Sunday, January 24, 2016

2015 Year in Lipshultz - Blargh!




As 2015 was far from my favorite year (understatement) so I’d like to start with 

The top 5 Things I would like to do to 2015
5.  Kick it in the Ding Ding
4.  Go all Reservoir Dogs Mr. Blonde on it
3.  Give it a time out
2   Circumcision
1.  Make IT live through 2015

Don’t get me wrong, though 2015 is off my Hanukkah card list (which I really don't have one, so DOUBLE THERE!), the year did have some ups including Steelers games - (Pete is finally starting to feel it!), cool travel to New Orleans/Dublin, a promotion, having some products I worked on featured at Google I/O, good friends’ wedding and of course, music. SO, here are.....


The top 10 Music-Related Things I dug in 2015, whether they were released in 2015 or not. 


Here is the  playlist in case you want to check it out



10) “Money Can’t Buy” – Howard
An upbeat tempo with a tone that shows loneliness that I always seem to dig. Hmmm. Freud much?

9) "Frank" (movie)
A very odd, quirky dive into the tension between artists and entertainment. I won’t ruin it by saying the star of the band in the movie wears a paper mache head. Always.


8) “Uptown Funk” in New Orleans  and “Feel Right” – Mark Ronson

We did get away to New Orleans for Mardi Gras earlier this year. Was amazing time with friends new and old.  The highlight was getting caught in the middle of a ‘Westboro Baptist’ church-like protest in front the gay section of Bourbon while “Uptown Funk” blared in the background. We (more Wendy/Monty/Jazzie than me) and the makeshift parade we had joined  pushed through the protest and the muscle-bound, sunglass wearing, sign-carrying protesters fell backward. Equally as cool, “Happy” then came on as we danced past them. This wasn’t from that day but this picture looks like the same guys.




7) “Lydia” and “Mister Asylum” -Highly Suspect

6) Everywhere I Go (Kings and Queens) – New Politics

5) Everything is Alright – Motion City Soundtrack

4) “Prince” – Prince released some good new material but his disciples/copiers seemed to have one-upped him in the past couple years

“The Charade” – D’Angelo
“Peanut Butter Jelly”-  Galantis
“Is this How You Feel”- The Preatures
“All That” – Carly Rae Jepsen
“Future People” – Alabama Shakes
“Stare” - Prince

3 TIE) Valerie – Amy Winehouse live at BBC

3 TIE ) Four Five Seconds – Kaye, Rihanna and Paul McCartney

3) Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit

2 (TIE) OK Go w/Zack and Becca
I think concerts have been ruined for them as they will never see a better show. The visuals were amazing as were the songs. Here are two things to give you a sense of the show.These weren't from our show but we essentially had the same view where Damian K (lead singer) crowdsurfed and sang on his back while confetti rained down.



Also  the intro video was the same as we saw....go to 1:01 mark if you get sick of the funny intro as it will give a sense of how overpowering their songs were.





  2) (TIE) Cab Ride - Where the Streets Have No Name - Wendy and I were in a taxi in Ireland and the cabbie asked my favorite U2 song and then proceed to blast it as we wound through the streets of Dublin. I have so many great memories of that song (played at Steelers-Ravens games, high school events and now add this). This could be one my ‘play at my funeral’ songs.

1) Firefly Music Festival
Decided to spend time away with Zack this summer before he started high school and no longer would want to hang with 'Dad'. I considered going with him to his big 2 week hiking/camping at Philmont New Mexico but roughing it was never my thing. Wendy suggested I find something we both like to do like a music festival. She was totally right. We saw/found bands like Walk the Moon, Cold War Kids, The Chainsmokers, X Ambassadors, Big Data, Mother Mother, Milo Greene, Joe Pug, Empire of the Sun, The Kooks, Bastille, Modest Mouse, RJD2, Snoop Dogg, Zedd, etc. It was amazing and I think we were both a little sad that it ended.





Annual MMMbop  Guilty Pleasure Award - Three Way Tie!



  • "Sorry”, “The Feeling”, “Life Is Worth Living”, “Mark My Words” “What do you Mean” -  Justin Bieber
  • “Thinking out Loud” - Ed Sheeran
  • My new favorite joke….Two muffins are sitting in an oven. One turns to the other and says “Wow it’s really hot in here”. The other says “Holy shit - a talking muffin!”


Great Covers discovered

  • “What do  you mean” – Karmin
  • “XO” – John Mayer
  • “Learn to Fly” - Gallant

2015 Rediscoveries

  • Scott Pilgrim v. The World – Forgot how quirky/funny/energizing this movie was.



  • “Ignition (Remix)- R. Kelly
  • “Sean Anemone” – Jets to Brazil – I have friends that are going through a tough split and this song makes me think of them

Honorable Mention

  • “Untitled” – Seryn
  • “I” – Kendrick Lamar
  • “Falling Slow” – The Slow Show
  • “Hold On” – Moguai Cheat Codes
  • “Good Day Bad”– MeShell Ndegeocello
  • “Lake Song”and “The Singer Addresses His Audience” – The Decemberists
  • “Blaze Up the Fire” – Major Lazer
  • “OctaHate” – Ryn Weaver
  • “Robin Willliams” – CeeLo Green
  • “Short Movie” – Laura Marling
  • “Take U There” and “Beats Knockin” – Jack U
  • “No Room In Frame” – Death Cab for Cutie
  • “THE QUIET” –Troy Sivan
  • “Sjowgren”- Seventeen
  • “Penninsula” – Dinosaur Pile Up
  • “Into the Night” – Ravonettes
  • “Zion”, “Song for the Singer” and “Hope Springs” Wilder Maker
  • “Curse the Weather” – Mo Lowda
  • “Hello” – Adele
  • “Empty Nesters” – Toro y Moi
  • “S.O.B.” – Nathaniel Rateliff
  • “The Wolf” Mumford and Sons
  • “Air”, “Poison” and “Summer of Love” - Waxahatchee
  • “Help I’m Alive” – Metric
  • “This Too Shall Pass – Passion Pit Remix”
  • “The Sun is Shining Down” – JJ Grey and Mofro
  • “Blue Moon” - Beck
  • “Class Historian” -  BRONCHO
  • “Whip It!” – Lunchmoney Lewis
  • “GDFR” – Flo Rida
  • El Ten Eleven
  • “Flashed Junk Mind” – Milky Chance
  • “Falling Short” – Lapsley
  • “Halogen Lights (or Babies Having Babies)” – Picture Atlantic


Before You Go

I will leave you all with this thank you note from Pete. Wendy let the kids make their own thank you notes this year for gift. Here is his. A little slow but definitely worth it. If the video doesn't work try this link