2010 Soundtrack

There are some songs that just define a time in one's life, or at least bring back a memory. For example, any time I hear "Boom, Shake the Room" or "Let me See your Tootsie Roll", "Jump Around" or "Baby Got Back", I immediately think of the dances at Eastern Arizona College and havin a great time with my friends Ryan, Mike, Shannon, Becky, my brother Spencer, and many others during our time in Thatcher, AZ. There always seems to be a song rattlin' around in my noggin' that I relate to a time in my life or a specific experience. These type of song's are part of life's soundtrack. So on that note, I present to you my 2010 Soundtrack de Vida...

"Long December" - Counting Crows
I took a trip to LA at the start of the year for a job interview with the gas company. I can't seem to go to California without listening to a Counting Crows song. "If you think you might come to California?.." The interview didn't lead to a job offer but I was still optimistic that "maybe this year will be better than the last." (On a side note, this year - 2011 - at South By Southwest, I actually got to hang out with Adam Duritz, the lead singer of the Counting Crows and chat with him a bit and thank him for his music, which I've always liked. Pretty cool expereince and a very nice and gracious guy.)



"Amarillo By Morning" - George Strait
My first trip to Texas for job interviews brought many country songs to mind, and I was happy that the trip eventually landed me a job in the Lonestar state. "Amarillo By Morning" is one of my favorite country songs. After living in Texas for a while, my work sent me to Borger, TX - up in the Texas panhandle - and to get there you have to fly into Amarillo. Obviously, this song was stuck in my head the whole time. And I'd have to say it's definitely my favorite, by George.



"Basin Street Blues" - Louis Armstrong
My short stay in New Orleans for a job interview with the Third Municipal District of New Orleans was filled with some nice weather and INCREDIBLE food. I stayed in the French Quarter and walked along Basin Street to and from my interview. It reminded me of the song "Basin Street Blues" which I sang with the Madrigals in High School. I can still taste the jambalaya, muffaletta, po'boys, and crawfish et touffet (sp?)!



"Callin' Baton Rouge" - Garth Brooks
My tour of interviews in Texas and Louisiana took me through Baton Rouge and across that incredible and intimidating bridge that spans the Mississippi. I really liked Louisiana and the swamps that I10 traversed. Some interesting scenery and armadillos a plenty.



"Oh, Virginia" - Blessid Union of Souls
Trip with the family to Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland. The Counting Crow's "Raining in Baltimore" was also in my head, but I omitted it from this list just because it's a downer and the COunting Crows already made the list earlier. This was such a special trip. It was so good to see the "Indy Bigs" (Kenny, Angie, Justus, Cheyenne, and Victoria) and spend share some wonderful moments with the family in our nation's capital. Perhaps I'll dealve more into that one later on.



"Boston" - Augustana
It was easy to substitute "Austin" for "Boston" and "Arizona" for "California" in the lyrics to paint the picture of frustration with spinning my wheels and slowly eroding away financially and in other ways that made the move to a new place, particularly Austin, feel right, as difficult of a decision as it was to make.



"I and Love and You" - The Avett Brothers.
It wasn't Brooklyn that I was hoping would take me in, but as I drove into Austin to start a new life, this song resonated in me and I wished for my new home to welcome me with kindness and open arms. And not really knowing anyone in Austin beforehand, the song became a plea in the initial months in my new home as well as a reflecting back to my loved ones back home in AZ.



"El Paso" - Marty Robbins
One of my many travels for work took me to the West Texas town of El Paso. While I was there I visited Rosa's Cantina, but Felina wasn't there. Of course Marty Robbin's classic was constantly in my head.

"Home" - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
The South started to rub off on me toward the Fall of 2010, especially the music and the food. This song reminds me of a family reunion in some ways. It's catchy and corny and very southern hippie. But it also got me excited as the holidays approached and I was about to go back home to family in AZ for the first time since moving to Austin.



"Til the Season Comes 'round Again" - Amy Grant
Even though this song comes to mind every Christmas I get to spend with my family and friends, this time - coming HOME for Christmas - made it particularly special. I hummed this song to myself Christmas night as the fam was gathered and opening the last wave of presents. I sat off to the side and took mental video of the occasion. My little brother Austin was there, and it was especially good to see him before the Army shipped him to Germany and then to Afghanistan. I also got to see my step brother Gareth, whom I hadn't seen in over a decade prior to this Christmas. It was a very special time.



I think that should do it. Of course, there are many other songs that make up my life's soundtrack for 2010, but I thought I'd share these. Some of these selections are rather... pensive and/or sentimental; but in truth 2010 was a very difficult year, a roller coaster year, and I shouldn't downplay that. It helps me look optimistically to a better 2011 and life in Austin and all that it has in store.