Rainy Day Music

I tend to gravitate to certain types of music depending on the weather. Obviously when it's sunyy outsides (which is often the case here in Southern California) I find myself looking for cheerier music on my IPOD. But when the weather turns cold (as it has today) I flip through to some old rainy day favorites. Not suprisingly, most of my raindy day faves are mopey British types with a love for distorted guitars and minor chord progressions. Here are a couple of all time rainy day standards.


RIDE were four guys from Oxford, England who were a large part of the Shoegazer movement (i.e. My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive) and had huge success over there with virtually none here in the states. My first exposure to them was "Vapour Trail" which is pefect for an overcast Sunday because it seems to hint that the sun just might pop out at any minute (metaphorically of course) Although the band went on to a more traditional rock sound later in their career (in fact one of the guys is now in OASIS) this song is just about the best way to introduce yourself to a really good band.

(m4a) Ride -- Vapour Trail (live)



THE EELS are really one guy and a bunch of studio musicians and msot of their music is actually quite upbeat and catchy. However, as I was driving around last night I heard "Rags to Rags" from their first album and was instantly reminded of this guy's extraodinary talent for writing really dark stuff. I also remember this song and one other, "Not Ready Yet", featured on a great TV show HOMICIDE about the family of murder vicitms dealing with their loss. This is the kind of stuff you can only focus on when it rains...

(m4a) The Eels -- Rags to Rags

I welcome anyone' s ideas on their favorite music for overcast skies. Their are literally dozens of other bands I would mention here but we will save them for another rainy day.