Oh Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy!

I had a heated debate the other day at work.  My friend is a staunch republican who supports candidates that I have not interest in.  We got no where in our debate so I asked him what he wanted in a presidential candidate.  He had an answer and I did not.

So...

Below is a list of what I feel is important in a candidate.  I reserve the right to add or subtract from it.


1- Our country was founded on compromise; therefore, the candidate I support must be willing to listen to all sides of issues and find solutions that move in more than one direction.

2- America is best when we are creating new innovative cutting edge products. This takes an educated population that can express their creativity. My Presidential candidate must support public education for all.

3- I would like my candidate to be financially responsible. We can not continue to spend without having the money to fund. There needs to be a tax system that requires sacrifice from all economic levels. The rich and corporations must pay their share.

4- I believe our government must protect all its citizens. My candidate must not be bias against any one group of people regardless of religion, race, socioeconomic, or sexual orientation.

Charlie said: I normally wait until the last line to “surprise” with my rating. Not this time. It is a definite promote it, a big time promote it. In fact, it is my favorite CD this year.

I don’t think it would work if I just listed the songs I like because, I like them all! Really, all of them.

Because of that, I am going to try to interpret one song on this album.

“One Sunday Morning (For Jane Smiley’s Boyfriend)” is my favorite song on the album. Before I even started to try to interpret the lyric meaning, the simple melody caught me. It was so simple yet it seems as if Tweedy added one extra note thus making is at the same time complex. I can’t explain it, but I can’t even hum along without the song in the background.

Beyond the simple yet complex melody there are heartbreaking lyrics. Tweedy is talking about a contentious relationship between a son and his father. “My father said what I had become/No one should be.” exemplifies how bad the connection has become. The problem stems from religion: “I said it's your God I don't believe in/No, your Bible can't be true” and the son is even somewhat happy when the father is gone.

The song could have looked only at the failed bond, but instead it goes much deeper. It was not who was right and who was wrong, like the melody, it seemed simple but at the same time was complex.

The lyrics continue with the son seeing his relationship with his father for what it was, complex, and the song ends where it began.

Here are the last three stanza of the song:

Something sad keeps moving
So I wandered around.
I fell in love with the burden
Holding me down.

Bless my mind, I miss
Being told how to live.
What I learned without knowing
How much more I owe than I can give

This is how I tell it
Oh, but it's long.
One Sunday morning
One son is gone.

It song will be with me a long time.

If you like atmosphere say shh… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV_E8SPc_jo

Charlie said:  I obviously liked this album more than you Tina.  I found the lyrics vivid, smart, funny, and blunt.  This entire album orbits around the family unit, from the pain of growing up (The Last to Say), trying to find a partner (Became), finding a wife (She's Enough), even a funny look at being a dad (Bad Bad Daddy). 

If gangster rap speaks to people growing up in gangs and violence, Atmosphere speaks to those living in Minnesota trying to raise a family.  Atmosphere are rapper who loudly claim Minnesota as their home, they do not deny they love, and point out their weaknesses and flaws.

I love almost every song of this album.  The best are:  The Last to Say, Became, She's Enough, Who I'll Never Be, If You Can Save Me Now, and My Notes. 

Tina, I even liked Bad Bad Daddy.  I think it is hilarious.

On Tina/Charlie deny it, lend it, promote it scale, The Family Sign hits it out of the park in to the atmosphere, Promote It.

--I just did two things that changed my list: I reduced it to 10, and I bought the new Wilco album.


1- Art of Almost: Wilco-The Whole Love
2- Ok: Beastie Boys-Hot Sauce Committee part two
3- Coming Up: Lupe Fiasco-Lasers
4- Used to Be a Cop: Drive-By Truckers-Go-Go Boots
5- Calamity Song: The Decemberists-The King is Dead
6- You Are a Tourist: Death Cab For Cutie-Codes and Keys
7- Became: Atmosphere-The Family Sign
8- Helena Beat: Foster the People-Torches
9- Shell Games: Bright Eyes-The People's Key
10- One Sunday Morning (Song for Jane Smiley's Boyfriend): Wilco-The Whole Love

some times I run to
other times I run away from
its best when I am with