Saturday, December 30, 2006
Top 20 Territory!
20. Sparks - Hello Young LoversI was in the back eating and I didn't really understand what I was hearing. It sat getting dusty in the racks since the release date, but it was quickly snatched off Gabe's shelf that day. It's like Danger Mouse meets Queen or something, pretty damn mindblowing.
19. Midlake - Trials of Van OccupantherThis is a late addition, which I just had to knock out Flaming Lips for. In fact, if I had more time with it than just a couple days, it would probably be really high up there. It's like someone took all those albums from the 70s that were all over the radio (I swear, I was waiting for Stevie Nicks on the opening track) and made them way fucking cooler.
18. Destroyer - Destroyer's RubiesI finally "got" Dan Bejar this year, after seeing him live w/ New Pornographers at Metro late last year, and opening for Magnolia Electric Co. at the Abbey this year. Indie rock needs some pretension, and Destroyer delivers in spades.
17. Islands - Return to the SeaThe Unicorns who? I don't understand what a big fuss was made over that band when they hit, and it seems all the talent survived to carry on in Islands. Quirky without being too whimsical, noise in the right places, cutsey fun when necessary. Great job!
16. Catfish Haven - Please Come Back EP/ Tell Me LPI had to lump both of these together as on entity. I kinda wish they had made one kick ass album and gotten rid of the "slow jams" on
Tell Me but really overally I love it all. Rockin' accoustic lead geetar, dancey grooveyness...dang!
accent?
| What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio. |
| The Inland North | |
| The West | |
| The South | |
| Philadelphia | |
| The Northeast | |
| Boston | |
| North Central | |
What American accent do you have?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz |
Friday, December 29, 2006
Halfway there!
25. Danielson - ShipsThis album might be painful for people who are not happy people to listen to.
24. Regina Spektor - Begin to HopeHi Regina, Bjork and Tori Amos called, they want their quirk back. Oh shit, don't get the KGB involved, no, it's cool. We'll put the video in heavy ro after Degrassi and everything will be fine.
23. The Elected - Sun, Sun, SunI don't know why more people aren't digging this band. It's a similar vibe to Midlake, like that 70s sunny thing. Oh well.
22. Vetiver - To Find Me GonePrettyfolkydreamypsycheyzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzzzzz
zzzzzzz
21. Pernice Brothers - Live a LittleAs a long time Pernice lover, I really really fucking hated the last record. Peee-yew, ugh ick. This album gives me hope that a band can come back from the brink when I have lost all hope. Maybe R.E.M. has another good one in 'em? And while it might seem cheezy to remake your own song from another band, it is totally done justice.
Me On TV Alert!
Tonight NBC is repeating the Late Night with Conan O'Brian taping from the Chicago Theatre I attended with Brianne and Paul. Guest include Brarak Obama, Wilco, Mucca Pazza, George Wendt... Look for me when Conan and Andy run back to the stage, I'm in a green hoodie and jumping up and down!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
OMG here is 5 more!
30. Tilly and the Wall - Bottoms of BarrelsYou wouldn't think tap dancing percussion would translate well to album but it sounds just as adorable. More fuzzy feelgoodness that doesn't stop.
29. Willie Nelson - SongbirdThere is nothing better than stoner country, and who better to make an album of said music than Willie and Ryan Adams? Oh man, Will Oldham should have been involved in this, but he might have killed 'ol Ryry.
28. Tim O'Reagan - s/tExactly what you would want and expect a Jayhawk's solo album to sound like, and there's nothing wrong with that. Poppy, countryish, some of the best of everything.
27. My Brightest Diamond - Bring Me The WorkhorseSufjan's head cheerleader makes her own album that never sounds like an album from Sufjan's head cheerleader. She's got one of them opera voices.
26. Alejandro Escovedo - The Boxing MirrorBeing super sick can bring out the best in creative types, and Alejandro is no exception. Thankfully he is now well, and has more drama to portray in that dramatic Velvet Undergroundy (hello John Cale) Country way he does best.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Mary Xmess
The day was good, but after going to Club Foot with Tim I have a major stomach problem. Whine whine whine. Otherwise food was good, gifts were great, company was nice, lots of Xmas music which I love. I gifted myself with Final Fantasy III for the DS, so my Wii has fallen by the wayside (except when I DL'd original SMB!) The DS is also great when you have stomach problems and are confined to the bathroom.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Five More
(sorry it took so long, Noah)
35. Damien Jurado - And Now That I'm In Your ShadowDang, I think I own all 7 albums by this guy. I like them all, this is another one.
34. Six Organs of Admittance - The Sun AwakensBen Chasney gets his drone on. This cat plays some motherfucking GUITAR.
33. Brightblack Morning Light - s/tA lazy southern swampy psychedelic fun trip that comes with lazer glasses. Very non-cerebral.
32. Supersystem - A Million MicrophonesWeird synthy funky dancy punk rock WTF. I like 'em
31. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in AmericaMan, I really hated their first two records, but I like the Springsteeny vibe and the subject matter here. Woot lets get drunk!
Friday, December 22, 2006
Will Oldham Rules
The Drag City presented comedy night at Weeds was hosted by Bonnie "Prince" Billy himself, and was pretty mind blowing. Sooz and I ended up right in front. I think he was wearing eyeliner. Zach Galifianakis did a set, which was kinda of a secret, it was on his website, but nowhere else really. He was awesome and wore my glasses for a bit. Hooray things that are funny! Hooray Sooz for getting stealthy photos!
Sorry I haven't been posting, work has been busy (Which is good!) and I had a terrible cold and Walgreens didn't want to sell me sudafed, so I've been vegging out hardcore (and playing Wii!).
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Made It!
I did stick it out with Paul and Brianne for 24 hours! Man, it was weird. Jeff Tweedy only did 2 songs, but one was my request which I pulled out of my ass... Passenger Side! Oh yeah, my group of friends won a Jeff Tweedy show! Will this year be proceeded by a superstar lineup the night before? Signs point to yes. (Note: If you are in a superstar band, please contact me ASAP.) Langford and Timms did Drunk by Noon (one of my all time beloved songs). Robbie Fulks and Gerald Dowd did not play the hits, but were still great. I had never seen Shellac nor really even listened to them; (WTF, the last album was out in 2000) now they will be forever for now what 3am sounds like to me. Detholz! were in some otherworldly context at 9am on sleep dep and too much caffeine. I wish I had gotten up and danced rather than lame chair dancing, but oh well. Oooh, I hope that version of Frosty the Snowman makes it out there! Devil in a Woodpile at 12 noon were an unexpected surprise, I think Brianne and I both forgot about them, but it was a lively if temporary pick me up. That, and having to march with everyone to the restrooms whilst whisteling Bridge Over the River Kwai. Paul wandered back in from his garage nap at some point and after Devil we ran over to BM (Paul's abbreviation for Boston Market which wasn't really good) for a quick lunch before Jason Molina. He played Bowery and some maybe unreleased stuff? His voice totally sounds incredible w/o the band. I mean, he sounds fine with the band of course. Fast Forward to the Blisters who even while down a guy, delivered the ROCK. They did at least 4 originals, which I really thought were all songs from the last Strokes record. I am not joking. There may have been a bra tossing incident (of which we are innocent, I wish I didn't need to post that, but I suppose I just better). Uh getting blurry... Our huddle of three got up to 6 with Sandy, Sooz and Laura all coming back, and I managed to get my hands on the raffle prize I wanted the most. (I am not telling you what it is. I may post a picture later. Dinner at Sweets and Savories was a NEEDED luxury (and worth every $$) and I have somehow managed to stay up 'til my normal bedtime after not having slept since going to bed Monday Night (theoretically Tuesday Morning of course). What else? Happy Birthday Dick, The Office hour Xmas ep tomorrow, clueless of weekend possibilities, a little more than a month til the next sleep study which means I need to "clean up my act" soon (mega-air-quote hold the - please). Oh and Patti will be here for Christmas! Hot dog!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Letters to Santa 2006
Off to Second City e.t.c. for the Letters to Santa thing. This is my 5th one! Wow, that first one was pretty different, there was hardly anyone there. In the next 24 hours there will be Jeff Tweedy, Langford and Timms, Robbie Fulks, Shellac at 3am, Detholz! at 9am, Jason Molina, the Blisters... dang! This may be the first one I don't go home for in the middle. Looking forward to spending time with Brianne and Paul too.
And 5 more...
40. White Magic - Dat Rosa...Piano weirdness that sounds like it's from a cave inhabited by lunatic gnomes. There's not a lot of that out there.
39. Jason Collett - Idols of ExileThere is nothing really different happening on this album, but he certainly does that in a likeable fashion.
38.Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah!I wish there were more disco-y bands around right now. It is difficult to listen to this without wishing you were wearing sequins and feathers and a tiny spoon on a chain and dancing at Studio 54. Two words: eltonjohn beegees.
47.Josh Ritter - The Animal YearsPretty, folky, songs about war and being in love with girls.
36. Richard Buckner -MeadowRichard Buckner makes Richard Buckner records. He sounds like Richard Buckner, and nobody else. He will occasionally change up the instrumentation. you are either a Richard Buckner fan or you are not, and you're never going to hate anything he does.
Next 5
45. Bobby Bare Jr's Young Criminal's Starvation League The Longest MeowNot many out there are still country rockin'. BBJ gets a pretty good gang together and rocks the fuck out. Perhaps not as nuanced as his last few, but what are you gonna do.
44. Gnarls Barkley St. ElsewhereIt would be CRAZY not to have this one on here, right? Bwahahaha. It's a good album, but that may well be song of the DECADE! MILLENIUM! Who do you who do you who do you think you are?!
43.Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - BroomThese dudes opened for Catfish Haven, and they reminded me of Sloan in a good way, so I checked out the album. There are some Sloan-ey elements like lovely harmonies, but there's something else going on too. Check 'em out!
42. Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred HighwaysIt should not come as a shock that Johnny is putting out records from the grave. I mean if 2 Pac can do it, so should this OG. I was pleasantly surprised by this one, I was expecting a real bummerfest, but it's a lovely tribute to him. (Note: I refrained from calling him "The Man in Black".)
41. Pink Mountaintops -Axis of EvolThis band (guy?) could be called "Someone Still Loves You Velvet Underground, but I guess that's an obvious statement, and they don't really need the affirmation Mr. Yeltsin does. The last Pink Mountaintops was all the "yay! rock n roll party excess!" album and this one is the aftermath. You may indeed hate yourself in the morning and your stomach will cruddy, but you won't regret it.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Bottom 5 of 50 for 2006!
50. Gossip Standing in the Way of ControlA pretty good album from the souly southern punkers, but the title track itself is easily one of the years best songs.
49. Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs Under the Covers Vol. 1Yes, it's an album of 2 artists not held in very high regard doing mostly 60s covers from the usual suspects, ala Dylan, Beatles, Bee Gees, Love. The harmonies are other worldly though, and it's a lot of fun to sing along with. Tacking on the "Vol. 1" is going to make them look pretty stupid of "Vol. 2" never happens though.
48.Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm NotI'll pretty much always check out what the Brits have their knickers in a knot over, and this is a good solid rock album from some young dudes. Will I buy their next one? Probably not.
47.Beck - The InformationWhoa. Another damn Beck album, another alleged return to form. At least the stickers distracted me from the fact that it's really NOT that different from Guero, which was a pretty okay album. I haven't even watched the DVD yet, which might have propelled this one a little higher. Hmm.
46. TV On The Radio -Return To Cookie MountainI feel like TVOTR didn't deliver on the statement made with the title of this album here. Where are the cookies? I don't find myself singing along like I did with the first full length. Oh well, it's still good.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Working for the man every night and day
Okay, not really, but I did volunteer to work on my day off so Adam can rehearse, so I have 48 hours this week. Hooray! I will be going to see said Adam along with Ralph "Soul" Jackson at the Hideout Friday and suggest you do the same.
I finally beat the first boss on Wii Zelda, and Matt and I watched
Jubilee last night which was simultaneously awful and awesome.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Party
I absolutely wasted the day away playing Wii. Trauma Center, and some classic Zelda. Sooz and I went over to Laura's for a Look at this baby gathering, where some very good food was had, and the company was mostly nice. I looked at the baby.
Sooz and I then went to Target after hearing Kris and Alison talk about Super Monkey Ball and I used my $40 credit there towards it. The mention of Monkey Tennis was all it took, really.
I then surprised myself by agreeing to go to a party with Adam, that was a pretty cool party. It looked cool anyways, with a water theme.
Man it is 14 degrees out there. I love this time of the year though! The lights and the snow/ice, and the crunching of the ground. And an increase in beardos.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Nothing Much
Has been happening, really. Matt and I have been watching some Manheim Steamroller Holiday concerts and Sooz and I put together the Playmobil advent calendars. Still playing Wii. BTW my Wii # is 3399 6206 0960 9445... if you have one, add me!
Friday, December 01, 2006
