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Tuesday, December 23, 2008Music of 2008 - My Top 10
After considering only albums that were released in the year 2008, this is the countdown I came up with for the 10 whole albums that I have been most obsessed with during the year.  10. Michael Franti and Spearhead - Life in the City from All Rebel Rockers  9. Wolf Parade - Call It A Ritual from At Mount Zoomer  8. Trever Keith - Polish from Melancoholics Anonymous  7. Alkaline Trio - Into the Night from Agony and Irony Friday, December 19, 2008Music of 2008 - The Honorable Mentions
I'm about ready to declare my chosen top 10 albums of 2008, yeah just like everyone else. But, when I compiled the list I had a tough time shaving it down to the limit of 10 albums that we are allotted for a top 10 list of any sort. My criteria for considering anything on that list requires:
As I went through the elimination process I excused any release that was not in the form of a full length album, which accounts for 3 of these honorable mentions. And as for the Shorebirds and Frightened Rabbit album, I included these because I didn't want to leave them out, there just wasn't any room on the list. So there you go, the leftovers, or notable recognitions from my year in music. They each do deserve much praise, just not in my top 10. I have chosen each song for what I think best represents the entirety of each release.   3. Get Bent - City from Demo 2008 (the whole demo is a free download)   Saturday, August 23, 2008I Still Like ArtOnce I was made fun of for listening to the Talking Heads, and I didn't care. I just turned it up, and without having to say anything I told that person to shut up. I remember some years before that, sitting on the bench seat of my Dad's 80-something Silver Chevy Truck, and looking through a cassette tape insert, the Talking Heads were one of the first bands that I personally realized as being an active group of creators, creating something through experiments. It was much later that I realized that only some people want to enjoy great creations, and even fewer will love any one specific creation, and/or get marketed correctly. But none of that matters from the standpoint of a creator. Hooray for art. Hooray for artists! David Byrne Is Still Awesome! Talking Heads - Swamp Thursday, June 19, 2008Aloha
 Coming home from Hawaii tomorrow, kind of dreading that. As well as the flight across the ocean in the middle of the night. I've gotten used to the weather always being perfect, not too hot or too cold, but just right. Did I mention I like the beach? See my pictures, and please enjoy the song I made and looped a few times on my souvenir ukulele, Thats my breakfast sizzling in the background.Sunday, January 06, 2008Top 10 Music Picks from 2007During the year 2007 I seemed to constantly discover and listen to a good deal of music from the 90's, but that is not what this post is about. It is also not a declaration of any absolute best albums of the year, because it seems that I won't be discovering the best music of 2007 until around 2017. This is simply 10 albums that were released in 2007 that I actually listened to in the year they were released, and thoroughly enjoyed them in their entirety. Included with each pick is a selected mp3 from each album, for whatever it is worth, enjoy. 10. Maritime - Heresy and the Hotel Choir  Pearl 9. The Snake The Cross The Crown - Cotton Teeth  The Great American Smokeout 8. Slightly Stoopid - Chronchitis  Anywhere I Go 7. Bedouin Soundclash - Street Gospels  Trinco Dog 6. Dinosaur Jr. - Beyond  Almost Ready 5. The Beautiful Girls - Ziggurats  Bring Me Your Cup 4. Smoke or Fire - This Sinking Ship  Little Bohemia 3. The Expendables - Self Titled  Take a Ticket 2. Sundowner - Four One Five Two  This War Is Noise 1. Jim Ward - Quiet  Mystery Talks Monday, September 03, 2007Don't Call Me WhiteThe name of any group of people tells us something about them. It matters because any one individual interpretation of the name cause assumptions and expectations of how meetings with other groups should work and how each fits into the social community. A tipping in the scales of power. It works along with any socioeconomic group; rich vs. poor, male vs. female, old vs. young, etc. I think that in earlier times of human history skin color could more accurately define to others the differences among two groups of people. But, not in today's world, where there is great deal of ethnically mixed individuals, especially in the United States. Someone's general geographic look doesn't have to mean anything at all about their social status and/or background, and that is not becoming any less prevalent. So, as classification by an outward appearance slowly becomes less reliable for us to make the assumptions that we srtive to make, the next point of judgment is in the language used by any individual or a group. I often find myself trying to guess where a person is from by listening to accents. I think we gauge people on many levels when we interact with language. Things like; how much money someone might make, their profession, religious leanings and many other simple assumptions. Language is definitely intertwined with ethnicity. Being from a mix of European ancestry, I have learned to associate myself with the term "white". Somewhere along the way, I started feeling that the label carried a weight that I didn't feel that I should have to carry. For whatever reason when the question is asked, I like to check the "other" box and write in "European American". Though some can argue that the two have the same meaning, I don' think they do. I also think that there is the possibility that the "white" ethnicity dominance in the United States is slightly exaggerated by way of the term "white" being one of the most broad options available (except for maybe "American Indian"). This map didn't exactly match up to my own personal definitions of the races. I think if I were to create my own version of this map I would want to add 10 more naming of races to the list. Is that a good or a bad thing?  from NOFX - Punk In Drublic (1994)  Don't Call me White Saturday, April 28, 2007HooRay!The most important lesson I learned during Spring semester 2007 was - never to take 16 credit hours of classes. The sun is shining and I'm going to the mountains. from Alice Cooper - School's Out (1972)  School's Out Saturday, February 17, 2007The Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen
 I felt like I had missed a boat full of a major cultural and somewhat a political movement. My parents deemed me too young to go to the concerts and shows put on by the touring rock bands of the day. I still haven't forgiven them. At the time I felt I was being denied the coveted label of a "Generation X 'er"Unfortunately for me this time in my life developed a philosophy of the music industry that then caused me to dismiss The Afghan Whigs when they released "Gentlemen". During this period of music, I felt one needed to be extremely cautious when choosing your listening selections. The air was swarming with an onslaught of overnight grunge sensations. This band was lured from the Sub Pop label to Elektra, and that was cause for a little suspicion. But, I do remember that I gave this release a chance by listening to it through a few times. For some reason it wasn't good music to me then. That all has changed as of lately. I now am a full fledged Afghan Whigs recommender, and I highly recommend you listen to this one. from Afghan Whigs - Gentlemen (1993) If I Were Going Monday, February 12, 2007"G"
 As a student working towards a degree in the Humanities, I suppose it is my duty to be constantly questioning what it is to be human. A part of being human is death, death is rarely expected, and there is not much you can do to prepare yourself for the emotions that it will inevitably set off. Especially when the death happens to someone considered to be so young. But, above anything, when the person is a friend.A friend of mine died last week, and there is nothing more awakening to your own life than having to go through the process of saying goodbye to someone that you once knew. It really is a shame that it becomes so much easier to appreciate a person once they are gone. But, probably the most difficult part of this for me is having to witness my own friends go through the same thing as I have to. I attended the funeral for Gentry on Saturday with several of my good friends. I will say that it was one of the most awesome experiences I've ever had. I mean that it was as good of an experience that a funeral can be, given the tragic circumstance. Afterwards, my old friends and I gathered together as a family. I tried to just enjoy being in the presence of so many people that I rarely get to be around anymore, in the spirit of being "True To the Ones I Love". We remembered our lost friend together. There is no measuring how different all of our characters would have been without our friend "G" G was the drummer for Hospital Food, and this was one of their best songs, please listen. from Hospital Food - Suburban Zoo (1998)  Yesterday Sunday, December 03, 2006I Got A New Shirt
 Last night I went to the EnergySolutions Arena (A.K.A. the Delta Center) and witnessed first hand some NBA action, with the Utah Jazz playing against the Seattle Supersonics. I felt good about this one, like the Jazz would keep control of the best record in the league. Even though they dropped out of #1 and into the #2 spot in the NBA power rankings for the first time this season, and deservedly so being blown out by the Los Angeles Kobe Bryant...err the Lakers, and earlier losing to the Orlando Magic. The Jazz still maintain the best record in the league. And, after being the feature story of November, I think they will head on strong into the rest of the season, with sights set on making the playoffs.The Jazz dominated almost the entire game. My favorite new guy, Paul Milsap had 10 points in the 1st quarter, and then finished with 16, additionally grabbing 10 rebounds in just under 20 minutes of play. Tallying up a 2nd double-double for him. Although Carlos Boozer was the leading scorer with 24, he only nabbed 8 rebounds falling just short of his average double-double night. Deron Williams played for 39 minutes, and added 18 to the score. But the definite highlight of the game wasn't until late in the 4th quarter when the Sonics went on a run. Even threatened to take the game. Mehmet Okur saved the day, from behind the line. With only a second left, it pretty much sealed up a victory. I am sure it was deemed a "moneyball" by Craig Bolerjack. And yes, I preferred Hot Rod doing the call!!!! Next up is the Milwaukee Bucks. And, after the game...I got a new shirt. from Weston - Got Beat Up (1996)  New Shirt Labels: Consumerist, MP3, NBA, Utah Jazz Monday, November 27, 2006Rage Against The Machine - The Battle of Los Angeles
 The first time I ever listened to Rage Against The Machine, being in the state of a 15 year old boy that I was, it spoke magic to me. It was knowledgeable, I knew there were actual feelings behind the music. It was rebellious, screaming about so many revolutions that I wanted to be a part of.After some time passed my feelings had changed. The music and I had a falling out. I could always recognize the force of influence that Rage Against The Machine exerted into my surrounding world. There was a time when anything that was associated with sounds of this nature was in a direct conflict with what I thought music should be. To me it was corporate rock, and I was an anti-MTV punk rocker. It was not what I stood for. During that time, I somehow held Rage Against The Machine directly responsible for what could be referred to as the pollution of music in the late 90's. My view of Rock/Rap sound was largely shaped by Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock. More recently, over the past few weeks through listening to "The Battle for Los Angeles", I have been doing some reorganizing, inside my mental storage room, I have moved Rage Against The Machine to a superior shelf, away from the that other stuff. from Rage Against The Machine - The Battle Of Los Angeles (1999) Testify Saturday, October 28, 2006Sparta - Threes
 Sparta is an evolving sound that I have been following since the hiatus/demise of At the Drive In. I listened to new release "Threes" today, and enjoyed the first few times through it. I think it is a mulatto of many influences. It sounds like previous Sparta albums, but there is something new that is reminiscent of a U2 song, though no specific U2 song comes to mind. Especially Erase It Again, but other tracks as well. I think that there are tones in the vocals during the verses that are new to their sound. At times it has a Radiohead ring in it as well, sometimes the vocals go high and dreamy with the guitars getting echoy, I think that Translations and Atlas are noticeably Radiohead sounding. There is also more of an acoustic feel, more acoustic than what I am used to hearing in Sparta. As with the previous Sparta albums, I think I will learn to like, maybe love, this album for unexpected reasons that will slowly reveal themselves to me.from Sparta - Threes (2006) Unstitch Your Mouth |
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