This tornado loves you

I saw Neko Case perform as the opening act for Rufus Wainwright during his "Release the Stars" tour a few years back. She was kind of a weird choice. Rufus Wainwright tends to be big and brassy during his performances, talking a lot and cracking jokes between songs. Neko Case just hammered threw the music. It was good, not great, although I absolutely fell in love with "Wish I was the moon tonight." I downloaded the song, but didn't listen to much else of her work.

But I recently rented a copy of Neko Case's "Middle Cyclone" album from the local library (yes, libraries are still out there! And they got cool stuff!). And I can't believe what I've been missing. The whole album is amazing. Case transforms herself into a multitude of creatures (magpies, owls, mollusks) and ties her music to the land, sea and air to describe the feelings blazing through her head and heart.

But beyond birds and invertebrates, Neko Case becomes a force of nature. In my favorite song on the album, the opener "This Tornado Loves You," Case transforms into a tornado and goes on a destructive warpath in search of her beloved.

I have waited with a glacier's patience

Smashed every transformer with every trailer
'til nothing was standing
65 miles wide
Still you are nowhere
Still you are nowhere
Nowhere in sight

It's been a while since I've felt really connected to music. Oh sure, I've found music I enjoy, stuff I can hum and dance to. But nothing that spoke to me. Nothing that whispered "this was written for you!" in the background, like a supposed satanic message in the back of a pop song.

Anyway, this is getting very cheesy and prose-y. Thanks, Neko Case, for allowing me to be introspective while sitting in a cubicle hammering out mailing lists.

The "Oh Jesus I Can't Believe I'm Going Home in Three Days" Mega Playlist

So I finally recharged my ipod, and have been listening to it as I walk to school and my internship. But for the past few days, I've unconsciously been going back to the same few songs, listening to them again and again. Seem like with only three days to go, my mind has created a "good bye get traveling" playlist. So for your viewing pleasure, here's what has been on repeat on my ipod and computer:

1. Homeward Bound-Simon & Garfunkel ("Sittin' in the railway station, got a ticket for my destination...)
2. Across the Ocean-Azure Ray ("Now I'm traveling across the ocean, with the same shoes just longer hair...")
3.It Won't be Long-The Beatles (although I've been listening to the "Across the Universe" version)
4.California-Joni Mitchell ("I'm gonna see the folks I dig, even kiss a sunset pig, oh California I'm coming home...")
5.Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You-Colin Hay
6.The Only Living Boy in New York ("Tom, get your plane ride on time...")
7.June on the West Coast-Bright Eyes
8.Chipi Chipi-Motorcycle Diaries Soundtrack (I've been here four months and just this week I could finally understand all the lyrics)
9.Al Otro Lado del Rio-Jorge Drexler
10.Trying to Pull Myself Away-Once Soundtrack
11.Get Back-Bright Eyes and Neva Dinova
12.The Maker Makes-Rufus Wainwright (from the Brokeback Mountain soundtrack)
13.The Song of Purple Summer-Spring Awakening (closing song from the show)
14.Perfect Day-Lou Reed

MOST DEPRESSING PLAYLIST EVER.