Friday, September 10, 2004

Drag

It has been a dreary week. I've been assailed by a cough that only acts up when I lay down to sleep, thus wrecking my daily sleep cycle. The antibiotics the doctor gave did shite for me, though I suspect the cough may be actually aggravated by my incessant smoking. But that's another kettle of fish.

Time is a funny thing. It's never there when you need it and it pops up everywhere in large chunks when you don't. I never used to have to think about what to do with my free time, but now, it seems that it's all I have nowadays.

A weird thing happened the other day. My colleagues and I were having lunch. They expressed interest in my iPod and requested to scan through my playlists. I realised, from their quizzical looks and raised eyebrows, that they have no idea what I've been listening to. Yet they were all polite and everything, and didn't say anything. They were probably wondering how long they need to look interested before decorum allows them to stop. I was very amused.

Now, playlists are a very personal thing. It's one of the most accurate introduction to anyone's life. Here are some of mine:

• Fresh Tunes: Stuff that I've just added


• Angry Bastard Music: Self Explanatory. I'm looking to expand this.. mainly NIN
  


• Get up and GO: For those dreary Monday mornings. Le Tigre's Let's Run (when you are running late), Bright Eyes' A Song to Pass the Time (when you're waiting for the stupid bus), White Stripes' 7 Nation Army (when your boss sees you coming in late).
  


• In the Greenhouse: Stuff that I haven't really gotten into but making an effort anyway. Postal Service (everytime I hear Ben Gibbard's voice, I just feel like listening to Death Cab instead), Raveonettes, Tindersticks (how low can that guy's voice go?), My Morning Jacket
  


• One Hit Wonders: Singles I like but not enough to get the whole album (or too embarrassed to). No Doubt's Running, Mazzy Star's Fade into You, Simple Plan's Perfect, Black Box Recorder.
  


• Lyricless Stuff: Post-rock stuff. GYBE, Mogwai, Explosions etc


• Music by the Window Smoking: Self Explanatory. Of a more "contemplatory" nature but not unduly depressing: Yo La Tengo, Wilco, Teenage Fanclub
  


• Music to Read By: Background Music basically.
  


• Top Rated Haunts: Self Explanatory. Right now it's Radiohead's True Love Waits (uh oh.. see below), The Strokes' 12:51 and Death in Vegas' Girls (from the excellent Lost in Translation OST)
  


• Sad Bastard Music: To be avoided at all costs right now. Deadliest possible combination for the broken-hearted: Coldplay's The Scientist, Radiohead's Let Down and True Love Waits. Will make 50 cent shed a tear.
  


• Shuttle Service: Commuter Music. "Happier" music like Belle & Sebastian, New Pornographers, The Shins, Spoon.
  


• Songs to Play Chess to: duh. Gastr Del Sol, Bedhead, Mogwai
  

Nice to meet you too.

posted by Sharon K at 12:09 am