You know how, in the book (or the movie for you non-readers) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, there is the character Mike Teavee?  And he uses the machine, against Willy Wonka's advice, which sends him through space and in to the television set, after shrinking him to a fraction of his real size?  If I remember correctly there is talk of how he could end up with his molecules all scrambled and all of his body parts might not come back together in the correct order...  Well, today is one of those days where I feel like that has happened to me!  I feel as though my molecules have all been scrambled up and most fell back in to the right places but there are a few out of place and it has left me feeling unsettled, as though something is not quite right.  When that happens it is very hard to put your mind to much of anything but on days like this, there is one thing that I have an overwhelming need for and that is powerful, stirring songs.  They ground me in a way nothing else can.  So, today I have been scouring every inch of my I-pod for just the right songs to reorganize and settle my wild molecules.  There are two very different songs that I can usually count on and it is clear in listening to the two that there is no formula for the style of song that works... The first song is "Part of the Queue" by Oasis from their album Don't Believe The Truth.  It is a big, swelling song with an energy in its rhythm and very human lyrics.   

The second song is "Rise to Me" by The Decemberists from their album The King is Dead (one of my favourites of 2011).  This song is the opposite of "Part of the Queue" it is soft and melodic with elegant poetic lyrics.  The song is driven by Colin Meloy's passionately presented vocals, a wonderful harmonica solo and the sorrowful pedal steel guitar.  Two completely different songs, one that lifts me completely up and out of myself before settling me back in and a second that simply soothes.  Whether you ever experience the feeling I spoke of or not these are both brilliant songs that are absolutely worth the time it takes to listen to them.