Your Attention Please:
I am desperate. So desperate that I will begin this year’s year end wrap up with my cry for help. It is only 4 months to April Fools Day and I am trying to come up with the Fool to end all Fools. Every year I somehow have come up with ways to get my wife Wendy. This has included coercing people she works with, our kids’ teachers, random strangers and pretty much everyone that surrounds her to do something not so nice. This year, I would like one to put it over the top and am asking for your suggestions. Sending this request out to such a wide distro pretty much ensures that she will be a pile of nerves on April 1 and will trust no one. That is why I need your help. How, oh how can I serve the knockout punch? Please, Please, Please. Let me. Let me. Let me…get what I want this time.
Domo Arrigato.
The Wrap Up You Are More Accustomed To
Hello, my name is Andy Lipshultz and I will be your narrator for this year end wrap up in music and Lipshultzeses (Me, Wendy, Zack, Becca and Pete). Watch as I narrate. Stand back now.
This is where the magic happens.
TOP 5 PIECES OF MUSIC I LISTENED TO THIS YEAR…EVEN IF THEY DID NOT COME OUT THIS YEAR
1) Saturday Night Live “Special Christmas Box” - Was I disappointed I had already bought Wendy her holiday gift? Hells yeah. Could have saved a ton. http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/videos/
2) Ben Harper “Both Sides of the Gun” – Ben Harper’s most consistently solid studio record since his best “Fight For Your Mind”
3) Matisyahu “Youth” – The Hasidic Reggae guy makes a solid studio record. He’s coming out with a new one now after Youth that has a cover of Message In a Bottle that could take Matisyahu over the top.
4) Gomez “How We Operate” – At one point was a lock for #1 of the year. Still great.
5) The Hold Steady “Boys and Girls in America” – Elvis Costello and Bruce Springsteen together
My Predictions for 2007-2008
Within 2 years a major label will look at its losses and infrastructure to support physical distribution and announce plans to stop manufacturing CDs.
Hillary doesn’t get the nomination. Dems get a true shot at winning.
I will use the bathroom within the next 20 minutes.
I was going to write that McCain beats whoever the Democrats put up, but I think he’s about to take the fall for Bush’s latest Iraq misstep
Gore’s ‘Inconvenient Truth’ is shown on broadcast TV and there is a public outcry that sways lawmakers to take on big oil and auto
OJ finally admits to shooting the sheriff but denies complicity in the disappearance of the deputy
I will be late in getting this list out
Internet Content ratings for kids gains steam
Wendy files for divorce on April 2
Jay Leno finds new and inventive ways to be unfunny
One of my kids uses the f-bomb in context…and it is funny
Within 2 years, the NHL goes outside of North America to save the league
Someone will ask me to take them off this list
My use of the word ‘dude’ becomes increasingly less fitting for my age.
A US wireless carrier and bank talk about a merger
I hit my long overdue growth spurt
Steelers make a great showing against the Saints in 2008 Superbowl. This justifies the huge freakin’ flag I put out this past 8-8 season
When her friends bag out at the last minute, Wendy resorts to a night of heavy drinking and karaoke with Becca
You think of a great comeback too late to say it
Songs I Obsessed Over from Albums I didn’t….
Long Winters – “Shapes” and Cinnamon”
Songs for Those the like Built to Spill
Minus The Bear “Hey Wanna Throw Up? Get Me Naked”
The Slip “Even Rats”
Panic! At the Disco “I Write Sins Not Tragedies”
The Fray “How to Save a Life”
Chris Brown “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)”
Half-Handed Clouds “You’ve been faithful to us clouds”
My Chemical Romance “Welcome to the Black Parade”
Chamillionaire and Weird Al Yankovic
Ok Go – Here it Goes. Just because of the video
Albums that probably would be in top 5 had I listened to them more this year
The Format “Dog Problems” – Long Live Queen!!!
My Chemical Romance “The Black Parade” – Long Live Queen!!
Clipse “Hell Hath No Fury” – Long Live Outkast!!!
Gnarls Barkley “St. Elsewhere” AND Beck “The Information” – Long Live Outcasts!!
The Lipshultz Annual “Mmmbop” (ie Guilty Pleasure) Award goes to…
Rock Star Supernova.
Let me just talk about my kids now, please
It is amazing to me how each of the kids discovers music in their own way. Becca, 4, is a sight to behold with her newly perfected guitar squint, Pete,2, has an insistence on playing random piano keys WITH sheet music. And there’s Zack, 6, with an intense desire to make his own playlists. His holiday gift of a Sansa digital music player inspired even further. Although my company did just get bought by Rhapsody’s company, Real, I will not take this opportunity to tell you how kick ass this player and Rhapsody service is as I am wistfully talking about my son, thank you. Part of the Rhapsody/Sansa experience is it automatically provides Rhapsody created playlists. Some of that music is a little old for Zack, even with the parental controls on. I saw he was listening to “Smack That” by Akon, I told him that I wasn’t crazy about him listening to it.
Zack: “Are there any grown up words, Dad?”
Me: “No, not really”
Zack: “But I really like it”
Me: “Some of the things they talk about are a little old for you”
Zack: “Ok then just don’t explain it to me so then I can keep listening to it…..Why are you laughing?”
Why my Netflix subscription rocks
Catching up on TV shows that are better than most movies. Specifically, Battlestar Gallactica and Arrested Development.
It’s Early, But Here Are My Semi-Retirement Plans So Far
Learn Drums
Get into Voiceovers and open a local business of some sort
Travel
Not un-retire
Travel I want to do
Spain
Egypt
Japan
Time
Travel I do not want to do
Chuck E Cheese
Why I love my kids
Zack’s sweet innocent nature in which everything is exciting (“If they get this field goal, it will be 3-0!!”) and he reminds me of myself as a kid. Becca’s inner spark, sense of humor and unbridled sensitivity. Pete’s laugh and wide-eyed look when he’s trying to say something funny.
Why I sometimes don’t
Ass wiping
Seriously, though. Why I hate my children.
Watching a version of yourself reminds you of your faults. More importantly, they are a growing statement of how fast time goes by no matter how desperately you want to bottle those incredible moments they give to you.
That’s it. Show’s Over. Go Home.
Monday, December 3, 2007
2005 list - for those that missed it
Before we get to the music, 2005 was a transitional year in so many ways….so….to get you up to speed in Lipshultz world, lets start this year’s wrap up with quite possibly the most uncool “IN” and “OUT” in innie and outtie history.
IN.... OUT
Listening to anything I want, when I want.... Life without music subscriptions like Rhapsody
Lipshultz jokes.... Lipshitz jokes (they were never ‘in’)
Teocalli Tamale in Herndon.... Baja Fresh in Sterling
115k miles on my car.... 110k miles on car (Short commutes rock!)
Your Face.... Of My Face, Get
Sippy Cups for Pete.... Bottles for Pete
Wendy’s guitar lessons.... My air guitar lessons
No way are we having 4 kids.... Baby makin’. It’s all post-game now.
Reston (at beginning and end of year).... Apologizing to kids for being in KC
“Our” Steelers.... “My” Steelers (Zack: Daddy, they’re not just yours)
Segue to next part of year-end wrap up.... This ‘in’ and ‘out’ list
For two days after the series finale of Six Feet Under, I walked around in a funk, just thinking about life and death. The series followed a family that ran a funeral parlor and dealt with different ways to view our time on earth. The series finale was 3/4 of just pure cheese -- wrapping things up in nice bows and way too sentimental for the way the show had carried itself over the years -- but in the final 10 minutes the finale did something I have never, ever, ever seen before: they killed everyone. That's right, every single effing person on the show, dead in 10 minutes. The show displayed the main characters’ future deaths, with their tombstone born - died dates afterwards.
The sequence was set perfectly with a song by Sia called "Breathe Me". It was so perfect and matter of fact about death that it was comforting and disconcerting at the same time. Yes, death is just a simple part of life...but did they really have to find such a perfect song for it? It was so overwhelming...and -- hey hey – it kicks off my yearly top ten list of musical moments, singles, albums, and general knicknacks. This list is much more uplifting as it goes on, trust me.
Starting……………now.
Still kind of a drag, right?
What if I add a smiley face?
Emoticons have the power to heal.
You sure?
It’s awful smiley.
:)
1) The last 10 minutes of Six Feet Under series finale-- Sia "Breathe Me" was played over and over during my two ‘days of funk’. The Six Feet Under Soundtrack was pretty good too.
2) Mike Doughty - Haughty Melodic AND Skittish/Rockity Roll. Mike Doughty was the lead singer for Soul Coughing and is a singer songwriter on ATO. Even if you didn’t dig Soul Coughing, these are MUST listens. He also brings up two very important items.
- Important item #1: ATO is not just my old fraternity, it’s a great record label. I would now listen to whatever ATO puts out (Chris Whitley, David Gray, Patti Griffin, Gomez, My Morning Jacket etc. Get some of the better stuff, here, free http://www.atorecords.com/index.php?title=digital+stuff ).
- Important item #2: My kids still rule. Funny story…Zack (my 5 year old) was making a mix on Itunes with me and specifically asked for Mike Doughty by name. This horrified Wendy (my wife) as, at 5, he is already remembering more artist names than she does. The mix of songs Zack selected had things he knew, song names that sounded ‘silly’ to him, holiday songs to general kids music. My pride in him making a mix was not doused at all as I heard the Beastie Boys “Finger Lickin Good” fade into Dora the Explora then to his new favorite group Relient K and then go right to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
3) Tracy Chapman - Where You Live. After two crappy albums, this record reaffirms that Tracy Chapman could sound beautiful singing the list of ingredients in a Twinkie.
4) System of a Down - I didn't yet listen to their newer record, but Mezmerize one was amazingly strong.
5a (tie) - Matisyahu - "Live at Stubbs". Hasidic reggae artist. Not joking. No, I’m not joking.
http://www.hasidicreggae.com/
5b (tie) - Martin Sexton - live performance at Birchmere. Convincingly sang like an electric guitar while accompanying himself (with a guitar. Get your mind out of the gutter). Wendy and I don’t get out much, but between this show and seeing King Kong within in six day stretch in late December, I think we got a good year’s worth of entertainment in under the wire. Opener Erin McGowan was a good find, too.
5c (tie) – Becca (my 3.5 year old) “Mr. Golden Sun”. Nothing in the world is more fulfilling than watching her sing with all her heart, “Mr Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun. Please shine down on me”. I may just hobble her ankles so she’ll never grow up.
6) Saturday Night Live - Parnell/Samberg “Lazy Sunday” rap. Defies the usual, unfunny, sometimes offensive and always self-fulfilling nature of the "I am not cool" rap. So frickin funny. Check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=zLElfJ9YCh0
7) Relient K - The two singles I've heard. Actually, I've never gotten around to listening to the whole thing, but "Be My Escape" and "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" are almost good enough to convince me to be Born Again. PS Have you stopped reading and clicked on that link in 6) yet?
8) My 21-month-old Pete anxiously waiting through the 5 second piano intro -- very time! -- before breaking into what appears to be a chicken flailing violently in time to “Here it Comes” by MC Search. I can just see his mind working (“Wait for it…wait for it…VIOLENT CHICKEN TIME.)
9 ) Paste Magazine - Magazine that recommends music with a CD and DVD in each issue. Discovered artists like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Mike Doughty
10) Fall Out Boy - "From Under Cork Tree". Never as good as their single, but still good.
Honorable Mentions
Kanye West - Late Registration. Not as good as the great "College Dropout", but what is?
Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak
Death Cab for Cutie - You Can Play These Songs With Chords
Paula Paulusma
Brad Paisley – Time Well Wasted. I never thought a country album would ever grace this list, but when something kicks ay-ess like this, I have to give props.
They Might Be Giants - The Spine
Faith - "Hopeful"
Bloc Party
Nickelback – “Photograph”
Gomez – Everything they’ve put out. I finally get it.
Okay since we’re almost done, let’s take a belated November break to note ‘What I’m Thankful For’
- My new big screen TV
- The fact that I got to watch my Steelers in the playoffs on my new big screen TV
- My family (yes I should list them first, actually I had them there first, but it has much more dramatic effect if I don’t)
- The fact that half the country is finally redfaced for voting red
- The kids’ faces when we get to ANY amusement park
- Your sweet lovin’
Disappointments of the year
- David Gray
- Nickel Creek
- Jimmy Eat World
- All TV except ‘Family Guy’, ‘The Office’, ‘Scrubs’ (technically Entourage and Six Feet Under would be part of this too, but they aren’t just TV, they are HBO)
- U2
- Not breaking my recent record of reading a full book before the end of the year. 1.5 doesn’t count.
- The fact that I have about 200 albums I wanted to listen to, but didn’t,
Funniest Movie
Shaun of the Dead. – A Zombie Comedy
Most Heart-Wrenching Moment of 2005
My cat Gomez, breaking down in tears and admitting he had a pooping problem. He was days away from an intervention, anyway. He has subsequently stopped defiling my pool table. It was very emotional.
Fin
IN.... OUT
Listening to anything I want, when I want.... Life without music subscriptions like Rhapsody
Lipshultz jokes.... Lipshitz jokes (they were never ‘in’)
Teocalli Tamale in Herndon.... Baja Fresh in Sterling
115k miles on my car.... 110k miles on car (Short commutes rock!)
Your Face.... Of My Face, Get
Sippy Cups for Pete.... Bottles for Pete
Wendy’s guitar lessons.... My air guitar lessons
No way are we having 4 kids.... Baby makin’. It’s all post-game now.
Reston (at beginning and end of year).... Apologizing to kids for being in KC
“Our” Steelers.... “My” Steelers (Zack: Daddy, they’re not just yours)
Segue to next part of year-end wrap up.... This ‘in’ and ‘out’ list
For two days after the series finale of Six Feet Under, I walked around in a funk, just thinking about life and death. The series followed a family that ran a funeral parlor and dealt with different ways to view our time on earth. The series finale was 3/4 of just pure cheese -- wrapping things up in nice bows and way too sentimental for the way the show had carried itself over the years -- but in the final 10 minutes the finale did something I have never, ever, ever seen before: they killed everyone. That's right, every single effing person on the show, dead in 10 minutes. The show displayed the main characters’ future deaths, with their tombstone born - died dates afterwards.
The sequence was set perfectly with a song by Sia called "Breathe Me". It was so perfect and matter of fact about death that it was comforting and disconcerting at the same time. Yes, death is just a simple part of life...but did they really have to find such a perfect song for it? It was so overwhelming...and -- hey hey – it kicks off my yearly top ten list of musical moments, singles, albums, and general knicknacks. This list is much more uplifting as it goes on, trust me.
Starting……………now.
Still kind of a drag, right?
What if I add a smiley face?
Emoticons have the power to heal.
You sure?
It’s awful smiley.
:)
1) The last 10 minutes of Six Feet Under series finale-- Sia "Breathe Me" was played over and over during my two ‘days of funk’. The Six Feet Under Soundtrack was pretty good too.
2) Mike Doughty - Haughty Melodic AND Skittish/Rockity Roll. Mike Doughty was the lead singer for Soul Coughing and is a singer songwriter on ATO. Even if you didn’t dig Soul Coughing, these are MUST listens. He also brings up two very important items.
- Important item #1: ATO is not just my old fraternity, it’s a great record label. I would now listen to whatever ATO puts out (Chris Whitley, David Gray, Patti Griffin, Gomez, My Morning Jacket etc. Get some of the better stuff, here, free http://www.atorecords.com/index.php?title=digital+stuff ).
- Important item #2: My kids still rule. Funny story…Zack (my 5 year old) was making a mix on Itunes with me and specifically asked for Mike Doughty by name. This horrified Wendy (my wife) as, at 5, he is already remembering more artist names than she does. The mix of songs Zack selected had things he knew, song names that sounded ‘silly’ to him, holiday songs to general kids music. My pride in him making a mix was not doused at all as I heard the Beastie Boys “Finger Lickin Good” fade into Dora the Explora then to his new favorite group Relient K and then go right to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
3) Tracy Chapman - Where You Live. After two crappy albums, this record reaffirms that Tracy Chapman could sound beautiful singing the list of ingredients in a Twinkie.
4) System of a Down - I didn't yet listen to their newer record, but Mezmerize one was amazingly strong.
5a (tie) - Matisyahu - "Live at Stubbs". Hasidic reggae artist. Not joking. No, I’m not joking.
http://www.hasidicreggae.com/
5b (tie) - Martin Sexton - live performance at Birchmere. Convincingly sang like an electric guitar while accompanying himself (with a guitar. Get your mind out of the gutter). Wendy and I don’t get out much, but between this show and seeing King Kong within in six day stretch in late December, I think we got a good year’s worth of entertainment in under the wire. Opener Erin McGowan was a good find, too.
5c (tie) – Becca (my 3.5 year old) “Mr. Golden Sun”. Nothing in the world is more fulfilling than watching her sing with all her heart, “Mr Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun. Please shine down on me”. I may just hobble her ankles so she’ll never grow up.
6) Saturday Night Live - Parnell/Samberg “Lazy Sunday” rap. Defies the usual, unfunny, sometimes offensive and always self-fulfilling nature of the "I am not cool" rap. So frickin funny. Check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch.php?v=zLElfJ9YCh0
7) Relient K - The two singles I've heard. Actually, I've never gotten around to listening to the whole thing, but "Be My Escape" and "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" are almost good enough to convince me to be Born Again. PS Have you stopped reading and clicked on that link in 6) yet?
8) My 21-month-old Pete anxiously waiting through the 5 second piano intro -- very time! -- before breaking into what appears to be a chicken flailing violently in time to “Here it Comes” by MC Search. I can just see his mind working (“Wait for it…wait for it…VIOLENT CHICKEN TIME.)
9 ) Paste Magazine - Magazine that recommends music with a CD and DVD in each issue. Discovered artists like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Mike Doughty
10) Fall Out Boy - "From Under Cork Tree". Never as good as their single, but still good.
Honorable Mentions
Kanye West - Late Registration. Not as good as the great "College Dropout", but what is?
Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak
Death Cab for Cutie - You Can Play These Songs With Chords
Paula Paulusma
Brad Paisley – Time Well Wasted. I never thought a country album would ever grace this list, but when something kicks ay-ess like this, I have to give props.
They Might Be Giants - The Spine
Faith - "Hopeful"
Bloc Party
Nickelback – “Photograph”
Gomez – Everything they’ve put out. I finally get it.
Okay since we’re almost done, let’s take a belated November break to note ‘What I’m Thankful For’
- My new big screen TV
- The fact that I got to watch my Steelers in the playoffs on my new big screen TV
- My family (yes I should list them first, actually I had them there first, but it has much more dramatic effect if I don’t)
- The fact that half the country is finally redfaced for voting red
- The kids’ faces when we get to ANY amusement park
- Your sweet lovin’
Disappointments of the year
- David Gray
- Nickel Creek
- Jimmy Eat World
- All TV except ‘Family Guy’, ‘The Office’, ‘Scrubs’ (technically Entourage and Six Feet Under would be part of this too, but they aren’t just TV, they are HBO)
- U2
- Not breaking my recent record of reading a full book before the end of the year. 1.5 doesn’t count.
- The fact that I have about 200 albums I wanted to listen to, but didn’t,
Funniest Movie
Shaun of the Dead. – A Zombie Comedy
Most Heart-Wrenching Moment of 2005
My cat Gomez, breaking down in tears and admitting he had a pooping problem. He was days away from an intervention, anyway. He has subsequently stopped defiling my pool table. It was very emotional.
Fin
2004 list - for posterity
Hello
I’m still in a bit of shock in awe over the election results but that aside, 2004 (and 1/6 of 2005) was a good year. In addition to welcoming Pete, the latest -- and last, hear me? Last! -- installment of the Lipshultz family plan, I started a new job and subsequently promoted at Nextel’s Digital Media dept, moved back to the MD/DC/VA area, Lucent allowed Wendy to stay on now working 5 days from home, my commute shrunk by an hour, and Zack said he wants to be a Pittsburgh Steeler for next Halloween. Life is good.
Even potentially very, very, very bad news….wasn’t. A head on collision in which our new van was totaled left Wendy and the kids very upset, but ok. Long story short, Cicadas flying in cars of inexperienced 18-year-old drivers makes them go CRAZY! PS: everyone’s ok, so you can stop mentally IM-ing “OMG”. Really. I’m away from my computer right now.
Truisms learned the hard way in ‘04
Cats are vindictive
Big box office does not mean shit
Hair is not immortal. It just hit home. I’m really screwed
I have yet to find a movie that has moved me like Rushmore did years ago
Tivo rocks, but is a real pain in the ass to set up
Red states deserve my ire
Culture Pimping Jeopardy Time
Over the past year or so, I saw/heard/read some really cool stuff that I still remember, which is feat in and of itself these days. See if you can name what these things are (in the form of a question of course)….or make up snappy answers and email them to me. Operators are standing by. Answers are at the end of this tirade.
1) I am Trying to Break Your Heart
2) Adventures of Kavalier and Klay
3) Sorryeverybody.com
4) YourMama
5) Scrubs and Family Guy
6) Kruf
7) Hob Nobs
8) Farenheight 9/11
9) 28 Days Later
10) Gomez
Life kicks ass
At the end of the year I like to reflect not only on great music, but great times
Matt and Lori’s wedding. Wendy and my best friends in the world got married and I got to show off my patented wedding breakdance backspin.
Took Zack to his first Steeler game with his two grandfathers. Was the Ravens-Steelers game that I always look forward to. He even pretended to care.
Becca waking me up at 5am by climbing into bed with us and whisper talking. So cute I can’t beat her.
When do we ever get to watch on the sidelines and see bonds form? Watching all 3 kids together and get closer and closer make my entire soul feel light.
Dinner at Asia Nora’s with Wendy. Was nice to listen to adult conversation (not to say I was an adult, but at least I got to hear her).
Now onto la musica. Here’s the new and old that I wouldn’t allow myself to press skip on in 2004
10) Patti Griffin – Impossible Dream. It doesn’t seem to matter what she does, she always has one great song per record. “Tony” on the first one, “Chief” on the next. Now it’s “Useless Desires”.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001LJCZ2/qid=1105767181/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
9) Usher – Confessions. I give in. All I can say is I haven’t had an R&B record on my list in a while. Go figure.
To listen: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:vgxvad1kq8wn
8) Laws Have Changed – The New Pornographers. Just a great song. Happy, happy.
Download for free: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009EHF7/ref=j_disp_dwnld_1/103-6253917-4126240?v=glance&s=music&st=digital-music
7) I’m a Wheel (or any other 1 song from “A Ghost Is Born” by itself) – Wilco. I can’t seem to listen to A Ghost is Born all the way through, but every time I hear any of the songs by themselves, I really dig them.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00020P7TM/qid=1105766916/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
6) The Wrens – Secaucus. I’ve always liked this lo-fi indie record but rediscovered it in shuffle.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000005B3X/qid=1105766792/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/103-6253917-4126240?v=glance&s=music
5a – Tie) DJ Dangermouse – The Grey Album – A literal mix of The Beatles White Album and Jay-Z’s the Black Album. Lives up to the hype in a big way.
Not available for purchase due to EMI’s not being so happy with it but more can be found out about it (and it can be found) at http://www.greytuesday.com/
5b - Tie) Ben Arnold – Calico. Almost as good as his debut Almost Speechless (a great modern Dylan impression that doesn’t feel like just plain imitation). Thanks Tim.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002IQGDU/qid=1105767498/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
4) blink 182 – blink 182. Mock all you want. I’ll wait. Still waiting. Okay we don’t have all day. Jeez.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000DZDTG/qid=1105767606/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
3) CeeLo –CeeLo Green….Is TheSoul Machine. If you like Andre 3000 of OutKast, check it out.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00013EV1A/qid=1105767783/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
2) Rhett Miller – The Instigator
Like a cross between the Gin Blossoms when we all thought Hey Jealousy wasn’t an annoying song and Elvis Costello. Really Really good stuff. Thomas hooked me up with this one. Great find.
To Listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006AGCO/qid=1105767975/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
1a Tie) Marcy Playground – MP3
You can any one of the Marcy Playground records and have a can’t stop listening experience (Also check out Shapeshifter, probably their best)….. Yes, it’s the “Sex and Candy” band
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001L3LPY/qid=1105768213/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/103-6253917-4126240
1b Tie) Kanye West – The College Dropout
Pop Hip Hop that isn’t pop? Kicks ass
To listen:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001AP12G/qid=1108696705/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-6253917-4126240?v=glance&s=music&n=507846
Honorable Mention
First 20 seconds of “Tipsy” – Jkwon
Gomez – Split the difference
Thicker Than Water
A Perfect Circle – eMotive – inventive, brooding, Anti-War covers (Imagine, What’s Going On, Peace Love and Understanding, etc)
The Stokes – Room on Fire
What I Don’t Get
- Franz Ferdinand
- Subscription to Elle Magazine (that you know of)
- Spongebob
- Mad. I get even.
Trivia answers
1) What is a great documentary from a couple years ago on the making of Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot that will convert your non-believin ass?
2) What one book did I read this year? Seriously, the entire year. I’m a slow reader. Oh and it’s by Michael Chabon (Wonder Boys) and spans comic books, magic, WWII and coming to terms with what life has dealt.
3) What site, right after the election featured pictures sent in from the intelligent half of the country, each one saying what we were all thinking (example: “Dear World, We’re really, really sorry. Sincerely, 49% of America.”
4) I just like saying “Your Mama”
5) What have unseated the Simpsons as the two funniest shows on TV. Very F-in funny.
6) What word did I make up to see what you’d try to come up with?
7) What dark chocolate covered cookies that are only sold in really frou frou stores have I recently rediscovered and still have to say are amazing?
8) What movie was inferior to Bowling for Columbine and letdown for someone that really wanted yet another reason to kvetch?
9) What was the best horror movie I’ve seen in a long time. AND ZOMBIES!!!
10) What is not the name of a band on my top 10 list but IS the name of my 12-year-old cat that likes to use our new pool table almost as much as I do. I am not happy that he likes said table as his use of the table looks to make an indoor pool. We are about to go at it Mad Max at Thunderdome style. Two men/cats enter, one man/cat leaves.
I’m still in a bit of shock in awe over the election results but that aside, 2004 (and 1/6 of 2005) was a good year. In addition to welcoming Pete, the latest -- and last, hear me? Last! -- installment of the Lipshultz family plan, I started a new job and subsequently promoted at Nextel’s Digital Media dept, moved back to the MD/DC/VA area, Lucent allowed Wendy to stay on now working 5 days from home, my commute shrunk by an hour, and Zack said he wants to be a Pittsburgh Steeler for next Halloween. Life is good.
Even potentially very, very, very bad news….wasn’t. A head on collision in which our new van was totaled left Wendy and the kids very upset, but ok. Long story short, Cicadas flying in cars of inexperienced 18-year-old drivers makes them go CRAZY! PS: everyone’s ok, so you can stop mentally IM-ing “OMG”. Really. I’m away from my computer right now.
Truisms learned the hard way in ‘04
Cats are vindictive
Big box office does not mean shit
Hair is not immortal. It just hit home. I’m really screwed
I have yet to find a movie that has moved me like Rushmore did years ago
Tivo rocks, but is a real pain in the ass to set up
Red states deserve my ire
Culture Pimping Jeopardy Time
Over the past year or so, I saw/heard/read some really cool stuff that I still remember, which is feat in and of itself these days. See if you can name what these things are (in the form of a question of course)….or make up snappy answers and email them to me. Operators are standing by. Answers are at the end of this tirade.
1) I am Trying to Break Your Heart
2) Adventures of Kavalier and Klay
3) Sorryeverybody.com
4) YourMama
5) Scrubs and Family Guy
6) Kruf
7) Hob Nobs
8) Farenheight 9/11
9) 28 Days Later
10) Gomez
Life kicks ass
At the end of the year I like to reflect not only on great music, but great times
Matt and Lori’s wedding. Wendy and my best friends in the world got married and I got to show off my patented wedding breakdance backspin.
Took Zack to his first Steeler game with his two grandfathers. Was the Ravens-Steelers game that I always look forward to. He even pretended to care.
Becca waking me up at 5am by climbing into bed with us and whisper talking. So cute I can’t beat her.
When do we ever get to watch on the sidelines and see bonds form? Watching all 3 kids together and get closer and closer make my entire soul feel light.
Dinner at Asia Nora’s with Wendy. Was nice to listen to adult conversation (not to say I was an adult, but at least I got to hear her).
Now onto la musica. Here’s the new and old that I wouldn’t allow myself to press skip on in 2004
10) Patti Griffin – Impossible Dream. It doesn’t seem to matter what she does, she always has one great song per record. “Tony” on the first one, “Chief” on the next. Now it’s “Useless Desires”.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001LJCZ2/qid=1105767181/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
9) Usher – Confessions. I give in. All I can say is I haven’t had an R&B record on my list in a while. Go figure.
To listen: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:vgxvad1kq8wn
8) Laws Have Changed – The New Pornographers. Just a great song. Happy, happy.
Download for free: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00009EHF7/ref=j_disp_dwnld_1/103-6253917-4126240?v=glance&s=music&st=digital-music
7) I’m a Wheel (or any other 1 song from “A Ghost Is Born” by itself) – Wilco. I can’t seem to listen to A Ghost is Born all the way through, but every time I hear any of the songs by themselves, I really dig them.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00020P7TM/qid=1105766916/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
6) The Wrens – Secaucus. I’ve always liked this lo-fi indie record but rediscovered it in shuffle.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000005B3X/qid=1105766792/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/103-6253917-4126240?v=glance&s=music
5a – Tie) DJ Dangermouse – The Grey Album – A literal mix of The Beatles White Album and Jay-Z’s the Black Album. Lives up to the hype in a big way.
Not available for purchase due to EMI’s not being so happy with it but more can be found out about it (and it can be found) at http://www.greytuesday.com/
5b - Tie) Ben Arnold – Calico. Almost as good as his debut Almost Speechless (a great modern Dylan impression that doesn’t feel like just plain imitation). Thanks Tim.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002IQGDU/qid=1105767498/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
4) blink 182 – blink 182. Mock all you want. I’ll wait. Still waiting. Okay we don’t have all day. Jeez.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000DZDTG/qid=1105767606/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
3) CeeLo –CeeLo Green….Is TheSoul Machine. If you like Andre 3000 of OutKast, check it out.
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00013EV1A/qid=1105767783/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
2) Rhett Miller – The Instigator
Like a cross between the Gin Blossoms when we all thought Hey Jealousy wasn’t an annoying song and Elvis Costello. Really Really good stuff. Thomas hooked me up with this one. Great find.
To Listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006AGCO/qid=1105767975/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-6253917-4126240
1a Tie) Marcy Playground – MP3
You can any one of the Marcy Playground records and have a can’t stop listening experience (Also check out Shapeshifter, probably their best)….. Yes, it’s the “Sex and Candy” band
To listen: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0001L3LPY/qid=1105768213/sr=2-2/ref=pd_ka_b_2_2/103-6253917-4126240
1b Tie) Kanye West – The College Dropout
Pop Hip Hop that isn’t pop? Kicks ass
To listen:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001AP12G/qid=1108696705/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-6253917-4126240?v=glance&s=music&n=507846
Honorable Mention
First 20 seconds of “Tipsy” – Jkwon
Gomez – Split the difference
Thicker Than Water
A Perfect Circle – eMotive – inventive, brooding, Anti-War covers (Imagine, What’s Going On, Peace Love and Understanding, etc)
The Stokes – Room on Fire
What I Don’t Get
- Franz Ferdinand
- Subscription to Elle Magazine (that you know of)
- Spongebob
- Mad. I get even.
Trivia answers
1) What is a great documentary from a couple years ago on the making of Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot that will convert your non-believin ass?
2) What one book did I read this year? Seriously, the entire year. I’m a slow reader. Oh and it’s by Michael Chabon (Wonder Boys) and spans comic books, magic, WWII and coming to terms with what life has dealt.
3) What site, right after the election featured pictures sent in from the intelligent half of the country, each one saying what we were all thinking (example: “Dear World, We’re really, really sorry. Sincerely, 49% of America.”
4) I just like saying “Your Mama”
5) What have unseated the Simpsons as the two funniest shows on TV. Very F-in funny.
6) What word did I make up to see what you’d try to come up with?
7) What dark chocolate covered cookies that are only sold in really frou frou stores have I recently rediscovered and still have to say are amazing?
8) What movie was inferior to Bowling for Columbine and letdown for someone that really wanted yet another reason to kvetch?
9) What was the best horror movie I’ve seen in a long time. AND ZOMBIES!!!
10) What is not the name of a band on my top 10 list but IS the name of my 12-year-old cat that likes to use our new pool table almost as much as I do. I am not happy that he likes said table as his use of the table looks to make an indoor pool. We are about to go at it Mad Max at Thunderdome style. Two men/cats enter, one man/cat leaves.
2003 list - for those who have extra time
I’ve found myself being much more politically minded these days. I’m still pretty apathetic as far as action goes, but I bitch more pointedly. Nearly every day, angry mental letters are written to Bush…then mentally shredded.
You can’t be too careful. The Patriot Act had a section reactivating the Dream Police (Po-lice. Po-lice).
There isn’t much more to say about the current administration that hasn’t already been said, but I am always amazed at how much the media shapes our view of the world. Perception is reality. The country was scared shitless by the non-stop coverage of the Agent Orange Alerts and took action to stop their onslaught. Today the press has gone Momento on us. Why was WMD written on our arms again? I can’t remember. Lives were lost due to a very well-publicized hunch and it’s as if nothing happened. But ohhh, that Martha Stewart. She’s getting hers. Hee Hee. Goodnight dear.
It’s not just Iraq. Howard Dean went from Dr. Can’t-Do-Wrong to screech owl on repeat in 24 hours. Kerry went from bumbling-into-obscurity to a sure win over what’s his name. Whatever the media says is true. I think we should never lose sight of that. There should be a law mandating that US news coverage get its sources from both non-US-based media and US outlets to keep mania in check.
Anywho, I will take of my Crackpot hat to get to music, which is why we all came here tonight. Below are the 10 CDs I listened to most in the past 12 months
10. (Tie) Zwan – Mary, Star of the Sea / Kathleen Edwards – Failer (thanks Matt)
9. MC Paul Barman – Paulelujah! Juvenile, but unique.
8. Triplefastaction – Cattlemen Don’t
7. Ben Harper – Diamonds on the Inside. Not quite Fight For Your Mind (The Best album of the past 10 years or more), but damn good.
6. Nada Surf – Let Go. Has fruit flies as analogy, blizzard of 1977 as backdrop.
In honor of my recent departure from Sony, I will talk about the top 5 using Haiku.
5. Counting Crows – Across A Wire – Live in New York (NOT Hard Candy)
This album kicked ass
Really. This album kicked ass
This album kicked ass
4. Outkast – Speakerboxx/The Love Below
Oh how I miss Prince
Half of this record does too
The other just misses
3. Third Eye Blind – Out of the Vein
My guilty pleasure
Songs about car crashes…cool!
Why are you laughing?
2. Andy Stochanksy – Five Star Motel
Thom Yorke, you’ve lost my
Twelve Dollars, Ninety-Eight cents
I Hail the new Bends
1. Jack Johnson – Brushfire Fairytales AND On and On
(especially Brushfire Fairytales. Amazing, amazing stuff)
A beach party with
Funky folky tendencies
And soothing vocals
Honorable Mention
- Happy Birthday Daddy – Zack and Becca acapella
4 groups starting with the letter P that I wish would make a record as good as their glory days
- Pearl Jam
- Prince and the Revolution
- Plugs 1, 2 and 3
- Pussycats (Josie and the)
Some of my favorite moments of the year
- Playing in the snow with Wendy and the kids. My mental image now has an added a mental soundtrack and slow-mo snowballs.
- Watching Matt propose to Lori while he was wearing a wedding binder and wedding veil. Yeah, I guess you had to be there.
- Finding out #3 is on the way…and then using the promise of naming rights to potential employers. Nextel Communications Lipshultz is due April 5th.
- Telling my family that we were moving back to the area.
- Yet again, the opening kickoff at a Ravens-Steelers game. My father said he was offered $800 for the tickets and didn’t sell them because he knew I wanted to go. It was the end of the season and had no bearing on the playoffs, but every single soul in that stadium acted as if the game had world-altering implications. The towel-thrashing crowd created what looked like ocean wave whitecaps as the haze of fireworks still hung in the air and the speakers pulsated the opening guitar strums of U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name”. My Dad was right – I wouldn’t have sold.
- The next day, after the Steelers lost, my then-gloating father gave the above-mentioned Raven towels to the kids as a gift. I told the kids they were dancing towels. I am still smiling at the image of Zack and Becca pouncing up and down on the face of the Raven on the towel as my Dad helplessly looked on. Quite possibly the most quick witted I’ve been in defeat.
Fin
You can’t be too careful. The Patriot Act had a section reactivating the Dream Police (Po-lice. Po-lice).
There isn’t much more to say about the current administration that hasn’t already been said, but I am always amazed at how much the media shapes our view of the world. Perception is reality. The country was scared shitless by the non-stop coverage of the Agent Orange Alerts and took action to stop their onslaught. Today the press has gone Momento on us. Why was WMD written on our arms again? I can’t remember. Lives were lost due to a very well-publicized hunch and it’s as if nothing happened. But ohhh, that Martha Stewart. She’s getting hers. Hee Hee. Goodnight dear.
It’s not just Iraq. Howard Dean went from Dr. Can’t-Do-Wrong to screech owl on repeat in 24 hours. Kerry went from bumbling-into-obscurity to a sure win over what’s his name. Whatever the media says is true. I think we should never lose sight of that. There should be a law mandating that US news coverage get its sources from both non-US-based media and US outlets to keep mania in check.
Anywho, I will take of my Crackpot hat to get to music, which is why we all came here tonight. Below are the 10 CDs I listened to most in the past 12 months
10. (Tie) Zwan – Mary, Star of the Sea / Kathleen Edwards – Failer (thanks Matt)
9. MC Paul Barman – Paulelujah! Juvenile, but unique.
8. Triplefastaction – Cattlemen Don’t
7. Ben Harper – Diamonds on the Inside. Not quite Fight For Your Mind (The Best album of the past 10 years or more), but damn good.
6. Nada Surf – Let Go. Has fruit flies as analogy, blizzard of 1977 as backdrop.
In honor of my recent departure from Sony, I will talk about the top 5 using Haiku.
5. Counting Crows – Across A Wire – Live in New York (NOT Hard Candy)
This album kicked ass
Really. This album kicked ass
This album kicked ass
4. Outkast – Speakerboxx/The Love Below
Oh how I miss Prince
Half of this record does too
The other just misses
3. Third Eye Blind – Out of the Vein
My guilty pleasure
Songs about car crashes…cool!
Why are you laughing?
2. Andy Stochanksy – Five Star Motel
Thom Yorke, you’ve lost my
Twelve Dollars, Ninety-Eight cents
I Hail the new Bends
1. Jack Johnson – Brushfire Fairytales AND On and On
(especially Brushfire Fairytales. Amazing, amazing stuff)
A beach party with
Funky folky tendencies
And soothing vocals
Honorable Mention
- Happy Birthday Daddy – Zack and Becca acapella
4 groups starting with the letter P that I wish would make a record as good as their glory days
- Pearl Jam
- Prince and the Revolution
- Plugs 1, 2 and 3
- Pussycats (Josie and the)
Some of my favorite moments of the year
- Playing in the snow with Wendy and the kids. My mental image now has an added a mental soundtrack and slow-mo snowballs.
- Watching Matt propose to Lori while he was wearing a wedding binder and wedding veil. Yeah, I guess you had to be there.
- Finding out #3 is on the way…and then using the promise of naming rights to potential employers. Nextel Communications Lipshultz is due April 5th.
- Telling my family that we were moving back to the area.
- Yet again, the opening kickoff at a Ravens-Steelers game. My father said he was offered $800 for the tickets and didn’t sell them because he knew I wanted to go. It was the end of the season and had no bearing on the playoffs, but every single soul in that stadium acted as if the game had world-altering implications. The towel-thrashing crowd created what looked like ocean wave whitecaps as the haze of fireworks still hung in the air and the speakers pulsated the opening guitar strums of U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name”. My Dad was right – I wouldn’t have sold.
- The next day, after the Steelers lost, my then-gloating father gave the above-mentioned Raven towels to the kids as a gift. I told the kids they were dancing towels. I am still smiling at the image of Zack and Becca pouncing up and down on the face of the Raven on the towel as my Dad helplessly looked on. Quite possibly the most quick witted I’ve been in defeat.
Fin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)