Turkey Tension 4.0

Can you believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow? I don’t know about you, but I sort of feel like I could just as easily be back in March at St. Patrick’s Day–this year’s been such a blur, though the vibrant-colored Atlanta trees and stocked shelves of canned pumpkin tell me otherwise.

Which means it’s time for the annual turkey tension playlist and as we near the close of 2011, I’m feeling a bit nostalgic, so making the cut is a mix of young and old. #grateful

Miss World by Hole (My teen angst years came a bit later than most—senior year of high school through junior year of college—and can be pinpointed to the “Live Through This” album introduced to me by an ex-boyfriend who used to listen to this song ad nauseum. Though I no longer love him, I do love this song, even in spite of Courtney Love’s coo-coo for Cocoa Puffs persona.)

I’ll Be Your Mirror by Velvet Underground (My brother’s all-time favorite band; for him.)

Parallax by Atlas Sound (Pitchfork loves the Deerhunter frontman’s solo project and I do too).

Winter Winds by Mumford & Sons (It’s always a lovely thing when our hearts and heads match, isn’t it? Here’s to syncing the two.)

Lay me Down by The Frames (I’m thankful this year has allowed me a bit of head space for taking time to just be—to lay down.)

Chasing Pavements by Adele (I feel like when I go home we all sort of revert back to patterns from when we’re children. An example: my twin sister is probably honing her ironing skills as I write this, preparing to press my brother’s work shirts the next time she sees him, like when we were younger. I’m certain money and bribes will be exchanged.)

Taxi Cab by Vampire Weekend (I’ve said it before: always, keep a cab company number in your contacts. You just never know when it’ll come in handy—it’s kind of like learning how to drive a stick-shift, a good thing to have tucked in your skill set of life.)

Bloodbuzz Ohio by the National (I had to put this band from my husband’s hometown on here.)

You Know I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse (For those we love and those we’ve lost.)

Somebody to Shove by Soul Asylum (Hold your fire. Think it through.)

Road to Nowhere by Talking Heads (There are better musicians that drum up memories of my family—specifically Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder—but for some reason Byrne’s voice captures the art of struggling relationships so well.)

Pumped up Kicks by Foster the People (Every turkey playlist has a song I drank the Kool-Aid on—see Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold in 2008 and Florence and the Machine’s Dog Days Are Over in 2010. This year follows the trend.)

The Boys Are Back In Town by Thin Lizzy (There’s nothing quite like catching up with old friends over the holiday.)

Superstar by Sonic Youth (I love this version of the Carpenter’s hit.)

Cherub Rock by Smashing Pumpkins (I didn’t appreciate Smashing Pumpkins in the height of their career, especially the album this song comes from, “Siamese Dream.” This is when everyone in the band could stand to be in the same room as Billy Corgan.)

Cigarettes, Wedding Bands by Band of Horses (Have a rehearsed answer for bad habits you need to break, relationships that need explaining.)

Warwick Avenue by Duffy (You said it, gurl.)

Otis by Kanye West & Jay Z featuring Otis Redding (This one is for our boy, Otis, who will be playing to his heart’s content at doggie daycare while we’re feasting on deep fried turkey.)

Society by Eddie Vedder (“Into the Wild,” the movie (and book) this song is based on brings me to tears. Everyone has someone they are missing and people in their life they have to let go of. Or people in their life that are around that aren’t making the same life decisions we might want for them. Here’s to all the dreamers like Christopher McCandless out there.)

Congratulations by MGMT (Give props when props are due. With sincerity.)

Saturday Sun by Crowded House (If Crowded House can reunite last year to produce this beauty, anything is possible.)

(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay by Sara Bareilles (OK, you really cannot beat the Otis Redding version, but this one is goose-bump inducing with the piano backed by her stellar singing chops.)

Get Me Away from Here, I’m Dying by Belle and Sebastian (It’s always drama, drama, drama.)

We All Go Back To Where We Belong by R.E.M. (The band’s swan song, its last release before the big breakup. Going home or welcoming others into our own home for the holidays is where we belong.)

To Whom Should I Write by Mojave 3 (This song will forever remind me of a past relationship that could’ve potentially changed me, and did for a while in all sincerity. You aren’t always how you’re treated. You can change your fate. You’re whatever you believe yourself to be. I think Thanksgiving reminds us of that. Stepping off soapbox.)

Hallelujah by the Helio Sequence (I knew I wanted to Hallelujah on this year’s list and was leaning toward the Jeff Buckley version of the Leonard Cohen song, but did the bait and switch with this tune. It’s such a goodie.)

Innocent by Stereophonics (I remember living in my parents’ house thinking everything was, in fact, possible. Even though I no longer live in that house, I still think anything is possible. And hope I always continue to believe that.)

The Only Exception by Paramore (There’s an exception to every rule. Bend a little, break a little.)

Within and Without by Washed Out (The title track off Ernest Green’s album … I predict this Georgia boy is about to make it big, big, big.)

Alcoholic by Starsailor (No matter the labels on family members or the ones we give to ourselves, deal with the elephants in the room accordingly. Some are worth brushing under the proverbial rug, others, might require a ‘come to Jesus’ moment.)

Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John (Sing-a-long numero uno … shine the light. PS-I saw Elton John sing this at one of my first concerts with my parents. During the performance they shined the light on the crowd and it was pretty awesome.)

Murder in the City by the Avett Brothers (I melt with the lyrics, “Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing like the love that led us to share our name.” Sigh.)

Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far) by The Thrills (From the day we were born my twin sister has been my best friend. Our birthday is the Sunday after Thanksgiving. This one is for her, and I’m thrilled she found her Santa Cruz. Happy birthday.)

Let’s Go Crazy by Prince (Sing-a-long numero dos … oh no let’s go!)

See a Little Light by Bob Mould (A lot can happen between holiday seasons: relish it while you’re in the moment.)

All I Need by Radiohead (Haunting. Love this song.)

Perth by Bon Iver (Find your happy place, no matter where that happy place might live. And thank your lucky stars daily that you have one.)

Bad by U2 (Sage advice from Bono, “If I could, you know I would. If I could, I would. Let it go…” Bury the hatchet.)