I Broke* Weekly WrapUp (Also: Music I’m Liking)

So. I’d found this meme blog that I thought would keep me writing even when I’m traveling and not able to write as much as I’d like.

As soon as I started participating, though, it went all defunct-like. Because, yeah.

I present to you: what appears to be the very last* of the Weekly WrapUps, a purely selfish exercise of the brain muscles I use for writing.

What significance, if any, has music had in your life over the past week?

I feel like a lot of really good stuff has come out recently.

I realize this statement implies that I think music can be objectively good (or bad), when really, I’m only saying that this is music that resonates with me in some way, right now, in this moment. It may or may not resonate with anyone else, ever.

It’s kind of a real dippy thing to do, actually, to even write about it. Musical taste is just so personal and so dependent on individual variables.

But. For right now, in this place and in this mind, these are the things I’m enjoying:

• The Antlers‘ album, Hospice, which could make Santa Claus suicidal. I especially like “Kettering,” the simultaneously beautiful and painful track 2, available for your aural pleasure here.
• Atlas Sound‘s “Walkabout” (track 3 from the album, Logos, which you can listen to here). I also really love “Shelia” (track 6). (Looking it up just now, I learned that Atlas Sound is the solo project of the guy from Deerhunter. And also, he’s on Kranky, which is an old favorite.) Moving on.
• Bowerbirds‘ “Ghost Life” (track 5 from their album, Upper Air, which you can hear here).
• Dead Man’s Bones‘ self-titled album. There’s one track, in particular, that I really like, but I can’t remember which. (Also: Just read that this is Ryan Gosling’s band. As in, that guy from The Notebook. As in, that worst movie ever. And not because they died at the end. More because they didn’t die earlier. In a fiery crash of bones.)
• Dirty Projectors‘ album, Bitte Orca, from which I really dig tracks 1, 5, and 7.
• Fanfarlo‘s album, Reservoir (extra points for uncanny David Byrneness of vocals).
• Something by The Fiery Furnaces I can’t remember (but I recorded in my Blackberry, damnit).
• Here We Go Magic’s self-titled album, especially track 4, “Tunnelvision.”
• The Raveonettes‘ In and Out of Control, especially “Suicide” (track 7 here).
• Sonic Youth‘s new album, The Eternal, is great from what I’ve heard of it, and surprisingly relevant and Sonic Youthy.
• Taken by Trees‘ “My Boys” (track 7 on East of Eden).
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ It’s Blitz!, available for the listen here (And this is not because I *ahem* went to college with Nick Zinner *ahem cough I’manamedroppingbadass ahem*. Even though we ARE, in fact, BFFs, thank you for asking. But really, I would be this album’s bitch if it would have me.)

Also, Pavement has been getting some play because they’re getting (got?) together to do some shows. Not new, but great nonetheless:

How do you usually listen to music (CD, radio, MP3 player, elevators, computer)?

This is kinda a weird question. I suppose I do most of my listening in my vehicle these days. Other than that, it would have to be iTunes, either on my laptop or iPod.

Are you a casual listener or a more serious music fan?

I love music, but I don’t know anything about it. I am intimidated by “serious” music people. I sort of wish I were more serious, but that would require a level of attention I just can’t sustain right now.

What are a couple of your favourite musicians or songs?

There are so many artists for so many different reasons. I’ve always wanted to do a sort of musical genealogy/history. The Beatles and James Taylor sustained me in childhood (although The Beatles have followed me my whole life). Then, silly stuff like OMD and Depeche Mode in middle school and a Pantera/White Zombie phase in high school. Plus, The Breeders and Pixies and Jane’s Addiction, which carried me into college, when I’d finally claim myself. And finally, a real interest in independent hip hop.

As far as songs go, I like different ones for different reasons. Lyrics can be really important to me, but so can music. Music is probably the central thing because I can ignore/overlook lyrics, TO AN EXTENT, if the music is interesting. I can’t ever really get into a song, though, if the music sucks, no matter how good the lyrics. Of course, I say this and then think back to some of the really terrible, horrible, no good, very bad shit I’ve listened to, totally devoid of musical or lyrical value whatsoever.

I’m sure that’s all in my past. Right? Let’s pretend.

* Except not. In the 24 hours it took to finish this draft, I apparently FIXED Weekly WrapUp. All I had to do was act like I was going to do something with it, and now there’s a new post up (pre-dated, thankyouverymuch) after about a three-week hiatus.