( music sharing! )

Usually I share based on what I've been listening to lately, but this time I am sharing songs that have strong spiritual meaning to me. In this post: Dream Art Science, E.S. Posthumus, and Dead Can Dance. Dream Art Science found me on myspace and invited me to check out their music, and when I did I was utterly swept away. They create spiritual music, based on ancient Egyptian religion and some very unique concepts of their own (that I do not really understand). Their sound really touches me, but even more than that their lyrics stir me. I wish I could explain how MUCH their lyrics speak my own heart, speak my spirituality in many ways. E.S. Posthumus was introduced to me by Cynosis, who sent me one of their songs in a mix which she composed just for me. I loved the whole thing, but the song "Nara" just set me on fire! I shared it with Hannah and Lily, who experienced it in a similar way -- this incredible spiritual experience, like when you hear a new piece of wisdom that resonates deeply in you. I had to buy the album, and the whole thing affected me in nearly the same way! Listening to it is... amazing for me. I've never been so touched by music without lyrics (at least, without English lyrics -- some have lyrics in other languages, which sounds like an integral part of the music to my ear). Dead Can Dance caught my eye at a used CD store -- I took Spiritchaser home and listened to it non-stop for ages, in the car and in the house. It's also mainly lyricless, with singing in glossolalia (what some call speaking-in-tongues). I find that especially beautiful, very expressive, and it feels even more 'true' to my ear than lyrics. The few songs that do have lyrics really inspire me.



Belenen's favorites -- April 2008 mix


(  - - - - samples of all songs and lyrics for some - - - -  )


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( music sharing! )

In this post: Fauxliage, Sia, PJ Harvey, & Little Dragon. Fauxliage I discovered while watching the show Moonlight -- I heard a snippet of a song near the end paused it to google the lyrics frantically, already deliriously in love with their sound. The show has a very deep meaning for me, and since they used at least three of Fauxliage's songs in various episodes, the music became entwined with the show for me. But I would love it for itself -- it has such yearning in it. I bought Sia's "Some People Have Real Problems" because of the cover art -- markers scribbled on her face ;-) -- and because I had caught bits of her music here and there and loved it. I had no idea I would fall so in love! Her childlike faith and AMAZING metaphor just enchant me. and she's so delightfully odd! And P.J. Harvey, well. So FEIRCE! so much wildness -- there is nothing tame or chained about her. And I love her intensely metaphorical and iconoclastic lyrics. She pulls out the truth like a rug from under society's feet and holds it up -- not with shouts of victory, but with simple offering. "This is the way it is" -- no defensiveness, no apologies. Lastly, Little Dragon was introduced to me by dragonwine, and I actually liked them only a little on the first listen -- but after another round through the CD, I decided I love them! I can't wait for them to release a second album.




Belenen's favorites -- March 2008 mix

( samples of all songs and lyrics for some, plus a poll to click if you download )

22 of my five-star favorite songs on the 22nd of each month ;-) A five-star song is one that has strong melodic pull as well as significant lyrical meaning to me -- all of these are very important to me. In sharing them I'm sharing some of my soul... I'm trusting you to listen and sense it. ♥

I share randomly based on what I've been listening to lately. In this post: Shiny Toy Guns, Silversun Pickups, Stroke 9, and Lily Allen. I like to share a mix from an artist's albums, but these four happen to have one thing in common: I've only heard one album from each, so no multi-year samples.

I discovered Shiny Toy Guns thanks to the L Word (Le Disko in Shane's drugged-up driving scene) and loved their sound immediately, but I truly fell for them when I heard "Stripped." That song absolutely arrests me every time I hear it -- it is so the song of my heart. Shiny Toy Guns gives me the closest feeling I've found to the passion and life that The Benjamin Gate gave me back in the day. There is something spiritually powerful about them. Both Shiny Toy Guns and Silversun Pickups are 3 guys and a girl, with vocals shared between a guy and a girl. I love the balance and variety of that! I also love that all vocalists in the two groups also play instruments. Silversun Pickups have a similar intensity and a lyrical complexity that just floors me. They make me want to do critical analysis on them -- dissect the metaphors and really plunge into it (but that's no fun unless you have someone to argue with or grade you!). As for Stroke 9, I've had their Nasty Little Thoughts since I was in high school and only recently started listening to it again. Again with the lyrical complexity! *sigh* And they give off this 'macho' vibe, yet their lyrics show so much vulnerability. And I love the vocalist's style. Last but not least, Lily Allen absolutely cracks me up with her sweetly poppy sound and biting lyrics -- and impresses me with her revolutionary ideas. (like the shocking concept that women have curves and that's a good thing! or the equally horrific idea that a person should wear what expresses them rather than what 'fashion' dictates, and that formal education isn't necessary for a thinking person to learn.) I adore her as a person -- deliberately open and honest with the world, self-made, following her dreams and living for the moment. But I love her music because it makes me laugh and dance around ;-)




Belenen's favorites -- February 2008 mix

^^^click pic to download zip of all songs^^^
(I didn't upload individually; the other links are only samples)

( samples of all songs and lyrics for some )

if you DL, please let me know because I'm very curious to see who listens! Next time I'll try to remember to include a tickybox poll for that purpose.

I've decided to share 22 of my five-star favorite songs on the 22nd of each month ;-) A five-star song is one that has strong melodic pull as well as significant lyrical meaning to me -- all of these are very important to me. In sharing them I'm sharing some of my soul... I wish I could express fully what each of them mean to me. Since I can't, I'm trusting you to listen and sense it. ♥

I'm going to share randomly based on what I've been listening to lately. In this post: Apoptygma Berzerk, Azure Ray, & Angie Aparo (they only happen to have A-names, heh). Apoptygma Berzerk is a new love -- Ben liked them so I bought him several of their CDs for Christmas, and I fell in love myself. For the first time in at least 3 years we share a musical love! it's wonderful ♥ Our new song (replacing "Nothing Else Matters") is "In This Together" -- the lyrics fit us so well. Azure Ray is a fairly new love as well -- I had loved the few songs I'd heard but only recently found them at the used CD store. They have a really stripped-down sound, which is unusual for me to like -- I think perhaps the complexity of their lyrics balances the simplicity of their music. They're from Georgia, as is Angie Aparo! Who is an old love of mine, from way back in my high school days. I actually love him MORE now than I did before, perhaps because I have grown into a deeper understanding of his lyrics.




Belenen's favorites -- January 2008 mix ((megaupload mirror))


( samples of all songs and lyrics for some )

p.s. I spent hours and hours on this post, so if you download and/or enjoyed reading it, please comment (so that I'll know if it is worth doing again). ♥