december songs 24

december songs 24 is "the waves at night," by phosphorescent. no particular reason, it's just so pretty.

Where are we and where do we
And where will we finally
Trade our teeth for rays for wheat
To lay and sleep underneath

O love too eager to cross
O love we meet and you pause
O love too eager to cross
You see what you've lost?

The crazy streets, amazing grief
The taste of sweet offerings
The blazing heat, the naked beasts
Great barrier reefs, all for thee

O love too eager to cross
O love we meet and you pause
O love too eager to cross
You see what you've lost?

The waves at night all brave and bright
The dance hall lights, o all your life
To lay and weep, to trade our teeth
To aim and achieve grace and peace
 

december songs 17

december songs 17 is "sugaree" a song by the grateful dead covered by phosphorescent and jenny lewis in the day of the dead music project. i just came upon this by chance, with the intention of posting something by phosphorescent, whom i love! lyrics follow.

When they come to take you down When they bring that wagon 'round
When they come to call on you and drag your poor body down

Just one thing I ask of you, just one thing for me
Please forget you knew my name, my darling Sugaree

Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me

You thought you was the cool fool and never could do no wrong
You had everything sewed up tight. How come you lay awake all night long

Just one thing I ask of you, just one thing for me
Please forget you knew my name, my darling Sugaree

Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me

Well in spite of all you gained you still had to stand out in the pouring rain
One last voice is calling you and I guess it's time you go

Just one thing I ask of you, just one thing for me
Please forget you knew my name, my darling Sugaree

Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me

Well shake it up now Sugaree, I'll meet you at the jubilee
And if that jubilee fall through, maybe I'll meet you on the run

Just one thing I ask of you, just one thing for me
Please forget you knew my name, my darling Sugaree

Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me
Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me

Shake it, shake it sugaree, just don't tell them that you know me

music monday

it's december. the last month of the year. sensing a call to step into this month with more intention. so easy to slip into auto pilot these busy days. so easy to speed past all the details. there is the destination, but the landscape of the journey makes the story. so many details in that landscape.

this evening i found myself reflecting on a musical year. every year brings new music into my life and as this year approaches its close i find myself thinking about its soundtrack. details in the landscape of 2014.

on december mondays i hope to share some of my favorite music from this past year.

lately i have been enjoying j mascis newest album, "tied to a star." i love it that so many musicians of my generation continue to be powerful and passionate. i feel less old when the rock programming of the local university station is playing the work of musicians my age! i once saw a very loud dinosaur jr in a seattle tavern and am loving the new contrast to that memory in mascis solo career. as aptly stated in a rolling stone article, "mascis is now as skilled at quiet as he is with loud." 

one evening i was in twisted branch tea bazaar, beloved local chill zone, when i heard  sharon van etten for the first time. thus a new obsession was born. she can trill snark in the sweetest of tones! i saw her perform at the jefferson in october and was definitely one of the top shows of the year. her live voice is incredibly mesmerizing and she sure can hold a note. 

another awesome show i caught at the jefferson was  phosphorescent, a singer who has had me under his spell for some time. i'm a sucker for troubadours of jaded lyrics, psychedelic reverb, and sparkling cowboy boots. his latest album, muchacho, is definitely a master work of songwriting.

sorry for the brevity, but i started this post a bit too late in the night! more favorites to come next monday!