I didn't make any resolutions this year. I've often failed at resolving things, and this year shouldn't disappoint. Or maybe it'll surprise....
January 3, 2015: Close Call
I typed "2014" up there before I fixed it. So far, so good.
Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones – Baby Please Don’t Go
When I was in MPLS for the holidays, this concert happened upon me while flipping through channels on TPT. Not sure if everyone's already seen this, but I thought it was pretty awesome.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3Or7huOK7o
1981
One more cut after the jump, when a whole new slate of amazing jumps up on stage.
Continue reading Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones – Baby Please Don’t Go
Friday Music Day: Best of 2014
After a few years of feeling blah about most new music, I'm excited about some things again. Maybe it's that Random Access Memories is enough in my rear-view mirror that I don't hate music any more. Though that album couldn't have been the cause, it might have slowed my recovery.
Copied from last year (with a slight edit)
My rules, you don't have to use them:
Songs from the album list are pretty much excluded from the song list.
Released in the calendar year.
This is some mix of "favorite" and a more objective "best", but "best" is just about how well things meet my (capricious) tastes.
I go until I don't.
A few years ago, I also explained my editorial idiosyncracies. (A/k/a the "Why no Radiohead Run the Jewels?" explantion.) Also, I don't want to spend so danged much time writing this as I have in the past.
With no further caveatting...
Albums of the Year.
1. Lydia Loveless Somewhere Else
I expected something like this (though I feared I might not). You probably expected this. You may even agree with this. Lydia (and her band) continue to impress me with their songs and performances. This album was a change in style from a rockin' outlaw alt-country to something with a lot more pop songwriting built into it, while still sounding like Lydia. Love the songs I'd been craving for years, love the new songs. Whenever I decide a favorite, I change it to one of seven others. Right now, I think it's "Verlaine Shot Rimbaud", definitely the best love song told through the prism of French poet-lovers and their violent discharges of firearms at each other that I've ever heard. Continue reading Friday Music Day: Best of 2014
January 2, 2015: Kind of Like “Spoons”
Ah, posting from my phone. I said "remembet" yesterday and I'm sure there are plenty more typos to come.
Run The Jewels – Early
Killer Mike and El-P get the hipster prize this year.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dqGLhW3VVA
Happy Birthday–January 1
Tim Keefe (1857)
Hugh Nicol (1858)
Webster McDonald (1900)
Ethan Allen (1904)
Hank Greenberg (1911)
Joe Reichler (1915)
Sherry Robertson (1919)
Earl Torgeson (1924)
Carl Scheib (1927)
Roy Majtyka (1939)
Bill Bethea (1942)
Rick Albert (1951)
Bob Owchinko (1955)
La Marr Hoyt (1955)
Fernando Tatis (1975)
Submarine-style pitcher Webster McDonald pitched in the Negro Leagues from 1920-1940.
Joe Reichler was a long-time sportswriter and later worked in the commissioner's office. He was the editor of several editions of The Baseball Encyclopedia.
Roy Majtyka was a long-time minor-league manager, winning 1,832 games.
Rick Albert has been a minor-league coach or manager in the Braves' organization since 1978.
We would like to wish a very happy birthday to mrs. bhiggum.
January 1, 2015: Aging
I remembet, like yesterday, being blown away that the year started with a 2. That wasn't exactly recent.
Sonic Youth – Skip Tracer
HELLO
TWENTY
FIFTEEN
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19aefKYIYXA
Apologies to the vjays for intruding.
Death Cab For Cutie – New Year
As always, have a happy and safe night everyone. Be sure to get home in one piece, because it's going to be a hell of a new year.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx4AOOpdJJs
2011
Also, what was everyone's favorite of 2014? Why don't you post it below?