Emily's Albums A to Z

Listened: Monday November 8

Original Soundtracks 1 was actually the first “U2” album that came out after I had become a rabid fan in high school. I also remember this being one of the first “current” albums I researched and discussed on the internet, such that it was at that point.

I know a lot of U2 fans were pretty mystified by it, but I enjoyed it. I also had no familiarity with Brian Eno’s solo career at the time, but now that I know a little more, it’s definitely a nice melding of U2 and Eno. I remember Miss Sarajevo being played on Live 105 at the time, which is pretty odd, considering the opera part of the song (which I think they edited down for broadcast).

If you like Brian Eno you should definitely check it out.

Listened: Monday November 8

Original Pirate Material is one of the cornerstone albums of my early to mid 20s. The second I hear it I remember me and the hipsters at my first job all singing the lyrics to each other in the lab – “Sex, drugs, and on the dole! ‘Round here we say birds, not bitches! Oi oi oi oi… game over, game over, too cold!”

I remember friends standing next to me at the very front of the crowd at Bimbo’s having brandy poured in their mouths (and on their shirts) by Mike Skinner himself.

I remember  being at the Fillmore in the same brandy soaked situation, but this time hiding a brandy soaked stranger without an age verification bracelet who was crouched down next to me, until security decided that they couldn’t find her in the melee and I gave her the signal that it was safe to get up.

Oh and how could I forget… at Bimbo’s the Streets asked from the stage for a song about SF; he handed my friend the microphone, but she blanked, so I chimed in “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”, which he started chanting to everyone. A couple months later, Rolling Stone magazine noted this had happened in a very short (and so-so) review of his performance. I was thrilled to have (indirectly) gotten a mention in my teenage bible!

The boasting, the nostalgia, the indiscretions, the self-doubt – Mikee Streets wrapped up everything about being a twentysomething at the turn of the century in this album, with a bow on top – the album cover. It’s one of my favorites of all time.

Listened: Monday November 8

The Optimist is Turin Brakes’ first LP and I don’t really know why I didn’t fall in love with it back when I originally picked up this album. At the time I was really paying attention to whatever Astralwerks released, since they were knocking them out of the park.

Listening now, this album is no exception. I guess it just didn’t click. Plus they weren’t really “personalities”  – as much as I’d like to deny it, that really helps to grab and hold attention, even if you think that kind of thing doesn’t affect you. This is another “first discovery” of something I’ve owned for years that I’ll need to make sure I listen to more.

Listened: Monday November 8

Once is a very sweet movie, without being saccharine or cliche, and the best part is that the music is great too. Despite being a film full of non-actors, it’s a very well acted film.

Before I saw the film I was only vaguely familiar with The Frames (Glen Hansard’s band) so I didn’t know what I was in for. His songs, Marketa’s songs, and the songs they do together are all beautiful and complex, but simple at the same time. I’ve seen them perform live a couple of times now and they are masters of their live show as well – it’s like you’re in someone’s living room.

When they won the Oscar for Best Song, I couldn’t have been happier for them. It was completely deserved.