I am having a hard time focusing on any of the songs I heard on this morning’s commute, because I spent last night listening to the new Avett Brothers record over and over again. (This is actually another example of siblingly music for me — thanks for the rec, Lil Sis!)

It’s a wonderful, wonderful album, all full of unexpected twists and turns and intense feelings. It’s a downer in the best of all possible ways. Highly recommend.

The song I did stop and listen to in the Starbucks drive-thru today was “St. Elmo’s Fire.” I can’t rightly say why, except that it sort of fits into my whole love of the soaring and the epic, and makes me sort of happy.

Here’s the question: Am I just a sucker? I mean, give me some strings and a belting chorus, and I am a happy girl. Easy-peasy, with a little cheesy on top. How lame is that? And is it the same in reverse, with the mopey music? A guitar gently strummed in a minor chord, some words of love lost sung in a forlorn, crackling voice — is that all it takes to render me a weeping mess? Should I be more discerning and immune to pop charms, both joyous and depressing?

I don’t know. I’m going to decide NAY. It’s too much fun letting my heart soar and sink along with whatever my radio or iPod feeds me.

PS Check out Paste’s list of the top 50 albums of the last decade. Not much that’s played on the radio, but some of my favorites. MamaKitt, maybe we need to have a “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things” week …