Notes on the year so far

Musically speaking, this year has been much better than last year, and we're only half way through. At the end of the year I'm always scratching my head to remember what came out before the summer hit, so I'm jotting down some notes on great music we've received so far.

Andrew Bird - Noble Beast
While I was down on this album at first for not being as good as I thought Armchair Apocrypha was, it's won me over now. Who else can write songs about sea anemones, really? Coupled with the bonus disc of instrumentals (Useless Creatures), it upholds the Andrew Bird tradition of great music with violin, whistling, and awesome lyric.

Passion Pit - Manners
When it's time to get moving, be it running, biking to work or doing dishes, my first choice these days is Passion Pit. Maybe not the most ground-breaking album, but unstoppably groovy. I just have to shake it a little when any of these songs come on. Occasionally it sounds a little like TV on the Radio, Animal Collective, or Ratatat, and I mean that as a compliment. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer
Another album I just can't put down. Less murky than Random Spirit Lover, it still has songs that go on long, but they change and break down enough to keep them interesting rather than dragging on. The instrumentation is tightened up a bit, and the lyrics are sharper too. I could listen to "You Go On Ahead (Trumpet, Trumpet II)" all day, really. A much more solid success in my opinion.

St. Vincent - Actor
Another can't-put-it-down album. While Annie Clark has again top-loaded her album (all the best songs are at the front, slowing down towards the end a bit), these songs explode with so much awesome you'd want them front and center too. Gorgeous music, lyric and singing make everything on this album worth listening to over and over and over.

Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
This album is hard to separate from the idea of summer, so I need to mark it down to remember when summer has passed. The usual from Case, folk/country sounds with a great voice and good lyric. 30 minutes of field sounds at the end might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I find it the perfect end to a soothing summer album.

K'naan - Troubadour
As an English teacher in Japan, I have to have respect for K'naan, who not only taught himself English partly through rap and hip hop, but has also gone on to make his own music and lyric quite successfully. Way better than my students probably ever will be able to grasp, and they have a "proper" education. I admit I'm not well versed in hip hop, but after getting this record I couldn't put it down for weeks, which says a lot for it.

Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
Kinda like Tori Amos meets Bjork with a twist of The Knife. And can you really argue with a combination like that? Surprisingly NOT Scandinavian, though it certainly has that vibe to me. Pretty but not TOO pretty, and that's something I like about it.

Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
It's Animal Collective, need I say more?

A beautiful day.

I cleaned my dishes and the kitchen counters. I worked on a cover letter for a job possibility in Boston. I probably won't get it, but it feels good to have some ideas about what I can do when I get back. Talked to family and friends on Skype. Talking about my insecurities, one friend said, "Knowing you, you'll find yourself sucked into a new life right away." That was actually kind of reassuring, that I could be interesting and desirable enough to find a new start.

I sat out on the window in my boxers and t-shirt with my cigarette and coffee. I spotted my four year-old neighbor Tenma down by the parking lot. I watched as he ran over to the drainage ditch, pulled down his pants and peed. He pulled up his pants, turned around, then saw me up in the high window. He waved and yelled "MERII-SENSEI!" I waved back as he ran to get his dad, telling him to look up. I politely waved to Mr. Aota, who had Tenma's 6 month-old brother in his arms. He laughs as Temna tries to yell to me where the family is going for the day. I laugh at the adorableness of the scene.

I left my window perch to then figure out the train schedules for the day. Found there is a Hamakaze rapid service to Takeno, where there summer's kick-off beach party is happening. Leaving exactly an hour from now, the perfect amount of time.

The last week has been full of panic. But today, so far, has been perfect--a mix of productive and relaxed time. And I see this is how the days should be enjoyed from here on out. Appreciating the things I will miss, soaking them in like the sunshine. Preparing slowly to move onto the next phase, to reunite with the people back home.

Despite what it's been like in my headspace these days, today I actually believe things are going to be okay.