Thursday Thoughts....

The subconscious is an interesting thing. I always dream but I do not always remember my dreams. Some are for sure more vivid then others and last night was one of those dreams.

You Can Make Me Free - Billy Joel

I was with a friend that I have known for several years and we were hanging out at some sort of coffee shop but it wasn't one I was familiar with. It honestly felt like we were in Sweden but I am not sure why it felt that way. She was studying and I was just kind of hanging out. At one point I got up to go look into another part of the coffeeshop because a friend of ours was supposed to be over there. They were not and when I came back there was this kind of odd old man that was kind of bothering her.

I'm All Right - Kenny Loggins (Caddyshack Version)

So I sat back down but this time my chair had moved close to hers. There was kind of a time leap and our chairs were even closer and then a leap again and I was sitting sideways and she was leaning against my shoulder and we were still in our chairs. It filled me with a sense of peace and calmness. There was nothing romantic or sexual about this. It was just nice. We were just resting together in this public place but with a level of connection that was greater than usual. Everything felt good and right.

Reasons For Waiting - Jethro Tull

The comfortableness became almost a tiredness to the point of I felt the need to put my head on her shoulder and I did so with ease and that was nice as well as she rested her head against mine. Then time and space shifted again and we were walking through Silver Creek Falls. I knew that for a fact. We strolled and chatted about many different things. It didn't seem to matter what the subject was at all. It was just us strolling and talking with apparent ease on many different subjects.

One More Time - Hammerfall

After a while her father appeared and we walked with him for awhile. He told us a story about a young boy who had died in a car accident. The boy had been seven and her father was very upset by this. The boy was not related to anyone as far as I could tell and I remember thinking that while it was sad I didn't understand why her father was upset to the point of tears about it. It also appeared that her father was running the retreat center of the campground and soon he and his wife had to leave to go pay their taxes in California. Then time shifted again and her husband was there walking with us and her father was gone.

One And Only - Adele

The three of us walked for awhile and I remember us walking through a parking lot and I could see my van sitting their. Again walking together it was totally comfortable and there was no awkwardness of any kind. Things just felt right and natural and normal with no stress of any kind. In fact the only stress was that I saw their red truck in the distance and I knew that the conversation was going to have to end and I wanted to prolong it and I woke up. I woke up refreshed and rested and the memory of the dream still vividly in my head.

Self Inflicted - Katy Perry

That is the story of my dream. I share that because I found it interesting and I do enjoy thinking about what my dreams mean. Though in this case I can't imagine it meaning anything but good things. It did not leave me with any feeling other then good and comfortableness. It was a nice to have a nice dream and too remember that dream as well. If anything it has left me feeling very inspired to have a good day. So that is something to look forward too. I am also super happy with how the playlist turned out today. All random from my music machine and I have to tell you that I think they all work so well together. I love it when that kind of thing seems to happen.

The Cave - Mumford and Sons

I love you guys and I hope that you guys can have a great day. Take a deep breath. Text a friend. Call a friend. Hug a friend. Keep on dancing and keep up loving each other. You won't regret it.

Thursday Music Mix

Welcome back to this post holiday Thursday that feels like a Monday. It is nothing special. I have always felt that the days following the Christmas and New Years Holidays are odd ones. They just sit there all alone and in this case it feels odd because it is a Thursday and just sits there ahead of the weekend.

Turn The Page - Rush

Well this is a nice treat. I like Rush but I haven't listened to them much lately. They are always worth listening too as far as I am concerned though I should probably give their newer stuff a listen too now and then.

Then or Than? A pair of words and spellings that I am pretty sure I use incorrectly. I am pretty sure that the correct way to use both of them has been explained to me and I for the life of me have the hardest time doing it. There are times when I feel bad about that but most of the time I really don't. I have never been all that hung up about grammar which I am sure is a gross failing on my part.

Cat's Squirrel - Jethro Tull

This is a nice little treat. Almost jazz like in its meanderings across the musical soundscape with a little blues thrown in for good measure. I really like it.

But, back to the matter at hand. I do not mind being corrected when I miss use words or use them incorrectly. But I would rather that I was corrected in a polite and private manner. To me that is the way things need to be done in a civil society. There are a few and really it is a sad few who feel the need to correct people in a public way on the many public forums that people of today use to communicate with each other on the internet. Often Facebook feels like a minefield rather, then or than, a place for people to communicate or entertain each other.

Marathon - Rush

It looks like the music player has locked into some prog rock what with two by Rush and one by Jethro Tull. We shall see what the future holds.

Back to Facebook. I like Facebook but there are times when it feels like the town square is full of crazies and each one is standing on their soapbox and trying to shout over the top of all of the other crazies. You may have one guy talking about a movie that he liked or didn't like. While in another corner you have some jackass screaming about some pizza company and their television commercials that he finds totally annoying. It would actually be okay if it was just that but it isn't, instead the people who disagree with the soap boxers engage with them by using often their only tools which are ridicule and abuse. It is hard to have reasoned debate on Facebook and often, I suspect, reasoned debate is not the goal and that is sad.

Whistles The Wind - Flogging Molly

Well, the blackness came on quickly. Flogging Molly was a special band to me and my friend Eric and now Eric is gone and he is not coming back. His life is gone and I will not be listening too or seeing this band with him ever again and that makes me sad. I miss you brother.

Touch - Daft Punk

This is a really good album, There are some great songs on it.

Reasoned debate? Is that really a thing? Has reasoned debate ever really existed? I would like to think that it did but I also think that I am probably wrong about that. Information travels so fast now that people rarely take the time to think about what they are saying before they send off a response and I think in the times before the internet the sheer amount of time it took to respond just allowed people to cool down. Taking some time to respond is not a bad thing. I lost a job once because of a quickly worded snappy email. I was totally out of line. So it doesn't bother me all that much now but at the time it was pretty upsetting.

Edge Of The Universe - Bee Gees

This is a live track and a pretty good one. Though I am not sure about its place in the earlier songs in this mix. It is nice though.

Dark Paradise - Lana Del Rey

Wow. This is a sad song. I have not really listened to the lyrics before. Ouch.

Well, I am going to leave you folks on that somber note. Hang in there today and love each other okay.

Wednesday Wildness

Shut Up - Madness

I love SKA so much and I love two tone. Madness was such a great band and I always like it when I get to listen to their stuff. This is one of my favorite songs of theirs and I really can't think of a song that I don't like but this one is just so good. SKA is forever!!

Ol' 55 - Tom Waits

Well this is a real slow down compared to that last song. But, it doesn't matter at all. This is a great song and if one of your complaints about Tom Waits is how his voice sounds then you will like this one because he actually sings in it. A very nice song and like most of his works it will really make you think if you take the time to actually listen to what he is singing about.

I believe that today will be a good day but only if I am able to not put any pants on all day. No pants Wednesday!!

Hymn 43 - Jethro Tull

Can you ever listen to enough Tull? I don't think you can and this one is a great one that does not get nearly enough classic radio play. The guitar and drums and flute and vocals in it are awesome. Oh and the piano.

I am sure that Jesus is rocking out to Tull right now. How could he not be.

Where Do You Hide Your Heart - Amy Grant

This amuses me and I am sure that most of you will not enjoy it like I am. but I find it hilarious that my music player dug up first 'Hymn 43 by Jethro Tull and then somehow pulled up an Amy Grant song. I am not sure what algorithm is making that link but it amuses me greatly. This is a song and singer from my past when I was very active in the high school and college groups and my baby-boomer mainstream Protestant Christian church and for a time Amy Grant was the biggest singer in the world in that part of the world and honestly I have not listened to this song or her in probably close to a decade. But, I kind of like it. It brings back some nice memories.

Clipping - MUTEMATH

This is from a compilation of indie music and wow. I haven't heard it before but I really do like this song. It hits pretty hard and has a really nice tune. I like it a lot.

In The Lap of Gods - Queen

This is a live recording and like most if not all live stuff that Queen did it is so epic and amazing. Do yourself a favor and watch some Queen concert videos on youtube. They are awesome and as you can tell my music player knows that I like them a lot.

Thanks for joining me today on this surprisingly religious themed music day. I hope that you could enjoy the tunes regardless of that. I know that I did. I really feel like today's playlist was a great one.

Monday Monday

It is a cold one out there today and a little foggy in parts. I hope the music helps you to shake out away the cobwebs.

16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six - Tom Waits

I do not usually start off the day with Tom Waits but this is a good one. A real peppy beat and a nice tune to bee bop too. Snap those fingers baby.

How is the "War on Christmas" going for everybody? I am not sure which side people are fighting on. I find that if I ignore both Fox News and people commenting on Fox News I just feel happier about things this time of year.

Silver and Gold - Trampled by Turtles

This is a great song but I have mentioned before how much I like Trampled by Turtles. Do yourself a favor and give them a listen and if you get a chance go see them in concert. So good.

It isn't that I hate Fox News though I suppose I could be accused of that. I like to be informed but it feels like the way they inform is to loudly yell about the eventual collapse of America. I just don't see that happening regardless of who is the President and you can only yell so often about something that is going to happen and when that thing doesn't happen. Well the yelling just becomes noise.

First of May - Bee Gees

This is a great early Bee Gees song and I think really much better then the disco stuff that they seemed to really become known for in later years. It is a good song.

Settle Down - Kimbra

Kimbra is Australian and broke big in America singing backup on Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know". I think her solo stuff is even better. She has a very strong voice and she really performs well live. Just a great, great singer.

The job hunt continues for me as I diligently put in applications for job that I seem to never get any response from. But I suppose a miracle could happen. I wonder if I could start a Kickstarter to just fund my blogging and other writings?

Banks of the Ohio - David Grisman

Just some very nice Bluegrass guitar and this is a lovely song.

For Michael Collins, Jeffrey and Me- Jethro Tull

I can say that I have never heard this particular Tull song on the radio. But I like it.. I will acknowledge that Tull has its problems but I think that there is some good music and some depth to it underneath all of the things that people complain about. I like their style of prog rock.

That is it for this Monday folks. I hope the day goes well. I am out of here!

Random Music Thursday...

Nothing start the random music journey better then some classic tunes...

Run Run Run - The Who

So far and I realize that it is still early, but today feels like a pretty good day. The sun is out and the Timbers play tonight. So I should be able to keep myself pretty well distracted for a few hours. I do not always try to do that and I do not think it is something that I actively do either. But sometimes it just happens.

An End So Cold - Dark Moor

I have been listening to a lot of music lately and I know that has made a difference in my mood that is for sure. The music, for me, serves two purposes. It helps me to relax and space out a bit and it helps me to remember Eric and the good times I had with him in terms of shared musical experiences. I really think he was one of the few people that liked music like I do and also had the vast and varied musical tastes like I do. I remember once taking a look at his Itunes library and being pretty impressed.

Oh My God - Pink - Phew, this song is kind of dirty. Wow.

Flying Dream - Elbow - Not much to say about this one. I enjoy it. But I do not listen to them all that much.

Beggar's Farm - Jethro Tull - I always enjoy a little Jethro Tull. They were a far better band then people realize I think.

Thank for reading, I'll catch you folks later.

Random Music Tuesday

Ok rambler's...lets get ramblin,

Supertzar - Black Sabbath - The father of the heavyiest of metal. I love earl, early Sabbath. Nothing else needs to be said. There are some great new metal bands, but honestly nothing comes close to the heavy grungy make your balls vibrate pounding of the early Black Sabbath records. NOTHING!!

Broadsword - Jethro Tull - Oh I like the way the music is flowing today. The winners of the first Grammy for Heavy Metal, Jethro Tull. This was a travesty but they do have some great songs and this is one of them. It thumps and rumbles and thunders along.

Eldorado Overture - ELO - Prog Rock at its finest and the music streak of excellence keeps thundering along. I love the strings in this song.

On My Radio - The Selecter - I love, love, love SKA! This song is great and a great example of the so called 2nd wave of Ska in the mid to late 80's. So good.

In My Life - Johnny Cash - An excellent finisher and a lovely song by a real legend. Thank you for finishing the list gracefully Mr Cash.

More Music (Australian Day)

I listen either National Public Radio (NPR) or KNRK on the way to work each morning and since today is apparently National Australian Day. (Don't ask me why. I have no idea.) KNRK played 8 songs from Australian bands or artists and I liked that idea so I am stealing it. These are in no particular order but they are bands that I like who are from Australia. So please enjoy them.

1. Men At Work: "Overkill"



2. Midnight Oil: "Forgotten Years"



3. INXS: "Mediate"



4. Crowded House: "Don't Dream It's Over"



5. Olivia Newton-John: "Physical"



6: Jet: "Cold Hard Bitch"



7: AC/DC: "Thunderstruck"



8: GOTYE: "Somebody That I Used To Know"



There you go. I hope you guys enjoyed this little bonus musical excursion.

More Music (Jethro Tull)

Hey everybody, we are back. The holidays are over and hopefully I can get us back on some kind of reasonable schedule. So here we go according to the crazy music player next on the list is Jethro Tull.

Now I own their first 4 albums and a greatest hits collection and there are times when I really enjoy just listening to it all. They are the kind of band that was not really radio friendly. Their songs went on a little long and often they were part of a greater cycle but people still like them and they put on a great live show. So lets give them a listen shall we.

"Some Day the Sun Won't Shine" from their 1st album This Was released in 1968. So bluesy. I like it a lot.



"A New Day Yesterday" from their 2nd album Stand Up this is a live clip from 1970. I really get a kick out of it.






Now I will hit you with a couple of their big hits.

"Bungle in the Jungle"



"Too Old to Rock 'N' Roll: Too Young to Die" This is a sad song but I like it so much. This is the extended version that is not usually played on the classic radio.