So I should probably make some resolutions. In the past I have frowned on this tradition because it seemed to impart some magical power to the changing of a calendar page and it inevitably led to depressing amounts of disappointment at my inability to follow through with whatever it is I resolved to do or not do. In an effort to avoid being stubborn and lazy and instead be more disciplined and responsible, I hereby declare the following five items to be my resolutions for 2008.
1. Exercise everyday.
This means everyday as in at least a half hour of something exercise oriented everyday. Maybe more.
2. Clean up after myself.
My car, my desk, my floor, my face, my dishes, the list goes on and on and on.
3. Make plans in advance.
I want to do things that will actually be great instead of being surprised when moderately good things happen out of nowhere. This also includes saving money for good stuff instead of wasting it on junk.
4. Drink less beer and eat less junk.
This is how people get fat and out of shape. I don't want to be those.
5. Read a lot more.
This is limited to books. This does not include the internet, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, tracts, student work or random scraps of paper that I seem to accumulate, hoping to find something important within.
These may seem like nebulous resolutions, but I think that they are good and I will strive to see them through to, ummmm, errrr, completion? Do these have an end? We'll see.
About Me
Friday, January 04, 2008
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
The Ten Best Albums That Were Released Last Year (2007) That I Actually Listened To (With Commentary)
Here's what I would have recommended that you listen to if I had talked to you last year. Now that it's 2008, I would still recommend these albums to you because they are all that good. Therefore, having the perspective that can only result from the arrival of a new year, I present these albums. Listen to them. Just not here, sorry.
1. No Age - Weirdo Rippers
This album receives the negligibly coveted number one spot because it was by far the most captivating, fascinating, exhilarating collection of sounds that I enjoyed last year. Everything from the low-fi production and blink-of-an-eye track lengths to the blissed-out noisescapes and head-smashing drums created an aural environment that was at once meditative and hysterical. This album reflects the 90s not necessarily in inspiration or reference as much as in osmotic revelation. Punk-rock DIY footloosery so thickly covers each song, one is left guessing whether or not this duo has ever heard any of the important/serious/grandiose indie rock of this new century. This album is a must have for anyone ever.
2. Deerhunter - Cryptograms/Flourescent Grey
These two releases are presented here as one because that is how they were packaged on vinyl. This album is amazing. I probably listened to this more than any other album. Every listen revealed new layers to these dense songs depending on my mood or the environment I was listening in. The driving bass lines, a vocal loop, a cymbal roll or just the subtle way the sound has shifted from ambient guitar drone to full-speed freak-out would keep me playing this album over and over. Mind blowing. Don't even ask, just buy it.
3. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
I was very opposed to this album when I first heard it but I have since come around on it. Each song seemed a little off. A sample here and a chorus there all bugged me. My solution was to listen to it on repeat during our northwestern trip this summer. Actually, this was really Jen's solution seeing as she's a huge fan and totally dug the album. All this to say, I came to love it. Jens' melodies and arrangements soar with a tongue in cheek confidence. It's like that Sufjan dude only I don't feel guilty for not thinking hard enough about each line and Jens totally goes for the karaoke-god crooner vocals. There is something so sickeningly sweet about his songs that keeps me coming back, just like a whole thing of candybeans. This record is a whole things of candybeans.
4. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
This album blends the bizarro world of all those Animal Collective dudes with the bizarro world of all those Beach Boys dudes. If you've already read this assessment elsewhere, sorry but it's true. What other people won't tell you, however, is this album is way better than the new Animal Collective album. Seriously better. The thick gauzy layers of lush harmonies will coat your insides (through your ear holes, of course) with warm, delicious goodness. Play it soft or loud, it will elevate your soul.
5. Magik Markers - Boss
Maybe I lose some scene points for listing this "straight" Magik Markers record instead of just complaining about how they used to be cool, but I don't care. This record is a definite departure from their numerous earlier recordings, but so what. This record demonstrates that in addition to destroying your brain with noise, Elisa and Pete can also write great songs. These songs (with a couple of exceptions) definitely reflect the past in their emotions, themes and instrumentation but they focus these elements in a way that makes them more identifiable and gives them a greater impact. That this album was produced by Lee Ranaldo and released on Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace label should come as no surprise to those who hear it. Some may hear echoes of Chan Marshall, but I think she's too busy competing with Feist for the hearts of the NPR crowd to come up with something this good.
6. White Stripes - Icky Thump
Is this the best White Stripes album? Who knows. I love this album. It's a White Stripes album and therefore it's going to be at least 75% awesome. This is probably more than 75%, but I don't really keep track any more. This album is great and you've probably already made up your mind on it. My vote is "yes". That's all.
7. Om - Pilgrimage
This is not an album for the faint of heart. Although the first track can gently put a baby to sleep (hahahaha, sleep?! get it?!), the epiphany of the second track will wake up said baby like a nuclear bomb. Totally heavy without always being heavy. Om continue their journey onward and upward through the clouds and the gates of riffland with this brief collection of songs. That this was produced by Steve Albini is enough reason to buy it. That it will completely blow your mind just makes it that much more necessary.
8. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Another album that I didn't like upon first listen but have grown to enjoy more and more. The absence of the frantic rhythm and panicky vocals bummed me out, but the richness of the sound and the lyrical themes of loss and worry clued me in to the direction of the record. I don't like this one as much as their previous album, and these songs did not work as well live as the older ones, but I definitely enjoyed this album throughout the year. This was one of those albums that began to creep into repeat status the longer I owned it.
9. Thurston Moore - Trees Outside the Academy
I love Sonic Youth. Lots of people know this. This album probably benefits from some of that nepotism, but it is still great. Thurston strips the sound down to acoustic guitar, violin and a bass/drums rhythm section and in doing so creates a record that is cohesive and complete. Where one worries that there is no rock, J Mascis pops up and shreds your face off. Mellow and awesome with a little glimpse into the maturing of a noise rock pioneer.
10. Liars - Liars
I have the other Liars albums and I will probably continue to buy each one that is released. Why? Because no two are similar. This album has Liars as the fractured and misinformed rock band doing their damnedest to make rock n' roll with broken instruments, a Tandy 286 laptop and the studio intern running the boards. How does it sound? Awesome. Totally wrong as in completely rad.
1. No Age - Weirdo Rippers
This album receives the negligibly coveted number one spot because it was by far the most captivating, fascinating, exhilarating collection of sounds that I enjoyed last year. Everything from the low-fi production and blink-of-an-eye track lengths to the blissed-out noisescapes and head-smashing drums created an aural environment that was at once meditative and hysterical. This album reflects the 90s not necessarily in inspiration or reference as much as in osmotic revelation. Punk-rock DIY footloosery so thickly covers each song, one is left guessing whether or not this duo has ever heard any of the important/serious/grandiose indie rock of this new century. This album is a must have for anyone ever.
2. Deerhunter - Cryptograms/Flourescent Grey
These two releases are presented here as one because that is how they were packaged on vinyl. This album is amazing. I probably listened to this more than any other album. Every listen revealed new layers to these dense songs depending on my mood or the environment I was listening in. The driving bass lines, a vocal loop, a cymbal roll or just the subtle way the sound has shifted from ambient guitar drone to full-speed freak-out would keep me playing this album over and over. Mind blowing. Don't even ask, just buy it.
3. Jens Lekman - Night Falls Over Kortedala
I was very opposed to this album when I first heard it but I have since come around on it. Each song seemed a little off. A sample here and a chorus there all bugged me. My solution was to listen to it on repeat during our northwestern trip this summer. Actually, this was really Jen's solution seeing as she's a huge fan and totally dug the album. All this to say, I came to love it. Jens' melodies and arrangements soar with a tongue in cheek confidence. It's like that Sufjan dude only I don't feel guilty for not thinking hard enough about each line and Jens totally goes for the karaoke-god crooner vocals. There is something so sickeningly sweet about his songs that keeps me coming back, just like a whole thing of candybeans. This record is a whole things of candybeans.
4. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
This album blends the bizarro world of all those Animal Collective dudes with the bizarro world of all those Beach Boys dudes. If you've already read this assessment elsewhere, sorry but it's true. What other people won't tell you, however, is this album is way better than the new Animal Collective album. Seriously better. The thick gauzy layers of lush harmonies will coat your insides (through your ear holes, of course) with warm, delicious goodness. Play it soft or loud, it will elevate your soul.
5. Magik Markers - Boss
Maybe I lose some scene points for listing this "straight" Magik Markers record instead of just complaining about how they used to be cool, but I don't care. This record is a definite departure from their numerous earlier recordings, but so what. This record demonstrates that in addition to destroying your brain with noise, Elisa and Pete can also write great songs. These songs (with a couple of exceptions) definitely reflect the past in their emotions, themes and instrumentation but they focus these elements in a way that makes them more identifiable and gives them a greater impact. That this album was produced by Lee Ranaldo and released on Thurston Moore's Ecstatic Peace label should come as no surprise to those who hear it. Some may hear echoes of Chan Marshall, but I think she's too busy competing with Feist for the hearts of the NPR crowd to come up with something this good.
6. White Stripes - Icky Thump
Is this the best White Stripes album? Who knows. I love this album. It's a White Stripes album and therefore it's going to be at least 75% awesome. This is probably more than 75%, but I don't really keep track any more. This album is great and you've probably already made up your mind on it. My vote is "yes". That's all.
7. Om - Pilgrimage
This is not an album for the faint of heart. Although the first track can gently put a baby to sleep (hahahaha, sleep?! get it?!), the epiphany of the second track will wake up said baby like a nuclear bomb. Totally heavy without always being heavy. Om continue their journey onward and upward through the clouds and the gates of riffland with this brief collection of songs. That this was produced by Steve Albini is enough reason to buy it. That it will completely blow your mind just makes it that much more necessary.
8. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
Another album that I didn't like upon first listen but have grown to enjoy more and more. The absence of the frantic rhythm and panicky vocals bummed me out, but the richness of the sound and the lyrical themes of loss and worry clued me in to the direction of the record. I don't like this one as much as their previous album, and these songs did not work as well live as the older ones, but I definitely enjoyed this album throughout the year. This was one of those albums that began to creep into repeat status the longer I owned it.
9. Thurston Moore - Trees Outside the Academy
I love Sonic Youth. Lots of people know this. This album probably benefits from some of that nepotism, but it is still great. Thurston strips the sound down to acoustic guitar, violin and a bass/drums rhythm section and in doing so creates a record that is cohesive and complete. Where one worries that there is no rock, J Mascis pops up and shreds your face off. Mellow and awesome with a little glimpse into the maturing of a noise rock pioneer.
10. Liars - Liars
I have the other Liars albums and I will probably continue to buy each one that is released. Why? Because no two are similar. This album has Liars as the fractured and misinformed rock band doing their damnedest to make rock n' roll with broken instruments, a Tandy 286 laptop and the studio intern running the boards. How does it sound? Awesome. Totally wrong as in completely rad.
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