Distance: 16 miles
Time: 3 hours
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: I've been sick the last few days, so the last time I ran was a five miler on Monday. I was still feeling a little under the weather on Saturday morning but decided to give it a try and call it short if I didn't feel well. I felt fine for the first two miles, then one of the participants fell and I helped walk her to the aid station, which took about 15 minutes. When I started running again after we dropped her off, I felt stiff but thought that would go away soon enough. It didn't. I felt stiff the rest of the way and added exhaustion soon after. Gina joined me about four miles in to the run and she was the reason I kept on going. I was kidding around with her by whining most of the way, but after a while I wasn't kidding around very much any more. I really was whining. I felt horrible pretty much the entire 16 miles, and I probably should have called it a short day, but Gina didn't want me to. So I ran and ran. Even on days where I have a bad run, I usually feel good at the finish. Not yesterday. I felt sick for a while after I finished running. All I wanted to do was sit and go to sleep. At least I got my 16 miles in, as painful and miserable as it was. This weekend is a step-back week, just an 8 miler, then we go back up to 18 miles in two weeks.
This whole season has felt like two steps forward, two steps back. When I was working on my papers in December, I took two weeks off running and it took two weeks to get back into feeling like my old self. Even at that, though, I have had three tough long runs (12, 14, and now 16 miles). I usually have one bad long run followed by a great one. Being sick this week robbed me of a few days of quality running just when I felt like I was getting back in the groove. I have two more months until L.A., and right now I doubt I can accomplish my goal of finishing under four hours. I'll have to work hard the next few weeks and stick to a regimen. I also need to get serious about nutrition and hopefully lose some weight.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Monday, January 02, 2006
Top 10 Albums of 2005
The top 10! In compiling my list, I only included albums that were released in the U.S. during the 2005 calendar year. This really only affected The Boy Least Likely To's album, which would have made the top 15 were it released domestically. I think it comes out officially in the U.S. early this year, so look for it in the 2006 list a year from now. Jenny Lewis's Rabbit Fur Coat probably would have made the list, too, but it's also a 2006 release that I heard late in 2005.
10. The National: Alligator
I can’t blame those who dislike the National because at times lead singer Matt Berninger does come off as a prick. There are a couple of songs on this album that play up Berninger’s pretentiousness, but more often than not, he and the band hit the mark, crafting some of the most gripping rock songs of the year. Think U2 without the grandiose social proselytizing. I can do without “Val Jester,” but there are songs in Alligator that are urgent and utilize Berninger’s distinct vocals to great effect. I’m thinking of “All the Wine” which seems to cheekily reference Berninger’s ego. They also showed Clap Your Hands Say Yeah what a couple of years experience can do when they outperformed them live and proved that they deserved the top billing. When Berninger screamed out “Mr. November” at the Troubadour, he turned an OK song into a brilliant rock and roll moment. Rock on!
Hear Ye: “Karen,” “Lit Up,” “All the Wine,” “Abel,” “City Middle”
09. Jens Lekman: Oh, You're So Silent Jens
Still no proper album from Jens Lekman, and the one he was working on looks to have been scrapped. At least we got this collection of songs from the past couple of years, a veritable greatest-hits from Jens even if he has yet to have a hit here in the states. It’s not as effervescent as last year’s similar collection, “When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog,” but this collection contains two of Lekman’s best songs in “Black Cab” and “A Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill.” Like Lekman himself, the album is never less than charming. It possesses a wry pop sensibility that makes up for some of the undernourished songs in the album.
Hear Ye: “Maple Leaves,” “Black Cab,” “Rocky Dennis’ Farewell Song,” “A Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill,” “The Wrong Hands”
08. Spoon: Gimme Fiction
My complaint about Spoon is that some of their songs sound underdeveloped, but when the product is so hypnotic and absorbing, then you can overlook that. Case in point: “I Turn My Camera On” is my favorite track from the album, but it is essentially the same from start to finish. I was hooked from the beginning and the chants that come in early in the song only solidified its greatness, but once you’ve heard the first minute, you’ve heard the whole song. It doesn’t seem to even end properly. It just ends. So why can’t I stop listening to it and the other songs on this album? Because Britt Daniel is the devil? Who knows. Even Stephen King was hooked by the band, naming “I Summon You” as his favorite song of the year.
Hear Ye: “The Beast and Dragon, Adored,” “I Turn My Camera On,” “My Mathematical Mind,” “Sister Jack,” “I Summon You”
07. Wolf Parade: Apologies to the Queen Mary
I had heard the name Wolf Parade thrown around, but I had no idea what the fuss was all about. Then I found an advanced copy of this album in the cafeteria at work and gave it a listen. I was hooked from the opening stomp of “You Are A Runner and I Am My Father’s Son,” and when I got to “I’ll Believe in Anything,” I had to repeat the song several times. A few months later, some of the other songs, namely “Modern World” and “We Built Another World,” have lost their luster, but the rest of the album still sounds fresh and vibrant. “I’ll Believe in Anything” is as great a song I’ve heard all year.
Hear Ye: “You Are A Runner And I Am My Father’s Son,” “Same Ghost Every Night,” “I’ll Believe in Anything,” “Dinner Bells,” “This Heart’s On Fire”
06. Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene
THE live show of the year for me. How could it not be when there were upwards of 16 musicians on stage at one time? I can’t quite understand why praise for this album is so muted. What BSS aims for is the ecstasy of noise and they reach this several times in the album, beginning with “Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day).” The album gets a little muddled at the end, but most of it is terrific, and its brilliant moments alone warrant its top 10 ranking.
Hear Ye: “Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day),” “7/4 (Shoreline),” “Fire Eye’d Boy,” “Swimmers,” “It’s All Gonna Break”
05. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
The New Pornographers complete this string of Canadian bands. While not as deliriously joyful as their previous two albums, Twin Cinema proves that the New Pornographers hold the key to writing a great pop song. Just check out “Sing Me Spanish Techno” for proof. The album suffers from the lack of Neko Case-belted choruses, but all in all, it’s a damn terrific album. Carl (A.C.) Newman is hella hot, too, I think. Something about redheads.
Hear Ye: “Twin Cinema,” “The Bleeding Heart Show,” “These Are the Fables,” “Sing Me Spanish Techno,” “Streets of Fire”
04. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Yes, I bought the hype and I think they live up to it. They are not quite there as a live act, but the songs are remarkably well-crafted and make me giddy. I dare say there was no better block of tracks this year than the back-to-back-to-back sequence of “Details of the War,” “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth,” and “Is This Love?” That the other tracks are also awesome places them in my top 5. Here’s hoping they get even better and develop better stage presence. I’ll cop to it that I think Alec Ounsworth is hella hot, but I did not know that until I saw them live.
Hear Ye: “Over and Over Again (Lost & Found),” “Details of the War,” “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth,” “Is This Love?,” “Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood”
03. Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Conor Oberst’s simplest album was his best. This was compared by critics to Dylan’s best, and while I think Oberst can still be too precocious and too affected in his singing, the album is his most consistent. "Lifted" had its moments of transcendent greatness, but it was too long and self-absorbed. Harmonizing with the great Emmylou Harris seems to have put Oberst in his place and allowed the songs to shine. I doubted whether I should rank Bright Eyes this high, but this was an album I could listen to over and over again from start to finish, so I suppose it meant I liked it a lot Heck, even the annoying intro to “At the Bottom of Everything” grew on me.
Hear Ye: “At the Bottom of Everything,” “We Are Nowhere And It’s Now,” “First Day of My Life,” “Another Travelin’ Song,” “Land-Locked Blues”
02. Andrew Bird: The Mysterious Production of Eggs
This album grew and grew with every listen. Bird's album is a marvelous, meticulously-crafted work that makes a symphony out of simple musical cues like whistling. Whistling! I have no idea what some of the songs mean, but what does it matter when these intricately-arranged songs have, to paraphrase “Fake Palindromes,” drilled a hole into my head. I credit this album, too, with improving my whistling skills. Bird is such an amazing whistler that I would probably buy an album of him just whistling. Listen to this album and try not to whistle along.
Hear Ye: “Sovay,” “Fake Palindromes,” “Masterfade,” “The Naming of Things,” “Tables and Chairs”
01. Sufjan Stevens: Illinois
This was an easy choice since it was the album that I could not stop listening to all year. I kept returning to it and rediscovering musical cues and ideas that I didn’t hear the last time. I guess the hallmark of any great album is that it takes its time to grow on you, and while my first reaction to the album was positive, it wasn’t with the same awe and appreciation I have for it now. Songs I didn’t like before, after listening to them a few more times, have since revealed their beauty, and the ones I liked from the get-go I love even more now. Compared to Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State, Stevens’s previous “50 States” album, Stevens has grown as a songwriter. That album had some terrific songs, like the gorgeous “Romulus,” but the album mostly blends together for me. “Illinois,” though, is a work of grandeur that I’ll be listening to for years to come. So what if everyone else chose it as their number one album?
Hear Ye: “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!” “Jacksonville,” “Casimir Pulaski Day,” “The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts,” “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out To Get Us!”
10. The National: Alligator
I can’t blame those who dislike the National because at times lead singer Matt Berninger does come off as a prick. There are a couple of songs on this album that play up Berninger’s pretentiousness, but more often than not, he and the band hit the mark, crafting some of the most gripping rock songs of the year. Think U2 without the grandiose social proselytizing. I can do without “Val Jester,” but there are songs in Alligator that are urgent and utilize Berninger’s distinct vocals to great effect. I’m thinking of “All the Wine” which seems to cheekily reference Berninger’s ego. They also showed Clap Your Hands Say Yeah what a couple of years experience can do when they outperformed them live and proved that they deserved the top billing. When Berninger screamed out “Mr. November” at the Troubadour, he turned an OK song into a brilliant rock and roll moment. Rock on!
Hear Ye: “Karen,” “Lit Up,” “All the Wine,” “Abel,” “City Middle”
09. Jens Lekman: Oh, You're So Silent Jens
Still no proper album from Jens Lekman, and the one he was working on looks to have been scrapped. At least we got this collection of songs from the past couple of years, a veritable greatest-hits from Jens even if he has yet to have a hit here in the states. It’s not as effervescent as last year’s similar collection, “When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog,” but this collection contains two of Lekman’s best songs in “Black Cab” and “A Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill.” Like Lekman himself, the album is never less than charming. It possesses a wry pop sensibility that makes up for some of the undernourished songs in the album.
Hear Ye: “Maple Leaves,” “Black Cab,” “Rocky Dennis’ Farewell Song,” “A Sweet Summer’s Night on Hammer Hill,” “The Wrong Hands”
08. Spoon: Gimme Fiction
My complaint about Spoon is that some of their songs sound underdeveloped, but when the product is so hypnotic and absorbing, then you can overlook that. Case in point: “I Turn My Camera On” is my favorite track from the album, but it is essentially the same from start to finish. I was hooked from the beginning and the chants that come in early in the song only solidified its greatness, but once you’ve heard the first minute, you’ve heard the whole song. It doesn’t seem to even end properly. It just ends. So why can’t I stop listening to it and the other songs on this album? Because Britt Daniel is the devil? Who knows. Even Stephen King was hooked by the band, naming “I Summon You” as his favorite song of the year.
Hear Ye: “The Beast and Dragon, Adored,” “I Turn My Camera On,” “My Mathematical Mind,” “Sister Jack,” “I Summon You”
07. Wolf Parade: Apologies to the Queen Mary
I had heard the name Wolf Parade thrown around, but I had no idea what the fuss was all about. Then I found an advanced copy of this album in the cafeteria at work and gave it a listen. I was hooked from the opening stomp of “You Are A Runner and I Am My Father’s Son,” and when I got to “I’ll Believe in Anything,” I had to repeat the song several times. A few months later, some of the other songs, namely “Modern World” and “We Built Another World,” have lost their luster, but the rest of the album still sounds fresh and vibrant. “I’ll Believe in Anything” is as great a song I’ve heard all year.
Hear Ye: “You Are A Runner And I Am My Father’s Son,” “Same Ghost Every Night,” “I’ll Believe in Anything,” “Dinner Bells,” “This Heart’s On Fire”
06. Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene
THE live show of the year for me. How could it not be when there were upwards of 16 musicians on stage at one time? I can’t quite understand why praise for this album is so muted. What BSS aims for is the ecstasy of noise and they reach this several times in the album, beginning with “Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day).” The album gets a little muddled at the end, but most of it is terrific, and its brilliant moments alone warrant its top 10 ranking.
Hear Ye: “Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day),” “7/4 (Shoreline),” “Fire Eye’d Boy,” “Swimmers,” “It’s All Gonna Break”
05. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema
The New Pornographers complete this string of Canadian bands. While not as deliriously joyful as their previous two albums, Twin Cinema proves that the New Pornographers hold the key to writing a great pop song. Just check out “Sing Me Spanish Techno” for proof. The album suffers from the lack of Neko Case-belted choruses, but all in all, it’s a damn terrific album. Carl (A.C.) Newman is hella hot, too, I think. Something about redheads.
Hear Ye: “Twin Cinema,” “The Bleeding Heart Show,” “These Are the Fables,” “Sing Me Spanish Techno,” “Streets of Fire”
04. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Yes, I bought the hype and I think they live up to it. They are not quite there as a live act, but the songs are remarkably well-crafted and make me giddy. I dare say there was no better block of tracks this year than the back-to-back-to-back sequence of “Details of the War,” “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth,” and “Is This Love?” That the other tracks are also awesome places them in my top 5. Here’s hoping they get even better and develop better stage presence. I’ll cop to it that I think Alec Ounsworth is hella hot, but I did not know that until I saw them live.
Hear Ye: “Over and Over Again (Lost & Found),” “Details of the War,” “The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth,” “Is This Love?,” “Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood”
03. Bright Eyes: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Conor Oberst’s simplest album was his best. This was compared by critics to Dylan’s best, and while I think Oberst can still be too precocious and too affected in his singing, the album is his most consistent. "Lifted" had its moments of transcendent greatness, but it was too long and self-absorbed. Harmonizing with the great Emmylou Harris seems to have put Oberst in his place and allowed the songs to shine. I doubted whether I should rank Bright Eyes this high, but this was an album I could listen to over and over again from start to finish, so I suppose it meant I liked it a lot Heck, even the annoying intro to “At the Bottom of Everything” grew on me.
Hear Ye: “At the Bottom of Everything,” “We Are Nowhere And It’s Now,” “First Day of My Life,” “Another Travelin’ Song,” “Land-Locked Blues”
02. Andrew Bird: The Mysterious Production of Eggs
This album grew and grew with every listen. Bird's album is a marvelous, meticulously-crafted work that makes a symphony out of simple musical cues like whistling. Whistling! I have no idea what some of the songs mean, but what does it matter when these intricately-arranged songs have, to paraphrase “Fake Palindromes,” drilled a hole into my head. I credit this album, too, with improving my whistling skills. Bird is such an amazing whistler that I would probably buy an album of him just whistling. Listen to this album and try not to whistle along.
Hear Ye: “Sovay,” “Fake Palindromes,” “Masterfade,” “The Naming of Things,” “Tables and Chairs”
01. Sufjan Stevens: Illinois
This was an easy choice since it was the album that I could not stop listening to all year. I kept returning to it and rediscovering musical cues and ideas that I didn’t hear the last time. I guess the hallmark of any great album is that it takes its time to grow on you, and while my first reaction to the album was positive, it wasn’t with the same awe and appreciation I have for it now. Songs I didn’t like before, after listening to them a few more times, have since revealed their beauty, and the ones I liked from the get-go I love even more now. Compared to Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lake State, Stevens’s previous “50 States” album, Stevens has grown as a songwriter. That album had some terrific songs, like the gorgeous “Romulus,” but the album mostly blends together for me. “Illinois,” though, is a work of grandeur that I’ll be listening to for years to come. So what if everyone else chose it as their number one album?
Hear Ye: “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!” “Jacksonville,” “Casimir Pulaski Day,” “The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts,” “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out To Get Us!”
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Top 25 Albums of 2005: 25-11
I ran 8 miles today in 1:21 with a little bit of rain, so that's good, but even better was the year in music. It was a damn good year. So, in honor of all the great stuff I heard this year, here are my favorite albums of 2005, starting with albums 25 thru 11. The top 10 will be posted in the next couple of days. Happy New Year!
25. M. Ward: Transistor Radio
I can’t pin down what I appreciate about this album. It’s a work that eschews most of what I look for in music—hooks, big sounds, overstuffed arrangements—yet I love this album. It evokes the sound of old-time country music heard through an AM radio, even replicating the muffled sound, and in doing so it shines a light on the craft of songwriting. I love Ward’s vocals and would love to hear him let loose.
Hear Ye: “One Life Away,” “Sweethearts on Parade,” “Big Boat,” “Deep Dark Well,” “I’ll Be Yr Bird”
24. M.I.A.: Arular
People love the M.I.A., but I guess I don’t like her as much as others. “Arular” is inventive and dance-happy and possessed of a refreshing global consciousness that one doesn’t usually find in hip-hop. I probably undervalued her here, but it just seems like in figuring out which albums to listen to, I always opted for something else. When I do listen to “Arular,” I do find myself mostly impressed, especially by the five songs below.
Hear Ye: “Pull Up the People,” “Sunshowers,” “Amazon,” “Hombre,” “Galang”
23. Nada Surf: The Weight Is A Gift
I have to confess that I’m oblivious to Nada Surf’s post-Popular career. I read that they were still around and making damn good records. Apart from a cover of “If You Leave” from an episode of “The OC” last year, I had not listened to them at all. I found this in the discount bin and liked it as a light, enjoyable pop album. I guess I should check out “Let Go.”
Hear Ye: “Concrete Bed,” “Always Love,” “Your Legs Grow,” “All Is A Game,” “Imaginary Friends”
22. Rogue Wave: Descended Like Vultures
Zach Rogue is a talented songwriter. He looks like Bam Magera, so seeing him sing in that soft, geeky voice was a bit disorienting. “Descended Like Vultures” is the sunny side of pop, and at times it suffers for being too sunny to the point of drowsiness. Performed live, however, Rogue and his crew reveal the energy and vitality of these songs. A live version of this album would kick the studio version’s ass any day.
Hear Ye: “Publish My Love,” “Salesman at the Day of the Parade,” “10:1,” “Are You On My Side,” “You”
21. LCD Soundsystem: LCD Soundsystem
I’d categorize this as electronica, but the fact that I actually like it implies that it’s more than that. It’s clever and incorporates rock and roll attitude, but you can also dance to it. What it has is plenty of personality.
Hear Ye: “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House,” “Never As Tired As When I’m Waking Up,” “Great Release,” “Losing My Edge,” “Yeah”
20. The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan
This album just didn’t excite me as much as I thought it should. There’s not a bad song in here, but apart from “My Doorbell” and “I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet),” there are few songs in here I feel drawn to listen to over and over again.
Hear Ye: “Blue Orchid,” “My Doorbell,” “Little Ghost,” “As Ugly As I Seem,” “I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet)”
19. Okkervil River: Black Sheep Boy/ Appendix
The album and the EP would probably warrant a higher ranking if I listened to them more. These songs are amazing, but I can’t get myself to listen to them because they are too dark for everyday listening. It’s probably not a fair assessment of the album, especially one with such a gut-wrenching song like “So Come Back, I Am Waiting.”
Hear Ye: “Black,” “A King and Queen,” “A Stone,” “So Come Back, I Am Waiting,” “Another Radio Song”
18. Brendan Benson: Alternative to Love
This album broke my heart. I looked forward to it after falling in love with Lapalco, and after listening to the first four songs I thought this was undoubtedly the album of the year. Four songs. All of them great pop songs. Surely Benson won’t drop the ball. Sadly, he does. The rest of the album is OK, but disappointing in that they fail to live up to the brilliance of the first four songs. Maybe if the sequencing is changed so that these four songs are spread out I would appreciate the album more, but now I mostly listen to the first four songs and move on. Sigh. Look for an album with fellow Detroit resident Jack White next year.
Hear Ye: “Spit It Out,” “Cold Hands Warm Heart,” “I Feel Like Myself Again,” “The Alternative to Love,” “What I’m Looking For”
17. Death Cab for Cutie: Plans
If I were really cool I’d exile these guys from my list for selling out. But gosh darn it, I find this album too appealing to dismiss. “Soul Meets Body” used to annoy me, but now I have to sing along to it using my best /worst falsetto. The album is less ambitious than “Transatlanticism” but it works in its favor even if it doesn’t quite match that album in sheer passion.
Hear Ye: “Marching Bands of Manhattan,” “Soul Meets Body,” “Different Names for the Same Thing,” “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” “Your Heart Is An Empty Room”
16. Kanye West: Late Registration
I know diddly-squat about hip-hop, and I care little for much of what I hear, but I do know I like this album. Maybe it’s because I can actually understand his rapping and I can delight in his verbal virtuosity or maybe it’s because these songs have great hooks. Whatever reason, it makes my top 20.
Hear Ye: “Heard Em’ Say,” “Gold Digger,” “Drive Slow,” “Crack Music,” “Gone”
15. My Morning Jacket: Z
Some more good old-fashioned rock from Jim James. The music here sound less like they are being sung in an empty tin drum as they did in “It Still Moves,” and there is no denying that the band knows its way around a song. The reggae-flavored “Off the Record” is one of my favorite songs of the year.
Hear Ye: “Wordless Chorus,” “Gideon,” “Off the Record,” “Into the Woods,” “Anytime”
14. Stars: Set Yourself on Fire
For a while this was my number one album early in the year. Then the glow faded but not for the whole album. “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” and “Ageless Beauty” are still the epitome of loveliness.
Hear Ye: “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead,” “Ageless Beauty,” “The First Five Times,” “Celebration Guns,” “The Calendar Girl”
13. Franz Ferdinand: You Could Have It So Much Better
Franz Ferdinand held the number one spot in my list last year, but this year they are way down at number thirteen. Disappointing? Not really. The boys released a worthy follow-up that showed them trying to expand beyond the buoyant sound they perfected last year. There’s more of that here, but also some attempt at “mature” songwriting. I’m not as taken with “Eleanor, Put Your Boots On,” but there is much to love about the album. I do miss the energy and cheekiness of the first album and this one is too front-loaded with the best songs, but at least Franz Ferdinand proved me right in avoiding the dreaded sophomore jinx.
Hear Ye: “The Fallen,” “Do You Want To,” “This Boy, “Walk Away,” “You’re the Reason I’m Leaving”
12. The Decemberists: Picaresque
In any other year this would be in my top 10. It was a great year for good music, so it will have to settle for top 12. Picaresque finds Colin Meloy further honing his musical chops. The album adopts more baroque flourishes yet does not feel overstuffed. Still, they are at their best when they keep it simple as with “16 Military Wives” and “The Engine Driver.”
Hear Ye: “Eli, the Barrowboy, “The Sporting Life,” “16 Military Wives,” “The Engine Driver,” “Of Angels and Angles”
11. Antony and the Johnsons: I Am A Bird Now
I wish I could include this in my top 10. It deserves to be on a top 10. A beautiful, at times haunting, collection of songs. I have a feeling I’ll be listening to this for years to come. It’s that timeless.
Hear Ye: “Hope There’s Someone,” “For Today I Am A Boy,” “You Are My Sister,” “Fistful of Love,” “Bird Girl”
WHO'S IN THE TOP 10? STAY TUNED...
25. M. Ward: Transistor Radio
I can’t pin down what I appreciate about this album. It’s a work that eschews most of what I look for in music—hooks, big sounds, overstuffed arrangements—yet I love this album. It evokes the sound of old-time country music heard through an AM radio, even replicating the muffled sound, and in doing so it shines a light on the craft of songwriting. I love Ward’s vocals and would love to hear him let loose.
Hear Ye: “One Life Away,” “Sweethearts on Parade,” “Big Boat,” “Deep Dark Well,” “I’ll Be Yr Bird”
24. M.I.A.: Arular
People love the M.I.A., but I guess I don’t like her as much as others. “Arular” is inventive and dance-happy and possessed of a refreshing global consciousness that one doesn’t usually find in hip-hop. I probably undervalued her here, but it just seems like in figuring out which albums to listen to, I always opted for something else. When I do listen to “Arular,” I do find myself mostly impressed, especially by the five songs below.
Hear Ye: “Pull Up the People,” “Sunshowers,” “Amazon,” “Hombre,” “Galang”
23. Nada Surf: The Weight Is A Gift
I have to confess that I’m oblivious to Nada Surf’s post-Popular career. I read that they were still around and making damn good records. Apart from a cover of “If You Leave” from an episode of “The OC” last year, I had not listened to them at all. I found this in the discount bin and liked it as a light, enjoyable pop album. I guess I should check out “Let Go.”
Hear Ye: “Concrete Bed,” “Always Love,” “Your Legs Grow,” “All Is A Game,” “Imaginary Friends”
22. Rogue Wave: Descended Like Vultures
Zach Rogue is a talented songwriter. He looks like Bam Magera, so seeing him sing in that soft, geeky voice was a bit disorienting. “Descended Like Vultures” is the sunny side of pop, and at times it suffers for being too sunny to the point of drowsiness. Performed live, however, Rogue and his crew reveal the energy and vitality of these songs. A live version of this album would kick the studio version’s ass any day.
Hear Ye: “Publish My Love,” “Salesman at the Day of the Parade,” “10:1,” “Are You On My Side,” “You”
21. LCD Soundsystem: LCD Soundsystem
I’d categorize this as electronica, but the fact that I actually like it implies that it’s more than that. It’s clever and incorporates rock and roll attitude, but you can also dance to it. What it has is plenty of personality.
Hear Ye: “Daft Punk Is Playing At My House,” “Never As Tired As When I’m Waking Up,” “Great Release,” “Losing My Edge,” “Yeah”
20. The White Stripes: Get Behind Me Satan
This album just didn’t excite me as much as I thought it should. There’s not a bad song in here, but apart from “My Doorbell” and “I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet),” there are few songs in here I feel drawn to listen to over and over again.
Hear Ye: “Blue Orchid,” “My Doorbell,” “Little Ghost,” “As Ugly As I Seem,” “I’m Lonely (But I Ain’t That Lonely Yet)”
19. Okkervil River: Black Sheep Boy/ Appendix
The album and the EP would probably warrant a higher ranking if I listened to them more. These songs are amazing, but I can’t get myself to listen to them because they are too dark for everyday listening. It’s probably not a fair assessment of the album, especially one with such a gut-wrenching song like “So Come Back, I Am Waiting.”
Hear Ye: “Black,” “A King and Queen,” “A Stone,” “So Come Back, I Am Waiting,” “Another Radio Song”
18. Brendan Benson: Alternative to Love
This album broke my heart. I looked forward to it after falling in love with Lapalco, and after listening to the first four songs I thought this was undoubtedly the album of the year. Four songs. All of them great pop songs. Surely Benson won’t drop the ball. Sadly, he does. The rest of the album is OK, but disappointing in that they fail to live up to the brilliance of the first four songs. Maybe if the sequencing is changed so that these four songs are spread out I would appreciate the album more, but now I mostly listen to the first four songs and move on. Sigh. Look for an album with fellow Detroit resident Jack White next year.
Hear Ye: “Spit It Out,” “Cold Hands Warm Heart,” “I Feel Like Myself Again,” “The Alternative to Love,” “What I’m Looking For”
17. Death Cab for Cutie: Plans
If I were really cool I’d exile these guys from my list for selling out. But gosh darn it, I find this album too appealing to dismiss. “Soul Meets Body” used to annoy me, but now I have to sing along to it using my best /worst falsetto. The album is less ambitious than “Transatlanticism” but it works in its favor even if it doesn’t quite match that album in sheer passion.
Hear Ye: “Marching Bands of Manhattan,” “Soul Meets Body,” “Different Names for the Same Thing,” “I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” “Your Heart Is An Empty Room”
16. Kanye West: Late Registration
I know diddly-squat about hip-hop, and I care little for much of what I hear, but I do know I like this album. Maybe it’s because I can actually understand his rapping and I can delight in his verbal virtuosity or maybe it’s because these songs have great hooks. Whatever reason, it makes my top 20.
Hear Ye: “Heard Em’ Say,” “Gold Digger,” “Drive Slow,” “Crack Music,” “Gone”
15. My Morning Jacket: Z
Some more good old-fashioned rock from Jim James. The music here sound less like they are being sung in an empty tin drum as they did in “It Still Moves,” and there is no denying that the band knows its way around a song. The reggae-flavored “Off the Record” is one of my favorite songs of the year.
Hear Ye: “Wordless Chorus,” “Gideon,” “Off the Record,” “Into the Woods,” “Anytime”
14. Stars: Set Yourself on Fire
For a while this was my number one album early in the year. Then the glow faded but not for the whole album. “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” and “Ageless Beauty” are still the epitome of loveliness.
Hear Ye: “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead,” “Ageless Beauty,” “The First Five Times,” “Celebration Guns,” “The Calendar Girl”
13. Franz Ferdinand: You Could Have It So Much Better
Franz Ferdinand held the number one spot in my list last year, but this year they are way down at number thirteen. Disappointing? Not really. The boys released a worthy follow-up that showed them trying to expand beyond the buoyant sound they perfected last year. There’s more of that here, but also some attempt at “mature” songwriting. I’m not as taken with “Eleanor, Put Your Boots On,” but there is much to love about the album. I do miss the energy and cheekiness of the first album and this one is too front-loaded with the best songs, but at least Franz Ferdinand proved me right in avoiding the dreaded sophomore jinx.
Hear Ye: “The Fallen,” “Do You Want To,” “This Boy, “Walk Away,” “You’re the Reason I’m Leaving”
12. The Decemberists: Picaresque
In any other year this would be in my top 10. It was a great year for good music, so it will have to settle for top 12. Picaresque finds Colin Meloy further honing his musical chops. The album adopts more baroque flourishes yet does not feel overstuffed. Still, they are at their best when they keep it simple as with “16 Military Wives” and “The Engine Driver.”
Hear Ye: “Eli, the Barrowboy, “The Sporting Life,” “16 Military Wives,” “The Engine Driver,” “Of Angels and Angles”
11. Antony and the Johnsons: I Am A Bird Now
I wish I could include this in my top 10. It deserves to be on a top 10. A beautiful, at times haunting, collection of songs. I have a feeling I’ll be listening to this for years to come. It’s that timeless.
Hear Ye: “Hope There’s Someone,” “For Today I Am A Boy,” “You Are My Sister,” “Fistful of Love,” “Bird Girl”
WHO'S IN THE TOP 10? STAY TUNED...
Monday, December 26, 2005
12.24.2005: 14 miles
Distance: 14 miles
Time: 2:23
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: Silly me for thinking that the 14 miler would be easier than my 12 miler. I was slightly slower than my usual pace, but if it wasn't for the fact that I was running with Coach Katie, I probably would have been a great deal slower. The weather was a factor. It was the hottest day of the winter, and by 10:30, the temperature had climbed to about 80. This week is a step-back week, so I should take it easy. I won't, though. I'll try to do six miles on Tuesday, hill training on Wednesday, and another 5 miles on Thursday. I think we're doing 8 miles on Saturday, so that should be piece of cake.
Time: 2:23
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: Silly me for thinking that the 14 miler would be easier than my 12 miler. I was slightly slower than my usual pace, but if it wasn't for the fact that I was running with Coach Katie, I probably would have been a great deal slower. The weather was a factor. It was the hottest day of the winter, and by 10:30, the temperature had climbed to about 80. This week is a step-back week, so I should take it easy. I won't, though. I'll try to do six miles on Tuesday, hill training on Wednesday, and another 5 miles on Thursday. I think we're doing 8 miles on Saturday, so that should be piece of cake.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
12 Miles
Distance: 12 miles
Time: 2:19
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: This marked my first run since last Tuesday (12/6), and it's amazing how quickly your body weakens. I felt horrible for most of the run, especially halfway through. I didn't think I would have enough fuel to complete the full 12 miles. A lot of it may be psychological. With four miles left I must have gotten a second wind because the last few miles were easier than I anticipated.
The 2:19 is the slowest pace I've run in some time. However, that time includes long stays at the aid stations to chat with the good folks manning said stations, so maybe the run wasn't as bad as I'm thinking. I still feel like I've let my training lapse this season. The first time I was diligent about getting my runs in and following the training program. The second time, training for Nike, I was motivated by wanting to improve my time that I made sure I was well-prepared. I gained weight during that training, but I was also a better runner by then. This time, my schedule just can't seem to get organized. School and work take up so much time, and with the shorter days, getting my runs in has been tough. The good news is that there's still three months until the race. I should be OK. I need to remind myself that the goal is to run under 4 hours. I should also stick to a schedule.
After the run, it was a night of socializing. FJ, my running partner from last season, had his annual Christmas party last night. I'm so glad to see him. Hopefully he can make it out to run with us in the future. After FJ's party, I headed out for Nate's birthday celebration. Drinks and curry at Lucky Baldwin's was followed by more drinking and bull riding at Union Cattle.
Today was my niece's 2nd birthday. I ate too much, so it is imperative that I run tomorrow.
Time: 2:19
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: This marked my first run since last Tuesday (12/6), and it's amazing how quickly your body weakens. I felt horrible for most of the run, especially halfway through. I didn't think I would have enough fuel to complete the full 12 miles. A lot of it may be psychological. With four miles left I must have gotten a second wind because the last few miles were easier than I anticipated.
The 2:19 is the slowest pace I've run in some time. However, that time includes long stays at the aid stations to chat with the good folks manning said stations, so maybe the run wasn't as bad as I'm thinking. I still feel like I've let my training lapse this season. The first time I was diligent about getting my runs in and following the training program. The second time, training for Nike, I was motivated by wanting to improve my time that I made sure I was well-prepared. I gained weight during that training, but I was also a better runner by then. This time, my schedule just can't seem to get organized. School and work take up so much time, and with the shorter days, getting my runs in has been tough. The good news is that there's still three months until the race. I should be OK. I need to remind myself that the goal is to run under 4 hours. I should also stick to a schedule.
After the run, it was a night of socializing. FJ, my running partner from last season, had his annual Christmas party last night. I'm so glad to see him. Hopefully he can make it out to run with us in the future. After FJ's party, I headed out for Nate's birthday celebration. Drinks and curry at Lucky Baldwin's was followed by more drinking and bull riding at Union Cattle.
Today was my niece's 2nd birthday. I ate too much, so it is imperative that I run tomorrow.
Monday, December 12, 2005
running in place
I haven't run in a week. Last Tuesday was the last time I ran. It's hell week at school, so that has been my focus for the last week. I had a paper due today and I have two more, 20 pages each, due on Wednesday. So you get the picture. I haven't been eating or sleeping well, nor have I been exercising. The only run I had scheduled during the week was the Venice 10K on Saturday, but I wound up oversleeping for that. I had intended to run tomorrow and Wednesday, but seeing how I've been doing on the papers and how crappy I've been feeling, I might skip those days as well. One week of no exercise and I feel like crap. My legs have this weird ache as if from disuse. I can imagine it's the pain of atrophy. I doubt that's what it is, but I really need to get back to running. I miss it terribly.
Writing papers really runs a person down. I had a slight fever earlier, probably from lack of rest, so I drove down to Jamba Juice and ingested a wheatgrass shot and ordered a Coldbuster with an energy boost. Let's see if it works.
Back to paper-writing.
Writing papers really runs a person down. I had a slight fever earlier, probably from lack of rest, so I drove down to Jamba Juice and ingested a wheatgrass shot and ordered a Coldbuster with an energy boost. Let's see if it works.
Back to paper-writing.
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Bjork!
Bjork, thanks for bumming me out. I'm sorry I laughed when you were trying to kill Bill. It was just funny how he wouldn't die. You kept shooting him, but he wouldn't let go of your money. He was like one of those serial killers in horror movies that just won't stay dead, like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. I have to confess, however, that I still have a hard time believing that your songs can actually be classified as music. They sound like someone dropped a tray full of utensils over and over again. I also couldn't understand why your son had to have the operation right away. Couldn't it wait until you were out of prison? Oh, and you're right to not want to have Peter Stormare as your boyfriend. He's creepy. Have you seen him in Fargo and "Prison Break"?
Anyway, I was still sad that you had to die--and by hanging, too. They didn't even let you finish your next to last song.
Oh, and I ran over 4 miles today during lunch on a treadmill.
Anyway, I was still sad that you had to die--and by hanging, too. They didn't even let you finish your next to last song.
Oh, and I ran over 4 miles today during lunch on a treadmill.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
10 Miles
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 1:50
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: UCLA lost again to U$C. Damn!
At least it didn't rain during our run this morning. The run went well for me. I wound up taking long aid station breaks to chat with people, so I wound up finishing at a slower pace. Still, it's 10 miles and it felt like a workout. I bought a new waterproof windbreaker yesterday just in case it rained, but it turned out to be unnecessary. It was helpful in keeping out the cold, but I had to shed it at the first aid station. Now I'm disappointed that it didn't rain. I was hoping I could test it out. The damn thing cost me $60. Runnng is turning out to be an expensive hobby, but as someone reminded me, it's not as expensive as skiing. I guess any hobby is going to cost money.
After the run, twenty of us headed to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Pasadena. I hadn't had Roscoe's in over a year, and it's better than I remember. I finished my two large waffles and my 1/4 chicken. I felt like a pig, but I earned it. I'm not a big waffle fan, but they have the best waffles there.
I think I need to start worrying about my papers. Why am I not worried? I have three 20 page papers due in two weeks. Come on! Get worried!
Time: 1:50
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: UCLA lost again to U$C. Damn!
At least it didn't rain during our run this morning. The run went well for me. I wound up taking long aid station breaks to chat with people, so I wound up finishing at a slower pace. Still, it's 10 miles and it felt like a workout. I bought a new waterproof windbreaker yesterday just in case it rained, but it turned out to be unnecessary. It was helpful in keeping out the cold, but I had to shed it at the first aid station. Now I'm disappointed that it didn't rain. I was hoping I could test it out. The damn thing cost me $60. Runnng is turning out to be an expensive hobby, but as someone reminded me, it's not as expensive as skiing. I guess any hobby is going to cost money.
After the run, twenty of us headed to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Pasadena. I hadn't had Roscoe's in over a year, and it's better than I remember. I finished my two large waffles and my 1/4 chicken. I felt like a pig, but I earned it. I'm not a big waffle fan, but they have the best waffles there.
I think I need to start worrying about my papers. Why am I not worried? I have three 20 page papers due in two weeks. Come on! Get worried!
Friday, December 02, 2005
Running with the Pope
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 40 minutes
Location: Gym
Notes: Easy run. Watched the Pope movie while running and scoped out the scenery.
Time: 40 minutes
Location: Gym
Notes: Easy run. Watched the Pope movie while running and scoped out the scenery.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Hill Training #1
The first hill training session for the season was last night. We took it easy on the first one to minimize injuries to the participants. Too many folks were getting injured last season. It was a good workout nonetheless, but not hard enough that it helped keep off the cold weather. My hands were ice cold the whole evening. Tonight I'll do an easy four mile run probably at the gym.
As for other things, work is still busy and papers are coming up for my classes. It will get very busy very soon.
As for other things, work is still busy and papers are coming up for my classes. It will get very busy very soon.
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