Music, Best of 2008

Hello music fans. Here are my top releases for 2008:

1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
2. Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs
3. Black Kids - Partie Traumatic
4. Calexico - Carried to Dust
5. Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead
6. Black Mountain - In the Future
7. Grand Archives - Grand Archives
8. Kaiser Chiefs - Off With Their Heads
9. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
10. UNKLE - End Titles... Stories for Film
11. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology
12. American Music Club - The Golden Age
13. Beck - Modern Guilt
14. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Sunday at Devil Dirt
15. Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV

A few notes on the top five:

I first heard Fleet Foxes from the Sub Pop website early in the year where they are very generous in letting you download free music. White Winter Hymnal was the selection available by Fleet Foxes. I was blown away & have been since the album was released in June. Their EP Sun Giant was released the month before & contains what I believe to be their best song: English House. While I have heard them more than I would like at work since the summer started, I have not grown sick of them...in fact, I like them even more.

Some will say it is not fair that I have included Bob Dylan in my top 15 albums of the year as these songs have all been previously released (from '89-06) & I will find no fault with that opinion- however, these songs did not make any of his official releases & further more, they are just as good if not better. It was like getting a brand new Dylan album that you were not expecting. My only disappointment is that the special 3 disc edition of the record was $100 dollars... kind of a rip off if you ask me.

Partie Traumatic is the party/dance record of the year. Black Kids simply got their synth/groove on with nary a track that did not make me tap my foot, bob my head or snap my fingers. Check out---> Hurricane Jane

Calexico's Carried to Dust is just beautiful. They sound like no other band & are tragically underrated. Check out---> Two Silver Trees

Keep You Eyes Ahead by Helio Sequence is another gem by the label of the year: Sub Pop. Strong all the way through & was in the running for a long time for the #2 spot on this list. Lately is heartbreakingly beautiful.

Other worthy releases this year:

1. Beach House - Devotion
2. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
3. Flaming Lips - Christmas on Mars (movie as well)
4. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
5. Joe Jackson - Rain

Musical highlights of the year:

1. After waiting 17 years to see American Music Club in concert, I finally got to see them live. It was an 8 song set & while I wanted more, I was happy to get what I did. After the show, I was very fortunate to shake hands with Vudi & talk to him for a few minutes.
2. I got over my phobia to Robyn Hitchcock thanks to a co-worker- great stuff in his catalog.
3. Funky 16 Corners
4. I finally got a copy of Leftism by Leftfield
   

Disappointments of the year:

1. Nine Inch Nails did not come to my hometown on their recent tour.
2. Nine Inch Nails' album The Slip. It's still free, but only a handful of songs were keepers while the rest were fan only.
3. 4:13 Dream by The Cure was no where near as good as the single/ep's they released leading up to the album.
4. I only added 156 titles to my collection. I would love to triple that total...sigh.

Trend to go away:

Not really a trend, but I wish those whiny bastards from Coldplay would go the hell away.

Album I wish I purchased last year when it was out but missed it:

Band of Horses - Cease to Begin <---GREAT!

Albums from 2008 I still want to look into to:

1. Benji Hughes - A Love Extreme
2. Blitzen Trapper - Furr
3. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
4. David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
5. Erykah Badu - New Amerkyah, Pt. 1: 4th World War
6. Gary Louris - Vagabonds
7. Individuals - Fields/Aqua Marine (Reissue from the early 80's)
8. Lucinda Williams - Little Honey
9. Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
10. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line
11. School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms
12. Steve Jansen - Slope
13. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
14. Walkmen - You and Me

Feast or Famine

I was strolling through my local grocery store the other night and saw this amazing cart full of "clearance items". This photo opportunity was too good to pass up. Note the Ace wrist brace in the bottom left corner... heh heh. Maybe you need that after using all of those condoms?!

2008 NFL Season Predictions

Again, I am late in getting these posted. Naturally, after the 1st week a colossal injury occurred on my AFC team pick for the Super Bowl. I have not changed the pick in keeping with my own sense of personal honesty.

Here goes nothing:

NFC

East

Dal
Phil
NYG
Wash

North

Min
GB
Det
Chi

South

NO
TB
Car
Atl

West

Sea
Stl
AZ
SF

Div Winners, Wild card and Playoff seeds

Dal (1)
Min (2)
Sea (3)
NO (4)

Phil (5)
GB (6)


AFC

East

NE
Buf
NYJ
Mia

North

Pitt
Cle
Balt
Cin

South

Tenn
Indy
Jax
Hou

West

SD
Den
KC
Oak


Div Winners, Wild card and Playoff seeds

SD (1)
NE (2)
Tenn (3)
Pitt (4)

Indy (5)
Jax (6)


Playoffs

NFC

Round 1

Sea over GB
Phil over NO

Round 2

Dal over Sea
Min over Phil

NFC Champ

Dal over Min


AFC

Round 1

Jax over Tenn
Pitt over Indy

Round 2

SD over Jax
NE over Pitt

AFC Champ

NE over SD


Super Bowl

Dallas over New England 28-26

Monday Tirade #3

OK, long time no post.
A couple of things... maybe more, I'm in a mood- hence the tirade:

What is it with women who think they need cosmetic surgery?
Specifically the injections in the lips? Don't they realize that they look like Donald Duck?

I saw a woman the other week and I wanted to give her some Looney Tunes lines to see if she would start following along. Women, I know that some of you might have vanity issues and want to look younger for yourselves, your mate or whatever- hell, maybe you are getting signals from your partner or subliminally get them from the publishing/advertising world. Please know that we love you the way your are. Granted, men are shallow assholes when it comes to our own looks and you might get that feeling that we want you to look younger, well let me tell you: we just want to feel more secure in our own minds and I think that is why men stray... but, that is another topic.


NBC sucks! Boy, did they screw up the opening ceremony for the Olympics. If I wanted to see a new camera angle every 3 seconds, I could tune into MTV or whatever passes for music video programming these days. Hey jackasses at the home office in NYC: we have brains and know how to use them so please stop force feeding us visual cues on how great you want us to think things are. Oh and Hasbro would have loved it if you said a new board game was coming out next week based on the opening night monologues. I swear, if I heard that China had 1.3 billion one more time after the first two hours I would have been violently drunk because the drinking game I could have invented every time I heard "1.3 Billion!!!" I should hunt down Bob Costas and kill him for putting that into a perpetual loop. Again, we are not dumb but if you continue to treat us that way the exodus to cable and satellite will continue. Personal aside: I have not watched network television in years and the crap I put up with for the first night of the Olympics are the very reason I stopped watching.


More on television: My TV screen is not a computer screen.

I do not need a crawl at the bottom of the screen nor your logo in the corner of the screen reminding me what channel I am watching. And I can damn well tell you I don't want your advert interrupters flashing across a good portion of the screen when I am trying to watch a show. I can already disable that type of content on my computer at 99% of websites; don't think I don't relish the day when I can do the same on my TV too. Just stop it.

Whatever happened to common courtesy and manners? I used to think that kids were rude, but I find out that they have been taught the manners that their parents have forgotten. Simple things as saying hello when its said to you, or speaking when spoken to. Folks, it really matters.

And the biggest rant of all: Do any of you out there see the irony when our jackass leader says that Russia invading Georgia is without any merit and is essentially against any kind of moral code, law, UN Security Council violation or just plain wrong. Hmm. Did we not do the same thing when we invaded Iraq? Millions around the world protested the unlawful invasion of a country that had nothing to do with 9/11. You know, they used to string up leaders and people for making dumbsh*t decisions like that. I am certainly not advocating it, but stating a fact.

People of the U.S., please wake up.

Hopefully, I will post more often.

2008 Major League Baseball Predictions

My predictions for the 2008 Major League Baseball season. Hey, I could get these right you know... it could happen.

AL East

Red Sox (1)
Yankees (4)
Blue Jays
Rays
Orioles

AL Central

Indians (2)
Tigers
White Sox
Twins
Royals

AL West

Mariners (3)
Angels
Rangers
A's


NL East

Braves (3)
Phillies
Mets
Nationals
Marlins

NL Central

Cubs (2)
Reds
Brewers
Cards
Astros
Pirates

NL West

Diamondbacks (1)
Dodgers (4)
Padres
Rockies
Giants

AL Playoffs

Indians over Yankees
Mariners over Red Sox

Indians over Mariners


NL Playoffs

Cubs over Dodgers
Diamondbacks over Braves

Cubs over Diamondbacks

World Series

Cleveland Indians over Chicago Cubs in 6!
Cubs continue the curse.

AL MVP: Travis Hafner (Indians)

AL Cy Young: C.C Sabathia (Indians)

AL Rookie of the Year: Alexei Ramirez (White Sox)

NL MVP: Mark Texiera (Braves--Yes, I picked him two years in a row!)

NL Cy Young: Carlos Zambrano (Cubs)

NL Rookie of the Year: Johnny Cueto (Reds)

The 3:30 AM Squeak Squeak

My newly moved in neighbors above me are early risers. Every day- even on Saturdays, they get up around four in the morning to start their day. Frequently, there is some Dusty Springfield action going on... you know the song: "Just a Little Lovin'" from Dusty in Memphis.

Now, did I mention the bed squeak? I guess I didn't. Their bed makes so much noise that it has actually woke me up from a deep sleep more than once! But its only the bed- I rarely ever hear them make nary a sound. I don't mind really because at least somebody is seeing some action around here.

Friday night/Saturday morning this past week, the action started around 3:30.

3:30!!! If the bed woke me up around then, that means it all started before that!

I couldn't get back to sleep.

Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak

Pause

Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak

Longer pause

Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak Squeak.

I had to listen to the rest of that squeaking bed- then the stomp to the sink; the running water; the stomp back to the bed; the stomp back to the sink; more water running. I was mostly awake for the rest of the morning until right before I had to get up for work... when, my alarm/radio came on.

I was so tired that day.

Five Years

Can you believe that it has been five years since our retard of a president declared war on Iraq?

Re-read that sentence if you need an additional moment of clarity.

Five years, and 3,991 confirmed U.S. armed forces deaths as of March, 19th 2008 according to the Department of Defence. Tens of thousands of our soldiers wounded (discharged & non-discharged). Iraqi military and civilian deaths? - Well that depends on whose numbers you believe. Estimates range anywhere from 50,000 to 250,000- maybe more as accurate numbers will never be validated by our government.

The surge you hear our leaders grandstand so much about in the last six months that is supposed to be working. Well of course they can claim it as a victory of sorts because the violence has lessened-- because we are paying the insurgents to not kill each other. Really, you can look it up in a variety of places. And that is your tax dollars. Why is the media or congress for that matter not investigating what happened to almost nine billion dollars that is missing.... hey, even Fox news- that bastion of the right wing with its fair and balanced reporting style, reported this in 2004. Where is the outrage? Are we all asleep?

Economically, this war is a mess for us as well. When Alfred E. Newman took office, we had a budget surplus that was unsurpassed in American history. He blew that and was already getting hammered by the press on economic matters leading up to 9/11 (Enron anyone?) when we all of a sudden got patriotic and decided to go to war on lies. We've spent upwards of 3 trillion dollars by the current estimates and who knows when we are going to get out. The upcoming election this year guarantees us nothing on this war. If McCain wins, he'll keep us mired there longer and if a democrat wins, all the blame will get put on them for anything further by the Republican spin machine. It is a no win situation for all of us. The Democrats are no better. Most of them voted for the war based on the fear machine put into action by the Bushies.

We've lost stature
in the international community in so many ways. It makes so many Americans ashamed to actually be an American... me included at times. People think that radical Islam is all of Islam and that they all want to kill us when that cannot be farther from the truth. Radicals exist in all religions and sects. If you don't think so, look at the Christian right in this country and examine the sad deeds of the Catholic church in Europe over the last thousand years. Now they want to try and extend the war into Iran when the Irani people actually want nothing to do with that and are the one of the most pro-American countries in the middle east.

Five years ago, I marched in protest of a pending invasion of Iraq. It was a just cause then and now we've decimated a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.














Sure, Hussein was a horrible despotic leader, but his country was safer in his hands than the hands of the Shiite and Sunni Muslims who are slaughtering each other for control (and I probably don't have that fact right). Millions marched around the world in support and now America is considered an aggressor who pushes for regime changes to serve its own economic interests.

We've lost so much-- we all have.

Monday Tirade #2

What the hell is it with all the dipsh*t's who cannot fathom the idea of driving in a sane and/or rational way? It's like they selected "I for Idiot" instead of D when they put their car in gear.

I find the following things terribly annoying when I am driving:

1. Morons who fail to use a turn signal.
2. Morons who fail to stop at a stop sign.
3. Morons who think that by going a million miles an hour faster than the posted speed limit, they will get there faster.
4. Morons who peel out at the stop light when it turns green.
5. Morons who drive through pedestrian walk ways when there are pedestrians actually present in the walkway already!
6. Morons who run red lights.
7. Morons who like to tailgate me. (I just love to take my foot off the gas pedal and slow down for these idiots).
   

I really want to mount a grenade launcher onto the roof of my van to take care of some of these bozo's- that and an L.E.D. message board that I can flash messages at them (like SLOW THE F*** DOWN!! MORON!).

I feel better now.

Oscar picks 2008

It’s Hollywood pat on the back time again- where millions watch the only award show that hardly matters anymore (because the Grammy’s clearly suck). Do the Oscars matter now that every network/magazine or blogger like me rates this stuff at the end of every season? Where are great stars of yesteryear like Cary Grant or Katharine Hepburn? Tom Hanks is not our Jimmy Stewart- he’s our Tom Hanks and that should be enough. Gone are those golden days of great movies. Sure, they churned out some lower grade films then, but do we really need absolute crap like Witless Protection or yet another Rambo movie? Clearly, there are enough morons out there (studio executives who green light this junk & idiots who fill the seats) who say yes. Okay, stepping off the step stool now and my mega horn is thrown away.

Best Picture

Not only do I think No Country for Old Men is the best picture, but it was my favorite movie last year. The Coen brothers have done it again. There Will be Blood is only good because Daniel Day-Lewis did some kick ass (I drink your milkshake!) acting in it. Paul Dano was chronically under used in his role & left out of the Oscar party. Juno, while very good was too cutesy for a best picture win. Atonement was not good enough. In any other year, Michael Clayton would be the front runner but there will be no denying the Coens.

Should Win: No Country for Old Men
Might Win: Cannot see any possibility of another movie winning
Will Win: No Country for Old Men

Best Director

Yeah, you might think I am biased here with my pick of the Coens. This film elevates their already lofty status to new heights. Paul Thomas Anderson is the serious competition here and I don’t think he going to get it (This is not even P.T.A.’s best movie- Boogie Nights easily gets the nod with Magnolia right behind it). The other three are mere window dressing. This race is the one that might be the tightest to call.

Should Win: Joel and Ethan Coen
Might Win: Paul Thomas Anderson
Will Win: Joel and Ethan Coen

Best Actress

This is a two horse race: Marion Cotillard in a movie that no one has seen & Julie Christie in another movie that no one has seen. Ellen Page got the late year push from Juno, but her role is mostly charming smart-ass quips and not great acting (the real gem in Juno is the writing- Thank you Diablo Cody). Laura Linney is solid in just about everything she does and I am waiting for a big role to come her way so she can really shine. Cate Blanchett is not going to win this year in this category since she is nominated twice. That leaves Cotillard and Christie. Gut feeling is Christie takes it as she is an established name.

Should Win: Laura Linney
Might Win: Marion Cotillard
Will Win: Julie Christie

Best Actor

Daniel Day-Lewis vs. the world on this one. His competition is filled with worthy actors. George Clooney might prove us all wrong. Tommy Lee Jones doesn’t have a real chance in a movie most people did not see. Johnny Depp is a good actor, but is wearing out his welcome in quirky roles (note to Depp: please stay away from Tim Burton for a long, long, LONG TIME). Viggo Mortensen in a powerhouse role will not win either (the Academy likes the Best Actor Winners to be in dramas. Only four winners since 1980 featured actors in terribly violent roles: De Niro, Hopkins, Crowe & Washington)

Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis
Might Win: George Clooney
Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis

Best Supporting Actress

Best Supporting Actress is always an interesting one to try to figure out. Will it be another year of an out of the blue winner like Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) or Amy Ryan (Gone Baby Gone)? Will it be a year for an established background actress to be recognized like Tilda Swinton (Michael Clayton)? There is always the sympathy vote for a veteran actress like Ruby Dee who has never been nominated and Oscar likes to give these out for career achievement. Then you have the actress who really deserves it like Cate Blanchett (I’m Not There). There should be no question here… yet there always is.

Should Win: Cate Blanchett
Might Win: All four besides C.B., but the lean is towards Ruby Dee
Will Win: Cate Blanchett

Best Supporting Actor

Unlike its sister category, I don’t see the same kind of out of the blue possibilities every year in this race. Javier Bardem should win this easily friend-o. There is stiff competition with Philip Seymour Hoffman in the mix (hell, he could be tough to beat in three roles this year: The Savages, Before the Devil Knows Your Dead & the nominated role in Charlie Wilson’s War). New comer Casey Affleck is this year’s Ryan Gosling. Tom Wilkinson is A-1 in Michael Clayton but would rate #3 in this year’s category. Hal Holbrook should escort Ruby Dee down the red carpet as he is her counterpart this year though I give him no chance.

Should Win: Javier Bardem
Might Win: Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Academy loves to have actors with Best Actor & Supporting Actor Oscar’s: There are currently six)
Will Win: Javier Bardem

The Rest of my Picks:

Animated Feature: Persepolis
Art Direction: Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Cinematography: No Country For Old Men
Costume Design: Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Documentary Feature: War/Dance
Documentary Short: Salim Baba
Film Editing: No Country For Old Men
Foreign Language Film: The Counterfeiters
Makeup: La Vie en Rose
Original Score: Michael Clayton
Original Song: Once
Short Film (animated): I Met the Walrus
Short Film (live action): At Night
Sound Editing: The Bourne Ultimatum
Sound Mixing: Ratatouille
Visual Effects: Transformers
Screenplay (adapted): No Country For Old Men
Screenplay (original): Juno

Another Day, Another Cup of Coffee

I've been up for just under three hours now. I've had time for a bit of television, web surfing, emails, two cups of coffee (well, maybe it's really four because my mug is pretty big) and a bit of time for reflection.

What is this day going to bring me I wonder? I know it will be the usual drudgery at work which is fine because I am able to do my job in my sleep. No challenges there really. I've decided not to take a double promotion that has been offered. I had tentatively agreed to take the position but other than a verbal agreement, nothing has been hashed out. I warned them that I might feel shaky about the whole thing later on if I took the job. Turns out, it didn't even take me that long. Every day has been filled with pressure & stress that only comes from my own head. I cannot compromise myself in this way, so I have to go back to them and say "No Thanks". Tomorrow is the day of reckoning.

The good news is that I am taking nine days off starting this Saturday. The bad news is that I am not going any where. That is quite okay though as I need the time to figure out some things so I can get my act together. I'm not getting any younger you know.

I am listening to Pearl Jam's Live at the Gorge 05/06 set.

I've become such a big fan this year after years of ignoring them. Low Light is a beautifully powerful song. I have a co-worker to thank for that. How can a band such as this be so under the radar in the U.S.? I suppose you can attribute that to the lousy state of the music industry. Thanks a lot you greedy backward thinking bastards!

Well, I have to get my day started- no more coffee though...NEED FOOD!