I have enjoyed this dude’s music for SO long…SO many thoughts and SO many people intertwined within SO many lyrics and flute accents (you know what I’m talking about). Just thinking I should thought-drop some of my more positive and happy ones…

Random thoughts of people (cause I thought it would be fun…names are withheld to protect the innocent…or not so innocent):

Driving with you down that country road to the old supposed farm house massacre while The Last Stop plays…the lightening, the wind, the bridges, the bugs and that grey bird flying off.

Standing at the phones while we both agree that the flute part in 41 is simply genius.

Getting all choked up thinking about how Grey Street is about you.

The September concert.

All the times I said I wasn’t going to go to a Dave concert (this year, maybe I’ll go next).

Playing 41 for you, because really, it wasn’t for anyone else.

Dave’s last CD, Full Throttle and you will always be tied together.

Every time I think about how obsessive some fans are, I liked to joke by saying that I want to have his baby. The funny thing is, I still think of you when I say that.

Singing The Stone with you, quasi-karaoke style up in that practice room.

Every time I remember that Alanis Morisette sings in two songs on my fav Dave album, I remember you telling me about it.

Dancing with you, with Ozomatli, out on the Woodlands hill.

You singing Two Step with me, with all of your friends.

Getting that dude at that restaurant in Austin to play Ants Marching.

Playing Halloween with you on that stupid drum pad changed my life.

You dragged me out to my first Dave concert and while you left me out on the hill, Dave made me a fan with his cover of All Along The Watchtower.

All the trips, all the Dave virgins, all the Dave songs and Howie Day reminds me of you.

Thinking that it was SO funny that you found Dave attractive.

Learning to play I’ll Back You Up because you and my brother agreed that you both liked the song. I thought it was so funny that I was jealous.

When I hear the Lillywhite version of Bartender, I think about how I told you Bartender was what sex felt like (if it were made into a song).

So, when all of these things (plus so much more) are engraved into every song, I wonder if my love for Dave’s music is more objective or subjective. Do I like his music because of the genuine talent, music and lyrics or do I like his music because of all the wonderful times I’ve had?

No one can deny the talent of this band (including Tim and the amazing banjo solo in Spoon). Amazing.

The music? Think Two Step, 41, Rapunzel, The Stone, Pig, Stay or Leave.

The lyrics? Think Dodo, The Last Stop, Grey Street, So Much To Say, The Dreaming Tree.

Is Dave my guilty pleasure or is Dave enlightenment? When I think guilty pleasure, I think more of my love for Janet Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation.” So dammit, it has got to be enlightenment.

Anyways.

Suck it if you don’t like my list (because some can’t swallow Dave’s twang and touch o’ country and jazz). I promise, I am ok with it. =)

For The Haters (because you know not what you hate):

01 Satellite – Start ‘em off slowly.
02 Stay or Leave – Because it’s like candy that makes you sad.
03 Two Step – The only “country” song I love.
04 Lie In Our Graves – Because I like short walks on the beach.
05 The Stone – Because Dave really is scarier than Manson.
06 The Dreaming Tree – Proof that the DMB was not meant for drinking at frat parties.
07 Grey Street – 12 strings and great words go together.
08 The Last Stop – Because silence is poetry…and the outro is better than the aforementioned poetry.
09 Bartender – How could I ever think of sex during this song?
10 Drive In Drive Out – I just like it, ok?
11 41 – How could this song be named anything else? 1 in my book.
12 Pig – Dave posing as a inspirational cat (not a pig).
13 Hello Again – Because that friggin’ beat is the BOMB.

“What’s your problem now? It’ll all be dead and gone in a few short years…Don’t burn the day away.”