Everything used to make me smile

One of the down sides of a year without a computer is that I went a year without making any mix CDs. I don’t know why that’s such a satisfying experience. But when I listen to a mix I’ve just completed and realize that the songs really do work together, I feel like I’ve accomplished something, even though the reality is I’ve just spent several hours messing around on my computer.

I was invited to a party this week, and all the guests were asked to bring mix CDs to exchange. So Monday night I sat down with my little red laptop and got to work. Three hours later I had two playlists I loved and the beginnings of a couple more. I ended up taking two CDs to the party—an upbeat mix filled with some of my favorite female singer/songwriters, and a dark and twisty mix by my favorite men. (Don’t read into that too much! I love my dark and twisty men.) A couple of these tracks may now give The Beatles competition for their spots in my Top 25 Most Played. These are the soundtracks to my week, and a pretty strong indicator of who I’ve been listening to over the past few years.

Chick Songs

1. Broken – Tift Merritt – Another Country (2008 )

2. Little Plastic Life – Sam Phillips – Don’t Do Anything (2008 )

3. Almost – Sarah Harmer – All of Our Names (2004)

4. All I Want – Joni Mitchell – Blue (1971)

5. No Bad News – Patty Griffin – Children Running Through (2007)

6. Jack and Jill – Kim Richey – Chinese Boxes (2007)

7. Sticks and Stones – The Pierces – Thirteen Tales of Love and Revenge (2007)

8. A Good Start – Maria Taylor – Lynn Teeter Flower (2007)

9. Sentimental Heart – She & Him – Volume One (2008 )

10. 500 Miles – Sandra McCracken – Best Laid Plans (2004)

11. Manhole – Ani DiFranco – Knuckle Down (2005)

12. Last to Know – Maddy Wyatt – Backdive (2007)

13. simple as it should be – Tristan Prettyman – twentythree (2005)

14. The Way I Am – Ingrid Michaelson – Boys and Girls (2007)

My Favorite Men

1. 15 Step – Radiohead – In Rainbows (2007)

2. Holler, Wild Rose! – Holler, Wild Rose! – Our Little Hymnal (2007)

3. Cry Baby Cry – The Beatles – The Beatles (The White Album) (1968 )

4. The Heart Beats in Its Cage – Chris Thile – How to Grow a Woman from the Ground (2006)

5. American Girls – Counting Crows – Live from World Café (iTunes Exclusive) (2003)

6. Please, Before I Go – Derek Webb – Mockingbird (2005)

7. Damn, Sam (I Love a Woman that Rains) – Ryan Adams – Heartbreaker (2000)

8. Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley – Grace (1994)

9. Neon – John Mayer – Inside Wants Out (2002)

10. Creep – Damien Rice (no recording info)

11. Go to Hell – David Ford – Songs for the Road (2007)

12. Kathleen – Josh Ritter – Hello Starling (2003)

13. It’ll Happen – Punch Brothers – Punch (2008 )

14. Till the Sun Turns Black – Ray Lamontagne – Till the Sun Turns Black (2006)

15. Your Rocky Spine – Great Lake Swimmers – Ongiara (2007)

16. Come Back Down – Joe Purdy – Only Four Seasons (2006)

Say what you will about City Stages

Music fans and downtown workers have already tasted what’s in store this weekend. Festival gates and fences have been erected throughout the week in preparation for Birmingham’s annual music festival, and there was an unplugged concert in Linn Park during today’s lunch. We’re right at two hours till the festival officially kicks off, and you can bet there will be plenty said about it over the next several days.

The conversation has already started in the local media, and I expect several folks will keep it going throughout the weekend. I’m including links below for those of you interested in City Stages 20. I’ve got tickets in my purse and a schedule at my side, and I’m ready for a weekend full of music. Say what you will about City Stages–I know I will. If you know me, you can easily deduce where you’ll find my weekend music entries …

Birmingham magazine City Stages blog

Birmingham News/al.com City Stages coverage

Birmingham Weekly’s City Stages coverage [currently down–will edit link when things are working]

Black & White’s City Stages coverage

The Terminal’s City Stages guide

Wade on Birmingham’s City Stages guide (check out the haikus!)

It’s hard to be reciprocating

Some friends of mine are circulating their top 10 albums of 2007 lists, which frankly I find far more interesting than the countless lists I’ve read over on stereogum (and elsewhere). I may or may not come up with my own, but since I bought my iPod in January, it’s easy to list the 25 songs I listened to most in 2007. (And really, you can pick out at least a few of my favorite albums this way.)

25. The Heart of Life – John Mayer, from Continuum (2006)

24. Let Your Love Be Strong – Switchfoot, from Oh! Gravity. (2006)

23. Rain – Patty Griffin, from 1,000 Kisses (2002)

22. Wedding Day – Rosie Thomas, from When We Were Small (2002)

21. Three More Days – Ray LaMontagne, from Till the Sun Turns Black (2006)

20. I’m Nowhere and You’re Everything – Chris Thile, from Deceiver (2004)

19. Breathe (2 a.m.) – Anna Nalick, from Wreck of the Day (2005)

18. No Bad News – Patty Griffin, from Children Running Through (2007)

17. These Girls – Ryan Adams, from Easy Tiger (2007)

16. You Give Me Something – James Morrison, from Undiscovered (2007)

15. A Love That’s Stronger Than Our Fear – Derek Webb, from The Ringing Bell (2007)

14. I Wanna Marry You All Over Again – Derek Webb, from The Ringing Bell (2007)

13. If the Rain Must Fall – James Morrison, from Undiscovered (2007)

12. Pearls on a String – Ryan Adams, from Easy Tiger (2007)

11. One Last Chance – James Morrison, from Undiscovered (2007)

10. My Winding Wheel – Ryan Adams, from Heartbreaker (2000)

9. Goodnight, Rose – Ryan Adams, from Easy Tiger (2007)

8. Tears of Gold – Ryan Adams, from Easy Tiger (2007)

7. Call the Police – James Morrison, from Undiscovered (2007)

6. Oh My God, Whatever, Etc. – Ryan Adams, from Easy Tiger (2007)

5. Wonderful World – James Morrison, from Undiscovered (2007)

4. I Don’t Ever Give Up – Patty Griffin, from Children Running Through (2007)

3. Two – Ryan Adams, from Easy Tiger (2007)

2. The Sun Also Sets – Ryan Adams, from Easy Tiger (2007)

1. Everybody Knows – Ryan Adams, from Easy Tiger (2007)