Seeing as it is the end of such a wonderful 2007, and I’m in a nostalgic mood, I thought it might be nice to do a series on songs that have changed the way I think about my life and the music to which I listen. Brief commentary to accompany songs. In no particular order.

Sufjan Stevens – Chicago

When I first heard this song, everything suddenly just made sense. I realized that there was a whole different way that artists could approach writing and making music. Lyrically phenomenal, and musically irresistible, the whole Illinois album could’ve made it in this feature. Indeed, one day there will be a college course on this song alone.

Wilco – I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

Wilco was really one of the first lesser known bands (at the time) that I listened to, and I gobbled up Yankee Hotel Foxtrot in the hopes that the songs within would do justice to the awesome album title. “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” came on, with the esoteric ringing, then a captivating bassline, then Jeff Tweedy’s aching vocals, and then the piano-heavy bridge. That bridge still gets me every time (around 4:21)–the song becomes a part of me, enveloping me in a blanket of a pure sonic ecstasy. Intriguingly inspirational, this song was even more miraculous when I heard them perform it live.

David Gray – White Ladder

I became immediately enamored with David Gray upon my first listen to White Ladder. It was still before he came stateside so I had that “best-kept-secret” feeling when I heard the album. Of course “Babylon” and “Please Forgive Me” are great songs that certainly got their airplay even in the US, but when I heard Gray’s croon over the lazy guitars and the mysterious rhythmic bangin on “White Ladder”, I was busting (props to George Costanza).

More to come later so stay tuned.