Favorite Songs (for today)

This is not exhaustive. This is not indicative of everyday.

But today. On May 1st, 2010. . . . these are the songs I skip to hear on my ipod.

And there is no way I'm going to bind myself to any particular order here!

1. "Further the Sky" by The Gabe Dixon Band (featuring Mindy Smith)

When you don't where you're going and you don't know why
It feels like another day's beaten into the night
Lay your head on my chest while my beating heart pounds out the secret of this life
The Higher you reach, the Further the Sky
The more miles you walk, the longer the road,
The steeper the climb, the harder you stand to fall
The stronger you get, the heavier the load.

2. "Basic Space" by The XX

I love the self-control this band utilizes in their production. It's brilliant. It's simple and brilliant.

3. "Heaven is Ten Zillion Light Years Away" by Stevie Wonder

This is the most joyous song of praise. I listened to it for the first time in an airport in Detroit, and I felt like skipping through the concourse as it played in my ears. I dare you to listen to it and not find yourself filled with bliss and pure testimony.

As you listen to the fun little synthesized music, remember that Stevie produced this gem back in 1974. The man is a genius.

If you open your heart, you can feel it! Feel His Spirit!

4. "One on One" by The Bird and the Bee

This delicious cover of Hall and Oats classic, is almost as sexy as the original.

I love singing along. It makes me happy. And by happy I mean, happy.

For more info on this brilliant album, visit this link.

To be honest, I can hardly pick one song from this album.

5. "Lullaby Hush" by Mates of State

The sound of the piano melts my heart. The song starts with a low bass note on the piano, then the drums enter. The pianist bangs out chords--building rhythm and melody in the way that only the piano can deliver. It's a masterpiece.

I blast the song in my car and the most indescribable feelings of mature regret, resolution, power, strength, sorrow, joy--it all washes over me. And sometimes nothing is there. Sometimes it's just the music. I don't really understand the words. I just understand that they have this crazy affect on me.

6. "Acid Tongue" by Jenny Lewis

And by the rolling river is exactly where I was
There was no snake oil cure for unlucky in love
to be lonely is a habit like smoking or taking drugs
And I've quit them both, but man was it rough.

7. "Precious Things" by Tori Amos

It might be the piano thing again. I'm a sucker for the piano.

It might be the raw anger.

It might be that she unabashedly explodes with both power and vulnerability in a way that's taken me 32 years to unearth in myself.

But really, it's not so much about the "therapy" the song offers. It's really about the rocking piano bridge. Criminy!!

8. "Carry This Picture for Luck" by Dashboard Confessionals

And color the coast with your smile,
it's the most genuine thing
that i've ever seen.
I was so lost,
but now I believe.

What can I say? It's a cute song! It makes me happy.

9. "Lady in Spain" by Ingrid Michaelson

I was on a walk the other day and this song came on my ipod. I immediately began waltzing with myself, (in a very subtle way--since I was walking outside.)

And then I looked around, realized no one was there, and I started singing out loud.

I couldn't help it.

I can do anything I want to. And I can do . . .Anything I want, Anything my heart tells me to do.

10. "Undertow" by Stars

I've listened to this song so many times over the last few weeks. I can't explain it. It gets me.

Living for only one (When will it stop?)
Caught in the undertow (When will it stop?)
Trying to fight the call (When will it stop?)
Why does the night when we always

All the wind's at your eyes, at your eyes
All the wind's at your eyes, at your eyes, at your eyes, at your eyes
All the wind's at your eyes, at your eyes, at your eyes, at your eyes
All the wind's at your eyes, at your eyes, at your eyes, at your eyes

You pick the storm or you pick the shore
Both take you to the floor, to the floor,
to the floor, (When will it stop?) to the floor (When will it stop?)
(When will it stop?) (When will it stop?) (When will it stop?)