Victoria Williams
I'm really wondering what you all think of her voice – like it? hate it? It took me some getting used to, but this song is great to drift along to on some random afternoon. Kristine gave me this CD – when I heard it, I thought about how much all of you would enjoy it, too.
"New Strings" Miranda Lambert
I hope you'll forgive me this twangy sin. But I like to drive down the highway to this song -- the chorus just rocks right along with me. And I pretend I play guitar. And that I'm all kinds of hick.
"What Do You Hear in These Sounds?" Dar Williams
Yeah, it's about therapy – but it has that nice, positive, we're-all-in-this-world-soup –together feel to it.
"Take These Chains" Uncle Earl
More pretty Uncle Earl. I know, just sounds weird. Old guy in a t-shirt weird. But pretty!
"Cradle and All" Ani DiFranco
This one's for Ellie in particular because I know she loves Ani!!
"Back to Me" Kathleen Edwards
I love it when she sings, "I got ways to make you sing my songs and ones I ain't written yet." Just enjoyable – you know, in that nasty sort of way.
"Walkin’ In My Sleep" Uncle Earl
Ok, just in case you needed hoedown music!! It's fun, isn't it? I thought LeAnn might like to play this for Asher – you know, when she doesn't want him to fall asleep, ha ha! But other friends have told me that music like this is really popular with their kiddos. And this one is, uh, a bit more appropriate than the Dixie Chicks' "White Trash Wedding," the song my friend Holly said her 8-year-old son enjoyed to hear in the car! **And double bonus, LeAnn! Great song for tormenting Jason – I say this because Topher HATES music like this and that makes me thinks Jason probably does, too!**
"Notion" Barbara Kessler
Honestly?? Either this or more Dar.
"These Hills" Iris Dement
I really wanted to include Dement's "Our Town" –but not enough room here. So, I chose this song of hers because "these hills that I call home" are the Flint Hills for me. I was telling LeAnn that I still do the "Highway 150 cry" when we leave my parents' house. And now I'm realizing how incredibly depressing and somber this CD is! Goodness! Ok, I am already considering a sequel with upbeat stuff. But then, this kind of music really doesn't lend itself to upbeat material, does it?
"The End of Summer" Dar Williams
Yeah, really somber. Moving on but leaving things behind. Wow. Now I'm really a bit more depressed than I need to be right now.
"The Blessings" Dar Williams
I gave up. More Dar.
"There Is a Reason" Alison Krauss & Union Station
Religious, yes – but this is the kind of religious music I appreciate. It's vaguely hymn-like, but it's also very realistic in its confession and expression of desire for faith. It reminds me why I'm such a traditionalist when it comes to music at church.
"Good Things" Kathleen Edwards
This song is my most important choice for this CD. And I just want you to listen to it, carefully. Maybe you'll get why it's so significant for me, for all of us. The first time I heard the following verse, I just froze: "There are some things I used to be / Won’t you find the will just to remind me / Because you are so safe inside my memory / And the scar underneath my knee."
"It's Not Happening" The Be Good Tanyas
More Tanyas
So cry a bit, sing a bit, and enjoy!
As I was writing this up, however, I realized how bittersweet and rather depressing this mix is! Please don't worry -- I'm quite happy! Really! But I love meaningful, somber songs about memories, I guess. So when I was listening to Ellie's CD last night and crying during "Nightswimming," I was actually really happy. Really! Hope no one got too sad listening to my CD.
"Divine" Uncle Earl
It's very much a spiritual, but I like the staccato crispness of the verses followed by the wailing refrain. I am revealing a soft spot for the gospel sound of this song, but it's also really haunting. A bit spooky actually – so very much in keeping with the otherworldliness that most gospel music strives to evoke. And would you ever think that a group called Uncle Earl would be full of women? With these voices? (I think of the name "Earl" and it's all bbq stains and Dixie Chicks and that new TV show with Jason Lee that Topher loves!)
"What Are You Waiting For?" Kathleen Edwards
OK, you may be skeptical of what I'm about to say, but Entertainment Weekly knows its stuff when it comes to reviewing music, for the most part. I read their review of Kathleen Edwards' Back to Me, went right out to buy it, and I can't stop listening to it. I think she's an Alanis for me now that I'm older – okay, so I know Alanis is 30, too, but seriously, I'm just not that angry anymore. And I probably never was. Still, don't you love the edge of Edwards' voice? I thought you would all like her sound, too. "Then we drive through the old neighborhood / all the corners where we stood / An hour passes you don't even blink/ I'm writing you off and you still can't speak." This song is angry, yes, but there's realism in that anger. Hmmm – I know I've felt like this even though I'm not sure when.
"Reuben" The Be Good Tanyas
It was actually Mark who suggested I listen to the Be Good Tanyas (he claimed that his bandmates made fun of him for listening to this group – but can't you see how he and the rest of us would enjoy this group's sound?) And how could you not want to listen to a group with this name? All the tracks I've included here are from Chinatown. I like how this song keeps building, and then just ends – of course, I want it to keep going with the great "Reuben"(that's 4 syllables) chorus.
"Gravity" Alison Krauss & Union Station
This first track on their latest really struck home with me. "The people who love me, still ask me / When are you coming back to town? / And I answer, quite frankly, when they stop building roads / and all God needs is gravity to hold me down." Maybe some of you feel like this? Tied to roots in some way but wanting to keep moving away from them to some extent?
"My Friends" Dar Williams
Beauty & greatness are in you all, my friends. You are all those friends in bright and distant towns who remember every part of me.
"Let It Be So" Victoria Williams
I'm really wondering what you all think of her voice – like it? hate it? It took me some getting used to, but this song is great to drift along to on some random afternoon. Kristine gave me this CD – when I heard it, I thought about how much all of you would enjoy it, too.
"New Strings" Miranda Lambert
I hope you'll forgive me this twangy sin. But I like to drive down the highway to this song -- the chorus just rocks right along with me. And I pretend I play guitar. And that I'm all kinds of hick.
"What Do You Hear in These Sounds?" Dar Williams
Yeah, it's about therapy – but it has that nice, positive, we're-all-in-this-world-soup –together feel to it.
"Take These Chains" Uncle Earl
More pretty Uncle Earl. I know, just sounds weird. Old guy in a t-shirt weird. But pretty!
"Cradle and All" Ani DiFranco
This one's for Ellie in particular because I know she loves Ani!!
"Back to Me" Kathleen Edwards
I love it when she sings, "I got ways to make you sing my songs and ones I ain't written yet." Just enjoyable – you know, in that nasty sort of way.
"Walkin’ In My Sleep" Uncle Earl
Ok, just in case you needed hoedown music!! It's fun, isn't it? I thought LeAnn might like to play this for Asher – you know, when she doesn't want him to fall asleep, ha ha! But other friends have told me that music like this is really popular with their kiddos. And this one is, uh, a bit more appropriate than the Dixie Chicks' "White Trash Wedding," the song my friend Holly said her 8-year-old son enjoyed to hear in the car! **And double bonus, LeAnn! Great song for tormenting Jason – I say this because Topher HATES music like this and that makes me thinks Jason probably does, too!**
"Notion" Barbara Kessler
Honestly?? Either this or more Dar.
"These Hills" Iris Dement
I really wanted to include Dement's "Our Town" –but not enough room here. So, I chose this song of hers because "these hills that I call home" are the Flint Hills for me. I was telling LeAnn that I still do the "Highway 150 cry" when we leave my parents' house. And now I'm realizing how incredibly depressing and somber this CD is! Goodness! Ok, I am already considering a sequel with upbeat stuff. But then, this kind of music really doesn't lend itself to upbeat material, does it?
"The End of Summer" Dar Williams
Yeah, really somber. Moving on but leaving things behind. Wow. Now I'm really a bit more depressed than I need to be right now.
"The Blessings" Dar Williams
I gave up. More Dar.
"There Is a Reason" Alison Krauss & Union Station
Religious, yes – but this is the kind of religious music I appreciate. It's vaguely hymn-like, but it's also very realistic in its confession and expression of desire for faith. It reminds me why I'm such a traditionalist when it comes to music at church.
"Good Things" Kathleen Edwards
This song is my most important choice for this CD. And I just want you to listen to it, carefully. Maybe you'll get why it's so significant for me, for all of us. The first time I heard the following verse, I just froze: "There are some things I used to be / Won’t you find the will just to remind me / Because you are so safe inside my memory / And the scar underneath my knee."
"It's Not Happening" The Be Good Tanyas
More Tanyas
So cry a bit, sing a bit, and enjoy!
posted by Lesley at 8:53 PM
5 Comments:
Jason loves "My Name is Earl" too! He watches it every Tuesday.
Jason Lee is my celebrity boyfriend. I like the show a lot but am a little disappointed that he only seems to hit one note with that raised eyebrow of his. He's better than that!
Did y'all hear Arrested Development has been cancelled??? I am in absolute awe of how thoroughly FOX is shooting itself in the foot with that stupid decision.
Yeah, you are right, Ellie -- the show will probably lose appeal b/c the joke is pretty much the same. I've liked Jason Lee since "Chasing Amy" -- he always seems to land the 'quirky best friend' role, though, so at least he's got a lead.
And I hadn't heard that Fox had finally decided to cancel "AD" for sure -- what idiots. The problem is that it's the best show that no one's watching -- and it's all about the moolah. Maybe another network will move in and snap it up? We can hope!
Aw, Jason Bateman's come so far since "Teen Wolf Two" and "Valerie's Family" (or whatever that show was)!!!
Oh, man, they're cancelling Arrested Development? That show is so funny!! I just roll when I watch that show...I can't believe it. And I'm not home on Tuesday nights so I have yet to see more than 10 minutes of "Earl", although what I saw was good.
Man, that really stinks.
By the way, Asher DOES like Walkin' in My Sleep. I danced him around the kitchen to it after lunch today and he had a big smile.
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