What in the world happened to you?

Hello fellow readers,
Long time no see huh? I am sure most of you know that I have a real job now, which I am really glad to have, but it makes posting tough to do. Is that just an excuse? Maybe, but after sitting in front of a computer all day at work most times you want nothing to do with more sitting down in front of a computer again. Do not fear though, I have not and will not give up on this blog. I am finally starting to get into the routine of things again, and once I get back in the swing I will also be posting more. It may not be every 4-5 days but I will make it a mission of mine to post at least once a week. I don’t want to get too into the job subject, because really who wants to talk about work when they are not at work? I will say that I work at a bank and that the job seems like it’s going to be a good fit for me. Things are going well, training is coming to a close and I like the people I work with. Good things. There is one aspect of the job I do not like that much and that is the hour commute. Especially right now since me training schedule is 8-5pm. Highway traffic sucks! In the morning I don’t really mind it, it’s usually super fast but still hair raisingly crowded. The evening traffic is a different story. When I get out I want to go home in as less time as I can, not sit in a jam for 30 minutes before I even get out of the city. I just need to move but I like cheap rent and being close to family. The one thing sitting in traffic is good for would be the time I get to listen to new music. I’m not going to waste too much time with long stories today for each song. Without any further ado lets break out the paddles and shock this blog back to life. CLEAR!

I heard this song on NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast, which I really really recommend to any fan of music. This band has been around forever and have put out some great theme albums ranging from 69 Love Songs to Distortion Songs. This song has a what are you thinking mentality about it. Almost like if you went to a good friend and confided in them and they told you the truth like a good friend does.

The Magnetic Fields – You Must Be Out Of Your Mind

Since the last two songs were sort of downers how about something to bring you back up and make you feel like you have no care in the world. With a name like Groove Armada one has to think that the music they make is either really bad or really good. There is no in between. Thankfully, they are exactly how their name sounds, AWESOME.
Groove Armada - At The River (No Longer Available)

I am Seamore ButtzI and I approve this message. The video explains exactly what the song is ment for you to do. Shake some ass. I can NOT stop listening to this song! Throw it on when you get out of work on a Friday and crank it.
Galactic ft. Cheeky Blakk – Do It Again

I wish I was born in 1977. I was born in 79, so technically I was born in the 70’s but everyone knows 79 is just 80’s. I wish I knew how to dance with out looking totally white. I wish I knew Spanish. I also wish this horn laden back drop would play wherever I walked.
Ana Tijoux – 1977

Since it’s Mothers Day I figured I might as well throw on a great female-power song. Ladies these is for you.

Koko Taylor – I’m A Woman

Barbara Lynn – Good Woman

The progression of termination and reclamation

Great news sports fans! I got a job! After a year and two months, I finally nailed one down. I will be doing the same thing I did before, call center for a bank, only for 2 dollars more and I get out an hour and a half earlier. Oh yeah and I don't have to do sales! Noice! Today I decided that I am going to post some songs that sort of tell the story of the past year without a job.

I was let go pretty quickly, no advance notice. I mean, I knew I was hurting for sales and trying like crazy to get them, but I never thought that I would be leaving a few short hours after starting my shift that day. Unlike Fred Jones, I did not have the nostalgic time of clearing my desk and saying good bye to fellow employees. It was all done for me. I was pretty bummed about being fired and then on top of that I didn't get to say "Later" to my co-workers. Sucktastic, indeed!
Ben Folds - Fred Jones Pt. 2

After getting over the initial shock of being fired, I started to think about the job I was doing. I went through the "what if's", and "coulda, shoulda, waouldas". I also came to the realization that sales is not my strong point. I didn't like being driven by incentives or selling goals, over genuinely helping people out of the problem they were in. I felt shitty reflecting on what I could have done and didn't do, but in a way,I felt good about getting away from something I wasn't comfortable with. Not to up myself here, but I'm a nice guy, not a hidden motives guy with a nice guy covering. That might be bad, but it's the way I am.
Frightened Rabbit - I Feel Better

There was a while where I decided that I had to do it alone. I didn't need any help from anyone. I was too proud to let people do things to help me out. I didn't let my parents pay for dinner for me. When told that if worse comes to worse I had a place to live by my Sister and my Dad I would tell them that would not be needed, I'll be fine (which was true but still). I also had this complex that I was one step above the others who were applying for jobs. When things didn't happen I got angry, depressed, indifferent. "Why even try anymore? All the work I do, and I get no results. Of course I was knocked down quite quickly. I wanted to be alone, and when I finally felt alone it wasn't a good feeling.
Kid Cudi - Do It Alone

With that thinking came the slow realization that I wasn't one step ahead. I had a good work history but that didn't mean anything without college. Even with college it was tough to get a job. So there I was, not king of the castle. Was it a tough thing to learn? Hell yeah. Was it all my fault? No, not entirely. Once I got a grasp on that I seemed to move on to accepting it and dealt with it accordingly. Doing what I needed to do to get by.
Herman Dune - Not On Top

I began to really see the economy as the shit hole that it was. I understood that I wasn't the only one with troubles. This was both a comforting feeling and also a scary feeling. I wasn't alone, but there were thousands like me going through the same crap. Most probably having it ten times worse than I did.
Lee Rogers - Troubles

You can only take so much rejection, so many days of feeling sorry for your self, and so many days of getting angry. One day you wake up and you just decide it's not worth it. By that I mean you go from feeling crappy about everything to feeling like there has got to be a change around the bend. That is when faith kicks in. It's different for everyone. For some it's family and friends urging you to keep your head up, laughter, a great day that just makes the week seem better, or religious beliefs. I am pretty sure I got to that point of saying "It's not doing me ANY good getting pissed off, or upset at the things I can't control. Lets take what hope is left and build upon that." Faith is a good motivator, a good anchor, and better than all those negative feelings. It's just a point of finding it.
Gene Allison - Have Faith

I chose this song because I think it really represents everything described above. It's a soundtrack to a long journey filled with snares and the unknown. You can see the light at the end of the tunnel and though it's a rocky trip, if you keep your eyes on the prize good things will come. Daniel Johnston wrote simple songs that knew exactly what to say.
Guster - The Sun Shines Down On Me (Daniel Johnston Cover)

Last but not least is the inevitable song. The song you rock out to when everything turns around for the better. The celebration, the weight lifted off your shoulders, high-fives, woohoos, and praises. The time when you can finally look backwards and say "Whew, glad that is done with."
Jackyl - Down On Me

Theme: None

"Word up, G!"
This song by the Forecast was on the radio for about two seconds, which I don't even think is enough time to even call it a one hit wonder, which is a shame. This song is what makes listening to the radio good. It's catchy, it's easy to learn, and it is clean and crisp. The band definitely falls into that emo sub genre with a sound similar to fellow band such as The Get Up Kids and Braid. They also make great use of two and three part male/female harmonies. The Forecast might have been a little to emo sounding for the masses, but I'll take these Peoria, Illinois rockers over a Nickelback (puke) song any day of the week. The albums In the Shadow of Two Gunmen and Late Night Conversations are great sounding and should be given a chance for any fan of emo music.
The Forecast - And We All Return To Our Roots

Herman Dune is not a single guy. Actually the band started out as a trio back in 1991 with Siblings André and David-Ivar Herman Düne(guitars and vocals) and original drummer Omé, now replaced by Néman Herman Düne (drums and sometimes backing vocals). The band has since become a duo as André had left the band and gone to do solo work under the name of Stanley Brinks. The bands sound has been described as anti-folk. However if I would label them anything would say they crank out some pretty catchy acoustic indie pop. The band has a very obvious playful side in both lyrics and music. I am sure it would be a delight to see this band preform live. A small factoid, the band was invited and played a live christmas session at the house of the legendary John Peel. Pretty big deal I'd say. I have been a fan for a while now and hope you will be to.
Herman Dune - Try to Think About Me (Don't You Worry A Bit)

Dolores O'Riordan really needs no introduction at all. You might not recognize her name but you'll for sure recognize her voice. Dolores was the lead singer for the oh so popular alternative band the Cranberries who just reunited this year and are touring now. I had no idea that O'Riordan had solo stuff out until this past week when I found this track. As I listened to it for the first time I had no clue who she was and I thought "Man, this sounds so familiar!" I couldn't put mt finger on it right away and it took a few listens for me to figure it out. When I found out who it was I broke out my old Cranberries CD's and gave them a spin. I can't say I love her voice, but it's definitely distinct and something different from the norm. I really like it in small doses, but I couldn't listen to it for hours on end. Either way this song is pretty.
Dolores O'Riordan - Stupid

(January 8, 1815) a largely symbolic but still significant engagement which ended the War of 1812. On December 23, one day before the signing of the Treaty of Ghent, Gen. Andrew Jackson, commanding a force made up of army regulars, New Orleans's free blacks, three state militias, and the pirates of Barataria, tried to fend off the British. The British, who were trying to relieve military pressure on Canada and improve their status during peace negotiations, attacked on January 8. American artillery shelled the British, who suffered 2, 400 casualties, while the Americans lost only seventy men. That, my friends, called, in the words of Charlie, "Going America All Over Everybodys Ass." I'm not one to condone war at all, but that is a pretty interesting story. Every interesting story needs an interesting song. Who better to make one than the long standing country-folk-rock veterans The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Even if you don't like country this song is great fun to listen to.
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - The Battle Of New Orleans

I had a really hard time deciding which 30h!3 song to post so I am going to post two of my favorites. Both are by no means the usual indie-never-to-be-played-on-the-radio songs usually found here. These songs are energetic, fun and, "like, totally for the TRL generation." The lyrics are on the immature side and insanely catchy. It's the kind of songs that you will get in your head and you say "Good lord, why won't it go away!" but secretly you love it. The one saving grace is KiD CuDi spitting on one of the songs. That dude is the shizznit, and Katy Perry is cute. Not sure if that makes the song better but, ya know.
3oh!3 - Don't Trust Me feat. KiD CuDi (Remix)
3oh!3 - Starstrukk (Featuring Katy Perry)