MUSIC

A tough theme for me since my musical tastes are really broad, and I like such a multitude of things.
Looking at my Pandora stations you'd see Andrew Bird, Neko Case, Sun Kil Moon, Tame Impala, The Books, Polvo and the like.
When I was in NYC recently I went to a club to see edgy angular jazz by Rudresh Mahanthappa, one of the best contemporary sax players.
I can almost get weepy at Alison Krause.
Some evenings there's nothing finer than Sarah Vaughan singing with some 50's combo.
I often relive the 80s with Robin Hitchcock and Echo & the Bunnymen.
I love psychedelia, and neo-psychedelia, and the unfortunately named Freak Folk.
I go to the symphony pretty regularly, as well as St. Louis Opera Theater.
I'm exceptionally fond of Bach, Monteverdi, Debussy.
Right now, I'm listening to "It's a Shame About Ray" by the Lemonheads.

A special category for me, though, is music from India, particularly Indian classical music. I first encountered it seriously in college, and eventually came to be close friends with a jazz musician turned Indian classical percussionist. Due to that, I was exposed to Indian music more than most, and developed a real connection with it. I developed into a real Indophile, studying the history and culture of the subcontinent, and I've made a couple of trips to India, attending a few music concerts there. I don't know how to describe the unusual effect this music has on me. I know that I'm as familiar with North Indian ragas and southern Carnatic music as some people might be familiar with Beethoven. The best way to describe the huge world of Indian music for me would be to say that during exceptionally difficult times in my life, pertaining to loss or pain, I've found this sort of music to be one of the few things to truly calm me.

I make no spiritual attachments to this music, aside from respect for it's origins. My responses to it are primarily aesthetic and emotional. I've listened to it for years.

Plus I have a great collection of Ganesh statues.