Essie.

Partied hardy last night.

That seemed to handle it. That was it. Send a girl off with one man. Introduce her to another to go off with him. Now go and bring her back. And sign the wire with love. That was it all right. I went in to lunch.

Jack Barnes, The Sun Also Rises.

“I want to play this song for Carlo Cruz, who is not here right now, but as a thanks for bringing this song back.”

“What do you mean by bringing this song back?”

“Carlo put it on his blog. It’s a great song. I didn’t think he was into stuff like this.”

“He probably saw it in a skate vid.”

“Oh. Pshh.”

Better Days - Graham Nash

Back in the summer we were all sitting in my car and I was most likely driving somewhere and the iPod was most likely plugged in when ShuffleGod threw on some Springsteen. Audi was in the backseat and she said something to the effect of, “I think I’m just starting my Bruce Springsteen phase—don’t hipsters all have this Bruce Springsteen phase?”

I remember turning around—the car was at a red light, chill out—and saying to her that if you really loved Springsteen, and I mean really loved the Boss, you didn’t have a phase. I got so animated. It didn’t make my blood boil or anything; like I wasn’t mad that she had said that, I was just so taken up on the force, the drive and the punch to the face that is Bruce Springsteen. And it’s true. I know I see these types walking around saying they love Bruce Springsteen this and working class blue collar that, but when you really love Springsteen it’s more than just some stupid little phase. He consumes you. He literally eats your mind.

I kept going. Kept trying to explain how you can’t love Bruce for the short term. You love him once and you love him forever—you’re in for the long haul. Even now as I type this I get so excited because he’s just that awesome. He’s a god. He has this ability to empty the tank with no matter what he does and he just makes you feel like he knows what you’re going through and he just gets it. He. gets. it. all.

I couldn’t even begin to sum up how much Springsteen meant to me, to others, fuck even to society. He contributed something to the world that just shakes you until you wake up and literally mouth “WTF” in silence. I keep a notebook of all the songs and artists and albums in my life that have done that to me—music that has woken me up and left me speechless. The Boss probably fills half that book.

When you listen to Bruce’s music you aren’t a loser, you are a character in an epic poem about losers.

Jon Stewart said it best, and I wish I could have said those exact words that night in my car.

I love you, Bruce Springsteen. Gaahdamn.

/endgushingoverbrucespringsteen.

Backstreets - Bruce Springsteen (duh).

Every Man Has a Molly - Say Anything.

This song floors me every. Single. Time. ♥.

Cry Baby - Janis Joplin.

I’m on a bender that needs to just chill for a second.

I’m starting to look into going on a holiday. Somewhere to relaxxxx. Suggestions?

Love Lives Here - The Faces