why don’t you come home, i cannot remember why you left, and i’d rather be happy than right this time

it seems to me that there are some cds that i cannot fully appreciate until i listen to them on headphones. i’m almost never without music playing on my stereo here in my room when i’m on the trusty laptop, or if i’m reading or just chilling. but for some reason certain songs don’t really slap me in the face with their greatness until they’re channeled through headphones. maybe it’s because i’m forced to listen more closely with everything drowned out, maybe it’s because it’s easier to hear the words. something about it just provides a unique music experience, i think. in the same vein, there are things i don’t like nearly as much through headphones, but that’s another story.

which brings me to my point: the new dismemberment plan cd, change. i’ve had it for a couple weeks now and it’s been in heavy rotation. it’s really good and i knew that from first listen. the songs have a groove to them which takes hold and the head nodding is irresistable. although it’s not always as fun and frantic as emergency & i, which i really loved, at the same time i think that almost makes it more approachable. not to say that was necessary or that it makes this cd better or worse. i do think though that it’s something less likely to scare off people that are afraid of — well, a change. i was reminded by this cd of some of the more recent and better work of the flaming lips, in it’s oddball use of guitars and peculiar sounds to make a beautiful whole.

to bring things full circle though: i had refrained from listening to this cd at work because it seemed too laid back to listen to while doing an already dull job. i decided against this verdict and listened to it this morning — twice through — via headphones, and it propelled me into not just liking and enjoying but absolutely adoring this cd. whereas before i appreciated it for its funky rhythms and fun sound, now i finally picked up on the brilliant songwriting and more subtle musical touches that must have passed me by on the casual listen, and which make this cd really amazing. the whole rest of the day, naturally, i’ve been fighting to keep the songs from taking over my mind. especially the personal highlights like the middle of “the face of the earth” and the chorus of “following through”. it’s all fantastic though, really. the line at the top from “coming home” (the title of my absolute favorite song of all time, but by another band) also got to me. so now i know what i’ll be listening to even more obsessively for the next few days. or weeks.

thanks for indulging me in my review-writing practice, or whatever this was. nothing much personal to share so i’m gonna go . . . well, you can probably guess.