Share a song you feel was ahead of its time.

A friend I met on the hardcore BBS my first year of college (1994 or 95) was going to school in Massachusetts and she always talked about a band called Converge that she knew... she eventually sent me a mixtape with some new Converge songs on it. One of which was "The Saddest Day". Mindblowing is an understatement.

It was certainly ahead of it's time, having basically created the mathcore genre along with Deadguy... which also gave us bands like Dillinger Escape Plan, Botch,, Every Time I Die, The Callous Daoboys, The Armed, and many more.

Converge went on to huge things with critically acclaimed albums like Jane Doe, You Fail Me, Axe to Fall, and All We Love We Leave Behind.

What’s the last song you discovered and loved instantly?

I've already written about Racing Mount Pleasant enough, but that would have been my pick had I not...

But the second most recent would be Anna Tivel's album, Animal Poem... and the first song I heard off of that: "Paradise"

Not sure how I missed Tivel, given my interest in folk music the last couple years. She has 9 albums and is lauded as one of the finest songwriters of her generation. After listening to Animal Poem, I'd have to agree.

I can′t find it Paradise is in the mind I just know it is But I've been searching for a lifetime

What’s a lyric that resonates deeply with you and why?

I love the lyrics to this song. It reminds me to be mindful... that everything is temporary and the only way out, is through.

You ask me what I think about this Is there even a reason for it? I don't have answers, no one does I've been finding comfort in that There's only love There's only moving through and trying your best Sometimes it's not enough

Who gives a fuck All of this will end Don't forget All of this will end

If your life were a movie, what would its theme song be?

I love the vibe of the song. I definitely think it has a soundtrack feel to it.

Plus it's Sharon Van Etten...

No prompt. Just documenting the best live performance I’ve ever seen. Vampire Weekend is next level good now. Blew my expectations out of the water, even having seen them in 2019 at a small venue.

How do you discover new music, and what’s the latest gem you’ve found?

I obviously listen to a lot of new music for this site, but this band was introduced to me by my wife. And we got to see them tonight at our local music festival.

They were a little flat at times, which was disappointing but they ended the set on a high note.

Anyway, I dig their latest album.

What is a song that feels like home to you?

Unfortunately, this song is our whole fucking country right now. I always wished Fugazi was still around to make music for the current moment. But the more I dive back into their lyrics to match these prompts, it's abundantly clear that things have always been the same. Just different actors...

Viva, viva, viva, life and limb Viva, viva, viva, threatening

Hey, we want our violence doubled (No, but really in a loving way) Hey, we want our violence doubled (No, but really want it right away)

The national temper, you know it's written on your face Etched and scratched and mirrored back, don't you know it's all the rage? Oh, don't you feel it now?

We have moments, glimpses, of progress... of things made right in the world... but in the end the selfish, hateful, and bigoted – the grifter – always rear their ugly head to bring us back in time. Enough of us get fooled every time.

I'm trying to stay positive, but it feels impossible sometimes.

New feature, who dis?

Testing out the YouTube embeds, now available for manual entries.

Bandcamp song URLs work too!

What song do you associate with the current season?

I always forget how good Daughter is... and how hooked on If You Leave I was... can't believe it came out 12 years ago!

It's definitely the kind of music I love to listen to in the Fall. I have a feeling this album will be in rotation for the next month or two.

Woken up like an animal I'm all ready for healing My mind's lost with nightmares streaming Woken up, kicking, screaming Oh, take me out of this place I'm in Oh, break me out of this shell-like case I'm in

What’s your favorite love song, and why?

I already shared the Ida version of "Shoe In", which was our wedding song. Today, I will share the original version of the song, as recorded by The Secret Stars. Absolutely beautiful.

As I said in the last post: I love that no one in that room knew the song. It was OURS. And in my mind, it always will be.

The Secret Stars were Geoff Farina and Jodi Buonanno. Farina is better known for being in the band Karate. (Also great.)

Come to dinner with me We'll walk down the main street all dressed up We'll make time for coffee I know the caffiene makes you sad Just once, won't you do it for me?

Up in heaven, you're a shoe-in If you open up your heart to me