Just like Rob (almost)

So I'm gonna start compiling "Top 10" lists. Today, my 10 Ten albums released prior to 2008 that I didn't discover until this year:

10.Ryan Adams-Love Is Hell
9.Sufjan Stevens-Illinoise
8.Sun Kil Moon-Ghost Of The Great Highway
7.Uncle Tupulo-Anodyne
6.Wilco-Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
5.My Morning Jacket-Z
4.The Decemberists-Castaways And Cutouts
3.Wilco-Being There
2.Iron And Wine-Our Endless Numbered Days
1.Ryan Adams-Heartbreaker

I think I'll call this list my Ryan Adams sandwich. Mmmmm, sandwiches...

Racism is bad

I was thinking about all the analysis and words that were said after the recent presidential elections, and one thing really struck me. It was pointed out that Obama had a huge edge in the "young" voters (not sure exactly what constitutes "young", but I'm assuming I would be included in that populous). Included with this fact was the following statement (paraphrased): "this generation is better able to overlook things like race than any other generation before it". This fact made me feel a certain level of pride, because it's been my belief for a while that this statement was true, but I really didn't have anything to back that belief up. Now, the numbers tell me that I was correct all along. It just makes me feel happy that me and people like me all over the country were able to look at the facts, and make a decision based on those facts alone. Hatred will never disappear completely from the earth, but as long as we keep progressing, and as long as we teach our children that things such as race, religion, etc., aren't as important as someones' character, we'll be able to curb it as much, if not more, than it's ever been before. Bravo, youth of America. The future rests with you, and I feel fine with that.

Work

I'm in work, "working" right now. It's slow, so the term "work" must be used only to describe my current location, and not my current activities. My current activities include sitting on my butt, and typing. My current favorite things are the album "Cardinology", but Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, and the gloomy weather. Gloomy weather really lifts my soul, because as a man I ain’t never been much for sunny days (or talkin' to). The job hunt is on, and has broadened to include potential employers beyond the borders of Utah (preferably in a warm-weather state). This both excites and scares me, as I am crazy and can feel multiple emotions at once. Thanks!

Top ten songs of 2007

So I've been meaning to do this for a while now, and haven't gotten around to it. I'm pretty sure these could be rearranged in any order, and I'd still feel okay about it.

10.Ryan Adams-Two
Even on a largely disappointing record (will this guy ever release another album as good as Heartbreaker?), this song stands out.

9.Resurrection Fern-Iron And Wine
If I were to make a mixed tape of songs that would set the mood for romance (I rarely do this, to my wife's chagrin), this would be a no doubter. I'm not sure if the line "We undress beside the ashes of the fire" implies getting it on, but I sure do take it that way.

8.Phantom Limb-The Shins
This song (and the whole record) took a while to grow on me, but once it did I couldn't get it out of my head. The chorus (which consists of nothing but a series of "whoas") is a perfect excercise of simplicity made perfectly memorable.

7.Home-Foo Fighters
Featuring Dave Grohl and a piano (with a brief cameo made by a bass and some drums), this is possibly the most wussy song the Foo Fighters have ever written. It's also possibly the best.

6.Savannah Smiles-Okkervil River
I'm not 100% sure what the lyrics mean (something about opening his daughter's diary and regretting it, at least in the intro), but they're sung with total conviction. Also, with this record being full of mostly up-tempo rock music, this song in the middle is a nice interlude, as it's very soft and relaxed.

5.All I Need-Radiohead
Featuring a simple synth line and electronic drums for the majority of the song, the focus here is on Thom Yorke's reverb-soaked voice. And I don't think it's ever sounded better. And the ending is just stunning.

4.Impossible Germany-Wilco
This song is relaxed and smooth, until Jeff Tweedy and Nels Cline remember that they're both awesome guitar players, and they start some wicked soloing. Unlike most wicked soloing, though, this actually sounds really good.

3.Make A Plan To Love Me-Bright Eyes
I had a really, really hard time picking my favorite song off this record. When it comes down to it, I probably had about five songs that could have made this list. But this one has got to be my favorite. With accompaniment from Sherri and Stacy DuPree of Eisley, along with starkly beautiful chamber strings, this acoustic number is as haunting as it is pretty.

2.Silver Trees-Rocky Votolato
Is there anyone alive who's better at creating vocal harmonies? A fingerpicked folk number with harmonica, this song makes me stop what I'm doing to listen every time I hear it.

1.Buttoned Down-Straylight Run
Nick Hornby once described a Rufus Wainwright song as something that could make him believe in a higher power. After hearing this song, I think I get what he means. The simplicity is stunning, as it features nothing but siblings John Nolan and Michele DeRosa singing, accompanied by an acoustic guitar. Just goes to show that bells and whistles aren't necessary in creating increbibly powerful music.

School's out forever!

Okay, it's not actually done until December 10th, but still, it's pretty close. I can't believe I'm actually going to be a college graduate. It's such a huge accomplishment, yet with it comes huge responsibility. Kind of like Spiderman, I guess. It's kind of daunting, thinking about how I'm going to find a job that's going to need to provide for my family. For about the past year, I've been working two jobs, so it will be a task finding one job that will take place of the income for two, and then some. Most likely, I'll end up having to keep one job along with my "career" job, at least temporarily. Bottom line is, I haven't felt like this since I graduated from high school. I have a couple things that I have going for me that I didn't then though. First, I actually have a path I can take, and skills and accomplishments (gained from work experience and school) that can help me along that path. Second, I have my amazing wife to help me through it. When I graduated high school, I was basically aimless and had no idea what I wanted to do, or even if I wanted to do anything at all. I knew college was probably inevitable, but had no motivation to pursue it. Now I've at least got some guidelines to work with. Anyway, I hadn't blogged in a while, and was feeling in need of a rant, so there you go.

I've been told that I need to post the ish that's been vibrating my eardrums lately.



Band Of Annuals-Let Me Live

Josh Ritter-The Animal Years

Coldplay-Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends

Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes

Wilco-Sky Blue Sky

So we went to Denver last weekend. Here are some pictures:

Jamber won Hanna a new friend.

Excuse me ma'am, you've got some cock on your head.

"We're just an Indian and...some guy".

The 'Ver.

I had to leave my missile in the car. It made me sad.

An attractive native girl of the Denver Rainforest.

Yeah that's right, I hooked up with the native.

You think I held that thing? Piss no.

The view from our hotel room.

We sat in the cheap seats at Coors Field...which makes sense, because we're really cheap people.

Big Blue Bear. His grumpiness could rival that of Grimace.

We met a cowboy...didn't catch his name though. Shame.