My head has such a cloudy view

I'm behind the moon, floating in space

I'm really loving this song right now. It's beautiful and sad. Hard to tell with the mariachi instrumentals, but Benjamin Gibbard actually took the melody from an old cowboy tune--hence the parenthetical "Cowpoke."

Can you get to that?

With a seemingly infinite combination of notes, chord progressions, and melodies, it's surprising how often music is duplicated. But when you think of all the beautiful songs that have already been thought up, it's not surprising that someone would want to take that beautiful song or lyric or melody and make it their own--by covering it, sampling it, or pulling from it in a more subtle way.

Funkadelic and Sleigh Bells: A 1970s funk band's guitar riff gets reused three decades later in a low-key track from a high-energy rock/pop group.

Tom Tom Club and Mariah Carey: Mariah straight up took the "I'm in heaven/with my boyfriend" verse from the only good song the Talking Heads spinoff group ever released.

Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot and Las Liminanas: From the hazy bass line, to the softly spoken French lyrics, to the more obvious "woo woos" throughout the song, it's clear that Las Liminanas are majorly channeling Serge and Brigitte.

Lou Reed and A Tribe Called Quest: Some obvious musical borrowing is ethically questionable, but others are done tastefully and with respect, like "Can I Kick It." Both songs are, in my book, equally epic.

A routine malaise

Grizzly Bear's "Two Weeks" at Radio City Music Hall on September 24, 2012.

And you feel like an ocean being warmed by the sun

Real Estate, Terminal 5 on May 1, 2012

The Shins, Terminal 5 on May 1, 2012

The best shows are the ones where you come away from it having learned something new, or in this case, three new somethings:

1.  Yes, I've listened to James Mercer's voice countless times, but not until I watched him sing on Tuesday night at Terminal 5 did it really hit me--this guy knows how to hit a note.  I mean, his vocal range is just unnatural.  He can hit freakishly high notes, before easily switching back to the deep, low rumblings.  It's a rare talent.  

2.  Deep Sea Diver's Jessica Dobson, who is currently touring with The Shins as lead guitar, can rip it.  All eyes were on her during her seemingly effortless guitar solos.  I'm 100% positive that a large amount of crushes blossomed in the crowd.  I can think of two in particular.

3.  My new favorite way to take a tequila shot: lick cinnamon off your hand, take a tequila shot, follow it up with an orange slice.  Thank you, Shins.

Don't call me I'll call you

Monday night at Madison Square Garden - The Black Keys

I found a thrill to press my cheek to

Wahoo!  Halfway through the week, which means the weekend's coming soon.  Here are some songs I've been listening to a lot lately--starting off with a timeless classic by the late Etta James, may she rest in peace.