Holly McNarland ~ Water
(written: 29 May 2004)
No man is an island.
I just watched About A Boy.
But look through any record collection and you'll find the influences of friends past and present. Some of them, like the friends, make you cringe in horror. Others, like the friends, make you cring... uh... kidding... What I meant to say was form the basis of something permanent and essential and wonderful.
In 2001 I met one of my favourite people in the world. And I can say that because they are from across the globe. My favourite little piece of Canadian vegetarian bacon, Miss Jessica Dawn Cool-mo-dee.
This album cost me two dollars. The best two dollars I ever spent. Ok. Maybe not. But the best two dollars I ever spent in Real Groovy.
When I came home from BDO 2000, there was a package waiting for me. Two cassettes full of Canadian glory... thus igniting the fires... my love affair with Canada and Canadian things began. I grew to love a lot of bands through those tapes... and grew to mock only a couple (JIM CRUDDY!). Some of my now all-time favourite musicians were discovered that day. Including Ms McNarland. But it wasn't until Jess was in NZ, pawing through the cheap CD tables at RG and pulled out a second hand, damaged copy of Stuff that I realllllllly fell in love with Holly's music.
I used to take it to work, back when I had a job that I detested. A lot of the music that reminds me of those nights and weekends haunts me a bit now. I don't like hearing a song that I once loved and relied on to get me through the night, to have it remind me of sunny summer nights staring longingly out the window at freedom. Thankfully Water reminds me of the drives I used to take AFTER work. Every night I'd tear away and drive to find... well... water most of the time. It was always my intention to find somewhere nice to sit and be alone, but by the time I got about 15 minutes away from home I realised how dark it was and how much I needed to pee and how alone I was and how scared I'd be if the car crapped out. Back in those days my car used to sometimes randomly stop working. So yeah. I'd find the first off ramp and turn around and sulk my way home. You wouldn't have called me the happiest pony in the meadow.
To be quite honest, I don't have many memories of this song apart from driving a lot after work because I wanted an escape and at the time it was my best bet. Then I'd get home and sulk. Now Holly, and Water, and things are better and I thank Jessie for giving me the gift of Canada. I look forward to seeing it... up close.