untitled

Doing laundry tonite at the Three Seven Coin Laundry in East Dundee. I was hoping to watch the Sox game on one of the televisions here, but it appears Spanish soap operas are the programming of choice for the evening. I fear for the life of any man who might dare to turn off one of these shows, so instead I write.

---

I'm quite happy to see the end of the Tour de France. Even more so, the end of Lance Armstrong's career. With his retirement comes the end of the yearly media blitz attempting to persuade us all into believing what a terrific human being he is. I wonder if anyone else finds it coincidental that he is deciding to retire now after questions of his steroid use are heating up. I'd also say most "terrific" men I know don't ditch their wives right after having three kids with them. Yeah, it's true he overcame great odds in winning race after race after a battle with cancer. Still, I have to wonder if such a struggle might have been avoidable if, say, he hadn't been injecting himself with liquid muscle in the first place.

---

I wonder if men cry this much on English speaking soap operas. These guys on El Cuerpo del Deseo sure are weepy.

---

Can we put an end to calling the Decemberists an original band? I know the kids get all excited over the use of an accordion, but really they aren't at all an original sounding band. I'll admit that Picaresque is a moderately decent album, and even confessing to being rather fond of We Both Go Down Together, but calling the Decemberists anything more than a Neutral Milk Hotel cover band is really overstating things.

---

On the topic of music, 2005 has been overwhelmingly disappointing. At present I can really only think of 4 albums I could confidently recommend to people, despite already listening to probably twice as many albums as last year. In order they are:

Sufjan Stevens Invites You to Come on Feel the Illinoise:
Rolling Stone magazine actually featured this album in their last issues reviews, and rightly so gave it 4 out of 4 stars. Look for his popularity to grow and grow over the next few months as this album starts to sink in with casual music fans.



Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy:
Complete with the knock your feet from under you, have you curled up in the corner before tearing your heart out lyrics rabid fans have come to expect out of Will Sheff.


Architecture in Helsinki - In Case we Die:
This my be the funnest album since the Unicorns (a moment of silence for the Unicorns please) made Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone. Quite a good live performance as well, you Chicago kids can look forward to them coming back this way in the Fall.

Andrew Bird - The Mysterious Production of Eggs:
This one is still growing on me. I'm not sure who Bird reminds me of (I think maybe Rufus Wainwright, OH NOS!) but he's quite the musician, as it turns out quite the whistler as well.

---

Folding laundry must the most boring endeavor man can commit himself to.

A New Project

I've started a new blog, which is not really a blog at all. It's more of a project that will probably take years to finish, if I ever finish it at all.

Intrigued? Don't be, it's really nothing special. Click here to check out the details of The Principle Driven Life.

I've added a new song that's a must have for all old school 8-bit Nintendo players. It's an old Jellyfish song sung from the point of view of King Bowser of Super Mario Bros. fame. Even if you're unfamiliar with video games you should really check it out, as it's an amazing pop song anyone could enjoy. As always you'll find it in the Songs to Love section to the right.

Mmmmm-kay?

Silly Games

Which twentieth century philosophical novelist are you?

You are Ayn Rand!

Okay, so I didn't really get that from one of those silly web quizzes, and truth be told I pretty much loathe those things. But I have been reading The Passion of Ayn Rand, and I must say I've been shocked by some of the similarities in our personalities. Well, we're not that similar I suppose; she's an atheist, I'm a Christian, she was born in Russia, I in America, Ayn was a genius and I'm... well not, and of course she is, after all, a she.

Still, there have been some uncanny moments of, "Goodness, that's me," in reading this biography. Maybe the most obvious example is this one:

---

"Throughout her high school days, Ayn continued to be very vocal about ideas that were important to her. "I argued at the slightest provocation, whether people did or not want to hear. I criticized myself for this. I was very aware they didn't want to talk, and I was forcing the conversation. I knew it was wrong." Her passion for ideas, her conviction that they were of paramount importance, led Ayn, all her life, to "force conversations." One might make the mildest of off-hand comments - and suddenly find oneself engaged in an all night philosophical conversation about the wider meaning and implications of one's comment."

---

I don't know why it is I insist on "forcing conversations." I often find myself getting into uncomfortable situations with co-workers or friends after they say something trivial and I over react because it violates even the smallest of my principles. I can see it in the eyes of my victim friends. They really have no desire to talk about whatever subject is at hand, yet I continue driving my points home, in an oft times overbearing fashion.

I don't typically come out of these arguments conversations feeling too well about them. I can't say I usually make my point, or make them come around to my way of thinking. I do honestly try and hear other peoples opinions though, and then proceed to annoyingly force them to prove their points ad nauseam. I've learned people are more than happy to have their own opinions and not really know why they have them, or how to defend them. I have not learned to shut up and keep mine to myself.

I suppose it boils down to my desire to be right. I don't know.

Well, that's all for now, I've got important things to do. Thanks to Lauren, I've got a little game that I've become obsessed with.

A Short Play Showing the Effects of the UN's Condemnation of Terrorist Actions

"Hmm, I think I will blow something up today, and kill several innocent people."

LATER THAT DAY....


BOOM!

The UN security council reacts to the attack...


"WE CONDEMN THIS ATTACK!"



"Okay."

An Invitation

Sufjan Stevens Invites You to: Come on! Feel the Illinoise!

Back in 2001 John Linnel of They Might Be Giants fame released his first and only solo project. Entitled State Songs it consisted of 16 songs about various states. Leading off the play list was Illinois, and while State Songs was filled to the brim with the clever lyrics and catchy hooks that made They Might Be Giants great, Illinois was a major disappointment. A simple organ solo with no lyrics, it served as a mere primer to the rest of the greatness on that album. My home state got screwed. My civic pride was in shambles. My fellow statesmen weeped and tore their clothes. Until, that is, hope was restored in the form of news about Sufjan Steven's second installment to his 50 states project: Sufjan Stevens Invites You to Come on Feel the Illinoise! Would the Land of Lincoln finally get the homage she so richly deserves?

I remember the first time I heard Sufjan's first album (first state album that is) Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lakes State. A friend of mine had given it to me, telling me "it's about Michigan." "Great." I thought, "it must be fascinating." I loaded it up in my media player, grabbed my headphones and to my shock was immediately mesmerized. Over the next few weeks I couldn't get Sufjan's unique arrangements out of my head. And his writing? Well, having grown up in Michigan, Stevens wrote songs about his memories associated with the state, no so much the state itself. The results were some of the most emotionally moving songs of 2003.

Stevens' 2004 follow-up, Seven Swans, was some what of a drop off from Michigan though his writing was still solid, he moved away from the orchestral accompaniments and odd time signatures that helped make Michigan my pick for 2003's album of the year. Based on this, it was easy to assume Stevens would continue this acoustic trend on Illinois. Turns out this isn't the case.

Illinoise starts out with a piano solo much like Michigan does with one of the quieter tracks on the album. It follows with one of the many instrumental interludes before bursting into the title track, Come on Feel the Illinoise!, Stevens' most robust and compelling song to date. Seeing as Sufjan grew up in Michigan, not Illinois, it may be unfair to expect as much emotion out of this album as Greetings From Michigan, though songs like John Wayne Gacy, Palisades, and Casimir Pulaski Day are certainly touching to say the least. Still, whatever emotion is lost from Michigan is more than made up for with Illinoise's, in-depth compositions and improved production.

It's probably unfair to compare the two albums at all as Illinoise is more than good enough to stand independent of his first work. This album is gorgeous, nothing less. An impressive composition of songs packed with strings and horns interwoven with simple, yet still beautiful, folk songs. Rarely does Illinoise let up or drop your interest, despite its length. Each song has its own uniqueness, much the way Michigan did, only better. Sporting over 20 instruments and several back up vocalists, Stevens does everything big with Illinoise. From the 74+ minute play list, to what I have to assume is a purposely pretentious and obnoxious track list as follows:

1 - Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, IL
2 - The Black Hawk War, or, How to Demolish an Entire Civilization and Still Feel Good About Yourself in the Morning, or, We Apologize for the Inconvenience But You're Going to Have to Leave Now, or, "I have fought the Big Knives and will continue to fight them until they are off our lands!"
3 - Come on! Feel the Illinoise!
-Part I: The World's Columbian Exposition
-Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me in a Dream
4 - John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
5 - Jacksonville
6 - A Short Reprise for Mary Todd, Who Went Insane, But for Very Good Reasons
7 - Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Step Mother!
8 - One Last "Woo-hoo!" for the Pullman
9 - Chicago
10 - Casimir Pulaski Day
11 - To the Workers of the Rockford River Valley Region, I have an Idea Concerning Your Predicament, and it involves shoe string, a lavender garland, and twelve strong women
12 - The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts
13 - Prairie Fire That Wanders About
14 - A Conjunction of Drones Simulating the Way in Which Sufjan Stevens Has an Existential Crisis in the Great Godfrey Maze
15 - The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!
16 - They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From the Dead!! Ahhhhh!
17 - Let's Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don't Think They Heard It All the Way Out in Bushnell
18 - In This Temple, as in the Hearts of Man, for Whom He Saved the Earth
19 - The Seer's Tower
20 - The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders
-Part I: The Great Frontier
-Part II: Come to Me Only With Playthings Now
21 - Riffs and Variations on a Single Note for Jelly Roll, Earl Hines, Louis Armstrong, Baby Dodds, and the King of Swing, to Name a Few
22 - Out of Egypt, into the Great Laugh of Mankind, and I shake the dirt from my sandals as I run

Though it looks daunting, only 13 of the 22 tracks are what would be considered full songs with lyrics and all, while 6 of them are less than a minute and consist of music only, (or less in the case of One Last Woo Hoo). The connections to Illinois are broad. From Come on Feel, which is a 2 part song about Chicago's Worlds Fair and Illinois' own Carl Sandburg. Decatur taps into Macon County's Civil War history while pleading for sympathy for stepmothers. Two of the albums most emotional songs, Casmir Pulaski Day and John Wayne Gacy both deal in death. The former talks about a man of faith wrestling with God over the death of a loved one and in the latter Stevens confesses, "In my best behavior, I am really just like him."

I could go on and bore you to death with a song by song recount of how great this album is, but such things get old. Obviously it's impossible to say whether or not a better album than Illinoise will come out in 2005, but I very highly doubt a more beautiful sounding one will. And even if this doesn't finish the year as my favorite, it's easy to call Sufjan Stevens one of the best song writers currently creating music. Maybe the best. Seriously. I am anxious to see where the next stop in the 50 States project will take us (current rumors say Oregon) until then it's nice to know Illinois wasn't forsaken.

Rating: 9.65/10

I Love These Men

Who are they? The creators of my new favorite restaurant, Cereality.

Not that I've ever been there, but I intend to make my first pilgrimage sooner, rather than later. The idea is simple enough. 33 different cereals, 34 different toppings, some milk and a trendy looking bowl. It's like Cold Stone for cereal.
Honestly, what could be better? If they opened a cafe in East Dundee, I think I'd go for every meal, every day. Come to think of it, I wonder how much it would cost to become a franchisee. Think about it, free cereal for life.

Goodness.

With that combination of cereals and toppings, there are easily over a thousand combinations of heaven to enjoy. They even have soy milk for certain types of people.

Anyway, despite these goofs I've put up a new song by Andrew Bird.

The Hottest Topic on the Planet

Fresh off a discussion on Kay-do regarding the G8's decision to eliminate the debt of several African countries, World Magazine has published an article with some thoughts on the possible effects of such actions.

---

Whose jubilee?
COVER STORY: Powerful names in Christendom join music moguls to mount a seductive campaign to cancel poor-nation debt—a plan more likely to benefit oppressors of the poor than the truly impoverished by Mindy Belz

What common cause could unite Pink Floyd and Rick Warren?

Meet Live8, ONE, Make Poverty History, and the Long Walk To Justice, all part of the latest gizmo-laden, concert-driven, wristband-toting, venue-hopping extravaganza powered by aging rockers and their fans in search of—and perhaps sincerely committed to—a cause. more...

---

Of course I have thoughts on the article, and for lack of a better topic of discussion and simply for the fact that I'm bored, I'll share them with you.

Yet the United States gives the highest absolute amount in foreign aid of any country—in 2003, more than $16 billion, according to Hudson Institute senior fellow Carol Adelman. Hudson Institute research indicates private charity totaled over $35 billion for 2000, the last year such figures were tabulated—or three and one-half times U.S. government aid for that year. Those figures do not include giving by local U.S. churches.

This really shocked me. $35 billion in 2000 from private organization? That much money going to Africa in one year, and apparently making so little difference, is a very discouraging thought. Is simply pumping more money into this continent going to make any difference at all? Before you get all huffy and yell at me for not caring, let me just say I'm not suggesting putting an end to all monetary aid, I guess I'm just overwhelmed by the lack of progress that's been made in decades of efforts to alleviate the suffering of these people.

But offstage a band of leading economists and scholars says the G8 plan is not only misguided but harmful, particularly for church-based poverty-fighting efforts. "Debt forgiveness rewards the corruption and inefficiency of governments who have mishandled loaned funds," writes the editorial board of the Kairos Journal in a letter sent June 6 to Mr. Warren and Mr. Stott, along with others. "In forgiving the debt of poor nations, we're not forgiving the debts of those nation's poor; we're merely enabling bureaucratic perfidy and incompetence."

Here lies my greatest objection to the One campaign's thought process. With all of the relief going to the government and leaders of these countries, rather than their citizens, we have no guarantee that this money will help those who are in need at all. While it's easy enough to say at this point that the budgets of these countries will be transparent and monitored, who will be designated to enforce any infractions against the agreed upon budgets?

Furthermore, even if money is going to the poor and those who need it in the form of education and health care, isn't this just creating a pattern of governmental dependency rather than creating opportunities for these people to make their own situations better?

Beyond that, the poorest nations should look to Southeast Asia and India, where once-stricken economies are trading their way out of poverty.

Exactly.

Looking at recent success stories from other countries and learning how they got themselves out of trouble certainly seems like a better idea than returning down a path that has a known destination of failure.

Debt elimination would have a chilling effect on credit. "If it becomes clear that debt will be written off in the future, then it is no longer a loan but a gift," said Mr. Thornbury. He believes that will be a deterrent for both public and commercial lenders. "Why would you invest in something on which you would not have a return?" he asked.

While I do think Mr. Thornbury is overstating the effects debt relief would have on the global lending market, I also think it's important to realize no country is going to make an investment like debt relief and expect nothing in return. In having their debts dissolved, each country that partakes is sacrificing a piece of it's sovereignty. The United States is already a country that likes to force it's politics and will upon others, and donating billions to a few countries is going to give the US a greater sense of entitlement than ever.

"The problem is a problem that has to be solved not by governments but by people—people giving to people,"

This is where the story starts to contradict its self a tad bit. In the beginning, it was lauding the amount of money being poured into Africa from private charity groups. Now it's saying that the solution to the problem is not government intervention but private citizens. While I agree that bureaucratic influence alone is not enough to meet the needs of Africa, it is clear given the immense amount of money already going there via private donations, that some help from those in power is needed.

I'm not pretending to know the solution to these issues. I know it's easy to sit at my desk and pontificate and criticize those whose intentions are well meant, and I don't want to be one who stands in the way of progress just asking questions and not lifting a finger to help. But I also would like to stand behind a solution I truly believe in, and I'm asking a lot of these questions because I really don't know the answers.

A New Feature Added to Tomato

You'll see it over the the right side there, it's called 'Songs to love.' Each week (or so) I'll post a new song for you to download and try out. If I feel like people enjoy it I'll keep it going. Due to limited server size I'm only going to keep one song posted at a time for now.

The current selection is a song from the oddest family in the church, the Danielson Famile. Click the band name to get some information about them, click the song title to download the song.

Like I said, I'll do this as long as there seems to be some interest, or until the RIAA breaks down my door. (HAHA@ME!!!)

Oh, one more thing, if one of you can test to make sure the link works just so I know I set this up right, that'd be swell.

A peculiar occurrence at the grocery store

Today while getting the weeks supplies at the local supermarket, I noticed a preponderance of tables set up with samples. You know the kinds, crackers in the snack isle, ice cream in the freezer section, and little sausages in the deli. Normal stuff. That is until I reached the end of the store. The section they keep the non-grocery items at. Medicine, magazines, soaps, shampoos, that type of thing. Oh, and alcohol. It was there where I stumbled upon a table with a middle aged woman standing behind it. I was so shocked by the samples she was offering I simply stood there in awe. I think my mouth might have been hanging open. She must have noticed me staring, because she kindly offered, "Would you like a sample?"

There on the table before me stood several bottles. Next to them were little plastic shot glasses. I'm not a drinker, not even beer, but the labels were familiar enough to me. Jim Beam. Absolut. A few others I didn't recognize.

I finally came to, smiled, and politely turned her down. Turning, I walked away shaking my head, more in shock and disbelief than in disapproval.

I'll not make any social commentary on this other than to say I thought it quite odd.

Canadian Health Care

Maybe you've heard, over the past few years, the outcry from the left to emulate Canada's health care system. Maybe you, yourself, have considered what it would be like for the government to take care of all of your medical bills and procedures. Well the Canadian Supreme Court has considered it as well, and their conclusions are surprising.

I'll go eat some cereal while you read.

Health-care ruling called 'stinging indictment'

CBC News

Some of the country's largest medical groups call Thursday's Supreme Court of Canada ruling allowing private health insurance in Quebec a "historic" decision, but Prime Minister Paul Martin is downplaying its significance.

In a 4-3 decision, the country's top court said Quebec patients should be allowed to buy insurance to cover medical treatments already provided by medicare, citing the physical and psychological suffering caused by long waits for services in the publicly funded system. more...

It's amazing that it took seven years for the court to hear this case. How many people have died because of inadequate health care during that time? So many in this country continue to pine for a socialist based health care plan. Starting with classic democrats, and recently a new wave of Christian thinking that focuses on social responsibility. Maybe this ruling from the Supreme Court will dissuade some of those thoughts, but I doubt anyone will pay much attention.

Back

First I'd just like to get this out of the way because I thought this picture was hilarious.

I'm extremely anxious to post my review of Come on Feel the Illlinoise!, but patience is the order of the day.

The trip to Arkansas was a success I suppose since no one was lost or injured. I think everyone had a good time, we did a lot of swimming. I must say, having spent the vast majority of my life north of the Mason-Dixon line, I was some what thrown by the lack of haste in the service at some of the establishments we visited. Heh, well I don't know what else to say about it.

Hey Jon, I found him....

Thax Douglas

And for the rest of you, I took the time the other day to fix my brakes because the rotors were warped like crazy and the whole van was shaking. I'm sure you've been there and know how it is. Anyway, I was pleased to see the pads and two rotors to do the whole front end were only 70 bucks. I'm thinking that saved me a few hundred.

While I tinkered with the brakes I got to listen to Sufjan Steven's forthcoming album, Illinois. I must tell you, this album is... oh wait, better just wait until I post the review when it comes out.

Other than that, nothing new really. Crystal and I are going to see Architecture in Helsinki tonight.

Excitement is ours.

A Trip to the Theatre

A Small Play Based on Chad's Comment to my last post.

Staring (in alphabetical order)
Madison Kunze ... as herself
Chad Pilcher ... as himself
Scott Kunze ... as himself, and narrator

And Introducing
Buzz Lightyear ... as himself

Act I
(In which Chad first lets known his desire to punch Madison)

"It all started when me and Madison were trimming some bushes and Chad wandered by"


"It sure is a nice day for trimming lilac bushes."


"Oh, hello Chad, I had not noticed you wandering by. What do you think of babies Chad?"


"They go around in their little cases, looking so smug...I just wanna punch 'em in the face!!!"


"Oh No!!"


"OH NOS!!!11"


"I WILL PUNCH YOU!!!"

Act II
(Later that night, when Chad returns to prey upon his victim)

"I will get her when she sleeps! look at her now, she grows weary for the day is long and her activities are many!"


"i wuv mi mommy"


"Watch as I slowly climb up the stairs towards her room and.... what's this?"


"meow"


"A small kitten has made it's resting place upon these steps. Nice kitty... nice kitty...."


"MEOW!!"


"OH NO!"


(Baby Madison sleeps safe tonite)

Act III
(In which Chad follows Madison to a secret unknown location)

"i wuv mi mommy"


"I have followed their car to the perimeter of this secret compound."


(Outside the compound)


"Barbed wire is no match for my ability to crawl through it!"

10 minutes later....


"Ouch! Next time I will use wire cutters!"


"I have finally gained access to the secret compound!"


(Inside the secret compound)


"OH NOS!! The secret compound is Willow Creek!! It's ventilation system is laced with poisonous gas, and it is infested with W.A.S.P.s!!!"



The End(?)


Legal disclaimer for the criminally dumb.

Trimming the Lilacs

Right, so with all the excitement that was yesterday's pogo-thon, I forgot to mention that I did have the chance to trim some lilac bushes I was meaning to get to. I had some help from my daughter though...



And just so you can see that adorable little expression on her face...



AWWWWWWWWW

Pogo-thon 2005

Right, so we had the big bar-B-que tonite with Jon, Mark, Steph, Cystal's sisters Georgie and Gretchen, and Crystal's Mom. All went average, what with the burgers, sausages, and hot dogs. It just wasn't the rocking party we had envisioned. That is until we broke out the pogo stick.

Of course competition ensued.

Up first was Jon. Jon's performance was, in his own words, lackluster.


9 hops


I went next and barely beat him. Paving the way for Mark to take the championship with just a mere above average set.


11 hops


Mark stood up to the task with ice in his veins. Taking home the title with a monster performance.


23 hops


Heh. Great fun.































No really.

Woke Up Late... Again

Three days off in a row. That's more days off than I've had in the last two months combined I think. I know I worked something like 28 straight days in April. Whatever, I'm off today again. All that means is I wont be doing much today. It seems like I get more stuff done around the house on days when I go to work, come home and then work on the house. On my days off I pretty much just sit around in my pajamas until I have to go some where. Pathetic.

Anyways, I intend to do a few things today. Maybe some lawn work, or set those timbers in the lawn I wanted to do. Jon's coming over tonite (maybe). We'll do a bar-b-que thing or something.

Anyone reading this is invited.

How to Make Your Wife Mad

Right, so as you may have noticed I added some buttons to other peoples blogs I read from time to time. While doing so I thought to myself, "How could I do this in such a fashion as to not show favoritism, and therefore not make people upset." The only logical approach I could see was to display all of the blogs in alphabetical order by first name. Chad, Crystal, Kim, etc... So I made all my nifty buttons, wrote all the script, saved and published. I was so proud of the results I just had to tell my wife, Crystal.

"Honey! Honey! My dear precious Crystal, please come and see what I have created for I find it pleasing to the eye." I said understandably excited.

"What?!?!" She almost seemed confused really.

"You don't like it sweetheart?" I replied.

"Why aren't I first?!?"

"But... I..."

"No buts, I HAVE to be first. What kind of husband are you?"

I thought about that question for a moment, thinking she actually wanted a reply. Turns out it was rhetorical.

"I can't believe you would put Chad in front of me," she continued, "If you ever want me to speak to you again you better change that right now!"

Of course I didn't want this to happen, so being the loving, caring, reasonable husband I am I switched the order around. From now on any other blogs I add will be entered in random order. Forward all complaints to my wife.

In other news the Sox got pummeled today. Season collapse imminent.

Recycled Content Abounds!

What do you do when you start a new blog and have nothing to say? Re-post some old stuff you from another site you wrote for! Yay for laziness!

The Top Ten Albums of 2004:

10) BLACK DICE–Creature Comforts: Lately I’ve garnered a reputation for listening to music simply for the fact that no one else likes it. It’s not a badge I wear with pride. I don’t intentionally set out to differentiate myself through my music preferences. I listen to quite a bit of music from mainstream radio fodder to undistributed artists just trying to be heard. I like music with emotion, something that someone put their heart into, and it seems (especially in recent years) that the majority of times the artists who are able to connect with my personal feelings happen to be those who are not playing for their next record deal. Usually when I like one of these indie albums it’s hard for me to fathom why it is they’re not easily accepted into mainstream popularity. But if there’s one band that I’ll agree is totally outside the reality of public acceptance, it’s got to be Black Dice. Creature Comforts is easily Black Dice’s least abrasive recording to date. However, that’s not saying much. Classified as experimental noise Comforts uses electronic percussions and speckled guitar strums to create its landscape. The album evolves from start to end in what feels like a linear path. It’s still something I enjoy though, and it’s quite inventive. I don’t really recommend it to other people though, as I don’t think I know anyone else who would probably like it.
Best Song: Tree Tops

9) THE GO! TEAM–Thunder Lightning Strike: Here is the reason you don’t make your top ten list in December. I hadn’t even heard of England’s The Go! Team until the last week of the year, and gave their album its first spin earlier this month. Thunder Lightning Strike takes no time to kick into high gear, using everything from synthesized strings to a drum machine to recreate a sound that was used mostly by television shows in the late seventies and early eighties. More pop than hip-hop The Go! Team’s vocal team comes across almost like a group of girls playing jump rope. Once this album sets in it’s sure to find its way to dance clubs, if it hasn’t already. Um, that’s a good thing…I think.
Best Song: Bottle Rocket

8) BR DANIELSON–Brother is to Son: Daniel Smith has always found himself in a problematic position. Arguably the father of the freak folk genre, he caters to a young generation of predominately liberal and agnostic or atheistic listeners. While his political views are completely unknown, the subject matter of his song writing is clearly Jesus Christ. What started out as a thesis for his college professor turned into his band, the Danielson Famile. After almost ten years and five albums, Smith releases his first solo album produced by his long time friend and sometimes band mate Sufjan Stevens, Brother is to Son is a bit more reserved than its Danielson Famile predecessors. Still well beyond the bound of the mainstream Christian market, or the secular indie market for that matter, this album has a melodic quality to it that’s quite new for Smith.
Best Song: Hammers Sitting Still

7) CASTANETS-Cathedral: If patience is a virtue then the society we live in is corrupt to the core. Our attitude of instant gratification is reflected in our entertainment choices, with radio stations constantly searching for the next infectious hook to feed their addicted listeners. By creating Cathedral, the San Diego based Castanets have excluded themselves of any chance at radio air time. Its slow deliberate pace doesn’t beg to be heard, but rather whispers its message. It takes time to appreciate the beauty of this album. You won’t recognize its methodical melodies until after repeated listens, after which they will haunt you.
The multitude of instruments on this album are used reservedly, each patiently waiting its turn before contributing its limited role to the song, then dying off not to be heard again until several tracks later. Cathedral starts depressing and gets darker with each song before offering some light and hope with the final two songs. The themes on this record range from desire to desperation, from light to darkness, and from splitting synapses to eating breakfast. It’s a solid album from start to finish, and an easy lock for alt-country album of the year.
Best Song: We are the Wreckage

6) DEVANDRA BANHART–Rejoicing in the Hands: There is really only one thing separating fans or freak folk singer Devandra Banhart and those who despise him. His talent for writing catchy and witty songs is unquestionable. His instrumentals while simple and uncomplicated, are certainly a joy to hear and hum along to. But it’s his voice that polarizes listeners. It’s quite indescribable, but it has a quality to it that people seem to adore, or hate. I fall in with the former and Rejoicing, the first of two full length albums this year, is a great starting point if you’re looking to try out his stuff. It’s accessible, non-pretentious, and easy to figure out after only a few listens whether or not he’s the type of artist you might be interested in.
Best Song: This is the way

5) XIU XIU–Fabulous Muscles: Shock for the sake of shock is not something I’m usually attracted to. It’s been the path of choice for Jamie Stewart since his debut album, Knife Play. His former albums could be described as jarring and unsettling, and Fabulous Muscles is certainly no different. However, Stewart has added a new element to his palette that makes his newest effort much easier on the ears: melody. Always an extremist with his lyrics, Stewart writes under the notion that everyone is born a liar. Fabulous Muscles deals in basic topics like betrayal, disappointment, and lack of self confidence to darker images of murder, abduction, and sexual abuse. Stewart doesn’t back off from counting down the ways your life is a failure. Obviously an album that will put off many listeners with it’s subject matter, musically Muscles is fresh and original. Definitely worthy of a listen to fans who enjoy something beyond standard guitar rock.
Best song: Clowne Towne

4) FIERY FURNACES-Blueberry Boat: Unlike the Castanets, this album seems tailor made for the attention span challenged. The songs on Blueberry Boat change quicker than the weather in the Fiery Furnaces native home just outside of Chicago. Modeled after the rock opera styles of the Who, Blueberry Boat is a gigantic 76 minutes packed with various styles and tempos. Led by brother and sister duo Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger, the Furnaces sing constantly in the first person. The album’s concept seems to revolve around adventure, with the title track placing Eleanor as the captain of a blueberry boat overtaken by pirates. All in all this is a great album with a broad vocabulary for lyrics.
Best Song: Chris Micheals

3) POLYPHONIC SPREE–Together We’re Heavy: The biggest mistake the Polyphonic Spree ever made was to wear robes during their live performances. What was intended by Tim Delaughter as a way to avoid the band members many different dress styles from distracting audiences has backfired, causing most music fans to dismiss them all together as a gimmick band. Some morons even go so far as to call them a cult. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a serious rock band. Their debut album, The Beginning Stages Of… showed signs of what this band could achieve, but it ultimately fell short of its potential. Together We’re Heavy, however, holds nothing back. This is without a doubt the most technically stunning and musically complete album of the year. Start to finish this album is packed with symphonic pop music that is nothing short of gorgeous. Download and listen straight through tracks 7, 8, and 9. What you’ll get is twenty plus minutes of pop perfection. And yeah, some colorful robes to go with it.
Best song: Suitcase Calling

2) THE ARCADE FIRE–Funeral: I have no idea what else to say about this band. If you don’t like them, I hate you.
Best Song: Power Out / Wake Up

1) ANIMAL COLLECTIVE–Sung Tongs:

Me: What did you think of that Animal Collective album?
You: It was weird.

Thanks for the critique captain obvious. Yes, it is true that Sung Tongs does not sound like Weezer. If you can force yourself to get past the fact that Animal Collective don’t use traditional methods to make their music, you might see the brilliance behind this album. After all, isn’t it much more interesting if an artist can use an original method of making sound, and still produce a pleasing melody?
Best Song: Who Could Win a Rabbit?

Whew!

I can't believe you made it this far. Next time I might have an original thought, but don't count on it.

A Blog is Born

Yes, I have a blog.

Yes, you should be afraid.