Angieville

This belongs here in the happy-making column this week because these women are killing it. 

For all you M. Ward fans out there, here's a video of the man playing an acoustic version of "Chinese Translation" live at the Bing Lounge in Portland. DH showed it to me last night, and I don't know about you, but I think it's . . . well . . . fabulous. What music is getting you through your Thursday?

I guess musing on the whole rock star aspect of Jane has put me in a listening mood. So here for your pleasure are a couple of the songs I can't stop playing lately. First up, Lissie 's fierce cover of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." Thanks to DH for bringing this one to my attention and knowing I'd like it. He always brings me the good stuff. And second, the incomparable The National 's "So Far Around the Bend." Possibly my favorite musical discovery of the last five years, this band. Every song is good. This is just the one I'm crushing on the most at this moment. His voice, you guys. His voice.

". . . is long and boring no one can lift the damn thing it's full of charts and facts and figures and instructions for dancing But I I love it when you read to me And you You can read me anything" --Stephin Merritt Okay, I had to post this awesome bit of fan art based on Alan Ryves from Sarah Rees Brennan 's Demon's Lexicon trilogy. I love it (obviously) for the Alan on display (even if he is with the wrong girl, but we can get into that later) and for the well-chosen song lyrics. The Magnetic Fields ' song "The Book of Love" is awesome and here's the Peter Gabriel cover for your listening pleasure. Because it's my favorite.

I tend to compose soundtracks to my favorite books. It's the first sign that a story and it's characters are really getting to me. I start assigning songs to them. I sing them to myself while I'm driving in the car thinking about the book. Glass is half full version: compiling these playlists is a fun way of dealing with the temporary obsession that comes with a great read. Glass is half empty version: I'm completely nuts. But I can't be because I've noticed some authors posting playlists to their novels on their websites . I hadn't composed one lately. But when I read Long May She Reign , the songs just started popping into my head. So this is my Long May She Reign playlist. What are the soundtracks to your favorite books?

I can't get this song out of my head, it's so good. So here it is for your listening (and viewing) pleasure.