So this is a new segment I’m going to have on my blog called blog review. It will be semi-annual, and by that I mean it will be whenever I feel like it or having nothing else of worth to share. Here’s how this goes. I’ll find another blog that I like, post it here and then break it down. Sounds simple right? Well it is so lets get to it. Today’s post comes from: loveisunpredicable.blogspot.com Let’s see what this fellow blogger had to say.
haiz...life is sooo complicated for me!!! i juz wan a simple life!!!i got someone i like in my class!!but i dun even dare to tell anyone,coz other ppl in my class also like him!!!he haf goldfish eye,nose and even mouth!!i dunno how did i fall for him!!but i juz one day suddenly look at him and immediately,i fall in love in him!!!well though i noe tat he dun like me and he like other girls le!!but i will juz look at him from my right eye!!i will look at him go!!!
Wow. Now that was a powerful blog. First let me say that I like the blog’s name. This young lady (well let’s hope a lady is writing this) is absolutely right, love is unpredictable. I also applaud her for finding a new way to say hi, because I think I speak for all of us when I say that the correct two letter spelling was getting a little bit boring. I empathize with her longing for a simple life.* Because in the end is that what we all want. I also empathize with her in her romantic situation in life. We’ve all liked someone and been to afraid to tell anyone. And while I certainly don’t know how she feel for a boy with goldfish-esque facial features, I don’t judge her for that either. We’ve all fallen for someone whose awkwardly (or to be less pc downsy) hot. One thing I do find that concerns me is the last two sentences of her post. She’s going to watch this boy through her “right eye”. What about her left eye? Is she handicap?** Is she some sort of Cyclops? If so then her love life is probably the last thing she should be worrying about. Also what’s this about watching “him go”. Is she watching this boy as he uses the bathroom? Is she into that same voyeuristic stuff that my brother Max digs so much? I sure hope not, cause if she is then ruins what was/is a sweet, completely relatable post. I guess this time I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt.
Well that’s it for blog review. Hope you enjoyed.
Until We Meet Again
* I'm not sure, but this may have been a reference to the Paris Hilton Reality show of the same name.
** I she the twin sister and/or antithesis of former pop great and TLC member Lisa Left-Eye Loab?
Monday, January 30, 2006
Monday, January 23, 2006
Kobe and other news and notes
Well I haven’t updated by blog in about a week and Kobe Bryant and Chris Rodgers, unfortunately through unrelated incidents, have forced me to write something. So here’s a little something something for all you out there. (Be forewarned, most of these posts will probably be related to sports. So if you’re the artsy type best stay away from this post.)
- Kobe Bean Bryant. KOBE F*CKING BRYANT. Kobe “I scored 81 points in a meaningful game and just proved that I’m probably the greatest individual talent in the history of the NBA” Bryant. I f*cking hate Kobe Bryant. And yet, he scored 81 f*cking points. I can’t really find anything meaningful or semi-intelligent to say about it. So I just type the f word over and over again in an attempt to show extreme emphasis. Kobe has reduced me to a stuttering, incoherent, babbling idiot. Now I know what that girl from Colorado felt like(minus the slut part)* 81 Points. What’s most amazing about all of this is the fact that he only shot 20 free throws and only took 46 shots. GAWD DAMN. (More on this later…)
- Chris f*cking Rodgers. (For those of you scoring at home the f word here is used more out of scorn and anger then the shock and amazement usage you witnessed in the above paragraph). Chris is obviously f*cked up in the head. I don’t want to talk about this much, but I will say this. While Arizona is a far less talented team with out him, chemistry, offensive ball movement and likeability has gone through the roof with out him. Also if you haven’t read the e-mail he sent to the news stations in Tucson, track it down. It’s a hoot.
- Speaking of Arizona basketball it looks like Mustafa Shakur has finally turned a corner. With the exception of the UCLA game, in which he apparently had the flu, he’s looked like the best PG in the Pac-10 since league play started. I also apologize for jinxing him. I’m an idiot.**
- I’m currently working up the courage to go and see “Brokeback Mountain”. Anyone who would like to go see it with me contact me and don’t tell my mother about all of this.
- You heard it here first Harrison Ford’s Firewall will be the best movie of 2006. I’m basing this solely on the fact that Harrison kicks a lot of a$$. And yes I have a huge man crush on him. I mean c’mon!
- I wish I had something of note to say about the Superbowl, but Sunday’s game were boring as all hell. So I got nothin’ for ya.
- I’ve racked my brain I and I can’t come up with a single reason as to why Kobe should get sh*t on for his performance. Outside of the fact that he’s gone on the record saying that he told the woman in the Colorado hotel room to kiss his penis***. His team sucks. He took most of the shots with in the flow of the game. And the game itself was close until the final 2 ½ minutes. On yeah and his team was down by 19 or so when he started going off. I hate Bryant, but no one can fault him here with out coming off as a complete jackass.
- So in case you haven’t noticed I’ve grown rather fond of footnotes. If anyone can think of a better way to do that please let me know.
- Well that’s it for now. See ya ‘round readers.
Until We Meet Again
* Bazing! And yes that was a rape joke. What can I say? I hold a grudges.
** For those of you saying: But what about the Cal game? Well that doesn’t really count because everyone played like absolute sh*t that game. So the whole team gets a free pass on this one.
*** That’s 2 biatch!
- Kobe Bean Bryant. KOBE F*CKING BRYANT. Kobe “I scored 81 points in a meaningful game and just proved that I’m probably the greatest individual talent in the history of the NBA” Bryant. I f*cking hate Kobe Bryant. And yet, he scored 81 f*cking points. I can’t really find anything meaningful or semi-intelligent to say about it. So I just type the f word over and over again in an attempt to show extreme emphasis. Kobe has reduced me to a stuttering, incoherent, babbling idiot. Now I know what that girl from Colorado felt like(minus the slut part)* 81 Points. What’s most amazing about all of this is the fact that he only shot 20 free throws and only took 46 shots. GAWD DAMN. (More on this later…)
- Chris f*cking Rodgers. (For those of you scoring at home the f word here is used more out of scorn and anger then the shock and amazement usage you witnessed in the above paragraph). Chris is obviously f*cked up in the head. I don’t want to talk about this much, but I will say this. While Arizona is a far less talented team with out him, chemistry, offensive ball movement and likeability has gone through the roof with out him. Also if you haven’t read the e-mail he sent to the news stations in Tucson, track it down. It’s a hoot.
- Speaking of Arizona basketball it looks like Mustafa Shakur has finally turned a corner. With the exception of the UCLA game, in which he apparently had the flu, he’s looked like the best PG in the Pac-10 since league play started. I also apologize for jinxing him. I’m an idiot.**
- I’m currently working up the courage to go and see “Brokeback Mountain”. Anyone who would like to go see it with me contact me and don’t tell my mother about all of this.
- You heard it here first Harrison Ford’s Firewall will be the best movie of 2006. I’m basing this solely on the fact that Harrison kicks a lot of a$$. And yes I have a huge man crush on him. I mean c’mon!
- I wish I had something of note to say about the Superbowl, but Sunday’s game were boring as all hell. So I got nothin’ for ya.
- I’ve racked my brain I and I can’t come up with a single reason as to why Kobe should get sh*t on for his performance. Outside of the fact that he’s gone on the record saying that he told the woman in the Colorado hotel room to kiss his penis***. His team sucks. He took most of the shots with in the flow of the game. And the game itself was close until the final 2 ½ minutes. On yeah and his team was down by 19 or so when he started going off. I hate Bryant, but no one can fault him here with out coming off as a complete jackass.
- So in case you haven’t noticed I’ve grown rather fond of footnotes. If anyone can think of a better way to do that please let me know.
- Well that’s it for now. See ya ‘round readers.
Until We Meet Again
* Bazing! And yes that was a rape joke. What can I say? I hold a grudges.
** For those of you saying: But what about the Cal game? Well that doesn’t really count because everyone played like absolute sh*t that game. So the whole team gets a free pass on this one.
*** That’s 2 biatch!
Monday, January 16, 2006
King Kong or Why All Women are Inherently Evil or Finally a Movie Character I Can Relate To.
Before we get started today I need to warn you all that this post/essay/column/whatever the hell it is contains spoilers of King Kong*. It should also be noted that if you have yet to see this brilliant piece of cinema you’re a complete and udder (expletive deleted). So now that we’ve got that out of the way let’s get started.
Here’s a brief synopsis of King Kong. A film crew finds an uncharted island in which they hope to film a movie at. Unfortunately for the film crew this island is inhabited by these creepy looking dark skinned natives**. The natives end of capturing Ann, who is the “heroine” of this movie. The film crew and actors panic and don’t know what to do. Eventually the natives sacrifice Ann to a 24ft gorilla (King Kong) who appears to be just a big bowl of wrong. The film crew then embarks on a rescue mission to save Ann from this extremely bad (expletive deleted) and apparently evil gorilla. The film crew has to trek across a vast island/jungle to find Ann, so it takes them awhile to do so. Before they find her they run in to all sorts of trouble, all the while we see several scenes of Kong and Ann interacting. The more we see Ann and Kong spend time together it becomes readily apparent that Kong is in fact not just an evil beast, but he's kind and loving to Ann while also being innately human. Before the film crew can find her and bring her back to the ship so they can return to America, Ann and Kong fall in love. This love may or may not have stemmed from Kong laying the smack down on not one but three (expletive deleted) T-Rexes. Whether or not their love is merely platonic or romantic love is unkown. I choose to believe their love was the latter. Kong and Ann have something special between that can’t really be described (now before we start to head down the bestiality road lets just get back to the summary). So eventually Ann is saved by Jack, a film and theatre writer who is also in love with Ann. As Ann and Jack flee back to the ship Kong follows in hot pursuit. Before Kong can reach Ann he is captured and chloroformed***. Kong is captured and taken back to America where he can be put on display for money. Of course this plan back fires and Kong breaks free and rampages through New York. He searches the streets for Ann, but can’t find her. She eventually finds him and the two of them then go ice skating. And yes the movie was so incredibly good that I actually bought this scene. They seem to be headed for a fairy tale ending before the National Guard (NG) shows up and wrecks their (expletive deleted). Eventually the NG chases Kong to the top of the Empire State Building where he eventually is killed and falls off in dramatic, slow mo fashion. As the camera pans over Kong’s dead body Jack Black (who is really good in this film) tells us why Kong died. Some cops note that the airplanes finally got him. Jack Black disagrees, he knows (and says) “that it was beauty that killed the beast.”
WHHHHHHAAAAAAATTTTTTTT!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Yes folks I’m afraid it’s true, that awful last line carries with it a lot of validity. Kong died the way so many great man (and perhaps animals???) die. He died because he fell for some c*ck teasing hussy who eventually let him down. Is Ann really to blame for Kong’s death? YES, an emphatic yes. A French philosopher, whose name escapes me, once said that men search for God’s face in the brothels. This is also true for King Kong. Kong was looking for a savior. And he found one, unfortunately she was unobtainable. Ann ruins a lot of lives in this film. Kong for one, and Adrien Brody’s character: Jack. Jack is also in love with Ann, but how the heck is he suppose to measure up to kicking the living (expletive deleted) out of three T-Rexes? The answer friends is that he can’t. Jack is just as doomed as Kong. Only his fall/death will be from some metaphoric Empire States Building. Which brings us to the point of this whole deride. I have several things in common with King Kong (and to a lesser extent Jack the playwright).
Like Kong (and to a lesser extent Jack the playwright) I too am doomed when it comes to women****. I always fall in love with an unobtainable girl. This said girl is unobtainable for one of a couple of reasons. Either she’s in a relationship, hopelessly in love with someone else or thinks I’m gay. This always happens to me, and it always ends the same way. I, like Kong (and to a lesser extent Jack the playwright), will eventually fall in love with someone and end up falling of my own metaphoric Empire States Building. Women will eventually ruin me. In the end it’s beauty that ends up killing us all, isn’t it. (expletive deleted) women.
Until We Meet Again
* I’m referring to the Peter Jackson epic version that came out about a month ago.
** Make your own inference here, I’m just writing about what Jackson decided to show us.
*** It should be noted that this was the point in the movie in which I told myself I wasn’t going to cry at King Kong. Seriously it was a very emotional movie. Or maybe it’s just because it was Christmas Night. I really don’t know.
**** For space purposes I declined to go into the physical and mental attributes Kong and I share.
Here’s a brief synopsis of King Kong. A film crew finds an uncharted island in which they hope to film a movie at. Unfortunately for the film crew this island is inhabited by these creepy looking dark skinned natives**. The natives end of capturing Ann, who is the “heroine” of this movie. The film crew and actors panic and don’t know what to do. Eventually the natives sacrifice Ann to a 24ft gorilla (King Kong) who appears to be just a big bowl of wrong. The film crew then embarks on a rescue mission to save Ann from this extremely bad (expletive deleted) and apparently evil gorilla. The film crew has to trek across a vast island/jungle to find Ann, so it takes them awhile to do so. Before they find her they run in to all sorts of trouble, all the while we see several scenes of Kong and Ann interacting. The more we see Ann and Kong spend time together it becomes readily apparent that Kong is in fact not just an evil beast, but he's kind and loving to Ann while also being innately human. Before the film crew can find her and bring her back to the ship so they can return to America, Ann and Kong fall in love. This love may or may not have stemmed from Kong laying the smack down on not one but three (expletive deleted) T-Rexes. Whether or not their love is merely platonic or romantic love is unkown. I choose to believe their love was the latter. Kong and Ann have something special between that can’t really be described (now before we start to head down the bestiality road lets just get back to the summary). So eventually Ann is saved by Jack, a film and theatre writer who is also in love with Ann. As Ann and Jack flee back to the ship Kong follows in hot pursuit. Before Kong can reach Ann he is captured and chloroformed***. Kong is captured and taken back to America where he can be put on display for money. Of course this plan back fires and Kong breaks free and rampages through New York. He searches the streets for Ann, but can’t find her. She eventually finds him and the two of them then go ice skating. And yes the movie was so incredibly good that I actually bought this scene. They seem to be headed for a fairy tale ending before the National Guard (NG) shows up and wrecks their (expletive deleted). Eventually the NG chases Kong to the top of the Empire State Building where he eventually is killed and falls off in dramatic, slow mo fashion. As the camera pans over Kong’s dead body Jack Black (who is really good in this film) tells us why Kong died. Some cops note that the airplanes finally got him. Jack Black disagrees, he knows (and says) “that it was beauty that killed the beast.”
WHHHHHHAAAAAAATTTTTTTT!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Yes folks I’m afraid it’s true, that awful last line carries with it a lot of validity. Kong died the way so many great man (and perhaps animals???) die. He died because he fell for some c*ck teasing hussy who eventually let him down. Is Ann really to blame for Kong’s death? YES, an emphatic yes. A French philosopher, whose name escapes me, once said that men search for God’s face in the brothels. This is also true for King Kong. Kong was looking for a savior. And he found one, unfortunately she was unobtainable. Ann ruins a lot of lives in this film. Kong for one, and Adrien Brody’s character: Jack. Jack is also in love with Ann, but how the heck is he suppose to measure up to kicking the living (expletive deleted) out of three T-Rexes? The answer friends is that he can’t. Jack is just as doomed as Kong. Only his fall/death will be from some metaphoric Empire States Building. Which brings us to the point of this whole deride. I have several things in common with King Kong (and to a lesser extent Jack the playwright).
Like Kong (and to a lesser extent Jack the playwright) I too am doomed when it comes to women****. I always fall in love with an unobtainable girl. This said girl is unobtainable for one of a couple of reasons. Either she’s in a relationship, hopelessly in love with someone else or thinks I’m gay. This always happens to me, and it always ends the same way. I, like Kong (and to a lesser extent Jack the playwright), will eventually fall in love with someone and end up falling of my own metaphoric Empire States Building. Women will eventually ruin me. In the end it’s beauty that ends up killing us all, isn’t it. (expletive deleted) women.
Until We Meet Again
* I’m referring to the Peter Jackson epic version that came out about a month ago.
** Make your own inference here, I’m just writing about what Jackson decided to show us.
*** It should be noted that this was the point in the movie in which I told myself I wasn’t going to cry at King Kong. Seriously it was a very emotional movie. Or maybe it’s just because it was Christmas Night. I really don’t know.
**** For space purposes I declined to go into the physical and mental attributes Kong and I share.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Top 35 Songs of 2005: Top 10 Songs
And now the moment you’ve all been waiting for. My unveiling of the top 10 songs of 2005. As always scroll down, the last to posts were songs 35-21 and 20-11. I apologize for the sleepless night most of you probably experienced waiting for the completion of this list. I’m sorry and here you go.
10. Iron & Wine( Feat. Calexico) - History of Lovers: When I first heard that Iron and Wine was making an EP with Calexico I was pretty nervous. For one Sam Bean had a great thing going on by himself and I remember listening to Calexico in High School and being completely under whelmed on just about every level. So when this EP came out my worries far exceeded my expectations. But as it turns outs, this EP was really good, and this particular song was the high light from it. I was both shocked and amazed that Bean’s voice could not only hold up but excel with a full band backing him. Maybe the most amazing part of this song is that Bean still maintains the whisperiness (to make up a word) of his voice despite the added musicians.
9. Of Montreal - Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games: Simply put this is the best neo-psychedelia song to come out this year. If you’re unaware of what neo-psychedelia is don’t worry, I have no idea either, but I’m pretty sure it applies to this song. In simpler language this is probably the best dance song of the year. Now dance pop usually gets a bad rap, and it usually deserves it. But this song is just a great song which makes you want to dance, even if you hate dancing. Of Montreal perfectly channels old-school New Order and Art Garfunkle’s I Shall Sing.
8. Matt Pond PA – Halloween: A general criticism of Matt Pond is that while his music is beautifully constructed and his lyrics are good, neither leaves a lasting impression. Generally speaking this criticism is spot on (although it should be noted I don’t think that’s a justifiable reason for disliking the band, but that’s neither here nor there.). With Halloween, that is not the case at all. While it seems Arcade Fire could sue them for plagiarism over the piano riff, the rest of the song is wholly Matt Pond PA (MPPA for short.). MMPA critics will still say this song doesn’t have enough of an edge, but really it doesn’t have to. It perfectly personifies the autumn season and moves beautifully. So finally MPPA have found a way for their music to leave an impression, give it a hint of sounding like someone else’s.
7. Sage Francis – Crumble: I truly believe this is one of the best break up songs I’ve ever heard. What’s even more amazing that it’s not even the most emotionally powerful song on Sage’s album. But that’s neither here nor there. The song starts with a slow Jon Brion esque piano then the final 30 seconds it moves to a techno/pseudo trance hop beat. For the longest time this musically switch pissed me off. However I now see that the switch is done to so that the music parallels itself to the breakdown of the character in the song*. So now the song is even more amazing. I’d tell you more but you should probably just listen to it yourself.
6. The Boy Least Likely To – Be Gentle with Me: On the first listen to the Boy Least Likely, you’d think you’d stumbled upon Kid Bop Volume 9, or something like that. Their music sounds, at first, like VBS music. But it eventually becomes just great pop music. And while the kiddish feel slightly diminishes the beauty of the music and lyrics, you should be able to get by it. Hopefully all of you can get by the fact that when you hear this song you feel like some middle aged house wife should be teaching you hand motions to it with one of the fakest smiles you’ve ever seen plastered to her face. Seriously, this is a really good song.
5. Sufjan Stevens – John Wayne Gacy, Jr.: If an artist writes a hauntingly beautiful** song about a serial killer, it’s probably going on my top 10 list. Since song starts out with Sufjan trying to view Gacy in a reasonable light. He looks at things from Gacy’s point of view and seems truly sympathetic for the man. Eventually so he’s overcome by the horrors of the murders Gacy committed. While all of this seems a little corny, Sufjan shows his genius by pulling this song off and not only making the listener take it seriously, but also creeping the hell out of them. Just a phenomenal song.
4. Andrew Bird - Tables and Chairs: It seems that Andrew Bird likes to take a cliché song ideas and put his own unique twist on it. Such was the case with Fake Palindromes (which ranked 21st on this distinguished list) where he took a love song viewed through the eyes of a psycho. With Tables and Chairs Bird takes the idea of Utopian society and tongue and cheekly names its attributes. After talking about all the benefits a society with no government or economic system Bird tells us that this utopia will also include snacks. Really I’m still not sure what to do with this song other then just enjoy it.
3. Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc.: Outside of the fact that the first verse is often mistaken for a Cake song, this song is amazing. Easily the best radio hit of the year, and the the best radio hit since Hey Ya. Some of you may wonder how an elitist such as myself can place a hit single so high, if at all, on my top songs list. To answer that question I’ll have to counter with another question: Have you heard this song? It’s unbef*ckinglievable. I really don’t care if elitist shone and blacklist me for liking this song, it’s that good.
2. Decemberists – Engine Driver: 8 short months ago I rated this song as one of my all-time favorites. I think I even put it as high as 12th, I really don’t remember. Clearly I jumped the gun, as this song is good but not that good. Still though, this is an amazing love song. Colin Meloy looks tells a love story from the vantage point of a writer. While I change my interpretation of the song on every listen, it’s still amazing. I find I’m out a loss of words now when trying to describe it. So I’ll stop trying to and just implore all of you who read this to go out and immediately listen to it.
1. Common – Be: One of the best rap songs I’ve ever heard. At first it sounds like an Al Green song, then Common comes in raping over the beat and you’re not really sure what to do with yourself. This is the type of song that makes you want to respond to it with more then just a head nod or fist pump. So you try countless things, but none of them seem satisfactory. So instead just sit back and let it sink in. Allow it to wash over you. Just enjoy it. Songs as great as this one don’t come along very often, so just be grateful that you found it, or more appropriately that Common found it***. This is a truly transcendent song, just allow it to effect you. Just listen to Common’s advice: The present is a gift, and I just want to be.
* It should be noted that the lyrics are pretty much indecipherable during the trance part, but after 100+ listens I finally figured out what he was saying, pretty good sh*t actually.
** I realize I’ve used beautiful or beauty far to many times when describing songs or albums, but ever since I enrolled in a community college I’ve found myself unable to use any adjectives I learned after 1st grade.
*** Regarding the song Tupelo Honey Bob Dylan said that it was always out there, Van Morrison was just the first one to find it. I feel the same way about this song.
10. Iron & Wine( Feat. Calexico) - History of Lovers: When I first heard that Iron and Wine was making an EP with Calexico I was pretty nervous. For one Sam Bean had a great thing going on by himself and I remember listening to Calexico in High School and being completely under whelmed on just about every level. So when this EP came out my worries far exceeded my expectations. But as it turns outs, this EP was really good, and this particular song was the high light from it. I was both shocked and amazed that Bean’s voice could not only hold up but excel with a full band backing him. Maybe the most amazing part of this song is that Bean still maintains the whisperiness (to make up a word) of his voice despite the added musicians.
9. Of Montreal - Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games: Simply put this is the best neo-psychedelia song to come out this year. If you’re unaware of what neo-psychedelia is don’t worry, I have no idea either, but I’m pretty sure it applies to this song. In simpler language this is probably the best dance song of the year. Now dance pop usually gets a bad rap, and it usually deserves it. But this song is just a great song which makes you want to dance, even if you hate dancing. Of Montreal perfectly channels old-school New Order and Art Garfunkle’s I Shall Sing.
8. Matt Pond PA – Halloween: A general criticism of Matt Pond is that while his music is beautifully constructed and his lyrics are good, neither leaves a lasting impression. Generally speaking this criticism is spot on (although it should be noted I don’t think that’s a justifiable reason for disliking the band, but that’s neither here nor there.). With Halloween, that is not the case at all. While it seems Arcade Fire could sue them for plagiarism over the piano riff, the rest of the song is wholly Matt Pond PA (MPPA for short.). MMPA critics will still say this song doesn’t have enough of an edge, but really it doesn’t have to. It perfectly personifies the autumn season and moves beautifully. So finally MPPA have found a way for their music to leave an impression, give it a hint of sounding like someone else’s.
7. Sage Francis – Crumble: I truly believe this is one of the best break up songs I’ve ever heard. What’s even more amazing that it’s not even the most emotionally powerful song on Sage’s album. But that’s neither here nor there. The song starts with a slow Jon Brion esque piano then the final 30 seconds it moves to a techno/pseudo trance hop beat. For the longest time this musically switch pissed me off. However I now see that the switch is done to so that the music parallels itself to the breakdown of the character in the song*. So now the song is even more amazing. I’d tell you more but you should probably just listen to it yourself.
6. The Boy Least Likely To – Be Gentle with Me: On the first listen to the Boy Least Likely, you’d think you’d stumbled upon Kid Bop Volume 9, or something like that. Their music sounds, at first, like VBS music. But it eventually becomes just great pop music. And while the kiddish feel slightly diminishes the beauty of the music and lyrics, you should be able to get by it. Hopefully all of you can get by the fact that when you hear this song you feel like some middle aged house wife should be teaching you hand motions to it with one of the fakest smiles you’ve ever seen plastered to her face. Seriously, this is a really good song.
5. Sufjan Stevens – John Wayne Gacy, Jr.: If an artist writes a hauntingly beautiful** song about a serial killer, it’s probably going on my top 10 list. Since song starts out with Sufjan trying to view Gacy in a reasonable light. He looks at things from Gacy’s point of view and seems truly sympathetic for the man. Eventually so he’s overcome by the horrors of the murders Gacy committed. While all of this seems a little corny, Sufjan shows his genius by pulling this song off and not only making the listener take it seriously, but also creeping the hell out of them. Just a phenomenal song.
4. Andrew Bird - Tables and Chairs: It seems that Andrew Bird likes to take a cliché song ideas and put his own unique twist on it. Such was the case with Fake Palindromes (which ranked 21st on this distinguished list) where he took a love song viewed through the eyes of a psycho. With Tables and Chairs Bird takes the idea of Utopian society and tongue and cheekly names its attributes. After talking about all the benefits a society with no government or economic system Bird tells us that this utopia will also include snacks. Really I’m still not sure what to do with this song other then just enjoy it.
3. Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc.: Outside of the fact that the first verse is often mistaken for a Cake song, this song is amazing. Easily the best radio hit of the year, and the the best radio hit since Hey Ya. Some of you may wonder how an elitist such as myself can place a hit single so high, if at all, on my top songs list. To answer that question I’ll have to counter with another question: Have you heard this song? It’s unbef*ckinglievable. I really don’t care if elitist shone and blacklist me for liking this song, it’s that good.
2. Decemberists – Engine Driver: 8 short months ago I rated this song as one of my all-time favorites. I think I even put it as high as 12th, I really don’t remember. Clearly I jumped the gun, as this song is good but not that good. Still though, this is an amazing love song. Colin Meloy looks tells a love story from the vantage point of a writer. While I change my interpretation of the song on every listen, it’s still amazing. I find I’m out a loss of words now when trying to describe it. So I’ll stop trying to and just implore all of you who read this to go out and immediately listen to it.
1. Common – Be: One of the best rap songs I’ve ever heard. At first it sounds like an Al Green song, then Common comes in raping over the beat and you’re not really sure what to do with yourself. This is the type of song that makes you want to respond to it with more then just a head nod or fist pump. So you try countless things, but none of them seem satisfactory. So instead just sit back and let it sink in. Allow it to wash over you. Just enjoy it. Songs as great as this one don’t come along very often, so just be grateful that you found it, or more appropriately that Common found it***. This is a truly transcendent song, just allow it to effect you. Just listen to Common’s advice: The present is a gift, and I just want to be.
* It should be noted that the lyrics are pretty much indecipherable during the trance part, but after 100+ listens I finally figured out what he was saying, pretty good sh*t actually.
** I realize I’ve used beautiful or beauty far to many times when describing songs or albums, but ever since I enrolled in a community college I’ve found myself unable to use any adjectives I learned after 1st grade.
*** Regarding the song Tupelo Honey Bob Dylan said that it was always out there, Van Morrison was just the first one to find it. I feel the same way about this song.
Top 35 Songs of 2005: 20-11
This is the continuation of my top 35 songs of 2005 list. For songs 35-21 just scroll down one post. Here’s the songs 20-11, enjoy.
20. Sufjan Stevens – Chicago: Sufjan writes a brilliant song about how being in a big city makes us more susceptible to falling in love and regret. As someone who has felt these things just about every time I step foot in down town Chicago, I happen to particularly like/relate to this song. And so it makes my list.
19. Jason Collett – I’ll Bring the Sun: I first heard this song in the spring of 2004. I was at a Mason Jennings show in Chicago and some drunken cowboy who was somehow related to Broken Social Scene was the opening act. For the most part is his act was extremely forgettable and mildly humorous because he was obviously drunk off his ass. For his final song he played this then unreleased beauty. Since that concert I search high and low to find this song, and now it’s finally come out and I loved it now every bit as much as I did then. Just a great Alt. Country song, check it out.
18. Wolf Parade – Modern World: A song that upon first listen sounds like it should be off A Lonesome Crowded West or The Moon and Antarctica. In all honesty, if I wasn’t so lazy I’m not sure this song would be on here over “Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghost” or “I’ll believe in Anything”(both of these are also Wolf Parade songs in case you didn’t know.). But Instead I’ll just say that this song is still really damn good and has the best Modest Mouse esque harmony and rhythm line I’ve heard.
17. Kanye West(Feat. Adam Levine of Maroon 5) - Heard 'Em Say: This is yet another reason on the growing list of reasons to hate Kanye: He made me love a song that involved the lead singer of Maroon 5. And as good as the lyrics and Kanye’s rapping is on this song, Levine steals the song. In fact I love Levine’s harmony parts in this song, and that really pisses me off. In fact I’m not going to talk about it anymore.
16. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth: Despite the fact that the lyrics are completely indiscernible for the first 10+ times you hear this song, it might be the catchiest song of the year. The guitar rift will stick in your head for days and hearing the song, even after the fact that you’ve discovered that they lyrics are semi-depressing, will put a hop in your step and makes you feel like dancing. And in case you were wondering, the fact that I just referenced Leo Sayer was unintentional.
15. Silver Jews - I'm Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You: This song easily has the best title of the year. It also does the classic Silver Jew’s thing at making you smirk at the cleverness of David Berman’s lyrics and then sing along whole heartedly to the chorus. We* here at Another West Coast Morning tip our hat to you Mr. Berman.
14. Josh Rouse – Sad Eyes: Some people see it as a fault that I have a soft spot for perfectly orchestrated pop music. These people try to convince me that men like Rouse just put out unoriginal, uninspired beautiful music. They seem to think this is some sort of knock on Rouse., but anytime the adjective of beauty is attached to anything with out being sarcastic, I fail to see how that is a knock. And I see no evidence that this song would be better if the drums were louder then the singing or if Rouse screamed into his guitars pick up or if there was a bunch of random sounds added that sort of blended into one another. Truthfully I don’t think any of these things would make this song better. Maybe I just like boring music, you decide.
13. Stereophonics – Dakota: As noted several times in the past** I have an unadulterated love for Brit Rock that even I can’t explain. And while Stereophonics has put out two very disappointing albums since Just Enough Education to Perform, this song is amazing. If you don’t like Brit Rock, stay away form this song, but if you do this is easily the best song out of that genre this year.
12. Sufjan Stevens - Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Step Mother!: Sufjan often writes his songs based on short stories that he’s written. Here he gives us a brief history of the state of Illinois from the view of a couple of kids whose step mother made them take a trip to learn about Illinois’s history. This song is equally clever and beautiful, not unlike Sufjan.***
11. Common (Feat. Kanye West) – The Food: If this song did nothing but teach us that slow motion is better then no motion, I would have put it on this list. But seriously, this song is amazing. It, like the rest of the album, vaguely feels like a ‘70’s soul song. And this song especially captures the bluesy almost gothic feel of Chicago. This song could probably double as the vest R&B song I’ve ever heard.
We’ll be back next week with the top 10 Songs of 2005. Get excited.
* I like to think of my self as multidimensional, this also leads be to believe that I’m not the only one writing for this overly pretentious, pedantic and all in all poorly written blog.
** And maybe even in this very post, I don’t know. As shocking as it may seem I rarely proof read anything I post.
*** Yeah I’m probably gay.
20. Sufjan Stevens – Chicago: Sufjan writes a brilliant song about how being in a big city makes us more susceptible to falling in love and regret. As someone who has felt these things just about every time I step foot in down town Chicago, I happen to particularly like/relate to this song. And so it makes my list.
19. Jason Collett – I’ll Bring the Sun: I first heard this song in the spring of 2004. I was at a Mason Jennings show in Chicago and some drunken cowboy who was somehow related to Broken Social Scene was the opening act. For the most part is his act was extremely forgettable and mildly humorous because he was obviously drunk off his ass. For his final song he played this then unreleased beauty. Since that concert I search high and low to find this song, and now it’s finally come out and I loved it now every bit as much as I did then. Just a great Alt. Country song, check it out.
18. Wolf Parade – Modern World: A song that upon first listen sounds like it should be off A Lonesome Crowded West or The Moon and Antarctica. In all honesty, if I wasn’t so lazy I’m not sure this song would be on here over “Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghost” or “I’ll believe in Anything”(both of these are also Wolf Parade songs in case you didn’t know.). But Instead I’ll just say that this song is still really damn good and has the best Modest Mouse esque harmony and rhythm line I’ve heard.
17. Kanye West(Feat. Adam Levine of Maroon 5) - Heard 'Em Say: This is yet another reason on the growing list of reasons to hate Kanye: He made me love a song that involved the lead singer of Maroon 5. And as good as the lyrics and Kanye’s rapping is on this song, Levine steals the song. In fact I love Levine’s harmony parts in this song, and that really pisses me off. In fact I’m not going to talk about it anymore.
16. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth: Despite the fact that the lyrics are completely indiscernible for the first 10+ times you hear this song, it might be the catchiest song of the year. The guitar rift will stick in your head for days and hearing the song, even after the fact that you’ve discovered that they lyrics are semi-depressing, will put a hop in your step and makes you feel like dancing. And in case you were wondering, the fact that I just referenced Leo Sayer was unintentional.
15. Silver Jews - I'm Getting Back Into Getting Back Into You: This song easily has the best title of the year. It also does the classic Silver Jew’s thing at making you smirk at the cleverness of David Berman’s lyrics and then sing along whole heartedly to the chorus. We* here at Another West Coast Morning tip our hat to you Mr. Berman.
14. Josh Rouse – Sad Eyes: Some people see it as a fault that I have a soft spot for perfectly orchestrated pop music. These people try to convince me that men like Rouse just put out unoriginal, uninspired beautiful music. They seem to think this is some sort of knock on Rouse., but anytime the adjective of beauty is attached to anything with out being sarcastic, I fail to see how that is a knock. And I see no evidence that this song would be better if the drums were louder then the singing or if Rouse screamed into his guitars pick up or if there was a bunch of random sounds added that sort of blended into one another. Truthfully I don’t think any of these things would make this song better. Maybe I just like boring music, you decide.
13. Stereophonics – Dakota: As noted several times in the past** I have an unadulterated love for Brit Rock that even I can’t explain. And while Stereophonics has put out two very disappointing albums since Just Enough Education to Perform, this song is amazing. If you don’t like Brit Rock, stay away form this song, but if you do this is easily the best song out of that genre this year.
12. Sufjan Stevens - Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Step Mother!: Sufjan often writes his songs based on short stories that he’s written. Here he gives us a brief history of the state of Illinois from the view of a couple of kids whose step mother made them take a trip to learn about Illinois’s history. This song is equally clever and beautiful, not unlike Sufjan.***
11. Common (Feat. Kanye West) – The Food: If this song did nothing but teach us that slow motion is better then no motion, I would have put it on this list. But seriously, this song is amazing. It, like the rest of the album, vaguely feels like a ‘70’s soul song. And this song especially captures the bluesy almost gothic feel of Chicago. This song could probably double as the vest R&B song I’ve ever heard.
We’ll be back next week with the top 10 Songs of 2005. Get excited.
* I like to think of my self as multidimensional, this also leads be to believe that I’m not the only one writing for this overly pretentious, pedantic and all in all poorly written blog.
** And maybe even in this very post, I don’t know. As shocking as it may seem I rarely proof read anything I post.
*** Yeah I’m probably gay.
Top 35 Songs of 2005: 35-21
So I’ve decided that there’s no better way to ring in the new year then giving you a list of my favorite songs of 2005. As with the top albums list the only real barometer for the songs on this list is that I like them. I’m going to try and stretch segment out for awhile since I don’t have much to post about. So today you’ll get 35-21, on Thursday you’ll get 20-11 and the Top 10 will come next week. So with out further ado, here’s the list.
35. New Pornographers – The Bleeding Heart Show: There’s a strong possibility that this song is only on my list because I saw the band live. Anyhow, the final 1:45 of this song rocks my socks off.
34. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Upon This Tidal Wave Of Young Blood: Might be higher if it wasn’t for the “there’s nothing left to fear now that big foot is capture” line.
33. Wolf Parade -You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son: Great opening song. Even after multiple listens you’re never really sure where the song is going, which is a good thing. The line about drawing 3 figures on a loved one’s heart is both beautiful and creepy. Shades of Neutral Milk Hotel.
32. New Pornographers – Jackie, Dressed in Cobras: This song contains my favorite line of the year: “There’s something in the way she moves that shouldn’t be allowed.” So it makes the list.
31. Spoon – I Turn My Camera On: One of the best driving and/or dancing songs out there.
30. Kanye West (Feat. Lupe Fiasco) - Touch the Sky: This song possesses what might be the best sample since Primitive Radio God’s sampled B.B King. Also Fiasco’s debut rap is really damn good.
29. Broken Social Scene – Swimmers: This song would be higher if I had gotten it sooner. Instead I’ve only had a few weeks with this phenomenal song. Maybe the best song about young love I’ve heard since “Me and Julia” by Boy Star Library.
28. Crooker Fingers – Sleep All Summer: The indie scene’s answer to Bruce Springsteen writing a great summer song.
27. Silver Jews - Punks in the Beerlight: The Silver Jews are the best at writing songs that are tongue and cheek depressing and catchy as all hell. This is a perfect example of one of those songs.
26. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Cherry Lane: I’ve always been a sucker for the Alt. Country and Brit Rock. In Cherry Lane Adam’s combines the two genre’s perfectly, hence it’s inclusion on this list.
25. Crooker Fingers – Twilight Creeps: The indie Bruce is back, doing what he does best: reminding all of us that just because something’s cheesy doesn’t mean it’s not good. When a song included lines like: “Why’s everybody always act so tough if all anybody wants is to find a friend.” And you’re not laughing hysterically at it, then you have to believe that it’s a great song. Or you just have bad taste in music.
24. Bright Eyes – Poison Oak: I could off on a list of reasons this song shouldn’t be on this list, such as: Overdone bravado, overly emo, pacifist lyrics that don’t fit at all, ect. But instead I’ll tell you why I like this song: Slide Guitar. While Conor Oberst is going into more of a folk style writing style, his band Bright Eyes is still overtly an emo band. But this song has the best slide guitar of any song I’ve heard this year. It’s beautiful musically and because of that I can block out the lyrics that I don’t like and/or don’t fit the song. So it makes my list.
23. Fruit Bats - The Wind that Blew My Heart Away: How could the official song of Hurricane Katrina not make this list?
22. Clem Snide – Jews for Jesus Blues: For a guy’s whose first name is Eef, Clem Snide’s lead singer is extremely brilliant. In this song he addresses a problem every realistic Christian has thought of. Eef claims that now that he’s found (and/or saved through Christ) he wishes he was lost. A feeling we can all relate to. While this concept alone is arguably brilliant enough to land you on my top songs list, the song itself is very good. I’m not sure what else to say about this song so let’s just move on.
21. Andrew Bird - Fake Palindromes: On this song Bird offers us a new twist on the generic love song. Bird shows us love through a psychopath and/or serial killer’s eyes. Make no mistake, this is a love song. And the songs final lyrics have the protagonist longing to “drill a tiny hole” into the object of their affections head. Also this song has the best violin riff I’ve heard since Bitter Sweet Symphony by the Verve, and it’s may be the best violin riff I’ve ever heard.
Well that’s it for now check back Thursday for 20-11.
35. New Pornographers – The Bleeding Heart Show: There’s a strong possibility that this song is only on my list because I saw the band live. Anyhow, the final 1:45 of this song rocks my socks off.
34. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Upon This Tidal Wave Of Young Blood: Might be higher if it wasn’t for the “there’s nothing left to fear now that big foot is capture” line.
33. Wolf Parade -You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son: Great opening song. Even after multiple listens you’re never really sure where the song is going, which is a good thing. The line about drawing 3 figures on a loved one’s heart is both beautiful and creepy. Shades of Neutral Milk Hotel.
32. New Pornographers – Jackie, Dressed in Cobras: This song contains my favorite line of the year: “There’s something in the way she moves that shouldn’t be allowed.” So it makes the list.
31. Spoon – I Turn My Camera On: One of the best driving and/or dancing songs out there.
30. Kanye West (Feat. Lupe Fiasco) - Touch the Sky: This song possesses what might be the best sample since Primitive Radio God’s sampled B.B King. Also Fiasco’s debut rap is really damn good.
29. Broken Social Scene – Swimmers: This song would be higher if I had gotten it sooner. Instead I’ve only had a few weeks with this phenomenal song. Maybe the best song about young love I’ve heard since “Me and Julia” by Boy Star Library.
28. Crooker Fingers – Sleep All Summer: The indie scene’s answer to Bruce Springsteen writing a great summer song.
27. Silver Jews - Punks in the Beerlight: The Silver Jews are the best at writing songs that are tongue and cheek depressing and catchy as all hell. This is a perfect example of one of those songs.
26. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Cherry Lane: I’ve always been a sucker for the Alt. Country and Brit Rock. In Cherry Lane Adam’s combines the two genre’s perfectly, hence it’s inclusion on this list.
25. Crooker Fingers – Twilight Creeps: The indie Bruce is back, doing what he does best: reminding all of us that just because something’s cheesy doesn’t mean it’s not good. When a song included lines like: “Why’s everybody always act so tough if all anybody wants is to find a friend.” And you’re not laughing hysterically at it, then you have to believe that it’s a great song. Or you just have bad taste in music.
24. Bright Eyes – Poison Oak: I could off on a list of reasons this song shouldn’t be on this list, such as: Overdone bravado, overly emo, pacifist lyrics that don’t fit at all, ect. But instead I’ll tell you why I like this song: Slide Guitar. While Conor Oberst is going into more of a folk style writing style, his band Bright Eyes is still overtly an emo band. But this song has the best slide guitar of any song I’ve heard this year. It’s beautiful musically and because of that I can block out the lyrics that I don’t like and/or don’t fit the song. So it makes my list.
23. Fruit Bats - The Wind that Blew My Heart Away: How could the official song of Hurricane Katrina not make this list?
22. Clem Snide – Jews for Jesus Blues: For a guy’s whose first name is Eef, Clem Snide’s lead singer is extremely brilliant. In this song he addresses a problem every realistic Christian has thought of. Eef claims that now that he’s found (and/or saved through Christ) he wishes he was lost. A feeling we can all relate to. While this concept alone is arguably brilliant enough to land you on my top songs list, the song itself is very good. I’m not sure what else to say about this song so let’s just move on.
21. Andrew Bird - Fake Palindromes: On this song Bird offers us a new twist on the generic love song. Bird shows us love through a psychopath and/or serial killer’s eyes. Make no mistake, this is a love song. And the songs final lyrics have the protagonist longing to “drill a tiny hole” into the object of their affections head. Also this song has the best violin riff I’ve heard since Bitter Sweet Symphony by the Verve, and it’s may be the best violin riff I’ve ever heard.
Well that’s it for now check back Thursday for 20-11.
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