tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290406693997837972024-03-14T04:02:30.042-04:00Forget What You've HeardWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.comBlogger227125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-6934064588245296672012-02-15T23:04:00.004-05:002012-02-15T23:08:38.783-05:00Happy Birthday, Lorelai<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DYYXkr6gojk/TzyBHQXzwcI/AAAAAAAABnU/VYaRpPX1m9I/s1600/bear.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DYYXkr6gojk/TzyBHQXzwcI/AAAAAAAABnU/VYaRpPX1m9I/s400/bear.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709580389252841922" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Happy Birthday to the coolest dog I know.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Today, she's 7 - Happy Day, Bearie!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nR2t4_Vozt4/TzyA4XKWvCI/AAAAAAAABnM/6xIyrQio6KQ/s1600/bearie1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nR2t4_Vozt4/TzyA4XKWvCI/AAAAAAAABnM/6xIyrQio6KQ/s400/bearie1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709580133377424418" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-57507423678241754552011-10-21T12:40:00.002-04:002011-10-21T12:51:10.395-04:00SEC Football Suspensions<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JY1Qfhotb4w/TqGix7247II/AAAAAAAABmw/mJmO2m8fK6o/s1600/honey_badger_dont_care_medium.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JY1Qfhotb4w/TqGix7247II/AAAAAAAABmw/mJmO2m8fK6o/s400/honey_badger_dont_care_medium.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665988784973999234" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >UGA's</span></b> got thugs out for cheap shots</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >Vandy's</span></b> taking cheap shots, too....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" >LSU Tigers</span></b> have been using synthetic Marijauna (what is that? Hydroponics? Salvia?)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Tyrann "The Honey Badger" Mathieu</i></b> is suspended for the game against Aubie this weekend.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">In his honor, we present: <span class="Apple-style-span" >The Honey Badger</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4r7wHMg5Yjg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-20823526643450772982011-09-13T23:17:00.003-04:002011-09-13T23:20:42.971-04:00New (Kind of..) Surfer Blood<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgWDktMoZzI/TnAdXDae4ZI/AAAAAAAABmo/_q3vV-Rrle8/s1600/Surfer%2Bblood"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 319px; height: 319px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HgWDktMoZzI/TnAdXDae4ZI/AAAAAAAABmo/_q3vV-Rrle8/s400/Surfer%2Bblood" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652049814240551314" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">These Florida boys have a new EP, <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Tarot Classics</span>, out October 25th with some new old stuff. You can listen to a new version of their B-side, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">Miranda</span> (<a href="http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-stream-surfer-bloods-hard-hitting-new-version-of-miranda-20110912">here</a>).</span><br /></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-45473762622647375922011-08-24T14:19:00.003-04:002011-08-24T14:24:22.769-04:00American Goldwing and the Great NW<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Au0u1hnKN1U/TlVBVbbBHrI/AAAAAAAABmg/-9w7UNymQHk/s1600/Blitzen.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Au0u1hnKN1U/TlVBVbbBHrI/AAAAAAAABmg/-9w7UNymQHk/s400/Blitzen.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644489544372919986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.subpop.com/promo/release/63c4ad7f45066fe75741b216befe9da7">
<br /></a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.subpop.com/promo/release/63c4ad7f45066fe75741b216befe9da7">Blitzen Trapper</a></b> really churn out the albums.... American Goldwing is out next month. Just at work listening to the stream of it....</div><div style="text-align: center;">Makes me wanna head to the NW.... so does this....</div>
<br /><iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/l2LBICPEK6w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-65306339632876453422011-08-20T12:19:00.002-04:002011-08-20T12:20:52.309-04:00"Is There a Ralph's Near here?"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ixf-HVHSERQ/Tk_e0YVL1iI/AAAAAAAABmQ/FAWNTVSOOaA/s1600/Lebowski%2Breunion.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ixf-HVHSERQ/Tk_e0YVL1iI/AAAAAAAABmQ/FAWNTVSOOaA/s400/Lebowski%2Breunion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642973849584391714" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lebowski Reunion kicks off the NYC Lebowski-Fest
<br />The Dude abides...
<br /></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-5330105272169372842011-08-16T14:31:00.002-04:002011-08-16T14:32:12.171-04:00Is Your Brain Working?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BGV_r0Smn4/Tkq3pgJe39I/AAAAAAAABmI/KBNkL4bgLCg/s1600/tumblr_lpdrw8II3o1qbehnoo1_500.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BGV_r0Smn4/Tkq3pgJe39I/AAAAAAAABmI/KBNkL4bgLCg/s400/tumblr_lpdrw8II3o1qbehnoo1_500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641523406867193810" border="0" /></a>
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<br />Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-78741782190709802632011-08-11T13:02:00.003-04:002011-08-11T13:06:55.817-04:00Saturdays Surf NYC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HtN03X2RXpc/TkQL7oKS5nI/AAAAAAAABmA/p8jK3cy5QYQ/s1600/Sat.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 470px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HtN03X2RXpc/TkQL7oKS5nI/AAAAAAAABmA/p8jK3cy5QYQ/s400/Sat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639645752395490930" border="0" /></a>
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Anyone ever been to this place? <a href="http://www.saturdaysnyc.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Saturdays Surf NYC</span></a>. I'm no surfer, and I'm no New Yorker. BUT, I've kinda got a crush on this place... Where else can you get Surfboards and Espresso? Costa Rica? Their Accessories are the fun stuff along with their T-Shirts....
<br /></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-34097878552871468272011-06-09T10:19:00.004-04:002011-06-09T10:25:48.691-04:00Nintendo's Next System<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-glIG3wF7P3I/TfDXlSefQAI/AAAAAAAABlw/JYQBUlMIVZ0/s400/Wii%2Bu.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 283px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225770945855490" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So, E3 is this week. It's pretty much the big nerdy video game conference each year. Is it as nerdy as Comic-Con? Close. Here is a clip from Nintendo's press conference showcasing the new system, Wii U. Pretty insane... That's the controller above, and that's Zelda below along with the clip showing more...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q13wqTmawkM/TfDXyBvbd5I/AAAAAAAABl4/AMN6KQhlQak/s400/zelda-wii-u-5181010.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616225989791807378" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="480" height="310" id="videoPlayer"><div style="text-align: center;"><embed id="mymovie" width="480" height="310" flashvars="bwr=0&playerMode=embedded&movieAspect=16.9&mapp=embedded_480&gen=1&viewMode=sd&autoPlay=false&paramsXML=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gamespot.com%2Fpages%2Fvideo_player%2Fxml.php%3Fid%3D6317708%26mode%3Dembedded%26width%3D480%26height%3D310%26newplayer%3D1%26skin%3DeidotheaEmbedded480_169.xml" wmode="opaque" allowscriptaccess="always" scale="noScale" salign="lt" allowfullscreen="true" quality="high" name="mymovie" style="" src="http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/cne_flash/production/eidothea/release/eidothea.swf?ver=008_11" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></div><param name="movie" value="http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/cne_flash/production/eidothea/release/eidothea.swf?ver=008_11"><param name="scale" value="noScale"><param name="salign" value="lt"><param name="quality" value="high"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="flashvars" value="bwr=0&playerMode=embedded&movieAspect=16.9&mapp=embedded_480&gen=1&viewMode=sd&autoPlay=false&paramsXML=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gamespot.com%2Fpages%2Fvideo_player%2Fxml.php%3Fid%3D6317708%26mode%3Dembedded%26width%3D480%26height%3D310%26newplayer%3D1%26skin%3DeidotheaEmbedded480_169.xml"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></object>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-85239188008642839252011-06-01T21:18:00.002-04:002011-06-01T21:22:00.303-04:00The Strokes on Ellen?<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/strokes-ellen-150x150.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 193px;" src="http://c438342.r42.cf2.rackcdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/strokes-ellen-150x150.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><img src="file:///Users/wakin/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2011/06/the_strokes_sing_gratisfaction_0601.php">CLICK HERE</a> to see the Strokes make their daytime television debut. Ellen. How funny...<br /></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-14254273317571701942011-03-22T10:07:00.003-04:002011-03-22T10:14:43.810-04:00Happy Strokes Day<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">FWYH</span></span> has gone back to its original banner/header in honor of the release of<a href="http://new.thestrokes.com/"> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">the Strokes</span></a> new album, <a href="http://www.insound.com/Angles-Vinyl-LP-The-Strokes/P/INS90926/"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Angles</span></a>. Welcome back, fellas.<br /></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-61966738704795252272011-03-15T09:54:00.004-04:002011-03-15T10:37:40.280-04:001 Week Until ANGLES<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1UmEOyKLp0/TX92HImk-9I/AAAAAAAABlU/iTYsVo4Trpw/s1600/strokes634_2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1UmEOyKLp0/TX92HImk-9I/AAAAAAAABlU/iTYsVo4Trpw/s400/strokes634_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584311927903157202" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >The Strokes</span> have placed <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Angles </span>on full stream on their website <a href="http://new.thestrokes.com/featured/listen-to-angles-here">(Click)</a>. One week from today, this new venture will be in the public's hands. As a Stroke fanboy from the get-go 10 years ago, I wait with baited breath. A four year hiatus with numerous solo acts (<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Albert Hammond</span>'s two albums, Fabrizio's <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Little Joy</span>, Julian Casablancas - <span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Phrazes for the Young</span>, and Nikolai's <span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">NickleEye</span>), the band is back together. After reading the review of 2006's First Impressions of Earth and the subsequent cover story in SPIN, I feared the worst. I was reminded of reading about the Beatles circa Abbey Road and the White Album. The boys of NYC are no Fab Four, but they were just as disjointed. Recording their parts individually with engineers and the like rarely being together as a band in the studio. Tensions were high. SPIN stated that this sounded like the last Strokes album. I agreed... While technically savvy, F.I.O.E. was a mess. Polished in many ways but in the end it seemed like lipstick on a pig. Nothing cures tensions like a lengthy Tour.... I was sure they were done. Apparently, we were wrong.<br /><br />As I await Angles, I find myself back in 2005/6. Has absence made the heart grow fonder? For them? For me? For anyone? The recording process went down much like they did in '05. The band got together in the studio in NYC or in upstate NY at Hammond's place. The common theme was the lack of a lead singer. Julian was never in the studio as a creative force. In an attempt to lessen his hold on the "wheel" of the band, he stepped back. There are other creative voices at work in this group, and he let them speak. While the band laid down the tracks upstate, Julian was on tour promoting his solo debut. Later, he would step into famed Electric Ladyland studios in Manhattan to record vocal tracks that would be sent as digital files to the rest of the band. This situation had to make for a frustrating process. Lead guitarist, Nick Valensi, was the lone member without a solo effort. Did he like the idea of going rogue?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">"I'm not a huge supporter of side/solo stuff. I'm of the opinion that you're in a band and that's what you do. If there's leftover material and time, then sure, by all means. But if you're playing material that you haven't even shown to your main band and you're just sort of keeping it for yourself, I'm not a big fan of that."</span><br /></div><br />The band's original fan club started in 2001 under the guise Alone, Together (after the Is This It track). This moniker couldn't describe the state of the band any better... With the fourth album looming, Julian has his reservations.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Do you like the finished product?<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> Julian: "I mean... yes... It's a tough question because I think the whole point was that I was going to let things go so there's a bunch of stuff [on the record] I wouldn't have done."</span><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Is <span style="font-style: italic;">this </span>the last Strokes album?<br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0); font-style: italic;">Julian: "I definitely think there will be a fifth Strokes album. I mean, I hope so."</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Time to hold my breath....<br /><br /></div></div><br /><object height="400" width="250"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=25012451&style=metal&bbg=579DD6&bfg=74BF43&bt=CD231F&bth=579DD6&pbg=CD231F&pbgh=74BF43&pfg=579DD6&pfgh=CD231F&si=CD231F&lbg=CD231F&lbgh=74BF43&lfg=579DD6&lfgh=CD231F&sb=CD231F&sbh=74BF43&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=25012451&style=metal&bbg=579DD6&bfg=74BF43&bt=CD231F&bth=579DD6&pbg=CD231F&pbgh=74BF43&pfg=579DD6&pfgh=CD231F&si=CD231F&lbg=CD231F&lbgh=74BF43&lfg=579DD6&lfgh=CD231F&sb=CD231F&sbh=74BF43&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window" height="400" width="250"></embed></object>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-43058321735800606312011-03-14T16:09:00.004-04:002011-03-14T16:32:18.991-04:00Death Cab for Beastie Boys<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mjyC99dblo/TX56X8MDsvI/AAAAAAAABlM/2vPxz548NnI/s1600/beasties_1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 177px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3mjyC99dblo/TX56X8MDsvI/AAAAAAAABlM/2vPxz548NnI/s400/beasties_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584035139698275058" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Wha? Album art and release date confirmation has arrived from the both camps (<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Death Cab for Cutie</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Beastie Boys</span>). Ben Gibbard and Co. are ready with their follow up to 2008's Narrow Stairs, while Adrock, Mike D, and MCA are back with <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Hot Sauce Committee Part 2</span>! Part 1 was shelved in 2009 due to MCA's cancer bought, but Part 2 appears eerily similar.... Either way, 2011 is shaping up well so far!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beastie Boys - May 3</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Death Cab - May 31</span><br /><br /><object width="640" height="390"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HNB8pNqwrKw&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-30843475855559349832011-03-03T00:02:00.003-05:002011-03-03T00:05:20.930-05:00God Bless, Italy (not Galliano)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aZ9E5GGtYxQ/TW8fQcmwD_I/AAAAAAAABks/v-kY0mcRSjI/s1600/ALbini.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 472px; height: 251px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aZ9E5GGtYxQ/TW8fQcmwD_I/AAAAAAAABks/v-kY0mcRSjI/s400/ALbini.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579712830752428018" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Videos of the higher ups at J. Crew bombing around Italy - awesome...<br /></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9EH9QD-klDU/TW8fz4y9MwI/AAAAAAAABk0/1eZujPEQtUY/s1600/shoe.jpg"><br /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IeykQIFn4As/TW8f7GKo5qI/AAAAAAAABk8/DVni9I8XxDY/s1600/shoe.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IeykQIFn4As/TW8f7GKo5qI/AAAAAAAABk8/DVni9I8XxDY/s400/shoe.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579713563463313058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />About a <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Navigation/made-in-italy.jsp#/shoe/video">SHOE</a> (CLICK HERE)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgP5TQeFBGo/TW8gGXggO1I/AAAAAAAABlE/5tahObb4-LM/s1600/thread.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cgP5TQeFBGo/TW8gGXggO1I/AAAAAAAABlE/5tahObb4-LM/s400/thread.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579713757096983378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />About a <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Navigation/made-in-italy.jsp#/thread/video"><span style="font-weight: bold;">THREAD COUNT</span></a> (CLICK HERE)<br /><br />How great to see people that take such pride in their work? (work that many Americans would snub their nose at) - Bravo, J. Crew - way to step it up the past couple of years...<br /><br /><br />and a silly video or two for a laugh<br /><object width="480" height="360"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/x84dmr?theme=none"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object><div style="text-align: center;"><object width="480" height="360"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/video/x84dmr?theme=none" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="480" height="360"></embed></object><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dailymotion.com/us/channel/music"></a></i><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KdN36f2l8h4" allowfullscreen="" width="480" frameborder="0" height="390"></iframe>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-47450870341483866392011-02-09T11:36:00.006-05:002011-02-10T12:08:44.800-05:00New PAINS of BEING PURE at HEART<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zt4_GWEu1c8/TVQZfepu-wI/AAAAAAAABkc/zf1QGq6R0bA/s1600/pobpah-belong-300x300.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zt4_GWEu1c8/TVQZfepu-wI/AAAAAAAABkc/zf1QGq6R0bA/s400/pobpah-belong-300x300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572106667558894338" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">POBPAH</span> are back with the first single off next month's new album, <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;">BELONG</span> (March 29 - <a href="http://www.insound.com/Belong-Vinyl-LP-The-Pains-of-Being-Pure-At-Heart/P/INS91154/">Pre-order</a>)<br /><object height="81" width="100%"><param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9980475&"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed allowscriptaccess="always" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9980475&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="81" width="100%"></embed></object><span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/slumberland-records/the-pains-belong">The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Belong</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/slumberland-records">Slumberland Records</a></span><br />Gone are the Robert Smith influences. They've traded "<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Friday I'm in Love</span>" for "<span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Cherub Rock</span>". 90's alt-rock is very apparent on this track. Hmmm....<br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lhruzMJ6OK4" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/t1N_qX_r4Iw" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-2953899711883903782011-02-07T18:40:00.004-05:002011-02-10T12:10:48.527-05:00The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">***UPDATED***</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TVCDJ5vntfI/AAAAAAAABkU/3DabQEIbOOg/s1600/the-strokes-under-cover-of-darkness-30-second-preview-stream.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TVCDJ5vntfI/AAAAAAAABkU/3DabQEIbOOg/s400/the-strokes-under-cover-of-darkness-30-second-preview-stream.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571096945199920626" border="0" /></a>Well the new album almost here - until then here IS </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><style>@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }table.MsoNormalTable { font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style><s> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">a teaser of</span></s> the 1st single....<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Instant review? premature evaluations? GO!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OwxcQvB_vcQ" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="480"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-76511485078797431452011-01-31T13:30:00.002-05:002011-01-31T13:35:01.794-05:00New Fleet Foxes!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TUcAITr7-iI/AAAAAAAABkI/pgSboDmNzdw/s1600/helplessness_blues.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TUcAITr7-iI/AAAAAAAABkI/pgSboDmNzdw/s400/helplessness_blues.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568419606990420514" border="0" /></a>Hallelujah! it's about time! It's out May 3rd- they're playing <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);" href="http://ryman.com">the Ryman</a> on Friday the 13th of May!!!! Tickets on sale this Friday, February 4th.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Listen to the new song from <a href="http://subpop.com"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">SubPop</span></a> below:<br /></div><br /><object height="452" width="452"><param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9872558&player_type=artwork&secret_token=s-FHtUp&color=000000"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="452" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F9872558&player_type=artwork&secret_token=s-FHtUp&color=000000" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="452"></embed></object><span><a href="http://soundcloud.com/subpop/fleet-foxes-helplessness-blues">Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/subpop">subpop</a></span>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-55953720784551452982011-01-20T10:49:00.000-05:002011-01-20T11:42:08.947-05:00Little Barrie is back!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TThfYxs9YII/AAAAAAAABj4/LXRsSJpkG8I/s1600/little%2Bbarrie.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TThfYxs9YII/AAAAAAAABj4/LXRsSJpkG8I/s400/little%2Bbarrie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564302218879656066" border="0" /></a>One of my favorite bands of the 00's is also one of the most overlooked - <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Little Barrie</span></span>. A vintage blues/classic rock trio in the vein of Spencer Davis Group (minus the horns) or Cream before them, Little Barrie debuted in 2005 with their Edwyn Collins produced album, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">We Are Little Barrie</span>. Check the review on <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/r781656">AllMusic.com</a>. Barrie Cadogan is the front man. After years as a studio guitarist in the UK and a touring guitarist for many solo acts (Collins and Morrissey to name a few), Barrie put together his own group. Their music and sound are nothing short of spectacular. Great riffs, classic sounds, & very tight production make it all go down easy. At the end of the day, they're just cool. It's music that hip dads and hipster sons can find common ground. Designer, Paul Smith, didn't miss them apparently (<a href="http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/paul-smith-blog/little-barnie,332,PBL.html">here</a>). They're from his hometown, Nottinghamshire, UK. Their second album, <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51); font-weight: bold;">Stand Your Ground</span>, came around in 2006/2007 with a little more fanfare from the press. Critical acclaim but no fanbase - happens all the time. Now they've been relegated to international releases. Their new album, <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">King of the Waves</span>, was just released in Japan. I have acquired it via the interweb. Nothings changed. They're still rocking. No one notices, but I advise you to give them a listen. They're a great addition to your iPod.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TThf9mKqUoI/AAAAAAAABkA/Jj-Eyv6NrEI/s1600/10-02-19-39506.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 256px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TThf9mKqUoI/AAAAAAAABkA/Jj-Eyv6NrEI/s400/10-02-19-39506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564302851438170754" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Here's a sampling from their first 2.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">The entire new album follows.</span><br /><object width="250" height="400"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23353046&style=metal&bbg=000000&bfg=666666&bt=FFFFFF&bth=000000&pbg=FFFFFF&pbgh=666666&pfg=000000&pfgh=FFFFFF&si=FFFFFF&lbg=FFFFFF&lbgh=666666&lfg=000000&lfgh=FFFFFF&sb=FFFFFF&sbh=666666&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23353046&style=metal&bbg=000000&bfg=666666&bt=FFFFFF&bth=000000&pbg=FFFFFF&pbgh=666666&pfg=000000&pfgh=FFFFFF&si=FFFFFF&lbg=FFFFFF&lbgh=666666&lfg=000000&lfgh=FFFFFF&sb=FFFFFF&sbh=666666&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window" width="250" height="400"></embed></object></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-74427258545960961492011-01-20T09:29:00.006-05:002011-01-20T10:06:21.468-05:00Dr. Joshi - I'm yours once again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TThOf5hE22I/AAAAAAAABjo/BcrvPxL4IEA/s1600/images.jpg"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TThL7ECKnuI/AAAAAAAABjg/YmVW0GjY11Y/s1600/Dr-Joshi.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TThL7ECKnuI/AAAAAAAABjg/YmVW0GjY11Y/s400/Dr-Joshi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564280817683439330" border="0" /></a><br />In February 2008, I went through <a href="http://www.joshiclinic.co.uk/"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Dr. Joshi's Holistic Detox</span></a>. 21 days. Whitney and I slaved through 3 weeks with no red meat, dairy, sugar, processed foods, wheat, pasta, nuts, white rice, bread, fruit (except bananas), limited vegetables (nothing of the nightshade family...tomatoes, potatoes, peppers etc), no fish except oily fish (you can have salmon, thank God), caffeine, etc. It's 21 days to revert your body from our normal acidic diet to a more alkaline pH. It sucks at first and temptation abounds. It basically should be called the no friends, anti-social detox, because eating out with friends is either impossible or a backbreaking nightmare. You have to drink warm water with lemon juice in the morning, snack in mid morning and mid afternoon, and drink some crazy ginger root/herbal tea/ grapefruit madness on your 7th and 14th day all the while making 3 squares that fall into the rules of Dr. Joshi. Based out of London, he was <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Princess Diana</span>'s personal physician and has been <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Gwyneth Paltrow</span>'s guru for years (she's not in shape at all.....she's Country Strong).<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TThOf5hE22I/AAAAAAAABjo/BcrvPxL4IEA/s1600/images.jpg"><br /></a>I'm four days in and this time the transition wasn't too awful. I eased into it. Last time it was party time up until the first day. Then about the 3rd day of the detox, my body shut down like I was kicking heroin. That day felt like detox. How am I doing? Coffee has been replaced by ginger tea, peppermint tea, chamomile (at night), and the occasional green tea (allowed but sparingly due to caffeine). I haven't done the hot lemon H20 in the AM.... All in all I feel great so far. No<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TThPJ3jIOWI/AAAAAAAABjw/v_hCDObSD50/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 156px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TThPJ3jIOWI/AAAAAAAABjw/v_hCDObSD50/s400/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564284370564954466" border="0" /></a> real temptation except for the chocolate all around the house and the workplace food.... You gotta take your lunch to work. You also have to get up at the crack of dawn everyday to prepare your breakfast and your lunch for the day (boiling water, chopping veggies etc). This weekend will be the true test of wills that I never faced in Boston. Tonight, I have Dental Study Club which entails of a nice steak dinner (curses!). I can't wait for my colleagues to hear me request the vegetarian option..... Friday night is the kicker. JP's Mexican restaurant birthday celebration.... crap. My favorite food on earth with have to be tip-toed around like never before. Have you ever gone to a Mexican restaurant and not touched the chips? If so, you have a problem and don't need to be in a Mexican restaurant in the first place! I'm going to have to be that guy (GIRL). "Can I have a piece of chicken, beans, no cheese, red sauce or tomatoes of any kind?" - YUM! No margarita, salsa or Negra Modelo either? Shoot me. I'll let you know if I survive.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PS - I have the book if you'd like to read it.....<br />No takers? Shocker!</span><br /></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-84081644671989841682011-01-10T11:08:00.000-05:002011-01-10T13:21:00.597-05:00Something to Look Forward To<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TStIZfmg8rI/AAAAAAAABjY/Kyj6kgrwdmw/s1600/way%2Bforward%2Bsign.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 263px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TStIZfmg8rI/AAAAAAAABjY/Kyj6kgrwdmw/s400/way%2Bforward%2Bsign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560617767735980722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Tennis - Cape Dory (January)</span><br />Denver's Indie Rock married couple ala Mates of State make their debut after EPs in 2010<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Iron & Wine - We Kiss Each Other Clean (January)</span><br />Sam Beam's major label debut<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">The Decemberists - The King Is Dead (January)</span><br />Overly dramatic theater club rock - Are you excited!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Cold War Kids (January)</span><br />Bar-room low end rock<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Tapes n Tapes - Outside (January)</span><br />can the Minnesota Indie blog darlings reclaim the former glory? doubtful<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Telekinesis! - 12 Desperate Straight Lines (February)</span><br />Death Cab's Chris Walla is back to produce the sophomore effort<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">The Go! Team - Rolling Blackouts(February)</span><br />Lead single, "Buy Nothing Day", features Best Coast's Bethany Cosentino<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Slumberland (March)</span><br />More from the NYC group worshiping at the altar of Robert Smith and Johnny Marr<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">REM - Collapse Into Now (March)</span><br />Athens boys forge ahead<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Peter, Bjorn & John - Gimme Some (March)</span><br />Swedish pop trio try to re-claim the glory of 2007's Writer's Block (will there be a whistle?)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">The Dodos - Time to Die (March)</span><br />folk/arsty, percussion heavy trio return after touring with New Pornographers last year<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">Jeremy Jay (April)</span><br />wannabe Lou Reed is back with more coolness and skinny jeans<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">The Black Lips (April)</span><br />gar-age rock forged in the veins of Mark Ronson - can't wait<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Fleet Foxes ?</span><br />who knows when and one can hope<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The Strokes ?</span><br />production is through and they claim to be holding to the original March release plan...Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-45030885327871206772011-01-04T23:40:00.006-05:002011-01-05T00:58:30.552-05:00Gorillaz - The Fall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TSP3aB7ETiI/AAAAAAAABjQ/EGs_V0rFiW4/s1600/gorillaz-the-fall.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 373px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TSP3aB7ETiI/AAAAAAAABjQ/EGs_V0rFiW4/s400/gorillaz-the-fall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558558391670165026" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">New <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Gorillaz</span> album for Xmas - made by Damon Albarn while on tour with the apps on his iPad - Impressive!<br /><br />Listen below !<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 0); font-weight: bold;">Here are the Apps he used:</span><br />(for all you Apple crazies)<br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Speak It! / SoundyThingie / Mugician / Solo Synth / Synth / Funk Box / Gliss / AmpliTube / Xenon / iElectribe / BS-16i / M3000 HD / Cleartune / iOrgel HD / Olsynth / StudioMiniXI / BassLine / Harmonizer / Dub Siren Pro / Moog Filatron</span><br /><br />- My Widget isn't working....<br />head over to Gorillaz.co.uk and have a listen<br /><a href="http://thefall.gorillaz.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">http://thefall.gorillaz.com/</span></a><br /></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-6772572409125132202010-12-31T16:46:00.014-05:002011-01-01T15:19:44.527-05:00The Willy's Top 10<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5sbefmmdI/AAAAAAAABjI/xH6s2RYl3Tw/s1600/--AIcDQwLwia9K_7wyRgQg.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5sbefmmdI/AAAAAAAABjI/xH6s2RYl3Tw/s400/--AIcDQwLwia9K_7wyRgQg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556998209519655378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">These are the real deal.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">These ain't no "Slashies", y'all.</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5mP2zl26I/AAAAAAAABhw/HXiK94k8Wjw/s1600/The-National-High-Violet-3.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5mP2zl26I/AAAAAAAABhw/HXiK94k8Wjw/s400/The-National-High-Violet-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556991412817746850" border="0" /></a>10. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">The National – High Violet</span><br />HV was a slow burner for me. It didn't have the pop of Alligator and didn't pull like The Boxer....at first. After some QT together, me and HV are copacetic. Every track blends seamlessly with the next. No song stands above the other. They stand together with High Violet being the ultimate product. I will say that "<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Bloodbuzz Ohio</span>" is about the only thing I like about Ohio. The album is beautiful but beautifully sad like many of the National's efforts. Do not listen to this album if you are depressed, it may put you deeper. It would be a great alternative to the Smiths for that broken heart. Where was this stuff when I needed it back in the day?!? "I don't have the drugs to sort it out."<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5mWN5GOFI/AAAAAAAABh4/rH2CiueH2s0/s1600/Surfer-Blood-Astro-Coast.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5mWN5GOFI/AAAAAAAABh4/rH2CiueH2s0/s400/Surfer-Blood-Astro-Coast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556991522094069842" border="0" /></a>9. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Surfer Blood – <span style="font-style: italic;">Astro Coast</span></span><br />I fought tooth and nail to get a first pressing vinyl of this at the beginning of the year - I got it! What a pleasant surprise. "<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Floating Vibes</span>" made me feel like I was in high school again. "<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Swim</span>" falls in line with the rest of the sunny songs this year. At times, this West Palm outfit reminds me of what My Morning Jacket would sound like if they were a band from South Florida. May be if they just "<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Take it Easy</span>"?<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5megbYT9I/AAAAAAAABiA/U64Z5vefB8w/s1600/lcd%2Bhappening.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5megbYT9I/AAAAAAAABiA/U64Z5vefB8w/s400/lcd%2Bhappening.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556991664508653522" border="0" /></a>8. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">LCD Soundsystem - <span style="font-style: italic;">This is Happening</span></span><br />This IS Happening. Every James Murphy project is a party. The party continues on, but let's be honest: Sound of Silver still reigns supreme. Regardless - at the 2:57 minute mark of "<span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">Dance YrSelf Clean</span>", the party kicks into full gear and doesn't look back. "<span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">All I Want</span>" is supposed to be the "All My Friends" of this album but never reaches those heights. For me, "<span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">I Can Change</span>" has the most fun and the best hook to boot! House party anyone?<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5mv73lnPI/AAAAAAAABiQ/BXKcHYcM_i8/s1600/magic-kids-memphis-cover-300x300.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5mv73lnPI/AAAAAAAABiQ/BXKcHYcM_i8/s400/magic-kids-memphis-cover-300x300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556991963932499186" border="0" /></a>7. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Magic Kids – <span style="font-style: italic;">Memphis</span></span><br />Guess where these kids are from? Their ode to their home is a power pop tour-de-force that is almost so sweet it's saccharine. "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Superball</span>" does something to you when you hear it. You almost spasm into full on noodle dance. "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Hey Boy</span>" sounds like a song your parents danced to at a middle school sock hop. The whole album sounds like a super group of the Spinto Band, Vince Guaraldi Trio, and the Boy Least Likely To produced by Ben Folds. Crazy.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5mnGifcSI/AAAAAAAABiI/vR6KgV8t5hw/s1600/best-coast-crazy-for-you-cover-art.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5mnGifcSI/AAAAAAAABiI/vR6KgV8t5hw/s400/best-coast-crazy-for-you-cover-art.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556991812177981730" border="0" /></a>6. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Best Coast - <span style="font-style: italic;">Crazy for You</span></span><br />The companion piece to Wavves this year, Best Coast goes to beach less stoned with a female perspective. You'll be reminded of Hole's "Malibu". It's a whole album of Malibu. Less rough than Courtney Love's gnarl, Bethany Cosentino sings her simple guitar songs about boys, the beach, what it's like when you're here, when you're there, how you make her feel, and what she's gonna do about it. Simple. Straightforward. Don't think too hard. Just take it in and watch the sun go down. <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">"When I'm With You", "Boyfriend", "Crazy For You", "I Want To"</span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5m1zXF3WI/AAAAAAAABiY/q1txgBKGIGo/s1600/contra%2Bbrody.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 153px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5m1zXF3WI/AAAAAAAABiY/q1txgBKGIGo/s400/contra%2Bbrody.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556992064727932258" border="0" /></a>5. <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204); font-weight: bold;">Vampire Weekend – <span style="font-style: italic;">Contra</span></span><br />We know the place that the boys in cardigans hold in my heart. The returned with more of the same. You'd remember drinking "<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Horchata</span>": here comes a feeling you thought you'd forgotten. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Cousins</span>" fills that "A-Punk" sized hole in your heart. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Giving Up the Gun</span>" is like nothing from their debut. It may be their strongest song, yet. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Holiday</span>" deserves more than a Volkswagen and Hilfiger commercial (but I approve of both). "<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">Run</span>" and "<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 204);">White Sky</span>" are classic VW. Sophomore's are never as fresh as debut's, but Contra stays in step with the original and surpasses in some areas.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5m8R6FEdI/AAAAAAAABig/aVlZH0g9WQU/s1600/the-black-keys-brothers-300x300.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5m8R6FEdI/AAAAAAAABig/aVlZH0g9WQU/s400/the-black-keys-brothers-300x300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556992176006959570" border="0" /></a>4. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Black Keys – <span style="font-style: italic;">Brothers</span></span><br />The all male White Stripes, the Black Keys, survived singer Dan Auerbach's solo career to put out one of their stronger albums since Rubber Factory. They've tapered back Danger Mouses production hands slightly, but his songs actually have the most bang for your buck. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Tighten Up</span>" is one for the ages, while "<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Howlin' for You</span>" sounds like a stadium anthem. And their "<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Next Girl</span>" will be nothing like their Ex-Girl... They'll be her "<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Everlasting Light</span>".<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5nK7vrXkI/AAAAAAAABiw/1ClA4jq2Pb4/s1600/harlem_hippies.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5nK7vrXkI/AAAAAAAABiw/1ClA4jq2Pb4/s400/harlem_hippies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556992427755789890" border="0" /></a>3. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Harlem – <span style="font-style: italic;">Hippies</span></span><br />This is my pick. While it won't be on many if any lists this year. It's on mine. I love it. Garage rock trio minimalism that triumphs at SXSW. I listen to this one straight on through. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Someday Soon</span>" has one of my favorite lines of the year. "Someday soon you'll be on fire, and you'll ask me for a glass of water. I'll say, 'nooooo'. You can just let that s**t burn." Please put me out? "<span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Gay Human Bones</span>" was <span style="font-style: italic;">the </span>single. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Be Your Baby</span>" swings with retro vibes and modern swagger. Each song wreaks of someone scorned. These songs are the rebuttle, the revenge. Whatever.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5nDMKKG6I/AAAAAAAABio/Au1DU_paJeI/s1600/ARCADE-FIRE-THE-SUBURBS.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 149px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5nDMKKG6I/AAAAAAAABio/Au1DU_paJeI/s400/ARCADE-FIRE-THE-SUBURBS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556992294722870178" border="0" /></a>2. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Arcade Fire – <span style="font-style: italic;">The Suburbs</span></span><br />After putting the dark themes of Neon Bible to bed, Arcade Fire triumph with what will likely bring them Grammy gold. The Suburbs returns to the neighborhoods of Funeral. "<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">The Suburbs</span>" sets the tone, while "<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Ready To Start</span>" hits on all cylinders. I could go on and on about the whole album, but I don't have time and my hands are tired... "<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Rococo</span>" and "<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Modern Man</span>" power along like the rest of the album. "<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Sprawl II</span>" is an interesting curve ball with lead singer, Win Butler's, bandmate/wife taking the lead for a Blondie channeling moment. Through and through The Suburbs are a joy.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5nbgjZkHI/AAAAAAAABi4/DuGOWPAWeEA/s1600/LOCAL-NATIVES-GORILLA-MANOR.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5nbgjZkHI/AAAAAAAABi4/DuGOWPAWeEA/s400/LOCAL-NATIVES-GORILLA-MANOR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556992712514310258" border="0" /></a>1. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Local Natives – <span style="font-style: italic;">Gorilla Manor</span></span><br />I'll be brief. This album slays. It was the kind of thing that you feel every blue moon when you hear an album - WOW. The Strokes - Is this It?, Vampire Weekend - s/t, Franz Ferdinand - s/t all gave me that funny feeling. It's back. Start to finish there's greatness. "<span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Wide Eyes</span>" opens your eyes and ears. "<span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Airplanes</span>" grabs your heart. "<span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Sun Hands</span>" makes you stomp. "<span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">World News</span>" is a sign of the times. A surprise is their cover of the Talking Heads. "<span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192);">Warning Sign</span>" would make David Byrne proud. GO GET THIS - NOW!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="400" width="250"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23329311&style=metal&bbg=E0E4CC&bfg=A7DBD8&bt=F38630&bth=E0E4CC&pbg=F38630&pbgh=A7DBD8&pfg=E0E4CC&pfgh=F38630&si=F38630&lbg=F38630&lbgh=A7DBD8&lfg=E0E4CC&lfgh=F38630&sb=F38630&sbh=A7DBD8&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23329311&style=metal&bbg=E0E4CC&bfg=A7DBD8&bt=F38630&bth=E0E4CC&pbg=F38630&pbgh=A7DBD8&pfg=E0E4CC&pfgh=F38630&si=F38630&lbg=F38630&lbgh=A7DBD8&lfg=E0E4CC&lfgh=F38630&sb=F38630&sbh=A7DBD8&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window" height="400" width="250"></embed></object></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-71698178504145780142010-12-30T15:47:00.001-05:002011-01-01T15:12:50.786-05:00The Willy's #15 - 11<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5NWdGFJ4I/AAAAAAAABhg/COVBrf_fmP0/s1600/Will%2B3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5NWdGFJ4I/AAAAAAAABhg/COVBrf_fmP0/s400/Will%2B3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556964038384363394" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Halfway home....<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5L3qHVtrI/AAAAAAAABg4/zKkpg7viECg/s1600/6785.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5L3qHVtrI/AAAAAAAABg4/zKkpg7viECg/s400/6785.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556962409791731378" border="0" /></a>15. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Blitzen Trapper – <span style="font-style: italic;">Destroyer of the Void</span></span><br />After showing us the Wild Mountain Nation in 2007 and wowing me and the masses in 2008 with Furr, these NW reindeer trappers return with more of the same. D.O.V. doesn't have the immediate appeal of Furr, but it grew on me. The Black River Killer ep last year provides a good segue-way to this album. At times, this can feel like the Revolver to Furr's Rubber Soul if you follow me. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Dragon's Song</span>" reminds me of Elvis Costello. The title track opens the album like a rock opera (much like "Sleepytime in the Western World" did in 2008), and "<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Heaven and Earth</span>" sums it all up. DOV seems like an ode to the old west in all it's vast beauty but also the emptiness that can be found there, too. It's western like "True Grit" and "No Country For Old Men" just not as dark.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5MEIGkGKI/AAAAAAAABhI/4sm9fypfrdo/s1600/wavves_king_of_the_beach_300x300.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5MEIGkGKI/AAAAAAAABhI/4sm9fypfrdo/s400/wavves_king_of_the_beach_300x300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556962623999973538" border="0" /></a>14. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Wavves - <span style="font-style: italic;">King of the Beach</span></span><br />Nathan Williams, the one man tour de loser, is back and stoned as ever. He is one hyperactive user though playing more like a meth addict. I didn't care for the overfuzzed mess of his debut. I also didn't like his public fisticuffs with the Black Lips who I fully support. With the help of a quality producer in Dennis Herring (Modest Mouse, Hives, Fiery Furnaces, Ben Folds, Counting Crows, Elvis Costello), Williams finally has some constructive criticism to sharpen his sound. "<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">King of the Beach</span>" kicks you off in an instant and makes you reach for your shades. "<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Idiot</span>" will have you having Incesticide-era Nirvana flashbacks. "<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Post Acid</span>" just continues the party. Catchy pop punk abounds. More is to come with Best Coast...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5L8yl-JPI/AAAAAAAABhA/ODHO5NtH3Ds/s1600/she-him-vol-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5L8yl-JPI/AAAAAAAABhA/ODHO5NtH3Ds/s400/she-him-vol-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556962497967039730" border="0" /></a>13. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">She & Him – <span style="font-style: italic;">Vol. 2</span></span><br />Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward are back again with more reverbed retro cuteness for you to be bop to. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">In the Sun</span>" is so cute it can only be outdone by the companion video that is an Indie "Hit Me, Baby (One more time)". While it doesn't seem as original this time around, Vol. 2 still has things to say. The Skeeter Davis hit, "<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Gonna Get Along Without You Now</span>", translates well with Zooey's wall of sound. Folky Doo-Wop is here to stay?<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5MPcPS3qI/AAAAAAAABhY/6-VV8Er7IVQ/s1600/the-walkmen-lisbon-0.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 134px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5MPcPS3qI/AAAAAAAABhY/6-VV8Er7IVQ/s400/the-walkmen-lisbon-0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556962818383863458" border="0" /></a>12. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">The Walkmen – <span style="font-style: italic;">Lisbon</span></span><br />The Walkmen are still putting out the same product year in year out. This is probably their least angry output (I think there is only the trademark growl/yell on 1 song?). "<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Angela Surf City</span>" has that growl, but it's one of the catchier songs this year. There was so much "fun in the sun"/beach music/summertime music out this year? "<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Woe is Me</span>" will make you tap your feet. "<span style="color: rgb(153, 255, 153);">Victory</span>" sounds like most Walkmen songs - full on Afghan Whigs as the house band in Beautiful Girls. (What? Watch the movie-you'll hear it...)<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5MJjXpVpI/AAAAAAAABhQ/NDak-Rrj_G4/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5MJjXpVpI/AAAAAAAABhQ/NDak-Rrj_G4/s400/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556962717218723474" border="0" /></a>11.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Devo - </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Something For Everybody</span></span><br />Can this be right? Yup. I bought this on a whim and was blown away. Every last song on here is catchy. You feel like pulling out your Thompson Twins tapes and popping in your VHS copy of Weird Science. It is all 80's and fun as can be. "<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Fresh</span>" kicks it off like the opening credits to your favorite 80's movie. "<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Mind Games</span>" is like you fused your Atari with a 4-Track to make a song. "<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Don't Shoot (I'm a Man)</span>" is like the Revenge of the Nerds got back together for a corporate anthem for their office space. Listen to the first half of this album. If you're not bobbing your head at that point, check your pulse. Guilty pleasure, what?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="400" width="250"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23329218&style=metal&bbg=B2C2E6&bfg=FBF5D3&bt=012C5F&bth=B2C2E6&pbg=012C5F&pbgh=FBF5D3&pfg=B2C2E6&pfgh=012C5F&si=012C5F&lbg=012C5F&lbgh=FBF5D3&lfg=B2C2E6&lfgh=012C5F&sb=012C5F&sbh=FBF5D3&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23329218&style=metal&bbg=B2C2E6&bfg=FBF5D3&bt=012C5F&bth=B2C2E6&pbg=012C5F&pbgh=FBF5D3&pfg=B2C2E6&pfgh=012C5F&si=012C5F&lbg=012C5F&lbgh=FBF5D3&lfg=B2C2E6&lfgh=012C5F&sb=012C5F&sbh=FBF5D3&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window" height="400" width="250"></embed></object></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-30054268057340345622010-12-29T18:37:00.010-05:002010-12-31T16:46:01.213-05:00The Willy's #'s 20-16<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5PElZBtsI/AAAAAAAABho/OKITVklGdGE/s1600/will%2B2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TR5PElZBtsI/AAAAAAAABho/OKITVklGdGE/s400/will%2B2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556965930396923586" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">And now - on with the countdown...<br /></div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRvcLVwZGiI/AAAAAAAABgg/35wprpacj0I/s1600/SB.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRvcLVwZGiI/AAAAAAAABgg/35wprpacj0I/s400/SB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556276652668426786" border="0" /></a>20. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Sleigh Bells - <span style="font-style: italic;">Treats</span></span><br />After digitally putting out one of my favorite songs of last year with no physical album/ep/contract to speak of, Sleigh Bells put out their proper debut in Treats. "Ring, Ring" is included on Treats in a new fancy studio version (albeit as "<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Rill Rill</span>"). It's still catchy as ever. While that song is the most palatable, the rest of the album comes at you like a chainsaw through a megaphone. Lead singer, Alexis Krauss, goes from a faint whisper to a pep rally yell. The cheerleaders on the cover are somewhat ironic as this music sounds like pre-game music for skateboarding competition pep rally. "<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Kids</span>" has got the punks ready...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRvcE3hFNfI/AAAAAAAABgY/4KTpOHBGWuc/s1600/cornershop-judy-lp-lst064703.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRvcE3hFNfI/AAAAAAAABgY/4KTpOHBGWuc/s400/cornershop-judy-lp-lst064703.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556276541471929842" border="0" /></a>19. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Cornershop - <span style="font-style: italic;">Judy Sucks a Lemon for Breakfast</span></span><br />While this album technically came out last year internationally, it's domestic release was this year. Remember the song, "Brimful of Asha"? It was a Buzz Clip on MTV circa summer 1997. Well, it's the same fellas. While it came out in the winter, Judy Sucks a Lemon plays like the ultimate summer fun album. The whole album exudes cheery fun-in-the-sun. The title track will make you move, while the cover of Dylan's "<span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">The Mighty Quinn</span>" will bring Phish to mind (their Live cover from years back...). Put on "<span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Soul School</span>" this winter and you may feel like your in a convertible with OMC singing, "How Bizarre". (Thank you to the band for autographing my LP - I ordered it from them, and I got an email saying the band would be back in town soon. If I didn't mind waiting, they could sign it for me...OK?)<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRvb9EoROiI/AAAAAAAABgQ/pNtS4D_3DEM/s1600/The-Dead-Weather-Sea-Of-Cowards-504642.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRvb9EoROiI/AAAAAAAABgQ/pNtS4D_3DEM/s400/The-Dead-Weather-Sea-Of-Cowards-504642.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556276407552784930" border="0" /></a>18. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">The Dead Weather – <span style="font-style: italic;">Sea of Cowards</span></span><br />Jack White's umpteenth side project, The Dead Weather, comprised of Allison Mosshart of the Kills, QOTSA's guitarist, and Jack Lawrence of the Greenhornes returns with their second album in as many years. Still dark. Still bluesy. Still Dead. Jack moves from behind the drums on this one to take a little more stage light from lead singer, Mosshart. It ends up being more of a duet for the two. The high points/singles are not as strong as Horehound, but the album as a whole is better in my mind. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Blue Blood Blues</span>" says it all. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Jawbreaker</span>" breaks your jaw! This is my lawnmowing music. Riding around "shaking hips like battleships".<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRvcPQWgA-I/AAAAAAAABgo/_I1u8YUYtdM/s1600/51ZAhTnF3JL._SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRvcPQWgA-I/AAAAAAAABgo/_I1u8YUYtdM/s400/51ZAhTnF3JL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556276719937127394" border="0" /></a>17. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">Spoon – <span style="font-style: italic;">Transference</span></span><br />Let's get it out of the way that Spoon is one of my favorite groups. Britt Daniel just does so much cool stuff with minimalism. That being said, Transference hits on all cylinders but lacks the appeal that was found in previous releases. Every song matters to Britt but may not matter to everyone. "<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">Written In Reverse</span>" could be any Spoon song. "<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">Got Nuffin</span>" reappears from its EP release. "<span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">Mystery Zone</span>" was my favorite with this album being more of a mystery to me.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRvcUh4PKmI/AAAAAAAABgw/hRmGforGu1s/s1600/phpThumb_generated_thumbnailjpg.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRvcUh4PKmI/AAAAAAAABgw/hRmGforGu1s/s400/phpThumb_generated_thumbnailjpg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556276810541378146" border="0" /></a>16. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Sufjan Stevens - The Age of ADZ</span><br />Illinois this is not. Sufjan is back and weirder than ever, but it works. Like all Sufjan, this album begs to be listened to as a piece and not as individual tracks. The title track hits a lot of the themes. "<span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Too Much</span>" is a bit more approachable. There is little you can say to describe it... It's like he's been hanging out with Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood for the past couple of years. Hmmm?<br /><object height="400" width="250"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23327265&style=metal&bbg=FFFFFF&bfg=F6D61F&bt=377D9F&bth=FFFFFF&pbg=377D9F&pbgh=F6D61F&pfg=FFFFFF&pfgh=377D9F&si=377D9F&lbg=377D9F&lbgh=F6D61F&lfg=FFFFFF&lfgh=377D9F&sb=377D9F&sbh=F6D61F&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23327265&style=metal&bbg=FFFFFF&bfg=F6D61F&bt=377D9F&bth=FFFFFF&pbg=377D9F&pbgh=F6D61F&pfg=FFFFFF&pfgh=377D9F&si=377D9F&lbg=377D9F&lbgh=F6D61F&lfg=FFFFFF&lfgh=377D9F&sb=377D9F&sbh=F6D61F&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window" height="400" width="250"></embed></object>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-70958868825499812692010-12-27T17:41:00.013-05:002010-12-27T19:10:26.911-05:00The Willy's #'s 21-25<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRkqvkvgHdI/AAAAAAAABgI/3NxeQm9Wt34/s1600/Will.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRkqvkvgHdI/AAAAAAAABgI/3NxeQm9Wt34/s400/Will.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555518612143349202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">We begin the Top 25 for 2010<br />in the heart and mind of me -</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;"> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">The Willy's</span>.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Hopefully, you'll get them!<br />(the albums, not the willies...)<br />Enjoy!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRknFTAGkTI/AAAAAAAABfQ/vs-5uRqrzFM/s1600/Yeasayer-Odd-Blood.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRknFTAGkTI/AAAAAAAABfQ/vs-5uRqrzFM/s400/Yeasayer-Odd-Blood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555514587291750706" border="0" /></a>25. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Yeasayer - <span style="font-style: italic;">Odd Blood</span></span><br />Odd blood indeed! With no Animal Collection bizarreness this year, Yeasayer can fill that void in your heart (yes, I know Avey Tare had an album). These space age dance grooves will have you shimmy shaking. While some of the album veers into strange, the high spots are loads of fun in the vein of Passion Pit's album last year. Check out the synth-y goodness of "<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">O.N.E.</span>" and "<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Ambling Alp</span>".<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRknRgibbZI/AAAAAAAABfY/VN76WqxSGyY/s1600/Write.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRknRgibbZI/AAAAAAAABfY/VN76WqxSGyY/s400/Write.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555514797083815314" border="0" /></a>24. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Belle & Sebastian - <span style="font-style: italic;">Write About Love</span></span><br />Oh, Stuart Murdoch how do I love thee? You let me down with your wannabe musical, God Help the Girl. Write About Love brings you back to my liking somewhat. While it may be heresy in the B&S circles, I think that <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Dear Catastrophe Waitress</span> and <span style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">The Life Pursuit</span> are some of the group's best work. This album is not quite up to that caliber. There are some enjoyable songs, but like early B&S some of the album could lullaby you to sleep. <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Caveat</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">: this album is not suited for long road trips. Failure to recognize this could result in bodily harm and trashing your car!</span> That being said, listen to it in spurts on a lazy day. Download "<span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Write About Love</span>" and "<span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 255);">Come on Sister</span>".<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRknZ5vdmfI/AAAAAAAABfg/MzHkhWWBNlE/s1600/The_Drums.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRknZ5vdmfI/AAAAAAAABfg/MzHkhWWBNlE/s400/The_Drums.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555514941288323570" border="0" /></a>23. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">The Drums - <span style="font-style: italic;">The Drums</span></span><br />The Drums blew onto the blog/hipster scene last summer/fall with their debut EP. "<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Let's Go Surfing</span>" was one of my favorite songs last year and is still catchy to this day (it's intro is my ring tone). It appears again on their debut album this year. Songs like "<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Best Friend</span>" and "<span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Forever and Ever Amen</span>" will have you finding your inner Robert Smith. The songs are upbeat in the theme of the EP, Summertime!, but the message seems to be anything but sunny. Therein lies their debt to the Cure - depressing, dark, loathing, and heartbroken. Yum.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRkniueMoAI/AAAAAAAABfo/nLMvnM4zJpU/s1600/new-pornographers-together600.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 138px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRkniueMoAI/AAAAAAAABfo/nLMvnM4zJpU/s400/new-pornographers-together600.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555515092881940482" border="0" /></a>22. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">The New Pornographers - <span style="font-style: italic;">Together</span></span><br />"Put, put, put your '<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Hands (Together)</span>' for the silver bullet maker!", screams the NP gang at the onset of their newest collaboration - werewolves are all the rage next to vampires! Carl Newman, Dan Bejar, and Neko Case are still making it work in their Canadian super group. "<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">Crash Years</span>" serves as one of the finer vehicles for Neko's voice that the group has ever put out. The album is good, but the great-ness is maybe not all there. It's a solid 3 1/2 stars. Enjoyable all over, but it's not the best they've ever done. It maybe would've been higher for me if they hadn't phoned in their show here in July... (in their defense, it was the last night of a long tour, and I'm sure they were tired...)<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRkntrqbVpI/AAAAAAAABfw/YNyFBUJpzLY/s1600/jenny-and-johnny.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 135px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRkntrqbVpI/AAAAAAAABfw/YNyFBUJpzLY/s400/jenny-and-johnny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555515281106491026" border="0" /></a>21. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Jenny & Johnny – <span style="font-style: italic;">I’m Having Fun Now</span></span><br />What can we say, "We are suckers for Jenny Lewis." From the Wizard to Troop Beverly Hills to Rabbit Fur Coat, I've been all ears (and eyes). A duets album with boyfriend, Jonathan Rice, IHFN plays more like a sequel to <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Acid Tongue</span>, Jenny's 2008 album. I actually like this better than Acid Tongue. "<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Scissor Runner</span>" is a rocker. "<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">My Pet Snake</span>" is all fun. The two play well off eachother, but Rice's voice tends to be flat compared to the sharper, Lewis. The light is on her for sure, and he fades to the back with his "<span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Switchblade</span>". Regardless, it's a good run start to finish over and over again as it spins.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="400" width="250"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="window"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23324646&style=metal&bbg=FFED90&bfg=A8D46F&bt=359668&bth=FFED90&pbg=359668&pbgh=A8D46F&pfg=FFED90&pfgh=359668&si=359668&lbg=359668&lbgh=A8D46F&lfg=FFED90&lfgh=359668&sb=359668&sbh=A8D46F&p=0"> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23324646&style=metal&bbg=FFED90&bfg=A8D46F&bt=359668&bth=FFED90&pbg=359668&pbgh=A8D46F&pfg=FFED90&pfgh=359668&si=359668&lbg=359668&lbgh=A8D46F&lfg=FFED90&lfgh=359668&sb=359668&sbh=A8D46F&p=0" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="window" height="400" width="250"></embed></object></div>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29040669399783797.post-84606529578360369852010-12-22T17:36:00.006-05:002010-12-29T14:23:21.687-05:00The Willy's 2010 - Honorable Mention<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRkqEm0ev6I/AAAAAAAABgA/kKgtzGP1w0c/s1600/Will%2B4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRkqEm0ev6I/AAAAAAAABgA/kKgtzGP1w0c/s400/Will%2B4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555517873966727074" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">The Willy's</span> are back after a basic hiatus last year with me phoning the list in. With all the absence of Blogging this year by me, this is hopefully a sign of a comeback. Life is finally at a somewhat even keel. Keep your fingers crossed (or roll your eyes).</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">The Top 25 are still to come.<br />These albums were SOOO close but no cigar....</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">D</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKferM0ypI/AAAAAAAABec/AvaBLTEKO8w/s1600/Deerhunter-Halcyon-Digest.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKferM0ypI/AAAAAAAABec/AvaBLTEKO8w/s400/Deerhunter-Halcyon-Digest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553676639842650770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">eerhunter - <span style="font-style: italic;">Halcyon Digest</span></span><br />Bradford Cox and co. put out one of their more accessible releases from the Deerhunter camp. Halcyon Digest was a critical darling this year (as was 2008's Cryptograms), and you'll see it on everyone's list. For me, Deerhunter is quite the anomaly. When they're are on, I love it (see: "<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Revival</span>"). Other times, I'm just bored or weirded out(see: "<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Earthquake</span>"), and I listen to some weird stuff that will not make any of these lists.... It's a good album, just not one of <span style="font-style: italic;">my </span>tops.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKgoZLgxjI/AAAAAAAABes/X9S2MiM1GKg/s1600/Big%2Becho"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKgoZLgxjI/AAAAAAAABes/X9S2MiM1GKg/s400/Big%2Becho" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553677906315626034" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">The Morning Benders - <span style="font-style: italic;">Big Echo</span></span><br />Big Echo falls into a similar world/vein with Halcyon Digest above, albeit slightly different. The high points are all over this album, but in the end it was never able to really keep my full attention (I'm a gnat, I know). You owe it to yourself to check out "<span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);">Promises</span>" and "<span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204);">Excuses</span>". The music is very melodic, but sometimes it's just too chill...<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKgIYrNE0I/AAAAAAAABek/ShmH-Hhd0iU/s1600/pub%2Bstrain.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKgIYrNE0I/AAAAAAAABek/ShmH-Hhd0iU/s400/pub%2Bstrain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553677356424303426" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Women – <span style="font-style: italic;">Public Strain</span></span><br />You'll see a pattern forming here. Public Strain is a commendable endeavor for Women, but like the 2 albums above: not a top earner in my heart. Don't get me wrong, I own this album and respect it, but it is not one that I will parade around on my iPod at the Y. The tones coming from their guitars at times may make you cringe a bit. I prefer their s/t album from a couple of years ago, but again it can be abrasive.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKg6KcGoiI/AAAAAAAABe0/rm15AdyI21k/s1600/love_language_libraries_300x300.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKg6KcGoiI/AAAAAAAABe0/rm15AdyI21k/s400/love_language_libraries_300x300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553678211596329506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">The Love Language – <span style="font-style: italic;">Libraries</span></span><br />The LL is less than a band and more of a man. This North Carolina outfit has constructed a more complete album than their s/t debut of 2 years ago. The reverb is turned to 11 like a My Morning Jacket record. This was the closest call for me on making the Top 25. "<span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Heart to Tell</span>" is one of the better songs I heard this year...<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKh3ZCdLmI/AAAAAAAABe8/zjmlS4OKc5E/s1600/girls-broken-dreams-club-hi-res-cover-art1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 149px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKh3ZCdLmI/AAAAAAAABe8/zjmlS4OKc5E/s400/girls-broken-dreams-club-hi-res-cover-art1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553679263487307362" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Girls - <span style="font-style: italic;">Broken Dreams Club (ep)</span></span><br />This is a pretty good release. I think I like it better than their full length from last year.... Pretty tolerable from start to finish, Broken Dreams Club would be in the Top 25 if it was a full album. As far as EP's go, it's top of the pops this year, and totally worth bending an ear. San Fransisco's represented well, and this isn't quite the depressing heroin binge that Album was (the song "Hellhole Ratrace" was quite aptly named). Even with the song "<span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Heartbreaker</span>", sounds like Girls hearts aren't breaking so hard anymore.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKkF6L3X2I/AAAAAAAABfE/0sozptm7i1o/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5-idvKTXydY/TRKkF6L3X2I/AAAAAAAABfE/0sozptm7i1o/s400/images.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553681711926566754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Brandi Carlile - <span style="font-style: italic;">Give Up the Ghost</span></span><br />Brandi's "story" came to forefront this past year with her official "coming out". Good for her. She lets it all out here. Give Up the Ghost was a staple in Whitney's car, and by gosh it is catchy as hell. "<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Dreams</span>", "<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Touching the Ground</span>", "<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Caroline</span>", and "<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Dying Day</span>" are some highlights, but honestly it's good through and through. I give a hearty recommendation. This was a last second addition to my list as I nearly forgot it. Had I remembered earlier, it would most definitely been in my Top 25. I'm just too lazy to move things around at this point!<br /><object width="250" height="400"> <param name="movie" value="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" /> <param name="wmode" value="window" /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /> <param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23326692&style=metal&bbg=020405&bfg=74BF43&bt=CD231F&bth=020405&pbg=CD231F&pbgh=74BF43&pfg=020405&pfgh=CD231F&si=CD231F&lbg=CD231F&lbgh=74BF43&lfg=020405&lfgh=CD231F&sb=CD231F&sbh=74BF43&p=0" /> <embed src="http://listen.grooveshark.com/widget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="400" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&widgetID=23326692&style=metal&bbg=020405&bfg=74BF43&bt=CD231F&bth=020405&pbg=CD231F&pbgh=74BF43&pfg=020405&pfgh=CD231F&si=CD231F&lbg=CD231F&lbgh=74BF43&lfg=020405&lfgh=CD231F&sb=CD231F&sbh=74BF43&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window" /></object>Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15311551420521789669noreply@blogger.com0