Don't Speak

I'm going through another one of my phases where I can't handle listening to music with words. This usually happens once a year, but the last time I can remember it happening was when I was in grad school, the Fall of 2005. Let it be said that I cannot work, write a paper or design a logo without some sort of background noise, however I much prefer music to the TV because let's be serious if I even hear Chandler or Monica so much as sneeze, I drop everything and run to sit and obey all things related to those beloved characters. I do the same thing for Forrest, Zoolander and Office Space. I also don't have a TV in my room and haven't since college so the temptation is barely there, although, ever since downloading season 6 of Scrubs to iTunes, the temptation is a bit more palpable. Luckily, I finished that dumb school thing a long time ago and don't work from home. So yes, yes I must have noise and I rejoice daily in the fact that I now have my own office and can listen to music all day without having to wear headphones. Sometimes when I really need to focus, I turn it up super loud and close my door. But sometimes I just do that when I'm throwing a dance party.

The last time I went through this phase, this weird phase where music with words digs so deep under my skin I can almost feel it in my bone marrow, I discovered one of my current favorite bands. I remember where I was sitting, the time of day AND what I was working on when I discovered The Album Leaf and realized that it was, quite possibly, the best music I had [not] ever heard. Two of the songs from their album In a Safe Place top the 'most played' list in my library. I also love that This American Life uses it as transition music on an almost weekly basis.

Sometimes, these random phases that I go through can be quite amazingly productive and unveil great things. The time I went through my 'all I want to do is smoke pot' phase...not so much. It unveiled great things sure, but mostly just in my mind.

Good music is just waiting to be discovered....standby.