Archive for December, 2009

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Top 10 Best Albums of 2009

2009/12/31

The end of a year. The end of a decade. The end of an era perhaps. I anticipate a year of change. "Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically"… well, maybe not ecumenically, but definitely musically …and grammatically.

This past year has had several songs and abums I loved. I would say these are my "Top 10 Best Albums of 2009":

1. Franz Ferdinand – "Tonight"

Franz Ferdinand's "Tonight" is the winner in my mind. I still am gushing over it months later.

2. Metric – "Fantasies"

Metric's "Fantasies" is not too far behind and has really inspired some of my drumming.

3. Röyksopp – "Junior"

Röyksopp's "Junior" is like a shiny new toy you cannot help but play with and show off to your friends.

4. Coconut Records – "Davy"

Jason Schwartzman's music is good. I don't think he should stop acting because I like his work in that medium too, but Coconut Records is quality.

5. The Sounds – "Crossing The Rubicon"

I have been a little obsessed with these post-punkers this year so of course I had to include their latest album on this list!

6. Owl City – "Ocean Eyes"

Adam Young totally seems like the nice guy who cannot sleep and writes awesome Postal Service influenced songs in his basement.

7. Grizzly Bear – "Veckatimest"

These guys have a mesmerizing quality and I still cannot put my finger on it. Heads blowing up perhaps?

8. Matt & Kim – "Grand"

The album is good, but "Daylight" is genius in my opinion. So simple, and yet so complex. I still am working on Kim's drum line.

9. Animal Collective – "Merriweather Post Pavilion"

I kept hearing about these guys and finally gave them a listen. I like. I like.

10. The xx – "xx"

The xx is the only "new" band on this Top 10 list, and I only *just* got their album, but I like what I hear so much they are on the list!

Now to be fair, there are still a lot of albums on my "to do" list from 2009 so I reserve the right to add to this list. I'm still discovering music from over 10 years ago, so I am serious. Also I only recently aquired the "Animal Collective" and "The xx" so I reserve the right to rearrange it too if they sink in and I find myself all a twitter.

(Huh… I just realized Twitter has ruined the phrase "a twitter". Maybe it is apropos though. People do seem to be "a twitter" about Twitter. I am still betting eventually the tweeters out there will realize it is just microblogging… blogging with severe restrictions… and thus probably not going to last the test of time. People tend not to favor the thing that has severe restrictions. Microblogging = severe restrictions. And yes, I realize I am a user too, but I really only use it as a channel for my RSS feed. I digress.)

Check out the Top 10 and report back here. I want to know if you like them or not. Let me know what your top 10 (or top 3 or whatever) are too!

3 Comments | Posted in Album of the Week | Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

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Weezer – "Pork and Beans" (2008)

2009/12/30

People like to set expectations on others. Some people cannot help it, it is their nature. Leaders set expectations on those they lead out of requirement. It is necessary for organizations to function.

It is a bit of an issue professionally when you're not living up to what your employer thinks you should be able to do. I'm a lot less accepting of those expectations when I have no input into them and yet I realize I will only be heard if I fail. I'm even thinking perhaps I need to fail. We'll see what happens. Lots of pawns are in play, so the chess board is a little hairy at the moment. This song stuck a chord though while I was coding away at work contemplating the expectations others have for me.

I'mma do the things that i wanna do
I ain't got a thing to prove to you
I'll eat my candy with the pork and beans
Excuse my manners if i make a scene
I ain't gonna wear the clothes that you like
I'm fine and dandy with the me inside
One look in the mirror and i'm tickled pink
I don't give a hoot about what you think

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Weezer – Weezer – "Pork and Beans".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Leave a Comment | Posted in Song of the Day | Tagged , , , , , ,

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Jonathan Coulton – "Code Monkey" (2006)

2009/12/29

I totally had a "code monkey" kind of day. I was just trying to beat out code for ungrateful customers. Remarkably boring shit too. I mean how exciting can I say generating reports and data files for auditing purposes is? I almost fell asleep just typing that last sentence. *sigh* At least they pay me right? I mean I shouldn't feel like shit because my employers landlord gave me a nicer "Holiday Gift" than my employer… let alone the other events of 2009. Right?

Also at least it is a short work week! AND the other "1-up mushroom" is code monkey came home to play video games with G and eat corn chips. (Not unlike the song I think!) Oooh yeah!

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Jonathan Coulton – Thing-a-Week Three – "Code Monkey".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Leave a Comment | Posted in Song of the Day, The Illustrious G | Tagged , , , , , ,

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Kōji Kondō – "Super Mario Brothers Theme" (1985)

2009/12/28

Yesterday was like a dream. There I was… my wife G, in our beautiful house, snowflakes gently falling all around us, as we spent the whole day playing the new "Super Mario Bros. Wii"!

That Christmas of 1985 when the original Super Mario Brothers came out. That was a good Christmas. This year G decided I needed the new one on the Nintendo Wii, which emulates the original series with 2-dimensional game play, but also with a gazillion moves, special powers, and even some Wii controller action where you have to shake the controller. The most mind blowing change is it is truly multi-player with up to 4 people on the screen at the same time, co-operatively (or not no much) trying to make way through the levels and castles. G and I find we are in each other's way as much as we are helping each other, so it definitely adds a new dimension to the game. Also it is great for people at different skill levels. Beginners no longer just die on the first Koopa Troopa and then have to wait for the experts to finish the level to play again. Everyone gets to play all the time because they come back to life mid-board.

Naturally, the music from previous Super Mario Bros. games, including the original, has been adapted into new songs such as this one, where you can still taste the flavor of the original theme song:

Ultimately though I have opted to make the very original theme song, my song of the day.

The 10 year old in me, alive and well, opted to use yesterday to only play this game. I did take a moment to shovel some snow and eat a little, but otherwise it was around 14 hours of video game fun 1980s style. That is what I call vacation! I was so intensely playing this game, that this post is being posted retroactively. As an adult though I get to make my own bad decisions!

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Kōji Kondō – "Super Mario Brothers Theme".

The "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" game may be purchased here…

Leave a Comment | Posted in Song of the Day, The Illustrious G | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

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Animal Collective – "My Girls" (2009)

2009/12/27

You receive these gifts, and they are fun and all, but you don't really need them. Perhaps you should be giving away other things in order to make room for the new things? That's what I think. Really I was feeling grateful before Christmas for what I have. I've got G, and our kitties… a house and fridge full of food. How lucky am I? Many people dream of such things. Like the song says…

I don't mean to seem like I
Care about material things,
Like a social status,
I just want
Four walls and adobe slats
For my girls

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion – "My Girls".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Leave a Comment | Posted in Song of the Day, The Illustrious G | Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

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George Winston – "Joy" (1982)

2009/12/26

Audio Stream: http://www.rhapsody.com/player?type=undefined&id=tra.21243913

Today being the day after Christmas, there is that sort of joyous melancholy. It has been a lot of fun and very busy. I have eaten way too much, spent way too money much on presents, and had countless conversations with friends and family, all far more brief than I would've preferred.

Christmas songs and carols only hold their magic up to today I think. With Christmas now past, the anticipation wanes. As a transitional piece back to my regularly scheduled programming, I have selected George Winston's "Joy" which is based on Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring". It has that joyous melancholy that embodies this time between Christmas and the New Year, and yet still has a touch of that Christmas flavor.

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on George Winston – December – "Joy".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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Patric J. Miller – "We Three Kings" (1987)

2009/12/25

The calm after the storm that is Christmas… *sigh* We all settle down, surrounded by family in a chorus of love and understanding, after eating a large delicious meal, just staring at each other lovingly…

Yeah right.

I know you're all playing with your new toys, whatever they may be. You're probably reading this now on your new washing machine with wireless Internet connectivity and a large HD screen. Yes I said washing machine (some of the new devices out there are that ridiculous). Or you're sitting on the couch staring at the TV while your 'food baby' comes to full gestation thinking you should've skipped the second super-sized helping of mashed potatoes. I am not saying you don't love your family, but chances are by this point you've spent all day with them and a little break might be in order. Perhaps you are sitting in silence for lack of anything else to say to them? Or perhaps you are engaged in fervent conversation, that will possibly end up with Suzie Q crying under the Christmas tree, and Big Mack slamming the door as he runs out into the night. Or perhaps it isn't nearly so dramatic… perhaps you will not need to schedule an appointment with your therapist. Perhaps all is well and you are at peace, with a big stupid grin on your face. (However if that is the case then I'm guessing you have a 'food baby'.)

For your digesting pleasure, I found this claymation rendition of "We Three Kings" with the bebopping Camels which I haven't seen since the late 1980s. It is from Will Vinton's "A Claymation Christmas Celebration" TV Special from 1987, music direction by Patric J. Miller. I cannot help but remember this every time I hear "We Three Kings".

Merry Christmas!

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Patric J. Miller – A Claymation Christmas Celebration – "We Three Kings".

The DVD may be purchased here…

Leave a Comment | Posted in Bonus Song of the Day | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

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