Music therapy

Songs to Play When Tired

by Bill Brenner July 11, 2010 Coping tools

They’re songs I PLAY when tired, anyway. Usually around 3 p.m., when my brain drips out the left ear and slithers off in search of coffee, these tunes give me my second wind. Treat this post like a music player. Velvet Revolver: She Builds Quick Machines: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcN93sj17DU&hl=en_US&fs=1] Pixies: Bone Machine: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKHsSz1dAac&hl=en_US&fs=1] The Doors: The End: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoBFhdeR9PE&hl=en_US&fs=1] Metallica: So What: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XoyDqFy5pU&hl=en_US&fs=1] Phineas and Ferb theme song: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoV2adaRBWU&hl=en_US&fs=1] Dead Kennedys: Holidays in Cambodia: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KTsXHXMkJA&hl=en_US&fs=1] Korn: Coming Undone:…  [Read More]

Every Gift But Length of Years

by Bill Brenner June 11, 2010 Depression

An untimely death has the author rethinking the meaning of life. Mood music for this post: “Alive” by P.O.D.: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFG820EwvUQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&] After JFK Jr., his wife and sister-in-law were killed when the plane they were in hit the ocean in the summer of 1999, the late Sen. Edward “Uncle Teddy” Kennedy said at the memorial service that his nephew had “every gift but length of years.” It reminds me of an interview done years ago with…  [Read More]

Just a Little Patience

by Bill Brenner May 26, 2010 Addiction

I recently stumbled upon this live version of GnR’s “Patience” and wanted to post it here because it’s always been an inspirational song to me. Being an OCD-wired control freak with a knack for impatience and  endless attempts at recovery before I finally pulled it off, patience was a virtue I simply did not possess. It would be a stretch to say I’ve mastered it at this point in my life, but I at least…  [Read More]

Clean Living Things You Can Do: Part 1

by Bill Brenner April 18, 2010 Addiction

Former Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Slash spent much of his early career drunk and stoned. He has since cleaned up, and his stunning new album is proof. This post is for those who want to hear the new Slash album. If you’re not interested, come back later. Slash just put out a most brilliant album with such guest vocalists as Ian Astbury, Chris Cornell, Kid Rock, Lemmy from Motorhead and even Fergie. It’s the most…  [Read More]

Skeptic Slang and Charles Manson: Six Degrees of Separation

by Bill Brenner April 17, 2010 Communication Skills

Skeptic Slang and a glimpse at mental illness in the making. Mood music for this post: “My Monkey” by Marylin Manson: A note about the music: Marilyn Manson put this on his “Portrait of an American Family” album, which was recorded in the Sharon Tate murder house. The title and chorus were taken from a Charles Manson song called “Mechanical Man.” Bits of Manson interviews are sprinkled throughout. It just seemed appropriate for some reason……  [Read More]

Random Madness

by Bill Brenner April 17, 2010 Gratitude

It’s Saturday morning, and me and the kids are engaging in our weekly ritual. In a few hours, we go to Salem, Mass., home of former Skeptic Slang guitarist Chris Casey, his wife, Nancy and their kids, Mark and Melissa. I’m going to help them get some old photos online and start a blog for Nancy’s writing. I’m going to look his kids in the eye and tell them that I’m a little bit responsible…  [Read More]

The Short, Strange History of Skeptic Slang

by Bill Brenner April 6, 2010 Mental health

The author is tells the story of his 2 years as lead singer of a little-known band called Skeptic Slang. I avoided this for as long as I could. I don’t like to admit that I used to sing in a band. For one thing, my singing really sucked. For another, the band never went anywhere. But some pictures of me from around that time have been unearthed, and people are starting to talk. Here’s…  [Read More]

Now This Takes Me back

by Bill Brenner March 30, 2010 Coping tools

By now, the reader knows I have a passion for heavy metal music, including Motley Crue and Ozzy. Today I stumbled upon an interview that I simply must share. Nikki Sixx, bassist for Motley Crue and author of The Heroin Diaries, has a new radio show called SixxSense, and one of his first interviews is with none other than Ozzy himself. They talk about their struggles with addiction and have some laughs about the 1984…  [Read More]

5 Songs for Sunday

by Bill Brenner March 21, 2010 Music therapy

Stuff I’m listening to on this fine Sunday afternoon. The Avett Brothers: “The Ballad of Love and Hate” [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7xUZkKd58c&hl=en_US&fs=1&] The Decemberists: “Sons and Daughters” [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5H8DwJI0uA&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Cheap Trick: “Surrender” [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th370QmFtk8&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Kiss: “Detroit Rock City” [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgsoJrzplUI&hl=en_US&fs=1&] Guns N Roses: “Patience” [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErvgV4P6Fzc&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

An OCD Diaries Primer

by Bill Brenner March 20, 2010 Addiction

A collection of posts that form the back story of this blog. Mood music: [spotify:track:19n9s9SfnLtwPEODqk8KCT] The Long History of OCD An OCD Christmas. The first entry, where I give an overview of how I got to crazy and found my way to sane. The Bad Pill Kept Me from the Good Pill. How the drug Prednisone brought me to the brink, and how Prozac was part of my salvation. The Crazy-Ass Guy in the Newsroom….  [Read More]

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