Loren's Pick: "Hurt", Johnny Cash

Mortality. The lifelong question we spend much of our lives either battling, running from, or obsessing over. How does one of the most famous artists in the world deal with it at the end of his life. With a little NIN! Super producer Rick Rubin nailed it by approaching Trent Reznor to have ask permission for Cash to cover Hurt . (which always brings me back to '94 and Brian's dark bedroom lit with small neon strips). The first time I saw this video I was rendered useless. Little did I know realize then that the house it was filmed in was "The House of Cash" which had closed years earlier. This song, video and Cash's singing was such a genius execution and well produced narrative. I was listening to my album "Hello, I'm Johnny Cash" (his 33rd album!) last Sunday morning and then ended up spending the week with him. Still so much to unravel and hear, even post-mortem.

Christina's pick: "Granny Diner" by Grizzly Bear

For the two years I did the advanced art program in high school, the best day of the year was when us art nerds got a special field trip to Chelsea to check out galleries / take notes / find inspiration. That's where, in 2008, I saw an Allison Schulnik show. Her claymation video piece "Hobo Clown" was set to this Grizzly Bear song. It left me awe-struck. I got separated from the group because I stood there just watching it twice. From there, I fell madly in love with her work and Grizzly Bear, whom I've seen at least 3 times now.

I love the slow intimacy of this track. In total, 13 words are sung. One person complains about doing the dishes to another, maybe a partner, or a friend, and then begrudgingly does them. It's such a banal scenario, but therein lies the beauty.