D'Angelo - Brown Sugar

In 1995, I was not listening to D'Angelo. I was also not listening to Radiohead, or Tupac, or Chemical Brothers, or Smashing Pumpkins, or Foo Fighters, though I could have been listening to any of these artists because they all had albums that came out in 1995. What I was listening to was a hell of a lot of Ani Difranco and a variety of angry girl music, and this is how it came to be that, though this D'Angelo album went double platinum, I had never heard a single song on it. This doesn't exactly embarrass me the way that I was embarrassed at having never heard Ziggy Stardust..., it is more that it kind of makes me want go back in time and slap 21-year-old Kate around a little bit and tell her to lighten up. She sure missed out on some good shit.

Favorite tracks: "Brown Sugar", "Smooth", "Higher"

Ryan Adams - Gold

It is just kind of a given with me that any man who writes a song about Sylvia Plath will be loved by me, because, unlike a lot of other women, I never really got over the love affair with Sylvia that started when I was required to read The Bell Jar in 10th grade, but even if Ryan Adams had not written a song about Sylvia Plath, I would probably love him. I've had this album since it came out 6 years ago and I still haven't stopped wanting to listen to it. When I listen to it, I feel vaguely nostalgic for nothing in particular, and I like when an album makes me feel that way.

Favorite tracks: Answering Bell, La Cienega Just Smiled, Sylvia Plath
Favorite lyric:
"Let your tears fall and touch my skin
Then your thunderclouds could rage and wail
I will collect them all for you in butterfly jars
And oh girl, I'll build your wishing well
Oh girl, I'll build your wishing well"

Bjork - Vespertine

There are several opportunities for me to talk about Bjork on this list. For now, I will only say that ever since I saw the Matthew Barney exhibit at SF MOMA, I find myself occasionally wondering about what goes on in the Bjork/Barney household and kind of wishing I could be a fly on the wall.

Destiny's Child - Survivor

I have only 2 things to say about this album:


1. Actual lyrics to "Independent Woman Part 1"

The shoes on my feet
I've bought it
The clothes I'm wearin
I've bought it
The rock I'm rockin
I've bought it

What I heard:

The shoes on my feet
I farted
The clothes I'm wearin
I farted
The rock I'm rockin
I farted

2. Lyrics to "Bootylicious"

I shake my jelly at every chance
When I whip with my hips you slip into a trance
I'm hoping you can handle all this jelly that I have
Now let's cut a rug while I shake my ass

Lyrics to "Nasty Girl", the very next track:

Shakin' that thang on that man, lookin' all stank and nasty
Swore you look cute girl in them dukes, booty all out lookin' trashy

Hypocrtical? I say yes.

Favorite track: "Independent Woman Part 1"
Favorite Lyric:"Nasty put some clothes on, I told ya
Don't walk out your house without your clothes on, I told ya. Girl what ya thinkin' bout lookin' that to' down, I told ya.
These men don't want no hot female that's been around the block female, you
nasty girl"

Simon And Garfunkel - Bookends

Songs on this album have, for some reason, have featured prominently in my love life.

From the minute I was born up until I finally put an end to it, everyone called me Kathy. Ex-boyfriend Alex, who I dated for 5 years starting when I was 17 used to sing the following line from "America" to me:

Kathy, I'm lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping
I'm empty and aching and I dont know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey turnpike
They've all gone to look for America


Because I was young, I found this devastatingly romantic.

Years later a certain 19-year-old who I, at the age of 25, planned on having a short fling with, endeared himself to me by making jokes about me being "Mrs. Robinson". The fling is still going on 7.5 years later.

Clearly, if you want me to sleep with you you just have to work this album into a conversation with me.

Favorite tracks: "Mrs. Robinson", "America", "Overs"
Favorite lyrics: See above