X-Mas Cheer

I seriously abhor Christmas music. There is nothing good about any of it. It doesn't get me cheery. It doesn't get me in the "spirit of the season." Hell it doesn't even get me in the mood to receive gifts. Christmas music seriously makes me hate the world and everyone in it. Fuck Christmas music.

Top Ten Albums of 2008

Here are my top ten albums of 2008. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

1. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings and All


A small, 23 year old Vietnamese pixie creating happy-go-lucky pop music by plucking a guitar with everything from sharpies to toothpicks. I don't like happy music and I do enjoy brooding, but damn this album is amazing.

2. The Dodos - Visiter

An amazing, off-beat, acoustic folksy rock album full of banjos, ukes and great drumming. Surprising in that it doesn't seem all that great at first, but you'll realize several months later that it has never left your car.

3. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

Everyone is raving about this amazing return to form bluegrass folk album. I don't need to gush over it anymore that already has. Just buy it.

4. Black Mountain - In the Future

High pitched wailing vocals oversetting a retro 70's heavy progressive rock sound. This is 70's prog rock for 2008, even down to the badly digitalized album cover reminiscent of a Marillion album. In the end it's Black Sabbath meets King Crimson, and yes, it sounds that good.

5. Spiritualized - Songs In A & E

Ok, i've never been all that crazed into Mr. Spaceman's brand of rock, but i'm very very glad for his near death experience. It's a simple, acoustic, well put together album about death. Fantastic!

6. TV On the Radio - Dear Science

I make no bones about the fact that I absolutely love this band and simply put, I believe the are the BEST band out there today. This album will be on everyone's top ten list, and rightfully so. There is no need for me to meaninglessly gush over it. Buy it and buy their two previously releases. Important doesn't begin to describe them. After seeing them live twice this year i'm even more convinced. Great great stuff.

7. Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair

Now by no means am I a disco fan, or a fan of dance fan in general, but dammit if this album isn't great. I does help that Mr. Antony (of Antony and the Johnsons) lends his vocals to several tracks, something which in of itself, is worth a spot on this list.

8. Beck - Modern Guilt

You know I always claim I don't like Beck, yet every couple of years he releases an album that catches my attention. This is clearly his best work, and probably his best work not on Sea Change.

9. Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and the Tra La La Band - 13 Blues For Thirteen Moons

Damn it's been a long time since i've had a Constellation Records release smack me in the face like this one. Nice, long, epic instrumentals as always with these folks. Great stuff.

10. Flying Lotus - Los Angeles

Hyper cool electronic hip hop that I have no business listening to, and I readily admit that. I'm glad I accidently put this in the CD player.

Honorable Mentions:

Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
Xiu Xiu - Women As Lovers
Free Kitten - Inherit
Portishead - Third
Radiohead - In Rainbows

Blogging

Alrighty, I haven't blogged in a while. Not that I ever did this regularly, but I feel I really oughtta.

Let's recap. Since the last blog, the Bucks have been over-achieving (we'll discuss basketball in greater detail in a future blog); the Packers have woefully underachieved; and the Brewers have lost their ace, and likely Mr. Sheets. All in all, bad Wisconsin sports all around.

In other news, good music is present, so we will be discussing music, and my top tens albums of the year, in the coming days.

Let's blog again. No one reads this, but hell, i'll do it anyway.

TVOTR

I had the pleasure this past week and seeing arguably the best band around right now, TV On the Radio, twice! Once in Indianapolis at the Vogue and once in Chicago at the Riviera. Absolutely great shows and a great band. Their new album, Dear Science is definately worth your time. Buy it!

It's Always Sunny...

Seriously, people really need to be watching this show. By the DVDs of the first three seasons and On Demand all the episodes from this season. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia on FX. Best show on TV!

Final baseball thoughts

So the 2008 season comes to a close with the Brewers playing hard, but coming up short to the Phillies. Unfortunately, the bats died in September and October. The bullpen was great as was our pitching and we have a lot of look forward to as a franchise. While i'm not one of those people who is just glad "we got there," this really was an important step, considering it had been 26 years since we were here. The Brewers are no longer a bottom feeding laughing stock, shown by the playoff run and the 3+ million fans who entered Miller Park this year.

We might not be able to sign Sabathia, and signing Sheets would be foolish at this point (barring the hometown discount), but there are plenty of positives to build on here in Milwaukee. It was great to be a part of the ulcer that was September baseball. Kudos for making the fanbase believe again.

Now onto those Packers...

No problem...

If we can win tonight with CC on the mound the Brewers still have a good chance of winning the NLDS. They looked alright against a tough Cole Hamels and their bullpen was solid. Its not over yet...

Ah baseball...

The beauty of baseball. No other sport can make you go through 6 months of complete anguish and angst and come out completely overjoyed, only to make you go through it again in for a month.

I'm going to enjoy the next 3 days as the Brewers are finally back in the playoffs. I'll worry about the Phillies later.

Da foosball.

For the record, i'm ok with the Packer's performance this past Sunday night against the Cowboys. They played hard and the defense really performed well against arguably the best team in football. The score was closer than the 27-16 finale.

Packers have a lot to look forward to this year.

Now i'm holding my breath on the wild card race...

Ugh again

I'm done with the Brewers and unbelievably disgusted, disgruntled and actually ashamed of this team. We've been a pathetic losing franchise for 25 years, but failing this bad this year with this team and with a bleak out look next year (we WILL lose Sabathia and Sheets to free agency) is unacceptable and terrible. FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK.

At least the Packers are winning. All subusequent posts will be dealing with the Packers (if related to sports).

Ok

Sorry, I can't really concentrate on commenting on the Yost being fired thing as I really hope this will kick start the Brewers. It seems that yesterday their bats finally got around, even in a loss. All I can say is if the Brewers heat up and a hot Brewers hitting team enters the playoffs, watch out. Let's make the playoffs first.

RIP Richard Wright

Music lost a legend today as legendary Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright died today at 65. I can not speak enough about how much I love Pink Floyd. This truly is a loss. RIP.

Go Rodgers Go!

Vikings fans have to be miffed that all the pre-season hype on their defense has been unraveled amidst a beat down by the division rival Packers. While i'm not certain what this season will entail, at least Aaron Rodgers can put to rest whether he can win or not.

Hopefully I never have to hear Tony Kornheiser spout nonsense about Favre and Rodgers comparisons ever again. That game was brutal to listen to, but great to watch if your a Packers fans.

Now hopefully I don't have to see more of this Brewers suck fest and they can right the ship with a win today against the Reds.

Ah September

This month is going to kill me. Brewers have started out flat as hell, nearly getting no hit today. At least the Cubs are losing as well and we aren't losing ground in the wild card race as the Phils and Mets are beating up on one another.

If the Crew doesn't make the playoffs my ulcer will officially overtake me.

Hopefully this Packer team doesn't lay an egg tomorrow.

Sabathia!

Man, another gem, an potentially a no hitter (pending MLB review) for Mr. Sabathia. It's a shame we won't be able to keep him. Go Brewers!

More NL Central Praise!

Since the All-Star Break the Brewers are 25-13, second best record in the NL. Since June, the Brewers have the best record in baseball.

Since the All-Star Break, the only team better than the Brewers have been the Cubs, who are 27-12. Cheers to the NL Central, as the Cubs, Brewers and Cards are the top three teams in the NL.

Here comes September and the race to our first post-season berth in 26 years!

NL Central!

The NL Central is intense. Cubs aren't losing, Brewers won 8 straight until dropping one to the reigning NL CY Young winner, Cardinals have been on a tear and aren't going away and the damn Astros, who were an afterthought, have won 8 straight and are closing in on the wild card.

Cubs and Brewers each have at least 6 games a piece against these Astros. I'm worried. September is going to be nuts.

RIP Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac

I wasn't the biggest fan of Bernie Mac, although he did star in Mr. 3000, a Brewers mock movie, so he gets points there.

Isaac Hayes is underrated as a maverick artist in soul, R&B and funk. Play the albums "Hot Buttered Soul" or "Black Moses" and see what's up.

RIP

Do people really give a crap about the Olympics?

Seriously, should I be more interested at this point? I'm not. (Although I like the pictures being posted on Yahoo).

I'm gonna take a shot of Jameson.

Damn

This Brewer team is giving me a major ulcer. For the first time in years I have a team to root for, and they are laying an egg in a big time series. Ugh.

This blog will serve as my ranting space for Brewer ineptitude. Hopefully it isn't too late to pull off a trade involving Rickie Weeks.

Oscar

Oscar Augustus.








The new addition is making his temporary foster status seem more and more like a permanent thing. At least he has a good looking face and got to enjoy himself for two days at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago (July 19-20, 2008).


Bored post as always.

WSND

So i've been doing a radio show tonight for the past 5 hours of showtunes and oldies. Fortunately for the next two hours I get to do my Nocturne slot, which consists of indie rock; however i'm too tired to concentrate on a radio program.

Therefore i'm going to play Beck's new album Modern Guilt and The Doors' Soft Parade in their entirety. I know the format is lazy, but some people like the concept of previewing an entire album on a radio show uncut and unedited from time to time right?

Hopefully the new Beck doesn't stink. At least it'll end with a great Doors' album (the one great Doors' album).

The Onion Represents!

"C.C. Sabathia, Prince Fielder Keep Imagining Each Other As Giant Talking Hot Dog, Hamburger

MILWAUKEE—The Brewers' playoff push has run afoul of an unusual distraction, as sources close to the organization confirm that newly acquired husky starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia and sizable power-hitting first baseman Prince Fielder continue to visualize one another as a 6'7" chili cheese dog and a 260-pound hamburger with all the trimmings, respectively."

For the remainder of the article:
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/c_c_sabathia_prince_fielder_keep

An absolutely brilliant article from The Onion. Also a major note for Brewers fans, as we are getting national attention, even if it is from the joke news.

Go Brewers!

Hercules and the Love Affair, et al...

Just listened to the Hercules and the Love Affair album which is essentially a nouveau disco album featuring Antony as guest vocals. Fantastic album, even for the non-disco fan (of which I am).

Brewers had their 8 game win streak snapped and at the worst time as the Cubs lost as well. Hopefully this division can be tied up after tomorrow going into a HUGE four game series in Milwaukee. We'll wait and see...

Go Brewers!

I can say that after 7 years of going to ball games at Miller Park that I have never heard the crowd as loud as it was yesterday when CC Sabathia hit his home run or when he struck out the side in the 9th. Great time to be a Brewer fan.

Alright

I'm bored and decided to try out a blogspot. I don't expect to post much, nor do I expect to post anything worth reading, but we'll see if this can catch on with anybody just as bored as me.

Either way I realize i'm about 5 years late on catching on to the blog thing. Whatever.