Please don't stop the music

I know it is blasphemy for me to say this but there are other artists, other than MUSE, that make my toes tap, head bop, heart go pitter patter. People who could just read the phone book and it would be lovely. Strum their fingers in the air and produce an interesting melody. Of course, MUSE, can do those things as well. Better than anyone, in my humble opinion. Nonetheless I am interested in artists music.

I have never understood why an artist doesn't release the entire album of songs. Why create an album of 10-15 songs to only release 4? And how do you go about choosing which songs are then released? I have always wanted someone to spend the time it would take to release an entire album. Show that every song they invested time and heart into is worthy for the ears. In this vein, I'm compiling my list of albums that deserved full exposure.

To make it easier I'll just tell you now that every MUSE album is on this list.(6 albums) Every Matt Nathanson album as well.(6 albums) Dido.(3 albums) Garth Brooks.(7 albums, I consider everything after that awful Chris Gaines thing to not be him.)

These are in no particular order:

Kim Richey - self titled - released 1995
I came across this album from the song titled, Let The Sun Fall Down, after it appeared in an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. A lot of my music comes from tv shows but when 1 song prompts me to buy an entire album, then it must be good. Kim has such a way with saying tough things but making it sound beautiful. Her songs have been rerecorded by numerous artists but she sings them better. I've actually dubbed Just My Luck as my life theme song.

Dar Williams - The Beauty of The Rain - released 2003
The title track off of this album was featured on an episode of Alias. Which was a gold mine for pretty heavy, beautiful, poetic music. If you only want to listen to one song choose The One Who Knows. Whispering Pines is very eerie and peaceful and introduced me to Cliff Eberhart.

Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine - released 2005
I liked songs of her before this album, but never the full album. This was the first time her full album caught my attention. What appealed to me was the delay in its release. I got it on sale at Target for $10. One of the best Alexander Hamiltons I ever spent. I would listen to this album if it was nothing more than the melody. Fiona just adds to it greatness. The playfulness of Extraordinary Machine, the piano on Parting Gift and the grandeur of Waltz(Better Than Fine). I will waltz to it, I promise.

Oleandar - February Son - released 1999
I used to fall asleep to a cable broadcast radio station, which is where I heard Stupid. At the time cdnow.com was the place to buy music online. (They later joined with amazon.com) I immediately purchased this album. They cover The Cure's 'Boys Dont Cry' and it was one of the first remakes I heard that rivals the original. I find this album to be a great running soundtrack.

Poe - Haunted - released 2000
Written as a tribute to her father and as an accompaniment to her brothers novel, House of Leaves. I always found the album haunting, pun intended, and am nervous about ever reading the novel. But I love her style on this album. One of the first concept albums I ever listened to. The first 9 songs are so different from the final 7 but it works as a whole. Spanish Doll, Amazed, Control and Terrible Thought. Take a listen.

Benny Benassi Presents the Biz - Hypnotica - released 2003
One of my all time favorite electronic albums. As the title suggests I go hypnotic when I listen to it as a whole. Again an awesome running soundtrack right here. I came across this album as I was researching what songs appeared at the Berlin Love Parade. If anyone can catch that reference, let me know. I also find this album to be great to clean to because I just keep going right along with the beats. Never stopping.

Patty Griffin - Impossible Dream - released 2004
Folksy women singers are my favorite. In case you hadn't started to see a pattern. Patty Griffin is no exception. I ran the Ogden Marathon to this album. It marked the first time I had ever used an MP3 player during a race. Again I heard Kite Song on an episode of Joan of Arcadia. The lyrics are just wonderful and inspiring.

Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes - released 1992
I remember my older sister having this album but I didn't listen to it until it was several several years older. I was intrigued by the lyrics of "But what if I'm a mermaid?" in Silent All These Years. Then I heard China and Crucify. I bought the album, my own copy. I listen to it heavily still.

The Von Bondies - Pawn Shoppe Heart - released 2004
I heard C'mon C'mon on X96's top ten at 10 when I would drive home from working at the Clearfield Pool.(Which as a side note was how I discovered MUSE as well.) I purchased the album from Virgin Records, which is now long gone and at the time the clerk asked me if I was going to the concert the next night. No I wasn't but I so considered it. I love the garage feel the album has to it. Again, they cover Try a Little Tenderness to near perfection.

Lostprophets - Start Something - released 2004
I dont recall how I ever heard of this band. I just know I love how the songs end then go into something different. Nearly each song. I love trying to stay caught up with the fast paced that most of the songs have as well. I'll never forget how I really didn't know the lyrics to I Don't Know. I thought they were saying "I suck at it all and cant find my way home" which later turned out to be "I'll stop getting lost and find my way home". I also think that they write some wonderfully complex stuff on this album.

Keane - Hopes and Fears - released 2004
Piano heavy music, what is not to love? This album slowly built on me. But I'm glad I kept giving it time to seep into my mind. I loved the music video to Somewhere Only We Know. I enjoyed this album so much that I made sure I purchased the follow up, Under the Iron Sea. Not quite as good but maybe I haven't given it time.

Remy Zero - Villa Elaine - released 1998
I love the names they give their songs. I bask in the ego that I feel that Prophecy put outs. Gramarye? Never heard of it. But I checked into it. Will you? The bipolar disorder of Hollow, starts off slow-ish and ends fast-ish. Life in Rain, lyrically superb. Motorcycle makes me want a black motorcycle. Just listen to this album already folks. I read a bit ago that they decided to disband and it made me sad. 

I did not include compilation cd's on this list because of course Erasure, Pop! 20 hits would be good. It contains all their synthesized gloriousiness. But I'll admit I don't stray from that album because I have most of the best of them. Perhaps I am missing better, maybe not. I also didn't include Chris LeDoux or Patsy Cline because they are legends and should never be categorized. MUSE is on their way there, it's only a matter of time.

The big 3-0! Well, it's not that big but still....

Nearly 1 week ago I turned 30.

Hmmmm....insert a picture of me wearing a beautifully funny birthday hat. I guess I deleted it instead of moving it off my phone. I knew blogging while intoxicated was not a good idea. Who egged me on?

Of course my berfday was spent working. Who's isn't? I did this.

Hey look what I found in the other folder. Ha! This was truly a bad idea.

I also did this.

For far too many hours. I can't recall right now.

And why can't I get blogger to put my writing in alignment with the left. The stupid drop down box says it is but I don't think it is.

After doing all that I went home and slept. I was going to go out but I was too exhausted. I still think I'm exhausted. Plus my allergies were acting up. Which they are again today.

The day after though I went running. And I gave myself the best gift. This..

Not quite my picture though. I didn't take me phone with me and I couldn't run fast enough to get it. It disapaited(I make no claim that that is spelled correctly) before I could. So I researched it. I have NEVER seen or even heard about it but it was awesome. It made me want to keep on running, so long as that was my view. Apparently it is rare to see a cloud rainbow so I'm glad I was there to see it.

Since I had been keeping Mandy at work for so long she never found the time to go shopping. I'm presuming both for me and her mother and mother in law. No hyphens for me tonight, thank you. A few days later she gave me more piggies. I need more piggies from her. I like piggies.

My nephews, or devil children as I affectionately call them, also found me a piggie. They were stoked to give it to me.

They are also stoked to tell me about the new Twilight movie.

I really wish my hair was already 6 inches so I could cut it. I can't wait to have short hair again.

Well folks I'm sure that is all. Oh I also had a cake at Mothers Day. It co-celebrated my berfday. I didn't get a picture of that. I'm going to go make a cake for a friend.

A Night to Remember

Yet another great night has come and gone. Yes, I did see MUSE but four very long months ago in Vegas but this show was different. Big Stadium vs. Small Club. Both terms are used loosely. Now to fulfill the trifecta, I'll be attending a show in Europe. Who else is in? Hello. Is this thing on?

Anywho, as we waited for the concert to start I remembered why I generally don't do general admission. I never realized Utah had so many giants living here! Who like MUSE enough to go the concert, none the less. But MUSE took to the stage thankfully on pedestals. See all the giants heads in the way?

I know I said after the Vegas show that I would bring a better camera. Well I didn't. So I get the crappy shots from my phone. I knew I should've gotten the phone that had the 10 MP camera. But perhaps next time I'll make better on my promise.

I love the columns by the way. They did all sorts of tricks with those things! The graphics they had of Matt playing his guitar, excellent. The beautiful shots they had on them during Feeling Good, gorgeous. And last but not least the falling pieces they had during Knights of Cydonia, epic. Plus it allowed me to see them over the giants.

I'm typically not the kind of person who wants to be stuck in the middle of a crowd so we hung back a ways. But then MUSE started playing New Born and I wanted to be closer. At that point I was glad we did do general admission. A friend and I took off from the other 2 in our group and made our way into the crowd. Later I realize we did not make it that much farther. We were like maybe 10 feet away from our original position. Oh well, I had fun being right in the middle of the action.

Before the concert started, a friend and I were discussing lights during a concert. We both stated that sometimes we can drift off looking at all the fantastic things people will do with said lights. This concert was no exception. Thinking back on it now though, I believe they only ever used the color green. Why not use others? This is The Resistance tour and the album is chalk full of color.

Of course, I was happy with everything they played. I was extremely happy that they played New Born, it riled me up as it always does, Map of the Problematique, a genius work of art, and Stockholm Syndrome, purely because I had never heard it live before. And I do have a lot of recordings of their live stuff.

They really mixed the show up between new stuff and old classics. I wish that we would've gotten the Cross-Pollination part of Exogensis but I still found it awe inspiring to hear the Overture. Here is a link to the set list for anyone who wants it. Plug in Baby was played and Matt twirled and twirled around whilst playing guitar and I wish I would've gotten video of that. Dom's drum jam before Undisclosed Desires was fabulous. I just need to list the entire concert don't I? I'm sorry, sometimes I let my mind run away.

The day after the concert I got a lot of questions of "how did you like it?" And I summed it up(which means I took it from one of my favorite movies) best to one friend: "I had an experience. I can't even explain it. I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever. I wish I could share that. I wish that everyone, if even for a moment, could feel the awe, humility and the hope. That continues to be wish." So even if MUSE isn't your cup of tea, then find something that is.

Click here for some SLTrib photos from the event. You'll see what I mean about the 3 columns. I'm getting a new background picture! 

And again I ask, who is with me for Europe, Wembley Stadium Sept. 10, 2010. How come I didn't turn this thing on?

My Pig Book

How sweet! I feel loved by someone who always teases me relentlessly. I was given a book about the pig of happiness.

It's'a very touching story. My favorite part is when I, I mean the pig, tells another that they have a beautiful bottom.

Moral of the story-our moods are infectious so be happy!

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Pretend this was posted on Daylight Savings Sunday!

I set my alarm for 7:45am this morning. My goal was to get up, run, shower, work, eat, return to work and then rest the night away. That was my goal. I didn't achieve it.

My alarm went off and I snoozed it for an hour, cursing the loss of an hour. I knew springing forward would be bad but I was hoping to still make my goal. Then to make matters worse when it went off again I snoozed it for another hour. Goodbye shower! Hello oil!

My hair gets oily when I don't shower. So if you see me around please don't ever ask what product I'm using because it's more likely just natural oils from me not showering. Which will make me feel all self conscious about not showering and I'll vow to never go without a shower again but in, not joking, 2 days I'll be back to not showering. It's a vicious dirty, oily cycle.

Bright side alert! I made it into work. And I ate. Hmmmmm...I love eating. Nothing keeps me from eating and I'm living proof of that. After my second helping of work, you thought I was going to say food didn't you?! You know me too well! But this time it was work.

After my second helping of work I made it shopping and while shopping I realize that I gained an hour of daylight. For because of the time change the sun would disappear about 7:30pm instead of 6:30pm. I look at my watch, it reads 5:23pm. I rush to check out but get home and find that my mom has delivered as promised. Baked ham, mashed potatoes and gravy await me. I sigh and make me a plate.

But I didn't give up on my goal! I made a smaller than normal plate and said to myself, "I'll eat small and still run!! I can get in a good hour still!!" After my plate I helped myself to a second helping. Yes, this time it was food. I love the salty sweet gravy the ham juice makes and I'll be damned if resisting it isn't the most hardest thing anyone can ever have to endure. That's how we can get terrorists to crack, I promise it's foolproof.

As I go to my room with my very very satisfied belly I still think I'm going running. I change into my clothes and realize that I skipped shaving last week but still ran because I figure it was hardly noticeable. Plus, if someone is looking at my legs when running then I probably want you to be repelled by me, so it was win-win. But I also never found the time to perform the task during the week so my legs are starting to get real bad. But still I said to myself "forge on ahead and know that you are one dedicated runner. Nothing stops me!!"

I throw on my clothes, shoes, grab my ipod and car keys and I'm out the door. I'm in my car and I get to the trail head at 7:07pm. I figure I can get an hour still. The sunlight is on my side and is sticking around. I tie my shoes and realize that the pants I wore have no pockets. Conundrum alert! Where am I going to put my car key? Why are the odds trying to make it impossible to run? Why didn't I grab my jacket because it's starting to get cold and I've only been out of my car for 5 minutes.

I walk towards a pole on the trail head and lay my key next to it and cover it the best I can with weeds. Weeds because that is what grows down there. I start running, but I'm cold and really wish I had grabbed my jacket. I start thinking running will kick in and the temp will be tolerable, 10 minutes pass and I'm not getting any warmer. I mix up my running plan hoping that speed will make me warmer. It doesn't and the speed I kicked in is really messing with my breathing. I decide to turn back around and I look at my watch and I've been going for 20 minutes.

Not bad, I say. In all I ended up running 45 very cold minutes. Which isn't really that much away from an hour. Achievement alert! Granted it wasn't in the order I wanted originally when my alarm went off at 7:45am but I still got it all in.

I, for one, love the time change.
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1st full week of twentyten

And what a week it was!

I started it by getting my top 2 wisdom teeth out. My experience is definitely not what I was expecting and nothing like I've ever heard before. I did not go to an oral surgeon-my regular dentist took them out. I didn't get put under-I was basically given a valium. I did not get any pain killers-I took 4 ibuprofen the entire day. My dentist was done within five minutes of starting, I did keep the teeth but will only show you the vagueness of the bag, I had no swelling or bruises. Simple & quick. I am still amazed.

As many of you already know, I joined facebook! I'm trying to decide exactly how I want to split my life up so I know where to post things. Twitter will get all the little mundane things, facebook gets family and friend things and my blog will get my humble opinion on things. Sound good?

I made maple cinnamon rolls. Recipe courtesy of Pioneer Woman. It took me several hours but they were worth it. I didn't read the instructions thoroughly and thought they wouldn't take as long as they did and exactly how many they would make. I was under the impression I'd get maybe 25 but I got 38 and I started thinking I'd done something wrong. Turns out it was 25 per roll, recipe yields 2 rolls. Hee!

I went and saw Leap Year. So cute and adorable. Those who rode w/me to Vegas know that I've decided(or rather came to the realization) that I would come to be with a man named Matt.(Sorry mom! Guess the whole me and Rob thing isn't going to work out.) So of course I was excited to see this film b/c of that BUT also b/c I love films where they go European. It's a dream for me to do the same.

Now that I've had such a hectic week I'm going to try and slow down. Focus back on running-160 days until Wasatch Back and I'm bound and determined to make what is possibly my last one to be my best one.
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A Year in Review...what I can recall anyways

Ask Crystal, I'm not a fabulous rememberer of some things. I guess I just don't like living in the past. Which could be why I do not see the fascination of ancestry.com that my sister and my father seem to be sharing.

I threw that in because I just got a text from her about the site.

Back to 2009-what I would categorize as my most memorable moment would probably be my MUSE concert. The excitement leading up to it is still just as strong for my April MUSE concert. I already blogged about the night so I won't spend forever going into it. One thing I did forget to mention was they had a big screen that they would display texts on in between the artists. My sis sent one in for me that said "Mary, it's MUSE!!" Oh the excitement. I hear they're to play Mandalay Bay on April 10th, 5 days after the SLC concert. Hmmmm......

I went to my 1st midnight movie premiere. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Oh wait...I'm lying. It was Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Both were long, very loooonngg. But only the latter wasn't worth it. Of course the latter was the movie I saw twice. It was good-just long. Harry Potter was great, when wouldn't it be?

I also didn't file my taxes on time. I thought I had mailed them. Pretty 100% sure I had. I was totally blaming our mailman. So I called and re filed, got my moneys and all was good. Then I cleaned. And then I found my tax returns. Oops! My bad. Well it only would've been bad if I needed to pay.

No vacations this year. Why? Not sure. Hopefully I can take one this year. I am turning the big 3-0 so maybe that requires a grandeur trip. I'm dreaming of something.

Other 2009 favorites:

TV Channel: USA and HGTV. Great, grrreat shows.

Ragnar Relay: Wasatch Back.

Movies: New Moon, Star Trek, The Hangover, Julie & Julia, Taken and Angels & Demons.

Magazines/Books: Cooks Country and Illustrated, Racheal Ray, EW

I figure I don't need to tell you what my favorite music was, it's quite obvious. Other music I enjoyed hearing is anything Snow Patrol. Some Lady Gaga. And a Calvin Harris song that rivals Sir Mix-a-lot's ode to women.

That's 2009 folks.
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