For reasons of her own, Elle has decided to listen to every single song in her music library and record the experience. These are her notes.
Tracks 132-160
132. Say What You Say - Eminem
Dear Past Me:
I don't get it. You thought you were punk. You thought you were a Riot Grrl, Patti Smith, Courtney Love, Debbie Harry. You lived at Hot Topic and were unaware of the irony of this. So how did you justify your love for Eminem? Really, I need an explanation.
Love, Present Me.
PS Remember when you kept naming all your essays after Eminem songs because you thought you were clever? What the hell?
133. Silvio - Bob Dylan
Someone once told me they loved Dylan's songs but hated his voice. I was enormously disappointed with them and the choices in their life.
135. Pressed Rat And Warthog - Cream [CORRUPTED]
I have to be honest: even if it hadn't been corrupted I would have probably deleted this song. Because it's weird. And not fun weird -- bad acid trip weird.
136. New York State Of Mind - Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner can sing and this fact is just unfair.
137. Such A Perfect Day - Lou Reed
This song only comes on when I'm having a truly terrible day. Like the rain is pouring, my car is stuck in traffic, I'm late for work, my coffee has exploded all over me, and my phone battery has given up the ghost even though I charged it before I left home. Then BOOM this song comes on. I think Lou Reed would be pleased by this.
138. Hoochie Coochie Man - Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters is tops.
139. Stink-Foot - Frank Zappa
I met Dweezil Zappa once, when he was on his 'Zappa Does Zappa' tour, and it was not my finest hour. Usually when I meet someone famous I can be polite and appear like a functioning human (for a certain amount of time, anyway). And it wasn't even Dweezil himself (although he is wonderfully talented and charming and was very nice and his eyes are almost TOO blue); it was that I grew up listening to his dad. I was SHAPED by that music, for good or ill. Frank Zappa is one of the songs I associate with growing up. And for some reason that made my brain stall hideously when I got the chance to speak with his son.
Here's a rundown of my Conversation With Dweezil Zappa. It's not entirely accurate due to the fact that I was having some sort of existential crisis when it went down, but you get the gist.
Me: Hi! Boy that song is great and you were great and isn't this venue great? Your band is great. Great. Anyway I loved that solo it was just great, this whole tour is great, OK BYE.'
140. The Flower Of Carnage - 梶芽衣子 (Kill Bill)
Essential listening before embarking on an epic quest. Also pretty fun to listen to when on the subway, although I'm not sure why.
143. Threshold - Sex Bob-Omb
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World will always have a special place in my heart, in large part because I was pretty much Knives in high school. Only way, WAY lamer.
146. A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall - Bob Dylan
File Under: Songs that make me want to cry for no clear reason.
148. Man Out Of Time - Elvis Costello
We all think of Steve Rogers when we hear this song, right? Well, know you totally will. You're welcome.
149. I'm Not Here - Meat Puppets
The Meat Puppets are still around and this brings me a sense of comfort in a chaotic world.
150. 23 - Jimmy Eat World
Of all the bands that were popular when I was younger, I didn't think Jimmy Eat World would be one whose music endured. But it's held up remarkably well, and actually seems far more relevant now than it did when I was younger. The more I think about it, the more this worries me.
151. A Little Death - The Neighborhood [DELETED]
I'm not really sure what to say about this one. I didn't hate it, I just didn't really like it.
152. You Keep Me Hangin' On - Diana Ross & The Supremes
Diana Ross is a queen.
153. Jewel Of The Summertime - Audioslave
Oh, Audioslave. What happened? You were going to be the biggest thing ever. You were a super-band. Like Jefferson Starship. Only you made some songs I like. So nothing like Jefferson Starship. Anyway, it's too bad the hype was so great around the band because there are some solid songs.
156. Everlong - Foo Fighters
I will freely admit that this song makes me ugly cry because it is beautiful and heartbreaking. Why have I never seen the Foo Fighters in concert? What are these terrible choices I'm making?
157. Daddy - Julie London
My grandfather instilled in me a great many things: a love of driving fast, a taste for YooHoo, a passion for Rat Pack movies, and a love of Julie London. My grandfather is the best.
158. Turn It Off - Phantogram
No, YOU turn it off. I'm not even sorry because I made myself laugh.
160. All Or Nothing - X
Let's talk about X. I was obsessed with Exene Cervenka and John Doe and their weird, wonderful world. I would troll the local record stores looking for original releases of their CDs. I studied their careers. I even supported their other projects, so great was my devotion. And in retrospect I can honestly say these were fantastic and smart life choices. X is one of the greatest LA punk bands. Plus the phrase 'cowpunk' continues to delight me.
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