escape yourself and gravity

So on a writing-related note rather than a job-related one: I'm looking for music that makes you think of dwarves. I'm returning to epic fantasy for NaNoWriMo, and I'm writing mostly about dwarves. Still working on world-building, but I can tell you they are a sophisticated people, not simply ale-soaked axe-smiters. They're hardy folk, and largely a warrior society, but that's not all they are. Three of my main characters are warriors; two are in war bands, one is forbidden to carry arms but has learned to do so anyway.

I'm not particularly looking for Celtic-type music. I'm actually going more with the "drums in the deep" angle. I did find a great Taiko album that drew on Anglo-Saxon roots, and that was the addition to my soundtrack that excited me most. Anything that sounds like mines or tunnels or earthquakes or unshakeable stone... (that reminds me, I ought to have "Only the Earth Endures" on there...) I've got things from various soundtracks - nothing super evocative, such as the Rosenman theme for Moria or even the Moria pieces we hear in Shore's FOTR score. But I took things from game soundtracks like Dragon Age: Origins and Dungeon Siege II.

( Here's my playlist so far: )

Any links to YouTube videos, song suggestions, score suggestions, etc., would be very appreciated! :D

My friends really do know everything.  This time I need some music suggestions.

This all started with "Russian Roulette", and that song's the most important part of the playlist.  "Is It You" and "Lady Marmalade" are the others on the list that are closest to what I want.  "Precious" doesn't really belong on there, but I love it.

1. Russian Roulette - Rihanna
   
2. La Tortura (feat. Alejandro Sanz) - Shakira
   
3. Blood of Me - Heather Nova
   
4. Mercy - Duffy
   
5. Oh La La - Goldfrapp
   
6. Is It You - Cassie
   
7. Precious - Esperanza Spalding
   
8. Lady Marmalade - Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mya & Pink
   
9. Can't Find the Words - Karina
   
10. can'tneverdidnothin' (Explicit) - Nikka Costa
    
11. Case of the Ex - Mya
    

So anything else with a really heavy, compelling (sexy is optional but good) beat?  Not just this general genre of music, but that particular driving, feel it in your chest (or a bit lower *G*) kind of beat.

Wow.  Just found this song accidentally when I was searching for something else, and wow.  I know I got the iTunes Holiday Sampler last year, but for whatever reason the song didn't resonate with me last year the way it did today.  And wow.

( Video behind cut )

This belongs on my list of sad/wistful/angsty holiday/winter songs.

So thanks to Montiese, I had "American Girl" by Tom Petty stuck in my head all day Thursday. So this weekend I dug out my Tom Petty CDs and this morning on the way to work I was listening to Wildflowers, jamming out to "You Don't Know How It Feels". Been singing Tom Petty songs in my head all day.

Until I got to the vendor AR this morning. Then I got a check from a company in Enid, Oklahoma, so I've been singing Barenaked Ladies ever since.

Enid we never really knew each other anyway
Enid we never really knew each other anyway
Maybe we always saw right through each other anyway
But Enid we never really knew each other anyway


This earwig brought to you by the letters BN and L and the number 4.

I don't suppose anyone on my flist has the "Terror in the Heartland" remix of "Lightning Crashes" by Live? You know, the one that the radio stations played after the Oklahoma City bombing in '95, with the news reports edited in? I have an entire CD somewhere full of World Trade Center mixes of songs, but I can't seem to find this one. *sigh*

I've been working on collecting the music used in Criminal Minds, and of course my collection isn't complete, but I thought I'd share what I have so far. These are just the ones I have in MP3 format (I haven't converted all my iTunes purchases yet) and obviously I stopped with "Birthright" in Season Three.

( Tracklisting and zip )

Also, any contributions y'all want to make are totally welcome. :D

Okay, two quick recs here.

First of all, my cm_exchange fic. I have been meaning to rec this for AGES because I got it, and it was EXACTLY what I wanted. Only better, because the author took my prompt and used, like, the whole thing, but gave it fabulous twists and wonderful dialogue and superb characterization.

My prompt was "Morgan/Hotch/Reid - Morgan and Hotch both want Reid. Reid seems oblivious to either of them, so they decide on a wager. Whichever of them can get Reid in bed first wins. Only it turns out Reid knew about it from the beginning, and he has a better plan--to get all three of them in bed together. Humorous attempts at dating from Morgan (flowers, wine, chocolates) and Hotch making excuses (practice at the shooting range?). NC-17 preferred. *G* (Written with some artistic license)"

The fic is Make Your Own Luck, rated NC-17, just over 10k, and takes place generally speaking during the second half of season 3. It has Derek Morgan/Spencer Reid/Aaron Hotchner and various permutations of the three. It's incredibly hot, it's funny, it's in character, it's genuine... I read it, squealed over it, and went right back to re-read it. I've re-read it once since then, and desperately want to re-read it again.

Seriously, this person wins my personal CM Exchange award for awesomest gift. *G* Go read it now!


Second rec: Sideways, a Morgan/Reid fanmix by carolinecrane. You guys, I've been listening to this all weekend, and the songs just get stuck in my head and won't get out. She's given a huge amount of thought to what songs are on the mix and why, and these songs fit the characters so well. Plus there are awesome artists on this mix: Mountain Goats, Citizen Cope, Sufjian Stevens, Counting Crows, the Weepies, Crosby Stills and Nash...plus there are some artists I'd never heard of before but now want to hear lots more of: Adorable and Let's Go Sailing. This is an awesome mix.

By the way, if you've never read carolinecrane's fics, you're missing out. She writes some amazing Morgan/Reid (Laying Foundations Series and Through the Din of This Loud Life) and she's also got some fantastic CSI fics (and yes, C, I love the JAG fics, too. *G*).

OMG YOU GUYS I FREAKING LOVE THE NEW NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK CD!!!!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?



I can't seem to stop listening to this song, despite the fact that I have a serious hatred for infidelity in any form.



Also, I have burned my tongue badly on pizza bites and am almost drunk on Oliver's 2006 Traminette.