Honestly, I Love You (but a few suggestions?)

The age of facebook has allowed anyone (at any time and as often as they so choose) to post youtube clips of songs to entertain (or annoy) those who receive them in their feed. So, outside of the long-armed reach of facebook, I'd like to post a few suggestions. Earnest suggestions. Type "1" songs (see below). I'd like to post a few clips with the hope that they receive consideration from you outside of any vapid forum and in the clear knowledge that I am posting them because I love the songs. See, the way I see it is this: there are three types of song posts on facebook. Let me clarify my methodology and list for you:

1: These are the songs posted in earnest. The songs that the poster can't stand to keep trapped inside their lil laptop's monitor. They're stuck in the heads of the people who post them all day long (perhaps on endless brain loop for days, weeks even). They are loved songs. They are brought out only when company visits. They're played for new lovers on that third or fourth or whatever date when the listener is studied intently (but secretly) for reaction, and when the listener does (or doesn't) react appropriately, well, I dunno.... Are they really that good looking?

2: These are posted to prove wit. These are the posts one would expect from members of They Might Be Giants or some similarly over-learned under-feeling NPR porn band. They are posted to caress the ego of the poster (is that considered psychic masturbation?). They are, simply speaking, "Isn't this ironic?!? HA!" posts. Of course, sometimes things are posted for sheer hilarity. If the poster thinks old ladies falling down is funny, so be it. Their disdain for the world is a necessary consideration. These types of posts must be judged on the basis of:

     A) The trustworthiness of the poster (isn't there another word for "poster"? Shit.)

     B) Level of funniness. This is a dangerous area, listener. As your mother said a gazillion times, "Be careful, children. Remember: F-u-n rhymes with g-u-n". She didn't say that? She should have. Unless she regularly packed heat. Regardless of what your mama said, funny is funny. Sometimes a "hee" sometimes a "ha" and sometimes, just sometimes, it's truly hilarious. But regardless, these types of posts are unreliable. They are not earnest, though they might not be arrogant either. (Disclaimer: I'm a fan of the funny for the the sake of the funny).                                

3: These are unreliable posts due to simple chemical abnormalities (or normalities, depending on your friends). These clips are posted under the influence of chemicals, be they notable drugs (like, oh i dunno, crack cocaine or the lesser considered substances like Tylenol PM). Of course, not knowing your "friends" personally, perhaps these clips are posted on psychiatric drug holidays (brief vacations from substances that may make the "friend" less insufferable, whether they be suffering themselves or not). Sleep deprivation can also complicate a post. It's a clinical fact that psychosis slowly sets in when sleepless nights accrue, and though it may not seem it, your friend is certifiable. An innumerable number of factors could be at play, and while it may entertain both of us for me to further illuminate these many and varied possibilities, I am becoming bored with myself now so I'm moving on.


And so, dear reader, I submit to you (absolutely unapologetically) these three songs. I am not submitting them for the video included necessarily, but for the love of the song. No irony is intended or implied. I've nothing to prove. I was never and will never be a member of any modern-day novelty troupe (unless it pays well, then all bets are off). I have taken all my medication as directed (even took the last one with a full glass of water! Just as directed!). Nothing has entered my bloodstream that ought not be there (unless enchiladas are now known to the state of California to cross the blood-brain barrier). These songs are stuck in my bones. They aren't the "greatest", the "most relevant", the "most underrated", etc. I just love them. Now. Today. Please: let me know what you think. Even better, gimme some of yours. After all, these are what real recommendations are (and by "are" I mean I really get off on this shit and I hope you will, too).

The first is the Sparklehorse song most often stuck in my head. It's from Linkous' 2nd record Good Morning Spider, maybe the least remembered or critically loved (but who really knows or cares - I never claimed to be a critic or historian, just someone who likes rock and roll). And since Mark Linkous died Saturday it's been stuck up there:


The second song is a Spiritualized song full of musical violence and brilliance that was released on a record that began their exit from the hipster critic lovefests (they're out of vogue now? so what...) called Let It Come Down. But the song stands alongside anything they've done and, in my mind, Jason Pierce is still making great records (Songs in A & E absolutely has it's moments) But I unabashedly love this song (and yes, in this case the I adore the video as well). And I know it's super sentimental and all. I love it for that. Here goes:


The third and last I first heard on an Oxford American magazine sampler cd. Google "Jim Ford". His story is too amazing to not research further. Raising Brando's kids, hanging with Sly Stone, appearing in cartoon form in Playboy, writing Harry Hippie for Bobby Womack... This guy did it all. Then died in a trailer north of San Francisco working on Fiats and afraid to leave the house. The song oozes soul and the man is as white as they come. Go figure:



So that's it. I did the best I could to write this post and then post for y'all the first three songs that came to mind. Refreshingly honest, you say? I imagine most of you know me too well to mix the "h" word with my name in conversation (except in jest). But I did, quite simply, post the first three songs that occurred to me to post without any consideration, so there ya go. I'm sure they'd be different tomorrow or maybe five minutes from now, but doing it this way is the closest I'm gonna get to "givin ya what I got" or something like that. Adios.

--John Murry