A is for Amos, Air, and all-encompassing nostalgia

By Alisha Stamper

started out the week driving off to a bookgroup meeting, it was raining, and AC/DC filled the car. After about five songs, The Academy Is flooded the scene. I went from working with two boys' boys to being 22 again and driving in the summertime with the windows down all in a 30 minute drive.

Thankfully, after realizing I own an inordinate amount of punky/emo-y crap (and plenty of the good stuff that falls underneath other parts of the alphabet), I listened to that part of the collection once and then moved on. Pretty sure those ones are going in the "yard sale" box.

I can't say enough about Air. La femme d'argent still soothes me and harbors sweet memories of friends who understood and loved completed. If you haven't listened to them, you might think it is elevator music at first, but don't give up, you can love them too.

Autour de Lucie is a french band circa when I started listening to Air. Most songs are happy, and make you think sunshine and rainbows. I don't care that I don't have a clue what they are saying. The beat itself says it all for me. Faux Movement is the best of their albums. Definitely the perfect type of music for pulling out of the driveway for a summer roadtrip with friends.

Lastly, and the bulk of my A's: TORI AMOS. I have been listening to her since Under the Pink, I was probably 10, I think. She is one of the many artists I have inherited from my oldest sister, who by far has had the longest impression on my musical sensibilities. I love the design of her albums, and am usually very impressed with her photographers.

Listening to Baker, Baker was emotional for me. I forgot how much I love that song. Little Earthquakes, the title song as well as Tear in Your Hand, are fantastic. Then on towards Boys for Pele (which I never owned) and From the Choirgirl Hotel. All of these were highschool for me.

College was Scarlet's Walk (lovely and unbelievable photography inside), the Beekeeper(lasting), Strange Little Girls (complete waste of time but at least the photographs and styling are cool). I've maintained listening to Scarlet's Walk and the Beekeeper, but I was happy to return to Little Earthquakes and Under the Pink. I had forgotten I even owned American Doll Posse, and I have been loving that most of the week. I don't have the newest one yet, shame. Especially since she is coming in concert. Do you have it, what are your thoughts?