it feels like somebody else's lights came on

2004 could have been so beautiful, yet it was not. It was the year that everyone else found out about Modest Mouse, which should have ended with everyone hating them as I do and making me feel great about humanity. It didn't quite happen that way. And so I look to 2005 for better days, better songs and a better influence on the people of the world. You need it. Really.

No, not really! But maybe a little.

I have this love-hate thing going with David Cross, which goes basically like this: I love "Mr. Show" and "Arrested Development" and I hate that he is goofing it up at every rock show I attend. Which is why this post about Tinkle, talking about being lucky enough to touch his sleeve (surely a joke, but still) is so odd. Listen, if you want to meet David Cross, buy him a beer, whatever, start liking better bands. Go to their shows, he'll be there. It's simple. And did you detect an undertone of "Ugh, these bastards blow" in his Modest Mouse intro on the Comedy Central year-end bonanza? Because I did, but I may have been projecting.

And now this, from Ajax.

• 1. on your current playlist, hit shuffle and pick the first twenty five songs on the list (no matter how cheesy or embarrassing).
• 2. write down one (or two) line(s) of the song. try to avoid lines that include the title.
• 3. have your friends comment and see if they know the songs.
• 4. when someone guesses correctly, strike out the line and list the correct name of the song next to it.

1. Give me what I've always missed, give me a good time.
2. In seat number 30, somebody cries
3. I hope that if I find the strength to walk out you'll stay the hell out of my way
4. I was fine 'til you came along
5. I can't go nowhere, I can't even find the door
6. Meet me at the market where you bought me out
7. The tears have stained all the pages of my True Romance magazines
8. She can't say, they can't see, putting it down to another bad day
9. You just say that you need me and our love will grow and grow
10. Shrugging at what they've become - number one.
11. If anyone could, you could have a candy heart
12. Could have walked in the sky but we stare at the wall
13. Want a girl to hold my hand when the plane lands
14. Could I leave my baby? No I don't think I could
15. I lost my faith in the world, honey, when I lost you
16. You want me to lie, not break your heart
17. I just can't believe the loveliness of loving you
18. You would hardly recognize me, I'm so glad
19. Can't you feel the warmth of my sincerity?
20. Paint the town red, stand around and wait 'til it dries
21. It's quite romantic, I know
22. Has a big shiny Cadillac, and he's evil too
23. I argued her out onto Main St, and I lied her up to my room
24. I know you feel let down and you feel you can't go on - well, you can
25. Would you take your time or run like hell?

I think I did it wrong, because I didn't pick a playlist, I used my whole library. But if I used my current playlist, it would just be all the same songs I've quoted over the last few weeks anyway.