So much music to B happy about

By Alisha Stamper

feel like I must have hit the jackpot in my library with the letter B. I guess Lloyd Dobler is right, if you start out depressed everything comes as a pleasant surprise. (just a warning, there are more john cusack references coming) I highly recommend every single song in this post. Have a listen!

Firstly, from the GREATS:

• Beethoven
1. piano sonata no. 8 in C minor Op. 13 (adagio cantabile)—calming, with fantastic dynamics and weighted notes.
2. piano concerto no. 5 in E flat major Op. 73 (adagio un poco mosso)—orchestral crescendos and lots of well-executed trills. I'm currently working on this piece.
3. piano sonata no. 17 in D minor Op. 31 no. 2 (allegretto)—It's quick, (obviously), but more than that, it EASILY could be used for the next Fantastia. (which I love. Don't judge). The notes are LEADING, it has breaks and wonderful fermatas. One of my favorites. Maybe I'll work on this next.
4. symphony no. 7 in A major Op. 92 (allegretto)—Makes me think of Russia, or Berlin. When its raining, and the fog is just starting to lift.

And now onto some more "known" artists:

• Badly Drawn Boy—Both "I love N.Y.E." (perfect for days in the car when the sun is just starting to come out, we're talking, 5am, this is your perfect song), and "silent sigh" are wonderful.
• Balligomingo—I'm sad to learn that they got sucked into a Charmed (t.v. show) soundtrack, but from their demo, "Purify" the album version is fantastic. It is enveloping.
• Beck—"Girl" was my theme song for the summer of 2006. "Que Onda Guero" is good for dancing in the car with your sister (with the windows down).
• Ben Folds Five—"Song for the Dumped" is the best breakup song ever. Hands down. (another good one is "Rich Once" by the Breeders) "Evaporated" says, ...the things i really cared about just left along the way from being too pent-up and proud... here I stand, sad and free, I can't cry, I can't see what I've done, oh God, what have I done? I got this whole band from a relationship that didn't end well. This song makes me ache.
• The Beta Band—(I will now sell three copies of the 3 EPs by the Beta Band... and that's your other John Cusack reference. If you can tell me the movie, I'll send you the soundtrack, which is a pretty good soundtrack. Make sure you leave a comment and an email address). "Dry the Rain" is my favorite. "Broke" I like making dinner to this. Great percussion. "Quiet" gears me up for errands and general interaction on busy days.
• Black Eyed Peas—the video of "my humps" was a source of amusement for an entire christmas break in college.
• Christopher Beck—he composed the music for the movie Confidence, whole soundtrack is AWESOME. Mix of Air and and Yoko Kanno.
• Bloc Party—Started listening to them summer 2006 (thank you Matt Rulton). They make EVERY mix cd. "This Modern Love" makes me think sunshine-y thoughts about being married and having a son. Don't get offended if I seem absentminded, just keep telling me facts and keep making me smile.... I get tongue-tied.... I've never known what's good for me and baby you've got to be more demanding, I'll be yours. Gorgeous lyrics. Wonderful melodies that intersperse perfectly with the accompaniment. "Blue Light" is how every boy should feel about the girl he loves. "Always New Depths" is another perfect song.
• Jeff Buckley—Recently attended a music concert (no good acts at all) where one of the performers (who I probably have 10 years on) asked the audience if they had heard of Jeff Buckley (was very surprised that most of us had), and proceeded to do the WORST rendition of "Lover You Should've Come Over." I walked out. Thankfully, my love of his music is too well woven into me because he most definitely was not ruined. The entire album Grace is worth owning, but my personal favorite is "Morning Theft" from Sketches for my Sweetheart the Drunk.