Question from a reader!

Okay, great. This is exciting. A big thank you to Amanda for asking me a question. If there's something you want to know about me, go ahead and ask and I'll try to post the answer here. As long as you're not being a sicko or a huge dick, or something.

Who is my favorite musician?

Well, I have a few answers for that, I suppose. I have had a long string of favorites that all moved me, in one way or another... they mostly moved me groin-ally as a teenager. Oh who am I kidding? I still get moved in the groin-al area. I've had imaginary love affairs that went like this... in mostly sequential order, starting at around thirteen: John Lennon, long haired sensitive Bono, Robert Smith, David Bowie, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Conor Oberst, Iggy Pop, Jenny Lewis and Elliott Smith.

I think I can say with complete honesty that Elliott Smith is my favorite musician. Louise's middle name is Elliott even, because Kurt and I love him so much. I wonder if he had any idea that people would be naming their kids after him, he means that much to some of us.

I also think that maybe Rilo Kiley might be my favorite band. I will always harbor a secret wish that Jenny and Blake will remember when it was love, and run away together to get married.

My favorite album is hands down, Raw Power.

My favorite song is... I don't have a favorite song. Probably Waltz #2. Or maybe it's Things The Grandchildren Should Know. Oh yeah, I also love Eels.

So, yeah. I don't know. Who is your favorite musician?

I'm actually really interested. I think that subject of music is a strange one. Our family is definitely the kind of family that needs music. Kurt and I talk about it all the time. Dissecting it and putting it back to together in the context of us and our lives. We're very oriented around the artists we like. We're very educated and philosophical music consumers, too. Talking about music makes me want to do it with my husband about fifty million times.

We're different in a lot of ways, Kurt and I. I've talked about some of them here. He's mild mannered and soft-spoken. He's shy and thoughtful and mathematical in his approach to the world. He's also politically minded and full of knowledge about things I have no idea about. But, we have a lot of the same ideas about music, even if he believes (erroneously) that Fun House is a better album than Raw Power.

I am fully aware that the world is also heavily populated with people who don't feel like music is necessary to living happily. Some people just never really got into it, for whatever reason. Some people require that their music be fun or danceable, or something. I guess I don't really know what goes on inside the head of somebody who doesn't feel like complete strangers they will never ever meet are writing songs reeled right out of their guts. I know there are lots of those people, and I'm totally respectful of that way of living. I guess I just can't imagine it.

I am also aware that, when I start talking about music that I like, the people who aren't music people start rolling their eyes or fidgeting in their seats because why, oh why is she going on and on about this? So, I'll just leave it be.

But, I do have to admit that a person's taste in music is wildly interesting to me. I spend so much time and thought with it, it informs a lot of my perspective and mood. I feel like if I can unlock your musical deal, I can read something about the you, inside of you. I'm not saying that I judge people based on their taste in music. I don't care what you want to listen to. I do care to know, though.

So, thank you, for that interesting question. I was so excited to open my email and find a question from a reader! Reply here to tell me about what your favorite songs and albums and artists are. And, if there's anything else you want to know, just ask.


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