My Top 25 Albums…during 2008

I found something that I started 1.5 years ago, in October 2008. A list of my Top 25 Albums. Take a peek into what I loved in 2008…

A few months ago I posted my Desert Island Albums list.

At this moment in time, since I’ve been getting a lot of new music, these are my Top 25 albums in order…not much has changed in the past few months but I am putting them in order of ones I just love for whatever reason

At this moment in time, since I’ve been getting a lot of new music, these are my Top 25 albums in order…not much has changed in the past few months but I am putting them in order of ones I just love for whatever reason.

1. Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
2. Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
3. Automatic for the People, R.E.M.
4. London Calling, The Clash
5. Parklife, Blur
6. OK Computer, Radiohead
7. Is This It?, The Strokes
8. Up the Bracket, The Libertines
9. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill
10. Odelay, Beck
11. Coming Up, Suede
12. Grace, Jeff Buckley
13. Unplugged in New York, Nirvana
14. Absolution, Muse
15. The Queen is Dead, The Smiths
16. (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, Oasis
17. Debut, Björk
18. Definitely Maybe, Oasis
19. The Man Who, Travis
20. Rumours, Fleetwood Mac
21. Tapestry, Carole King
22. Rubber Soul, The Beatles
23. Hunky Dory, David Bowie
24. Different Class, Pulp
25. Lovelife, Lush

Here is what I’m listening to now in no particular order:

1. Ladyhawke, Ladyhawke
2. In Ghost Colours, Cut Copy
3. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill
4. You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into, Does It Offend You, Yeah?
5. Once Soundtrack, Glen Hansard
6. Tapestry, Carole King
7. Flight of the Conchords, Flight of the Conchords

I’m sure that this list wasn’t fully accurate, which is why it wasn’t published at that time but I loved this little time capsule.

2009, the year in review…

Hello 2010…

Here’s a quick look back at 2009, the year in review…

Favorite Albums of 2009:

1. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
2. Passion Pit – Manners
3. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
4. Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus
5. Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest
6. Mew – No More Stories…
7. The xx – xx
8. Metric – Fantasies
9. The Horrors – Primary Colours
10. Julian Casablancas – Phrazes For the Young
11. Dirty Projectors – Bitte Orca
12. Girls – Album
13. The Decemberists – The Hazards Of Love
14. La Roux – La Roux
15. Atlas Sound – Logos

 Favorite Shows of  2009:

1. Daftpunk (Thomas Bangalter), SebastiAn, A-Trak, Kavinsky, DJ Mehdi, Busy P, So Me, The Whip at Cinespace – Tuesday 21 April 2009
2. Cut Copy at Henry Fonda – Tuesday 10 March 2009
3. Passion Pit at The Glass House – Saturday 30 May 2009
4. Röyksopp at Club Nokia – Wednesday 18 November 2009
5. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at Troubadour – Saturday 19 September 2009
6. Ladyhawke at Troubadour  – Tuesday 17 March 2009
7. Mew at Henry Fonda  – Monday 14 December 2009
8. Little Boots at Cinespace  - Tuesday 3 February 2009
9. DJ AM (last show) and Steve Aoki at Bardot – Sunday 16 August 2009
10. Julian Casablancas at Palace Theatre (Downtown) – Friday 13 November 2009

Honorable Mention:  Surkin and Paul McCartney at Coachella Friday – Friday 17 April 2009 (Coachella can’t really count as a single show for me but Surkin and Paul McCartney werethe highlights for me on Friday.)

Mew…I’m Offically Obsessed

No More Stories / Are Told Today / I’m Sorry / They Washed Away // No More Stories / The World Is Grey / I’m Tired / Let’s Wash Away

Saw Mew last night at the Fonda.  Ridiculously good.  I’m still thinking about it.  Their music has some amazing soaring heights and the music is full of unique twists and turns.  Some really, grandiose and epic vocals and guitars.  Like walking in a dream. 

If you haven’t heard them before, they have elements of Arcade Fire and one songs’ intro was pure Joy Division but they are pretty singularly Mew.  No More Stories…is on repeat but my favorites right now are Introducing Palace Players, Cartoons and Macramé Wounds, and Hawaii.  Check them out:

The Coup:  I really wanted this sweatshirt, almost desperately, but some girl in front of me bought the last one.   When I asked where else I could get it, the merch guy said were reprinting them for April when they tour again.  And we said, “Oh, you’re touring again in the US?”  He said yes and then MC asked, “So are they playing Coachella?” and the guy nodded and said he’s not supposed to say anything but YES!!!!!!!!!!!  So we got the first scoop on that!  They’re not even rumored to play yet and MC assumed they wouldn’t play Coachella because of this tour but they are! I’m freaking out about seeing them again AND I can get my shirt there!  Also, some guy gave us after party wristbands and we got to meet them.  Didn’t really talk to them though…didn’t know what to say…never really do when I run into someone I like.  No photos either.  I’m just happy to hear their music.  Anyway, yes, I’m a bit consumed by getting that sweatshirt.  It was only $30 at the show but online it’s like 40 euro…$60!!!!  Hope it’s cheap at Coachella.  I love them but I’m not paying 2x as much.

#94 Go see a show at least once a month…been going to a lot of shows lately…

(accomplished October 1, 2008)

Since this was one that really had now timeline to finish, other than then end of the 1001 days, I am declaring it officially done!  I’ve been going to tons of shows lately and am sure to continue but I’m satisfied that I’ve finished this goal.

Desert Island Albums

At this moment in time, these are my 10 “desert island” albums, the 10 that I could listen to forever, in no particular order:

1. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Lauryn Hill
2. The Man Who, Travis
3. Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
4. Up the Bracket, The Libertines
5. Parklife, Blur
6. OK Computer, Radiohead
7. Automatic for the People, R.E.M.
8. London Calling, The Clash
9. Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
10. Odelay, Beck

It’s a little hard to decide on the rest…I want to bring a Best of Morrissey and the Marie Antoinette soundtrack but I don’t think they can count.  The list should just be perfect albums…no compilations and no skips.

Coachella

MC and I went to Coachella last weekend without R, who at the last minute jumped ship!  She missed out.  So much fun, even though I felt like an old lady with all the foot, knee, and back pain I had after 3 days in the desert.  The weather was slightly cooler and more bearable than most years, around 95-99 the whole weekend. 

Biggest regret:  I completely missed Cold War Kids!  I was in the Sahara tent for Boys Noize and totally lost track of time!

Second and Third biggest regrets:  Missing the Shout Out Louds and The Cool Kids.  We were supposed to meet up with this guy who was hooking us up with VIP passes and didn’t meet up with him until 3:10pm…Shout Out Louds started at 3:00pm and there was no way we were getting in before the end of their set.   The Cool Kids were already done.  Oh well. 

Biggest surprise:  Prince still has so much energy and puts on a great show for whatever age he is!

Celebrity sighting:  Scarlett Johansson with unnamed gentleman in the Sahara tent (I think it was Boys Noize)

Highlights:

Friday:  Cut Copy, Goldfrapp, The Verve (the crowd was a little lame)
Saturday:  Hot Chip, Boys Noize, Portishead, and Prince
Sunday:  late start…Gogol Bordello (still like them much more in a smaller venue), Simian Mobile Disco, Justice

Parking:  Nightmare as always.  When will they figure this out?  It’s been 9 years and it still takes hours to get in and out…luckily, we got some good tips to put into play for next year – Washington to 50th saves about an hour.

Loo:  Nightmare as always.  When will they figure this out?  It’s been 9 years and…okay only used it once the whole weekend…the desert dehydrates you.  And with the VIP wristband, I get a special loo with running water!

I had a good time despite my misgivings about the lineups.  And it seemed like there were just as many people as any other year. 

Photos will be posted shortly!  I took a ton over the weekend to make up for Filter party.

Update: Photos posted

Coachella Filter Party

This post is a bit late but oh lordy!

I had such an amazing time at the Filter party!  I wish I took photos!  Free booze and to be announced djs.  MC was so right about going to this.  We parked at the Augustine Casino and got wristbands and a shuttle to take us to an undisclosed location.  After what seemed like an eternity, we were dropped off at the Corona Yacht Club.  I know you’re thinking, “Yacht Club in the desert”?  Yes!  Anyway, the place was actually really cool looking and had a fake lake in the middle of it.

MC and I walked around for a bit and checked out the scene.  The djs were Blake Miller of the Moving Units, Cut Copy, and Does It Offend You, Yeah?  So exciting!  There was no one dancing yet.  We got 5 drinks each, in a quick row, and got out to the floor.  We saw this boy in a turquoise shirt and white hat who had been circling for a while, and that we were sure wanted to dance!

Had a great time!  Danced nonstop until the last dj we wanted to dance to, Does It Offend You, Yeah?  Met tons of people, including Brits…who, as I have told numerous people, are automatically bumped up a notch on the attractiveness meter (but I love A).  Turquoise shirt told me he was Canadian.  Having one too many, I was like “No, you’re not”.  To which he said, “Yes, I am Canadian”.  To which I said…wait for it…”Say something Canadian”.  Seriously.  I realized it as soon as I said it (what was I thinking?).  He smartly replied,  “Yes, I am Canadian…eh?”.  I sweetly (sheepishly?) smiled and said, “Okay” in approval.  I’m sure I was looking for an “aBOOT”.

So excited for him when we saw him later hooking up with some random girl.  Decided that he was our friend but never saw him again.

I also had a conversation with someone…I don’t know who…about the glorious 99 cent 1/2 lb. Bean and Cheese burrito from Del Taco.  Don’t ask me how that happened.  I think I forgot to mention that it had to be a green burrito and you needed tons of Del Scorcho.

Didn’t find out until after the weekend about the messed up shuttle situation on the way home.  Some fight broke out at the party, I guess some shuttles were being shoved around, and they were no longer going to shuttle people and some ended up walking home.  So maybe this is why I was trying to memorize how to get to this place on the way in…well I realized I was trying to remember and then thought, this is stupid, a shuttle will take us back…see my subconscious knows better!  We must have gotten out just in time because as we were leaving, we remember there was a big rush of people trying to exit right behind us.