1, 2, 3 ... Jamboree!

These Things I Liked in 2009

2010-02-03T14:39:00.000-08:00

As usual, I'm a bit late in the game, but anyways, here's my list of musical favorites I acquired in 2009. Man, I'm completely not adjusted to it being 2010 by the way. I don't think I could even begin to create a list of the Decade, so I'll just stick to last year. And upon reviewing my previous posts on here I must say I've made some weird decisions on these things in the past that don't really hold up for me. Ah well, here she blows:

Brian Eno & David Byrne- "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today": I guess this actually came out at the end of summer '08, but I didn't pick it up until early 2009. And even then it dwelled around my digital shelf for awhile until it really caught on with me. This album is insanely good and "Strange Overtones" is easily one of my most played songs last year.

Big Star- "Keep An Eye On The Sky/3rd-Sister Lovers": Another cheat. This box set came out last year and I received it as a gift in the last few weeks of the year but didn't really spend a ton of time with it until January. However, even considering myself a Big Star fan I really only had the combo "#1 Record/Radio City" for many years now and a couple of random mp3s from "3rd". I got the entire 3rd album mid-summer and listened to it on a weekly basis through December. Shit.

Danger Mouse & Sparklehorse- "Dark Night Of The Soul": The greatest album of last year that didn't actually get released. You've got to be in the right Lynchian sort of mindset to really enjoy this and once the first track w/ Wayne Coyne was pointed out as sounding like early 80s Phil Collins I haven't been able to listen to it in the same way. Regardless, it's pretty great. And it's been blessed to download for free, so that's always nice.

Phoenix- "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix": These guys are just too cool. "1901" and "Litzomania" were two of the best singles of the year. And if I had to license my music out for car commercials and I was actually 4 painfully cool French guys, I would certainly choose Cadillac. Everyone might not want to admit it, but Phoenix are the coolest musicians around and everyone might not want to admit it, but Cadillacs are still really, really cool cars as well.

Jason Lytle- "Yours Truly, The Commuter": I know everybody's not as addicted to Grandaddy as myself, but this was a really great solo debut, contains some of his best songwriting (as well as some kinda bizarre moments that are not my faves) and I listened to this one repeatedly throughout the year. As a personal bonus, we got to work with Jason on some stuff at the end of 2008 and he gave us a copy of the freshly mastered album to listen to while driving behind him north to San Fransisco at dusk. One of the absolute greatest music listening experiences of my life, so I guess I'm kinda biased.

Fruit Bats- "The Ruminant Band": Again, I'm probably a bit biased because of some work we got to do with these guys as well, but I've been a fan of theirs for some time and this album is truly pretty perfect. It feels like they really added a whole new level of production and style to their previous down home songwriting. It's like a great classic rock gem.

Cass McCombs- "Catacombs": It's yet to overshadow "Dropping The Writ" which is very near to becoming my most listened to album at this point, but this is pretty nearly tied with my number one pick. "Dreams Come True Girl" was my 2nd favorite song of the year I'd say and at 6:07, "Harmonia" could go on for another 6 minutes and I'd be happy. I always feel like I can just fall into this album so completely. Perfectly produced. What a cool married dude.

Girls- "Album": I easily listened to "Hellhole Ratrace" more than any other song last year. I would wake up with it in my head and I'll be darned if those guys don't just make you want to be younger, artier and living in San Fran. Christopher Owens oozes superstar power and it's just good old-fashioned, simplified Rock N' Roll. This is the album that I feel like I will continue to revisit for years to come. I am growing my hair. If I youthen and end up in SF soon without warning, you'll know why if you listen to this one. I hope they can follow it up.
SOME FAVORITE SONGS WHOSE ALBUMS DID NOT MAKE MY LIST:

Atlas Sound- "Walkabout (feat. Noah Lennox)": The album is pretty near cracking my top whatever as well.

The Drums- "Let's Go Surfing": I don't surf, but I sure wish I did listening to this. So simple and so good, it feels like it already existed.
Grizzly Bear- "Two Weeks": Yes, this song is amazing. Perfect. Their albums always impress me but I rarely want to listen to them more than once. Maybe I'm just not smart enough for it. I love their voices. That Michael MacDonald version of "While You Wait For The Others" is outstanding too.

EXTRAS:

I got deeply into a lot of Gene Clark albums last year, a healthy amount of Gram Parsons and George Jones, a number of new to me Waylon Jennings albums, Billy Ocean's "Red Light Spells Danger" (favorite song of the year that came out many, many years before) and a sprinkling of Acid House. It's great to exercise to, if you're interested, ask me for more information. Oh and Inglorious Basterds and A Serious Man were my favorite movies of '09 and Eastbound & Down was the greatest TV show, possibly ever.

The Approximately 30 Best Albums of the Decade

2010-01-23T00:50:00.000-08:00

OK – I didn’t want to leave off Sleater-Kinney, so I stretched the list to an unorthodox number. Also, I had planned to write a bit about many of these albums, but I went overboard with No. 1, so I’ll refrain from making this any more gratuitous than it already is.
— Tom McMahon

31. Sleater-Kinney – One Beat
30. Rilo Kiley – The Execution of All Things
29. Outkast – Stankonia
28. Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala
27. Marissa Nadler – Songs III: Bird on the Water
26. Jose Gonzalez – Veneer
25. Cass McCombs – Dropping the Writ
24. Peter Bjorn and John – Writer’s Block
23. The Ruby Suns – Sea Lion
22. The Hives – Veni Vidi Vicious
21. M83 – Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts
20. All Night Radio – Spirit Stereo Frequency
19. Crystal Skulls – Blocked Numbers
18. Sigur Ros – Aegaetis Byrjun
17. Beachwood Sparks – Beachwood Sparks
16. Neko Case – Blacklisted
15. The Faint – Danse Macabre
14. Caribou (then known as Manitoba) – Up in Flames
13. The Walkmen – Bows & Arrows
12. The Decemberists – Castaways and Cutouts
11. Alasdair Roberts – No Earthly Man
10. Alasdair Roberts – Spoils
9. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
8. Radiohead – Kid A
7. Kelley Polar – I Need You to Hold On While the Sky Is Falling
6. Of Montreal – Satanic Panic in the Attic
5. The Aislers Set – The Last Match
4. The Knife – Silent Shout
3. The Clientele – Suburban Light
2. The New Pornographers – Mass Romantic
1. The Shins – Oh, Inverted World
At the end of 2001, I got out a small piece of paper and listed on it my Top 10 albums of the year. I don’t remember showing it to anyone — it was just something I felt an urge to do, I suppose. Two years later, the Jamboree began, and it’s been much more fun sharing opinions with friends and some strangers.

Anyhow, besides getting a little nostalgic, the reason I mentioned that handwritten list from 2001 is that I was surprised, when I dug it out of a box recently, to see that I had the Shins’ Oh, Inverted World at No. 2 (tied with the Strokes’ Is This It), behind Idlewild’s 100 Broken Windows. Eight years later, I rarely even think about 100 Broken Windows, but it’s totally clear in my mind that Oh, Inverted World is my favorite album of the decade.

A few years after the album came out, an annoying character in some sappy movie promised that the song “New Slang” would “change your life, I swear.” I don’t believe that any one song or album has changed my life. Rather, I think this album reminds me of my life.

One morning this fall, I listened to the album as I was driving along a narrow, windy road in the Santa Monica Mountains, trying to enjoy the spectacular panorama of the Pacific without going off the road. Almost as captivating as the view was these songs, which sound as magical and mysterious now as they did the first time I heard them.

As I listened, it was like the whole decade flashed before my eyes: college, meeting the love of my life, marrying her, road trips all over the Golden State, having kids. Not that the album was constantly playing (aloud or in my head) in everything I did. But I’ve come to regard Oh, Inverted World — and I think I will continue to many years later — as the sound of my 20s, which, appropriately enough, almost exactly matched the span of the 2000s.

Why do I love this album so much? I don’t think I can fully explain it, although I can pull out some key points: the leaping melodies, the weird harmonies, the cryptic lyrics, the tinny, reverby production, the muted but persistent drums, the swirling keyboards, the chiming guitars (especially in the intro of “The Celibate Life”). On paper, that may not seem like a recipe for success, but it all comes together in a strange and beautiful way. In my mind, every song here is a classic, and, unlike me, it never gets old.

2010-01-10T10:43:00.000-08:00

Alright. I'm a little late here, but 2009 is still over, so I feel like I'm within my rights to contribute to this sheet of internet paper. I think I've posted an entry on here every year for the past few years, or maybe I've only done it once and considered doing it every year... but the problem I always run into is that, come December thirty-whateverthelastdayoftheyearis, I can't remember a single thing that happened. I can't remember which albums came out, which movies came out, what happened in the news....all of it is a blur. For instance, I'm inclined to say that my favorite album of 2009 was that Walkmen album with the New Year song on it. I thought it was pretty good. Did it come out this past year? Fuck if I know. May as well have. What is going to end up happening is that I'll do a google search (google, the only real choice in search engines) for something like "album release calendar 2009," and pick from that list. I'll go ahead and get that out of the way. Top 10 albums of 2009, picked from options given to me by [code]http://www.rawkblog.net/2009-album-release-calendar/[/code], in no particular order :

10. Wilco- Wilco: I like Wilco. I remember being happy about this album being on this year.

9. Elvis Costello- Secret Profane and Sugarcane: He's consistently listenable, and I remember buying this album, so let's go ahead and throw that on there.

8. Doves- Kingdom of Rust: They were a big deal, like, 4 years...5 years ago, right? I bet the album doesn't suck

7. Is the problem here that I just don't buy enough new music? Am I somehow, several years behind here? Maybe next year I'll take notes when I buy albums.

I'm not going to finish this particular list because I'm just not qualified. Here's what I will do though. I acquire probably somewhere around 2 albums a day through purchase, or other methods. My end of the year list is going to be the top 10 albums that I got this year. As far as I'm concerned, they were released this year. I didn't have them before 2009...how do I know they even existed.

10. Norah Jones- The Fall: This was a really pleasant album. It seems like a giant leap for her, which I can respect. It definitely isn't her usual smoky jazzy type album, which was getting a little old. This particular album is still growing on me, but I put it on the list because I like the direction.

9. Paul Banks- Julian Plenti Is...Skyscraper: I don't know if I've ever actually paid full attention to this album from start to finish, but it makes for some pretty satisfying background noise, and when I do decide to tune back in, I'm not upset. Pretty forgettable, like everything Interpol has done post Antics, but even if I don't walk away humming it, it doesn't mean ...what doesn't it men. I'm not sure. Not a bad album. That's what I'm trying to say.

8. Kiss- Kiss: Strutter is an incredible song. I couldn't tell you a single other track on the album without looking on my iTunes, but Strutter...since April, I've listened to it like 30 times, which is a lot for me.

7. Blitzen Trapper- Black River EP: I really like these guys. This is a solid rootsy album that still hasn't gotten old to me.

6. Lily Allen- It's Not Me, It's You: Usually this isn't really my type of thing...but...well..no I take that back...I like girl pop. This is right up my alley. That "F*** You" song is really catchy. So is "The Fear," and "Everyone's At It." Really...It's a great pop album.

I just want to point out that I'm doing a lot better at containing this to 2009 than I expected.

5. Basia Bulat- Oh My Darling: She sounds like Joni Mitchell. Birds of Paradise is quite possibly the most beautiful song I've ever heard. The rest of the album is really good, but maybe not worthy of being #1 on my list. Birds of Paradise (the second track on the album), however, would most certainly go on a best of the decade list, if there were such a thing. Hey Tom and Paul...where is THAT?

4. Pavement- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: Okay....I'm way behind on this. I'm still not going to concede that pavement is any good....but I like this album, especially that song Stop Breathin. What is this album, like 15 years old? Whatever. I got it this year...it's on the list.

3. Serge Gainsbourg- Comic Strip: I've speant a lot of time not liking his music, and I finally decided to give him another shot this year (You're WELCOME, Serge Gainsbourg!). Anyhow, this was in heavy rotation in my car for a while.

2. Roy Orbison- Mystery Girl: Chris, if you're reading this...this shit falls on your shoulders. How did I not know about this album until, like....6 months ago.

1. Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix: Seems liked I managed to pull a 2009-er out for the #1 spot. This was a hell of an album. It's so much fun from start to finish.

Thats it.

Nicest Albums of 2009

2010-01-04T01:11:00.000-08:00

I’m gettin’ tired here, so I’m leaving a few entries without a lot of detail and maybe not making complete sense in some cases. Happy New Year to all, and I’ll be back soon with my albums of the decade. Hope some other folks still have lists in the works.
— Tom McMahon

15. Get Back Guinozzi! – Carpet Madness
The photo on the front of this album is like a Bizzaro version of the Buena Vista Social Club cover. And like with that Cuban masterpiece, it was the album cover that led me to check out this band I had never heard of. It was a rewarding venture. This is an irresistible batch of lo-fi party jams, with chirpy, French-accented vocals and hilarious lyrics like “Ooh, Mommy, Mommy, I love your tan.” Oddly enough, it includes a fantastic cover of the Clash’s “Police and Thieves.”

14. Alela Diane – To Be Still
Beautiful, haunting folk with some lush but organic-sounding arrangements.

13. Farmer Dave Scher – Flash Forward to the Good Times
More catchy stuff from this Beachwood Sparks and All Night Radio space cowboy. Less psychedelic but a little more soulful than ANR’s Spirit Stereo Frequency.

12. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
This is alternately mind-blowing and frustrating. “In the Flowers” is one of my favorite songs of the year. I love the way it jumps from an enchanting, dreamlike atmosphere to what sounds like a raucous street carnival. MPP is undoubtedly sonically innovative all the way through, but I find several of the songs to be tedious — particularly “Brother Sport” and “Taste” — with some lyrics inducing cringes (for example, the many-times repeated “Am I really all the things that are outside of me?”). I think they have a better album in them.

11. Desolation Wilderness — New Universe
Some of my favorite albums make me think of driving along the wide-open stretches of the central California coast, the Pacific shimmering in the sun. This album taps into that feeling, even though these guys live in Olympia, Wash. But it’s pretty clear from the song titles (“Venice Beach,” “Boardwalk Theme,” “San Francisco 2AM”) that they had California on their minds.

10. Neko Case – Middle Cyclone
An incredible voice, and an outstanding songwriter. This album feels more fully realized than Fox Confessor did to me, although I don’t know why the last track, which is nothing but cricket noise, had to go on for more than 30 minutes.

9. Fever Ray – Fever Ray
Karin Dreijer Andersson of the Knife goes downtempo and even darker. I love this, but I also miss the crazed, fantasy-like electro jams that prevailed on the Knife’s Silent Shout. Here’s hoping that the siblings reunite soon.

8. The Clientele – Bonfires on the Heath
Just reading the lyrics of this album — which, unfortunately, may be their last — gives me the chills. Listening to Alasdair MacLean sing them in his soft, serpentine voice set to ghostly guitars, pianos and organs is, often, a transcendent experience. I think Suburban Light will, for me, always be their pinnacle, but this would be a great swan song.

7. Washed Out – Life of Leisure
I guess this is technically an EP, but it’s too good to leave out for that reason. Although I’ve never been to Miami, I think Life of Leisure should be the soundtrack to cruising around the city in a convertible on a summer night. It’s not nearly as slick as that might make it sound, though. It actually has a kind of warped, old-cassette feel to it. But it is seductive, what with its ethereal harmonies and pulsing beats.

6. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
I didn’t think this would eclipse their Yellow House for me, but as I just listened to it one more time, I realized that it finally has. Probably enough has been said about Veckatimest already, so I’ll just go with, “Pretty, pretty … pretty great.”

5. Andrew Bird – Noble Beast
As Andrew Bird was about to play in Los Angeles after this album came out, the local paper had a blurb that I found really insightful. It said something to the effect of him having been tip-toeing on the verge of making an essential album. That’s the way I feel about this one, and the way I’ve felt about others of his. The first several songs on Noble Beast are so strong that it can’t help but lose some steam around the middle. But then he ends it with a great run, including a triumphant remake of one of his old tunes (the name of which he changed from “The Confession” to “Privateers”).

4. St. Vincent – Actor
I remember briefly checking this out around the time it was released and not thinking much of it. I must not have been listening very closely. Later in the year, Jamboree veteran Colin forced me to give it another shot, and I soon realized that this is no pedestrian singer-songwriter fare. It sounds by turns old-timey and experimental, charming and powerful. I continue to be stunned every time I experience the end of “Black Rainbow.”

3. Papercuts – You Can Have What You Want
This guy, Jason Quever, makes melancholy sound so inviting. The way the opening track washes over you with a plaintive organ and then hits you with “Once we walked in the sunlight / Three years ago this July 5th / Before the earth was a distant dream” — you just can’t help but be carried away. Strongly recommended if you like Beach House, with whom he’s played and whose Alex Scally plays here.

2. The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love
They say this is some sort of rock opera, but I haven’t bothered to really try to figure out the plot. Honestly, it doesn’t matter much to me. Even without considering the story, this is the biggest and boldest Decemberists work yet. It is a masterfully crafted and thoroughly engaging album. The “casting” of Becky Stark from Lavender Diamond and Shara Worden from My Brightest Diamond is perfect — the former’s voice beautiful and innocent, the latter’s powerful (oh, man, powerful!) and sinister. Then there’s the spooky kids choir. The recurring musical themes tie it all together and really give you a sense of what’s happening, even if you don’t follow the lyrics.

1. Alasdair Roberts – Spoils
Alasdair Roberts (pictured above) was one of my favorite artists of the decade, but I didn’t expect to be blown away like this at this point. Spoils, his fifth album under his own name (he previously went by Appendix Out) is as addictive as it is ambitious. He turns out his most interesting batch of original compositions, many of them shifting into thrilling new directions mid-song. Roberts also branches out instrumentally, throwing in several intriguing antique contraptions (psaltery, anyone?) as well as some prominent electric guitar (even a solo!). Throughout the album, the influence of the Incredible String Band is well incorporated — never overbearing. Perhaps unfairly, I didn't expect Roberts to be able to top No Earthly Man, his intense collection of death-themed folk songs and my favorite album of 2005. Now, it’s hard to imagine him surpassing Spoils, but I hope I’m wrong again.

The Top 2 Fan Videos Of 2009

2010-01-01T00:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, so maybe they're the only two fan videos I watched in 2009. And maybe I don't like the idea of fan videos in general because, for the most part, they're awful. But somehow, this year managed to turn out two that I not only happened to see, but actually enjoyed. Let the shortest countdown on this site begin!

2. Discovery - "Swing Tree" (by Dolezal06)
When it comes to fan videos, I'm betting less usually clocks in as more. This clip adheres nicely to that aesthetic, simply setting one of the better tracks off Discovery's (mostly terrible) LP to footage from what I can only assume is the most misleading Navy recruitment video of all time. It's a nice fit with amusing results.

1. Grizzly Bear - "Two Weeks" (by Gabe Askew)
It turns out that there are fan video exceptions to the "less is more" philosophy—at least one, anyway. 100% computer animated, this clip uses some of the newest technology available to create a shockingly realistic world of diorama-like simplicity. (How post-modern can you get, right?) Characters and set pieces appear as toy miniatures, stuffed animals, and cardboard cut-outs, all rendered with such meticulous attention to detail, it's easy to forget you aren't actually traveling through an elaborate cardboard maze of art. Add to that the absolutely masterful lighting and camera movement, along with the deftly creative representation of the song's lyrical content, and we're left with a work so captivating, so strikingly beautiful, and so, well, professional, it's downright baffling that no one was paid for it. This is not only the best fan video I've ever seen, it is one of the best overall music videos I've ever seen.

—Colin McCormick

Books From Several Decades on Being Human

2009-12-30T20:49:00.000-08:00

1. Grow Up! by Frank Pittman. This is witty, quick reading on how to be a grown up man or woman. Pittmann reviews movies for therapeutic journals. He is both funny and wise. http://http://www.amazon.com/Grow-Up-Taking-Responsibility-Happy/dp/1582380406/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262237927&sr=1-1

2. Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Lerner. Lerner has a plethora of books about different psychological dynamics. She is popular, down to earth and helpful on most counts. This is considered her best. http://http://www.amazon.com/Dance-Anger-Changing-Patterns-Relationships/dp/006074104X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262240021&sr=1-1

3. Unlocking the Mystery of Your Emotions by Archibald Hart. I believe this may be Hart's first book. He is a well respected Christian psychologist out of Fuller. All of his books dealing with such subjects as Adrenalin and Stress, Male Sexuality, and Anxiety, can be helpful. http://http://www.amazon.com/Unlocking-Mystery-Your-Emotions-Rep/dp/0849931991/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262238408&sr=1-16

4. The Truth About Love: The Highs, the Lows, and How You Can Make It Last Forever by Pat Love. Love is a tall, red headed Texan, who after her first marriage failed, went back to get a doctorate in psychology specializing in what makes love last past the chemical high. I have not read her book Hot Monogamy but have her speak regarding it. She is a very entertaining writer and speaker. I think this is one of the best books on the market about what actually comprises love. http://www.amazon.com/Truth-About-Love-Highs-Forever/dp/0684871882/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262238829&sr=1-1

5. How To Avoid Marrying a Jerk by John Van Epp. John writes and speaks to alert his audience of the red flags in relationships in order to prevent marrying a jerk or jerkette. He refers to movie clips to prove his points. http://www.amazon.com/How-Avoid-Falling-Love-Jerk/dp/0071548424/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262239288&sr=1-1

6. Cost: A Novel by Roxana Robinson. Robinson writes a gripping novel on heroin addiction and the devastating emotional effect it brings to a three generation family. http://www.amazon.com/Cost-Novel-Roxana-Robinson/dp/0312428464/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262240195&sr=1-1

7. Still Alice by Lisa Genova. Still Alice, a novel, by a Harvard neuroscientist, is the best book that I read this year. If you wish to learn about Alzheimer's Disease and its effect on the person and their family and experience a poignant story, Still Alice is an excellent read. As one reviewer put it: "A masterpiece that will touch lives in ways none of us can even imagine. This book is the best portrayal of the Alzheimer's journey that I have read." http://www.amazon.com/Still-Alice-Lisa-Genova/dp/1439102813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262240471&sr=1-1

8. Not " Just Friends" by Shirley P. Glass. Glass, now deceased mother of Ira Glass on NPR, utilizes two decades of original research and hundreds of clinical cases "to chronicle the human story of what occurs before, during and after the trauma of betrayal. Today with the Internet and today's workplace well-intentioned people cross the line that separates platonic friendship from romantic love." http://www.amazon.com/Not-Just-Friends-Rebuilding Recovering/dp/0743225503/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1

9. How to Get a Date Worth Keeping by Henry Cloud. Cloud, eminent psychologist, gives a quick read on strategies for getting your numbers up in the dating world. Cloud, who married when he was in his 30s, disputes the widely accepted hypothesis of just waiting because God will give you a mate. http://http://www.amazon.com/How-Get-Date-Worth-Keeping/dp/0310262658/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262242216&sr=1-8

10. Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples by Harville Hendrix. I believe this may be Hendrix's first book but it is still one of the best on understanding how when you marry you not only marry your spouse but you also marry your spouse's family. He compares the Conscious Marriage with the Unconscious Marriage. http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Love-You-Want-Anniversary/dp/0805087001/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262242784&sr=1-1

11. You Just Don't Understand: Men and Women in Conversation by Deborah Tannen. Tom and I read this book together when we were trying to figure out why we were having "communication problems." If the truth be known, I read Tannen's book and then persuaded Tom to discuss her ideas with me on a weekend vacation. Our marriage was better because of Tannen. Generally speaking, women's talk is for connection whereas men communicate just the facts. Listen at the chatter at any baseball game. Neither one's communication style is better than the other. We are just different. http://www.amazon.com/You-Just-Dont-Understand-Conversation/dp/0060959622/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

12. All You Need Is Love and Other Lies About Marriages by John W. Jacobs, M.D. Jacobs writes excellent, common sense truths that one can apply to their marriage if they are willing. http://http://www.amazon.com/Need-Love-Other-About-Marriage/dp/0060509317/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262243327&sr=1-1

13. The Way to Love Your Wife: Creating Greater Love & Passion in the Bedroom and Men And Sex by Clifford L. Penner and Joyce J. Penner. Preeminent Christian sex therapists (no this is not an oxymoron) Joyce and Cliff Penner are the gurus of all you want to know about sexual intimacy. http://www.amazon.com/Way-Love-Your-Wife-Creating/dp/158997445X/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262244113&sr=1-4 And: http://www.amazon.com/Men-Sex-Clifford-L-Penner/dp/0840777906/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262244113&sr=1-5

14. A Model for Marriage: Covenant, Grace, Empowerment And Intimacy by Jack O. Balswick and Judith K. Balswick. I learned from the Balswicks during my years at Fuller. Their book includes theology from the renowned Ray Anderson and a more academic look at marriage --- still helpful and challenging. I found their Trinitarian model of marriage insightful when considering God's gift of marriage. http://www.amazon.com/Model-Marriage-Covenant-Empowerment-Intimacy/dp/0830827609/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262244198&sr=1-10

15. An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison. Jamison, a Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, is a foremost authority on manic-depressive disease from her academic studies as well as from her first hand life experience. http://http://www.amazon.com/Unquiet-Mind-Memoir-Moods-Madness/dp/0679763309/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262245597&sr=1-3

16. Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff. This slim volume is one of the best books that I have read on grief and loss. Yale theologian Wolsterstorff shares his heart break with the death of his twenty-five year old son. One never wants to experience such a loss; however, his thoughts give us a glimpse into his world of intimate pain and questions about such tragedies. http://www.amazon.com/Lament-Son-Nicholas-Wolterstorff/dp/080280294X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262246379&sr=1-1

17. I Don't Want To Talk About It by Terrence Real. For me Real's book was a riveting read. As Pia Mellody notes: "Boys in our culture are taught that real men are stoic. The ability to not complain, endure pain, and strive in the face of adversity is admired and celebrated in story and song. The price paid for this isolation is depression." Real gives men courage by telling his own story of trauma and recovery. http://http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Want-Talk- About-Overcoming/dp/0684835398/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262247305&sr=8-2

18. The Recovery of Family Life by Elton and Pauline Trueblood. I bought my tattered copy of this book at a library sale for 29 cents. Tom quoted the book in our daughter Amy's wedding. It was written in the 50s but it still is one of my favorite books on the sacredness of marriage. http://www.amazon.com/Recovery-Family-Elton-Pauline-Trueblood/dp/9001885128/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262246607&sr=1-1

Best Comic Books and Comic Series of the Decade

2009-12-26T20:27:00.000-08:00

I like this hip blog full of hip songs, but someone really needed to nerd it up. In that vein, I offer the list of comics I enjoyed most this decade. This is admittedly partial (I don't read Marvel, but apparently they have an interesting character who is both a man and a spider!), but I've wasted enough of this decade on comics that I should have some expertise.

Superman – Red Son: One of the best uses of the Elseworlds concept, which reinvents the stories of famous heroes. This one imagines Superman’s rocket crashing in Soviet Russia during the Cold War and ending up a tool of the Communist government. Lex Luthor is the American hero who tries to take him down.

Batman - No Man’s Land: A huge, sprawling, ambitious story. Gotham City is devastated by an earthquake, and the US government washes its hands of the problem (a twist that seemed impossible on its original release that became infinitely more plausible, and insightful, after Katrina). Batman and his buddies are left to deal with the scared and out of control populace. Unlike most of the Batman events this decade, this one delivered on its potential.

The Walking Dead: This zombie series doesn’t pull its punches. It’s graphic and bloody, featuring zombies who arms and faces are rotting away. But like all good zombie stories, the real rot takes places among the humans who are picking up the broken pieces of civilization. The dialogue can be a bit cheesy, but the plots are brutal, and the black and white art is perfect.

Blankets: A sweet little love story to remedy the bad influence of those zombie comics.

Ex Machina: While everyone was salivating over the clever series Y: The Last Man, Bryan K Vaughan was also writing this even better series about a man with superpowers who foils half of 9/11 and ends up mayor of New York City.

Justice: Everybody loves Alex Ross’s Kingdom Come, and I admit that series was more innovative. But Justice reaffirms why people should read classic superhero comics. It offers sharp characterization with insightful little moments, gorgeous art, interesting villains, and great action sequences.

Torso: This true life account of a murder investigation late in Elliot Ness' career redefines what the genre can do by blending actual documents from archival research with gritty art.

Gotham Central: A brilliant premise, made even more brilliant in its execution. Essentially, this is NYPD Blue if it happened in Batman’s Gotham City. It offers fully realized cop characters who must deal with the problems that come with a city overrun with costumed super-villains. By letting Bats and the Joker recede into the background, the series humanized the comic world. Without hyperbole, you could make a case that this 40 issue series is the best that DC comics ever produced.

Stay nerdy, folks!

Ryan Weber

Top 25 Songs of the Decade

2009-12-26T20:10:00.000-08:00

I like these best of the decade lists, both because I love unnecessary debates and because I’m always about five years behind the curve and a list like this levels the playing field. The list of here is based on the entirely scientific method of figuring out which songs I listened to repeatedly in these past ten years.

25: Steady As She Goes – The Raconteurs: Jack White’s side projects are better than most regular bands.

24: Instant Pleasure – Rufus Wainwright: When Rufus Wainwright sang “If drinking coffee’s your idea of really cool, you can’t expect no crazy chick to notice you,” I think he was talking about me.

23: What Was I Thinkin? - Dierks Bentley: The decade’s best redneck antics until Cheney shot his hunting partner.

22: Elevation – U2: One of the purest rock songs of the decade. It immediately felt both fresh and classic.

21: White Daisies Passing – Rocky Votolato: My wife put this on the first mix she ever made me. Another reason to love her.

20: Flyswatter – The Eels: An energetic little song, and “icewater/flyswatter” is my favorite rhyme of the decade.

19: Nineteen – Tegan and Sarah: Like all the best songs about teen love, this one makes it sound more serious than it actually is. Also, I ranked this #19! Isn’t that cute!

18: Bohemian Like You – The Dandy Warhols: This catchy, all-purpose riff got overplayed (that’s what happens when you license your song to appear in the Flushed Away trailer), but the lyrics still effectively zing people with hip haircuts.

17: The Hardest Button to Button - The White Stripes: This song gets the maximum mileage out of the simplest riffs.

16: Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key – Billy Bragg and Wilco: It turns out one of decade’s most inventive projects was a recreation of unreleased Woody Guthrie songs. Billy Bragg and Wilco make something old new again.

15: Paragraph President - Blackalicious: When Gift of Gab gets going here, the rhymes nearly fall over one another.

14: Diladed – The Mountain Goats: The decade’s most ominous use of violins.

13: Burn, Don’t Freeze – Sleater Kinney: There are other nominees from Sleater Kinney (Sympathy, Entertainer), but ever since The Guess Who’s No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature, I’ve been a sucker for songs that climax with overlapping vocals.

12: Bowtie - Outkast: Sure, Hey Ya! was the catchy, ubiquitous hit from Speakerboxx/A Love Below, but years later, this is still the dual album’s funkiest cut.

11: Dracula’s Wedding - Outkast: Spooky beats, plus some literary insight: who knew that Van Helsing was so excited about great peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?

10: Red Clay Halo – Gillian Welch: Gillian Welch’s down home harmonies feel even more authentic when they’re about dirt.

9: Til I Collapse – Eminem/50 Cent/Tupac: Easily the best of the 4,317 Tupac songs released after his death.

8: I Turn My Camera On - Spoon: The funky grooves make me want to dance, but in the safety of emotionally distant lyrics like “I turn my feelings off / You’ve made me untouchable for life” I can still keep the stick securely in my ass.

7: John Saw That Number – Neko Case: If you’re one of the three people left not impressed by Neko Case’s set of pipes, this song will do the trick.

6: 99 Problems (Gray album version) – Jay Z: Turns out Jay Z and the Beatles mix beautifully. My experiments blending Flo Rida andThe Monkees have been less successful.

5: Turn a Square – The Shins: This Shins song didn’t change my life, but that part that goes “All my thoughts run astray / and I’m a walking cliché / when such a creature I sight” did make it slightly better.

4: Skeleton Key – Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s: A dysfunctional relationship rarely sounded this good.

3: The Cross - Nas: If the decade offered a pointlessly arrogant and needlessly sacrilegious song that hit harder than this one, I didn’t hear it.

2: Man of Constant Sorrow – The Soggy Bottom Boys: This song performs an almost impossible task in O Brother, Where Art Thou by being good enough to justify the pardon of the men who perform it. Good thing Bernie Madoff can’t sing like this.

1: Hurt – Johnny Cash: Johnny Cash sings like a man pursued by death, and it turns out he was right. The song makes you want to kill yourself, but in the best possible way.

Thanks for reading. Hopefully, the next decade gives us this many good songs and one fewer Fergie.

Ryan Weber

FM Gems: Pavarotti

2009-12-25T22:59:00.000-08:00

Best Songs I Heard on Non-Rock Radio Stations This Year

My Yuletide entry in this series comes from opera guy Luciano Pavarotti, heard on 91.5 Classical KUSC. Obviously, the man had incredible pipes. But I think what I like more about this, his magical rendition of "O Holy Night," is his heavy, heavy accent and the way he adds extra syllables, like "in a-sin and error a-pining." The way he pronounces "the soul felt its worth" is just crazy. But what a powerful performance. And, of course, what a song. Merry Christmas to all.
— Tom McMahon

Nate's hottest of the oughts

2009-12-22T14:11:00.000-08:00

This was a great time for me to reminisce over the last decade of music and what it meant to me…rocking out with roomies in college and then trying to start a lame band, cruising up and down Pacific Coast Highway, walkmen in airports and third world countries, the switch from lugging 3 CD cases in my car to 1 small iPod, trying bands out live in concert, choosing my own wedding music, and great road trips with my wife. Music is an amazing thing and it amazes me even more the memories that come up from all these albums. I had to do a separate list for ’09 since they feel too recent to be considered “classic” yet and the rest have had a chance to really settle in and become a part of my collection. Like ‘em or not, here are my top 30 picks of the decade followed by my top 10 of 2009. (I’ve also included a favorite song from each as a starting point if you are interested in checking them out.)

2000 Lifehouse- No Name Face
Huge favorite for me while at Pepperdine, especially seeing him live at the Whiskey watching a bunch of bikers rocking with arms raised in praise
“Everything”
2000 Robbie Williams- Sing When You're Winning
Big fan of Robbie’s during Heidelberg and this one before he went a little nuts was one of my favs
“Singing for the Lonely”
2000 Jack Johnson- Brushfire Fairytales
Got me into the mellow folky vibe. Still my favorite of his
“F-Stop Blues”
2001 Ben Harper- Live From Mars
I got started late into Ben, so this was my attempt to catch up and it proved to be an incredible double album. I don’t usually like live albums but I would have loved to see a show from this era
“The Drugs Don’t Work” (Verve cover)
2001 Dashboard Confessional- The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most
My whiny emo guilty obsession…
“The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most”
2001 Jimmy Eat World- Bleed American
Just an amazing album spanning the gamut of their styles.
“Sweetness”
2002 Jason Mraz- Waiting For My Rocket To Come
I miss the old Mraz…glad the world now sees his talent but it was much simpler back then!
“You and I Both”
2003 Muse- Absolution
Got into them thanks to my brother and would still love to see their live show.
“Stockholm Syndrome”
2003 Damien Rice- O
What a sad, beautiful album. Perfect for a rainy day drive
“Amie”
2003 Postal Service- Give Up
So many trips had this as a soundtrack.
“Sleeping In”
2003 Switchfoot- The Beautiful Letdown
Catapulted them out of the CCM industry and into mainstream, and when then really started getting interesting to me.
“Twenty-Four”
2004 Relient K- MmmHmm
Their albums always seemed to fit my mood whenever they came out and worked for whatever I was going through at the time.
“Be My Escape”
2004 Rise Against- Siren Song of the Counter Culture
This has been a great staple for the gym. Gets the BPM going
“Paper Wings”
2004 Shawn McDonald- Simply Nothing
Honest, acoustic worship with an amazing voice. Never get tired of his first release.
“Beautiful”
2005 David Gray- Life In Slow Motion
Almost a tie between this and White Ladder, but too many memories attached to this one.
“From Here You Can Almost See the Sea”
2005 State Radio- Us Against the Crown
Chad from Dispatch puts on a great show and got to see these guys twice locally.
“Right Me Up”
2006 Amos Lee- Supply and Demand
So much soul in this man’s voice. Love it
“Careless”
2006 John Mayer- Continuum
My wife got me tickets to see him and the show solidified this great album as a top pick.
“Stop This Train”
2006 Justin Timberlake- FutureSex/LoveSounds
My poppy guilty pleasure of the decade. How can you not like Justin, come on!
“What Goes Around…”
2006 Mat Kearney- Nothing Left to Lose
Mellow staple for 2006 that still spins a lot to this day.
“Where Do We Go From Here”
2006 Matisyahu- Youth
The undeniable skills of this Hassidic Jewish rapper impressed even the people we were building the church for down in El Salvador.
“Time of Your Song”
2006 Lupe Fiasco- Food and Liquor
I played this one way too much. Can’t wait for his new one…
“The Instrumental”
2006 Ray LaMontagne- Till The Sun Turns Black
Great mellow folk. Putting this one on a mixtape for my wife was a good move!
“Can I Stay”
2006 Silversun Pickups- Carnavas
Basing their entire sound around The Smashing Pumpkins’ 1991 release Gish was a great formula to make a fan out of me.
“Rusted Wheel”
2007 Angels and Airwaves- I-Empire
Pretty epic sounding album. Who would have expected it from the guy from Blink 182?
“Secret Crowds”
2007- Mayday Parade- A Lesson in Romantics
This is the most played in our household mostly because my wife refuses to listen to anything else. Great pop-punk album with lots of harmonies.
“Miserable at Best”
2007 Sherwood- A Different Light
Local San Luis Obispo band that should hit it huge any day now! Unbelievably energetic live show and lots of fun melodies.
“Home”
2007- Joshua Radin- We Were Here
First introduction was a Scrubs episode where I ran to my computer to figure out who was making this amazing music. The self-proclaimed “king of whisper rock” puts on a great show… unless it’s at a bar with a bunch of drunk frat boys…
"Winter”
2007/2008- Jon Foreman- Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer EP’s
Switchfoot lead singer’s attempt to recreate the 4 seasons musically
“The Cure for Pain”
2008- Coldplay- Viva La Vida/Prospekt’s March
Put them in a whole new league for me. Just good solid release for them
“Lost?”

Now for the 2009 in no particular order:

Meese- Broadcast
Denver-based band who went to school with my old roommate. I still can’t believe they haven’t hit it big yet!
“Taking the World On”
Muse- The Resistance
Big album full of some different, but great songs.
“Guiding Light”
Phoenix- Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Took me a while to get into this one, but many patient listens really paid off.
“Love Like a Sunset”
Owl City- Ocean Eyes
The single got way too much airplay but I really appreciated the rest of the album…especially since Ben Gibbard refuses to put out another Postal Service record this decade.
“On The Wing”
John Mayer Battle Studies
Even I enjoy a good breakup album now and again. Not quite as bluesy as his last release but still a good one.
“Perfectly Lonely”
Fun- Aim and Ignite
What the band name implies…just a fun album from the lead singer of The Format.
“I Wanna Be The One”
30 Seconds To Mars- This is War
Epic album for the end of the year. Pompous and egotistical but still amazing!
“Hurricane”
Dashboard Confessional- Alter The Ending
Best of both worlds with acoustic versions of all the full band tracks.
“Hell on the Throat”
Relient K- Forget and Not Slow Down
Another good breakup album with a lot more depth from this clever Canton quintet.
“This is the End (If You Want It)”
Silversun Pickups- Swoon
Great follow-up to Carnavas. Wouldn’t expect anything less
“The Royal We”

Paul's Top 75 Albums of the Decade

2009-12-22T07:31:00.000-08:00

I remember having a conversation with one of my sister's friends when I was in high school. Pegging me as the sort of fan who enjoyed monitoring trends and taking the pulse of popular music, he sounded a sort of death knell to my obsessive tendencies, predicting that as I got older, my interest in such things would wane and all new music would ultimately be lost on me. I think I spent the entirety of this decade waiting for that to happen; it never did. If anything, my appreciation for pop music intensified during the past ten years, whether it was the 40-hour drives to and from Nashville ("Turn on the Bright Lights" during a May sunset approaching Gallup, New Mexico), long runs (a steady diet of DFA Records and Dismemberment Plan), and spinning picks with the Westside Record Club. And I count some of my favorite experiences of the past decade to be pop music-related, whether it be playing in Spanish Archer, writing music reviews for the Graphic, djing law school parties, or annual trips to Coachella with Thom. It's only in the last year that I've stopped purchasing as much new music as I had in the past. Although this is somewhat a product of being overwhelmed by the glut of bands and blogs that have crowded the airwaves for the latter half of the aughts, there's a more practical reason: I got turntables and have simply been purchasing older vinyl. This might explain why my list of the favorite albums of the decade is almost devoid of albums from this year.

My criteria for this list is somewhat objective. Not objective in the sense that these are, in my opinion, the "best" records of the past decade, but objective in the sense that it is meant to track which albums I, in fact, listened to the most, from purchase to present. This might explain why an album such as Belle & Sebastian's "Dear Catastrophe Waitress," which I actually think is inferior to "The Life Pursuit," ranks ahead of it; I just happened to listen to the former almost obsessively when driving home from Pepperdine during the winter of 2003. And that naturally speaks to the subjective nature of the list, namely, some records, despite their flaws or their missed opportunities or even their shitty songs, just strike a nerve, and, from that moment on, are indelibly associated with a memory or a feeling. I used to think that phenomenon - treasuring music for its associations - was feminine, so I was either wrong or I've spent a decade getting in touch with my feelings. Obviously, all of the albums listed below are, in my opinion, phenomenal, but to read the list as my critical take on what was "best" or "most important" from the decade would be missing the point entirely. To that end, I still haven't even heard any Wolf Parade records, so my knowledge is woefully incomplete.

So, without further adieu, here are my 75 favorite albums of the past decade. Next to some of the higher-ranking entries I've written blurbs reflecting on my experiences with those albums and, perhaps, why they meant and, in most cases, continue to mean so much to me. I know this is indulgent, but it's too fun for me not to indulge when I actually have the opportunity to write about something I care about. There are about 100 more records that, depending on the week, could have made this list; I love them no less.

of montreal - Satanic Panic in the Attic -- Oddly, the list begins with an album that I don't have particularly strong associations with but was, plain and simply, the album I listened to the most over the past decade. This album very clearly serves as a milemarker in the of montreal catalog, the album where the band's twee sensibilities started taking a back seat to their Erasure inclinations. I still can't believe they encored with "Alright" by Supergrass at a 2005 concert I attended; had they played "Girl Don't Tell Me" next, I would've expected they had designs on converting me, and me specifically, to their cause.
Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat -- I bought this album for a friend, and the night I gave it to her, her ex-boyfriend's uncle passed away. I remember that we didn't listen to it but instead drank beer outside her apartment. Had she played the album after I left, I think it would have fit the moment. I didn't buy the album until years later, instead borrowing her copy and burning it to my computer. I still find it to be one of the saddest and funniest albums I regularly listen to (often simultaneously, such as in "Rise Up With Fists!!").
Yo La Tengo - And then Everything Turned Itself Inside Out -- Ever since I purchased this album the day it came out in Heidelberg, Germany, "Tears Are in Your Eyes" has been a mixtape staple of mine. This album evokes the steadiness and resolve of two people who have gone through it all together (kind of like the couple in Stegner's "The Spectator Bird") and are committed to staying the course. It's probably unfair to hoist that upon Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley but I must admit that if their relationship ever ends, I will look at this album and think, "You lied to me."
Broadcast - Tender Buttons -- I had been listening to this album in my car for a good month when I decided it would be good background for a game of scrabble with a girl. It was only then, in that silent, pensive environment, that I heard the ghost in the album, the haunting presence that begins with the descending scale in "I Found the F" and continues until the end. You know how horror movies often trot out a little girl to sing nursery rhymes or something to contrast innocence against depravity? This album conjures that vibe without being trite.
Dr. Dog - Easy Beat -- Kind of like Satanic Panic, this one firmly implanted itself on one listening; I couldn't pry it away for months.
Spoon - Kill the Moonlight -- No fat on this record.
Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood -- I've always believed this record was influenced by Carl Newman (see infra) lyrically. Truth is, though, as abstract and intriguing as the lyrics are, it just comes down to the voice. This is Cocteau Twin territory where, to me, it could just be syllables and it wouldn't change a thing.
Dntel - Life is Full of Possibilities -- I picked this record up at Other Music in the early spring of 2002 and immediately listened to it on a long walk in the snow to the Whitney. I forgive Mia Doi Todd for all of her boring performances solely for contributing to "Anywhere Anyone."
The New Pornographers - Mass Romantic -- I remember hearing "The Body Says No" on KXLU in the fall of 2001 from my on-campus apartment. Having been a huge Zumpano fan since high school, but never having any reason to believe the obscure band or its members would re-enter the musical landscape, I lost it. I was totally swept up with emotion that Carl Newman, the songwriter and singer I admired so much, had a new project coming out. I can't imagine having this feeling nowadays. With the proliferation of blogs and Pitchfork chronicling indie rock like it was global affairs, the only surprise is the headline, never the actual song or album. I mean, no Dave Grohl fan just happened upon a Them Crooked Vultures song on the radio and lost his shit; that just doesn't happen any more.
The Walkmen - Bows & Arrows -- I probably saw the Walkmen live more than any other band this decade. I remember the first time - late January 2003 at the Troubadour with Hot Hot Heat. HHH had the radio hit but the Walkmen headlined and seemed committed to stopping all the frivolity. Hamilton Leithauser stalked the stage like a prep school bully, and for some reason (probably b/c I had seen my fair share of effeminate indie rock dudes) it really appealed to me. I think the drumming on this record is phenomenal.
Radiohead - Kid A
Gonzales - Solo Piano
Beachwood Sparks - Beachwood Sparks
Wilco - A Ghost Is Born -- As much as I love Wilco, I believe this is their only album where the great songwriting isn't compromised by the production. "Sky Blue Sky" sounds great, but not all the songs are there. On the other hand, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" has the songs but Jim O'Rourke's production is cold and sterile; I always prefer "Jesus, Etc." live with the warm organ backing instead of the Quaker strings. "A Ghost Is Born" marries both.
Cass McCombs - Dropping the Writ
Stephen Malkmus - Pig Lib and bonus e.p. -- My favorite Malkmus solo record and, sadly, the last with John Moen on drums. Why does everyone think Janet Weiss is such an upgrade? Listen to "Do Not Feed the Oyster;" Weiss' busyness would've ruined that shit, while Moen does his best Bill Ward and comes out victorious.
Bossanova - Hey, Sugar
Kanye West - Late Registration
Cass McCombs - Catacombs
Belle & Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Low - Things We Lost in the Fire
The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love -- I really only listen to the first half of this record, which I believe stacks up against the first half of any record this decade.
The Walkmen - Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone
The Shins - Oh, Inverted World
Blur - Think Tank
The Strokes - Room on Fire
Deerhunter - Microcastles
The Futureheads - S/t
Outkast - Stankonia
Blood Brothers - Crimes
Joanna Newsom - The Milk-eyed Mender
Madvillain - Madvillainy
Elliott Smith - Figure 8
Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar
Neko Case - The Tigers Have Spoken
Sloan - Never Hear the End of It
A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder
Daft Punk - Discovery
The Clientele - God Save the Clientele
Field Music - Tones of Town
Hot Snakes - Suicide Invoice
Shelby Lynne - I Am Shelby Lynne
Lambchop - Is a Woman
Spoon - Girls Can Tell
Animal Collective - Meriweather Post Pavilion
Nobody & Mystic Chords of Memory - Tree Colored Sea
Out Hud - Let Us Never Speak of it Again
She & Him - Volume 1
The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow
Enon - Hocus Pocus
Impossible Shapes - Horus
Love Is All - 9 Times the Same Song
Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit
Lambchop - Nixon
Unwound - Leaves Turn Inside You
Tortoise - Standards
Deerhoof - Milkman
Exploding Hearts - Guitar Romantic
The Game - The Documentary
The Decemberists - Her Majesty, The Decemberists
Destroyer - This Night
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
Clipse - Lord Willin'
Jay Reatard - Blood Visions
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights
Dungen - Ta De Lungt
Metro Area - Metro Area
Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antarctica
Delays - Faded Seaside Glamour
Air - Talkie Walkie
The Bigger Lovers - This Affair Never Happened . . . and Here Are 11 Songs About It
Old 97s - Satellite Rides
Dungen - 4
Gorillaz - Demon Days

Top Fifteen Things Paul Forgot About This Decade But Remembered When He Put His Mind to It

2009-12-21T07:24:00.001-08:00

(15) Home Phone Numbers
(14) Roommates (the living situation)
(13) Broken Social Scene
(12) Campers (the shoes)
(11) Eminem
(10) Smoke Breaks
(9) Colin Powell
(8) Album Release Dates
(7) Bud Light
(6) All Plot Points (Major and Minor) in the First Season of Veronica Mars
(5) Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Matthew Lillard
(4) French Fries
(3) Kevin Brown (the pitcher)
(2) Ja Rule
(1) The Vines

FM Gems: Montell Jordan

2009-12-20T23:22:00.000-08:00

Best Songs I Heard on Non-Rock Radio Stations This Year

My second entry in this series comes from R&B also-ran Montell Jordan, heard on 93.5 KDAY. Three things I like about this jam, "Get It On Tonite":
1. It has an awesome sample ("Love for the Sake of Love," by Claudja Barry).
2. Montell Jordan went to Pepperdine.
3. I thought his only hit was "This Is How We Do It."
— Tom McMahon

Montell Jordan - Get It On Tonite
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this is what i like.

2009-12-19T01:02:00.000-08:00

this is a list of albums. it's not exactly my top 25 for the decade, but it's close. i like to overanalyze so i decided i'd make it easier and narrow my 25 by limiting each band to one album. i've been a bit behind on new music of late so i'm sure i'm missing stuff i'd like.
i was having too hard a time ordering them by preference so i've just randomly assigned them an order. deal with it. why 25? why not? that's as good a reason as any.
now that we've set the ground rules, here's the list with minimal explanation:

1. menomena - friend and foe (2007)
these are some weird dudes. their song writing process is even weirder. the music, however, is excellent and i'd like them to make more.

2. gogol bordello - super taranta! (2007)
you can't trust gypsies.

3. shins - chutes too narrow (2003)
back when i was driving from sc to pepperdine every weekend i listened to this album like it was going out of style... which it was.

4. the notwist - neon golden (2002)
listen to this album and try to figure out how a band that started in germany's grunge-metal scene made such an awesome indie rock/electronica album.

5. the flaming lips - yoshimi battles the pink robots (2002)
this is a great album, but you should probably listen to the soft bulletin instead.

6. wolf parade - apologies to the queen mary (2005)
the guys in this band are in about 37 bands, none of which have made any albums nearly as good as this one or the newer wolf parade album, at mount zoomer.

7. the good, the bad, the queen¹ (2007)
i prefer to think that when damon albarn and paul simonon were writing the songs for this album that simonon did most of the work because the clash were much better than either blur or the gorillaz.

8. ted leo and the pharmacists - shake the sheets (2004)
sure, this guy's a crazy leftist, but he makes good music. just because i'd side with johnny ramone over joey ramone in a political debate doesn't mean i can't enjoy this album.

9. vampire weekend - vampire weekend (2008)
i really wanted to hate this band. they're ivy leaguers who dress like philosphy grad students and sing about grammar and architecture. thankfully, they made a record that lived up to the insane amount of internet hype they generated.

10. okkervil river - the stage names (2007)
this one's pretty darn good.

11. arcade fire - funeral (2004)
montreal was founded in 1642. 362 years later arcade fire made this album and i finally found something not to dislike about french canada. if i had actually ranked these albums, this one would probably be number one. "rebellion (lies)" is one of the best songs ever recorded and the only to capture my utter distaste for sleep.

12. animal collective - sung tongs (2004)
okay, i get it. this should say merriweather post pavillion instead of sung tongs, but i haven't heard it yet. i'll get to it eventually so get off my back already.

13. sufjan stevens - illinois (2005)
"john wayne gacy, jr." is an outstanding song. wait while i listen to it again... okay you may proceed.

14. ...and you will know us by the trail of dead - source tags and codes (2002)
conrad keely probably did too many psychotropic drugs after this album came out. that's the only way i can figure that the band's subsequent albums failed to come close to this one.

15. andrew bird - armchair apocrypha (2007)
i saw this guy open for the decemberists at the hollywood bowl which was excellent. the last time i was on a plane, i had "fiery crash" stuck in my head.

16. the decemberists - crane wife (2006)
picking this album over the hazards of love or any of the others was tough. the facts are these: "o valencia!" is my cell phone ring; my old roommate made a halloween costume based on "shankill butchers"; "sons and daughters" made for an epic sing along at the last concert i attended; the live performance of hazards was insane, but so was seeing the band play with the l.a. philharmonic in '07.

17. interpol - turn on the bright lights (2002)
remember when the strokes were supposed to reclaim the world for rock and roll? neither do i. what i do remember is that this album is awesome and so was antics. our love to admire? not so much.

18. modest mouse - good news for people who love bad news (2004)
this is our moment of indier-than-thou, self-righteous idignance: when "float on" hit the radio, everyone and their mother started listening to modest mouse which was cool. less cool, however, was that everyone acted like they'd discovered this new band and they hadn't. they had been around for eleven years. plus it's not discovering a band if you first heard them on mainstream radio or saw a video on mtv. my first introduction to modest mouse? a band t-shirt with a moose on it when i was 14.

19. wilco - yankee hotel foxtrot (2002)
this album always reminds us of super cool 94.3 which was an actual independent radio station² in orange county for about a year before it switched to spanish language. they played the heck out of "heavy metal drummer." seriously, they killed that song. of course, hearing a great song over and over beats the heck out hearing crazy town.

20. at the drive-in - relationship of command (2000)
a lot of people like the mars volta better than at the drive-in, but i prefer the focus and restraint of the latter over the experimentation for experimentation's sake of the former. that's probably why i'd pick rubber soul over sgt. pepper's.

21. beck - sea change (2002)
songs from this album are usually my least favorite part of his live shows, but the songs are ridiculously good. i'm still surprised that beck was able to make this album.

22. the deadly syndrome - the ortolan (2007)
these guys need to record another album and you need to hear this one. get on it.

23. spoon - girls can tell (2001)
i could just as easily have picked kill the moonlight or gimme fiction, but i listened to this one the other day on a run and i'm humming "chicago at night" right now.

24. clap your hands say yeah - clap your hands say yeah (2005)
i heard it from a friend; the revolution never happened.

25. ryan adams - heartbreaker (2000)
for the longest time, i considered ryan adams nothing more than a punchline because he made ulysses s. grant look like a lightweight and put out what seemed like an album a month³. then i started listening to this album and, while i kept making jokes until he sobered up, i also gave him the musical respect he deserved.

¹the band doesn't really have a name, but it's damon albarn from blur, paul simonon from the clash, simon tong from the verve, and tony allen from africa 70 produced by danger mouse.

²indie 103.1 was owned by clear channel which makes them about as independent at tibet.

³wikipedia lists eleven this decade. i'm not sure, but i think that's how many albums the rolling stones put out in the sixties when most bands could record and release an album between breakfast and lunch.

Lex's Top 10 Album for the Decade

2009-12-18T15:27:00.000-08:00

First of all, let me explain that I am awful about expressing my reasons for loving an album. Sometimes the music just strums my heart strings the right way, other times it might be that I relate the album to a specific time in my life that stands out. It could be the musicianship, the energy, or I could just be crazy for loving it. Whatever the reason (and in no particular order), here are my top 10:

Spoon: Girls Can Tell - 2001
To me, this is a perfect album and is on my all time favorites list, not just my decade list. Everything Hits at Once was the first track on the first mix CD Chris ever made me. After the first listen I was hooked on Spoon (and Chris, of course) This album has been with me for the best and worst days ever since.
2 more reasons to love this album: the cover art, and the perfect album name.

The Natural History: The People That I meet - 2007
First heard this band when they opened for Spoon at the El Rey Theater. I was outside smoking cigarettes (yeah, we were cool back then) with Chris and Morgan when we heard the band start to play. Normally we would have stayed outside through the whole opening act, but something caught our ears and we decided to check them out. A couple of EPs & LPs later, the band disintegrated… this beautiful album is the last of The Natural History. If you haven’t heard it yet, get your hands on it soon. I promise it will be playing in your head for weeks to come.

The Crystal Skulls: Blocked Numbers - 2005
This one was something I had to listen to a few songs at a time. Hussy & Airport Motels were the first two songs that really got me boppin’. Now the album is on regular rotation every few months. Great for long car rides.

The Duke Spirit: Cuts Across the Land - 2005
Two Words: Leila Moss. Energetic album! Makes me want to be a rockstar!. This is my favorite album to rock out to by myself.

The Walkmen: You and Me - 2008
Moody. I can listen to this album for weeks at a time. There is just something special about the sound, and the emotion that fills yur ears when you listen to this one.

Outkast: Speakerboxxx - 2003
Just straight up fun. Sure, it isn’t one that I can listen to all the time—but it never fails to ake me wanna dance.

Lucinda Williams: world without tears - 2003
I bought this and it sat on the shelf for 8 months before I finally gave it a real chance. I love Lucinda’s voice. Imperfect, but always a little raw and real. The song writing on this one is great. She is simple, but sometimes the imagery is just right.

Aimee Mann: Bachelor No.2 - 2000
While searching my brain for missing pieces in my decade list I came across this. By no means is it perfect, but it just had to be this way. Aimee Mann just has an emotional effect on me that I can’t explain.

Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - 2002
What can I say about this album… It was my first taste of Wilco and again, happens to be my favorite Wilco albums. Great balance of pop and sadness. Wilco is always a good choice.

Radiohead: In Rainbows - 2007
I was so excited to hear this for the first time. Although all Radiohead albums are amazing, and they should all really be on this list- this one was perfect. It was everything I wanted it to be and more. I still hear new exciting things when I listen to it today.

Michelle's Favorite Albums of the Decade

2009-12-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

Writing this, I realized that I have become one of those people who talks about my children all the time. Whatever. I'm not sorry.

10. The Black and White Album, The Hives (2007)
This album makes me drive crazy. The other night, I drove up onto the sidewalk and then slammed back down into the road when turning onto our street. Tom had to talk me down when I walked in the house because I was freaking out convinced a neighbor was going to call the cops and tell them I was drunk driving with my baby in the back seat and that social services would probably come and take my kids away.

9. Flash Forward to the Good Times, Farmer Dave Scher (2009)

8. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes (2008)

7. A Strangely Isolated Place, Ulrich Schnauss (2003)
I have used this album to calm my children and myself many many times. It does indeed transport us all to a strangely isolated place.

6. We Can Create, Maps (2007)
Another great driving album, especially through the canyons on a frosty morning.

5. A Camp, A Camp (2001)

4. Silent Shout, The Knife (2006)
I cannot wait to see The Knife live. If I had to pick between seeing The Knife or The Cardigans live, I would actually pick The Knife. Anyone who knows me knows that's a big-ass deal. Also, my boys love "One Hit" because they can sing along: "Ho ho ho ho." Tommy says, "Listen, I hear it..... Ha ha ha ha."

3. Hold Time, M. Ward (2009)
I'm in love with M. Ward. If I married him, my name would also be M. Ward. But I love my husband a lot, and I've heard M. is a bit of a loner or something...

2. Fever Ray, Fever Ray (2009)
No words to express how this album makes me feel. I think Karin may be the first person to express in music perfectly what it's like to be a mother of two small children... at least what I know of it. I think we would enjoy getting together for a playdate with our kids. And we could even speak Swedish to each other!

1. Long Gone Before Daylight, The Cardigans (2004)
I can listen to this album any time, any mood, and every single song warms my heart every time.

Songs I Wish I Never Heard

2009-12-17T08:13:00.000-08:00

I hope I'm allowed to do my LEAST favorite songs of the decade. If that's out of the scope of this blog, I apologize!

I will be the first to admit that I love cheesy pop music. The hip hop lover in me is alive and well. I usually switch from KIIS 102.7 to the newest Modest Mouse CD before I leave my car, just in case my husband drives my car next. I still want him to think I'm cool.

However, even though I admit to rocking out to the latest pop music, there is some down right awful music out there. I do think we should celebrate the fact that we live in a country where the following songs made it on any kind of "hits" list. We live in America where people are free to like terrible, terrible, terrible music. And I am free to mock them.

Here is my list of songs I wish I never heard, broken down by year:

2000-Three way tie between Thong Song by Sisqo, Higher by Creed (or anything by Creed), and Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down.

2001-Butterfly by Crazy Town. This song has scarred me because my mom would hum this song around the house. MY MOM! Nobody should have to listen to their mother hum the tune to a song whose lyrics include: Such a sexy,sexy pretty little thing/Fierce nipple pierce you got me sprung with your tongue ring. Really? She didn't know the lyrics, but because this song was played everywhere, she had no choice but to learn the tune and hum it.

2002-Work It by Missy Elliott. I won't even post lyrics in case my nephews ever find this blog, but I like less elephants noises in songs.

2003-Stacy's Mom by Fountains of Wayne. I have a friend named Stacy and people STILL sing this song to her.

2004-American Idiot by Green Day. I'll save my comments about this one for my Ron Paul fan page discussion board.

2005-Don't Cha by the Pussycat Dolls Featuring Busta Rhymes. This must have been on some commercial that aired during baseball games because 2005 was my dad's time to whistle pop songs around the house. No Dad, I don't wish my girlfriend was hot like you.

2006-Fergalicious by Fergie. I haven't figured out how to articulate my hatred for this song. Fergie tied with How to Save a Life by The Fray.

2007-Hey There Delilah by the Plain White Tees. Some guy talking what sounds like a voicemail to his girlfriend gets to make lots of money? Weak. It should be noted this is the year Party Like a Rockstar came out which reminds me of my very funny sister and makes me laugh hysterically.

2008-I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry. I don't like when people try to stir things up just because. Trying to rebel against your Christian upbringing? Seen it. Yaaaawn.

2009-In an effort to end on a positive note, I'm happy to say I can't think of one song that came out this year that makes my skin crawl. However, the year's not over yet!

Thanks for reading!

Brendan McCormick's Top 11 Albums of 2009.

2009-12-15T21:54:00.000-08:00

Top 11 Records of (2+0-0+9)

11.Dan Deacon—Bromst
Slicing up percussion beats and play-toy beeps to build dreamy, semi-manic atmospheres for his sugary-sweet vocal melodies, Deacon turns the brightness down a tick with Bromst. As usual, the tracks will trigger a synthesized, cerebral trip, with sonic space ships flying through sparkling skies full of twinkling bells, but never have Deacon’s songs sounded so full, smart, or dark. Stronger than Spiderman of the Rings, Bromst sticks to Deacon’s strengths while refining his use of space to fill out his floating dance party sound.
Big Tracks—Snookered
Surprise Stefani

10.Built to Spill—There is no Enemy
The last BTS record, You in Reverse, sounded like the band might be going down a more “psychedelic jam band-ish” avenue. The relief came eventually, though, with There is no Enemy, on which Doug Martsch brings the best technical aspects of his last 5 albums together in yet another instant classic. Enemy blends shimmery tunes and mournful melodies of pure gold with the clever guitar scribbling that lifts BTS beyond the unwashed indie masses. Tangents are great, if you have a pretty good idea where you’re going, and this one has brought the band back to what made them great. This album’s sound is appropriately easy going, but nothing is easy unless you are Doug Martsch.
Big Tracks—Hindsight
Oh Yeah

09.Andrew Bird—Noble Beast
Bird has perfected the art of layered composition. On Noble Beast, mouthwatering hooks, harmonies, and spicy rhythms fertilize an unflawed bloom of lyrical mastery. On past albums, Bird seemed more inclined to choose words that fit rhythmically, while Beast gives off the feeling that although the vocabulary didn’t get any smaller, words came easier on this one. Some critics said that no tune on this album stood out as a single, but I disagree. The opener, “Oh No” is instantly irresistible, and three or four others are right there as well. This is (another) AB album that is easy to become obsessed with.
Big Tracks—Oh No
Effigy

08.Atlas Sound—Logos
Athens, Georgia spawns neurotic genius, so it is no surprise that Deerhunter’s Bradford Cox was born and raised there. In the summer of ’09, he accidentally dropped his beautifully haunting, lo-fidelity solo demos all over the net. Luckily, he pulled himself together and decided to package them anyway, eventually releasing Logos. The album is wonderfully deceiving. On the surface, Cox’s ethereal arrangements sound experimental, without much direction. A closer listen reveals a brilliant singer/songwriter with Brian Wilson-esque talent for architecture, pumping melodies through a deliciously melancholy filter.
Big Tracks—Walkabout
Sheila

07.Beirut/Realpeople—March of the Zapotec/Holland
Something is wrong with you if you don’t love a good 19-piece Mexican band. Everybody knows that. Zach Condon is a sponge, and he is soaking up all of the earth’s folk music styles, but his songwriting is so strong that it withstands all influence. The first half of Beirut’s latest effort sounds like a funeral procession that took place in 1908. Neutral Milk-esque horn parts only add to the songs’ antique appeal, and Condon’s crooning never misses. The 2nd half of the album is electronically charged. The change is drastic, but the songwriting shines through so strongly that the record is a success. Not many artists have a style that transcends time like this guy does. Holland is superbly crafted, and it is interesting to compare the two sections of the album, which are astoundingly similar for being so separate. Someone with such a remarkable sound easily could stay inside his comfort zone and remain esteemed, but Condon craves inspiration, and he gets it, no matter how far away it takes him.
Big Tracks—La Llorona
My Night With the Prostitute From Marseille

06.Fever Ray—Fever Ray
Karin and Olof Dreijer could not be more perfect for each other. He controls tribal beats and galactic sounds to blanket her passive aggressive tone. Unlike on the powerful “Silent Shout”, Karin’s anxious vocals are often more open and vulnerable on this album, which is not to say that she has lost her power, but this time the tracks are more fragile, and more pretty. Most of the album is her dueting with sped up or slowed down versions of her self, creating the familiar druid-like eeriness surrounding the entire album. This is some of the best work they’ve done yet.
Big Tracks—When I Grow Up
If I Had A Heart

05.Mew—No More Stories Are Told Today…
This is the pop record I’ve been waiting for from Mew. The album flows smoothly along, without occasionally falling off track this time. The production couldn’t be any better, and with progressive shred contrasting the soaring, angelic voice of Jonas Bjerre, this album doesn’t have one low moment. …Glass Handed Kites was also extremely good, and Mew has since learned how to utilize their strengths in writing, and in the studio. Multiple-movement pieces are nothing new to the band, but unlike before, the assembly has definite direction all throughout. That, and the songs are very good throughout.
They have been around for a long time, but this masterpiece proves that Mew is ready to become the biggest stadium rock band in the world. It’s about time, too, because Muse is really starting to blow.
Big Tracks—Introducing Palace Players
Cartoons and Macreme Wounds

04.Dirty Projectors—Bitte Orca
Dirty Projectors have taken their experimental compositions to great new heights with Bitte Orca. They splash an R&B feel onto their pop tunes, but the group often sounds like it comes from another time. Dave Longstreth is the genius behind the curtain, and his arms and legs are Amber Coffman and Angel Deradoorian, who manage to catch his every drift. Some of the record’s riffs sound like a wall is melting around them, and the whole album is a wonderfully fresh, very approachable musical experience. Every track has surprises, but Longstreth clearly has control of his unique sound, which is a good thing for the rest of us.
Big Tracks—Stillness is the Move
No Intention

03.Phoenix—Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Phoenix has discovered a musical fit for Thomas Mars’ sweet n’ drowsy falsetto on the great WAP. Every track could be a hit single, minus the 7:00 Love Like a Sunset, which could be a hit single if anyone had an attention span (or listened to the radio). The tunes are all simple but memorable, and every song is ornamented to perfection. The same way Green Day’s Dookie appealed to the masses 15 years ago, and The Strokes’ Is This It? Did the same 10 years ago, everything here just sounds right. Good songs, all perfectly catered to their front man’s unique croon. Phoenix is now added to my “get whatever they release” list. (Green Day is not on that list. Strokes are.)
Big Tracks—Rome
1901

02.Grizzly Bear—Veckatimest
The critics were praising this album before it even came out, and the follow up to the dreary, sluggish Yellow House did, in fact, turn out to be all together amazing. Layered sound textures create an interesting backdrop for soaring vocals and shimmery percussion, but what makes this record great is the songwriting. Beautiful but haunting, the tracks feel as though they were written as one masterwork, and the album’s resonating aftertaste is eerily gloomy. The record was flawlessly produced, and no detail was overlooked. I can find nothing wrong here.
Big Tracks—Two Weeks
Cheerleader

01.Animal Collective—Merriweather Post Pavilion & (Fall Be Kind)
MPP took its place as my favorite album of the year early on, and although some bands came quite close, no one could de-throne Animal Collective in 2009. The album is covered with danceable rhythms, sweet hooks, new twists, and so much more. Each member brings his own style to the effort, and the pieces combine to form an hour long, sonic adventure moon vacation. Avey Tare’s vocals are somewhat less scratchy than on previous records, and Panda Bear’s choirboy whining is still smooth and clean. The lyrics on MPP are peculiar as ever, with metaphors sailing around with jibberish, in a colorful spectrum of sound. Fall Be Kind is a 5-song EP that was released earlier this winter, to deservingly rave reviews. Same formula. Same success. Post Pavilion is their 9th record, and Animal Collective sound better than ever, which for them should be perfectly impossible.
Big Tracks—My Girls
Daily Routine

Best of the Aughts - Ricky's 15 favorite albums of the decade

2009-12-14T23:17:00.000-08:00

Narrowing down an entire decade of music to a mere fifteen albums is incredibly difficult. My primary criteria for the selections: did I consistently listen to the entire album from beginning to end without skipping ahead?

Unfortunately, I can't say that about Radiohead's "Kid A" - it's a great album, but that "Treefingers" track bores me immensely (as does the dead air break on the final track). Of course, please feel free to disagree.

Again, this isn't a critic's list. Just my personal favorites. It's been a pleasure reading this group's lists for nearly a decade. Keep 'em coming.

Happy New Year!

Respectfully,
Ricky

15. Nickel Creek, "Why Should the Fire Die?" (August 9, 2005)
14. Muse, "Black Holes and Revelations" (July 11, 2006)
13. Depeche Mode, "Playing The Angel" (October 18, 2005)
12. Britney Spears, "Blackout" (October 30, 2007)
11. Daniel Bedingfield, "Gotta Get Thru This" (August 27, 2002)
10. Evanescence, "Fallen" (March 4, 2003)
9. Coldplay, “Parachutes” (November 7, 2000)
8. Beck, "Sea Change" (September 24, 2002)
7. Madonna, “Confessions on a Dance Floor” (November 15, 2005)
6. Snow Patrol, “Final Straw” (March 30, 2004)
5. Keane, "Hopes and Fears" (May 25, 2004)
4. Robyn, “Robyn” (April 27, 2005)
3. Shelby Lynne, “I Am Shelby Lynne” (Jan. 25, 2000)
2. Switchfoot, "The Beautiful Letdown" (February 25, 2003)
1. Nine Inch Nails, “Year Zero” (April 17, 2007):
"Certainly the album is bleak and doesn't make for bland entertainment, but then, his records never do. This one is as fully realized as a rock & roll album for the post-9/11 world can be…Year Zero is bloodied but unbowed rock with a capital "R"; it's a serious and marginal pop treatise on the lack of political and social awareness inherent in the current and perhaps near future culture. It reveals in song and sound the helplessness bred in the individual's eminent collision and collusion with a perceived enemy. It becomes a kind of manifesto, a Jeremiad prophecy of what may arrive, however metaphorically, if these shadows do not change. It's brilliant, disturbing, necessary."

Full review at: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wzfrxz85ldje~T1

FM Gems: George Strait

2009-12-13T15:25:00.000-08:00

Best Songs I Heard on Non-Rock Radio Stations This Year

I made a point of spending more time scanning non-rock radio stations this year on my lengthy drive to and from work in the Los Angeles area. Mainly, I ventured into the formats of country, classical, smooth jazz, non-smooth jazz, and old-school hip hop and R&B. While I'm not crazy about the majority of what these stations play (with the exception of the classical station), I found that it was worth the time spent to come across the occasional gem. So throughout this year's Jamboree, I'm sharing my favorite FM gems, as I like to call them.

The first entry comes from country superstar George Strait, heard on Go Country 105. I love the sentiment of this song, and I love the way they just plow through it and don't even bother with a second verse. The video's pretty great, too.
— Tom McMahon

Meltdowns!

2009-12-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

Watching the touching Allen Iverson press conference last week set me on a path of re-living his “we’re talkin’ about practice” rant, which led me on a path of sports meltdown videos. Here’s a sampling of the best of the 00’s.

I’m not proud that I remember this many and some have been made into ubiquitous beer commercials, but I still can’t get enough of people losing their crap.

The better list is probably best sports rants remixes but i'm just going to go with the original rants.

Please feel free to add ones I missed…many are NSFW….

Chris Berman – 2000

Jim Mora – 2001

Herm Edwards - 2002

Allen Iverson - 2002

Dennis Green - 2006

Joe Mikulik – 2006

Mike Gundy - 2007

Dan Hawkins - 2007

Phillip Wellman - 2007

Kevin Borseth - 2008 (also wins the award for greatest entrance in the history of entrances…)

Omar Minaya - 2009

Not from this decade, but here are some other classics I hadn’t heard…

Tommy Lasorda (for the LA folks…)

Todd Stottlemyre (maybe my all time favorite)

Michelle's Picks for Best Concerts of the Decade

2009-12-08T10:28:00.000-08:00

10. The Rapture at El Rey (November 15, 2003)

9. The Faint at the Mayan Theatre (November 14, 2004)

8. A Camp at the Troubadour (June 15, 2009)
This probably would have been higher on my list if I saw the show back in my childless days, when I had energy and could form sentences after dark. It was still great though.

7. Royksopp and Annie at Avalon (September 13, 2005)
Dance party!

6. Jens Lekman at the Troubadour (November 10, 2007)
I will never forget all those beautiful little Swedes dancing around the stage in their white embroidered dresses. I think it was the most heart-warming show I've ever been to.

5. !!! and Future Pigeon at the Henry Fonda (July 28, 2004)
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I've never seen so many people on stage at once as during Future Pigeon's set.

4. The Hives at the Henry Fonda (August 2, 2004)
Each one of those Swedes has more energy than both of my hyperactive children combined.

3. Jens Lekman and Richard Swift at Spaceland (October 28, 2005)
Most people left after Richard Swift, so Jens pretty much played for just me, Tom, and a handful of other people. He walked around the "crowd" with his ukulele, and we even got to meet him afterwards and tell him how we had been waiting for YEARS for him to come play in LA.

2. The Cardigans at the Troubadour (May 25, 2004)
When Nina Persson came on stage, the first time I ever got to see my idol in person, I shed a single warm and heavy tear of happiness.

1. Fischerspooner at the House of Blues LA (September 21, 2003)
This show was so amazing that it literally intoxicated me. Literally. I came home and vomitted after the show... and I wasn't sick or drunk.

Put on your thinking caps

2009-12-07T22:59:00.000-08:00

It's not every end of the year that we also have the end of a decade. In fact, it only happens every 10 years or so. That means this is a special edition of 1, 2, 3 ... Jamboree! Tell us about your favorites of 2009, and then tell us about your favorites of the 2000s, if your memory is good enough.

LONG PLAYS

2009-03-13T02:27:00.000-07:00

Wait, what the hell? It's March, for God's sake! Nobody's even coming to this blog anymore! Yeah, this got put off for quite a while. But if anybody's still interested, away we go!

-Colin McCormick

TOP 22 ALBUMS OF 2008

22. of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
This is Kevin Barnes’s alter-ego ~~Ziggy Stardust~~ Georgie Fruit (supposedly a forty-something transgendered African-American) run amok. The brilliance that I loved on 2007’s Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? is still here much of the time, but it is too often buried under a mountain of affected sass.

21. Okkervil River – The Stand Ins
A solid companion piece to 2007’s The Stage Names (put one cover above the other and they align to form a single painting), this album once again showcases singer Will Sheff’s strong pop songwriting sensibilities, especially on tracks like “Pop Lie” and stand-out opener, “Lost Coastlines.”

20. Dungen – 4
This is about as close to a full-blown jam band as you’re ever going to see me get, and it is definitely Dungen’s instrumental chops that are very much on display here. But unlike true jam bands, they manage to constrain their jazzy prowess to under five minutes per track, keeping 4 enjoyable no matter how few hemp bracelets you normally wear.

19. El Guincho – Alegranza!
It’s the Spanish Person Pitch! Well, not exactly. A little more fiesta than psychedelia, this sample-heavy album can feel a bit monotonous at times, but for the most part it’s upbeat maraca-shaking fun.

18. M83 – Saturdays = Youth
It’s melodramatic. It has ridiculously grandiose track titles like “Skin Of The Night,” “We Own The Sky,” “Highway Of Endless Dreams,” and “Midnight Souls Still Remain.” It contains more than one spoken segment of cringe-inducing, angst-filled, adolescent poetry. But in large part, this album somehow actually pulls off the monumental task of portraying adolescent melodrama in a nostalgic light. Allow yourself to be immersed in the shimmering reverb and sparkling ‘80s synthesizers, and you just might almost feel like you want to be fifteen again. Almost.

17. Hot Chip – Made In The Dark
Hot Chip is a little more erratic here than they were on 2006’s fantastic The Warning, occasionally straying from their established electropop sound, and at times even veering into full-blown R&B. But for the most part, they retain their charming playfulness, something most easily seen in their live performances, which inject these tracks with a new life that unfortunately makes the album seem a bit sterile in comparison.

16. Calexico – Carried To Dust
This is Calexico at their gentle southwestern folk rock best. Teaming up with Tortoise’s Doug McCombs, singer-songwriter Pieta Brown, and, once again, Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam, Carried To Dust breezes through fifteen whispery, surprisingly emotive, and at times all out gorgeous alt-country numbers.

15. Army Navy – Army Navy
I picked up a self-released EP featuring early demos of four of these songs at a show way back in 2006. Then, after another show in early in 2008, I obtained a free (albeit coverless) copy of the full length album when the band was simply handing it out. Finally, it was released with such little fanfare that for a few months I didn’t even realize it. Army Navy’s biggest claim to fame remains a single track on the soundtrack to teen rom-com, Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist. Their infectious, energetic jangly pop rock deserves better. If you’re in LA, do the band (and yourself) a favor: check out one of their frequent shows at Spaceland, The Echo, or Silverlake Lounge.

14. Fuck Buttons – Street Horrrsing
Clocking in at an average length of over eight minutes, this album’s six tracks are in no hurry to develop. But given a little patience, the blaring drones, pulsating electronic rhythms, and unsettlingly surreal, processed vocals can become engrossing and at times overwhelming.

13. The Dodos – Visiter
This Bay Area duo’s sophomore effort is brimming with rhythmically charged, acoustic psych-folk, but it’s their knack for extremely catchy pop songwriting that will keep your attention.

12. HEALTH – HEALTH//DISCO
“ALL THE HITS //REMIXED,” boasts the album cover. It even goes on to list all ten tracks from HEALTH’s self-titled 2007 noise rock debut. In actuality, only seven of those tracks show up here. Two appear twice each, and “Triceratops” takes the gold with three separate remixes (two of which are by Acid Girls). But no need to fear redundancy--the songs are so chopped, spliced, and dressed up in electronic blips and bleeps, they have become entirely different (at times nearly unrecognizable) and much more interesting animals. Despite the ten separate remixers’ widely varying use of the source material, they all manage to maintain HEALTH’s noisy intensity, channeling it into a cohesive, and surprisingly catchy, synthed-up dance album.

11. School Of Seven Bells – Alpinisms
Densely layered electronic dream pop supports harmonizing female vocals that fluctuate between haunting tribal chants and graceful soaring beauty. Take one listen to the enchanting single, “Half Asleep,” and there’s no turning back.

10. Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer
Splitting songwriting and vocal duties, co-front men Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug have collectively delivered an energetic, and somewhat unsettling album. First syllable of his last name aside, Boeckner’s vocal delivery recalls that of Beck’s, while Krug’s has a more mysterious quality, reminiscent of a quieter Dan Bejar (of Destroyer and The New Pornographers). But despite bouncing back and forth between these two styles, At Mount Zoomer is uniformly compelling in its agitated anxiousness.

9. High Places – High Places
Singer Mary Pearson’s endearingly simple delivery lilts atop a dizzying array of multi-instrumentalist Rob Barber’s psychedelic rhythmical samples on this Brooklyn duo’s self-titled debut.

8. Sigur Rós – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Upon hearing the first single, “Gobbledigook,” a lighthearted up-tempo rhythmical romp, it seemed that Sigur Rós was charting new territory. The rest of the album, however, falls back on their tried-and-true brand of gentle atmospherics building to mammoth-sized, overwhelming theatrical triumph. It may be getting old for some, but it sure still works its magic on me.

7. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
This impeccably performed peppy preppy pop rock, packaged in African-influenced instrumentation, manages to keep things simple and straightforward enough (save its tasteful string embellishments) to have staggeringly broad appeal. Never have I witnessed a band rise from internet buzz to national attention so quickly.

6. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Amongst a torrent of “new new wave” acts, Australia’s Cut Copy manage to rise above the murky floodwaters. In Ghost Colours is expertly crafted dance pop, mixing in just enough electronic flourishes, ambient swells, and seamless, floating track transitions to keep ears attentive and heads nodding throughout.

5. Blitzen Trapper – Furr
Like the late Grandaddy, this six-piece Portland band has a fondness for rustic outdoorsiness mixed with new-fangled electronics. Their roots, however, are here firmly planted in ragged ‘60s and ‘70s folk rock. And singer Eric Earley lends his Dylanesque vocals to tracks ranging from heartfelt piano ballads to up-tempo dance grooves.

4. Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst
Continuing his recent folksy/alt-country kick, the perennially discontent Oberst is well suited by the stripped down, raw feel of this album. His penchant for the overly emotive makes him a divisive figure. But if you share my feeling that he has a way with words, many of these latest musings on existence, meaning, and salvation can be achingly poignant.

3. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
This Canadian duo produces catchy electropop marred by the noises of extremely angry video games and the occasional distorted, shrieking female vocal. That it manages to come across as energizing rather than off-putting is an impressive achievement for this fantastic debut.

2. The Ruby Suns – Sea Lion
California native turned New Zelander Ryan McPhun fronts this band, dabbling in exotic world beat influences, but ultimately creating catchy, dreamy psychedelic pop songs. As it slowly meanders through ambient transitions from one track to the next, Sea Lion can bring on the spaced out feeling of having fallen asleep in the sun, and from the sounds here, that could as easily have been on a California beach as a Polynesian island.

1. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
2008 was a particularly strong year for eponymous debuts. The fifth and final on my list was also the year’s most rewarding album. Lead singer and songwriter Robin Pecknold carries Fleet Foxes’ gorgeous folk melodies with an almost shockingly strong and true voice that is ever so slightly weathered, just enough to evoke the perfect level of earnest sincerity. It’s a voice that can stand alone, as it does during long a capella sections of haunting closer “Oliver James,” or blend beautifully, as it very frequently does, with the voices of the band’s three other talented singers. The rich harmonies and rustic instrumental arrangements create a spellbinding pastoral transcendence throughout a line-up of melodies so effortless and pure, it’s hard to believe they are new creations, and not enduring traditional folk tunes from anonymous composers of long ago.

Cary's Favorite Non-Portland Albums of '08

2009-01-17T20:38:00.000-08:00

Having already sounded off on my favorite music from Portland, Oregon in 2008, I wanted to address, albeit belatedly, some of my favorite albums from everywhere else. Being late, I'll save everyone the time it would take to read whatever commentary I might add to the albums that have already been mentioned here. Suffice it to say that I was, like some of you, a big fan of, in diminishing order:

Fleet Foxes
Bon Iver
Vampire Weekend

I would also like to clarify that my favorite Portland album of the year - "Verbs" by Au - was my favorite album of the year - period - and I highly recommend taking the time to investigate it. If you have any fondness for ecstatic group vocals, Minimalism or structural inventiveness, it's worth your while. "RR vs D" and "Are Animals" are a good entry point.
Au MySpace
Au on Amazon MP3

Probably coming right behind Au and Fleet Foxes in the number three slot would be

Abe Vigoda - Skeleton
This album is pretty relentlessly trebly and up-tempo; in spite of that constraint, it manages to cover a deceptively wide stretch of emotional territory and, because of the narrow sonic palette, it does so in unforeseen ways. Virtually all of the somewhat disappointingly little press this album got included the term "tropical punk," which is somewhat fair given the fact that one of the two guitarists' tones recalls a steel drum more than a string instrument. Like many of the LA (okay, fine, Chino) bands that made it okay for hipsters to think that LA is cool again (No Age, Mika Miko, Health), Abe Vigoda are part of the unofficial roster of downwtown LA venue The Smell. In my opinion, they are the best of the lot, doing something not exactly like anything I've heard before, and if you live in Southern California you should try to check these dudes out. A precious municipal treasure. They have a new EP coming out - again on No Ager Dean Spunt's Post Present Medium label - in February. Recommended starter tracks: The Garden, Skeleton
Abe Vigoda MySpace
Abe Vigoda Amazon MP3 Link

I suppose that brings me to
No Age - Nouns
I think that my instinct to react against this duo because of all the hype they got was negated by my native Angeleno's excitement to see a band from my hometown contribute to independent musical culture in a way that the rest of the world noticed and appreciated for the first time in my adult life. Call it a wash. But the fact that they, because of their affiliation with The Smell, became the poster band for all-ages community music venues certainly did endear them to me on extra-musical grounds. The "noise" tag and experimental gestures are really filigree - No Age is the next generation in the long, proud line of progressive SoCal punkers. SST for the oughts. Listening to this record reminded me of how I felt listening to The Minutemen in my bedroom as a teenager. The instrumentation and sensibility is quite different, but something about this album and its rough edges reminds me of early Sebadoh. There aren't a lot of killer hooks or melodies here, but something about the No Age sound is inexplicably catchy. Recommended starter tracks: Sleeperhold, Teen Creeps, Eraser
No Age on MySpace
No Age on Amazon MP3

Group Inerane - Guitars from Agadez
This Tuareg band from Niger that draws upon Western blues and rock traditions to create something identifiably North African but uniquely stunning features some of the most amazing electric guitar work I have ever heard - and not just from a technical perspective either. The ululating choruses gives me chills, and this drummer is a total badass who somehow makes makes basic fills you've heard a hundred times sound completely fresh and captivating. If you are into people appropriating foreign musical styles and doing something with them that their progenitors could never have imagined, you must get this album now. I first saw this in a DVD compilation that Seattle-based world music label Sublime Frequencies put out, and it blew my mind. If you are unfamiliar with Sublime Frequencies, their whole catalog is uniformly fascinating and, most often, wonderful.
Group Inerane on Sublime Frequencies Download Store
Sublime Frequencies Home

The Dodos - Visiter
If this album - and every song on it - were about a third shorter it would be phenomenal. Like No Age, The Dodos are a California drums-and-guitar two-piece, but they hail from San Francisco and draw upon acoustic folk traditions rather than noise. Insistently, but unobtrusively, rhythmically complex indie folk songs that belie a firm grounding in the 90s indie rock cannon. Fools was undoubtedly one of my favorite songs of the year, plus this video for it is one of the best performance-based clips I have ever seen (that slo-mo contrasting with the velocity of the actual song is awesome!). Recommended starter tracks: Fools, Red and Purple, Jodi.
Dodos on MySpace
Dodos on Amazon MP3

Portishead - Third
A beautiful, haunting record that proves that musicians can improve with age and not simply "mature." Ten years later, Bristol's Portishead, a two-hit wonder but cult favorite of the nineties, return to put their previous work to shame. One foot in the trip-hop of their past efforts, one in the post-dub-step world of contemporary British music, and a freakish third leg in an alternate history where the Silver Apples took on the influential importance that the Velvet Underground enjoy in reality.
Portishead on MySpace
Portishead on Amazon MP3

Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak
I have a knack for being turned onto an otherwise popular artist by the album that alienates half of their fans. I don't care whether Kanye can actually sing or not - this is a record and he wrote some fantastic songs that, to my mind, completely updated and rejuvenated a questionably moribund tradition of soul music. I am not naturally drawn to hip-hop or r-n-b, but I find this really exciting an compelling. The production aesthetic is fantastic and instantly identifiable - rich but barren, spare but lush. Recommended starter tracks (like you haven't heard them): Love Lockdown, Paranoid
Kanye West on MySpace
Kanye West on Amazon MP3

Women - Women
I was a late-comer to this, really only hearing about it in December, but I have made up for last time. An enigmatic record that makes the band's biographical details irrelevant as it oscillates wildly between 60s-style pop, 90s-era indie rock, and odd instrumental numbers that sound like psilocybin-fueled band practices. Recommended starter tracks: Black Rice, Shaking Hand, Group Transport Hall
Women on MySpace
Women on Amazon MP3

Marnie Stern - This Is It And I Am It And You Are It And So Is That And He Is It And She Is It And It Is It And That Is That
Whatever seeds doubts a title like that might sow in your mind, it must also necessarily put to rest any questions that this 30-something, two-handed-tapper is fearlessly pursuing her own vision. The extent to which NY-based Marnie is actually a guitar-shredding virtuoso is greatly overblown, but the extent to which she more or less invented her sub-genre of music is under-recognized. These are frenetic, disorienting, self-help songs in which the drumming of Hella's Zach Hill is the most predictable element. This Is It is a refinement of the style Stern pioneered on 2007's KRS debut, and the songs are much more than passingly interesting oddities this time around. Recommended start tracks: Ruler, Transformer
Marnie Stern on MySpace
Marnie Stern on Amazon MP3

Times New Viking - Rip It Off (LP) and Stay Awake (EP)
Exuberant, simple, sugary pop songs whose contours have been roughed up with a digital bludgeon. Like their name, just clever enough to suggest talent rather than conceit. Present-day Ohioan inheritors to the Midwestern lo-fi indie tradition of Guided By Voices. Recommended starter tracks: Call and Response, Teen Drama
Times New Viking on MySpace
TNV on Amazon MP3

Also - and again, I am not someone who typically has a soft spot for Top 40 - I thought that Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" was the best radio-ready pop song I have heard in a really, really long time. That hook is instantly and utterly unshakable.

Lastly, as Oscar season creeps up on us I have a lot of movies to see, but here are the ones that, so far, I enjoyed the most from 2008:

Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Paranoid Park
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Katie Byron's #1 Album of 2008

2009-01-14T22:15:00.000-08:00

Well, since I am so late, I will not bore you with repeating much of what's already been said. However, I can't resist to comment that I am surprised how many times Fleet Foxes ended up in the top one or two albums of the year! I must admit, I haven't heard the whole album, but a friend put a few songs on a mix she made me and I didn't find them particularly memorable. In fact, I found one song even annoying (it is one that is in rounds...I don't remember the title). I wasn't reading the track list when I first listened to it, and I thought, "When did My Morning Jacket get so annoying?!" Anyhow, I am sad to say I can't share everyone's enthusiasm for those Foxes that are Fleet.

And now getting to the point, my favorite album of the year:

Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago. A mix between TV on the Radio, Sufjan Stevens, and Owen, Bon Iver is eerily wintry and wonderful. If you haven't heard the back story, Justin wrote this album after breaking up with his band and girlfriend and then isolating himself in his father's hunting cabin in Wisconsin for a few months. The album reeks of snowed-in-cabin, has many ghost-like moments, and will enrapture you with its stream-of-consciousness lyrics. It has been a favorite of mine this year--the favorite--and I highly recommend it.

And as an added bonus, my favorite single of the year: MGMT--Time to Pretend. What a great song. That's all.

Sheila Bost's Favorite Places for Breakfast in Los Angeles

2009-01-09T15:23:00.000-08:00

This is my first attempt at blogging so I hope it works. I love to start the day off with a delicious breakfast so for years I have been collecting special breakfast places. The following are some of my old favorites. For additonal recommendations, email me. I hope you enjoy eating at some of LA's best. Remember: always eat a nourishing breakfast. I know. I sound just like a mom. (I could not figure out how to spell check so please excuse any glaring errors.)

Charlie's Coffee Shop in the old Farmer's Market at the Grove --- Charlie, a red haired lady fry cook, is the best! Tom & I lived right next to the market in Park LaBrea when we came to LA. Charlie's is where we go to celebrate if we have the time. Her omelets are light and fluffy & the eggs are fresh. Others love the French toast, pancakes & waffles.

John O'Groats http://www.ogroatsrestaurant.com/ --- as Paul the owner says "Nothing but the best for the best." John, next to Charlie, makes the best breakfasts in LA. Light biscuits, homemade apple sauce, good coffee, counter service if the wait is long.

Cora's Coffee Shop http://www.corascoffee.com/ --- nothing fancy but one of Santa Monica's favorites. There is an outdoor area but remember, sometimes it is cool in SM.

Maxwell Cafe --- near Costco at the Marina. I have never been disappointed with food & service at MC.

Ocean Park Cafe --- on Ocean Park in SM. I have not been here in sometime but it has always been one of my favorites. Delicious baked goods.

Patrick's Roadhouse --- 106 Entrada Drive (just above Pacific Coast Highway) in SM. Patrick's is one of the best places to view the Hollywood stars or the "in crowd" in politics, business, etc. It is expensive for what you get, but if you are part of the "in" group, you probably are on an expense account or don't care about the money.

Police Academy Cafe' --- dine with the cadets in Echo Park near Dodger Stadium. I learned about this inexpensive breakfast haunt years ago and discovered that it was worth the trip.

Cafe Dana --- on Montana in SM is a European gem tucked away in a small inside area and includes a patio next to the exercise studio. Again, watch for producers, stars living on the west side. Dana's muesli, omelets, scrambles --- everything is yummy.

Back On Broadway --- on Broadway near 2oth in SM is one of the favorites of the Jacobs's family...perhaps Vicenta introduced me. With your omelet they serve a delicate and delicious scone but you should make room for their daily baked muffins.

Broadway Deli --- on the SM Promenade; has the best low fat bran muffins on the west side of LA. Park right across the street at the Place. Everything at BD is good and the service has improved with the years.

Cezanne --- http://www.lemerigothotel.com/cuisine.htm Cezanne at Le Merigot's Hotel with a view from the patio of the beach is the place to go on a warm day when you have time to enjoy a more upscale breakfast, soak in the SM sun, read your paper or your PDA news, text a friend or simply meditate as you view God's beautiful Pacific.

Paradise Cove Beach Cafe --- www.paradisecovemalibu.com Of course, if you really wish to enjoy a beach breakfast, make the drive to Bob Morris's cafe in Malibu at Paradise Cove. Spectacular views. You may decide to spend the day on the beach. Kids menu is available. Plan to bring $ for parking if you stay for the day.

Snug Harbor --- is near 23rd St on Wilshire in SM. As one reviewer said SH is "the classic greasy spoon California style." I think it is a couple of stars above this review. There is an ugly patio where the service may not be quite as good. SH is comfortable. The restaurant next door Bread and Porridge www.breadandporridge.com is very unique, but it seems to me overpriced. Last time I was there you had to pay for toast to go with your eggs.

Pedals ---http://www.shuttersonthebeach.com/restaurants/santa_monica_beach_restaurant.html If you would like to spend some time at Shutters, one of the most expensive hotels on the west side and walk or bike the Santa Monica bike path, first breakfast at Pedals, their lovely downstairs restaurant with patio --- a SM treat without the big price tag.

Fountain Coffee Room --- http://www.beverlyhillshotel.com/restaurants_bars/fountain_coffee.html This is the Peptobismal pink, classic counter restaurant at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Simple breakfast fare. If you have money to burn and yearn for ambiance and chef's cuisine, join the elite of Beverly Hills and hotel guests at their Polo Lounge.

A Votre Sante --- http://www.avotresantela.com --- For those who are health conscious and bleed "organic" join Gold Gym body builders at this hip spot that was recently remodeled. Even for me, the food tastes oh so good on even my non-organically trained palate.

Rose Cafe --- http://www.rosecafe.com/About-Home.html I went here and across the street to the Firehouse for years but now we don't eat breakfast out as frequently. However just recently, I have had two wonderful breakfasts at the RC. Their mixed berry bran muffin is a gourmet treat. Others tell me their granola and oatmeal are delicious. Again, dress warmly if you need to and enjoy their new patio with heaters.

Joe's Restaurant --- http://www.joesrestaurant.com/menu_brunch.php For a Saturday or Sunday special brunch I hear that Joe's is one of the best. Crystal Jacobs may know more; however, I think Joe's at night with Crystal's pastries might be a better bet.

Worthy Of Praise in 2008

2009-01-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

I feel like I always wait so long to post on here that my list has become rather repetitive and uninteresting. I'd considered trying to post my favorites of 2009 in order to change things up, but I didn't get it together. Anyway, here are my favorite releases of the year (In some particular order, I suppose, and ending in a very specific top four)

Sixes & Sevens- Adam Green
For my money, he has become Nilsson more and more on each album and although this one isn't really consistent enough to warrant any best of list, it brought me many moments of pure joy. The production is really fantastic and it has a horrible album cover.

Introducing...- Gentleman Jesse & His Men
Somewhat just to bring a new album into the fold of the lists, this was my favorite debut album of the year.

Devotion- Beach House
It is very "one-note" as Paul mentioned, I believe. However, it must've hit the right note at the right time for me. I listened to this album heavily at the beginning of the summer as well as going back to relistening to their first album (which sounds pretty much the same, but I'm partial to this one)

Made In The Dark- Hot Chip
I'd agree with Thom about this album, it could've dropped a few songs and improved. I actually wanted more of the moody, ballady songs than tehir token dance numbers. I'm interested to hear frontman Alexis Taylor's acousticey solo album. "Ready For The Floor" was one of my favorite videos of the year as well.

Arm's Way- Islands
Honestly, I was overwhelmingly disappointed and unhappy with this album when I got it upon release. I was really anticipating it as the first Islands record had become a favorite awhile after it came out. This album has little in common with their previous work and was seemed too dark and a bit messy for me. For whatever reason, I gave it a second chance towards the end of the year and had a change of heart. If you find yourself in a bad mood and with the opportunity to drive fast with the stereo turned way up, this can be a really rewarding listen. A testament to second chances.

Pacific Ocean Blue & Bambu Sessions- Dennis Wilson
This is a reissue, so it shouldn't technically count, but I was so happy to discover the album at the beginning of the year via blog download and then thrilled to have it reissued so nicely. And as an added bonus, I discovered that a song on the Bambu Sessions was an mp3 that I had ended up with years ago without any artist info and had been fruitlessly searching out for some time. "School Girl", check it out.

#4 Fleet Foxes & Sun Giant EP- Fleet Foxes
I didn't get this for awhile, so I guess I missed most of the internet buzz. As a result, it felt like a personal discovery for me. In addition to being a great album for walking around Santa Monica, I also recommend it for driving through the Hill Country outside of Austin en route to Abilene.

#3 You & Me- The Walkmen
I've been a fan of theirs for quite awhile and I would agree that this is close to, if not their best effort. Based solely on number of listens, this album is worthy of the #3 spot.

#2 Volume One- She & Him
It's funny that She & Him and "You & Me" were at the top of the list together. Huh. You know what, I like M. Ward just fine and Zooey Deschanel quite a bit, but it doesn't really sound like a best of the year combo on paper. I thought I would enjoy the album alright and definitely thought my wife would like it, so i bought it. I guess I should technically amend my earlier statement and say this was most definitely the best debut of the year. The songwriting is outstanding and I think the best thing about M. Ward is his production sensabilities. He's better in a group. This year's "Rabbit Fur Coat" I say.

#1 Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend
There's no denying it. Every song IS a hit, Michelle. It is 100% a perfect album and I listened to it so much this year that I thought it came out last year. Backlash is to be expected when you make something this good. And look as cool as they do, God bless 'em.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Acid Tongue- Jenny Lewis & Modern Guilt- Beck
Both really, really good albums that I wanted to like a little bit more. Both had an unbelieveable sound of production. That J. Lewis album is a grower.
Age Of The Understatement- The Last Shadow Puppets
Terrible, terrible band name, but some really great songs. My newfound obsession with Scott Walker ought to have meant I would love this album, but somehow it's never quite translated beyond a very big like.
Real Emotional Trash- Stephen Malkmus
I must say, I really loved this album, it might should be on the list above. It sure is close to being there. I liked it a lot more than Face The Truth. He's like a Guitar God now apparently.

SINGLES OF THE YEAR:
"Single Ladies"- Beyonce
Also in my top videos of the year. Pure and simple infectious pop/R&B. I don't get that "If I Was A Boy" song though.
"Ordinary Song"- The Little Ones
I don't know if this was ever really a single and I don't know that it was technically released this year, but this song should've been the number one song in the country. It's legendarily good and it's by some guys from Culver City!
"Viva La Vida"- Coldplay
This song, stolen or not, was soooooooo much better than the album as a whole. It got in my head constantly and reminded me that I once like Coldplay a lot.

2008: Discos Compactos Muy Buenos

2009-01-06T23:57:00.000-08:00

I’m taking a bit of a shortcut, but I think it’s justified. Over the year, I wrote about several of these artists for a local music publication, L.A. Record. So rather than try to say the same thing differently here, I quoted myself in those cases. Work smarter, not harder.

Honorable Mentions

The Explorers Club – Freedom Wind

A lot of bands are influenced by the Beach Boys; this one apparently became the Beach Boys. They pull it off surprisingly well.

Deerhunter – Microcastle

I spent several months listening to this occasionally and thinking it was unremarkable. Then, a few weeks ago, it hooked me. A sweeping, graceful guitar-rock wilderness.

Hot Chip – Made in the Dark

More blazin’ dance hits from this crew, but I wish they would have left off about three tracks.

The Morning Benders – Talking Through Tin Cans

Sharp, infectious pop-rock. A solid debut, but I think they have even better work ahead of them. Also check out their free album of covers.

Top 10

10. Mirror Mirror – The Society for the Advancement of Inflammatory Consciousness

I don’t think I want to know what “inflammatory consciousness” is. Furthermore, this album is kind of creepy. These Mirror Mirror people sound like a cult choir calling for new members. Just listen to the lyrics: “Bring the babe to me / Bring the babe to the Society for the Advancement of Inflammatory Consciousness” and “We are your family now / Lock up your songs,” for examples. Still, this batch of cryptic psychedelic pop is captivating and often surprising. “Don Coyote’s Confession” could pass for a long-lost Syd Barrett track. “Lock Up Your Songs” would make a good alternate soundtrack for the dungeons in the Legend of Zelda. And “My Talisman” sounds like a druggy cover of something from the Zombies’ Odessey & Oracle.

9. Deerhoof – Offend Maggie

First of all, I don’t know how a band can manage to put out an album every year, as Deerhoof has been doing for about a decade (although I think they skipped 2006). Second of all, such prolific output surely runs the risk of burning out the fans. But Deerhoof’s albums never fail to exhilarate. This one has a bizarre jazz number (“Chandelier Searchlight”), the cutest little jock jam (“Basket Ball Get Your Groove Back”) and plenty of delicious riffs.

8. Bodies of Water – A Certain Feeling

They certainly still have their bombastic moments, but this album doesn’t sound as ecstatic as their debut, last year’s Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink. The Bodies’ sophomore offering is a bit darker and a bit more adventurous. I want to call it a prog-rock musical set in the Wild West (and I just did).

7. Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez – Why Is Bear Billowing?

This greatly named man sounds like a reserved Jeff Buckley singing simple but beautiful lullabies. In one of the album’s highlights, Mr. Alvarez sets Edward Lear’s nutty poem “The Owl and the Pussycat” to a stirring acoustic guitar waltz.

6. Kelley Polar – I Need You to Hold On While the Sky Is Falling

Fluttering electronic music augmented by Mr. Polar’s own violin playing and odd, scientific lyrics. Not as easily accessible or danceable as his last album, 2005’s fantastic Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens, but once I had listened to I Need You several times through, I found it to be just as satisfying. Crank it up in the car on a starry night.

5. School of Seven Bells – Alpinisms

Twin sisters Alejandra and Claudia Deheza harmonize gorgeously and chant hypnotically amid primal beats and shoegazing guitars. I was a fan of their previous band, On!Air!Library!, but this project, which is rounded out by former Secret Machine Benjamin Curtis, reaches a whole new plateau of aural ecstasy.

4. The Henry Clay People – For Cheap or for Free

“A scorching set of twangy, gutsy rock that doesn’t sound like anything new but is somehow infectiously fresh. It’s in the way they spit out their lyrics — more arguing than singing — about being ‘broke but still alive’ and ‘tired of leaving our futures up to fate.’ It’s in the way they turn what would otherwise be a straight-ahead alt-country jam into an urgent, arena-sized anthem, tearing through it like it’s their last shot.”

3. Ruby Suns – Sea Lion

“While the band is in fact headquartered in the Kiwi country, McPhun was born and raised in California, and his music appears to have sprung from all over the globe. The Suns’ set tonight showcased the far-flung sounds that they cohesively packaged in their recent Sea Lion album, from the mariachi strains of ‘Oh, Mojave’ to the African pop explosion of ‘Tane Mahuta’ (which is actually sung in a Polynesian language).”

2. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

One of two much-hyped, self-titled debut albums that transcended the buzz and never lost their appeal (look down for the other one). Vampire Weekend, in my opinion, is the sound of baroque pop on safari. Impeccable melodies, excited delivery, exotic instrumentation — the combination of which is an irresistible package.

1. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes

“Throughout a set drawing from this year’s Sun Giant EP and self-titled full-length, the Seattle group presented a kind of sacred folk music, in awe of the magnitude of nature and the ephemerality of life. ‘Days are just drops in the river to be lost always,’ they sang in ‘Drops in the River.’ Instrumentally, the band’s pastoral soundscapes and dynamic range bring to mind their contemporaries in Grizzly Bear. Frontman Robin Pecknold’s soaring vocals bear a resemblance to those of My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, but when the rest of the Fleet Foxes chime in — as they usually do — the effect is more Crosby Stills Nash & Young. Still, Pecknold proved that he could keep the crowd enraptured on his own with a few solo songs. In the elegiac ‘Oliver James,’ his voice, strong yet unpretentious, filled the room and certainly induced widespread chills. As he stopped strumming and merely tapped the body of his guitar, he cried, ‘Back we go to your brother’s house, emptier, my dear / The sound of ancient voices ringing soft upon your ear.’”

Favorite Albums of 2008

2009-01-01T10:10:00.000-08:00

So another year in music has come and gone, but not without some great releases. Of course, the usual disclaimers apply, but here are five albums that I adored from this year, plus a list of other records (somewhat arbitrarily grouped) that I also enjoyed. All in all, a good year in music w/ one certifiable classic:

Top 5

5. Dungen - 4 (surprisingly reined in and focused for a Dungen record; jazz influences really coming to the forefront)

4. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (my history w/ VW in short: in love, too cool, reconvicted by their sheer awesomeness)

3. She & Him - Volume 1 (a primer in well-written American pop and country, and maybe the best thing M. Ward's ever done)

2. The Night Marchers - See You in Magic (the album I was most likely to air drum to on the way home from work; power pop disguised as Hot Snakes songs)

1. Deerhunter - Microcastle and Weird Era Cont. (so many things to say about this record, but I'll concentrate on how warm the guitars and drums sound; one of those records - like "I am Shelby Lynne," "In Utero," or "The Soft Bulletin" - that combines excellent songs w/ perfect production)

Punk Rock

Cheap Time - Cheap Time
Be Your Own Pet - Get Awkward LP & Get Damaged EP (RIP)
Love Is All - A Hundred Things to Keep Me Up All Night
Mannequin Men - Fresh Rot
White Hills - Heads on Fire
Past Lives - Strange Symmetry EP
F***ed Up - The Chemistry of Common Life

Rock and Roll

Sloan - Parallel Play (and the best show I went to in 2008)
Black Hollies - Casting Shadows
Dr. Dog - Fate
Thomas Function - Celebration!

Girl Rock

Wye Oak - If Children
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
Beach House - Devotion

Wild Card

Douglas Armour - The Light of the Golden Day, The Arms of the Night
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Wild Beasts - Limbo, Panto
Lindstrom - Where You Go I Go Too

(Not Necessarily New) Albums I Heard in '08 and Liked

2008-12-31T15:25:00.000-08:00

Before the clock runs out...

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (Electric Feel is the theme to Saturday Night Fever 2...which doesn't really exist nor should it)

Estelle - Shine

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

The National - Boxer

Medeski, Martin, and Wood - Let's Go Everywhere (Pat-A-Cake like you've never hear it)

Top Local Band Shows in Portland, OR 2008

2008-12-30T11:30:00.000-08:00

This week in my column for The Portland Mercury I ran a list detailing my top 6 favorite shows by local bands in Portland this year.

Now I can work on my non-Portland lists...

2008

2008-12-29T22:23:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year and Holidays to all. I hope everyone had a great 2008

I traveled a lot for work in 2008. My Top 10 Cities Visited (I could be going to most of them again in 2009, so if you have any tips on restaurants/things to do in any of them, please let me know in the comments)

Tie-1) Washington DC: This was my first visit since 1988, my first visit without chaperones…and with….pubes? Just an unbelievably fun and easily accessible city. I cannot wait to return in 2009.

Tie-1) Los Angeles: My first non-LAX-stopover LA visit since 1987. I drove all over the place and know that I didn’t scratch the surface of what I could have done. I did see my Mets slaughter the Dodgers at Dodger stadium. I also almost became the newest person to plow through the Santa Monica Wednesday farmer’s market. Thank goodness for the parking meter car that stopped me.

3) Austin: I think this city is kind of overrated, but I still enjoyed it. Strangely, I was in DC the week before the election and in Austin the week before SXSW, so I missed the action each time. I saw one good weird band in Austin within the sea of probably 20-25 Stevie Ray Vaughn wannabes simultaneously populating 6^th street. It looks like a fun place, but not anything different from, say, Beale Street or Nashville’s Broadway/2^nd avenue. Maybe there’s an Austin experience I’m missing. I’m annoyed by the “Keep Austin Weird” t-shorts…is it really weird if you have to tell people on a t-shirt? I still enjoyed it….it just wasn’t the orgasmic experience most people lead you to expect.

4) Phoenix/Tempe: Memorable for my hotel room in Tempe that had all mirrored walls. Creepy….fun!

5) Fargo, ND: I didn’t get the full Fargo experience (which I kind of fear…), but I did get to hear the accents.

6) El Paso: I was lucky to be traveling with a Mexico City policeman, and ate some excellent Mexican food there per his recommendation.

7) Bismarck, ND: Home of the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame You really have to experience it in person. The website doesn’t do it justice. I mean, you can also see all of those people’s pictures….on a wall…right there in the airport…..for free!

8) The NW Chicago suburbs (Schaumburg, Hoffman Estes, Barrington): Best Buy, Target, Starbucks, Chili’s, Caribou, Books a Million, repeat.

9) Juarez, Mexico: I didn’t see much there except where our jobs went. Warehouse after warehouse after factory after corporate office.

10) Detroit: The cosmic nemesis of Juarez. Both places look identical, except the factories and warehouses in Detroit were run down and empty.

Favorite albums of 2008 (Daniel J and I share more than just names…)

Deerhoof: Offend Maggie

Beck: Modern Guilt

The Walkmen: You & Me

My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges

Crooked Fingers: Forfeit / Fortune

Pavement: brighten the Corners reissue

Not released in 2008, but I heard it for the first time in 2008 and enjoyed

New Pornographers: Electric Version

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists: Hearts of Oak

A.C. Newman: The Slow Wonder

Curtis Mayfield: Superfly

-Daniel D

Some Highs and Lows of 2008...

2008-12-26T13:28:00.000-08:00

..selected with no particular rationale and offered in no particular order.

Best Album: The Moondoggies – Don’t Be a Stranger

This little Seattle band is starting to get some much deserved attention (see here and here) after a few years of regular gigs and a reportedly stellar show at Sasquatch. Their debut album deftly captures their mixture of country, folk and rock that never degenerates into “a little bit country, a little bit rock n’ roll” (they’ve been routinely compared to The Band, a group I somehow missed during my classic rock record collecting phase. But if you want to listen to a vinyl copy of CCR’s Cosmo’ Factory, with that weird bike-riding-in-the-studio cover, I’m your man.) The album is a pleasant, satisfying listen from beginning to end. Tracks like “Ain’t No Lord” and “Old Hound” showcase a surprisingly developed ear for harmony, and the slow but never indulgent build of songs like “Changin” and “Night and Day” continues to reward on repeated listening. And while the band is self-aware, they inject only the slightest hint of irony into their music, letting earnest talent shine through.

Best Writing: The Oxford American

This magazine features some of the best writing from and about the South, but it is nationally relevant and deeply human, making it a must read from coast to coast. Each themed issue features prose lyrical and perceptive enough to make me interested in subjects I don’t normally read about, such as sports and architecture. Their Katrina issue is one of the most important chronicles of that harrowing event and its aftermath, especially the article that finds a metaphor for rebirth in an elderly man’s Zombie dance moves. But their forte is music writing, and every December brings a music issue offering a companion CD (or this year – TWO CDS!) of hand selected southern music both new and old and a loving review of each song. The subscription is $20, which is an unbeatable deal for four great issues plus the CD. Buy one for yourself and give one to your co-worker who is always claiming that John Mayer is the greatest living blues guitarist. You’ll both learn something.

Best Podcast: Philosophy Bites

10-12 minute discussions of philosophical concepts, ancient, contemporary, and everything between, that reach surprising depth and nuance. Plus, it’s all in British accents, so you know it’s smart!

Most Important Moment in the DC Comics Universe: The Death of Martian Manhunter

The DC Comics universe has been overly bloated with event publications all year – 100,000 of Superman’s Kryptonian buddies are residing on earth, the planet was literally taken over by the bad guys, and Bruce Wayne will soon surrender his role as Batman for unclear reasons. Still, the biggest moment this year was also the most neglected – longtime DC mainstay and Justice League founder Martian Manhunter, a.k.a J’onn J’ones (it’s pronounced as though you had a friend John Jones from France), was murdered by a league of supervillains, who thrust a flaming spear through his heart (I had an uncle who died the same way. Tragic, really). Martian Manhunter was one of the most powerful characters in the DC stable – flight, super strength, shape shifting, telepathy, invulnerability, heat vision, plus the really cool ability to turn from solid to translucent matter – and as a true alien, unlike Superman, he brought the much needed wisdom and gravity provided by an outsider perspective. But he was constantly underused and poorly written, so DC decided to kill him off to raise the stakes for their big event book Final Crisis. Worse yet, his death took place in a single comic panel, and his superfriends seem to have largely forgotten him already. While the blockbuster events mentioned above will eventually be reset to satisfy the fan boys (DC won’t keep 100,000 Supermen around forever), there may not be enough nerd clamor to bring poor J’onn J’ones back from the dead, a relatively easy feat in the comic book world. So pay your respects by picking up the single issue Requiem, which shows his final moments and funeral, including a tender moment with Batman at his coffin

Franchise That’s Officially Dead to Me: Star Wars

For obvious reasons.

Happy 2009 - Ryan Weber

Year in review and top 10 albums (Daniel Jacobs)

2008-12-23T08:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays, everyone!

I've really enjoyed the posts so far and am looking forward to checking out a lot of stuff I missed this year. I'm gonna highlight a few random, personal, favorites from '08 and then finish it off with my top 10 albums of the year.

Random Favorite 1: Getting married. What a wild ride...
Random Favorite 2: Recording music. My band, Parklights, started recording 7 songs in February of this year and continued to do so, recording tracks after work during the week or on Sunday afternoons, up until about a month ago, when we finished. We recorded at the KXLU radio station studios. I have very fond memories of drinking tea and gazing out the 4th story windows onto the beautiful Loyal Marymount University campus. But damn if I didn't realize that recording music can be very tedious and discouraging at times. It just makes me appreciate good music and musicians even more.
Random Favorite 3: Culver Palms Church Christmas party. Special shout outs to Angie and Adam Willis for organizing the talent portion this year. I'm confident in saying this was my favorite year. I love Culver by the way. Having a supportive vibrant church family is a huge blessing.
Random Favorite 4: Laker basketball. 2008 was a emotional roller coaster for Laker fans. I remember starting 2008 riding a wave of confidence from their Christmas day victory over their division rivals The Suns). Shortly after that, their blossoming center Andrew Bynum went down with a season ending knee injury. He played such a pivotal role in the Lakers success up until his that point, many fans lost hope. But Kupchak pulled off a miracle. 7 foot, bird-like, Spanish, phenom Pau Gasol came over from Memphis in exchange for the much derided Kwame Brown and others. Incidentally Kwame had a great game against the Lakers on his new team the Pistons recently. So no hard feelings right?
The rest of the regular season and playoffs were amazing to watch. Then I went on our honeymoon and the Finals against the Boston Celtics began. It's almost too painful to recount, but let's just say the Lakes got handled big time. Boston was the better team plain and simple.
I'm going on way too long about this, but this season things are going very well for the Lakers and let's hope for the best come Christmas day (first game against the Celtics, post finals loss) and beyond.

Here are my favorite albums from 2008.

10. Hot Chip - "Made In The Dark"
Aside- I originally acquired this album via download from a not-so-legit website. Someone had inserted these annoying promos of a robotic sounding voice saying "Made In The Dark by Hot Chip coming February 2008" every couple minutes during the songs. It was quite hilarious and I acttualy put up with it for a couple months since I was too lazy or forgetful to get a good copy and because I really enjoyed the songs. If that makes sense...
"Ready For The Floor" is the standout track by far.

9. The Mars Volta - "The Bedlam in Goliath"
Thanks to Tom Ahn for burning me a copy of this one. It's incredibly dense and complex but still rocks, like really really rocks. It's so loud and overwhelming and like nothing else I listened to this year.
I would have loved to have witnessed the recording of this album. It's worth noting that John Frusciante plays on it and you can definitely hear his contributions. Also, the drumming is insane. So good.

7. Lil Wayne - "Tha Carter III"
I listened to this album a couple times driving home from work and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But I probably won't come back to it much in the years to come.
He endeared himself to me by attempting to play guitar during his live shows despite a pretty obvious lack of skill. For some reason I really like that sort of indulgence and quirkiness.

8. Nada Surf - "Lucky"
Slightly Adult Contemporary, but they write some really good songs sometimes. The first few songs on the album are standouts.

7. Sloan - "Parallel Play"
"Witches Wand" is my favorite song in the world. It sounds a good deal like The Kink's "Lola" and it's so catchy. I don't have much a reference point to judge this album in respect to the rest of their catalog but that's something I plan on fixing this year. Thanks to Trevor (who did a video for them) and Paul for hipping me to these dudes.

6. TV On The Radio - "Dear Science"

5. Raconteurs - "Consolers Of the Lonely"
I really dug this album for the first few times through. Then it grew stale. Now it's back. Weird. "Salute Your Solution" is a great single. The crescendo at the end where Jack White's voice gets more and more distorted is very exciting and satisfying.

4. The Walkmen - "You and Me"
Definitely a grower. I remember first hearing it in the morning on the way to work and it was not helping my already drowsy state. But then I heard it again and again and now I really like it. I regret not seeing them play live this year. That's always an EXTREME concert experience. I highly recommended it.

3. Deerhunter - "Microcastles"
Well crafted songs and very interesting sound. I like both cover arts, too.

2. My Morning Jacket - "Evil Urges"
I've listened to this one more than any other this year and I still dig it. I got a soft spot for these dudes. Even the very strange track "Highly Suspicious" is catchy and I find myself singing or humming it. I respect them for treading new ground, musically.

1. Beck - "Modern Guilt"
I love every track on this one. I ain't ashamed to say it.

Dude I should I probably get back to work this took way longer than I expected. See ya next year.

My Favorite Albums from Portland, OR in 2008

2008-12-22T02:01:00.000-08:00

In spite of having spent countless hours in 2007 ruminating over what lists to post to the ol' Jamboree and what their contents would be, I ultimately buckled under the weight and posted nothing. Partly, this was because 2007 was my first year writing my weekly column on local music (entitled "Our Town Could Be Your Life") for The Portland Mercury, one of the alternative weeklies here in Portland, OR. It's a real privilege to be given an excuse to dig so deep into local culture, but it is most definitely time-consuming.

It feels a little lazy to do this, but let's call it efficient efficient instead: I am posting a link here to my column for this week, in which I wrote on my favorite Portland albums of 2008.

Come Thursday, when next week's paper goes live, I will also link to my column on my favorite Portland shows by local bands.

This will free me up to spend a little time on my prospective Jamboree post covering non-Portland music.

I imagine it's a given, but I am quite the Portland music zealot and - although this could be partially attributed to the increased opportunities I have to discover and interact with local artists - there were honestly more albums that I loved from Portland this year than there were from the rest of the world combined.

For anyone who would like to delve further into Stumptown/Bridgetown/PDX/Portland (or, rather, my opinions thereof), I am including links below to my Best of Local Music columns from last year:

My Top 5 Portland Albums of 2007

My Top 5 Portland Shows of 2007

Best,
Cary Clarke

Extended Plays

2008-12-21T19:53:00.000-08:00

Here are the top six EPs (or the like) that I, Colin McCormick, enjoyed this year.

6. Crystal Antlers – EP
It may be unimaginatively titled, but this Long Beach band’s noisy, lo-fi, self-released EP of what sounds to me like some sort of garage psychedelia is far more compelling than No Age’s similar but grossly overrated Nouns.

5. High Places – 03/07-09/07
This is more a collection of singles from last year than an actual EP, but it serves as a good lead-in for High Places’ full length debut. If Crystal Antlers is garage psychedelia, this Brooklyn-based duo’s rhythmically dense yet somehow sparse sound is bedroom psychedelia.

4. The Decemberists – Always The Bridesmaid: A Singles Series
Released as three separate vinyl singles under one heading (more for the pun than anything else), this de facto EP primarily targets established fans of the band. That is not to say it is lacking substance, however. Upbeat openers “Valerie Plame” and “Days Of Elaine” ably take after “Sixteen Military Wives” and “O Valencia!” respectively. But as usual, Colin Meloy is at his songwriting best when he dabbles in the more melancholy. Heavy-hearted closers “Record Year For Rainfall” and the simple, plaintive “Raincoat Song” are the real (non-engagement-related) jewels here.

3. Animal Collective – Water Curses
These leftovers from last years delicious meal of Strawberry Jam have had their sweetness well preserved. The title track is a haphazard, syncopated waltz that may just be the catchiest thing Animal Collective has released since “Grass.”

2. Air France – No Way Down
“Spring has arrived early here.” It’s a strange choice of phrase to open a track entitled “June Evenings,” or, for that matter, an entire EP that feels like a breezy, late summer electro-pop escape to some blissful beach or idyllic countryside too perfect to possibly be real. It all sounds sort of like a dream…no, better. Now when will this Swedish duo ever release a full length LP?

1. Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant
This unexpectedly warm and rich EP came out of nowhere to give us our first small taste of Fleet Foxes’ beguiling folk melodies, extraordinarily lush harmonies, and enchanting arrangements. What an introduction.

For Your Aural Pleasure 2008

2008-12-21T00:34:00.000-08:00

Favorite Singles of 2008
10. “The Lovers Are Losing” by Keane

9. “Amazing” by Kanye West featuring Young Jeezy
“Standing at my podium, I’m trying to watch my sodium, got high blood pressure…”

8. “Sick” by Sam Sparro
“It’s a sick, sick world. I’ll be your medicine. Come and take me, take me. I’ll make you feel better.”

7. “Human” by The Killers
Great song notwithstanding the irritatingly nonsensical lyric “Are we human or are we dancer?”

6. “Turn To Stone” by Girls Aloud
Unfortunately, the rest of the Girls' album lacks the inspiration of a usually brilliant Xenomania-produced record.

5. “Damaged” by Danity Kane
I have never been a fan of this act in any way, but then I heard a snippet of this track. Totally manufactured, but it's great to run to (particularly along Ocean between San Vic and Cali). Be sure to edit the track so it stops around 2:58.56. The last minute and ten seconds has Diddy rambling and ruining an otherwise great pop song.

4. “Strength In Numbers” by The Music
“All the animals come out at night…”

3. “Hot Stuff vs. World Hold On” by Craig David vs. Bob Sinclair
Who else but Craig David could sing, “Girl, you’re making me hard, what a feeling!” without it sounding vulgar?

2. “Womanizer” by Britney Spears

1. “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay

Favorite Ballads of 2008
5. “Human” by Brandy
4. “Run” by Leona Lewis (Yes, Britain’s pride and joy covers the Snow Patrol original)
3. “Imagine” by David Archuleta
2. “The Ice Is Getting Thinner” by Death Cab For Cutie
1. “I Stay In Love” by Mariah Carey

Favorite Albums of 2008
10. Black Tide, “Light From Above”
This album, recorded by a band of four talented teenagers, shows great promise.
Standout Track: “Shockwave”

9. Oasis, “Dig Out Your Soul”
Standout Tracks: “Bag It Up,” “Falling Down,” “Waiting For The Rapture”

8. Mariah Carey, “E=MC2”
To steal Paul’s explanation for listening to radio programs, MC’s appearance on my top 10 list at this point is in no small part due to the sense of comfort I feel from listening to her music over the years. The current problem with MC’s music is best described by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, my favorite music reviewer: “Carey seems determined not to look back, to exist in some kind of eternal now, never acknowledging that she has a past, unless she's wielding her divorce from her ex-husband/ex-record label chief Tommy Mottola for some kind of sympathy, something she does once again here via vague allusions to naïveté and ‘violent times’ on ‘Side Effects.’ Mariah refers to that separation so often that it's hard not to think of it as something recent but it happened a long, long time ago -- well over a decade prior to the release of E=MC2, to be precise -- but as the separation was the pivot point for Carey's career, it's easy to see why she keeps returning to it, even if the emotional heft of her singing about the pain has long since diminished…[In the end, the album] becomes a wash of sound -- sound that is designed to be fashionable, but like so much fashion, it's tied to the time and dates quickly. Which is why it's misleading to judge Mariah based on her new record of possessing the most number one singles, as she's not about longevity, she's about being permanently transient, a characteristic E=MC2 captures all too well.”

7. Natasha Bedingfield, “Pocket Full Of Sunshine”
WARNING: Catchy pop music from a positive female role model can be contagious!

6. Nine Inch Nails, “The Slip”

5. Goldfrapp, “Seventh Tree”
Track with hard-to-hear lyrics: "Clowns"

4. Crystal Castles, “Crystal Castles”
Standout tracks: “Vanished” and “Untrust Us”

3. Britney Spears, “Circus”
A solid album but not as strong as 2007’s Blackout. Stephen Thomas Erlewine summarizes it best: “If Blackout was a producers' album, Circus is a handlers' album, intent on sweeping away any recent unpleasantness -- the only acknowledgement is that title -- and acting like nothing ever happened, imagining that this is still a world where Britney remains envied and desired, where she can be dolled up as a gauzy Farrah Fawcett pinup on her album cover, where she can sing a drippy ballad about ‘My Baby’ and have nobody raise an eyebrow...If she feels marginally more connected here than she did on Blackout, it's a Pyrrhic victory, as Circus never feels as sleek or addictive as its predecessor.”

2. Coldplay, “Viva La Vida”
If you can catch this band in concert, I recommend it. By far, the best concert I saw this year.

1. Robyn, “Robyn”
Sweden does it again! As time goes by, this album just keeps getting better. It was nice to see Interscope release 2005's “Robyn” this past April after resequencing it and adding some new tracks.

Favorite diss (probably because it was totally uncalled for): Christina Aguilera on Lady Gaga.
http://celebrities.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx?blogentryid=249672&showcomments=true

Favorite remix: “Up (Wideboys Remix Edit)” by The Saturdays

2008-12-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Places to Eat in Downtown L.A.

My apologies for the dual posts, but thought I'd also include my list of my favorite places to grab lunch, dinner or just a cup of coffee in downtown. I've tried to select places from every district in the area for scenic variety. This list has no particular order, except what I suggest that you order. Ha! Funny. And lastly, most of my suggestions are vegetarian-friendly because animals are our friends.

Lost Souls Cafe - Old Bank District - www.lostsouls.com
Totally hidden in an alleyway, but the best selection of iced coffees and hot teas you'll probably ever find. Try the mocha latte with soy. Great atmosphere too. Quiet enough to read or do work and totally laptop-friendly.

Tiara Cafe - Fashion District - (no website)
Best vegan burger EVER. Seriously. It doesn't get more delicious than this. Get it, you won't regret it. All their menu items are completely organic. Great looking place, too. Did I mention the vegan burger?

Pete's Cafe and Bar - Old Bank District - www.petescafe.com
Delicious veggie burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup. Really friendly servers. Bar opened till 2am. Also new: Jazz nights on Tuesdays. Always a fun place to grab some food before going to another bar or lounge and only a short walk from The Edison.

Blossom - Old Bank District - www.blossomrestaurant.com
The best Vietnamese food in downtown LA, perhaps in all of LA. I took my Vietnamese friend here, too, and she agreed it was amazing and very authentic. Everything on the menu is delicious, but of course, go for the pho. I've probably eaten a steaming hot bowl of pho here at least a dozen times . . . and this was during the super hot summer of 2007; their food was just that good.

Pitfire Pizza and Rocket Pizza Lounge - Civic Center District and Old Bank District - www.pitfirepizza.com and www.rocketpizzalounge.com
The pizza at both restaurants is incredible. I love the decor at Rocket Pizza Lounge - really feels retro. Try the Penne Pasta or Rigatoni Al Forno while you're there. Also, there's a great beer selection at Pitfire. Pizza + quality beer = heaven.

Mendocino Farms - Financial District - www.mendocinofarms.com
Located in California Plaza, this place offers DELICIOUS gourmet sandwiches. Get the Drunk'n Goat in Paris. It is almost silly how delicious it is. Ingredients: Herbes de Provence marinated Skyhill Farm's goat cheese, cranberry chutney, French brie, balsamic roasted onions, green apple and organic farmer's greens. Sigh.

Traxx - Union Station - www.traxxrestaurant.com
Uniquely located in historic and beautiful Union Station. Literally, the restaurant is in the train station. You feel like you're in a film noir as soon as you enter. What to try: the grilled eggplant sandwich with feta cheese, mint & lemon aioli on curry toast or the Waldorf salad. Or both.

Engine Company No. 28 - Financial District - www.engineco.com
Located in a restored 1912 firehouse, this place is just lovely because it still retains its historic charm. You have to see it to understand. The food is not particularly fancy, but quite delicious; try the spicy garlic fries, the capellini or the portabello mushroom sandwich.

Empress Pavilion - Chinatown - www.empresspavilion.com
Without a doubt, best dim sum in town. You're served in a HUGE banquet hall which is always buzzing with people, while servers walk around pushing carts, yelling food names in Chinese. Not super vegetarian-friendly, but definitely worth tasting the non-meat dumplings and steamed broccoli in oyster sauce. Yum!

Frying Fish - Little Tokyo - no website
Delicious, truly delicious, sushi. You're seated around a sushi bar, while the freshly-made sushi moves along in small, color-coded plates on a conveyor belt, and you simply pick the dish you like. Or you can make special requests to the chefs. I love this place.

St. Vincent's Court - Jewelry District - www.svjc.com
This courtyard is filled with Mediterranean restaurants and has a distinctive Parisian feel to it. The selection of middle eastern food is quite good, including kabobs, falafel, and baklava for dessert.

Well, those are my top picks -- I hope you enjoy the atmosphere and food of downtown LA!

2008-12-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

Top 10* Worst Fashion Trends of 2008
. . . and other things I'd like to see less of in 2009.

Anything Designed by Christian Audigier
How this man has been so successful is a complete mystery to me. If you've never heard of Christian Audigier before, it's highly likely that you already hate him (and didn't even know it) since he was the "creative force" behind those annoying Von Dutch trucker hats back in 2003. Here are a few samples from his Ed Hardy® clothing line which his website describes as "luxury streetwear". Seriously, who buys this stuff?

Men's Super Skinny Jeans
I added "super" because some guys can pull off the skinny jeans look. But, unfortunately, most guys can't without looking a tad pre-pubescent. Observe:

Oversized Sunglasses
Yeah, this trend has been around for a few years now, but I'm really hoping that by next year people will finally realize how ridiculous it looks. It's just silly.

Silly x 3 = trilly

Shooties = combination of "shoes" + "boots" (also called "booties")
At the time, I really thought this look had a lot of potential, especially when paired with a pencil skirt or tights. But I'll be glad to see them gone in 2009. Even the name annoys me now. Shooties.

A pair of shooties.

Shutter Shades
I believe these were first introduced by Kanye West. Since I'm naturally inclined to think Kanye sucks at most things, I guess I was heavily biased against this look to begin with. Let's be honest, there's no way you can wear a pair of shutter shades without looking like a tool. Speaking of, here's a picture of Kanye trying painfully hard to look cool in a pair of his own while "rapping" on stage.

"Damn, Kanye, you so cool! Teach me to be cool like you!"

Giant Scarves
The ironic part of the mega-scarf trend was that it reached its peak during the hot summer months. Even though I'm a huge fan of scarves as accessories, this look was just excessive and totally taken to the extreme.

Julianne Moore: smiling on the outside, hurting on the inside.

Buddy Holly Glasses
If your name doesn't start with Buddy and end in Holly, then chances are you shouldn't be wearing these. I've seen way too many people sporting this look recently and it just looks completely uncreative.

Woo-ee-oo, I look just like Buddy Holly . . .

Straw Fedoras
Like the "oversized sunglasses" look, the fedora trend has been around for what seems like an eternity. To me, nothing screams "trying so hard!" than a strategically placed straw fedora. As an example of how ubiquitous this look has become, last weekend, at just one bar, I counted nine (9) guys wearing a straw fedora. Unfortunate.

Baggy "Boyfriend Jeans"
I think Katie Holmes (first image) started this trend and I'm pleased to say that it never really seemed to catch on among us regular, non-celebrity folks. In short, it's just an incredibly unflattering look.

If you break up with your boyfriend, who keeps the jeans??

Celebrities Getting "Political"
Less a wearable fashion, than a fashionable "statement", this year's presidential election brought a barrage of celebrity ads encouraging young people to get out and vote. Unfortunately, they were about as effective as those old-school "The More You Know. . ." NBC public service announcements. Here's an obvious example:

*List is in no particular order, and of course, just my silly opinion.

MP3 Free-for-All

2008-12-17T23:52:00.000-08:00

Yuletide Greetings,

Here are nine or ten of my most beloved free MP3s of the year, although this likely does not include any songs from my still-in-the-works list of top albums (I’ll include MP3 links in that list).

10. {{{ Sunset }}} – Man’s Heart Complaint
A sinister and gloomy slice of fuzz-rock.

9. King Tuff – Sun Medallion
Sounds like the Velvet Underground with Lou Reed inhaling a bit of helium.

8. School of Seven Bells – Connjur
Gorgeous harmonies served over warm, electronic gauze.

7. Lykke Li – Little Bit
Soulful, Swedish electro doo-wop, if I’m not mistaken.

6. Thee Makeout Party – Wreckless Epic
Raw, ragged and desperate garage rock that probably was actually recorded in a garage.

5. Fight Bite – Widow’s Peak
Ethereal and enchanting like Beach House, but even lower-fi.

4. Kim Ki O – Kapali Kapali Kapali
Beautiful, bittersweet shoegazing from what must be the first Turkish band I’ve ever heard.
[Update: Apparently, the initial link I had for this song didn't work. I just replaced it with a new one that is working.]

3. Hecuba – Sir
Hip hop born in some kind of demented carnival.

2. Music Go Music – Light of Love
Ebullient and ABBA-inspired. Should be played on an old jukebox at a roller skating rink.

1. The Morning Benders – Boarded Doors
Sharp and slightly swinging pop-rock with a highly satisfying melody.

Learn to Listen

2008-12-17T23:48:00.000-08:00

My Ten Favorite Talk Radio Programs/Podcasts

I don't think there's any entertainment medium that allows you to become more a member of community than talk radio. The best shows blossom only after months of listening b/c it's only then that you get the inside jokes, the tossed-off references, and the rhythms of the host or co-hosts. And once you get to that point, you can enjoy a bad show b/c you're not really listening to be entertained (that's a fortunate and, hopefully, frequent by-product); you're listening for a sense of comfort and place. This is a phenomenon that extends to other media, however; many a tv show I've watched religiously not b/c I particularly enjoyed it, but just b/c I got sucked in. Clearly, not all of the shows below allow this b/c some are too format driven. However, even with someone like Warren Olney of Which Way, L.A.?, I feel like I know him better than I do people I actually talk to on a daily basis.

I love talk radio and wish I could be a talk radio host, but I screw up too much when I talk. I also wish I could listen more often, but work gets in the way. How I loved those August days when I could lie on the couch and act like it was 1957.

(10) The Art Laboe Connection - This is less a talk show and more a show where the congenial but uncharismatic titular host fields listeners' song requests. It seems like most of the callers are Hispanic, and a lot of the requests are for unremarkable love songs from the past 25 years. It's hard not to wonder if the party to whom the song is dedicated is listening at that very moment. I think it would be awesome if someone dedicated a Gerald Levert song to me. Check it out.

(9) Which Way, L.A.? - Warren Olney's local political talk show is what all political talk shows should aspire to be. Knowledgeable guests, stern tone, compassionate nuances, and frustratingly unpartisan. Check it out.

(8) Pardon the Interruption - This is a TV show but I've podcasted it for the better part of two years now, and often listen to it while falling asleep. I love Michael Wilbon and the fact that he cares about the NBA. Tony Kornheiser has turned into (always been?) a killjoy (is it that hard to smile on camera on Monday Night Football?). I think I'm the only person who likes when Dan LeBatard fills in. I may be the only person I know who genuinely likes this show. Check it out.

(7) The Loose Cannons - This is a perfect example of a show I don't particularly like (in fact, I think I dislike it) but I listen to all the time. Considering the limitations of each host, it's a wonder they get 4 hours a day out of these guys. Someone once mentioned that if you combined Hartman, Vic, and MT you'd have a pretty great talk show host, but you'd still have 2/3 of a person predicting that the Lakers are gonna win 75 games. Check it out.

(6) Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me - I've cooled on Wait, Wait, but I still have a fondness for it. I'm just more inclined to accidentally tune-in to it on the radio than listen to the podcast. I read panelist Adam Felber's novel "Schrodinger's Ball" this summer, and it, like the show, was nerdy and mildly arrogant. It was pretty good. Check it out.

(5) Sound Opinions - Now, I know why I like this show theoretically: I like music and it's a talk show about music. But if this show were in print, it would be no better than Rolling Stone or another irrelevant magazine. But I like disagreeing with them, and I really enjoy when they review albums by artists I know I should know something about but am totally unfamiliar with (Taylor Swift, the Jonas Brothers, etc . . .). Educational. I listen to this on Sunday Nights when I walk to La Salsa for dinner. Check it out.

(4) The Kevin & Bean Show - Yeah, it can be frustratingly low brow (lesbians? really?) and the commercials are endless and the Incubus/Foo Fighters/Offspring shuffle is terrible at 7am, but I've listened to this show first thing in the morning since the mid-'90s, and they still have gold moments. Ralph is fantastically funny, Psycho Mike's a good addition (even if his parodies are a mixed bag, minus the K-Fed ones which are always pretty good), Bean is great and weird, and Kevin is even growing on me after these 15 years. I really wish they'd ditch Omar. Check it out.

(3) The V Show - I rarely listen to this show for more than 5 minutes; it's on Fridays and Saturdays from 10pm - 2am, so it's usually on when I fall asleep. I think the host is Jimmy V's brother, and he just seems like the nicest guy ever. The theme is a version of a Big Bad Voodoo Daddy song and he's got some really antiquated drops that he throws in on ocassion (boos, applause, rim shots). Very charming and perfect for falling asleep. He talks about the horses ocassionally. Check it out.

(2) The Petros & Money Show - What a show, man. It's weird; these guys talk too much, even for a talk show - it's exhausting. Petros has that rare ingredient that other sports talk show hosts don't have: experience on the gridiron. This show is like the polar opposite of that douchebag Colin Cowherd's show. Good music talk, surprisingly obscure cultural references (I called in and talked about the New Bomb Turks and Guided By Voices on the air once), no tortured analogies or references to management theories. Check it out.

(1) The Best Show on WFMU - still the tops. 3 hours a week, every week. It's hard to decide what I like more: the interplay b/w Tom and his fans or Tom and the denizens of the fictional New Jersey town Newbridge. The show doesn't throw any lifelines to new listeners. You just have to jump in and start piecing it all together on your own. It demands your patience and rewards your investment. Check it out.

2008-12-15T12:39:00.001-08:00

Below are my top ten favorite places/things to eat in LA:

10. Lattitude Thai, http://www.lattitudethai.com/

Amid all the car repair shops and fast food joints that are characteristically Lincoln Boulevard, it’s easy to miss Lattitude’s small, unassuming storefront. But if you love thai curry, you should make sure to track this place down. Their red curry with chicken is so good and you’re sure to leave with yummy leftovers for lunch the next day.

9. Lares, http://www.laresrestaurant.com/

This is a great Mexican place: spicy salsa, family-owned, mariachi band, and fantastic Cadillac margaritas. Really, what more do you need in a Mexican place? Get the chicken mole enchiladas. Their verdes sauce is good too.

8. Cha Cha Chicken, http://www.chachachicken.com/

This is a great place to go after a long day at the beach. Bring your own beer or wine; order watermelon juice and the jerk chicken enchiladas at the window; grab a seat at one of the picnic tables outside; relax and enjoy.

7. Joe’s Shanghai, http://www.joeshanghairestaurants.com/

I know. I know. Joe’s is in NYC. But this place has the absolute best soba noodles I’ve ever had in my life. So it had to get a spot on my list, had to. Next time you’re in New York, go here.

6. The Omelette Guy, http://www.smgov.net/farmers_market/sunday.htm

I think Main Street in Santa Monica is pretty much the coolest place in LA. Every Sunday, there’s a great farmer’s market with live music, fresh produce (obviously), and vendors selling delicious wares. If you go in the afternoon, get the tamales. But if you make it for breakfast or brunch, you have to get an omelette from the omelette guy. You walk through the line and point to “bacon!,” “green peppers!,” “mushrooms!,” “tomatoes!” Just as you’re paying, your omelette is slid from the pan onto your plate and you’re ready to sit down in front of the band and dig into deliciousness. Don’t even think about going to The Omelette Parlor down the street; it’s disgusting compared to the omelette guy.

5. Bay Cities, http://www.baycitiesitaliandeli.com/

Duh, I know. Bay Cities’ sandwich is the best in town. I love that pickled carrot (?) stuff they put on it. Also great, their fresh-baked bread – I get it to serve at dinner parties with lots of butter.

4. Trader Joe’s Very Berry Cereal, http://www.traderjoes.com/

I know this is a weird entry, but I have discovered the best cereal ever made … and it’s exclusively sold at Trader Joe’s. The Very Berry Cereal is the perfect combination of crunch and soggy, sweet and tangy, yummy and delicious that you want in every bowl of cereal. Yes, I used to be very against cereals with freeze-dried berries of any sort. Special K with strawberries is gross. But these berries are NOT gross; they are perfect.

This cereal is especially delicious in soy milk, which I have to use now because I’m lactose intolerant. :(

3. California Chicken Café, http://www.californiachickencafe.com/

This place is so good. I go weekly. I suggest the California Chicken Salad with balsamic dressing. I get it without the cheese and avocados. I’m sure they are delicious in the salad if a) you’re not lactose intolerant and b) you like avocados.

2. Amelia’s, http://www.ameliascafe.com/

Get the soup of the day. It is always the best bowl of soup you’ve ever had.

1. The Daily Pint, http://thedailypint.net/

Again, I’m cheating a little bit. The Daily Pint does not serve food, thank goodness. This is a dive bar, THE dive bar. And it is my favorite bar in the world. Not only do they offer lots of great beer, pool tables, and shuffle board (!), but they also offer the best bar game of all time – Photo Hunt.

Happy holidays and happy eating in the new year!

-- Sarah Luppen

Well I guess I'll start this thing out!

2008-12-15T10:22:00.000-08:00

Well Merry Christmas to you all and I hope you all had a great 2008. Personally it's been a wonderful year for me complete with getting married to most amazing woman I've ever met and getting to do a little travel to the Bahamas, Canada, Montana, and Washington. Still enjoying teaching at a charter school, and just started writing an occasional review for a website http://live.hollywoodjesus.com/?author=207.

Anyways, enough with the personal update and onto the music... I felt like there were a lot of good spins out there this year, but quite a few disappointments as well. Regardless here is my top 10:

10. Metallica- Death Magnetic

It was nice to see a band finally do what the fans wanted and go back to their roots. This one rocked a lot harder than anything they put out in the past 17 years and it was a surprising comeback album.

Standout track: "The End of Line"

9. Ray LaMontagne- Gossip in the Grain

Not my favorite Ray album, but it's still up there for this year. Not sure what he was trying with "You are the Best Thing", but the rest of the disc was pretty decent. Props for trying something new though!

Standout Track: "Winter Birds"

8. Counting Crows- Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings

My first CD I ever bought was August and Everything After in 8th grade, so it's always nice to see what Adam Duritz is up to. Pretty solid effort from the Crows and a fun contrast between the two halves.

Standout Track: "Washington Square"

7. Weezer- Red Album

Loved the first 6 songs on the disc and the the last few, but just couldn't get used to hearing anyone singing but Rivers. I like the idea of giving the other guys a chance, but save it for an EP! Flawless album aside from those songs though, in my opinion!

Standout Track: "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived"

6. Joshua James- The Sun is Always Brighter

I caught on a little late to this great artist, but he warranted quite a few listens this year. Nothing too new exciting about him, but he sure puts out quality music.

Standout Track: "Today"

5. Joshua Radin- Simple Times

Another folksy Joshua? Yup! Radin put out a great album this year and I really appreciated it a lot more after seeing him play in Santa Barbara a few months ago. If you've never listened, he's got some great mellow tunes to listen to on a rainy day (like today!)

Standout Track: "They Bring Me to You"

4. Kanye West- 808's and Heartbreaks

Although it was a very different album and entirely recorded with auto-tune, I thoroughly enjoyed Kanye's new CD. I guess getting dumped by his fiancee and the death of his mother knocked his ego down a few pegs and gave him some perspective. I loved the beats and lyrics like "Chased the good life my whole life long, look back on my life and my life gone...where did I go wrong?"

Standout Track: "Welcome to my Nightmare"

3. Jon Foreman- Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer

Lead singer of Switchfoot's ambitious attempt at capturing the 4 seasons in 4 6-song EP's turned out very well in my opinion. Fall was my favorite season, but each one brought new instruments and new sounds to add to a year of great music.

Standout Track: "Your Love is Strong"

2. Jason Mraz- We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things

Perhaps the greatest male voice out there in music today, Mraz put together a great CD with a fun sound. Most people probably got sick of hearing "I'm Yours" over and over, but you have to admit it was really stinkin' catchy!

Standout Track: "Live High"

1. Coldplay- Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends/ Prospekts March

Ok, so Martin may have ripped off Satriani, but even Johnny Cash ripped off "Folsom Prison Blues"! "Viva La Vida was still my favorite song of the year and quite brilliant. Overall I love this CD and the EP that just came out and I beleive it was the one CD that lived up to the hype.

Standout Track:...forget it, just download the whole thing!

Alright there they are...probably too poppy for most people's taste, but I look forward to reading other posts and trying out new music. Take care all and have a great Holiday!

Nate

What Year Is It Again?

2008-12-10T22:23:00.000-08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, start your posting.

11 Albums That Made My 2007

2007-12-31T23:53:00.001-08:00

I still feel like I didn’t spend enough time with some other records, but I wanted to get this thing done before the new year came (close call). Of course, the jamboree can keep rolling into ’08. It’s too much fun to stop now, and we have yet to hear from some past contributors. Show us your lists, friends.
–Thom McMahon IV

11. Bodies of Water – Ears Will Pop And Eyes Will Blink
A glorious batch of catchy, triumphant symphonies. These four young folks sing their hearts out and make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

10. Alasdair Roberts – The Amber Gatherers
Mr. Roberts’ albums have been alternating between traditional folk songs and original folk songs. His new one is of the latter type, but you might think these had been handed down through the ages if you didn’t know any better. He has a gift for writing timeless melodies. The tone is much lighter than that of his last album (which was all songs about death). In fact, some of these songs sound like lullabies. Perfect to play on the stereo when you have a baby crawling around the room.

9. Blonde Redhead - 23
A nearly perfect collection of dream pop. Not groundbreaking stuff — just masterfully executed and thoroughly enchanting.

8. Caribou – Andorra
Pulsing, psychedelic wonder. Essential listening for a drive through the wilderness. Dan Snaith’s last album sounded a bit inconsistent to me. This is a strong return to the majesty of his Up In Flames record — back before some Dick forced him to stop using the name Manitoba.

7. Jens Lekman – Night Falls Over Kortedala
Mr. Lekman gets my vote for best songwriter to emerge in the 21^st century thus far. His music is frequently sublime. His lyrics are sharp and hilarious, and English isn’t even his first language. This album has some of his strongest tunes, but I feel like it loses some magic in the middle. Still, I would highly recommend this and all of his other output to anyone who enjoys charming, playful pop.

6. Panda Bear – Person Pitch
Sure, he sounds like a Beach Bro from way back when. Why shouldn’t he? More accurately, this album evokes a drug-induced dream of some of Brian Wilson and company’s finest work. Gorgeous harmonies, high on reverb, flowing comfortably across warm and friendly waters. This is the best trip I’ve ever been on.

5. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
The first time I heard this record, I thought Kevin Barnes had lost it — and he just may have (12-minute-long “The Past Is A Grotesque Animal” provides some convincing evidence). But after about 10 times through, these tightly wound, emotionally revealing outbursts had soaked through my skull and left me addicted.

4. Marissa Nadler – Songs III: Bird On The Water
I’ve already used the word “haunting” once in describing Ms. Nadler’s music, so I’ll try not to do it again. She has one of the most moving, elegiac voices that I’ve heard, and the stark arrangements on this album provide the perfect atmosphere for it. I’m slightly embarrassed to admit that she left me misty-eyed on a recent winter eve. Haunting. Damn.

3. Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity
Deerhoof is one of the more distinctive-sounding bands out there, and they manage to sound fresh with each new album. They’re talented musicians, and their songs are fairly complex, yet they sound playful and innocent. It’s an unusual contrast that’s due in large part to Satomi Matsuzaki’s child-like voice and apparent lack of a grasp on the English language. Ultimately, though, it’s the abundance of savory hooks that keeps me coming back for more.

2. Cass McCombs – Dropping The Writ
Mr. McCombs’ last album was a fairly ragged, low-fi affair; this one sounds more polished, more mature even. Of course, you won’t be hearing any of it on your local adult alternative radio station. But you should. The songwriting is impeccable, and his falsetto reaches incredible highs that will send chills up your headphone cords.

1. Battles – Mirrored
This is rock music as found in the wild, as opposed to the all-too-common domesticated incarnation of the genre. The album is an intoxicating stew of unusual sounds and rhythms. It might sound challenging, but it ain't math homework — just some good, clean, disorienting fun. Surprising, amusing and heavy. I have Battles in my life, and I'm loving it.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

2007-12-26T18:50:00.000-08:00

Some of my favorite things by James F. "Boots" Donnelly...

Albums of the Year
Lawrence Welk - Forever: The Best of Lawrence Welk
Sons of the Pioneers - Cool Water (& 17 Timeless Favorites)
Henny Youngmen - Take My Album Please (Or Two Sets for the Price of One)
Boxcar Willie - King of the Hoboes
Jodeci – Forever My Lady

Favorite Movie – Cocoon III

My favorite prune juice – Sunsweet

Favorite hard candy – MacTavish’s Butterscotch Candy

Favorite food – Tapioca

Favorite football moment – Red Grange’s 6 TD game against Michigan (18-October 1924). Still as magical a moment as ever. Kids these days just can’t match the speed and toughness of the Galloping Ghost.

Favorite Dance – The Charleston I performed at the Murfreesboro Elks Lodge Dance Off in July with Millie.

Worst College Football Idea: The playoff. It’s bad enough they got rid of ties and created the BCS. Now they want a playoff? What happened to the good old days of teams going 8-1-2 and winning the national championship by playing the #7 team in a bowl game?

Best move they should make for the 2008 Summer Olympics: Adding college football as a sport. We’d kick the asses of those commie pinko Russians and finally get a leg up in the Cold War. Wait a minute, it’s in China? Maybe 2012, since we’ll obviously be boycotting 2008.

The best moment in baseball for 2007: Appalachian St. beating Michigan.

I would like to wish everyone a happy 2008. Spring practice is right around the corner, as well as national signing day, so don't worry. Labor Day weekend is right around the corner!

2007 Mix - Paul Bost

2007-12-22T13:11:00.001-08:00

Instead of coming up with some sort of list, I instead decided to create a mix conveying my favorite songs of the year (plus a couple from previous years). I've sent everyone on the email list a link from where you can download the mix (edit; here's the link: http://download.yousendit.com/F6FB429759684187); it's a big file and, unfortunately, it's one file (I tried to separate it into different tracks but my editing software was being a bitch about it). Some of the edits are pretty simple, whereas on others I endeavor to actually do some Steve Aoki shit (minus the gorgeous hangers-on). Check it out, if you get a chance. It might actually be a good workout mix, minus the last two songs that sort of slow things down (which may be appropriate for some post-running stretching/meditation).

Tracklist

(1) Night of the Furies - The Rosebuds
(2) $20 - M.I.A.
(3) St. Tropez - Golden Bug
(4) Kidz Are So Small - Deerhoof
(5) Hold On - Holy Ghost!
(6) Wow - Kylie Minogue
(7) Finer Feelings - Spoon
(8) Ice Cream - New Young Pony Club
(9) I've Still Got You (Ice Cream) - Pissed Jeans
(10) Tout va pour le mieux dans le pire des mondes - Les Breastfeeders
(11) World - The Bee Gees
(12) Coke & Wet - Spankrock
(13) Kill the Messenger - Karl Blau
(14) Come One Come All - Noonday Underground
(15) Mr. Me Too (Z.A.K. Remix) - Clipse
(16) Failsafe - The New Pornographers
(17) Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West
(18) Bright Lights, Big City - Jim Jones feat. Max B.
(19) Isn't Life Strange? - The Clientele
(20) On the Wings - Citay

Daniel Dowd's 2-0-0-7

2007-12-21T22:24:00.000-08:00

First of all, I have enjoyed reading everyone's posts, as always.

Albums

-Wilco Sky Blue Sky. - Not many people I know or spoke with liked this one, but I liked it. I needed some mellow this year. I also love Nels Cline, though I almost think he overpowers Wilco live to the point of being a detriment. Almost. I like the song on and on and on

-New Pornographers Challengers – Another album I felt many didn’t like upon discussing with them. I enjoyed this quite a bit after listen 3 or 4, especially go places.

-Andrew Bird. The last two albums. - I finally stopped being lazy and soaked in The Mysterious Production of Eggs and had a little time away from Andrew for awhile, then dove into the new one. I love them both. I listened to Andrew Bird the most in 2007.

-Deerhoof Friend Opportunity - This was my favorite album of the year. It was also my favorite show of 2007. I can’t get enough of Deerhoof in every way.

-Of Montreal Hissing Fauna…-I wore this one out and enjoyed the song Gronlandic Edit the most. This album and Wilco seemed to have fitting themes for me.

My favorite films
No Country For Old Men
Grindhouse
Silver Jew
The Darjeeling Limited

Favorite live shows
Deerhoof
Animal Collective
TV on the Radio
Stumbling upon a sort of Blind Faith reunion on PBS

I also liked…

My daughter’s strange, sudden, sponge-like absorption of Black Sabbath.

The Sopranos ending. Yes! My favorite episode was the next to last episode Blue Comet.

Watching some English Premier League for the first time. Being a Mets fan I have to say that I really enjoyed watching the EPL. I still have the 1000 yard stare.

Best parts of the Mitchell Report…
Roidger Clemens
Mo Vaughn being “afraid of the big needles.”

Facial Hair of the Year

I didn’t really notice any great facial hair this year. I guess it’s Arthur Blank, owner of the Falcons...

The favorite hairs in my household were our family debates as to whether the guy from Big and Rich had deodorant dust on his armpit hair in the opening credits of ESPN’s College Gameday. I said no, my wife said yes. I thought it was the sunshine reflecting off of the fair locks of Big or Rich’s armpit. Tivo happened. Slow-mo happened. It was heated and lasted many weeks. I gave in and said it was deodorant.

That marital spat finished second this year to the spat of trying to determine whether Don McLean of American Pie fame pronounces his name “Mc – Leen” or “Mc – Layne.” We went over Don McLean youtube clips like it was the Zapruder film. I won with “Mc-Layne.”

So, armpit hair of the year goes to…Big? Or is he rich?

I’d like to wish everyone a happy new year and late December holiday of choice. May your respective 2008s be filled with all things good.

2007-12-20T17:46:00.000-08:00

Adam Willis' Year In Music

I didn't want to be the last to post again this year, so I tried to throw together my list as best I could. Like Paul and others, I think I listen to "albums" a lot less than I used to. I've also realized that I listen to a good deal more new "old" music than actual new releases, so that affects what I've listened to a lot. Here goes:

Favorite Singles of 2007:
-"D.A.N.C.E.", Justice- I think I heard this early enough that it was still cool to me and still cool for me to like it.
-"Players Anthem", UGK & Three Six Mafia- The best of Texas Hip Hop. Put a little South in your Mouth!
-"Bittersweet Poetry", Kanye West featuring John Mayer- Hidden track on Graduation, I'm as surprised as anyone else to feature John Mayer in my favorite singles of the year. I liked this album a whole lot and it probably falls just shy of making my top albums list. Either way, I think this is my favorite track. Keyshia Cole!
-"Irreplaceable", Beyonce- This gets in my head at least once a week and is in fierce competition with that "No One" Alicia Keyes song for favorite R&B traffic sing-a-long, but Ms. Keyes song is too new for me to make a judgement.
-"The Underdog", Spoon- Indie Rock single of the year. Those spanish horns really put me in a good mood.
-"Grace Kelly", Mika- I thought this was a self-referencing Queen song I'd never heard before when I heard it on the radio the first time. Definitely my number one sing-s-long of the year. Anything with a high-note I can strain to of this caliber is A-OK.

Favorite Albums of 2007: (There are 8)

8-LCD Soundsystem, "Sound Of Silver"- I was a lot crazier about this album than the first for some reason. It's at the bottom of the list because i wish it had ended right before that crappy New York song. Perfect until then for me.
7-Wilco, "Sky Blue Sky"- I got this when it first came out and kind of shelved it until later this year. The first half or so of this one could be my favorite recordings they've ever done. I'd almost swear it was recorded in 1975.
6-Apples In Stereo, "New Magnetic Wonder"- I'm really grateful to Elijah Wood for starting a record label to release this album. Vocoder always wins.
5-Junior Senior, "Hey Hey My My Yo Yo"- I know this actually came out a couple of years ago, but it was finally released in the US this year. I think they should be the biggest band on pop radio. I'm not sure why they aren't.
4-Spoon, "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"- In reality, my Top 4 albums could possibly all be tied for number 1. They all very equally shared the most listens of the year for me. This album is over quick and I frequently would start it over immediately afterwards.
3-Dr. Dog, "We All Belong"- Maybe they're channeling the Beatles, maybe they're channeling The Band, either way they are pop craftsmen. Also, I'm a sucker for male harmonies. The album is equally good to me as the EP "Takers and Leavers". I consider them as one.
2-Of Montreal, "Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer"- I know it's dark and over-dramatic, but I really, really dug it all year long. I needed someone to replace Beck's Midnight Vultures-era Prince imitation and it was superbly done here.
1-Panda Bear, "Person Pitch"- This slowly grew to be my number one album. Although "Strawberry Jam" would be very high on my year's list, it's the soft layers of Brian Wilson production on this album that make me want to be on acid. On a plane. Reclining. Also, my favorite album cover of the year. It's certainly a complete package.

I look forward to rereading this list next year to see how my opinions of 2007's albums have changed.

Love,
Adam

For Your Aural Pleasure 2007

2007-12-19T20:43:00.000-08:00

First, let me say that I’m really looking forward to checking out your guys’ musical selections. Last year, I ended up purchasing albums by The Knife and Junior Boys and loved both of them (thanks, Thom!).

Favorite Albums of 2007
6. "Once" (Music From the Motion Picture) - fantastic movie with a fantastic soundtrack

5. Linkin Park, "Minutes to Midnight" - Initially, I felt that this album was too musically schizophrenic - with the band taking a "let’s throw all these disparate musical ideas against the wall and see what pieces of spaghetti stick" approach...or something like that. By year’s end, I really enjoy 8 of the 12 tracks. The other four still consistently meet the ">>" button of my iPod.

4. Danny Dementor, "Where’s Your Hood At?" - If you like the Harry Potter series or just silly good hip-hop/pop music, then this is for you. www.myspace.com/dannydementor

3. The Shins, "Wincing the Night Away" - I found this to be a very relaxing and welcome escape from the stresses of year two in law school.

2. Britney Spears, "Blackout" - say what you want, but this album truly is a cohesive, well-produced album of pop/dance gems tarnished only by the distracting personal antics of the Britster herself. If she had focused her energy on this album, I believe she really could’ve had a Mimi-esque comeback with it. America is very forgiving. U-S-A! U-S-A!

1. Nine Inch Nails, "Year Zero" - this deserves much more attention than it received. Hands down my favorite album of the year. It was a pleasure listening to this one from beginning to end.

Favorite Ballads of 2007
8. "Breathless" by Shayne Ward (from Breathless)
7. "Soulmate" by Natasha Bedingfield (from N.B.)
6. "A World to Believe In" by Céline Dion (from Taking Chances)
5. "Slideshow" by Rufus Wainwright (from Release the Stars)
4. "Shadow of the Day" by Linkin Park (from Minutes to Midnight)
3. "Homeless" by Leona Lewis (from Spirit)
2. "The Night Sky" by Keane (from The Night Sky)

1. "Say It To Me Now" by Glen Hansard

Favorite Tracks of 2007

10. "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse

9. "Black Jacks" by Girls Aloud

8. "Red Rabbits" by The Shins

7. "Almost Easy" by Avenged Sevenfold
6. "Straight Lines" by Silverchair
5. "Let It Die" by Foo Fighters
4. "Do I Disappoint You" by Rufus Wainwright
3. "Like A Drug" by Kylie Minogue
2. "Gimme More" by Britney Spears
1. "Given Up" by Linkin Park

Wishing you all the best in 2008!
-Ricky

Colin's Favorite Tracks (Sort Of)

2007-12-19T18:53:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure most of these can be downloaded (or at least streamed) for free and legal from various interweb locations. Unlike Thom, however, I will not be providing you with many links. But you're smart and good at computers. Go find them yourselves.

COLIN'S 16 FAVORITE TRACKS OF 2007

(THAT DO NOT APPEAR ON COLIN'S 17 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2007)

by Colin F. McCormick

16. Lavender Diamond - "Rise In The Springtime"

15. Bat For Lashes - "What's A Girl To Do?"

14. Air France - "Beach Party"

13. Architecture In Helsinki - "Heart It Races"

12. Shout Out Louds - "Tonight I Have To Leave It"
Maybe I only like it because it sounds exactly like The Cure.

11. Thieves Like Us - "Drugs In My Body"

10. Hot Chip - "My Piano"

9. Super Furry Animals - "Run-Away"

8. Justice - "Phantom"

7. Jape - "Floating"

6. Cass McCombs - "Pregnant Pause"
I need to listen a bit more to this fellow.

5. Menomena - "Wet And Rusting"

4. Sally Shapiro - "I'll Be By Your Side"

3. Vampire Weekend - "Mansard Roof"
I've already sneaked a listen or two to the forthcoming debut LP from these African-influenced New York preps. It's pretty great stuff, but we'll see if the hype holds up long enough for it to show up on everyone's 2008 list.

2. The New Pornographers - "My Rights Versus Yours"
The rest of Challengers left me a little flat.

1. Beirut - "Elephant Gun"
Also gets my vote for best music video of the year.

Colin's Favorite Albums

2007-12-19T18:25:00.000-08:00

I always hesitate to call these lists "best of" because there is still so much I haven't gotten the chance to hear. I'd like to take a closer listen to those Jens and Cass gentlemen, for instance. But I guess that applies to just about everybody, so this is what you get from me.

COLIN'S 17 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2007

by Colin F. McCormick

17. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
A thick coat of production gloss has rendered Connor Oberst a relatively edgeless version of his former self. That said, he'll still win you over if you're a sucker.

16. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
A bold and passionately personal examination of (possibly) meaningless life as art. Also wins the prize for most interesting insertion of "Sloop John B."

15. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
It's great stuff, but I feel like most people went a little more ga ga over this album than I did. But hey, I'm not gonna be a baby about it. Sorry.

14. Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin
I love Ben Bridwell's voice. And while this folksier effort didn't resonate with quite the same degree of emotional impact as last year's Everything All The Time, I'll take what I can get.

13. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
The level of grandeur much of this album shoots for may have required a bit too epic a trajectory for The Arcade Fire's own good. But what it does manage to accomplish is still compelling in its own right.

12. The Clientele - God Save The Clientele
It may be slightly more upbeat than The Clientele's previous material, but God Save's hushed, understated melodies lilt by so unassumingly, you might fail to notice just how lovely they can be.

11. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
The Shins' earlier albums were driven by their charming youthful spontaneity, and the more mature Wincing sounds a little constrained by comparison. Still, this album contains several legitimate gems, and even some of the best melodies they've ever released.

10. Deerhoof - Friend Opportunity
Deerhoof seem to have somehow finally gotten a firm handle on their unique haphazard style, and they've honed it well on this great haphazard album.

9. Beirut - The Flying Club Cup
When Balkan gypsy music this convincing is blaring and bellowing from a 21-year-old New Mexico native, it's surprising, to say the least. But Zach Condon infuses his songs with just enough Western pop sensibility and charm to quiet the questioning and make them instantly enjoyable.

8. Dan Deacon - Spiderman Of The Rings
"I try to write music that I think if like really cool six-year-olds got together...and they were like, 'Let's write the most awesome music ever,' this is hopefully what I hope they would come up with." When Dan Deacon gave that description of his style during an incredible (and inexplicable) TV appearance in 2005, Spiderman Of The Rings was still more than two years away. The aesthetic, however, holds true, and he's come surprisingly close to realizing his most-awesome-music-ever goal. "Wham City" is easily one of the best tracks I heard all year.

7. Radiohead - In Rainbows
With all the hype surrounding the style of its release, I feel like I heard little about how good this album actually is. It's classic Radiohead, without feeling at all rehashed or tired. Maybe I just wasn't looking hard enough.

6. Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
Sam Beam has continued the fleshing out process he began on the Woman King EP, and Iron & Wine is now a far cry from its solo bedroom project roots. This folksy album is beautiful and haunting.

5. Caribou - Andorra
These songs are just solid pop melodies at their cores, but they are wrapped in insistent, driving percussion, and dipped in a sparkling coating of psychedelic ambience. It's a delicious concoction.

4. Battles - Mirrored
Technical prowess coupled with innovative, progressive songwriting make this one of the most interesting and enjoyable albums I've heard in a long time. Could this be the music of the future?!

3. of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
I always assumed post-romantic separation albums were gloomy and sullen, consisting mainly of guys crying into acoustic guitars (see Beck's Sea Change). Such is not the case for Kevin Barnes, who here takes us on a wild journey through his hurt and frustrated (yet extremely hyperactive) psyche. The album progresses from bouncing, frenetic pop confusion through a 12-minute cathartic bout of rambling bitterness, and finally settles on flamboyant, Prince-esque, funked-out sex jams. Despite the recent ridiculous Outback Steakhouse campaign (among other advertisements), and long-winded rants in support of selling out, Kevin Barnes managed to craft my most listened-to album of the year, and the best of Montreal LP to date.

2. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
Awash in reverb-saturated ambience, Person Pitch is hypnotic, dizzying, uplifting, and gorgeous.

1. Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
I read that the title for this album was chosen after one of the members opened an airline packet of strawberry jam during a flight. The idea was that, like jam, their music is starts with something as natural as a strawberry, say a catchy hook, and processes it to such a degree that its appearance and texture are rendered so unnatural as to seem almost alien. Well, if you've ever eaten jam, you know that end result, bizarre as it appears, is extremely sweet.

2007: A Year in Albums - Paul Bost

2007-12-17T18:41:00.000-08:00

It seems like as the years go by, the album becomes less and less relevant. I mean, I still buy a lot of albums but it seems that I rarely listen to them in their entirety. There are exceptions, though, like when I'm driving cross country and I can't stand one more hour of Jim Rome. It's then that I remember that the album's a legitimate artistic form, like a triptych for painters or a pieta for sculptors. Yeah, this sounds like gobbledlygook, but the point is this: there's still something to be said for the album and the merits of full and repeated listening.

That said, I think the best of these albums have great stand alone tracks and a cohesive quality that sets them apart. Also, if there was anything that I paid attention to this year more than any other year, it was vocals. I like Archers of Loaf and Dinosaur Jr. as much as the next guy (unless the next guy's wearing Doc Martens and an SST t-shirt), but vocals should be more than an afterthought; just like a great melody can save shitty lyrics, a great voice can salvage an otherwise unremarkable song.

Lastly, as if you care, there are some older artists that have been getting much more airplay in my house than the following artists, but they didn't put out albums this year (that I know of, at least). Still, I'd feel remiss if I didn't mention how much I enjoyed the music of Bad Brains, The Left Banke, Tony Allen and Afrika 70, and Linda Ronstadt.

Enough w/ the preamble . . .

Top 20 Albums of 2007

1) Deerhoof – Friend Opportunity
2) The New Pornographers – Challengers (their serious record) w/ extras ordered from Matador (unreleased tracks and demos, the Christmas e.p., and a yet to be uploaded live concert)
3) Cass McCombs – Dropping the Writ
4) Gonzales – Solo Piano
5) Spoon – Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (comeback player of the year)
6) Panda Bear – Person Pitch/Animal Collective – Strawberry Jam
7) Brad Laner – Neighbor Singing
8) The Clientele – God Save the Clientele
9) The Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
10) Grinderman – Grinderman (album opener of the year)
11) White Williams – Smoke (funniest sounds of the year)
12) Band of Horses – Cease to Begin
13) Sloan – Never Hear the End of It
14) Bill Callahan – Woke on a Whaleheart (song of the year: Sycamores)
15) The Shins – Wincing the Night Away (great first half of the record but loses steam after "Red Rabbits")
16) Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (the Satanic Panic in the Attic era was far too short)
17) The Rosebuds – Night of the Furies
18) Dr. Dog - We All Belong and Takers and Leavers
19) Citay – Little Kingdom

Good Listens
The Besnard Lakes – The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse
Blonde Redhead - 23 (sounds good, but also like they're treading water)
Celebration – The Modern Tribe (talk about vocals elevating a song - holy guacamole!)
Dungen – Tio Bitar
Enon - Grass Geysers . . . Carbon Clouds
Field Music – Tones of Town
Future of the Left – Curses (best lyrics of any album this year)
Joan as Police Woman – Real Life
Les Breastfeeders – Les Matins de Grand Soirs (I bought the Hives album but I like this Hives album more)
M.I.A. - Kala
Michio Kurihara – Sunset Notes
No Age – Weirdo Rippers (aah, memories . . . to some of us, The Smell is known less for No Age and more for Extreme Elvis)
Pissed Jeans – Hope for Men
Santa Maria – Santa Maria (Michelle McMahon: check this out if you haven't already; I think there's a Concretes connection there)
Sissy Wish – Beauties Never Die
Slow Six – Nor’easter
St. Vincent – Marry Me
White Stripes – Icky Thump

I still haven't picked up the following albums, so these are officially on my Xmas list:

Wilco – Sky Blue Sky (the fact that I've heard this, like it, and love the band makes not having this record a crime)
The Fiery Furnaces – Widow City (this sounds pretty similar to E.P., which is the only thing I've ever really liked by them)
Meg Baird – Dear Companion
Boris and Michio Kurihara - Rainbow
The Good, The Bad, and The Queen (w/ my new found love for Tony Allen, perhaps the best supergroup lineup ever)
LCD Soundsystem - Sounds of Silver

Soapy's Obsessions in 2007*

2007-12-15T11:11:00.000-08:00

(Soapy's only a little bit older than Tommy, so his faves are only slightly more sophisticated.)

10. Watching Tila Tequila.

9. Chewing slippers, rainbow flip-flops, stairs, tables, and cell phones.

8. Eating Wendy's vanilla frosties.

7. Running away from Paul.

6. Pooping.

5. Farting.

4. Spooning Paul.

3. Bone zoning.

2. Going to the dog park and getting slobbered on.

1. Eating sticks!

* as recounted by Sarah Luppen

Top 10 Older Alternative Rock Songs that Deserve More Radio Airplay than "Tainted Love" - Paul Bost

2007-12-12T13:37:00.000-08:00

10) "I Know What Boys Like" - The Waitresses
9) "Roam" - The B-52s
8) "Headache" - Frank Black
7) "Do the Vampire" - Superdrag
6) "Natural One" - Folk Implosion
5) "Crash" - The Primitives
4) "Possum Kingdom" - The Toadies
3) "Your Woman" - White Town
2) "In the Meantime" - Spacehog
1) "Epic" - Faith No More

My Favorite Things To Do In 2007, Tommy McMahon

2007-12-11T12:36:00.000-08:00

I’ve only been in the world since January 11, so this is really a list of my favorite things to do in my life so far.

10. Eat Cheerios
9. Pull garbage out of garbage cans
8. Put my fingers in the paper shredder
7. Slide around the carpet on book covers, CDs, or record sleeves
6. Splash in the bath
5. Kiss myself in mirrors
4. Flush toilets
3. Eat biscuits
2. Pull cords out of electrical outlets and then try to put them in my mouth before Mom or Dad sees me
1. Crumple newspapers

2007: Whatcha gonna do with all that tripe?

2007-12-11T09:29:00.000-08:00

For now, here are some of my favorite YouTube clips from this past year. For the most part, they come from The Soup, which is hilarious!

Merry Chrismukkah!
-Richard P. Steelman, Jr.

A Dozen MP3s And A Little KFC

2007-12-09T17:33:00.000-08:00

Two humble offerings from me for now. I’ll be back in a while with an albums list. Too much to listen to.
-Thom McMahon IV

MP3 JAMBOREE: Best Free Downloads

12. Ghost – Caledonia
This will make you want to grab a spear and run through a jungle in search of something to kill. Although by the end of the song, you may want to kill yourself.

11. The Curtains – Go Lucky
An understated — sneaky, even — pop gem.

10. Richard Swift – Paisley Park
Reminiscent of another great “park” song: the Zombies’ “Beechwood Park.”

9. Black Moth Super Rainbow – Sun Lips
The band name seems nonsensical, but this song does feel something like flying through a gauzy rainbow. Psychedelic, in other words.

8. White Williams – New Violence
A white man playing guitar and drums simultaneously in a room full of malfunctioning keyboards.

7. Vampire Weekend – Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
New Yorkers playing guitar pop at a street festival in Congo. Their debut album, which comes out in January, should be hot.

6. Marnie Stern – Put All Your Eggs In One Basket, And Then Watch That Basket!!!
Spiraling out of control has never sounded so cute.

5. Yeasayer – 2080
Some sort of futuristic dub ensemble playing an Irish jig.

4. Marissa Nadler – Diamond Heart
Haunting folk from a young woman who sounds like the daughter of Leonard Cohen and Joanna Newsom.

3. Bodies of Water – These Are The Eyes
This was apparently made by young people who were cut from their high school choir, so they started their own choir in the guise of a rock band. Triumphant!

2. Sally Shapiro – I’ll Be By Your Side
You know that hotel made out of ice in northern Sweden? If there’s a dance club there, this is what they play non-stop. Icy perfection.

1. Jens Lekman – Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo
Will make you laugh, dance, and become nostalgic for rural Sweden.

------------------------------------------------------------------

BONUS LIST: Least-Appetizing Ads Seen In KFC Windows

5. “Triple Dip Strips!” – I’ve heard of double dipping, but triple dipping? How many times do you have to smother these things in sauce before you can get them down? Three times.

4. “Fish Snacker!” – Since when is fish a snack? And since when is it appropriate for Kentucky Fried Chicken to serve fish?

3. “Kids’ Laptop Meal!” – Nothing says nutrition like a portable computer. I guess they e-mail your kids their drumsticks and coleslaw.

2. “Free Mega Mash!” – This is apparently what Mega Man eats when he has a hankering for some greasy, whipped potato product. And when he’s broke.

1. “Boneless Variety Bucket!” – So there’s no bones, but what is there? I just picture a bucket of bones.

Top 10 Obsessions of 2007 - Paul Bost

2007-12-06T09:32:00.000-08:00

10. The Hills (there are many other television shows that I enjoy much more, but for some reason, this is the only show I’ve watched in real-time consistently since the first Survivor; very, very little happens on this show but it has a great villain who happens to be a real person)

9. Doughboys (it took me too long to visit this 3rd street W. Hollywood eatery but I’m now hooked despite recent unpleasantness; Sarah and I enjoyed many a good pancake and grilled cheese sandwich here)

8. Singing in Tune (perhaps it’s related to singing in a choir myself, but I’ve been really appreciating vocalists with great intonation; there’s really nothing worse than Andre 3000’s introductory verse on “The Whole World”)

7. Getting to the Dog Park (since I got Soapy in January, my life is scheduled around getting the dog to the dog park so he can burn some energy; and for the record, I love my dog)

6. Paul Bost (I think a lot about how great I am, and just as much time about how awful I am; it’s exhausting)

5. Wine (maybe not an obsession, but I’ve had more wine this year than all my past years combined and am coming to really enjoy it; nothing beats a $15 bottle of Penfold’s Shiraz)

4. Fluxblog (I’ve been reading Fluxblog for years, but it’s only now that I view its proprietor, Matt Perpetua, as a bosom brother of the highest degree; never have I identified more with the tastes of a music critic)

3. Sports Talk Radio (I’d call this a guilty pleasure but I rarely derive pleasure from it for its lack of invention and opinion; regardless, I’m addicted to all varieties of sports talk radio from the good (Petros and Money, The Acceptance Insurance Wake-Up Zone) to the bad (The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Game Night with Freddie Coleman)

2. The Best Show on WFMU (I was introduced to the Best Show by Fluxblog and now await the weekly podcasts with unrivaled anticipation; when I finally shell out for broadband at home, I’ll listen live on www.wfmu.org from 8pm – 11pm on Tuesday nights)

1. Coffee (for the first [maybe second] year in my life, I can’t remember a morning without coffee, usually a 16 oz. cup from Fido or Starbucks; it never fails to brighten my day)

Let's Get This Jamboree Rollin'!

2007-12-05T23:15:00.001-08:00

Welcome back, folks. As 2007 winds down, let's all take some time to think about what moved us during the year. Tell us what were your favorite (or least favorite) albums, movies, concerts, donuts, or anything else that appeared in the past 12 months. Check back often to see what others have to sing about, and comment as you please.

If you'd like to review what went on last year at this time, take a look below this post. We'd say it was a strong turnout in 2006. Let's make more magic.

Fondly,

Thomas A. McMahon IV
Paul A. Bost I

Adam "Gunny" Willis' Music Year In Review

2007-01-03T13:46:00.000-08:00

Greatest Singles of the Year
5. “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing” Scissor Sisters (as discussed, why are they not bigger in America?)
4. “Black Magic” Jarvis Cocker (2nd Best Sample of the Year)
3. “Hip Hop Is Dead” Nas (Best Sample of the Year)
2. “What You Know” T.I. (The King. Greatest Hip-Hop Anthem of the Year)
1. “Crazy” Gnarls Barkley (Inescapable, but definitely the most infectious and brilliant dance song of the year and probably one of the best singles of the past 10 years. Sorry.)

Honorable Mention Albums of the Year
4. Bishop Allen’s Monthly EP Experiment (a favorite band of mine, dropped from their label embarked on an ambitious project worth mentioning out of it's sheer ambition)
3. Jarvis Cocker Jarvis (A very good return to form from Harry Potter star and former Pulp frontman. Will most likely get more listening in the year to come. (see Greatest Singles above))
2. Beck The Information (as with the next album on the list, this was a very decent album by an old favorite. Leaps and bounds above Guero for me, some fantastic songs but all in all lacking in spirit.)
1. Flaming Lips At War With The Mystics (Disappointing but very good. It's altogether possible that I will grow to like this album much more somewhere down the road. But maybe not.)
Top 10 Albums of the Year
10. Lupe Fiasco, Food & Liquor (Kanye protege of sorts delivered a fantastic hip-hop album about Buddhism and skateboarding, I think, while Kanye did the soundtrack to MI:3. And seriously, that's one of the best rap monikers around.)
9. Phoenix, It’s Never Been Like That (Best Strokes Album of the Year. They have wonderful hair and wardrobes. I'm a sucker for French pop and they know how to deliver it. This time they delivered it as rock n' rollers instead of as Steely Dan and it really grew on me.)
8. The Walkmen A Hundred Miles Off (No comment. I just liked it.)
7. The Clipse, Hell Hath No Fury (They continue to be the greatest rap duo around and live up to any and all hype they receive. This album is way dark compared to their previous major label release. They rap about dealing drugs and appear to continue to do both in equal amounts which holds more credibility for me than every other rapper who "quit the game" and survived to utterly sell out and make mediocre rap albums, movies, tennis shoes and designer jeans.)
6. Band Of Horses Everything All The Time ("The Funeral" is probably the indie single of the year and deservedly so. Lots of people already mentioned this album's merits so I'll agree. This one grew on me all year long and I continued to revisit it throughout 2006.)
5. Girl Talk, Night Ripper (Is it called sampling, mixing or mashing-up? This PB recommendation was a mind-blower and I burnt it and gave it to a young British commercial director I worked for in the hopes that he would enjoy someone else's music which I copied and gave to him so much that he would give me a big break into the industry. Still waiting for that, will let you know.)
4. Peter Bjorn & John, Writer’s Block (I waited too long to pull this one out of nowhere and my thunder was stolen and apparently a lot of other people had also heard this album. Probably my new favorite band.)
3. Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat (I'm pretty sure I downloaded this album before it was out in 2005 and put it on my list last year. Oops. Either way, it deserves to be on two years running for me because I've listened to it that much. I clearly have a greater love of country music than even I thought. This album is also a real "wife-pleaser" of a CD.)
2. Grandaddy, Whatever Happened To The Fambly Cat (You might think this made the list because they're one of my favorite bands and they officially broke up this year with this release, and that might have something to do with it. Either way, it made Ryan McNeill cry and has many times gotten me pretty damn close. It's a tie with number one as far as most listens of the year.)
1. Belle & Sebastian, The Life Pursuit (You know what, it's a perfect album and it would appear that they have completely come into their own as far as songwriting goes. Nobody does twee better, and this one is honestly less twee than ever and provides some really timeless, perfectly crafted pop songs. Finding Thom McMahon and an inebriated and shirtless Paul Bost at their fantastic Hollywood Bowl show was a highlight of the year.)

Love,
Adam Willis

Adam "Gunny" Willis' General Year In Review

2007-01-03T12:04:00.000-08:00

In writing something of this nature, I tend to dwell on my decision for too long. The main reason for this is that having a limited amount of time and money for buying/"buying"(downloading) music, watching movies, reading books (ha!), watching television and generally participating in cultural studies restricts the pool from which I can draw. Therefore these year end lists would probably be more accurate a few years down the road after I've had the chance to watch more DVDs and listen to more CD releases from the year in question.

The lists on this blog alternately make me feel good and bad about my tastes in pop culture. I hope the following best-of-lists of my own will impress you and make you feel ashamed for not nearly being as cultured as I am. Sorry for the length of this post. Enjoy!

Best Movies I Saw in 2006
7. Wassup Rockers! (maybe not the 7th best, but very enjoyable and influenced me to take up skateboarding too late in life)
6. Borat
5. The Departed
4. Half Nelson
3. A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints
2. Brick
1. The Fountain

Worthy Acting Performances Worth Mentioning In Which The Film Itself Did Not Make The Top 7
2. Sasha Baron Cohen- Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (I still stand by my comment of this being a "Peter Sellers-worthy comedic performance)
1. Isaac Laskin- Art School Confidential (most shocking recognition of an actor on screen, and most Malkovich scene-stealing performance of the year)

Best Movie Trailer of the Year
1. Marie Antoinette (the initial teaser featuring New Order's "Age of Consent")
View Trailer

Best Television Shows of the Year
4. MTV's Two-A-Days (my lack of interest in the past few Real World Seasons, Real World/Road Rules Challenge-esque shows, and the latter 2 Seasons of Laguna Beach provided a gaping hole in my youth culture "reality" programming which this show filled. There's nothing like High School Football and High School Drama. Also, those Alabama jocks had the best uniform hairstyles of the year.)
3. 30 Rock (Tracy Morgan and Alec Baldwin. Fantastic.)
2. Saxondale (Steve Coogan's latest BBC Comedy, see it now before it is made into a watered down, slightly less-funny American version for NBC)
1. Sopranos Season 6 (I can't help being on the bandwagon, it's great.)

Most Un-funny Television Show of the Year Which The General Public As Well As Multiple Friends & Family Find Funny to My Lack of Understanding
1. My Name Is Earl (Jason Lee is much smaller in real life than he appears on screen.)

Most Cliche Celebrity Sighting Observation Used In This Best-Of-List
1. Celebrities are always smaller in real life.

Facial Hair of the Year
1. Beards

(This was such a ridiculously long post, that I have split it up into 2 to look less obnoxious.)

Love,
Adam Willis

Ryan Interview Ryan about 2006

2006-12-21T09:54:00.000-08:00

Recently, I got the chance to sit down with myself to discuss a rather eventful year. What follows is a partial transcript of the interview set to appear in Esquire early next year.

Ryan: As faithful readers of this list know, you don't know anything about music, which is why you resort to cheap tricks like interviewing yourself. Still, did you have any interesting musical experiences in 2006?

Ryan: Indeed. One was listening to Sufjan Stevens' Come on Feel the Illinoise while driving to Chicago. In response to the response "That's sooooo 2005," it was in January 2006. Also, I listened to the Shins Whincing the Night Away while being kicked in the Shins. In response to the response "That's sooooo 2007," that moment hasn't actually happened yet.

Ryan: Very well then. Anything interesting happening in the world of comics, which you do actually know something about, nerd?

Ryan: Let me finish pushing my glasses up my face and then I'll report. [pause] Ok. Yes, several great comics came out this year. Brad Metzler's JLA #0 was an excellent examination of the relationship between Batman, Superman, and Wonderwoman. Paul Dini's run on Detective Comics has been entertaining, especially 826, which was excellent. Alex Ross' Justice continues to provide everything you could ever want in a superhero comic. I finally started reading Y: The Last Man, which is consistently witty and intelligent. Craig Thompson's Blankets is a moving and identifiable story about first love, but it's overpriced, kids, so get it at the library. You, too, will find it impressive.

Ryan: Excellent. Speaking of you, too, how much has Youtube changed your life?

Ryan: Almost entirely, mostly because of this video, which should be watched on the fourth of July.

Ryan: Any moving deaths on television this year?

Ryan: Yes. Jonathan Kent's death on Smallville was respectfully handled and appropriately foreshadowed. In contrast, Edgar Stiles' death on 24 was shocking and painful. And apparently a lot of people died on Lost, and one of them was a hot chick who wore bikinis. Pity.

Ryan: What other entertainment satisfied you this year?

Ryan: Little Miss Sunshine has the most satisfying conclusion to a movie I can recall in some time. South Park's parody of Family Guy was funny and deserved, even though Family Guy has also been fairly funny. The Vanity Fair featuring ScarJo naked on the cover was a treat. Michael Martone's The Blue Guide to Indiana, which is an entirely fictitious travel guide to my adopted state, is a joy to read. Also, I just finished The Invisible Century, about Einstein and Freud, which will learn you something if you read it. And when Rosie O'Donnell asserted on the view that no one would question Mario Lopez's sexuality, I was entertained.

Ryan: Was Superman Returns a good enough movie to make up for the mediocre X-men movie which resulted from Bryan Singer's departure?

Ryan: [silence]

Ryan: Anything interesting in your personal world of automobiles?

Ryan: This year I went to my first demolition derby, which was a smash-em up good time, even though most of it is spent removing cars from the arena. My car was also hit by a school bus, which was not a smash-em up good time.

Ryan: Very well then. On the subject of car wrecks, do you find Fergie to be one of the most reprehensible and odious personalities in recent history, whose lack of talent, ugliness, and needless celebrity are only highlighted by constant media exposure?

Ryan: You took the words right out of my mouth.

Ryan: Great. Lastly, what should people have done with the time they wasted reading this post?

Ryan: They should have read the New Republic's November 27th issue, which presented 17 possible approaches to the Iraq conflict, all well reasoned. It serves as an altenative for people seeking serious dialogue between the cut-and-run and stay the course extremes. I have the issue as a pdf, if anyone wants it e-mailed. They also should be listening to Elton John's Step into Christmas to prepare for the holidays.

Ryan: Thank you Ryan. You are always a joy to interview, and devilishly handsome to boot.

15 Albums I Couldn't Resist In 2006 (By Thomas McMahon)

2006-12-21T00:57:00.000-08:00

15. Crime In Choir – Trumpery Metier
Epic, instrumental rock and roll. Sounds like fleshed out renditions of music from some magical adventure game for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Watch out for a searing saxophone solo!

14. Tunng – This Is … Tunng: Mother’s Daughter And Other Songs
Dark folk with some surprising electronic beats and manipulation. Reminds me a bit of Califone, whose new album I still haven’t bought yet for no good reason.

13. Camera Obscura – Let’s Get Out Of This Country
Classy, charming pop from Scotland. Recorded in Sweden, though, if I’m not mistaken.

12. Midlake – The Trials Of Van Occupanther
I usually try to avoid making comparisons like this (and it might sound unpleasant), but it just seems appropriate: Radiohead meets The Eagles. It’s smooth, to be sure, but with interesting instrumentation and lyrics that evoke the perils of country life in some bygone era.

11. White Whale – WWI
High-flying, piano-filled and somewhat-proggy rock. Akin to The Arcade Fire, but I much prefer this album to Funeral.

10. Lansing-Dreiden – The Dividing Island
This group’s music is hard to categorize. What I can say is that the melodies are unusual yet satisfying, synthesizers play a major role and there’s at least one song on this album that is best described as a “slow jam.” Also, the band members refuse to identify themselves, which is just an amusing detail.

9. Crystal Skulls – Outgoing Behavior
I didn’t find this album to be as consistent as their debut, Blocked Numbers. But I think that there are some stronger, catchier songs here, especially “Baby Boy,” which you must download if you haven’t already (see “Several MP3s” post below).

8. Liars – Drum’s Not Dead
Experimental, perhaps, but somehow melodic and accessible rather than just noisy. There’s a primal quality to the whole affair that you’ll really want to sink your yellow country teeth into.

7. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife
Three-part masterpiece “The Island” alone is worth the price of admission here. The organ jamboree in Part 2 (“The Landlord’s Daughter”) is the most thrilling musical moment I experienced this year. Who else can rock you down like that with an organ these days? Elsewhere on The Crane Wife, there are just a couple of tracks I haven’t warmed to that keep it from landing closer to the top of my list.

6. Hot Chip – The Warning
Fun and funny electronic music from a bunch of friendly-looking British lads. Saw them here in L.A. recently. Though they hardly moved on the stage, the crowd danced like it was MTV’s “The Grind” circa 1994. Less freaking, though.

5. James Raynard – Strange Histories
In the vein of Alasdair Roberts’ No Earthly Man (which was my top album last year), Mr. Raynard digs up some old tunes of the British Isles and presents them in stark arrangements. Many of these songs are from around the 17th century, and I imagine that they were performed similarly back then.

4. Supersystem – A Million Microphones
Could be described as “dance-punk,” but it’s much more fresh and interesting than you might suppose of something with that tag. To adapt a phrase used earlier in the jamboree: This is the album I wish The Rapture had come out with this year.

3. Peter Bjorn And John – Writer’s Block
This album exudes tunefulness and low-fi charm, which I expected going into it based on what I had heard from these gentlemen. But there’s an emotional resonance here that I didn’t expect, and it makes the album. I didn’t realize that Writer’s Block hadn’t been released in the U.S. until Cary mentioned it in one of his posts. Here’s a great place to order it and other Swedish treats: www.parasol.com.

2. Junior Boys – So This Is Goodbye
The palette of sounds on this album and the atmosphere they create are captivating. It’s more downbeat than I anticipated after having heard “In The Morning,” and I was even a bit disappointed by the album initially. But I grew to love it. If I were wandering the wintry streets of some Canadian city at night, So This Is Goodbye is what I would want to listen to.

1. The Knife – Silent Shout
Ranking most of these albums was tough, but Silent Shout was clearly my favorite of the year. It is bold, beautiful and downright creepy. While it could be categorized as dance music, it’s hard to imagine it being played in any club in this dimension. It sounds like the soundtrack to some dark, intense cousin of The NeverEnding Story. The vocals are so warped at times that I picture them coming from trolls or some other crazy creatures. Not the type of music I normally listen to, but perhaps that’s why this album hit me so hard.

Katie Byron's Top Movies of 2006

2006-12-18T21:57:00.000-08:00

1) The Science of Sleep—This movie is one of my favorites of all
time—It is beautiful and deep and so creative—It's like Eternal
Sunshine, but crazier and more surreal.
2) Stranger Than Fiction
3) Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious
Nation of Kazakhstan
4) Scoop
5) Little Miss Sunshine
6) For Your Consideration
7) X-Men: The Last Stand
8) Friends With Money—This movie ended, it seemed, in the middle—I
usually dislike lack of closure, but this ending really made me
think—I definitely left wanting more, but maybe that's a good
thing—Overall it made a very interesting comment on society.
9) The Break-Up
10) Superman Returns

Best Albums of 2006 - Part 2 (Cary Clarke)

2006-12-16T03:01:00.000-08:00

12) Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
My mom saw Gnarls Barkley at Coachella this past year, having no real prior knowledge of them other than the mix CD - 1 track by each band - I had put together for her trip to the festival. My mom totally lost her mind for this band. The success of "Crazy" as single was one of those rare moments when the radio powers-that-be seemed to remember that their programming was supposed to have something to do with quality and relevance. Not since "Hey Ya" have I seen a song so beloved by such a diverse audience - from me, to my mom, to students at my school, to the dude you pass on traffic singing along in his Hummer, to the hipster cyclist also singing along next to him, listening through the Hummer's open window. The whole record is terrific and hearing a DJ and hip-hop production methods paired with a vocal style other than rap is pretty revelatory.

13) Evolutionary Jass Band - Change of Scene
This Portland small jazz ensemble seems to be risen from one half of the combined original Jackie O. Motherucker lineups. Jackie O. Motherfucker was, for a few years there, the poster improv/noise/experimental collective, appearing on the cover of Wire, which is the journal of record for that scene. You wouldn't necessarily know it listening to The EJB, though. The Evolutionary Jass band was the big surprise discovery for me at this year's PDX Pop Now! festival. They play a brand of jazz I frankly thought was done - something floating between mid-era pre-totally-crazy Coltrane and early-crazy Ornette Coleman. Flirting with both big band melodies and noise-improv sonorities, but committing to neither, this 5-song album is really my favorite jazz record in recent memory.

14) Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics
I was not a big fan of the Yoshimi record. It seemed as if The Flaming Lips had lost their passion for new ideas and terrific hooks and had gotten in a bit of a stylistic rut. This combined with the fact that I'd seen them play more or less the same stage show 4 or 5 times made this band seem very stale for a couple years. How exciting to see them rescue themselves from the brink! I feel like this record doesn't really get the credit it deserves, and I fear that the Lips may always be living in the shadow of The Soft Bulletin as far as fans are concerned. But this record opens up some new sonic territory for them, while recovering the memorable melodies that really make this band great underneath the LSD and Fridman. Good for them!

15) Peter, Bjorn & John - Writer's Block
I somehow missed the couple of days when this Scandinavian album's effective internet single "Young Folks" appeared on every blog. I just heard that song last week when beginning to consider my favorites of the year. I could not get it out of my head and went on a fruitless quest to buy the whole album at several local record stores before I discovered that it did not yet have American distribution. Shame on the US! There's just no good reason for this. So, I resorted to other means to obtain the album. And boy am I glad I did. Sure, this record is a throwback - there's some definite 60s worship going on, and, specifically, a pretty good John Lennon impression throughout on the vocal end of things. That said, how good are these songs?! This is the record I heard this year that my dad we be most likely to like as much as I do. Totally infectious melodies, great percussion work and a production aesthetic that harkens to bygone standard in a smile-inducting, non-ironic way. Who knows where I would rank this album were I to have lived with it for as long as my other entries, but for now this seems about right. Pick it up when it inevitably gets release here next year.

16) Talkdemonic - Beat Romantic
I have an emotional investment in this band, I'll admit. This band's rise from local obscurity to Pitchfork tracks more or less closely with the progress of PDX Pop Now! But they're undeniably a great band. An instrumental duo, consisting mainly of Kevin O'Connor's drums and Lisa Molinaro's violin, with same sequences, beats and synths thrown in tastefully as well. I liked this band when I first heard them on record, but I didn't really get it until I saw them live. The trick is to understand that the drums are not simply a backbeat to provide context for the strings and synths, but, rather, the drum kit is the FOREground. They are, so to speak, the frontman that everything else highlights. Without this knowledge, I might be tempted to think that this album was a placid, electronic affair. With it, I realize that this record, while beautiful, tuneful and radiating a sense of inner calm, is essentially a showcase for fantastic, live, loud drumming. Lisa Molinaro recently became the new violinist for The Decemberists, which caused Talkdemonic to cancel their tour. I truly hope that her commitment to Talkdemonic is not diminished, for as much as I talk up Kevin's rhythmic contributions, Lisa makes the band, too. Which brings me too...

17) The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
I have a hard time thinking of another band that has released both a record that I like as much as "Castaways and Cutouts" as well as one I hate as much as "Picaresque." Really. I never want to hear that latter one again. I can't stand the production (incidentally, can anyone tell my what happened to Chris Walla's production skills around the time of "Travistan"?) and despite repeated attempts to take something from that album, when I try to conjure up a melody in my head, I get nothing. I thought I was simply done with The Decemberists. But lo and behold - The Crane Wife is great and ambitious! "The Crane Wife 1 & 2" is a sprawling, captivating success, and "Sons and Daughters" is the catchiest the band has been since its early days. I don't love the 70s-style prog experimentalism, but I do like it, and I'm pretty darn happy listening to this whole record from start to finish. This is the album that my girlfriend and I most agree on from the year, completing the family-approved trio including Gnarls Barkely/My Mom and (I'd guess) Peter, Bjorn & John/My Dad. Plus it will always remind me of the week we spent together in Yosemite this fall. The Decemberists made a great record when it counted - on a new big label, with the potential to wrangle a bunch of new fans. Keep going! Of course, the Russian-major in me will never stop being irritated by the incorrect extra "e" in their name, between the "b" and "r." Really, a band with literary pretensions has certain obligations.

18) Thom Yorke - The Eraser
The mere fact that Thom Yorke could release a solo album, frustrating Radiohead fans' expectations for an album from the full band in 06, and have it not be despised is pretty remarkable. That the record was often beloved by said fans, as well as by those who never really totally dug Radiohead is nigh on miraculous. And for good reason - wide-open, memorable songs, and different enough from Radiohead to warrant the separate moniker.

19) Alela Diane - The Pirate's Gospel
This was another PDX Pop Now! discovery for me. Ms. Alela Diane had just recently moved to Portland from Nevada City, a Central-Northern California city that was home to only one other musician that I knew of - Joanna Newsom. And there's certainly a relationship - musical and personal - between the two. Diane is not the compositional genius that Newsom is, but she has an amazing, powerful, captivating voice and nice chordal sense on guitar. Upon first listen to this record - at the recommendation of my PDX Pop colleague who is himself from Nevada City - I thought "Eh. I don't really go in much for female singer-songwriter-guitarists." And that's true. But Alela Diane breaks the rule. The album isn't an ideal reflection of the talent that she radiates live, but for a first shot, it'll more than suffice.

20) M Ward - Post War
Truthfully, I don't love this record. I'm all for trying new approaches, and I like louder, bigger, rockiner ensembles as much as the next guy, but I miss the intimacy and quiet grandeur of Ward's last couple efforts. But I'm so nuts for a handful of this album's songs that they carry the slack for the forgettable numbers. "To Go Home" is just awesome. I'd heard Daneil Johnston before, but never really got him until I heard this cover. "Chinese Translation" is another classic. The dude can play guitar, and the dude can sing. Sadly, Matt moved away from Portland this year to New Hampshire to follow his girlfriend to grad school or something. Bummer. His rendition of "Paul's Song" - which is, as I understand it, a paean to Portland - at his show here was predictably moving. We'll miss you!

21) Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds
Wow, is this record weird. Not as catchy and, well, likeable, as Owen Pallett's last outing as Final Fantasy, but probably more interesting. Can anyone tell me what kind of emotional space this album occupies? I can't figure it out. Hearing a born string-player with actual compositional training really throws into harsh light how stupid and trite most string arrangements in pop music are. Whether this is itself pop music, I'm not totally certain. I keep listening and keep hoping I'll figure it out, which means that the obtuseness of the album isn't off-putting, as it might be, but mystifying. Something about listening to this album reminds me of reading those Graham Baese puzzle books, like Eleventh Hour, when I was a kid. But with more gay sex.

22) Horse Feathers - Words Are Dead
Am I a hometown hack or what? Horse Feathers is another Portland band that came out of nowhere this year and, yes, played PDX Pop Now! Horse Feathers is a two-dude folksy duo - fragile male vocals, acoustic guitar, and a bevy of Americana-tinged acoustic instruments played by a 19-year old prodigy. This exists on the border between Iron & Wine and Tracy Chapman, but better than either of those referents. Actually, this album was just positively reviewed in Pitchfork today, so check it out here - I mostly agree with what this reviewer makes of things. Interestingly, this album was recorded at the same studio - Miracle Lake - by the same engineer - Skyler Norwood -as my band's ( At Dusk) last album. Additionally, Skyler recorded two other albums I've included on this list (Alan Singley & Pants Machine, Talkdemonic), so I guess that makes him my pick for producer of the year. Right on.

23) The Futureheads - News & Tributes
I think this is a transition record for The Futureheads. They began to find their own voice and to lose the overwhelming specter of post-punk that haunted their debut, and this album has some great tunes. However, the gains they made for originality and sonic variety weren't quite enough to make up for what they lost in backing away from the the single-mided frenzy of their last album. A good record - not as good as their last, and not as great as the one I feel that they'll give us all sometime soon.

24) Strength - Going Strong
Portland is full of twenty-something, skinny, hiply ironic lovers of dance music. This got in the way of my appreciating Strength for a few years. But after seeing them in a few new contexts this year - including as a wedding band - and hearing this record, which had been in production under the guidance of my friend, Chris Anderson, for what must have been a couple of years, I finally was ready to accept this band for what they are - SINCERE twenty-something, skinny lovers of dance music. This is disco music with the sound of a Quincy Jones album. It's unbelievably slick in a great way. You will groove to this, I promise. I remember Beck, when talking about what he found appealing in R Kelly and slojamz, generally, said something about how clearly sincere it was - you never doubted for a moment that Kelly DID like the crotch on you. As soon as I was willing to hear this album's lyrics about driving around together in trucks and bloody noses, I got it. I forgot about this when I typed up my best of Portland list; it should have been on there.

25) Juana Molina - "Son"
Juana Molina has made 4 albums, 3 of which I've heard. They're all terrific and bare no resemblance to other music that I've heard - except, to each other. "Son", in spite of its break from Molina's previous ordinal album-naming strategy, is pretty interchangeable with her other records. It's great, relaxing, convention-defying, deeply personal music - but I'm ready for Molina to try something strikingly different the way she did when she walked away from her career as Argentina's reigning comedic television actress to start recording beguiling electro-acoustic albums some years ago. Molina played what has to have been the best sound-check I've ever heard. She gave directions to the sound-guy in song, creating a melody with tech-talk, as she began playing her first number. I never realized what a fluent musician she was and how reproducible the best qualities of her music are in a live setting.

26) The Plastic Constellations - Crusades
We got to meet this tighter-than-tight Minneapolis quartet of lifelong buddies here in Portland this past spring and play a show with them. Man are they a fantastic live act. In hanging out with them post-show, I mustered the courage to ask them how they felt about 311, as their music suggested to me - and continues to suggest - that I might have found in them fellow connosieurs of the deeply unhip, but excellent, irrefutably original band. Alas, they were not fans. But 311 crossed with a late-90s Dischord band is still the best comparison I can come up with for these guys. "Crusades" is absent the playfulness of their last album "Mazatlan" but tries to compensate with relentless forward-moving intensity. This plan works pretty well.

Honorable Mention (in alphabetical order by band):
Pretty Girls Make Graves - Elan Vital
Six Organs of Admittance - The Sun Awakens
Swan Lake - Beast Moans
Caetano Veloso - Ce

Biggest Disappointments:

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Stadium Arcadium
The Strokes - First Impressions of Earth
Kaki King - Until We Were Red
Matmos - The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast
Outkast - Idlewild
Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass
The Walkmen - A Hundred Miles Off

Myspace Bands

2006-12-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

Countless hours of bored-at-work myspace surfing led me to the conclussion that there's a lot of really crap bands on myspace. However, there are a few good ones. Here's my top 10 bands whose music I've enjoyed via myspace:

1. Snowden - http://www.myspace.com/snowden
2. Margot and the Nuclear So… - http://www.myspace.com/margotandthenuclearsoandsos
3. The Colour - http://www.myspace.com/thecolour
4. Devin the Dude - http://www.myspace.com/devinthedude
5. Pipettes - http://www.myspace.com/thepipettes
6. Menomena - http://www.myspace.com/menomena
7. Deerhunter - http://www.myspace.com/deerhunter
8. The Blow – http://www.myspace.com/theblowus
9. MF Doom - http://www.myspace.com/mfdoom
10. The Hard To Get - http://www.myspace.com/thehardtoget

-Daniel Jacobs

Steve Kerr = Justin Timberlake

2006-12-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'd throw this out there.

Also, in relation to James' Southern Rock/Drive-By Truckers post below, check out this link to get an entire set of Patterson Hood performing Stones' songs.

For the record, my incessant commenting will soon resume (but probably not until I'm done w/ finals).