#282 Musicial ObsesShawn

Okay, I knew I’d like Paloma Faith’s new Album. But I didn’t think I’d madly in love on my first listen.  

Oh me of little Faith.

(pun intended)

Honestly, I really feel an addiction forming between my ears and her voice.   It can’t be healthy, but I don’t care.   Between my Morning Commute, Lunch and Evening Commute I’ve listed to the album 4 times from start to finish, and now I have ♫ ♪ Only Love Can Hurt This Way. ♪♫  on repeat. Repeat, repeat, repeat!

Without exaggeration, it’s an 11 out of 10.

I originally bought her 2nd album after hearing her perform live on the Graham Norton Show. (one song)  Who does that anymore? But a foll CD based on one Song?  I don't even do that... but I did then, and I don't regret it!  

And then after receiving an iTunes certificate last Christmas, I bought her original first album after sampling a few tracks.   

The purchase of her third Album was a long drawn out wait, and was purchased without listing to one sample. 

I now know, going forward any time she has a new album. I will purchase as soon as possible (if not sooner!!!)

#281 Musical AppreciaShawn

About 18 months ago we discovered the music of Paloma Faith.  I was hooked from the first time I hear her.  Admittedly she does fulfill a gap left when Amy Winehouse passed away, but that said Paloma has  the musical backbone to enjoy a long healthy career.

Problem is, her latest album (A Perfect Contradiction)  was released back in February, well in the UK.   And then soon after in the US.  But in Canada… no dice!  There have been the odd singles released on iTunes Canada, but the album was just no where, no where, no where.

Well I happened to be transferring photos and changing the music on my iPhone last week and I thought I’d take a look to see if the album was released yet.  Well, it wasn’t released but it was FINALLY in a Pre-Order for release on Oct 7 2014.  Well I promptly pre-ordered that sucker!  And I would hae downloaded last night, but quite frankly after the Tech Support to Mother, I just did not even have the energy to open up my laptop.

Well tonight, after 8 months wait, I am downloading the album now!   Guess what I’ll be listening to on my commutes to and from work for the next few weeks, non-stop?

#126 Lyrical IntrospecShawn

My recent voyage down memory lane continues...  Last week I was listening to The Cranberries and then yesterday I started listening to Sinéad O'Connor.

I don't know what it is about the lilty Irish female voice, but it doesn't seem to matter how up-beat, or loud, or slow or grungy the song, I get all deep and philosophical and introspective. And I cannot get enough.

Last month I was re-visiting the 80s, right now I'm in the 90s.

I'm stuck on The Lion and the Cobra, and I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. All that's missing is my old, all black wardrobe and eyeliner... 

#103 Sunday laze, pre-spring cleaning haze, 80's ReflecShawn

Another lazy day, chez nous. 

It all started with sleeping in. Then, pancakes for breakfast. After, 3 1/2 hours of listening to 80's music while lounging, and putzing about. All the while the patio door was open with a gentle spring breeze coming in.

I decided to clean up my laptop. Deleted a couple thousand emails, deleted just under 28 GB of old files. All in prep of next weekend and some more actual spring cleaning...

I think I can only deal with one more week of the windows in the stat they are in, but with messy week's worth of weather in the forecast, I'll wait til it passes.  Next Saturday it's gonna look like we have no windows, (they'll be that clean!)  And then it'll be time to swap out our boots for shoes, and parkas for light weight jackets. And so it goes...

And, as it usually goes in Montreal, after 2 weeks of spring like weather, It'll be shorts and flip-flop weather.

And soon I'll be counting down Winter. :-)

#095

My voyage down memory lane continues via music from the 80's. Sadly some of it is not as rosy as you'd want.

On Thursday one of the songs that played on my iPhone was "Love Cats" by the Cure. I was immediately transported back to the Fall of 1986. A large group of us were at a house party in Eastern Passage, and of course, Much Music was on the TV. We were all of us Cure fans especially my friend Sonia and her then boyfriend Rene. 

They made an adorable couple. 

When the video for Love Cats came on the TV both Rene and Sonia sang along and pantomimed the movements from the video. It's indelibly marked in my mind. Like so many songs, they bring back very specific memories for me, places, times, but more specifically people; as if my memory has a soundtrack, including theme music for all the people there.

When I logged into Facebook today I read a status update from Sonia that said that Rene had passed away this morning. Sad news indeed. 

I will however remember him as I always have. The free spirit with a gentle soul.

R.I.P. Rene.

#091 DeciShawns DeciShawns

Here's my current daily commute dilemma:

Do I listen to all my amazing freshly downloaded 80's Music?

Or.

Do I read the new eBook I downloaded to my Nexus 7?

Typically I will listen to music when reading a book on the metro, as I can control the feel of the background sounds, as opposed to the loud and often obnoxious conversations going on around me in the Metro. But all my new 80'S music is too far disconnected to the new eBook (a re-telling of Robin Hood / Sherwood Forest.)

Sure I have lots of music I could select that would be more in keeping with the book: Enya, Loreena McKennett, Clannad etc 

BUT I WANNA LISTEN TO THE 80'S!!!

I cannot decide...

For now I'm listening to music going to work, and reading my book on the trip home. I know it sounds like a perfect solution, but really I'd want to read more AND listen to more 80's music. I might have to get another eBook, something that will match the music... 

Suggestions for a book that will blend with the 80's?

#089 Lost in EmoShawn

I'm not sure what tripped the switch but I ended up going into a full on nostalgia spiral this weekend.

Yesterday I decided to update the music on my iPhone and after about 10 mins of sorting through my music I realize all I wanted to listen to was 80's music, which lead to the realization that I don't have enough in my iTunes, so I spent a couple of hours then and today purchasing music.

I've now got a little over 350 songs, set to shuffle.

I can't wait to go to work tomorrow, as the main reason for music on my iPhone is to have something to listen to on my commute to and from. And with this update, I have enough music loaded so that I won't hear the same song twice for 16 return trips, give or take a slow down in the Metro.

The only down side will likely be some twangs of nostalgia. It's such a bitter sweet thing getting lost in the music of your youth and then to be catapulted back to the present day.

I can remember when I was in my teens, being obsessed with the music of the 50's and 60's and how my Mom would react to my listening to the music of HER youth. I could see something behind her eyes but never understood what it was. Well, I understand it now. How with just a few notes from the beginning of a song you are transported back in time, to when you had not a care in the world, when your whole life was ahead of you, invincible and unstoppable. And then the vision fades and you are back to today, wondering where has the time gone, what would things be like, where would you be now if you had made this decision instead of that back then.  And then the real spirals begin... 

You can very quickly slide down a path of remorse and regret; second guess everything you've done, every decision you've ever made up til today. Personally, whenever I find myself wandering down that path all I have to do is focus on this: 

If I had not made every choice and decision I have made, good or bad, for better or for worse, I would NOT be here, and HERE is where I want to be: on the sofa with Marcel and the dogs. If home is where the heart is, then the sofa is where the Love is.

Time can be a bitch, just make sure you enjoy the ride, and make sure you have the music of your youth.