Anatomy in Song

Yes, I'm back but no I haven't had any time to myself to post anything. Thanks to Dieter yet again for emailing me and saving my butt because between a sick kiddo, a TIRED mind, a friend in from out of state and a mountain of work to catch up on this just TOTALLY slipped my mind and I didn't have the WAZ song in my library anyway so I'd have had to search for it.

Enjoy the tunes...it looks like it was an interesting episode to say the least.


Meiko - "Boys with Girlfriends"

WAZ - "Ordinary Girl"

Tina Dico - "No Time to Sleep"

Lisa Hannigan - "Ocean & A Rock"

Dido - "Quiet Times"

And a .zip file for convenience!

Anatomy in Song

So I just got in from seeing the incomparable Matty Nay and was checking email quickly when I opened one from faithful reader and now AWESOME friend of the blog, Dieter, when I realized how fantastic people really can be. Thanks to Dieter, I can post all the songs from last night's episode (that I have yet to see so no spoilery type comments, please) for all of you who come to snag 'em each week.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Dieter! Many blessings for your kindness from (near) Omaha...somewhere in middle America to Germany where you are!!

A direct copy and paste since that's all I can really do from my Crackberry. Enjoy kiddos!!

Hi Linda, I hope you enjoy your timeout.

Here comes some assistance for your GA soundtrack article:

· The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra - the Uniform

· The Coral Sea - Ah, Ah, Ah

· Jets Overhead - It's A Funny Thing

· Seabird - Falling for You

· Lenka - Trouble Is A Friend

…and the ZIP-file with the mp3s:

http://www.sendspace.com/file/y3xl2w

“It may be that the satisfaction I need depends on my going away, so that when I've gone and come back, I'll find it at home.”

I can honestly say I've never been much of a runner-awayer. I don't believe in running away from anything really...what's the point. No matter where you go, there you are and the problems that you run from today will be the fears of tomorrow. I think it's always best to roll with the punches and do all you can to keep your chin up in the face of adversity but I gotta say, I've sorta had my ass kicked a little this year and escape is looking mighty fine to me. I'm 100% convinced that I'll be back to my old self again when I return.

So, since I have the overwhelming need to get away from my day to day...all the responsibility, all the people who incessantly drive me mad, all the times I have to bite my tongue and keep my truth quiet inside...all the icky that's surrounded me the past several months I'll be spending the next 5 days living on the road with some of my very FAVORITE people on the planet. So, sadly I won't be here to update the Grey's Anatomy songs this Friday but we'll see what I can do from my "mobile unit". No promises though!

Enjoy the days to come...rest assured I will!




Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers - "See You Later, See You Soon"

"Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting my friends."

In the face of some SERIOUSLY distressing incidents and comments around me today, I choose to be a dignified Democrat and not gloat or boast after this overwhelming win. I choose instead to focus on what lies ahead and while I had a touchy-feely, goosebumpy post full of all my flowery language ready to go about all the emotions I've had in the past 48 hours, what the election of President Barack Obama has meant to me not only as a woman and mother but as a citizen...not just of America but of the world I've decided to scrap it in favor of using the words of some AMAZING women who I admire and respect. Some who have walked the walk and talked the talk through many, many decades in America. I think it better that I echo their sentiments than share my own opinions because I do so wish that everyone had the privilege of being fortunate enough to surround themselves with the amazing women that it is my privilege and honor to call friends.

It's all about working for a greater unity now. Polarization is not the way to move forward. This victory is sweet for about 6 hours on a we-beat-the-Rove/Cheney-machine level. Now it is time for quiet gratitude and humility in the face of the job ahead. I'm looking forward to Obama creating an integrated - Democratic/Republican/Independent cabinet which lessens the fears of the McCain supporters. The job ahead is staggering, but our guy may be the one man who truly sees what he signed up for. He doesn't suffer the hubris of invincibility that may be visited upon him by many of his supporters. He is achingly, magnificently human.

We didn't just elect the first black president - this is so race transcendent. Seriously. We elected a highly evolved man who carries with him the highest vision of our country within the entire world. Because of how he ran his amazing, unprecedented campaign, he has many tools no other president-elect has had to manifest the promise of our Constitution within our global village for the betterment of all humankind. Best news of all is that our electorate seems to deserve this man.

We have finally summoned the better angels of our nature. We will not rest where we are or retreat. We will do all we can to make America all it can become.





And now having said that, on to just some of the tunes that have come to mind today and that I'm singing out loud...

Canned Heat - "Let's Work Together"

Grandaddy - "Revolution"

The Innocence Mission - "What A Wonderful World"

Jesus Jones - "Right Here, Right Now"

Marc Broussard - "Yes We Can, Can"

Paula Abdul - "The Promise of a New Day"

Ingrid Michaelson - "Be OK"

Graham Nash - "We Can Change the World"

Tupac - "Changes"

The Jealous Sound - "Hope for Us"

Foy Vance - "Hope, Peace & Love"

Will.I.Am and EVERYONE under the sun it seems - "Yes We Can"


I've ALWAYS loved this song but it took on a completely different meaning for me on a personal level this year and when I saw my beloved Teddy Thompson singing this with Martha Wainwright on Live at Abbey Road, I was mesmerized completely and since I feel it's absolutely appropriate today I wanted to share this, my now favorite version. If you've never seen Live @ Abbey Road, I feel I must implore you to do so...it's a fantastic show.






And there's just no way I could make this post without sharing these two historic moments as well...

"Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us."

I know it sounds silly but each time I get that little oval “I Voted” sticker, I can’t help but be full of pride. How funny that a grown woman of 30 would find so much enjoyment out of a little sticker. I totally feel 7 when I wear it. It’s like getting a sucker from the doctor or a new toothbrush from the dentist for being cavity free. Seriously, I get such a thrill from it you have no idea.

I’ve tried to refrain from making posts expounding on my political beliefs here because this is a blog I prefer to devote to music and music alone but I cannot let today pass without urging every single person living in the United States of America who is of age to vote (sorry, felons!) to get off your asses, take the time off work and MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! I’ve spent the better part of this year volunteering for the Obama campaign (which is partly why there have been fewer and fewer posts as of late) and now as this election comes to a close tonight, a bit of me can’t help but be a little sad to see this phase end because it’s been by far one of the most rewarding and enlightening experiences of my life. I’ve met so many amazing people right here in my very own BRIGHT RED state of Oklahoma who share my hope for a better tomorrow and that has completely overwhelmed me and reaffirmed for me that we are truly so much more alike than we are different. I’m so grateful for that…I’m grateful for the cowboy hat wearing, tobacco chewing, horse riding rednecks that I adore who have had the audacity to hope for change this year and to actually pound the pavement and stand up to stereotypes and get that message out. Either way it goes, no matter what happens tonight, I am more proud to be an American today than I ever have been before and more than that, I’m proud to be an Oklahoman.

So to celebrate, here’s my personal mix for the day…Selections for the Election. Enjoy and please don’t forget to VOTE!!!!!

To those who emailed and asked about this post and why it disappeared, an answer...it was deleted by Blogger last night after a complaint of about one of the songs posted. I think I've made it pretty clear that if at ANY time there's ANYTHING posted here be it photo, song, quotations...ANYTHING that I'm MORE than happy to remove it as soon as I'm informed. So, I'm just slightly irritated that instead of asking me directly to take it down that they contacted the site but whatev. So, since I don't know exactly which song was the issue I've removed all the links. Sorry if you came here looking for a particular track that's no longer here.

Onward and upward...

Lee Dorsey - "Yes We Can"

The Spoiled Chefs - "Happy Election Day"

Nas - "Black President"

Lee Fields & The Expressions - "My World"

Bill Withers - "Lovely Day"

Sarah Barchas - "Vote, Vote, Vote"

Cocoa Tea - "Barack Obama"

Kidz in the Hall - "Work to Do (Obama '08)"

Paint It Black - "Election Day"

State Radio - "Democracy in Kind"

The Lucksmiths - "To Absent Votes"

John Wesley Harding - "Election Night"

Sam Cooke - "A Change Is Gonna Come"

Howard Jones - "Things Can Only Get Better"

The National - "Mr. November"

Sunnyland Slim - "Be Careful How You Vote"

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - "This Land Is Your Land"

Ben Harper - "Better Way"

The State Workers - "Rednecks for Obama"

Lyle Lovett - "Election Day"

Jimi Hendrix - "The Star Spangled Banner"

Michael Jackson - "Man in the Mirror"

Anatomy in Song

Sorry it's taken me all day to get to this but Friday's are sorta busy for me and this one's been outrageously so. Um, so I finally sorta fell in love with Erica Hahn last night. I love it when people let their walls down enough to expose the human frailties that we all have and that we all try so DESPERATELY to conceal. I can't help but think if we all learned to let go a little, put the armor down and let people in more...ya know, show them what's behind the facade that the world would be a more loving, peaceful place. But then again I'm an eternal optimist to a fault so I'm sure lots of people would disagree with that but I don't care...I remain undaunted.

Either way, she had me at "You're glasses." Having recently gone through the experience of a love awakening myself (if you wanna call it that) I loved the idea of that statement. In fact, I love it so much that I wish I'd thought of it myself back then to describe how I was feeling at that time. There are just some people that come into our lives that help us see ourselves and sometimes the world around us with a deeper clarity than we've ever imagined. The people that just encourage us to become more and better and stronger and in my experience it's those people who are the greatest gifts in this life. I'm so thankful and grateful that I've been blessed with the experience of having someone to be my glasses and hopefully it won't be the last pair I get. :)

So...enough of that...enjoy the songs and have a great Halloween!


Vampire Weekend - "Walcott"

El Perro Del Mar - "From the Valley to the Stars"

Raining Jane - "Prelude"

Greg Laswell - "Days Go On"


And a .zip file too...see, I didn't even forget!

Anatomy in Song

I love Izzie. A lot. It's not the easiest thing in the world to do you know, to confront someone that you KNOW is going to be an asshole to you and show them genuine care and affection even though they're nowhere NEAR deserving it. Nope, not easy at all. I liked last night's episode for a lot of reasons but that scene between her and Alex really got me. Katherine Heigl is pretty much the perfect girl. I think I wanna be her when I grow up.

The music last night was super, super great too. I don't always think they use the right songs at the right time but they absolutely nailed it last night. Enjoy these tracks from some great artists...

Brandi Carlile - "Hiding My Heart"

Erin McCarley - "Love Save the Empty"

Greg Laswell - "Comes & Goes In Waves"

Emilie Mover - "Ordinary Day"

Lenka - "Live Like You're Dying"


And a .zip file...I know I forget to do this sometimes but this time I FINALLY remembered!


And a GINORMOUS thanks to faithful reader Carrie who sent me a copy of The Bird & The Bee song "My Love" that we were looking for last week. A million thank you's!!!

UPDATED LINK 10-27-08 BY REQUEST

The Bird & The Bee - "My Love"

"Follow your heart and you won’t get lost."

Brett Dennen. Hmmm...what can I say about Brett Dennen that hasn't been said? Not a lot, really. There are the obvious comparisons between him and my boy John which I'm sure will be even more prevalent since Mayer's boy Alagia placed his prints all over Hope for the Hopeless but I see the two as wholly and completely opposites. There will never be a time when I will envision Dennen in a blues trio or rockin' classic SRV cuts with ferocious intensity. Nope, just ain't happenin'.

Now don't get me wrong, I like Brett Dennen. I've mentioned him here before and So Much More made the contender list for '06 and as a person, I think he's interesting and top notch. His passion for projects that make a difference in the lives of others, promote peace, unity and social change gives me the warm fuzzies like you've no idea and I love that he's such a throwback artist but I pretty much just like him an awful, awful lot and that's the extent of it. I mean, while I enjoy his company quite a bit more than most, if I had to make a short list of people to invite to an end of the road soirée to celebrate my passing, I'm guessing he might not make the cut.

So here's another new release that is actually in stores now that I really like a lot but don't love just quite yet. There are tracks that I can already see myself putting on mix discs for friends and adding to theme compilations but for me, this just missed the mark a little. Maybe Alagia's handiwork is wearing on me or maybe I need to just put it away until I'm in the right mindframe to appreciate it. Either way, check it out and decide for yourself. Start with these...


Brett Dennen - "Wrong About Me"

Brett Dennen - "When She's Gone"

Brett Dennen - "Who Do You Think You Are?"

Brett Dennen - "Follow Your Heart"


My favorite on the album was actually the song I posted last week that was featured on Grey's Anatomy and for anyone who missed it, here it is again...

Brett Dennen - "Ain't Gonna Lose You"

You can put a stick in my spokes
I can be the butt of your jokes
I can be the laughing stock, I can be your hoax
But I ain't gonna lose you

They can come and tear my house down
They can run me out of town
They can tie me up, call me a clown
But I ain’t gonna lose you

I can’t stand
The thought of another man

They can make me turn my back on my friends
Send me away to up in San Quentin
Put me in the hole, a thousand times again
But I ain’t gonna lose you

Throw me in a hurricane
Tell the whole world I’ve gone insane
Run an electric shock to my brain
But I ain’t gonna lose you

I can’t stand
The thought of another man

I’ll sing it from my roof top
I’ll sing it from the bus stop
I’ll sing it on the street drunk to a cop
But I ain’t gonna lose you



Having said all that, I wanna share the review I read of the record that I liked the most from All Music's Steve Leggett:

A deliberately careful songwriter with an at times Dylanesque flair for unlikely rhymes (he matches "spokes" with "hoax," for instance, and mostly gets away with it), a certain Nick Drake-like fragility (due in large part to his voice, which is pitched high and sounds at times eerily like Billie Holiday), and a subtle African pop feel (he has Femi Kuti singing backing vocals on one of the songs here), Brett Dennen is certainly singular, and at his best, he catches a breezy, mellow groove that allows his thoughtful songs to truly shine. If there's a downside, it's that they all shine in almost exactly the same way, and over the course of an album, can start to feel like one big mellow song sung over and over again without a whole lot of variation. But when these songs work, they really work, and pieces like "Heaven," even though Dennen goes on about things like "the cloth of conviction," are strikingly effective. Other standouts on Hope for the Hopeless, his third album, include the Kuti track, "Make You Crazy" (which features Dennen's most perfectly soulful and spirited vocal yet), the easily likable "World Keeps Turning," the impressive "Ain't Gonna Lose You" (where the spokes/hoax rhyme dwells), and the innocently positive and hopeful "Follow Your Heart," even though it sounds maybe too much like a second rewrite of Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" at times. Nothing here is less than pleasant, but the lyrics do get a little on the overwrought and ornate side in songs like "So Far from Me," where crows ravage a field of wheat while scarecrows know their own defeat etc., and if Dylan can get away with stuff like that because he's, well, Dylan, Dennen makes it all sound just a little too delicate and labored. Still, Hope for the Hopeless works more than it doesn't, and when it really clicks here, which is often enough, Dennen shows himself to be a unique voice and talent.