Just Missed...
Cool Kids - Bake Sale EP
Flobots - Fight with Tools
Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair
The Killers - Day & Age
Q-Tip - The Renaissance
Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line
Republic Tigers - Keep Color
Santogold - Santogold
Throw Me the Statue - Moonbeams
Weezer - Weezer (The Red Album)
Kanye West - 808's & Heartbreak
And on to the top 15:
15. Heiruspecs - 10 Years Strong: A bit of a retrospective and not really a "new" album per se, but what a selection of tracks from one of my favorite hip-hop groups. They still put on a terrific show, with live instruments and beatboxing, and a couple tracks on this disc were actually recorded in the Rath at the Memorial Union on the UW campus. Plus, they're kinda local (Twin Cities), and the MC's name is Felix Da Housecat. Awesome.
14. Emmanuel Jal - Warchild: A strong international album from a Somalian refugee who moved to Canada, Jal's Warchild overflows with emotion and resonance from his time spent in war-torn Africa. The beats are funky, the lyrics are poignant, and it all fits together nicely into a visceral music experience.
13. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend: I should probably have this one higher, but simply haven't listened to it for awhile. VW lived up the their enormous hype and then some, crafting light, Afrobeat-influenced songs that require very little attention to enjoy, yet remain in the back of your mind forever. The uber-catchy "A-Punk," "Oxford Comma," and my favorite, "M79," with its string accompaniment, are the perfect soundtrack to kickin' back by the pool over the summer with a few boat drinks.
12. Janelle Monae - Metropolis: The Chase Suite: The little 7-song EP from the former Outkast backup singer/dancer is a fresh slice of funk/soul/R&B that I luckily happened upon this year. Oddly enough, this sounds more like Prince than anything but the master himself has put out in the past 5 years, making it a regular in my CD rotation. It's funky and enjoyable and short enough to keep your attention.
11. Delta Spirit - Ode to Sunshine: And what a ray of sunshine it is! You would be hard-pressed to find a more relaxed, happy-go-lucky album than this one. Fun numbers like "Trashcan" and "People C'Mon" exemplify the band's vibe and help make this album eminently listenable.
10. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals: Obviously, at this point fans know what they're getting from a Girl Talk album. Crazy mashups and a nice party game of 'Guess all the samples'. Greg Gilles' latest sounds more coherent than Night Ripper, due in part to longer samples blended flawlessly together in a never-ending tapestry of party mayhem. He blends seemingly disparate elements together so well that it's actually difficult to stop listening, let alone hit 'repeat' on the player.
9. Los Campesinos! - Hold on Now, Youngster...: Wow, do these guys (and girls) have a lot of energy! Not only did the follow this acclaimed debut with another whole album in the same year, they never seem to get tired! Every song is bursting with exuberance and bells and whistles repeatedly show up out of nowhere. Rather than distract the ear, everything just adds to the cacaphonous bliss.
8. Dr Dog - Fate: Fate is like a warm blanket for your ears. It's like the prodigal son going home for the holidays and being greeted with open arms and a big bowl of soup. This is warm, lovely music and while some people have dismissed it as a bit old-timey and formulaic, it certainly has enough gusto to soother the indie soul.
7. Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement: And out of left field, Alex Turner (of the Arctic Monkeys) and Miles Kane (of the Rascals) came together to create a wonderful album full of classic 60's pop tunes. The sweep of these songs are magnificent and the pacing and song structure are flawless. Any of the songs could have been a theme song for a Sean Connery-era James Bond movie. Who knew the snide, literate voice of the Monkeys could come up with such emotional, fully-realized chamber pop?
6. MGMT - Time to Pretend: Another album that's now been around for what seems like forever (it came out in January 2008), MGMT have quickly risen to the top of their own little universe. The opening notes of "Time to Pretend" are enough to hook just about anyone, but stick around for the wavering horns and lyrics, and the psyched-out disco vibe of "Kids" and "The Electric Feel," as well as the musical mayhem beyond. It's both fun and refreshing to hear music this polished that it still sounds unfinished and scrappy. Just plain fun.
5. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins: I'm convinced that Will Sheff will end up being looked back upon as this generation's indie Bob Dylan, spewing storyboard lyrics about love and fame that carry double and triple meanings to the masses who sit fully ready to absorb them. At some point, there has to be some sort of letdown, as he and his bandmates simply can't keep making better and better albums. It's not logically possible, right? "Lost Coastlines" is one of the best songs of the year (especially live) and the acid lyrics of "Singer Songwriter" make you want to leave our consumer culture entirely. Beautiful, as always.
4. Born Ruffians - Red Yellow & Blue: Somehow, this is still flying under the radar. Maybe because it's their debut album. Maybe because they're from Canada. The Born Ruffians are certainly well-versed in their indie forefathers, creating music that wouldn't sound out of place in the 80's or 90's, but it's the combination of these influences with their bouncy, danceable start/stop rhythms that really pushed this album over the top. Tracks like "I Need a Life" and "Badonkadonkey" (best song title of the year) up the ante and hit you in the gut as well as the brain and ears.
3. David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today: A late release could not stop this reunion album from securing a high ranking. As Ron, the owner of Strictly Discs described it to me: "Imagine leaving Wisconsin in February for somewhere tropical. Now imagine the feeling you have stepping off the plane in that tropical locale after leaving 15 degrees, snowing, and dark. That's this album." And you know what? He's exactly right. It's so warm and inviting, I can even believe Byrne's description of the album as some sort of "techno/gospel/funk" music. Hopefully, it doesn't take another 27 years before Eno and Byrne get together again.
2. Frightened Rabbit - Midnight Organ Fight: while everyone and their mother fell in love with the Fleet Foxes (can't do it--it's the beards, I think), I found Frightened Rabbit's major-label debut a much more satisfying affair. Hailing from Scotland, they sound kind of like a cross between the Dave Matthews Band and Coldplay, but far better than either of those acts have ever been. Their lead singer has the most emotionally descriptive voice I've heard in a long time, conveying misery, longing, desire, despair, and joy with ease, and when the rest of the band gets going, as on "Old Old Fashioned" and "The Twist," the only words that come to mind 'rollicking good time'. Plus, they got a song on the TV show, "Chuck," which I suppose gives them some mainstream cred as well.
1. Late of the Pier - Fantasy Black Channel: A crazy debut album from across the pond, Fantasy Black Channel lived up to all the chatter I read beforehand and then some. The wholesale kitchen-sink mentality of making music is applied liberally here, crafting not so much songs as musical experiences. It seems like every song attacks the eardrums from multiple angles and seismic shifts in tempo and melody show up at unexpected and intriguing intervals. Essentially, it sounds like some guys got together and tried to re-create a Girl Talk or Avalanches album in the studio with live instruments. It's crushing. It's weird and funky. Most of all, it's awesome.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Viva la Terrain Park!
With all the snow we've gotten this year, I've been able to build a little terrain park in the backyard. Pretty awesome. Should be ready to ride this weekend, if not sooner.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Best of 2007
Now we're getting there...(you'll notice more in-depth analysis this time around, as well as actual numbers)
Best Music of 2007
Honorable Mention:
Blue Scholars Bayani
Feist The Reminder
Galactic From the Corner to the Block
New Pornographers Challengers
Rentals The Last Little Life EP
Mark Ronson Version
Yeasayer All Hour Cymbals
#15. Kanye West - Graduation:
Great closing salvo for West's "trilogy" of albums. Exultant beats, hammering bass, quick-witted lyrics. Mr West is at the top of his game here and the album as a whole really feels like the pinnacle he's been striving to reach ever since The College Dropout introduced him to the world.
#14. K'Naan - The Dusty Foot Philosopher:
The son of a Somalian musician/refugee and a refugee himself, K'Naan speaks from the heart about his childhood (or the approximation of one, at least). All kinds of Afro-beat and world rhythms are incorporated in these songs, lending a lighter touch to the heavy themes he's talking about most of the time. Eccentric and entertaining at the same time.
#13. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights:
Classic soul album. Puts Amy Winehouse to shame. Jones's voice is just so smooth and the horn section is so spot-on, it feels like you're at some ballroom in the 60s. Brilliant.
#12. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible:
A terrific album in it's own right, really, but it still has to be judged in relation to their brilliant debut masterpiece, Funeral. "Keep the Car Running" is one of my favorite songs of the year and Win Butler continues to make deeply emotional songs come across as effortless. And man, what a live show they put on.
#11. Handsome Furs - Plague Park:
One of the many side projects of the guys from Wolf Parade, Plague Park is predominantly Dan Boeckner and features even more lilting melodies and sweeping atmospheric shifts than Wolf Parade's debut the year before. The highlight is "Sing, Captain!," a slow-building anthem with deep emotional resonance.
#10. Immaculate Machine - Fables:
I gotta admit, I'm a bit of a sucker for anything Kathryn Calder does. As the touring replacement (and, I believe, now a full-time member) of the New Pornographers, or with her old group, Immaculate Machine, she is striking in both her voice and instrumentation. This record sounds similar to NP in the same way A.C. Newman's solo album did: a little softer and blurrier around the edges, a little more ramshackle in the delivery. And just as moving. The intricate harmonies woven throughout the songs showcase Calder and her bandmates' ability to craft exquisite pop gems.
#9. White Stripes - Icky Thump:
Welcome back, White Stripes. We missed you during your dalliance in the blues (though you still employ it subtly throughout this album). You've even branched out into some sort of Irish jig this time around, as well as what sounds like bolero music from Ennio Morricone. Well done indeed. This is foot-stomping, fist-pumping, rawk music.
#8. Fratellis - Costello Music:
Despite also being a strong front-runner for dumbest album of the year, the Fratellis debut is tons of fun in a summer-day-at-the-beach, sing-a-long kind of way. Almost all the songs have singalong verses and huge rollicking choruses, and the lyrics are dumb enough to be tongue-in-cheek (or are they?).
#7. M.I.A. - Kala:
And in the hot revolutionary female rapper category--we have M.I.A. Even before "Paper Planes" took off, this album was fantastic from top to bottom. The world music influence on her music is obvious, but it's the way she incorporates all the seemingly jarring elements into a seemless tapestry of sound that really makes you want to stand up and protest, or at least dance a whole bunch.
#6. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago:
A lot of year-end lists have this one in 2008, because that's when it got a major release, but it was first self-released in 2007. Good old Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver), from Eau Claire, WI, spent the winter in a little cabin writing and recording these heart-aching, beautiful songs. Curl up with a blanket on a cold winter night and lose yourself in them.
#5. Panda Bear - Person Pitch:
Just weird interesting music. Also features the best 12-minute pop song I've probably ever heard.
#4. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga:
Other than being an incredibly frustrating title to type, Spoon's latest continues to up the bar they set with each previous album. "The Underdog" is one of the greatest songs of the decade and the craftsmanship throughout Ga is phenomenal. It's simply a great album to listen to, over and over and over again.
#3. K-os - Atlantis: Hymns for Disco:
For some reason, K-os has gotten very little press here in the United States (he's from Toronto). I can't understand why. This is his second consecutive album that really ups the ante for what we as listeners can (and should) expect from a hip-hop album. Various elements of gospel, Afro-beat, electronic, mariachi, even fiddle music pop up throughout Atlantis, making for an enjoyable ride through K-os' sonic landscape. "Valhalla" and "Fly Paper" are two of the strongest tracks, but really, all of them are worth repeated listens. Let's hope his musical ambitions aren't stunted by an apparent lack of interest from mainstream music culture.
#2. Okkervil River - The Stage Names:
Like Spoon, these guys get better and better, both musically and lyrically, on each album. The opening three tracks of Stage Names are unbelievable, and should be required listening for anyone who....well, just anyone, I guess. By the time "John Allyn Smith Sails" winds down with its "Sloop John B" outro, Will Sheff and company have taken you on such a journey of hope and desperation and anger and joy that it's a good thing the album doesn't go on any longer. "Unless It's Kicks" is easily my song of year, maybe multiple years...
#1. Hallelujah the Hills - Collective Psychosis Begone:
...but one song does not a top album make. HtH beat out Okkervil River partly because their entire album is so strong. Partly because of their kitchen-sink mentality to instrument choice, band membership, and even lyrical prowess. But mostly because this album is so damn good. There's slow songs, fast songs, quiet songs, loud songs, quiet/loud...never mind. It's another album noboby knows about, and it's always amazing to play a couple of these songs for someone who really enjoys music and see them react to hearing something so new and different and engaging. Love it.
Best Music of 2007
Honorable Mention:
Blue Scholars Bayani
Feist The Reminder
Galactic From the Corner to the Block
New Pornographers Challengers
Rentals The Last Little Life EP
Mark Ronson Version
Yeasayer All Hour Cymbals
#15. Kanye West - Graduation:
Great closing salvo for West's "trilogy" of albums. Exultant beats, hammering bass, quick-witted lyrics. Mr West is at the top of his game here and the album as a whole really feels like the pinnacle he's been striving to reach ever since The College Dropout introduced him to the world.
#14. K'Naan - The Dusty Foot Philosopher:
The son of a Somalian musician/refugee and a refugee himself, K'Naan speaks from the heart about his childhood (or the approximation of one, at least). All kinds of Afro-beat and world rhythms are incorporated in these songs, lending a lighter touch to the heavy themes he's talking about most of the time. Eccentric and entertaining at the same time.
#13. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights:
Classic soul album. Puts Amy Winehouse to shame. Jones's voice is just so smooth and the horn section is so spot-on, it feels like you're at some ballroom in the 60s. Brilliant.
#12. The Arcade Fire - Neon Bible:
A terrific album in it's own right, really, but it still has to be judged in relation to their brilliant debut masterpiece, Funeral. "Keep the Car Running" is one of my favorite songs of the year and Win Butler continues to make deeply emotional songs come across as effortless. And man, what a live show they put on.
#11. Handsome Furs - Plague Park:
One of the many side projects of the guys from Wolf Parade, Plague Park is predominantly Dan Boeckner and features even more lilting melodies and sweeping atmospheric shifts than Wolf Parade's debut the year before. The highlight is "Sing, Captain!," a slow-building anthem with deep emotional resonance.
#10. Immaculate Machine - Fables:
I gotta admit, I'm a bit of a sucker for anything Kathryn Calder does. As the touring replacement (and, I believe, now a full-time member) of the New Pornographers, or with her old group, Immaculate Machine, she is striking in both her voice and instrumentation. This record sounds similar to NP in the same way A.C. Newman's solo album did: a little softer and blurrier around the edges, a little more ramshackle in the delivery. And just as moving. The intricate harmonies woven throughout the songs showcase Calder and her bandmates' ability to craft exquisite pop gems.
#9. White Stripes - Icky Thump:
Welcome back, White Stripes. We missed you during your dalliance in the blues (though you still employ it subtly throughout this album). You've even branched out into some sort of Irish jig this time around, as well as what sounds like bolero music from Ennio Morricone. Well done indeed. This is foot-stomping, fist-pumping, rawk music.
#8. Fratellis - Costello Music:
Despite also being a strong front-runner for dumbest album of the year, the Fratellis debut is tons of fun in a summer-day-at-the-beach, sing-a-long kind of way. Almost all the songs have singalong verses and huge rollicking choruses, and the lyrics are dumb enough to be tongue-in-cheek (or are they?).
#7. M.I.A. - Kala:
And in the hot revolutionary female rapper category--we have M.I.A. Even before "Paper Planes" took off, this album was fantastic from top to bottom. The world music influence on her music is obvious, but it's the way she incorporates all the seemingly jarring elements into a seemless tapestry of sound that really makes you want to stand up and protest, or at least dance a whole bunch.
#6. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago:
A lot of year-end lists have this one in 2008, because that's when it got a major release, but it was first self-released in 2007. Good old Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver), from Eau Claire, WI, spent the winter in a little cabin writing and recording these heart-aching, beautiful songs. Curl up with a blanket on a cold winter night and lose yourself in them.
#5. Panda Bear - Person Pitch:
Just weird interesting music. Also features the best 12-minute pop song I've probably ever heard.
#4. Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga:
Other than being an incredibly frustrating title to type, Spoon's latest continues to up the bar they set with each previous album. "The Underdog" is one of the greatest songs of the decade and the craftsmanship throughout Ga is phenomenal. It's simply a great album to listen to, over and over and over again.
#3. K-os - Atlantis: Hymns for Disco:
For some reason, K-os has gotten very little press here in the United States (he's from Toronto). I can't understand why. This is his second consecutive album that really ups the ante for what we as listeners can (and should) expect from a hip-hop album. Various elements of gospel, Afro-beat, electronic, mariachi, even fiddle music pop up throughout Atlantis, making for an enjoyable ride through K-os' sonic landscape. "Valhalla" and "Fly Paper" are two of the strongest tracks, but really, all of them are worth repeated listens. Let's hope his musical ambitions aren't stunted by an apparent lack of interest from mainstream music culture.
#2. Okkervil River - The Stage Names:
Like Spoon, these guys get better and better, both musically and lyrically, on each album. The opening three tracks of Stage Names are unbelievable, and should be required listening for anyone who....well, just anyone, I guess. By the time "John Allyn Smith Sails" winds down with its "Sloop John B" outro, Will Sheff and company have taken you on such a journey of hope and desperation and anger and joy that it's a good thing the album doesn't go on any longer. "Unless It's Kicks" is easily my song of year, maybe multiple years...
#1. Hallelujah the Hills - Collective Psychosis Begone:
...but one song does not a top album make. HtH beat out Okkervil River partly because their entire album is so strong. Partly because of their kitchen-sink mentality to instrument choice, band membership, and even lyrical prowess. But mostly because this album is so damn good. There's slow songs, fast songs, quiet songs, loud songs, quiet/loud...never mind. It's another album noboby knows about, and it's always amazing to play a couple of these songs for someone who really enjoys music and see them react to hearing something so new and different and engaging. Love it.
Best of 2006
Best Music of 2006 (partial list) in alphabetical order:
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit
The Dears Gang of Losers
The Divine Comedy Victory for the Comic Muse
Electric President Electric President
The Essex Green Cannibal Sea
Format Dog Problems
Girl Talk Night Ripper
Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere
Ima Robot Monument to the Masses
Islands Return to the Sea
The Knife Silent Shout
Margot & the Nuclear So-and-Sos Dust of Retreat
Mates of State Bring it Back
Pink Spiders Teenage Graffiti
Professor Murder Rides the Subway (EP)
Scissor Sisters Ta-Dah!
Sierra Leone's Refugee All-Stars Living Like a Refugee
Regina Spektor Begin to Hope
Strange Fruit Project The Healing
Tapes 'n Tapes The Loon
Tilly & the Wall Bottoms of Barrels
M. Ward Post-War
Belle & Sebastian The Life Pursuit
The Dears Gang of Losers
The Divine Comedy Victory for the Comic Muse
Electric President Electric President
The Essex Green Cannibal Sea
Format Dog Problems
Girl Talk Night Ripper
Gnarls Barkley St. Elsewhere
Ima Robot Monument to the Masses
Islands Return to the Sea
The Knife Silent Shout
Margot & the Nuclear So-and-Sos Dust of Retreat
Mates of State Bring it Back
Pink Spiders Teenage Graffiti
Professor Murder Rides the Subway (EP)
Scissor Sisters Ta-Dah!
Sierra Leone's Refugee All-Stars Living Like a Refugee
Regina Spektor Begin to Hope
Strange Fruit Project The Healing
Tapes 'n Tapes The Loon
Tilly & the Wall Bottoms of Barrels
M. Ward Post-War
Best of 2005
So obviously I'm backtracking a little bit here, but I thought laying some groundwork would be appropriate. And these are in no particular order
Best Music of 2005 (partial list)
Kaiser Chiefs Employment
Bright Eyes Digital Ash on a Digital Urn
Mountain Goats The Sunset Tree
Wolf Parade Apologies to the Queen Mary
New Pornographers Twin Cinema
Okkervil River Black Sheep Boy
Danger Doom The Mouse and the Mask
Mike Doughty Haughty Melodic
Blackalicious The Craft
Best Music of 2005 (partial list)
Kaiser Chiefs Employment
Bright Eyes Digital Ash on a Digital Urn
Mountain Goats The Sunset Tree
Wolf Parade Apologies to the Queen Mary
New Pornographers Twin Cinema
Okkervil River Black Sheep Boy
Danger Doom The Mouse and the Mask
Mike Doughty Haughty Melodic
Blackalicious The Craft
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
In the player
Exciting news! The CD player in our new car started working. Now I can listen to my own music again on my commute, which is fantastic. Some of what I'm enjoying right now:
Submarines "Honeysuckle Weeks" (mmm....dreamy pop music)
Late of the Pier "Fantasy Black Channel" (batshit insane--it's like someone tried to recreate a Girl Talk or Avalanches album with live instruments--really, really cool)
Girl Talk "Feed the Animals" (speaking of...)
Matt Pond PA "Last Light" (love these guys, but I heard they broke up, so this is their final album)
Sonia Dada "s/t" (for some reason, I've been on an inexplicable Sonia Dada kick lately)
Broken West "Now or Heaven" (just started listening to this; it's quite good so far)
Submarines "Honeysuckle Weeks" (mmm....dreamy pop music)
Late of the Pier "Fantasy Black Channel" (batshit insane--it's like someone tried to recreate a Girl Talk or Avalanches album with live instruments--really, really cool)
Girl Talk "Feed the Animals" (speaking of...)
Matt Pond PA "Last Light" (love these guys, but I heard they broke up, so this is their final album)
Sonia Dada "s/t" (for some reason, I've been on an inexplicable Sonia Dada kick lately)
Broken West "Now or Heaven" (just started listening to this; it's quite good so far)
2nd sample article
Neko Case Hates Madison…
…not really, but it sure seems that way after Case’s second consecutive near-miss with the New Pornographers April 21 at the Orpheum. To be fair, the last time the New Pornographers were here was a rescheduled show because their drummer needed an emergency appendectomy after a Chicago show. Of course, it happened to be during Case’s solo tour. But to break an ankle the day of the show? Please, Ms. Case, just admit you dislike our fair city. Fortunately, the rest of the band has still shown up both times and played stellar shows on each occasion. Their recent tour comes in support of the recently released Challengers, an ambitious album that, at first listen, does not have the immediacy of previous releases. It’s softer, subtler, and more nuanced that what Carl Newman and company have come up with before.
Joining the New Pornographers on this tourstop was Okkervil River, an Austin band who has made good on the strength of literate storytelling and the band’s complex melodies and song structures. Lead singer Will Sheff led the band through a variety of songs from their most recent albums, The Stage Names and Black Sheep Boy, alternating between up-tempo, driving hits like “Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe” and slow-burning, sweeping mini-epics “For Real” and “A Girl In Port” (with its reference to the Crystal Corner Bar). Sheff wears his emotions on his sleeves (and in his lyrics) and comes across as a performer genuinely interested in making the audience feel what he is feeling as he’s singing these songs. The rest of the band are accomplished enough to feed off each other and shape their playing to match those emotions. Okkervil River closed their set with “Unless It’s Kicks,” an all-out floor-stomper that begins with a simple guitar riff and Sheff’s voice, then gradually swells to include everyone on the same kick. As Sheff’s voice grew more exuberant, so too each member of Okkervil River seemed to be trying to outplay each other. It’s an indie anthem if ever there was one.
Arguably a tough act to follow, Okkervil River set the stage for the New Pornographers, who despite missing Neko and Dan Bejar, still managed to impress. Carl Newman again proved himself a whip-smart songwriter who has a singular ear for writing a pitch-perfect pop gem. The band started slowly with a couple of mellower numbers from the recent Challengers, but eventually incorporated more well-known songs (including “Sing Me Spanish Techno” and “The Laws Have Changed”) with the newer material. While Newman and Co. were once again technically proficient, they frequently seemed to be going through the paces. None of the youthful exuberance and manic energy exhibited by Okkervil River earlier—or the band themselves during their last concert in Madison—was present during the New Pornographers’ extended set, except perhaps in the form of Newman’s niece, Kathryn Calder, who plays keyboards and sings the female leads. Her impassioned stage presence helped the audience forget about Neko Case’s absence. A highlight of the set was the performance of “Myriad Harbour,” a Dan Bejar-penned song from Challengers. Bejar rarely tours with the New Pornographers anymore, so Okkervil’s Will Sheff handled the vocal duties. The band around him seemed to perk up and gave one of the liveliest performances of the evening.
Following a short break, Newman, Calder, and the rest of the Pornographers returned for a two-song encore. With the audience screaming various titles, Newman calmly stepped to the microphone and uttered, “Whatever you’re shouting, this one’s better,” and immediately broke into ELO’s “Don’t Bring Me Down.” The band followed the surprising (and fantastic) cover with “Slow Descent into Alcoholism,” from the first album, Mass Romantic. A personal favorite of this author, the New Pornographers rarely play it live, so the audience ended up getting their money’s worth.
Overall, it was a fantastic evening. The atmosphere in the Orpheum was electric, especially when Sheff joined the New Pornographers for a song, and two great indie rock ensembles proved that great pop music still exists. Now we just have to wait until they come back to town. (Incidentally, Okkervil River will be back in September, headlining at the Barrymore.)
Top 5 titles Article
A while ago, I wrote two short articles that I submitted to the local paper, as they were looking for a local music writer. They decided to "go in another direction," so I present them here.
Top 5 Albums that have been criminally overlooked
Citizen King Mobile Estates (1999) – Released at a time when rap-rock hybrids and boy bands ruled the musical landscape, Citizen King’s Mobile Estates stands out as a refreshing alternative. Despite having modest radio success with the single “Better Days (and the Bottom Drops Out),” the Milwaukee band never seemed to catch on nationally. Listening to the album today, it sounds like two very different bands have crossed paths. Elements of those rap/rock groups pop up, but are supplemented by the turntable wizardry of Malcolm Michiles and the genuine songwriting skills of keyboardist Dave Cooley and vocalist/bassist Matt Sims. The songs on Mobile Estates are equally at home in the club or at a backyard barbeque. “Under The Influence,” with its weaving synths and disorienting mixing, makes you feel as much. “Basement Show” sounds like you are in the basement where it was probably recorded. It’s Citizen King’s brand of easy-going funk that fits perfectly on a laid-back summer day. This is the kind of music the Black Eyed Peas have been trying to make ever since they went commercial. This is what the Damon Albarn/Danger Mouse collabo The Good, the Bad, & the Queen could have been with a little more tweaking. This is an album worth finding for yourself.
Hallelujah the Hills Collective Psychosis Begone (2007) – A ramshackle collection of tunes with an everything-and-the-kitchen-sink vibe, Collective Psychosis Begone frequently sounds like each band member—there are between five and ten—decided to bring their own stuff to the table. Fortunately, all these sounds coincide to form sculpted, literate stories of love, fights, growing up, going out and everything in between. The album opens with “Sleeper Agent (Just Waking Up),” a six-minute epic that introduces the band slowly, both musically and thematically. “Wave Backwards to Massachusetts” and the title track ramp up the excitement with poppier beats and clever lyrics, before the subtle “The House is All Lit Up” takes things down a notch once again. The range of musical tempos and styles echoes the range of emotions expressed in the lyrics, which frequently read like post-modern poetry. Hallelujah the Hills have vowed to make 30 albums before they hang it up. Based on the 1st one, let’s hope they can actually pull it off.
k-os Joyful Rebellion (2004) – Much has been made of the mashing up of seemingly disparate genres to create something new and interesting. Artists such as Gnarls Barkley’s Danger Mouse and Greg Gilles (Girl Talk) have become household names in this new category. Yet something can be said for an artist who crosses genres without losing his own style in the process. Such is the case with k-os, a Toronto native and the creative force behind Joyful Rebellion. From the Ray Charles bassline of “Crabbuckit” to the Michael Jackson-esque falsetto on “Man I Used to Be” to the Mariachi feel of “Commandante,” the album plays like a musical world tour, taking listeners through k-os’ wide range of influences. Despite being labeled a hip-hop artist, k-os exhibits strong songwriting skills and his attitude throughout Rebellion is indeed joyful, something markedly missing from most hip-hop albums out there. Listening to this album (and his others), it becomes obvious that k-os revels in making music. Go ahead. Listen to “Crabbuckit” and just try not to bob your head or tap your foot.
Immaculate Machine Fables (2007) – Kathryn Calder may be best known as the niece of Carl Newman and the keyboardist/singer with the New Pornographers. But before joining them on a full-time basis, she was part of Immaculate Machine, another Canadian power-pop group. Fables finds the trio expanding on their earlier work and fine-tuning their beautiful harmonies and understated accompaniments. Sounding like a band that has played together far longer than their three years, the male-female harmonies and tight instrumentation hint at 80s New wave, but with a decidedly folksy feel. Calder’s voice in particular radiates emotion and she is fast becoming a poor man’s Neko Case, without the poverty. Best enjoyed as an entire album, the highlight is “C’Mon Sea Legs,” a sweeping pinnacle of inspiration and fortitude. When the three-part harmony cries out, “c’mon sea legs, pull yourself together / You’re gonna have to learn to like / the rockin’ of the waves,” the plea is heartfelt and the album reaches its nadir, and a certain catharsis settles over the closing tracks. Ever graceful, Fables takes the listener up and over that emotional hill with plenty of help along the way.
Stellastarr* stellastarr* (2003) – With all the excitement over the revival of New Wave music in the past five years, it seems strange that Stellastarr* have received so little attention. Shawn Christensen sounds like he belongs on stage next to David Byrne and Neil Finn, to name a few. His blend of an earnest, brooding persona, a deep voice, and the intermittent yelps and freak-outs follows the template laid down in the 1980s by the aforementioned artists. That’s not say it’s a bad thing—Stellastarr* rise to the challenge, especially on the romping sing-a-long “My Coco” (check out the video on YouTube for proof) and the barely-contained energy of “Pulp Song.” Other tracks find the band slowing down and creating a more haunting atmosphere as Christensen’s voice wavers from dark & heavy to light & trippy over constant bass and drum pounding. All the variance and experimentation is in the vocals, never more evident than on “Somewhere Across Forever” which starts quietly, but builds to three band members singing in rounds (when probably brings to mind memories of elementary school music class for some of you). The dissonance swells until all the parts reunite in a driving, climactic finish. Hopefully, the same can eventually be said for the band itself.
Friday, October 31, 2008
All-NBA Team
Clearly, I am addicted to funny names.
Eddie House (Celtics) - So did his high school friends call him "Take it to the"? And I'm not just referring to basketball here.
Brian Scalabrine (Celtics) - looks like some sort of skin abnormality
Keyon Dooling (Nets) - Just a misplaced "r" away from Mr. Drooling. Not good.
Stromile Swift (Nets) - Really? Stromile? What can that possibly be a combination of? Or a derivative of? Who knows.
Samuel Dalembert (76ers) - Perhaps a fancy flavor of sorbet at your local ice cream parlor?
Nathan Jawai (Raptors) - He's a mixed martial art unto himself.
Roko Ukic (Raptors) - Wow, that's awkward. Lotta hard-k sounds. Perhaps 1 too many.
Joakim Noah (Bulls) - Untrustworthy because of the two-first-names rule already established
Thabo Sefolosha (Bulls) - I have no idea what nationality this guy could possibly be
Vinny del Negro (Bulls) - Not a player any more, but a new head coach. I had to include him here because it's just funny that he's white and his name is "Vinny of the black"
(pretty unimpressed with the NBA name-wise so far. I suppose smaller rosters makes for less fun)
And just when I say that, the Cleveland Cavaliers present themselves. Awesome.
J.J. Hickson - There's something very meta about a self-describing name of this nature
Zydrunas Ilgauskas - Maybe his parents started his name at the end of the English alphabet, but decided to give up when they got to 'X'
Sasha Pavlovic - Not very manly...
Eric Snow - Also not very manly...
Wally Szczerbiak - Maybe a little too manly. I mean, really? Wally? What kid doesn't get ridiculed in grade school for being named Wally? And it probably took him until high school just to learn how to spell his own last name. "szcz?" What kind of start is that for the poor kid?
Anderson Varejao - Another one of those guys who filled out the "Last Name-First Name" section of the entry form wrong.
Jawad Williams - Aw man, I just stepped in a big jawad of bubble gum. Dammit.
Thank you, Cleveland Cavaliers, thank you. And back to the show.
Alex Acker, Arron Afflalo (Pistons) - Four As! How about that! Plus, Afflalo is just awful to pronounce. Hey, Arron? Maybe you could (1) spell you first name right and (2) drop that first 'L' from your last name? C'mon, help a guy out.
Cheikh Samb (Pistons) - I actually just ordered this dish the other week at Dobhan, the Nepali restaurant my wife and I like to visit. What? He's a professional basketball player? Oh. Must have had something else then.
Travis Diener (Pacers) - Not a crazy name, but I had no idea this hometown Wisconsin guy was in the NBA! Awesome, way to go, Travis! And his name rhymes with "weiner". Heh heh
Jarrett Jack (Pacers) - He's friends with Mr. Varejao, no doubt.
Brandon Rush (Pacers) - The coach had better hope he does, considering how bad the rest of the team is
Luc Mbah a Moute (Bucks) - I believe this guy is an actual prince in his native African country, which is awesome. Hopefully, royalty can infuse the Bucks with a few more wins this season
Speedy Claxton (Hawks) - Should really be driving in NASCAR.
Joe Johnson (Hawks) - Probably has brothers named Jim, Jon, and Jack
Zaza Pachulia (Hawks) - You know that horrible-smelling oil that hippies "bathe" with? It all emanates from this guy
Alexis Ajinca (Bobcats) - Yet another A.A. name. Pretty surprising actually
Linton Johnson (Bobcats) - Picture the scene: A young boy, helping his mother with chores, is forever psychologically scarred when he realizes the awfulness of his name, as his mother calls out from the other room: "Make sure when you take the clothes out of the dryer, you remove all the lint then, Linton" Oi.
Nazr Mohammed (Bobcats) - Why the "r"? It just seems incongruous
Emeka Okafor (Bobcats) - Boy, the Bobcats are really giving the Cavs a run for their money here. I feel like you spell his name exactly backwards and it would have the same effect without losing any meaning whatsoever.
Udonis Haslem (Heat) - His parents must have thought quite highly of him, even in the womb
Dwyane Wade (Heat) - Mr. Wade, please fix your 'y'
Yakhouba Diawara (Heat) - Wow, looks like a tropical plant or something
Marcin Gortat (Magic) - Awesome. I actually laughed out loud at this name. Go on, read it out loud to yourself......pretty funny, right? Gortat sounds like a creature from that Warcraft game.
JaVale McGee (Wizards) - On a complete tangent, I really wish the Washington NBA team was still the Bullets, despite the obvious negative connotations. They had such a cool logo. As for this guy's name? Too many small-letter-then-big-letter occurrences. There should be an absolute maximum of 1 of those per person, maybe less.
Chris Kaman (Clippers) - Name's ok, but man, does this guy have the worst hair in all of basketball or what?
Cuttino Mobley, Brian Skinner (Clippers) - Perhaps Kaman can talk to his teammates about a possible trim...
D.J. Mbenga (Lakers) - And after the game, he'll be featured at the night club down the street, where he specializes in trance, house, and industrial
Sasha Vujacic (Lakers) - Really? There's 2 Sashas in the NBA? I'm sorry, but that's just too much.
Boris Diaw (Suns) - Now there's an awkward mouthful of letters
Goran Dragic (Suns) - He should battle with Gortat (see above) for NBA Mortal Kombat-style name supremacy
Alando Tucker (Suns) - Love that this guy made an NBA team. Love it
Bobby Brown (Kings) - Boy, is Whitney going to be pissed when he skimps on that alimony check. I mean, he's gotta be raking it in, what with the r&b career, and now a life in pro basketball to boot? Talk about diversifying
John Salmons (Kings) - Y'know, I don't generally think of NBA players as "outdoorsy" types, but my mind may have been changed.
Beno Udrih (Kings) - Upset stomach? Gas pains? Just hang out with this guy for a few hours and you'll be good as new.
DeSagana Diop (Mavs) - I actually thought he and Boris Diaw (Suns) were the same guy. Oops
Jason Kidd (Mavs) - Certainly isn't anymore. Not by a long stretch. I remember seeing him play in college at Cal, which would have been in the mid-90s, and he looked really old then.
Aaron Brooks (Rockets) - Really? I thought he retired from the Raiders a couple of years ago? And had shoulder problems? Should he really be lacing it up for the run-n-gun Rockets? Is that wise? Oh, he's a little guy from Oregon, you say? 2nd year? Clearly, I've been led astray
Von Wafer (Rockets) - Where's his first name? It should be something like Ulrich or Lars.
Hamed Haddadi (Grizzlies) - Alright, first, are there really any grizzly bears even near the Memphis area? Doesn't seem likely. Regardless, this guy's name seems a likely candidate for a "First Basketball Player Name Spoken by a Newborn Baby by Accident" award
O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies) - Do you think his family is at war with the other condiments? Do you think his family is universally loved in France? Do you think he scorns pickles? Do you think...oh alright, I'll let it go.
Melvin Ely (Hornets) - Last name is too short, oddly enough. You wouldn't think it would be a problem, but it's kind of hard to see, all small n stuff.
Ian Mahinmi (Spurs) - Ian? Really? In the NBA? I am suddenly craving some sort of exotic fish for dinner though.
Fabricio Oberto (Spurs) - I hope this guy is in line to inherit the Oberto beef jerky fortune, cause man, is that a gold mine!
Chucky Atkins (Nuggets) - Perhaps a grown man should try to distance himself a little from being associated with a stupid maniacal puppet.
Nene Hilario (Nuggets) - Why yes, that joke you just told certainly was hilario! (Not really, I'm just placating you)
Linas Kleiza (Nuggets) - Linas just doesn't seem like the right kind of name for a dominant basketball player
Kudos to the Minnesota Timberwolves for having the most boring roster of names I've seen. And possibly one of the worst teams.
Jarryd Bayless (Blazers) - If anyone needs a 'y,' Captain Consonant here has one or two to spare.
Channing Frye (Blazers) - Maybe he could trade Bayless his 'e' for another 'y'?
Joel Przybilla (Blazers) - The consonants have gone wild! Somebody help!
Kyrylo Fesenko (Jazz) - Holy cow, look at that! The consonant frenzy has spread to another team entirely! Maybe the previous 4 guys can find a couple friends and/or relatives and start a rap group called the Yz Guys. Get it? Why not?
Ok, that's all I got. Glad it picked steam there after a slow start. Boy, work has been slow this afternoon. It's Halloween, the kids are off from school, and it's 70 degrees outside. In October in Wisconsin. And it was snowing on Monday. Bizarre.
Eddie House (Celtics) - So did his high school friends call him "Take it to the"? And I'm not just referring to basketball here.
Brian Scalabrine (Celtics) - looks like some sort of skin abnormality
Keyon Dooling (Nets) - Just a misplaced "r" away from Mr. Drooling. Not good.
Stromile Swift (Nets) - Really? Stromile? What can that possibly be a combination of? Or a derivative of? Who knows.
Samuel Dalembert (76ers) - Perhaps a fancy flavor of sorbet at your local ice cream parlor?
Nathan Jawai (Raptors) - He's a mixed martial art unto himself.
Roko Ukic (Raptors) - Wow, that's awkward. Lotta hard-k sounds. Perhaps 1 too many.
Joakim Noah (Bulls) - Untrustworthy because of the two-first-names rule already established
Thabo Sefolosha (Bulls) - I have no idea what nationality this guy could possibly be
Vinny del Negro (Bulls) - Not a player any more, but a new head coach. I had to include him here because it's just funny that he's white and his name is "Vinny of the black"
(pretty unimpressed with the NBA name-wise so far. I suppose smaller rosters makes for less fun)
And just when I say that, the Cleveland Cavaliers present themselves. Awesome.
J.J. Hickson - There's something very meta about a self-describing name of this nature
Zydrunas Ilgauskas - Maybe his parents started his name at the end of the English alphabet, but decided to give up when they got to 'X'
Sasha Pavlovic - Not very manly...
Eric Snow - Also not very manly...
Wally Szczerbiak - Maybe a little too manly. I mean, really? Wally? What kid doesn't get ridiculed in grade school for being named Wally? And it probably took him until high school just to learn how to spell his own last name. "szcz?" What kind of start is that for the poor kid?
Anderson Varejao - Another one of those guys who filled out the "Last Name-First Name" section of the entry form wrong.
Jawad Williams - Aw man, I just stepped in a big jawad of bubble gum. Dammit.
Thank you, Cleveland Cavaliers, thank you. And back to the show.
Alex Acker, Arron Afflalo (Pistons) - Four As! How about that! Plus, Afflalo is just awful to pronounce. Hey, Arron? Maybe you could (1) spell you first name right and (2) drop that first 'L' from your last name? C'mon, help a guy out.
Cheikh Samb (Pistons) - I actually just ordered this dish the other week at Dobhan, the Nepali restaurant my wife and I like to visit. What? He's a professional basketball player? Oh. Must have had something else then.
Travis Diener (Pacers) - Not a crazy name, but I had no idea this hometown Wisconsin guy was in the NBA! Awesome, way to go, Travis! And his name rhymes with "weiner". Heh heh
Jarrett Jack (Pacers) - He's friends with Mr. Varejao, no doubt.
Brandon Rush (Pacers) - The coach had better hope he does, considering how bad the rest of the team is
Luc Mbah a Moute (Bucks) - I believe this guy is an actual prince in his native African country, which is awesome. Hopefully, royalty can infuse the Bucks with a few more wins this season
Speedy Claxton (Hawks) - Should really be driving in NASCAR.
Joe Johnson (Hawks) - Probably has brothers named Jim, Jon, and Jack
Zaza Pachulia (Hawks) - You know that horrible-smelling oil that hippies "bathe" with? It all emanates from this guy
Alexis Ajinca (Bobcats) - Yet another A.A. name. Pretty surprising actually
Linton Johnson (Bobcats) - Picture the scene: A young boy, helping his mother with chores, is forever psychologically scarred when he realizes the awfulness of his name, as his mother calls out from the other room: "Make sure when you take the clothes out of the dryer, you remove all the lint then, Linton" Oi.
Nazr Mohammed (Bobcats) - Why the "r"? It just seems incongruous
Emeka Okafor (Bobcats) - Boy, the Bobcats are really giving the Cavs a run for their money here. I feel like you spell his name exactly backwards and it would have the same effect without losing any meaning whatsoever.
Udonis Haslem (Heat) - His parents must have thought quite highly of him, even in the womb
Dwyane Wade (Heat) - Mr. Wade, please fix your 'y'
Yakhouba Diawara (Heat) - Wow, looks like a tropical plant or something
Marcin Gortat (Magic) - Awesome. I actually laughed out loud at this name. Go on, read it out loud to yourself......pretty funny, right? Gortat sounds like a creature from that Warcraft game.
JaVale McGee (Wizards) - On a complete tangent, I really wish the Washington NBA team was still the Bullets, despite the obvious negative connotations. They had such a cool logo. As for this guy's name? Too many small-letter-then-big-letter occurrences. There should be an absolute maximum of 1 of those per person, maybe less.
Chris Kaman (Clippers) - Name's ok, but man, does this guy have the worst hair in all of basketball or what?
Cuttino Mobley, Brian Skinner (Clippers) - Perhaps Kaman can talk to his teammates about a possible trim...
D.J. Mbenga (Lakers) - And after the game, he'll be featured at the night club down the street, where he specializes in trance, house, and industrial
Sasha Vujacic (Lakers) - Really? There's 2 Sashas in the NBA? I'm sorry, but that's just too much.
Boris Diaw (Suns) - Now there's an awkward mouthful of letters
Goran Dragic (Suns) - He should battle with Gortat (see above) for NBA Mortal Kombat-style name supremacy
Alando Tucker (Suns) - Love that this guy made an NBA team. Love it
Bobby Brown (Kings) - Boy, is Whitney going to be pissed when he skimps on that alimony check. I mean, he's gotta be raking it in, what with the r&b career, and now a life in pro basketball to boot? Talk about diversifying
John Salmons (Kings) - Y'know, I don't generally think of NBA players as "outdoorsy" types, but my mind may have been changed.
Beno Udrih (Kings) - Upset stomach? Gas pains? Just hang out with this guy for a few hours and you'll be good as new.
DeSagana Diop (Mavs) - I actually thought he and Boris Diaw (Suns) were the same guy. Oops
Jason Kidd (Mavs) - Certainly isn't anymore. Not by a long stretch. I remember seeing him play in college at Cal, which would have been in the mid-90s, and he looked really old then.
Aaron Brooks (Rockets) - Really? I thought he retired from the Raiders a couple of years ago? And had shoulder problems? Should he really be lacing it up for the run-n-gun Rockets? Is that wise? Oh, he's a little guy from Oregon, you say? 2nd year? Clearly, I've been led astray
Von Wafer (Rockets) - Where's his first name? It should be something like Ulrich or Lars.
Hamed Haddadi (Grizzlies) - Alright, first, are there really any grizzly bears even near the Memphis area? Doesn't seem likely. Regardless, this guy's name seems a likely candidate for a "First Basketball Player Name Spoken by a Newborn Baby by Accident" award
O.J. Mayo (Grizzlies) - Do you think his family is at war with the other condiments? Do you think his family is universally loved in France? Do you think he scorns pickles? Do you think...oh alright, I'll let it go.
Melvin Ely (Hornets) - Last name is too short, oddly enough. You wouldn't think it would be a problem, but it's kind of hard to see, all small n stuff.
Ian Mahinmi (Spurs) - Ian? Really? In the NBA? I am suddenly craving some sort of exotic fish for dinner though.
Fabricio Oberto (Spurs) - I hope this guy is in line to inherit the Oberto beef jerky fortune, cause man, is that a gold mine!
Chucky Atkins (Nuggets) - Perhaps a grown man should try to distance himself a little from being associated with a stupid maniacal puppet.
Nene Hilario (Nuggets) - Why yes, that joke you just told certainly was hilario! (Not really, I'm just placating you)
Linas Kleiza (Nuggets) - Linas just doesn't seem like the right kind of name for a dominant basketball player
Kudos to the Minnesota Timberwolves for having the most boring roster of names I've seen. And possibly one of the worst teams.
Jarryd Bayless (Blazers) - If anyone needs a 'y,' Captain Consonant here has one or two to spare.
Channing Frye (Blazers) - Maybe he could trade Bayless his 'e' for another 'y'?
Joel Przybilla (Blazers) - The consonants have gone wild! Somebody help!
Kyrylo Fesenko (Jazz) - Holy cow, look at that! The consonant frenzy has spread to another team entirely! Maybe the previous 4 guys can find a couple friends and/or relatives and start a rap group called the Yz Guys. Get it? Why not?
Ok, that's all I got. Glad it picked steam there after a slow start. Boy, work has been slow this afternoon. It's Halloween, the kids are off from school, and it's 70 degrees outside. In October in Wisconsin. And it was snowing on Monday. Bizarre.
Fantasy football players who will wrong me this weekend...
**With a nod to Matthew Berry and his Love/Hate column on ESPN.com**
Last week I managed to pull out a crazy victory in my 20-team Yahoo league, thanks to Chris Hope's 5 tackle, 2 INT game Monday night vs. the Colts. I won by less than 5 total pts--what a comeback. Tougher challenge this week with three LBs and L.T. out on byes. And so I will present a list of musing on the fantasy goings-on this weekend (in no particular order):
1. Terrell Owens - I have a feeling the G-men will be able to shut him down, not to mention the fact that Brad Johnson is starting again and he's like 85 years old.
2. Randy Moss - Matt Cassel has the arm of an 85-year-old, it seems at times. Boy, my team with Moss and Owens as the top 2 picks is really going places...
3. Ryan Grant - Hate to root against the hometown boy, but man, it's like he's been running on his knees all year. Hey, Ryan, maybe you could learn some of those advanced, video-game-style moves. You know, like "jump," "spin," "juke" and other complicated maneuvers.
4. Maurice Jones-Drew - I suppose I should have expected that the hyphenated name would come back to haunt me (hyphenated names are one my all-time pet peeves).
5. Steve Slaton - Not that I really expect much against the Vikings run D, but I have a feeling his stat line will look something like: 15 carries, 9 yards, 2 fumbles, 0 catches = -4 fantasy pts. Just a hunch.
6. When is Chris Cooley going to catch a frickin touchdown? Let's go, Capt. Caveman.
7. Paging Reggie Wayne, your table is ready. Maybe you could return the favor with more than 2 catches this week? And possibly some yards as well?
8. Brett the Jet. By all rights, he should do well in Buffalo, a cold-weather city. But he won't. The Gunslinger's talent is wilting under the media spotlight in NY. Plus, the Bills were my favorite team when I was a little kid. Plus, they have a guy named Youboty, which is just awesome.
9. God help me. My starting WRs on one team are Steve Breaston, Rashied Davis, and Bernard Berrian. And that team will probably do better than the Owens/Moss team.
10. Antonio Bryant - The Bucs play at KC and won't need to pass at all. Like ever.
11. I believe whole-heartedly that Willis McGahee will lay a stinker against the Browns Sunday. And Le'Ron McClain, whom has spurned my brother's teams repeatedly, will vulture a TD somehow.
12. Braylon - he has a high level of sucktitude.
13. Giants D vs. Titans D - Tough call here. I seriously don't know which D will be better. Ideas?
14. The Smiths (Kevin and Kolby) - Terrible teams? Check. Playing vs. tough Ds? Check. Crappy defense on your own team? Check. Both starting on one of my teams this weekend? You betcha.
15. Derrick Ward will have a huge game. Just wait and see. Also, Steve Breaston will be huge. I'm calling it right here.
16. I just dropped Jevon Kearse, so he'll probably sack Aaron Rodgers at least twice this week.
17. That's all I got.
Last week I managed to pull out a crazy victory in my 20-team Yahoo league, thanks to Chris Hope's 5 tackle, 2 INT game Monday night vs. the Colts. I won by less than 5 total pts--what a comeback. Tougher challenge this week with three LBs and L.T. out on byes. And so I will present a list of musing on the fantasy goings-on this weekend (in no particular order):
1. Terrell Owens - I have a feeling the G-men will be able to shut him down, not to mention the fact that Brad Johnson is starting again and he's like 85 years old.
2. Randy Moss - Matt Cassel has the arm of an 85-year-old, it seems at times. Boy, my team with Moss and Owens as the top 2 picks is really going places...
3. Ryan Grant - Hate to root against the hometown boy, but man, it's like he's been running on his knees all year. Hey, Ryan, maybe you could learn some of those advanced, video-game-style moves. You know, like "jump," "spin," "juke" and other complicated maneuvers.
4. Maurice Jones-Drew - I suppose I should have expected that the hyphenated name would come back to haunt me (hyphenated names are one my all-time pet peeves).
5. Steve Slaton - Not that I really expect much against the Vikings run D, but I have a feeling his stat line will look something like: 15 carries, 9 yards, 2 fumbles, 0 catches = -4 fantasy pts. Just a hunch.
6. When is Chris Cooley going to catch a frickin touchdown? Let's go, Capt. Caveman.
7. Paging Reggie Wayne, your table is ready. Maybe you could return the favor with more than 2 catches this week? And possibly some yards as well?
8. Brett the Jet. By all rights, he should do well in Buffalo, a cold-weather city. But he won't. The Gunslinger's talent is wilting under the media spotlight in NY. Plus, the Bills were my favorite team when I was a little kid. Plus, they have a guy named Youboty, which is just awesome.
9. God help me. My starting WRs on one team are Steve Breaston, Rashied Davis, and Bernard Berrian. And that team will probably do better than the Owens/Moss team.
10. Antonio Bryant - The Bucs play at KC and won't need to pass at all. Like ever.
11. I believe whole-heartedly that Willis McGahee will lay a stinker against the Browns Sunday. And Le'Ron McClain, whom has spurned my brother's teams repeatedly, will vulture a TD somehow.
12. Braylon - he has a high level of sucktitude.
13. Giants D vs. Titans D - Tough call here. I seriously don't know which D will be better. Ideas?
14. The Smiths (Kevin and Kolby) - Terrible teams? Check. Playing vs. tough Ds? Check. Crappy defense on your own team? Check. Both starting on one of my teams this weekend? You betcha.
15. Derrick Ward will have a huge game. Just wait and see. Also, Steve Breaston will be huge. I'm calling it right here.
16. I just dropped Jevon Kearse, so he'll probably sack Aaron Rodgers at least twice this week.
17. That's all I got.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
All-MLB Name Team, Vol 2
Alright, here's the National League version, in honor of the NL Central facing dual-elimination from the playoffs today.
Jorge Julio (Braves) - Hard to trust anyone with two first names
Vladimir Nunez (Braves) - Well look at this! Who know there were not one, but two Hispanic major-league players named Vlad. What are the odds!
Jair Jurrjens (Braves) - I hope he's Dutch or something; otherwise, that's one awkward name
Corky Miller (Braves) - wasn't he on "Life Goes On", that sappy TV show from the 80s?
Dallas McPherson (Marlins) - Totally a soap opera character
Dan Uggla (Marlins) - So let's say you're in a bar, and Dan is there with, let's say, his sister and a bunch of her friends. And let's say you find one of her friends wildly attractive and decide to make a move. And let's say you have a clever, sports-knowledgeable buddy to serve as a wingman. Could your buddy possibly say anything better than, "Go for it, man, I'll take the Uggla one"
Cameron Maybin (Marlins) - maybin...maybin not, who knows
Ambiorix Burgos (Mets) - What the hell is that? Didn't the main character in The Last Starfighter get attacked by an ambiorix? Maybe it was in Lord of the Rings. I believe it's a mythical beast with fur, scales, and the supernatural ability to throw small, white balls really, really fast
Joe Smith (Mets) - Ya know, there's such a thing as too plain/boring
Angel Pagan (Mets) - Really? How could this possibly be his given name? Does the religious right know about this guy? What a fabulous dichotomy of language! It works and so many different levels! And all in one simple name! Right up there with that guy who plays pro hockey named Miroslav Satan.
So Taguchi (Phillies) - The last time I was in Tokyo, I overhead this conversation:
Person 1: "Did you get that sweater you were looking at the other day?"
Person 2: "No, I decided that it was kind of outdated"
Person 1: "Yeah, I didn't want to say anything, but that sweater is so taguchi"
Matt Chico (Nationals) - Hello, my name is Matt Boy, nice to meet you
Wily Mo Pena (Nationals) - Now this is just an awesome name. Not to mention the fact that his first name should be pronounced like the cartoon coyote
Lastings Milledge (Nationals) - Also beware those individuals with two last names. C'mon, who names their kid 'Lastings'? What do you call him for short? Lasty? Tings?
Jeff Samardzija (Cubs) - I liked this name when he was a receiver at Notre Dame, and it's still cool. He could be a relief pitcher....or a former Soviet Socialist Republic!
Felix Pie (Cubs) - and Morris Cake... and Alex Strudel... I could go all day here
Adam Pettyjohn (Reds) - I believe a 'pettyjohn' is some sort of shipping implement from the Revolutionary War era, correct? Either that or a fancy lady's undergarment
Bronson Arroyo (Reds) - Again with the two last names
Jolbert Cabrera (Reds) - Any time you can and the -bert suffix to a name, it gets simultaneously cooler and dumber at the same time.
Wandy Rodriguez (Astros) - I'll just wave my magic wandy here, and Presto! the game is won. What? Nothing happened? Are you sure, cuz I waved the magic wandy and everything? Stupid wandy.
Mark Saccomanno (Astros) - Is he the cousin of that side character Bob Sacamano that Kramer was always talking about on Seinfeld?
Hunter Pence (Astros) - see Arroyo, Bronson AND Milledge, Lastings
Mitch Stetter (Brewers) - Probably works as a rodeo clown or front a honky-tonk band in the off-season
Corey Hart (Brewers) - "I wear my sunglasses at night"--Just because it's obvious doesn't make it any less cool
T.J. Beam (Pirates) - Man, I want to party with this guy. I bet he can all the free bourbon he wants--just tell the bartender he's the heir to the company and is interested in doing a little "quality control."
Andy LaRoche, Adam Laroche (Pirates) - Boy, I hope they're related, because otherwise one of them is going to develop a serious case of name-envy.
Nyjer Morgan (Pirates) - I don't think that even qualifies as a last name, only a country in Africa
Rick Ankiel (Cardinals) - Not an overly unusual name, but man, what a cool story. Minor league star pitcher, gets to the bigs and has terrible (and I mean half-his-pitches-missed-the-catcher-entirely terrible) control problems. Gets sent back down, gets injured, rehabs, comes back 5 years later as a power-hitting, strong-armed centerfielder. And is good at it. Awesome
Robby Hammock (Diamondbacks) - Loves sitting around the backyard, cool drink in hand, watching the kids and lounging on himself.
Augie Ojeda (D-backs) - My friend Jon used to have a little yip-yip dog named Augie. Probably just a coincidence
Brian Fuentes (Rockies) - Mr. Daisy Fuentes? Perhaps, though his name does seem to fit nicely with...
Jason Grilli (Rockies) - Fuentes and Grilli? It's a barbeque waiting to happen!
Ubaldo Jimenez (Rockies) - You think my hairline's receding, look at you! Ubaldo!
Steven Register (Rockies) - Never has the nickname "Cash" or "Cash money" been more appropriate
Yhency Brazoban (Dodgers) - Must be related to Jhonny Peralta. There's just all sorts of misplaced letters here
Casey Blake (Dodgers) - Funny story...My freshman year of college I lived in the dorm with this guy whose given name was Charles Flanagan, but had always gone by Casey (shout-out to Casey if you ever happen to read this). So another friend who lived across the hall from me on the 1st floor (Matt Ledin) and I were hanging out with some other people near the end of the school year, and Casey and his roommate came downstairs. Matt said, "Hey Blake." He honestly thought Casey's name was Blake and had been under that assumption for the majority of the year. The name stuck on as a nickname, which I think was just hilarious. And here are his real name AND his nickname combined to form a third baseman. The circle just keeps getting smaller.
Cla Meredith (Padres) - What, in too much of a hurry to finish off that name properly? I assume it's pronounced like "Clay", but can you really be sure? Maybe it's Gaelic and is spoken with a gutteral rasp of the throat.
Dirk Hayhurst (Padres) - Now starring in a low-budget, agricultural porn near you...
Wade LeBlanc (Padres) - I think Wade is about the least poetic name you could possibly come up with to pair with the classy, Frenchified "LeBlanc". So does he go by "Wade the White"? Because that would totally make up for it.
Khalil Greene (Padres) - Only mentioned here because he's a tall, skinny surfer kid (not unlike Sean Penn's Spiccoli character from Fast Times at Ridgemont High) and that name just doesn't fit. Aloha, Mr. Hand
Brad Hennessey (Giants) - Where's T.J. Beam when you need him? What a double bill party the two of them could throw! You would get the laid-back Southern sippers AND the hip-hop crowd. Now there's a mash-up
Brian Wilson (Giants) - Boy, he's been busy lately. First, he came out of seclusion to finish the long-awaited Smile album he abandoned 30 years ago. Now, he's pitching in the major leagues. Is there anything he can't do?
Travis Ishikawa (Giants) - Just seems a bit incongruous, doesn't it?
That's all I got. Enjoy.
Jorge Julio (Braves) - Hard to trust anyone with two first names
Vladimir Nunez (Braves) - Well look at this! Who know there were not one, but two Hispanic major-league players named Vlad. What are the odds!
Jair Jurrjens (Braves) - I hope he's Dutch or something; otherwise, that's one awkward name
Corky Miller (Braves) - wasn't he on "Life Goes On", that sappy TV show from the 80s?
Dallas McPherson (Marlins) - Totally a soap opera character
Dan Uggla (Marlins) - So let's say you're in a bar, and Dan is there with, let's say, his sister and a bunch of her friends. And let's say you find one of her friends wildly attractive and decide to make a move. And let's say you have a clever, sports-knowledgeable buddy to serve as a wingman. Could your buddy possibly say anything better than, "Go for it, man, I'll take the Uggla one"
Cameron Maybin (Marlins) - maybin...maybin not, who knows
Ambiorix Burgos (Mets) - What the hell is that? Didn't the main character in The Last Starfighter get attacked by an ambiorix? Maybe it was in Lord of the Rings. I believe it's a mythical beast with fur, scales, and the supernatural ability to throw small, white balls really, really fast
Joe Smith (Mets) - Ya know, there's such a thing as too plain/boring
Angel Pagan (Mets) - Really? How could this possibly be his given name? Does the religious right know about this guy? What a fabulous dichotomy of language! It works and so many different levels! And all in one simple name! Right up there with that guy who plays pro hockey named Miroslav Satan.
So Taguchi (Phillies) - The last time I was in Tokyo, I overhead this conversation:
Person 1: "Did you get that sweater you were looking at the other day?"
Person 2: "No, I decided that it was kind of outdated"
Person 1: "Yeah, I didn't want to say anything, but that sweater is so taguchi"
Matt Chico (Nationals) - Hello, my name is Matt Boy, nice to meet you
Wily Mo Pena (Nationals) - Now this is just an awesome name. Not to mention the fact that his first name should be pronounced like the cartoon coyote
Lastings Milledge (Nationals) - Also beware those individuals with two last names. C'mon, who names their kid 'Lastings'? What do you call him for short? Lasty? Tings?
Jeff Samardzija (Cubs) - I liked this name when he was a receiver at Notre Dame, and it's still cool. He could be a relief pitcher....or a former Soviet Socialist Republic!
Felix Pie (Cubs) - and Morris Cake... and Alex Strudel... I could go all day here
Adam Pettyjohn (Reds) - I believe a 'pettyjohn' is some sort of shipping implement from the Revolutionary War era, correct? Either that or a fancy lady's undergarment
Bronson Arroyo (Reds) - Again with the two last names
Jolbert Cabrera (Reds) - Any time you can and the -bert suffix to a name, it gets simultaneously cooler and dumber at the same time.
Wandy Rodriguez (Astros) - I'll just wave my magic wandy here, and Presto! the game is won. What? Nothing happened? Are you sure, cuz I waved the magic wandy and everything? Stupid wandy.
Mark Saccomanno (Astros) - Is he the cousin of that side character Bob Sacamano that Kramer was always talking about on Seinfeld?
Hunter Pence (Astros) - see Arroyo, Bronson AND Milledge, Lastings
Mitch Stetter (Brewers) - Probably works as a rodeo clown or front a honky-tonk band in the off-season
Corey Hart (Brewers) - "I wear my sunglasses at night"--Just because it's obvious doesn't make it any less cool
T.J. Beam (Pirates) - Man, I want to party with this guy. I bet he can all the free bourbon he wants--just tell the bartender he's the heir to the company and is interested in doing a little "quality control."
Andy LaRoche, Adam Laroche (Pirates) - Boy, I hope they're related, because otherwise one of them is going to develop a serious case of name-envy.
Nyjer Morgan (Pirates) - I don't think that even qualifies as a last name, only a country in Africa
Rick Ankiel (Cardinals) - Not an overly unusual name, but man, what a cool story. Minor league star pitcher, gets to the bigs and has terrible (and I mean half-his-pitches-missed-the-catcher-entirely terrible) control problems. Gets sent back down, gets injured, rehabs, comes back 5 years later as a power-hitting, strong-armed centerfielder. And is good at it. Awesome
Robby Hammock (Diamondbacks) - Loves sitting around the backyard, cool drink in hand, watching the kids and lounging on himself.
Augie Ojeda (D-backs) - My friend Jon used to have a little yip-yip dog named Augie. Probably just a coincidence
Brian Fuentes (Rockies) - Mr. Daisy Fuentes? Perhaps, though his name does seem to fit nicely with...
Jason Grilli (Rockies) - Fuentes and Grilli? It's a barbeque waiting to happen!
Ubaldo Jimenez (Rockies) - You think my hairline's receding, look at you! Ubaldo!
Steven Register (Rockies) - Never has the nickname "Cash" or "Cash money" been more appropriate
Yhency Brazoban (Dodgers) - Must be related to Jhonny Peralta. There's just all sorts of misplaced letters here
Casey Blake (Dodgers) - Funny story...My freshman year of college I lived in the dorm with this guy whose given name was Charles Flanagan, but had always gone by Casey (shout-out to Casey if you ever happen to read this). So another friend who lived across the hall from me on the 1st floor (Matt Ledin) and I were hanging out with some other people near the end of the school year, and Casey and his roommate came downstairs. Matt said, "Hey Blake." He honestly thought Casey's name was Blake and had been under that assumption for the majority of the year. The name stuck on as a nickname, which I think was just hilarious. And here are his real name AND his nickname combined to form a third baseman. The circle just keeps getting smaller.
Cla Meredith (Padres) - What, in too much of a hurry to finish off that name properly? I assume it's pronounced like "Clay", but can you really be sure? Maybe it's Gaelic and is spoken with a gutteral rasp of the throat.
Dirk Hayhurst (Padres) - Now starring in a low-budget, agricultural porn near you...
Wade LeBlanc (Padres) - I think Wade is about the least poetic name you could possibly come up with to pair with the classy, Frenchified "LeBlanc". So does he go by "Wade the White"? Because that would totally make up for it.
Khalil Greene (Padres) - Only mentioned here because he's a tall, skinny surfer kid (not unlike Sean Penn's Spiccoli character from Fast Times at Ridgemont High) and that name just doesn't fit. Aloha, Mr. Hand
Brad Hennessey (Giants) - Where's T.J. Beam when you need him? What a double bill party the two of them could throw! You would get the laid-back Southern sippers AND the hip-hop crowd. Now there's a mash-up
Brian Wilson (Giants) - Boy, he's been busy lately. First, he came out of seclusion to finish the long-awaited Smile album he abandoned 30 years ago. Now, he's pitching in the major leagues. Is there anything he can't do?
Travis Ishikawa (Giants) - Just seems a bit incongruous, doesn't it?
That's all I got. Enjoy.
Thoughts...
Wisconsin hosts Ohio State tonight at Camp Randall in a matchup featuring two of the Big Ten "heavyweights" of the 2008 football season. So let's see...
Big Game
Night Game (meaning the students will be even rowdier than usual)
and no marching band.
That's right. Director Mike Leckrone has suspended the entire UW Marching Band indefinitely on the eve of the biggest football game of the year, pending investigations into hazing that go back numerous years. Read the full story here
Pretty wild.
Let's hope the Brewers can pull one out of the hat tonight in Milwaukee, because it looks dim for the QB-less Badgers (that's right, Allan Evridge, I'm calling you out as a non-quarterback).
Big Game
Night Game (meaning the students will be even rowdier than usual)
and no marching band.
That's right. Director Mike Leckrone has suspended the entire UW Marching Band indefinitely on the eve of the biggest football game of the year, pending investigations into hazing that go back numerous years. Read the full story here
Pretty wild.
Let's hope the Brewers can pull one out of the hat tonight in Milwaukee, because it looks dim for the QB-less Badgers (that's right, Allan Evridge, I'm calling you out as a non-quarterback).
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Music Challenge - the answers
1. Of Montreal
2. New Pornographers, Zumpano, A.C. Newman (sort of--it's really just him)
3. Queen
4. Metallica
5. Guns 'n Roses
6. The Hold Steady
7. Cardinals
8. Decemberists
9. The Arcade Fire
10. Belle & Sebastian
11. Creedence Clearwater Revival
12. Iron & Wine
13. Blues Traveler
14. Girl Talk
15. Black Kids
16. Gym Class Heroes
17. Throw Me The Statue
18. Hallelujah the Hills
19. TV on the Radio
20. Born Ruffians
21. Weezer
22. Rentals
23. Space Twins
24. The Special Goodness
25. Long Winters
26. Sublime
27. stellastarr*
28. Strokes
29. Journey
30. Soul Asylum
31. Kaiser Chiefs
32. Soul Coughing
33. Mountain Goats
34. Heiruspecs
35. Blackalicious
36. Shearwater
37. Sly & the Family Stone
38. Franz Ferdinand
39. Fiery Furnaces
40. Okkervil River
41. Wilco
42. Roots
43. Destroyer ; Hello, Blue Roses
44. White Stripes ; Raconteurs
45. Rilo Kiley
46. Arctic Monkeys ; Last Shadow Puppets
47. Wolf Parade ; Sunset Rubdown ; Frog Eyes
48. Wolf Parade ; Handsome Furs
49. Unicorns ; Islands ; Human Highway
50. Spoon
2. New Pornographers, Zumpano, A.C. Newman (sort of--it's really just him)
3. Queen
4. Metallica
5. Guns 'n Roses
6. The Hold Steady
7. Cardinals
8. Decemberists
9. The Arcade Fire
10. Belle & Sebastian
11. Creedence Clearwater Revival
12. Iron & Wine
13. Blues Traveler
14. Girl Talk
15. Black Kids
16. Gym Class Heroes
17. Throw Me The Statue
18. Hallelujah the Hills
19. TV on the Radio
20. Born Ruffians
21. Weezer
22. Rentals
23. Space Twins
24. The Special Goodness
25. Long Winters
26. Sublime
27. stellastarr*
28. Strokes
29. Journey
30. Soul Asylum
31. Kaiser Chiefs
32. Soul Coughing
33. Mountain Goats
34. Heiruspecs
35. Blackalicious
36. Shearwater
37. Sly & the Family Stone
38. Franz Ferdinand
39. Fiery Furnaces
40. Okkervil River
41. Wilco
42. Roots
43. Destroyer ; Hello, Blue Roses
44. White Stripes ; Raconteurs
45. Rilo Kiley
46. Arctic Monkeys ; Last Shadow Puppets
47. Wolf Parade ; Sunset Rubdown ; Frog Eyes
48. Wolf Parade ; Handsome Furs
49. Unicorns ; Islands ; Human Highway
50. Spoon
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Nothing in particular...
So I have to say, there's something liberating about peeing through the chain-link fence on to your neighbor's property. So Septembier-fest has concluded (I'm still wokring on the last one) and here's the list:
New Glarus Staghorn Oktoberfrest
Red Hook Late Harvest
Lakefront Klisch Pilsner
Lakefront Cherry Lager
Lakefront Catttail Ale
Lakefront IPA
Lakefront Organic ESB (that's right, organic--we're healthy here in Madison)
Lakfefront River West Stein Beer
Lakefront East Side Dark
Lakefront Fuel Cafe Coffee Stout (most disappointing coffee stout ever)
Red Hook Late Harvest (yess, again...)
and i think we're going to finiswh with a flasss (yeah, that's 'glass' in sober-man's terms) of jameson.
New Glarus Staghorn Oktoberfrest
Red Hook Late Harvest
Lakefront Klisch Pilsner
Lakefront Cherry Lager
Lakefront Catttail Ale
Lakefront IPA
Lakefront Organic ESB (that's right, organic--we're healthy here in Madison)
Lakfefront River West Stein Beer
Lakefront East Side Dark
Lakefront Fuel Cafe Coffee Stout (most disappointing coffee stout ever)
Red Hook Late Harvest (yess, again...)
and i think we're going to finiswh with a flasss (yeah, that's 'glass' in sober-man's terms) of jameson.
Music Challenge
Below is a list of leaders/lead singers from different bands. Can you name those bands?
1. Kevin Barnes
2. Carl Newman (2 or 3, depending on how you look at it)
3. Paul Rodgers
4. James Hetfield
5. Axl Rose
(We're clearly starting off a little easy here)
6. Craig Finn
7. Ryan Adams
8. Colin Meloy
9. Win Butler
10. Stuart Murdoch
11. John Fogerty
12. Sam Beam
13. John Popper
14. Greg Gilles
15. Reggie Youngblood
16. Travis McCoy
17. Scott Reitherman
18. Ryan Walsh
19. Tunde Adebimpe
20. Luke Lalonde
21. Rivers Cuomo
22. Matt Sharp
23. Brian Bell
24. Patrick Wilson
(Yep, all those guys have or had different bands)
25. John Roderick
26. Bradley Nowell (R.I.P.)
27. Shawn Christensen
28. Julian Casablancas
29. Steve Perry
30. David Pirner
31. Ricky Wilson
32. Mike Doughty
33. John Darnielle
34. Felix Da Cat
35. Gift of Gab
36. Jonathan Meiburg
37. Sylvester Stewart
38. Alex Kapranos
39. Matthew Friedberger
40. Will Sheff
41. Jeff Tweedy
42. Black Thought
43. Dan Bejar (2)
44. Jack White (2)
45. Jenny Lewis
46. Alex Turner (2)
47. Spencer Krug (3)
48. Dan Boeckner (2)
49. Nick Thorburn (3)
50. Britt Daniel
(Answers will be coming post-haste)
1. Kevin Barnes
2. Carl Newman (2 or 3, depending on how you look at it)
3. Paul Rodgers
4. James Hetfield
5. Axl Rose
(We're clearly starting off a little easy here)
6. Craig Finn
7. Ryan Adams
8. Colin Meloy
9. Win Butler
10. Stuart Murdoch
11. John Fogerty
12. Sam Beam
13. John Popper
14. Greg Gilles
15. Reggie Youngblood
16. Travis McCoy
17. Scott Reitherman
18. Ryan Walsh
19. Tunde Adebimpe
20. Luke Lalonde
21. Rivers Cuomo
22. Matt Sharp
23. Brian Bell
24. Patrick Wilson
(Yep, all those guys have or had different bands)
25. John Roderick
26. Bradley Nowell (R.I.P.)
27. Shawn Christensen
28. Julian Casablancas
29. Steve Perry
30. David Pirner
31. Ricky Wilson
32. Mike Doughty
33. John Darnielle
34. Felix Da Cat
35. Gift of Gab
36. Jonathan Meiburg
37. Sylvester Stewart
38. Alex Kapranos
39. Matthew Friedberger
40. Will Sheff
41. Jeff Tweedy
42. Black Thought
43. Dan Bejar (2)
44. Jack White (2)
45. Jenny Lewis
46. Alex Turner (2)
47. Spencer Krug (3)
48. Dan Boeckner (2)
49. Nick Thorburn (3)
50. Britt Daniel
(Answers will be coming post-haste)
Wedding Photos!
So there's a link in the sidebar for this as well, but I wanted to highlight it, as our friend Katy did such a smashing job with all the photos (and there are lots). Hopefully, this link will work.
Brendan and Angela's Wedding
Brendan and Angela's Wedding
Changes
I've added some other things to the blog now. Play Breakout or Mini-Golf at the bottom of the page. Some of my favorite sites are now in the sidebar.
Friday, September 26, 2008
All-MLB Name Team, Vol 1
Well--the NFL was so much fun and you know baseball has more foreign names to offer. Plus, I don't follow baseball very much, so most of these names are new to me as well, providing extra shock value.
and so we begin...
Milton Bradley (Rangers)- is he a DH? is he a board game pioneer? is he both? one of the greatest names ever in professional sports
Coco Crisp (Red Sox)- an OF? a breakfast cereal character? hard to say.
Danys Baez (Orioles)- what, are there two of him?
Rocky Cherry (Orioles) - really? I'm still on the 1st roster and we already have danys and this ice cream flavor? This is going to be awesome.
Radhames Liz (Orioles) - this guy got married and took his wife's maiden first name
Aubrey Huff (Orioles) - if you saw the NFL name team, this guy is undoubtedly friends with mackenzy bernadeau
David Aardsma (Red Sox) - as close as I think we'll ever see to someone named 'aardvark'
Phil Coke (Yankees) - was this guy named in the Mitchell report?
Joba Chamberlain (Yankees) - I actually know who this guy is. Still doesn't excuse the name. C'mon, isn't 'joba' like a Japanese pocket toy similar to the Giga-pets of yesteryear?
Melky Cabrera (Yankees) - does he have a brother named 'Juicy'? how bout 'Beery'?
Jae Kuk Ryu (Rays) - Yeah, I know. And generally I would leave Eastern-origin names off, but seriously, this looks like a character from Mortal Kombat. I have no idea how it's pronounced, let alone what order they actually function in
Rocco Baldelli (Rays) - should be a prize fighter in Jersey
Kevin Mench (Blue Jays) - as in Kevin "Oh, you know my friend Skip, he a real..."
Boone Logan (White Sox) - Clearly filled out the paperwork for employment wrong when it said "Last Name--First Name"
Jason Bourgeois (White Sox) - Yeah, he plays baseball for the working-class South-siders, but when he gets home to his mansion by Lake Michigan, he kicks back by the pool with his trophy wife and revels in his own name/lifestyle.
Josh Fields (White Sox) - Does he? Anyone?
Nick Swisher (White Sox) - the Happy Gilmore of Major League Baseball
Jensen Lewis (Indians) - see "Boone Logan" above
Asdrubal Cabrera (Indians) - For the life of me, I can't pronounce this guy's first name
Jhonny Peralta (Indians) - Excuse me, Mr. Peralta, you have clearly misplaced your 'H'
Shin-Soo Choo (Indians) - Seems like a bad caricature from an old Western
Kenny Rogers (Tigers) - I thought he was like 70 years old! Congrats, Kenny. Glad to see you're keeping in shape by throwing the ol' ball around from time to time, whilst still belting out those mellow country classics. Thank you, Kenny Rogers, for all your goodness.
Ryan Braun () - on this list mostly because he is NOT the Brewers OF, but a pudgy relief pitcher for Kansas City. Who knew?
Jimmy Gobble (Royals) - gobble, gobble, gobble, here, turkey, turkey, turkey...
Esteban German (Royals) - some sort of ethnic heritage mash-up here...
Ross Gload (Royals) - It's just funny to look at
Kila Ka'aihue (Royals) - a Hawaiian in the big leagues? Awesome. I can't imagine there's a lot of pickup baseball games in the South Pacific. Oh wait...he plays for the Royals
Boof Bonser (Twins) - I actually just read a story about guys who have legally changed their names in pro sports and this guy is one of 'em. Apparently, he was called 'Boof' as a child and it just stuck, so he changed it legally. I'm not buying it. My guess? He lost a pool game or bar bet and had to change his name to whatever he said when his buddy punched him in the stomach. Boof!
Dennys Reyes (Twins) - Again with the plural first name?
Shawn Loux (Angels) - Where's the 'de la'? It seems like there should be more to this guy's name
Chone Figgins (Angels) - What the hell's a chone? It sounds like a disgusting Scottish pastry or something.
Vladimir Guerrero (Angels) - another confluence of cultures, he has to be the only Vlad in the world with dreadlocks
Kirk Saarloos (Athletics) - Way too many vowels
Justin Duchscherer (Athletics) - Before you say this name looks fine, think about this span of letters: 'chsch'. Find that in another word (or name for that matter)
Kurt Suzuki (Athletics) - Big motorbike fan. Some of these are just too easy
J.J. Putz (Mariners) - I think the only way you can make 'Putz' worse than it already is? Go by initials instead of an actual name
R.A. Dickey (Mariners) - Quick! There's an initial epidemic in Seattle!
Tug Hulett (Mariners) - Was this guy a longshoreman? I realize the Mariners are terrible this year, but couldn't they have recruited from an actual baseball team instead of the docks?
Frank Francisco (Rangers) - So if we reduce his name to one language, he's really just 'Frank Frank', right?
Bill White (Rangers) - Paging Mr. Generic, your table for one is ready
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Rangers) - Mostly because it's excruciatingly long
Taylor Teagarden, German Duran, Frank Catalanotto (Rangers) - Man, the Rangers are full of 'em. I officially declare them the San Diego Chargers of the American League
Alright, that's all I got for tonight. It's early, but the Brewers are on (and winning), and I didn't go to bed until 3am last night. Watch for Vol 2 (the National League) coming soon.
and so we begin...
Milton Bradley (Rangers)- is he a DH? is he a board game pioneer? is he both? one of the greatest names ever in professional sports
Coco Crisp (Red Sox)- an OF? a breakfast cereal character? hard to say.
Danys Baez (Orioles)- what, are there two of him?
Rocky Cherry (Orioles) - really? I'm still on the 1st roster and we already have danys and this ice cream flavor? This is going to be awesome.
Radhames Liz (Orioles) - this guy got married and took his wife's maiden first name
Aubrey Huff (Orioles) - if you saw the NFL name team, this guy is undoubtedly friends with mackenzy bernadeau
David Aardsma (Red Sox) - as close as I think we'll ever see to someone named 'aardvark'
Phil Coke (Yankees) - was this guy named in the Mitchell report?
Joba Chamberlain (Yankees) - I actually know who this guy is. Still doesn't excuse the name. C'mon, isn't 'joba' like a Japanese pocket toy similar to the Giga-pets of yesteryear?
Melky Cabrera (Yankees) - does he have a brother named 'Juicy'? how bout 'Beery'?
Jae Kuk Ryu (Rays) - Yeah, I know. And generally I would leave Eastern-origin names off, but seriously, this looks like a character from Mortal Kombat. I have no idea how it's pronounced, let alone what order they actually function in
Rocco Baldelli (Rays) - should be a prize fighter in Jersey
Kevin Mench (Blue Jays) - as in Kevin "Oh, you know my friend Skip, he a real..."
Boone Logan (White Sox) - Clearly filled out the paperwork for employment wrong when it said "Last Name--First Name"
Jason Bourgeois (White Sox) - Yeah, he plays baseball for the working-class South-siders, but when he gets home to his mansion by Lake Michigan, he kicks back by the pool with his trophy wife and revels in his own name/lifestyle.
Josh Fields (White Sox) - Does he? Anyone?
Nick Swisher (White Sox) - the Happy Gilmore of Major League Baseball
Jensen Lewis (Indians) - see "Boone Logan" above
Asdrubal Cabrera (Indians) - For the life of me, I can't pronounce this guy's first name
Jhonny Peralta (Indians) - Excuse me, Mr. Peralta, you have clearly misplaced your 'H'
Shin-Soo Choo (Indians) - Seems like a bad caricature from an old Western
Kenny Rogers (Tigers) - I thought he was like 70 years old! Congrats, Kenny. Glad to see you're keeping in shape by throwing the ol' ball around from time to time, whilst still belting out those mellow country classics. Thank you, Kenny Rogers, for all your goodness.
Ryan Braun () - on this list mostly because he is NOT the Brewers OF, but a pudgy relief pitcher for Kansas City. Who knew?
Jimmy Gobble (Royals) - gobble, gobble, gobble, here, turkey, turkey, turkey...
Esteban German (Royals) - some sort of ethnic heritage mash-up here...
Ross Gload (Royals) - It's just funny to look at
Kila Ka'aihue (Royals) - a Hawaiian in the big leagues? Awesome. I can't imagine there's a lot of pickup baseball games in the South Pacific. Oh wait...he plays for the Royals
Boof Bonser (Twins) - I actually just read a story about guys who have legally changed their names in pro sports and this guy is one of 'em. Apparently, he was called 'Boof' as a child and it just stuck, so he changed it legally. I'm not buying it. My guess? He lost a pool game or bar bet and had to change his name to whatever he said when his buddy punched him in the stomach. Boof!
Dennys Reyes (Twins) - Again with the plural first name?
Shawn Loux (Angels) - Where's the 'de la'? It seems like there should be more to this guy's name
Chone Figgins (Angels) - What the hell's a chone? It sounds like a disgusting Scottish pastry or something.
Vladimir Guerrero (Angels) - another confluence of cultures, he has to be the only Vlad in the world with dreadlocks
Kirk Saarloos (Athletics) - Way too many vowels
Justin Duchscherer (Athletics) - Before you say this name looks fine, think about this span of letters: 'chsch'. Find that in another word (or name for that matter)
Kurt Suzuki (Athletics) - Big motorbike fan. Some of these are just too easy
J.J. Putz (Mariners) - I think the only way you can make 'Putz' worse than it already is? Go by initials instead of an actual name
R.A. Dickey (Mariners) - Quick! There's an initial epidemic in Seattle!
Tug Hulett (Mariners) - Was this guy a longshoreman? I realize the Mariners are terrible this year, but couldn't they have recruited from an actual baseball team instead of the docks?
Frank Francisco (Rangers) - So if we reduce his name to one language, he's really just 'Frank Frank', right?
Bill White (Rangers) - Paging Mr. Generic, your table for one is ready
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (Rangers) - Mostly because it's excruciatingly long
Taylor Teagarden, German Duran, Frank Catalanotto (Rangers) - Man, the Rangers are full of 'em. I officially declare them the San Diego Chargers of the American League
Alright, that's all I got for tonight. It's early, but the Brewers are on (and winning), and I didn't go to bed until 3am last night. Watch for Vol 2 (the National League) coming soon.
Reasons my brother Corey is a catch and those DC women are missing out
1. He's tall (6-4)
2. He has a dry sense of humor and a rapier wit
3. He makes an arse-load of money
4. He wears glasses, making him dignified (sort of)
5. He recently ran a marathon
6. He's cultured (went to Egypt last summer)
7. Enjoys food
2. He has a dry sense of humor and a rapier wit
3. He makes an arse-load of money
4. He wears glasses, making him dignified (sort of)
5. He recently ran a marathon
6. He's cultured (went to Egypt last summer)
7. Enjoys food
Right Now's Hot Music
(in no particular order)
Hallelujah the Hills (they never get old, and apparently, no one else has ever heard of them)
Frightened Rabbit (the Scottish Okkervil River, or a cross between Coldplay and Dave Matthews that's better than either of those artists has ever been)
Okkervil River (they just keep getting stronger)
K'Naan (Somalian-by-way-of-Toronto hip-hop)
Emmanuel Jal (another refugee turned emcee)
Pink Spiders (though their first album is far better than the new one)
Hallelujah the Hills (they never get old, and apparently, no one else has ever heard of them)
Frightened Rabbit (the Scottish Okkervil River, or a cross between Coldplay and Dave Matthews that's better than either of those artists has ever been)
Okkervil River (they just keep getting stronger)
K'Naan (Somalian-by-way-of-Toronto hip-hop)
Emmanuel Jal (another refugee turned emcee)
Pink Spiders (though their first album is far better than the new one)
The NFL All-Name Team
Atari Bigby (Packers S) - simply awesome
Syndric Steptoe (Browns WR) - I couldn't even imagine this
Michael Bumpus (Seahawks WR) - What a funny name to say
Early Doucet (Cardinals WR) - Early for what?
Yamon Figurs (Ravens KR) - A Jamaican mathematician, perhaps?
Frostee Rucker (Browns DT) - My brother suggested you should really try ordering a "frostee rucker" at Wendy's, which would probably result in you getting kicked out. Totally worth it.
D'Qwell Jackson (Browns LB) - I'd have to check, but I'm pretty sure this is the only d-q occurrence on the English language
Larry Foote (Steelers LB) - Just funny
Orpheus Roye (Steelers DT) - Sounds like a Shakespeare character
D'Brickashaw Ferguson (Jets T) - It's the extra 'a' before the 'shaw' that really does it
N.D. Kalu (Texans DE) - What could possibly be so bad that you would prefer to go by 'N.D.'?
T.J. Rushing (Colts CB) - A more perfect name for football? I think not
Ashton Youboty (Bills CB) - No, no, you booty
Samson Satele (Dolphins C) - Great name for an offensive lineman
Le Kevin Smith (Patriots DT) - He's either a reserve DT for New England or the French version of the Lions' rookie RB
Nnamdi Asomugha (Raiders CB) - Any time you can start your name with two 'n's, it's a bonus
Jon Condo (Raiders OL) - ...and his made-up friends, Mike Apartment and Bill Townhouse
Terdell Sands (Raiders DE) - Heh, heh, heh...terd
Ebenezer Ekuban (Broncos DE) - Holy E's, Batman--His mom probably thought, "you know, I'll name my child after a character made popular by a cartoon duck"
Brandon Manumaleuna (Chargers TE), Legedu Naanee (Chargers TE), Scott Mruczkowski (Chargers LS) - The Chargers currently have the market cornered on unpronounceable names
Ikaika Alama-Francis (Lions LB) - Really? There's just too much going on here
Jimmy Kleinsasser (Vikings TE) - Nothing like a grown man going by "Jimmy," especially when his last name and body shape are so closely linked
Jamaal Fudge (Falcons CB) - Maybe he can hang out with Frostee Rucker
Mackenzy Bernadeau (Panthers G) - Apparently, he plays guard for the Panthers and is not, as I fully expected, a 12-year-old girl
Na'il Diggs (Panthers LB) - Still a classic
Jermon Bushrod (Saints T) - Totally sounds like the porn name you get when you combine your first pet's name and the street you grew up on
Buck Ortega (Saints TE) - ...or heir to the salsa fortune? You decide
Andrew Economos (Buccaneers LS) - Is this the singular form of 'economy'?
Sabby Piscitelli (Buccaneers S) - Clearly a character from Grease
Aqib Talib (Buccaneers CB) - There are very few words that end in 'b'--here's two of them
Brooks Bollinger (Cowboys QB) - Not an overly funny name, but he makes the list for continually defying logic and remaining on an NFL roster
Kay-Jay Harris (Giants RB) - For those who have difficulty deciphering basic letters like 'K' and 'J', we have the phonetical spelling
Chris Snee (Giants G) - Wasn't he in Peter Pan?
Guy Whimper (Giants OL) - Saddest name ever for an offensive lineman
Fred Smoot (Redskins CB) - Another classic--'smoot' should be a verb, as in "man, you got smooted on that one"
Tully Banta-Cain (49ers LB) - None of his three names will ever be mistaken for real words
Jeb Putzier (Seahawks TE) - Best redneck name in the NFL
Mansfield Wrotto (Seahawks G) - Oh boy, where to begin. There's so much wrong with this name, it offends me just looking at it
Richie Incognito (Rams G) - as what? you might ask
Dane Looker (Rams WR) - as in Dane "I'm not much of a...
and for a coach, we go to the college ranks for Houston Nutt.
and one final fun fact: There are not 1, but 2 players in the NFL with the last name McQuistan. Go figure.
Syndric Steptoe (Browns WR) - I couldn't even imagine this
Michael Bumpus (Seahawks WR) - What a funny name to say
Early Doucet (Cardinals WR) - Early for what?
Yamon Figurs (Ravens KR) - A Jamaican mathematician, perhaps?
Frostee Rucker (Browns DT) - My brother suggested you should really try ordering a "frostee rucker" at Wendy's, which would probably result in you getting kicked out. Totally worth it.
D'Qwell Jackson (Browns LB) - I'd have to check, but I'm pretty sure this is the only d-q occurrence on the English language
Larry Foote (Steelers LB) - Just funny
Orpheus Roye (Steelers DT) - Sounds like a Shakespeare character
D'Brickashaw Ferguson (Jets T) - It's the extra 'a' before the 'shaw' that really does it
N.D. Kalu (Texans DE) - What could possibly be so bad that you would prefer to go by 'N.D.'?
T.J. Rushing (Colts CB) - A more perfect name for football? I think not
Ashton Youboty (Bills CB) - No, no, you booty
Samson Satele (Dolphins C) - Great name for an offensive lineman
Le Kevin Smith (Patriots DT) - He's either a reserve DT for New England or the French version of the Lions' rookie RB
Nnamdi Asomugha (Raiders CB) - Any time you can start your name with two 'n's, it's a bonus
Jon Condo (Raiders OL) - ...and his made-up friends, Mike Apartment and Bill Townhouse
Terdell Sands (Raiders DE) - Heh, heh, heh...terd
Ebenezer Ekuban (Broncos DE) - Holy E's, Batman--His mom probably thought, "you know, I'll name my child after a character made popular by a cartoon duck"
Brandon Manumaleuna (Chargers TE), Legedu Naanee (Chargers TE), Scott Mruczkowski (Chargers LS) - The Chargers currently have the market cornered on unpronounceable names
Ikaika Alama-Francis (Lions LB) - Really? There's just too much going on here
Jimmy Kleinsasser (Vikings TE) - Nothing like a grown man going by "Jimmy," especially when his last name and body shape are so closely linked
Jamaal Fudge (Falcons CB) - Maybe he can hang out with Frostee Rucker
Mackenzy Bernadeau (Panthers G) - Apparently, he plays guard for the Panthers and is not, as I fully expected, a 12-year-old girl
Na'il Diggs (Panthers LB) - Still a classic
Jermon Bushrod (Saints T) - Totally sounds like the porn name you get when you combine your first pet's name and the street you grew up on
Buck Ortega (Saints TE) - ...or heir to the salsa fortune? You decide
Andrew Economos (Buccaneers LS) - Is this the singular form of 'economy'?
Sabby Piscitelli (Buccaneers S) - Clearly a character from Grease
Aqib Talib (Buccaneers CB) - There are very few words that end in 'b'--here's two of them
Brooks Bollinger (Cowboys QB) - Not an overly funny name, but he makes the list for continually defying logic and remaining on an NFL roster
Kay-Jay Harris (Giants RB) - For those who have difficulty deciphering basic letters like 'K' and 'J', we have the phonetical spelling
Chris Snee (Giants G) - Wasn't he in Peter Pan?
Guy Whimper (Giants OL) - Saddest name ever for an offensive lineman
Fred Smoot (Redskins CB) - Another classic--'smoot' should be a verb, as in "man, you got smooted on that one"
Tully Banta-Cain (49ers LB) - None of his three names will ever be mistaken for real words
Jeb Putzier (Seahawks TE) - Best redneck name in the NFL
Mansfield Wrotto (Seahawks G) - Oh boy, where to begin. There's so much wrong with this name, it offends me just looking at it
Richie Incognito (Rams G) - as what? you might ask
Dane Looker (Rams WR) - as in Dane "I'm not much of a...
and for a coach, we go to the college ranks for Houston Nutt.
and one final fun fact: There are not 1, but 2 players in the NFL with the last name McQuistan. Go figure.
First Post - NOT A LIST
Thanks to my brother for suggesting this idea. I think. We'll see if I can come up with enough stuff to make it worthwhile. The first couple of posts will undoubtedly be recycled stuff that I've thought up over the years. Enjoy.
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