Song of the Day
Each day in 2022, I chose a song. Sometimes it chose me.
California
EMA
A song that amps me up for a big writing week. This beautiful, hard-hitting track is stream of consciousness, yet sung conversationally by Erika M. Anderson, aka EMA. A bed of drones and feedback and violins and buried drums. It was once my official leaving Hollywood for Oregon song back in 2010-11.
Romulus
Sufjan Stevens
I love when Sunday morning music puts me in a reflective mood. Today I played GREETINGS FROM MICHIGAN and Romulus hit me hard — an early song about his mother Carrie — who he later wrote an album of songs about.
Heartbeats
The Knife
One of the few tunes that can catapult me into the clouds with nostalgia and emotion. Saturday morning medicine.
Ten days of perfect tunes
The colors red and blue
We had a promise made
We were in love
❤️
A Forest
The Cure
I heard this mesmerizing track for the first time on my original Sony F1 Walkman. I was just a little kid in the Bay Area and found Steve Masters doing his modern rock hour at 105.3 on the FM dial. Up to this point in my little life, I was a fan of the Beatles, Men at Work, Queen, The Eagles, Pink Floyd and Bruce Springsteen — thanks to the influence of my older brothers. And I listened to Casey Casem’s American top 40 every week. But hearing the Cure for the very first time changed me and changed the trajectory of music I would love.
Luminous Rose
Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians
A surreal track of war, death and memory, from the enigmatic, genius songwriter, performer. I love this sparse arrangement — Robyn’s poetic, wailing vocals, the keys, harmonica and how the bass drum kicks resemble distant bombs. And those who are left behind must seize the remaining life they have left.
Good Weather
Baby Bird
Feeling happier this morning and this melody found me — a sweet mid-week vibe from my all time favorite lo-fi artist. I often crave these ‘95-96 home recordings — Stephen Jones left to his own devices on five magical albums. Love the spontaneous feel, the layered vocals, the reverb, the creative over-dubbing. Baby Bird is still as prolific as ever and active on Bandcamp, self-releasing dozens and dozens of songs each year. 👀
You Wanted a Hit
LCD Soundsystem
Love this anthem. It helps me celebrate this artist life I’m trying to live each day. A reminder to excavate creative work with my own voice.
“Make it as personal as you can, because you are a miracle…if you're going to make art? Let it be very personal to you.” Francis Ford Coppola
Tu viendras
Zbigniew Preisner
Ukraine and Europe on my mind — the unification of Europe — and it got me thinking of the brilliant Kieślowski composer. Hearing this lullaby brings light this morning and I’m smiling at the thought of Véronique holding her last note in the rain when The Double Life of Véronique begins. This poetic piece of cinema is about the thrill of life and unpredictability of death — a tale of two Véronique’s played by Irene Jacob. Years ago, Preisner said film music should play a metaphysical role in filmmaking, not just an illustrative one. This beautiful bit of insight has always stayed with me. 🎬
Movement 6
Floating Points & Pharoah Sanders (feat. London Symphony Orchestra)
From the most overwhelming and rewarding record of 2021 — these nine movements should be heard consecutively and in one sitting. Sanders is 80 now and his saxophone work throughout is remarkable. For several weeks I played this every morning and it has left a permanent mark on me. ❤️ This particular movement is quite stunning. The strings that begin to grow and evolve from minute three give me pause this Sunday morning and the crescendos speak to me more than words can.
The Gunner’s Dream
Roger Waters
Incredible live, pandemic version from Roger and his band. From the greatest anti-war album ever made The Final Cut. A requiem for the post-war dream. ❤️
Montana
Youth Lagoon
Still thinking of war today and love the healing, sad, sleepy vibe — but then the tempo change at 1:51 — that relentless clang begins and builds with drums, percussion. I can’t hear this without seeing this beautiful video in my head. Children who lose their fathers in war. The pain never disappears. 💔
When the Tigers Broke Free
Pink Floyd
Today, peaceful cities in Ukraine are under attack after Vladimir Putin launched a full scale invasion. A country that poses no threat to Russia. “This is a war of aggression. The world can and must stop Putin. The time to act is now.” - Ukrianian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba
Get Free
Major Lazer (feat. Amber Coffman)
A gorgeous outlier track — call it melancholy, Jamaican electronica maybe, but the devastatingly beautiful Amber Coffman vocals are these unusual, layered, glorious cries for social justice. My most played track back in 2013 — it is still so haunting and timeless this morning. All that pain and hope is still hanging around. I just want to be / I just want to dream
Control
Majical Cloudz
I think about this beauty a lot. It’s a question I ask myself looking in the mirror: Will you let me change? I want to, but I think you want me the same. Ruminating on all my writing and filmmaking this morning, I track my obsession with characters finding personal fulfillment.
Coming Up Close
‘Til Tuesday
One night in Iowa, he and I in a borrowed car…
So good and cinematic. So familiar and exciting, but still breaks my heart after all these years. Don’t you know that I could make a dream that’s only half awake come true?
Jackson
Lucinda Williams
Yesterday’s triumphant (big) music is tempered with heartbreak this morning. What a brilliant vocal from Lucinda here, live in Austin — as our protagonist tries to outrun her pain and grief. A track I hoped to close Redwood Highway with, yet could not afford. There were still highways left for Marie to travel.
The Big Music
The Waterboys
Mike Scott channelled the gods with this one — perhaps the most epic, enlightened and meaningful song I’ve ever loved. Nothing left to say except: You’ll never get there / You’ll never get there / You’ll never get there / But I will ❤️
SUPERSTAR
Beach House
A triumphant piece of dream-pop perfection that has been playing from my speakers since early November. But the real news this morning is that their new record is finally (all) here and it’s a beautiful gift. Four EP’s released over several months — ONCE TWICE MELODY feels like four sides of a double LP. Eighteen songs that are brimming with these big, complex, dreamy melodies. Beautifully mixed and layered, this is a headphone record that will transport you to new worlds. A band that just keeps getting better and better and better — thank you Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally.
Time of the Assassins
Charlotte Gainsbourg
A meditation, a melody, and Charlotte’s vocal intersecting with my life this morning, as I battle familiar feelings of dread and futility. It’s the kind of song that meets the middling part of you in the verses but recharges you in the chorus. It doesn’t take a miracle to raise a heart from the dead. A magical video too. A+.
This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
Talking Heads
A song that keeps giving to me — ever since SPEAKING IN TONGUES came out in ‘83. It has somehow bottled up this beautiful feeling of going home or being home. That elusive, surreal place of safety, happiness, love.