<title>This Year in Songs</title>

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<title>This Year in Songs</title>
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<author>
<name>Alex Karle</name>
</author>
<updated>2023-04-11T23:38:09-04:00</updated>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Shofukan by Snarky Puppy</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2023-04-09.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2023-04-09.txt</id>
<updated>2023-04-11T11:19:16-04:00</updated>
<published>2023-04-11T11:19:16-04:00</published>
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<![CDATA[
Week of 2023-04-09: Shofukan by Snarky Puppy
--------------------------------------------

Written: 2023-04-11

Snarky Puppy came to Boston last Sat (4/8), and they
put on such an amazing show.

The show had many highlights, but if I had to pick one
it was Shofukan. They got the crowd singing the melody
at the end.. I sang so loud that my throat hurt the
next day.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Slow Ready by Goose</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2023-03-19.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2023-03-19.txt</id>
<updated>2023-04-11T23:38:09-04:00</updated>
<published>2023-04-11T23:38:09-04:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2023-03-19: Slow Ready by Goose
---------------------------------------
Written: 2023-04-11

Going to see Goose headline in Boston was definitely
a highlight of the week. It was a surprise birthday
gift from Jennie; the show had sold out in seconds
with her trying to get tickets in the queue, so I
thought we wouldn't be going, but she splurged for
after-market tickets. I'm so glad she did!

It was a Thursday, so we packed up work, ate a
quick meal, and headed downtown to the Roadrunner
concert hall. Our first time there, and we were
able to get spots just a few rows back from the
band.

They played two sets, each over an hour. The light
show was next level too. We danced to some of our
favorites--Creatures, Hungersite, Redbird. But
we reallllly wanted to see Slow Ready. It had become
such an important song over 2022 for us. But of
course, we knew the odds were against it--they
have such a large repoitoire.

With only the encore left, we were hopeful but
not expecting it, and then the first notes rang
out. We even got a "type 2" jam with the synth
arpeggio--it was soo cool to see live.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: 2 Timers by Victor Wooten (ft Cory Wong)</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2023-02-19.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2023-02-19.txt</id>
<updated>2023-04-11T23:38:09-04:00</updated>
<published>2023-04-11T23:38:09-04:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2023-02-19: 2 Timers by Victor Wooten (ft Cory Wong)
------------------------------------------------------------

Written: 2023-04-11

We had the fortune of seeing Cory Wong headline in Boston
with Victor Wooten on bass, and it was SUCH a good show.
With a half dozen concerts lined up for the spring (more
than normal), Cory was low on my list of most anticipated,
but that just made it so much better when they totally
killed it.

2 Timers was a highlight of the show, as was Stomping
Grounds (a Bela Fleck cover). That bass solo :)

I definitely won't be missing another Cory Wong show!
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Bloodbuzz Ohio by The National</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2023-01-08.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2023-01-08.txt</id>
<updated>2023-01-18T22:40:25-05:00</updated>
<published>2023-01-18T22:40:25-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2023-01-08: Bloodbuzz Ohio by The National
--------------------------------------------------

Written: 2023-01-18

I heard this song first as a Goose cover. I was
listening to their 2022-12-30 Cincinnati, OH
live concert and of all the songs this really
stuck out--I was surprised to find it a cover!

I've been listening to The National since High
School--the Trouble Will Find Me era. Had a few
friends who were super into it. To this day I
rarely turn down Graceless when it comes on shuffle
(but I rarely seek it out too).

Throughout the week, this song was top of my
"liked" songs so it got a lot of play. It was a
long weekend, so Jennie and I played a lot of
cards (Gin Rummy and Cabo): slow mornings playing
a game over coffee. The games usually started
with this song and then shuffled from there.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Auld Lang Syne</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2023-01-01.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2023-01-01.txt</id>
<updated>2023-01-18T22:40:25-05:00</updated>
<published>2023-01-18T22:40:25-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2023-01-01: Auld Lang Syne
----------------------------------

Written: 2023-01-18

Ah new years 2023. Big family reunion in VA Beach.
Just minutes before the ball dropped Matt, Nick,
Justin and I were jamming on the lower floor (2
guitars and a cajon). I think we played Drop the
Guillotine (Peach Pit), Twin Size Mattress (although
maybe after the drop), and a few others.

We rushed upstairs with ~10m to spare. Joined "the
adults" (I guess we're adults now). Were handed
champagne.

My dad queued up the karaoke Auld Lang Syne, and
when the ball dropped, we all sang (after I kissed
Jennie of course).

It's so special that we still get together as a
family, despite distance, age, and jobs. I feel
grateful.

Happy new year, all!
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Close to the Edge by Yes</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-12-25.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-12-25.txt</id>
<updated>2023-01-01T14:49:17-05:00</updated>
<published>2023-01-01T14:49:17-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-12-25: Close to the Edge by Yes
--------------------------------------------

Written 2023-01-01

What an epic song (and album). This song came
across my radar thanks to a coworker's great
taste in music (thanks Sam!).

Work did a secret santa and I put "your favorite
album on vinyl" on my wishlist, and I was not
disappointed! Sam gifted me this record, and
it was so fun to listen to for the first time.

I get up
I get down

Highly recommend a listen through.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Arise by Orebolo</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-12-18.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-12-18.txt</id>
<updated>2022-12-27T23:28:26-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-12-27T23:28:26-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-12-18: Arise by Orebolo
------------------------------------

Written 2022-12-27

Just when you thought this blog had seen the last of
Goose, I present: Orebolo! Orebolo is an acoustic
side project of the main guitarist, keyboardist,
and percussionist (on standup bass) from Goose,
and it's great!

This song was on repeat; I just can't get enough
of the way they make the three acoustic instruments
pick up such intensity in the bridge/solo.

The version in particular is off "Volume 1".
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Thursday by Peach Pit</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-12-11.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-12-11.txt</id>
<updated>2022-12-27T23:28:26-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-12-27T23:28:26-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-12-11: Thursday by Peach Pit
-----------------------------------------

Written 2022-12-27

I've been listening to Peach Pit for around 5
years, and some of their songs really bring me
back to significant moments in life.

I think the first song I heard was Peach Pit
(self titled), driving with my sister Sammy and
her then boyfriend. It was his pick, and the
vibe just blew me away. Soon after I heard
Alrighty Aphrodite, and it became one of the
most common songs for my brother Matt and I to
jam on during our pandemic "Jam Tuesdays".

It wasn't until this week that I got the chance
to see them live, and they didn't disappoint!
I went with Jennie, Matt, Matt's friend David,
and my dad (he likes coming to shows!) to the
Boston House of Blues. The show was great; I
could have used a _tiny_ bit more improv
(they played studio solos), but they nailed all
their parts and the energy was there. Would
go again.

Thursday is the pick of the week because its
the song that stuck with me as a "new song I
wouldn't be listening to if I hadn't heard it
live". I love songs like that.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Earworm by Vulfpeck</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-12-04.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-12-04.txt</id>
<updated>2022-12-11T23:42:36-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-12-11T23:42:36-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-12-04: Earworm by Vulfpeck
---------------------------------------

A bit of a silly pick this week. Not even close to my
top 5 favorite Vulfpeck songs (which would be a hard
list to come up with... Dean Town, Running Away,
Back Pocket, Outro, Wait for the Moment, 1612,
My First Car.. too many hits).

It's the pick of the week because it just dropped and
well I heard it at a particular moment that I was
feeling great. The second week on the new job and I've
been starting to feel more confident about my bearings
and I've been meeting people and I think there's a good
chance I'll make some friends :)

What better way to celebrate potential friends than
a Jack Stratton vocal vulf song?

.. and as the name implies, the melody is _catchy_
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Sugar by Men I Trust</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-11-27.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-11-27.txt</id>
<updated>2022-12-04T16:42:39-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-12-04T16:42:39-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-11-27: Sugar by Men I Trust
----------------------------------------

It was my first week at my new job! This song goes
out to Chris, who started a Slack channel for music
and shared it there (we also had a nice chat about
music during our "virtual coffee" (meeting people
remotely is always a weird thing, isn't it?)).

I won't go into too much detail about the job for
the year-in-songs phlog, but the people were really
nice, and I think there'll be a lot to learn (in a
good way) :)

---

p.s. this isn't my first Men I Trust jam--Lauren by
them was an absolute staple of jamming with Matt
(see jam-setlists at the root of my gopherhole)--love
playing that song on bass!
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Motion Sickness by Phoebe Bridgers</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-11-20.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-11-20.txt</id>
<updated>2022-12-04T16:42:39-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-12-04T16:42:39-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-11-20: Motion Sickness by Phoebe Bridgers
------------------------------------------------------

Ah the week of Thanksgiving, the perfect time for
emotional angst!

Just kidding, it was a great week and I have a lot
to be thankful for. This song is the pick of the week
not because I was feeling particularly angsty in my
relationships but because I had a good-ole-fashioned
jam session with some of my ex-coworkers-turned-friends.

There were a lot of great tunes that evening:

* The Beers / Flashlight (Front Bottoms)
* Undone (Sweater Song) (Weezer)
* Lost in My Mind (Head and the Heart)
* The Night We Met (Lord Huron)

But all of those songs are commonplace in my jam sessions;
none were new, except Motion Sickness. So looking back
on this week, this'll be the song that brings me back.

Also, the chorus fits super well with "All Too Well" by
Taylor Swift, so we got a nice round going where we vamped
Motion Sickness and overlayed the vocals!
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: All I Need by Goose</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-11-13.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-11-13.txt</id>
<updated>2022-11-21T13:39:03-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-11-21T13:39:03-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-11-13: All I Need by Goose
---------------------------------------

Dannng that cowbell.

Week 1 of 2 in between jobs and I'm jogging, phlogging,
and spending time with family and friends.

This song came out on Friday and it's been top of my
"songs I listen to when I pick up my phone" since. It's
a funky riff mixed with a nice message:

> things change but you don't realize
> you have all you need

I've been feeling that a lot recently: jobs change, but
I've still got Jennie, my friends, my family, and my
health.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Scorpionfish by Beatenberg</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-11-06.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-11-06.txt</id>
<updated>2022-11-21T13:39:03-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-11-21T13:39:03-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-11-06: Scorpionfish by Beatenberg
----------------------------------------------

(Written on Mon 21 Nov 2022 01:25:37 PM EST)

A little late--I wasn't sure what to pick for this
week. It was.. a tumultuous week to say the least. I'm
not sure what I can or can't say, but to echo the
public LinkedIn post my (ex)company put out, there were
"drastic cuts" to the workforce.

I already had another gig lined up / put in my notice,
but to have so many other friends share a last day with
me was an unexpected (and sad) surprise.

Scorpionfish was a song I listened to a lot that week,
trying to take my mind away from some of the sadness
that comes from layoffs.

Jennie and I picked up jogging again (this time the
most serious of all), and despite this not really being
a pump up song, I definitely listened to it a few times
on those jogs. It reminds me of the brisk air, running
up the hill by the high school :)

Obligatory shoutout to Matt for sharing the song with
me!
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Shade by Atta Boy</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-10-30.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-10-30.txt</id>
<updated>2022-11-07T10:08:37-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-11-07T10:08:37-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-10-30: Shade by Atta Boy
-------------------------------------

Look Ma(tt), no Goose!

Haha I got called out by Matt (my brother) for too many
Goose picks, so this one goes out to you!

The lyrics are a bit of a bummer, but dang this song is
fun to jam on. My memory associated with it is like so:

Matt was home from college for the day, so I went over
to catch up and play some music. I walk in the door and
he's already at the piano, I can hear it from the garage.
I grab a guitar from my Dad's study and join in.

After we warm up with a few classics (Alrighty Aphrodite
by Peach Pit, Slow Ready (Goose!)) he says: "do you know
'Shade' by Atta Boy?". When we jammed regularly a couple
years ago we played Jack and Blow by them regularly, but
I'd never heard Shade. "It's just 3 chords".

..

There's something special about songs I play with someone
else before hearing in their entirety on their own. I get
to have my own take on the pacing, the tone, etc. Shade
is one of those--it'll forever bring me back to standing
by the piano with Matt :)
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Moonrise by Goose</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-10-23.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-10-23.txt</id>
<updated>2022-11-01T11:21:36-04:00</updated>
<published>2022-11-01T11:21:36-04:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-10-23: Moonrise by Goose
-------------------------------------

You better believe it's another week of Goose!

This one is a sleeper hit. Just a silly little
acoustic jam buried in the middle of Dripfield.

It's inspired by the Wes Anderson movie Moonrise
Kingdom, so it's not really word-for-word
relevant to my life, but I really like the
imagery--packing up my fort, heading south,
gone for a while.. figure it out :)

I'll be packing up my metaphorical fort soon to
switch jobs, and this calming tune was the first
thing I'd put on in the morning during a stressful
week of interviewing.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: This Year by The Mountain Goats</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-10-16.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-10-16.txt</id>
<updated>2022-10-22T16:52:53-04:00</updated>
<published>2022-10-22T16:52:53-04:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-10-16: This Year by The Mountain Goats
---------------------------------------------------

Ahh a classic.

> I am gonna make it
> Through this year
> If it kills me

There were a lot of other good nominees this week,
such as Sour Candy by Melt (I saw them live at the
Sinclair on Saturday) or Golden by Hippo Campus
(it's been on repeat since it came on my shuffle in
SF and that bass just _drives_)... but the memory
associated with a song that resonates strongest
this week is doing the dishes with Jennie and
belting this chorus together.

For her, she had _just_ landed a new gig, and we
were both incredibly relieved. For me, well...
hopefully I'll have more to say next week ;) Not
sure how many readers there are out there and
don't want to spoil any surprises. Let's just say
it was a tough/stressful week:

> My broken house behind me
> And good things ahead

I've been listening to this song since at least
the first year of college, maybe earlier. The
Mountain Goats never fail to impress me with their
story telling, and the chorus, despite being
morbid, always feels triumphant. I _am_ going to
make it. No matter how wild this year has been.
(and it won't kill me, of course).
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Past Life by Tame Impala</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-10-09.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-10-09.txt</id>
<updated>2022-10-14T12:10:53-07:00</updated>
<published>2022-10-14T12:10:53-07:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-10-09: Past Life by Tame Impala
--------------------------------------------

> I got a pretty solid routine these days
> I don't know, it just works for me

This is definitely not my favorite Tame Impala
song, but I find the overlay of the story with the
music a great effect.

It's the song of the week not because the lyrics
have some specific sentimental meaning, but
beacause it was tied to a fond memory with my
friend Craig from work.

This week was my company offsite and after a long
day of product meetings yesterday, a couple
friends decided they'd humor me and visit the
Golden Gate bridge with me (first time in SF!).

We were standing on the corner waiting for our
uber and Tame Impala came up because I started
half-joking that our product strategy makes me
want to belt "It Feels Like We Only Go Backwards".
I mean.. it's too good. "I got my hopes up again,
oh no", etc.. We laugh and start talking about the
band. I tell Craig I heard a b-side (List of
People) at the coffee shop, and he said it really
shoulda made the album. We're brainstorming songs
that could be swapped and I say "Past Life" just
vaguely remembering it.. only to be reminded it's
totally a jam.

So this one goes out to Craig--doing our best
narrator impressions of Past Life in the uber and
then blasting it on my tinny iphone speakers while
we scootered around near the bridge.

Tame Impala is one of those bands I heard about
in High School--the keyboardist in my band loved
them and I just didn't "get it" until college.
But I get it now. So sick. Nora, you were right!

--

Written: Fri Oct 14 12:02:48 PM PDT 2022
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Honeybee by Goose</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-10-02.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-10-02.txt</id>
<updated>2022-10-08T23:52:51-04:00</updated>
<published>2022-10-08T23:52:51-04:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-10-02: Honeybee by Goose
-------------------------------------
I know, I know.. it's the fifth entry in this series
and I'm *already* repeating bands??

There were a lot of songs throughout the week I thought
about making the song-of-the-week... but the reality is
I'm still on a Goose kick right now. In the evenings when
I sit down to code, read, or write, I put on one of their
amazing live performances on YouTube and it just vibes.

If my first year-in-songs entry wasn't convincing enough,
hopefully listing them twice is! Go check em out!
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Lemon Tree by Mt. Joy</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-09-25.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-09-25.txt</id>
<updated>2022-10-01T00:10:29-04:00</updated>
<published>2022-10-01T00:10:29-04:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-09-25: Lemon Tree by Mt. Joy
-----------------------------------------

Jennie was in the office for the day.
I had a last minute intro / interview with a company.
I wanted to unpack it with someone.
I invited myself to my parents' place for dinner.

I took Jennie's car, Ramona.
Ramona is old, doesn't have bluetooth.
I put on the radio.
Roll down the hand-crank windows.

92.5, wind whipping by.
I _feel_ the beat as I whip through familiar turns.
The song finishes.
I wonder if I'll ever hear it again.

"Lemon Tree by Mt. Joy"
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Hot Tea by Goose</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-09-18.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-09-18.txt</id>
<updated>2022-09-26T00:47:10-04:00</updated>
<published>2022-09-26T00:47:10-04:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-09-18: Hot Tea by Goose
------------------------------------

I stumbled across Goose in Spotify's "Modern
Jam Bands" playlist (coming off my Grateful
Dead kick) and I was instantly hooked on their
catchy riffs and phish-like guitar.

Turns out they're touring with Trey!

Honorable mentions:

* So Ready (and Slow Ready)
* Borne
* Hungrysite
* Arcadia

Fun memory: dancing to "Hot Tea" in the kitchen
with Jennie while dog sitting for my parents
and cooking the pasta with olive oil / garlic /
lemon / parsley dish from Chef.

Dah dah dah dah dah, dah dah dah dah dah!
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Truckin by The Grateful Dead</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-09-11.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-09-11.txt</id>
<updated>2022-09-26T00:47:10-04:00</updated>
<published>2022-09-26T00:47:10-04:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-09-11: Truckin by the Grateful Dead
------------------------------------------------

I went on a dead kick this week and change. I had
never really sat down and given one of their albums
an honest listen, so I put on Europe 72' (50th
anniversary) while plugging away at some code and
it was ... just what I needed this week.

There's something calming about the dead. I grew up
listening to my dad play them on guitar. My mom
isn't a fan, so it was never played around the house,
but songs like Althea or Cumberland Blues just bring
back memories of hearing the opening chords at 1/2
speed on loop while he learned to solo over them.

Beyond the sentimental value, the lyrics hit home
at times. I'm going through some tough times at
work and Truckin's chorus (?) got me through the
week:

> Sometimes the lights all shining on me
> Other times I can barely see
> Lately it occurs to me
> What a long strange trip it's been

What a long strange trip into startup world, indeed!

Other favorites from the dead this week:

* Sugar Magnolia (Europe 72)
* Scarlet Begonias > Fire on the Mountain
* China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider (Europe 72)
* Althea
* Ripple
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Belmont by Snarky Puppy</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-09-04.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-09-04.txt</id>
<updated>2022-09-26T00:47:10-04:00</updated>
<published>2022-09-26T00:47:10-04:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-09-04: Belmont by Snarky Puppy
-------------------------------------------

Snarky Puppy is incredible. I'll never forget
first hearing about them in college. It was the
first few days of my freshman year, a magical time
when no one knows anyone so everyone is super
friendly. Strangers start up conversations, because
why not?

I was sitting in the student union (I think outside
the poster sale where we all bought cliche movie
posters to add some color to the drab dorm walls?)
and this guy starts up a conversation about music.
He's a drummer, and I'm a drummer. "Who's your
favorite drummer?" he asks. I can't remember who
I said. But he was ready with his answer: the
drummer from Snarky Puppy (I can't remember which
one). He _insisted_ I check out Lingus, and I'm so
glad I did--what an incredible song.

Anyways, that was 2014, and now it's 2022 and they're
still at it. They've been dropping songs for the
past few months to promote their upcoming album and
on Thursday 9/8 they dropped "Belmont".

It's not my favorite ("Bet" takes the cake), but it's
the song of the week because I have this distinct
memory of being in Acadia with Jennie and my parents
for a hiking half-vacation (I worked evenings and
afternoons) and just kinda being bummed out about
the state of my job (a few friends leaving). I had
had an interview with an Open Source company a few days
earlier that I was really interested in, but I had had to
decide to decline to continue that morning because
the pay cut was too severe.

So there I am in the kitchen, packing my hiking bag
and feeling a bit down that I had to turn down the
maintainer role, and I saw there was a new Snarky
Puppy release--to my surprise, it kinda fit the mood.

Sad at first, but there's hope in there. All things
melancholic resolve eventually.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Vinta by Crumb</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-08-07.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-08-07.txt</id>
<updated>2022-11-09T15:33:08-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-11-09T15:33:08-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-08-07: Vinta by Crumb
----------------------------------

(Written Wed 09 Nov 2022 03:29:20 PM EST)

Every time this song comes on, I think of Matt's
last week interning at our startup.

He was at home for the week, a quick drive from my
apartment, so I made a point to come over to cowork
most days.

He has great taste in music, so he DJ'd during our
working session. This song in particular really stuck
out. The off-beat drums with the bass.. it's just such
a sick riff.

In particular, this song reminds me of driving back and
forth from our coworking sessions.. I think I listened
to it every time I hopped in the car for like a week.
Windows rolled down, speakers turned up.. such a bop.

I distinctly remember pulling up to a stop light during
the crazy end solo and rolling up my window because it
was such a chaotic point in the song for a bystander to
start listening :)
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Winnebago by Coral Moons</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-07-10.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-07-10.txt</id>
<updated>2022-11-09T15:33:08-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-11-09T15:33:08-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-07-10: Winnebago by Coral Moons
--------------------------------------------

(Written Wed 09 Nov 2022 03:09:41 PM EST)

Coming hot off the Levitate Music Festival,
this song was on repeat at the top of my
"All Songs" shuffle.

4 months later, this song still brings me
back to those sunny days.

It was 7/9, the second day of the festival.
Jennie and I rolled up just a little after 1 to
not miss any bands. our car ride up, we
put on some of the bands we'd hear--this song
stuck out.

We walked into the fairgrounds and I could hear
"Immigrant Song" in the distance--Coral Moons
was the only band playing at that moment IIRC.
The sun was hot, the crowd was having fun, and
they played a great set.

There were so many other great songs that weekend:

* Jackie Onasis by Sammy Rae
* Bubble Toes by Jack Johnson
* Hard to Love by Old Crow Medicine Show (not
my usual vibe, but it was a vibe live)
* Captain America by moe.
* Sour Candy by Melt
* The entire Vulfpeck set

But this song really stuck out as the song of the
weekend :) Summer vibes, driving drums and horns,
great vocals, and fond memories.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Lofi by JW Francis</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-06-26.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-06-26.txt</id>
<updated>2022-11-09T15:33:08-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-11-09T15:33:08-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-06-26: Lofi by JW Francis
--------------------------------------

(written Wed 09 Nov 2022 03:04:41 PM EST)

Beach vibes...

Every time this song comes on shuffle, it takes
me back to our family vacation this year in Virginia
Beach.

My dad's side meets yearly (ever since I was a kid)
in a big beach house in VA Beach (where his parents
live year round).

It was day one or two of our stay, and I'm lying
on the beach. Justin, my cousin, brought his speaker.

"Have you heard JW Francis?"

Lofi bumps, twinkling guitars and a driving bass.
Gets me every time!

Honorable mentions:

* Driving South by Goth Babe (another Justin rec)
* Do You by Spoon (also in the same beach sitting, Justin rec)

He's got great taste :)
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Song of the Week: Drips on a Wire by Peach Pit</title>
<link rel="alternate" href="gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-03-06.txt"/>
<id>gopher://alexkarle.com/0/yis/2022-03-06.txt</id>
<updated>2022-11-09T15:33:08-05:00</updated>
<published>2022-11-09T15:33:08-05:00</published>
<content type="text">
<![CDATA[
Week of 2022-03-06: Drips on a Wire by Peach Pit
------------------------------------------------

(Written Wed 09 Nov 2022 03:20:38 PM EST)

This song came on yesterday and took me back to
the week of 2022-03-06, so I had to write about
it today :)

The new Peach Pit album had just come out.. or it
was my first full listen to it. We were driving up
to the White Mountains for my birthday weekend--a
trip with friends to do a winter hike, hit a brewery,
and just in general hang out.

It's not my favorite song on that album (Vickie might
take the cake), but I must have played it 5 times
that weekend--just every time we were in the car I'd
put it on. Maybe the fact that it's not my favorite
meant that I played it less in later months and it
solidified as a hit for that weekend in particular :)
]]>
</content>
</entry>
</feed>