I like running polls on my blog, but sometimes I want to ask several questions and see how the answers relate to each other. So, I'm trying out a service that allows me to do that. I started with a short survey about health care and education. It's only 3 questions. I hope you can take a moment to complete it: http://www.polldaddy.com/s/09617AAD67FCD274/

According to my last.fm profile, I am 10 songs away from hitting my 20,000th play scrobbled on the site, so I've decided to do a spontaneous random ten to commemorate the event.

Why? Because about the only things I like better than meaningless milestones are pointless music lists.

So here we go:

Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl - U2
We're starting off with some really old U2, from way back in 1982. It's really not some of their better music, even for that time period, but it's a must-have for obsessive completionists like me. By the way, this is the studio version from their A Celebration single--not the live version on Under a Blood Red Sky.

Two-Step - Dave Matthews Band
I'm not really much of a Dave Matthews fan, but I inherited most of his music when I married Erika. If I had to pick any DMB song to listen to, though, this would be it. I like the instrumental opening that builds for a good minute and a half before the vocals come in. It really would have made a great album opener.

Fired - Ben Folds
This is kind of the opposite of the last track. I generally like Ben Folds (who my wife also turned me on to), but I'm not a big fan of this track. I don't have a particular reason--it just doesn't get me fired up (sorry) the way his other music does.

Holy Dread! - Clint Mansell
This is from the soundtrack to The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky. It's kind of a dull soundtrack, and this is track is no exception. Next, please.

Goin' Nowhere - Chris Isaak
Yet another artist I probably would never have listened to had it not been for my wife. This song is okay, but I don't love it. If iTunes doesn't start picking some of my music soon, I may have to start cheating a little bit.

Marrow - Ani DiFranco
This is better. I like Ani quite a bit, although I prefer the frenetic guitar work on her earlier albums (this track is off Revelling/Reckoning, which my wife likes way more than I do).

March for Koala - The Seatbelts
This is a song from the amazing Cowboy Bebop anime series. Every song in the show was written and performed by Yoko Kanno and her band, and there are some amazing songs of a diverse range of genres. This song, however, is just a little bit of silly incidental music. I'm beginning to fear that my 20,000th song is going to be a real let-down.

California Dreamin' - The Mamas & the Papas
This is more like it. Everyone with a pulse loves this song. Let's have more of this, iTunes randomizer.

Maria - Rage Against the Machine
*sigh* Once again, a relatively weak song by a decent band. Do you see a pattern here? Actually, I think Rage lost most of their freshness and relevance after their debut album.

And now, my 20,000th last.fm song (I'm almost afraid to look):

Flint (For the Unemployed and Underpaid) - Sufjan Stevens
The iTunes randomizer comes through for me in the end! This is a very beautiful song by one of my favorite songwriters of today. And it's a very appropriate song, considering our nation's current economic situation. What a gorgeous and heartbreaking song! I can't wait for Sufjan to come out with his next album.