The Delicate Sound

I went to my 20th high school reunion this past weekend in my hometown in PA. I had many feelings about going: not going to go because I haven't seen any of those people in 20 years, definitely going for the same reason. It turns out I need not worry - everyone felt the same butterflies walking in. One thing that struck me was how much some had aged and how little others had. It was not unexpected, just amazing in the execution. The journey we had all taken had clearly been more arduous for some. I found myself talking to many of the same people I did in high school as well as several that I never really knew. There were the cool kids, the athletic kids, the stoners, the nerds (my circle) and the smart kids - all mixed together, all drinking wine or beer in a very civilized way. I got a drink for a woman I hadn't seen since high school and it struck me: the last time I saw her I wasn't even old enough to buy her a drink. Ten years out, ten years back is a long trip. My wif...

Five Drummers Who Rock 1. Mark Brzezicki (the Cult & Big Country) 2. Phill Rudd (AC/DC) 3. Charlie Watts 4. Reni (The Stone Roses) 5. Rick Buckler (The Jam) Five Songs You Will Never Hear At My House 1. (anything) - by Billy Joel 2. The Chicken Dance 3. Brown-Eyed Girl - Van is the Man but I have to draw the line 4. Celebration - Kool & the Gang 5. American Pie - Don McLean (or anyone else) Five Songs You Might Be Surprised to Hear at My House 1. Groove Is In the Heart - Deelite 2. Gimme Gimme Gimme - ABBA 3. Photograph - Def Leppard 4. Last Train To Trancentral - The KLF 5. Rubber Band Man - the Spinners The Last Five Songs Played At My Last Party (New Year's Eve) 1. Train In Vain - The Clash 2. You Shook Me All Night Long - AC/DC 3. Jane Says - Jane's Addiction 4. Panama - Van Halen 5. Photograph - Def Leppard Long live the list...

Many people in my circle know the site www.5ives.com , whether due to my forwarding a particularly funny post or via del.icio.us or whatever. I subscribe to the RSS feed and get a chunk of 5ives lists pretty much once a week. In honor of today's list , here is a list of my own: Five 1980s Albums I Own That Contain A Single Worthwhile Song (Thus Making the Album Worth It) 1. REM - Green (untitled last track) 2. Steve Winwood - Talking Back To the Night ("Valerie") 3. Icicle Works - Icicle Works ("Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly)") 4. Donnie Iris - King Cool ("Love Is Like A Rock") 5. Shriekback - Oil & Gold ("Nemesis") I can't believe it's true...