Top 10 Albums of 2008

10. Able Baker Fox - Voices
9. Kanye West - 808's & Heartbreak
8. Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
7. Bound Stems - The Family Afloat
6. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
5. Local H - Twelve Angry Months
4. The Dodos - Visiter
3. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
2. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

Honorable Mention: Death Cab for Cutie - The Narrow Stairs, T.I. - Paper Trail, The Subways - All or Nothing, Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust, Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornados), Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls

Top 25 Songs For November

25. The Subways - I Won't Let You Down
24. I'm From Barcelona - Paper Planes
23. Matthew Sweet - Burn Through Love
22. Deerhunter - Little Kids
21. I'm From Barcelona - Andy
20. I'm From Barcelona - Ophelia
19. The Subways - Move To Newlyn
18. The Rosebuds - Another Way In
17. Bound Stems - Clear Water & Concrete
16. The Subways - Lostboy
15. Bound Stems - Passing Bell
14. Bound Stems - Cloak Of Blue Sky
13. The Subways - Strawberry Blonde
12. I'm From Barcelona - Rufus
11. Bound Stems - Taking Tips From The Gallery Gang
10. Deerhunter - Twilight At Carbon Lake
9. Matthew Sweet - Feel Fear
8. The Subways - Alright
7. I'm From Barcelona (featuring Soko) - Gunhild
6. Bound Stems - Sugar City Magic
5. The Rosebuds - Nice Fox
4. The Subways - Shake! Shake!
3. Bound Stems - Crossed Off Together
2. Deerhunter - Nothing Ever Happened
1. Bound Stems - Winston

Top 25 Songs For October

25. Of Montreal - Triphallus, to Punctuate!
24. Oasis - Bag It Up
23. Annuals - Down The Mountain
22. Oasis - I'm Outta Time
21. Tokyo Police Club - The Harrowing Adventures Of...
20. Annuals - Springtime
19. Brendan Canning - Something For All Of Us
18. Tokyo Police Club - Nurse, Academy
17. Brendan Canning - Chameleon
16. Of Montreal - And I've Seen A Bloody Shadow
15. The Replacements - Careless
14. Tokyo Police Club - Graves
13. Tokyo Police Club - Sixties Remake
12. Brendan Canning - Hit The Wall
11. Tokyo Police Club - Your English Is Good
10. Of Montreal - An Eluardian Instance
9. Vivian Girls - Never See Me Again
8. Tokyo Police Club - Centennial
7. Annuals - Always Do
6. Brendan Canning - Churches Under The Stairs
5. Tokyo Police Club - In A Cave
4. Of Montreal - Touched Something's Hollow
3. Of Montreal - Nonpareil Of Favor
2. Tokyo Police Club - Juno
1. Vivian Girls - I Believe In Nothing

Fuck Yes

November 3, 2004 is one of the hardest days I can remember. I woke up, confirmed that the worst had happened, and then left 32 Wheeler to head to class. I recall seeing some small children on the walk over and wanting to cry. When I arrived at my poly sci class with Harry Hirsh, everyone was a mess. For an hour, we talked about what had happened: some ranted and raved, some sat quietly, despondent, and some seemed close to tears. We all did our best to make sense of something we didn’t understand.

What I remember best is that at some point, someone suggested or implied that Barack Obama, my hometown senator who’d recently caught the nation’s attention at the DNC, might help the Democrats finally wrestle back control of the White House in 2008. Harry, who I always found to be incredibly intelligent and an astute political observer, quickly dismissed this idea, commenting that our best chance of electing a Democratic president again would be to nominate a charismatic candidate from the South who could siphon off a few Red States. I thought that made a shitload of sense.

Barack, thank you for somehow making this all come true.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Top 25 will belatedly appear this weekend after I turn in my seminar paper.

Top 25 Songs For September

25. The National - 90-Mile Water Wall
24. The National - Available
23. T.I. - On Top Of The World
22. T.I. - 56 Bars
21. TV On The Radio - Love Dog
20. The National - Slipping Husband
19. TV On The Radio - Stork And Owl
18. Local H - Michelle (Again)
17. Sigur Ros - All Alright
16. Bon Iver - Blue Tulip [Okkervil River Cover]
15. The Walkmen - On The Water
14. Sigur Ros - Salka
13. Local H - Taxi-Cabs
12. Sigur Ros - Fljótavík
11. Sigur Ros - Hafsól
10. Local H - The One With 'Kid'
9. Oxford Collapse - Featherbeds
8. T.I. - Live Your Life
7. TV On The Radio - Family Tree
6. T.I. - Whatever You Like
5. T.I. - Ready For Whatever
4. The Walkmen - New Country
3. Oxford Collapse - B-Roll
2. Local H - Simple Pleas
1. Local H - The Summer Of Boats

Top 25 Songs For August

This is easily the least inspired Top 25 I've ever compiled. Hopefully I'll shape up this month.

25. Coldplay - 42
24. Shearwater - Leviathan Bound
23. Shearwater - Rooks
22. Earlimart - Face Down In The Right Down
21. Earlimart - Time For Yourself
20. Coldplay - Lost
19. Shearwater - On The Death Of The Waters
18. Earlimart - Song For
17. Okkervil River - Singer Songwriter
16. Shearwater - Century Eyes
15. Shearwater - I Was A Cloud
14. Alkaline Trio - Love Love, Kiss Kiss
13. The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
12. Sigur Ros - Festival
11. Alkaline Trio - Calling All Skeletons
10. Okkervil River - Pop Lie
9. The Hold Steady - The Swish
8. Shearwater - The Snow Leopard
7. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
6. Shearwater - Home Life
5. Coldplay - Life In Technicolor
4. Sigur Rose - Gobbledigook
3. Sigur Ros - Inní mér syngur vitleysingur
2. The Promise Ring - Red & Blue Jeans
1. Earlimart - Before It Gets Better

Top 25 Songs For June & July

25. Mates Of State - Jigsaw
24. Adem - Bedside Table [Bedhead Cover]
23. Hold Steady - Joke About Jamaica
22. The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
21. Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines
20. Wolf Parade - California Dreamer
19. The Hold Steady - Lord, I'm Discouraged
18. Wolf Parade - Soldier's Grin
17. Wolf Parade - Language City
16. Black Kids - Hurricane Jane
15. Mates Of State - Now
14. The Hold Steady - Yeah Saphire
13. Foals - Big Big Love (Fig. 2)
12. Black Kids - Love Me Already
11. DeVotchKa - How It Ends
10. Black Kids - I'm Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
9. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
8. Okkervil River - Blue Tulip
7. Okkervil River - Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed On The Roof Of The Chelsea Hotel, 1979
6. Okkervil River - Calling And Not Calling My Ex
5. The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
4. The Hold Steady - One For The Cutters
3. Black Kids - Hit The Heartbreaks
2. The Hold Steady - Constructive Summer
1. Okkervil River - On Tour With Zykos

God Bless The Hold Steady

Postponement

Because I'm moving this week, the Top 25 For July will be delayed and possibly even
skipped (as it was when I last moved in August of '06).

Top 25 Songs For May

25. The National - Friend Of Mine#
24. Sebadoh - Happily Divided*
23. Titus Andronicus - No Future Part One*
22. Cut Copy - Out There On The Ice*
21. Bon Iver - Creature Fear*
20. Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart
19. Death Cab For Cutie - Long Division
18. Cut Copy - Midnight Runner*
17. Cut Copy - Feel The Love*
16. The Breeders - Off You
15. Cut Copy - So Haunted*
14. Bon Iver - Blindsided*
13. The Replacements - Alex Chilton
12. Death Cab For Cutie - The Ice Is Getting Thinner
11. Death Cab For Cutie - Grapevine Fires
10. Bon Iver - Flume*
9. Spoon - Everything Hits At Once*
8. Death Cab For Cutie - Bixby Cannon Bridge
7. Bon Iver - Skinny Love*
6. Death Cab For Cutie - Cath...
5. Bon Iver - Re: Stacks*
4. Spoon - Me And The Bean*
3. The National - Mr. November#
2. Bon Iver - The Wolves (Act I And II)*
1. The National - City Middle#

* Appearing at The 2008 Pitchfork Music Festival
# Appearing at Lollapalooza 2008

Top 25 Songs For April

25. Tapes 'N Tapes - Lines
24. The Breeders - No Way
23. Colour Revolt - A Siren
22. Clout Cult - Journey Of The Featherless
21. The Breeders - Night Of Joy
20. Radiohead - Prove Yourself
19. Cloud Cult - The Ghost Inside Our House
18. R.E.M. - Hollow Man
17. Mission Of Burma - Dead Pool
16. The Weakerthans - Reconstruction Site
15. The Breeders - Overglazed
14. The Replacements - Buck Hill
13. Wilco - Wishful Thinking
12. Mission Of Burma - Mica
11. The Weakerthans - One Great City!
10. Cloud Cult - No One Said It Would Be Easy
9. Wilco - Handshake Drugs
8. The Breeders - Spark
7. Cloud Cult - Hurricane And Survival Guide
6. Mission Of Burma - Forget
5. Cloud Cult - Everyone Here Is A Cloud
4. The Replacements - Within Your Reach
3. Cloud Cult - Love You
2. The Weakerthans - Plea From A Cat Name Virtute
1. Radiohead - Thinking About You

Top 20 Death Cab For Cutie Songs

In anticipation of their newest LP, The Narrow Stairs, which drops on May 13th:

20. Bend To Squares
19. Champagne From A Paper Cup
18. We Laugh Indoors
17. State Street Residential
16. A Lack Of Color
15. Company Calls Epilogue
14. We Looked Like Giants
13. Marching Bands Of Manhattan
12. Styrofoam Plates
11. No Joy In Mudville
10. Different Names For The Same Thing
9. Two Cars
8. Sleep Spent
7. Title Track
6. What Sarah Said
5. Transatlanticism
4. Steadier Footing
3. Fake Frowns
2. Debate Exposes Doubt
1. 20th Century Towers

The 2008 Lollapalooza Lineup

This is the annual entry I started writing last year to preview the Lollapalooza lineup. This year's preview is dedicated to my friend Tom Fuller whose taste in current music could use some improvement.

Acts I’ve Previously Seen Live (with the number of times I’ve seen them and the grade I’m assigning to their live set in parentheses):

Kanye West (Once, B+)
- Sound problems hampered Kanye's headlining set at Lollapalooza '06 but his flair for extravagance still made for a highly enjoyable time. Thinking about the sight of thousands of people raising their "diamonds" in the sky still gives me chills.

Wilco (Once, B)
- I'm still furious that I had to leave as Wilco played "I'm the Man Who Loves You" in order to catch Broken Social Scene back in '06.

Broken Social Scene (Once, A)
- They're responsible for probably the most famous Lolla performance since it ceased to be a traveling festival and definitely one of the most awe inspiring sets I've ever seen. My concern is that without Feist and Stars involved in this years festivities, we won't be able to see that full, star studded BSS lineup again.

Cat Power (Once, C)
- I'm still bitter that I listened to Chan Marshall's four most recent albums in preparation for her performance at the Pitchfork Music Festival last year to then recognize only two or three songs when Cat Power played.

Lupe Fiasco (Once, B-)
- I hope Matthew Santos doesn't appear with Lupe but I know that he will.

Okkervil River (Four times, A+)
- I'm on record as calling them one of the two best live bands in the world.

Mates of State (Once, B+)
- A good time was had by all during their performance in '06, even as Kori Gardner was mercilessly scorched by the sun right in front of our eyes.

Rogue Wave (Three times, A-)
- They played one of the best shows I've seen in recent memory when they came through town about a year and a half ago. This is a relief since in a week I will have missed their last three shows in Chicago.

Grizzly Bear (Once, B-)
- Grizzly Bear's live show, like their records, can be a little bit too tranquil for my tastes.

Mason Jennings (Once, C)
- I think Mason Jennings played at Springfest 2002. I don't remember being terribly impressed.

Louis XIV (Once, F)
- The most unintentionally funny band of all time.

Ten Most Anticipated Acts (In order):

10. Mates Of State
9. Cat Power
8. Wilco
7. Rogue Wave
6. Okkervil River
5. The National
4. The Weakerthans
3. Kanye West
2. Broken Social Scene
1. Radiohead

Five Most Underwhelming Acts (In order):

5. The Raconteurs
4. Does It Offend You, Yeah?
3. Blues Traveler
2. Flogging Molly
1. Louis XIV

Six Bands I’ve Been Looking For An Excuse To Start Listening To (In no particular order):

Bloc Party, Explosions In The Sky, Brand New, The Go Team, Black Kids, Office

Top 25 Songs For March

25. The Replacements - Hold My Life
24. Mates Of State - Ha Ha
23. Atlas Sound - River Card
22. Rivers Cuomo - The World We Love So Much
21. Rivers Cuomo - Little Diane
20. The Replacements - Swingin' Party
19. The Breeders - Doe
18. The Replacements - Left Of The Dial
17. The Breeders - Glorious
16. Rivers Cuomo - Superfriend
15. Cloud Cult - You Got Your Bones To Make A Beat
14. Xiu Xiu - Gayle Lynn
13. We Are Scientists - Ghouls
12. Hot Chip - Wrestlers
11. Cloud Cult - Happy Hippo
10. Neil Young - Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)
9. Hot Chip - We're Looking For A Lot Of Love
8. Cloud Cult - Moving To Canada
7. The Replacements - A Little Mascara
6. The Replacements - Bastards Of Young
5. Cloud Cult - Living On The Outside Of Your Skin
4. Rivers Cuomo - Lover In The Snow
3. The Breeders - Happiness Is A Warm Gun [Beatles Cover]
2. We Are Scientists - Let's See It
1. The Replacements - Here Comes A Regular

Top 25 Songs For February

25. The Wrens - From The Rack
24. Nada Surf - Are You Lightening?
23. Spoon - Don't Let It Get You Down
22. Nada Surf - From Now On
21. Spoon - Stay Don't Go
20. Nada Surf - Weightless
19. The Wrens - Shakers
18. Nada Surf - Beautiful Beat
17. The Wrens - Blind
16. Modest Mouse - Life Of Arctic Sounds
15. Nada Surf - I Like What You Say
14. The Wrens - Don't Be Shy
13. Modest Mouse - Never Ending Math Equation
12. The Turtles - It Ain't Me Babe [Bob Dylan Cover]
11. Modest Mouse - Other People's Lives
10. Amusement Parks On Fire - City Of Light
9. Bruce Springsteen - July 4th, Asbury Park (Sandy)
8. Spoon - The Two Sides Of Monsieur Valentine
7. Boy Dylan - Motopsycho Nightmare
6. David Bowie - Five Years
5. Modest Mouse - Whenever You Breathe Out, I Breathe In (Positive Negative)
4. Nada Surf - See These Bones
3. Bob Dylan - Ballad In Plain D
2. Modest Mouse - Baby Blue Sedan
1. Modest Mouse - Broke

Top 25 Songs For January

25. Cloud Cult - Chemicals Collide
24. Lifter Puller - Half Dead And Dynamite
23. Lupe Fiasco - Go Go Gadget Flow
22. Modest Mouse - So Much Beauty In Dirt
21. Jon Brion - I Believe She's Lying
20. Lupe Fiasco - Gotta Eat
19. Cloud Cult - Chain Reaction
18. Lupe Fiasco - Intruder Alert
17. Say Hi - Zero To Love
16. Lupe Fiasco - Superstar
15. Lupe Fiasco - Hip-Hop Saved My Life
14. Modest Mouse - You're The Good Things
13. Say Hi - Spiders
12. Lifter Puller - I Like The Lights
11. Modest Mouse - Here It Comes
10. Cloud Cult - Dance For The Dead
9. Cat Power - Don't Explain [Billie Holiday Cover]
8. Cloud Cult - Purpose
7. Jon Brion - Gotta Start Somewhere
6. Cloud Cult - Take Your Medicine
5. Metric - Empty
4. Modest Mouse - Night On The Sun
3. Say Hi - Northwestern Girls
2. Cloud Cult - Your 8th Birthday
1. Lifter Puller - Nassau Colosseum

Top Ten Albums Of 2007

10. Okkervil River - The Stage Names
9. Pinback - Autumn Of The Seraphs
8. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
7. The Good Life - Help Wanted Nights
6. The Shins - Wincing The Night Away
5. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
4. Kanye West - Graduation
3. Radiohead - In Rainbows
2. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
1. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Distroyer?

Top 25 Songs For January

25. Pinback - From Nothing To Nowhere
24. Okkervil River - I Came Here To Say I'm Going Away [Serge Gainsbourg Cover]
23. Saves The Day - When I'm Not There
22. Beirut - St. Apollonia
21. Able Baker Fox - October
20. Wu-Tang Clan - Weak Spot
19. Pinback - Torch
18. The National - Racing Like A Pro
17. Neil Young - Ordinary People
16. The National - Slow Show
15. St. Vincent - Now Now
14. Neil Young - The Way
13. The Twilight Sad - Walking For Two Hours
12. Saves The Day - Can't Stay The Same
11. Okkervil River - Listening To Otis Redding During Christmas [Live]
10. Pinback - Barnes
9. Minus The Bear - When We Escape
8. Beirut - A Sunday Smile
7. The Apples In Stereo - The Sun Is Out
6. Beirut - Nantes
5. Able Baker Fox - Brand New Moses
4. Able Baker Fox - Whispering
3. The National - Mistaken For Strangers
2. Pinback - Walters
1. Stars - Your Ex-Lover Is Dead