Music, Not Cotton, Is The Fabric Of My Life

As another year approaches it's grave, I choose not to lament, but to celebrate. I choose to appreciate. I appreciate the people, the places, and the events that shaped this year into what it has now become and look forward to the upcoming unknown with great anticipation and hope. I appreciate my loved ones; my family, my friends. I appreciate the authors whose labors of love have taken me anywhere I could ask to go through their words. Lastly, I appreciate the musicians who crafted the songs that have permanently seen their addition into the soundtrack of my life. Music is many things to many people, but I feel it safe to say that for all of us, music is what it makes us feel; it's the memories that have become intertwined in it; music is at the very core of who we are. I know that there really is no way for me to personally show my appreciation to the artists I love, but I feel it necessary to give back in my own little way. A tribute of sorts. With that said, I now present to you a list I have created, a list of my favorite individual songs of the year 2007. Half will be posted today, December 18, and half will be posted on December 31. It makes me smile to think that in some way, lists like these speak volumes about who I am. Mellow, noisy, chaotic, melancholy, faithful, alone, loved, mysterious. These songs are my every emotion, my every thought. I am these songs. They are me.

1. 'Falling Slowly' - Glen Hansard/Marketa Irglova
2. 'Garden Of Love' - Aqualung
3. 'Got A Suitcase, Got Regrets' - Tom McRae
4. '*fin' - Anberlin
5. 'Doomsayer' - Darkest Hour
6. 'Almost Lover' - A Fine Frenzy
7. 'Love, Reign O'er Me' - Pearl Jam
8. 'Liberty' - Keren Ann
9. 'Australia' - The Shins
10. 'Lord, How Long' - Tom McRae
11. 'Follow The Lights' - Ryan Adams
12. 'Hliomalind' - Sigur Ros
13. 'Dizzy' - Jimmy Eat World
14. 'International Players Anthem' - UGK ft Outkast
15. 'Behold The River' - The Snake The Cross The Crown
16. 'Antichrist Television Blues' - The Arcade Fire
17. 'Nude' - Radiohead
18. 'More Than A Memory' - Garth Brooks
19. 'Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore' - Bon Jovi/LeAnn Rimes
20. 'Say It To Me Now' - Glen Hansard

The best songs that will not be appearing include the following:
'Hunter's Map' - Fionn Regan
'Thinking About You' - Norah Jones
'Four Winds' - Bright Eyes
'Within Destruction' - As I Lay Dying
'Rangers' - A Fine Frenzy
'Long Ride Home' - Patty Griffin
'Haldi' - Flunk
'Seahorse' - Devendra Banhart
'What's A Girl To Do?' - Bat For Lashes
'666 Conducer' - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
'Running To The Ghost' - James Blackshaw

The Christmas season has always brought me a great deal of joy. Some of my fondest memories of childhood stem from this time of the year, as I'm sure is the case for many others. God, where has the time gone? Why can I no longer curl up into a ball in the corner my family's Christmas tree resided in, basking in the glory of the brilliant, flickering lights while hiding from the entire world? Where can I hide today? Where can I hide?

I can still smell the beautiful aroma of pine needles and cinnamon if I close my eyes and just try, but taking the time to do so isn't one of my strong suits. I am thankful for these memories, they have help shape who I've become. You may not know me, but you were there with me, you have the same memories.

I am Benjamin Miller, you are Benjamin Miller.