Thursday Verse: "A Vacancy" - Joanna McClure

A Vacancy

An old unconsummated

Love... hangs sadly

In my thoughts

When passion is gone,

The moment--unspent--

Stands silent, accusing,

An abortion, neither buried

Nor born--its space

A vacancy

 - Joanna McClure

Music for your Midweek: Laura Mvula, "Father Father"

Laura Mvula just released her new album of orchestral arrangements, and it's beautiful. Give the whole thing a listen. Here's one of my favorite renditions:

Thursday Verse: "Preface to a twenty volume suicide note: For Kelly Jones, born 16 May 1959" - Leroi Jones

PREFACE TO A TWENTY VOLUME SUICIDE NOTE
For Kellie Jones, born 16 May 1959

Lately, I've become accustomed to the way
The ground opens up and envelops me
Each time I go out to walk the dog.
Or the broad edged silly music the wind
Makes when I run for a bus...

Things Have come to that.

And now, each night I count the stars,
And each night I get the same number.
And when they will not come to be counted,
I count the holes they leave.

Nobody sings anymore.

And then last night, I tiptoed up
To my daughter's room and heard her
Talking to someone, and when I opened
The door, there was no one there...
Only she on her knees, peeking into

Her own clasped hands.

Music for your Midweek: John Lennon - "Look at Me"

I've been going through all my old burned cds, deciding what to toss, and what to keep. It's been fun exploring all my old mixes. Each one is like a time machine. Here's a track that was in hey rotation during high school. That romantic, existential angst never left me:

August Mix: "There's nothing in our way..."

After a long hiatus (a summer break, of sorts) I'm back in action. I've taken to regroup and re-evaluate things. It's been a much needed vacation, and I've loved it. Spent time with family and friends, taking on the occasional temp work, catering, or nanny job to help pay the bills. If you ever get the chance to be perfectly selfish for a bit of time, I highly recommend it.

I'm returning from a break. Here's a mix!

1. Ghost - Poor Remy

2. Four Days Straight - Scattered Trees

3. Something About Us (Daft Punk Cover) - Owl Eyes

4. Hard on Me - Robby Hunter Band

5. My Song 5 - Haim

6. So far (Tiger Baby Remix) - Marsheaux

7. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend - Ramones

8. Wilhelm Scream - The Bamboos feat. Megan Washington

9. A Case Of You (Joni Mitchell Cover) - James Blake

10. White Morning - Seoul

11. My Oh My - Sivu

12. Thinkin' Bout You (Frank Ocean Cover) - The Night VI

13. Vicious - Lou Reed

14. To The Top - Twin Shadow

15. Here We Are - Patrick Park

16. Sail - Noosa

17. To Love Again Feat. Just Another Snake Cult - Oliver Tank & Rainbow Chan

18. Upon The Heath - Mr Hudson & The Library

To listen on Spotify, use this:

Note, not all tracks featured on this mix

NOTES:

1. First found this track by listening to Pleasant Grove High School's radio station. It's one of the best stations in Utah! 96.7
9. Most beautiful, poetic love song.
12. Great cover! This song is destined to be a classic.
14. Twin Shadow! I'm bummed I missed him when he came to the Twilight, but I kissed him on the cheek at the after show, so that counts for something?
18. Missing my dad...

Thursday Verse: "Parachutes, My Love, Could Carry Us Higher" - Barbara Guest

Parachutes, My Love, Could Carry Us Higher

I just said I didn't know
And now you are holding me
In your arms,
How kind.
Parachutes, my love, could carry us higher.
Yet around the net I am floating
Pink and pale blue fish are caught in it,
They are beautiful,
But they are not good for eating.
Parachutes, my love, could carry us higher
Than this mid-air in which we tremble,
Having exercised our arms in swimming,
Now the suspension, you say,
Is exquisite. I do not know.
There is coral below the surface,
There is sand, and berries
Like pomegranates grow.
This wide net, I am treading water
Near it, bubbles are rising and salt
Drying on my lashes, yet I am no nearer
Air than water. I am closer to you
Than land and I am in a stranger ocean
Than I wished.

Music for your MIdweek: Beck - "Blue Moon" and "Wave"

Hey kids! I finally gave Beck's new album this week in preparation for the Twilight concert coming up tomorrow. I'm going to be candid with you. If he mostly plays songs from his new album, it's going to be a snoozefest. A lovely, melodic snoozefest. That's not to say I don't like the album, it's just a more mellow, atmospheric album. That being said, I quite enjoyed this track:

But the song that really grabbed me is "Wave". I first heard this song when it was used in a performance of So You Think You Can Dance. So beautiful. Watch below, and be amazed:



And here's another troupe dancing to Beck's "Turn Away". You may recognize the track from the trailer for Wild. Dancers love Beck!




Hope to see you at the show!

Thursday Verse: "Tears" - Allen Ginsberg

Tears

I'm crying all the time now.

I cried all over the street when I left the Seattle 

        Wobbly Hall.

I cried listening to Bach.

I cried looking at the happy flowers in my backyard,

        I cried at the sadness of the middle-aged trees.

Happiness exists I feel it.

I cried for my soul, I cried for the world's soul.

The world has a beautiful soul.

God appearing to be seen and cried over. Overflowing

        heart of Paterson.