Happy Holidays, v. 2.011! My belief that the years seem shorter because they are smaller percentages of my life keeps coming back to haunt me. Weren’t we just doing this? Me writing a bunch of drivel about songs that I really liked as I force them on you, only to pop up in a week or two and ask; “how was it? Did you like it? What’d you think?”. Feels like only last month, not 12 months ago. Oh well. Shall we?
Oh, and this whole web page download thing is kind of weird to me. Drop me a line here to let me know if it works.
Mahna Mahna – Muppets – Muppet Soundtrack
Like so many others, I looooove the Muppets. So I couldn’t wait to see the movie. And, like so many others, I loooooooved it. So I bought the soundtrack. My excuse was that it was only $4.99, but the truth is I would have bought it anyway.
Hot Wax and Whiskey –
Linzi Zaorski – Hot Wax and Whiskey
Debbie and I went to New
Orleans this year for a 3 day thing where we ate and drank and saw some bands
play while drinking after having eaten. When we saw Linzi, it could have been
2011, or it could have been 1960.
And I’m not scared to admit that I have a little crush thing working
because of it. The reason I’m
allowed to admit it is because I think Debbie feels the same way.
Get Lost – Tom Waits – Bad
as Me
Of course he’s on here. It’s Tom Waits! Appealing to everyone from college kids
to Midwestern Pastors that I call Mom.
Knuckle Down – Man Man –
Life Fantastic
I took Holden to see them
live and he thought it was brilliant!
We even ended up down by the stage. But I did think it was funny when he turned to me and said
“Daddy, I’m the youngest one here.”
But that was ok, because I was the oldest. And between us, it kind of averaged out.
WHALE – Yellow Ostrich –
The Mistress
Here’s a bit of an ear worm
for you. Ohh ohh/ ohh ohh/ ohh
ohh. Again and again and again
until it’s going in circles in my head again and again and again and there’s
nothing I can do about it and it keeps going ohh ohh/ ohh ohh/ ohh ohh… you’re
welcome.
Radio Down – The Aquabats
– Hi Five Soup
For once, I offer the boys
something age appropriate. These
guys are involved with Yo Gabba Gabba on some level (like, in its creation or
something) and other songs on the album are about popping wheelies (on my
bike!) and having big friends. But
this one has Biz Markie! Rapping
about food! Wheeee!
Get it Daddy – Sleeper
Agent – Celebrasion
Debbie called me one day and said “what’s the name of the song that's bouncy and says “Daddy” and “baby” in it. Which narrowed it down to a field of a bajillion. But my some miracle (the miracle being that I’m awesome), I found it. And it’s delightful. A couple of minutes of bouncy silliness. I’m cool with that.
Two Kinds of Happiness –
The Strokes – Angels
Don’t ask me why, but I swear
I want to listen to Billy Idol’s Rebel Yell every time this song comes on. That’s not a bad thing because I loved
Rebel Yell. And this album should
feel dated, but it just feels like an old friend has come to visit. Well, until track 4. That song is terrible. So I never make it past there and start
the first 3 songs all over again.
Which means I know those really
well. The rest of the album? I think… umm… it’s ok…?
Second Song – TV on the
Radio – Nine Types of Light
How do I love TV on the
Radio? Let me count the ways. One, one thousand, two, two
thousand…! This album didn’t grab
me right away, but now when I listen to it, I fall in love all over again. Two of the songs are beyond
beautiful. But this song was my
way in to the album. Because it’s
brilliant. And, like so many songs
before it, it makes me happy to hear two voices in the back seat sing along to
it.
Kilamanjaro – Celebration
– Hello Paradise
Celebration has made some really great music in the past and on this album. Unfortunately, they’ve also made some really forgettable music. It’s never bad, it just doesn’t stay long. They’re great for background music when you’re working around the house. Which reminds me that I have to go do the dishes and vacuum. Lucky I got to this point on the cd when I remembered!
Northern Lights – St.
Vincent – Strange Mercy
I think I’m going to make a
cd of St. Vincent’s greatest hits.
That way I won’t have to make my way through all the dreck between the hits every time I
put their music on.
Black Night – The Dodos –
No Color
Can somebody help me? I know there’s a reason why everyone’s
been talking about The Dodos this year, but I can’t figure out what it is. I guess they’re 2011’s The National with
a really great lead single and then… well, nothing that really turns my
head. Oh well. I guess the weakness is in me. Again.
Santa Fe – Beirut – The
Rip Tide
Another warm blanket for cold
days. I heart Beirut.
Folks – Thao and Mirah –
Thao and Mirah
Don’t know much about either
of these two ladies, except a single I got from Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
from 2008 that landed in my lap somehow and I’ve loved ever since. A couple of good songs on here,
including one that Palmer can’t get enough of because the opening line is “put
your hands/ in your pants…”. But over all? Meh.
Sunlight – Tune-Yards –
Bird-Brains
Huge hit at our house and a
particularly big one for Palmer.
He was fascinated by the rhythm and tried constantly to play along by
beating his hands on whatever was close, but could never find a way to deal with
the syncopation. They put out a
new album this year that was pretty damn good, but watching him listen
and try to wrap his head around it made me want to put this on the 2011 cd, forsaking all others.
Young Hearts Spark Fire –
Japandroids – Post-Nothing
Two guys. That’s it. Just a drummer and a guitarist. And so damn full!
A friend of mine said that he saw them live and they sound just a
huge. I know the album came out in
2010, but we courted and eventually fell in love in 2011. A little melancholy, but perfect rainy
day music. Except the sun is out
right now, so let’s move on, shall we?
Silence – Herzog – Search
This is a really fun
album. There’s another song on it
called Living Alone that I was going to put on, but Holden suggested this song
is better. And who am I to
argue?
Glitter – No Age –
Everything in Between
I do like noise when it’s
done right. That grinding guitar
sound makes the hair on my arms stand up in all the right ways.
Intro – M83 – Hurry Up,
We’re Dreaming
M83 and I have been on the
outs lately. I admit that about 18
months ago I decided that I was sick of acoustic guitars and cheesy
keyboards. I know that I haven’t
followed through on my disdain terribly well, but I did drop M83 because of
it. But I’m a sucker for songs with
big bombastic builds to glory. It
was growing up in the 80’s that did it to me. Damn you, Depeche Mode! Your curse is still on me! For shame.
Hand Covers Bruise – Trent
Reznor and Atticus Ross – The Social Network
Speaking of pretentious music
I can’t seem to get enough of, ladies and gentlemen, Trent Reznor! I thought the movie was pretty good
(very pretty but the story only ever struck me as good. I guess my expectations were through
the roof and impossible to fulfill.
My bad). And the soundtrack
isn’t terrible, but nothing after track one jumps out. But track one? Oh my, but I do love it so.
Glosoli – Sigur Ros – Inni
Yes I spent $23 to buy a cd
of a live performance by a band that I already own plenty of music from,
knowing that most of the songs would only ever be pale imitations of the studio
versions. This song made it
worthwhile. Because this song is…
shhh. Just listen… am I right? Yeah.
And that is 2011. Well, it’s not, really. There was a lot that didn’t fit. Radiohead, Jane’s Addiction, Mogwai? I’m looking at you guys in
particular. So once again, all I
can do is suggest that you swing by the house when you get a chance and we sit
down in the library and talk music.
You up for it? Give me a
call and we’ll hang out. In the
meantime, Merry Christmas!
-Dave McLean
2011
