The Soundtrack of My Life: 2000

I have an uneasy relationship with blogging these days. Cant say it was ever too simple what to say, whats too much, whats just plain boring but with my tendency to overthink coupled with a busy schedule and a lot of things I'm not always prepared to discuss here, its been difficult to decide what to write about, if anything. I seem to do better with concrete projects, or themes, so here goes with one.

Over the next few weeks I'm going to review the music of the last decade I should say, I'm going to review MY music of MY last decade. Its probably going to be at least a little embarrassing as I often find I come to things late, but hey. Thus we begin with...

Y2K. The Year 2000.

At the time I was in the middle of graduate school. I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship which covered 30 credit hours per academic year, and so thats what I did burned through all but two classes from September 99 to June 00. Then I haunted around my parents house for about 6 weeks, convinced Id be unemployed forever, before the job whirlwind caught me up and deposited me in Chicago. I got paid once a month, which was great because then at least I knew Id be able to cover all my bills but depending on the month, it wasnt like there was a ton left over for buying new music or anything else for that matter. Sometimes even groceries were a challenge.  In no particular order, heres a few albums I recall being in heavy rotation.

• Radiohead, OK Computer

There is nothing I can add to the rivers of words that have been written about this album other than to say that when I first heard it, it felt both revelatory and inevitable. And I wore the crap out of it that lonely fall and have continued to do so nearly every season since although I still feel, for myself, its best for chilly weather.

• Wilco, Summerteeth

It's still a delight, every time. It and YHF trade off for my favorite Wilco album. Dry your eyes, you poor devil.

• Fiona Apple, When the Pawn

Another wonderful moody cold weather piece. She loves words, and I love that about her. Plus I'd love to have that kind of big torchy voice.

• Paul Simon, Rhythm of the Saints

I dated a drummer the year before and he loved this album. We broke up but the album stuck. Dude also loved Lyle Lovett – a keeper if I ever heard one, whatever Julia Roberts thought on the matter.

• Liz Phair, Exile in Guyville

I'm not sure how I managed to miss this through the entirety of my undergraduate career, but it happened. I think I made up for that in sheer repetition of play in 2000.

And, one last – by default, thanks to the downstairs neighbors:

• David Grey, White Ladder

I hated it and him because all I ever heard, endlessly for a couple months, was the bass line from "Oh Babylon" rumbling up from the apartment below. I hated those neighbors too. Later on, having moved and found blessed solace from said neighbors, I met up with the entire orchestration and found that really, I rather like this album.