A New Song Every Week? Ha!

Remember, dear reader, when I promised one new post per week? It would seem that I lied spectacularly...

Song the First... (with a quick intro and back story)

Welcome, dear reader, to the new and improved Little Feelings blog. Does it look similar to the old blog? Hmm... Bit of a trick question there. In appearance, it is identical to the old blog. In spirit, however, it is completely renewed. It is awake. It is alive. In an effort to post more regularly, and to post something of value, beginning tonight I will post a song of the week. These will be songs that possess some particular musical, lyrical, or spiritual merit; they are, in other words, songs that should be shared. If you find yourself unfamiliar with the song aurally, I highly recommend you acquaint yourself with it. ( That is, of course, the whole point!) You should be able to hear at least a sample of, if not the entire song, by following one of the links to the right. Happy listening.

This week's selection has been on my mind recently, haunting me. If you are anything like me, you occasionally fall asleep to music. And when you fall asleep to music, once in a while, a curious thing happens: You wake up to music. Ah, but not in some generic way, no. You wake up to a particular song, mid-play. Over the years, I have found this to be either very comforting, very enlightening, or very unnerving. Well, last week I was returning home from Montana by train, when I awoke somewhere in the Eastern Washington desert to this song on my ipod. I have heard it many times, and been moved by it many times, but never quite so acutely as on this most recent occasion...

Unsuffer Me by Lucinda Williams. As found on West, her 2007 release. You must hear this, it is profoundly good.

Excerpt:
Anoint my head
With your sweet kiss
My joy is dead
I long for bliss
I long for knowledge
Whisper in my ear
Undo my logic
Undo my fear
Unsuffer me

Unlock my love
And set me free
Come fill me up
With ecstasy
Unsuffer me...

Oh, my...

I am greatly remiss for neglecting this blog. Though it was never intended to be a daily diary of my own mundane exploits, I have failed spectacularly in keeping it alive for its intended purpose: A celebration of music. More specifically, a celebration of rock and roll. This blog needs a baptism of fire and noise... Praise Jesus, hallelujah!

Let's rock.

This Just In...

Noel Gallagher has quit Oasis. Apparently the band cancelled their show in Paris at the last minute, and Noel released a statement about his departure. Hmm... Nearly two decades on and the brothers still can't work things out. Hopefully they avoided any fisticuffs this time around; they're too old for that. I love them, but everything that once made Oasis great has been absent from the band for many years now.

We shall see, dear reader, if Noel sticks to his guns - this isn't the first time they've split up. Then again, it might truly be the last...

Class of 2008: Favorite New Albums

The following is a list of albums that I loved this past year. Strictly my opinion, so don't put yourself out too much, dear reader.

Top 5

Viva la Vida, or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
Only by the Night - Kings of Leon
The Seldom Seen Kid - Elbow
Rockferry - Duffy
Perfect Symmetry - Keane

---

Top 10

The Hawk is Howling - Mogwai
Dig Out Your Soul - Oasis
The Airborne Toxic Event - The Airborne Toxic Event
Cardinology - Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords

Oasis: 08/26/08

O-O-O-asis. I'm a terribly indecisive person, and I'll often say several bands are among my favorites, but I can say with absolute certainty that Oasis are my favorite rock band. Ever. They've been the bees knees since I first heard (What's The Story) Morning Glory? 13 years ago. That record changed my life; it introduced me to modern British culture (outside of the Victorian picture I'd previously had in my mind) and was probably the catalyst that propelled me into becoming the anglophile that I am today. It also opened my world to much of the music I listen to and revere. Unfortunately, for one reason or another (such as Oasis always skipping Portland) I'd never seen them live. So, I've just been sitting at home waiting and waiting for them to tour again - and lo my prayers were answered! They played the WaMu Theatre in Seattle on Tuesday 8/26, only six days after seeing Radiohead in Enumclaw (a Seattle suburb). I couldn't have dreamed anything better. Matt Costa opened for Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, and they opened for Oasis. But Ryan deserves his own post, and this one is dedicated solely to the boys from Manchester.

Though I never got to see them in their booze-filled, coked-up youth, much like The Mary Chain, I'm just as happy having seen them now. They're older, more mature (well, by Gallagher standards), and relatively clean (again, by Gallagher standards). I'm now old enough to look upon them with a fond nostalgia, but young enough to still be moved by a live concert. Well, dear reader, let me just say it: Oasis were in top form. Top. Liam and Noel looked good; and all of them, the entire band, appeared to be having a good time. Even Old Man Noel. They sounded amazing, the visuals were great, and though they didn't play Live Forever (number three on my Oasis top five) or Some Might Say (a tied number five on my Oasis top five) the set list was... It was the best.

SET LIST

Rock 'n' Roll Star (can't. believe. they. opened. with. this. class!!)
Lyla (personal favorite)
The Shock of the Lightning (new)
Cigarettes and Alcohol (personal favorite. stick it to the man - yeah!)
The Meaning of Soul
To Be Where There's Life (new and totally psychedelic)
The Masterplan (my absolute favorite oasis song - and possibly my favorite song ever. I just about died )
Songbird (personal favorite)
Slide Away (number four on my oasis top five)
Morning Glory (personal favorite)
Ain't Got Nothing (new, reminiscent of don't believe the truth...)
The Importance of Being Idle (personal favorite)
Wonderwall (number five tie)
Supersonic (see above... )

---

Don't Look Back In Anger - acoustic (number two on my oasis top five - just noel and a guitar and seven thousand people singing their hearts out)
Falling Down (new, and hells frickin' bells... awesome!)
Champagne Supernova (personal favorite)
I Am The Walrus (the end)

*dies*

Maybe I just want to fly
Want to live, I don't want to die
Maybe I just want to breathe
Maybe I just don't believe
Maybe you're the same as me
We see things they'll never see
You and I are gonna live forever...

Show: Radiohead 8/20/08

My goodness gracious.

Sara, Nick and I made the long trek to Enumclaw, Washington a few days ago to see Radiohead play the White River Amphitheatre, and, yeah, it was the concert trip of a lifetime. We battled several hours of torrential rain - literally - just to get there; more rain once we were there, and then, as we reached the venue, the clouds miraculously parted and the sky was clear clear clear. The band walked out and opened their show to a beautiful, albeit cold Pacific Northwest summer evening. The dry respite was short lived, however, as the inclement weather returned about halfway through the set. Ah well. Short of seeing them play one of the massive (though notoriously wet) English festivals, it was about the best Radiohead experience a person could have. Period.

Brilliant band. Awesome set list. Kick ass lights. Just Brilliant.


SET LIST

15 Step
Reckoner (number five on my radiohead top five)
Optimistic
There There
All I Need (number four on my radiohead top five - beautiful)
Pyramid Song
Talk Show Host (personal favorite)
The National Anthem
The Gloaming
Videotape (personal favorite)
Lucky (number two on my radiohead top five)
Faust Arp (thom had some difficulty getting through this one - it was quite hilarious)
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Climbing Up the Walls (personal favorite - one of the most haunting songs out there, man)
Dollars and Cents
Nude (personal favorite)
Bodysnatchers

- - -

How to Disappear Completely
Weird Fishes / Arpeggi
Idioteque
In Limbo (personal favorite)
Street Spirit (Fade Out) (oh. my. god. number one, man... number one. if this song doesn't give you nightmares, then you've missed the point completely)

- - -

You and Who's Army (thom dedicated it to the seattle wto protesters... radiohead supporting civil disobedience - what?!?)
No Surprises (personal favorite)
Everything In Its Right Place (great way to end, boys... cheers)


Immerse your soul in love.