Thursday Tracks With Ryan

I am back from the abyss; also known as life in a new apartment without cable/internet.  Since my last post, Charging Interests has changed drastically.  First, Nick went full-on German socialist with his music recommendations, followed abruptly by the first post written by a woman... from OHIO... I think I now know the pure hatrid my dad Red felt when I told him I didn't like his beloved Longhorns anymore. 

[I'm completely kidding.  Bunce's taste in music, minus the German techno, is top-notch and I couldn't be more excited to have my outlandishly intelligent pal Alya brighten up our clumsy site.  Also, Red has handled everything with more class than I can ever dream of.]

I think Nick is on to something here, so I've decided to shamelessly steal his idea.  Without further ado, here are 5 songs that I've been listening to lately.

1. Midnight Confessions - The Grass Roots


Classic American rock.  Let's all join together as we rub this in Bunce's face....USA! USA!

Originally, I planned to post the far more patriotic "America the Beautiful" by The Rascals but was unable to find it on YouTube, so I went on to the next song/band I have been obsessed with from the old record collection I inherited from my dad.  If nothing else, be in awe as you watch The Creed Bratton rock out on guitar: he is the guitarist on the left!

2. Love is All - The Tallest Man on Earth


I follow up my act of patriotism with a song by a little-known Swedish songwriter.  My friend T.Whitt showed me this guy back in college ("back in college" has become increasingly more normal to say, which in turn has made things very strange) and while I absolutely loved the strumming, I'm assuming I'm not the only one who is a little put off by his scratchy vocals (T.Whitt's girlfriend Kelsie went as far as to call him "The Most Annoying Man on Earth".)  So go ahead and write him off for a few months, but unlike Tobias Funke, give this guy a second chance....he deserves it.

3. You Can't Lose What You Never Had - Muddy Waters


I wish I had this kind of swagger.  This song/video is incredible and the lyrics are strikingly relevant to me and my occasionally hopeless romantic self. Also, I hope I'm not the only one who is incredibly impressed by how intricate these camera shots were for what appears to be a live show in the '60s.

4. Swim Until You Can't See Land - Frightened Rabbit


Frightened Rabbit has the impressive distinction of sounding even better live (based on their live albums) than in studio.  Besides this song being amazing, it reminds me of a story I have from a very familiar locale in Charging Interests lore: the Hydra.  A few of us wise gentleman thought it would be a great idea to swim across Lake Travis in the middle of the night to the other side of the lake.  It's a very interesting story involving Rickesh getting lost in the dark abyss of the lake, walking up twenty-five feet of jagged rock barefoot, and ChiChi and I stumbling across a legitimate girls' topless party across the lake...but the story is too good to tell in brief here.  Sorry for the teaser, but maybe someday soon I'll write more about it.  Maybe.

5. Little Garcon - Born Ruffians


So 3 of my 5 songs were not from American bands...classic.  At least they were English?! A la Bunce and Chuck Klosterman, here is a second-by-second rundown of my thought process while I listened to Little Garcon:

0:00-1:00: This song sounds like it has potential.  Nothing can go wrong with a harmonica in the background, amiright?

1:00-1:40: Wow, my love for this song is getting out of hand; how can I legally download this?

1:40-2:05: Okay, I'm not sure where the lead singer is taking this, he is slightly off-key.  Is this the live version of the song or something?  That's okay, it'll get back on track soon...

2:05-2:40: Yikes...what is this...?

2:40-3:30: Uh oh.......

3:30-4:10: Eff you, Born Ruffians.

-PB