January 2009
2 posts
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Top 20 Albums of 2008
Hello. Here are my favorite twenty albums of 2008 in descending order, with MP3’s accompanying each one. Enjoy.
20. Sera Cahoone - Only as the Day is Long
MP3: Only as the Day is Long
19. The New Year - The New Year
MP3: X Off Days
18. Ladyhawk - Shots
MP3: I Don’t Always Know What You’re Saying
17. Pattern is Movement - All Together
MP3: Right Away
16....
December 2008
31 posts
Yesterday was the most insane day of work I have ever had. Nothing quite like having to maneuver around barricades set up by students of your school all day while trying to pack up an office. NY Times blog has a pretty acurate description of it all. The picture used in the article is taken directly in front of my office. Good times.
But I am in California now. Those worries need to melt away.
There is a massive protest going on outside of my office. And by outside of my office, I mean 5 feet from my face. Students are protesting the schools president, Bob Kerrey. They’ve sort of barricaded me inside my office. Good times. The New York Times had coverage of it this morning, but it’s gotten much bigger and more out of hand since. There’s been punching and pushing,...
We are in the midst of the great move here at work. Apparently, moving our offices across the street takes a humongous effort. So much so that they hired an assistant for me for the week, who will be working strange hours all week long. Like today, I found out that I get to work an hour later than normal, because that is when my bosses scheduled her. Fun.
But at the end of the week comes the...
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Sean from Said the Gramophone has posted his top 50 songs of 2008. Chris at GRANDKIDS has finished off his top 50 today, too. Frank at Chromewaves has posted his year end list today as well. I respect these three individuals taste in music more than anyone elses.
I love these sorts of lists. I never agree with anyone, but end up finding so much new music that I have missed out on or ignored...
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One of my favorite shows ever was Decibully / Shearwater / Some by Sea in Spokane, WA back in 2004. Some by Sea was their always fantastic selves. Shearwater was performing all of their stuff off of Winged Life, songs they never play these days. And Decibully, the headliner for the evening, played with such enthusiasm and outright joy that they earned their right as the headliner for the evening...
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My Place of Employment is in the NY TImes Today. →
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CUTE THINGS FALLING ASLEEP. BEST WEBSITE EVER. →
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This will brighten your day. Seriously. Thank you, Chapman. Your twitter post has enlivened my spirits.
No, this brute comes with the things us testosterone-fueled super action junkies need. It has a 265 HP engine to outrun the cops. It’s got special blood/gore resistant upholstery. It even has a first-aid kit in the back. You know what the first aid kit has in it? A pint of whiskey, a...
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Song of the Day #8
MP3: Adam & the Amethysts - Sonic Youth Centre
Amethyst Amulet, the debut album from Montreal’s Adam & the Amethysts is the definition of an album that grew on me. I pretty much trust everything Said the Gramophone says, so after they glowingly reviewed Amulet a couple of times, I purchased the album. But as soon as I received it, try as I might, I dismissed the album as something I...
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Looks like I may be taking my first trip to Toronto come April. The Weakerthans and Constantines are scheduled to be there on April 1, and I can think of no greater reason than this to make the maiden voyage to the east side of Canada. That double bill of rock power blew my mind away for three straight days in 2003 (Vancouver/Seattle/Portland) and I would love nothing more than to relive that on...
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Over at GRANDKIDS, Chris is in the midst of counting down his top 50 songs of the year, complete with streaming versions of all of the songs. He also promises a top album list and holiday mixtape at the end of the week. Hurrah! Check that shit out I hold Chris’ taste in music to the highest regard.
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A story about Nancy Bea Hefley, organist of the Dodgers.
Hefley says she’s somehow managed to please astute Dodgers players while annoying others. “Kevin Brown got very offended by me playing ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ while the Pirates were in town, but he was easily offended,” Hefley says with a laugh. “And he wasn’t even the one pitching. Darren...
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Song of the Day #8
MP3: Hum - Stars
I read somewhere that Hum are to reunite on New Years in Chicago for a couple of shows. This make my 90’s rock music heart flutter.
This song rules. I am happy it is being used in car commercials these days, if only because it reminds me to listen to Hum more often.
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Song of the Day #7
MP3: Spiritualized - Soul on Fire
Can’t stop listening to Spiritualized’s Songs in A&E. So obsessed.
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Song of the Day #6
MP3: Spiritualized - Baby I’m Just a Fool
How did I sleep on this Spiritualized record for so long? Fucking love it. Songs in A&E, quickly climbing the ranks of the best releases of 2008.
I’m trying to think of things I want for Christmas, as my parents are asking for a list. So far, I want these things:
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Speaking of booze, on this day in 1933, the 21st amendment was passed, repealing the 18th amendment which had outlawed alcohol in the United States since 1919.
I love this message from Repeal Day organizers:
Conveniently located halfway between Thanksgiving and Christmas — at a time when most Americans are probably not spending time with family — Repeal Day presents a wonderful occasion to get...
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With the economy in the shitter, and a record number of people losing their jobs, it makes sense that sales of vodka and whiskey are up. Nothing quite like drinking the pain away.
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Song of the Day #5
Stream: The Magnetic Fields - No One Will Ever Love You
I’m on a huge Magnetic Fields kick today. It seems like it has been years since I listened to 69 Love Songs. I can still remember the first day I heard them. In fact, I bet I could pinpoint the exact date if I thought hard enough about it. I was introduced to so many great bands that day in the summer of 2000 - Sparklehorse,...
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Song of the Day #4
MP3: Neko Case - Hold On, Hold On
I disliked the music of Neko Case for quite some time. While going to college in Tacoma, WA, considered by Case to be her hometown, I felt like I should like her as part of my love of all things Tacoma. But there was just something about her soaring voice that didnt sit right with me. She was my third favorite vocalist (of three) in The New Pornographers, and...
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WatchReason #731234728 why Dogs are better than cats.
Hero dog saves injured dog from death! (via Slog)
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Song of the Day #3
MP3: The Maldives - I Have Found
The fiddle that can break a grown mans heart. The twang in the singers voice. This song is perfect.
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Here is a wonderful blog post examining the 1981 Sporting Baseball Yearbook and its take on what baseball would be like in the year 2000.
One thing you can bet on: the green that will continue to transform the game the most is mint-green, not grass-green. And, considering the stampede for green at all levels of the game in 1981, you almost can envision three leagues, at least six divisions and...
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Life is a little less fun during the baseball off season. I’m reading more (non Dodgers related) and sleeping more. I don’t like it one bit.
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Song of the Day #2
MP3: The Acorn - Books
While not my favorite song by The Acorn, “Books” is probably the track I listen to most often. Off of their Blankets! EP from a couple of years back, “Books” is just a very sweet song that gets stuck in my head very often. I have a penchant for slightly cheesy opening lines in slow songs, and the Acorn happily humor me: “So they say only good...
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Song of the Day #1
With the hopes of posting on this thing more frequently, I am going to start posting a song of the day up in here. I get at least one song stuck in my head a day so this should be easy. And while I don’t expect anyone to actually listen to these songs, the hope is that I will find this amusing in 5 years when I look back with shock and awe - like looking back at the song of the day list I...