Saturday, January 03, 2009
Worst 13 Songs of 2008
Amongst a sea of shit, these are the shittiest; the worst of the worst.
13. OneRepublic - Stop and Stare
(Just TRY to not fall asleep during this mind-numbing, middle-of-the-road rot.)
12. Jonas Brothers - Burnin' Up
(America, meet the new Hanson!)
11. The Pussycat Dolls - When I Grow Up
(You're all 20-something supermodels!! When you grow up, are you fucking serious???)
10. Britney Spears - Break the Ice
(Why in the holy fuck should I care if Britney's back, peddling the same drivel she has for the past 10 years?????)
09. Lil Wayne - A Milli
(Literally, the most annoying sample in any song ever, and it's repeated throughout the ENTIRE GODDAMN SONG. Also, minus points for referring to himself as a venereal disease.)
08. Soulja Boy - Turn My Swag On
(Soulja Boy proves why he's the perfect model, make and mold of a one hit wonder.)
07. LL Cool J feat. The-Dream - Baby
(Maybe I missed something, but when did LL Cool J become so damn lame? I mean, what the fuck happened? This dude was THE MAN for over a decade. Unabashedly apeing Nelly to the point of ridiculousness is fucking terrible for a certified legend of hip-hop. Plus, at the end of the goddamn song, HE ends up paying money for the girl. Dude, you're fucking LL COOL J.)
06. Theory of a Deadman - Bad Girlfriend
(Nickelback too heavy for you? Have I got a band for you...)
05. Rev Theory - Hell Yeah
(sounds like a mix between Papa Roach at their emo-ist and Hagar-era Van Halen. No, that is NOT a compliment. Generic balless cock rock (figure THAT one out).)
04. Say Anything - Got Your Money (Ol' Dirty Bastard cover)
(you remember how cool and chaotic Ol' Dirty Bastard's delivery was in every single song he was ever a part of, this song in particular? Yeah, take all that away, and replace him with an uncharismatic, monotone emo singer. It's almost like he covered this song because he hates it so much, and wanted all of us to suffer with him. ODB hates you from beyond the grave, Max Bemis)
03. Flyleaf - What's This? (Nightmare Before Christmas cover)
(Talk about butchering covers, sweet fancy moses! This one hit wonder managed to turn a playful, bouncy slice of joyous noise from a certified classic holiday movie into a soulless dirge that drags terribly, like hauling a dead carcass through a knee-high snowfall to dump into the river. This was the first song I listened to that actually made me angry that it was produced; I mean really, really angry; screaming at my stereo angry. Unfortunately, there's a lot of those moments on Nightmare Revisited, an album comprised of nothing but shitty covers of every track on the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack.)
02. Hollywood Undead - pick a song. any song.
Seriously, the emo version of the Insane Clown Posse. Or, if you will, a gayer version of Gym Class Heroes (you read that right). Might be the worst thing you ever listen to. Click through at your own peril. No. 5, Undead, Black Dahlia, Sell Your Soul, Bottle and a Gun, Bitches...it's ALL awful. I mean, LOOK at those assholes! I am absolutely serious, this is the worst thing I've heard in YEARS. In any other year, this would be the top of the heap (or, if you will, the bottom of the dung pile) but not THIS year. This year, we were treated to...:
01. Kanye West - Love Lockdown
(Jesus Tittyfucking Christ, what in the holy hell was Kanye West thinking?? Seriously, how has hip-hop fallen so far as to consider ripping off mid-90's Cher recording techniques is seen as innovative? Not only that but really the only things that made Kanye unique in the first place; his delivery and lyrics, have been completely castrated in this boring, soulless, emasculated pop trash. The whole song sounds like it was recorded on an old cassette, and then he played that cassette on an old ghetto blaster boom box in a windy tunnel and recorded THAT as the finished product. I mean, the production sounds lazy and boring, and HE'S A PRODUCER. That's what he DOES, that's what made him famous in the FIRST FUCKING PLACE. How far the mighty have fallen. I mean, seriously; this guy used to be THE innovator in hip-hop. Now I just wish he was fucking dead.)
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Amongst a sea of shit, these are the shittiest; the worst of the worst.
13. OneRepublic - Stop and Stare
(Just TRY to not fall asleep during this mind-numbing, middle-of-the-road rot.)
12. Jonas Brothers - Burnin' Up
(America, meet the new Hanson!)
11. The Pussycat Dolls - When I Grow Up
(You're all 20-something supermodels!! When you grow up, are you fucking serious???)
10. Britney Spears - Break the Ice
(Why in the holy fuck should I care if Britney's back, peddling the same drivel she has for the past 10 years?????)
09. Lil Wayne - A Milli
(Literally, the most annoying sample in any song ever, and it's repeated throughout the ENTIRE GODDAMN SONG. Also, minus points for referring to himself as a venereal disease.)
08. Soulja Boy - Turn My Swag On
(Soulja Boy proves why he's the perfect model, make and mold of a one hit wonder.)
07. LL Cool J feat. The-Dream - Baby
(Maybe I missed something, but when did LL Cool J become so damn lame? I mean, what the fuck happened? This dude was THE MAN for over a decade. Unabashedly apeing Nelly to the point of ridiculousness is fucking terrible for a certified legend of hip-hop. Plus, at the end of the goddamn song, HE ends up paying money for the girl. Dude, you're fucking LL COOL J.)
06. Theory of a Deadman - Bad Girlfriend
(Nickelback too heavy for you? Have I got a band for you...)
05. Rev Theory - Hell Yeah
(sounds like a mix between Papa Roach at their emo-ist and Hagar-era Van Halen. No, that is NOT a compliment. Generic balless cock rock (figure THAT one out).)
04. Say Anything - Got Your Money (Ol' Dirty Bastard cover)
(you remember how cool and chaotic Ol' Dirty Bastard's delivery was in every single song he was ever a part of, this song in particular? Yeah, take all that away, and replace him with an uncharismatic, monotone emo singer. It's almost like he covered this song because he hates it so much, and wanted all of us to suffer with him. ODB hates you from beyond the grave, Max Bemis)
03. Flyleaf - What's This? (Nightmare Before Christmas cover)
(Talk about butchering covers, sweet fancy moses! This one hit wonder managed to turn a playful, bouncy slice of joyous noise from a certified classic holiday movie into a soulless dirge that drags terribly, like hauling a dead carcass through a knee-high snowfall to dump into the river. This was the first song I listened to that actually made me angry that it was produced; I mean really, really angry; screaming at my stereo angry. Unfortunately, there's a lot of those moments on Nightmare Revisited, an album comprised of nothing but shitty covers of every track on the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack.)
02. Hollywood Undead - pick a song. any song.
Seriously, the emo version of the Insane Clown Posse. Or, if you will, a gayer version of Gym Class Heroes (you read that right). Might be the worst thing you ever listen to. Click through at your own peril. No. 5, Undead, Black Dahlia, Sell Your Soul, Bottle and a Gun, Bitches...it's ALL awful. I mean, LOOK at those assholes! I am absolutely serious, this is the worst thing I've heard in YEARS. In any other year, this would be the top of the heap (or, if you will, the bottom of the dung pile) but not THIS year. This year, we were treated to...:
01. Kanye West - Love Lockdown
(Jesus Tittyfucking Christ, what in the holy hell was Kanye West thinking?? Seriously, how has hip-hop fallen so far as to consider ripping off mid-90's Cher recording techniques is seen as innovative? Not only that but really the only things that made Kanye unique in the first place; his delivery and lyrics, have been completely castrated in this boring, soulless, emasculated pop trash. The whole song sounds like it was recorded on an old cassette, and then he played that cassette on an old ghetto blaster boom box in a windy tunnel and recorded THAT as the finished product. I mean, the production sounds lazy and boring, and HE'S A PRODUCER. That's what he DOES, that's what made him famous in the FIRST FUCKING PLACE. How far the mighty have fallen. I mean, seriously; this guy used to be THE innovator in hip-hop. Now I just wish he was fucking dead.)
Best Singles of 2008
Some of these I have something to say about; the rest speak for themselves.
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Some of these I have something to say about; the rest speak for themselves.
As much as you may be loathe to admit it, this song was one of the most original (and o-v-e-r-p-l-a-y-e-d) singles on the radio this year. Lil Wayne is batshit insane and managed to get a song that not only makes no sense, but has no HOOK in today's wasteland of shitty mainstream hip-hop and got it played EVERYWHERE. That in and of itself deserves recognition. However, expect to see this song on another list.
24. Panic at the Disco - Nine In the Afternoon
Let this be a lesson, emo bands: when you try to sound like The Beatles, you become listenable.
22. The Raconteurs - Salute Your Solution
20. Janelle Monae - Many Moons
The single most original artist of 2008; Janelle Monae released the first of 4 EPs highlighting a funk/R&B/rock opera about androids in love and being hunted in the future; think a female James Brown mixed with Blade Runner and A.I. Yeah, it rocks.
17. REM - Supernatural Superserious
This is the coolest dance song, like, ever.
15. Ben Folds featuring Regina Spektor - You Don't Know Me At All
14. The Toadies - No Deliverance
The Toadies returned with a shockingly fantastic album of hard-hitting blues-grunge; this is the only single released from that album.
13. Man Man - Mister Jung Stuffed
This is exactly the type of auditory weirdness that would've gotten two tons of airplay on modern rock radio during the death of grunge years between 1995-1998.
12. The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name
The album was overrated tripe with only two listenable songs. Those two songs, however, are AMAZING. This is the better of the two, an infectious earworm that'll stick in your skull for days.
11. Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire
One of the first pure rock songs to hit modern rock radio in years.
Lupe Fiasco should be the biggest rapper in the world; held up on a pedestal the way Jay-Z and Kanye West are today. This is his most popular single, it's quite awesome.
09. Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart
The sheer balls to release an 8-minute track as your first single is astounding. I really wish they never edited it for radio and forced stations to play the full version, but whatever, it's a great song.
08. The Cool Kids - Black Mags
The Cool Kids was the most refreshing thing to happen to hip-hop all year; a modern take on classic hip-hop that is infinitely listenable. Watch that video; tell me that doesn't look/sound like it's from 1985.
07. Gnarls Barkley - Who's Gonna Save Your Soul?
Didn't get any play on radio, but it is their most heartfelt, soulful song.
06. T.I., Jay-Z, Kanye West & Lil Wayne - Swagga Like Us
This producer deserves an award, both for the production and for the genius sample of MIA's Paper Planes. The fact that T.I. could get the three biggest rappers in the world on one track and more than hold his own speaks volumes for his skills as an MC; the song is catchy as SHIT.
05. Metallica - All Nightmare Long
A badass song with a badass video. Metallica is BACK!
04. Elbow - Grounds For Divorce
Britain's answer to the White Stripes (with a touch of Radiohead); a loud blues rock song that starts with a chain-gang chorus and switching between soulful singing and blaring guitars; the best single you haven't heard.
Weezer's best single since Hash Pipe. Unfortunately, the rest of the album couldn't live up to this song.
Thank God for Pineapple Express. If the producer of the trailer for the stoner action/comedy hadn't used Paper Planes, MIA would still be a relative unknown in the States. Thankfully, that isn't the case, and this track from last year's Kala got enormous play and propelled her into the spotlight. A song (essentially) about economics and the Third World, this Bhangra pop/hip-hop song has been everpresent on the radio AND has been sampled in the most catchy hip-hop song all year. Now, after considering retiring after the birth of her child, her career is more alive than ever, and she's already planning her follow-up album. So, I guess you could say she owes her career to marijuana.
Oh, you HAD to know this was coming. A track with no semblance of a chorus, and somehow it's just as catchy and sing-alongish as Beastie Boys' "Girls". Full of meaning (and possibly political intonations, depending on your interpretation), Flobots created a song both alarming, urgent, and easy to identify with. There's nothing even left to say about this; definitely the best single of 2008.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Top 20 (+2) Albums of 2008
I know, I know. Of all the things to get me to post that has happened in the past 3 months, this list is what did it. Well, I can't rightly break a 4 year old tradition, can I? I'm sure there'll be more a-postin's later on (how many times have I made THAT empty promise??) Let's get to the meat and potatoes of this titanic post. But first, the consolation prizes given to the albums that didn't quite make it onto the list.
Close but no cigar:
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Ben Folds - Way To Normal
Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
Toadies - No Deliverence
The Killers - Day & Age
The Mars Volta - Amputechture
Murder By Death - Red of Tooth and Claw
Destroyer - Trouble in Dreams
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, Ladies and Gentlemen, Bums, Bitches and Bastards. I give you...
(+2)Mitch Hedberg - Do You Believe In Gosh?
Posthumous albums generally are quite horrid, this album being a glaring exception. Like all of his comedy albums, this is kind of hit or miss; but then again, that's his style. He tells so many jokes so quickly that the hits far outweigh the misses (and even the misses can be entertaining). He will always be missed, but this is a great presentation of material.
Recommended Tracks: Phil, Texas and Sea Food, Door Deal
(+1)Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
Every single song on this album was released during the series run, but even having heard these songs before, in this nice polished form they really stand out. I mean, for some of them it helps to have actually seen the show. But, for most of these songs, they stand on their own as really, really funny parodies of various song styles.
Recommended Tracks: Robots, Hiphopapotamous vs. Rhymenocerous, Business Time, The Most Beautiful Girl (in the Room)
20. The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia
What do you get when you cross the lead singer of The Afghan Whigs with the lead singer of The Screaming Trees? Doom and gloom sonic euphoria. Fantastic rock dirges and ballads of misery that are sure to reignite some early 90's rock nostalgia in even the most jaded 20-something hipster douchebag.
Recommended Tracks: God's Children, Idle Hands, I Was In Love With You
19. Metallica - Death Magnetic
Oh Metallica, all is (almost) forgiven! I promised myself, after the horror and disappointment of the unlistenable St. Anger, that I would never give Metallica one red cent of my hard-earned dough and, with the release of Death Magnetic, I kept my promise; getting my grubby mitts on a copy through "other" means. And then I listened to it and, ashamed of myself, went out and bought a copy. It's good. It's really really good. They've recaptured some of that classic sound while still throwing some crisp newness into the mix. Plus hey, guitar solos!
Recommended Tracks: All Nightmare Long, The Day That Never Comes, The Judas Kiss
18. T.I. - Paper Trail
I know what you're thinking, Evil Brian's lost his goddamn mind; hear me out. Despite being crazy mainstream, T.I. is actually a very good MC, mostly shunning drugs riches and bitches lyrical content for stories about rising up and bettering oneself (seriously, rather than focusing on the shrill Rhianna hook, pay attention to the lyrics on Live Your Life; they're genius). He also doesn't utilize the autotune robot ear-raping technology that has brought mainstream rap evolution to a virtual standstill. If there were any justice in the world, this album would be the one critics fawn over and Lil Wayne's Carter III would be the also-ran of 2008.
Recommended Tracks: Swagga Like Us, Live Your Life, 56 Bars/I'm Illy
17. Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
Imagine if Prince smoked a ton of weed and took a handful of Ecstasy, then went to a Ween show where they played all their poppiest tracks; that is this album. Psychedelic, danceable pretentious indie pop-rock at it's best (and probably Kevin Barnes' best and most mainstream-sounding album to date).
Recommended Tracks: Id Engager, Wicked Wisdom, Triphallus to Punctuate!
16. Trivium - Shogun
A classic metal sound mixed with the modern metalcore scene and, for some reason, a Japanese theme. Make no mistake, though. I truly believe that these guys are the future of metal (even though they're already 4 albums into their career). Pay attention, neophytes, there's a metal storm a-comin'!
Recommended Tracks: Into the Mouth of Hell We March, The Calamity, Down From the Sky
15. REM - Accelerate
The triumphant return of REM! Literally their absolute best album since New Adventures in Hi-Fi, this is a tight quick package of hard-hitting ROCK. (REM ROCKS again! Wheeeee!) This is the REM that grabbed the public's attention in the late-80's/early-90's. Overtly political lyrics mixed with an enthusiastic delivery, they just sound like they enjoy rocking again, and it is extremely refreshing.
Recommended Tracks: Supernatural Superserious, Horse to Water, I'm Gonna DJ
14. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
How many 5 star albums can one band release? Seriously, these guys have yet to put out an album that's even halfway boring or substandard. Sweet and mellow when it has to be, honest-to-god rockin' when it wants to be, and chock full of sad depressing stories of stalkers, failed relationships and dying lovers. Definitely a must-listen.
Recommended Tracks: Bixby Canyon Bridge, I Will Possess Your Heart, Cath...
13. Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV/The Slip
I think I cheat like this every year, but too bad. Trent Reznor, proving himself to be the ballsiest motherfucker in the music industry, cut all ties to every major label and put out not one but TWO albums of music FOR FREE online. An instrumental double album (perfect background music for any activity you can think of. Especially writing term papers the morning they're due. Not that I would know) and a full album of fantastic glitch techno/industrial metal anthems and, for some reason, piano sonatas. I honestly can't wait to see what he does next.
(Ghosts I-IV)Recommended Tracks: 11 Ghosts II, 33 Ghosts IV, 34 Ghosts IV
(The Slip)Recommended Tracks: Discipline, Echoplex, Head Down
12. Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
Franz Ferdinand really opened Pandora's Box in 2004, didn't they? Now the music landscape is overrun with jangly post-punk indie bands trying desperately to make dance-rock without sounding lame. Too often, these no-name bands fail miserably and fall to the wayside; this is one of the few albums that succeed. Keeping every song tight, short, to the point and centered around great pop hooks, these guys have a knack for writing instantly catchy choruses and eminently memorable songs. They've still got some growing to do as a band before they churn out a classic album, but this is one hell of a first step. Keep your eye on this band, I have a feeling they're gonna be pretty impressive.
Recommended Tracks: Centennial, Graves, Tessellate
11. Beck - Modern Guilt
I am a Beck whore, shit I even liked the tepid Information album, so take what I say with a grain of salt: this is a HUGE step up from that last album. Songs that are catchy and don't just peter out before they ever get interesting, this is literally an album where every track could be a single. Taking a cue from REM earlier in the year, he's cut the runtimes of his tracks WAY down and, instead of letting his songs meander blindly, crams as much punchy kickstep techno freak-folk as he can into every song, and the results are substantial and satisfying, like a home cooked meal.
Recommended Tracks: Gamma Ray, Modern Guilt, Youthless
10. 36 Crazyfists - The Tide and Its Takers
I love this band, I really really do. I can't really be subjective about them but, then again, this isn't meant to be a subjective list. Just balls-out awesome metalcore with heavy riffs, violent breakdowns and sing-along choruses; the best metal album of the year by far. Plus, the album art is absolutely killer.
Recommended Tracks: We Gave It Hell, Waiting On a War, Absent Are the Saints.
09. Man Man - Rabbit Habits
This is what would happen if, instead of trying his best to freak people out, Captain Beefheart put his talents towards playing killer, gut-busting rock n roll. Equal parts artsy, freaky and genuinely loud rock music, this impossible-to-Google band puts on one hell of an energetic live show and keeps every song interesting. Will the next song be a piano-based rocker? Southern boogie? A jumpy pop ballad framed by tinkles of glockenspiel? A clanging jangling percussive instrumental? Man Man loves to keep you guessing. Definitely the most eclectic album put out by anyone anywhere in 2008.
Recommended Tracks: Mister Jung Stuffed, Top Drawer, Easy Eats or Dirty Doctor Galapogos, The Ballad of Butter Beans
08. Santogold - Santogold
Ultra-catchy glitchy hip-pop (with a touch of rage and paralyzing island rhythms) with an extremely unique voice, nearly every song on this album is mental chewing gum. Sweet (though definitely not saccharine), satisfying and will get stuck in your head for DAYS, if not weeks. Some have called it repetitive, I call it infectious; definitely the best pop album of the year.
Recommended Tracks: L.E.S. Artistes, You'll Find a Way (Remix), Creator, Lights Out
07. The Cool Kids - Bake Sale EP
Pure, unrefined audio cool, this sounds exactly like what The Clipse would sound like if they were rapping in 1985- not so much drug-based lyrics as creating songs about partying, driving around, eating Fruity Pebbles and being the most awesome brother on the block. Genius yet simple and catchy beats paired with old-school-style rhymes with a modern twist; The Bake Sale is a smooth cocktail, perfect for parties or just chilling on the porch. I realize technically it's an EP, but it's just as long as the REM, Beck and Tokyo Police Club albums I posted earlier, so I think that's a good enough reason to count it. Go do yourself a favor and grab this album as soon as possible, you won't regret it.
Recommended Tracks: Black Mags, Gold and a Pager, 88, A Little Bit Cooler
It must be said that, before continuing, all of you should know that, in my hours of rearranging these albums into order, every one of the next six albums, at one point or another, were put in the number one spot. It took me a long time to whittle the list down into it's present structure, but all six of these albums are fantastic, high quality representations of the music of 2008. Enjoy!
06. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
I'm sure if I'd had the whole year for it to grow on me this album would be higher, but as it stands it's still a fantastic, nigh-indescribable collection of emotional/political songs by the biggest band on the indie circuit. Rock music with SOUL, every song will either make you nod your head or dance around. It's funky, jazzy, hard rocking, soulful music that's urgent, laid back and emotional all at once. It's really hard to describe why this album is so good; if you liked their past two albums, you'll definitely enjoy this one. If you haven't heard of them before, this is a decent place to start.
Recommended Tracks: Dancing Choose, Golden Age, Family Tree, Red Dress
05. Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
This was basically the soundtrack for my entire springtime season, and for good reason. Certainly the best thing Malkmus has released since Pavement's Brighten the Corners, this album took his signature 90's shoegazer sound and introduced progressive elements. Amazing guitarwork, light-to-the-point-of-floating vocals and a handful of the best-written songs from Malkmus' head converge into one of the best, most-listenable rock albums of the year.
Recommended Tracks: Baltimore, Dragonfly Pie, Hopscotch Willie, Cold Son, the awesome 10-minute-plus title track
04. Flobots - Fight With Tools
This is Cake if it were fronted by Zack de la Rocha and Chuck D; I dare you to find a better comparison for Flobots' phenomenal major label debut album. Ultra-political without ever losing focus on the music, Flobots constructed something both obtuse and popular, equal parts indie rap and mainstream hip-hop with enough rock guitar (and violin!) to get played on rock radio, this is the very definition of revolutionary. Only half of these songs even HAVE a hook or chorus (including the smash hit Handlebars) but they're still instantly catchy and the lines will get stuck in your head for days, weeks, months. These guys are NOT one hit wonders, expect great things from Flobots in the future.
Recommended Tracks: Handlebars, Mayday!!!, Rise, Same Thing, Fight With Tools
03. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
While Stephen Malkmus was the soundtrack to my spring, this album was the soundtrack to my summer. I tried not to believe the titanic amount of hype, but I still couldn't resist these afro-pop indie-rock earworms. Let's face it, this just SOUNDS like summertime. From the first 20 seconds of the very first track, you get a feeling that this is going to be a very different experience than your normal hype-machine flavor-of-the-month, these guys have some serious chops and an ear for melody, and they're not afraid to use them. An album that is fun to listen to, an album that doesn't overstay it's welcome and an album that just makes you happy when you put it on; definitely one of the best releases of the year.
Recommended Tracks: Mansard Roof, Oxford Comma, A-Punk, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (yes I realize I just listed almost the entire Side A, it's that good), Walcott, I Stand Corrected
02. Sia - Some People Have Real Problems
Jazzy trip-hop (and some old-school soul) that has one foot in the mid-90's and one foot in the here and now, this album got lost in the noise when it was released early last year, but it found a comfy home in my stereo, my iPod and my car. Possessing one hell of a powerful, expressive voice, this former lead singer for Zero 7 managed to make such an impression on me that I've literally spent the entire year listening to her album and not once have I gotten bored with it. Moody songs about heartbreak, jumpy dance songs about buttons and, for some reason, a duet with Beck putting a relationship into grade-school mathematical terms; this album concurrently has a signature sound and is all over the map. Were there any justice in this world (and any decent taste in the American public), Sia would've been ALL OVER the radio waves this year. Alas, that is not the case, and we are a poorer nation (music-wise) because of it. If I am a number I am infinity plus one.
Recommended Tracks: Academia, Little Black Sandals, Playground, Day Too Soon, Buttons, The Girl You Lost to Cocaine
01. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
Imagine Bruce Springsteen back when he was 25. Now imagine that, instead of the E Street Band, he was backed by Social Distortion; pretty interesting concept, no? That is exactly what this Jersey quartet sounds like, every song is nostalgic, modern and timeless all at the same time. Each song is a tale about misspent youth, past mistakes, adolescent love, death and spending nights with special someones. The Gaslight Anthem have a very classic sound and classic lyrical subjects, but the method is put together with their madness in such a way that it comes out as absolutely perfect rock n' roll- timeless enough for adults, loud and punky enough for the kids; this is rock music that can span generations and bring people together. There is no good reason why The Gaslight Anthem shouldn't be thr biggest band in America right now. This band (and this album) deserves every single bit of critical praise that The Hold Steady have been garnering for the past 4 years. From the U2-esque jangle of Old White Lincoln to the anthemic title track to the slow, building crescendo of Even Cowgirls Get the Blues to the sweet ballad Here's Looking at You, Kid to the propulsive Great Expectations that kicks off the whole record, this is, forwards and backwards, the very best album of 2008.
Recommended Tracks: The '59 Sound, Great Expectations, Old White Lincoln, The Patient Ferris Wheel, High Lonesome, Meet Me By the River's Edge
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I know, I know. Of all the things to get me to post that has happened in the past 3 months, this list is what did it. Well, I can't rightly break a 4 year old tradition, can I? I'm sure there'll be more a-postin's later on (how many times have I made THAT empty promise??) Let's get to the meat and potatoes of this titanic post. But first, the consolation prizes given to the albums that didn't quite make it onto the list.
Close but no cigar:
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Ben Folds - Way To Normal
Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
Toadies - No Deliverence
The Killers - Day & Age
The Mars Volta - Amputechture
Murder By Death - Red of Tooth and Claw
Destroyer - Trouble in Dreams
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, Ladies and Gentlemen, Bums, Bitches and Bastards. I give you...
THE BEST 20 (+2) ALBUMS OF 2008
(+2)Mitch Hedberg - Do You Believe In Gosh?
Recommended Tracks: Phil, Texas and Sea Food, Door Deal
(+1)Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
Recommended Tracks: Robots, Hiphopapotamous vs. Rhymenocerous, Business Time, The Most Beautiful Girl (in the Room)
20. The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia
Recommended Tracks: God's Children, Idle Hands, I Was In Love With You
19. Metallica - Death Magnetic
Recommended Tracks: All Nightmare Long, The Day That Never Comes, The Judas Kiss
18. T.I. - Paper Trail
Recommended Tracks: Swagga Like Us, Live Your Life, 56 Bars/I'm Illy
17. Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
Recommended Tracks: Id Engager, Wicked Wisdom, Triphallus to Punctuate!
16. Trivium - Shogun
Recommended Tracks: Into the Mouth of Hell We March, The Calamity, Down From the Sky
15. REM - Accelerate
Recommended Tracks: Supernatural Superserious, Horse to Water, I'm Gonna DJ
14. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Recommended Tracks: Bixby Canyon Bridge, I Will Possess Your Heart, Cath...
13. Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV/The Slip
(Ghosts I-IV)Recommended Tracks: 11 Ghosts II, 33 Ghosts IV, 34 Ghosts IV
(The Slip)Recommended Tracks: Discipline, Echoplex, Head Down
12. Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
Recommended Tracks: Centennial, Graves, Tessellate
11. Beck - Modern Guilt
Recommended Tracks: Gamma Ray, Modern Guilt, Youthless
10. 36 Crazyfists - The Tide and Its Takers
Recommended Tracks: We Gave It Hell, Waiting On a War, Absent Are the Saints.
09. Man Man - Rabbit Habits
Recommended Tracks: Mister Jung Stuffed, Top Drawer, Easy Eats or Dirty Doctor Galapogos, The Ballad of Butter Beans
08. Santogold - Santogold
Recommended Tracks: L.E.S. Artistes, You'll Find a Way (Remix), Creator, Lights Out
07. The Cool Kids - Bake Sale EP
Recommended Tracks: Black Mags, Gold and a Pager, 88, A Little Bit Cooler
It must be said that, before continuing, all of you should know that, in my hours of rearranging these albums into order, every one of the next six albums, at one point or another, were put in the number one spot. It took me a long time to whittle the list down into it's present structure, but all six of these albums are fantastic, high quality representations of the music of 2008. Enjoy!
06. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Recommended Tracks: Dancing Choose, Golden Age, Family Tree, Red Dress
05. Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
Recommended Tracks: Baltimore, Dragonfly Pie, Hopscotch Willie, Cold Son, the awesome 10-minute-plus title track
04. Flobots - Fight With Tools
Recommended Tracks: Handlebars, Mayday!!!, Rise, Same Thing, Fight With Tools
03. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Recommended Tracks: Mansard Roof, Oxford Comma, A-Punk, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (yes I realize I just listed almost the entire Side A, it's that good), Walcott, I Stand Corrected
02. Sia - Some People Have Real Problems
Recommended Tracks: Academia, Little Black Sandals, Playground, Day Too Soon, Buttons, The Girl You Lost to Cocaine
01. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
Recommended Tracks: The '59 Sound, Great Expectations, Old White Lincoln, The Patient Ferris Wheel, High Lonesome, Meet Me By the River's Edge
Monday, September 08, 2008
This Kid Haz The Metal
The Metal. This Kid Haz It.
Not only that, but he's slightly more intelligible than Ozzy is these days!
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Now playing: Nile - Ithyphallic
via FoxyTunes
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The Metal. This Kid Haz It.
Not only that, but he's slightly more intelligible than Ozzy is these days!
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Now playing: Nile - Ithyphallic
via FoxyTunes
Friday, September 05, 2008
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Sarah Palin: The bassist from Black Sabbath hates her. Do you need any other reason?
OBAMA/BIDEN 08
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Now playing: Tool - Jambi
via FoxyTunes
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Sarah Palin: The bassist from Black Sabbath hates her. Do you need any other reason?
OBAMA/BIDEN 08
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Now playing: Tool - Jambi
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Unintentionally Hilarious Quote of the Day
"...The McCain campaign will explain why John McCain is the real candidate of change, and that message will be delivered by President Bush later tonight..."
- some MSNBC Talking Head.
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Now playing: Ozzy Osbourne - War Pigs
via FoxyTunes
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"...The McCain campaign will explain why John McCain is the real candidate of change, and that message will be delivered by President Bush later tonight..."
- some MSNBC Talking Head.
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Now playing: Ozzy Osbourne - War Pigs
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Every Post is a Comeback Post!
I am TERRIBLE at keeping up with mah blog. However, I may have to reinvigorate myself since Fuzzy has decided to post nearly every goddamn day (you make me look like a fool, boy). Anyways, instead of catching up with what I've been up to over the past....Jesus, TWO MONTHS??!...I'm gonna take the easy way out and post up a wide-a-spreadin' meme.
Stolen from Fuzzy and Space Lord, who in turn stole it from AV Club; here is my favorite albums (without repeating artists) from every year since my birth (including the half of 2008 that has already come and went).
1981 - AC DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
1982 - Bad Brains - Bad Brains
1983 - REM - Murmur
1984 - Iron Maiden - Powerslave
1985 - The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy and the Lash
1986 - Metallica - Master of Puppets
1987 - Guns 'N Roses - Appetite For Destruction
1988 - Social Distortion - Prison Bound
1989 - De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
1990 - *TIE* They Might Be Giants - Flood & Bad Religion - Against the Grain
1991 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
1992 - Faith No More - Angel Dust
1993 - Primus - Pork Soda
1994 - Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
1995 - The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness
1996 - Beck - Odelay
1997 - Radiohead - OK Computer
1998 - Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty
1999 - Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
2000 - Deftones - White Pony
2001 - *TIE* Aphex Twin - drukqs & Gorillaz - Gorillaz
2002 - *TIE* Glassjaw - Worship & Tribute & Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
2003 - The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium
2004 - Green Day - American Idiot
2005 - eels - Blinking Lights and Revelations
2006 - Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
2007 - The White Stripes - Icky Thump
2008 (so far) - *TIE* Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash & Flobots - Fight With Tools
I learned a couple of things reading people's responses to this meme:
1) I have WAAAAAY too much in common (music-taste-wise) with Fuzzy.
2) OK Computer is basically the go-to answer for 1997.
3) Nobody is as metal as Space Lord. NOBODY.
Someday (hopefully soon) I hope to have a real blog update. For now though, courage.
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Now playing: They Might Be Giants - Fingertips
via FoxyTunes
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I am TERRIBLE at keeping up with mah blog. However, I may have to reinvigorate myself since Fuzzy has decided to post nearly every goddamn day (you make me look like a fool, boy). Anyways, instead of catching up with what I've been up to over the past....Jesus, TWO MONTHS??!...I'm gonna take the easy way out and post up a wide-a-spreadin' meme.
Stolen from Fuzzy and Space Lord, who in turn stole it from AV Club; here is my favorite albums (without repeating artists) from every year since my birth (including the half of 2008 that has already come and went).
1981 - AC DC - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
1982 - Bad Brains - Bad Brains
1983 - REM - Murmur
1984 - Iron Maiden - Powerslave
1985 - The Pogues - Rum, Sodomy and the Lash
1986 - Metallica - Master of Puppets
1987 - Guns 'N Roses - Appetite For Destruction
1988 - Social Distortion - Prison Bound
1989 - De La Soul - 3 Feet High and Rising
1990 - *TIE* They Might Be Giants - Flood & Bad Religion - Against the Grain
1991 - Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik
1992 - Faith No More - Angel Dust
1993 - Primus - Pork Soda
1994 - Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
1995 - The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie & the Infinite Sadness
1996 - Beck - Odelay
1997 - Radiohead - OK Computer
1998 - Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty
1999 - Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
2000 - Deftones - White Pony
2001 - *TIE* Aphex Twin - drukqs & Gorillaz - Gorillaz
2002 - *TIE* Glassjaw - Worship & Tribute & Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
2003 - The Mars Volta - De-loused in the Comatorium
2004 - Green Day - American Idiot
2005 - eels - Blinking Lights and Revelations
2006 - Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
2007 - The White Stripes - Icky Thump
2008 (so far) - *TIE* Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash & Flobots - Fight With Tools
I learned a couple of things reading people's responses to this meme:
1) I have WAAAAAY too much in common (music-taste-wise) with Fuzzy.
2) OK Computer is basically the go-to answer for 1997.
3) Nobody is as metal as Space Lord. NOBODY.
Someday (hopefully soon) I hope to have a real blog update. For now though, courage.
----------------
Now playing: They Might Be Giants - Fingertips
via FoxyTunes
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Jesus Christ
I know, been a very very long time....real blog post forthcoming, until then...well...just watch.
JESUS CHRIST.
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I know, been a very very long time....real blog post forthcoming, until then...well...just watch.
JESUS CHRIST.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Saturday Random 10 (but really 20) XXIX: Obama for America
In the fear of sounding partisan, I am really REALLY excited about Barack Obama; moreso than I have been about any other presidential candidate that I can remember. In 2000, I paid no attention to political news at all and figured that Gore and Bush seemed almost exactly the same (oh, the folly of youth!); in 2004, Dean seemed like a decent candidate, yet the DNC chose John Kerry (whom I never really got too enthused about); but this year, we have Obama, who really is the only goddamn hope America has left for turning this pseudo-dynastic oligarchy to an end. Honestly, if Obama doesn't get the nod, then I'm probably going to end up voting Republican, no matter who runs. Or maybe I'll just stay at home and softly cry myself to sleep. If the American people (who, it should be noted, actually voted Bush into office in 2004) can't see that Obama is clearly the only real hope for change this country has left, than they deserve exactly what they get.
Watch this video and tell me you aren't inspired or, at the very least, moved:
Now, with my liberal ranting out of the way, let's get to that thar Random!
1. Ween - Never Squeal
2. Andrew Bird - Imitosis
3. The Who - The Dirty Jobs
4. The Pogues - Body of an American
5. Megadeth - Truth Be Told
6. Killing Joke - Another Bloody Election
7. The Smashing Pumpkins - Ava Adore
8. Bob Marley & the Wailers - Is This Love?
9. Bob Marley & the Wailers - Jah Live
10. HIM - Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly
11. Outkast (Andre 3000) - Prototype
12. DEVO - Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA
13. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
14. The Mars Volta - Conjugal Burns
15. Unloco - Bruises (live)
16. Faith No More - Falling To Pieces (live at Brixton Academy)
17. Boards of Canada - Pete Standing Alone
18. George Thorogood & the Destroyers - Madison Blues
19. Jesus Jones - Right Here, Right Now
20. The I Love You But I'm Not In Love With Yous - Old Folks Home
WOW! One hell of a Random this week! Start it off with a laid-back swing track off Ween's first album, then into the best track off Andrew Bird's Armchair Apocrypha, sounding not unlike an acoustic Beck tune featuring Jeff Tweedy. You got a sweet track off The Who's underrated Quadrophenia (which, by the way, is a FAR better record than Tommy), then you got yourself the incomparable Pogues doing their Celtic punk thing way before it was cool, go right into Muh-fuckin' Megadeth shredding through a newer song (and it's still pretty badass), then go straight into the industrial anarcho-punk Killing Joke (who are WAY underrated) blasting the appropos "Another Bloody Election". Then, the somewhat-hated (but not by me!! I'm wearing my Smashing Pumpkins fanboy hat!) Ava Adore, where The Smashing Pumpkins tried thier hand at goth/techno and failed miserably, at least sales-wise (still a good album, though. You can't tell me that "Tear" isn't a fan-fucking-tastic song), then into an unexpected double shot of Marley, first with the incredibly catchy "Is This Love?" followed up with one of my personal favorites, the underplayed "Jah Live"; which is then followed by the catchiest, girliest chorus in the wussiest metal song ever by a band whose biggest highlight is being Bam Margera's whippping boys. Things pick up pretty fast though, with Andre 3000 doing his best Prince impression (and killin' it!), six minutes of DEVO's twisted, geeky, angular techno/pop/punk, the first track off the first Pantera album that matters (and consequently one of the harder tracks on Guitar Hero) and some beautiful chaos from Mars Volta's newest album Bedlam In Goliath. Nu-metal also-also-rans Unloco follow up with thier almost-almost hit Bruises, but the tempo gets picked up quickly with some classic live Faith No More. Boards of Canada soothe the soul before George Thorogood spreads his white-boy blues around. Then we all suffer through Jesus Jones, before finally grinding to a halt with the greatest-named unsigned band of all time and thier lo-fi indie rockin'.
A couple weak spots notwithstanding, this is one goddamn great Random: a solid A.
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In the fear of sounding partisan, I am really REALLY excited about Barack Obama; moreso than I have been about any other presidential candidate that I can remember. In 2000, I paid no attention to political news at all and figured that Gore and Bush seemed almost exactly the same (oh, the folly of youth!); in 2004, Dean seemed like a decent candidate, yet the DNC chose John Kerry (whom I never really got too enthused about); but this year, we have Obama, who really is the only goddamn hope America has left for turning this pseudo-dynastic oligarchy to an end. Honestly, if Obama doesn't get the nod, then I'm probably going to end up voting Republican, no matter who runs. Or maybe I'll just stay at home and softly cry myself to sleep. If the American people (who, it should be noted, actually voted Bush into office in 2004) can't see that Obama is clearly the only real hope for change this country has left, than they deserve exactly what they get.
Watch this video and tell me you aren't inspired or, at the very least, moved:
Now, with my liberal ranting out of the way, let's get to that thar Random!
1. Ween - Never Squeal
2. Andrew Bird - Imitosis
3. The Who - The Dirty Jobs
4. The Pogues - Body of an American
5. Megadeth - Truth Be Told
6. Killing Joke - Another Bloody Election
7. The Smashing Pumpkins - Ava Adore
8. Bob Marley & the Wailers - Is This Love?
9. Bob Marley & the Wailers - Jah Live
10. HIM - Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly
11. Outkast (Andre 3000) - Prototype
12. DEVO - Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA
13. Pantera - Cowboys From Hell
14. The Mars Volta - Conjugal Burns
15. Unloco - Bruises (live)
16. Faith No More - Falling To Pieces (live at Brixton Academy)
17. Boards of Canada - Pete Standing Alone
18. George Thorogood & the Destroyers - Madison Blues
19. Jesus Jones - Right Here, Right Now
20. The I Love You But I'm Not In Love With Yous - Old Folks Home
WOW! One hell of a Random this week! Start it off with a laid-back swing track off Ween's first album, then into the best track off Andrew Bird's Armchair Apocrypha, sounding not unlike an acoustic Beck tune featuring Jeff Tweedy. You got a sweet track off The Who's underrated Quadrophenia (which, by the way, is a FAR better record than Tommy), then you got yourself the incomparable Pogues doing their Celtic punk thing way before it was cool, go right into Muh-fuckin' Megadeth shredding through a newer song (and it's still pretty badass), then go straight into the industrial anarcho-punk Killing Joke (who are WAY underrated) blasting the appropos "Another Bloody Election". Then, the somewhat-hated (but not by me!! I'm wearing my Smashing Pumpkins fanboy hat!) Ava Adore, where The Smashing Pumpkins tried thier hand at goth/techno and failed miserably, at least sales-wise (still a good album, though. You can't tell me that "Tear" isn't a fan-fucking-tastic song), then into an unexpected double shot of Marley, first with the incredibly catchy "Is This Love?" followed up with one of my personal favorites, the underplayed "Jah Live"; which is then followed by the catchiest, girliest chorus in the wussiest metal song ever by a band whose biggest highlight is being Bam Margera's whippping boys. Things pick up pretty fast though, with Andre 3000 doing his best Prince impression (and killin' it!), six minutes of DEVO's twisted, geeky, angular techno/pop/punk, the first track off the first Pantera album that matters (and consequently one of the harder tracks on Guitar Hero) and some beautiful chaos from Mars Volta's newest album Bedlam In Goliath. Nu-metal also-also-rans Unloco follow up with thier almost-almost hit Bruises, but the tempo gets picked up quickly with some classic live Faith No More. Boards of Canada soothe the soul before George Thorogood spreads his white-boy blues around. Then we all suffer through Jesus Jones, before finally grinding to a halt with the greatest-named unsigned band of all time and thier lo-fi indie rockin'.
A couple weak spots notwithstanding, this is one goddamn great Random: a solid A.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Zot is the Quiztune havvermashed
So, I'm still deeply immersed in James Joyce's batshit insane "Finnegan's Wake" monstrosity, and I just got to Chapter 5 of Book 1 of the tome. It begins with "Annah the Allmaziful, the Everliving, the Bringer of Plurabilities" and her manifesto or, as it is referred to in the novel, "mamafesta". But it doesn't start with the actual content of the "mamafesta", but with 3 and a half pages of possible titles of said "mamafesta". Reading this, it came to me that some of these would make AWESOME song titles. Like, seriously. All these names are quite evocative and/or pretentious-sounding-enough to almost definitely be real prog-rock/post-hardcore/douchebag college indie songs. Check out some of this craziness:
Here's to the Relicts of Old Decencies
The Crazier Letters
A New Cure For an Old Clap
I Ask You to Believe I was his Mistress, He Can Explain
Where Portentos they'd Grow Gonder how I'd Wish I Woose a Geese
In My Lord's Bed by One Whore Went Through It
My Skin Appeals to Three Senses and My Curly Lips Demand Columbkisses
I'm the Stitch in His Backside You'd be Nought Without Mom
A Boob was Weeping This Mower was Reaping
A Pretty Brick Story for Childsize Heroes
Pimpimp Pimpimp
If my Spreadeagles Wasn't so Tight I'd Loosen my Cursits on that Bunch of Maggiestraps
Fine's Fault was no Felon
The Flash That Flies From Vuggy's Eyes has Set Me Hair on Fire
His is the House That Malt Made
As Tree is Quick and Stone is White So is My Washing Done by Night
My Golden One and My Selver Wedding
Which of your Hesterdays Mean Ye to Morra?
Thee Steps Forward, Two Stops Back
I hve not Stopped Water Where It Should Flow and I Know the Twentynine Names of Attrente
Seriously though, you can't tell me that at least SOME of those don't sound like tracks by Of Montreal. This is the wierdest book in the world, I swear to god.
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So, I'm still deeply immersed in James Joyce's batshit insane "Finnegan's Wake" monstrosity, and I just got to Chapter 5 of Book 1 of the tome. It begins with "Annah the Allmaziful, the Everliving, the Bringer of Plurabilities" and her manifesto or, as it is referred to in the novel, "mamafesta". But it doesn't start with the actual content of the "mamafesta", but with 3 and a half pages of possible titles of said "mamafesta". Reading this, it came to me that some of these would make AWESOME song titles. Like, seriously. All these names are quite evocative and/or pretentious-sounding-enough to almost definitely be real prog-rock/post-hardcore/douchebag college indie songs. Check out some of this craziness:
Here's to the Relicts of Old Decencies
The Crazier Letters
A New Cure For an Old Clap
I Ask You to Believe I was his Mistress, He Can Explain
Where Portentos they'd Grow Gonder how I'd Wish I Woose a Geese
In My Lord's Bed by One Whore Went Through It
My Skin Appeals to Three Senses and My Curly Lips Demand Columbkisses
I'm the Stitch in His Backside You'd be Nought Without Mom
A Boob was Weeping This Mower was Reaping
A Pretty Brick Story for Childsize Heroes
Pimpimp Pimpimp
If my Spreadeagles Wasn't so Tight I'd Loosen my Cursits on that Bunch of Maggiestraps
Fine's Fault was no Felon
The Flash That Flies From Vuggy's Eyes has Set Me Hair on Fire
His is the House That Malt Made
As Tree is Quick and Stone is White So is My Washing Done by Night
My Golden One and My Selver Wedding
Which of your Hesterdays Mean Ye to Morra?
Thee Steps Forward, Two Stops Back
I hve not Stopped Water Where It Should Flow and I Know the Twentynine Names of Attrente
Seriously though, you can't tell me that at least SOME of those don't sound like tracks by Of Montreal. This is the wierdest book in the world, I swear to god.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Saturday Random 10 (but really 20) XXVIII: Back, Bitches!
It is the return of the incredibly self-serving and unpopular Saturday Random! Indeed, after a month-long hiatus where I only finished 2 of the 5 or 6 year-end lists I actually started (and NOT A GODDAMN PERSON commented on my albums of the year....seriously, that took me forever to type out, fuckers!) I begin this tradition of commenting on my personal goings-on for the week, and give you all a glimpse into the incredibly diverse playlist of Evil Brian. I'm also gonna start cross-posting almost everything between the O.G. blogspot and the second-hand store myspace, just because.
Anyways, just came back from a matinee showing of Cloverfield with my dear, dear friend Art and WOW. I haven't really been paying attention to the whole viral marketing dealie that's been going around; I've just really been looking forward to this flick since seeing the infamous trailer before Transformers last year. As someone who's been unexposed to that extraneous crap (I also started reading some of the poor reviews for it, and wondered if they saw the same movie I saw, or whether they actually accidentally saw The Chipmunks movie instead) I have to say that the flick chopped your ass off and delivered it to you on a platter. Seriously, I can see where the shaky-cam thing would turn a lot of people off (didn't really bother me too much though) but the effects were fantastic, the acting was...meh....but really, I just went into this expecting to see an unimaginably huge mystery creature tear New York City a new asshole, and I got all that and more. I've read a bunch of reviews saying the ending was ambiguous....but really, there wasn't any other way for the movie to end that would make any sense whatsoever. So it's not the standard happily-ever-after that Hollywood churns out time and time again; take your fucking blinders off and try something different from the same-old same-old. Seriously though, if you like creature features or just apocalyptic doom in general, I can't recommend this film enough.
Anyways, enough film-fellation, on to the Random!
1. Radiohead - Go To Sleep
2. The Moldy Peaches - Lazy Confessions
3. Danger Doom - No Names (Black Debbie)
4. All That Remains - Whispers (I Hear You)
5. Hole - I Think That I Would Die
6. Pressure 4-5 - Into Yesterday
7. Dinosaur Jr. - On the Brink
8. Method Man featuring Prodigy - Release Yo' Delf (Remix)
9. Faith No More - The Grade (Live at Brixton Academy)
10. Joy Grutman - Schnappi das Kleine Krokodil
11. Professional Murder Music - Dissolve
12. The Smashing Pumpkins - We Only Come Out At Night
13. Deftones - Minus Blindfold
14. Faith No More - Paths of Glory
15. Iggy Pop - Success
16. Van Hunt - Down Here in Hell (With You)
17. Iron Maiden - Journeyman
18. John Legend - Stereo
19. Oasis - Shakermaker
20. System of a Down - Boom!
Got a little bit of everything for the comeback Random, huh?
Starting off with one of the better songs off Hail to the Thief (probably my least favorite Radiohead album...and yet still better than most normal mainstream rock releases), transitions quickly into the lo-fi/folk weirdness of the suddenly-thrust-into-the-mainstream Moldy Peaches (still haven't seen Juno yet, but I DID pick up the soundtrack...pretty damn good, I'd say) then into the always-bizarre MF Doom rapping about Sealab 2021 (and NYC...and the Sandman for some reason...). After that the awesome metal power of All That Remains cleanses the palate before Courtney Love pisses all over it with her terrible, terrible band; who are then followed by early 2000's nu-metal also-also-ALSO rans Pressure 4-5 (one of the many who went on Ozzfest, released one album on a major label, then promptly broke up and were never heard from again). Dinosaur Jr. then appears out of nowhere to save us from the brink of total suckage with the jangly, mumbly On the Brink; which then has the tempo completely switched with a techno remix of Method Man's Release Yo' Delf off the Resident Evil soundtrack which, surprisingly, doesn't suck nearly as bad as you'd think (though this IS the best song off that album); definitely worth tracking down, if only for this song. You got some live acoustic country-fried FNM kicking all kinds off ass segueing right into an 8-year-old German girl singing about her pet crocodile (which, though I don't understand German, is ADORABLE), then another also-also-also ran nu-metal (though they're closer to straight industrial) Professional Murder Music which, despite their stupid name, is actually quite listenable...I'm sure you can find their album in the 99 cent bin of your local record store...they do a cover of The Cure's A Night Like This that is surprisingly decent. After that comes a track off my favorite band's best album ever...nothing else need be said, really. a track off Deftones' first album (which I don't really care for...then again, you could fit all their good songs onto one CD basically, White Pony notwithstanding) then, you guessed it, MORE FAITH NO MORE (though it's off their worst Patton-era album...I still love 'em); the vocals are the best part of this song which is, unfortunately, pretty damn boring for Faith No More. Then Iggy muthafuckin' Pop sings about Success for awhile before Van Hunt takes everything down a notch with the soulful, laid-back funk of Down Here in Hell (this dude doesn't get nearly enough props...he's seriously talented, and definitely worth looking up); the slowed-down tempo continues with a ballad from Iron Maiden which, while no horrible, isn't very good and is off probably my least-favorite album by them (it's even worse than Virtual XI...that's a goddamn FEAT, to say nothing of the X Factor), the soul-metal sandwich is completed by John Legend who I've been listening to more and more lately (he's another R&B/soul traditionalist...though he uses a lot of newer-sounding beats, where Van Hunt uses the old-school flute loops and acoustic guitars) this song in particular is quite good....definitely one of the better ones off his newest album (Target-only live album be damned!). After that, you got yourself some older Oasis, and is then capped off by the band Oasis called the worst band they'd ever heard (which some would say makes them one goddamn great band to listen to), System of a Down with one of their more prominent singles, Boom! You know what, crappy nu-metal and Hole aside, this is a pretty damn great Random. I'm gonna be generous, give this one a solid A. You done good, iTunes. You done good.
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It is the return of the incredibly self-serving and unpopular Saturday Random! Indeed, after a month-long hiatus where I only finished 2 of the 5 or 6 year-end lists I actually started (and NOT A GODDAMN PERSON commented on my albums of the year....seriously, that took me forever to type out, fuckers!) I begin this tradition of commenting on my personal goings-on for the week, and give you all a glimpse into the incredibly diverse playlist of Evil Brian. I'm also gonna start cross-posting almost everything between the O.G. blogspot and the second-hand store myspace, just because.
Anyways, just came back from a matinee showing of Cloverfield with my dear, dear friend Art and WOW. I haven't really been paying attention to the whole viral marketing dealie that's been going around; I've just really been looking forward to this flick since seeing the infamous trailer before Transformers last year. As someone who's been unexposed to that extraneous crap (I also started reading some of the poor reviews for it, and wondered if they saw the same movie I saw, or whether they actually accidentally saw The Chipmunks movie instead) I have to say that the flick chopped your ass off and delivered it to you on a platter. Seriously, I can see where the shaky-cam thing would turn a lot of people off (didn't really bother me too much though) but the effects were fantastic, the acting was...meh....but really, I just went into this expecting to see an unimaginably huge mystery creature tear New York City a new asshole, and I got all that and more. I've read a bunch of reviews saying the ending was ambiguous....but really, there wasn't any other way for the movie to end that would make any sense whatsoever. So it's not the standard happily-ever-after that Hollywood churns out time and time again; take your fucking blinders off and try something different from the same-old same-old. Seriously though, if you like creature features or just apocalyptic doom in general, I can't recommend this film enough.
Anyways, enough film-fellation, on to the Random!
1. Radiohead - Go To Sleep
2. The Moldy Peaches - Lazy Confessions
3. Danger Doom - No Names (Black Debbie)
4. All That Remains - Whispers (I Hear You)
5. Hole - I Think That I Would Die
6. Pressure 4-5 - Into Yesterday
7. Dinosaur Jr. - On the Brink
8. Method Man featuring Prodigy - Release Yo' Delf (Remix)
9. Faith No More - The Grade (Live at Brixton Academy)
10. Joy Grutman - Schnappi das Kleine Krokodil
11. Professional Murder Music - Dissolve
12. The Smashing Pumpkins - We Only Come Out At Night
13. Deftones - Minus Blindfold
14. Faith No More - Paths of Glory
15. Iggy Pop - Success
16. Van Hunt - Down Here in Hell (With You)
17. Iron Maiden - Journeyman
18. John Legend - Stereo
19. Oasis - Shakermaker
20. System of a Down - Boom!
Got a little bit of everything for the comeback Random, huh?
Starting off with one of the better songs off Hail to the Thief (probably my least favorite Radiohead album...and yet still better than most normal mainstream rock releases), transitions quickly into the lo-fi/folk weirdness of the suddenly-thrust-into-the-mainstream Moldy Peaches (still haven't seen Juno yet, but I DID pick up the soundtrack...pretty damn good, I'd say) then into the always-bizarre MF Doom rapping about Sealab 2021 (and NYC...and the Sandman for some reason...). After that the awesome metal power of All That Remains cleanses the palate before Courtney Love pisses all over it with her terrible, terrible band; who are then followed by early 2000's nu-metal also-also-ALSO rans Pressure 4-5 (one of the many who went on Ozzfest, released one album on a major label, then promptly broke up and were never heard from again). Dinosaur Jr. then appears out of nowhere to save us from the brink of total suckage with the jangly, mumbly On the Brink; which then has the tempo completely switched with a techno remix of Method Man's Release Yo' Delf off the Resident Evil soundtrack which, surprisingly, doesn't suck nearly as bad as you'd think (though this IS the best song off that album); definitely worth tracking down, if only for this song. You got some live acoustic country-fried FNM kicking all kinds off ass segueing right into an 8-year-old German girl singing about her pet crocodile (which, though I don't understand German, is ADORABLE), then another also-also-also ran nu-metal (though they're closer to straight industrial) Professional Murder Music which, despite their stupid name, is actually quite listenable...I'm sure you can find their album in the 99 cent bin of your local record store...they do a cover of The Cure's A Night Like This that is surprisingly decent. After that comes a track off my favorite band's best album ever...nothing else need be said, really. a track off Deftones' first album (which I don't really care for...then again, you could fit all their good songs onto one CD basically, White Pony notwithstanding) then, you guessed it, MORE FAITH NO MORE (though it's off their worst Patton-era album...I still love 'em); the vocals are the best part of this song which is, unfortunately, pretty damn boring for Faith No More. Then Iggy muthafuckin' Pop sings about Success for awhile before Van Hunt takes everything down a notch with the soulful, laid-back funk of Down Here in Hell (this dude doesn't get nearly enough props...he's seriously talented, and definitely worth looking up); the slowed-down tempo continues with a ballad from Iron Maiden which, while no horrible, isn't very good and is off probably my least-favorite album by them (it's even worse than Virtual XI...that's a goddamn FEAT, to say nothing of the X Factor), the soul-metal sandwich is completed by John Legend who I've been listening to more and more lately (he's another R&B/soul traditionalist...though he uses a lot of newer-sounding beats, where Van Hunt uses the old-school flute loops and acoustic guitars) this song in particular is quite good....definitely one of the better ones off his newest album (Target-only live album be damned!). After that, you got yourself some older Oasis, and is then capped off by the band Oasis called the worst band they'd ever heard (which some would say makes them one goddamn great band to listen to), System of a Down with one of their more prominent singles, Boom! You know what, crappy nu-metal and Hole aside, this is a pretty damn great Random. I'm gonna be generous, give this one a solid A. You done good, iTunes. You done good.
