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Forgotten
TV on the Radio
Nine Types of Light
2011

I'll admit that I picked this theme at random and without much initial thought.  I was sitting in my living room, staring out the window, and at how the light streaming in made the floor glow and really emphasized the dark, dusty shadows under my radiator.

I couldn't decide how I wanted to interpret this theme...was I looking for a song that was light and bubbly?  Something that flicked a switch in my head?  Something that lights up the gloom?  I wasn't sure.  I love that I got to reacquaint myself with my CD collection.  I sat on the floor in the living room and listened to all of these songs that I forgot I loved.  Songs that I missed; it was like being reunited with friends (that I actually like) and haven't seen in a while.

For some reason I associated the theme with Alt Country.  Maybe it's because of the song you posted last week, but that was the genre I was drawn to.  I finally decided on a song, that, funnily enough was NOT Country in the slightest, and went to bed satisfied that I had found the answer to this question of Light.

And then, that beautiful weekend.  Everyone smiling.  Remembering what the sun feels like on the top of my head, on the bridge of my nose.  Squinting to see.  Walking down Sherbrooke holding my ipod, a book, an apple.  I was sitting in NDG park, looking up from my book at the passing pugs, the ferret on a leash, the strollers and the sun making stark outlines of still-naked trees.  And then this song.  TV on the Radio was one of those bands I read about and wasn't sure I would like but, being the girl who wanted to listen to music--ANY music, if it had the potential to be good--bought their first album the Tuesday it came out.  I remember being kind of nervous, even a little scared...this music was different.  Maybe it wasn't me.  I loved the first album, realizing that some parts were really...unapproachable? or difficult?  Sounds I wasn't used to at the time.  I like that that period is when I started to explore...buying CDs without really knowing what the music would sound like.  It's when I widened my net and I'm happy I did.

But, back to the park.  Those drums made me put down my book so I could just listen.  I knew it was TV on the Radio, but didn't know the title of the song.  Sitting on that bench in the park warmed by the sun, I closed my eyes..."I wait for the summerrrrrr, for the suuuuuuhhhhmmmmmerrrrrrr."  I felt like I was melting in the most wonderful way.  I love the little hint of jingle bells...it's kind of a weird juxtaposition.  I love those violins that come out during the chorus...the way they sound different in my right and left headphones (the violin melody in the right headphone after the second chorus reminds me of The Beatles..."Eleanor Rigby"?)  Hearing this song while everything seemed like it was kind of waking up around me...it was one of those perfect soundtrack moments.  I love how the song builds to what sounds like a volley of gunshots, how it kind of tumbles along...horns mixed with strings mixed with...someone whistling...mumbling, something kind of indiscernible.   

Aside: I only realized the album was called Nine Types of Light two days after I first heard the song (I SWEAR)...and then saw the cover and was like, oh, haha, funny coincidence...light!