“Marvelous Things” – Eisley
(Words/music: Eisley, available on Room Noises, Reprise 2005)

In college, my natural sleep schedule seemed to run on Pacific Standard Time.  This was a problem considering that I went to college in Providence, Rhode Island.  I’ve always leaned toward a nocturnal schedule (despite loving mornings – too bad they have to happen so early!) so I didn’t fight my sleep schedule.  What it meant, aside from only taking an early class if it was absolutely necessary, was that I spent a lot of time awake on the couch as not to bother my sleeping roommates.  Senior year, I wrote almost every paper at our kitchen table accompanied by our TV.  Comedy Central and Adult Swim helped me procrastinate, and I took a strange liking to ABC’s overnight World News Now broadcast.  When I actually got work done (usually after Conan O’Brien was over), VH-1 Classic and MTVu played in the background.  Both of these channels (especially four or five years ago) looped their programming so I inevitably spent a lot of time with the same videos playing.

Eisley’s “Marvelous Things” typifies the kind of songs I’d hear on MTVu during that era.  It’s a nice little song that sounds even better when pulling attention away from literary criticism.  I imagine hearing it late at night during that “tired but not sleepy” phase of the night (either right before bed or right before my third or fourth wind).  The harmonies, in particular on the held notes in the chorus, probably sounded like the way my brain felt at those moment, and the slow-motion video made sense after reading texts far too complex for 3:00 AM.  Even though I get to bed far earlier now (but still not early enough most nights – that will never change), I still enjoy hearing “Marvelous Things” every so often, mainly because it creates this very unique mood – sounding like a pop song from a fantasy movie (and I largely ignore the lyrics, but a few of the lines fit this as well), complete with a lush, airy feel gently tinged with a distant sadness.  In a way, it feels the same way a cool spring night in Providence felt – slowly walking across campus as the streetlights seemed hazy in a light fog.  It seemed oddly peaceful and strangely melodic, just like the song.

More on Eisley: Allmusic | Amazon MP3 | Emusic | Last.fm