Best Albums 2007

30. Voxtrot
29. Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War
28. Super Extra Bonus Party
27. the Perishers - Victorious
26. Vampire Weekend - Blue CD-R
25. Air - Pocket Symphony
24. the One AM Radio - this too shall pass
23. Coconut Records - Nighttiming

22. Bright Eyes - Cassadaga
21. Comas - Spells


20. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
19. the Bravery - the Sun & the Moon
18. Shout Out Louds - Our Ill Wills
17. Relient K - Five Score & Seven Years Ago
16. Josh Rouse - Country Mouse, City House
15. Radiohead - In Rainbows


14. Josh Ritter - Historical Conquests
13. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
12. Kanye West - Graduation



11. the Cinematics - a Strange Education
debut album from Scottish band. I was hooked quite immediately and enjoy the diversity and energy of the album
listen to: Chase



10. Windmill - Puddle City Racing Lights
If you can get past the voice, you will love this album.
I know i can be quite vague when I say "the emotions this album induces are beyond words" but you just have to hear it to experience it.
listen to: Fit




9. the New Pornographers - Challengers
I’m always amazed by how much I love an album that i’m not even a huge fan of the band. I like the band, just never loved them... until now.
listen to: Myriad Harbour



8. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
The blend of electronic and rock could be no better. The funny thing is that I would make mixes of new songs to listen to and I found myself falling in love with a lot of songs off this album
listen to: All My Friends




7. Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger/Follow the Lights EP
As a rabid fan of his, I am also a critic of his. He outdid himself in 2005 with three albums, but manages to save enough steam to put out another fantastic album. His latest offering is a hybrid of his traditional country roots with his love of writing a great rock song. He continues to poor his heart out in the Follow the Lights EP where he also covers Alice In Chains "Down in a Hole."
listen to: I Taught Myself How to Grow Old


6. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
Bird is creating a new wave of pop that seems yet to be copycatted. I saw him at Coachella 2007 and he was fantastic. His use of multiple instruments and different approaches at songs makes him beyond unique.
listen to: Dark Matter


5. Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light
A return to the lighter side for Jimmy. After 2004’s darker album Futures, the band appears to be more joyous and hopeful. Now, don’t be deterred by that thinking it’s cheesy. It’s anything but that. This album has a way of reaching you without being overly sentimental
listen to: Dizzy












4. the National - Boxer
Moody, smart, restraint, subtle... this album is golden and i fell in love with it the moment i heard "fake empire." The cover shows the band playing in a barroom and coincidentally, that’s how i imagine the songs when i hear it. The lead singer’s barotone voice comes off very intimidating off "Start a War" but soothes me over in "the Guest Room."
listen to: Mistaken For Strangers


3. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
this isn’t a Christian album, it isn’t a Mormon album. It certainly showers us with religious imagery, but this is an album about life. Neon Bible comes thru dark and unpredictable, even Butler’s lyrics of frustration flow thru, but manage to keep you interested and not turned off.
listen to: Keep the Car Running


2. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Spoon surprised me this year. this was almost a 1 album for me. I dont want to necessarily say the album flows, but that’s a good thing. From the start of ’Target’ to ’Ghost’ then going into ’Cherry Bomb’ the album keeps to his rock roots, but is also adventurous.
listen to: You Got Yr Cherry Bomb




1. Tegan & Sara - the Con
Canadian sisters know how to rock. I’ve always liked these girls, but never have obsessed over them like i have this year. The album has its dark and desperate moments like "the Con" and "Hop a Plane", but the single "Back In Your Head" shows their lighter side. The final track ends the album with the lyrics "maybe you would have been something i’d be good at but now we’ll never know" This album cries of regret and remembering times of good and bad.
listen to: Nineteen

Best Singles 2007

Extremely tough this year since there was so much good music, but also a lot of great music. My albums list still needs tinkering and I’ve slaved over this list enough that I needed to finalize it before I end up hating the singles.

A few of my favorite songs weren’t even released as singles, so I encourage you to check out
Tegan & Sara "Nineteen"
Relient K "Come Right Out and Say it"
Jimmy Eat World "Dizzy"

Yes, i had a lot of singles to think about this year.... and even harder time narrowing it down


40. Jesse Malin "Don’t Let Them Get You Down"
39. Feist "1, 2, 3, 4"
38. LCD Soundsystem "North American Scum"
37. Spoon "the Underdog"
36. Cold War Kids "Hang Me Up To Dry"
35. the Shins "Australia"


34. Kanye West "the Good Life"
33. Polyphonic Spree "Running Away"
32. Tegan & Sara "Back In Your Head"
31. Ryan Adams "Halloweenhead"


30. Modest Mouse "Missed the Boat"
29. Arcade Fire "Intervention"
28. CSS "Music is My Hot, Hot Sex"
27. the Killers "Tranquilize"/Shadowplay"
26. Justin Timberlake "What Goes Around...."



25. Windmill "Fit"
24. Kelly Clarkson "Sober"
23. Kaiser Chiefs "Ruby"
22. Shout Out Louds "Tonight I Have to Leave it"
21. Against Me - "Thrash Unreal"




20. Andrew Bird "Heretics"
19. Rilo Kiley "Silver Lining"
18. M.I.A. "Paper Planes"
17. Mark Ronson "Stop Me"
16. Muse "Starlight"
15. Ryan Adams "Two"
If I could I would treat you like you want me to, I promise

14. Matt Nathanson "Car Crash"
I’m wide awake and so alive...


13. Arcade Fire "Keep the Car Running"
If some night I don’t come home, please don’t think I’ve left you alone.

12. the Bravery "Time Won’t Let Me Go"
If I could go back once again, I would change everything

11. the Killers "Read My Mind"
Cause I don’t shine if you don’t shine


10. Jimmy Eat World "Big Casino"
I’m a New Jersey success story
the band that doesn’t disappoint returns. This song sure strays away from the darker themed material from the last album. I have been hearing imagery of hope and regret in a lot of songs lately. perhaps, that’s something i want to hear?
Big Casino certainly gives me the story of hope... hope thats there’s something more out there.

9. Bright Eyes "Four Winds"
She’s standing in the ashes at the end of the world
Conor Oberst has had struggles with his faith in the past, but that doesn’t stop him from singing about it. the theme of this song crys "the end is near" Now trying to decypher what the "four winds" actually are is a bit more difficult.

8. Justice "D.A.N.C.E."
The way you move is a mystery
Pop music was dominate this year.... partly thanx to this song. The video was even more creative showing a montage of tshirts changing thruout the song.

7. LCD Soundsystem "All My Friends"
I wouldn’t trade one stupid decision, for another five years of lies
Could this single be any better? what if it was covered by Franz Ferdinand?
then the answer is yes. Please don’t be put off by the long intro to the song, as it sets the mood for something so simplistic, yet emotional.

6. Snow Patrol "Open Your Eyes"
All this feels strange and untrue
Quite possibly the strongest track on the album released last year and it took them long enough to release it. The album displays themes of ’eyes’ and this track seems like the one that brings it to light.



5. Arcade Fire "No Cars Go"
Between the click of the light and the start of the dream
I don’t know the exact meaning of the song, it certainly sings themes of escapism and slightly connotes dreams possibly.
Even if this song was an instrumental, you would still feel the power of it. the creativity of this band using a variety of instruments is endless.



4. the Pipettes "You’re Kisses Are Wasted On Me"
I don’t love you, you don’t make me smile
Originally heard this last year, but seeing a US release of this single gave it eligibility for me. For those unaware, this is a british pop trio. You heard right, and they do it better than anyone. This song certainly combines an intense rush of emotions with its simple lyrics.



3. Tegan & Sara "the Con"
Encircle Me, i need to be... taken down.
This song is adventurous. this song is powerful. this song even seems self destructive.
i don’t know if there could be anymore emotion packed into this. I find myself battling between wether the sincerity comes thru when i hear "i really like to cry" but then again, the song is called the Con- so have i bought into it too?

2. Kanye West "Stronger"
I need you right now
Before Donda West passed, this song had reached me. the lyrics now carry a new meaning almost written with foreshadowing in mind. Kanye sampled Daft Punk for this song and raps solo without any help on the song.



1. Modest Mouse "Dashboard"
Well, it would’ve been, could’ve been worse than you would ever know.
Enter Johnny Marr and exit a great track. This came out early in the year for me, but managed to hold my attention. It’s great to see that "Float On" was far from their peak, as "Dashboard" brings you in with the quick hook, but speeds up the tempo and reminds me of a theme MM has used in the past.... there’s hope ahead

the number 23

the Number 23 was originated by the greatest basketball player ever: Michael Jordan.

the number was also popularized by famed Cub Ryne Sandberg.

Now, the new 23 in Chicago is Devin Hester. It is sincerely magic whenever he touches the ball. A recent stat by the Chicago Tribune showed he gets 1 TD for every 12 return attempts. The 2nd highest was Gale Sayers 1:15, and for good reference, Deion Sanders was 1:40.



The Bears don’t renew contracts unless someone is approaching the last year of their contract. They should bend that rule because I’m predicting Hester will be the most coveted free agent in the history of the NFL if he keeps at this pace

2006 Season (week is noted first)
(1) vs. GB: 84yd PR
(6) vs. ARZ: 83yd PR
(10) vs. NYG: 108yd missed FG return
(13) vs MINN: 45yd PR
(14) vs. STL: two KR for 94yds and 96yds

SuperBowl XLI: first ever opening kickoff return for 92yds

2007 Season
(2) vs. KC: 73yd PR
(4) vs. Det: 97yd KR
(6) vs. MINN: 89yd PR (also 81yd reception)
(12) vs. DEN: 75yd PR.... 88yd KR
(17) vs. NO: 64yd PR..... (also 55yd reception)

Welcome to My Mornings

2004 Albums revisited

It's difficult to rank music or your favorites knowing that you are going to evevntually hear more music from that year. I have been finding so much music over the past few years thats leading me to believe that 2004 might have been the best music year in quite some time.

After a few years and countless listens later, I'm giving 10 more albums you must hear from the year 2004

10. Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
9. Ambulance LTD
8. Nelly McKay - Get Away From Me
7. Interpol - Antics
6. Keane - Hopes and Fears
5. Jimmy Eat World - Futures
How did I sleep on this one? Great album, but more important- consistent from their last one.
4. Ray LaMontagne - Trouble
You've heard the title track on Idol, but the shining star is "All the Wild Horses."
3. Butch Walker - Letters
Composer/Producer for Avril, Bowling for Soup, Pink, etc
This guy is the real deal and does pop-rock better than anyone.
2. Rachael Yamagata - Happenstance
I was walking around Best Buy and they played "Worn Me Down" in the store. I listened to every note and once they said the artist, I bought it on the spot. I have been moved to tears on several of her songs. Unfortunately, her heart had to be broken to make such a great album
1. Citizen Cope - the Clarence Greenwood Records
At first, sounds like folk hip hop- then you realize he is developing his own style. "Sideways" is the obvious ballad, but "Hurricane Waters" steals the spotlight at it's moments. His style is clever, but his artistic ability and songwriting makes this album a classic.

2004 also offered up great offerings from Iron & Wine, Madvillain, Rilo Kiley..... the list goes on

Knut

Coyote Walks into a Quiznos.... (Chicago)

Hope you all have heard this story, but this is just great. Attention Quiznos Marketing department, stop what you’re doing, because you have a new mascot.

CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- For one day, at least, the roadrunner was safe. It seems the coyote was hankering for another kind of fast food.

Employees and customers at a downtown Chicago Quiznos sandwich shop were stunned to see a coyote walk through the propped-open front door Tuesday afternoon and lie down in a cooler stocked with fruit juice and soda.

"It wasn’t aggressive at all," restaurant manager Bina Patel told the Chicago Tribune. "It was just looking around." (Watch the coyote take a rest in the cooler Video)

Employees and customers calmly cleared out of the restaurant, though some took the time to finish their sandwiches and snap some cell-phone photos, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Animal control officers took the passive coyote away after about 40 minutes, after a curious crowd had gathered outside.

"This one definitely I will definitely remember forever. A coyote in downtown Chicago," Quiznos employee Rick Torres told WLS-TV.

The city captures 10 to 15 coyotes every year, especially in the spring when they are most active, said Anne Kent, director of Chicago Animal Care and Control. Veterinarians will examine the coyote and, if he is not injured, release him into the wild.

How to arm wrestle your girl

Guilty Pleasures 2006

5. Sean Paul "Temperature"
Addictive dance song with an edge to it.

4. Nick Lachey "What's Left of Me"
Feel bad for the guy? Wait til you see the video of him and Vanessa.... I think he'll be alright.

3. Pussycat Dolls "Buttons"
I can't get enough of these girls, well at least Nicole Scherzinger the lead singer.

2. Natasha Beningfield "Unwritten"
Yes, I got tired of this song like everyone else, but the proper use of a choir hooked me in.



1. Ashley Parker Angel "Never Let You Go"
Congrats on breaking the boy band image. I never changed the channel when this song came on.