iPod Shuffle …this post will be updated continuously … as long as I find it interesting …

I moved this comment up from below the jump, because I think it’s good to start with:

I know I’m being so boring in this post – but to quote Rachel Lucas (where the heck did that girl go?) or at least to paraphrase her with a line I use all the time – “I find my own boring-ness so compelling that I can’t quite seem to stop”.

Okay, now back to the regular post I had written:

It’s raining. I feel strangely at peace right now. I finished Prep last night – seriously, I totally recommend it – it’s kind of great. There were moments when my heart felt like it plummeted through my floor, and I thought: “oh no no no … don’t do that … don’t …” The whole horrific moment with Devin, Cross’ roommate – the “fish or cheese” list – horror … and then when you hear Lee start to talk to the reporter … and spill her guts … you just KNOW that this will not turn out well. But Lee is a teenager, she makes mistakes, big ones … and especially in that moment when she realizes that … she had completely underestimated Cross, and her own self-involvement kept her from SEEING him. Wow. I have had those moments. Really good story.

The rain was coming down last night. I was pretty tired. I slept like a rock, woke up early, to hear the rain outside my window. Dark sky. Rain on leaves.

I made coffee and wrote for a while. Started Master and Margarita – which I actually had started maybe 8 or 9 months ago – and then got distracted by something else. I already knew I would love this book (and I have John to thank for giving me a copy!) … and words can’t even express. I’m starting it again – just so I can refresh myself … the first chapter is chilling and compelling beyond compare.

A society declares to itself that it will no longer believe in God.

So then … how does it respond when the devil himself shows up in Moscow?

Anything devil-related is really freakin’ creepy to me – and this devil is a gentleman (ain’t he always?) – and also very learned, knowledgeable, and bemused. Creepy.

Anyway, I’ll keep you posted as I make my way through.

Stalinist Russia? The great terror? Moscow quivering in fear? The devil stalking through the streets? Please. Count me in.

So that’s my prelude.

I came into the city, making my way through the rain, with the ol’ iPod in the ears.

You know how sometimes when you play “shuffle songs” all you get is … crap? Or at least I do. Maybe it’s because I’ve uploaded too much music … and who really wants to hear the Overture from The Music Man ono a regular basis … but … oh well. It’s what I did.

So sometimes “shuffle” is frustrating, and it feels like I have NO good songs. heh heh How used to the whole iPod thing I have become.

But sometimes “shuffle” comes up with just a great mix – in and of itself. You hear songs you forgot you have … old favorites come on … unexpected surprises … things you never would have chosen to listen to at this particular moment, but which fit right in with your general mood.

I had the SECOND kind of shuffle experience this morning, stuck in traffic, staring out at the rainy chaos going into the Lincoln Tunnel … and song after song came on … that I loved.

Here is the succession of songs I have listened to on this rainy rainy November morning:

Barcelona – Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Kabbalah

Stevie’s Last Night in Town – Ben Folds Five

Run Away – Pink (I had totally forgotten how wonderful this song is)

Spend Some Time – Eminem (one of his more mellow songs … he’s all self-pitying, of course … but good song)

Stuck In the Middle With You – Stealers Wheel (ha. This always makes me think of severed ears … but also of Michael.)

Suspension without suspense – No Doubt (I adore this song, and I love her vocals in it even more … it’s songs like this which make it obvious why Scorsese asked her to play Jean Harlow)

Millbrook – Rufus Wainwright (sniff sniff)

Cabaret – Liza Minelli (That’s Liza with a Z to you!)

The Air Near My Fingers – White Stripes (I had such a White Stripes phase a couple years ago that I kind of can’t listen to them anymore – at least not regularly – but that’s why the “shuffle” is so great … a song of theirs comes up and it’s a pleasant surprise. I like this one)

Dear God – XTC (one of my favorite songs of all time)

Raspberry Swirl – Tori Amos (I LOVE this song. This was from her Choirgirl Hotel album – the last one before she, in my opinion, went off the deep end into music that I could not care less about. Buh-by, Tori. Nice knowin’ ya. But “Raspberry Swirl” is a great song.)

It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls (hahaha Awesome.)

Love’s Recovery – Indigo Girls (okay, I can deal with a little bit of melancholy. Bring it on.)

Take a Look – Liz Phair (I have so many Liz Phair songs that she pretty much shows up in any shuffle with regularity … weird how that happens. I do love this song in particular though.)

Happy Ending – Randy Newman (ha! I love this song!! It’s the last song in Randy Newman’s Faust)

King Nothing – Metallica (Yeah!! Load, as an album, is kind of … uhm … I can never make up my mind about it … but the songs, individually, are pretty awesome. I love this one.)

J.A.R. – Green Day (I can never get enough of THEM. Love this song)

Easy and Slow – Clancy Brothers (I love how often I listen to them now that I have an iPod. But it is pretty funny to have, say, “Johnson’s Motor Car” blast in my ears directly after some Led Zeppelin song. It’s hysterical. “Easy and Slow”. Lovely song. Melancholic, nostalgic.)

Symphony No. 29 – Mozart (random. But beautiful. Kind of happy positive music – light and airy)

Where Do I Go Now? – Pat McCurdy (okay, this is hysterical, you can hear the 1980s in this music. His old band – or one of them … and here he is. It sounds kind of tinny. But I love it.)

Cruisin’ – Stray Cats (I have so much Stray Cats and Brian Setzer that they also show up disproportionately in any shuffle … but I love every single song … I NEVER get tired of them. EVER. I mean, I’ve been listening to Stray Cats with regularity since, what, 1984? Pretty amazing. Same with U2, Elvis Costello, and Huey Lewis. Bizarre … but these are bands and musicians I discovered in high school and have kind of never stopped listening to. Ever.)

My Little Soldier – Pat McCurdy (HYSTERICAL. STUPID. Lyrics here. SO ASININE and juvenile. And absolutely enjoyable.)

Whole Lotta Lovin’ – speaking of Huey Lewis. And this is one of my favorites of his entire oeuvre. The harmonies!

I’ll let you know how the rest of the shuffle goes … but that’s been my morning so far.

Pretty good.

More on the best shuffle ever

Angel is a Centerfold – J. Geils (now … this is like my high school reunion. Huey Lewis and the Stray Cats and J. Geils? Now all we need to complete the flashback is: Go Gos, Adam Ant, Men at Work, Duran Duran, and Culture Club.)

Aurora – Foo Fighters (sniff, sniff. I adore this song. There’s something sad and yet hopeful about it.)

Tonight We Fly – Divine Comedy (sigh. I love love love Divine Comedy. Pat gave me this album … and every song on it is amazing. That album got me through a rough couple of months. Love it!)

Life’s Too Short – Pat McCurdy (Okay, Pat, what the hell. You are dominating my shuffle. But this is one of my favorites of his songs and any time I make it back to one of my shows, he always remembers, and plays it for me. That and “Paris When It Burns”. heh heh)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love – Queen (classic. Can’t believe we haven’t hit a “bad” song yet.)

God Bless America – Celine Dion (I know. There are many things that are wrong with this. First of all: she is Canadian. That’s the first thing. Not that she can’t bless America and everything. But still. She sang it on the music telethon right after September 11 – and I have the album of that telethon. She sings the song simply, without too much pyrotechnics … and a TON of feeling. It’s not as good as Whitney Houston’s “Star Spangled Banner” – but then again, what is??)

Everybody Loves You, Baby – Don McLean (it feels like a huge chunk of my childhood is in this song. I should be listening to it on vinyl.)

The Goonies R Good Enough – Cyndi Lauper (HAHAHA Great song though! “Good enough for you … It’s good enough for me … It’s good it’s good enough for me AYYIYIYIYIYI” Another flashback … Who’s bettah than Cyndi Lauper …)

Hey Baby – No Doubt (okay, so here is the first song I want to skip. It got played too much on the radio and I got immune to it, even though I like it.)

Your Song – Ewan McGregor (do not even get me started on what this song means to me. It is all that is good and right and hopeful in the world.)

Soldier – Eminem (I have heard this song, what, 800 times? Countless times. And it still never fails to take my breath away. One of my favorites of his.)

Rev It Up and Go – Stray Cats (see above comment in re: Stray Cats.)

Tiocfaidh An Samhradh – The Cassidys (yup. Sad wistful Gaelic language on a rainy day redolent of the west of Ireland. I love the Cassidys. Oh – and the title means “Summer Will Come”. Please. Not too soon. I love this rainy cold crap.)

Marry the Man Today – Guys and Dolls (ha. “you mustn’t squeeze a melon til you get the melon home” … “Now doesn’t that kind of apply to you and I?” “You and me!” “Whatever.”)

Together/Fireworks – Sally Mayes (she is marvelous- this is from her Comden & Green songbook album. Her voice is so kick ASS.)

Did I Sleep Through It All – Tracy Bonham (God, I love her. Seriously, this is the best shuffle ever. I am obviously doing OTHER things as I provide you with my boring shuffle information. But again. My own boring-ness is unbelievably compelling to me.)

Christ for President – Billy Bragg & Wilco (ha!! Quite a propos today, I think. This wonderful album always reminds me of Cashel as a newborn. We were all very into this album and Cashel seemed to respond well to a lot of the songs – especially the first one on the album – “Walt Whitman’s Niece”. He would wriggle around his little peapod body in pleasure when that song came on.)

If I Were a Gambling Man – Pat McCurdy (okay. Stop taking over, Pat. But I love this one. The fastest song he ever wrote, according to him.)

Romance (if I can get it) – The Nylons (great a capella group. And this is my 2nd favorite of their songs. This always reminds me of college and Brett. Brett was the one who introduced me to the Nylons.)

Keep Young and Beautiful – Annie Lennox (ha!! What a snark-fest. Love her.)

Mockingbird – Eminem (more sadness, more self-pity. I like it, though.)

Rain is Falling – ELO (One of my favorites of their songs. Makes me want to cry. Or slow dance with somebody. Or something like that.)

Big Tall Man – Liz Phair (I’m trying to think of a Liz Phair song I DON’T like. Maybe “Uncle Alvarez” … but that’s really the only one that comes to mine. Love Liz Phair.)

Serenade for Winds – Mozart (2 Mozart songs in one shuffle. Not too shabby!)

Built for Speed – Stray Cats (hahahaha Again! “Well, I’m cruisin’ low and I’m cruisin’ mean … You’re my hot rod mama and you’re really built for speed!” So – as of now – Stray Cats and Pat McCurdy are neck and neck for the most appearances …)

Soap Star Joe – Liz Phair (like I said: Liz Phair always shows up with creepy regularity in my shuffle … I love this one. It’s from Exile to Guyville – it has the rawness of that whole album.)

Enough Space – Foo Fighters (from Colour and the Shape – which is a perfect album, in my opinion. I love this song … but they’re all amazing.)

Fake Friends – Joan Jett (hahaha Love it.)

My luck continues. It is quite stunning. And it’s still raining.

Comforting Lie – No Doubt (I wasn’t wacky about that album – and I’m a huge No Doubt fan … but I loved this song. This one, “Suspension without Suspense” and “Ex-Girlfriend” are my favorites off that album)

In the Lost and Found – Elliott Smith (This song is creepy sad. I can’t listen to Elliott Smith too much – he’s too sad. But I love pretty much every song off that album. You know, the one he recorded before stabbing himself in the heart.)

Pharaoh – The House Band (believe it or not this is an Irish band. All male singers. This song is rather amusing … Irish instruments, a Celtic feel to the tune … but they’re singing “we’re all workin’ for the Pharaoh …”)

Amazing Grace – Bela Fleck (banjo. A slow contemplative banjo version of “Amazing Grace”. God almighty. I love Bela Fleck anyway, I’ve seen him play in clubs a couple of times – great stuff … but this version of Amazing Grace has got to be heard to be believed. It’s off a compilation CD I have – of country singers singing Gospel and most of it is sentimental treacly sanctimonious crap – but not this song. Not this version of it.)

Polly – Nirvana (the live version. I prefer the live version actually.)

Gallant Forty Twa – Clancy Brothers (I adore them … but I am just shaking with laughter right now … If you could hear what I’m listening to … hahahahahaha)

I’m Not Dead – Pink (I think she has a perfect rock and roll voice. Perfect pitch. Perfect. This is a very good song.)

There’s a Rugged Road – Shawn Colvin (someday I’ll write a post about this album – it’s called “Cover Girl” and my life at the time I discovered it. Kate gave it to me on a tape – yes, we still were doing cassettes at that point. And I never – I mean NEVER – hear one of the songs off this album without thinking of that time in my life. My response to them change – there was a long period when I could no longer listen to this album – but I ALWAYS see August 1994 and September 1995 when I hear any one of these songs.)

Good Times Bad Times – Led Zeppelin (aweeeeesome.)

Fly Away – Poe (I really like Poe. Michael told me about her. We were talking about House of Leaves. I did not know Poe’s connection to that book.)

Cold Day In the Sun – Foo Fighters (I’d listen to them sing “Happy Birthday” I love them so much. This actually kind of sounds like an Eagles song, weirdly)

Gold Dust Woman – Fleetwood Mac (this song gives me the chills. That whole freakin’ album gives me the chills. Perfect album.)

The Lamb’s Book of Life – Sinead O’Connor (angry song. Very good song. “Out of Ireland I have come … great hatred in little rooms named us at the start … and now home just breaks my heart …”)

Ten Year Night – Lucy Kaplansky (sad. Sad song. Beautiful but really sad.)

Indian War Whoop – John Hartford (ha! This is from the wonderful “O Brother, Where Art Thou” soundtrack – I love every song on that soundtrack.)

As Long As I’m Singin’ – the Brian Setzer Orchestra (awesome. Seriously, never EVER get tired of Setzer)

Hills of LA – Mike Viola and the Candybutchers (thank you thank you to my sister Siobhan for REALLY getting me into them. My brother, my cousin Liam … they’ve all been huge Candybutchers fans from way back. But it was Siobhan who helped me kick it into gear. Thank you!)

Another Girl – Beatles (you know – my luck has been quite extraordinary all day. And no – I have not been hovering by my computer all day. I have bought shoes. I have sent off mail. I have taken a walk. Etc. But the shuffle continues … the shuffle continues …)

Babe I’m Gonna Leave You – Led Zeppelin (ahhhhhhhhhhh)

Hero of the Day – Metallica – (wow, 2 in one day from “Load”?? Like I said – if I split them up and don’t listen to the album all the way thru, I really like the songs. Wonder why that is? I like this song, actually – I like the bridge – or the transition part – when it gets really harsh, rough. Not as much into the melodic stuff stuff.)

40′ – Franz Ferdinand (I’m a huge fan. Love that whole album.)

Go, Go, Go Joseph – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Okay. I’m laughing. “Go Go Go Joseph … to the OTHER window.” “We don’t think that we will ever see the light of day again … Hey, Joseph, help us if you can. We’ve had dreams that we don’t understand!” Oh, come on, it’s catchy. Albeit GEEKY.)

Life Story – from the “Closer Than Ever” soundtrack. One of the most heartbreaking songs ever written. Beautifull performed by Lynne Wintersteller – man, can she sing. Great song, though. sniff …

Mal Bhan Ni Chuilionain – Aine Minogue (I love her. Have to be in the mood for her – a kind of quiet mood – which, thankfully, I am today.)

Jump Jive An’ Wail – Brian Setzer Orchestra (I think Setzer is winning for most appearances … He definitely is. Swingin’!)

You’re Never Gonna Get It – En Vogue (God. Member them? Member how they dominated? Before Destiny’s Child took over the entire solar system?)

I’m a Big Fat Idiot – Pat McCurdy (I’m howling. “I’m stupid as shit and I’m proud of it …” He makes me laugh.)

Kite – U2 (I love this song. I love the opening chords. There’s something haunting and peaceful about them.)

The Wall – Johnny Cash (I love how he starts laughing in the middle of this … you can just feel the audience there … it’s palpable)

Yours, Yours, Yours – John and Abigail from “1776” (sniffle. Love this song)

Livin’ on the Edge – Aerosmith (Okay. Uhm. Not too crazy about this song. Maybe I need to delete it from the ol’ iPod. There is something unnecessarily … florid about Aerosmith. Does anyone else agree? Like – stop it. You’re just a sex maniac. Calm down. Stop being so FLORID. It’s like they are always in the baroque stage of art history, with everything overdone and overblown. Calm down, guys. I beg you.)

You’re the Boss – Brian Setzer and Gwen Stefani (SO fun. Her voice totally fits in with that style)