Random acts of kindness

This is so utterly
cool!

MP3's

So I posted yesterday that I got an iPod for my brifday...recommend me
some music! Songs, artists, albums, whatever.

I grew up surrounded by classical music and hymns, and still have a
fondness for both. We--I say we. It was my dad and my grandfather--also
had a fair number of recordings of folk music from around the world:
Andean flute music, Russian balalaika orchestras, bagpipe marching
bands--and from our own history: Civil War- and Wild West-era popular
songs. I'm nostalgic for some of those things which I haven't heard
since I stopped having regular access to a cassette player--and since
some of my cassettes died the final death (and so I know you,
Opener...)--thus, the need to rip my cassettes. However, I digress.

I went through a big-hair-heavy-metal phase in the late 80's (didn't we
all) and have to confess to still occasionally enjoying a bit of
headbanging. Mostly these days at home I listen to country because it's
a favorite of both lavendargrrl and ohari, and I
enjoy it too. Big fan of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson (and the rest of the
Highwaymen). I like most of the "alternative rock" that came out of the
90's. My CD collection is heavy on U2 and REM--and Billy Joel. I'm fond
of 80's music as well. I dig Voltaire--and so does Rosa. She loves the
"Die die die die die die die song" as she calls it--but neither of my
partners do so it's a private pleasure for us. I love Cole Porter, swing
and big band. I mourned when Red 104.1 disappeared from the radio.
Nowadays when it comes to radio I generally listen to The Arch ("80's,
90's and whatever we want") or NPR.

I think, as a more general description, I prefer music which (if it has
words) I can understand the words of and sing along to. I don't mind not
being able to comprehend the words; music in a foreign language is fine
with me. But I don't like not being able to pick them out from the
music. Whether it's the tempo or the backbeat, I have real trouble
hearing the lyrics to most rap and dance music. Don't like it when I
*can* comprehend the lyrics and they're misogynistic or racist, either.

Given all that...I'm willing to try anything if it's recommended by a
friend.

(no subject)

( First things meme, from Sarah & Marn )