Songs that sound like crisp fall air

Music has always been such a massive part of my life. From early childhood I have distinct memories surrounding music- of listening to Bob Dylan crowing hoarsely outside on our patio, to falling asleep on a long haul in our big green van to the sound of No Doubt's ex-girlfriend. I would watch VHS tapes of B.B. King and Stevie Ray Vaughn with my Dad in his smoky music room, and lie on itchy blankets in the grass on a warm, wet Florida July evening listening to my Mother play the Sousa Alarm in a university band (she wasn't a student there, to be clear- she just loved playing so much she convinced the conductor to let her play each summer. Wonder where I get this love of music from...)

One of my most distinct memories is that time of year when the weather changes (yes, it happens in Florida too)- the air becomes crisper, clear, dry and cold. We had a family car when we were growing up- a gold 1980s Volvo that belonged to my grandmother and was shared among the cousins who were old enough to drive for years after she passed away. My brother and I inherited it around 2005. The AC worked intermittently at best, and those cool mornings driving to school with him were some of my favorite memories from high school.

We both became obsessed with the In the Reins EP. I've written about it before- the blend of Americana steel guitar and Mariachi-style brass instruments blends into a strange-sounding album that's only imperfection is being too short. Here's one example but I highly, highly recommend listening to the full EP. It is easily one of my favorite albums of all time. (Sidebar: I ran into Sam Beam in the parking lot before he played a show when I was in college. It was one of the best moments of my life. Later that evening he dedicated the song 'History of Lovers' to his 'friends from the parking lot.' I have the blurry digital photo to prove it too if you keep scrolling.)

This is a terrible picture and I love it so much. Taken at The Moon in Tallahassee in 2008.

All this to say, I love how music brings you back to a specific place and time in your life. It's such a beautiful, strange phenomenon, isn't it? Also on my fall list: Snow Patrol's Final Straw (the opening track) and Taylor Swift's Red (the whole album, although I'm not as into the more upbeat, pop tracks.) What's on your fall playlist?

Music Monday

So last week morning temperatures finally hit the 60s and 70s here in Florida.

This can only mean one thing: 

Yes, laugh all you want, my Northern friends,

this is as cold as it is likely to get down here in sunny Florida

{Okay, maybe it will get a little colder}

And of course, 

I had to break out my winter tunes.

You know the ones I'm talking about-

they're soft, pensive, 

slightly moody-

they just feel like winter, somehow. 

Bon Iver, 

Iron and Wine,

Counting Crows, 

They just make me want to curl up in bed on a gray day

with a warm tea and a good book. 

This is beginning to sound quite cliche so I'll stop for now. 

But one of Snow Patrol's first albums,

Final Straw,

takes me back to crisp November mornings 

when my brother and I would drive to high school in our Grandma's gold volvo

that was so old it's AC didn't work,

shivering, moody and so not ready for class.

We'd pop in our tape deck converter, and blast Final Straw the whole drive over. 

How to be Dead and Same are both gems

But Spitting Games was probably my favorite :)

after all, it's the song that introduced me to this awesome band.

Ah, memories!

Have a great week, Peter!

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