B.S. Awards - Songs of the Year

I really could have ranked my top 100 songs, but my fingers would get tired tapping so much on this keyboard. I need to save my fingers for the green, red, green, green, yellow of My Name is Jonas. As I am a big fan of fun, clever or interesting lyrics in my music, I will put in my fave lyric from each song. It may or may not be clever, but it was what was stuck in my head after the music stopped playing...

1. Sequestered in Memphis by The Hold Steady. It took me a while to figure out everything that was going on with this song. Ends up, he is being questioned by the police in the disappearance of a one night stand. Nice. Anyway... it rocks. It was pushed over the top by Craig Finn pleading with me, over and over, away from his microphone at the concert I attended that "I was there on business!". There are many great lyrics in this song, but the best lyric has to be in the chorus of "In bar light, she looked alright, but in daylight she looked desperate. That's alright I was desperate too. I'm gettin pretty sick of this interview." This song has it all including a jammin organ, blaring horns, rockin guitars and a nice clap interlude.

2. Troublemaker by Weezer. Rockin song from one of my favorite bands. Quite a few fun lyrics in this song but I liked the word play of "Marryin' a bey-yotch, havin seven key-ods, givin up and growin old and hoping there's no god".

3. Five on the Five by The Racontuers. Rockin', high energy song that keeps the legs pumping on the old eliptical. "Cause I look like nothin' like the kids in the videos".

4. Two Times by The Blakes. This is the most flat out rocking song on this excellent album. Second line he screams, "Wanna put a ring on your little finger." And the screaming lyrics are the perfect emoting for the feeling he is putting into the song. "You shakeshakeshakeshakeshakeshakeshake!"

5. Run (I'm a Natural Disaster) by Gnarls Barkely. I wish I could shake my groove thang as fast as my mind wants to shake it during this song. "Run. Run away. Run Children. Run for your lives!"

6. Hope by Jack Johnson. Nice mid tempo beach cool out from the master of them. "You don't... Always... Have, to, hold your head... higher than your heart"

7. Modern Art by Art Brut. Love me some Art Brut. This short, high energy joint not only rocks me but also tells a brief story about his visit to two art museums, the Tate in London and the Pompidou in Paris. That doesn't happen much. "Sweet Jesus! My heart!"

8. Song I Hate by The Toadies. Sweet little jam from the master of break up anger, Vaden Lewis. This is just another song in which he's pretty pissed about a recent ex. At least she lives at the end of this one. I think he's mellowing.

9. Foundations by Kate Nash. I have found I don't gravitate much so female singers, especially that have kind of a "Zone" sound to them, but the lyrics of this woman feed up with her boyfriend and the little digs they give to each other combined with the British accent made me keep listening to it. "You said I must eat so many lemons because I am so bitter. I said I'd rather be with your friends, mate, as they are much fitter." Zing!

10. Pork and Beans by Weezer. This was a great song all summer. Got a little overplayed. The video inspired Maximum's dead on impression of Dramatic Chipmunk". I love many of the lyrics. Especially the positive, "feeling good about myself" attitude. I also like that he says "I don't give a hoot what you think" in the chorus where other rock bands may given something different.

11. Take Back the City by Snow Patrol. I really like this song, but since it is very recent, it couldn't crack the top 10.

12. I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab for Cutie. Top cool out song of the year. The album version of this starts off with a 5 minute instrumental. I'm glad they also released the single version on the album. Excellent song about an obsessive stalker...

13. A-Punk by Vampire Weekend. Sweet, fast guitar. Can't make sense of the lyrics but that doesn't matter. "Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!" Makes me smile just hearing it. Anything that can make you happy just clicking it on has to be on the list.

14. Stay Positive by The Hold Steady. One of many strong songs this year from this amazing band. This gets the nod to be on the list since Little Sexy told me all summer long, any time something worked out, it was because we "stay positive". He loves this song. Especially the "Whoa-oo-oo-o" parts. I'm glad he doesn't pay enough attention or understand it enough to focus on the stand out lyric of "There's gonna come a time, when she's gonna have to go, with whoever is going to get her the highest." Overall a pretty uplifting song.

15. Salute Your Solution by The Raconteurs. Another smokin' rock blast out from Jack White and crew. Spitting out rapid fire lyrics that are hard to disypher between guitar blasts. Keeping that energy high!

16. Space Humping $19.99 by Lifter Puller. I don't allow three songs from the same band to occupy the Top 20. This is a bit of an end around of that rule as Lifter Puller is Craig Finn's band before The Hold Steady. This does have a different sound. It has a great, cocky chorus line (that he talks out). I do like a good cocky line "I want everybody who's been eyeing my girl to slowly close your eyes. Take a look at what you've got, compare it to what I've got and ask yourself 'what do you think my girl wants?'"

17. They Say by Scars on Broadway. I love the whammy bar in this song! Pretty angry political song.

18. Mr. Hurricane by Beast. This would likely be a top ten song but it is so new that it didn't even make a seasonal mix. It had to make an appearance though. It might be back in the top 20 next year. Starts with a cool bass line that continues through the song. You can't not dance when this comes on. "Let it go, let it go. Turn on the light, yo."

19. Dance Commander by Electric Six. E6 has to represent on the list somewhere. I'd love to see these guys live. Why not come to Sactown, Dick? Corny lyrics over a rock/disco beat. I cannot adequately describe them ."Who gives the orders here?"/"Let's get this party started right, y'all".

20. Don't Want That Now by The Blakes. Just sneaking in under the wire despite some tough competition. Nice, rockin' number by my fave new band.

The Black Keys, The Arctic Monkeys, R.E.M. and Coldplay just missed the cut. Sorry, chaps.

Top Cool Out Songs of 2008

A cool out song for me is a song that can lower my pulse. A song that can calm me down when I'm frustrated. Or just plain mellow my stuff out. This is a nice little collection is you need to take a musical chill pill...

1. I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab for Cutie

2. Skinny Love by Bon Iver

3. You Don't Understand Me by The Raconteurs

4. Every Man I Fall For by Cold War Kids

5. Lost? by Coldplay

6. Psychotic Girl by The Black Keys

7. If I Fell by Evan Rachel Wood (Beatles remake)

8. Weed by 1990s

9. Lord, I'm Discouraged by The Hold Steady

10. Same Girl by Jack Johnson

B.S. Awards - Albums of the Year

There were many great albums in 2008. I used to worry that the coming year would never be able to be as good as the one just passed. But every year I am wrong and have a whole bunch of new albums to adore. Following is my top ten albums of the year and my top three soundtrack albums of the year. I have never had a soundtrack list. I've always liked soundtracks and there is usually one or two a year that are really good to me. But this year there were several that I played over and over. One of them is still in Olive where it was put in as soon as I got her.

1. Stay Positive by The Hold Steady - No surprise after reading my last post on bands of the year; The Hold Steady walks home with the B.S. Album of the Year. The album has excellent story telling, rockin songs and even kick-ass guitar solos. And I'm not one for guitar solos. I'll pick out a couple of the songs that landed in my top 20 later. It is the only album all year that referenced Sacramento from a band not from here.

2. Consolers of the Lonely by the Racontuers - I have previously mentioned Jack White's musical genius. The Racontuers are Jack White with an actual band instead of just rocking himself. It's not quite a sparse as The White Stripes which has it's own quality, but dude can hook me in with his blues rock riffs. There are a number of great songs on this album. 4 songs were in my top 40 of the year and one even was one of my top cool out songs of the year.

3. Weezer - The Red Album - I love the Weeze. They had two of my absolute favorite songs of the year and the album have many more hits than misses for me. Everyone in the band took turns singing a song (to somewhat mixed results). But overall, a very strong album.

4. The Blakes by The Blakes - Taking home the B.S. for Best New Band, Seattle based The Blakes might have even landed higher if they didn't bail as the opening act for the Toadies concert at The Boardwalk. I love this album! Many of their songs are different sounding from each other. They had 4 or 5 of my top 40 songs of the year as well. Check out this hot new band!

5. Sleep Through the Static by Jack Johnson - Jack continues to break out great material that is perfect for a day at the beach or a dreary rainy day outside. Tasty waves and a cool buzz to you my flip-flop wearing friend.

6. Viva La Vida by Coldplay - I was a little leary that this album was going to be a letdown. My only letdown was that they kept putting a "hidden song" on their songs which made it difficult to add to my seasonal mixes much like JT did with FutureSex/LoveSounds. If you understand that reference and still are attracted to only women, welcome to my very exclusive club.

7. Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie - They took home the B.S. award for Cool Out song of the year, but the entire album had an excellent vibe that grew on me. I listened to it more each month I've owned it than the prior month.

8. The Odd Couple by Gnarls Barkley - They proved they were not going to be a flash in the pan with this solid followup to their first album. Not all their songs clicked with me, but the ones that did funked me up.

9. Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend - Excellent summer mix of songs. Kind of an African-Alternative mix via the Ivy League. I don't know how to explain it, I just know I liked listening to it with sunroof open during beautiful summer days.

10. These Are the Good Time People by The Presidents of the United States of America - More solid tunes from a band always entertains me. Ranking likely boosted by seeing this very fun band in concert again. They really are a good time, people.

Right on the edge were the new release by The Toadies, No Deliverance and, with many apologies to Ted, Attack & Release by The Black Keys. Both were very good albums, just not enough to unseat any of these ten.

Soundtracks:

1. Across the Universe. I loved the soundtrack, the idea of the movie and the movie. It is two discs worth of Beatles remakes. I'm always a little skeptical about remakes, but this hit it out of the park for me. Putting the songs in the context of the story even made the original Beatles songs better to me. It had almost a Baz Luhrman feel to it. My favorite song from the movie isn't even on the soundtrack. Just wonderful.

2. Into the Wild. This movie is in my top album list, my top movie list and my top book list. The story about this mixed up kid sure did occupy a lot of my entertainment time this year! I'm talking just about the soundtrack here. Eddie Vedder (one of my all time rock gods) delivers with a powerful, cool out soundtrack that really captures the emotions in the film.

3. Once. Hard to believe this would end up #3. It is a testiment to how strong the first two are. I don't love all of the songs on it, but the music really makes this excellent, touching film even more emotional.

B.S. Awards - Music Division - Bands of the Year

Those who know me know I spend way too much time obsessing about, downloading and ranking music. Especially for someone who cannot play any tune on any instrument. I do like to rock a mean Guitar Hero axe and croon into the Rock Band mic. After much (too much?) consideration I have released the 2008 B.S. Awards for Music. First up... Band of the Year.



1. The Hold Steady. I love, Love, LOVE the Hold Steady! They were not an instant smash with me, but after a dozen listens, I couldn't put them down. The Hold Steady is kind of a bar band. The singer talks most of his songs and sounds a bit like Bruce Springsteen, but the songs don't really remind me of Springsteen songs. The singer looks more like the IT guy at your work then how you might picture him when you hear him. On stage, he seems like he is having more fun then he should be allowed to have. Especially singing songs about drugs, religion, being wasted, growing older, getting high and insecurities. One of the things I love about the band is the lyrics. I am a sucker for clever lyrics on a rocking beat. The songs are mostly stories about characters that continue through each album. This year's album is going to get the B.S. award for album of the year (sorry to ruin the surprise), but it isn't even their best album. Try out Boys and Girls in America. Rock steady Hold Steady!


2. Weezer. This is a band I was a little late to the party on. I was never a big fan of them in the 90's which is when many of my fave bands originated. But now, I think they are great. My favorite Wii band songs are Weezer songs. I wish I could get just a whole game of just Weezer songs. They are another band with clever and fun lyrics over a rocking beat. Rivers Cuomo seems to be singing a lot about me in many of his songs from The Good Life ("I don't wanna be an old man anymore, it's been a year or two since I've been on the floor. Shakin' booty and makin' sweet love all the night. It's time I got back to the good life.") to this year's Pork and Beans ("They say I need some Rogaine to put in my hair. Working out in the gym to fit my underwear" in a song about just liking who you are). I like that they don't swear in their songs and they are basically hard rockin geeks. =w=


3. Radiohead. They didn't release anything this year but that doesn't mean they didn't get worn out on my iPod. I finally was exposed to them last year. They are an ultimate headphone band to me. Great tracks to just lose yourself in. I can't imagine them related in a concert. Bad Gnus music correspondent, Tuesday Ted, had this to say after seeing them in concert. "I don't know who they are. And I'm sure they are good at what they are trying to do, but that was the worst two hours of my life. The other 20,000 people there seemed to be enjoying themselves, but the only thing it was inspiring me to do was to climb up on the soundstage and see how many rounds from my piece I could unload on fools until I finally swallowed the final bullet for myself to give me a sweet release from the aural pain." I might have blemished his review slightly, but I think I captured the essence of his feelings. We'll have to agree to disagree. They smooth my mellow...


4. Jack White. He gets his own category because he is holding down two bands for me. Last year's stellar White Stripes release just added to the glut of excellent songs from that one man band. This year's release with The Racontuers was a top album of the year for me. He melds hard alternative and blues rock together for a most satisfying dish. Truly a musical genius.


5. Art Brut and Electric Six. Electric Six is a rockin' glam mix that cracks me up and makes my hips shake. They need to be included as a band of the year after Little Sexy won Mariemont Idol - Second Grade Division with his routine to Showtime. It was a real crowd pleaser. A highlight of the year for sure. Art Brut still gets constantly played on my ipod. Dude cracks me up. They are linked with Electric Six to me as I discovered them about the same time and they are both funny but rockin' music. He talks his songs like Craig Finn of The Hold Steady but his songs are typically more straight at you funny. "Don't Tell Your Friends!"