My Freakish Love of Music

I love music! I always have ever since I was a kid. I am one of those people that have to have music playing all the time. I married a man that has a beautiful voice and can play the guitar (and drums). When I first met him he was in a band that was really good. He let me borrow their tape when we were first dating. I listened to it over and over (errr.. .. umm. . .. I still do). I love to go on road trips just so that we can spend hours in the car together listening to CD after CD and I can hear my husband's dreamy voice (so very sexy).

The really weird part is that music is incredibly associative for me. Certain CD's remind me of very specific times or events in my life. This can be both good and bad. Here is a few examples:

• Sixpence None the Richer, "The Fatherless and the Widow" reminds me of my first trip to Hawaii with my parents.
• Vigilantes of Love (several albums but especially the song "Starry Eyed") always takes me back to camping at the Sleeping Bear Dunes.
• Edwin McCain reminds me of moving into my first apartment and getting married
• David Gray, "White Ladder" reminds me of my grandma's cancer and passing (which is unfortunate because its a really great CD).
• Dave Matthews Band, "Crash" is definitely my first year in college.
• Velour 100, "Fall Sounds" is most certainly for that first warm day of spring (ironic, I know).

The list could go on and on. My husband and I even have certain CD's we call Driving CD's that we always listen to during road trips (Bloomsday, Common Children, Velour 100, Seven Day Jesus, Plankeye, and Black Eyed Sceva).

Unfortunately, we both believe that good music has died a quiet death these days (beginning with the bubble gum pop of Brittany Spears and company). We are impatiently awaiting its return. Right now, we are just trying to seek out any music that doesn't sound like everything else out there (and by that I mean Matchbox 20 or the Goo Goo Dolls). I mean enough is enough. So if anyone has any recommendations, I have my pencil ready.

So what are we listening to now?

• Death Cab for Cutie (pretty good if you are feeling mellow)
• The Killers (not the best but tolerable)
• Switchfoot (however just as a disclaimer, we have been huge Switchfoot fans since 1996 and have seen them at least 6 times in concert including back when you could still sit down with the band and talk to them in person)
• Nick Drake (Pink Moon)
• U2 (Achtung Baby--which in my opinion is the best album)
• Coldplay
• Dashboard Confessionals (hey, who doesn't love a little teen angst every now and then and the excitement of first love)

What we would do without music (gasp!)?