#Most Disappointing Albums of 2008

I know I don’t take the time to post much here, but I will take the time to post the obligatory “best of” list. that will come soon, but tonight i’d like to take a look at the albums I was most disappointed by this year, in no particular order.

Way To Normal // Ben Folds

For most of his career, Ben Folds has made a living from being a snarky little snot. this played well early on; I still love his old stuff, even though Tyler may not. on Songs For Silverman, though, Ben started showing signs of a maturing songwriter. The arrangements were more thought out, more musical, and restrained when they needed to be. The songwriting itself took on a more meaningful air, with songs like “Jesusland” and “Landed.” With 2008’s Way To Normal, though, it seems Mr. Folds has had enough of being 40 - he’d like to go back to 15. Yet, while these songs don’t ring as true as the old ones. there are a couple I enjoy, like “Effington” and “You Don’t Know Me.” but “Bitch Went Nuts” and “Brainwashed” just aren’t really what I expected or was wanting after the triumph that was Silverman.

Loyalty to Loyalty // Cold War Kids

Robbers & Cowards has been one of my favorite records for a while. I love how it seems like it’s about to fall apart into a big mess at any moment, how the band moves and sways haphazardly in and out of time and synch with each other, yet always manages to make a great tune. On this one, the immediacy is gone, and lyrics are too preachy. If I want an artist to tell me what we should and shouldn’t be doing, I’ll listen. But, unfortunately for cold war kids, I answer to someone a little higher than them. 

The Odd Couple // Gnarls Barkley

This one will probably be on everyone’s list that makes this kind of list, and with good reason. Odd Couple just does not compare with their debut, St. Elsewhere. Admittedly, it would have to be a pretty damn good record to compare with that one, but it’s the same people that made it, no? Gnarls Barkley is one of those neat little collabos that probably should have stopped at one, like The Postal Service (maybe?). In the meantime, Cee-Lo can go back to wearing wedding dresses, and Danger Mouse can keep on producing quality albums of bands that he is not in.

Chinese Democracy // Guns And Roses

Ok, so maybe not. Not that it’s not disappointing, but that my expectations weren’t really that high. But come on, 14 years to make? It sounds like Axl stopped working on it in 1996. That is disappointing. 

Tennessee Pusher // Old Crow Medicine Show

Up until this album, OCMS was everyone’s favorite outlaw bluegrass band, sort of the bandits of Appalachia. With this album, it seems they’ve moved up a little too far in the world. Where are the ramblin’, rowdy songs about cocaine? The great sweet songs like “Wagon Wheel?” Not on this one.

I’m sure there are more disappointing albums out there, and you are free to share them. These are just the ones I listened to and immediately felt bummed about it. The best are coming soon.

#This House Is Eating Me Alive

In tribute to my boredom, a mixtape.

As the end of the year approaches, so do my commitments and obligations. In other words, I’ve become more than acquainted with my couch. This is a collection of songs I’ve been listening to while getting to know said couch.

1. Graveyard Girl // M83
2. P.Y.T. // Michael Jackson
3. Okie Dokie // Dan Deacon
4. Neon Knights // MSTRKRFT
5. Cato As A Pun // Of Montreal
6. My Favorite Things // Outkast
7. Message In A Bottle // The Police
8. Sleep All Day // Silverchair
9. If It Works // Tokyo Police Club
10. Bitches In Tokyo // Stars
11. They Never Got You // Spoon
12. Death Take Your Fiddle // Spiritualized
13. Scythian Empires // Andrew Bird
14. Winter Wonderland // Animal Collective
15. 1000BPM // Beck
16. I’m So Tired // The Beatles

Listen on Spotify

#4 Lanes to the Coast

This weekend, I decided to go back home. I hadn’t seen the fam in a while, and it was my little brother’s birthday. On the way there, I decided I should make a playlist about it. I’ve also been wanting to make one of those beginning-is-the-end-is-the-beginning lists. So, I combined them.

Really, going home was just a starting point…at some points it was really tough to make it work and sound cohesive. I think it turned out pretty well, though. Tell me what you think! and enjoy some cover art.

1. To Go Home // M. Ward
2. Home Life // John Mayer
3. Life Is Beautiful // Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
4. Beautiful Child // Rufus Wainwright
5. The Child Is Gone // Fiona Apple
6. Gone For Good // The Shins
7. Good Man // Josh Ritter
8. Man On The Moon // R.E.M.
9. Moon Woman II // Elvis Perkins
10. Woman! Man! // Gomez
11. Man In A Shed // Nick Drake
12. Shed Your Love // The Helio Sequence
13. Love Is Different // Caedmon’s Call
14. Different Names For The Same Thing // Death Cab For Cutie
15. Things Ain’t Like They Used To Be // The Black Keys
16. Be Somebody // Kings Of Leon
17. Somebody Remembers The Rose // Whiskeytown
18. Rose Of My Heart // Johnny Cash

Listen on Spotify

#FM Radio Doesn’t Suck

Yes. I just said “fm radio” and “doesn’t suck” in the same sentence. At least not anymore (here in Birmingham anyway).

While a relative newcomer to the area, I have noticed that the radio around here is somewhat lacking. The only real options I have are to listen to AM 960, or The Vulcan, where it’s cool to spin “Lightning Crashes” by Live 4 times an hour (I kid not…) but now we have a choice. 100.5 WWMM has come online, and boy, is it good. so far. 

Here’s the first hour’s playlist:

1. Radio Nowhere // Bruce Springsteen
2. Radio Free Europe // R.E.M.
3. I Will Possess Your Heart // Death Cab For Cutie
4. Daughter // Pearl Jam
5. Viva La Vida // Coldplay
6. You Get What You Give // New Radicals
7. Suddenly I See // KT Tunstall
8. Don’t You Evah // Spoon
9. All These Things That I’ve Done // The Killers
10. Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses // U2
11. Hallelujah // Jeff Buckley
12. Shattered // O.A.R.
13. 1234 // Feist
14. So Lonely // The Police
15. Mercy // Duffy

A little heavy on the nostalgia, but definitely worth listening to. This post was mainly for Tyler…I know he’ll be interested.

#The Dusk Of Summer

If you don’t already know, yewknee has been running The 2nd Annual Summer Mix Series over at his site. Since I love making stellar mixes of other people’s music, Casey and I decided to make one ourselves. This here, The Dusk Of Summer, is the product of at least two late nights and much file transferring. And boy, is it worth the wait.

The theme is, obviously, the end of summer. School is starting back (for the less-employed of us), girlfriends are leaving town, and your usually peaceful downtown entertainment district home is about to be flooded with unruly youngins. So burn this to a disc (or, if you are hardcore, record it onto an actual magnetic tape), sit back, and listen. Preferably in your car, in the evening, driving to somewhere you wish you were but know you will from now on only be visiting. But you can make your own applications. This might be the best baby-making music you ever heard. Whatever you do with it, enjoy it.

Here’s the tracklist:

1. I Will Possess Your Heart // Death Cab For Cutie
2. On The Radio // Autovaughn
3. Hallelujah // The Helio Sequence
4. Black Like Me // Spoon
5. Someone To Keep Us Warm // The Silent Years
6. Indian Summer // Pedro The Lion
7. Dream Cars // Neon Neon
8. Not Lived Out // Disappointed By Candy
9. Three Seed // Silversun Pickups
10. Count Souvenirs // Junior Boys
11. There Goes The Sun // The Pernice Brothers
12. My Own Fault // Maria Taylor
13. Gold In The Air Of Summer // Kings Of Convenience
14. The Summer Ends // American Football
15. Burned And Blistered // Chris Staples

Listen on Spotify

#Pretty in Garnet

This weekend, a bunch of AC’s friends came into town to go shopping for dresses (bridesmaid and bride) for the upcoming nuptials. The ones they chose are very classy (the bridesmaids) and supposedly classy (the bride; I have not and will not see it until the day of).

Speaking of the day of, keep your calendars open for January 10. We have pretty much settled on this day, so I can almost gay-ron-tea it. If you go to the great Wikipedia, you can see all the famous and moderately famous people that have been born and pronounced dead on this day. There’s also a large list of events, one of which is, ironically, the secession of Florida (my home state) from the union. We all saw how that turned out, so maybe I’m making the best decision.

I am currently designing the invitations, directions card, bulletins, all that, doing my best imitation of one that AC found online that she really liked. Mississippi State printing services is much more reasonable than the invitation sites. Like, 200% more reasonable.

We also want to get Chris Scott’s services for photographer. If you have not seen this man’s abilities, please check him out. And please do not book him for Jan 10.

Well, on to work. Yes, work. On a Sunday. but it’s important. It’s nice to be doing something important now, rather than school.