As of this post, I am more than halfway done with this project.  So, if you’ve been waiting to see the end of it, you’ve got about another 14 months or so.  Sorry.  If you’re hear and don’t know what I’m talking about, check my full list, and the rules, over here.  Be about it.

109. Andrew Bird – Armchairs (mp3) from Armchair Apocrypha (7:03) [Time Remaining: 499:02]

Multi-layered and literate, Mr. Bird’s lyrics are often more well read than I can claim to be.  Or, they may just sound that way, and not mean anything.  But either way, there’s a stark beauty running throughout his lyrics.  “Armchairs” is no different in that regard.

The centerpiece of Andrew Bird’s seminal work Armchair Apocrypha, “Armchairs” an absolute thrill to listen to.  It expands and contracts, building to a powerful final minute, and showcasing an artist that should be far more appreciated than he is.

110. Sunny Day Real Estate – Pillars (mp3) from How It Feels To Be Something On (4:57) [Time Remaining: 494:05]

I went backwards with Sunny Day Real Estate – getting their third album before their first two, so How It Feels To Be Something On has far more weight for me than Diary does.  (Which is why it has 2 songs on this list, and none for Diary, despite the widespread belief that Diary is more influential.)

“Pillars” is the opening track of the album, and it’s moody and downtrodden, and was definitive the 19 year-old version of me.  Even now, 12 years later, it’s still close to perfect.  And while I don’t need it for the same reasons I did (read: angst), the fact that I identified with it so strongly then makes it comfortable now.

After being fairly recent with the songs used last week’s installment, I’m bringing it back a little over a decade for songs that may not be considered the best of the bands’ respective catalogues, but ones that hold special places in my heart.

13. The Smashing Pumpkins – Perfect (mp3) (3:22) [Time Remaining: 950:43] from Adore

Adore seems to be the most maligned album by Billy Corgan and Co.; on it, the band made their foray into a darker, electronica influenced sound, which was a wide departure from their previous efforts.

I don’t own a copy of Adore anymore. I’m sure it got lost or taken or traded in, and really I’m OK with that. Looking over the tracklisting, I don’t remember any of the other songs on the album with any specificity – except for “Perfect.” The song fades-in to a sharp breath being taken before everything else starts – an action I still take in sync with the song before singing along. And while the song is good without any of the feelings I attach to it, it’d be hard for me to believe anyone could not identify with its theme.

14. Sunny Day Real Estate – Guitar and Video Games (mp3) (4:09) [Time Remaining: 946:34] from How It Feels To Be Something On

If you’ve never read the sidebars of this blog, I can’t say that I blame you. For the most part it’s us trying to get you to hype us up, read other things we like, cover our collective ass, etc. In my “About the Author” section I talk about my musical tastes when compared with my family and friends growing up, and use Sunny Day Real Estate as the defining band. It’s with good reason.

How It Feels To Be Something On was the band’s third release, and first after re-forming. The tone of the album is more subdued than previous efforts – Jeremy’s vocals are less strained, the themes are more mature. I can’t say why I am drawn to this song – there are plenty excellent ones to choose from on the album – but isn’t that the way it works?

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