Lovin' every minute 'cause you make me feel so alive

I know I've done a lousy job of posting on here over the course of the past year, but it seems like I'd really have given up and left this blog to the dogs if I didn't post my annual list of my favorite albums of the year.  So, without further adieu, here they are:

There were a lot of albums by old favorites that I wanted to like a lot better than I did (I'm looking at you Franz Ferdinand, Nine Inch Nails and Pearl Jam).

Honorable Mentions:  Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Specter at the Feast; Josh Ritter - The Beast in its Tracks; The Lone Bellow; Rogue Wave - Nightingale Floors; Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City.

10: Phoenix - Bankrupt!

I don't really have much to say about this album other than that the band has maintained its ability to entertain with catchy tunes.  A pretty good album to listen to while running.  Which reminds me, I ran a half marathon and completed a triathlon this year.  I need to figure out another race to sign up for so that I'll start exercising again instead of becoming a fat slob again.

9: Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse

I don't think I could ever get tired of the song lyrics these guys come up with.  Brutally honest.  "Let's tell every girl we marry that we'll always love them when we probably won't."  Maybe I'm jaded, but I prefer this kind of realistic attitude to the sappy love songs that clog the airwaves.

8. The National - Trouble Will Find Me

Sometimes life isn't fair.  Like this summer when I had to choose between seeing these guys for $5, or seeing My Morning Jacket, Wilco, and Bob Dylan perform.  Of course I chose the latter concert, and I don't regret it, but I heard that The National killed it.  I suppose there are worse problems to have in life.  Still, it would've been nice to make it to both shows.







7. Eels - Wonderful, Glorious


This year I read E's autobiography 'Things the Grandchildren Should Know.'  I read it right after a break-up, which probably wasn't the best move since it's quite depressing.  (I was warned: Do not read this when you're depressed!)  Not sure how that he hasn't killed himself with the life he's had.  Take home message:  Life sucks, but the good can outweigh the bad, and when it does, it's beautiful.  Truth.





6. Kurt Vile - Wakin on a Pretty Daze


Kurt Vile is awesome.  That is all.  Not many people can pull off nine minute songs that I never get sick of hearing, but he's done it here.  Perfect music for winding down at the end of a long busy day.  For reals.







5. Dawes - Stories Don't End


I was working in the lab one day when I got a text from a master's student I'd trained who had graduated and started a PhD program in Oregon:  "Have you heard the new Dawes?  Just My Luck seems like it was written specifically for you."  I downloaded it.  He was right.  "Just my luck, I never said I loved you.  Just my luck, it completely slipped my mind."





4. Blitzen Trapper - VII

I've only seen these guys perform once, when they opened for Wilco a couple of summers ago.  I had tickets to another show, but had a conflict and gave them to my friend.  He later told me it was a top five concert experience for him.  Of course it was.  They came again this Fall, but as luck would have it, it was a couple weeks after I moved to the mid-west.  Oh yeah, I moved to the mid-west this year.  Kill me.

3. Phosphorescent - Muchacho

This album has my favorite song of the year: Song For Zula.  It's beautiful.  One morning, I listened to it on repeat while watching the sun rise over the Sea of Cortez.  You can't beat that type of experience (when the beauty of the world syncs up with art).  You just can't.  I'll go back to that beach sometime this summer, but won't be able to capture that moment again.  Hopefully there will be a new, similar moment.

2. The Strokes - Comedown Machine

If it's not obvious from my last blurb, I spent some time in Mexico this year.  5 1/2 weeks to be exact.  One night, after we'd finished processing samples from a field site, we went to a bar next to our hotel. The bar owner played this entire album while we played pool.  I suck at pool, btw.  I don't suck at making requests though.  Even if I don't speak the language.   

1. Empire of the Sun - Ice on the Dune

Before this summer, I'd only heard one song by this band.  I went to their concert anyway.  It was only $5, and a group of friends were excited about it.  It was the best show I saw this year, and that's saying a lot considering it topped The Flaming Lips, and the My Morning Jacket/Wilco/Bob Dylan show.  I couldn't stop listening to this album for like six weeks.  The only bad thing is that it's now permanently associated with my move to Iowa.  Probably not the best association to have.  (Although I will say that the people there are great, my new boss is totally awesome, and I get to spend a few months a year in Mexico, so life is pretty good right now.  That's all.)

I hope that 2014 treats you all well.  

Happiness it comes at the strangest time, it's true, I don't know what comes now

Well, well, well, would you look at that?  It's the last day of the year and I still haven't compiled a list of my favorite albums of 2012.  I know you care.  I still have time, so here goes:

Honorable Mentions:  Garbage, Calexico, The Gaslight Anthem, The Silver Seas, Emperors, Mark Lanegan Band, Fanfarlo, Everest, and Glen Hansard.

(Oops, couldn't narrow it down to ten, so you get two extra this year.)

12.  The Wallflowers - Glad All Over

I was happy to see the band working together again after Jakob Dylan spent the last few years working on solo stuff (which was also good).  I probably haven't given this album enough listening time since I got it at the same time as a whole bunch of other music that I'm still slowly making my way through.  Not sure it truly belongs on my favorites of 2012 list for that reason, but I'm throwing it on there for old times' sake.  These guys were one of the bands that got me through my divorce.  True story.




11.  Band Of Horses - Mirage Rock

I was fortunate to see these guys play for the low, low price of $5 while they were on tour promoting this album.  They played the song Great Salt Lake (not on this album, but probably my favorite BoH song) twice.  My friends realized that none of us have ever floated in the Great Salt Lake, so we drove out there at midnight and swam as a thunder storm rolled in.  It was quite an amazing experience.




10.  John K. Sampson - Provincial

This is a fantastic solo album from the frontman of The Weakerthans.  I haven't heard his voice for a while as it's been quite some time.  The first time I listened to this album was very nostalgic for me, even though it was brand new.  How that makes sense, I have no idea, but there you go.  I texted an old friend to make sure he knew this was out.  Music has a funny way of getting me to reach out to people I haven't spoken to in years, apparently.



9.  Divine Fits - A Thing Called Divine Fits

A friend gave me this album, but at first I didn't take the time to listen to it all the way through.  When I'm at work I listen to my music on shuffle.  At least four different times I'd stop whatever I was doing in the lab to go look at who was playing, and this was the album cover that flashed up.  Great collaborative effort from some of the guys from Spoon and Wolf Parade, two styles that I didn't think would mesh, but somehow do.  Also, the album cover is pretty awesome.  Simplicity works.



8.  The XX - Coexist

Another simple album cover, another really good album from a band I finally got around to listening to despite plenty of recommendations from friends after their last album.  Seriously, if you haven't heard these guys yet, drop whatever you're doing and go listen.  You won't be disappointed.






7.  Kishi Bashi - 151A

One of my friends called me on the phone last Spring and told me to download this song ASAP.  I did.  I then listened to it in the car with a girl from my lab while we were en route to the Hare Krishna temple to pick up colors for the Holi Festival.  Talk about fitting.  Later in the year he came here on tour, and that same friend took me on a date to the show since her husband couldn't go with her.  We hung out afterward and I told him that Bright Whites is a song that makes me happy every time I hear it.  I think he thought I was weird, but whatever.


6.  The Shins - Port of Morrow

I don't think there has been an album by The Shins that I haven't liked.  This one is no exception.  I was bummed that I missed their concert this summer.  (Say what you will about Salt Lake City, but they do get their fair share of awesome concerts.)  This makes for good road trip music.






5.  Nada Surf - The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy

The album title is a mouthful, but this is another strong effort by Nada Surf.  Another band that came through and I missed out on.  I didn't even know they were here until the day of the concert, and of course by then it was too late.  I would've loved to have been at that show.  All my friends missed it as well.  What I'm saying is, we all suck.





4.  Sea Wolf - Old World Romance


I'm not sure I've listened to this album enough to have it ranked this high on my favorites list, but whatever.  It's good all the way through.  They'll be here during Sundance, and I'm going to do my best to make it to one of the three shows they'll be putting on.  I've heard they're amazing live.  One of my friends said seeing them perform vaulted them to second favorite band of all time.  That's a pretty strong statement to say the least.  Great, now my expectations are high.



3.  Alberta Cross - Songs of Patience

This one might also be ranked a bit lower if I wasn't so in love with the song Wasteland.  I dare you to listen to it and try to say something bad.  You can't.  It's amazing.  All of this band's albums are fantastic as well.  If you've never heard of them, I suggest you change that.






2.  The Walkmen - Heaven

Another $5 concert at the park last summer.  I hadn't yet listened to this album, but am a fan of their older work, so couldn't pass up the opportunity.  I convinced one of my colleagues to join me.  We were both impressed.  I'd say these guys have only gotten better through the years.  I purchased the album on iTunes as we left the park and walked back to the car.  I then proceeded to listen to it non-stop for about three weeks straight.

1.  Delta Spirit - Delta Spirit


Not only is this my favorite album of the year, but this was my favorite concert of the year.  The lead singer has so much energy (he's a little crazy, in my opinion).  The concert was on a Monday night.  He thanked us for joining the band on "the greatest Monday night of all time."  I probably wouldn't go that far, but it was a lot of fun.  They played until 1:30 a.m.  The last song he climbed up into the rafters and sang it while hanging upside down with his legs wrapped around the beam.  I honestly thought I was going to witness the show where he died.  Glad I didn't.  It would've ruined my night.  His too.



All things considered, 2012 was a good year.  Here's hoping that 2013 has more good things in store for all of us.  Happy New Year everybody!!!

There's a distance between me and a world that's offering its hand

In case you haven't guessed it, I'm depressed. And what do I do when I'm depressed? Besides wallow in self-pity, I mean? That's right. I put together music mixes. Here's the latest one.

Nobody's Man (click to download)
1. Weapons - The Daylights
2. Fall Into You - Gus Black
3. Wonderful (The Way I Feel) - My Morning Jacket
4. Reflections Of The Marionette - Two Gallants
5. When You Call My Name - Dawes
6. I And Love And You - The Avett Brothers
7. House Built For Two - Delta Spirit
8. Thanks For Nothing - Middle Brother
9. Rust - Telekinesis
10. Angelyne - The Jayhawks
11. Friday XIII - Deer Tick
12. Monster Ballads - Josh Ritter
13. Here's Looking At You, Kid - The Gaslight Anthem

I'd be curious to hear whether or not you like it.

Down the highway, down the road to infamy I ride

So, about a week ago I went on a road trip to visit my kids in Arizona, and while I was on the road I took some videos of my favorite parts of the drive, complete with road music, and trust me, they were awesome, but blogger is stupid and won't upload them so you don't get to see them after all, and by the way, this is definitely a run-on sentence, but I don't care because I have a Ph D and can make my own rules.

I still don't have anything to say other than that I found this "new" band that I'm totally digging right now (thanks Pandora radio). I was at my brother's house about two weeks ago and played one of their singles on his laptop. My sister-in-law said, "That sounds like someone is shitting in my ear." I call that success, but whatever.

Give it a listen and see whether or not you agree with her:

Because my love is strong and my heart is weak after all

And now it's time for the list you've all been anxiously awaiting with bated breath: Native Minnow's favorite* albums of 2010.


Delta Spirit - History From Below
Quite frankly, I'm surprised these guys don't generate more buzz. This was the album I listened to more than any other this year, and I'm still not tired of it. Devil Knows You're Dead is a fantastic song. Just before I moved, I told Girl Who Wouldn't Be My Girlfriend that it should be our theme song, but she said it was too sad. Fair enough. It was the first song I heard off of this album, and I thought it would be my favorite, but that honor now goes to Bushwick Blues. Watch the video on YouTube. Great stuff.


The Whigs - In The Dark
One of my lamest brushes with "celebrity" (aside from Joe Jackson giving me a fist bump at a Halloween party because he liked my Axl Rose costume, or the time I walked right past Luke Wilson without realizing it because I was ogling the girl he was with) came when I saw these guys open for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club in February. When BRMC came on, some of the band members for The Whigs went out into the crowd to watch. During one of the faster BRMC songs, I got shoved into the bass player who was standing to my left. He caught me. I apologized. He said no need to. I told him he played a good set. He thanked me. Oddly, we never hung out again after that.


Band of Horses - infinite Arms
One of my regrets this year was missing these guys live because of the timing of my move away from Vegas. These guys played here a week or two before I moved, and played in Vegas the weekend after I left. Talk about missing the boat. Of course my Vegas friends had to keep texting me to let me know what a great show I was missing. Pricks.


Local Natives - Gorilla Manor
One of the benefits of living with a music fanatic is that I hear about a lot music I'd never find out about otherwise that way. My roommate told me to give this album a listen shortly after he moved in. I'm obviously glad he did. There's a pretty good chance that either Camera Talk or Warning Sign will make it onto a future mix CD of mine. I guess this album was actually released in 2009, but that was just in the U.K., and it's U.S. release was 2010 so I'm counting it. Sue me.


Ok Go - Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky
The kings of making music videos that go viral were at it again in full force this year with their videos for This Too Shall Pass and White Knuckles (I'm pretty sure the latter would hold a special place in the heart of everybody's favorite Anonymous Boxer). In the band's own words "'Cause nothin' ever doesn't change, but nothin' changes much." I also listened to this while cruising around UCLA's campus with some friends in early July. Somehow that mental image comes back every time I hear the song Skyscrapers.


Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat The Devil's Tattoo
I'll be honest, the first few times I listened to this album I only liked the first three or four songs, so I rarely listened to it past that. But, as I work in the lab, or write, or drive, I often listen to my iTunes (or iPod) on shuffle so that I don't have to constantly restart it after an album ends. As you might guess, when that would happen, and random songs from this album would play, they started to grow on me. I love them now. It's still not my favorite BRMC album, but it's climbing the ranks. Plus, I got some kisses when I bought concert tickets for me and GWWBMGF, so that was a plus.


Neon Trees - Habits
This album is just fun to listen to, plain and simple. It's one that can instantly cheer me up if I play it while I'm feeling down. Which probably means I should play it a lot more than I have been lately. Kudos also go to these guys for making it out of Utah, a place with very little going on when it comes to the local music scene.


Eels - End Times
Speaking of feeling down, this is an album that you may not want to listen to while you are. Every song is centered around Mark Oliver Everett's divorce, and can be quite depressing for anyone who's been through one themselves (or anyone going through a break up of any sort). That said, it's got some powerful stuff. Like the song Little Bird, and The Mansions of Los Feliz. It didn't receive a very good review from Pitchfork, but those guys are too hip for their own good anyway, so pay them no mind.


Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young
This solo album from the frontman of The Strokes has a bit of an '80s feel to it, but not in a bad way. Fans of The Strokes should really like it, and really, there's no reason any of you shouldn't be fans of The Strokes. They're another band that it surprises me they don't get more attention.


So there you go. Now you all know how to spend those iTunes gift cards you get in your stockings. You're welcome.










*One of my very favorite albums of the year was Kasabian's West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum. Too bad it was really released in 2009 and I was just late coming to the party.

And I believe there's a way to describe the silence as a sound

I've compiled another music mix for my your listening pleasure. Check it out. These only show up here once every six months or so.

Just One In A Billion(click to download)
1. Bad Sun - The Bravery
2. Lover's Waltz - A.A. Bondy
3. Keep It Clean - Camera Obscura
4. Long Time - Deer Tick
5. Pavement Tune - The Frames
6. Flashing Red Light Means Go - The Boxer Rebellion
7. So Lonely - The Whigs
8. Sirens - The Whip
9. Poised And Ready - Brendan Benson
10. Apple Trees - Eels
11. Sabali (Paul Epworth Remix) - Amadou and Mariam

Enjoy!