Today Is A Good Day is one I find myself coming back to again and again. Thematically, it draws me to the USA, with songs like States Radio, La Push, and, of course the title track. Musically, it lacks the layered depths of some of the later records, especially Between Dog and Wolf, but not the raw passion, melodic hooks and lyrics that work on more than one level.
States Radio, for example, paints a picture of a nation through its radio stations. You can imagine the wandering visitor picking up his borrowed car and driving along, taking in the cultural landmarks through the sights "at the side of the road" and also by working his way through the frequencies on the stereo, each station bringing to mind some quirk or characteristic of the place he is visiting.
La Push is very evocative of a place locked in time. Depressingly sad, but beautiful.
Ocean Rising and North Star brings to mind the journey, while Autumn speaks of the fragility of life. Again another beautiful song.
Perhaps the reason I like it so much is the opener. That news report which heralds the end of the old regime and new possibilities. I like to play it when, as a small, insignificant component of that global system, I fire up the screen in the morning and wonder how different life could have been...
