New Year's Music 2012:
- Nothing Left to Lose - Mat Kearney
[Somehow, this is how I felt coming into 2011. It's bittersweet. I was done with Surgery, I was heading to Drogheda, and I was shaking off some old hang-ups... very very slowly] - Crash and Burn - Lifehouse
[Yes, I went to see Lifehouse at the Olympia. It was like a tour of old relationships. I hadn't realised how far back their music went in my life, and it brought up some feeling I hadn't felt in a long time. That being said, Feb was pretty damn dark in Ireland. Still pretty bittersweet. Still a little moody... hell, that's how I was.] - Skin and Bones - Foo Fighters
[Some retro Foo, in honour of their new and fantastic album. But let's be honest, in retrospect, intern year is about getting stripped down to nothing and rebuilding. It's brutal. It's depressing. It's humbling. And if you survive it, you're stronger for it. I think it was in January that I bottomed out at my lowest weight, and it was probably March that I was emotionally destroyed. Sometimes you need that.] - My City of Ruins - Eddie Vedder
[I avoided any Pearl Jam this year. Not that I wasn't enjoying their music. But Eddie makes an amazing cover of this song. Dedicated to Drogheda... a city of Ruins.] - Adolescents - Incubus
[Incubus released a new album that is far more chill than their older music. But they rocked the roof off the house in Cardiff. It was a strange trip at a strange time. But I can't avoid keeping them in the album for 2012. Plus, the verse is very appropriate for early 2011. I felt as though I was always racing against some unknown deadline.] - Notbroken - The Goo Goo Dolls
[This is in for a number of reasons, but if you haven't seen the video for this, it's totally worth the watch. Somewhere around April, I found a second wind that pulled me through the rest of my time in Drog. Maybe it was the people... ok, it totally was the people. But it's a good song.] - Rolling in the Deep - ADELE
[Anyone that's ever felt like someone missed the boat, this song is amazing. I mean, Adele is fantastic, but it just manifests those feelings that you don't always speak aloud. So close... And yet so far... How stupid.] - Knots - Lisa Hannigan
[This lady released another album in 2011. It's brilliant. But she sings in an effortless and haunting voice that I find intriguing. There's something to be said for emotional spring cleaning... It takes time to untangle things. Time and distance. So for those of you that were busy tying knots, I may have finally undone the mess you left.] - What You Think You Know - The Coronas
[Another band that's released another fun album in 2011. I didn't go see them in Dec this year... mostly because I was afraid of a repeat of last year's power failure and rescheduled concert when I was outta town. That being said, I still think these guys put out a fun tune. With distance comes a certain callousness. A certain attitude. And you know what, I too am tired of what you think you know. (you know who you are)] - Dark Horses - Switchfoot
[Still on my list of bands to go see, released another album in 2011... and again, not bringing their tour to Ireland. But Dark Horses is a throwback to the old rock that Switchfoot started with. And I'd say about May of intern year, this is the attitude we'd all developed. Somewhat angry, a bit jaded, and starting to become hopeful... Like, wow, there's a bit of light at the end of this tunnel.] - Monarchy of Roses - Red Hot Chili Peppers
[These guys have been around for ages, and put out an interesting album this year. They did come to Ireland, and they'll be back in 2012... I'm not sure I'm a big enough fan to dish out the cash they're demanding though. Still, a bit of respect for the new music. They, in my mind, sound a lot like Incubus and Foo in this album... which we all know is music that I dig.] - Heaven - O. A. R.
[It really took until May or June before I could adopt this mentality. Fuck this game. You know what, if you're going to keep changing these rules and running a shit game then I don't want to play. And guess what? Leaving crap games will make you feel better. Stop with the bullshit. Let it go. There are other people that will feel the same as you, and they're probably great people to be with. And if others have a problem, fuck them. No really... do it.] - Strip Me - Natasha Bedingfield
[This was on super heavy play in March, but I really didn't get to the same feeling as the song until June. But, as per #12, once you get through all the bullshit, you feel so much better. It's how you feel when you shake off layers of crap and come out clean on the other side.] - Velcro - Bell X1
[I can't remember when this was released, but I didn't stumble across it until 2011. Respect to Bell X1 for coming up with more random music styles that end up on my most played. Beyond that, there were people that kept me whole for the 6 months I was in Drogheda... And who tolerated me while I was there, and was less than myself, and kinda needy, and rather self pittying... These people know who they are. Thanks to my Velcro.] - Stay the Night - James Blunt
[Not my normal choice here, but I have a few reasons for it. First, it's SOOO catchy. There's something retro about it, and it's peppy, and happy, and kinda cheeky to be so casual about a possible one night stand (not judging, just saying). But that being said, here's to making decisions that you may not normally make. Because sometimes they're the best ones you could make.] - Little Boxes - Malvina Reynolds
[I have this in here for two reasons. 1) for the person who made me listen to it on a random day. 2) for the memory I have following it of him dancing in the kitchen while cooking. Makes me smile. Sometimes, it's good to be 'the man.'] - Feeling Good - Muse
[Still my favourite cover of this song. I think it was running through my head, if not through my car stereo when I left Drog for the last time... (or the last time until next time). And feeling like you've opened a new chapter in your life is really really refreshing.] - Called Out in the Dart - Snow Patrol
[I'm also not a huge Snow Patrol fan, but this has the taste of Killers. I think it wasn't until Oct that I found a real groove in 2011. But this is how it feels to me to be in that space. It's kinda funky, and it makes random sense, and it's got a great rhythm, and it feels like celebrating. Welcome to the late fall of 2011.] - AKA... What a Life! - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
[If there's someone in music that's an arrogant bastard, but has the balls to do stuff that maybe people shouldn't (but totally want to), Noel Gallagher is that man. Most of the time he's in the news I want to shake my head. But a strong nod to his new band and their album. I really dig it. I think it was more November before I was feeling this, but I had a great co-SHO (yeah, you're awesome... no lipid), I had a job that started to make sense, I had a great home life.] - Shake It Out - Florence + the Machine
[Have to give a nod to the other redhead rocking out in 2011. For some reason, this makes me think of Sinead. There is no reason for this (or none that I can recall). But hey, here's to wrapping up the end of one year and getting ready to start another. I promised to leave some crap behind in 2011... I'm doing that. Shake it out, friends. Cause it's hard to dance with the devil on your back.] - Good Life - OneRepublic
[Of all things, this makes me think of the Williams' reunion in June. But it was a great time. And I think this is the note I ended 2011 on. I am happy where I am. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it's gonna be a good life. :) Roll on 2012.]
