Like with ‘Say Yes,’ I wrote that song in five minutes. And I wrote ‘Between the Bars’ right after that. Both of those I made up during an episode of ‘Xena: Warrior Princess’ with the sound off, which is a great way to write songs. Your eyes are busy, so they don’t get bored and they don’t watch what your hands are doing, so then you can surprise yourself. Your hands can surprise you with what they know and that you don’t.
Elliott Smith Talks Songwriting with Mary Lou Lord in a 1998 issue of Spin

(via worldsfair)

  • 10 Plays
  • Baby I Love YouThe Ramones

The Ramones - “Baby, I Love You” (The Ronettes Cover)

  • 0 Plays
  • Track 04

Nine Inch Nails - “A Warm Place”

Still one of the most evocative instrumentals I’ve ever heard.

  • 70 Plays
  • My Funny ValentineChet Baker

Chet Baker - “My Funny Valentine”

It seems like the big distinction between good art and so-so art lies somewhere in the art’s heart’s purpose… It’s got something to do with love. With having the discipline to talk out of the part of yourself that can love instead of the part that just wants to be loved.
David Foster Wallace (via Zadie Smith in Harper’s)
  • 10 Plays
  • Have You ForgottenRed House Painters

“Have You Forgotten” - Red House Painters

Sarah Vowell's Sound Salvation Column

From Stop the violins!: “I know what you were thinking. You were thinking that we had that little bimbo-shaped, entrail-strung toy box whupped, weren’t you? You were thinking that monarchies and their toady instruments of enslavement were the laughingstock of the free world. You were thinking that we made the world safe (sort of) for democracy and electric guitars.”