Albums of the Year #40-11

#40: Brandon Boys - The Wild Trapeze

The Incubus frontman let his musical experience take over, providing all the instruments that shows Boyd taking a sidestep from the band. (Song highlight: Runaway Train)

#39: Sky Sailing - An Airplane Carried Me to Bed

The project that came before Owl City strips out the electronic similarities to the Postal Service and brings in the acoustic guitars needed to make it sound enough like Owl City to bring in the same audience, but different enough where fans can tell the two apart. (Song highlight: Tennis Elbow)

#38: Wavves - King of the Beach

An old school sound with a new school style. (Song highlight: Post Acid)

#37: Best Coast - Crazy for You

See above, but switch male for female. (Song highlight: Boyfriend)

#36: Eminem - Recovery

The ultimate comeback album for Mr. Mathers, that would be a lot higher if it had a few more hits other than an overplayed single that seemingly glorified domestic violence. (Song Highlight: No Love featuring Lil Wayne. This is a track that highlights the best of both rappers and is one of my top songs of the year)

#35: Jimmy Eat World - Invented

An alternative band that shows they don't slow down with age. (I have to admit, this was one that I flip flopped on having on the main list. But I put it in the other day and realized I had learned most of the tracks. Song highlight: Stop)

#34: She and Him - Volume Two

Zooey Deschanel and M Ward return for a more polished product than their first outing, which was a breath of fresh musical air in its own right. (Song highlight: Lingering Still)

#33: The Black Eyed Peas - The Beginning

The guilty pleasure album of the year that you want to dismiss but you're too busy dancing. (Song highlight: The Time (Dirty Bit)

#32: Lostprophets - The Betrayed

The fourth studio album from Lostprophets didn't get much notice because for some reason it wasn't released in the states. However, the band came back and released one of the best records of their career. (Song highlight: It's Not The End Of The World But I Can See It From Here)

#31: Sleigh Bells - Treats

An album that takes a while to get into, it was fine debut by an alternative band with an electronic twist. (Song highlight: Infinity Guitars)

#30: B.o.B. - The Adventures of Bobby Ray

Riding off singles that featured appearances from other stars (Bruno Mars and Hayley Williams) this ATL rapper showed he could do it on his own, filling an entire album with hits. (Song highlight: (Ghost in the Machine)

#29: Terrible Things - Terrible Things

Featuring a line-up of artists from former bands (Taking Back Sunday, Coheed and Cambria, Hot Rod Circuit) this alternative super group released one of the great rock albums of the year that shows potential for when they acquire some experience together. (Song highlight: Wrap Me Up)

#28: Isles and Glaciers - Hearts of Lonely People

Another supergroup, this time from the screamo scene. Featuring members from Vic and Mike Fuentes from Pierce the Veil, Jonny Craig from Emarosa and Dance Gavin Dance and Craig Owens formerly from Chidos and currently from D.R.U.G.S., the only thing disappointing about this release was the short lenght. (Song highlight: Hills Like White Elephants)

#27: Evolett - For Your Consideration

This is a local pick as Evolett is a Paramore-resembling band from Montgomery. But they don't get special treatment, the release is honestly that good. (Song highlight: The Compromise)

#26: Envy on the Coast - Lowcountry

A great sophomore release from a great California band that is also bittersweet due to the fact the band split up before the end of the year. (Song highlight: Like I Do)

#25: Matt and Kim - Sidewalks

There seems to be a new musical takeover, with an alternative base mixed with electronic beats and Matt and Kim are the leaders. (Song highlight: Cameras)

#24: The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards

Jack White finds success with yet another band, creating a harder blues and rock outfit than the the combined RaconStripes. (Song highlight: I'm Mad)

#23: Death in the Park - Death in the Park

Andy Jackson, formerly of Hot Rod Circuit and currently in Terrible Things, releases this solo side project that turned into a band with Dexter influences but an indie feel that sounds like it's straight out of the early 2000s. (Song highlight: Laws of Nature)

#22: Rick Ross - Teflon Don

With the spotlight on Kanye and Eminem and Drake this year, Ross provided the sleeper rap hit of the year. (Song Highlight: Aston Martin Music)

#21: New Politics - New Politics

This fun Denmark band did something that is really hard to do; make good rap/rock music. (Song Highlight: Dignity).

#20: Pendulum - Immersion

An import from Australia, Pendulum's first album was straight Drum and Bass and the second was mostly a rock effort. Immersion combines the two to provide a soundtrack for dancers and rockers alike. (Song Highlight: Witchcraft)

#19: Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns

At first listen, A Thousand Suns almost becomes one of the most disappointing albums of the year. But that's when you compare it to past albums. If you judge the release on its own merit, Linkin Park make a pretty solid album from start to finish.

#18: Circa Survive - Blue Sky Noise

Anthony Green and company release their third album and while showing no signs of slowing down, they also release one of the most underrated albums of the year. (Song highlight: Imaginary Enemy)

#17: Drake - Thank Me Later

A rapper who seemed overhyped by peers and the media, Thank Me Later turned out to be one of the greatest R&B/Hip Hop albums of the year. While you go in thinking you were about to be blasted with beats and in your face rhymes, Drake actually slows it down to provide a good "put on and just enjoy the music" release. (Song Highlight: Miss Me)

#16: Motion City Soundtrack - My Dinosaur Life

With quirky lines fused with a growing alternative sound, Motion City Soundtrack provide the, uh, soundtrack to a good music filled night. (Song highlight: A Lifeless Ordinary)

#15: Pierce the Veil - Selfish Machines

After the success of their debut album, PTV came back with an album tailor made for concerts and turning up the sound in your car stereo. (Song highlight: Caraphernalia)

#14: Anberlin - Dark is the Way, Light is a Place

Anberlin release their fifth studio album at a quality that rivals people that have been in the business much longer. Much like their previous outings, Dark is the Way has relatable lyrics and smooth melodies that show Anberlin is a band that can be around for a long time. (Song highlight: Art of War)

#13: Chiodos - Illuminaudio

After parting ways with former front man Craig Owens, fans were curious to see what Brandon Bolmer was going to bring to the table. The result? A release that shockingly may have been better than any previous Chiodos albums. (Song highlight: Those Who Slay Together, Stay Together)

#12: Minus the Bear - OMNI

Minus the Bear take their chill out style, add some synthesizers and put in some suggestive lyrics to put out a record that is one of the best releases to put on and relax to. (Song highlight: Excuses)

#11: Bruno Mars - Doo Wops and Hooligans

Bruno Mars is a contender for artist of the year, as the guy was everywhere. And this release proved it wasn't just a fluke. The album title says it all - soulful vibes and fun jams. (Song highlight: The Other Side)

2010 Music - Songs, Disappointments and Albums that Didn't Make the Cut

So I finally wrote down my list of the music of 2010 and as soon as I get done with this write-up, I will get to work on my albums of the year post.

What this entry will cover are the songs of the year, "Best of the Rest" albums of the year and disappointments.

Songs of the Year

*The following are songs that are not found of my albums of the year (There will be 40 and anything in that post will not show up here). Disclaimer: I listen to an alternative station on my Sirius radio so that's why this list is so alternatively influenced. But I will throw a couple curve balls in there as well. And I know I will have most definitely forgotten some, but that happens.

In no particular order...

Metric - Black Sheep

A Silent Film - You Will Leave a Mark

Willow Smith - Whip My Hair

Young the Giant - My Body

Ra Ra Riot - Boy

Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks

Eminem and Dr. Dre - I Need a Doctor

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tattoo

Muse - Neutron Star Collision

Yeasayer - Madder Red

Usher - O.M.G.

The Dirty Heads - Lay Me Down

Travie McCoy feat Bruno Mars - Billionaire

Coldplay - Christmas Lights

Birdman feat Lil Wayne and Drake - Money to Blow

The Drums - Let's Go Surfing

The Constellations - Felicia

Fences - Girls With Accents

Civil Twilight - Teardrop (Massive Attack cover)

Hugo - 99 Problems

Train - Hey Soul Sister

Atomic Tom - Take Me Out

Freelance Whales - Hannah

Interpol - Barricade

Albums Left Off the Top Spots (Best of the Rest)

*The following are albums that at one point or another I acquired but just didn't get into as much as everybody else or as much as I thought I would. Who knows, maybe sometime next year I will pop them back in and add them to "Albums I should have spent more time with." I know I'm going to catch some grief for leaving some of these off, and for the sake of space will let this paragraph serve as reasons why.

(Song highlights are my favorite tracks; albums that don't contain one is just from not obtaining a favorite due to not enough time spent with it)

Once again in no particular order...

The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang (Song Highlight - Boxer)

John Legend and The Roots - Wake Up

Broken Bells - Broken Bells (Song Highlight - The Ghost Inside)

The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs (Song Highlight - Rococo)

Emarosa - Emarosa

Brandon Flowers - Flamingo (Song Highlight - Crossfire)

VersaEmerge - Fixed at Zero (Song Highlight - Fixed at Zero)

Maroon 5 - Hands all Over

Weezer - Hurley (Song Highlight - Where's My Sex?)

Angels and Airwaves - Love (Song Highlight - Epic Holiday)

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (Song Highlight - Rhinestone Eyes)

Band of Horses - Infinite Arms

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

Also, I left the following off the Top Albums post because I wanted to keep it as straight studio albums. These are good live sets, mixtapes, compilations, etc

Punk Goes Classic Rock (Song Highlight - Free Fallin by The Almost)

The Black Keys - iTunes Session (Song Highlight - Next Girl)

Taking Back Sunday - Live from Orensanz (Song Highlight - Cute Without The 'E')

Girl Talk - All Day

B.o.B. - No Genre Mixtape (Song Highlight - Lost)

Vampire Weekend - iTunes Session (Song Highlight - Holiday)

Disappointing Albums

There really weren't that many disappointments from this year, even the ones above where just ones I didn't have time to get into. But since there are only a few, I will give a brief description of why.

The Devil Wears Prada - Zombie EP; I don't know why I thought this was going to be good. I can only really stand a few of their songs, but a concept EP based on the zombie invasion sounded like a good idea. Too bad it wasn't.

Travie McCoy - Lazarus; Though I have his song "Billionaire" at the top of the post, this album was extremely forgettable. I really like Gym Class Heroes and was anticipating what McCoy would bring to the table by himself but it turns out the band does make the man.

MGMT - Congratulations; I wouldn't even begin to do justice to why this album wasn't good, so I will transfer you over to Mike who did a good job of calling them out on his own blog.

And with that, I don't want to end this post on a ranting note. Here is the new music I'm looking forward to in 2011

Cage the Elephant

Manchester Orchestra

Lupe Fiasco

Bayside

Blink 182 (hopefully)

Red Hot Chili Peppers (hopefully)

Coldplay (I think this has a better shot than the above two, but still... hopefully)

Panic! at the Disco

Jay Z/Kanye West

And I know I'm forgetting some, but the biggest one I am looking forward to, without a doubt, is Taking Back Sunday. Get ready to see plenty of talk when that album drops.

(50) Sundays of Music: #1

#1: Taking Back Sunday - Where You Want To Be

Someone asked me a short while back when I started liking music. Like, when did I get to the point I am now, where it's basically an obsession - where new music put me in a great mood, concerts are life changers and a good cd can give me a high that drugs won't be able to touch. I thought about it a second and then immediately came to this cd.

You know how some senses take you back to time periods? Like if you eat a fruit that is grown the best in a certain area or smell a perfume that your first kiss was wearing. When I hear the beginning to the opening track of Where You Want to Be, I become transported back to the early years of high school.

I went to school in a small town, but technically lived in an even smaller town. Another resident of said smaller small town would go on to become one of my best friends. One year for her birthday I got her a cd holder thing and I put the Spider-Man 2 soundtrack and this release by Taking Back Sunday in there. Being the clever guy I was, I listened to the music before I gave it to her.

And I fell in love.

Maybe it was the dual vocals, the lyrical angst, the pounding drums; whatever it was I was mesmerized. Taking Back Sunday was a band I had always heard of and after putting this cd in my player I needed to hear more. It was after this cd that I actually went back to Tell All Your Friends and prepared myself for the albums that were to follow.

At the time, I think I was just singing along to the music, but not really hearing it. To be quite honest, as much as I liked the band, a part of me felt the second half of the album was kind of lacking. Fast forward a few years later and my eyes re-opened.

A cd I first listened to in my early years of high school came back to me in my middle time period of college. I went through a long, drawn out breakup, the kind that you mix equal parts of sadness and anger. One day, I randomly put this album and it spoke to me in a whole new way.

Taking Back Sunday was the first band where I started to read into the music. And they have a way of taking words that look good on paper and make them sound even better coming through a stereo.

I think it speaks to the musicianship that I may not be in "that place" where these songs speak to me, yet I can still put this on and get totally immersed in the music.

Fight Club will always be my favorite movie. Where You Want To Be will always be my favorite album.

And to switch things up for the finale, no videos. Instead, I want to focus on what I feel are some of the best passages of these songs, the ones that I re-discover time and time again.

"Well there's a secret I've been perfecting,
I swore I wouldn't but you let me
I'm comfortably confused
(and you...) You've gotten so removed"

"Now I'm lying on the table
with everything you said
it will all catch up eventually
well, it caught up and honestly
the weight of my decisions
were impossible to hold
but they were never yours
they were never yours"

"I always hoped to avoid the issues
Got me alone so I couldn't address you
Home is where you make it, Love,
Don't get yourself confused
Besides what's it to you?
I traded my conscience for your
For your confidence
Attacked my lungs with lies to pass the time
Made states move like regular days"

"See the months they don't matter it's the days I can't take
When the hours move to minutes and I'm seconds away"

"She says live up to your first impression (Come on, just say it),
Well my best side was your worst invention (Come on, just say it),
Why can't you live without the attention (I need you defenseless, dependent),
Why can't you live without the attention (alone)."

"Well I'm blowing smoke out of your window
And you're slipping back into your dress
You know you were always such a lady
I've always been impressed
But gentlemen
They don't ask questions
Just keep quiet
She'll pay attention
Gentlemen don't ask questions
We could pay attention"

"This glass house is burning down (open all night, know it...)
You light the match, I'll stick around (open all night, know it...)
I'll give you everything you want (open all night, know it...)
And wish the worst of what I was (open all night, know it...)"

Hiatus

Ok, it's kind of obvious that I'm not posting much or showing up for other people. But this isn't one of those "need a break" posts, just one of those "hey, i'm gonna be gone for a little while" posts.

I've yet to write my post for this Sunday, but when it's up it might be my last for a good minute. The only reason is because this Sunday I will be in South Dakota.

I'm really writing this to take myself off the hook. I had a lot of "best of" posts planned, but a friend of mine just said December was kind of stressful and he is going to do his in January, so I'm taking the same approach.

So during my SD downtime, I will be working on said posts and hopefully you will see some good stuff in 2011.

Till then, here is the other reason for this post. Whether you celebrate holidays, whether you love or hate your family, whether you're going to be busy or relaxing - I hope everybody enjoys the next week or so. Treat yourself to a good time.

I know I am.

Gotta take the good with the bad

I literally just turned 24 and I already I feel like I am starting to become cynical. Case in point - I refuse to make New Year's resolutions. I've had "learn the piano" on there since 2007 and my keyboard in my room continues to gather dust.

With that said, it doesn't mean I don't have goals for the new year. It's just that I don't want to look at it it as "I am only doing this because the last two digits whenever I write down the date has changed." More like: "I need to lose weight and get in shape. So that's what I'm going to do."

Last week, great things were happening to the people around me. Very recently, one of those great things took a terrible turn for the worst. I just don't understand. People can be absolute saints and still shitty things will happen to them. And yet complete scum of the Earth live the good life. It's not fucking fair.

And I know it's a tease, but I can't really go into the details. But I feel good about that above paragraph. Just needed to vent it.

So as to not be a downer, let's try to end on some positive vibes:

*I am really liking my job

*I saw my dad this past weekend and I feel like we are getting closer. I really like it and I only wish it would have happened long ago.

*I will show up for work on Christmas Day, then come home and put some clothes in a suitcase, maybe get a few hours of sleep, then by Sunday evening I will be in South Dakota with my family. I can't wait. I need to be there.

(50) Sundays of Music: #2

#2: Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head

This is the post I feel everyone (or maybe just a couple people) were waiting for. I mean, when you name your blog after a CD, you know that it has to be somewhere at the top.

As someone who considers Coldplay either my #1 or #2 favorite band, depending on when you ask, I feel A Rush of Blood to the Head is Coldplay's defining album. It shows off what Coldplay can do best - emotional ballads with piano backgrounds - but also shows that they can carry a CD from start to finish and even rock out a bit.

The beginning intro track "Politik" crashes you into the experience that you are about to partake in before the symphony of sound that Coldplay has been known for comes in with "In My Place."

From there, the album navigates through meaningful vocals and moving instrumentals. Some of my favorite songs from all music come from this cd: "Green Eyes," "The Scientist" and "Clocks."

However, I think what puts albums on this countdown is the personal experience I have with them. And personal stories is something I have plenty of with A Rush of Blood to the Head.

*"Amsterdam" - This song may be one of the most meaningful I have ever heard, and is one of those rare songs that is truly an experience when you hear it out, containing some of the most heartfelt lyrics I've ever heard come from Chris Martin "You can say what you mean / But it won’t change a thing / I’m sick of the secrets / Stood on the edge, tied to a noose / You came along and you cut me loose." I've heard rumors that Coldplay's next album will tell a story and if this song is any indication of what Coldplay can do with that method, music fans are in for a treat.

*"Green Eyes" - For a band that is considered "deep" (or whiny, depending on who you ask), this is one track where they are positive with a good vibe. Also, it was one of my favorite songs to sing along to when Martin performed it acoustic at the concert I attended.

*"Clocks" - If I ever get around to learning the piano, this is the track I will jam out to.

*"In My Place" & "Warning Sign" - Here is where I am going to be completely honest with anyone who reads these things. These are the only two songs in my musical history to make me shed tears by listening to them. Of course, I had to listen to them at the right time for it to hit me in the right way, but when they did they took a hold of me. Both times were from different break ups with the same girl, but both are still tracks that I hold close to my heart even today.

So for those who wanted this album to be #1, sorry for the disappointment. But hopefully you will still come back the day after Christmas to see who claimed the top spot. Until then, check out some of the songs I mentioned.

Movie Thursday: #7

Saw this the other day on Tumblr.

The description goes:

"This year's movies have legitimately transformed my idea of what is creatively possible. To commemorate, I've remixed 270 of them into one giant ass video."