Where Do The Cavaliers Go From Here?
May 14, 2010On LeBron James, Free Agency, and Manny Ramirez
May 14, 2010So we’re all pretty bummed out today, all in differing ways. So how do we cope? More so than a lot of things, music helps.
MattC had a very poignant comment on Rick’s recap piece:
Last year’s ECF loss was like dying of a sudden heart attack. This year’s loss was like watching a relative waste away from a terminal illness and mercifully die when the pain got to be too much. It was a blessing.
I think that sums things up well for me too. We’ve more or less seen this coming after Tuesday, at some level. And really, there are few songs/albums that wrap that up better than “Hospice” by The Antlers. I really highly recommend the whole album, but here’s the outro song Epilogue:
“You’re screaming
And cursing
And angry
And hurting me
And then smiling
And crying
Apologizing”
Along the same lines, Craig suggested “What Sarah Said” by Death Cab for Cutie – “Love is watching someone die. So who’s going to watch you die?”
Rick suggested Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright.
DP says Pantera’s “Vulgar Display of Power” album, and Brendan’s listening to Widespread Panic – both angry enough to not post here, lest we badly influence anyone.
I also think that LeBron’s free agency situation might reflect “Better Man” by Pearl Jam, but I think I’m just thinking about things a bit too much.
Anyways – enough about us.
What music is getting you guys through the day?
53 Comments
The Antlers “Hospice” is one of the most powerful, best albums I’ve heard in a long time. It may be a bit insensitive to compare the subject matter of the album to our team getting knocked out of the playoffs, but it certainly goes in line with the dreary mood I’m sure we’re all feeling right now.
This may just be me, and nothing against MattC, but I think we’re taking things a little too far when we start comparing the Cavs losing in the Eastern Conf Semi-Finals to “watching a relative waste away from a terminal illness”. I did the later last year and the pain it causes so far exceeds the pain caused by the former that they really shouldn’t be in the same sentence.
I realize it’s a metaphor, but still…
As far as the music getting me through the day – I have been alternating Pearl Jam and Flogging Molly.
Grateful Dead: Estimated Prophet
Been listening to Alligator and Boxer by The National. “Mr. November” kinda fits here, except I’m pretty sure if Shaq was ever carried in the arms of cheerleaders, they would die under his weight.
Been putting together depressing mixes since the Indians got bounced by the Red Sox … in the 1999 playoffs.
Today, it’s featuring Fake Empire by The National. Right Where it Belongs by Nine Inch Nails. Where Did You Sleep Last Night? by Nirvana. Poor Places by Wilco. Truth Doesn’t Make a Noise by the White Stripes. I Got (Id) by PJ. Amongst others.
My office is exceedingly depressing this morning.
It’s a shame it’s almost summer. But I’m feeling more like “Coldest Winter” by Kanye…. “goodbye my friend, will I ever love again?
@adam Fake Empire’s been on my list since Tuesday. It’s almost too fitting.
Here’s a stomach punch:
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/15905/you-cant-spell-king-without-kg
This is getting a little emo for my tastes.
Rebels, Rogues and Sworn Brothers by Lucero and The Monitor by Titus Andronicus. Depressed 🙁
The song I keep hearing over and over in my head is “The Lonely Man”… the end theme song from the Incredible Hulk…
The first song that came on my playlist this morning was rather appropo – “Never Had It” by Flobots
@ Adam – I Got Id by Pearl Jam is a fantastic song. Nice choice
“The High Road” by Broken Bells –
Cause they know and so do I
The high road is hard to find
A detour in your new life
Tell all of your friends goodbye
The dawn to end all nights
That’s all we hoped it was
A break from the warfare in your house
To each his own…
@ Lloyd – I’ve had relatives go both ways. As you said, it was just an analogy. Of course, i don’t take it that seriously, (though many probably do).
But, what I was really trying to convey is that last year, the “sudden heart attack,” was like watching your favorite uncle who was in great shape his whole life just get stricken down – frustrating, insurmountable, and totally unexpected, just as we played pretty well last year but to our frustration, couldn’t quite match up.
This year, many of us saw the early signs of decline – the team packing it in really early in the regular season, even with a great regular season record already established, the infamous rest period, issues with Jamison’s FTs/defense, issues of consistency over four quarters even when we hadn’t mentally packed it in for the regular season, and I mean really, is there any one who didn’t think fitting Shaq back in was going to be at minimum, a huge hurdle to overcome in the first 2 rounds? Enter the playoffs, where they looked wary against Chicago and downright horrible most of this series, including most of one of the games they won, and I think even the most optimistic of us had to at least be *wondering*, if not worrying at least a bit. It was just a slow, wasteful decline whereas last year was sudden and unexpected.
quiet here. but kinda chuckled at this. could be a webcam from public square, not sure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsx2vdn7gpY
A surprising amount of emo on here for a sports site. I’ve tried a lot of things this morning, (Pearl Jam, Nirvana, GnR) but honestly “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac is the only thing that is working. That probably doesn’t bode well for the summer.
I don’t know, I’m more ticked off than morose. Let’s go old school: The Who, “Won’t Get Fooled Again,”
Two words: Carmen, Ohio.
The Clash… no specific reason except they’re awesome.
also “October” by Broken Bells is quite fitting for the Lebron situation –
Remember what they say
There’s no shortcut to a dream
It`s all blood and sweat
And life is what you manage in between
If nothing else, let me express the pride I have in the quality of music our WFNY readers listen to. Well done, guys. Well done.
First thing on shuffle today
U2- Even better than the real thing.
Give me one more chance
And you’ll be satisfied
Give me two more chances
You won’t be denied
Well, my heart is where it’s always been
My head is somewhere in between
Give me one more chance
Let me be your lover tonight
Here is my playlist for today…2010 songs with appropriate titles:
1. Round and Round – Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
2. New York Is Killing Me – Gil-Scott Heron
3. Gonna Make It Through This Year – Great Lake Swimmers
4. A Slight Discomfort – The Hold Steady
5. Excuses – The Morning Benders
6. This Cruel Thing – Widespread Panic
7. Suffering Season – Woods
Staind, Mudshovel.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
For the initiated….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuAC9YIC2Bs
I meant uninitiated. Man……
Cleveland punk, classic and obscure: the Pagans, the Snotrockets, the Squirts…
@LaundroMat – No Dead Boys??!? Is it because they left for NY?
Actually on the way to work the only song on my random playlist that made me sing along was Meatloaf’s “I Would Do Anything For Love”.
My real therapy will be getting drunk this weekend at Camden Yards watching two terrible baseball teams.
just got in my car to head to lunch, turned on pandora and the first song that came on was Kid Cudi’s “Cleveland Is The Reason.”
made me smile 🙂
Constructive Summer by The Hold Steady would be like, a positive jam.
@MattC. I totally agree with your take on the two series, I just didn’t like equating a basketball loss with death in the family.
Its cliche, but Comfortably Numb seems appropriate today.
@Denny – Or these also by The Hold Steady, on a negative note:
Lord, I’m Discouraged
Or how about:
Things Fall Apart – Built To Spill
Hopefully we don’t hear this song in July:
I Love You, But Goodbye – Langhorne Slim
This thread is epic Denny, well done.
Mudvanye, Happy?
In this hole
That is me
Left with a heart exhausted
What’s my release??
What sets me free?
Do you pull me up just to push me down again?
@Hold Steady fans – “Your little Hoodrat friend” – Hoodrat an analogy for Jay-Z… amirite?
How about:
June Evenings – Air France (for those long June evening sure to come.)
Cleveland as a whole is probably a little more ‘Shame’ (Stabbing Westward) over these last couple days.
Or:
And This Is What We Call Progress – The Besnard Lakes (on a sarcastic note.)
On June 17th, I will be playing this song:
Two Weeks – Grizzly Bear
Sorry…one more:
Things Will Never Be The Same Again – jj
@ Clown Baby – I can’t really take credit. It was Rick’s idea. I just wrote it up.
Now that things have been clarified, continue to praise me.
And ClevelandSouth – isn’t “emo”-esque somber music appropriate today?
I did everything I could to not just say “Listen to the TWILIGHT Soundtrack!!” *SQUEEEEEE*
Stop Thinking About It-Joey Ramone (solo)
And for some reason i’ve been listening to lots of reggae lately…cuz it gives I and I some positive vibes, me bredren.
I saw The Antlers live in February. They played the entire Hospice album all the way through. It was fantastic.
Against Me!’s new album, White Crosses features ‘Ache With Me’ which is an absolute perfect song to play to some slow-motion black/white Cavalier’s highlights. It’s the musical equivalent of kicking a crinkled Schlitz can down a lonely East 9th street at dusk.
Do you share the same sense of defeat?
Have you realized all the things you’ll never be?
Ideals turn to resentment, open minds close up with cynicism.
I’ve got no judgement for you.
Come on and ache with me.
Harlem (from their album “Sissies”)
“My basketball team’s name is Gay Human Bones,
We win most of the games that we play at home.”
LeBron James – “Money”, Pink Floyd