music

half of the criteria by which one judges a coffee shop, at least in my mind, is its music. the coffee matters, but even a good cup of coffee can go sour if you're trying to read Wallace Stevens to Alanis Morissette's "Isn't It Ironic?"

I can appreciate working to a little bach or brahms... beethoven or any of the other b-named composers. nothing too in your face, nothing to tchaikovsky grandiose and sweeping. on the other hand, I was recently at a coffee shop (st. marks) which played neko case followed by edith piaf - I was in heaven. radio alternative is not an option. I'll walk out, I swear.

the coffee shop I'm working in now is cracking me up. the baristas are pretty punked out (pink hair, wallet chains, t-shirts with skulls), and the music... madonna, marvin gaye, that old 80's song from top gun, prince... every time a new song comes on I have to suppress a smile. the cuff doesn't quite match the collar, so to speak.

then again... who doesn't like madonna?