Listologies

Song of the Day: "The Shape Of Us" by Ian Britt

2012-02-15T21:13:00.000-08:00

I just watched last nights (2/14/12) episode of Parenthood, "Tough Love," on NBC, and fell in love with this song at the end of the show. I sought it out right away, and have not stopped listening to it. Parenthood is officially my favorite exposing music show.
I know if you give this little song a listen, you will swoon.

"The Shape Of Us" by Ian Britt

Romantic Song Of The Day: "Better Man" by James Morrison

2012-02-14T17:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentines Day Everyone. Here is something romantic for you to snog too.

Also, if you didn't see it, I posted a Slow-Dance in the Livingroom/Make Sexy Time/Romantic Mixtape on my other blog yesterday.

"Better Man" by James Morrison

Bakers Dozen: Best Sports Movies: Baseball

2012-02-11T17:59:00.000-08:00

OK. So, it may be time to get back to making real lists. I mean, we do call ourselves Listologies and everything. So, here we go.

For a long time now, and I mean years, I have been mulling over the idea of doing a best sports movies list, divided by sport. But, I could never settle on a ranking. Writing and rewriting over and over again. But, I figured, a prefect order doesn't really matter, not really. So, I just jumped in. First off, Baseball. I realize it is not baseball season, but I am doing these in reverse order of my favorite sports. So I hope you enjoy.

You'll notice, Pride of The Yankees and Bang The Drum Slowly are not featured, this is not an error.

1. Bull Durham
This is not just a movie about baseball, it is a moving life lesson. This far and away Kevin Costner's best work, not counting Waterworld.

2. League Of Their Own
This is no chick flick. Don't even give me crap about it. It has more heart and love for baseball than almost any of the guy-centric flicks on this list.

3. Moneyball
This is new, and some might scoff that it is ahead of Field of Dreams and The Sandlot, but it is probably my9 second favorite film of 2012, and that says a hell of a lot. The acting is by both leads is spectacular.

4. Field Of Dreams
Does K. Costner make anything but baseball movies?! I know the answer of that is no, but I wish it was yes.

5. The Sandlot
There are not many kids movies that resonate with adults as much as this one does. It does not matter if you are 9 or 90, you will love this movie.

6. For Love Of The Game
I know that I am on my own with this movie. It's long, plodding, and a bit heavy handed. But I love it. Honestly and truly. Yet again, Mr. Costner shines, but its Jena Malone that steals the show on this one.

7. The Rookie
When I first wrote this list, I had this movie all the way up at number 3, then later, down at number 11. This is the movie that prevented me from publishing this list for the last few years. But, it is so great.

8. 8 Men Out
Just look at that cast. The acting. And the heartbreak of Buck getting banned for no reason. One of the most tragic stories in baseball history, told beautifully.

9. Major League
Who knew dysfunction could be so damn funny. Far and away the funniest baseball movie ever made.

10. The Natural
I know this would be near, if not on the top, of so many other peoples list. And don't get me wrong, it's great, but its also so boring!

11. Brewster’s Millions
I know most of you do not consider this a baseball movie, but Monty is a baseball player, and what does he do with his money? He sets up his minor league team against the NYY. Granted, there is a lot more going on than baseball, but the movie is all the better for it.

12. Sugar
This is a dark horse kind of baseball movie. I know more people who have never heard of this than have seen it. If you have not seen it, watch it. I think 20 years from now, this will be considered a landmark sports movie.

13. Hardball
Yeah, I know. But it was either this or Angles In The Outfield. And this felt less wrong.

Song of the Day: "La Cienga Just Smiled" by Ryan Adams

2012-02-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

Yeah, this song, and more so, this entire album just works for me. It's not new. But it never gets old.

"La Cienga Just Smiled" by Ryan Adams

New Blog: Infinite-Mixtapes

2012-02-04T23:54:00.001-08:00

So, you may, or may not be aware. But I, Addi, or Adam if you know me in real life, started a second blog. It is to both help me celebrate and alleviate my passion for making mixtapes. It's called Infinite-Mixtapes, and I am having a blast doing it. Listologies is first and foremost my love and priority blog, but I'd love for you to check out Infinite-Mixtapes. Feel free to request a mix, if you are local, or willing to give me an address, I'll even send you a hard copy. Get in touch at our gmail address.

Song of the Day: "The Freshman" by The Verve Pipe

2012-02-04T11:32:00.000-08:00

I know most of the SOTD's spotlight new or unknown stuff. But most isn't always. And every nowandthen there is a song that has a cross generational reach. I think this is one of those songs. This song defined my 15th year. And I think that if a kid heard this today, it could have that same impact on them. And 15 years from now, another kid....

"The Freshman" by The Verve Pipe

Song of the Day: "I Was A Cage" by Right Away, Great Captain!

2012-02-02T18:01:00.001-08:00

I cannot wait for the new RAGC record. If it has one tenth the heart this song does, it will kill me, but I will die happy. This is the best kind of heartbreak.

"I Was A Cage" by Right Away, Great Captain!

Song of the Day: "I Know I Know I Know" by Tegan & Sara

2012-02-01T20:05:00.000-08:00

OK, so I officially think this is the most often referenced song on this blog. In fact it was just a song of the day a little over a year ago. But lately, it has filled in all the holes whole. I have been searching for something. Something I can't quite grasp. It's like I'm fishing for the moon in the water. And this song makes it feel less futile.

"I Know I Know I Know" by Tegan & Sara

Songs of the Day: "Hold On", "Two Satellites" & "A More Perfect World" by Mary Beth Maziarz

2012-01-29T20:38:00.000-08:00

I have never been able to understand how Mary Beth Maziarz did not become the biggest thing in the world. I was so sure, for so long, that at some point in my life I would be able to claim I heard her first when her songs stumbled onto the radio, or I'd be able to venture out to a show at The Triple Door in Seattle to standing room only. It was one my certainties. But 13 years after first gracing upon her, she is still my little secret.

"Hold On" by Mary Beth Maziarz

"Two Satellites" by Mary Beth Maziarz

"A More Perfect World" by Mary Beth Maziarz

Song of the Day: "Your Guitar" by Jennifer O'Connor

2012-01-28T09:13:00.000-08:00

I love songs like this. It's like we're in on some secret. Powerful in the quiet. This doesn't so much feel like a song, but a journey. This song has haunted me since I first listened to it. And all I have wanted to do is share it. I hope you enjoy.

"Your Guitar" by Jennifer O'Connor

Song of the Day: "Fathers Be Kind" & "I Don't Wanna Die Anymore" by Ivan & Aloysha

2012-01-24T22:17:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have not been as active as I would like to be on here lately, I would like to give you an excuse about my new schedule at work, or the stormy weather or whatnot, but honestly, I got sucked into a book. Not the most exciting thing ever, I realize, but I'm not a liar.

Anyways, I was not planning on posting anything today, but while doing my weekly internet rounds, I stumbled across some great live and acoustic song in a book store. How awesome is that?! Combining my two favorite things, music and books! Match made in heaven. Thanks Sleepover Shows!

Ivan & Aloysha have been bounced around on this blog for some time now. And for good reason, Tim Wilson may have my favorite voice in the Northwest. And the way the harmonies intermingle with his lead is brilliant. I cannot wait until this band's upcoming full length release finds its way into my collection.

"Fathers Be Kind" by Ivan & Aloysha

"I Don't Wanna Die Anymore" by Ivan & Aloysha

Re-Review: Noah and Abby Gundersen at The Big House in Ballard 1/13/12

2012-01-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

My head is still spinning. I have never been so hung up on a show in my life. And I have been to my fair share of shows. But, now, 9 days later, I am still all about the Noah and Abby Gundersen Show. And now, more importantly, I can get you hung up on it as well. The awesome gents over at This City Rocks are giving you an inside look at this once in a life time show, with some stunning videos.

This show is nearly impossible to overstate, but I tried too in my original post. Here are some of the snippets of what I sputtered.

100 music lovers, truly loving music. Musicians truly giving everything. This was not one of those shows at a clinky bar where the music was just the noise trying penetrated the hum of drunken conversations. This was a show for honest to goodness audiophiles. I have never heard a crowd so quiet, so attentive, so in love with the sounds that were radiating off the stage. I am not sure I have ever experienced anything like it.

I want to preface this by saying that I am a huge fan of Noah Gundersen. However, he was not the star of the show last night. Abby Gundersen stole my heart. Not in the creepy, "I'm a 30 year old fat guy, crushing on the belting beauty" kind of way. Just musically, she simply stole my heart. It took seeing them live to realize, that although Noah is the front man, and deservedly so, Abby is the soul of the group. He writes amazing songs, and can easily bring them to life all on his own, but she makes those same songs stagger, and buckle at the knees.

He can make a crowd rise up, she can make them soar.

They are the perfect pair.

The passion they both played with was unparralled and vibrated throughout the entire building. It was truly an experience that I will not soon forget.

And, now, with the help of This City Rocks, I am so happy to let you in on the secret that was The Big House show.

"Fire"

"Poor Man's Son"

"Ledges" (if this new song is any indication of what is to come, Noah will rule the world)

"Caroline"

Song of the Day: "To A Poet" by First Aid Kit

2012-01-20T15:29:00.001-08:00

I know, I know, I know. I have been all about First Aid Kit on this blog lately. But when you have released the best record of 2012 so far, you are bound to get recognized. Granted, its very early in 2012, but that means shit. Both The Civil Wars and Jessica Lea Mayfield released records in February last year, and they both landed themselves on my best albums of the year 2011 list. I have just as high of expectations for The Lion's Roar. It is a choice record, so get used to seeing it on here.

"To A Poet" by First Aid Kit

Songs of the Day: "A Hole The Size Of" & "Scream" & "Borrowing Cars" by Nico Stai

2012-01-19T22:18:00.000-08:00

Pent up. Cooped up. Fed up. I have been locked in my home for nearly a week now. On an island apartment surrounded by a frozen ocean. And for some reason, the only thing that makes this isolation bearable is my tunes. Especially Mr. Nico Stai.

"A Hole The Size Of" by Nico Stai

"Scream" by Nico Stai

"Borrowing Cars"

Song of the Day: "The Falling Snow" by Damien Jurado

2012-01-18T20:21:00.000-08:00

So, this lovely song is not at all about actual snow falling. But it's just so beautiful, and simply seemed to fit the mood of the day. Like the world is holding their breath.

"The Falling Snow" by Damien Jurado

12 in 2012 Series: Most Anticipated Albums Part 2

2012-01-18T08:15:00.000-08:00

And now we continue our series we're calling the 12 in 2012. Our top 12 books/music/movies/[insert other awesome thing] to look forward to in 2012.

Today: Most Anticipated Albums! Part 2

Addi posted his here yesterday and by request, here's my version. As always we agree on about 2. -Stevie

12. The XX - Title TBD

Listologies has long been a fan of The XX, even when we feared that they had broken up for good. I'm hoping that this next album will A) be awesome B) not have one song played repeatedly over and over on the radio as if the rest of the album doesn't exist- yes I'm talking about "Crystalized" and yes I'm talking to you The End.

"Islands" {acoustic 2010}

11. The Fray - Scars & Stories

Yes I know, everyone and their kid sister listens to The Fray now but I still love them. They're like my guilty pop pleasure. I still love Cable Car and probably always will (and thank god its finally off the radio). By now you've probably heard their first single "Heartbeat" which is just okay for me but I'm digging this track so maybe it'll be promising afterall?

"The Fighter"

10. Ben Kweller - Go Fly a Kite

He rocks. Nuff said. Go listen here to an awesome musical collage of the heads/tails of his new album and enjoy a little cover of Today by the Smashing Pumpkins by BK in BK!

"Today" {Cover: Smashing Pumpkins 2007}

9. Andrew Bird - Break it Yourself

I would be remiss not to include Andrew Birds latest (sure-to-be) masterpiece on my albums to look forward to in 2012. 14 new tracks and the only preview I've seen is 30 seconds and I'm already psyched. This will be one to buy on vinyl and listen to on surround sound.

Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself from Mom+Pop on Vimeo.

8. Damien Jurado - Maraqopa

The first time I saw Damien Jurado was 2001 with Rosie Thomas (what a pair!) then Addi and I saw him again in 2010 with The Head and the Heart. I'm sure you're thinking, wait, Listologies is excited about a Singer/Songwriter?? And yes, I'm still a card carrying Jurado fan, not only is he a Seattlite but the first song I heard from Maraqopa is haunting in that Jim Morrison kind of way that always sweeps me off my feet.

"Nothing is the News"

7. Nelly Furtado - Lifestyle

I've been a fan of Nelly Furtado FOREVER. Seriously, this is one artist that I can honestly say I knew about before all my friends. In fact she kind of said it herself! In late 2000 I fell in love with "I'm Like a Bird" (c'mon, I was a college freshman) and won concert tickets to an acoustic show at Benaroya Hall Symphony Hall- about 100 people max, Nelly Furtado, Sister Hazel and Shawn Mullins (Addi will never let me live it down that I didn't bring him). I get in line WITH Shawn Mullins to have Ms. Furtado sign my CD and after talking she says "you're like my first real big fan!" to which yes, you could dismiss as something you say to everyone, except fast forward to her 2006 release party in NYC and she remembers me! So there you have it, my geek out moment.

"No Hay Igual" {2006}

6. Santigold - Master of My Make Believe

I heard that Santigold was finally making a follow up to her 2008 Santogold album that made LES Artistes the track I played most that summer. Getting info on the new album however was work until literally 24 minutes ago when she released her first single off of Master of My Make Believe "Big Mouth" - going to give it a few more listens before I make up my mind...

"Big Mouth"

5. Fiona Apple - Title TBD

Those of you that are long time Fiona Apple fans know that this is quite possibly just a part of the rumor mill although Metacritic has it listed as a 2012 release (Billboard, MTV, even the New York Times had a release date of 2011 so...) There are at least a half dozen Free Fiona forums, sites, and even the #freefiona #ReleaseFiona on Twitter and yet her website seems untouched by the likes of Fiona herself or her captor, I mean music label, Sony Music. In the mean time, another conspiracy, is this "Elle J" really Fiona? Listen for yourself...

"The Runaway" by Unkle {2010}

4. Temper Trap -Title TBD

As Addi stated on his Most Anticipated Albums list here Temper Trap is very hush hush about their new album set to come out in June. If you've been to some of their live shows it sounds like they may have played you some of the new stuff but haven't gotten down to naming anything yet. I'm hoping that TT 's latest album can stand up to Conditions, as I too am afraid of the sophomore slump. The band working with Tony Hoffer (Beck, Phoenix, Goldfrapp) bodes good things.

"Sweet Disposition" Live from SXSW

3. Regina Spektor - What We Saw From the Cheap Seats

I have come to expect only amazing things from Regina Spektor. Perhaps most famous for that intro to (500) Days of Summer, she's popped up on our site before, here on my Best of the Decade list at #17 and here on the Best Songs of 2009 at #8 & #1(!!!) I can only hope that What We Saw From the Cheap Seats is as good as Far was in 2009.

"Us" {2009}

2. Lana Del Rey - Born to Die

SNL performance aside I die over Lana Del Rey. Her pouty lips, the awkward calamity that is her music videos, her haunting vocals (thanks sound engineers for the awesome reverb work!) I think she's going to have two camps: the ones that love her and the ones that hate her. I'm standing firmly on the love her side. Can't wait to get this on vinyl.

"Videogames"

1. The Shins - Port of Morrow

Admittedly I'm a huge Shins fan. Always have been. One of my biggest regrets in life is leaving for NYC the same weekend The Shins played a free show at my University. Like Addi often says with his favorite bands (see every band that Addi thinks he invented) I'm a little sad about The Shins mainstream blowup particularly after Garden State (Zach Braff is kind of a genius). This is a long anticipated album for me and I'm hoping it will be a grown up return to Oh, Inverted World.

"Simple Song"

Other albums to look forward to...

First Aid Kit

Mumford and Sons

The Decemberists

Neon Trees

Magnetic Fields

Best Coast

Dirty Projectors

12 In 2012 Series: Most Anticipated Albums

2012-01-17T17:32:00.000-08:00

And now we continue our series we're calling the 12 in 2012. Our top 12 books/music/movies/[insert other awesome thing] to look forward to in 2012.

Today: Most Anticipated Albums!

Side note, this list was very hard to narrow down. I could do a list of 50 albums I'm excited for, so if you notice something missing, understand that I mean no disrespect to your favorite band or anything, it was just hard to choose and I had to go with my gut.

12. Jason Mraz - Title TBD
I know it's not cool to like The Mraz, but I have yet to pick up an album of his that I didn't like. And I don't care if that makes me slightly uncool. I don't share music on here to be cool. I share music because I can't not share music. It is my nature. And, liking Jason Mraz is apparently in my nature. And, damn, he can write a song.
"I Won't Give Up"

11. Clock Opera - "Ways To Forget"
Clock Opera stormed the castle that was my 2011. Their song Belongings blew me away and landed near or on top of all my 2011 lists. And this new song, from their upcoming album has my hopes very high.
"Once and For All"

10. Choir Of Young Believers - "Rhine Gold"
This Danish's 2009 release is one of the strongest records I have heard in years. Although I enjoyed this record that year, it did not climb any of my lists. It has taken years to see how valuable this album is to my collection. Out of all the albums from 2009, aside from Slow Club, The Temper Trap, and The Swell Season, this is the album I listen to the most. I cannot wait to see what they do next.
"|Claustrophobia"

9. Nico Stai -Title TBD
OK, so this is just a rumored release, but it needs to happen. Nico released his full length in 2006, a coulple EP's in 2008 and then silence since. And it's killing me. He has the most unique voice and lyrics out there right now, and he needs to make new noise in 2012.
"Borrowing Cars" (from 2006)

8. The xx - Title TBD
I am torn here. I am very excited for this record, but the sophomore slump has been well documented. With a band this talented, and given the fact they have taken appropriate time and not rushed things, I have faith this should be a success.
"Open Eyes" (Demo version

7. First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar
These Swedish sisters took to Omaha Nebraska to record their follow up album. And from what I heard of it, I could not be more excited. The ladies have really matured, but not lost their voice. I think this is a shoe in for the year end lists.
"The Lion's Roar"

6. The Temper Trap - Title TBD
This album is only mentioned in hushed tones around the internet. This is a band that scares me, this is a band that I fear will suffer the sophomore slump. However, they have recruited Beck's producer Tony Hoffer, so that is a step in the right direction. I am hopeful.
"Fools"

5. fun. - "Some Nights"
I'm gonna be honest, I am having a little trouble not holding the sudden popularity of fun. against them. They were always one of my little secrets. And my second favorite band of 2009. Their album Aim and Ignite still rocks my world. But, I am going to swallow my pride and accept that very soon, if not already, fun. is going to be a name on everyones lips.
"We Are Young"

4. John Mayer - Born And Raised
Another uncool album to look forward too, and I should really put this lower, especially with how disappointing I found Battle Studies. but considering how much I have LOVED all of this guys other releases, I can't help but be super excited.
"Born And Raised"

3. Lemolo - Title TBD
This Seattle duo has stolen my heart for well over a year now. But, with very little studio stuff released, it has been a long year. Finally that wait is nearing its end. The lovely ladies have announced they have finished all but the mastering/mixing of the album, and it should be released shortly. I expect super big things from these ladies. And you should too.
"Letters"

2. Noah Gundersen - Title TBD
This is fresh news. While at the show on 1/13/12 (which you can read about here) he mentioned that he and Abby are heading to the studio next month to start work on their new record. (And I am making an assumption that it will be released in 2012 to include it on this list.)I could have shit my pants right there. He played 2 or 3 new songs, and he is just getting better and better. It's kinda hard to believe.
"Fear Thou Not" (I'm guessing on the title)

1. Right Away, Great Captain! - The Church of the Good Thief
Andy Hull can do no wrong in my eyes. No matter if its with Manchester Orchestra, Bad Books, Solo or with RAGC, he can do no wrong. This album is going to be something special, as it is the final chapter of a trilogy of records about a sailors long journey home. Every song off the previous two records stills my soul, and I expect nothing less of this one.
"Blame"

Other Albums to look forward too, listed randomly.
Lana Del Rey
Mumford and Sons
Outkast
Phoenix
Allo Darlin'

Song of the Day: "How To Disappear Completely" by Radiohead

2012-01-15T21:33:00.000-08:00

Generally speaking, I am not a Radiohead fan. I know, most of my blogs are about indie music and whatnot, so admitting this is kinda sacrilegious. But, if I'm anything, I'm honest. However, you will notice I said generally. If you read my Best 100 Songs of All Time list (which I'm itching to rewrite, as it was from 2008), you would notice that two of their songs landed in the top 20. So, when they do a song right, at least right in my mind, they really get it. Anyways, this is number 17 from that list, and my personal song of the day. But, no, I am not depressed.

Side note, this song is featured in one of my all time movies, Live As A House. Check it out if you haven't seen it. It's grand.

"How To Disappear Completely" by Radiohead

Show of the Day: Noah and Abby Gundersen with Zach Fleury at The Big House in Ballard

2012-01-14T13:27:00.000-08:00

OK. I am going to do my best to not over sell this. I am going to do my best to not make a bigger deal out of this than I should. But, I am not sure I can help it. Last night, at about 7pm I set out upon the night to see a show, to listen to some music and to have a decent evening. Last night, at 7pm, I had no idea.

What I saw last night was so much more of an experience than a show. It was not a concert for a concerts sake. It was special. It was real. It was jarring, impactful and flat out defied the definition of music.

I know that sounds pretty incredulous. But picture this:

And this:

100 music lovers, truly loving music. Musicians truly giving everything. This was not one of those shows at a clinky bar where the music was just the noise trying penetrated the hum of drunken conversations. This was a show for honest to goodness audiophiles. I have never heard a crowd so quiet, so attentive, so in love with the sounds that were radiating off the stage. I am not sure I have ever experienced anything like it.

Oh, side note, if you ever get a chance to see a show at The Big House in Ballard, you must jump. That room is magic, intimate and incredible.

But, now on to the music itself. Opening for Noah Gundersen was half-musician half-comedian Zach Fleury, who, to be frank, I had only slightly heard of prior to last night, via the YouTube clips below. These are poached from one of my favorite local music clipparies, Ballad Sessions. And those clips are fantastic and all, but he was even better in person, interacting with the crowd, feeding off of them as he fed them. It was a great introduction to a fella that I am going to make a point of tracking from here on out. Damn impressive sir.

"Paraffin & Down" by Zach Fleury

"Sophie Sleepless" by Zach Fleury

And that was just the start....

I want to preface this by saying that I am a huge fan of Noah Gundersen. I have been for a little while now. I am not going to claim that I was the first on his bandwagon, but I will claim that not alot of people have been singing his praises as loudly as I have lately. However, he was not the star of the show last night. Abby Gundersen stole my heart. Not in the creepy, "I'm a 30 year old fat guy, crushing on the belting beauty" kind of way. Just musically, she simply stole my heart. It took seeing them live to realize, that although Noah is the front man, and deservedly so, Abby is the soul of the group. He writes amazing songs, and can easily bring them to life all on his own, but she makes those same songs stagger, and buckle at the knees.

He can make a crowd rise up, she can make them soar.

They are the perfect pair.

The passion they both played with was unparralled and vibrated throughout the entire building. It was truly an experience that I will not soon forget.

Sadly, video from last night has not yet surfaced, So, I am going to go with some generic, yet amazing videos. However, as soon as the videos do come about (which as you can see in the photo above, there was a full on camera crew, so that is bound to happen), I will update with a new blog. Anyways, enjoy.

"Moss On A Rolling Stone" by Noah & Abby Gundersen

"Avalanche" by Noah & Abby Gundersen (my favorite song, and played at my shouted request!)

"Poor Man's Son" by The Gundersen Family (sadly, it was just Abby and Noah last night, as the rest of the family did not partake, but it was still chillingly spectacular, and a video I cannot wait to see. The "Oh, Family..." lines turned into a giant stomp fest and sing-a-long. Really special.)

Song of the Day: "Orange Sky (Four Songs EP Version)" by Alexi Murdoch

2012-01-11T18:46:00.000-08:00

I know this song is all but played out. It has been everywhere since it was released on the Four Songs EP in 2002, but, today, as I sit and write non blogged words about imperfection and intertwined salvation's, and I need this song. So, apologize that it is not in my normal shtick, veering off the path of new and interesting, and back into something comfortable. It's like falling into bed with an old lover.

"Orange Sky (Four Songs EP Version)" by Alexi Murdoch

Song of the Day: "Amanaemonesia" by Chairlift

2012-01-10T12:35:00.000-08:00

I have been working on another 12 for 2012 for the upcoming album releases when I realized I have not share this excellent song that I have high hopes for in '12.

This is by far the best bad music video I have seen in years. The lyrics don't make any sense at all. And yet I love every single min of it.

"Amanaemonesia" by Chairlift

12 in 2012 Series: Movies (Comedies, Musicals, Dance Flicks and Stuff)

2012-01-10T11:33:00.000-08:00

And now we continue our series we're calling the 12 in 2012. Our top 12 books/music/movies/[insert other awesome thing] to look forward to in 2012.

Today: Movies (Comedies, Musicals, Dance Flicks and Stuff)!

12. Chronicle (2/3/12)

Cast: Michael B. Jordan (not the basketball player, the actor from Friday Night Lights and Parenthood TV Shows), Dane Dehaan, Alex Russell, Michael Kelly
What's it all about, yo?: Three Seattle highschool students discover something that gives them superpowers. And they don't heed that whole, "great responsibility" adage, and their lives start to go out of control. It's like a comedy/action/drama/thriller all rolled into one.

11. Men In Black 3 (5/25/12)

Cast: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Emma Thompson, Josh Brolin, Alice Eve, Bill Hader, Rip Torn,
What's it all about, yo?: Agent J (Will Smith) travels back in time to MIB's early days to try and stop the assassination of Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones).

10. Project X (2/3/12)

Cast: Thomas Mann is the only actor I have heard or or seen, the rest is a bunch of up and comers and unknowns.
What's it all about, yo?: 3 senior nobodies in highschool decide to throw a party to get remembered. THe party spins out of control. Preview looks fun. It's from the director that did Old School and The Hangover, so that gives it a bit of cred.

9. 21 Jump Street (3/16/12)

Cast: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube, Johnny Depp
What's it all about, yo?: It's a reboot of that show from the 80's that is now a running punchline. Basically, some misfit cops are sent back to highshool to blend in and find out where the new drugs are coming from.

8. Moonrise Kingdom (5/16/12)
Cast: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Harvey Keitel, Frances McDormand
What's it all about, yo?: There is not a lot out there about this movie. Hell, I can't even find a decent set picture or ad for it. But it's a Wes Anderson flick, and the cast is more than top notch, so it's bound to be another classic.

7. ParaNorman (8/17/12)

Cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Leslie Mann, John Goodman, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Casey Affleck
What's it all about, yo?: Animated flick about a strange little kid that can see and communicate with ghosts. Yeah, kinda like The 6th Sense, but only kinda. Soon, the whole town starts to see things as the town comes under siege by attacking zombies and ghouls,

6. Step Up 4Ever (7/27/12)
Cast: A bunch of dances turned actors again, this time pulling in one of my favorite all time dancers from So You Think You Can Dance, Kathryn McCormick. I am sure, yet again, that other SYTYCD dancers will be gracing the screen as well.
What's it all about, yo?: Here is the IMDB lowdown: "Emily arrives in Miami with aspirations to become a professional dancer. She sparks with Sean, the leader of a dance crew whose neighborhood is threatened by Emily's father's development plans." Sounds like a cross between Breakin' 2: The Electric Boogaloo and Center Stage, but in Miami.

5. Brave (6/22/12)

Cast: Emma Thompson, Kevin McKidd, Kelly Macdonald, Craig Ferguson
What's it all about, yo?: Hunger Games meets Braveheart meet Robin Hood, but with an Irish girl. It's Pixar, and it looks really, really good.

4. Rock Of Ages (6/1/12)

Cast: Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise, Bryan Cranston, Malin Akerman, Russell Brand, Paul Giamatti, Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Will Forte
What's it all about, yo?: Based on the smash Broadway hit, this movie adaptation looks very promising. It's set in 1987 LA and its about two youngins chasing their dreams to become rock stars. Oh, and it's a musical.

3. The Five-Year Engagement (4/27/12)

Cast: Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Alison Brie, Rhys Ifans, Chris Pratt, Chris Parnell
What's it all about, yo?: The happy couple gets engaged, the happy couple moves to the Midwest, it gets cold, they delay the wedding, several times. Hi-jinks ensue.

2. Wanderlust (2/24/12)

Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Paul Rudd, Malin Akerman, Ray Liotta
What's it all about, yo?: Moving from NYC to a hippy commune due to a case of sudden loss of job syndrome, makes for spectacular on screen entertainment.

1. This is Forty (12/21/12)
Cast: Megan Fox, Jason Segel, Leslie Mann, Paul Rudd, Melissa McCarthy, John Lithgow, Albert Brooks, Charlyne Yi
What's it all about, yo?: Judd Apatow is back at it, checking in again with Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann as the happy-ish couple, Pete and Debbie from Knocked Up. With Jason Segel and Megan Fox in the mix, this could be a really, really funny moive.

12 in 2012 Series: Movies (Drama/Action)

2012-01-09T19:53:00.000-08:00

And now we continue our series we're calling the 12 in 2012. Our top 12 books/music/movies/[insert other awesome thing] to look forward to in 2012.

Today: Movies (Drama/Action)!

12. Dark Shadows (5/11/12)

Cast: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloe Grace Moretz, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green.
What's it all about, yo?: So, Johnny Depp is like a vampire that gets buried alive in 1772, only be be released in 1972 to find that the world has changes without him and that his family estate is filled with his dysfunctional family members. Oh, and it's Tim Burton directed. That makes 8 movies collabos with Depp and Burton. Oh, and it is a remake of a 70's tv show.

11. Looper (9/28/12)

Cast: Joseph Gordon- Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt
What's it all about, yo?: This one is a bit tricky to explain, and it's mostly the cast that gets me excited to see it. OK, key points. Time Travel. JGL is a mob hitman. JGL and Willis play the same guy in different time lines. At some point JGL is hired to kill Willis, thus killing his futureself, and, in turn, himself, that's how the time loop works. Sounds confusing right, well apparently, its the first time travel movie in years that makes sense when you watch it.

10: The Bourne Legacy (8/3/12)

Cast: Jeremy Renner, Edward Norton, Rachel Weisz
What's it all about, yo?: I know its sacrilegious to support this movie with Matt Damon off the project, but I am a big fan of Jeremy Renner and I have complete faith that he can pull this off. This is not a recast, a reboot, a prequel or a sequel. It is about a different CIA agent named Aaron Cross and I expect it to be pretty damn good.

9. The Gangster Squad (10/19/12)

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Giovanna Rivisi
What's it all about, yo?: Based on a series of articles in the LA Times that chronicled a special unit in the L.A.P.D. in the 1940's that was created to stop east coast mobsters from moving into LA.

8. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (1/20/12)

Cast: Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Thomas Horn
What's it all about, yo?: So, Tom Hanks dies in one of The Towers, and his wife and son are very sad. His son, in a way of handling his grief searches NYC to find a lock that matches a key his father left behind. It is the final puzzle his father is needing him to solve. Looks like it's gonna make you cry.

7. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (12/14/12)

Cast: Evangeline Lilly, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Eligah Wood, Andy Serkis, Orlando Bloom, Ian McKellen
What's it all about, yo?: So, Bilbo Baggins, young this time around, sets out on one of his legendary journeys to face off with a dragon, this time accompanied by a camp of Elves, Dwarfs, Humans, Wizards, and whatnot. It sounds an awful lot like The Lord Of The Rings, and I guess it is. But since when is that a bad thing.

6. World War Z (12/21/12)

Cast: Brad Pitt, Matthew Fox, Mireille Enos
What's it all about, yo?: Brad Pitt is a UN employee that is traveling the world interviewing people and trying to stay ahead of a zombie pandemic that is quickly sweeping the world. Loosely based on the book, this is a highly anticipated adaptation that will divide its fanbase.

5. The Great Gatsby (12/25/12)

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Isla Fisher, Tobey Maguire
What's it all about, yo?: You're joking right? Read the book.

4. Django Unchained (12/25/12)

Cast: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sacha Baron Cohen, Samuel L. Jackson, Christoph Waltz, Kurt Russell, Jamie Foxx.
What's it all about, yo?: Quentin Taratino and that cast? Are you kidding me?! I don't even need to know the plot. But if you care, it about a slave rising up against his former master to free his wife.

3. The Avengers (5/4/12)

Cast: Jeremy Renner, Robert Downey Jr. Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlet Johansson, Samuel Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo, Paul Bettany, Cobie Smulders
What's it all about, yo?: If you don't know, I feel a little sorry for you. It the comicbook of all comicbook movies. Bringing together, Iron Man, Captain America, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Thor and The Incredible Hulk to form S.H.I.E.L.D. and save the world. Directed by Joss Whedon.

2. The Dark Knight Rises (7/20/12)

Cast: Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman
What's it all about, yo?: It's eight years later after Batman took the fall for Dent's crimes, and there is a new big bad in Gotham, taking over the city and overrunning the police. So, the Dark Knight rises and stuff.

1. The Hunger Games (3/23/12)

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Lenny Kravits
What's it all about, yo?: I am so stupidly excited about this that I am not even sure I could start to explain it. Luckily the preview above does a very good job of the basic story. I urge all of you to read the book, and get excited.

Honorable Mention:
Snow White and The Huntsman
Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2
Hanzel and Gretel: Witch Hunters

12 in 2012 Series: Books

2012-01-08T11:50:00.001-08:00

And now for a new series we'd like to call 12 in 2012. Our top 12 books/music/movies/[insert other awesome thing] to look forward to in 2012.

First up: Books!

12. Arcadia by Lauren Groff (March 2012) {Fiction}
Groff's second book, this one about a 1960's Utopian commune struggle to survive.

11. Fairy Tale Interrupted: A Memoir of Life, Love and Loss by RoseMarie Terenzio (Jan 2012) {Non-Fiction}
Written by John F. Kennedy Jr's personal assistant, they're publicizing this book as an unlikely friendship by a girl from the Bronx and a "vertitable prince." I'm more intrigued by what it must have been like to work for the Kennedy family and the last year in JFK Jr's life.

10. The Gaggle: How the Guys You Know Will Help You Find the Love You Want by Jessica Massa (June 2012) {Non-Fiction}
A real girls guide to the post-dating world, Massa explores your gaggle; the guys in your life you may or may not be romantically linked to and how they can lead you to love. This is not so much self-help as it is the book-form of the all the talks you and your girls have over drinks every weekend.

9. Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (April 2012) {Non-Fiction}
Self-proclaimed Bloggess Jenny Lawson recounts revealing and sometimes embarrassing moments from her life. I'm hoping this will be equal parts Chelsea Handler and David Sedaris.

8. The Operators: The Wild and Terrifying Inside Story of America's War in Afghanistan by Michael Hastings (Jan 2012- out now) {Non-Fiction}
I'm not usually a war genre reader in fiction or in non-fiction but this novel by the same author that wrote The Runaway General (published in Rolling Stone) was generating fan fare far before its release this week.

7. The Recognitions by William Gaddis (rerelease Feb 2012) {Fiction}Technically I cheated with this one. Previously published in the 50's Gaddis prophetically writes about our current reality in a startlingly correct way.

6. The Flame Alphabet by Ben Marcus (Jan 2012) {Fiction}
Language as a weapon becomes both metaphoric and literal in this Twilight Zone-esque novel about a family in upstate New York.

5. The Book of Drugs: A Memoir by Mike Doughty (Jan 2012) {Non-Fiction}
As a lover of both Soul Coughing and Doughty's solo works I'm psyched he wrote a novel that will let me in to what makes this guy tick.

4. Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult (Feb 2012) {Fiction}
Those of you that keep up with me know that I've read nearly every Jodi Picoult book so it's only natural that I plod along on to the next one. Early reviews aren't stellar but I'm holding out that this will be a return to her early work.

3. No One Is Here Except All of Us by Ramona Ausubel (Feb 2012) {Fiction}
A small Romanian village attempts to imagine away the war... intriguing! Let's see how that works out for 'em.

2. Farther Away: Essays by Jonathan Franzen (April 2012) {Non-Fiction}
If you've read Franzen's "Freedom" then you'll understand why I'm anticipating his collection of essays and speeches on both personal and environmental concerns.

1. Insurgent by Veronica Roth (May 2012) {Fiction}
I never thought I'd be enraptured with dystopian YA novels and yet here I am pining after the follow up to last years Divergent. Liked Hunger Games? This is next series to read.

Song of the Day: "Back To Where I Was (live)" by Eric Hutchinson

2012-01-06T21:48:00.000-08:00

I think there is a mistake here. I distinctly remember sharing this guy on the blog here in the past. I think something has gone wrong here on the internets, because there is no other way to explain how I would have screwed up this badly.

I love me a singer songwriter, I have no shame in that. Hell, I wrote a whole blog about the 33 best John Mayer songs. And this lad has been one of my favorites since 2009. He is one damn good songwriter, check out the lyrics for songs like "Oh!" or "OK, It's Alright With Me" and you'll see. I especially love his live album "Sounds Like This Live" which is where this track comes from. I really hope you enjoy this one, it holds a close place in my heart.

"Back To Where I Was (live)" by Eric Hutchinson

Song of the Day: "Skin" by Zola Jesus

2012-01-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the late song of the day, or song of the night I guess, but I just finished watching Grey's Anatomy (episode 810) and it was one of the best musically infused episodes I can remember watching. Every song played off the moment in exactly the right way. It is something the show has always been great at, but this episode exceeded all others.

This song, from the end of the episode killed me. I will not spoil the episode for all you DVR'ers out there, but wow.

I have heard rumblings about Zola Jesus for a while, but I never took the time to delve, I regret that now. This is a great song off a special album.

"Skin" by Zola Jesus

Song of the Day: "A Lion's Roar" by First Aid Kit

2012-01-04T10:42:00.000-08:00

There are always a couple albums that before the year starts I look forward to gleefully. Last year, I was ultra excited for the Slow Club, Summer Camp, The Civil Wars and the Manchester Orchestra records. This year, starts out much like that one. As there are several albums that are making me giddy before they are even released, including Chairlift, Right Away Great Captain!, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Pickwick (hopefully), Lemolo (hopefully), Choir Of Young Believers, and the featured band today, First Aid Kit.

This is a sister duo that I fell in love with back in 2009, and 2010. In fact, they landed themselves firmly on my best albums of 2010 list, and it was a well deserved spot. I still listen to that record frequently. They are playing a show in Seattle on my birthday this year, and you know I am going to be there, hoping to see another Faceplant Keyboard Solo. If this song is any indication of how good their upcoming album (Jan. 24th release) is going to be, it is going to be a hell of a 2012.

"A Lion's Roar" by First Aid Kit

Song of the Day: "Once and For All" by Clock Opera

2012-01-03T18:18:00.000-08:00

This is just one of the several amazing new tracks that are giving me hope for 2012. I have a few more that I am hoping to share tomorrow. If I can get over this little blogging dryspell. I don't know what brought on this little, no-blog-mood, but I'm getting out of this funk if it kills me. There is just too much good music to share.

"Once and For All" by Clock Opera

Banned Books: A Book Club

2012-01-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

I've wanted to start a banned books book club for a long time now. Maybe it's the educator in me that appreciates a persons choice to read what they want. Perhaps it's the writer in me that believes that a writer has the choice to express themselves in ways that others might not find appropriate. Or maybe it's that I've always had it in me to challenge the system (insert evil villainous laugh here). Either way I decided to do some research...

Did you know that 48% of challenges sent in to American Library Association for banning books is done by parents? Most of these are due to a sexual nature of a book followed up by offensive language. Other topics that might find a book on the chopping block are violence, being too religious OR not enough ("anti-family"), and not being appropriate for the age group of readers. Fascinating! Now I'm inspired to read them even more! Moving on...

So I looked up the top books that have been Banned or Challenged in this decade (thanks Office for Intellectual Freedom!) and here are the Top 10 contenders for 2010:

1. And Tango Makes Three by Richardson and Parnell

2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

3. Brave New World

4. Crank

5. The Hunger Games

6. Lush

7. What My Mother Doesn't Know

8. Nickel and Dimed

9. Revolutionary Voices

10. Twilight

Kind of surprising? I thought so too. Other notable banned books from this decades list: The Color Purple, Of Mice and Men, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, My Sister's Keeper, Harry Potter, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

So a few of these I've already read (Twilight/Hunger Games) and a few I find less interesting so I took a few from this decades other banned books list and created my own Banned Books Book Club To-Read List or the BBBCTRL, hmmm.... maybe I'll need to give that some thought. Here goes:

Banned Books Book Club To Read List

AKA The Listologies Let's Read Banned Books List

And Tango Makes Three

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Brave New World

Crank

Nickle and Dimed

Revolutionary Voices

Olive's Ocean

Go Ask Alice

The Chocolate War

The Kite Runner

Want to join? Email me at listologies@gmail.com and I'll send you the info. Here's to a fight the man kind of 2012.

Up and Coming Book List 2012

2012-01-01T23:53:00.001-08:00

Can I give my first confession of 2012? As a reader I was a total fail for 2011. I committed to reading something like 30 books which at the time seemed really tame for me and it worked out to be that I read like half that. Now to be fair, as a teacher I actually read a bazillion books a year however they're mostly made up of titles such as "Knuffle Bunny" and "Messy Bessy" and not so much the latest Haruki Murakami novel. So without including the countless childrens books I read and professional texts my pleasure reading total came down to something closer to 15. With that being said I've now entered the Good Reads 2012 Reading Challenge with a more realistic goal of... 15. Yes the same number I read this year. Now I hope that when I redo this list next year I will be happy to state that I exceeded this total. Then again, I could start including the many blogs I read everyday as part of my reading time right??

Those of you that haven't read it before here is my former column on The Up and Coming Book list and here

The 2011 List included...

Buddha: A Story of Enlightment – Deepak Chopra
The Dive from Clausen’s Pier – Ann Packer
Kafka on the Shore – Haruki Murakami
Open House – Elizabeth Berg
The Liar’s Club: A Memoir – Mary Karr *read a different Mary Karr book instead
The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver
The Friday Knight Knitting Club – Kate Jacobs
The Life Before Her Eyes – Laura Kasischke
The Thirteenth Tale – Diane Setterfield
Go Ask Alice – anonymous
Life is a Mixtape: Life and Loss, One song at a time – Rob Sheffield
Life is So Good – George Dawson
The God of Small Things – Arundhati Roy
Flower Children – Maxine Swann
The Bright Forever – Lee Martin
Born Standing Up: A Comic’s Life – Steve Martin
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen *read it*
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson
Autobiography of Mark Twain by Mark Twain
Spirit Bound by Richelle Mead
Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins *read it and the sequels*
One Day by David Nicholls
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Room by Emma Donoghue
What Alice Forgot by Loriane Moriarty

Hmmm... clearly I didn't get to a lot of these books but I did read the following as well: Where She Went by Gayle Forman, Flying Changes by Sara Gruen, How To Train Your Dragon (not my usual kids stuff so I'm including it as I did read it outside of my classroom), Lit by Mary Karr, Never Let Me Go by Ishiguro Kazuo, Little Bee by Chris Cleave, Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult, Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger, and Vampire Academy (I know, I know, for shame) #2-4.

2012 List now includes...

Divergent by Veronica Roth *read it today- I'm off to a good start*
The Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness
Add More ~ing by Gabrielle Bernstein
Spirit Junkie by Gabrielle Bernstein
This World Needs Your Kid by Craig Keilburger
Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie
Promise Not to Tell by Jennifer McMahon
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Carrier by Bonnie Rough
Skippy Dies by Paul Murray
Fraud: Essays by David Rakoff
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff by Christopher Moore
Uglies by Scott Westerfield
Loving Che: A Novel by Ana Menendez
Always Looking Up by Michael J Fox
Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robinson
Matched by Ally Condie
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
Lone Wolf by Jodi Picoult
The Gaggle by Jessica Massa

Yes I realize this list has more than 15 books but I like to give myself options. See something I really should be reading? Comment! I love a great book suggestion!

Here's to not failing your New Years Resolutions right out the gate!

Song of the Day: "Manhattan" by The BGP

2011-12-28T15:13:00.000-08:00

Sorry reader. I have gone quiet the last few days. I had a family hangover. But I am back and I have some very exciting things to share of the next couple days. I have it all planned out.

First and foremost, I have something you are guaranteed to love. Money back. The BGP have long been one of the recurring staples on this blog, as they should be, as the NW soul sound is bursting at the seams, and they are at the forefront. This is a band that is one real break away from an Allen Stone or Pickwick type rise. Fame and fortune awaits, I am certain. And, if they keep releasing such refreshingly awe-inspiring live clips like this, I fathom that break is not far off.

Just a few weeks ago, I listed my favorite live music clips from 2011, and this video makes me wish I didn't make a rule against revisions. Because, if this had been released prior to that list, it surely would have been right near the top, if not king of the hill. Well done boys, well done.

"Manhattan" by The BGP

Song of the Day "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" by The Gundersen Family

2011-12-25T09:33:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas everyone. Thank you all for sticking with us on our little blog this year. It has been a good year for us, as our readership continues to grow, and it's all thanks to you.

Here is my favorite new Christmas song. It's brought to us by the amazingly talented Gundersen Family. Now, I say new even though this is the most classic of classic xmas tunes. But, it is so breathtakingly refreshed here that it feels brand spankin.

"O Come, O Come Emmanuel" by The Gundersen Family

Song of the Day: "All I Wonderful Christmas Is You" by Summer Camp

2011-12-21T11:55:00.000-08:00

The most awkwardly titled Christmas song ever. But, once you listen and realize it's two xmas songs mashed into one, you'll understand. It is one of the best "new" takes on a tired Christmas classic.

"All I Wonderful Christmas Is You" by Summer Camp

Song of the Day: "Breaking The Ice" by Samantha Crain

2011-12-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

And we keep trucking on. Here is another gem of a Christmas song, an original by one of my favorite little rock darlings, Samantha Crain. She stands as tall as her guitar, so she may be small in stature, but, her voice towers a good 9 feet tall. I cannot stress enough how much power and beauty she fills a room with. And, now, she is taking over Christmas.

"Breaking The Ice" by Samantha Crain

Song of the Day: "Christmastime Is Here" by Kris Orlowski

2011-12-18T13:59:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned the other day, I am going to try and find some of the best newer Christmas songs to share for the rest of this week. And although it's still pretty early in the week, I think this may be the winning song. But, I have to admit, inclusion of a children's choir is kinda cheating.

But this song is fantastic, the video is filmed beautifully, and it is probably the best I have heard Kris sound, all sultry like and stuff. Another NW product that is going to making some great noises in 2012.

"Christmastime Is Here" by Kris Orlowski

This excellent video was produced by Eratosthenes Photo & Video. Check out their site and YouTube Channel when you get a chance, great stuff over there, that I often steal from.

Song of the Day: "A Very Minimum Wage Christmas" by The Oh Wells

2011-12-16T19:55:00.000-08:00

So, now that I have those pesky end of the year lists taken care of, I am going to spend the rest of this lovely year, up until xmas at least, finding the holiday songs. Some of these are going to be originals, some are going to be reinterpretations, but all are going to fan-f'n-tastic, Christmas style.

Tonight, we take a jaunt up to Canada, and join The Oh Wells celebrating A Very Minimum Wage Christmas. This song attacks whimsy like it was their bitch, and makes an all new holiday genre, Bitter Happy Christmas songs! And I think it is a category we are desperately missing these holidays. Thanks for filling the void, The Oh Wells.

Fa la la la la la la. Fa la la la la la la.

"A Very Minimum Wage Christmas" by The Oh Wells

Band Of The Week and Public Apology: The Belle Brigade

2011-12-15T19:05:00.000-08:00

Do you ever write a list and then immediately regret the order in which you listed things? Yeah, me neither.

But, I am feeling a little pang of regret over my best albums of 2011 list. Not so much in the albums I picked to include, because, I feel very good about that. First time in years, I might add. What I do feel, is that I messed up on one album in particular. The Belle Brigade.

Now, being upset for not including an album is one thing, but I am sitting here fretting over how listing them 4th is a disservice. I think I talked myself out of ranking there where I originally wanted, 1st. I don't know why I did that. The album is FANTASTIC. Like beginning to end, completely out of control, super-duper good.

You will hear a lot of people wax on about how their influences are clearly Simon and Garfunkel, The Beatles, and Fleetwood Mac. And all of those are true. But when I hear them, I cannot help but hear me some Loggins and Messina, which makes me very happy.

I am not going to rewrite my Best Albums of 2011 list tonight, but, I want to get this out there. I should have put The Belle Brigade as my number 1 record of 2011. And I want to publicly apologize to them for this egregious error.

"Belt Of Orion"

"Lucky Guy"

"Where Not To Look For Freedom"

Best of 2011: Favorite Songs: 20-1

2011-12-14T18:09:00.000-08:00

19. No One To Let You Down – The Head And The Heart

18. Someday – Middle Brother

17. Family – Noah Gundersen

16. Two Cousins – Slow Club

15. Rolling In The Deep – Adele

14. Million Dollar Bill – Middle Brother & Dawes (both bands released this fantastic track on different albums. I couldn't decided)

13. The Last To Say – Atmosphere

12. Window Sill – Pickwick

11. Losers – The Belle Brigade

10. Love Like A River – Girls

9. Goodnight – The Rural Alberta Advantage

8. Complimenting Parts – Campfire OK

7. Worried About – Lissie

6. The Honest Truth – Typhoon

5. Putting The Dog To Sleep – The Antlers

4. Don't Say Oh Well – Grouplove

3. We Will All Be Changed – Seryn

2. Belongings – Clock Opera

1. Avalanche – Noah Gundersen (This live version in particular is the one that I love)

Best of 2011: Favorite Songs: 40-21

2011-12-14T16:09:00.000-08:00

Here is how I determined this list. I consider every song I can get my hands on in the year. This year that means 1,942 songs, and I make a smart playlist on my iPod. Every song that I love I give a 5 star rating, and they all get sorted together. And then, I trim from there, song by song.

I know. Each year the best songs list gets longer and longer. But this year, there is justification. If you read my best albums post, you will know this is the year of the song. And if I tried, and, when I say tried, I mean, if just didn't stop myself, this list would be 200 songs long. This year may be lacking in an overabundance in complete albums, but, when it comes to songs, it was uniquely jam packed with quality tunes. Here are my favorite 80 of 2011 (broken into the next 4 posts so it doesn't crash your flash player).

Fair warning, there is no Bon Iver on this list. It is not that I do not like the album, or tracks, I just don't think it is the end all record of the year like everyone else does.
View 80-61 Here.
View 60-41 Here.
40-21
40. Up All Night – French Horn Rebellion

39. Comes In Waves – Psychologist

38. Get Some – Lykke Li

37. Comeback Kid (That's My Dog) – Brett Dennen

36. I'll Be The One You Want Someday – Jessica Lea Mayfield

35. From The Woods – James Vincent McMorrow

34. Run – Matt Nathanson Ft. Sugerland

33. Backseat – Bryan John Appleby

32. Sweetness – Pearl And The Beard

31. Colours – Grouplove

30. Everywhere I Go – Lissie

29. Fish – Wye Oak

28. I Hate The Sun – The Oh Wells

27. David – Noah Gundersen

26. We Are Young (Feat. Janelle Monáe) – fun.

25. Otis – Jay Z & Kanye West

24. Lead Me Home – FM Radio

23. Say So – Allen Stone

22. American Wedding – Frank Ocean

21. Barton Hollow – The Civil Wars

Best of 2011: Favorite Songs: 60-41

2011-12-14T13:13:00.000-08:00

59. A Little Bit Of Everything – Dawes

58. Make You Fall In Love With Me – Brett Dennen

57. Sweet Louise – The Belle Brigade

56. Wilderness – Middle Brother

55. Became – Atmosphere

54. Sleep – Allen Stone

53. So Well – Dawes

52. Oh Mississippi – Lissie

51. Same Damn Time – Beat Connection

50. We Don't Eat – James Vincent McMorrow

49. The Wall – Yuck

48. How Can You Luv Me – Unknown Mortal Orchestra

47. Austere – The Joy Formidable

46. Hackney Marsh – Slow Club

45. Silver Screen – Beat Connection

44. When I'm Alone – Lissie

43. Rave On – Cults

42. The Vent – Big K.R.I.T.

41. Don't Stop – The Dodos

Best of 2011: Favorite Songs: 80-61

2011-12-14T12:31:00.000-08:00

Here is how I determined this list. I consider every song I can get my hands on in the year. This year that means 1,942 songs, and I make a smart playlist on my iPod. Every song that I love I give a 5 star rating, and they all get sorted together. And then, I trim from there, song by song.

I know. Each year the best songs list gets longer and longer. But this year, there is justification. If you read my best albums post, you will know this is the year of the song. And if I tried, and, when I say tried, I mean, if just didn't stop myself, this list would be 200 songs long. This year may be lacking in an overabundance in complete albums, but, when it comes to songs, it was uniquely jam packed with quality tunes. Here are my favorite 80 of 2011 (broken into the next 4 posts so it doesn't crash your flash player).

Fair warning, there is no Bon Iver on this list. It is not that I do not like the album, or tracks, I just don't think it is the end all record of the year like everyone else does.

80-61

80. Happy Day - Idiot Glee

79. Fasten You To Me - The Belle Brigade

78. Too Late To Apologize - The Oh Wells

77. You Yes You - tUnE-yArDs

76. No Harm - The Boxer Rebellion

75. High Hawk Season – The Mountain Goats

74. Very Nice Things – Youth Rescue Mission

73. Heartbreak Heartbreak – The BGP

72. Wetsuit – The Vaccines

71. White Nights – Oh Land

70. Letters - Lemolo

69. Never Look Back (Acoustic) – Slow Club

68. Muscle Relaxants – The Rural Alberta Advantage

67. 40k – Pearl And The Beard

66. Virgin – Manchester Orchestra

65. I Know Places – Lykke Li

64. Elephants & Little Girls – Loch Lomond

63. Sometimes At Night – Jessica Lea Mayfield

62. Next Time – Meredith Bragg

61. Glorify – Ivan & Alyosha

Best of 2011: Albums

2011-12-13T13:12:00.000-08:00

This year, for the first time in many years, seemed insignificant. One day bled into the next until this year felt like last. Stretching within my own confines proved to be a fruitless task, this year was doomed to be nothing special, static, and forgettable. Understand, this is not a bad thing; quite possibly, it is something to celebrate. No news is good news. My life, for the first time in years, was dramaless and boring. Dramaless and boring, is great for one thing. Losing oneself in those true inner passions. Rediscovering exactly how discovering something feels. This was my year in music. A year of discovery. And it was bountiful.

This was a helluva year for music, not really for albums as a whole, but for music in general. I know that sounds contradictory, but, stick with me. Out of the 217 albums/EP's/singles that I picked up this year, very few felt complete. But, so many had something spectacular to share. A song here, a lyric there, something unique. This is definitely more so the year of the song, rather than the album. However, with that said, I still scoured through the 217 records in my 2011 collection, and there are about 20 standouts which I have narrowed down to my favorite 13.

So, it's that time. It's the list I work on all year. My favorite list to write. I hope you enjoy.

1. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing

Listening to this record is like forgetting. The RAA allows you to lose yourself within yourself. Allows you to forgive and redeem yourself in 16 bars.

It shocks me to no end that The RAA is not the biggest band in the world. They can craft a song like it's a habit. They can haunt, enthrall, engage, and epic from one song to the next. Listening to this record is like forgetting. The RAA allows you to lose yourself within yourself. Allows you to forgive and redeem yourself in 16 bars. This is my go to album. This is the record that ten years from now will define 2011 for me. That is why it is number 1.
"Two Lovers"

Songs that Hit: Every Single One.
Songs that Miss: Nil.
Songs that I will listen to forever: Goodnight, Two Lovers, Coldest Days, Tornado '87, Stamp, Muscle Relaxants

2. Lissie - Catching A Tiger
Lissie sings with a reckless abandon that can only be celebrated.

First things first, this record was released in the latter stages of 2010. But, it was too good to pass up, and as you loyal readers will remember, I often count anything released after September of the as part of next year, for musical purposes. How am I to develop a relationship with a record in so few months? So, this is included. I hope you can deal.
There are some voices that sing you. And there are some voices that move you. Lissie sings with a reckless abandon that can only be celebrated. She is so distinct, so unique and powerful, that I often think it will work against her in the long run. But for now, and as long as she is putting out music, I'll champion it the best I can.
Lissie came so close to being the number one record of the year, that I would not be surprised, if when I do my annual review, she does not pop up there.
"Worried About"

Songs that Hit: Nearly All.
Songs that Miss: Stranger
Songs that I will listen to forever: When I'm Alone, Everywhere I Go, Worried About, Oh Mississippi, Record Collector

3. Middle Brother - Middle Brother
Because each member of Middle Brother is so immeasurably talented, it is like the band has multiple personality disorder. From one song to a next, you never know what you are going to get, and yet it never fails to disappoint.

Super groups are commonplace these days. With the way the music industry is, and how bands starting out seem to be built on a support system of other bands, it's understandable that they would often find kinship in their likemindedness and passions. Most of those bands fail *cough*monsters of folk*cough* but every now and then, one will show up and far outshine the bands they came from. One of those bands is Middle Brother. Comprised of the frontmen of Deer Tick, Delta Spirit and Dawes (appearing later on this list) this band has found something within eachother that is lacking from each individual part. Because each member of Middle Brother is so immeasurably talented, it is like the band has multiple personality disorder. From one song to a next, you never know what you are going to get, and yet it never fails to disappoint.
"Someday"

Songs that Hit: All.
Songs that Miss: None.
Songs that I will listen to forever: Someday, Million Dollar Bill, Wilderness, Portland, Thanks For Nothing, Bloods and Guts, Mom and Dad.

4. The Belle Brigade - The Belle Brigade
This is the kind of record that will ninja your world.

This brother and sister duo takes me back to my childhood. Not that they have been around that long, hell, this is their debut, but their sound is so classic, it feels like they are displaced in this era. And I am grateful. Their harmonies and song structures bleed their influences. Simon & Funkel and Fleetwood Mac most notably.
This is the kind of record that will ninja your world. As I go through the year, any song that I really feel, I give 5 stars on my iPod. When all was said and done, I had gathered 286 songs that garnered that rating. When I reviewed my list, I was utterly shocked to find that The Belle Brigade were the most starred band, getting 8 songs on that list. This albums slowly took over my life.
"Sweet Louise"

Songs that Hit: Nearly all work yet again. And those that don't, just barely fail.
Songs that Miss: Rusted Wheel
Songs that I will listen to forever: Sweet Louise, Losers, Where Not To Look For Freedom, Fasten You To Me, Lucky Guy,

5. Noah Gundersen - Family
Everytime Noah Gundersen plays, it is like he is cutting out his own heart and putting it on a platter for all of us to see. There is not a more honest voice in the game right now.

If this record was longer, it would be number one. I cannot justify putting a 7 track album at the top. I know that is a little close minded, but if this was one song shorter, I'd have to consider it an EP. Releasing a record with only 7 tracks is a gamble, if one song fails, the album is like 15% failure. Luckily, Noah, does not not have that concern, as he does not fail. Everytime Noah Gundersen plays, it is like he is cutting out his own heart and putting it on a platter for all of us to see. There is not a more honest voice in the game right now. I say that with so much reverence, so many of us try to hide behind ourselves that we often get lost in the facade of who we want to be, rather then who we are. Noah Gundersen is who he is, and he sings it outright, and it's f'n grand.
"David"

Songs that Hit: All
Songs that Miss: None.
Songs that I will listen to forever: Family, Garden, David, Nashville

6. Campfire OK - Strange Like We Are
I think, if not the shadow of the Head and the Heart's hustle, this would be considered the best band in Seattle right now. Easily.

So, if you read my Best Of The Northwest blog a few days ago, you would have notice this band was number, one, and Noah Gundersen sat firmly at number 2. I do not want this to shine any negative light on Campfire OK. This album is fanfuckingtastic. It's just that I could write this list, or the NW one, for that matter, 100 times and Noah and CFOK would filpflop 50 times.

Campfire OK's debut album is one of the more complete records I have heard in many many years. There is not a throw away track among the bunch. In today's digital music industry, when albums are pushed out so fast, this is one hell of an accomplishment.

I think, if not the shadow of the Head and the Heart's hustle, this would be considered the best band in Seattle right now. Easily. And, I am sure, soon enough, the rest of the country is going to catch on as well. And that is in no way a slight to THATH, you all know how much I love them, but Campfire OK, is wow
"Strange Like We Are"

Songs that Hit: All.
Songs that Miss: Nada.
Songs that I will listen to forever: Complimenting Parts, Strange Like We Are, Not Young Not Old, Brass, Mexico N-O

7. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow
On quiet days, when alone starts to veer into lonely, sometimes all you need is the right album. This is the right album.

This is the first album I feel in love with this year. Like really fell in love with. And it's staying power is remarkable. When you are me, and you sift through 217 albums in a year, its easy to forget the old as the new shuffles in. And for the most part, there is a record or two that I lose along the way each year due to this plight. But not The Civil Wars. On quiet days, when alone starts to veer into lonely, sometimes all you need is the right album. This is the right album. Thank you The Civil Wars.
"Barton Hollow"

Songs that Hit: C'est La Mort, Barton Hollow, The Violet Hour, Falling, Forget Me Not, Dance Me TO The End Of Love, Dance Me To The End Of Love, To Whom It May Concern, and of course Poison and Wine
Songs that Miss: My Father's Father
Songs that I will listen to forever: C'est La Mort, Barton Hollow, The Violet Hour, Poison and Wine

8. Dawes - Nothing Is Wrong
This record came out of nowhere and choked me out of my self induced stupor.

It's funny to me that I have this album ranked ahead of the one that follows. Dawes is a band that snuck right up on me. I was going to a concert for Brett Dennen, and for Brett Dennen only, but, being the audiophile I am, I opted, as I always opt, to make sure I was early enough to catch the opening act. This band that my friend who sold me her tickets to the show, was very excited to see. A band that I had never heard of. This little band called Dawes. A little band the blew me away. A little band, who's album I purchased based on that set alone, is now sitting pretty at number 8 in 2011. This record came out of nowhere and choked me out of my self induced stupor. It ruined my game of listening and not hearing, and I could not be more grateful. It is a pleasure to find that Harry Chapin-esque song writing like this still exists.
"So Well"

Songs that Hit: Time Spent In Los Angeles, Coming Back To A Man, So Well, How Far We've Come, Fire Away, Million Dollar Bill, A Little Bit Of Everything
Songs that Miss: Moon In The Water
Songs that I will listen to forever: So Well, How Far We've Come, Million Dollar Bill, A Little Bit Of Everything

9. Brett Dennen - Loverboy
This is my summertimegoodfundrivingwiththewindowsdown album.

This is my summertimegoodfundrivingwiththewindowsdown album. There is just something about that man that sings out to the ugly kid inside of me. It just works. Brett Dennen has long been a mixtape staple of mine, but this record goes beyond the occasional fantastic track, and delves into something more. This singer songwriter has found that special thing that only the rarest of the singer songwriters latch onto, something where he can make you dance on one track, and break your heart on the next, and it always feels genuine. Honest.
"Comeback Kid (That's My Dog)"

Songs that Hit: Dancing At A Funeral, Comeback Kid (That's My Dog), Sydney (I'll Come Running), Make You Fall In Love With Me, Can't Stop Thinking About You, Song For Leaving, Alone Again
Songs that Miss: Little Cosmic Girl, Queen Of The Westside
Songs that I will listen to forever: Dancing At A Funeral, Comeback Kid (That's My Dog), Sydney (I'll Come Running), Make You Fall In Love With Me, Alone Again

10. Jessica Lea Mayfield - Tell Me
Her coy demeanor, and her aloof voice draws you in, and washes over you in cloud of stillness.

I didn't know apathetic could be sexy. But somehow, Jessica Lea Mayfield makes it happen. Her voice has an "I have feelings, but I don't give a shit" vibe to it that is impossible to describe until you hear it. Now, does that voice make this a good record? I think it might. Her coy demeanor, and her aloof voice draws you in, and washes over you in cloud of stillness. This album makes you stop, dead in your tracks and take stock of your life.

"Sometimes At Night"

Songs that Hit: I'll Be The One You Want Some Day, Our Hearts Are Wrong, Somewhere In Your Heart, Grown Man, Sometimes At Night, Tell Me, Sleepless
Songs that Miss: Run Myself Into The Ground
Songs that I will listen to forever: I'll Be The One You Want Some Day, Our Hearts Are Wrong, Somewhere In Your Heart, Grown Man, Sometimes At Night, Tell Me, Sleepless

11. Slow Club - Paradise
The band has found it maturity without losing its gleeful edge.

I was so blindly enamored with Slow Club that even before their record came out, I wrote on a song of the day for The Belle Brigade that I was reserving the top spot for album of the year for this record. And even as I wrote this today, I had to honestly look at my rankings, and drop them from #4, down to #11, where they actually belong. I have a blindspot for this English pop duo, but this record is not Yeah, So, and I cannot pretend that it is. But, that said, this record is still very good. I mean, 11 out of 217, that's 95% better than anything else out there. That's something. The band has found it maturity without losing its gleeful edge. Sadly, I do not think this record will win new fans, namely my co-blogger Stevie, but, for a guy with a Slow Club blindspot, it's special.
"Hackney Marsh"

Songs that Hit: Two Cousins, Hackney Marsh, Never Look Back (Acoustic), Palms, Half Drunk, Where I'm Waking, Beginners, The Dog, Horses Jumping, You Earth or Ash
Songs that Miss: Gold Mountain
Songs that I will listen to forever: Two Cousins, Hackney Marsh, Never Look Back (Acoustic), You Earth or Ash

12. Wye Oak - Civilian
Wye Oak's dark album pulsates with such raw energy that is palpable.

Another boy/girl duo. Huh. I didn't realize how many of those "acts" would end up in the top 13.
Wye Oak's dark album pulsates with such raw energy that is palpable. This is the kind of record that I am at a loss of words for, yet cannot stop talking about. I am just gonna let the music tell you the story.
"Fish"

Songs that Hit: All.
Songs that Miss: Nope, none.
Songs that I will listen to forever: Fish, Holy Holy, Civilian

13. Atmosphere - The Family Sign
It is everything a hip-hop album should be. It is complete, rare and a masterclass.

The songs within The Family Sign are unlike anyother hip-hop record I have laid my ears on. It is intelligent without being preachy. It is dramatic without being exaggerated. It is moving without being soft. It is honest and open without being weak and exposed. It is everything a hip-hop album should be. It is complete, rare and a masterclass.
"My Notes"

Songs that Hit: My Key, My Notes, Your Name Here, I Don't Need Brighter Days, Became, Last To Say, Something So
Songs that Miss: Bad Bad Daddy
Songs that I will listen to forever: Became, Last To Say, Something So, My Notes

Honorable Mention
Adele - 21
Cults - Cults
James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning
Lykee Li - Wounded Rhymes
Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math

Song of the Day: Pickwick - The Round (Remixed by Councours d'Elegance)

2011-12-13T10:46:00.000-08:00

I am sorry that the blog has been a little quiet these past few days. I am currently working on the best albums and songs of 2011 lists. I am almost done with best albums. I have them all picked, now I just gotta order and review them. Should be up by the end of the week. Until then, please enjoy this gem of a track.

The nation is quickly catching on to what the NW has known for a while, Pickwick is a beast. Easily one of the best bands up here, and that is a big crowd of bands to compete with.

They released this duel record with Councours d'Elegance back in August, and I feel that I am the only one that got on board with it. As fantastic as it is, that is a shame. I urge you to head over to the bands Bandcamp page and pick it, and their other EP's up.

This track is like Pickwick meets Chromeo. And its grand.

Pickwick - "The Round (Remixed by Councours d'Elegance)"

Songs of the Day: "Little Talks" & "Love Love Love" by Of Monsters and Men

2011-12-12T21:59:00.000-08:00

FML. I am in love. This band, from Iceland, wrecks my year. It is the richest sound I have heard all year. Now, if I could only get my hand on the damn record. As of today, it is only available in Iceland, not going world wide until 2012. I smell an import going on. This is going to be my 2012 Temper Trap all over again. Importing a record, falling in love, and then it blowing up. I am so excited.

"Little Talks" by Of Monsters and Men

"Love Love Love" by Of Monsters and Men

Song of the Day: "Fondu au Noir" by Coeur de Pirate

2011-12-10T11:14:00.000-08:00

Beatrice Martin is just adorable. Even her stage name is adorable (Pirate Heart). Plus anything sang in French is just beautiful. Behold my new obsession (must get this album!!)

Best of 2011: Northwest Albums

2011-12-08T09:52:00.001-08:00

This is the list that makes me the most nervous. As a northwest music lover. As an occasional northwest music blogger. And as an "oh shit, one of the bands might read this" realization hits me, this list makes me nervous. But, it is also one of my favorites to write.

2011 has been a crazily strong year in northwest music. I have had this blog up and running for well over 3 years, including 600+ entries, and not once in that time, or hell, any time before that, can I remember the music scene being this strong. And this list barely even scratches the surface, as it is only about full length records released in 2011. Consider the fact that it does not include the likes of The Head and The Heart, Hey Marseilles, Pickwick, Lemolo, Macklemore, The BGP, Smoosh, Fences, or any of the excellent bands from Portland like Loch Lomond, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Fruit Bats and Blind Pilot. Read that list again of bands NOT included on this list along with the ones below and you see the strength in the NW music scene in full force.

Here is a bakers dozen of the best Northwest Albums of 2011.

1. Campfire OK - Strange Like We Are
There are some bands that you feel in your bones when you hear them. There are some bands that hit you in gut when they come on. And then there are some bands that shake you to your core, that shiver your soul. Campfire OK falls into that third category. It is also, from beginning to end the most complete record of the year, and not just in the northwest.
"Strange Like We Are"

"Brass"

2. Noah Gundersen - Family
This is actually only the first appearance of Noah on this list, but more on that later. Everytime Noah Gundersen plays, it is like he is cutting out his own heart and putting it on a platter for all of us to see. There is not a more honest voice in the NW right now. I say that with so much reverence, as so many of us hide behind ourselves that we often get lost in the facade of who we want to be, rather then who we are. Noah Gundersen is who he is, and he sings it outright, and it's f'n grand.
"David"

"Family"

3. Youth Rescue Mission - Youth Rescue Mission
Youth Rescue Mission, a Seattle band, by way of Montana, has me all in a tizzy. This group of siblings make noises to die for. I keep trying to string together other artists to give you a good description/comparison of style/sound, but all combo's fall short. Yes, you can hear a bit of The Head and the Heart, a dollop of Blind Pilot, a tad of Hey Marseilles, and a smidge of Choir of Young Believers, but in only the littlest of amounts. They are distinctly their own. And I am loving it.
"Thursday After"

"Very Nice Things"

4. Allen Stone - Allen Stone
This Chewelah, WA product is something to behold. He is a honest to goodness oxymoron. I mean, look at him, and then listen to the songs. If soul music was dead, Allen Stone would be the revivalist. His album is so choice, (yes, I used choice like its 1988) that it feels unreal, and makes me feel bad for other soul singers out there, because there is just no competing.I get excited about music, we all know this, its the curse of being a passionate person/blogger. But this record is far and away the best Soul record I have picked up since 2001's "The Way I Feel" by Remy Shand.
"Unaware"

"Sleep"

5. The Lonely Forest - Arrows
So, this is a band that I did not give the chance it deserved. I know, shame on me. I just buy music in bulk, like, I get the music buying bug, and 15 mins later end up with nine new albums. One is bound to get lost in the shuffle here and there. Now, generally, that is not a big deal, 50% of the stuff I buy falls well short of awesome. But I fucked on when I over looked The Lonely Forest. This northwest band is pretty fucking fantastic.
"We Sing In Time"

"(I AM) The Love Addict"

6. Bryan John Appleby - Fire On The Vine
Some bands knock you away like a ton of bricks, and that is great and all, but sometimes the luster fades and you are left with a record that you thought you loved that you barely like. Then there are some records that hit you like a slow wave, that build upon itself with track after track. They don't need to lust slap you across the face, because the music speaks for itself. And the luster doesn't fade.
"Backseat"

"Noah's Nameless Wife"

7. Brandi Carlile - Live At Benaroya Hall With The Seattle Symphony
I've mentioned in the past that I am not the biggest of fans of live albums, that they often only capture the noise of the show, but not the feeling, and no one really goes to the show just to listen. But, I eat my words today. I am going to let the songs make my case instead of blabbering on.
"The Story"

"Looking Out"

8. Seapony - Go With Me
Like a dream wave of airy indie pop rock. I may be wrong on all those descriptors, but that is how the album makes me feel. It makes me feel free, and light, and momentless. Yes, momentless is a word I just created, but it works. It's that feeling of just zoning out, so all the movements becomes blurs in your peripheral, and you are just lost, right then and there, you are lost and blissful. Seapony does that to me.
"Go Away"

"What You See"

9. Beat Connection - Surf Noir
For the average NW music blogger, they might look at Beat Connection at number 9, and think this is way too low. And it might be, if this year was not so damn strong. This Seattle Duo can craft a beat and a hook like no ones business. When I review my most played tracks of 2011, the two songs below well cemented into the top 15. Out of over 2,000 songs, that's a hell of a feat.
"Same Damn Time"

"Silver Screen"

10. The Cave Singers - No Witch
When I first picked up this record I was rather disappointed. I'm not gonna lie. But, a ways down the line, regrettably not sooner, I realized that I had unfair expectations. I was comparing it to their previous album Welcome Joy. A record that was not only great, but defined a year of my life. No record can live up to that. So I let go and let the noise in. And the record, or maybe myself, turned a corner, and it morphed into an album that I can celebrate outside of the unfair shadow of Welcome Joy.
"Haller Lake"

"Black Leaf"

11. The Courage - Fearful Bones
Before Noah Gundersen was Noah Gundersen he was apart of The Courage. A band that I think most of us missed. Now, this record was actually released in late 2010, but it deserves mention, as it is a soft kind of spectacular. Sadly, The Courage is no more, But because of this sad fact, we have our number 2 record on this list.
"Wedding Song"

"Moles"

12. Shabazz Palaces - Black Up
A hip-hop collective that is making me rethink my views on the fact that hip-hop has reached its creative peak. I have long believed that hip-hop has filled in every corner of its creative capacity. That it is soon going to have to start repeating itself and backtracking to stay viable. And for the most part, that's true. Now, that does not say anything negative, there are a lot of things that reach their peak, that cannot be reinvented any further, sitcoms and neckties come to mind, but that does not mean the quality is not there. However, my impressions on the stagnancy of hip-hop were shattered by Shabazz Palaces. Shattered.
"Swerve... The Reeping Of All That Is Worthwhile (Noir Not Withstanding)"

"An Echo From The Hosts That Profess Infinitum"

13. Ravenna Woods - Valley Of The Headless Men
I can't figure out why none is talking about these guys. They are fantastic, well crafted, and composed songsmiths. Now, this album wasn't perfect, rarely any are, but the full on needs to be celebrated. Just watch the video, and then go and pick up the record. I am tired of Ravenna Woods being my little secret.
"Tides"

"Graves"

Song of the Day: "Ho Hey" by The Lumineers

2011-12-07T23:16:00.001-08:00

This shit right here makes me happy. That is all.

"Ho Hey" by The Lumineers

Best of 2011: Extended Plays (EP's)

2011-12-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

I think the most horrific thing about all year end Best Of lists is the glaring lack of people celebrating Extended Plays, or EP as the common man calls him. Normally, as in years past, I would just include a snippit at the end of my best albums list to share my 5 favorite EP's. But this year is not a normal year, not for me, and definitely not for extended plays. This year, more than any other, probably spurned on by the digital age, as been a strangely strong year for EP's, so here are the best 16.

Side note. The general rule of thumb is an EP must be at least 3 tracks. Otherwise it would just be a single with a b-side. However, the advent of Bandcamp, and other digital download sites singles have kinda become obsolete, at least in my mind. So, for the purposes of this list, 2 track releases are going to be included as EP's.

Rather then break down each one, I'm just gonna let the music speak for it's self. Trust me, and pick up each and every one.

1. Pickwick - Myths
"Window Sill"

2. Grouplove - Grouplove
"Don't Say Oh Well"

3. FM Radio - Lead Me Home
"Lead Me Home"

4. Hey Marseilles - Elegy
"Cafe Lights"

5. The Oh Wells - The EP That We Love/Not The Girl From Transformers
"I Hate The Sun"

6. Lemolo - The Singles Record
"Open Air" - Lemolo

7. Clock Opera - Belongings
"Belongings"

8. Typhoon - A New Kind Of House
"The Honest Truth"

9. Lissie - Covered Up With Flowers
"Nothing Else Matters" (Metallica Cover)

10. Psychologist - Waves Of OK EP & Propeller EP
"Comes In Waves"

11. Niki and the Dove - The Fox
"The Fox"

12. Kim Churchill - Turn To Stone
"Will Go Home"

13. Great Waves - At The Bottom Of The Well
This I do have to include some words on. This northwest band, who played the opening slot of Bumbershoot in 2010 has long been on a hiatus. In fact, this song, and 4 others that used to be available on bandcamp, are no longer there. That makes me immensely sad. Out of all the bands I found in 2010/2011, this is the one I was most excited about seeing where they would go.
"Burial"

14. Ivan & Alyosha - Fathers Be Kind
"Glorify"

15. Lulu & The Lampshades - Cold Water
"Cold Water"

16. Angus & Julia Stone - Big Jet Plane
"My Malakai"

Best of 2011: International Releases

2011-12-06T09:46:00.001-08:00

I spend so much time focused on the Northwest music scene, because, lets face it, it kills right now, that I often have to remind myself that there is a whole world of music out there. There are worthy sounds comings from all walks of life. from exotic countries like Sweden and Canada.
So, with that said, here is a collection of the 15 best Albums and EP's released internationally in 2011. I am sure I am missing some, and that I'm including some that you may not have heard of, but that is the great thing about a music blog. The omissions and introductions.

1. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing (Canada)
Quite possibly the best album of 2011, this Canadian three piece band has blown my year apart with this slow burn of a record. Released early in the year, most records would have faded over time, but, not The RAA, The RAA has a record with abnormal staying power. I'll still listen to this ten years from now.

"Coldest Days" by The Rural Alberta Advantage.

2. Slow Club - Paradise with Bonus Disc (England)
I was 100% certain that this record would end up as my #1 of the year. So certain that I wrote about it before it was even released. And it's not as though its a bad record, it's not. It's a fantastic album. It's well written. well sung, and a near masterpiece. It's just not as life changing as their 2009 release, Yeah, So was for me. Not that I should have expected, but I hoped.

"You, Earth, Or Ash" by Slow Club

3. The Oh Wells - Songs That We Love EP/Not The Girl From Transformers EP (Canada)
Two 5 song EP's totaling 7 songs. Sounds a bit confusing huh? Not really. First came the Songs That We Love EP. Then some member changes, and a new Transformers EP with a couple new songs. It's a win for the listener for sure. I first found The Oh Wells back in February or March, and I wrote this on the blog...

Canada does good! I know as a Washingtonian it is my right and duty to make fun of all things Canadian, but I cannot muster the enthusiasm when it comes to this lovely band.I was unable to attend this years Sound Off! music competition. So, I had my own little contest. I picked up the EP of each of the four finalists (Northern Departure, Fit For Hounds, Tomten, and The Oh Wells), and although all were good, and Tomten officially won, if I had a vote, it would go to this quirky ensemble.Yes, they have a bit of Regina Spektor in them with some She and Him mixed in, but they truly stand on their own. With sharp hooks and biting quirk they have worked out their own niche.

"Out Of Love" by The Oh Wells (From the Transformers EP)

4. The Joy Formidable - The Big Roar (Wales)
Simply put. Ritzy is a full blooded rockstar. Like their is no question. For this album review, I am going to let the clip below speak for me.

"Cradle" by The Joy Formidable.

5. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes (Sweden)
Ok. Lykke Li is an enigma. Sometimes she is pop. Sometimes she is rock. Sometimes she is soft. Sometimes she is brash. But she always works. And this record is out of control good.

"I Know Places" by Lykke Li

6. Adele - 21 (England)
This is someone I doubt you've heard of. Just a little singer-songwriter from England that I predict pretty big things from a few years down the line. Right now she is still struggling to make a name for herself. But if she keeps putting out records like this one, she'll make it. On a more serious note, I think someone needs to cover "Rolling In The Deep" as I am not sure that's been done enough yet.

"He Won't Go" by Adele

7. Summer Camp - Welcome To Condale (England)
This is a high concept record. It's about a fake town in California and all their fake residents. It takes living vicariously to a whole other level. With her sweet lullaby voice, and his gritty styling, this group is like no other out there right now, except maybe, Slow Club.

"I Want You" by Summer Camp

8. Yuck - Yuck (England)
Garage rock for the indie sect. And I say that with very little disdain. If this album was not so well made and absolutely great, I would do my best to rebel against it and it's hipster cache, but.... arg. It's so good.

"The Wall" by Yuck

9. Los Campesinos! - Hello Sadness (Wales)
I wish this band would not have come out of the gate so strongly. Their debut record Hold On Now, Youngster... blew the top of my head off. I still listen to it on a regular basis and it is easily one of my favorite records of all time. But since then, nothing they do, lives up to what I hope it will be. However, this record comes damn close.

"By Your Hand" by Los Campesinos!

10. James Vincent McMorrow - Early In The Morning (Ireland)
On those rainy days. On those days where you are tucked in and just wishing the day away. it's James Vincent McMorrow that will lead you there. Again. I am going to let the music do the talking.

"Hear The Noise That Moves So Soft And Slow" by James Vincent McMorrow

11. Kim Churchill - Turns To Stone EP (Australia)
I just wrote a Band of the Week about this kid. Just click here and listen to catch up.

"The Battle Of Mr. Shibuya" by Kim Churchill

12. Angus & Julia Stone - Down The Way & Big Jet Plane EP (Australia)
I thought they were English!. Ha. Either way, they are an amazing brother and sister duo that have soft love just flowing out of their every note. Heart meet platter.

"Yellow Brick Road" by Angus & Julia Stone

13. Ellie Goulding - Lights (England)
I have never been much of a mover. I have never been much of a shaker. But when Ellie Goulding comes on, I can't help but break it down some.

"Human" by Ellie Goulding

14. Oh Land - Oh Land (Denmark)
Oh Land brings another form of bad dancing out of me. It is like a hiccup with rythem that I can't stop. But my God. its fantastic.

"We Turn It Up"

15. The Boom Booms - Hot Rum! (Canada)
The Boom Booms I found on accident via a YouTube clip from The Oh Wells Vlog. So, being who I am, willing to buy any album for any reason, I picked them up. And I am not disappointed at all. Their song "Falling Rain" below is one of my favorites of the year.

"Falling Rain" by The Boom Booms

Song of the Day: "Forget Me Not" by The Civil Wars

2011-12-05T22:49:00.001-08:00

I feel like I have not given enough recent due to The Civil Wars. At one point they were the most commonly, and if you ask my co-blogger, annoyingly mentioned band on this meager blog (just click the tag for The Civil Wars at the bottom, and you'll see. Listologies loves The Civil Wars). And now, they are a Grammy Nominated world dominating force. Now, normally I am exactly the kind of guy who rebels against a band that he (quote unquote) found first but then blew up. Normally I would start to slowly resent them for it. But. I have not come across a band who deserves the success they are having more than The Civil Wars.

From playing small bars like The Tractor Tavern in Seattle (great show btw), to stealing the show at SxSW, I have watched with bated breath. And now, you better f'n believe I will be there rooting on their success this award season. The Civil Wars are a class act with a superb album that has a guaranteed spot in my top 13 of 2011.

"Forget Me Not" by The Civil Wars

Best of 2011: Rediscoveries

2011-12-05T11:22:00.001-08:00

I spend so much time finding what's next I often forget about what was. It is the biggest complaint I get about the music I share. And, although, I often ignore that complaint. It doesn't mean that I ignore all the music that came before. This list is a quick little jog down memory lane. These are albums, or reincarnations of albums (you'll see) from years past that I have rediscovered in 2011. I hope you enjoy.

Counting Crows - Across A Wire: Live in NYC
Best live album of all time.

"Have You Seen Me Lately" by Counting Crows (VH1 Storytellers)

Counting Crows - August and Everything After (kinda).
I have never really forgotten about Counting Crows. August and Everything After is my favorite album of alltime. But the Counting Crows released "Live at Town Hall" album and DVD. This a live concert where the only songs they play, beginning to end are from August and Everything After. In Order. Best. Idea. Ever. Totally gives the classic record a new life.

"Rain King" by Counting Crows (Live at Town Hall)

The Eels - Beautiful Freak
This record defined 1996 for me.

"My Beloved Monster" by The Eels

Tonic - Lemon Parade
Damn. 1996 was a hell of a year for music. Like seriously. If I were to rank years (idea!) this one would be damn close to the top.

"Soldier's Daughter" by Tonic

"Travis" - The Man Who
This is who Coldplay stole their sound from. That's just science.

"As You Are" by Travis

Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind
This, like the Counting Crows album, is not one I ever forgot about. But, I have not listened to it nearly enough in the recent years. One of the most complete records, start to especially strong finish.

"God Of Wine" by Third Eye Blind

Wood - Songs From Stamford Hill
This is probably the best album you have never heard of. Far and away the best no hit wonder ever. Created, released an astoundingly good record and disbanded in record time, this outfit never got its due. But, it has been one of my favorite albums for 12 years now.

"Could I Be" by Wood

Band of the Week: Kim Churchill

2011-12-04T21:43:00.001-08:00

I have a singer songwriter for you all to fall in love with. A new unique voice on the landscape of the songsmith. Someone that will ease the tension in your shoulders, get you to stop thinking. Someone that will allow you just to wander aimlessly through the shelter of lyric and melody.

Please meet, The Band of the Week: Kim Churchill

This 20 year old Australian classact and guitar player extraordinaire (watch the second clip for proof) is quickly climbing up the ranks of my favorite Singer Songwriters. A genre any long time reader of this blog will know I take very seriously. I would normally wax on and on (I'm a bit long winded if you hadn't noticed) about how he is this and that. How he sounds like a mixture of that guy and this guy, but I am going to let the music do the talking today. Please watch these videos. There are going to be quite a few, so bear with me. I promise it will be worth your time, as my gut tells me that North America is in for a Kim Churchill song storm in the next year or so.

"Smile As He Goes Home"

"Bathed In Black"

"Will Go Home"

"The Battle of Mr. Shibuya"

"Rusted Wals"

"Turn To Stone"

"Truest Intentions" (Thanks to Green Couch Sessions for this Awesome Video)

Visit kimchurchill.com for more info and to purchase this kids lovely tunes.

Song of the Day: "123 Stop"by The Postelles

2011-12-04T14:59:00.001-08:00

I found this video on accident last night. Late last night. It was one of those songs that I immediately loved and played several times. When I woke up this morning I was worried that in my tired-eyed stupor, it was better then it would be all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. But, luckily for me, and for you lovely readers, it is still one of the more fantastic videos I have seen in quite a while. Thanks The Wild Honey Pie!

"123 Stop"by The Postelles

Best of 2011: Most Disappointing/Worst Records

2011-12-04T09:28:00.001-08:00

This is my least favorite list to write, but I told myself it is a necessary evil. If I only ever write about albums I like, I will never seem objective. So, this is it. I am going to write a post about the most disappointing and/or worst records of the year.
Now, I'd say most of these albums ended up on this list, not due to lack of qualify, but due to failure to live up to the expectations I had for them. Now, that is not the case for all of them, a few of these are just wrong.

I am not going to rank these, nor am I going to go into detail tearing the record apart. These artists put their heart and souls into these releases, and above all else, I respect that. And I know. that I put my heart and soul into this site, and if someone were to not like it, that's cool, but if they were to put in time tearing it and me down, it would hurt. So if you expect to see a bunch of verbal jabs, you are in the wrong place.

The Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two

I am not sure of the Boys have lost their flavor or if I have lost my taste for them. But I could barely stomach this release. On top of that, my expectations were set pretty high by a buddy of mine who talked this record up like crazy in the weeks prior to its release.

BOAT - Dress Like Your Idols

This record failed due to my own expectations. But, that more speaks to the unspeakably high quality of their previous releases, most notably their 2009 release "Setting The Paces," then to the low quality of this one. This just feels like their hearts were not in it.

Bow Ribbons - Bow Ribbons

I know I said I was not going to tear any records apart. I think it's mean. So, I will do my best to refrain. But it is not easy, as this is probably the least successful album I've ever heard. I picked this up after watching a pretty impressive live clip filmed at a party in which I thought "this seems like a really cool stripped down version of a song. And she has an interesting voice." So, I got it with my hopes up. But I was wrong. It was not a stripped down version of a song. The whole album is like this. It is hard for me to hate music. I love music, and can generally find something redeeming about nearly every noise that people are proud enough to put on a record, but this is horrible meandering whiny drivel. I buy a lot of records, and I never ever write a negative review, but this music is so bad, it actually makes me angry as I type about it. It is the kind of music, that if you were stuck at the bottom of a well with a crazed serial killer standing above you slowing filling it in with water and laughing a sinister laugh, you would hear.

Sorry.

Eddie Vedder - Ukulele Songs

Ah, Eddie Vedder. Why? This album has kinda turned into a running joke with a few friends of mine. When I first heard he was making it, I was filled with excited hesitation. His solo stuff from Into The Wild was fantastic, but a Ukulele? Really? Yeah, it does not work. And now it's been nominated for a Grammy?!

Eisley - The Valley

Paramore for the indie sect. Paramore for the indie sect, but less catchy songs. Paramore for the indie sect, but too safe.

Julianna Barwick - The Magic Place

Oi. This album was all over every music blog that I read. Words like "genius," "album of the year," and "groundbreaking" were often tossed around. So, I felt obligated to pick it up, and I cannot fathom their words. This is indie elevator music. I cannot listen to it without falling asleep.

The Kooks - Junk Of The Heart

This record may be on here due to my own expectations. I have never been a full on Kooks fan, but I have liked a song here and there. So, I picked this up. But it feels like The Kooks want so bad to be a success that they formulated their album to be as radio friendly as possible, and by doing so, they lost everything that made them unique and special.

The Unthanks - Last

This entire record does not suck. I want to get that out there first and foremost. Their song "Give Away Your Heart" is strikingly, hauntingly pretty. And it is the reason I picked up the record. But I think I liked that song SO much that the rest of the record, which is so different, just fell far short of what I wanted it to be.

The Fantastic YouTube Song Purge!

2011-12-03T20:00:00.001-08:00

So, lately I have been uploading songs to YouTube with every intention to share them each as a song of the day. But then one thing or another comes up, or there is a song here or there that I HAVE to share, so it gets pushed to the back burner. So, I have decided to purge. Here are a handful of songs I've uploaded that I think you'll like.

"Summer House (Acoustic Demo Version)" by Greta Morgan of Gold Motel

"Blood and Guts" by Middle Brother

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" by Wakey!Wakey!

"Fidelity (Acoustic Mountain Music Lounge Version) " by Regina Spektor

"The Line" by Smoosh

"Maps" by Wakey!Wakey! (Yeah Yeah Yeahs Cover

Songs of the Day: "I Hate The Sun" & "Is It Too Late To Apologize" by The Oh Wells

2011-12-02T16:05:00.001-08:00

One of my favorite "International" bands is striving to reach 1,000 Facebook "likes". Please help them out! They have their own breed of Canadian awesome.

"I Hate The Sun" by The Oh Wells

"Is It Too Late To Apologize" by The Oh Wells

Song of the Day: "The World's Not Bad" by Smoosh

2011-12-01T12:26:00.001-08:00

This is the first and possibly only blog written from my iPhone. But this song is just sooooo...... Ugh.
Makes the whole day just perfect. Had to share it right away. So I hope you realize how much I must love this song to go through this extra effort. So you better listen!

"The World's Not Bad" by Smoosh

Best of 2011: Soul Albums

2011-11-30T09:10:00.001-08:00

This list is a little short. And if it were any other topic I would scrap it all together. I hate putting out lists of less than at least 10 items, but this list needs to be shared. As it has easily become the honest to goodness music of my year.

Here are my top five, hand clapping, foot stomping, head swaying, and all out sing along at the top of your lungs Soul Albums of the year.

Now, alot of people lump Soul and R&B together. I however, see a distinct difference. I hope by the songs I share, you will too. Because it's such a short list, I'm gonna give each artist a bonus track. Two for one.

One other note, three of the five below are Northwest Products. There is a crazy Soul movement up here in the rain. If I were a betting man, I'd wager this is the next musical trend to root in Seattle and blossom out. Enjoy.

1. Pickwick - Myths
Now this was originally released as three separate EP's but combined into one extended EP with a couple new songs recently. It is easily one of the best things I have ever heard. This is the number one band on my list to see live. Considering they are local, and how many shows I go too, it still hard to believe I've missed them.
"Window Sill"

"Hacienda Motel"

2. Allen Stone - Allen Stone
Another Northwest artist that is making spectacular noise. The best thing about him, well, besides his voice, is the fact that it looks like it doesn't belong to him. His craft is so perfectly honed that he can dress like Kurt Cobain, with locks of gold, oversized glasses and it all works. Works hard. I think if a bill was put together with Pickwick, Allen Stone, The BGP, and Tess Henley (#4 below) it would be looked back on in history as the start of something grand in NW Soul.
"Unaware"

"Sleep"

3. Adele - 21
A lot of people consider Adele more of a pop or R&B singer. But I say those people are not listening hard enough. That lady clearly has Soul just oozing out of her. And, as one of the most successful artists out there these days, I should revolt against her and whatnot. But, come on. You've heard that voice, that passion. No one can hate Adele.
"Someone Like You"

"Rolling In The Deep"

4. Tess Henley - Easy To love
Now, this is actually a rerelease from her record of the same name in 2008, but with 4 new tracks, and what sounds like some remastering, it is too special not to be included. Below you will see one of the new tracks, and a song from 2010's EP release The Appetizer. I realize this is breaking trend on the list so far, but I need for you to see what she can do live so you can picture the Bill I mentioned above. Hopefully, if enough people picture it, it will happen.

"What You Won't Do For Love"

"The Boy In The Window"

5. Mayer Hawthorne - How Do You Do
All Soul singers have a little throwback in them. It is a necessary evil. Buy Mayer Hawthorne absolutely embraces it. Now, honestly, this album may be better then number 5. But, with Allen Stone spinning prior to picking this up, I probably have not given it enough of a chance. However, that does not mean it does not merit this inclusion. It is a special record that I think will only get better with time.

"The Walk"

"Get To Know You"

Best of 2011: Hip-Hop & R&B

2011-11-29T10:06:00.001-08:00

So, if you read my blog, and I hope you do, you will probably notice a lack of all things Hip-Hop. Now, that is not because I do not listen to it, rather it's because I fear I am not a good judge of it. Every year, my audiophile friends will suggest an album or two that I am "sure to love" and it never sticks. Take the new Lil' Wayne record this year. I cannot count how many people told me that I need to feature that record, that it was the best of the year, and yet, only one song stuck. In years past I've always ended up finding things a little off the beaten track, picking up mixtapes or gravitating to artists like K'Naan, Cage, and Atmosphere. But, I figured, there have to be a few others out there that have a skewed view of what is right, and solid and good in the hip-hop/r&b world. So, here is what I dig in 2011.

I am not going to be so bold to actually review each album, but I'll share a track and the album cover and let it speak for itself.

Just as a side note. Big K.R.I.T. may only sit at number 13 on this list, but his song The Vent is one of the best written songs I have ever heard. In any genre.

1. Atmosphere - The Family Sign

"Became"

2. Frank Ocean - nostalgia, ULTRA.

"Strawberry Swing"

3. Drake - Take Care

"Lord Knows"

4. Jay Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne

"Otis"

5. The Weeknd - House Of Balloons

"The Party & The After Party"

6. Wale - Ambition

"Slight Work"

7. Pusha T - Fear of God Part 1 & 2

OK, so this one needs a bit of an intro. Pusha T, of Clipse, opted to be a genius this year. First, stepping out on one of my favorite hip-hop duos is a bit risky. But then he went and released Fear Of God, as a free Mixtape, and I knew all was right in the world. He later followed it up with an actual release, Part II, and his prowess was only on further display. He is a man on his own track, and he owns it.
"Open Your Eyes" (From Part 1)

"Amen" (From Part 2)

8. Lupe Fiasco - Lasers

"I Don't Wanna Care Right Now"

9. We F.A.M. - Reality Check

"Why"

.
10. Talib Kweli - Gutter Rainbowstor

"GMB"

11. Toro Y Moi - Underneath The Pine

"Still Sound"

12. The Cool Kids - When Fish Ride Bicycles

"Bundle Up"

13. Big K.R.I.T. - Return of 4Eva

"The Vent"

We're On Twitter!

2011-11-28T21:50:00.001-08:00

I know we are like way late on this train, but we are on Twitter now. Come follow us and stay on top of what we have coming up. If we gather enough of a swell, we are going to try and start doing contests and giveaways. You know you wanna.

Come Follow Us!

Band of the Week: Schuyler Fisk

2011-11-28T20:23:00.001-08:00

There is something undeniable about Schuyler Fisk. Something palatable. Something unflinchingly engaging and utterly beautiful about her timbre. I have been a fan of hers since I caught the dramatically underrated flick I'm Reed Fish back when I only knew her as that cute girl from now Day and Orange County. But, she picked up a guitar in that flick and changed everything. Since then, I have picked up everything she has released and have yet to be disappointed.

This blog does not even touch on her FM Radio stuff, which I shared two weeks ago and is already my 7th most popular post ever. Right now, I cannot get enough of Schuyler Fisk.
Here are 5 of my favorite tracks.

"Blue Ribbon Winner"

"Miss You"

"If You Were Gone"

"From Where I'm Standing"

"Givin' Up"

Song of the Night: "Ease Your Mind" by Matthew Mayfield

2011-11-27T22:49:00.001-08:00

Hart of Dixie is becoming a musical mecca in the TV world. No other show is introducing me to fantastic music like this one is. First it was FM Radio, which was one of my most popular posts to date, and now, there is Matthew Mayfield. This is one of those songs that I equate to a blanket. You just wanna wrap yourself up in it, and humble in its warmth.

From Hart of Dixie, season 1, episode 7 "The Crush and The Crossbow" I hope you enjoy....

"Ease Your Mind" by Matthew Mayfield

Songs of the Day: "Cafe Lights" & "Elegy" by Hey Marseilles

2011-11-27T09:41:00.001-08:00

I have long been a fan of Hey Marseilles, as they are easily one of the best bands in the northwest currently. But, they started to fade to the back of my mind recently, with so many other new bands up here in the NW stepping up and releasing music, all while Hey Marseilles stayed quiet. That is, until now. Released this month, Hey Marseilles is treating our ears with a fantastic 2 song EP that is just the perfect reminder of why I named them number 2 on the Best Noise in the Northwest, Now list. If this is a taste of what we can expect on their next full length release, then we are all in for something special.

"Cafe Lights" by Hey Marseilles

"Elegy" by Hey Marseilles

Also, here is a video that I should have included in my Best of 2011: Music Videos blog last week. It just slipped. My Apologies.
"Cigarettes" by Hey Marseilles

Best of 2011: Cover Songs

2011-11-26T20:06:00.001-08:00

Well, well, well. And on we go.

To continue the grandness that is 2011, we are now moving onto the Best Cover Songs. This is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart, as it has become one of my life long passions to collect the cream of the crop of cover songs. Here is my collection of fantastic 2011 cover song gems.

1. “Hello” – Lissie (Lionel Richie)

Taking a song that is basically a joke now a days and honestly making it amazing, is a feat within itself. Singing it like this, is heartbreaking.

2. “I Can’t Make You Love Me/Nick Of Time” – Bon Iver (Bonnie Raitt)

Taking a song I genuinely love, and making into something that is so unique and special, and yet not ruining the soul of the song is everything this cover achieves.

3. “American Wedding” – Frank Ocean (The Eagles)

This is not so much a cover as it a regimentation. But, if you listen to it, you will understand how fantastic, and creative Frank Ocean is.

4. “Hospital Beds” – Florence + the Machine (Cold War Kids)

The Original song here is one of my all time favorites. So, logically I should hate the cover right? I wish. It would make things so much easier.

5. “Million Dollar Bill” – Dawes/Middle Brother

I do not know who had this song first. Dawes or Middle Brother, so I have posted both for your enjoyment. Middle Brother is a side project of a couple of the guys of Dawes, it appears on their record first, but the live recordings of the song are out there for Dawes first, so it's a toss up. We all win.

6. “Losing My Religion” – Dia Frampton (R.E.M)

This is the one and only time you will see me posting a music clip from a reality show on this blog. I am adamantly against it. Don't get me wrong, I watch them all, but I cannot say, ever, that the songs are worth sharing on a regular basis. However, this song by Dia Frampton from The Voice is so incredible, it needs to be included here.

7. “Pursuit of Happiness” by Lissie (Kid Cudi)

Lissie is on a roll, and she has one more chance to impress you below in the honorable mention.

8. “Oh Boy!” – She & Him (Buddy Holly)

There was a release this year where some of the biggest names in tunes rerecorded Buddy Holly songs. The album is eh, but there are two tracks worth a share, and here is the first.

9. “Your Song” – Ellie Goulding (Elton John)

Another song that has become somewhat of a joke, that gets new life.

10. “You’re the One That I Want” – Angus & Julia Stone (Olivia Newton John and John Travolta)

Sometimes I listen to this song and love it, other times, it kills me. But, I think I like it more often than I hate it, so it makes the list.

11. “Lovesong” – Adele (The Cure)

This song is so Adele I didn't realize it was a cover until someone pointed it out to me. It is a cover song that I honsetly full-out love better than the original.

12. “Dearest” – The Black Keys (Buddy Holly)

The other Buddy Holly cover that deserves mention. The Black Keys can do very little wrong.

13. “Hiding My Heart” – Adele (Brandi Carlile)

Adele is having a good ass year. She is everywhere and she constantly takes other peoples songs and makes them her own. This Brandi Carlile song is great on its own, but Adele made it special.

Honorable Mention
“Bad Romance” – Lissie (Lady Gaga)

"Delicate" & "9 Crimes (with Lisa Hannigan)" by Damien Rice

2011-11-25T22:07:00.001-08:00

The rain pattering, the thick breaths, and shortened days mean two distinct things. Winter is rolling in here in the Pacific Northwest and it's Damien Rice time.

I love nearly all Damien Rice stuff, so finding something to share proved to be a bit difficult. So, realizing that both of his landmark records consist of ten near perfect tracks, I just picked a number at random (I have an ap for that) and went forth. So, I present with you the first track off each record for your winter tucked in enjoyment.

Enjoy.

"Delicate" by Damien Rice

"9 Crimes" by Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan

"I Can't Make You Love Me/Nick Of Time" by Bon Iver (Bonnie Raitt Cover)

2011-11-23T10:59:00.001-08:00

The next list I am doing for the best of the year is my collection of the Best Cover Songs. I thought, I'd use today's song of the day as a teaser for whats to come.

Bon Iver channeling Bonnie Raitt. This is why I love cover songs.

"I Can't Make You Love Me/Nick Of Time" by Bon Iver (Bonnie Raitt Cover)

Best of 2011: Music Videos

2011-11-22T10:55:00.001-08:00

So, this last weekend I wrote up my list of the best live tracks of 2011. I think it was a good list, and looking back, only really had one glaring omission, A song that rightfully should have been included somewhere in the top ten, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis "Otherside (remix ft. Fences)." I f'd up on that one. Sorry guys.

Anyways, onto the topic of today. While I am scouring the internet for those chillbump inducing live clips, I often stumble upon actual music videos. You know, the shit MTV used to play. And sometimes, they really don't suck. The videos below range from self-produced to label-made. From cheesy awesome to beautifully poignant and artfully crafted. I hope you enjoy this hard and fast proof that video has not killed the radio star.

1. "Elephants and Little Girls" by Loch Lomond

This video is basically one of the most skillfully made videos I can remember in a long time. It is basically a once shot of choreographed angst with moments of joy. If you watch one video on this list, pick this one.

2. "We Are Young" by fun. (ft. Janelle Monae)

I am not sure this is a real music video. Considering the band doesn't appear once in the thing. I think it was just a promotional thing to get the audio out there. But the clip is so entrancing, and f'd up that you can't help but watch, and then watch again. The girl sits there, peeling an apple, going through every emotion possible. It's of acting prowess that is hard to match in a music video.

3. "The Greeks" by Is Tropical
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Clearly, this video is not for everyone. But, its pretty bad ass.

4. "Up All Night" by French Horn rebellion

This is that awesome cheese I mentioned above.

5. "When I'm Alone" by Lissie

My love of 2011. One of the very few "true" music videos on this list. Actually seeing the band play the music is not always entertaining. Unless you own the screen like Lissie does.

6. "Big Jet Plane" by Angus and Julia Stone

Just watch, its longing set to music.

7. "Wings" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

This video was a project that we mentioned way back when. Such an epic song deserved an epic video. Well done boys. The best song about shoes, ever.

8. "Belongings" by Clock Opera

Understated beauty.

9. "Comes In Waves" by Psychologist

This video is f'd up awesome. If you just watch the video, and not take in details, its maybe not the most entertaining thing in the world. But, if you watch closely, throughout the whole thing, you will not be able to turn away, although you may want too.

10. "Cats and Dogs" by the Head and the Heart

I love when a band can have a sense of humor about themselves. And THATH prove in this shot just how much fun they would be to hang out with.

11. "Heartbreak Heartbreak" by The BGP

This song and video make me happy. I have since tried to sit inside of my own shopping cart, I do not recommend it. Getting in is easy, getting out a bitch.

12. "Simple Math" by Manchester Orchestra

Leave it up to Andy Hull to actually take you on a journey like this through a song. It is strikingly beautiful.

13. "Colours" by Grouplove

Talk about an epic music video. And a hell of an introduction.

14. "Honey Bunny" by Girls

The video fits the vibe of this track to a tee. When I first heard the song, this is the imagery that generated in my skull.

15. "Two Cousins" by Slow Club

Another video where the band does not make an appearance. Shows a lot of confidence in the song to allow two nondescript dancers take over the whole video. And I love it.

16 "If Truth Be Told" by MNEK

Its another dose of awesome cheese, with eighties sprinkles.

17 "White Nights" by Oh Land

This video tosses everything to see what sticks. And lucky for us. most of it does. It is a mind beding video that you want to watch over and over.

18. "The Shrine/ An Arguement" by Fleet Foxes

This one, you just have to watch.

19. "Muscle Relaxants" by The Rural Alberta Advantage

If you know the frenetic energy of this band, this video will give you even more appreciation for their music. Just beautifully shot.

20. "Open Air" by Lemolo

Do it yourself has never looked better. And I'm not just saying that because the ladies are hot, well, not only that, but because it is just so starkly gorgeous that the video makes the song just about leap off the screen.

21. "My Machines" by Battles

It's funny how you can dislike a song until you watch the video.

Song of the Day: "Shells of Silver" by The Japanese Popstars

2011-11-21T22:42:00.000-08:00

Spotted: A decent song on an otherwise tanking show (Gossip Girl)... more on the artist featured on this song soon...

Best of 2011: Live Music Clips

2011-11-20T11:19:00.001-08:00

I spend an assload of time on YouTube. I mean, outside of my upload channel, I am always scouring the site for the best new music. It is the easiest outlet for this music addiction I have, and when I find beautiful, gritty, chillbump inducing live tracks, I get myself all in a tizzy. Here are an assortment of my 21 favorite of live tracks from 2011.
Read More After The Jump
1. Avalanche" by Noah Gundersen

2. "Who Knows, Who Cares" by Local Natives

3. "Family" by Noah Gundersen

4. "Hacienda Motel" by Pickwick

5. "Everywhere I Go" by Lissie

6. "Austera" by The Joy Formidable

7. "Window Sill" by Pickwick

8. "Open Air" by Lemolo

9. "Sweetness" by Pearl and the Beard

10. "The World's Not Bad" by Smoosh

11. "Cradle" by The Joy Formidable

12. "Putting The Dog To Sleep" by The Antlers

13. "Doxology/Poor Man's Son/ Down To The River To Pray" by The Gundersen Family

14. "Hackney Marsh" by Slow Club (Sorry, won't let me embed, and cannot find anywhere else)

15. "Glorify" by Ivan & Alyosha

16. "No Harm" The Boxer Rebellion

17. "David" by Noah Gundersen

18. "Too Late To Apologize" by The Oh Wells

19. "How Far We've Come" by Dawes

20. "Muscle Relaxants" by The Rural Alberta Advantage

21. "Truest Intentions" by Kim Churchill

Song of the Day Mulligan: "Blame" by Right Away, Great Captain!

2011-11-18T22:22:00.001-08:00

OK. So I KNOW I just posted a song of the day less then an hour ago. But, then I refound this, and realized I never shared it. And it is just so much tonight that I cannot help but get it out there.

This is a track from one of my all time favorite side projects (Andy Hull of Manchester Orchestra) that I found as a free sneak peek of the upcoming 3rd and final release. I found it this about a month back, when I was going through a blog drought/pout. I refrained at that time, and now I regret.

It is the kind of song that crawls into your heart and spoons your soul. Yeah, I just said that.

"Blame" by Right Away, Great Captain!

Song of the Day: "By Your Hand" by Los Campesinos!

2011-11-18T21:58:00.001-08:00

I almost missed this record. And boy would I have been sore about it. Those of you who have been reading the blog for the last couple years will recognize these guys as former frequent flyer. They released two records in 2009 that managed their way into my year end top 13. Two! Their subsequent release had a few outstanding tracks, but lost its way a bit. However, this new release "Hello Sadness" seems back on track and fanfuckingtastic.

This video also, does not suck.

"By Your Hand" by Los Campesinos!

Song of the Day: "The Fox" by Niki and the Dove

2011-11-17T20:46:00.001-08:00

I f'd up. When I wrote my best Dance/DJ/Electronia songs blog, just a few days ago, I f'd up. I left Niki and the Dove off my list. I can think of 2 tracks that should have been included. But, rather then rewrite the whole damn list, I am just going to post one of the songs as a song of the day.

"The Fox" by Niki and the Dove

If you like this, you should also check out the song "Gentle Roar."

Song of the Day: "From The Woods" by James Vincent McMorrow

2011-11-16T21:02:00.001-08:00

I feel like this guys should have bigger name recognition. Up there with the other great current singer song writers, like Ray LaMontagne, or Bon Iver, or Andy Hull. But, somehow, he is always lost in the shuffle. I hope this song unshuffles him from at least one reader, because he is fantastic.

"From The Woods" by James Vincent McMorrow

Song of the Day: "In These Arms" by The Swell Season

2011-11-15T19:41:00.001-08:00

There are some, not many, but some bands that you just all out miss. This, is the world of Addi, is one of those bands. I picked up Marketa Irglova's solo release a bit back, and although, it is, in itself, a very strong album, I keep holding my breath, hoping Glen Hansard will pop up somewhere. But, to no avail. Anyways, today, I missed Glen and Mar. I missed The Swell Season.

"In These Arms" by The Swell Season

Song of the Day: "Jamie Marie" by Girls

2011-11-14T23:39:00.001-08:00

I like the new found maturity I am finding in Girls.

If you just take that sentence, and not realize that the Girls is a band, it changes the whole focus of this blog. But, once you take a breath, and stop cougar hunting, you'll find a new depth of this often one-note, albeit, fantastic band. This band has never been afraid to explore their world lyrically, but has often lacked the vulnerability needed to truly emote the heart of their songs. But with this new record, they have found that you can often get just as loud of an impact with a whisper as with a scream

"Jamie Marie" by Girls

Best of 2011: Dance/DJ/Electronica Songs

2011-11-14T20:18:00.001-08:00

I was going to write out a list of like the best all out dance songs. But I was recently reminded the other day, I can't dance. I have also recently discovered that my lack of dance skills also translates into a dysfunction in identifying a true "dance" song. Apparently, just because a song has a "good beat" does not mean one can dance to it. Who knew?
So, I mutated this list to include my kind of "dance" music. It's all about the stuff that has an electronic backbone. This is my best Dance/DJ/Electronica songs of 2011. Keep an eye out for a few of these songs to end up on the overall best songs of 2011 list, including a possible number 1.

1. "Belongings" – Clock Opera

2. "Up All Night" – French Horn Rebellion

3. "Same Damn Time" – Beat Connection

4. "How Can You Luv Me" by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

5. "Comes In Waves" – Psychologist

6. "Starry Eyed" – Ellie Goulding

7. "Silver Screen" – Beat Connection

8. "White Nights" – Oh Land

9. "The Greeks" – Is Tropical

10. "Slow Motion" – Holy Ghost!

11. "Need You Now" – Cut Copy

12. "Still Sound" – Toro y Moi

13. "Midnight City" – M83

14. "All Night Long" – LMFAO

Songs of the Day: "Lead Me Home" & "Be My Only" by FM Radio

2011-11-13T13:37:00.001-08:00

I have been waiting to post these songs as a song of the day since 10/17/11. As, Lead Me Home was used in the ending scenes of an episode of Hart Of Dixie. A show that I am only slightly embarrassed to admit I have not missed an episode of. But, if the show keeps championing music like this, I think it is going to be a good journey that I will no longer be embarrassed to embark upon.

As of two days ago, this song, as well as the other below (featured on Ugly Betty), were unreleased and highly sought after. I am glad to present them both to you hear, perhaps for the first time, as I uploaded them onto YouTube. Enjoy

FM Radio is the side project of Schulyer Fisk and Tim Myers. Now, as big of a fan as I have become of Schulyer Fisk, and as much as I respect OneRepublic (his former band), I think this should become the main project. With noise this lovely, its hard to defend this being on the backburner.

"Lead Me Home" by FM Radio

"Be My Only" by FM Radio

Best of 2011: Live Shows

2011-11-12T23:38:00.001-08:00

And on we go.....

Earlier this week, we went over the list of the best album covers of 2011, and now, as promised, I am going to discuss with you my favorite live concert experiences of 2011. Should be a good time, stick around.

1. The Rural Alberta Advantage at The Tractor Tavern, Ballard WA. (Land of Pines and Lord Huron in support)

I wrote about this as one of my Show of the Day entires a while back, and, to be honest, a lot of this blurb here, is going to be stolen from that, as it was written in the moment, and a much better glimpse of the all out awesomeness of that show. The best show I have been too, not just in 2011, but ever. Here is what I had to say....

The Rural Alberta Advantage blew my fucking mind. There is not a lot more to say. That band can put on a show. I know I mentioned that Land of Pines were clean, but RAA put them to shame. Rarely does a band live up to the live recordings. Never does a band surpass them. Until last night. The RAA blew their record out of the water. Now, I have loved their 2009 release "Hometowns" hard. But I was having trouble falling for more then a track or two of their 2011 "Departing" release, but after the show, I listened again, and again this morning, and it is now a front runner for my top spot of the year. It's crazy how much a show can impact a record. But to get onto the show itself there are a couple points I would like to make:

First, Amy Cole, keyboardist, xylophonist, and single drummer extraordinaire, I love you. You win.

Second, My co-blogger's asshole husband and I have debated about this band and their drumming. We were certain that either the group was using drum machine for their fills, or utilizing studio tricks to get that crisp crazy timing. And holy fuck were we wrong. That was the most impressive drumming I have ever seen. And to be honest, I might still win the debate, I think he might be a robot, which, technically speaking, is a drum machine. Seriously, listen to the drumming in the third track below. I win.

Third, A little under 4 weeks ago, I posted the song "Good Night" and my SotD. And I was certain from moment one, that it was one of those great album songs, that would never see the dark of night at a show. But, I got the best birthday wish ever when the band pushed through the crowd, stood on three chairs and did an unplugged, nearly prefect rendition to a packed, breath-held tractor tavern. It will easily become one of my favorite concert memories. We win.

It really was, and still is, a concert that we talk about with the highest esteem. Often followed by the words, "best show ever."
"Goodnight"

2. the Head and the Heart at The Showbox at the Market. Seattle, WA. (Supporting David Bazan, Supported by Damien Jurado)
Don't worry. I am not going to be as wordy with the rest of these concert recaps, that first one was unavoidable.
Sadly, we did not catch any photographic evidence of this show, but, believe me, it was the bees knees. We, Stevie and I, got to the show early enough to take advantage of our age and dim witted peers, to get into the bar pre-show, get a number so we could get in early enough to get primo seats on the rail, just to the side of the stage. Prefect, easy going vantage. It was a no fuss concert. We even made friends, and when I say we, I mean Stevie, as she can befriend any stranger.
Anyways, we were at this show just the see THATH, who, at the time, were still small potatoes. And man, they did not disappoint. It was a special show. But, mostly, I got to go to a show with Stevie, just her and I. And we had fun. I remember the music, sure. But I remember conversations, and laughs, and good times that the music provided the soundtrack for.

"Ghosts"

3. Citizen Cope at The Triple Door. Seattle, WA.

This was another show where it was just Stevie and I, but this one took a bit more convincing than THATH did. I have been a fan of Citizen Cope since his first record dropped in 2002. In fact, his sophomore album and a handful of songs peppered my best of the decade lists. But, you would not hear the same thing from Stevie, as she was not a "fan." But, I think the show converted her.

Rather than have an opener, Citizen Cope, just opted to play two full sets. It was a hellofa choice. Just the man, and his guitar, and a spot light. And anyone who has been to The Triple Door, will attest, that is just not a better venue in Seattle. The show was so good that the girl sitting just to the left of me was crying. Like she was moved to tears. And, instead of laughing at her, I knew her better. It was that good of a show.

"Sideways"

4. Brett Dennen at The Moore Theater. Seattle, WA. (with Dawes in support)

Front row. That's all I have to say. Front row.

Ok, I'll say a little bit more. Before show: Brett Dennen = Huge Fan. Dawes = No Clue. After show: Brett Dennen = Huger Fan. Dawes = Top ten record of 2011. For the rest of this recap. See the pictures below.

"Come Back Kid (That's My Dog)" by Brett Dennen

"So Well" by Dawes

5. Campfire OK at The Space. Tacoma, WA (supported by Kris Orlowski and Tony Kevin Jr)

This is the most recent show I've had the pleasure to take in, and it was fantastic in it lowkeyness. On a small stage, overlooking the lights of Tacoma, the three bands took to the stage, and at one point, floor, and melted faces. Sadly, this show took place during the brunt of my back injury, so I spent most of the show, sitting in the back of the venue on the couch letting the waves of music wash over me while my concert going partners boogied. But, it was such a different concert going experience, that it stands out. I got to see a show from a different angle.

Tony Kevin Jr

Campfire Ok

"Wish You The Best"

Song of the Day: "Avalanche" by Noah Gundersen

2011-11-12T11:11:00.001-08:00

I know it must feel like this is a Noah Gundersen fan page these days, but for some reason, I just cannot get enough of him right now. This song especially.

As anyone who is on my facebook will attest, I have been listening to this song constantly. It is so beautiful, its hard to fathom. Enjoy.

"Avalanche" by Noah Gundersen

Song of the Day: "Need Your Love So Bad" by Little Willie John

2011-11-09T20:43:00.000-08:00

Tonight, is just another night, and without music, it would end up being a waste. I want to think, Little Willie John for getting me through.

"Need Your Love So Bad" by Little Willie John

Best of 2011: Album Covers

2011-11-09T11:22:00.000-08:00

I am all for the digital age. I get nearly all of my music via digital download these days. I love the accessibility ease of use of the format. But, there is one part of this digital world that has really started to bother me; the concept of Cover Art has fallen to the wayside. I still go out of my way to LOOK at each and every album that I download, out of respect to the artists, but I know most people, pay very little attention. So, I hope this blog wakes some people up to the realization that just because you download a record, does not mean that the cover should be obsolete, as it usually speaks volumes about the artist and the noise you are about to digest.

Below you will find my 13 favorite Album Covers of 2011. I was going to write an brief rundown of why I like each one, but, I think my opinions here, outside of the list itself, are not necessary. Just enjoy the album covers, and realize it's art.

1. Campfire Ok - Strange Like We Are

2. Wye Oak - Civilian

3. Noah Gundersen - B-Sides

4. Ben Lee - Deeper Into Dream

5. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Departing

6. Bryan John Appleby - Fire On The Vine

7. Seapony - Go With Me

8. The Civil Wars - Barton Hollow

9. The Weeknd - HouseOfBalloons

10. Summer Camp - Welcome to Condale

11. Marissa Nadler - Marissa Nadler

12. Yuck - Yuck

13. Idiot Glee - Paddywhack

Best of 2011 Primer

2011-11-09T10:40:00.000-08:00

The Countdown Begins.

This year, for my year end music review, I decided to make it extra difficult on myself.

We have approximately 8 or 9 weeks left in the year, so I have come up with 8 or 9 mini lists as a primer for my best songs and best albums of the year lists. And, when I say, mini lists, it's just a turn of phrase, because, knowing me, I doubt I am able make any list mini.

I am going to release at least one list a week, up until the end of the year, and then, during the first week of January, you will all get a taste of what I consider the best sounds of 2011.

Here are the lists you can expect to see, in the order I hope to tackle them in:

Best Album Covers
Best Live Shows
Best Dance/DJ/Electronica Songs
Best Live Music Clips
Best Music Videos
Best Cover Songs Best R&B and Hip-Hop Releases
Best Soul Releases
Worst/Most Disappointing Releases
Rediscoveries
Best International Releases
Best EP's
Best Northwest Releases
Best 13 Albums
Best Songs

So, keep an eye out, later today, I'll have my best Album Covers up for judging.

Song of the Day Part 2: "Video Games" by Lana Del Rey

2011-11-08T20:53:00.000-08:00

I'm loving on this song right now. It's haunting and raw (love that church reverb) and I even love her lack of affect on her face as she sings "it's you, it's you, it's always you..."

Check it:

Song of the Day: "Complimenting Parts" by Campfire OK

2011-11-08T12:51:00.000-08:00

A little while back, when I made Campfire OK my band of the week, I shared five of their fantastic songs. Now, one of those five songs has really stuck with me. So much so, that I am sure it is going to end up in the top ten of my songs of the year, a list I take very seriously. So, I felt it deserved a special mention on its own.

One of the most beautiful tracks of 2011, I hope you enjoy.

"Complimenting Parts" by Campfire OK

Songs of the Day: "The Ballad of Alessandro Moreschi" and "Dance Card" by Pepper Rabbit

2011-11-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

This is my "wait, who is this" album of the year. Snuck up on me, crawled into my earhole, and planted roots. Becoming a late bloomer in the race the best of the year top 13.

"The Ballad of Alessandro Moreschi" by Pepper Rabbit

"Dance Card" by Pepper Rabbit

Song of the Day: "We Are Our Own Lies" by Smoosh

2011-11-04T21:48:00.000-07:00

I feel like a f'n idiot. I clearly remember when I found out about Smoosh back in like 2003/4 I made a mental note, not to forget these sisters as the matured, But, FML, I did just that. That is, until, I remembered.

Once I remembered, I found out that I LOVE their sound now, and even more, I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song. You will too.

"We Are Our Own Lies" by Smoosh (live from KEXP)

Song of the Day: "Civilian" by Wye Oak

2011-11-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

This is one of the records that comes out so early in the year that I am fearful that it will lose its luster, but luckily for me, and the rest of the musical landscape, it has held firm, and in fact grown.

This is a fantastic little live version of the title track of one of the bright spots of 2011.

"Civilian" by Wye Oak

Song of the Day: "Falling From The Sun" by The Album Leaf

2011-11-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

This is a song that I shared a few times last year. But it fits today. I hope you enjoy.

"Falling From The Sun" by The Album Leaf

Song of the Day: "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam

2011-11-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

I know I generally champion new or unknown music for my song of the day. But today, I shove generally up my ass. This song, this video, change the young teenage me in ways I am only still discovering.

"Jeremy" by Pearl Jam

Song of the Day: "Oh Mississippi" by Lissie

2011-10-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

I don't need to spend more then one line of text on this song.

There are very few songs that make you swell, sad, happy, nostalgic, and lonely all at the same time. I count one.

"Oh Mississippi" by Lissie

Songs of the Day: "Still Beating" & "Ready Go" by Yes Please

2011-10-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

I wrote this on a best you're not listening to blog back in early 2009...

Yes Please is composed of a singersongwriter that considers herself a duel citizen of both Olympia and San Francisco. Sadly, she is no longer recording under this name, but the album "For Now, for Then, for Them" is very special. An artist that was born to be featured on Gray’s Anatomy.

...but sadly, I didn't share any of her music at the time. That was before I created my own YouTube Channel, and before I realized how quick and easy it was to make and upload songs that lacked an internet voice. So, today, while listening with my eyes closed, this first track came on, and it hit me like a ton of bricks. So, I thought I'd upload it and share, I did the second one for good measure. Like I said, quick and easy.

"Still Beating" by Yes Please

"Ready Go" by Yes Please

Song of the Day: "Wedding Song" by The Courage

2011-10-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

So the other day, my co-blogger Stevie, posted the song "Family" by Noah Gundersen, and it pissed me the hell off. I fell in LOVE with the song, and I had never heard of Noah Gundersen, and that doesn't happen to me. I am the one that finds bands that Stevie doesn't know, and she gets my goat when it's the other way around. But, the song was soooooo good, that I jumped on the bandwagon, and dove into Noah Gundersen. Turns out before he was a solo act, he was a part of a band called The Courage, and they released this beautiful album in Sept. 2010. I would say it's sad that The Courage broke up, but have you heard his new EP? It is fanfuckingtastic. So, if The Courage had to die, to get Family, so be it.

But, I really recommend you pick up The Courage, as it is a gem of a record.

This song, hits me hard. But not for the romantic connotations. It reminds me of the mistakes I have made, but that makes the song all the more beautiful for me. Enjoy.

"Wedding Song" by The Courage

Band of the Week: Dawes

2011-10-26T10:46:00.000-07:00

Dawes is a band that snuck right up on me. I was going to a concert for Brett Dennen, and for Brett Dennen only, but, being the audiophile I am, I opted, as I always opt, to make sure I was early enough to catch the opening act. This band that my friend who sold me her tickets to the show, was very excited to see. A band that I had never heard of. This little band called Dawes. A little band the blew me away. A little band, who's album I purchased based on that set alone, is now dead set to end up in the top 5 records of 2011.

Now, I may have been behind on the times when it comes to Dawes, but I'm making up for it with my enthusiasm for them now.

So, with that, I present you, the Band of the Week:

Dawes

Below, you will find 5 fantastic songs, three of them I would like to thank the fantastic people over at Sleepover Shows for producing and making available. The other's and just a couple songs I could not fathom to leave off this showcase.

"If I Wanted Someone" (Sleepover Show)

"A Little Bit Of Everything"

"How Far We've Come" (Sleepover Show)

"That Western Skyline" (Sleepover Show)

"Million Dollar Bill" (my personal favorite, and one that I uploaded myself)

Songs of the Day: "Ain't Gonna Lose You" & "Alone Again" by Brett Dennen

2011-10-24T23:00:00.000-07:00

Brett Dennen is the Man. Now, I say that in general, but in particular, he is the Man when it comes to final tracks. And you all know how I feel about final tracks. How I believe, maybe naively, that the last track of an album means something special, something personal, something more to the artist then any other track. That they fought for that song to be on that album and all that jazz.

So, below, you will find two prime-ass examples of how Brett Dennen is the Man.

"Ain't Gonna Lose You" by Brett Dennen (of the Hope For The Hopeless album)

"Alone Again" by Brett Dennen (of the Loveboy album (amazon.com exclusive track))