Owlspotting

With my departure date less than three weeks away, I have started to count backwards.

Leaving America will probably trigger all types of regrets and bouts of nostalgia, but I’m determined to stay positive at least until I take my window seat on the plane out of Boston (There is a song by The Frames that says: “Too many sad words make for sad sad songs”).

I wanted to find a way–even if unremarkable and inconsequential–to chronicle this parting. This is why the next few posts will be devoted to my 43 months in America (coincidentally 43 is a popular number on the Internets). Come back soon for a photo-chronicle, a list of 43 albums I’ve enjoyed in my time here and 43 things I know I will miss about being here.

Below you’ll find the latest of my quarterly “American months” playlists. Because there will be no 44th American month, this one is called 43 American months. The links will take you to a band’s MySpace page.

1. The Broken West – On the bubble
2. Dear Leader – This is not our war
3. Bloc Party – Hunting for witches
4. MC Lars – Hipster girl
5. Bright Eyes – Four winds
6. I’m From Barcelona – Rec & play
7. Hallelujah The Hills – Hallelujah the hills
8. The Shins – Phantom limb
9. The Frames – Sad songs
10. Dear Leader – Father Baker
11. The Good, The Bad & The Queen – Kingdom of doom
12. Youth Group – Sorry
13. The Broken West – Down in the valley
14. The Arcade Fire – Keep the car running
15. Peter Bjorn and John – Young folks
16. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Emily Jean Stock
17. Lily Allen – Everything’s just wonderful
18. Youth Group – Forever young
19. M. Ward – To go home
20. Apples In Stereo – Can you feel it?
21. The Greencards – When I was in love with you
22. The Snowleopards – Stuck in the middle
23. The Arcade Fire – The well and the lighthouse