Terrible Twos

Seven Things My Pet Thought In the Pa... Tourist Trapp

Terrible Twos

Two years. That’s how long it’s been since I threw Normalarkey out with the bathwater and started all over again with a blog that I hoped would be bionic: better, faster, stronger than the old blog. Or at least with a much easier name to spell.

I have succeeded beyond my wildest dreams in connecting with people in the world who think in lyrics, who would rather laugh than complain, who would race both for the cure and for The Cure (can’t take credit for that one, though I wish I could. Original here.) Thank you, dear friends, for making me feel like less of an oddball.

In the past twelve months I’ve gotten to share some of my favorite music books with you, and I’ve hosted the words of some amazing writers through Still in Rotation. I love when I get the guest posts ahead of time via email; I clap my hands over my keyboard each time and think, “I can’t wait til my readers get a load of THIS!” Thank you, guest posters, for sharing your favorite albums and your lump-in-throat-inducing writing with us.

I’ve had the perfect excuse to hit a concert a month. Like I needed one. Thanks for telling me about the bands you love and sharing stories of the performances that stuck with you.

I’ve had a place for my stories, my memories, and my rants, and I cannot express to you how important that is for the person whose childhood nickname was Aunt Blabby.

Finally – and this is new in the past six months – I have gotten onto the distribution lists for PR people flogging new music. Unfortunately a lot of that music is by a girl named Cheyenne who is playing all over the NASCAR circuit this summer, and much of what remains is by metal artist Jungle Rot. (Not that there’s anything wrong with metal, but I like mine with some Viking seasoning.)

Still, there’s probably a better way for me to highlight what’s new and good on the music scene for you guys; I just need some time to figure it out. So the blog and I, we’re going to get away for a few days, you know, reconnect as you do around your anniversary, and think it over between meals and naps. I want to make sure I enter Midlife Mixtape’s Terrible Twos well rested and mentally prepared.

And while I’m gone for the next little while, scroll through a couple of these listen-worthy treats that have popped up in my inbox lately. Let me know which you like best in the comments!

Robb Benson and the Shelk – The Way Through

Coming to Oakland to play on August 9 to the Awaken Café. Love this indie songwriter from Seattle…

Lorde – Royals

This gorgeous Kiwi has a hypnotic, distinctive voice – and she’s 17? So depressed. No, good for her. Really.

Dessa – Call Off Your Ghost

This rapper is so angular. Keep your new girlfriend away from her or she will cut her with a cheekbone.

The Swing Set With Alex Cook – Bad Things

This one goes out to the True Blood and Mad Men fans