Top Ten Albums of 2008

Here's my annual list of top ten albums, for the year 2008. I know that every year I claim it's the most difficult and competitive year in choosing these albums... But this year I mean it. Not only that, but it was the most difficult year to pick the top album; not because of a lack of quality of albums, but quite the opposite. Typically the top disc for the year is obvious, whereas this year I was wrestling between the top six or so (any of which could easily be the top). As far as the artists who released excellent discs this year but were not included in the top ten, a few which immediately come to mind are: Vampire Weekend, The Mountain Goats, Kelley Polar, Cut Copy, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Frightened Rabbit, Sybris, Spiritualized, Wolf Parade, Sigur Ros, The Hold Steady, Bonnie “Prince” Billy, Harvey Milk, The Walkmen, Stereolab, The Uglysuit, TV on the Radio, Blitzen Trapper, The Week That Was, Marnie Stern, Gang Gang Dance, Deerhunter, and El Guincho to name a very select few. I could go on and on with the honorable mentions.

10) This Gift - Sons and Daughters

Winner of the “most overlooked” or “least appreciated” album of the year, This Gift, is a relentless rocking album. It is also winner of the “car album” of the year award. Released very early in the year, this disc has been in constant rotation for my monotonous drives to work or ventures cross country. And you know what... It has never gotten old or sounded stale (as most discs of the genre often do). This Glasgow band is fronted by female vocalist Adele Bethel, who turns in some of the most convincing and effecting female vocals ever. If Bethel doesn't end up attaining “superstar” status, then it's hard to say who will. From the raging opener “Gilt Complex” to the rolling and fantastic closer “Goodbye Service”, This Gift never lets up. The fact that the album is in such high octane mode the entire time could be perceived as a major point of criticism. But if each song maintains such high quality, who cares?! Pick any song off of this disc, any one at random, and that song could be a bona fide hit. In fact, This Gift is so consistent that it almost plays out as a “best of” album. Those looking for wimpy ballads should check out Iron & Wine; while those looking for god's gift to rock music should check out This Gift. Tis a gift indeed.

9) Offend Maggie - Deerhoof

Is it too early yet to call Deerhoof the band of the decade? If it is, then I think it's fair to say that they are at least the most polarizing and uniquely creative. However, for those who have been put off in the past by this band's flights of cuddly and maniacal fury, it's not hard to imagine these people actually enjoying Offend Maggie. I prefer to title this album: The Deerhoof Album for Those Who Do Not Like Deerhoof. Now, this isn't to say the band has sold out or gone pop. Deerhoof still requires you to meet them on their terms, these just happen to be the easiest terms to meet them on. While it may not be the obvious masterpiece that The Runners Four was, the album nearly shines just as bright and is a definite improvement over the relatively (key word: relatively) disappointing Friend Opportunity. Offend Maggie is such a solid album that it's hard to pick out highlights. If pressed, the rocking opener “The Tears and Love of Music”, the funky “Basket Ball Get Your Groove Back”, or the mini-epic “Eaguru Guru” would all be contenders. But that would be neglecting the beautiful “Chandelier Searchlight”, the jazzy closer “Jagged Fruit”, and the whimsical title track. Part of Offend Maggie's success lies in the fact that it manages to be both eclectic and cohesive. In addition, Satomi Matsuzaki's vocals have never sounded better and more natural. Offend Maggie, is likely to offend very few people.

8) Hold On Now, Youngster... & We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed - Los Campesinos!

Okay, okay... So I know that I cheated by listing two albums for the number eight slot. But then again, it's not every year that an artist releases their debut album the same year as their sophomore album. Even more rare is when both albums are extraordinary and both worthy of recognition (yet I'm refusing to offer each album it's own spot to make room for others). Approaching these albums you're going to have to ignore (or embrace) the fact that Los Campesinos! sounds nearly identical to the childlike joyness of Architecture in Helsinki. While critics of the band will scathe them for unoriginality, the others will notice that Los Campesinos! actually does a better job than the excellent Architecture in Helsinki. Many of the songs (notably “My Year in Lists”) features a chorus of what sounds like twenty heavily caffeinated band mates singing in the background. This giddiness carries over into both albums and once these songs dig into you, they will play out in your head for days. Both the overtly exuberant Hold On Now, Youngster... and the slightly more subdued We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed are the feel good soundtracks to this year. Give them a spin, and just try to tell me you didn't smile!

7) Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair

Oh Antony, when I heard you were part of the ensemble known as Hercules and Love Affair, I just couldn't resist to buy this album. But instead of slow moving and beautiful ballads that dominate your solo albums, you are part of the group which released the most colorful album I've heard in quite some time. None-the-less, a DANCE album!!! “Blind” is one of those songs that finds me dancing in my underwear, should it come on when my Ipod is on shuffle while getting ready in the morning, while “You Belong” pumps out of my car stereo speakers without guilt or volition. It's so refreshing to hear your voice displayed with such color. But that shouldn't discount the rest of your imaginative group, which also contributes immeasurably to this wonderful disc. The other two vocalists, Nomi and Kim Ann Foxman, force you to share the spotlight. What with the sexy “Athene” and utterly gorgeous “Iris”, could you expect anything else? This is more than a dance or an electronic album, it is also an insurmountable work of art that overshadows other great albums of the same genre released this year. Antony, I know you'll go back to making your solo records laced with beautiful sadness; but oh what a joy it is to hear you having fun.

6) Visiter - The Dodos

The opening number to Visiter is a pretty little ditty that sounds a whole heck of a lot like Sufjan Stevens. But, before all of you Stevens fanatics avalanche into your local record store to buy minted copies of this album; it's only a taster. The rest of the disc bursts with original ferocity that makes it one of the most refreshing albums I've heard in years. Not only that, but it's addictive as all hell! This relentless album can only be listened to all the way through; from the crashing toy pianos of “Red and Purple”, the fierce “Fools”, which sounds like Bob Dylan revved up with two gallons of coffee, the delicious Magnetic Fields-esq “Winter”, and the gorgeous closer “God?”. This album is a gleeful winner. The frenetic guitar playing and the folky melodies almost make it seem as if Metallica joined up with Joni Mitchell; making you question whether any other music out there sounds quite like this. Not just recommend, but highly required!

5) The Airing of Grievances - Titus Andronicus

FUCK YOU!!! Or so Titus Andronicus announces on their full length debut. They are probably referring to the endless reviewers comparing the lead vocalist to Conor Oberst. Conor Oberst this, Conor Oberst that... I mean, after being compared to Oberst so much, wouldn't YOU want to scream “fuck you”? Don't let that skew your notion of Titus Andronicus, however; while the lead singer may sound a tad like an angry Oberst, their music sounds nothing like Bright Eyes. This is hard driving, compelling, and heart wrenching music that manages to be both distant and triumphant. The music has that introspective and white trash feel that hasn't been heard since the likes of early Modest Mouse (think Lonesome Crowded West). Once the epic duo of “No Future” hits you, it's like that profound feeling of hearing “Trailer Trash”, and the guitar part on “Upon Viewing...” will unapologetically tear your heart out. This is a challenging album, but manages to scatter brief moments of accessibility to keep things palatable on first listen. Such moments are the groovy “My Time Outside the Womb” or the anthemic “Titus Andronicus”. Fuck Conor Oberst and his pansie Bright Eyes... Titus Andronicus will render Oberst obsolete.

4) Nouns - No Age

It seems as if everyone is searching for the next Daydream Nation. What about the other, less discussed, Sonic Youth masterpiece: Sister? Well, any indie hipster looking for this generation's collection of tightly constructed and powerful noise/art rock will strike gold with Nouns. This thirty minute sophomore album brilliantly combines edginess and accessibility for what is guaranteed to be the most obsessively played disc of the year in your collection. Anthems such as “Teen Creeps” would be well suited for top 40 radio, had they not been drenched in glorious noise. Then there's the epic two and a half minute “Sleeper Hold” which will have you turning up the volume at each unpredictable twist the song takes. No Age manages to slow things down a few times, both the on surreal ballad “Things I Did When I Was Dead” and the two essential instrumental palette cleansers of the album. With Nouns, No Age have established themselves as a force to watch in the future; and who knows... Perhaps next we will get this generation's Daydream Nation.

3) Third - Portishead

Even though it was eleven years ago when Portishead released their self-titled sophomore album, it only takes about ten seconds after hitting the play button for you to know that they are back. Not only have they returned (seemingly out of nowhere), but they are stronger than ever (yes, I went there). From the spy car chase scene-esq opener, “Silence”, to the final echoing drones of “Threads”, Portishead create a deep labyrinth of claustrophobia and terror, with pockets of redeeming beauty. While that description may not render an enjoyable experience, one just has to surrender themselves to this music to fully experience the significance. Amy Gibbon's vocal delivery has never been more on target, one can hear the fear in her voice on “Machine Gun” or the sincerity on the gorgeous “Nylon Rip”. The real stunner of this album is the dynamic “We Carry On” in which the pounding percussion and the distorted guitars nearly steals the show. It's arguably the finest song Portishead has ever done. Third is the type of album that makes one nervous. While it's thrilling that such a great band came out from under the woodwork with little herald to deliver us a stunning album; fans can't help to feel a little dread that we'll have to wait eleven more years for another album of such stature.

2) April - Sun Kil Moon

Released on the first of the month in which the album is named after, April seems to get better as the year wears on and as Autumn grasps it's hand on us. After a successful career with Red House Painters and the beauty of the first two Sun Kil Moon albums, Mark Kozelek has finally dropped his fully realized masterpiece. This massive work is mostly comprised of repetitive ballads which clock in over the seven or eight minute mark. In the hands of most artists this would render disastrous and boring results, yet Kozelek makes repetition work to his advantage, similar in the way of Bob Dylan. Take for instance the winding opener “Lost Verses” (also the best song of the year), the warm countrified tones of “The Light”, or the unbelievable tension in the brilliant “Heron Blue”. Had these songs been edited their power would have been restrained a hundred-fold. April is not for anyone who is looking for quick gratification, catchy hooks, or a bitchin party. No, April is one of those rare albums, that given the patients it deserves, ages better with time than almost anything I've ever heard. Perhaps that is the reason Kozelek released this album in April, so that the autumnal bliss can fully be enjoyed in the season the music most matches. Sometimes I just can't get over how beautiful April is.

1) London Zoo - The Bug

Angry liberals... They sure give Democrats a bad name, and from the fiery album opener “Angry”, you can sure bet that Kevin Martin has a lot to get off his chest; from the war to Katrina to the ozone layer. However, his rant is far from being whiny and it's not offensive or overtly confrontational, and likely not to put off any conservative dubstep lovers (if there are any). But you know what... That's just the first number of this politically diluted and triumphant album. After a five year absence from the moniker of The Bug, Martin returns with work that can only be called career defining. Screw the dubstep label, and screw dancehall or electronic labels. While London Zoo may fit into those descriptions, it is best described as an album in a league of its own and one that raises the bar and sets precedence for all other albums which follow (much the way My Bloody Valentine achieved with Loveless).

More hook driven than the ethereal Pressure, London Zoo finds Martin recruiting a larger ensemble of cohorts for this set of songs. Most notably is Queen Warrior, who delivers the album knock out “Insane” and follows up later in the disc with the nearly as good “Poison Dart”. But what's most stunning about the album is perhaps the flawless track ordering. Coming out of the gates on fire with the aforementioned “Angry” and the equally massive (and addicting) follow up “Murder We”, the intensity and piss and vinegar of the tracks slowly diminishes to minimum mid album. This isn't to say these tracks aren't as good as the fiery ones; the two track duo of “You & Me” and the dizzying instrumental “Freak Freak” serves perfect complement to each other and acts as a welcome reprieve. When the thunderous claps of “Warning” kicks in, you're sure to form a thick layer of goosebumps; it is the finest single musical moment of the year.

London Zoo achieves similar success as last years top pick, Drums and Guns, in that it is culturally significant to our time. Martin spends much of London Zoo reminding us that there is in fact a war still going on overseas. With so much talk about the economy, it's amazing that the war has taken such a background position in our lives. Martin is that singular voice, still screaming in protest (most notably on “Jah War”). In the hands of other artists this all may sound outdated but London Zoo is remarkably fresh. When you hear somebody ask if anything good came out of the Bush Administration, just throw London Zoo in their faces.

Spitting Venom

So... I've had a bit of dental drama going on in my life. Last week I developed a tooth abscess, thanks to going nearly two years without seeing a dentist. Over the week when my brother got married I noticed I had a dull toothache but didn't do anything about it. Well, last week the tooth started poisoning itself.

I woke up one morning last week with swollen gums. At first I didn't think too much of it, as my gums have always been sensitive to brushing/flossing too hard or when I switch toothpastes (and I did just switch to using Baking Soda to brush my teeth). In addition, there was really no pain with the swelling.

Well, as the week went on the swelling got worse and became more painful. Come Monday it hurt to talk/eat and the left side of my face looked like John McCain's. I gave in and called my dentist and he diagnosed me with an abscess. There are two options: get a root canal or get the tooth pulled. I'd much rather save the tooth and get a root canal, but I don't have dental insurance and it's expensive as hell. Oh well, in any case I have time to think about it because they can't do anything to my tooth until the infection is gone (I'm on antibiotics for ten days).

Luckily, Tuesday night the abscess ruptured and I woke up at 3 am and for two hours I was spitting out the most disgusting smelling pus you could ever imagine. I couldn't go back to sleep because the pus is poison and could make me very sick if I swallowed it. But I didn't mind! Once the abscess ruptured it was like heaven because all the discomfort/pain I was in the past several days instantly and completely went away.

The antibiotics started to kick in yesterday so I'm on round two of pus spitting out, although this time it's a lot less prolific and smelly. I feel like a rattlesnake with all this poison coming out of me. No making out for me until this stops! But that's completely different drama all together.

My Ridiculous Tuesday

So... Several friends I've told this story to think it's hilarious. I thought I would share it on here (although it's probably not as funny as if I told it).

Last Monday I was going to bed pretty early and I decided not to set my alarm for the next day. I figured I would wake up at my normal time, no problem. Well... Tuesday morning I end up waking up at 10:30. I felt so groggy and blah from sleeping so long and couldn't believe I slept in so late on a weekday. I was moving pretty slowly around my apartment, getting ready and all and by the time I was ready it was noon. I decided that I might as well just stay in and work from home, since it would be so late by the time I got to work.

I took my laptop and set it up on the desk, plugged it into the Ethernet (so I could have faster connection than wireless), made myself some tea, put on some tunes, and opened up my unix window. I opened up the program I was working on and wrote one line of code before delving into an intensive internet surfing session. After an hour or so of looking up ridiculous stuff I deemed it time to eat lunch.

So I fixed a sandwich and took a journal article into the living room. I thought that maybe I could get some reading done while eating lunch, then I wouldn't feel so bad for slacking off the past hour. Of course, I thought that my reading would be enhanced if I turned the television on (great logic, huh). I flipped though a little bit until one show caught my eye. I've never seen this show but heard about it. I watched the first episode and was drawn to it, so drawn that I had to watch the second episode.

Yes, my friends... It's true... I ended up watching an eight (yes EIGHT) hour marathon of:

THE BACHELORETTE!!!!

I'm not proud to admit this; but I was TOO emotionally involved in the show to turn it off! It was so ridiculous... I got no work done at all. At one point, around 5 or 6 I deemed that I wouldn't get anything done that day and thought I could escape and go for a hike; do something somewhat productive. But I felt guilty for leaving my apartment where my journal article was. AND, I had to see who Trista picked!

So sad. I never watch reality tv crap and I know why now; I would become addicted!

Skiing In June

Typically, every ski season I'm done by April; then my focus turns into hiking and backpacking and getting down to southern Utah. That was the same situation this year, by early/mid April all my ski gear was stowed away in the reckless fashion it usually is. Even though I'm done by April, skiing in Utah goes on much longer; thanks to the greatest snow on earth. Snowbird usually stays open as long as they can, which is typically into June (sometimes even July); but both years I've been here they closed in May (one year due to low snow year, the other due to a very HOT Spring).

This year is ideal for late skiing. We've had a bitchin snow pack (Alta got over 700" this season) and it's been an atypically cool Spring. Thursday at work Clint and Betsy were talking about going up to Snowbird since they received 8" of new snow the previous day. Even though I said I was done with skiing for the year, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to say I've been skiing in June! Fuck, I've never even been skiing in May.

This morning I checked online and saw that Snowbird was only one of two ski resorts in the U.S. still open, the other being A-basin in Colorado (although Snowbird's 104" base depth looked quite impressive compared to A-basin's 33" base). Pulling up to Snowbird I was amazed by all the snow still there in June.

It was a great morning but felt very surreal to be skiing in June! We took the tram up to 11,000 ft Hidden Peak and had our choice of either skiing in Little Cloud Bowl or Mineral Basin Bowl (the only two lifts operating... but my favorite two lifts in the resort). The snow was very different than the waist deep Utah powder I'm used to skiing, but it was soft and really fun to ski in; although south facing Mineral Bowl became a bit sticky as the day wore on.

At the end of the day we had the option of riding the tram back down to 7,000 ft (which is what Snowbird recommends), or skiing to the base ourselves (considered "backcountry" conditions by the resort). We skied down the Gad Valley and it was so surreal as we were the only people in that section of the mountain. In some sections it looked as if they drove a truck through the snow, but there was definitely still plenty of snow for us to get down to the car.

Shit... It looks like this year I'll be able to say that I've been skiing in July, if this keeps up!

Memories of Megan

So... Megan is moving away from SLC (for the second time). It's always sad when a friend moves away and being a grad student it's something that happens quite frequently and I should be used to it (ironically though Megan isn't a grad student so SHOULDN'T be moving). Anyway, I thought I would compile a list of my favorite Megan memories / stories.

1) Right before she moved away from SLC for the first time a couple years ago (it was one of the first times I met her) we went on our first hike with Lis. Among some of the ridiculous moments of that day the one that stands out is "My family come from Miami" incident.

2) When Megan moved back to SLC a few months later she fell madly in love with me. Not knowing much about each other, Jenny set us up on a hike in Neff's Canyon. Megan has a Moose hat and she wore it the ENTIRE hike. One of the most ridiculous things ever.

3) I wrote a short story about Megan because she wanted me to. To this day it's one of my favorite stories I have ever written. That also sparked a big creative burst (I was in quite a drought) and went on to write several more stories I'm proud of within a short period of time.

4) Even though I wasn't there, the story about the three-centers is a classic (made even more classic by Sameera's claims that "I was there... I was driving behind you" a couple years later).

5) Megan was responsible for my favorite quote of 2007 (and possibly of the decade)... "I have to get my mouth ready". I giggle every time I think of that. HILARIOUS!

6) For our birthdays in 2007 we had a sleepover birthday party. We played games and our pinatas hooked up in Megan's bed. Steamy night for sure.

7) Megan had never heard of Slush Puppies. She thought they were just called Slushies. I told her I would google it and she said "it's going to say... 'did you mean Hush Puppies?' ". Needless to say, I was right.

8) Our last hike together: "I've been on this hike three times... three times"

9) The hiking game we made up (which we only played twice... but can't remember the name to save our lives)... It was basically exactly like rollerderby, except completely different.

10) The email from Megan's mom this week, which states: "Who is this new Pete guy with all the photos??? You and Greg didn't break up did you??? Just wondering..... Love, mom". Too funny!

I'm sure there are plenty of other things that I am forgetting here. Too bad Megan has to move, but at least Julie is coming to replace her. Megan doesn't think she can be replaced; but we'll see... we'll just have to see. But seriously, Megan has one of the sharpest / unique sense of humors I know and I for one will miss her quick wit.

Should Be Working, Blogging Instead

Since last post I've taken two great trips down to southern Utah. One to Moab with Jenny for four days and the other to Escalante with Sebastian, Sameera, and Dina for a weekend. Both were excellent trips! I'm thoroughly convinced now that southern Utah is one of the most gorgeous places on Earth; I simply cannot get enough of the place.

On the way back from Escalante we were discussing our best and worst trips we've ever taken. Everyone had lots to chose from for their best trips, but no one could think of anything for their worst trip; including me. I'm so thankful that I've had so many great trips; especially since I've moved to Utah. Knock on wood of course! Don't want to jinx myself for future trips.

I also feel so grateful that I live in such a beautiful state. People travel from all over the world to visit southern Utah and for me it's just a few hours of driving. Plus I have the beauties of mountainous northern Utah right at my door step. I'm just trying to explore as much as possible while I'm here cause I know when I move I'm going to terribly miss all the wonders of the west.

What Am I Doing?

It's a beautiful Saturday; the sun is out full blast and the temperature is comfortable and some of my friends are out hiking antelope island. Yet... Here I sit in my office all afternoon, diligently programming tracers into the model I'm using. What gives? Well, earlier this week I was having dinner with Jenny and she is going to conference in Moab next week. She asked if I wanted to go and stay in her hotel room and go hiking when she's not in sessions. I told her "no way" since I was just in Orlando for a week. But then I got to thinking that if I work THIS weekend and NEXT weekend then I would totally make up for the four days I will be gone. Thus, here I sit.

I've actually been more productive today that I normally am on weekdays. I'm SO excited about Moab too. It's nice that I have a job where I can take off middle of the week and make up the time. Lately I've been getting very excited about summer and all the trips I've been planning. Here's a run down of the trips I plan to take this summer:

1) San Rafael Swell in spring
2) Return to Needles District of Canyonlands (spring)
2) Glacier National Park (July or August)
3) Teton National Park (July 4th weekend.... CROWDED, I know)
4) Uintas backpacking trip to Ottoman basin and summit of Cleveland peak (sometime in July or August)
5) Wind Rivers backpacking trip to Cirque of the Towers (on way back from CMMAP conference in August), probably a solo trip since I'll be driving back by myself
6) Uintas backpacking trip to one of the many destinations I want to go to (Deadhorse Lake, Allsop Lake, Kings Peak, and so forth... prolly August or September)
7) The Annual Wind Rivers backpacking trip over Labor day weekend (destination to be determined)
8) Wasatch backpacking trip up Thunder Mountain and Hardy Lake (prolly September when it starts to get cool)
9) And I want to make it up to the Sawtooth's in Idaho or the San Juan's in Colorado.

OMG... this is a lot and I hope to do most, if not all of it. My advisor will be traveling a lot this summer so I'm sure I'll be able to take plenty of three day weekends (but working A LOT during those four days). This list doesn't even include all the day hikes I want to do in the Wasatch and Uintas. June is going to be the red headed step child month... Because it will be too hot at that point to go to southern Utah yet still too snowy in the mountains up north to do any backpacking trips. Oh well, I'll just work a lot that month I guess.