Why yes, I AM well aware that we're more than a week into 2009

But it's never too late for a 2008 music recap post!

So, for the XPN website, I had to come up with a top 10 list for the year...I added a few more since I made that list, too. These are in a very loose order, I guess? My opinions are constantly changing, though, so to be honest, the number order probably doesn't matter too much...and these are obviously not the most critically acclaimed/salivated over albums of the year, but they're definitely MY favorites! I've also included two songs from each album...which were SO hard to narrow down in some cases!

1. Raise the Dead by Phantom Planet - Oh, my boys <3 This was the Year of Phantom Planet for me (on so many levels.) In terms of the album release...it was an absolute joy and relief to get it in my hands. They had gone four years between studio albums and to be honest, I thought my love for them was waning a bit. But as soon as I took a listen to this, I remembered exactly why I love these boys so much. Over the course of four albums, their sound has definitely morphed into something amazing. I love how this album seems like the next natural progression for them...it's not like they totally changed their sound or tried to hard to do something ~*~edgy~*~ or totally different and new. It's got the heaviness of Phantom Planet and the sort of indie-pop sensibility of The Guest. Alex's voice has changed a great deal between albums too...it still has that absolute gorgeous tone to it that I've always swooned over, but there's a definite wild streak to it, too...it's a bit less perfect and pristine and clear and and a bit more gruff and edgy, I'd say. Unggg <3 I have to say, I was like a proud mama when these boys finally got this album out (especially with all the drama they had to deal with...switching labels, opening for kids almost a decade younger than them, etc)...and I am completely and totally holding on hope that this hiatus is not the total end of the band. The PBL is just too strong for them to split forever :)

Tracks: Raise the Dead (absolutely EPIC!) and I Don't Mind (I love Alex's voice on this track!)

2. Mercy (Dancing For The Death of An Imaginary Enemy) by Ours - I still get a little verklempt to think that this album actually, truly exists. I waited four years between Phantom Planet albums...but I waited nearly SIX between Ours albums. I fell head over heels in love with Jimmy and Co. right after the release of Precious....and waited as patiently as possible for a third album. Like I told Jimmy, though, the wait was absolutely worth it. I think this album is extra special because I KNOW this is the album Jimmy has always wanted to release. (I would have waited six more years for him to get it the way he wanted it, too.) It's definitely an Ours record and has a very Ours sound about it...but it sort of feels different, too. It's hard for me to explain, really. But I know this...as dark or brooding or whatever as the band/album may come off as...for me, this album is filled with such energy and life and hope. There are so many songs on the album that, when I listen to them, mae me feel absolutely alive and so happy to be there in that moment and listening to it.

Tracks: Saint (perhaps my new favorite Ours song EVER) and Moth

3. Lend Me Your Eyes EP/Love Your Ground EP by Mumford & Sons - I said it before and I'll say it again...these boys are by far my favorite musical discovery of 2008. I am still surprised by this, though. Who would have though I'd fall for four flannel wearing Brits toting banjos and mandolins and playing some distinctly bluegrass influenced indie-folk? Not me. :P But oh, how I have fallen...honestly, I haven't been this excited for a new act in quite a while and I love it. There's a barrage of hip, British folk acts out there right now but something about Mumford & Sons has really stuck out for me. They've got that country/Americana twist without being TOO jug band hoedown-ish...if that makes any sense. And I just cannot fully verbalize my undying love of Marcus's voice...it's distinct and gruff and powerful and brilliant, really. Now, unfortunately past few months have just been me listening to the same handful of songs over and over since all they officially have out right now are these two EPs....but they've been getting a fair bit of hype in the British music press/blog scene and I'm hoping 2009 brings about a full album and trip back to the states. And quite frankly...I am incredibly smitten with Marcus Mumford and I need to see him/fawn over him/ actually say more than two sentences to him ASAP.

Tracks: Liar and The Banjolin Song

4. Nothing Without You EP by Carney - Another favorite musical discovery this year! I really, really adore these boys, too...and was completely taken with my very first listen (which happened while I was loading three of the four tracks into our computer system at work several months ago.) These boys are a bit of a conundrum to me. The EP is totally heavy and rocking and a bit psychedelic...I get bits of Elton John and Queen and Led Zeppelin and some stompy southern rock. And Reeve's voice is just brilliant...it's got a really unique sound and damn, the boy can scream and wail with the best of them. And then I go and find out Reeve is pretty much singing about Jesus in every other song and I'm like "Oh..." Hahaha. There's no problem with that at all, but it's just an interesting combination! I think it also makes the boys (well, Reeve and his brother Zane, in particular) super down to earth. They all look like a bunch of indie hipsters...but they're all super nice and Reeve especially seems to toe that super indie adorable and the geeky adorable line, haha. I'm hoping 2009 brings a full length for them, too!

Tracks: Imperial Lover and Testify

5. Animal!/Not Animal by Margot & The Nuclear So and So's - One of my favorite bands putting out TWO albums this year is pretty much made of win. I've been itching for new stuff from them and was given an absolute abundance! Admittedly...I did like Not Animal more at first (and obviously felt guilty, since that was the album the label wanted out) but Animal! has most definitely won me over...though both albums have their merits! Vocally, Richard is sounding as wonderful as ever...his is definitely one of my favorites out there currently. And really, lyrically and musically...the band is as interesting and intriguing and complex and amazing as ever. The great thing about an eight piece band is that every song has so many layers to make it what it is. Particularly, the orchestration and percussion on both albums are great...from the strings on "Mariel's Brazen Overture" to the various bangs and claps and plinky piano noises on "As Tall As Cliffs" it's all interesting and integral. Also? This band is absolutely KILLER live (especially Casey in all his percussive, bon vivanting and ascot wearing glory)

Tracks: O! What A Nightmare (Animal!), Real Naked Girls (Not Animal), A Children's Crusade on Acid (both albums)

6. A Larum by Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit - I think he's what started my semi-folksy Brit love affair. This was another case of me loading in music for XPN and falling in love with the artist in the process. Front to back, this album is wonderful...I rarely skip any tracks when I listen to it. There's a definitely variety to the sound of album...from straight up folksy fiddle jams to pretty, quiet songs to a few heavier (almost angry sounding) tracks. And lyrically, it feels like it comes from a different place and time than the UK in 2008. Johnny has a really unique voice, too (a bit Ray Davies-ish) that you maybe wouldn't expect coming from a twenty something blonde boy. Though I've only been listening to it for a few months, it most definitely had to make my favorites list.

Tracks: The Wrote And The Writ (I completely adore this song with ever fiber of my being) and Cold Bread

7. Alas, I Cannot Swim by Laura Marling - Despite that this album came out months and months ago, it's only been over the past few months that I've become completely obsessed with it. (Obsessed to the point where it literally stayed in my car CD player for nearly a month straight.) I've said it several times, but I go between adoring and completely envying Laura because she's only 18 years old and is crafting these amazing little songs (songs which, mind you, were nominated for a fucking Mercury Prize this year!). For being only 18...this girl writes some incredibly dour lyrics (things like "It's not like I believe in everlasting love" or, even better, "Cross your fingers, hold your toes, we're all gonna die when the building blows." LULZ LAURA MARLING) but for some strange reason with her, it doesn't seem like a typical teen angsty record or anything. Although the entire album is rather lovely...I most definitely prefer the more (sonically) upbeat tracks on the album (and contrary to popular belief, it's NOT just because you can hear Marcus Mumford doing backup vocals on the upbeat tracks, hahaha.) I hope, for Laura's sake, this is only the beginning of amazing things for her career...and that she doesn't succumb to a sort of Amy Winehouse-like burnout by 20.

Tracks: Ghosts (ok, you can totes hear Marcus on this song!) and Night Terror (which creeps me out in an absolutely delightful way)

8. Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend - Yea yea I know...all the hipster hype kinda killed this band for a lot of people, but not for me. These ivy league educated, Rayban sporting, boat shoe wearing ragamuffins sure do know how to write some catchy indie-pop tunes. I love the fun, upbeat, world music-y vibe they have throughout the album, I love Ezra's voice, I love that the lyrics can be so clever and quirky and, in some cases laughably absurd. (I'm sorry, but the prep school thread count Cape Cod type ~*~woes~*~ are lulzy for me, haha) But really, I don't think this is much you're supposed to take 100% seriously, and I like that.

Tracks: One (Blake's Got a New Face) and Walcott

9. The Silver City by Jeremy Messersmith - This one didn't make my XPN list...but I honestly should have put it in there. Because it is so fucking good. I guess I jumped on this one super late (despite the fact that I knew about him a few months ago.) As he put it in his World Cafe interview, he makes "acoustic music with nerd toys" and I absolutely love it. The entire album is so catchy and interesting for me...it has pretty, slow songs and some really upbeat, electronic infused songs. I absolutely adore Jeremy's voice...which is a bit reminiscent of Elliott Smith to me in spots, but definitely unique, as well. And lyrically, Jeremy is quite a talent...he doesn't write about the same old schmoopy schlock that a lot of singer/songwriters do. (He also seems to have an underlying fascination with transportation....several of the songs on the album talk about travel or commuting or things like that.) I just can't fully verbalize the reasons why I love this album, I just do. And yes, I'm a bit smitten with Jeremy, to be honest. He's absolutely darling and I can't wait to see him play live again!

Tracks: Dead End Job (the lyrics and his voice just absolutely kill me) and Miracles

10 Wicked Man's Rest by Passenger - One song got me hooked on this band...and funny enough, that one song sounds very different from anything else on the album! Passenger is pretty much the project of musician Mike Rosenberg...yet another singer I've fallen for that has a very distinct and unique voice! (And he's yet another amazing lyricist I've fallen for, too.) The album is generally a blend of acoustic music mixed with electronic elements...but in a different way than Jeremy Messersmith's music, I'd say. I don't know...the Passenger album has always been a hard one for me to describe, but I do love it. And I had the pleasure of seeing Mike play twice this year. Hearing the songs completely acoustic was definitely a change from the album but I did enjoy it very much!

Tracks: Night Vision Binoculars (Who knew a song about stalkers could be so catchy?) and Walk In The Rain

11. Kingdom Underground by Matt Duke - Ok...I sort of wanted to hate this album, as petty as that sounds. But I just couldn't because in all honesty...it's really good. (It definitely has grown on me a lot since I first heard it!) Matt Duke got himself some time in LA and got himself a bigger producer and turned out an album that is distinctly different than his first. As much as I adore Winter Child, I do like the route he's taken with this album, as well. The overall sound is a lot heavier and fuller...or "meatier" as he put it, which is to be expected considering the expanded resources he had this time around. (God, I wish I could find that absurd six pages of notes I wrote down when I first listened to the album, ha.) His voice sounds great (to be expected) and lyrically...it's classic Matt. There are these completely angry and dour songs...songs that are totally lyrically quirky...songs based off Kurt Vonnegut stores and other pieces of literature. (Funny enough the one song I dislike most on the album is the closest thing he's written to a love song that I know of, ha.) If he keeps going in the direction he's going in, I have a feeling that he has the potential to at least somewhat crack into the big music scene. He's got the talent and ability and, admittedly, he deserves it.

Tracks: The Father, The Son and the Harlot's Ghost and Spilt Milk

12. Aiming for Honesty by Jesse Ruben - Jesse Ruben's a local boy who put out a pretty solid debut album earlier this year. I mean...to be honest, there's nothing groundbreakingly incredible about the album. Jesse's your standard singer/songwriter I'd say...but something about this album really caught me earlier this year. The songs are pretty and simplistic and catchy as hell, his voice is pretty, he's a pretty good guitarist. Like I said, nothing absolutely remarkable about it but it's a nice album...and sometimes that's completely OK :) I have to say though I do prefer him live! He's got a bit of a Matt Nathanson-esque story telling ability...but definitely PG rated in comparison haha :)

Tracks: Advice and Point Me In The Right Direction

Honorable Mention: Songs For The Road by David Ford - I think this album technically was released last year, thus I didn't include it (It would have been quite high on my list, to be honest) but I have to mention it because I discovered it in early 2008 and am forever grateful, seriously :) David Ford is such an incredible and unique talent...every time I saw him live this year, he made me think to myself "Why do singers even bother touring with bands anymore when they can do this and this?" :P But yes...outside of his amazing live show, his album is also great. A bit dour, perhaps (which is funny because he seems to be quite a pleasant, cheerful person off stage) but great. He's yet another one with a quirky kind of voice...a bit reminiscent of a much gruffer voiced, folksy and British Damien Rice, maybe? Whoever he sounds like, though, it's definitely all excellent. Hopefully I'll catch him a few more times in 2009...especially since he has said time and time again how much he enjoys playing in Philadelphia!

Tracks: Decimate and Song For The Road (this song is so insanely lovely and adorable and sweet and unggg).

I'm sure as that went along, it got less and less coherent, ha. It seriously took me about two full days to write this, though, and I'm just glad it got finished! Having it fully coherent, as well, would have been a miracle.

Aaaaaand, despite that this took me forever, there may be a part two to follow. I also made a list up of things that were released in 2008 that I kinda dug that, for one reason or another, I didn't really give as much attention to as I should have or fully listened to...or things that I discovered later in the year that I only just now getting really in to.

Leave my wretched soul alone

Oh Myspace...you provide the goods sometimes :)

Yesterday, I happened to check the Myspace of one of my favorite bands, Margot & The Nuclear So and So's. They're an amazing 8 piece indie band from Indianapolis that I found out about a few years ago through DJing on my college's radio station. When I talk about them, I always say that it took one song to get me hooked...and that's completely true. They have this multi layered and lush sound, interesting lyrics, and a strong voiced frontman and it's all just an amazing combination.

On October 7th, they are releasing not one, but two albums as a follow up to their debut The Dust of Retreat. If I understand correctly....Animal! is the album they (the band) wanted to put out and will be released on vinyl and in a digital download format. And in a cheeky twist, they're also releasing Not Animal, which is apparently the album their label (Epic) wanted them to put out and will be out on CD and digital download. Some of the tracks overlap, but there are key differences and it should be interesting to examine those differences...

But anyway, I popped over to their Myspace to just double check on the ways in which each album is going to be distributed...and lo and behold the band had uploaded a bunch of songs from both albums on their media player. When I saw them a few months ago...I don't think I mentally processed the new stuff they played as much as I should. (It was my first time seeing them and I was just so absolutely excited to see them and hear them do all the songs from their first album that I love.) But oh...hearing the new songs in all their recorded glory? Amazing. AMAZING. And now I'm absolutely thrilled to get both of these albums in my hands.

Probably my favorite of what I've heard of the new songs thusfar, is "A Children's Crusade On Acid." Quirky title...awesome song. I love the lyrics, I love the beat...love the little record scratching type noises at the beginning and the sort of creepy feel to the entire song. I've heard this song is actually about lead singer Richard's experience while tripping on acid (but please don't take my word on that!)...which I'm sure would produce that sort of creepy, uneasy feeling that's mirrored in the music. And speaking of Richard...his voice is just smashing on this track. The title of this entry is, by far, my favorite line he sings in the song...almost solely for how absolutely brilliant his voice sounds singing those words.

So yes...I am so very excited for these two albums...and for their show in Philly on November 18th!

Outside the box

I am starting to realize how much I enjoy when a band or a singer does something unexpected with their career or heads into a completely different realm or territory than I'm used to. There are many different ways this can be done, with some more commonplace than others...such as a unique collaboration or the the ever timeless (and sometimes cringeworthy) concept album. Occasionally you'll find an artist who ends up scoring a film or composing a movie soundtrack (ie: Sondre Lerche with the Dan In Real Life soundtrack). A brave and talented few will take on the task of writing a musical or opera (I'm looking at you, Rufus Wainwright!) All of these things help to keep things interesting in an endless sea of music.

I bring this up because in the span of a week or so, I've come across three very different and very interesting projects that are happening or will be happening. First, I was tipped off by my friend Eric that the (Mercury Prize winning) band Elbow have plans to put out a children's album. That excites me very much! For the past year, I've worked on an amazing children's radio program called Kids Corner and I've actually become pretty fond of a lot of music for kids, particularly artists (ie: Justin Roberts) and albums (ie: Snacktime! by The Barenaked Ladies) that can appeal to a wide age range. In my limited experience, I find it rare to come across actual, legit bands or singers making children's albums...though one of the major exceptions to this being the For The Kids series of albums, which features some pretty hip artists (Nada Surf, Mates of State, Of Montreal), singer/songwriters (Matt Nathanson, Jason Mraz, Ron Sexsmith) and some big names (Tom Waits, Barenaked Ladies, They Might Be Giants) performing original songs or fun covers that would appeal to kids. These albums aside, there isn't much in the way of popular artists making children's music...and that makes the prospect of a Mercury Award winning band making a children's album even more awesome.

Then today I was editing an interview we did with Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (creators of the animated band Gorillaz) about their new project called Monkey: Journey To The West, a stage adaptation of a 16th century Chinese novel called Journey To The West. Albarn wrote the music, Hewlett focused the visual elements (costumes, sets, etc)...and really, this is quite a 180 from Gorillaz and a definitely interesting undertaking, for sure.

And then there was my other discovery today that pretty much prompted this entire post, really. I was clicking around on Myspace and saw a bulletin from the band Say Anything (one of my favorites) about lead singer Max making an appearance on an album called Razia's Shadow - A Musical by the band Forgive Durden. Initially, I was hesitant to investigate this. Forgive Durden, after all, is a Fueled By Ramen band...and I have a bit of a personal issue with FBR, I guess you could say? I basically do not understand the appeal of pretty much everyone on that label outside of...well, Phantom Planet is pretty much it. A lot of it (to me anyway) tries to be ~*~hip and edgy~*~ when really it just comes off as uh...a walking stereotype, to be quite honest. (I mean, really...Cobra Starship? Really?) I also feel like I've moved past a lot of what the FBR sound is at this point. But since FBR gave my boys Phantom Planet a home, I try not to be too closed off and DO try to give the label the the benefit of the doubt from time to time. And Since I adore anything Max Bemis is involved in, I had to check it out this project

With a few clicks, I was not only directed to the Forgive Durden blog, but also to a website where you can view the characters in the story/who they are played by and hear sample clips of all the songs.

To be honest...I'm a bit in love with this whole thing. And I'm surprised about that! I listened to some of the stuff the band has done prior to this and it's just not my cup of tea...very heavy, kinda whiney...but this album looks like it's going to be something entirely different and that little theater nerd part of me is just squeeing with excitement :) It's definitely theatrical with a rock edge and a bit of quirkiness...and I'm pretty sure once it's all together the entire album is going to tell the full story. I love that...I loooove albums that tell stories. (Funny enough, the last two Say Anything albums have sort of been like that.)

The album features guest appearances by a lot of the FBR heavy hitters, like Brendon Urie from Panic At The Disco and Gretta Salpeter from The Hush Sound (I'm gathering that they're the two main characters?)...but also some non FBR talents like Chris Conley from Saves The Day, Nic Newsham from Gatsbys American Dream (whose voice I love to pieces) and, of course, Max Bemis from Say Anything.

And can I say...I'm maybe a little biased, but from what I've heard, I love Max's song the most :D A few songs on Say Anything's last album had a bit of a musical theater bent (ie: The Church Channel, That Is Why) and I think Max's voice is quite suited to that style, to be honest. The little clip I've heard of his song (bottom of the Razia's Shadow page...click the last red circle on the top row) is awesome...especially his voice on the "Oh, oh, ohhhh!" part. Unggg, Max Bemissss iluuuu.

But yea, I'm totally excited for this! (To the point where I'm seriously considering buying the special pre-order package from the FBR site...I know, right? Ludicrous!) It should definitely be something very interesting.

Edit: So I just may have to declare a bit of undying love for Forgive Durden because, even though I'm not a fan of their earlier sound, they have a song called "For A Dreamer, Night's The Only Time Of Day." Newsies references = obvious win :D

What's in a name?

So, when starting this blog...I had a good hour long debate of what I wanted to make the url be and what I wanted to name the actual blog (with URL being a little more important due to it being permanent). I played with a bunch of different ideas, most of which used song titles or lyrics...but I couldn't find anything that was both available and fitting. (And yes, I'm a crazy person, and that's important to me!)

What I REALLY wanted was thetuneshehums.blogspot.com. I pulled the idea from the song "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John...it's one of my favorite lines in the song: "Lookin' on, she sings the songs // The words she knows, the tune she hums." I absolutely adore Elton John (this song in particualar) and I thought it would have been amazingly fitting for a music blog...alas, it was taken, yet hasn't been updated since 2003. BLAST.

So I was flipping through my mental music catalog trying to think of a song that meant a lot to me and had some sort of musical reference within the song...anything about notes or tunes or singing.

Then a certain song hit me...and lo, anuncertainkey.blogspot.com was born.

The url and the current title of this blog come from a song called "Virtute The Cat Explains Her Departure" by The Weakerthans.

To put it bluntly...I fucking love The Weakerthans. But honestly, this has only been a recent development. Up until maybe a year ago I was what I'd consider a casual Weakerthans fan. I had been listening to them for a while at that point. I don't even particularly remember how I got into them...it was quite a while ago, though. I think my friend Jo may have recommended them to me? Regardless, I did give them a try and thought they were quite lovely There were several songs on Reconstruction Site that I found myself listening to over and over again...and "Plea From A Cat Named Virtute" was one of them. I feel like this song is an absolutely prime example of the AMAZING writing of lyricist and lead singer John K. Samson, an absolutely underrated genius. His songs are quirky and clever without being too self-important or annoying...sweet and poignant without being overly sappy or cringeworthy.

"Plea From A Cat Named Virtute" is an interesting track. It's a really upbeat, catchy track...but the lyrics and story within the song are not the happiest! The song is, if you haven't guessed, from the point of view of a cat. Specifically, from the point of view of Virtute (Latin for "strength" or "virtue"), whose owner just went through a really bad breakup. Virtute is frustrated that things aren't the way they used to be and wants everything to get back to normal...she (because even though a guy is singing it, I for some reason always assumed the cat was a she) bemoans the fact that her owner doesn't want to play anymore, all he does is "drink and watch TV" and although she's pretty much had it...what she really wants her owner to feel better. She threatens

I swear I'm gonna bite you hard
And taste your tinny blood
If you don't stop the self defeating lies you've been repeating
Since the day you brought me home...
I know you're strong.

It's laughable and sweet at the same time, imagining these thoughts coming from a cat. And I absolutely fell in love with the quirkyness of this song.

And then, last year, the band released their long awaited album Reunion Tour...aka: the album that turned me into an actual fan, the album that was the only thing I listened to for a month of my life, the album that made me consider them to be one of my favorite bands. Every song was so great...and I was pleasantly surprised when I first looked at the tracklist to see the return of Virtute...but perhaps not in the way I would have expected.

Departure? Virtute is departing? I knew this couldn't be good.

The first few times I listened to the album, I didn't pay 100% attention to the lyrics...I just wanted to get a feel for the music. But eventually the time came when I really wanted to feel out John's lyrics for this album...particularly for "Virtute The Cat Explains Her Departure":

It had something to do with the rain
Leeching loamy dirt
And the way the back lane came alive,
Half moon whispered "go"
For a while I heard you missing steps in the street
And your anger pleading in an uncertain key
Singing the sound that you found for me

When the winter took the tips of my ears
Found this noisy home
Full of pigeons and places to hide
And when the voices died
I emerged to watched abandoned machines
Waiting for their men
To return, I remember the way
I would wait for you
To arrive with kibble and a box full of beer
How I'd scratch the empties desperate to hear
You make the sound that you found for me

After scrapping with the ferals and the tabby,
Let you brush my matted fur
How I'd knead into your chest while you were sleeping
Your shallow breathing made me purr

But I can't remember the sound that you found for me
I can't remember the sound that you found for me
I can't remember the sound...

When I actually took the time to sit down, read the lyrics while listening to the song...the reaction was quite visceral. Honestly, I was so surprised at my reaction. I actually got a knot in my stomach and tears in my eyes when I tied together the beautiful, wistful melody (such a contrast from Virtute's first appearance) and the absolutely heartbreaking lyrics. It really is so sad when you think about it.

The assumption is that the owner didn't answer Virtute's initial plea, so she ran away. That first verse is about her owner looking for her...the "sound that you found for me" being her name name. She hears it...he's calling it, half angry, half pleading, but winter comes and apparently her owner has given up looking for her. She's still thinking about him, though. I adore the "scratch the empties" line. It's like when your pet is doing something they know they shouldn't and you say their name. She is so desperate to hear her owner's voice, even if it's him scolding her. That second to last verse KILLS me...poor Virtute is remembering all the things her owner did for her, but it's been so long since she's seen him that she just can't remember her name anymore. The way John sings those last few lines, with such pleading in his voice, absolutely gets me every time.

I think it's absolute brilliance, this song, and one of the more recent songs that has caused such a reaction in me...so I decided to use parts of it as the title of my blog. I'm not completely sure if I like it for the actual title...but I think the url of "an uncertain key" is somewhat fitting. I never know what I'm going to like or what I'm not going to like...what I'm going to gravitate to or pass on. Music has a bit of uncertainty to it...and even if I find I have to wade through a hundred different songs that I don't like to find one that I do, I think it's always worth it.

Oh, the things I come up with while riding the subway

And yes, that is indeed where this idea formulated. I was taking the subway to work the other day...and all of a sudden decided that I'd be interested in writing a music blog. Music is so very much of my life. I talk enough about it on a day to day basis as it is... and since I'm not quite sure how appreciative my friends and family are when I start going on music tangents, why not start a blog and share my views with strangers? At least then I can't actually see their eyes glaze over as I yammer on.

Like so many of my random ideas, though, I thought this would be a fleeting one...and it still might be...but I couldn't shake the idea so quickly, so I figured I'd just do it. If I never update it, no big deal. But this could be the start of something I keep with for a while, hopefully.

Anyway...now the problem is what to write about. I am aware there are thousands upon thousands upon thousands of music blogs out there, with writers who are so insanely in to all different types of music and could easily trump me with their musical knowledge/out cred point me in a heart beat. Though I am known in a majority of my friend circles as "the one who knows a ton about music," my knowledge of different artists and genres is far from complete. What I listen to is only a drop in the bucket, I'm sure...

But I know what I like. So that's what I'm going to write about. You aren't going to get any reviews of the newest album from the next big thing (unless, of course, I end up happening to really like the next big thing) or in depth discussions of this genre or that genre. This will NOT be music journalism at it's finest, I can assure you.

What you ARE going to get are my honest opinions and feelings on songs, albums, or artists I've loved for a while (as questionable as they may be!) that or I'm digging at the moment. I'm sure most of my posts will be borderline fangirly...and I'm assuming a good chunk will be full out fangirly. That's the way it goes with me. When I find something I like, I get very excited and I want people to hear it too...and it's in my nature to get a little giggly or over/melodramatic or whatever. I'm also sure there will be a high emotional content present...I've had many situations where I've found myself emotionally moved by a song or a lyric or even just a note or two of a song, so there will be gushing about such things, as well. (Oh, and there may be some Youtube videos/MP3s scattered about to illustrate my points!)

It may not be particularly groundbreaking or eloquent, but it'll be honest and true to me...which I guess is cool? ;)

So...yay! That's it! Like I said, hopefully this isn't some fleeting thing...and that I'll be getting in plenty of new music that I feel like writing about.