Thursday, December 30, 2004
Back Home!
I was born on Long Island and Paul and Sooz indulged me and took me to find my old home! Nothing looked familiar until Paul noticed the basket ball hoop and I recognized the garages from the ONE picture we have of the outside of the house:
Then: (i'm the cutey in the bonet)
Now:
What hit song of 2004 am i?
Heidi, we're twins on this one... Did anyone else notice in the club question that SF was listed twice?
Float On by Modest Mouse |
"Bad news comes don't you worry even when it lands
Good news will work its way to all them plans"
Laid back and real, people appreciated you for you are in 2004.
|
My Top 5 of 2004
5. Califone - Heron King Blues
The next 3 (starting with this one) on my list are by artists who placed in my top 10 in recent memory, but i don't like these albums AS much... that said, I probably don't like this one as much as QS/CS but it certainly is good. I love the disco-funk of Two Sisters, so I think that alone made this one rise to #5. You can listen to something
here.
4. Bobby Bare Jr. - From the End of Your Leash
i think i HATED this one on first listen. Almost didn't give it another chance, but then again I think I hated "YCSL" at first too. His music infects you or something. Music City has the cutest lyrics ever. Man, I'm not doing a good job of pushing this, am I. You can listen to a couple songs through
the Bloodshot site.
3. Wilco - A Ghost is Born
You're shocked that's it not number 1, aren't you. I feel like a traitor placing this so low, but there's just something about it that doesn't gel for me. I truly feel that YHF was such the perfect album with amazing pacing, and this one has too many stops and starts. HOWEVER it is a great singles album. I really adore Theologians, Late Greats, Hummingbird, I'm a Wheel, Handshake Drugs... I just don't love the rest as much as I think I should.
2. Joanna Newsom - Milk-Eyed Mender
Man, this was a tough call. Joanna almost made it to #1, but one thing kept her down, frickin' Will Oldham. The second to last song is just a STINKER (she didn't write it to her defense) but OMG the rest is a beautiful fluffy cloud that you were taken to on the back of a unicorn spewing glitter and daisies. Imagine Bjork gone totally primal, playing a harp, but cooler than that even!! I listen to this record in my room with the lights off and feel okay! Watch her video
here.
1. Sufjan Stevens - 7 Swans
Why oh why did I not jump on the Sufjan wagon last year when MI came out? What a thing of beauty this album is, and Sufjan is!! swoon, okay no really. A lot is said about "oh he's all into god and stuff" but I don't feel like any dogma is being crammed down my throat. On the contrary, I think it paints a positive picture of Xtianity. If Jesus can inspire something this beautiful then maybe he's okay. Don't get me wrong, I'm not being born again or anything... but the god thing is not a deterrent. He's got his own kind of mellow sound going, and there's not a single stinker on the album. For example,
this song. Congrats Sufjan, YOU ARE NUMBER ONE!
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
we interrupt this year end list...
I had a lovely xmas, thanks for asking. sooz's parents were charming, i recieved some lovely gifts, and stacy and I saw
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou that nite, after frantically driving from the Century, which didn't receive the movie, to the not quite as nice Sony Esquire. It was a really really cool movie, I think I need to see it a few more times. It's realy beautiful, visually. anyhoot, tomorrow we are off to New York for the Flaming Lips and Wilco on New Year Eve!!! ARRRRRRRGH!
(top 5 tonite!)
halfway to the top!!
10. Two Cow Garage - Wall Against Our Backs
The best young indie band in america right now. Three guys who know how to ROCK, and mean it.
9. Finn Brothers - Everyone is Here
Go ahead and laugh. The first Finn Bros. record is not one I go back to very often, but they finally match the work they did together on Crowded House's Woodface with this one. A very solid beautiful pop record.
8. Ted Leo - Shake the Sheets
Ahhh Ted Leo, rock with a conscience. If Green Day can crack many people's top ten, why the hell didn't they give this a chance?
7. the Sadies - Favourite Colours
I've always liked the Sadies, but I think they FINALLY made the perfect lil' record with this one. It flows!
6. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose
This is a no brainer. I was certainly skeptical of a Jack White produced album from the Coal Miner's Daughter, but I'll be damned if they didn't make a really amazing country album. It's inspiring that she's still writing these wonderful gems of songs. She nails the rocker (Portland, Oregon) the ballad (Miss Being Mrs.) and everything inbetween. Even the spoken word goofiness.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Duh!
Your Dominant Intelligence is Musical Intelligence |
Every part of your life has a beat, and you're often tapping your fingers or toes.
You enjoy sounds of all types, but you also find sound can distract you at the wrong time.
You are probably a gifted musician of some sort - even if you haven't realized it.
Also a music lover, you tend to appreciate artists of all kinds.
You would make a great musician, disc jockey, singer, or composer.
|
..and five more...
15. Sloan - Action Pact
I know I complained about the last one being an arena rock album, but this one totally is, and I'm not complaining about it. They're making better Kiss songs that Kiss do now.
14. TV on the Radio - Desperate Youth, Bloodthirsty Babes
hurrah, a new band doing something different.
13. Richard Buckner - Dents and Shells
I just want to give Richard Buckner a hug, but he'd probably punch me.
12. Iron and Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days
sigh, production. still a good album.
11. Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
ROCK. GUITARS. ROCK. they aren't really youth anymore, but they still make great records.
next... the top ten!
Monday, December 27, 2004
Top 25 Con't
20. Elvis Costello - Delivery Man
It's a good Elvis album. Some memorable stuff.
19. AC Newman - Slow Wonder
Sounds kinda New Pornos-y. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
18. Mission of Burma - onOFFon
The "Are you psyched, are you high?" song is worth $12.99 alone.
17. Tom Waits - Real Gone
Why is this album getting such polarized reviews? I really really dig it. At least he's not doing the same ol same ol after so many years.
16. Carolyn Mark - Pros and Cons of Collaboration
A near perfect lil' masterpiece of an album. Clever lyrics that don't annoy you, a powerful voice, and a song about a friend of mine. hmm.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Samorama's Top 25 Albums of 2004
Oh yeah, the moment you were waiting for is here... this was really damn tough this year, I consumed a lot of new music. well, here's the bottom:
25. Giant Sand - Is All Over ...the Map
It's Howe Gelb and he plays piano and sings like Howe Gelb. There is life without Calexico. phew.
24. Castanets - Cathedral
What the Fuck? Here's the fuck: Dark Brooding yet Bouncy then some crazy dance beat makes you shake yr ass then it's all cruelly snatched away from you.
23. Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
I'm cheating with this, I've only heard songs here and there, whilst waiting for the vinyl to appear. But what I've heard is that.... imagine that the beach boys recorded some stuff today and really did a lot cooler drugs than they did the first time around. and didn't give a crap about the beach.
22. Matthew Sweet - Living Things
No, I'm not going to put that damn new SMiLE on my list, I'm going to put the better SMiLE rip off on here. I would not count this among Matthew's best, but it has its moments and charms, and the songs sound great LIVE with a GODDAMMED ELECTRIC GUITAR!
21. Elliott Smith - Basement on a Hill
I'd probably rate it higher if it didn't make me too sad to listen.
Merry Xmess!
I took a bubble bath, I am resting in a cozy bed with a kitty watching a good DVD. Sooz's mom made yummy pierogies for dinner and Sooz made sweet potato pie! ahhhhh....
I am now going to work on my top 25 of the year. that's right, top 25 aye yi yi.
Thursday, December 23, 2004
I Dj'd
...I drank, I conquered? Special thanks to Sandy, Brianne and Gina for braving bitter cold to hang with me for a bit, and sooz for driving me! and mark, whom I'm sure WOULD have been there if not in such a hurry to return to his own winter wonderland.
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
woooooooooooooooooot!
Wow, what an evening! An intimate solo performance by Jeff Tweedy at
Second City's Letters to Santa and I was part of a very well organized group of 20 friends who won one of the auctioned mentioned on there!
Wow, this is shaping up to be a really beautiful holiday season! That aweXome party last weekend, tonite's excitement (and some quality time with Brianne, Gina, Daniel and Chandler in line earlier)... DJing at Delilah's THIS EVENING (december 22!) Xmas with sooz's parents, and then FREAKING NEW YEARS EVE WITH MY BEST FRIENDS IN NEW YORK CITY WITH MY BESTEST FRIENDS IN THE WHOLE WORLDS WITH THE FLAMING LIPS AND WILCO! and shows by DBT, and a Nels Cline avant thing, and maybe the Letterman show!! HOLY CRAP!!! thanx santa!!!!!!
Sunday, December 19, 2004
best party ever!
okay, finally a party that surpasses 10/31/03. Tonite, the Rock Candy Christmas House Party held by the fellows of
Big Buildings was quite the nice party! Seriously, everyone there was pretty much NICE, like random strangers actually introduced themselves, the kegs never ran out, the live music being played was all really really rocking, and the hosts had quite the collection of post 86 Fiesta Ware! what more could I ask for? well, the music of Big Buildings themselves... with the totally insane version of "While My guitar Gently Weeps" rewritten as some thing like "while santa claus gently creeps"? Then the fine folks of Catfish Haven rocking all rock like, and then a giant all star jam of Big Star's "Jesus Christ" and then Adam tearing the roof off the dump playing a Mirah song of all things! That guy's got talent I tell you. Then as Stacy and I made our way out into the snowy winter wonderland some fellow revelers wished us a "drive carefully" all sincere like! WTF?!! a party that was nice, no cops, beer... it's a christmas miracle!!
Friday, December 17, 2004
greeting from Michigan Ave
Woot, we are taking a break from window shopping at the apple store. The G5 iMac is a beautiful zippy thing. sorry, clamshell G3 iBook, I still love you :)
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
mmm chili
I made my secret recipe no alarm chili last nite. okay, it's not so secret. I buy that McCormick Chili powder stuff and follow the recipe, but I do add a packet of Goya Sazon. the MSG makes it extra good!
wow.
Dimebag Darrell is going to be buried in a
Kiss Kasket. I like that it can also be used as a cooler. R.I.P. Dimebag.
Monday, December 13, 2004
ahhh days off
Saturday found PJ at Target w/ Sooz to wear for New Year's Eve (don't ask!) Kris and Alison came over and we baked some cookies and went to nite 2 of the Elvis Costello tribute thingy, which had probably consistantly higher quality performers. Gave Rachel the hannukah cookies I promised (perhaps threaten was a better word...). Sunday we were lazy and baked more cookies, including my special salty ones. Rosie, Kris and Alison came over to bake and decorate, then we went to the zoo for zoolights! (sooz stayed home, and warm!) Clarence Hollybottom showed me where the marmosets were, and I really should have asked him to dance to Wham!'s "Last Christmas" but I bet he can't leave the monkey house. Wrapped up the nite at the Weiner's Circle where the employeed bitched about someone named Poochy. Tonite we took Susan and fam some cookies (the salty ones seemed to fo over well...) and I won three dollars for identifying Susan in her 8th grade grad picture! Sooz and I put my winnings toward some delicious Taco Bell. ahhhh.
Saturday, December 11, 2004
What's so funny....
Tonite was nite one of the Elvis Costello tribute at the Viaduct Theatre. I was there tonite based on promise of the first perfomance in 18 months of one Edward Burch with some Jay Bennett dude. I almost wasn't there, because several people who promised to be there were sick, cramped, or in pajamas. sounded like cop outs, so I called Graham, and told him his xmas present would be his admission if he went with me. He did, and we were treated to the songs of Mr. McManus in formats ranging from note for note covers to rather interesting interpretations. Jay finally took the stage with a particular guitar and asked if anyone recognized it, and he would give his pick to them. I shouted out "the cover of Being There" and Ed called me out, and Jay asked if I was "an insider".... um, anyways... they each played some songs, rather beautifully, and Jay told a few stories... as usual. People used to make fun of me for going to see them all the time, but there's just some crazy magic they have, and I was so happy to see it again.
anyhoot, I got my pick, and had some sappy moment, and the good news is it should be happening all over again tomorrow! But I have to bring a pick.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Lego Advent
the lego advent calender is finally starting to pay off after a few duds like a gift (seriously, a gift box made of legos) and some lame robot. Today was a tiny truck, and there was recently an angel xmas tree ornament and a skier!!
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
should I stay or should i go?
I think I have used that lyric in posts before. anyhoot, in question is taking the
Van Galder Bus to see Magnolia Electric Company in Madison tomorrow, right after work, then turning around and coming right back to work the next morning. I've done dumber, I suppose. Like... yeah.
Friday, December 03, 2004
