Yup, I’m still in music. When words are thin and I can’t begin to find a foothold on anything that makes the vaguest of sense, songs and symbols turn up to remind me of that great big beating heart at the center of the universe.

Bright Eyes (signed to Saddle Creek Records) has a special spot in my weird scarlet heart. I stumbled upon ‘True Blue‘ last year, and like the Tindersticks, it was love at first… Led by singer-songwriter Conor Oberst, this american rock indie band has produced some of my all time favourite songs. I adore the quirky, somewhat ‘awkward’ self awareness of their music videos – sheer honesty and bare beauty unite to shine like a million blazing stars through their lyrics (which will resonate deeply with any half-hopeless romantic’s soul).

heart shaped by hand...

‘First Day of My Life‘ is the tender anthem of soul mates. It is a song that celebrates love – how we die to our small limited ‘old’ ways only to be reborn, like the phoenix, into a magnificent new alloy with an Other. Perhaps the symbol I like best from the video is the ‘finger’ hearts the couple in the end make. I saw bumper sticker of one on my way home yesterday. There are always signs. If your eyes are open enough…

Enjoy the video, I can’t watch it without crying:

‘so I thought I’d let you know * that these things take forever, I especially am slow * but I realized how I need you * and I wondered if I could come home’