I’m a copycat. Dave just posted a list of all of his iTunes purchases, which I promptly ridiculed.
I didn’t ridicule for posting the list, because that’s kind of an interesting idea.
I ridiculed him for his atrocious taste in music.
So, without further ado, and with the full knowledge that I’m setting myself up, I present to you my list of purchased music.
Let’s get a couple things straight, though. I bought “Shimmer” as my first song because I wanted my first purchase to support a local artist, but someone that doesn’t suck. Fuel fits the bill. Great band from a few miles away. The next three (two Chris Tomlin tunes and one Michael W. Smith tune) were purchased because I was introducing those songs at church and wanted copies to practice to in the car (yes, the car is where I do the majority of my vocal workouts). Allow me to go on record as saying that the only, absolutely only, reason I bought Smitty’s rendition of “Wonderful Cross” is that Chris Tomlin’s far superior version is not available on iTunes, which is a shame.
“Breathe Your Name” by Sixpence. I heard it in a grocery store one morning before work and remembered it. I purchased it shortly thereafter. Cool song. “Jane” and “Lullabye” are two of my favorite tracks off of The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner by Ben Folds Five, a band I consider to be one of the most important of the 90s. “Butterflies” by Toad the Wet Sprocket is a great song. I’ve always admired the arrangement of it. It’s so wonderfully put together. “Banditos” is just dumb fun.
I was glad to find “Raindrops” and “Close To You” from the Burt Bacharach tribute. Right before the tribute aired on PBS, a friend asked if I was going to watch it. I scoffed. He taped it for me and I loved it, particularly these two tracks. Both are very good renditions of old tunes. “20th Century Man” is the greatest work of the greatest band of the 20th century. “Hound Dog” I bought for Gracie. I sang it to the dog one night and we’ve been singing it ever since. “Stacy’s Mom” is Fountains of Wayne’s guaranteed spot in rock history. What a great song.
The next 13 tracks comprise my first, and as of yet only, full album download from iTunes. Jars of Clay is one band from whom I’ll buy anything. And I’ve yet to be disappointed. This album in particular shows tremendous growth for the band. I’m really the bluesy “Trouble Is” and the southern-gospel-inspired “Jealous Kind”, one of the best Christian songs I’ve ever heard.
The next five are songs by the Passion Worship Band (which includes Chris Tomlin) that I wanted to work into the services at church (or already had worked in and needed inspiration for a better arrangement). “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by BNL and Sarah McLachlan has become one of my favorite Christmas songs.
“No Such Thing” is a sign of good things to come from John Mayer. “Drive” is my favorite Incubus song; I love the way the vinyl is worked into the music. And “Island in the Sun” is Weezer channeling Sugar Ray. I’ve actually performed this song in public at least once.
I bought Tears for Fears’ “Mad World” and “Head Over Heels” in a fit of unbridled pessimism after watching Donnie Darko. I much prefer the Gary Jules version of “Mad World” from the film’s closing, but it’s not available on iTunes, andthe original in still quite good. For some reason, I bought “Tom’s Diner” at the same time. Not sure why, though.
Finally, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by the huge guy with the unpronouncable name. You may remember this one from a VW commercial a few years back. I had wanted to look for the song, but forgot. Then one day, Nicole told me to check out the guy’s picture on the iTunes store, and I realized it was the song I was looking for.
So there you have it. Now to find some other reason not to go to bed.