Is it presumptuous of me to give you a To Do list?
No matter—you’ll thank me once you’ve checked the items off the list.
A To Do List for the Readers of Archives of Our Lives (1/13/2010):
1. Listen to this song:
2. Listen to this song:
3. Answer for me the following question:
“How the eff does just one of Taylor Swift’s albums have 11,323 positive reviews on the iTunes™ store, while the Avett Brothers albums have 500?”
Seriously, popular culture? You’re way off on this one.
That’s it. Three little things to check off your list, and no matter how busy you are today, trust me: you’ll be glad you did these things.
The Avett Brothers’ music has been my constant companion since I first heard about them here a few months ago. There are not many albums I buy with my own money—in fact, I have purchased so few in my life, that I could probably list them by memory if I had the inclination to do so. Last year, I bought four: Bon Iver, Said the Whale, and two of the Avett Brothers’ albums. The fact that 50% of my yearly music purchases have consisted of these guys…well…that’s saying something.
I will admit that I am torn on the issue of their facial hair:
The Avett Brothers, in all their caveman glory. Image from here.
On the one hand, I think any and all facial hair (besides the ever-attractive five o-clock shadow, of course) is disgusting and vomitous and particularly creepy in a child molester kind of way, and I really really hate child molesters of every sort. [Ditto their affinity for disgusting tank tops. But what do ya do?]
On the other hand, I just really don’t know if these guys would be as amazing without their disgusting facial hair. You know? I can understand signature facial hair—it’s like signature sunglasses on That Thing You Do.
Hair or no hair, these guys are brilliant.
I want them to be successful; I want everyone in the world to see how amazing they are. But then again, what if their fame goes to their heads and they get into drugs and women and become just another bygone tale of the tragic fallen hero? I would be devastated.
Whatever you do, do NOT listen to these songs if your internet is shoddy. There is no worse feeling than getting started on one of these songs and having it cut out because of poor WiFi. Please, I beg of you—it is traumatizing.
So, if you do three things today, do the three things on this list. And then report back to me with your opinion of my new best friends.
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