This is guest list #2 for Jon. (Here's the first one.) I believe his kookiness comes through loud and clear in his prose, and even more so in his choice of music. As he suggests in his intro, he's probably meant to exist somewhere far from roads with a backpack and a tent. Then again, he loves electronic music, so...

Kenley is the brave (foolish?) soul who consented to marry this yogi bear of a man and bear his children.

“It’s Time to Stop the Complaining Let’s Shake Hands”

I made Kenley cry with the title of my last playlist, and I realize that I’ve spent a good portion of my time in California bitching a whole bunch, which may be why I’m losing the hair on my head and gaining it in my ears/nose and on my back. This playlist, although having little discernable difference in music selection from the last, is dedicated to a shift in perspective where I now bend my brain and soul to joyfully embrace the fact that it can take me an hour to drive two miles. Was I meant for big cities? Yes, the answer is yes.

So without further adieu, here is music that makes me smile wiggle or find that quiet place within when I’m in a big city.

CeCe Peniston – Finally It hit me 6 years ago that I was getting old when Groove is in the Heart was on the oldies station (and to hear that Beck’s Loser is 20 years old!). Since the 2000 Chevy Prism that we drive cannot keep a radio antenna on it I bounce between radio stations on my way to work depending on my topographic aspect. I can get a good bit of NPR from Los Angeles for the first mile up the north side of a hill, then I can get San Diego NPR for the next 4 miles down the south side, and then it’s a bit of no-man’s land where thankfully I can get one oldies station. I find myself singing this song quite frequently.

Song’s spirit symbol: an armadillo.

Magazine 60 – Don Quichotte (No Estan Aqui) - Maxi This song is on the Northern Exposure soundtrack. I loved that TV show when it came out. That the soundtrack switches from Etta James and Daniel Lanoise to Magazine 60 is testament to its awesomeness.

Song’s spirit symbol: a mature, intoxicated Pikachu.

Wagon Christ – Toomorrow I cannot say more than “whole body futuristic,” which I find myself stating out loud at work occasionally. Nobody has complained yet.

Song’s spirit symbol: an enormous motorized tricycle that can travel down sandy washes in the Sonoran Desert at 2 miles per hour.

Powermad – Slaughterhouse Another fantastic soundtrack comes from David Lynch’s film Wild at Heart. This used to be the only song I would skip, but when I started raging in So Cal traffic I all-of-a-sudden realized the purpose of speed metal. The song accompanies the opening scene when Nic Cage is bashing some guys head repeatedly into these marble stairs, very gruesome. Apparently this track comes from a coveted speed-metal album from a Minnesota based band that fell off the radar in the early 90s. Well, they’re back! I’m excited to see if they can further pique my speed-metal interests.

Song’s spirit symbol: said tricycle above but can travel up to 8 miles per hour.

Terence Trent D'Arby – Wishing Well Another choice track from the oldies station. The sycamore is my favorite tree, and 80s pop is engrained in me, I’m destined to think this is a brilliant song.

Song’s spirit symbol: a sycamore tree.

A Tribe Called Quest – Electric Relaxation A contribution from the Native Tongues. I might have to include one for each mix. Next week: Black Sheep or Queen Latifah?

Song’s spirit symbol: a happily lost/roaming dog.

Matthew Dear – Her Fantasy Despite the supermodel-esque disinterest in his voice, I’m drawn to Matthew Dear’s music. Could it be his roots in Eno/Talking Heads? This one keeps me bobbing.

Song’s spirit symbol: a cumulonimbus cloud forming over a hot desert.

Daft Punk – Lose Yourself to Dance Because Josh called out the Daft Punk reference last time I have to confess that I can’t stop listening to this song. It’s not amazing, but when you watch it with the video? Holy crap. I don’t want to stop dancing.

Song’s spirit symbol: a Soul Train dancer for certain.

Stephen Lynch – The Night I Laid You Down If I were to write a song about the night Josh and I met this would probably be it. Sorry for the explicit content.

Song’s spirit symbol: a mash-up of Phil Collins and Peter Gabrielle.

Marvin Gaye – Got To Give It Up This was the number one jam the week I was born yeah!

Song’s spirit symbol: me dancing nicely for you.

Jill Scott – Slowly Surely Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . oh yeahhhhhhhhh . . .

Song’s spirit symbol: Josh dancing nicely for you.

Jackson Browne – These Days Many find that Nico’s version of this song is superior, and I think that she does provide a very unique and distinctive tone that can’t be shook, it is a classic. But I was blown away to find out that Jackson Browne wrote this song when he was 19! His version has grown on me.

Song’s spirit symbol: Terence Trent D’Arby on a rocking-chair under a sycamore tree.