Best in Music for 2011 (so far) W/ GUESTS!

Hey, guess what? Here is some music, just for you! Not only from me, but from my friends Mike and Liz as well. This week, Mike and I are both participating in Liz's Mixtape Mondays with the theme being the Best of 2011 (so far).

Ladies first, so here is what Liz picked for her list. (Note: I can name three artists that I have become fans of because of Liz, so even though this list is for our readers, I am personally looking forward to discovering some new material from her selection).

Click here to download Liz's mix

01. These Days - The Foo Fighters
02. Shook Down - Yuck

03. Calamity Song - The Decemberists

04. Love Is - Meg & Dia

05. Walking Far From Home - Iron & Wine
06. It's Not A Bad Little War - Bayside
07. Calgary - Bon Iver
08. Came Out Swinging - The Wonder Years
09. Freak Out - Tapes N Tapes
10. Little Cup - Thao & Mirah
11. Meantime - Givers
12. Life Is Killing Me - Fireworkds
13. Grown Oceans - Fleet Foxes
14. Cradle - The Joy Formidable
15. Sadness is a Blessing - Lykke Li
16. Weekend - Smith Westerns
17. Everything With You - Pains of Being Pure at Heart

And now, I'm going to hand it over to Mike. (Note: I love that we picked a few of the same bands. Also, there were a couple of artists I left off because I figured Mike had them covered. It's awesome when great minds think alike)

Click here to download Mike's mix

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart- Belong

Manchester Orchestra- Mighty

Bright Eyes- Shell Games

Taking Back Sunday- Best Places To Be A Mom

The Black Dahlia Murder- On Stirring Seas Of Salted Blood

Lady GaGa- Heavy Metal Lover

The Beastie Boys- Long Burn The Fire

Mogwai- Mexican Grand Prix

Melanie Laruent- En t’attendant

Radiohead- Lotus Flower

Bon Iver- Perth

The Decemberists- Don’t Carry It All

Hugh Laurie- Six Cold Feet In The Ground

Foo Fighters- White Limo

Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi- Two Against One

City & Colour- We Found Each Other In The Dark

James Blake- Limit To Your Love

Death Cab For Cutie- Codes & Keys

Tally Hall- Misery Fell

Iron & Wine- Walking Far From Home

TV On The Radio- Will Do

Thursday- Turnpike Divides

And finally, here are my picks. (Note: Foo Fighters is the only artist to appear in all three of our mixes. If you haven't checked out that cd, you need to).

Click here to download my mix

1. Foo Fighters - Bridge Burning
2. Brother - Darling Buds of May
3. Sleeper Agent - Get it Daddy
4. Dr. Dre featuring Eminem, Skylar Grey - I Need a Doctor
5. John Legend - Rolling in the Deep (Adele cover)
6. Peter, Bjorn and John - Second Chance
7. Does It Offend You, Yeah? - We Are the Dead
8. Taking Back Sunday - El Paso
9. Royal Bangs - Fireball
10. Childish Gambino - Freaks and Geeks
11. Lupe Fiasco featuring Skylar Grey - Words I Never Said
12. Hugo - Bread and Butter
13. Farewell Continental - Who's the Boss?
14. Yellowcard - With You Around
15. Manchester Orchestra - April Fool
16. Cage the Elephant - 2024
17. Social Distortion - Machine Gun Blues
18. Augustana - Shot in the Dark
19. Foster the People - Houdini
20. Death Cab for Cutie - Monday Morning
21. Bayside - The Wrong Way
22. Panic! at the Disco - Sarah Smiles

Mix and Match

So there are a few things going on that I should probably give specific attention to in three separate posts, but eff it - I'm lazy.

With that said, I present to you The (current) Life and Times of Mr O - A Three Part Saga

Act I - The Golden State:

I got back from California on Sunday after having an incredible week. Inevitably, there was some drama but it sort of came from an unlikely source in my brothers. Ironically, a few summers ago my brother Nick and I formed a bond and became super close. This time, it was my cousin Katie and I. She was the one who I had flown out to watch graduate and she was the one I spent the majority of my time with. While we probably set a record for laughs and hugs, it was her flat out asking me "why don't you just move out here" that got to me. For the first time in my life I didn't have a straight answer. I'm out of school, so what's holding me back? Right now it's the fact that I am at a good job gaining valuable experience. But best believe if I were to get laid off, I am picking up the phone and calling my Cali family immediately.

Here are some highlights from the trip:

*Becoming known as a car killer (my cousin got in an accident on the first day and after borrowing my Uncle's car it wouldn't start the next day)

*Spending an entire day at Six Flags Magic Mountain. I'm not usually a rollercoaster guy, but I had a lot of fun. Best ride? Riddler's Revenge.

*Walking along Ocean Avenue with the lovely Jeanette as my LA tour guide

*Having a section of family and friends take up three rows at my cousin's graduation. And being one of the loudest groups there.

*Seeing Pirates 4. And liking it.

*The competitiveness of Wii Bowling

*Eating some wonderful BBQ

*Hanging out with two sets of families and killing time by chatting, playing games and taking tons of pictures

Let's just say I was really really (really) sad when I touched down in Atlanta on Sunday. And if I was a betting man, I would put everything I had on me returning to California. Maybe sooner rather than later.

Act II - Summer Lovin, Happened So Fast

I think one of the most depressing things about graduating college and entering the "real world" is that you no longer have a summer. You know, the months when things slow down and you can kind of take things casually. Now that I'm at a big boy job, June through August is going to be feel exactly like February through April, only much much hotter. With that in mind, I still have some goals for the summer months, including

*Finally f**king learning the piano. I have felt inspired to make music lately and I want to see that through. Maybe, just maybe, 2011 will be the year that happens.

*Getting lost in TV and videogames. I know this may sound like a "dumb" goal to have, but I miss the simplicity of enjoying a game or being addicted to a TV show. The last one I watched was Friday Night Lights and that was so good I couldn't even think of watching something else for a while. But now I'm ready to get back in and I have some contenders including Smallville, Veronica Mars, Californication and Weeds. Most likely though, I'm going to start off with 24. As for video games, my cousin Brian let me borrow LA Noire. I've only played a few hours but I already love that game.

*I don't have a weight loss goal as in pounds shed, but I want to get into a "healthier" lifestyle. Even if it means just getting up and walking a little bit in the morning, it's at least a start.

*Also a BIG finally, is starting a music blog. I know that's what this has kind of evolved into, but I'm talking one that deals strictly in music. One that I can show on a future resume. And one that was inspired by a fellow blogger. This is the most important and expect to hear more about it soon.

Act III: Please, Don't Lose Your Faith In Me

Using music as the perfect segway, I am counting down the days until June 28. That's when the reunited original lineup of Taking Back Sunday finally puts out their new cd. It is two weeks away and if the four songs I've already heard are any indication, I am going to be far from disappointed.

There's only a handful of bands I get giddy over, but TBS is one of them. The last time I counted the days for a cd was Coldplay's "Viva la Vida" in 2008 (another "giddy" band). I did a countdown on myspace bulletins (remember those?) so I'm thinking I might do something for this release.

The latest track they released is "All This Now" and you can hear it below:

Hustlers grab your guns

By the time this day is over, I will be with my family in California.

To say I'm excited is an understatement.

I'm thinking about doing some exclusive vacation videos for this blog. Think you guys would be interested in that?

Also, expect some pictures from another blogger you have seen on here before. Basically, the next week is going to be filled with greatness.

As this song is stuck in my head...