The holiday season has proven to be a very slow one around my workplace, lending me lots of time to browse website after website of Best Of 2009 music lists. Everyone from NPR nerds and Pitchfork elitists to no-name indie bloggers such as myself have their choices - some good, some predictable (see also: overrated) and some Ive never heard of.
Initially I thought Id make a rambling list with no real order to it (too chaotic!). Then I thought Id make a list for every genre I liked (too daunting!). Finally, Ive decided that it just has to be done. The challenge must be accepted; Im gonna just have to make an all-genre, covers-all-bases list. Yikes. The very thought makes my music brain seize up. Im gonna do myself a favor and not list anything in any specific order...that'd just be too much for me to handle. Theres so many more I could mention - this list could honestly go for pages and pages. However, without being long winded this is the most concise and evenly spread from one genre to the other collection I could see fitting into this space.
Anyway, lets get on with the show!
Themselves - "CrownsDown"
How has no site that Ive stumbled across mentioned the latest full length from Themselves as one of their faves this year? HOW?! Its no secret that DoseOne is one of my favorite artists, so forgive me for sounding a bit biased but Im going to ask again...how?! Its been six years since a new album from Themselves and the strength of each ten tracks on CrownsDown more than makes up for the absence. Dose's polyrhythmic and incredibly fast rhymes would knock any other would-be emcee on their ass and no doubt Jel's programming can run circles around most anyone else. Artists to the truest definition, Themselves have created another masterpiece. These guys just make it look so easy! If they come to a town near you, GO SEE THEM. And stop stealing their music online, would ya? (Dose: "Would you burn my friend, Jeffery Logan, Jel, with a cigarrette?" Crowd: "No!" Dose: "Then why would you burn him with a CD-R?")
(Video below by ME!)
Fever Ray - "s/t"
From start to finish this album has a looming, spooky sound that feels like the musical equivalent of a monster under your bed; its gonna hide in the corners, sharpen its claws when you arent looking and sneak up on you in the middle of the night. It literally took quite nearly a year for Karin Dreijer Andersson's haunting voice and layers of sound to sink its teeth into me even though I bought the album just a few months after its release in January. I was skeptical; I love the Knife and feared her solo endeavor would feel either too similar or too strained. Neither is the case. Its definitely not a summertime sound - the atmosphere on the album is very bleak and see-your-breath-in-the-air chilly.
Felt - "3: A Tribute to Rosie Perez"
Slug and Murs rapping over production by Aesop Rock?! Yes fucking please! Ive seen a lot of flack from reviewers saying that the album is too dark (and all seem to be pointing fingers at Aesop for that) but I have no complaints on that end at all. While good, the first two Felt albums were very similar stylistically so the departure from their safe zone is a nice surprise. The lyrics are still snarky, the sarcasm is still laid thick and the pop/sub-culture references are still relevant and humorous so why not change it up musically, right?
Spinnerette - "s/t"
I seem to appreciate something that a lot of people dont anymore; a really great rock album. I grow tired of trying to label bands in a sea of increasingly ridiculous genres (Pornogrind? Pirate metal? Ugh, whatever.) and sometimes just want my rock to sound, well...rockin. Even more rare than a great rock debut is a great girl-fronted rock band, period. As a pretty big Distillers fan I was super bummed that they announced theyd split up in 2006. Brody Dalle had made mention of Spinnerette being a reality not long after the Distillers parted ways, and the self titled album was well worth the wait. The band definitely has guts and a keen ear for melody that paired with Brody's ballsy, take-no-prisoners attitude and a gravely growl that can turn pretty on a dime made for an impressive debut release. My fingers are crossed that no matter what she calls the band, Brody Dalle will be involved in music for a long time. Plus...shes totally hot, you gotta admit.
Converge - "Axe to Fall"
Alright, heres the review thats gonna be lost on everyone because I seem to be the only person I know who really loves super-heavy music. Converge is a band that people either love or despise - most anyone Ive ever introduced them to falls to the second column. I dont know how to describe why I like them so much without having it sound way too simple. Because of the fact that Jake Bannons vocals are so brutal that they sound more like an instrument than a voice box? Because their production values, talent and sequencing on every album since Jane Doe is unmatched by any other artist in their genre? Because they dont really have a genre? Because theyre consistent? I dunno. The list goes on...
There. Now you can never say Im not diverse.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Things I Love Thursday for the week of December 17th, 2009!
It is once again that time of the week! Lets get down to it and dish about what we've loved this week.
+The unbelievable amount of generous people bringing me donations for Salt Lake County Animal Services (seriously amazing)!
+Saying "Its a Christmas miracle!" after something not very miracle-ish happens.
+"I have that Asian kid singing tuts my barreh stuck in my head."
+Really good combonations of songs being played on shuffle.
+"Dear Jesika 'is hot' Medici, You're a lady and a scholar. Thank you, Alisha".
+My Music Listogrophy book!
+Slide by Missy Elliott
+"Good thing we arent having kids. Itd come out with a full beard, huge eyeballs and saying 'fuck' a lot."
+The new background on my work computer (hellloooo, goldfish!).
+A very successful Christmas shopping trip last Saturday.
+building up the courage to get a haircut - I miss having short, funky hair!
+Being very much in love with the best boy ever.
+How excited I am to give people their Christmas presents.
+That I get to sleep in for the next three days. Mmmmm sleeeep.
+The Simon's Cat cartoons! I love them! Look how cute!
+The unbelievable amount of generous people bringing me donations for Salt Lake County Animal Services (seriously amazing)!
+Saying "Its a Christmas miracle!" after something not very miracle-ish happens.
+"I have that Asian kid singing tuts my barreh stuck in my head."
+Really good combonations of songs being played on shuffle.
+"Dear Jesika 'is hot' Medici, You're a lady and a scholar. Thank you, Alisha".
+My Music Listogrophy book!
+Slide by Missy Elliott
+"Good thing we arent having kids. Itd come out with a full beard, huge eyeballs and saying 'fuck' a lot."
+The new background on my work computer (hellloooo, goldfish!).
+A very successful Christmas shopping trip last Saturday.
+building up the courage to get a haircut - I miss having short, funky hair!
+Being very much in love with the best boy ever.
+How excited I am to give people their Christmas presents.
+That I get to sleep in for the next three days. Mmmmm sleeeep.
+The Simon's Cat cartoons! I love them! Look how cute!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Listology!
Lets talk lists, my little digital mustachers! Are you a list writer? Before you go grocery shopping do you jot down everything you need first like a good kid? Do you have a Top Ten for everything you love? If so you have no doubt heard of the Listography book line. You havent? Oh, for shame. Here is what the author has to say about the inspiration behind this very fun series;
"The Listography Books are guided journals to help capture your autobiography through list making. I love the elements that make up a life, from experiences to favorites to the people we meet, and I wanted to create a few nice places to keep and share them: the Listography books and listography.com.
I hope that the books serve as inspiration and as a practical personal tool, but also as a catalyst for reflection. You may uncover a few things that have been filed away by your highly efficient brain. Reading a list is like looking at an old photograph; there's an essence of you in there (which is why the kid's Listography is probably my favorite).
So buy a nice pen and fill one in. I hope you like it. I believe everyone should have an autobiography of some sort, if only for their loved ones to read, and even in the simplest form: a list."
peace and thank you,
lisa nola
Id seen the original book out and about for quite some time and was always tempted to buy it, but this past weekend the newest version came out and I absolutely could not pass it up. Thats right, I am now the proud owner of Music Listology; Your Life In (Play)lists. I am both tremendously excited and extremely petrified of this book. Certain pages simply wont be big enough, and I knew that immediately. List the saddest songs in the world?! How can I possibly fit all of them into one page? IMPOSSIBLE! List your all time favourite artists? But...but...I would need to list them all by their respective genre and each genre will take up at least a page alone! Le sigh. However, on the other end, there are some pages that will be nearly blank - I simply dont have enough favourite television and film theme songs to constitute an entire list from and I certainly dont like jazz enough (at all) to have a full page of favourite musicians. But still! This challenge is going to be so exciting. And just think of the mix CDs that will come from this! Its damn near too much to take. It makes my brain all swarmy with music goodness just thinking about it.
One of the lists to create is Favourite Music Videos which has been lots of fun to think about and go through. Here are just a very, very few of mine.
Aesop Rock! Low budget zombies! Oooooooooh, snap!
Robyn is adorable and that video is even cuter. Case closed.
Okay, so this Garbage video for Push It... damn. I remember watching this when I was a grunge/punk kid (the only one I knew in the whole state of Iowa) as I was BLOWN THE FUCK AWAY. It was so strange and creepy and oddly sexual. Plus look at how hot Shirley Manson used to (sometimes) be.
Just this topic alone has caused quite the conversation between myself, Jace and Juice. The list could just keep going! What are some of your favourites?
"The Listography Books are guided journals to help capture your autobiography through list making. I love the elements that make up a life, from experiences to favorites to the people we meet, and I wanted to create a few nice places to keep and share them: the Listography books and listography.com.
I hope that the books serve as inspiration and as a practical personal tool, but also as a catalyst for reflection. You may uncover a few things that have been filed away by your highly efficient brain. Reading a list is like looking at an old photograph; there's an essence of you in there (which is why the kid's Listography is probably my favorite).
So buy a nice pen and fill one in. I hope you like it. I believe everyone should have an autobiography of some sort, if only for their loved ones to read, and even in the simplest form: a list."
peace and thank you,
lisa nola
Id seen the original book out and about for quite some time and was always tempted to buy it, but this past weekend the newest version came out and I absolutely could not pass it up. Thats right, I am now the proud owner of Music Listology; Your Life In (Play)lists. I am both tremendously excited and extremely petrified of this book. Certain pages simply wont be big enough, and I knew that immediately. List the saddest songs in the world?! How can I possibly fit all of them into one page? IMPOSSIBLE! List your all time favourite artists? But...but...I would need to list them all by their respective genre and each genre will take up at least a page alone! Le sigh. However, on the other end, there are some pages that will be nearly blank - I simply dont have enough favourite television and film theme songs to constitute an entire list from and I certainly dont like jazz enough (at all) to have a full page of favourite musicians. But still! This challenge is going to be so exciting. And just think of the mix CDs that will come from this! Its damn near too much to take. It makes my brain all swarmy with music goodness just thinking about it.
One of the lists to create is Favourite Music Videos which has been lots of fun to think about and go through. Here are just a very, very few of mine.
Aesop Rock! Low budget zombies! Oooooooooh, snap!
Robyn is adorable and that video is even cuter. Case closed.
Okay, so this Garbage video for Push It... damn. I remember watching this when I was a grunge/punk kid (the only one I knew in the whole state of Iowa) as I was BLOWN THE FUCK AWAY. It was so strange and creepy and oddly sexual. Plus look at how hot Shirley Manson used to (sometimes) be.
Just this topic alone has caused quite the conversation between myself, Jace and Juice. The list could just keep going! What are some of your favourites?
Friday, December 11, 2009
Things I Love Thursday (only a day late this time!).
Im late on Things I Love Thursday, yet again. Im really not good with making deadlines for myself, apparently. Regardless, its time to tell me the good things going on with you and Ill do my best to think of the stuff Ive been digging on this week. Some of them are pretty basic, but its all about the little things sometimes, right?
-A good nights sleep! Last night I was already pretty tired, but since Ive been sleeping horribly lately I decided to take an Advil PM. I passed the hell out IMMEDIATELY and didnt wake up once. It was deeeeeeelightful!
-Extra-long showers or baths. Its been so freezing outside (its only 19 degrees right now! ICK!) that most nights the only thing I can do to regain a little feeling in my hands and toes is to soak all the frosty, frigid horribleness away.
-I bought these tights a few weeks ago - theyre made of sweatery material and should be super warm. Im wearing them for the first time tonight under a skirt (probably) and plan to layer, layer, layer them under pants on regular work days. Im sure I will end up buying many more pairs in any color I can.
-Fever Ray! The album came out quite a wile ago and it took me a bit to get into it, even though I loved The Knife right off the bat. I think Fever Rays stark, chilly and spooky atmosphere is way more suited to a winter-time release but hell...at least Im finally appreciating the album! Excellent cold weather tunes.
-Random fun times with Lydia! We hung around at my place drinking beer and playing Wii on Wednesday night. It was a perfect middle-of-the-week break!
Other love-worthy tidbits...
Dinner and bowling with Jace and my parents last Saturday; using only our Christmas lights as the lighting in our living room; laughing like crazy with Danita at work; being almost done with Downtown Owl and finally having it all pull together; "It smells like a god damn Christmas tree in here!"; Pepsi Max; making breakfast for the boy; those crazy, crazy CocoRosie bitches; finally finding a regimen that (for the most part) keeps all the static out of my hair...
OH! AND! Oscar, the naked, dancing cockatoo! Shes so adorable and Id always tell her how pretty she is. I love that it almost looks like she has little boobies.
-A good nights sleep! Last night I was already pretty tired, but since Ive been sleeping horribly lately I decided to take an Advil PM. I passed the hell out IMMEDIATELY and didnt wake up once. It was deeeeeeelightful!
-Extra-long showers or baths. Its been so freezing outside (its only 19 degrees right now! ICK!) that most nights the only thing I can do to regain a little feeling in my hands and toes is to soak all the frosty, frigid horribleness away.
-I bought these tights a few weeks ago - theyre made of sweatery material and should be super warm. Im wearing them for the first time tonight under a skirt (probably) and plan to layer, layer, layer them under pants on regular work days. Im sure I will end up buying many more pairs in any color I can.
-Fever Ray! The album came out quite a wile ago and it took me a bit to get into it, even though I loved The Knife right off the bat. I think Fever Rays stark, chilly and spooky atmosphere is way more suited to a winter-time release but hell...at least Im finally appreciating the album! Excellent cold weather tunes.
-Random fun times with Lydia! We hung around at my place drinking beer and playing Wii on Wednesday night. It was a perfect middle-of-the-week break!
Other love-worthy tidbits...
Dinner and bowling with Jace and my parents last Saturday; using only our Christmas lights as the lighting in our living room; laughing like crazy with Danita at work; being almost done with Downtown Owl and finally having it all pull together; "It smells like a god damn Christmas tree in here!"; Pepsi Max; making breakfast for the boy; those crazy, crazy CocoRosie bitches; finally finding a regimen that (for the most part) keeps all the static out of my hair...
OH! AND! Oscar, the naked, dancing cockatoo! Shes so adorable and Id always tell her how pretty she is. I love that it almost looks like she has little boobies.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Boo, winter!
Aaaah, Christmas season. You are full of insanely busy mall-shopping, severe bouts of over-eating, spending when you should be saving and blustery nasty weather. Its all stress, stress, stress and go, go, go. And horrid knit sweaters of cats in stockings & the like. Gross. If it were up to me Id never have to touch the snow and the low 70's would be concidered "chilly" where I live. Unfortunately (for now, anyway) that just isnt the case.
So tell me all you People Who Love Winter; why is it that you find this time of year to be so great? Im at a loss on this one. Im trying to find the joy in bleak grey skies. Im struggling to smile while wearing 27 layers and looking like the Stay-Puff marshmallow man everywhere I go. Im doing my best to ignore my (somewhat) irrational and (also somewhat) needlessly hightened fear of slipping and falling on icey sidewalks. Convince me, folks! Gimmie all you got!
This time of year does bring about one big tradition for me. Im not talking nearly unedible seasonal foods or outdated family traditions, either. Winter means that I can start working on my yearly Sad Bastard Mix cd. If you know me at all you know that I love a good ol' sad-as-hell, music-to-slit-your-wrists-to song. I'd call it a guilty pleasure if I believed in 'em. Last year as I was giving a copy to someone Id made a remark that there was a song I shouldve put on the mix but forgot and that I would have to save it for next year. "Wont you run out of songs, eventually?" Mr. So-and-so asked. "Psssshh! Bitch, you crazy!" I (most likely) replied. As long as Im a music nerd who cant walk into a CD store without buying at minimum one thing that I justcantlivewithout there will always be sad songs/albums/artists piling up in my ginormous cd collection. You will always have a home with me, my broken hearted musician friends! Bring me your songs written in minor keys! Onward to sadness!
So tell me all you People Who Love Winter; why is it that you find this time of year to be so great? Im at a loss on this one. Im trying to find the joy in bleak grey skies. Im struggling to smile while wearing 27 layers and looking like the Stay-Puff marshmallow man everywhere I go. Im doing my best to ignore my (somewhat) irrational and (also somewhat) needlessly hightened fear of slipping and falling on icey sidewalks. Convince me, folks! Gimmie all you got!
This time of year does bring about one big tradition for me. Im not talking nearly unedible seasonal foods or outdated family traditions, either. Winter means that I can start working on my yearly Sad Bastard Mix cd. If you know me at all you know that I love a good ol' sad-as-hell, music-to-slit-your-wrists-to song. I'd call it a guilty pleasure if I believed in 'em. Last year as I was giving a copy to someone Id made a remark that there was a song I shouldve put on the mix but forgot and that I would have to save it for next year. "Wont you run out of songs, eventually?" Mr. So-and-so asked. "Psssshh! Bitch, you crazy!" I (most likely) replied. As long as Im a music nerd who cant walk into a CD store without buying at minimum one thing that I justcantlivewithout there will always be sad songs/albums/artists piling up in my ginormous cd collection. You will always have a home with me, my broken hearted musician friends! Bring me your songs written in minor keys! Onward to sadness!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Things I Love Thursday ..... several weeks late!
It is certainly a sad thing when youve not been able to sit down and complie a list of the things you love. Ive continued to have a pretty challenging few weeks, so Im definately needing to be reminded of the things that have cheered me up. What better way to do it than with two weeks worth of Things I Love Thursday, right? Okay fine its on a Sunday and its slightly more than two weeks worth, but whatever...at least Im trying to stay on top of things, right?
So what brought a smile to your face this week, little ones? Big or small, lets share!
-Lots of time with the parents. Be it for holidays, parties or just because, they can always make me smile. Not only are they super fun to be around but theyre also extremely generous. Im a very lucky girl. They came bowling yesterday with me and the boy and Jace cooked an amazing dinner at our place for all of us.
-My work friends being gigantic, wonderful helper bees! Im going to be starting a schedule that is the complete opposite of what Id ever want to do (7 days straight on, followed by 7 straight days off and so on) and Id never be able to manage it had they not been so supportive in offering to carpool. I have no idea what Id be doing if it werent for them.
-Having a new coffee thermos to take with me on the bus as well as one at work so I am never without a good excuse to fill up on a giant cuppa'joe!
-Epic string arrangements in songs. Aaaah, love. Ive been listening to Fljotavik by Sigur Ros lots and lots and my goodness, kids...how pretty is that song? Those tiny Icelandic geniuses are too much, sometimes.
-Jacejacejace! The boy is downright amazing and Im certain you will all get sick of hearing about it but Im just gonna keep on tellin' ya anyway. He has been so sweet and supportive with all the stressful worky drama thats been going down lately. The amount of laughing we do is enough to be considered a work out and hes just about the cutest thing ever.
-Our very Christmasy looking apartment! We have a white tree with silver and black ornaments and clear lights as well as tons of super bright multi-colored lights framing our giant living room window. Its pretty damn festive and adorable.
-Actually, our apartment in general. We deep cleaned on Friday so that in combonation with having all our furniture and everything in order has made this place a very cozy little home.
-A very good response to my asking for donations to Salt Lake County Animal Services for their Christmas for the Animals event. All it took was one email and BAM! Tons of strangers more than eager to help. Sometimes when your faith in humanity dips a little low (or a lot, whatev.) people surprise you with generosity you'd never expect.
My list sure seems short for as long as its been since Ive updated. My mind has just been other places and my efforts to stay positive have been keeping me away from all things computer for the most part. It may seem like a lame excuse but Im being real here, folks. Its been a trying November thats spilled over into a seemingly similar December. Come on, good stuff! Im ready for ya!
Other (although vastly different) things to make you smile:
So what brought a smile to your face this week, little ones? Big or small, lets share!
-Lots of time with the parents. Be it for holidays, parties or just because, they can always make me smile. Not only are they super fun to be around but theyre also extremely generous. Im a very lucky girl. They came bowling yesterday with me and the boy and Jace cooked an amazing dinner at our place for all of us.
-My work friends being gigantic, wonderful helper bees! Im going to be starting a schedule that is the complete opposite of what Id ever want to do (7 days straight on, followed by 7 straight days off and so on) and Id never be able to manage it had they not been so supportive in offering to carpool. I have no idea what Id be doing if it werent for them.
-Having a new coffee thermos to take with me on the bus as well as one at work so I am never without a good excuse to fill up on a giant cuppa'joe!
-Epic string arrangements in songs. Aaaah, love. Ive been listening to Fljotavik by Sigur Ros lots and lots and my goodness, kids...how pretty is that song? Those tiny Icelandic geniuses are too much, sometimes.
-Jacejacejace! The boy is downright amazing and Im certain you will all get sick of hearing about it but Im just gonna keep on tellin' ya anyway. He has been so sweet and supportive with all the stressful worky drama thats been going down lately. The amount of laughing we do is enough to be considered a work out and hes just about the cutest thing ever.
-Our very Christmasy looking apartment! We have a white tree with silver and black ornaments and clear lights as well as tons of super bright multi-colored lights framing our giant living room window. Its pretty damn festive and adorable.
-Actually, our apartment in general. We deep cleaned on Friday so that in combonation with having all our furniture and everything in order has made this place a very cozy little home.
-A very good response to my asking for donations to Salt Lake County Animal Services for their Christmas for the Animals event. All it took was one email and BAM! Tons of strangers more than eager to help. Sometimes when your faith in humanity dips a little low (or a lot, whatev.) people surprise you with generosity you'd never expect.
My list sure seems short for as long as its been since Ive updated. My mind has just been other places and my efforts to stay positive have been keeping me away from all things computer for the most part. It may seem like a lame excuse but Im being real here, folks. Its been a trying November thats spilled over into a seemingly similar December. Come on, good stuff! Im ready for ya!
Other (although vastly different) things to make you smile:
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