Since I put together my inaugural Top 10 list last year, I may as well make it a tradition. Luckily I had the foresight to keep a running list in Evernote throughout the year, so the tough part was putting them in order. Some may argue about the order of the albums on the list or the exclusion of others. I'd love to hear your opinions.
So without any further jibba jabba, here's my Top 10 Albums of 2010 list:
Spoon - Transference Few bands consistently release great albums while gradually morphing their sound. Spoon does. Another constant listen this past year.
Wavves - King of the Beach The summer of 2010 was a brief indie surf rock renaissance. Or maybe I'm discounting a trend with a longer shelf life. But I'm no critic. Good album for the beach. Or kings of them.
Suckers - Wild Smile These guys toured with Local Natives and the first time I heard them was when they opened that show. Bad ass tunes kinda like Local Natives but not. Apples and oranges, but still fresh & delicious organic fruit (I may have yuppied that fruit part up a bit, but oh well).
I didn't take much of my vacation time this year, so I'm left with thirteen days of vacation to take in December. In an effort to make the most of this bounty of time off, I made a list of things to do. Thanks to Jamie for suggesting I make a list after patiently enduring my first couple brainstorming sessions.
Here's the list in no particular order:
Triumphant return to homebrewing - Brew an American Pale Ale. Cascade hops and more Cascade hops.
"Fixing a hole where the rain gets in..." - Patch a couple small leaks in the garage roof.
No clever way to say it - Rake some leaves.
Dining reconnaissance at Stella Sola - One of the few local restaurants I haven't tried yet.
Mini "Into the Wild" camping trip - Solo camping for a few days with my guitar and mountain bike. Maybe Huntsville State Park.
These are the (An)droids you're looking for - Finally finish developing the Android application I've been working on sporadically over the past several months.
Save me from my phone, Phone - Build a Windows Phone 7 equivalent of my Android application. Given the far superior development tools available for WP7, this should be a much quicker build than the Android app.
Eat, drink, and be merry - Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with family and friends.
Put the needle on the record - Put on some headphones, lay on the floor, and enjoy my record collection.
"Take a look, it's in a book..." - Decide which book I want to read next and spend some time turning pages.
Any good trip needs a soundtrack. With this in mind, I created a mix CD with the following tracks. All of the bands except where noted hail from Montreal or at least Canada. I've included links to listen to the tracks on YouTube. No Celine Dion or Bryan Adams will be found here, only the coolest indie bands Canada has to offer.
These are in no particular order. I know, I know... the art of a good mix is in the song order, but I plan to put the CD on shuffle in the rental car to let chance determine what we hear when:
Built to Spill - Hindsight (Not FROM Canada, but the lyric "What about Canada? It's paradise. It's pines and ice." makes me chuckle every time I hear it.)
I posted the following on a comment thread on a friend's Facebook page and thought I should share it here. Feel free to agree or flame away. You're not going to change my mind:
My beef with the Tea Party movement is it was started by Libertarian-minded people with the right intentions, but then hijacked by the establishment GOP for political gain. The GOP now favors corporate welfare and imperialist "world policing". In fact, the only difference between the Republicans and Democrats now is what they want to spend the money on. That they have any right to tax and inflate away our earnings is a foregone conclusion.
I am an advocate of a Constitution-sized federal government (MUCH smaller than what we've had for the past 100 years) with lassiez faire capitalism, no Federal Reserve, and a non-interventionist foreign policy. I would have to have been born before 1900 to have any of that...
Since my friend Greg asked for it, here's a review of The Flaming Lips' "New Year's Eve Freakout" as their latest album, "Embryonic", spins on the turntable.
The last time I saw the Lips was in high school just after the release of "Clouds Taste Metallic". That experience and word-of-mouth since prepared me for the celebratory chaos that is a Flaming Lips show. Joe Mathlete of 29-95.com did a very entertaining set of cartoons documenting his trip to OKC for the show accurately described a Flaming Lips concert as "the biggest happiest birthday party ever, and everyone in the room is turning six".
The biggest draw for me was the fact that the Lips would be playing Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" at midnight. The week before the concert, they released the studio version of the album. I debated for less than five minutes whether I should listen to it or wait to hear it live on New Year's. Of course, I caved and listened to it repeatedly. I love how they made it their own, even completely changing the vibe of some songs like "Breathe" so that I had to really focus to hear what my ears were used to hearing from the Floyd version. Similarly, the clocks at the beginning of "Time" and the cash register/coins sound collage at the beginning of "Money" were changed (ha ha ha, pun intended) up quite a bit. I also appreciated that Henry Rollins was tapped for the speaking parts interspersed throughout the album. For my American English trained ears, this was the first time I was able to understand some of the speaking parts without the veil of a thick British English accent.
Back to the concert itself... We wisely got a room at the Renaissance Inn across the street from the convention center to avoid the need to drive anywhere. Some friends and friends of friends joined us at the hotel before the show for a little preparty. Around 10pm, we walked across the street to the convention center. The Flaming Lips had just gone on stage and proceeded to play a mixture of old and new songs including "Do You Realize?", "Convinced of the Hex", "She Don't Use Jelly", and "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots".
Big balloons in a variety of colors bounced among the crowd and my eyes noticed a sea of such balloons occupying the seats behind the stage. "Why aren't these balloons being enjoyed?", I wondered. I decided to do my part and throw as many of the balloons as possible into the part of the crowd where we were sitting. This was much appreciated by those around us, but was quickly interrupted by the yelling of stagehands below. It was then I realized these balloons were for midnight. My bad, dudes.
At midnight, the aforementioned idle balloons were swept into the crowd, resulting in a sea of multicolored balloons reminiscent of the ball pit at Showbiz Pizza . After (or before, I'm not sure), Wayne came out with giant hands and shot green lasers into the large hemispherical disco ball in the center of the arena. The disco ball refracted the lasers everywhere and prepared us for the Flaming Lips/Pink Floyd masterpiece we were about to witness.
Before they started playing Dark Side, Wayne asked all of us to set the alarm on our phones for 12:55 AM with whatever sound was currently set, which was obviously when they planned to launch into "Time". No cuckoo clocks with gears and chimes in 2010; this would be interesting.
Their performance of Dark Side for the most part stuck to the studio version, but hearing it live and seeing a seemingly endless sea of costumed characters such as a whale in a captain's uniform dancing at the sides of the stage made it even better. I really enjoyed watching Steven scream the diva part from "The Great Gig in the Sky" into a distorted megaphone. The Pink Floyd version of that song always gives me chills and The Flaming Lips version is no different. I also loved when they said "And now, we begin Side 2" in the middle of the performance. Time to flip the record, kids... We were sitting on the left side of the stage and I didn't see Henry Rollins, but heard his speaking parts throughout the set. Were they using a recording of him? Maybe someone with a different vantage point can clear that up for me.
Overall, it was a great New Year's Eve. No one was shoving past me to get to a bar and I didn't have to listen to the clucking of drunk girls in extra short cocktail dresses. I didn't have to drive, and I didn't have to talk to any police officers.
If you haven't ever listened to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon", SHAME ON YOU! Go get a turntable, the record, and a good set of headphones. Then, let me know how wonderful it is. After 100 or more listens, treat yourself to the Flaming Lips version. Which reminds me, I still need to listen to that with headphones...
A friend sent me this quote from his iGoogle page today:
A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned to walk forward. - Franklin D. Roosevelt
FDR fancied himself a progressive, so I'm not surprised that he'd say something like that. I, on the other hand, am libertarian to the core. As such, I propose the following revision:
Liberals and conservatives are men with a perfectly good Constitution who, however, have decided to ignore it completely.
I've been thinking for quite some time about trying to compile a list of all the bands I've seen live over the years. I'll put these in order as much as possible. I plan to keep adding to this as I recall past shows and attend more in the future. I have a ticket stub book, so I'll include the dates and other details for those I have. Some of these are special in that the bands have since split up, are no longer touring, and/or some members have passed away. You can find videos from a lot of these shows on my YouTube channel. Here we go:
Hum with Mercury Rev - Monday, February 5, 1996 @ Will Rogers Theater in Oklahoma City, OK
The Flaming Lips - Sunday, May 26, 1996 @ Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, OK
Social Distortion - Tuesday, November 19, 1996 @ Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, OK
Smashing Pumpkins with Garbage - Saturday, November 23, 1996 @ Myriad Arena in Oklahoma City, OK
Cibo Matto - Tuesday, February 25, 1997 @ Bricktown Live in Oklahoma City, OK
Earth Crisis
Beck with The Roots & Atari Teenage Riot - Wednesday, April 16, 1997 @ Fairgrounds T&T Building in Oklahoma City, OK
Coal Chamber with Sevendust - Wednesday, February 11, 1998 @ The Edge in Oklahoma City, OK
Page & Plant - Thursday, June 4, 1998 @ Myriad Arena in Oklahoma City, OK
The Crystal Method - Wednesday, August 26, 1998 @ Will Rogers Theater in Oklahoma City, OK
Korn with Ice Cube & Limp Bizkit (Family Values Tour) - Tuesday, October 20, 1998 @ Fairgrounds Arena in Oklahoma City, OK
Steve Miller Band with George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Saturday, August 21, 1999 @ State Fair Stadium in Oklahoma City, OK
MXPX - Friday, May 5, 2000 @ Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, OK
The Who (while John Entwistle was still alive) - Tuesday, August 29, 2000 @ Woodlands Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX
Violent Femmes & Flickerstick (of VH1 Bands on the Run fame) - Sunday, July 1, 2001 @ Herman Square in Houston, TX
Dave Matthews Band - Sunday, May 5, 2002 @ Woodlands Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX
Weezer with Dashboard Confessional - Thursday, August 1, 2002 @ Woodlands Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX
John Mayer & Guster - Wednesday, August 28, 2002 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
Zwan - Monday, April 14, 2003 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
Jason Mraz with Sondre Lerche & Liz Phair - Sunday, August 2003 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
Modest Mouse - Sunday, February 20, 2005 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
Glen Phillips (from Toad the Wet Sprocket) - Thursday, August 7, 2003 @ Rhythm Room in Houston, TX
Graham Colton - Wednesday, October 22, 2003 @ Engine Room in Houston, TX
Howie Day with Matt Nathanson & Slop Jar Jr (I only remember them for their odd name) - Wednesday, November 5, 2003 @ Engine Room in Houston, TX
Dashboard Confessional with The Get Up Kids - Sunday, June 12, 2004 at Reliant Arena in Houston, TX
Death Cab for Cutie with Franz Ferdinand - Thursday, March 30, 2006 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
Sondre Lerche - Thursday, November 18, 2004 at Rhythm Room in Houston, TX
Wilco - Saturday, April 23, 2005 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
Ryan Adams - Wednesday, June 15, 2005 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
Franz Ferdinand - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
We Are Scientists - March 20, 2006 Walter's in Houston, TX
Beulah - May 21, 2006 @ Mary Jane's in Houston, TX
Arctic Monkeys with We Are Scientists - Thursday, June 8, 2006 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - September 16, 2006 @ Walter's in Houston, TX
French Kicks - September 22, 2006 @ Walter's in Houston, TX
The Shins with Viva Voce - Tuesday, March 6, 2007 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
Aqueduct - March 18, 2007 @ Walter's in Houston, TX
Spoon @ Numbers in Houston, TX
Tokyo Police Club (x2, one with Ra Ra Riot) @ Meridian in Houston, TX
Old 97's (x2) @ Meridian in Houston, TX
Ryan Adams - Thursday, October 18, 2007 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
Hot Hot Heat - Monday, October 22, 2007 @ Meridian
Scissors for Lefty - October 25, 2007 @ Jet Lounge in Houston, TX
Spoon with The New Pornographers - Thursday, November 1, 2007 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
Of Montreal with MGMT - November 2, 2007 @ Numbers in Houston, TX
Peter Bjorn & John - Friday, November 23, 2007 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
Old 97's - Saturday, December 29, 2007 @ La Zona Rosa in Austin, TX
The Bravery (x2) @ Warehouse Live
Built To Spill - October 18, 2006 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
My Morning Jacket with Yo La Tengo - Monday, March 10, 2008 @ Verizon Wireless Theater in Houston, TX
Built to Spill with Meat Puppets - March 3, 2008 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
The Cribs - March 11, 2008 @ Engine Room in Houston, TX
The Bravery with Phantom Planet - Saturday, March 22, 2008 @ Diamond Ballroom in Houston, TX
She Wants Revenge with Be Your Own Pet - Saturday, May 17, 2008 @ Meridian in Houston, TX
Son Volt with Bobby Bare Jr. @ Continental Club in Houston, TX
French Kicks with Young Mammals (Houston band) - Walter's in Houston, TX
Old 97's - May 15, 2008 @ Cactus Records in Houston, TX
Mates of State - Thursday, June 12, 2008 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
Stone Temple Pilots with Black Francis (Frank Black of The Pixies) - Saturday, June 28, 2008 @ Woodlands Pavilion in The Woodlands, TX
Harry & The Potters - July 8, 2008 @ Walter's in Houston, TX
Tilly & The Wall with Wild Moccasins (Houston band) - Friday, July 18, 2008 @ Engine Room in Houston, TX
Oh No! Oh My! - Thursday, August 28, 2008 in Houston, TX
Vampire Weekend, Mates of State, Del the Funky Homosapien, Jenny Lewis, Old 97's, Drive By Truckers, Jose Gonzalez, Bobby Bare Jr., CSS, MGMT, Iron & Wine, Conor Oberst, Beck (Austin City Limits Festival) - September 26-27, 2008 @ Zilker Park in Austin, TX
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Tuesday, October 14, 2008 @ Verizon Wireless Theater
The Ting Tings - Monday, October 20, 2008 @ House of Blues in Houston, TX
Weezer - Thursday, October 23, 2008 @ Reliant Arena in Houston, TX
Of Montreal - Wednesday, November 12, 2008 @ Warehouse Live in Houston, TX
Los Campesinos with Titus Andronicus - Thursday, January 30, 2009 @ Walter's in Houston, TX
Broken Social Scene - Monday, February 2, 2009 @ Numbers in Houston, TX
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead @ Cactus Records, in Houston, TX
Andrew Bird - Saturday, March 21, 2009 @ House of Blues in Houston, TX
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists with Buxton (Houston band) - Saturday, April 11, 2009 @ KTRU Festival, Rice University in Houston, TX
Jenny Lewis with Heartless Bastards - Wednesday, June 24, 2009 @ Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
Death Cab for Cutie- Tuesday, July 14, 2009 @ Red Rocks, Morrison, CO
Octopus Project, Broken Social Scene, Explosions in the Sky, Prince Paul, Voxtrot, Buxton, Devin the Dude, Of Montreal - August 8-9, 2009 @ Eleanor Tinsley Park, Houston, TX
The Decemberists - Friday, October 2, 2009 @ House of Blues in Houston, TX
Young Mammals, Buxton - Saturday, November 14, 2009 @ 300-500 Westheimer, Houston, TX
Jay Reatard - Tuesday, December 8, 2009 @ Walter's, Houston, TX
The Flaming Lips (New Year's Eve Freakout & Dark Side of the Moon) - Thursday, December 31, 2009 @ Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City, OK
Yo La Tengo & Times New Viking - Thursday, January 28, 2010 @ Warehouse Live, Houston TX
Fiery Furnaces & Drug Rug - Friday, January 29, 2010 @ Walter's, Houston, TX
Kingsley Flood, Grownup Noise, Cassavettes - Saturday, April 3, 2010 @ Middle East, Boston, MA
Tegan and Sara - Saturday, February 27, 2010 @ Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
Yeasayer - Friday, April 9, 2010 @ House of Blues, Houston, TX
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ Mango's, Houston, TX
Local Natives and Suckers - Saturday, April 24, 2010 @ Mango's, Houston, TX
Wild Moccasins, Mix Master Mike, Medeski Martin & Wood, Ra Ra Riot, Girl Talk, Lucero, Stars, The Flaming Lips - Saturday, June 5 - Sunday, June 6, 2010 @ Eleanor Tinsley Park, Houston, TX
Tokyo Police Club, Passion Pit, and Brahms - Thursday, June 17, 2010 @ Warehouse Live, Houston, TX
Weird Al Yankovic - Saturday, July 17, 2010 @ Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston, TX
