Caren Explains the Best Songs of 2007 that are Made for TV Moments

Continuing the Best Songs of 2007 series... these are the songs that would fit convincingly into the drama or delight of ABC Primetime TV shows, like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Brothers and Sisters."

In some cases, these artists have indeed had their music incorporated into TV shows, but I like to think my mix is better.

"Lay Your Head Down," Keren Ann
"Ain't No Reason," Brett Dennen
"I Wanna Marry You All Over Again," Derek Webb
"Your Rocky Spine," Great Lake Swimmers
"The Way I Am," Ingrid Michaelson
"Better Man," James Morrison
"The National Side," Romantica
"You Might Walk Away," Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter
"Sweetie," Josh Rouse
"The New Love Song," Joshua James
"You Again," Kate Havnevik
"Kite Song," Rosie Thomas
"We Got Love," Ryan Shaw
"Now, Now," St. Vincent
"Falling in Love in a Coffee Shop," Landon Pigg
"Scar that Never Heals," Jeremy Fisher
"Take Your Leaving Slow," Sanders Bohlke

And here's where you can buy them on iTunes... (Facebook readers need to visit the full blog post for the links)

Next time, 2007 Volume 4: As Heard on the Blogs...

Caren Explains the neighborhood

My new neighborhood is a strange but wonderful place. There are plenty of old houses -- some renovated, some in need of renovation -- and beautiful trees that have been growing for years and years. There is an ugly cinderblock building, though, across the street from our loft. It is painted forest green and has been the target of some graffiiti artists as of late. It is especially unfortunate because the graffiti is ridiculous and not in any way artistic. For example, someone wrote about Gaelic breasts? Huh? But luckily the graffiti seems to be contained to that corner, including a STOP sign that someone altered so that it reads "STOP Punishing Yourself."

Our loft is above a yoga studio and for some reason that yoga studio makes a lot of noise. Loud music, bongo drums, chanting. One night it was so loud that I went down to find the source of the commotion and discovered a naked yoga class in process. Yikes.

The sidewalks here are crooked but get a lot of foot traffic. This morning there were people passing through to go to the salon, the yoga studio and the bakery. Most of them were wearing scarves and winter hats, which makes sense since it is December. But it is 70 degrees outside. December outfits do not need to be wintery if it is summery outside.

My roommates and I sometimes see a man walking up and down the street in the mornings. We thought he was homeless but it turns out he actually owns a large but undeveloped plot of land around the block. He sleeps there at night and does construction work in the daylight from what we can tell. He carries his shoes over his shoulder sometimes and seems to be very shy, because my roommate tries to talk to him and he doesn't say anything in reply. If we were in trouble, I bet he would save us. He could be our Boo Radley.

Kitty likes to go on the back deck and watch the trains go by. She has never tried to venture away from the deck, and only once has she gone out the front door. She was too scared to go any further than the doormat.

One of the coffee shops down the street serves Superman ice cream, which is my favorite flavor simply because it is red, yellow and blue. In reality, I think its just vanilla ice cream with food coloring, but I like that It turns your tongue different colors. I will order this type of ice cream until I am in my 90s.

And though I can't find the source, I know that one of my neighbors runs a delicious-smelling bakery out of his or her house. I don't know how that sweet brownie aroma travels so far, but it is terribly tempting and terribly frustrating not to know where it is coming from.

Just another day in the neighborhood...

Caren Explains the Best Songs of 2007, Volume 2

"I'm sorry that people are so jealous of me. But I can't help it that I'm popular."

And now we begin the next playlist of songs that hit the masses this year...

2007 Volume 2: It's Not My Fault I'm So Popular

"Grace Kelly," Mika
"Radio Nowhere," Bruce Springsteen
"Bubbly," Colbie Caillat
"Umbrella (feat. Jay-Z)," Rihanna
"New Shoes," Paolo Nutini
"You Know I'm No Good," Amy Winehouse
"Apologize (feat. OneRepublic)," Timbaland
"First Time," Lifehouse
"Extraordinary," Mandy Moore
"Hey There Delilah," Plain White T's
"Makes Me Wonder," Maroon 5
"The Story," Brandi Carlile
"Stronger," Kanye West
"Girlfriend," Avril Lavigne
"D.A.N.C.E.," Justice

Also, if it weren't so long and annoying to listen to, I would have included "This is Why I'm Hot"... instead, I will leave you with this amazing link from Village Voice and its accompanying diagram, because we all know I love diagrams.



Next up... 2007 Volume 3: Perfect for ABC Primetime TV

Caren Explains the Best Songs of 2007

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! It's the end of the year! Wait... it's the end of the year? Where did it go?!

Well, in that case, that means its time for my 100 Favorite Songs of the Year. Yes, 100. No more, no less.

Some ground rules and disclaimers for my list:

1. There shall be no "repeat artists" unless an artist had projects under different names this year (ex. Josh Rouse recorded under "Josh Rouse" and "She's Spanish, I'm American" this year, so that counts as two artists ... "Kanye West" and "Mr. West" is one in the same)
2. If a song was released in 2006 but got popular in 2007, it doesn't count. We're only going on release dates here or else there will be lawlessness, and lawlessness means anarchy and there will be no anarchy on my blog!
3. I like what I like, and I'm sorry if you disagree. You are welcome to petition in the comments section here or on Facebook.
4. These 100 songs will be broken into six playlists: Best of the Best, It's Not My Fault I'm So Popular, Perfect for ABC Primetime TV, As Heard on the Blogs, My Mom Says I'm a Catch and Obscurity to Impress Your Friends
5. Each playlist will be made available via iTunes and posted for you, but in some cases, songs will not be available for sale on iTunes... because of this, I will try to provide links whenever possible to the hard-to-find or more obscure songs.

I will begin by sharing "2007 Volume 1: Best of the Best"... these are, in my humble but more informed opinion, the best songs of the year, in no particular order...

Blonde Redhead - 23
Wilco - Either Way
Fionn Regan - Be Good or Be Gone
I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona
Josh Ritter - The Temptation of Adam
Avett Brothers - Die Die Die
Loney, Dear - I Am John
Dashboard - Modest Mouse
Ryan Adams - Two
Feist - 1234
Bright Eyes - Four Winds
The Arcarde Fire - Intervention
Bloc Party - Waiting for the 7.18
Radiohead - Nude
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - Falling Slowly
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
M.I.A. - Jimmy
The National - Start a War
The New Pornographers - My Rights Versus Yours
Iron & Wine - Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car
Joseph Arthur & the Lonely Astronauts - Chicago
Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You
Andrew Bird - Scythian Empires

The best lyrics goes to Josh Ritter from "The Temptation of Adam"...

"We passed the time with crosswords that she thought to bring inside/ 'What five letters spell apocalypse?' she asked me / I won her over saying, 'W.W.I.I.I.' / She smiled and we both knew that she misjudged me."

Tomorrow, I explain: 2007 Volume 2: It's Not My Fault I'm So Popular

Caren Explains Where She Has Been

So I went MIA for awhile, which even my mother was quick to point out. But I'm alive. Since last we met, I traveled to Austin, Denver, DC, New York and I am soon-to-be-in Durham.

Hours of sleep I've logged: few

Friends I've missed: everyone

Concerts I've caught since last we met: 40

The Decemberists
Ryan Shaw
Joseph Arthur & the Lonely Astronauts
Manchester Orchestra
Kevin Devine
Peter & the Wolf
Oneside
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
Golden Bear
Brent Keith
DeVotchKa
Ben Lee
Midlake
Bob Dylan
Patterson Hood
Common
Ghostland Observatory
My Morning Jacket
Andrew Bird
Fionn Regan
Aqueduct
Apples in Stereo
Morning State
Tyler James
Andy Davis
Interpol
Liars
The Booze
VHS or Beta
Winter Sounds
The Drownout
Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys
The Black Kids
Air Traffic
Tacks the Boy Disaster
American Babies
Harlem Shakes
Hallelujah the Hills
The New Frontiers
Chase Pagan
Office

I'm exhausted just typing that... if you want to know about any of them, let me know... I have plenty to talk about.

Here is a cool set-list that Jason snagged from Wilco's taping of Austin City Limits, and gave to me. Good friends are nice to have.



CK