Headed for the Future!

Happy 2010, VK readers! Here's your collection of songs to kick the year (and decade) off right:

Neil Diamond - Headed For the Future.mp3

Flight of the Conchords - Robots.mp3

Zager and Evans - In the Year 2525.mp3

Death Cab for Cutie - New Year.m4a

Jeff Buckley - New Year's Prayer (remix).mp3

Massive Attack - Future Proof.mp3

Future Bible Heroes - Doris Daytheearthstoodstill.mp3

Elvis Costello - Good Year For the Roses.mp3

Tori Amos - Pretty Good Year.mp3

Sage Francis - Hell of a Year.mp3

Ten Years After - I'd Love to Change the World.mp3

Jens Lekman - Firecracker (On Our Way to a New Year's Party).mp3

U2 - New Year's Day (live Under a Blood Red Sky).mp3

Matt & Kim - No More Long Years.mp3

Nine Inch Nails - The Beginning of the End.mp3

Steely Dan - Reelin' in the Years.mp3

Led Zeppelin - Ten Years Gone.mp3

Tom Waits - So It Goes.mp3

the Mountain Goats - This Year (live @ Last Happy Night of Your Life).mp3

19 tracks
1:16:57 total time

No, Thank you!

This cat macro is lovingly dedicated to fellow blogger Jess and her poor terrified cat, Mudpie

Happy Thanksgiving to all our U.S. readers! Here's a grab-bag of songs from some very thankful musicians:

Dido - Thank You.mp3

The Flaming Lips - Thank You Jack White.mp3

Alanis Moressette - Thank U.mp3

the Mountain Goats - Thanks For The Dress.mp3

Neil Diamond - Thank the Lord for the Night Time.mp3

ZZ Top - I Thank You.mp3

And finally, a very thankful Sufjan takes time to appreciate the audience and My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden in this clip from a live show in 2006:
Sufjan Stevens - "Thank You!".mp3

Songs for Bill, pt. 2

If there's one thing I've learned most this year, or even this decade, it's the importance of family. How it can be heartbreaking to be estranged from someone, how difficult it is to reconnect, and how fortunate you can be if you've always been close.

I've been so lucky to have a second dad like Bill. He took me in when I was homeless and helped support the wedding to my husband that he ultimately couldn't even attend. Through it all, he loved and accepted me, and I couldn't have asked for a better, kinder, funnier and more loving father-in-law.

So here's a newsflash: funerals are difficult. How am I dealing(besides Klonopin)? Yep, music. Here's seven favorites friom his music collection:

Roy Orbison - Blue Bayou.mp3 from Black & White Night
I have fond memories of watching Roy Orbison Black & White Night in concert with him. Truly, a family night of music and celebration.

Willie Nelson - A Horse Called Music.mp3 from The Many Sides of Willie Nelson
When he wasn't riding his motorcycle, he was riding high on music. Classics and favorites from his era ruled then and still do today.

Josh Groban - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.mp3 from Josh Groban
This song, performed by the King of Kings Lutheran church choir at his funeral, made me cry buckets. The peacefulness will overcome, though.

Neil Diamond - Forever in Blue Jeans.mp3 from Greatest Hits 1966-1992
In my mind, he will be Forever in Blue Jeans.

Lobo - How Can I Tell Her About You.mp3 from Calumet
Lobo was a favorite band. He got Adam into it; he got me into it. Don't Tell Her Goodnight; just play this tune instead.

Common Thread - Peaceful Easy Feeling (Eagles cover).mp3 from Songs of the Eagles
He was a huge Eagles fan, so here's a song I hope he lives in now.

Finally, his favorite song, by a favorite band:


Enjoy, and hug your Pa today. <3