mixtapes + meltdowns

New Songlets for Spring

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 02:11:00 +0000

I wrote these songs back in February, March, and June, but I forgot to post them! Voila.

WHEN WE WAKE

There's a window in my room,
and it lets the sun right in.
There's a window in my room,
and the sun shines in,
when we wake up,
when we wake up,
when we wake.

THE LONG ROAD

It's a long road
with the light out on the dash.
It's a long road
and the cars they go by so fast.

If you go,
will I wake up with the sun?
If you go,
will I walk or will I run?

WHEN IT FALLS

If your tree in the forest falls,
you can call on me,
but don't forget that in the forest,
I can't hear a tree
when it falls.

Three New Songs: Amelie, 1996, My Jacket

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 03:39:00 +0000

Three new songs for February Album Writing Month! I've got 5 more to go in the next 2 days. I don't think I'll make it!

AMELIE

Amelie,
the world is wide for you,
for you.

Amelie,
just cause you can go
don't mean you have to.

Amelie, don't leave me,
this empty house will undo me.

Amelie, don't leave me,
these ghosts of ours, they fool me.

1996

We drove around the world
in your beat up Chevy blue
and I could have sworn
that I was in love with you.

We didn't have a tape deck
or a player for CDs
but we had the radio
and that was good enough for me.

We had all the hits
of 1996.

MY JACKET

Do you remember
that party out of town?
Do you remember
how we laid my jacket down?

We made love in a field
beneath the glittering stars,
but do you remember
what we left outside of your car?

My jacket,
it was the loveliest green.
My jacket,
it fit me like a dream.

Of all the things I lost
when I lost you,
I miss
that jacket.

February Album Writing Month: 4 New Songs!

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 18:59:00 +0000

I'm doing February Album Writing Month again this year. I've written six songs so far this month, four with videos.

It's not too late to join in!

The way your laugh
always stands out in a crowd,
the way you always say my name,
so quiet yet so loud,
I wish these little things
could be enough for love.

We both know the way it goes,
this kind of thing,
a flash so bright and then the night,
it comes.
I wish I had a way to keep the light on
just this once.

If I was a different girl,
I'd just tell you,
but if I was a different girl,
I wouldn't have to be alone,
alone.

did you know when you go
there is always part of me that stays
just a little bit longer

did you know when you go
there is always part of me that stays
just a little bit stronger

and if you're looking for a way
to save this sinking ship
I'd recommend
I'd recommend

if you go,
you should know
there is always
part of you that stays

wake up, sandy
won't you join us for awhile
we never see you smile anymore

all your little things
your coats, your hats, your diamond rings
they're packed away in boxes on the floor
it's like you don't live here anymore

wake up, sandy
sunlight's coming through the blinds
you've still got the time to change

all your little things
your pain, your grief, your jealous rage
they're packed away in boxes on the floor
you know those things don't live here anymore

wake up, sandy
won't you join us for awhile
we never see you smile
anymore

You never believed in me,
but it's okay.
You never believed in me,
but I'll find my way.
You thought I was small
and I was holding you down.
Well, maybe I was.

New Song: We Went Through

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 06:14:00 +0000

WE WENT THROUGH
when the darkest tunnel was the only
pathway to the light
we went through
we went through
went through with you

when the longest night was the only
passage to the dawn
we went through
we went through
went through with you

New Song: The End of Things

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 18:18:00 +0000

THE END OF THINGS
I've spent my life waiting for a crystal ball
to know if it's safe for me to fall
but I wonder sometimes
if I would be as brave
if I could see the end of things

we go to the forest for the trees
we go to the coastline for the sea

New Song: The Wrong Side

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:06:00 +0000

THE WRONG SIDE
My mama told me
there's a wrong and a right side to everything
But she didn't warn me
that the right side of love would get lonely
So who can blame me
if sometimes I give into the melancholy
Sometimes

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 03:39:00 +0000

I haven't had a night at home in almost two months. I've been going and going and, like the Energizer bunny, eventually my batteries ran out.

Thursday afternoon, I went home from work with a cold. For the next four days, I watched back-to-back episodes of Law & Order and I did not take a shower. Today is Monday and I need a hair cut.

It turns out that four days on my lonesome are just what the doctor ordered. I feel more myself than I have in some time. Canned chicken soup has psychological benefits, I guarantee it.

In addition to watching more Law & Order than anyone ever should in one sitting, I finally buckled down and taught myself the ukulele. And by 'taught' myself, I mean I can play five chords, badly.

I am uploading this video as the OFFICIAL RECORD of my first ukulele cover. I'm rotten at chord changes and I haven't quite figured out how to strum. Someday, when I'm a ukulele virtuoso, we can all look back and laugh.

p.s. The song is "Almost Lover" by A Fine Frenzy.

Paper Weight: My First EP

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:16:00 +0000

Yesterday I released a six-song EP called Paper Weight. It's sometimes pensive, often cathartic, and occasionally joyous. It sounds like it was recorded in my bedroom because it was.

TRACK LISTING
Paper Weight
Tell Me Now
If There's a Way
Feels Like Rain To Me
The Onset (Bonus Track)
Your Last Bridge (Bonus Track)

My First EP: On Sale in 2-3 Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 15:57:00 +0000

My first EP will be live and available for purchase on Amazon in a few weeks! It has four songs, plus two bonus tracks, and you will love it. You possibly already do.

xo

As Long as It's Me

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:32:00 +0000

My dear Evin wrote a song this week. I recorded backing vocals, but the lyrics & guitar are all him.

Here's our little duet:

We wear out slow like an old magazine
Like the jeans on a cowboy
Like a dog to his dream

Twisted as shiva in sheets, you and I
With our voices the same
If we laugh or we cry

I can make you happier than strippers and clowns
Ain't nobody love you like I love you right now
Come to bed with your stockings down
I can make you happier than strippers and clowns

Longing symmetrical, love has two wings
You can rhyme with whatever
As long as it's me

I look in the mirror and I see you through
In my ill-fitting coat
In my oversized shoes

I can make you happier than strippers and clowns
Ain't nobody love you like I love you right now
Come to bed with your stockings down
I can make you happier than strippers and clowns

The mixing is, like, awful. Sorry.

Back in the Saddle (For the Moment, At Least)

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:25:00 +0000

After a full year's hiatus from songwriting, I'm back in the saddle with two new songs for February Album Writing Month. You can check out both of them HERE.

If you're a musician, or have any secret aspiration to be, I can't recommend this project enough. It's an amazing community that provides valuable inspiration, motivation, and feedback, in a friendly, non-judgmental environment.

==

If There's a Way

i wake up
with my cup
in the morning
i lie down
without a sound
in the night

if there's a way
if there's a way
show me now
cause i can't see
lettin' be
teach me how

chase the days
make them pay
for their crimes
another night
another flight
i'm not on

if there's a way
if there's a way
help me see
cause i'm afraid
it's too late
for you and me

spring to snow
there's a glow
there's a warning
setting sun
like a gun
run while you can

there's a way
there's a way
join this fight
cause i can't see
lettin' me
sleep tonight

Featured on a Podcast Near You!

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:24:00 +0000

Exciting news! Some friends of mine have a rad film podcast called Film101 and the latest episode features a few of my songs, including my latest!

The Film101 podcast is worth checking out in general-- the hosts are hilarious and insightful and they choose great topics to discuss. You can listen to the first five episodes on the Dane101 website or by searching for "Film101" in the iTunes store.

New Demo: Paper Weight

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 06:57:00 +0000

I recorded a new demo tonight for Paper Weight. Rough vocals!

Original (30-second) demo is HERE. Read feedback HERE.

==

paper weight
you're my paper weight
without you
i might just float away

i'm a red balloon
floating high above the clouds
can't touch the ground
but you reach up through
and you pull me down

you're my paper weight
without you
i might just float away

i'm a tornado
grabbing up all my dreams
and pulling them into the sea
but you calm me

you're my paper weight
without you
i might just float away

New Song: Paper Weight

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:38:00 +0000

Dudes, my last post was two months ago. That is not OK.

I guess I haven't had much to say, musically-speaking. I've been so focused on writing that I've barely touched my piano. But here's what's been up in Mixtapes Land since last we spoke:

Found out I earned a grand total of 28 cents in royalties last year. DRINKS ON ME, Y'ALL. In other news, I won't be quitting my day job anytime soon.
My song "Come Around" hit the T61 homepage for the... third time? Fourth time? It happened out of nowhere and I was pretty psyched.
February Album Writing Month (FAWM) is back!

I'm not sure how active I'll be this year, given my busy writing schedule and the fact that I share a house with very thin walls with four other people, but I did start my first song today.

Here's a thirty-second clip:

paper weight

you're my paper weight
without you
i might just float away

This is the first time I've really sat down and played in a long time and my voice sounds a little rough. But progress!

Speaking of progress, you can follow mine HERE.
My friend LK is learning embroidery and she made a sweet tea towel for me for Christmas. I'm basically obsessed.

Can we just talk about how cool that is?
I've been listening to the new Bon Iver album non-stop for the past few weeks. I definitely recommend it!

And that's all the news that's fit to print.

Stay warm, peeps. Spring's just a few months away...

Give Me the Bad News First

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:34:00 +0000

I've been away for far too long. It seems I can only devote myself to one creative outlet at a time and lately it's been prose. But the keyboard is there, looming.

This past week has been a blur of family, friends, and sunshine-- the best kind of blur. I was in Florida for purposes of pumpkin-pie-consumption and partying down at LK's film premiere. The premiere was a smashing success and the after party was the stuff that dreams are made of.

Pretty people and good music make for easy video, even on a four-year-old Canon Powershot. This video was made by yours truly:

[music: "postcards from italy" by beirut]

And after a week of flip flops and suntans, I came home... to this:

[music: "tangled in threads" by ben & petie]

Oh, Wisconsin. How you sadden me sometimes.

On a brighter note, I was surprised and thrilled to learn that "Something to Humble Me" hit thesixtyone homepage again this week!

How lovely!

In Which I Am At Last Recognized for My Many Varied Achievements

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 03:17:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving, fellow dudes and ladies!

While you were all stuffing your faces with mashed potatoes and watching disturbingly large likenesses of cartoon characters meander down a city street, I was engaging in one of my all-time favorite activities.

That's right. Air travel.

Rest assured that good times were had by all, including-- but not limited to-- the gentleman from Minneapolis who had many, many questions about the book I was reading and who also apparently thought "Seat 27E" was secret code for "Seat 27E and also half of Seat 27F". It's cool, I enjoy scrunching against the window like this.

But hey, good news! I just found out that I won an award! And if there's one thing I like? It's awards.

It's the Artists' Choice award from MaxBumps.net and I couldn't be more excited if it was a national holiday and I had leftover pumpkin pie in the fridge.

Oh, wait. It is... and I do.

BEST. DAY. EVER.

comic courtesy hartboy

Muddy Boots and Snow Angels

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:45:00 +0000

Solstice be damned... winter is here, y'all.

I haven't touched a piano in over a week, though I'm in the midst of an exciting song experiment with a local musician and I'm itching to get back to the keys. It's been a crazy week, what with the election (yay) and Halloween (boo) and a million birthdays and visitors and home improvement projects in between.

But the dust is settling. Or at least it's thinking about it.

Anyway, I just wanted to touch base with you today and let you know that my song Smoke Signals just hit the sixtyone homepage for the third time! The first time was six months ago, on the morning of my 26th birthday.

What was a sweet surprise for this cold November morning.

Vlog and You: A Musical Journey

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:15:00 +0000

Dudes and dudettes,

Well, it's snowing outside. It's not even Halloween and it's already snowing. I love Wisconsin, but I feel like we need to sit down and have a chat about this.

One advantage of the foul weather: more time for indoor projects! I've been working on a bunch of sweet projects lately and I want to share one of them with you today.

As back story, I'm part of a blog ring called Twenty-Something Bloggers. It's a great place to meet other bloggers, get ideas, and discover new ~~addictions~~ subscriptions for my RSS reader. The site regularly posts events and challenges like blog carnivals, essay contests, and Blog Swap Day. I always half-heartedly intend to participate, but life and procrastination thwart me at every turn.

The most recent of these events was Vlog Day. The word 'vlog' sounds like something you'd catch on Spring Break in Cancun, but it's actually just short for 'video log'. In other words, it's a blog post... on video! So twenty-first century! Next stop: personal jet packs and birthday cards that play Livin' la Vida Loca.

Vlog Day was last Wednesday, but as part of my ongoing theme of Personal Tardiness, I didn't finish mine until last night. It has nothing to do with music, but there is some great music in it. Andrew Bird, Le Tigre, and more!

And so, with limited further ado, I present to you...

Crafts & Cooking: An Ill-Advised Vlog

The New York Times calls Crafts & Cooking: An Ill-Advised Vlog "... an engaging, heartfelt romp through one woman's neighborhood and home. A triumph of the human spirit."

The Chicago Tribune says, "Two emphatic thumbs up! The best [curtain-related] vlog we've seen this year."

Michael Cera writes (probably), "I deeply regret not responding to Laurie's repeated requests to star in her vlog. It's so much better than Juno. Also, I love her."

My mother: "What's a vlog?"

Included within: wacky scene transitions, awkward camera angles, and approximately 900 instances of me nervously fiddling with my bangs. Also? Somewhere in the fourth quarter, I become convinced that I am Michel Gondry and/or stoned out of my mind. SO ARTSY.

PART I

PART II

Watch and discover for yourself why I have neither a home decorating show, a cooking show, nor a boyfriend.

Until next time,
MM

Rock 101: Still a Man's World

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:17:00 +0000

Saturday afternoon, some friends and I headed out to Madison Music Foundry for their Second Anniversary Party. Specifically, we were there to see some performances from MMF's Rock Workshop.

The Rock Workshop is an eight-week music program at Madison Music Foundry for middle- and high-school students. During the workshop, the kids form bands, learn songs, play live shows, and even record in a real studio. It's a rare and exciting opportunity for young musicians and I was excited to see what the kids were up to.

First of all, Madison Music Foundry definitely knows how to throw a party. Tasty snacks? Check. Fancy beer keg? Check. A lifetime supply of ear plugs for rock-your-socks-off volume levels? Check, check, check.

And the kids were awesome. There's something about thirteen-year-olds singing Van Halen that just warms my heart. Also, most of these kids had better hair than I do and they were definitely better at playing the drums.

One of the bands, a group tentatively calling themselves Four Pesos, even played a few original tunes. The original songs were some of my favorites of the night-- I swear one of the songs could have come from a Pernice Brothers album. You may or may not consider that a compliment, but I happen to really like that album.

I managed to snag a quick video of one of their Rock Workshop originals:

"All boys," my friend Clare observed at one point, nibbling a pretzel cracker between Ramones covers. It was true: there wasn't a girl in the whole group.

Amy Winehouse notwithstanding, rock and roll is still very much dominated by men. Which is part of why I was so enamored with the documentary Girls Rock! when I had the opportunity to catch it during this year's Wisconsin Film Festival.

Every person in the world should see this movie. It was so much more than cute.

photo courtesy hoodedfang, madison music foundry

At Least My Cough is Productive

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:22:00 +0000

A lot has happened since last we spoke: the weather's turned cold, the economy's made a run for the border, and I've had my heart broken no less than three separate times. I may have broken a few myself. It's been a busy month.

But I'm cutting back down to one job, so hopefully my writing will begin taking place at the piano again. Not that I have anything against napkin scribbles and singing into my voicemail at crowded bus stops, but the novelty's wearing thin.

My excuses for the past month are the usual: sick, work, out of town. In reverse order of enthusiasm. My out of town adventure was to Chicago where I visited my dear friend M. Markets, museums, and thrift stores, oh my! To top off the weekend, we rediscovered Regina Spektor in M's colorful, mid-century kitchen while making eggplant-almond enchiladas. They've got them some fancy food in the big city!

But I didn't log in to tell you about eggplant-almond enchiladas (though they were delicious). I'm writing to tell you about a very special and exciting project I've been working on with Glenn Case.

A few months ago, Glenn got some folks together and asked us to collaborate on a tribute album. I'll let Glenn explain in his own words:

Several musicians from thesixtyone have come together to pay tribute to a special guy, and a special band.

Supergrover is a very active listener on thesixtyone, and he's a very funny guy. In May of 2008, he was diagnosed with cancer. Even after the diagnosis, he has maintained a great sense of humor.

Supergrover has described For Squirrels as his "favorite band that no one has heard of." Two founding members of the band died in a car accident along with their tour manager on September 8th, 1995. They might have developed a much larger audience if tragedy hadn't struck so early in the band's career.

Every song [in this tribute] will be a cover version of a song that was originally recorded by For Squirrels.

Supergrover is an awesome dude and has been one of my biggest supporters on thesixtyone, so I was excited and honored to participate. I was assigned a song called "3" from For Squirrels' debut album Baypath Rd.

Glenn recorded the instrumental mix months ago, but due to some eighty-hour work weeks and (let's be honest here) my general love of procrastination, I didn't actually start recording vocals until last week. My recording sessions were maligned by subpar conditions (namely: four housemates, thin walls, and some seriously tenacious postnasal drip) and, as a result, my vocals on this track are all. over. the. place.

But Glenn Case? Is a champ. He saved the day with some sweet harmonies and mix-mastering mojo and the song turned out just dandy. And if you check out the second verse, you'll hear the closest thing to a belt you've ever heard from me. Thin walls be damned!

In other news, I have no other news. But stay tuned! Because I'm making clandestine plans for a Ryan Adams cover. I'm hoping to ask my housemate to supply guitars and lead vocals, though I haven't got up the nerve to ask him yet. My goal: get better at recreating existing songs, in addition to imagining new ones. Yes!

As for today, I'm working a fourteen-hour day and, by mid-morning, I've already single-handedly slaughtered an entire rain forest in the form of 3-ply facial tissue. But the leaves are changing, the sun is shining, and better health is just a cup of tea away. I can feel it.

photo courtesy saulgrayhildenbrand

Your Untimely Demise

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:51:00 +0000

Light sweaters and crackling air; autumn leaves and warm blankets. Winter is already whistling its sorry tune, but after a too-sticky summer, we're almost humming along.

Fall means fresh notebooks and fresh starts, clean trapper keepers and neatly labeled folders. A matching outfit laid neatly on the bedspread. There was always so much hope surrounding that ritual; it was a new year and anything could happen.

As an adult, that feeling has become a stranger: we just wake up and we are. But in those first crisp days of fall, with a warm mug of cider and palms pressed against, I can almost feel it again.

My housemate says that fall is a time of hoarding, a sort of anxious desperation. I feel that, too. These days of flip flops and tank tops and back porch barbecues, they're numbered and we're counting each one, quietly, quietly. Cold nights and heavy boots, they're peering in our windows and waiting in the cobwebs, and we're lighting every candle to shoo them out, to welcome them in.

===

I have the day off today and I'm sleepy-eyed and cat-napping, waking up to fingerspell sonnets on white keys. But a sonnet never comes; just this.

you're starting fires you can't put out
and the air is getting thin
and when your last bridge has been burned down
well that's when you've gotta swim

I'm happy with this thing in front of me, I'll tell you that.

photo credit photographer padawan

The Onset

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 01:02:00 +0000

summer's trailing off
like a word you never meant to say
& i'm wishing i could reel it in
again

Playing piano by the lake with a glass of pinot noir and a heavy heart. You can hear the gulls in this one.

Not a full song, just a thought...

photo credit davebluedevil

Half-Baked

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:34:00 +0000

I generally have a music-first approach to songwriting-- I start with the music and then let that inspire the lyrics. I suspect that my lyrics might suffer from using this approach, but whenever I try to write lyrics first, I can't seem to come up with music that works for them.

Today was my first day off work in far too long and it was my first chance to sit at the keyboard during piano-appropriate hours. I don't have anything finished, but I came up with three half-formed ideas... we'll see if any of them develop into full songs.

Fair warning: these aren't performances. This is just me improvising on the piano and making up lyrics as I go along. Definitely not ipod-ready!

photo credit luz a. villa

Back in Action (However Briefly)

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:19:00 +0000

Sorry that I've been M.I.A. this week-- I'm working eighty hours a week for the next month and in my limited time off, I'm going on a few dates (what?), trying to maximize time spent with friends who are moving (no!), and-- when possible-- catching up on much-needed sleep.

But!

Last night, I was out and about at the Dane 101 show at The Frequency. I was there to catch some shaky-cam action of my friend Clarity J. Unfortunately, the footage is currently locked away on mysterious little tapes in a camcorder that belongs to our friend Andrew. I hope to share it with you soon because she was fantastic.

Pony Parade - Clarity J

Clare's played in a successful indie pop duo for years, but is newly on her own as a singer-songwriter. It must be scary to be up on that stage all by yourself after sharing it for so long, but if the audience's response to her (at least one instance of "You're so cute!" yelled between songs) was any indication, she's going to do just fine.

I missed a few of the other acts due to a mid-show trip to the 'Dise for some grilled cheese sandwiches and irish cream (best combo ever), but I want to tell you about a few bands that really impressed me.

First: The Takebacks. This act wasn't even on the original line-up, but they absolutely blew me away. Based on their band name, I was expecting high-energy pop punk, but they were this, like, shoe-gazey explosion of electrifying goodness with hints of reggae sneaking in around the edges. It was super good.

Three minutes into their set, a friend leaned over to me-- unprovoked-- and whispered: "He's married," referring to the dreamboat lead singer. Dude, it's all about the music here! Although, I have to admit that I basically had a huge talent crush on the entire band. They're all pretty adorable.

Go see them when you can and pick up a CD. They were selling them last night for $5.

Inna Rut - The Takebacks

Speaking of crushes, another band I loved was Madison favorites The Shabelles. Oh, that keyboardist. So cute. Anyway, they were super fun and had the whole bar bopping along to their raunchy pop-a-licious goodness.

Nothing - The Shabelles

I was excited to see Pale Young Gentlemen as I've been a fan since their debut album (which I strongly recommend getting your hands on as it lived in my CD player for a full three months before I reluctantly took it out of circulation). That album is equal parts classical music recital and wild west saloon drinking game. It's swaggering and grandiose and it's effing beautiful. They remind me a bit of Regina Spektor in this piano-as-time-machine way. They're like a couple that's doing the tango, but the man has a rose between his lips at a certain jaunty angle that says, We're in on the joke.

Unfortunately, I was too tired to keep my eyes open after The Shabelles and will have to catch them live another time.

Keep on keepin' on, Madison music scene!

photo credit: david de young

For Your iPod: September 29th

noreply@blogger.com (mixtapes + meltdowns) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:44:00 +0000

Enough about me, let's talk about someone else.

Specifically, I want to talk about the artist who calls herself September 29th. She lives in Italy and she is 25-years-old and she is amazing. Her voice is equal parts ether and steel; her lyrics a poignant blend of poetry and madness.

First, let's talk about this song that I love. It's called "Meditation Upon the Perfect Word" and it is painfully beautiful. I can't stop listening to it. You should listen to it, too.

And I understand
That what's good is the Prelude
To what's bad
And what's sad is a path
Towards woods of Joy...

Holy crap, y'all.

She also makes these incredibly rad music videos that I kind of cannot even handle. This one's called "Heavy Times" and it gets better every time I hear it.

Broken hearts, windows
Widows, cigarettes,
Global warming,
Global warning
We're getting used to living
In these Heavy Times.

This next one is a cartoon. The reason for watching it should be obvious.

The song is called "Legend".

You are leaning on the window sill
The Moon is pale,
Looks ill.
And up there, on the barefoot hill,
The dogs are barking to the ghosts.

You can visit her website here and check out more of her songs on thesixtyone or on her myspace page. You can buy her album Herald of the Morn here for $10, including shipping.

===

I'm hoping to make these artist intros a regular occurrence on my blog. You know, for the ten people who read it. Hello, friends!