Music

Soundtrack to Travel the World:
Here are some songs I would never have survived being at sea without:

Cecilia by Simon and Garfunkel: this song was always a good one when I was feeling tired of being on the ship, missing land or just wanting to see my friends.

Lake Michigan by Rogue Wave: this song, first of all, is exquisitely crafted. It just gradually gets prettier and prettier and, in my mind, glitters like the sun off the sea on a warm day.

Snail Garden by Black Moth Super Rainbow: this band never fails to tickle the furrows of my brain with multi-colored mastery. Sublime!

Simple Twist of Fate by Bob Dylan: Nothing Bob does ever fails me, but this song seems to capture the beautiful transience of this trip.

Ed is a Portal by Akron/Family: A rollicking good time, one I put on when I feel like celebrating everything!

Asleep for Days by Blitzen Trapper: The title describes what traveling for 3 and a half months makes me want to be.

There is no There by the Books: Makes me feel like someone is cleaning my soul with soft little cotton pads doused in liquid love. The Books are divine providence, I might as well put their entire discography on here.

Robots Got No Cadence or Balance by Prefuse 73: A dreamy little piano groove with electronic blips and ‘oooh’ ‘eeeh’ ‘aahs’ and a really sweet wall of beautiful violin strokes. Awesome.

Trudi by Donovan: This is a foxy jam, not really related lyrically to the trip at all, but Donovan never fails to lift my spirits when my cave—I mean room--- feels too small.

Fall in a River by Badly Drawn Boy: This one sounds like a troop of bohemian musicians dancing out of a mossy green forest at dusk. I miss trees so I listen to this when I want to climb one.

Blue Ridge Mountains by Fleet Foxes: Reminds me of Nicholas and is about traveling. And the band is just plain perfect!

Forever by Working for A Nuclear Free City: I’m using it on my slideshow when I get back—it is perfect for processing a flood of memories and images of wildly different things.  Plus it has a sitar, which is always two points in my book.

Secrets of the Sea by Billy Bragg and Wilco: A happy ditty that strums away the clouds.

Cabin Fever by the Brian Jonestown Massacre: This will probably play a lot in the next few weeks. Being on the sea is tiring (and a bit maddening), especially with only a day in Hawaii and 3 in Costa Rica to break it up until home!

We Sleep in the Ocean by the Cloud Room: Talks about escaping and traveling—connection?

My Yoke is Heavy by Daniel Johnston: my favorite song in the whole world. It was stuck in my head all of Tokyo and I was so glad. It makes me so happy!!! Just find a way to listen to it because it is genius.

Third World Lover by DJ Shadow: An Indian-spiced instrumental piece of ear candy.

Suddenly Everything has Changed by The Flaming Lips: because it has (but maybe not so suddenly)

Bombooji by Gong: I miss hippies, and this is my substitute.

Insects Don’t Eat Bananas by Joan of Arc: Short, badly sung, and about monkeys= fabulous.

Fool That I Am by Kula Shaker: For the more wistful of my days.