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best of 2008.5


Well folks, I’m a few weeks later than I wanted to be with this, but I think early July is still a valid time to publish a best-of list for the halfway point of 2008. This is something I’ve been doing now for a few years, and I know it’s pretty boring for the lot of you. But, it’s something I enjoy doing, so I’m gonna stick with it and press ahead. Who knows, maybe one day Keaton will reference these lists to see what Dad was “into” back in the day – maybe even make a mixtape of Dad’s “oldies” when she hits that parental-appreciation phase sometime in college. A guy can dream…

I know you’re on the edges of your seats, so here they are, in reverse-countdown order:

8. Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band – 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons

‎‎Yeah, the first twelve tracks on this album are just some high-pitch warble not unlike what you’d hear rubbing a dampened finger around the rim of a piece of good crystal, each one just a few seconds long and less than a minute all together back-to-back. But, that’s just the overindulgence of the band showing, just the preamble to yet another somber string-and-guitar laden dirge of an album.

Let me be clear right up front, this music isn’t for everyone. It’s whiny and dark, it’s angry and the tunes are as far from common pop as you can get, the themes are long and dense, and, for some reason, it always makes me think about the end of the world. Yeah, this is some serious shiz. Each song like some fifteen minute funeral procession for all of mankind and our entire planet (but, maybe that’s just me). You’re either gonna hate this, or you’re going to love it for the same reasons I do: The simple repetition, the seething, the bad-ass backing chants, and the drone of strings. If you’re curious, just go get it – and try not to wring your hands in an anger while it crunches along in your ears. Yes…

Listen to A Silver Mt. Zion at the Hype Machine.

7. Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer

The album that barely made the list. Not because it’s on the edge of being good enough, but because it leaked right under the wire. Even with the abbreviated time I had to appreciate it, I knew Wolf Parade’s second showing was a strong one. Not straying too terribly much from the formula that gave them the top spot in 2005’s year-end list, they continue to push their bright and drums-out-front brand of “indie” rock. Even if the closing track is about three times too long and half as interesting as it seems like it could be, the rest of the grooves are filled with energy quick-changes that’ll leave you impressed. With lots of keys and synth and swirling background fills there’s plenty to keep you dissecting the sound. A solid showing by the Parade, and worthy of your inspection.

Listen to Wolf Parade at the Hype Machine.

6. Jason Collett – Here’s To Being Here

‎‎I’ll just tell you what’s up with this album right out of the gate: We listened to it non-stop, almost daily, in fact, while we were vacationing in Mexico earlier in the year. To be honest, it’s the perfect soundtrack for a humid sun-drenched vacation spent sipping tropical drinks poolside or playing with your two year-old daughter on the bed while the cooling whir of the ceiling fan pushes the hot open-sliding-door air aside.

What’s that though? You want to know what you’re gonna hear if you listen to this album? Well, don’t expect anything even remotely like what the Broken Social Scene puts together, even though Mr. Collett is an alum of that band (they’re all making solo bows of late, a coordinated effort it seems). When the needle drops on this you’re going to hear roots rock, you’re going to think Dylan – there’s no way in the world you’re not gonna hear Dylan… Collett’s croon and even lyrics recall the master immediately. So, what’s this album good for? Backyard summer barbecues; days spent in chairs alongside a river; road trips; poolside get-togethers.

I’ll summarize thusly: If you think most of the stuff I have on hear is neaveau-rock BS, get this record and be pleasantly surprised at how “normal” and enjoyable it is to Joe Lite Rock. C”mon, you know you’re a little curious… for your next BBQ and all…

Listen to Jason Collett at the Hype Machine.

5. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive

‎‎So, the Hold Steady are back with their 4rd album. I never did get into their first couple goes, but I gave their 3rd effort the crown back in 2006. Much to the disgust of several of my friends, who can’t stand Finn’s talk-singing storytelling, often on anachronistically, for the band’s age, juvenile topics like high-school parties, drinking, wanton sexual encounters and recreational drug use.

I, on the other hand, eat this stuff for breakfast. The lyrics remind me of a time in my life that may or may not have really happened the way I remember it – but sure is fun to remember that way regardless. It’s just bar-rock people, just plain old guitar and drums and bass and beer-soaked vocals. I would suggest you grab one of those little bowls of nuts, get a firm grip on your frosty mug, light a cigarette if you’re in one of the less-Draconian states that still allow it, and try to identify all the classic rock references in “Joke About Jamaica.” It’s a fun album, give it that much at least.

Listen to The Hold Steady at the Hype Machine.

4. Cloud Cult – Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)

‎‎This is another example of an album I chose to download solely because of the name. I’d never heard of the band before, although I later learned they’ve got a decent amount of material prior to this. Didn’t matter though, because I love finding something completely “new” with bolt-from-the-blue inherent goodness. Yeah it’s your typical quirky indie-rock, fairly formulaic but done well and extremely catchy. To be honest, I was afraid that while revisiting the tunes for this midyear review I might find them boring and old-hat, but not so. They still sound fun and beg for playback at high volume with the windows rolled down. And don’t let the “ehh, standard but good” review throw you, either – there are some great little pieces of song on this album, check out the story on “May Your Hearts Stay Strong,” set to that neato beatsy backdrop – you won’t be sorry you did.

Listen to Cloud Cult at the Hype Machine.

3. Islands – Arm’s Way

‎‎So, the Islands. The Islands are formed from pieces of the Unicorns, a band I simply adored for the rollicking style of rock they created, with childish lyrics and powerful music. When they released their post-Unicorns debut, I reviewed it well and ranked it highly in the 2006 list. I had high expectations for their sophomore effort, and the youngsters didn’t let me down – no not by a long shot. I like every song on this album, I like the vocals, I like the bubbly cartoonish beats that carry you along, I like the nonsensical lyrics and storytelling, and I love the fact that, the first time hearing it all, I regretted I didn’t already know the words well enough to sing along.

There’s a song on this album called “Creeper” that you should really hear. Admittedly, it’s not the best track on the album, but it is a decent introduction to the off-the-wall style that flavors the entire effort – with the stabbing string sections, scale-climbing groove-bass, and all the cracks filled with nifty little synth lines and fills. Oh, and then there are the lyrics – where lead singer Nick Diamond recounts a story of coming home to what he thinks is an empty house, only to be stabbed by a stranger hiding in the shadows.

Listen to The Islands at the Hype Machine.

2. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

‎‎I guess I was actually late to the Vampire Weekend party. When the internet indie-snobs began slobbering over the “blue CD-R” leaked version of their debut LP, I downloaded it and gave it a listen or two, even put it on the iPod, but never really got too into it. I’m not positive, but I think the “blue CD-R” version must’ve been an unmastered leak, something lacking the production of their final “polished” release. Then, when I saw the street-released version shoot to the top of the “most downloaded” charts on the completely legal pay-hard-cash-for-music website I get most of my tunes from, I decided to give it another try.

I can still remember how crisp and cold it was outside in Portland the day I first really listened to the album. I was riding public transit from the airport into work, more than an hour’s worth of travel through downtown out into the suburbs. And, even if I’m wrong about the “blue CD-R” and its poor mastering, that album struck me that day. I felt the African-tinged rhythms pick up my spirits, bouncy and Graceland reminiscent, but with these punchy have-fun vocals stringing you along, hooking you.

Just stop reading this and go listen to “Walcott,” and tell me you don’t feel like donning your best-fitting khakis, slipping into some deck shows, tying a sweater around your neck and playing a rousing round of croquet with your “brothers” on the frathouse lawn, tumbler of scotch in-hand under the Massachusetts sunshine. Look, just go get the album, the Midwestern dandy inside you will thank you for it.

Listen to Vampire Weekend at the Hype Machine.

1. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours

‎‎Oh my word, Dave picks a “beats” album as his #1. Sharaun says this is “gay club music.” She teases me that this is what Perez Hilton listens to, says it’s “that gay.” And, sure, it’s got infectious beats and rhythms, sure there’s some limey singing about dancing and love and whatnot – I just don’t care.

The Utah Saints vibe, the strummy guitar accompaniment, and all the “aaahhh” and “oohhh” you care to warble along with. If you know me, you know I don’t often dig beats-based electronic albums, but the mix here is too good to turn an ear from. I don’t care if the entire percussion section is comprised of a sequencer and a Roland, doesn’t mean I have to wear baggy pants and suck on pacifier or anything. But by God in Heaven y’all, this record will get you moving. If you’re so inclined, it may even get you dancing. Me, I’ll stay firmly rooted to my seat thanks, although I may shake and sway in place there if the mood strikes – might even do some Mitsubishi car-commercial arm-dancing, you never know what might bubble up with this saccharine stuff on the speakers. You don’t want to miss this record, for real.

Listen to Cut Copy at the Hype Machine.

Well, that’s it for today. There were a couple near-misses that I wrote up, trying to hit a list of then, but decided at the last minute didn’t really warrant inclusion (I’m looking at you Tapes ‘N’ Tapes). Lotsa work here even if you didn’t read it all. Thanks for indulging me a bit. Goodnight, and, until tomorrow, take care friends.

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vaporized by a hadron-shooting reverse-vampire spawned from a magnetic monopole

Happy Monday folks.  Was a great weekend.  Keaton had a good time with Grammy and Grandpa in town, she got into full “show off” mode.  We barbecued, enjoyed some beer, and got some great weather.

For today, I’ve got a pretty random entry, ranging a bunch of pretty unrelated topics.  It happens sometimes on Mondays, it’s the prime day for blogging leftovers.  So, I’m gonna slap a bunch of paragraphs on a paper plate, punch in two minutes on the microwave, and pour you a glass of icewater or Pepsi or whatever.  Here goes.

Our neighborhood Fourth of July get-together was fantastic, like a huge hunk of fresh-from-the-oven Americana; with kids on bikes giving impromptu “parades,” lame-style California fireworks set atop folding ladders in the street, even down to the nametags, handshakes, and cakes decorated like American Flags.  We got to meet a ton of our neighbors and Keaton even ended up with a couple “she’s so cute” hand-me-down toys from some of the older girls.  We also put toghether an e-mail list for the block, something I thought was another stroke of genius.  Ahh, community… it’s kinda nice.

Changing subjecte drastically, I want to talk about the Large Hadron Collider for a minute.  Now, before I start, I fully realize you may have never heard of the “Large Hadron Collider,” not to mention knowing what the heck “Hadron” might be.  And, I’ll also let it go if you accidentally misread that as “Large Hard-On Collider,” it happens.  Anyway, it is “Hadron,” and all you have to know is that it’s got something-or-other to do with physics.  See, the LHC (as I’ll cooly call it from hence forward) is the world’s biggest particle accelerator, a device which physics boffins use to smash different kinds of subatomic particles together at super-high speeds.  They do this so they can observe what happens afterward, like new particles or other phenomenon created by the collisions.  To physics nerds, all of this is incredibly exciting.

There is, however, a significant amount of fear mongering and doubt on the internet about the LHC.  See, the machine has just finished being built, and is set to be fired up for the first time any day now.  This has a certain set of folks quite concerned.  These people are afraid that the experiments performed at the LHC may create awful things that could possibly destroy the entire planet.  Terribly scary-sounding things like “micro black holes,” vacuum bubbles,” “magnetic monopoles,” and “strangelets.”  Whatever those are, they sound pretty intimidating, and can, apparently, destroy the Earth.  And, even though the official safety study was incredibly comprehensive and found no cause for concern, it’s still kind of interesting to think of the unintended effects the massive machine may have.  Heck, I’ve even written about a similar scenario before.

OK, I know that probably wasn’t intersting, but I’ve been wanting to write about the Large Hadron Collider now for a couple months, and just decided I’d go ahead and do it.  If you’re interested in when keeping track of how much time you have before you’re vaporized by a hadron-shooting reverse-vampire spawned from a magnetic monopole, you can check this website.

Now then, let’s move on to something equally as off-topic.

I found this site online today and loved it. I mean, regardless of how “real” it is – what a fun escapist fantasy concept. I’ve talked before about how I have this lingering desire to “drop out’ and start/join a cooperative community, and seasteading is like that with an added layer of cool. Yeah, it’s perhaps a tad more isolated than a small community of like-minded individuals taking to an agrarian lifestyle up “in the hills” somewhere (trying to avoid Branch Davidian “compound” esque imagery here), but wouldn’t it be cool to give up modern life and go live on a huge self-sustaining bio-barge in the middle of the sea for a year? Yeah, sure you’d probably get some sort of cabin-fever, end up hating or killing or sleeping with everyone in your little water-locked society… but, y’know.

Told you it was random.  Goodnight.

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so begins another day

Wednesday morning at work: I walk from my car towards the building, my ears still ringing from the stupid-loud volume I had my car stereo set to on the way in. I’m still humming the Beatles’ “All Too Much,” a trippy-but-rocking Harrison number, my laptop bag slung across one shoulder instead of around my back messenger-style like I usually do, was just easier today.

After passing through the Orwellian badge-scanning “portal” that lets me and the rest of the arriving worker bees into the building, I break left towards the hallway that leads to the café. Past the elevators, past the ATM machines, and on into the main area where I pass the donuts, which are laid out now where the salad bar will be come lunchtime. I stop off to pick up a paper coffee cup, plastic lid, and one of those cardboard sleeves that’ll keep my hand from being burned (I was too lazy this morning to grab, clean, and reuse my Earth-friendlier cup from upstairs). Turning the corner towards the Starbucks, I chose to fill up with the stiffest, French Roast, because my normal mainstay, the Verona, has been tasting a little watered-down to me lately – I need something “extra bold” today.

A short walk to the elevator (I’m just not feeling the stairs today, even though I know they’re “good” for me) and I’m whisked up to the third floor where I make a couple turns and find my hole, identical to all the other holes but for the pictures of my wife and daughter and other personal effects pinned to the dismal gray fabric walls.  I put down the large coffee, take my laptop from its bag and plug it into the big monitor, and dial into my 8am meeting as I take a cautious sip.

And so begins another day.

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yeah, take that commies

Sitting on the couch writing on a Tuesday night.  I’m a bit more accustomed to the new room and setup, but all the changes really did throw me off my game.  Too much other than nightly writing to think about, I suppose.  Anyway…

This particular Tuesday was a fitting “makeup day” for yesterday’s work-shirking marathon HDTV install excursion.  I worked hard at work, and came home and worked hard again.  We’re in something of a “cleanup” mode around here in expectation of my folks visiting later this week (shoot, which is tomorrow as you read this, actually).

After last week’s stupid-expensive buying frenzy, I had piled the “spare” room high with empty cardboard cartons and styrofoam.  I had to bust out the carpet knife and do some serious box breaking-down, reminding me of my old days in the fast-food industry (you really got chewed out if you didn’t break down boxes before putting them in the dumpster, let me tell you).  Anyway, in the end it all fit, and the garbage man will magically whisk it all away come his appointed day.

Yesterday, as Keaton and I were playing in the living room, the doorbell rang.  Opening the door, there before me stood a woman I don’t know and three young girls (one of which I recognized as one of our neighbor’s girls).  The woman introduced herself as another one of our neighbors, from down the street.  And, after I introduced both myself and Keaton, she asked the girl to hand me one of their “fliers” and told me not to worry, that they weren’t selling anything. I unfurled the rolled flier as she spoke:

“My husband and I were talking the other day about how most of us have lived next to each other in this neghborhood for five years or so and we hardly know one another.  We got to thinking, we should get the streets together for the Fourth.  Y’know, we all just drive into the garage, hit the garage door button, and hide inside.  We wanted a chance to hang out and meet everyone and talk, so we’re inviting everyone into the circle at the end of the block for food and fireworks.:”

After telling her what an awesome idea I thought she had, she thanked me and said she hoped to see us there.  I closed the door and mused on how Andy Griffith the whole thing was, and then considered how much I loved that fact.  Also, I took pause to consider the “guts” it would take to put yourself out there like that.  Now, practically, it’s really not that big of a deal – just a casual invite to an informal get-together; but, more than that, it requires us modern-day closeted humans to move out of our comfort zone and meet strangers.  I have a lot of respect for them for putting it together, and I am really looking forward to getting down with some Mayberry, Ward ‘n’ June, RFD neighborly face-time.

I mean, what better way to beat the terrorists than to gather with your neighbors at the end of the block to eat food, drink beer, watch the kids run around, and shoot off fireworks?  Yeah, take that Commies.

Goodnight friends.

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to ease my conscience

Know what?  Andy Griffith does look like crap on a 50″ HDTV.  I knew it.  It looks sweet, however, when viewed from DVD on the same said TV.  Too bad I’m, for the most part, too lazy to queue up episodes on DVD versus an episode recorded off TVLand last night.   The poor guy who came to hook up the HD ended up spending five hours of his morning here, and I ended up spending an entire day “working” from home when I didn’t intend to.  Those kind of days always make me feel guilty – when I, for whatever reason, can’t focus on work; like I’m stealing a paycheck.  Guess I’ll have to work double-hard tomorrow to ease my conscience.

The other day I happened upon a backup copy of the Microsoft Access database I wrote and used to manage all the CD trading and selling I used to do back in college and through into our early California years.  I’d long ago password protected the thing, just because I was worried it would be a treasure trove of evidence against me should I ever find myself prosecuted.  And, of course, I promptly forgot the password.  Over the years I’ve tried a couple times to brute-force my way into the thing, casting my mind back to passwords of yore, but I’ve never been successful.  I don’t know why I want to look at it, I just do.  Then, the other day, when I randomly came across the thing, I decided, also randomly, to try one of my modern “stronger” passwords on it.  Surprisingly, it opened right up.

Once inside this thing it was like a walk down memory lane, with names from the past and a regular timeline of when I acquired all my best illicit discs.  Not to mention a running record of all the monetary exchanges I made back in my “copies of rare discs for money” days.  For kicks, I cut all the money I was paid out of Access and into Excel, where I could sum it.  Imagine my shock when I found that, between January 1999 and September 2002, I apparently made a whopping ~$7,000 selling burned CDs.  Wow.  And, of course, I reported all this income on my 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 income tax returns – as any dutiful citizen of this great nation would and should.  Crazy, right?

In other news, the smoke that hung thick over our city last week has finally blown away, and has been replaced with blue skies and warm weather; Keaton’s still keeping her “big girl panties” dry; and my head still isn’t “into” writing.  I’ve just been too consumed during the day to think about writing.  I’m sorry, maybe it’ll work itself out by tomorrow.  For now, though, this is all I have.

Goodnight.

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like a switch flipped

Sunday night, home from an afternoon winetasting in Napa and Sharaun and I just rearranged the furniture to suit the new TV room.  Tomorrow the HDTV guy comes… so I’ll have fully jumped off this bridge after he leaves.  What’s interesting, our monthly bill actually went down by switching to an HD package.  I dunno.  I told Ben last week that my emotional state after dropping the dosh on the new TV was something like a 60/40 mixture of glee and doubt.  I mean, I love the thing, and I spent a lot of time researching it and all that… but it’s still a purchase a couple notches above size I deem “recreational.”  Anyway, let’s get a move on.

The news in our world this weekend is all about Keaton and potty training.  Sometime late Thursday, she just made up her mind that she’d be potty trained.  We were eating dinner with some friends, and she asked to use the potty four or five times, keeping her diaper dry the entire evening.  The next day, Sharaun IM’d me around 11am at work to inform me that she’d been wearing “big girl panties” since she woke up and hadn’t had a single accident.  And, amazingly, it’s been like that now since Thursday – no accidents and no diapers.  It’s like a switch flipped.  We’re hoping this is it, and are both pretty happy at how sudden it came about.

I’m looking forward to the abbreviated work week this week.  My folks come into town Thursday night and I plan to spend at least one day congregated around the grill cooking some meat and drinking some beer while Keaton plays in the sprinklers.  I think we’ll go down to the city to watch the fireworks.  Should be a good time.

Man, blogging from this couch in this new room is really messing up my routine.  This new arrangement is really gonna have to grow on me… so, until I get a little more comfortable – I’m outta here.  Catch you guys Tuesday, have a good Monday.