Speaking a Dead Language & Lovesick Mistake

I should be writing a speech worth half of my grade or studying for the economics test that can make or break my final average or at least resting up for a busy week.   However, for the past two nights, I've been completely absorbed with music, writing, and late 18th/early 19th century stories of romance and poetry.  If you know me at all, this is absolutely out of character (the romance part of it) and I have no idea where it has come from.  Well, maybe I have an idea...but I'm usually a cynical, realistic expectations kind of girl.  The second I begin to gain interest in romance, I rebel against the feeling of not being in control of my emotions. I grab the nearest shoot-em-up movie, a dark beer, and I talk myself out of it.  It keeps me grounded.  Lately though, I can't shake this feeling of wanting to be caught up in something bigger than myself, something that inspires poetry like what I've been reading.

So anyway, here are two songs in heavy rotation on my ipod right now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8rQPF-qESU&feature=related
Speaking a Dead Language - Joy Williams
"We built a tall, tall tower/towards the sun, towards the sun."

Joy Williams is part of The Civil Wars, a lovely husband/wife duo. Typically, I find her solo work to be a little too clean-cut, predictable, and cheery.  However, this song seems painfully honest...it has an almost ethereal quality to it. Her voice is delicate and haunting.  It sounds as if she went through a tranformation, but sadly...this is the only song from her newest, short album that has such depth.  I do hope to hear more songs like this from her in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qctgovObf1o
Lovesick Mistake - Erin McCarley

I've had this one tucked away for quite some time. I'll play it from time to time but had never really developed an attachment until now.  I came across this artist when she was doing the Hotel Cafe tour in fall of 2008.  I wasn't able to attend the nearest concert, but she later toured with my favorite band, Jack's Mannequin in the spring of 2009. This track on her 2008 album was good, but not great.  It had too much of a pop sound for my particular taste.  This version is a live recording and is muchhhhh improved.  It has a more soulfull feel to it and really strikes a chord in my life right now.