(June 2011)/December 2012 *Band Album name (Date released)/Date I got it
So, yeah. These are the 3 albums I picked. I almost picked Illinois by Sufjan Stevens, but instead have given a song from there an individual post, which I will probably never finish. I also almost put Led Zeppelin IV here, but I wasn't exactly in my adolescent years when I got that one. But these are 3 albums I picked up in 3 different periods of my life. They've shape who I constantly become.
I wrote 1 tonight, just writing everything and anything that came to my head. It's really long. I probably won't have a second one for a long time. So if you have a lot (A LOT) of free time and you enjoy reading about other people's memories, take a look. I myself start work again tomorrow and return as well to the bitter world of homework.
HAVE A NICE DAY
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
I was just finishing up my 2nd trimester of my junior year at Jerome High School. I was 17, I listened to a lot of 90s grunge, and you guessed it, my life sucked and I hated the world. I was doing "The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged," as Hamlet. It was a great show, and I was getting great grades in all my classes, but of course, this wasn't good enough. I had to be unhappy. Whether sad or angry, it was part of my daily agenda. For Christmas, I got Wilco's Sky Blue Sky and I loved it. It's like a classic rock album, something people could smoke to. Having researched the band, I learned that critics all agreed on their 2002 album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Having loved Sky Blue Sky so much, I couldn't imagine what Foxtrot would sound like. So, without even knowing any songs from it, I decided to buy it.
I saw it had come in the mail when I got home from a "Shakespeare" performance. Instead of actually listening to it, I studied the album cover. Are those the World Trade Center towers or 2 piles of pennies? (Answer: The Marina City towers in Chicago). I popped it in on a Saturday morning and I knew right away it was good. At the time, I compared it to my then favorite artist, Beck. Nothing on it hit me like a train, per say, at least not yet. I learned the album sounded different when you played it late at night.
The album opener "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart" was the perfect beginning to a restless night. I couldn't name all the instruments in there if I tried (answer: synthesizers). Tweedy's scratchy voice singing that simple, catchy, joyful melody always picked me up, even if the lyrics were somewhere between depressing and non-understandable. "Kamera" picked up some pace and pretty much gave me my motto for being 17, "No, its not OK." "Radio Cure" would creep up on me. Tweedy's voice cracks as he says "Cheer up. Honey, I hope you can." "War on War" had a familiar sound to me, and continued the feel of the album, me imagining myself staring blankly at a fast-paced world ("Just watch the miles going by..."). "Jesus Etc" was probably my favorite track. The steel guitars reminded me of Led Zeppelin III and the string quartet was enough to make me cry (ironically, the first line is "Jesus, don't cry"). The title itself is freaking classic. "Ashes of American Flags" is not about America. At that age, I never understood the ambient, kraut rock influence that made this song possible, but I knew it was slow and pretty. Next song, "Heavy Metal Drummer," things get a lot happier. Talking about going to rock concerts in the summer reminded me that February was almost over and spring was coming. "I'm the Man Who Loves You" is a statement I may never say, but man, its a great song! The electric guitar and horns reminded me of the Beatles, with a swinging acoustic guitar line and a marching beat that makes a guy wanna say simply: "I'm the Man Who Loves You!" "Pot Kettle Black" is possibly the most under-rated track on the album. To me, it was like the perfect alternative rock song dedicated to Led Zeppelin III. It still makes me smile ("I'm not/ gonna get caught/ calling a pot/ kettle black!") That blends into "Poor Places." I still remember hearing this on the way to Watsonville, CA with the sun glistening through the trees. It was then I recognized all the scary static that builds at the end of the song. The final track is "Reservations." After 4 positive, confident songs, Tweedy leaves us with a heartbreaker. "How can I convince you it's me I don't like?" The piano on this one is easy to play, but hard to write. The album ends with 4 minutes of ambient sounds. 51 minutes, 51 seconds.
Me being the downer I was, this album was perfect. Each individual track is packed with one-liners that I will never be able to compose. I'd like to make an album like Yankee Hotel Foxtrot someday, moreso out of admiration than competition. I still have this mindset that there's a thick difference between modern indie synth sounds and classic stoner-rock bands, but Foxtrot just breaks that barrier into pieces. I guess you can say, as depressing as some of these songs are, this record brought some much needed joy into my life. I felt like I found my future wife on a 6 year old CD. There was a song tied to every emotion I had ever felt, and for some reason, this wasn't cheesy to me. Late at night, 17 years old, doing homework and thinking of how play practice went, this was my soundtrack. "You have to learn how die/ if you wanna wanna be alive!"
Thanks Wilco.
I am disappointed by how many people are using today's tragedy to prove points for &/or against the US "weapons ban" proposal. Why am I disappointed? A large number of kindergartners and adults alike are no longer alive today. This is the worst reason in the world to fuel fire for any form of argument at all.
The fact that we argue with other people so often is annoying enough. I'm having a hard time caring about political views right now. I for one consider this a time to reflect upon our lives and consider how blessed we are to be alive in the first place. If you have a heart, I invite you leave room in there for those who suffered from today's shootings. And sure, what the hey, perhaps this is an appropriate time to think about your stance on gun control, but it is definitelyNOT the time to bicker about it. Today, I think it is way too easy to recognize the fragility of life to keep arguing about political issues like its just another day of the week.
It's time to shut up.
What amazing, brilliant miracles did you experience today that you may not be able to experience tomorrow? Today, I found the answer to that question: Everything.
Some specific people in Connecticut may feel like they've lost everything this morning, and some way, somehow, they need to wake up every morning for the rest of their lives looking forward like everybody else. It's a fragile, often lonely place to be. How can we help these people out? What we can do is help them recognize how much they are loved and learn how to look ahead in our own personal lives. Consider how much love and respect we give to others. "Resolve to spend more time with those we love. Resolve to strive more earnestly to become the person God wants us to be. Resolve to find happiness, regardless of our circumstances" (Deiter F. Uchtdorf). What the victims of today's massacre need is not an argument over a scapegoat. They need a heartfelt bear-hug.
I made a list of my favorite songs of the year and re-did my list of favorite albums. I have a lot to say about them, but I think I'll save myself the writing time and save you the reading time. There is nothing by Alabama Shakes, Burial or Killer Mike on here. For the record, I think they all had an awesome year. Anyways, here's what the lists look like! ALBUMS
#10: The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do Fiona Apple
#9: Until the Quiet Comes Flying Lotus
#8: Attack on Memory Cloud Nothings
#7: The Seer Swans
#6: good kid, m.A.A.d city Kendrick Lamar
#5: Kill for Love Chromatics
#4: 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! Godspeed You! Black Emperor
#3: Bloom Beach House
#2: Celebration Rock Japandroids
#1: Channel Orange Frank Ocean SONGS
#25: "Ramada Inn" -Neil Young & Crazy Horse
#24: "Sleeping Ute" -Grizzly Bear
#23: "Today's Supernatural" -Animal Collective
#22: "Genesis" -Grimes
#21: "Headin' for the Top Now" -Spiritualized
#20: "Watch the Corners" -Dinosaur Jr
#19: "Oldie" -Odd Future
#18: "Looking for Love" -Chromatics
#17: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" -Flaming Lips ft Erykah Badu
#16: "Take A Walk" -Passion Pit
#15: "Every Single Night" -Fiona Apple
#14: "Fire's Highway" -Japandroids
#13: "Elephant" -Tame Impala
#12: "me yesterday// Corded" -Flying Lotus
#11: "The Seer Returns" -Swans ft Jarboe
#10: "Stay Useless" -Cloud Nothings
#9: "Mercy" -Kanye West ft Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
#8: "Loftcries" -Purity Ring
#7: "Swimming Pools (Drank)" -Kendrick Lamar
#6: "Sweet Life" -Frank Ocean
#5: "Lazuli" -Beach House
#4: "Myth" -Beach House
#3: "Kill for Love" -Chromatics
#2: "Thinkin' Bout You" -Frank Ocean
#1: "The House That Heaven Built" -Japandroids
I've been off my mission for nearly 8 months. How have I spent my time? Following the music scene, reading too many Pitchfork reviews- I'm back to normal. The year is coming to a close & I don't really give a crap about any upcoming music this month. I made a list of my 10 favorite albums of the year, assuming I don't get into any new bands this December... Here are some excellent albums that barely missed the cut & I didn't want to rank: -Centipede Hz Animal Collective -Shields Grizzly Bear -R.A.P Music Killer Mike -I Bet on Sky Dinosaur Jr -The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do Fiona Apple -Lonerism Tame Impala
And here's the top 10 list, which I've thought about for the last couple of months. Some artists are out there succeeding at scaring the crap out of me (Swans, Godspeed You! Black Emperor), some are actually getting me into the genre of dream pop (Chromatics, Beach House), and some are Frank Ocean (Frank Ocean). #10- #4 have changed a lot, I honestly haven't heard all these albums all the way through, but I really like what I've heard. #1- #3 will probably never change for me, some of my personal favorite music ever.
10- Attack on Memory Cloud Nothings
9- Sweet Heart Sweet Light Spiritualized
8- Kill for Love Chromatics
7- The Seer Swans
6- Until the Quiet Comes Flying Lotus
5- good kid, m.A.A.d city Kendrick Lamar
4- 'Allelujah! Don't Bend! Ascend! Godspeed You! Black Emperor
3- Bloom Beach House http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuvWc3ToDHg
2- Celebration Rock Japandroids http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRVCtbfuDqw
1- Channel Orange Frank Ocean http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wD8nAt2xJZM
Well, its November 2, 2012. I didn't think I'd get to live this long. My 22nd birthday is in about 3 weeks, that's exciting. It's pretty darn cold outside. There will be an election for President in a few days. I got a weekend full of homework & church duties. I feel like a very boring person sometimes. I think a lot about how a person should express political standpoints moreso than the actual election. I love reading about people's excitement about the possibility of their companion winning! However, I am... thinking of a big word for "very annoyed"... because I am very annoyed by people thinking they know everything about politics & the opposing candidate is a bigot or an idiot. People, please. I am on facebook. I would much rather be listening to this sick recording of "Heart of a Saturday Night" by Tom Waits!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt5Ecm78hj8
Meanwhile, I had a good talk with my English teacher about how I'm struggling with my paper on record labels companies, and he says he can hook me up w/ a friend of his. This friend so happens to be best friends with Wilco (&Uncle Tupelo) frontman Jeff Tweedy, and has helped him get into the music business. This would be an exciting interview! Although I don't know what to talk about. I guess I shouldn't worry about it since it might not happen anyway.
That hockey game was fun, despite the fact we lost 6-2. USU has a guy on the team, Stuart Hepburn, a returned missionary from Sidney, British Columbia. Stewie knocked a guy out across the ice & was penalized for the rest of the game. Gotta love that guy.
Anyways, I am bugged. I'll be busy with like- important stuff, this Saturday night. Maybe when I get the time, between thinking about Jeff Tweedy's music career, Utah State's crappy hockey team, and unprofessional political attacks by my facebook friends, I'll get the chance to look for the heart of a Saturday night with Tom Waits. I think it'd require some hard of work, but it'd be lots of fun. "Tonight will be nothing like you've ever seen, blazin' down the boulevard, lookin' for the heart of a Saturday night." Count me in, Tom.
