Today's Running Playlist

Let me start by saying it is hot as hot coals out today. When it is this hot and I run, my hands swell up like balloon-sausage-HORRORS and I really shouldn't go outside but no one is around to stop me, so out I went. This is what my hands ended up looking like:

I swear to you I am not morbidly obese and I don't have cankles for wrists. Also the top ring is from my dad and the bottom ring is from my mom and I wear them always even when my surrounding finger skin threatens to swallow them forever.

Anyway, I made a playlist when I ran today and I wanted to share it with you guys. It's actually not even that great for running...some of the songs are straight-up weepie, which might be why I had to walk half of the second hill on my res run (but did I mention the HEAT?).  There is some good shit on here though, so enjoy:

1) "Shine a Light" by Wolf Parade (This is one you can actually run to. I love these hairy, sweaty rockers and their raw sounding guitars. I even went to the Wiltern for them and I hate that elitist venue)

2) "The Twist" by Frightened Rabbit (This one is a little slower and more yearn-y. I am pretty much in love with the lead singer of this Scottish rock band, Scott Hutchison, and this song makes me think of the babies we will make together)

3) "Zero" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (The whole album It's Blitz! is danceable and awesome. Karen O is a giant lady crush of mine)

4) "Buttons" by The Weeks (Okay, I will do another post about my horrible phobia of buttons, and I am not sure I am in LOVE with The Weeks overall, but just try and tell me this song doesn't rock; I dare you)

5) "Happy Alone" by The Kings of Leon (I am pretty sure it is no longer cool to like this band as they have gone totally mainstream, but their old stuff is honestly some of my favorite music of all time. The title of this song does not, unfortunately, apply to me, but it is a JAM)

6) "I Am Not a Robot" by Marina and the Diamonds (Like with The Weeks, I don't spend my days swaying to all of Marina's stuff, but this song is plunky and cool in a Regina Spektor-y way, and I enjoy Regina)

7) "What Goes On" by The Velvet Underground (This is a sort of trippy, mellow song that happens to be 7 minutes long. I don't feel like I have to advertise for The Velvet Underground because PLEASE, but I will say that I like to run to long songs. You just say to yourself "make it through this song, damn it," and all of a sudden you're at the end of the long row of pretty houses on the other side of the reservoir)

8)  "Girl From the North Country" by Lions (I have no idea who this band is and I am aware that this is a more hard-rock version of the Bob Dylan CLASSIC, but I got this off the Sons of Anarchy soundtrack (words can't express my love for that show/Kurt Sutter/Charlie Hunnam) and I just dig it)

9) "E.T." by Katy Perry featuring Kanye West (This song is SICK. I'm sorry to those of you who see the name Katy Perry and SHUDDER, but this song is AWESOME. It sounds like a song by t.A.T.u (that IS how you spell it and if you don't remember them, I mean, just enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mGBaXPlri8) and it's one of those jams you can make up all the words to and just make yourself laugh and laugh  ("hit me with your laser, give me all your poison!"))

10) "Please Don't Go" by KC and the Sunshine Band (NOT a running song. This band is just so fun)

11) "Out of the Blue" by Julian Casablancas (Phrazes for the Young is SUCH a wonderful and underrated album. I worship The Strokes, but Julian is the genius and soul of that band (sorry Albert, you know it's true) and I love all eight songs on this tiny masterpiece. This one is the most runnable)

12) "Tunnelvision" by Here We Go Magic (Real fun band comprised of two guys and two girls. Saw them at Coachella and my beloved Troubadour before that and both times found myself entranced by their jangly, dreamy melodies. Again, not really a running song, but you do kind of get hypnotized and forget other runners are staring at you because you are PANTING)

13) "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn (If you (Mom) haven't heard Robyn's recent stuff, I feel really sad for you. This song is not only the story of my life (single tear), but it is SO GREAT to sprint (okay, jog faster) to in the final stretch)

And no, I did not make it through this entire playlist. The reservoir is only 2.3 miles GEEZ, leave me alone!