Friday Five - Workout Songs that PUMP YOU UP

TGIF!  I've been M.I.A. these last few days because I ended up getting sinus infection and that kind of pain makes it hard to focus on anything.  Clearly the bike ride on Sunday was a very bad idea.  I felt fine on Monday and then when I woke up Tuesday morning, things were not right.  I was dizzy and I had the worst sinus headache so off to the walk in clinic I went and left with a prescription for antibiotics and nasal spray.  FUN.   I'm feeling much better now that my head no longer feels like someone was trying to chisel it open.

Anyway, today I'm linking up with the DC Trifecta ladies (Courtney, Cynthia & Mar) for a little Friday 5 Action.  Speaking of Friday 5's, I also make an appearance on the Westside Studio blog chatting about my 5 favourite beers (of course).   Making that list was harder than any race I've done, ha ha. 

When I saw the topic for this week's Friday Five, I was all over it.   I love music and I work out and run with it regularly.  I find it especially helpful in the last few km's of a race when I need that extra boost.  I have an extensive playlist and I generally like most music but there are some genres I favour more than others.  If you were to get in my car and turn the radio on, you'd see that it's firmly planted on Alt Nation.  So yeah, I'm a little bit of an alternative music lover and have been since I was a teenager but I do enjoy other genres as evidenced by my running playlist that has everything from Prince, to Rush, to Bruce Springsteen, to The Arctic Monkeys and the Beastie Boys on it.

So without further ado, here are 5 of my current faves:

1) L.L. Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out

This song makes me push for that last rep, or that extra step.  You can't go wrong with a little LL on your playlist.

2)  Train Wreck 1979 - Death from Above 1979

I'm not sure what it is about this song but any time I hear it, especially when I'm running, I work that much harder.

3)  Jump Around - House of Pain

Another classic.  If this song doesn't get you going, then I think you might want to check yourself for a pulse, ha ha.

4) Right Action - Franz Ferdinand

This one motivates me specifically when I'm running.  There's something about the beat that gets me into a groove and pushes me.

5) Soundgarden - Rusty Cage

What can I say about this song.  That driving beat, Chris Cornell's amazing voice really kick things up a notch for me. 

Well there you have it.  5 of my current favourites. 

Tell me some of your favourite tunes and head over to the link up to check out other posts!

Happy Friday! 

New Music Monday & Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day!

I hope you've got something fun planned to celebrate!  I'm heading out for an open water swim and bike ride because you know, that just what we do with an extra day off in the summer!  It will be a good way to recover from my first long run in a month, ha ha.  July is going to be the month of the long run.  It's time to get my base mileage back up.  I ran just under 15km yesterday, a whole lot slower than I normally would but the goal was to keep my heart rate in zone two, which I did.  YAY!

Speaking of running, a few weeks ago I decided that my running playlist needed some refreshing.   Luckily that happened to coincide with a free preview on Sirius XM.   I don't normally listen to the radio but when there's a free preview on satellite radio, I'm in.   I especially love Alt Nation, which is not surprising given that I grew up loving all the alternative music of the 80's and 90's.   Once an Alt Rock / New Wave girl, always an Alt Rock / New Wave girl.  I also peruse the iTunes store a fair bit.  That's how I discovered that Atlas Genius finally released a full length album (it's pretty freaking awesome in case you were wondering).  Believe it or not, twitter is also a good source of new music if you follow your favourite bands.  That's how I discovered that Franz Ferdinand FINALLY released a couple of new singles.  Talk about making my day.  Unfortunately they're not available on iTunes yet so they haven't made it into my playlist rotation yet.  You can bet that as soon as I can download them, they will be put on the shuffle. 

I've pulled a few oldies but goodies out as well and put them back in rotation.  Most notably, House of Pain's "Jump Jump".  Such a good running song.

These are a few of my new favourites.

Two Door Cinema Club:   "Sun"
A fantastic summer song if you ask me.

Spoon - Don't You Evah
This song just makes me want to dance.

Blind Pilot - We Are the Tide
Yet another awesome summertime song.  Just puts a smile on my face.

Atlas Genius - If So
Off their new album.  Just as good as Trojans or Symptoms.  Love!

 Franz Ferdinand - Right Action
It may not have an official video yet but who cares.  It's really all about the music anyway!  I had my own little kitchen dance party on Saturday night with this song on repeat.  Drove G nuts, ha ha.  Just wait till we go see them live.  I'm going to be a sweaty mess from dancing all night.  I.  Cannot. Wait.

What tunes are you loving right now? 

Playlist Thursday-Top 10

I can't believe it's Thursday already!  Where has this week gone?  If every week flies by like this one 2013 will be over before I know it!  I missed out on last week's Playlist Thursday due to a lack of organization on my part but I'm back this week.  Pavement Runner decided to have some fun with numbers this week and base this weeks theme on the number 10 since it's the 10th.  So, our mission this week is to pick the best of the best; the top 3 songs that would make our top 10 list.  That means you're probably going to see at least one Rush tune from me.  Sorry Rush haters. 

The "Rules" of Playlist Thursday:

Something Old: Songs that are at least 5 years old.
Something Current: Songs that have been released within the past year.
Something to Consider: This is the wild card category. Feel free to list any song: old, current, guilty pleasure, underground, whatever floats yer boat.

And whatever you do, don't forget to head over to Pavement Runner's blog to check out the Playlist Thursday catalog for more musical inspiration.

Something Old
Artist:Rush
Title:  Driven
Notable:  This song will always make a top 10 running songs list for me.  Especially a race day playlist.  That opening guitar riff signals all systems go for me.  Boogity boogity boogity let's go racin'. 
Quotable: "The road unwinds towards me, what was there is gone, the road unwinds before me
and I go riding on"

Something New
Artist: Serena Ryder
Title:  Stompa
Notable:  So this technically isn't a 2013 release but it was late enough in 2012 that I think it counts.  I just discovered this song a few weeks ago while perusing iTunes and it went straight into my running playlist.  Love it.  Her vocal style kind of reminds me of Adele, plus she's a Canadian.  woohoo!
Quotable: "Slow down; open up your big brown eyes, Feel the rhythm in your heart, you don’t even need to try"

Something To Consider
Artist: Mumford and Sons
Title:  Below My Feet
Notable:  Seriously, the title says it all. 
Quotable:  "Keep the earth below my feet, from my sweat, my blood runs weak, let me learn from where I have been."

What do you think?  Would you put any of these on your playlist?  Does Serena Ryder remind you of Adele or am I hearing things?

Playlist Thursday - Holiday Edition

It's another free for all week on Playlist Thursday.  Pavement Runner has set up a poll on his blog so readers can vote for the most popular songs and most popular Playlist Thursday participants.  I actually got nominated in a couple of categories so go on over and VOTE.  He's left it up to his readers to determine their own themes for this week.  Since we're only a few days away from Christmas and all I've been doing is listening to Christmas music, I decided to do a Holiday Themed playlist with some of the songs I've put on my playlist to get me in that festive frame of mind.

The "Rules" of Playlist Thursday:

Something Old: Songs that are at least 5 years old.
Something Current: Songs that have been released within the past year.
Something to Consider: This is the wild card category. Feel free to list any song: old, current, guilty pleasure, underground, whatever.

Something Old
Artist: Chris Isaak
Title:  Hey Santa!
Notable:  I love pretty much every song on this album from 2004.  Some great versions of traditional songs and then a few great catchy tunes.  This one is one of my faves. 
Quotable:  "I stayed up late, I write, I called, it did not good at all, I decked the tree, I wish you’d just deck me, this ain’t no fun.."

Something New
Artist: Jason Mraz
Title: Winter Wonderland
Notable:  This song was actually released on A Very Special Christmas Volume 7 in 2010 but it made it on to this years Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary album so I'm including it as "new". 
Quotable:  "Later on, we'll conspire, as we dream by the fire, to face unafraid, the plans that we've made, walking in a winter wonderland."

Something to Consider
Artist: Straight No Chaser
Title:  We Three Kings
Notable:  I absolutely LOVE this acapella treatment of this song.  I discovered these guys last year while searching for some different Christmas tunes and they've become a staple in my Christmas collection.
Quotable:  "Oh star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to they perfect light."

Feeling festive yet?
Do you put Christmas music on your workout playlist?

Playlist Thursday - Best Songs of 2012

It's getting close to the yearly re-cap time so at the suggestion of Charlotte over at Wild Things Run Free, Pavement Runner has made this weeks theme The Best Songs of 2012.  I like it, even though I don't listen to popular radio much, there have been a few songs this year that I've heard, that have really captured my attention. 

The "Rules" of Playlist Thursday:

Something Old: Songs that are at least 5 years old.
Something Current: Songs that have been released within the past year.
Something to Consider: This is the wild card category. Feel free to list any song: old, current, guilty pleasure, underground, whatever.

Don't forget to check out the Playlist Thursday Catalog for this weeks submissions!

For the “something old,” Brian suggested naming a song (or in his case) a band that made a comeback this year.   I'm taking a cue from him and being a little more liberal with my "Something Old".  I wouldn't say that this band made a comeback, it just took them 5 bloody years to put out another album.

Something Old
Artist: Rush
Title:  The Wreckers
Notable:  This was the second single off of Clockwork Angels and on my first couple of listens, it was one of my favourites.  It now takes the cake as my absolute favourite off that album.  Definitely a bit more of a "poppy" & melodic effort from the boys.
Quotable:  "All I know is that sometimes you have to be wary, of a miracle too good to be true
All I know is that sometimes the truth is contrary, everything in life you thought you knew.."

 
Something New
Artist: Mumford & Sons
Title:  I Will Wait
Notable:  Another song from this album made the cut on a previous Playlist Thursday post.  This was the first single and is probably up there as one of my faves from their new album.
Quotable:  "And I came home, like a stone, and I fell heavy into your arms, these days of darkness
which we've known, will blow away with this new sun."

Something to Consider
Artist: Atlas Genius
Title:  Symptoms
Notable:  This song was featured as one of my selections a couple of weeks ago.  Still flipping LOVE this song.  I can't wait till these guys put out a full length album! 
Quotable:  "So, sweet little lover won’t you let me know? Like a circle round and round we go."

 What were your favourite songs of 2012?  Did any of these make your list?

What was your LEAST favourite song of 2012?

Playlist Thursday-Going Retro: High School Jams

I am all over this Playlist Thursday theme like white on rice.  This week's theme is High School Jams.   We have to pick songs we listened to in High School.  Yeah I know this one is totally going to date me but whatever.  I'm owning it.  My High School years were some of the best years of my life and music played a HUGE part in those years.  The rules are a little different for this week so here we go:  "Old" would still be an old song that was at least 5 years old when you were in school.  "Current" would be whatever your favourite song was on the radio at that time and "one to consider" is once again, your choice, but it should be one that you enjoyed in high school.  Because there is so much music that I love from that time period, I'm going to throw in a few honorable mentions as well.

So let's get this Retro Dance Party started!

Something Old

Artist:  The Specials
Title: Concrete Jungle

Notable:  This song always got the crowd up and dancing at the underage dances & clubs I used to frequent.  I fondly remember jumping around and "skanking" to this song. 
Quotable: "I can't dress just the way I want, I'm being chased by the national front"

Something New

Artist:  U2
Title: Where the Streets Have No Name

Notable: This was the follow up album to 1984's The Unforgettable Fire and it totally blew my socks off.  I think that the Unforgettable Fire & the Joshua Tree are right up there as two of my favourite U2 albums.  And even 25 years later, this is still an amazing song to run to.
Quotable: "I want to feel sunlight on my face, I see the dust cloud disappear without a trace"

Something to Consider

Artist:  The Cure
Title: Close to Me

Notable:  I was totally into these guys in high school.  They were one of many UK bands that I loved.  Just weird enough to be considered slightly outside the mainstream.  This album was one of my all time faves during high school.  I don't think this left my yellow Sony walkman for months!
Quotable: "I never thought this day would end. I never thought tonight could ever be this close to me"

Honorable Mention #1

Artist: Big Country
Title: Where the Rose Is Sown

Notable:  These guys had a MASSIVE hit with In A Big Country so that was the song that initially turned me on to them.  This is from their second album that was less of a commercial success in North America.  Who knows why, it's just as good as the first.  I absolutely love this song.  The beat, the guitar, the lyrics, all of it. They had such a unique sound.
Quotable: "Sons of men who stand like Gods, we give life to feed the cause and run to ground our heathen foe, our name will never die this time will be forever"

Honorable Mention #2

Artist: The Violent Femmes
Title: Add it Up

Notable:  Yet another song that would create a frenzy of sweaty bodies on the dance floor.  My friends and I knew the words to this song off by heart (swearing and all) and we'd sing it at the top of our lungs while jumping around on the dance floor. 
Quotable: "Day after day, I will walk, and I will play, But the day, after today I will stop, and I will start".

Honorable Mention #3

Artist:Kate Bush
Title: Cloudbusting

Notable:  I absolutely loved this song, especially the video.  It always tugged at my heart strings.   There is something so hopeful yet so sad about it.  And it stars Canadian actor Donald Sutherland as her dad.  Gotta love the addition of a little Canadiana. 
Quotable: "You're like my yo-yo that glowed in the dark.  What made it special, made it dangerous,
So I bury it And forget. "

What were your favourite High School Jams?  

Did I take you a trip down 80's memory lane? 

Playlist Thursday - Zoning Out

Once again, it's Playlist Thursday!  What do you think of the new logo?  The ever generous Pavement Runner designed a whole bunch of logos in different colours so you can pick one to match your blog colours (scroll down to the bottom of the page).  Love it! Don't forget to check out the catalog page for all the other Playlists as well!

This weeks theme was a suggestion from Anna at withanna.wordpress.com.  Apparently she is in the middle of studying for mid-terms (those were the days!) and needed some songs to zone out to. 

For those of you stopping by for the first time, here are "the rules" of Playlist Thursday.

Something Old: Songs that are at least 5 years old. (I know that isn’t too long to be considered old, but music turnover happens quickly.)
Something Current: Songs that have been released within the past year.
Something to Consider:  This is the wild card category. Feel free to list any song: old, current,guilty pleasure, whatever floats yer boat.

Something Old

Artist:  Chris Isaak
Title: Walk Slow
Notable: I love this song.  In fact, I love Chris Isaak.  All his music makes me zone out, in a good way. 
Quotable: "And there's so many many things I wanna tell you. So many many things I didn't say"

Something New

Artist: Atlas Genius
Title: Trojans
Notable:  I featured these guys on last weeks Playlist Thursday and I'm bringing them back again.  They released an EP this year that I absolutely love.  This was the first song off of it.  I can't wait for a full length album. 
Quotable: "Change the locks, change the scene, change it all but can't change what we've been." 

Change the locks, change the scene Change it all but can't change what we've been

Read more: TROJANS - ATLAS GENIUS LYRICS

Change the locks, change the scene Change it all but can't change what we've been

Read more: TROJANS - ATLAS GENIUS LYRICS

Something to Consider

Artist: Keane
Title: Spiralling
Notable: From the band that brought you Somewhere Only We Know, another great song to zone out to.  I really like the poppy beat, it's catchy and makes for some good background noise.
Quotable: "I'm waiting for my moment to come, I'm waiting for the movie to begin, I'm waiting for a revelation, I'm waiting for someone to count me in"

Have you got any favourite zone out songs you'd like to share?

Playlist Thursday: Creep Me Out!

Here we go again with Playlist Thursday!  I emailed Brian a few weeks ago to suggest this one.  I don't know about you but I love Halloween so I thought it would be fun to have a Halloween themed playlist to put everyone in the mood.  It could be that you think the song is creepy or haunting.  Or maybe the singer is creepy looking.  Or maybe there's a video that freaks you out, whatever the case may be, the creepier the better!

For those of you that are reading for the first time, there are a few "rules" for Playlist Thursday. 

Playlist Thursday "Rules":

Something Old:  Songs that are at least 5 years old.  
Something Current:  Songs that have been released in the past year.
Something to Consider:  This is the wild card category.  Any song goes:  old, current, guilty pleasure, whatever floats yer boat.

Make sure you check out Brian's blog for some more musical inspiration!

Something Old 

Artist: Siouxie and the Banshees
Title: Spellbound
Notable:  30 years later I still love this song.  This was the stuff I loved as a teenager.  I remember actually dressing up as Siouxie for Halloween one year so they were a no brainer to put on this playlist.
Quotable: "You hear laughter cracking through the walls, it sends you spinning, you have no choice"

Something New

Artist: Marilyn Manson
Title: The Beautiful People
Notable: No Halloween playlist would be complete without the modern day King of Creepy.  So this particular song isn't new, but Marilyn Manson actually has a new album out so while I'm not necessarily featuring a new song of his I'm at least acknowledging the fact that he has something current out.  I've listened to most of it and it's creepy (no surprise there!) but I didn't find anything on it that I really liked either.  I really liked this song when it came out and it did live on my playlist at one point in time.  
Quotable: "The worms will live in every host, it's hard to pick which one they eat most"

Something to Consider

Artist:Roisin Murphy
Title:Ramalama (Bang Bang)
Notable: Her voice is haunting and the lyrics are kinda creepy so it totally made the list.  And, Wade Robson choreographed an amazing dance routine to it on So You Think You Can Dance that featured dancing zombies.  How much more creepy can you get?  The video I chose is actually of that performance.
Quotable: "Unzip my body, take my heart out, cause I need to give a beat to this tune"

Honorable Mention

Artist: Ministry
Title: Everyday is Halloween
Notable:  You can't have a Halloween playlist without this song.  Period.  This was the Goth anthem of the 80's.
Quotable: "Well I live with snakes and lizards and other things that go bump in the night.."

Are you creeped out yet?

Playlist Thursday: Speed Demon!

It's another edition of Playlist Thursday gang!  I can't believe how quickly this week has gone by.  I love it!  This weeks theme was suggested by Melissa at Live Love and Run and I gotta say, I LIKE IT.  Why?  Because I like to go fast.  It's no secret to those that know me that I have a need for speed. Any music that aids in getting that speed is always welcome so I can't wait to see what's on everyone's list this week.  My list is nothing if not eclectic.  I'm so pumped about this theme I even put in a couple of honorable mentions. 

For those of you that are reading for the first time, there are a few "rules" for Playlist Thursday. 

Playlist Thursday "Rules":

Something Old:  Songs that are at least 5 years old.  
Something Current:  Songs that have been released in the past year.
Something to Consider:  This is the wild card category.  Any song goes:  old, current, guilty pleasure, whatever floats yer boat.

Make sure you check out Brian's blog for some more musical inspiration!

Something Old 

Artist: Elvis Costello
Title: Pump it Up
Notable: The song title says it all.  It's a great finishing kick song. 
Quotable: "She said that's that, I don't wanna chitter-chat, turn it down a little bit or turn it down flat"

SomethingNew

Artist: Mumford and Sons
Title: Babel
Notable:  I bought their new album shortly after it came out and this is the opening track. It almost makes me want to leap vs run.   For some reason I picture myself running along a rocky coastline listening to this song, ha ha. 
Quotable: "Cause I'll know my weakness, know my voice and I'll believe in grace and choice
and I know perhaps my heart is fast but I’ll be borne without a mask."

Something To Consider

Artist: U2
Title:Two Hearts Beat as One
Notable: This was the song that introduced me to U2.  I couldn't get enough of it and it's still one of my favourites to this day.  
Quotable: "They beat on black, beat on white, Beat on everything don't get it right beat on you, beat on me, beat on love.."

Honorable Mentions

Artist: Iron Maiden
Title:  Run to the Hills
Notable:  I'm not much of a metal head but there are some songs that I can really get into.  This is one of them.   Great song to do hill repeats to as well, ha ha.
Quotable: "White man came across the sea, he brought us pain and misery he killed our tribes, he killed our creed, he took our game for his own need."

Artist: Soundgarden
Title:  Rusty Cage
Notable:  I absolutely loved these guys back in the day and I'm so pumped that they have a new album coming out next month.  I think Chris Cornell has one of the best voices in rock and roll.  Yet another song with a strong driving beat.
Quotable: "White man came across the sea, he brought us pain and misery he killed our tribes, he killed our creed, he took our game for his own need."

What do you think?  Do these songs make you want to pick it up?

Playlist Thursday: Oh the Angst of it All!

I am going through Playlist Thursday withdrawals!  I missed out on last weeks as I just couldn't get myself together in time.  I wasn't going to miss out on this one, especially given that I can focus on music from my teen years (helloooo 80's!).  This weeks theme is "Teenage Angst" so we get to pick songs that remind us of our teen years.  I don't know about you but I love reliving some of the most awkward (yet fun) years of my life. 

Playlist Thursday "Rules":

Something Old:  Songs that are at least 5 years old.  
Something Current:  Songs that have been released in the past year.
Something to Consider:  This is the wild card category.  Any song goes:  old, current, guilty pleasure, whatever floats yer boat.

Make sure you check out Brian's blog for some more musical inspiration!

Something Old 

Artist: The Grapes of Wrath
Title: Misunderstanding
Notable: This song is tied to so many high school memories.  It reminds me a lot of my first serious boyfriend.  I also had huge crushes on the guys in this band.  Good old Canadian boys from Vancouver too!  
Quotable: "So, you don't want to talk, you want to turn your back, angers just a mask, I'll be there when it cracks."

Something New

Artist: Duran Duran
Title: Planet Earth - Live
Notable: Duran Duran was my absolute favourite band in my early teens and I know they're still going strong (ish) these days.  Much to my surprise they released a live album in June of this year so they get the somewhat liberal nod as being "new".  They were the first band I ever saw live and I had the BIGGEST heart wrenching crush on Nick Rhodes and John Taylor. I was at the concert where they filmed the video for The Reflex.  Yup, me and about 20,000 other screaming girls. 
Quotable: "Look now, look all around, there's no sign of life, voices another sound, can you hear me now?

Something To Consider

Artist:  Midnight Oil
Title: Dreamworld
Notable:  This is one band I really wish I got to see back in the day.  I went to a lot of concerts as a teen but these guys were one band I never managed to catch live.  I was so bummed when they broke up.  These guys are are regulars on pretty much all of my playlists too.
Quotable: "No amount of make believe can help this heart of mine"

  What do you think?  Angst-y enough for you?

Playlist Thursday: All Around the World

Here we go with another edition of Playlist Thursday.  This one is a veritable free for all, literally.   This week's them is Viewer's Choice so we can literally pick whatever we want.  I am really looking forward to checking out all the other participants selections!  I know I could have bored you all with another all Rush playlist but I decided to branch out a bit more.  Ok, a LOT more.  I'm taking my playlist international.  Yup, I'm going all around the world for this one, with stops in Iceland, NYC via Ukraine and Brazil.  Get ready for an explosion of diversity.

Playlist Thursday "Rules":

Something Old:  Songs that are at least 5 years old.  
Something Current:  Songs that have been released in the past year.
Something to Consider:  This is the wild card category.  Any song goes:  old, current, guilty pleasure, whatever floats yer boat.

Make sure you check out Brian's blog for an updated playlist catalogue.

Something Old 

Artist:  Gogol Bordello
Title:  Wanderlust King
Notable: I think the term Gypsy Punk was invented to describe their music. I also find it impossible to be in a bad mood when I listen to this song.  If you ever get a chance to see these guys live, I highly recommend it. 
Quotable: "I traveled the world looking for understanding, of the times that we live in, hunting and gathering first hand information, challenging definitions of sin."

Something New

Artist:  Of Monsters and Men
Title:  Little Talks
Notable:  Another great band out of Iceland.  I really love their sound.  Her voice is lovely and I find the tone of this song so uplifting.
Quotable: "Though the truth may vary this ship will carry our bodies safe to shore"

SomethingTo Consider

Artist: Bebel Gilberto
Title: Sem Contenção
Notable:  I love love love this woman's voice and I love the spin she puts on her native Brazilian music.   Sem Contenção translates to No Holding Back. 
Quotable: "Sem contenção só na emoção prá ser feliz sem resistir de um puro não prá explicar essa tua intenção"

What do you think?  Was it diverse enough?

Playlist Thursday: Just Dance!

Yeah it's Thursday! That means one day closer to Friday and of course,  Playlist Thursday.  I've been working on this one since Tuesday.  In fact, I spent the entire day Tuesday listening to the first artist on this playlist, trying to figure out which song of theirs to put on this weeks list.   This week's theme is entitled "Songs that Make You Want To Dance" which means that I spent a lot of time chair dancing in my office.  Thank God I have a door that I can close.  Other than running, I think dancing has to be one of my absolute favourite things to do.  Nothing is more satisfying than dancing till your feet hurt and you're covered in sweat.  It's no wonder I like it so much...sounds a lot like running. 

The "rules" of Playlist Thursday:
  
Something Old:  Songs that are at least 5 years old.  
Something Current:  Songs that have been released in the past year.
Something to Consider:  This is the wild card category.  Any song goes:  old, current, guilty pleasure, whatever floats yer boat.

As usual don't forget to head over to Brian's blog to check out all the other participant playlists!

Something Old:
Artist: Jamiroquai
Title: Canned Heat
Notable:   Seriously, how can you NOT bust a move to anything these guys do.  It's like disco for the new millennium.  When this album came out in 1999, it never left my CD player for what seemed like months.  I loved pretty much every song on it.  And just LOOK at JK dance.  Amazing.
Quotable:  "Dance, nothing left for me to do but dance off these bad times I'm going through, just dance, got canned heat in my heels tonight"

Something New:
Artist:  Electric Guest
Title This Head I Hold
Notable:  The first time I heard this song, I couldn't get it out of my head.  It's so bloody catchy.  I know for a fact that I do that weird little hand dancing thing every. single. time. this comes on my playlist. 
Quotable: "So find me stuck in some scene, I want to get out but there's no in between."

Something To Consider:
Artist: The English Beat
Title:Mirror in the Bathroom
Notable:   Another song that totally defined my teen years and one that has been on my playlist forever.  I saw these guys a few years ago at Lee's Palace.  A tiny little club that probably holds 500 people maximum.  When this song came on the crowd went into an absolute frenzy.  I left that club completely covered in sweat and my feet hurt from dancing so much.  One of the best live shows I've seen in a long time.
Quotable:  "Mirror in the bathroom, please talk free, the door is locked just you and me."

Are you up and dancing yet?  I know I am!

Playlist Thursday - EPICness

I missed out on last weeks Playlist Thursday due to a ridiculously busy weekend / week that left me mentally drained.  But, I'm back to participate in this weeks list.  Woohoo!

It's funny that Brian decided on this weeks particular topic because when I was out running a few Sundays ago, one of my chosen songs came on and I thought "Oh Man, I should email Brian and suggest he do an Epic Songs playlist".  But, of course I forgot.  Obviously that thought got out there somehow because lo and behold, that's what this weeks theme is.   Now his definition is slightly different than my definition so I'm going to combine the two for my picks.  When I think epic, I think big powerful songs that kinda make me feel like I'm a superhero when I'm working out.  I think that some of my choices could also be considered defining "anthem" songs of a generation so I'm mixing it up a bit today.

The "rules" of Playlist Thursday:
  
Something Old:  Songs that are at least 5 years old.  
Something Current:  Songs that have been released in the past year.
Something to Consider:  This is the wild card category.  Any song goes:  old, current, guilty pleasure, whatever floats yer boat.

Don't forget to head over to Brian's blog to check out all the other participant playlists!

Something Old:
Artist: The Clash
Title: London Calling
Notable:   This song (among several others) absolutely defined my early teenage years.  At the time this was as epic as it got for me.  The Clash embodied the essence of my teens, which was a lot of angst, anger and general rebelliousness.  I was that kid in all black with the weird hair.  Oh yes, my parents were proud.
Quotable:  "The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in, engines stop running and the wheat is growing thin."

Something New(ish):
Artist: Muse
Title:  Uprising
Side Note: I'm totally taking liberties with this one in terms of it being "new".  It's not really but it doesn't fit into the "old" category either (it was released in 2009).  This is the song I was listening to when I was thinking about epic songs.  There's something so very...well, BIG about this song.
Quotable: "Rise up and take the power back, it's time the fat cats had a heart attack"

Something to Consider:
Artist:  Rush
Title:  Tom Sawyer
Side Note:  Listen to that drum solo.  I mean really, how on earth does Neil Peart do it?
Quotable:  "No his mind is not for rent, to any God or government"

What do you think?  Epic enough for you?
Oh and I promise that next week's list WILL NOT have any Rush on it.