Monday Mixtape, Vol. 172 - A Declaration of Celebration and Relief

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This is a special Monday Mixtape, and I hope you can rejoice with me in the news that we have a new leader, president-elect.

So it’s only appropriate that we start the mixtape with Queen’s anthem, the same song that blared through all of DC when the Washington Capitals hoisted their first Stanley Cup as they paraded around the city in ecstasy. As much of a Caps fan as I am, our recent election results is probably a bigger deal.

While these mixtapes usually feature new music, exceptions must be made. Queen is one of them. Bill Withers another, Hall & Oates for sure, Radiohead a must.

Foo Fighters is another. They were the musical guest on SNL this past weekend, and appropriately they closed the show with “Times Like These,” an acknowledgement of times like these when we can learn to live again, to give and give again, and it’s times like these you learn to love again. Somehow I hope there’s a middle ground that can be found. But it’s times like these where’s there’s at least hope.

And what a performance by the Foos.

Many of the other tracks are a feeling, a message, a declaration of celebration and relief.

Hallelujah.

5 Faves - Patrick Watson

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Cutting Patrick Watson down to five tracks is a difficult task. Listening to him is like listening to the symphony. It's lush, atmospheric, and rains on you from all directions. Watson is one of my favorite singer/songwriters of the past few years, and he seems to have Andrew Bird's cerebral talents yet with a more distinct and at times Jeff Buckley-esque (for proof - see his wailing on "Luscious Life") voice. He has an ability to make his songs speak and gravitate more and more towards your soul. He's a special one. 

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