The Eastern Sea

So it’s Monday, which is, of course, extraordinarily lame. But I have something I think will help.

I’m sorry to say it’s not a time machine, nor is it a magic wand that can eliminate Mondays altogether, like the 13th floor of buildings in superstitious countries. (Quick side note: Did you know that some architects originally warned against letting skyscrapers grow above 13 floors, thinking it would result in daunting shadows, traffic congestion and lower property values? That has to be one of the wrongest things ever said, right? On par with “No online database will replace your daily newspaper” and “My cat probably won’t mind being given a bath“?)

It’s a song, one I came across last week on one of my favorite music blogs, 70 Day Weekend, and it’s here to make your Monday suck less.

You know how certain music heightens things? I posted an example to Tumblr a little while back, when I accidentally combined watching Premier League soccer with listening to Aaron Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. Now that was some riveting shit. It didn’t matter what was happening in the game — players passing idly in the backfield, corner kicks going straight out of bounds — every moment seemed big and meaningful, and I’m still a little surprised my living room didn’t lift off into space. (It’s probably for the best that I didn’t see any goals. I might be orbiting Mars by now.) “Epic” is likely the right adjective to use here, but what I’m talking about goes beyond the size and scope of Copland’s composition. It’s about connecting. It’s about being able to communicate intensity wordlessly, in a way that makes compositions feel like they’re speaking to whatever you’re going through while you’re listening to them.

“The Match” by The Eastern Sea has exactly that type of magic going on, and I’m convinced it will make drinking an afternoon coffee or sorting through your inbox feel approximately 176% more fascinating. It could be the single guitar note played over and over in a driving rhythm, or it could be the gradual build that takes up the first half of the song. It could be a number of things, but I think — just as is the case with Copland’s piece — it’s heightening quality is a greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts situation. Individual elements combine to form a whole that resonates deeply, spreading from your headphones into your brain and then out onto the world around you, sharpening your perspective, making it seem like the world is driving and building as well, if only for a few minutes. And why shouldn’t we celebrate every moment, no matter how small or commonplace it is? Who said that drinking coffee had to be an insignificant blip in your day? As a wise man once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

Start savoring your Monday more deeply by listening to “The Match” below, and click here to snag The Eastern Sea’s album Plague on iTunes.

The Eastern Sea — “The Match” [Spotify/iTunes]