Music Snobs Anonymous - BLOG CLOSED

Blog Closing, Moving to "Desert Island Mixtapes"

2014-09-02T12:59:00.000-06:00

Hello all. I'm am ceasing posting on this blog and moving it to a new venue. Why? A number of reasons. I like change. I like the wordpress platform more than blogger. I like new starts. This blog has become mostly inactive, and I hope to be a bit more active on the new blog.

So, please update your bookmarks and subscriptions accordingly.

New blog title: Desert Island Mixtapes
URL: http://desertislandmixtapes.wordpress.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DesertIslandMixtapes
Twitter profile: https://twitter.com/DesertIlseMixes

See you all on the interwebs!!!

Totes Magotes: Bahamas and the Challenge of Meeting Expectations

2014-08-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

Totes Magotes

Random thoughts on what I'm listening to or thinking about lately

My #1 album of the year in 2012 was by Toronto-based musician, Bahamas. Barchords was an unexpected hit for me. Stylistically it wasn't really like anything else I was listening to, but for some reason I couldn't turn it off. The song, Lost in the Light, got particularly heavy airplay.

So, I was excited a few weeks ago when I heard that Bahamas was returning with a new LP, Bahamas is Afie. Big expectations. This, of course, creates a problem. On my first listens of the new album, my brain is constantly checking it against his previous Barchords. So, I wonder if I am not giving it a fair listen. There are some good tracks, but I sense myself feeling a little let down. I am hopeful that after a few more listens I will be able to appreciate for what it is - instead of judging it for what it isn't (Barchords, v. 2.0).

In any case, here's a standout track - All the Time

New Zookeeper Album - Pink Chalk! Whoa!

2014-08-27T10:49:00.000-06:00

Just a few days ago, I posted an OLD track from the band Mineral. The band put out a couple great albums and 7"'s, but then broke up. The singer, Chris Simpson when on to front The Gloria Record - which was hands down amazing. After that, he has done a project called Zookeeper. Some good tracks. Great news - Zookeeper just announced a new album.

You can preview the title track, Pink Chalk, over at stereogum.com.

Very exciting!

Preorder it here.

For good measure, here is a Gloria Record and Zookeeper track to further whet your appetite!

Song du Jour Nr. 117: The Letterpress - Falling Away

2014-08-27T07:01:00.000-06:00

Here's one you've never heard of. Mid-2000s band from Arizona. 2 basses + drums. No guitars.
Good stuff.

You should buy it.

Input/Output by THE LETTERPRESS

Or here.

Song du Jour Nr. 116: Mineral - February

2014-08-25T18:00:00.000-06:00

They just don't make non-album track 7" singles like they used.

Totes Magotes: Spoon - They Want My Soul

2014-08-21T08:18:00.002-06:00

Totes Magotes

Random thoughts on what I'm listening to or thinking about lately

Ah Spoon. I didn't really like their first albums, really liked a few songs off of Gimme Fiction and Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and didn't like Transference at all. But now you're back with They Want My Soul and I'm completely sold on this one. So good. Front to back, I love it. I have listened to it while running (opening of Rent I Pay is perfect for starting a run), while mowing the lawn, while driving, while cooking...what can't this album do?!

Go get it.

Some samples:

Best Albums of 2014, v. 2.0 (January - July)

2014-07-21T20:30:00.000-06:00

Best Albums of 2014

Version 2.0 (January - July)

For previous years see

Best of 2013
Best (songs) of 2013 Best of 2012
Best (songs) of 2012
Best of 2011

Best (songs) of 2011

Best of 2010

Best of 2009

Best of 2008

Best of 2007

LPs

Live Albums

EPs

Singles / 7 inches / Misc

Selling Some Vinyl on Ebay

2014-05-12T07:43:00.004-06:00

I have a few 7"'s and LPs in my collection that I realize I never play, and probably won't. So - I'm selling them. Check it out!

Includes Death Cab for Cutie, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Panic at the Disco, RARE Damien Jurado 7"'s, Maritime, Joshua James, Rocky Votolato, The Get Up Kids, RARE custom Hoquiam LP (Damien Jurado), Pele, Rogue Wave, Jimmy Eat World, and more!

Best Albums of 2014, v. 1.0 (January - May)

2014-05-07T07:37:00.001-06:00

Best Albums of 2014

Version 1.0

For previous years see

Best of 2013
Best (songs) of 2013 Best of 2012
Best (songs) of 2012
Best of 2011

Best (songs) of 2011

Best of 2010

Best of 2009

Best of 2008

Best of 2007

LPs

EPs

Singles / 7 inches / Misc

My Vinyl Collection, February 2014 Update

2014-02-05T16:31:00.002-07:00

I started collecting vinyl in January of 2008.
Here is what I have amassed.

(updated February 2014)

AC/DC
Back in Black

American Football
American Football

Andrew Bird
Armchair Apocrypha

Appleseed Cast
Illumination Ritual

Bahamas
Barchords

Band of Horses
Everything All the Time
Infinite Arms

Battles
Gloss Drop
Mirrored

The Beach Boys
Endless Summer

The Beatles
1962-1966
1967-1970
Abbey Road
Hey Jude
Let it Be
Magical Mystery Tour
Rubber Soul
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Beck
Modern Guilt
Odelay

The Bee Gees
Best of Bee Gees Vol. 1 [pre-disco]
Saturday Night Fever

Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five

Blackalicious
A2G [EP]
Blazing Arrow
The Craft
Deception [12" single]
Its Going Down (Sit Back) [12" single]
Nia

Bon Iver
Bon Iver

Brendan Benson
Alternative to Love

Bright Eyes
Four Winds [12" EP]
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Built to Spill
Don't Try / The Source [7" single]

The City on Film
In Formal Introduction [marble gray vinyl]

Cake
Motorcade of Generosity

The Clash
London Calling

Colin Meloy
Colin Meloy Sings Live [autographed]

Common Market
Connect For [12" EP]
Tobacco Road

Counterfit
Super Amusement Machine for Your Exciting Heart [red vinyl]

Creedence Clearwater Revival
Chronicle

Daft Punk
Random Access Memories

Damien Jurado
Brothers and Sisters of the Eternal Son 2xLP w/ Sisters [EP]
Caught in the Trees.
Hoquiam
I Break Chairs
Motorbike [7" single]
On My Way To Absence
Saint Bartlett
Trampoline [7" single]

Dear and the Headlights
Drunk Like Bible Times [Ale colored vinyl – 10" double LP]
Small Steps, Heavy Hooves [translucent gold colored vinyl]

Death Cab for Cutie
I will Possess your Heart [7" single]
Narrow Stairs
Plans

The Decemberists
Castaways and Cutouts
Colin Meloy Sings Live [autographed]
The Crane Wife
The Hazards of Love
Her Majesty
Picaresque + Picaresquities
The Tain + 5 Songs

Dent May
The Feel Good Music of Dent May and his Magnificent Ukulele

Dinosaur Jr.
I Bet on Sky

Dr. Dog
Fate
Shame Shame

Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Sun Giant EP

The Format
Dog Problems

The Fruit Bats
Spelled in Bones

G. Love & Special Sauce
Baby's Got Sauce / Cold Beverage 10"

The Get Up Kids
Four Minute Mile [translucent gold vinyl]
Guilt Show [red vinyl]
A Newfound Interest in Massachusetts / Off the Wagon [7"]
On a Wire
Red Letter Day [10" EP]
Simple Science [12" EP]
Something to Write Home About [lavender vinyl]

The Gloria Record
A Lull in Traffic [12" EP] [Marble white vinyl]

Grand Archives
Grand Archives [signed by the band]
Grand Archives – Sleep Driving / George Kaminski alt. versions [7"]

Great Lake Swimmers
Lost Channels

Hey Mercedes
Every Night Fireworks [SIGNED by the band]

The Hold Steady
Boys and Girls in America
Heaven is Whenever
Stay Positive

Iron & Wine
The Creek Drank the Cradle
In the Reins
Our Endless Numbered Days
Woman King

J. Tillman
A Year in the Kingdom
Minor Works [French Import]
Wild Honey Never Stolen / Borne Away On A Black Barge 7"

Jack Johnson
Brushfire Fairytales
On and On
Sleep Through the Static

Japandroids
Celebration Rock [white vinyl]

Jimmy Eat World
Clarity [2009 reissue]
Pain/Shame [7" clear green]

Josh Ritter
So Runs The World Away

The Animal Years

Joshua James
Build me This
The Sun is Always Brighter
Winter Storm / Lovers Without Love [7"]

Led Zeppelin
IV (Zoso)

Lifesavas
Gutterfly: The Original Soundtrack
Spirit in Stone

Local Natives
Gorilla Manor

The Long Winters
Putting the Days to Bed

The Mamas & the Papas
If you Can Believe your Eyes and Ears

Maritime
Glass Floor
Heresy and the Hotel Choir [clear vinyl] [hand numbered limited pressing]
We, the Vehicles [hand numbered clear blue vinyl]
Witches and Snowmen / Boy From School [limited edition 7" white vinyl]

Marvin Gaye
Every Great Motown Hit
Midnight Love

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Take a Break

Michael Jackson
Bad
Thriller

Mike Doughty
Haughty Melodic

Minus the Bear
Highly Refined Pirates [blue swirly vinyl]
Omni
They Make Beer Commercials Like This EP [fruity pebbles colored vinyl]

The Mountain Goats
Get Lonely
Heretic Pride

The Mr. T Experience
Love is Dead

Mumford & Sons
Sigh No More

The National
High Violet

The New Amsterdams
At the Foot of my Rival

Nick Drake
Five Leaves Left

Okkervil River
Black Sheep Boy
The Standins

Onelinedrawing
Visitor [clear transparent vinyl]

Owen
At Home with Owen
No Good for No One Now

Panic at the Disco
Nine in the Afternoon [7" single]

Paul Simon
Graceland
Greatest hits, Etc

Pele
Enemies

Phantom Planet
Raise the Dead [marble blue vinyl]

Phoenix
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Pinback
Autumn of Seraphs

The Postal Service
Give Up

The Promise Ring
Wood/Water [double 10"]

Radiohead
In Rainbows
King of Limbs

OK Computer
The Bends

Ratatat
Ratatat

Reggie and the Full Effect
Inside the Dust Sleeve (under the tray)

R.E.M.
Accelerate
Automatic for the People
Dead Letter Office
Document
Fables of the Reconstruction
Green
Life's Rich Pageant
Monster
New Adventures in Hi Fi
Reckoning
Wendell Gee [12" single]

Rogue Wave
Descended Like Vultures

Rocky Votolato
A Brief History [10" on opaque yellow vinyl]
Rocky Votolato s/t LP [yellow & orange vinyl]
Rocky Votolato & Seth Warren [7" on white vinyl]
Suicide Medicine [marble white vinyl] [autographed + set list]

Rush
2112

Saves the Day
Stay What you Are

Shearwater
The Golden Archipelago

Sigur Ros
( )
Ágætis Byrjun
Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Takk

Simon and Garfunkel
Bookends
Bridge over Troubled Waters
The Graduate
Greatest Hits
Parsley, Sage Rosemary and Thyme
Sounds of Silence
Wednesday Morning, 3 AM

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Pershing
SSLYBY / Puzzle split [7" split - lavender marble vinyl]

The Thrills
So Much for the City

The Weakerthans
Left and Leaving
Live at the Burton Cummings Theatre
Reconstruction Site

They Might Be Giants
Don't Lets Start [12" Single]
Factory Showroom
Flood
John Henry
Lincoln
They Might be Giants
They'll Need a Crane [12" single]

TV on the Radio
Nine Types of Light

Vampire Weekend
Modern Vampires in the City

Weezer
Weezer [The Blue Album]

Wilco
Being There

The Wooden Birds
Magnolia

Best Songs of 2013

2013-12-18T16:33:00.001-07:00

Its difficult to put these lists together, because, lets be honest, our top 20 songs lists may actually feature 1/2 of our favorite album rather than a song a piece from each of our favorite albums. But, that wouldn't make for a very interesting list. So - let me state that there are a lot of songs from my top 10 albums that I probably like better than some of these, but I tried to only feature 1 per artist.

Beta Love
from Ra Ra Riot - Beta Love

Oddly, this track comes from one of my less favorite albums of the year. Really. I didn't like the album much. But THIS is the track that stuck with me all year. Even after a million listens and in-the-car sing-alongs with my family, I still love it. So catchy. Plus, it features - hands down - my favorite music video of the year, and possibly one of my favorite music videos ever.

Byegone

from Volcano Choir - Repave

This comes from my #1 album of the year. Man, I wish it wasn't such a short album! For those not in the know, Volcano Choir is Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver) + Collections of Colonies of Bees, a post-rock instrumental experimental super group from Milwaukee. I found them years ago as they have some associations with Pele - one of my all-time favorite "post-rock instrumental experimental super groups." Volcano did an album a couple years ago, but it didn't quite click as most of it, from what I gather, wasn't a full collaboration between Vernon, et al. Whereas they actually wrote Repave together. The whole album is great, but Byegone is a real standout. This song that really gelled for me when they played it live on Jimmy Fallon. Unfortunately, NBC took the video down. Boo. You can grab some other great live performances of Comrade, or a full concert hosted by NPR.

Touch

from Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Get Lucky was the first track we all heard of the new Daft Punk album, and was my summer jam. However, even though it and Lose Yourself to Dance (my 3 year old son's favorite song - he says "this is my jam" when it comes on) were catchy and instant hits...they didn't have much staying power for me. They lacked substance and proved a bit shallow and repetitive. Ironically, Touch was one of my least favorite songs on the album. The vocals by Paul Williams REALLY rubbed me the wrong way. But, if you can get past his voice - which I did eventually - this song is immense. It has enormous depth and over the course of the last few months, has crept up on my list.

Stay Young

from Okkervil River - The Silver Gymnasium

This is a tough choice because The Silver Gymnasium has SO MANY good tracks. It Was My Season, Down the Deep River, Pink Slips, On a Balcony, Lido Pier Suicide Car, or nearly every other song on the album could be on here too.

Diane Young

Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

After a spectacular self-titled debut album, and so-so sophmore release (Contra), I was very happy to see Vampire Weekend put out a GREAT 3rd album. It topped a lot of peoples' lists. Obvious Bicycle, Step or Everlasting Arms were all strong contenters. But, I'll go with the Diane Young (Dyin' Young) for today.

6.
Born Too Late

from Dent May - Warm Blanket

I loved Dent May's first Ukulele-based album. It was ridiculous. For his 2nd album he dropped the Uke in favor of 80's electro-pop. I didn't like it. For his 3rd album, he kept the 80's flare, but fleshed the sound out with a lot more organic sounds - horns and such. The result is great. He has a gift for catchy pop melodies, and his over-the-top oldschool crooning is infectious.

Joy to You Baby

from Josh Ritter - The Beast in It's Tracks

Ah Josh Ritter. One of my favorite singer-songwriter balladiers ever. He's a poet (and an author - he wrote a book last year). The new album is a little hit and miss, but this track gives me goosebumps sometimes.

Criminal Fingers

from Criminal Fingers b/w The Bear and Maiden Fair [single]

Over the past 2 years I have had something of an obsession with The Hold Steady. Finn is a story teller and the characters, places, and narratives that run through all of their albums (recurring characters and scenes) sucked me in. I can't wait for their new album - hopefully coming next year.

Demons

from The National - Trouble Will Find Me

The great thing about this National album is that they come off as a band firmly comfortable with what they are - not trying to reinvent themselves - just doing what they do, and doing it well. This churner of a song is a great example.

10.

Bloodletter

from RA Scion - The Sickle and the Sword
Followers of the blog will have heard of RA Scion, formerly of Common Market, before. Kentucky born and raised, current Seattle-ite, he has been putting out socially conscious hip-hop for years and has reinvented himself so many times. The new album is spiritual, metaphysical, deep, and a bit spaced-out in content and production. The production is surprisingly ambient, but has really grown on me. Unfortunately, the producer Rodney Danger and him have gotten into a disagreement and RA Scion is now offering it for free. Although he has turned down many offers for donations to help him recoup the personal investment he put into it (and a beautiful video), I still think we should pass the plate. To make matter worse, this comes off him taking all of the proceeds from the album release party, and donating them to a local Seattle surf rock band La Luz whose equipment had recently been stolen. No good deed goes unpunished, I guess.

11.

Heart of Nowhere

from Noah and the Whale - Heart of Nowhere

Just like their last album, this one took a couple months to finally hook me - but it got me good. The entire album is catchy and great. This is the album opener, and a real standout - even in spite of the HORRIBLE guest vocals on the bridge by Anna Calvi.

12.
Default
from Atoms for Peace - Amok
News of Radiohead's Thom Yorke putting together a full album with his Atoms for Peace project was very exciting and I played this track repeatedly on my radio show last year. Standout on the album.

13.

Even if We Try

from Night Beds - Country Sleep

This comes from one of my early favorites for the year. New band. Great harmonies. Like Fleet Foxes meets Local Natives.

14.

Great Lake Derelict

from The Appleseed Cast - Illumination Ritual

Post-rock awesomeness + enigmatic vocals. I love me some Appleseed Cast!

15.

Fam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrins)

from Shad - Flying Colours

Shad is hands down my favorite Canadian hip-hop artist. Ok...also the only one I know. He is articulate, intelligent, self-deprecating in his humor, etc... Great message. Shout out to First Nations. Even some controversy on borders and transnational commerce / oil pipelines.

16.

If You Didn't See Me (Then You Weren't on the Dancefloor)

from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - The Speed of Things

Forgive them their name. These guys (from Detroit) put out great, unabashed, dance tunes.

17.

Grace for Saints and Ramblers

from Iron and Wine - Ghost on Ghost

Kind of a hit and miss album, but along with Caught in the Briars, this here is a highlight. Here's a great live version they did on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

18.

A New Life

from Jim James - Regions of Light and Sound of God

Another hit and miss album. The stand-out track here. Another live version, via Fallon and the Roots.

19.

Blues to Black

from Owen - L'Ami du Pueple

Mike Kinsella rarely disappoints. I often make the mistake of thinking of him as an acoustic singer-songwriter, but then remember that on most of his songs, he plays a full range of instruments - often layering his ALWAYS piercing lyrics with waves of electric guitars.

20.

Miracle Mile

from Cold War Kids - Dear Miss Lonelyhearts

Not their strongest album, but a handful of tunes worth keeping. The lead-off track here is the best.

Best Albums of 2013, Final Version

2013-12-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Best Albums of 2013

Final Version
For version 2.0 - January-October
For version 1.0 - January -July

For previous years see

Best of 2012
Best (songs) of 2012
Best of 2011

Best (songs) of 2011

Best of 2010

Best of 2009

Best of 2008

Best of 2007

As always, taking albums from a bunch of disperate genres and trying to stack them up against one another is an imprecise science. The difficulty of ranking early-in-the-year releases (which may be feeling stale 10 months later) with brand new ones about which you are still excited, is also difficult. With that preamble, I'll pretty firmly commit to the top 10-15 here. I think they are right where I want them. Beyond that, I would likely move things around from day to day depending on my mood - which is why I'm just going to post this and get it over with! Enjoy!

LPs

EPs

Singles / 7 inches / Misc

Best Albums of 2013, version 2.0

2013-10-22T10:04:00.005-06:00

Best Albums of 2013

Version 2.0
January-October

For previous years see

Best of 2012
Best (songs) of 2012
Best of 2011

Best (songs) of 2011

Best of 2010

Best of 2009

Best of 2008

Best of 2007

LPs

EPs

Singles / 7 inches / Misc

Best Albums of 2013, version 1.0

2013-07-23T17:00:00.000-06:00

Best Albums of 2013

Version 1.0
January-July

For previous years see

Best of 2012
Best (songs) of 2012
Best of 2011

Best (songs) of 2011

Best of 2010

Best of 2009

Best of 2008

Best of 2007

LPs

EPs

Singles / 7 inches / Misc

My Vinyl Collection (May 2013 update)

2013-01-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

I started collecting vinyl in January of 2008.
Here is what I have amassed.

(updated May 2013)

AC/DC
Back in Black

American Football
American Football

Andrew Bird
Armchair Apocrypha

Appleseed Cast
Illumination Ritual

Bahamas
Barchords

Band of Horses
Everything All the Time
Infinite Arms

Battles
Gloss Drop
Mirrored

The Beach Boys
Endless Summer

The Beatles
1962-1966
1967-1970
Abbey Road
Hey Jude
Let it Be
Magical Mystery Tour
Rubber Soul
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Beck
Modern Guilt
Odelay

The Bee Gees
Best of Bee Gees Vol. 1 [pre-disco]
Saturday Night Fever

Ben Folds Five
Ben Folds Five

Blackalicious
A2G [EP]
Blazing Arrow
The Craft
Deception [12" single]
Its Going Down (Sit Back) [12" single]
Nia

Bon Iver
Bon Iver

Brendan Benson
Alternative to Love

Bright Eyes
Four Winds [12" EP]
I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Built to Spill
Don't Try / The Source [7" single]

The City on Film
In Formal Introduction [marble gray vinyl]

Cake
Motorcade of Generosity

The Clash
London Calling

Colin Meloy
Colin Meloy Sings Live [autographed]

Common Market
Connect For [12" EP]
Tobacco Road

Counterfit
Super Amusement Machine for Your Exciting Heart [red vinyl]

Creedence Clearwater Revival
Chronicle

Damien Jurado
Caught in the Trees.
Hoquiam
I Break Chairs
Motorbike [7" single]
On My Way To Absence
Saint Bartlett
Trampoline [7" single]

Dear and the Headlights
Drunk Like Bible Times [Ale colored vinyl – 10" double LP]
Small Steps, Heavy Hooves [translucent gold colored vinyl]

Death Cab for Cutie
I will Possess your Heart [7" single]
Narrow Stairs
Plans

The Decemberists
Castaways and Cutouts
Colin Meloy Sings Live [autographed]
The Crane Wife
The Hazards of Love
Her Majesty
Picaresque + Picaresquities
The Tain + 5 Songs

Dent May
The Feel Good Music of Dent May and his Magnificent Ukulele

Dinosaur Jr.
I Bet on Sky

Dr. Dog
Fate
Shame Shame

Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Sun Giant EP

The Format
Dog Problems

The Fruit Bats
Spelled in Bones

G. Love & Special Sauce
Baby's Got Sauce / Cold Beverage 10"

The Get Up Kids
Four Minute Mile [translucent gold vinyl]
Guilt Show [red vinyl]
A Newfound Interest in Massachusetts / Off the Wagon [7"]
On a Wire
Red Letter Day [10" EP]
Simple Science [12" EP]
Something to Write Home About [lavender vinyl]

The Gloria Record
A Lull in Traffic [12" EP] [Marble white vinyl]

Grand Archives
Grand Archives [signed by the band]
Grand Archives – Sleep Driving / George Kaminski alt. versions [7"]

Great Lake Swimmers
Lost Channels

Hey Mercedes
Every Night Fireworks [SIGNED by the band]

The Hold Steady
Boys and Girls in America
Heaven is Whenever
Stay Positive

Iron & Wine
The Creek Drank the Cradle
In the Reins
Our Endless Numbered Days
Woman King

J. Tillman
A Year in the Kingdom
Minor Works [French Import]
Wild Honey Never Stolen / Borne Away On A Black Barge 7"

Jack Johnson
Brushfire Fairytales
On and On
Sleep Through the Static

Japandroids
Celebration Rock [white vinyl]

Jimmy Eat World
Clarity [2009 reissue]
Pain/Shame [7" clear green]

Josh Ritter
So Runs The World Away

The Animal Years

Joshua James
Build me This
The Sun is Always Brighter
Winter Storm / Lovers Without Love [7"]

Led Zeppelin
IV (Zoso)

Lifesavas
Gutterfly: The Original Soundtrack
Spirit in Stone

Local Natives
Gorilla Manor

The Long Winters
Putting the Days to Bed

The Mamas & the Papas
If you Can Believe your Eyes and Ears

Maritime
Glass Floor
Heresy and the Hotel Choir [clear vinyl] [hand numbered limited pressing]
We, the Vehicles [hand numbered clear blue vinyl]
Witches and Snowmen / Boy From School [limited edition 7" white vinyl]

Marvin Gaye
Every Great Motown Hit
Midnight Love

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
Take a Break

Michael Jackson
Bad
Thriller

Mike Doughty
Haughty Melodic

Minus the Bear
Highly Refined Pirates [blue swirly vinyl]
Omni
They Make Beer Commercials Like This EP [fruity pebbles colored vinyl]

The Mountain Goats
Get Lonely
Heretic Pride

The Mr. T Experience
Love is Dead

Mumford & Sons
Sigh No More

The National
High Violet

The New Amsterdams
At the Foot of my Rival

Nick Drake
Five Leaves Left

Okkervil River
Black Sheep Boy
The Standins

Onelinedrawing
Visitor [clear transparent vinyl]

Owen
At Home with Owen
No Good for No One Now

Panic at the Disco
Nine in the Afternoon [7" single]

Paul Simon
Graceland
Greatest hits, Etc

Pele
Enemies

Phantom Planet
Raise the Dead [marble blue vinyl]

Phoenix
Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Pinback
Autumn of Seraphs

The Postal Service
Give Up

The Promise Ring
Wood/Water [double 10"]

Radiohead
In Rainbows
King of Limbs

OK Computer
The Bends

Ratatat
Ratatat

Reggie and the Full Effect
Inside the Dust Sleeve (under the tray)

R.E.M.
Accelerate
Automatic for the People
Dead Letter Office
Document
Fables of the Reconstruction
Green
Life's Rich Pageant
Monster
New Adventures in Hi Fi
Reckoning
Wendell Gee [12" single]

Rogue Wave
Descended Like Vultures

Rocky Votolato
A Brief History [10" on opaque yellow vinyl]
Rocky Votolato s/t LP [yellow & orange vinyl]
Rocky Votolato & Seth Warren [7" on white vinyl]
Suicide Medicine [marble white vinyl] [autographed + set list]

Rush
2112

Saves the Day
Stay What you Are

Shearwater
The Golden Archipelago

Sigur Ros
( )
Ágætis Byrjun
Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Takk

Simon and Garfunkel
Bookends
Bridge over Troubled Waters
The Graduate
Greatest Hits
Parsley, Sage Rosemary and Thyme
Sounds of Silence
Wednesday Morning, 3 AM

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Pershing
SSLYBY / Puzzle split [7" split - lavender marble vinyl]

The Thrills
So Much for the City

The Weakerthans
Left and Leaving
Live at the Burton Cummings Theatre
Reconstruction Site

They Might Be Giants
Don't Lets Start [12" Single]
Factory Showroom
Flood
Lincoln
They Might be Giants
They'll Need a Crane [12" single]

TV on the Radio
Nine Types of Light

Weezer
Weezer [The Blue Album]

Wilco
Being There

The Wooden Birds
Magnolia

New Pinback video - Proceed to Memory

2013-01-14T10:10:00.001-07:00

New video for one of my favorite songs of 2012

Best Albums of 2012

2013-01-04T19:43:00.001-07:00

Best Albums of 2012

Final Version
~~Version 2.0 2.1 (January-June)~~

For previous years see

Best of 2011

Best (songs) of 2011

LPs

Bahamas - Barchords
Japandroids - Celebration Rock
The Tallest Man on Earth - There's No Leaving Now
The Mountain Goats - Transcendental Youth
Dinosaur Jr. - I Bet on Sky
Shearwater - Animal Joy
Damien Jurado - Maraqopa
Dr. Dog - Be the Void
Pinback - Information Retrieved
John K. Samson - Provincial
Ben Folds Five - The Sound of the Life of the Mind
Gift of Gab - The Next Logical Progression
Andrew Bird - Break it Yourself
Joshua James - From the Top of Willamette Mountain
Mumford & Sons - Babel
Ben Kweller - Go Fly a Kite
Calexico - Algiers
Ben Gibbard - Former Lives
fun. - Some Nights
Father John Misty - Fear Fun
Rocky Votolato - Television of Saints
The Walkmen - Heaven
Band of Horses - Mirage Rock
Minus the Bear - Infinity Overhead
Dent May - Do Things
Sigur Ros - Valtari
The Avett Brothers - The Carpenter
Bambu - ...one rifle per family
The Lumineers - The Lumineers
Matt Pryor - May Day
Matt Pryor - Still There's a Light
Beach House - Bloom
Less than Jake - Greetings and Salutations
Sun Kil Moon - Among the Leaves
Bob Mould - Silver Age
Mike Doughty - Lo-Fi Lodge
Brendan Benson - What Kind of World
Great Lake Swimmers - New Wild Everywhere
James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning
Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes
Jonah Matranga - Voices + Dedications
Jack White - Blunderbuss
For all the Girls (Drew Danburry) - For all the Girls
Lyrics Born - Lyrics Born Variety Show: Season 5
Rufus Wainwright - Out of the Game
Galactic - Carnivale Electricos
Fanfarlo - Rooms Filled with Light
Mike Doughty - The Flip is Another Honey

EPs

RA Scion - Beg, Borrow, Steal [Free EP]
Damien Jurado - Maraqopa Sessions Blue/Red/Yellow 3x7" series
Dr. Dog - Wild Race
Shad - Melancholy and the Infinite Shadness
Rocky Votolato - The Let Go EP
Andrew Bird - Hands of Glory
Josh Ritter - Bringing in the Darlings
Sam Means - Nona
Josh Ritter - Five Angels (included with Bright's Passage audiobook)

Singles / 7 inches / Misc

Atoms for Peace - Default [single] b/t What the Eyeballs Do
Iron & Wine - One More Try [single] b/t Trouble
Blue Scholars - May Day [single]
Local Natives - Breakers
Jeremy Enigk - Last Rights [Damien Jurado cover] [Free Download from Seattle Times]
Blue Scholars - The Decisive Moment [single on soundcloud]
The Mountain Goats - Steal Smoked Fish [single] b/t In the Shadow of the Western Hills
Andrew Bird - The Crown Salesman [single] b/t So Much Wine
Bon Iver - Towers [single] b/t Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Cold War Kids - Minimum Day [single]
Beach House - Lazuli [single] b/t Equal Mind

Top 25 Songs of 2012

2012-12-11T11:51:00.000-07:00

Last year when compiling my Best Albums of the Year list, I realized that some of my favorite songs were not on my favorite albums. So, I started a supplementary year-end list of individual songs. Here it is for 2012.

I will be playing this on my radioshow Wednesday, December 12th from 8:00-10:00 CST. You can stream the show online here.

Stay tuned for the upcoming "Best Albums of the Year" list

1. Lost in the Light, by Bahamas from Barchords

2. Working Titles, by Damien Jurado, from Maraqopa

3. Watch the Corners, by Dinosaur Jr., from I Bet on Sky

4. We Can't be Beat, by The Walkmen, from Heaven

5. There's No Leaving Now, by The Tallest Man on Earth, from There's No Leaving Now

6. The House that Heaven Built, by Japandroids, from Celebration Rock

7. Do it Anyway, by Ben Folds Five, from The Sound of the Life of the Mind

8. Proceed to Memory, by Pinback, from Information Retrieved

9. That Old Black Hole, by Dr. Dog, from Be the Void

10. Pretty Girl from Michigan, by the Avett Brothers, from The Carpenter

11. Insolence, by Shearwater, from Animal Joy

12. Danse Carribe, by Andrew Bird, from Break it Yourself

13. Beg, by RA Scion, from Beg Borrow Steal [EP]

14. Surrender, by Joshua James, from From the Top of Willamette Mountain

15. Mean to Me, by Ben Kweller, from Go Fly a Kite

16. May Day, by Blue Scholars, from May Day single

17. Rise, by Gift of Gab, from The Next Logical Progression

18. Lakeside View Apartments Suite, by The Mountain Goats, from Transcendental Youth

19. I Gave Away my Brain, by The Go Reflex, from Balls Benefit Compilation

I Gave Away My Brain by The Go Reflex

20. Default, by Atoms for Peace, from Default single

21. Lover of the Light, by Mumford & Sons, from Babel

22. I Got You Babe, by Bahamas, from Barchords

23. Fun Times in Babylon, by Father John Misty, from Fear Fun

24. Duncan, Where Have you Gone?, by Ben Gibbard, from Former Lives

25. Some Nights, by fun., from Some Nights

New Ben Folds Five video - Do it Anyway ft. Fraggle Rock and Rob Corddry

2012-09-17T10:14:00.001-06:00

Ben Folds Five + Fraggle Rock + Rob Corddry + Chris Hardwick + Anna Kendrick. Yup. This exists. Awesome.

Radio Show, Wednesdays 8:00-10:00 PM, CST

2012-08-24T09:02:00.002-06:00

Hello world. I am excited to announce that starting next Wednesday I will be DJing a weekly radio show from 8:00-10:00 PM, CST. If you live in the Kearney, Nebraska area you can tune in to 91.1 KLPR. For the rest of you, listen live on your computer by clicking here: http://mcluhan.unk.edu/klpr/klpr.pls

On August 29th's inaugural show we will hear songs from the following bands:

The Hold Steady
Japandroids
Jeremy Enigk
Gift Of Gab
Damien Jurado
TV On The Radio
Radiohead
Owen
The Go Reflex
Noah and the Whale
Maritime
Lifesavas
Iron & Wine
Nick Drake
Iron & Wine
The Head and the Heart
Cold War Kids
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Shearwater
The National
Local Natives
Josh Ritter
Dr. Dog
The Promise Ring
Ben Folds
Hey Mercedes
Blue Scholars

Best Albums of 2012: version 2.0

2012-06-28T08:07:00.004-06:00

Best Albums of 2012

Version ~~2.0~~ 2.1 (January-June)

For previous years see

Best of 2011

Best (songs) of 2011

LPs

Japandroids - Celebration Rock
Shearwater - Animal Joy
Damien Jurado - Maraqopa
Dr. Dog - Be the Void
John K. Samson - Provincial
Gift of Gab - The Next Logical Progression
Ben Kweller - Go Fly a Kite
Father John Misty - Fear Fun
Andrew Bird - Break it Yourself
Bahamas - Barchords
fun. - Some Nights
Rocky Votolato - Television of Saints
Dent May - Do Things
Sigur Ros - Valtari
The Lumineers - The Lumineers
Matt Pryor - May Day
Matt Pryor - Still There's a Light
Beach House - Bloom
Sun Kil Moon - Among the Leaves
Brendan Benson - What Kind of World
Great Lake Swimmers - New Wild Everywhere
James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning
Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes
Jack White - Blunderbuss
For all the Girls (Drew Danburry) - For all the Girls
Lyrics Born - Lyrics Born Variety Show: Season 5
Rufus Wainwright - Out of the Game
Galactic - Carnivale Electricos
Fanfarlo - Rooms Filled with Light

EPs

RA Scion - Beg, Borrow, Steal [Free EP]
Damien Jurado - Maraqopa Sessions Blue/Red/Yellow 3x7" series
Rocky Votolato - The Let Go EP
Josh Ritter - Bringing in the Darlings
Sam Means - Nona
Less than Jake - Seasons Greetings

Singles / 7 inches / Misc

Iron & Wine - One More Try [single] b/t Trouble
Blue Scholars - May Day [single]
Jeremy Enigk - Last Rights [Damien Jurado cover] [Free Download from Seattle Times]
Andrew Bird - The Crown Salesman [single] b/t So Much Wine
Bon Iver - Towers [single] b/t Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Cold War Kids - Minimum Day [single]
Beach House - Lazuli [single] b/t Equal Mind

Japandroids do Fallon

2012-06-12T10:23:00.001-06:00

This just might be my #1 album of the year so far.

Father John Misty (J. Tillman) does Letterman

2012-05-02T07:50:00.002-06:00

Wow. I didn't see this coming. My old favorite solo singer-songwriter, J. Tillman (also former drummer from Fleet Foxes) is really pushing the PR campaign with his new project, Father John Misty. The shimmy shimmy swagger on stage is a bit off-putting though.

Best Albums of 2012: version 1.0

2012-03-27T17:55:00.000-06:00

Best Albums of 2012

Version 1.0 (January-March)

For previous years see

Best of 2011

Best (songs) of 2011

LPs

Shearwater - Animal Joy
Damien Jurado - Maraqopa
Dr. Dog - Be the Void
Andrew Bird - Break it Yourself
Gift of Gab - The Next Logical Progression
fun. - Some Nights
John K. Samson - Provincial
Father John Misty - Fear Fun
Ben Kweller - Go Fly a Kite
Rocky Votolato - Television of Saints
Matt Pryor - May Day
Matt Pryor - Still There's a Light
Great Lake Swimmers - New Wild Everywhere
Beach House - Bloom
Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes
For all the Girls (Drew Danburry) - For all the Girls
Lyrics Born - Lyrics Born Variety Show: Season 5
Galactic - Carnivale Electricos
Fanfarlo - Rooms Filled with Light

EPs

RA Scion - Beg, Borrow, Steal [Free EP]
Damien Jurado - Maraqopa Sessions Blue/Red/Yellow 3x7" series
Rocky Votolato - The Let Go EP
Josh Ritter - Bringing in the Darlings
Less than Jake - Seasons Greetings

Singles / 7 inches / Misc

Jeremy Enigk - Last Rights [Damien Jurado cover] [Free Download from Seattle Times]
Andrew Bird - The Crown Salesman [single] b/t So Much Wine
Bon Iver - Towers [single] b/t Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Cold War Kids - Minimum Day [single]

New Sigur Ros Album + track

2012-03-26T12:00:00.001-06:00

Valtari
Out May 28th

Listen to the first single, Ekki Mukk, below:

Sigur Rós - Ekki múkk from Sigur Rós on Vimeo.