Ah, Music

I don't want you think I'm wasting my precious time here plugged into ipodland, but music does play a part in my day. Music doesn't change depending on where you are. So while the food, weather, and just about everything else is different here, I can listen to my favorite songs and they are the same as ever. When the girls are at school, HOB becomes very quiet and empty. In this time, I like to take walks through the rice and corn fields in one direction, or the village in the other (Don't worry I never go too far). Call me melodramatic, but anything I listen to in this time takes on an epic, movie soundtrack flavor :). So here's whats in my ipod right now.

1. Jack Johnson- I have three Jack Johnson albums and I absolutely love his songs. They all have a steady, relaxed feel to them. I love the lyrics and melodies, but they aren't the kind that scream out "pay attention to me!", so there's room for thought.
2. Adele- I love the album 21! Such beautiful songs and what a voice!
3. Vitamin String Quartet- I discovered Vitamin String Quartet a few weeks ago and got thouroughly overexcited, immediately buying eight songs. VSQ does tribute albums to various well known artists and bands in which they re imagine their biggest hits using only a string quartet. They are so creative, and play everything from the Beatles to Lady Gaga. My favorite song of theirs is U2's "beautiful day", although "Don't Stop Believing" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" are great as well.
4. Mumford and Sons- 21 is great, but Sigh No More is without a doubt my favorite album this year. Listening to it in a pastoral setting like I have here suits it better than my usual city life.
5. Coldplay- Coldplay will always be my go to band for a great song to get lost in. 
6. Eric Hutchinson- Pandora kept insisting that I listen to this guy. I obliged and was well rewarded. When I'm in a laughandsmileanddancealittle mood, the album "Sounds Like This" is great fun.
7. Les Miserables- I grew up on Les Mis. It's such a wonderful story about redemption and the songs are so beautiful and sad. Call it cheesy all you want but you won't talk me out of this one. 
8. Rachmaninoff- I usually reserve classical music for math homework, but I've really grown to love Rachmaninoff. His work doesn't sound fussy or over the top like many classical pieces (in my opinion). They are all beautiful in a romantic melodic way (think "Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini" from "somewhere in time" or "Groundhogs Day"). 
9. "Once" soundtrack- great movie, even better songs. They're the kind that start to haunt you.

I'm sure this is probably way more detail than you care about, but hey, I like music :).