Song Of The Year!

I have plenty more great songs of 2009 that I have yet to post and blurb about, but since we’re almost a week away from 2010 and I want to get to the uber-important songs of the decade list in the next few days, I’m cutting right to the chase: SONG OF THE MF-ING YEAR, BITCHES.

“My Girls” – Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion

This is not a copycat choice, though I know it’s a common no. 1 on many a respected list. Howevs, I remember jammin’ day and night to this piece of pop perfection in early January and thinking to myself “I’ll be stunned if a better song is released this year.” So there you have it. I knew “My Girls” was number one before February ’09. Feel it. Rock it. Love it.

 

Fave Songs ’09: Breaking Up Is Fun To Do, Excuse Me While I Drink Away My Sorrows

“Song For No One” – Miike Snow – Miike Snow

Dang, Miike. Why does this breakup song make me want to party?? Breakups make you want to simultaneously wallow in the hurt all the while making you want to get the fuck over it already. This song captures that sentiment so well, and also makes it uber-danceable. How can you not want to hop around and swivel your hips in triumph of getting over the girl, who’s name you have such difficulty remembering you must dedicate the song to “no one?” It’s kind of empowering in that way.

“So Far Around The Bend” – The National – Dark Was The Night

This is the ultimate detachment anthem. It captures those times when you are surrounded, but feel completely disconnected; when all you want to do is lose who you are in a well of depression and drugs. It’s for those moments when you feel like your watching yourself, as if in a dream. It hits in the gut with those catchy drum beats and had me listening on repeat for the first half of the year.

 

Fave Songs ’09: Let’s Get Contemplative!

“Dull To Pause” – Junior Boys – Begone Dull Care

This is the quintessential song to absentmindedly strum your fingers to while staring out the window on a gorgeous day. Or perhaps to unconsciously nod your head as you stroll through Central Park. Listening to it now, in the throes of 9 degree Brooklyn weather, I’m more aware of the despondent lyrics. But the spare beats and reserved emotions give it an easy groove that makes me want to space out and maybe get a little reflective about my day.

“Isn’t It A Lovely Night?” – The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love

This little gem, holding its own in the rollicking festival of emotive rock opera that was the latest Decemberists album, is more of a denouement to a perfect (or at least eventful) day than it is the climax. It fits perfectly with the fairytale tone of The Hazards of Love, but provides a welcome contrast in energy. This is the song I’d listen to on a muggy night walking by myself to the train station after a great night out with friends. And if I could, kick my heels every few blocks.

 

My Favorite Songs of 2009

These are not only great songs; these are songs I can listen to repeatedly for weeks without getting sick of them only to revisit each song after a couple of months and not only love it even more, but become nostalgic for the period in my life when I first put that song on heavy rotation.

Ahhhh music. How can anyone LIVE without it??? My relationship with music is such a passionate cliché, for fuck’s sake.

Anyway, every few days I will post two of the songs that made my year-end list (for a whopping total of over 20…)

Let the fun begin!!

“Daylight” – Matt & Kim – Grand

This song is like a triple shot of espresso on a sunny day in the city. It’s like a kick in heart that makes you wanna run through the streets like a gosh-dang rock star and scream for joy. It reminds me of late summer, back when I was still in Harlem, before the realities of being unemployed really got under my skin. A future full of possibilities and the free-flowing alcohol coursing through my veins helped make this jam an anthem of pure ecstasy.

“I’m An Animal” – Neko Case – Middle Cyclone

After hearing this beauty at a friend’s place, I started playing it incessantly all July. Life at work was being shaken up and a lot of the awesome people I had been surrounded by almost daily were moving onward and upward. My social life revved up to take advantage of spending time with people while I still had a chance, but this song was a constant reminder that things were changing, that that was life, and it was human to feel this longing in such an acute and sad way. As Neko puts it, “so let’s stop wasting time thinking how this ain’t fair.” Also, that voice!

 

Season’s Greetings!

It’s officially December and I’ve been rockin’ my famous Christmas playlist all evening. In the spirit of the winter holidays here’s a photo of the lovely decorations in our kitchen. Sorry about the onions and random plastic bags, it looks way cozier in person!

 

Baby, I’m a lost cause…

Sometimes I just want to drown in other people’s talent.

Here’s a playlist for my nihilistic mood inspired by The Mountain Goats’ “No Children”

Hand In Unlovable Hand <– Click here to listen to the full playlist on BLIP.fm

1. Underdog – Spoon

2. Good Ol’ Fashioned Nightmare – Matt & Kim

3. Forever Young – Jay-Z

4. Do You Realize?? – The Flaming Lips

5. Feel It In My Bones – DJ Tiesto featuring Tegan & Sarah

6. Come Pick Me Up – Ryan Adams

7. You’re So Vain – Carly Simon

8. NYC – Interpol

9. Lost Cause – Beck

10. Eet – Regina Spektor

11. Winter Song – Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson

12. No Children – The Mountain Goats

13. I Want To Know What Love Is – Mariah Carey

14. Cause = Time – Broken Social Scene

15. Lived In Bars – Cat Power

16. Song For No One – Miike Snow

17. Stars – The xx

18. Alone – Glee Cast featuring Kristin Chenoweth

 

Celebrity Sightings: Work Edition, Part 2

Yes I’m back and here to tell you what other semi-lebrities I’ve gotten the pleasure of serving cookies.

Yup, it’s Kenneth the Page! I’ve seen him a couple of times and must say, Mr. McBrayer is quite handsome in person. I must admit I saw Jack McBrayer at a Second City show in Chicago years before 30 Rock was on the air. He was just as hilarious then, trust me.

Yeah Harvey Keitel comes in pretty frequently. He likes our bread a lot.

Okay, when Jerry Stiller came in one night I almost passed out. I mean I grew up watching Seinfeld and I love watching old King Of Queens reruns. I actually got to talk to him a bit about our baked goods and what I recommended. He was so adorable sitting there by himself in his old man cap and his newspaper. Swoon.

Finally a famous lesbian! Well, just her girlfriend, Christine Marinoni (left), whom I’ve waited on twice. But I hear that Cynthia Nixon has come in before (just not when I’ve been there, pissssshhh.

 

In Praise of Television: Breaking Bad

I know–it’s been a while.

But I’m sitting in my apartment (I have the place to myself for once!) and I felt motivated and inspired to post. Hooray!

Lately TV has been sort of underwhelming. Sure, there are the old standbys like The Office and the complete crazy train that is LOST, but nothing new or inspiring was grabbing my attention. Where is the future of television?

And then behold: Breaking Bad

You know, that critically acclaimed show on AMC that was nominated for Emmys in its first season? The one that’s NOT Mad Men? Didn’t think so. In fact, not only was the awesome Bryan Cranston nominated for Best Actor in a Drama, he actually won! Oh snippity snap, the Emmys gave an underrated, new, and DESERVING show an award? I had to check it out myself.

It’s a drama. It’s pretty dark, okay guys? It’s about a high school chemistry teacher in Albequerque, NM who gets diagnosed with lung cancer and decides to turn to cooking and selling meth to make money for his family after he goes. Needless to say his life is alternately depressing and terrifying. There are some great comedic moments, though, particularly with his partner (and former lackluster chemistry student) Jesse, but the tone is much bleaker than, say, Weeds.

Like another one of my favorite shows, The Wire, Breaking Bad really focuses on the nuances of the drug business. How is it run? How can you be successful at it, make a profit and not get killed or caught? It’s all about the mundane intricacies of being a meth dealer, but in the context of the extreme environment of meth dealing mixed with family drama and fatal disease it becomes a compelling human drama.

The first season is out on DVD and the second season is currently airing on AMC (Sundays at 10pm).

 

And Then There Were Three

Movies I’d put in a top ten list for the year 2008, that is.

It’s The Visitor, the other two being Chop Shop and Rachel Getting Married.

Go see it. It’s out on DVD now. You won’t regret it.

Only three, yes. Still looking for another seven. To be fair I haven’t had the time and money to see as many films in the theater as I wanted and I’m waiting to Netflix them. Of course, it’s only December 28th so most Oscar-bait has only been released this week.

Don’t worry, I’ll keep you all posted.

 

Best Of 2008: Music

Best Song of the Year, According to Me (obviously):

“Family Tree” by TV on the Radio

 

Not the “official” music video, clearly, but just the product of some clever person setting this amazing song to classic Disney animation. Awesome.

Is it weird that listening to this song makes me want to get married?