I setup a new blog for my trip to Kenya. The link is also available over on the sidebar.

---

Just picked up the new Belle & Sebastian disc The Life Pursuit. It's brilliant...the best pop album to hit the shelves since The New Pornographers' release from last year. Just one of those records that instantly grabs you, as the best pop music will always do. I'll pick "Funny Little Frog" as my current favorite track. In a startling coincidence, B&S & the New Pornos are touring together and will be in town at the Orpheum on March 12.

Out of Africa

The countdown has begun. One week from today, we leave on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Kenya, Africa. And as of yesterday, the itinerary is finally set. Here is how it breaks down...


After 16 hours of intense claustrophobia in various aircraft, Annie and I will arrive in Nairobi, Kenya on the evening of Sunday, Feb 12th. We'll spend just one night in the capital.


In the morning I'll be working in town before we catch another flight that afternoon west to Kisumu, a medium-sized city on the shores of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa. This is where I'll be working for the rest of the week. My brave wife Annie will take to exploring the Lake Victoria region solo during these days.


Come Friday, as my working portion of the trip ends, we embark on our first safari tour to the Masai Mara National Reserve on the southern border of Kenya and Tanzania. The Mara is supposedly THE best area for wild game viewing in Kenya (lions, cheetahs, hippos, elephants, etc.). The safari in Mara will be for three days.


On Sunday, we fly from Mara back to Nairobi only to immediately depart for another mini-safari to Mt. Kenya, the second highest mountain in all of Africa. After a quick overnight tour, we'll return to Nairobi and leave for what will surely be an interesting trip on an overnight train to Mombasa.


Mombasa is a sizable city on the Kenyan coast and here we will stay for the remainder of the week, residing in villas situated directly on the beach of the Indian Ocean. Our plans become a bit vague at this point. It is possible we'll grow tired of the tropical paradise and head back early (say Friday or Saturday) to Nairobi to spend more time in the nation's capital and the huge national parks surrounding the city. But most likely we will wait until the last minute on Sunday the 26th before returning to Nairobi to catch our long and surely depressing flight back to the states. We arrive in the cold, dreary winter of the Twin Cities, USA on the afternoon of Monday, Feb 27th. Sigh.


So there you have it. That's the plan. Whether this is how things will actually happen or not, we'll have to wait and see. Before I leave, I'll be post a link to a new blog setup solely to share the happenings and pictures from our trip. Or if I don't have time, I'll just post to this site.

PLUG Awards, the Superbowl & all that jazz

The 2006 PLUG Independent Music Awards (for 2005 releases) took place last night in NYC. The evening's winners included Bright Eyes, Sufjan Stevens, Neko Case, Sleater-Kinney, Animal Collective, among others. The voting bloc was comprised of 1) members of the music industry, 2) fans from around the globe and 3) a rabid pack of affluent, white, indie-hipster, Pitchfork-readin', ipod-obsessed, 27-year-old men, each of whom is simultaneously posting the results of said award show on their kick-ass music blog. For a complete list of nominees and winners, visit the PLUG website.

---

I don't know a single person who is honestly excited about this weekend's Superbowl. My apologies to those of you raised or currently residing in Seattle and Pittsburgh. And then there's, Mike D. He is a huge Steeler's fan. I'll watch it of course. Not because I want to and not for the commercials, but because everyone else will be watching and I need to prepare for the conversational references I'm sure to encounter come Monday.

---

Last weekend, I watched the new Jim Jarmusch flick Broken Flowers starring Bill Murray. It is a great and charming little film and I highly recommend it. But I'm bringing it up to mention how the film exposed me to a truly awesome musical discovery: the Ethiopian jazz artist Mulatu Astatke. Ethiopian jazz, you say? I never knew there was such a style. On the surface, it doesn't sound all that different from other jazz of the late 60s and 70s, so-called "jazz fusion." But there is something Astatke's songs that get under my skin. Anyway, there are some fantastic Astatke songs featured in the movie so I immediately went out and bought this Ethiopian jazz compilation titled "Ethiopiques 4". Who knew?
I can't find anything to link to at the moment, but if you can find some clips or samples or streaming mp3s, look for
1) "Yegelle Tezeta"
2) "Yekermo Sew"
Those are a couple off of the Broken Flowers soundtrack and Ethiopiques 4 and will give you a good taste. Just shows you how much great music is out there, of all genres and styles. I simply love the thrill of discovering new music. I like jazz but I've never dug deep into the genre beyond the classic staples of Davis, Coltrane, Monk, etc. However, listening to Mulatu Astatke is inspiring me to do just that. Thank you, Mr. Jarmusch.

Bonnaroo gets Radiohead!

More festival announcements released today. Yesterday Coachella announced their impressive 2006 lineup, but not to be outdone, the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival fired back their own announcement today with none other than Radiohead as the headliner of an equally outstanding list of acts. Of course, this means that ACL doesn't have a chance of grabbing Radiohead this year, but it does mean I'll be a taking a roadtrip to Manchester, Tennessee come June. Who else is in?! Tickets go on sale on Saturday, Feb 11. They ain't cheap but it includes 3 days of music, plus camping and parking. Weed and your everyday assortment of hallucinogens are not included.

While I'm on the subject of Radiohead, Thom has started posting again on Dead Air Space and it seems the guys are getting down to business in the studio to record their 7th album.

Not very interesting.

Whew. I'm still coming out of the spell cast on me this evening by a certain man's hypnotic rhetoric that borders on childlike in its naive underpinnings and dichotomies (i.e. good v evil, democracy v tyranny, christian v islam, america v other, moral v immoral, blah, blah, blah). I react carrying certain personal opinions about the man and his beliefs, but truly, these State of the Union speeches are always the same regardless of the speaker. Who are they even for? Am I supposed to believe that there are people out there looking on this public address to figure out how we are doing and where we are headed as "a people" (a phrase and connotation I despise by the way)? Sheesh. The whole play is a farce. I understand that political rhetoric like the sort displayed tonight is a standard and successful MO. It is all very deliberate and a fundamental characteristic of politics in general. But it is annoying nonetheless. Then you have the endless clapping-standing-sitting that turns into some playground game (again childlike comes to mind) between the red side of the room vs the blue side. They are all a bunch of ninnies. I don't know why I even watch this sort of thing. I guess because I was expecting to watch Scrubs and maybe even Law & Order, but alas...

I apologize for ranting in a political vein. I understand that no one wants to read this kind of shit here but then again I didn't intend this blog to be purely in a superficial pop-culture mold. I'm pretty much operating in that genre now but I originally meant this to be just a forum for me to write whatever happens to be on my mind. Most of the time that involves music and/or movies, and often my dogs, but sometimes politics will just sneak in. So that's that.

---

Moving on to more substantive issues, the Oscar nominations were announced this morning. Nothing especially surprising but I should say that I'm more impressed than usual with the choices in the main categories. But since I'm already sick of year-end awards by this time, I'll just do a quick obligatory Oscar prediction right now and be done with it. This is who I think will win, not necessarily who I want to win:



Best Original Screenplay: Haggis, Moresco - Crash
Best Adapted Screenplay: Futterman - Capote
Best Supporting Actor: Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz - The Constant Gardener
Best Actor: Heath Ledger - Brokeback Mountain
Best Actress: Reese Witherspoon - Walk the Line
Best Director: Ang Lee - Brokeback Mountain
Best Picture: Brokeback Mountain

---

Per Pitchfork, the final (and real) line-up for Coachella 2006 was released today. There's no way I'll make it out there but it does get me excited for the upcoming festival season. As always, we'll be attending the Austin City Limits Music Festival in September and Coachella is often a decent hint to some of the bands on showcase at ACL fest later in the year. Here's hoping this year that ACL trumps Coachella and snags Radiohead for its headliner!!

Podcasts, etc.

FYI, I have added a new feature to the sidebar titled "Upcoming Releases." Check it out for listings of upcoming music and movie releases that I deem worthy of mention. I'll try to keep this up-to-date as I hear about more releases and definitive dates.

---

I'm late to hop on the bandwagon of the latest online trend that is podcasts, but consider me a convert. Relax, relax...I'm not going to start broadcasting my smart-ass voice on this site. I prefer to write, not cast. But I must say that on-demand is a fantastic concept. Cable on-demand has become my preferred option to catch up on the latest episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Rome and other beloved HBO shows. Likewise, the appeal of on-demand radio is equally satistying. So I'm not sure why it has taken me this long to explore the huge selection of podcasts now available online. I suppose the abundance of material is probably what has kept me at a safe distance up until recently. Anyone can now be a DJ or radio show host, so you have to assume a large portion of the content is niche-oriented and a bit amateur. Obviously the same is true about blogs, if not more so (what you are reading more than qualifies). Of course, don't get me wrong here. I'm all for the proliferation of blogs, podcasts, photos, music and movies online. The internet has truly become an equalizing force in media creation and distribution and I think this is a wonderful, powerful thing. However, the downside is wading through the ocean of crap out there, which is more often than not, truly crap.

Anyway, I say all this as preface to my discovery of an absolutely hysterical podcast, The Ricky Gervais Show. Well, "discovery" is not the best word, since it is probably one of the most popular podcasts yet produced. You are probably familiar with Mr. Gervais, most recently acclaimed as the creator and star of BBC's The Office and HBO's Extras. That being the case, he doesn't exactly need my support. I wish I'd discovered some brilliantly subversive, underground podcast to share with you, but no. Gervais is one of the biggest celebrities in England, a stand-up comedian, star of television and radio, he has even written an episode of The Simpsons. We're talking a famous dude featured in a slickly produced radio program. The show is a 12 part comedy series in which Ricky and his lesser known creative partner Stephen Merchant sit around and ridicule the other member of the trio, Karl Pilkington. Not the best description, but believe me, it is funny as shit. If you have iTunes, it is available on there or if not, here's the link to the podcast so you can catch up on the 7 half-hour episodes released to date. Enjoy the engaging discussions about Chinese homeless people, Karl's perfectly round head and monkey news.

JTM's Best of 2005, Part III

Out of the hundreds of movies released in 2005, I likely saw a total of 30. I missed out on many of the year's highest grossing pictures. Harry Potter? Didn't see it. Chronicles of Narnia? Nope. Hitch? Hell no. I also never had the chance to catch several of the most critically lauded: Good Night, and Good Luck? Notta. The Squid & the Whale? Missed it. Cinderella Man? Ugh. And entirely out of my control, there are those films that have not yet been released except for in LA and NY, several of which would probably have a good shot at a list like this (e.g. Match Point, The New World, Cache, Why We Fight). I guess I'm just saying that this is far from an exhaustive and comprehensive list.

So what did I see this year?

Here are a few I saw that did not make the cut. Some decent films. None of these are complete stinkers, except the one featuring an annoying, scrawny blonde-haired kid who, in a dramatic turn of events, ends up having the voice of James Earl Jones.
Star Wars:Episode III, War of the Worlds, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, In Good Company, The Family Stone, King Kong, The Jacket, Fever Pitch, Wedding Crashers.

In the next tier, a few more films that came close but eventually fell short. Each of these, I still strongly recommend.
Layer Cake, Munich, Gunner Palace, Walk the Line.

And what remains are the 10 films that make up my Best of 2005. An impressive range of filmmaking, most of the independent variety. Obviously I'm of the opinion that none of these movies should be missed. If you haven't seen one of 'em, quickly run to a theater near you or place it at No. 1 in your Netflix queue. Though I will warn you, depression may follow.

---

10. Batman Begins
The only popcorn movie in the bunch, Christopher Nolan's Batman epic is here for many reasons, but most of all for bringing an entirely new mood and realism to the comic-book genre. Not an easy feat.

---

9. Crash
Although far from subtle, this ensemble melodrama in the vein of Altman and Anderson is a hell of a debut for a director. Featuring an excellent cast (especially Cheadle and Dillon) this film about all types of racial tension succeeds in making even the most naively innocent among us feel implicated.

---

8. Syriana
This is not an easy film. I couldn't explain the plot or half the characters if I tried. That being said, the true main character here is Oil and the corruption that follows in its wake. "Syriana" is a word Washington think tanks use to describe a hypothetical Middle East, reborn in the image of the West. And although some aspects of the plot may be ambiguous and border on conspiracy theory, the film's message is clear and hard to deny.

---

7. Grizzly Man
Werner Herzog's documentary tells the story of Alaska's self-proclaimed protector of the grizzly bears, Timothy Treadwell. Most of the film is taken directly from Tim's own footage shot during his summer treks living with the very bears that eventually kill him and his girlfriend. Startling in its depiction of one man's passion that is both sincere and foolishly misguided.

---

6. Last Days
Inspired by the last days of Kurt Cobain, this film is so sparse in dialogue and action that it borders on hypnosis. Doesn't sound like a recommendation but I mean it as one. The atmosphere is eerie as you voyeuristically watch one man's last daze in drug addiction.

---

5. Capote
Philip Seymour Hoffman. Is there any other actor who could have pulled off Truman Capote without coming off as a caricature of the notoriously flamboyant and arrogant writer? Not only did he nail the part, but this is a rare biopic that actually gets at what is going on inside the subject's mind while speaking to themes beyond the context of his story. And how does that happen? I say again, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

---

4. The Constant Gardner
Could have been a standard political thriller and it definitely excels in that genre...but what makes this movie stand out from others of similar ilk is the emotional weight of the relationship between Ralph Fiennes' character and his murdered wife played by Rachel Weisz. This is the second film from City of God director Fernando Meirelles and I can now say he is one of a few number of directors whose name alone will bring me into a theater.

---

3. 2046
I saw this just a week ago and I've been thinking about it ever since. I wish I could go back and see it on the big screen, because it contains the most beautiful images I've seen in any movie this year. Wong Kar-Wai is already a legendary director but I can't see how this masterpiece could be topped. It is a scenic tour of love lost and remembered, personified by various women through the eyes of one lonely dude. For my money, I'll take the perfect performance by Ziyi Zhang. This movie is an amazing combination of form and content. Amazing to look at, listen to, and feel.

---

2. Brokeback Mountain
I said my piece on Brokeback in my 12/19 posting, but placing this at #2 on my list should reemphasize how great a film this is and how it is so much more than a "gay cowboy" movie. If you're having doubts, get over it. Go see it. That is unless you're lucky enough to live in Salt Lake City, where the film has suddenly been pulled from theaters.

---

1. A History of Violence
Well this one came out of nowhere for me but it definitely deserves its place at the top. David Cronenberg directs this noirish little tale about a small-town hero whose violent actions spread like a virus to everyone around him. At first glance, this seems like a fun little thriller starring Aragorn and an excellent supporting cast (see Maria Bello, Ed Harris and William Hurt). When this film really starts to kick you in the gut is when it becomes an allegory about violence itself and how it quickly escalates in various forms throughout our safe, civilized society. As the story unfolds and you watch things unravel violently out of control, you start to realize that your very own reaction to the displays of violence depicted on screen (sometimes horrific, sometimes humorous, sometimes sexual) is exactly what Cronenberg is wanting us to question. And there is no easy answer, except that this is one hell of a good movie.

---

And my individual awards go to:
Best Actor: Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Best Supporting Actor: William Hurt, A History of Violence
Best Actress: Ziyi Zhang, 2046
Best Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
Best Screenplay: Josh Olson, A History of Violence
Best Director: Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain

A New Year

QUICK UPDATE: I've been slowly working on my Best of 2005, Part III which will sum up the year in film. But honestly, I've been dragging this "Best of" topic on long enough so Part III will wrap up the year officially for me.

---

Seriously people, how could I post without acknowledging the Longhorns' national championship victory over USC in the Rose Bowl?! It has been a longtime coming for UT after years (34) of endless potential and opportunity, resulting in inevitable disappointment. But enough of that...it was simply an amazing game, from the lackluster beginning to heart-attack-inducing end. I've never seen anything like it, especially in the performance of Vince Young. The BCS lived up to its hype this year. Hook 'em Horns!!

---

In the meantime...

The holidays are over and 2006 is upon us. I hate this time of year. Winter is just settling in, the days are dreadfully short and holidays are few and far between. Seasonal depression encourages sloth-like behavior. Computer and television screens become the most intimate of companions. If you live in Minnesota, you haven't seen the sun in weeks.

That being said, a trip to the equator is sure to break up the monotony. I promised more info. on the upcoming Kenya trip. The dates are now set: Feb 11 - 27th. It is coming up fast and we're painfully excited. As I mentioned, the first week or so will be a working trip for me, though without a doubt the best business travel I could ever comprehend. And on the upside, this means all expenses are paid for my portion. While I'm toiling through hard, physical labor at Kenya Medical Research Institute, Annie will be flying solo, bravely embark on the first exploring of the region (the urban areas of Nairobi and Kisumu). Once I'm done with University business, we are hoping to head on over to the Kenyan coast on the Indian Ocean and go on a safari tour. All of these details remain pending. I'll probably be starting up another blog just for this trip: to post pictures, describe experiences and report terrorist movements within the region. So stay tuned.

Kenya Bound

In a miraculous turn of events, I just found out today that I will be going on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Kenya, Africa in February 2006! My wife and I will be in Kenya (Nairobi, Kisumu and the Highlands) and possibly Uganda for about two weeks, the first of which will be work-related but the second week will be purely leisure. I am still in complete shock. More to come later.

Brokeback Mountain

Just caught Brokeback Mountain on Sunday. With all of the press on this film lately, my expectations were pretty high. It did not disappoint. I can now say that the film deserves all of its recent acclaim. To tell you the truth, I didn't find the whole "gay cowboy" subject matter all that groundbreaking or controversial. Maybe it is brave for a mainstream Hollywood movie. But the fact that these two characters who fall in love are men is besides the point. The real theme of this story goes beyond the particulars and is quite universal; and therein lies the anguish and power of the film. I'm referring to the denial and repression of one's passions (e.g. a true love, a career ambition, a dream of any kind) and how doing so just ends up eating you alive, until all you are left with is regret and bitterness. And then 20 years go by and you end up alone, in a trailer park, in Wyoming!! Heavy shit, right? This repression I'm talking about here is amazingly captured by Heath Ledger's tortured character. I didn't think Heath had this kind of performance in him, but it is a revelation. I know I'm prone to a bit of hyperbole, but I'm not kidding here, it is up there with some of the great acting performances of all time. He'll win the Oscar, believe you me. Anyway, go check it out.

---

Lists Galore!

Pitchfork kicks off their 2005 listmaking with their best singles of the year.

PopMatters presents their best albums of 2005.

Stylus Magazine counters with their own best albums list.

And the Onion's A.V. Club showcases the Year in Music.

Let Down

When I hear a song for the first time, I find that I usually ignore the lyrics and focus on purely sonic elements such as the instruments, rhythms, melody, repetitions and variations, etc. I imagine this is pretty normal. Other than the chorus, how many of us truly know the lyrics to the songs we listen to? Or maybe we know the verses and even have them memorized, but how many of us think about a particular song's lyrics as a whole, as a stand-alone text or poem? If you're a writer, especially a songwriter, this must sound outrageous. But in my experience, most people do not consider lyrics as a crucial component of a pop song. Sure, you want lyrics to be there, it's nice if they rhyme and even better if they feature a repetitious chorus. However, by and large, I'd say most people don't care one way or another what load of shit they're being fed. I'm guilty of this all of the time. If it has a catchy hook, it is easy to let bad lyrics slide.

Since I do tend to ignore the lyrics on the first go-around, I routinely trick myself into thinking I've found some great song, only to learn that the lyrics are gibberish of some sort or another. I'm trying to come up with an example for you, but I'm at a loss for now. Feel free to give me some...the point I'm trying to make is that I like well-written lyrics. That's all. A simple concept. I don't have any criteria except that I look for communication of a subjective experience, mood, message or story. The possibilities are endless. I love obtuse, abstract lyrics that say Stephen Malkmus might be inclined to write just as much as the baroque storytelling of Tom Waits. It is all so subjective, and that's what I like about it I suppose.

Anyways, I've decided that every once in a while, I'll post lyrics from a song that strikes me in one way or another. In the future, I'll avoid the long-winded preface above. Feel free to offer up your own suggestions or examples of great/awful lyrics. This weekend, I found myself listening to this...

"Let Down" (Radiohead, OK Computer)

Transport, motorways and tramlines,
starting and then stopping,
taking off and landing,
the emptiest of feelings,
disappointed people, clinging on to bottles,
and when it comes it's so, so, disappointing.

Let down and hanging around,
crushed like a bug in the ground.
Let down and hanging around.

Shell smashed, juices flowing
wings twitch, legs are going,
don't get sentimental, it always ends up drivel.
One day, I'm gonna grow wings,
a chemical reaction,
hysterical and useless
hysterical and

let down and hanging around,
crushed like a bug in the ground.
Let down and hanging around.

Let down,
Let down,
Let down.

You know, you know where you are with,
you know where you are with,
floor collapsing, falling, bouncing back
and one day, I'm gonna grow wings,
a chemical reaction, [You know where you are,]
hysterical and useless [you know where you are,]
hysterical and [you know where you are,]

let down and hanging around,
crushed like a bug in the ground.
Let down and hanging around.

JTM's Best of 2005, Part II

Part I of JTM's Best of 2005 was dedicated to new music released this year but in making said list I realized that my absolute favorite single of 2005 was not from any of my top 10 albums. Unacceptable. So for Part II, I'm keeping it brief. In fact, you will not even find a list, just a single definitive choice for the best song of the year.

But first, in order to build some sense of community, which is sort of the idea behind blogs, I kindly ask that any readers out there post back with their own picks for best song of the year. If you can't pick just one, list several, I don't care. I'm just curious to hear some of your opinions. Don't be shy. I know of at least 3 people who read this somewhat regularly, so I hope to god that I get at least 3 postings out of this. If not? Well, I guess it doesn't matter. I'll keep blogging away.

So back to the task at hand.
JTM's Best Song of 2005 goes to...



"Grass" - Animal Collective (from Feels LP)
Listen to mp3 or watch the Quicktime video

I could try to describe this song and why I love it so...but I'll just leave it to Stylus Magazine's Ryan Potts, who explains it perfectly below...

For a slight moment, it’s completely predictable: the chiming guitars sound like faceless indie rock and the vocals are sweet and smooth. It sounds like, well, a real single. But before long the pop façade is stripped away to reveal four eccentrics frantically beating drum kits, shrieking erratic harmonies, layering birdcalls, and sticking a chorus of wordless yelping and shouting in the middle of everything. With “Grass” they play tug of war between typical pop dynamics and the skewed perspective of experimental music, and start a fight with messy, absurd musical ideas and the guise of conventional formulas. Which side wins? We do.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death and needless to say, the Beatles have been on my playlist all week. My favorite Beatles' album, you say? I thought you'd never ask. A tough call but, I'd have to say the White Album. I mean, Rubber Soul. Or Sgt. Peppers? No, it is definitely Revolver. Like I said, the White Album. And that's not even considering Lennon's strong solo material.
Well, whatever your taste, here's to John. May you enjoy the endless tributes on radio and television broadcasts throughout the week, featuring irresponsibly repetitive loops of "Imagine."

---

I haven't seen it on tv yet, but take a look at Pardon Our Dust, a riotous new Gap ad directed by the brilliantly ironic Spike Jonze. The way I see it, you can interpret this in two ways: 1) that Gap is redesigning their stores and look or 2) as a ferociously subversive Fight Club-like attack on consumerism, or more specifically the uniformly generic, bland, mass-produced culture of style that chain clothing stores like Gap represent. In fact, #2 is probably the more obvious message of the ad. And with that being said, you'd wonder why Gap would go along with this, right? Or maybe Gap just wants to be seen as knowingly clever and "in on the joke" so that idiots like myself will talk about it and further their advertising agenda. Damnit! That sounds much more likely. Well regardless, it's a fine example of good advertising. Have a lookie.

---

The Grammy nominations came out this morning. I'm not sure why I even bother mentioning it. Have you ever known an award show or group that is more out of touch with the field it judges? The Oscars aren't far behind, but my god...

---

Stylus Magazine presents their Top 50 Singles of 2005.

---

And lastly, as a former Austinite and Longhorn myself, let me take this moment to congratulate the University of Texas football team for its remarkable undefeated season. As everyone probably knows, the Longhorns will be playing the formidable #1 ranked USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl BCS National Championship game on January 4th. Anyone with spare tickets, please contact me immediately. Ok, to be honest, that's the only reason I am posting this. Please, anyone, I want two tickets. Thank you for your time.

JTM's Best of 2005, Part I

To all of you shameless, pop-cult addicts out there...you know who you are...each and every one of you are undoubtedly looking forward to the infinite number of "Best of" lists rolled out this time of year. Am I right? Come on. Tell me I'm not the only one. Nearly every newspaper, magazine, webzine, independent critic and lowly blogger will soon be rolling out their definitive choices, and this being my first opportunity to publish such a list, do you think I'm gonna pass this up? Lucky you, all three of you.

As I'm writing, the more I'm realizing this will have to be a series of postings. For example, there are far too many movies this year I haven't seen yet to compile any sort of self-respecting film list. And I have some other "Best of" categorical ideas to toss around as well. Fun, fun!! So Part One will be solely dedicated to music released in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Five. Of course, just to the right you'll see I've already been running a list of my favorite albums of the year, so you can't expect too many surprises. But do read on, as this list will be in sequential order and feature brief, critical commentary!!

And so begins the 1st Annual JTM's Best of 2005.

---

10. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm

The only debut album on the list wins the prize for highest percentage of catchy pop songs (see #5 for close second). I dare you not to tap your finger! The release was preceded by the British media's standard parade of hype, but they were pretty much on target this time.
Favorite track: Price of Gas

---

9. Gang of Four - Entertainment! (Re-release)

Originally released in 1979, Entertainment! continues Rhino Records excellent run of re-releases by putting out this re-mastered version of the Gang's highly influential post-punk (funk) album. The sound is fantastic, the extra tracks are worth a new purchase, indeed the entire album holds up amazingly well...perhaps even more so considering how so many of the current crop of indie bands completely ripped 'em off (see #10 as well as Franz Ferdinand, et al.)
Favorite track: Anthrax

---

8. My Morning Jacket - Z

Z marks a significant move in a new and exciting direction for My Morning Jacket; much more varied in style than prior releases and all the better for it. But their trademarks such as Jim James' otherworldly voice remain front 'n center and a few of the tunes climax in mesmerizing guitar jams, though much more abbreviated. A huge step forward for an already great band.
Favorite track: Lay Low

---

7. Antony & The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now

That Voice!! What else can you say? Sparse songs, sorrowful yet hopeful lyrics, and that fucking amazing voice. A slew of guest stars including Boy George, Rufus Wainwright and Lou Reed! This album was my first exposure to Antony and I was blown away. Missed him when he came to town, but I won't next time.
Favorite track: Fistful of Love

---

6. Devendra Banhart - Cripple Crow

More produced than his previous efforts and the songwriting keeps getting better and better. Comes across as a bit more rockin' than his usual low-fi folk tunes and as such, is probably all the more accessible for those unfamiliar to his music. I've been playing this one non-stop since its release and seeing Devendra perform many of these songs live only increased my adoration.
Favorite track: Long Haired Child

---

5. The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema

The supergroup from across the border has released yet another album of hook-filled pop epics. As infectious as pop music gets. Every member, including my personal favorite Neko Case, makes a strong contribution while not letting their influence overwhelm. Alternate title: "Pop Hooks for Dummies." If only they hadn't canceled their show in Minneapolis!!
Favorite track: Sing Me Spanish Techno

---

4. The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday

They may call NYC their home base now, but Craig Finn (formerly of Lifter Puller) isn't shy about his Minneapolis roots. Raucous rock 'n roll guitars combined with Finn's distinctive talking-in-stream-of-consciousness singing style...it all sounds remarkably fresh amidst other current rock acts. Plus, its always fun to identify as many Twin Cities references as possible.
Favorite track: How A Resurrection Really Feels

---

3. The Fiery Furnaces - EP

I'm still trying to warm up to the Furnaces'...shall we say difficult, 2005 release Rehearsing My Choir. But in the meantime, I can't stop playing their EP from earlier this year. In actuality, EP is a full-length compilation of older songs including leftovers from the Blueberry Boat sessions. LEFTOVERS?! Regardless of the context, this album plays like a greatest hits that never were and is by far the most user-friendly of their catalogue.
Favorite track: Single Again

---

2. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

Sure to be seen on many "Best of" lists this year, and deservingly so. How to best describe? Lets try : grand, epic, folk vaudeville by multi-talented singer/songwriter/intrumentalist. These types of brazen concept albums can often result in nothing but a swollen ego gone wild, but then again, they can also produce instant classics such as this. He can't do all 50 states, can he? If anyone can, Sufjan can!
Favorite track: The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!

---

1. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods

Already legendary in the world of indie music, with several great albums to their credit, Sleater-Kinney wasn't expected to surprise anyone at this point, right? They had already established an outstanding style of invigorating and politically charged, punkish tunes. So it goes. Along comes their Sub Pop release, The Woods, produced by David Friedman (of Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev fame among others) and reportedly influenced by the like of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Jimi Hendrix. Is that a classic rock influence?!?! Is that an 11 minute song?? Are worlds colliding? But still, the chicks from Washington state somehow still sound so much like themselves, the fury and passion they bring to the table here is incredible. I was already a big fan but for me, this came out of nowhere, shook me by the collar and frankly, hasn't let go ever since. And that is what makes it THE best album of 2005.
Favorite track: Jumpers

---

Honorable Mentions: Animal Collective - Feels; Spoon - Gimme Fiction; Stephen Malkmus - Face The Truth; Silver Jews - Tanglewood Numbers; Lucinda Williams - Live @ The Fillmore; Iron & Wine - Woman King (EP); Deerhoof - The Runners Four; Wilco - Kicking Television: Live in Chicago; Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary; Mogwai - Government Commissions (BBC Sessions 1996-2003); M83 - Before The Dawn Heals Us;

Manamana

Winter is indeed upon us. As the days become inevitably shorter and seasonal depression sets in, I must find the simple enjoyments in life to keep me sane. My latest pleasure is provided by none other than our beloved Muppets. And why not? I have had this ridiculously catchy song in my head for a month now, not realizing where I had heard it or what it was from. Finally, with a little help from my friends, I've discovered it to be an old, classic Muppets song, "Manamana." Click this link to watch the video clip featuring a hippy, caveman, Jerry Garcia-lookalike and two pink cows. But be warned that immediately thereafter you will find this song trapped in your head for hours if not days, endlessly annoying friends, family and co-workers alike.

Pitchfork's latest feature gives long overdue attention to the worst record covers of all time. Take your time examining these fine specimens. My favorite is definitely Ted Nugent's Scream Dream. Despite these dreadful examples or maybe because of them, I love cover art and other album printed materials. In fact, my overall fetish for the actual media of music is one reason why I will never stop buying records and cds to go completely digital. More obvious arguments against digital music concern fidelity problems, inadequate compression, etc. but surely technology will do its best to bridge this gap. I guess to me there's nothing better than going through your collection, finding that perfect album for that particular moment, pulling out the sleeve, and just listening. No distractions, no web browsing, no computer, no iPod shuffle.

---

Here's another fine music list, this one coming from Stylus Magazine: The Non-Definitive Guide to the B-side.

---

Disappointing news from the television wire. Arrested Development, the funniest show on network television, is getting canceled. But on the positive side, Freddie is signed on for a full season!! Very reassuring!!

---

Time for another picture of my beloved kids. Nice reflection of their personalities: Stanley eager to please, Jellybean more interested in other things.

As you know, yesterday was election day across the country. And so, this morning I was surveying the various results of mayorial races, local officials, referendums and propositions. Some interesting, most not. But for me, the most disappointing result I've come across is the constitutional amendment passed by Texas voters, by a frightening 3:1 margin, to formally ban gay marriage. Of course, Texas is one of the more conservative states in the Union and it shouldn't come as any surprise that they would pass such a proposition. But I am still finding this quite disturbing. As most of you probably know, I was raised in Austin, TX and I still think of myself as a Texan in many ways. I have serious intentions of moving back in the not-so-distant future. These facts likely explain my annoyance. But here's an interesting stat: Texas is now the 19th state in the U.S. to pass just such a ban on gay marriage. 19 states! Most amendments passed in the last year alone! Maybe I live in a naive (and liberal) bubble, but I did not realize how many states had gone this route. It speaks volumes of where we are in this country idealogically. And it pisses me off something fierce. Now, I am sincerely not interested in getting into a political debate with any readers out there, although I guess I am asking for it by this very posting. But suffice it to say that I feel very, very strongly that this type of legislation is immoral, discriminatory and a clear violation of the separation of church and state. It is contradictory to every value I possess, and simply disgusts me. That's just how I feel. So I guess that's it. Admittedly, this is a poor excuse of a protest. After this, I will drink a Coca-Cola Classic, smoke a Camel cigarette, watch an all-new episode of Lost, laugh at a Capital-One commerical, and ask my wife what color we should paint the guest room. Tomorrow I will surely go through a similar routine right after learning how many people died in Iraq that day. I am a model of political activism. So it goes.

So what if I'm a snob? A rant on popular culture...

Easily one of my favorite films of the last 5 years is David Lynch's Mulholland Dr. (2001). Try bringing it up in a conversation with friends, preferably of mixed company, and see what reactions you'll get. By far the most common response goes something like "loved the lesbian scenes, but everything else...what the fuck!?" Of course, it should come as no surprise that anything from the mind of Mr. Lynch would stir strong reactions ranging across the spectrum (e.g. Blue Velvet, Lost Highway, Twin Peaks, Eraserhead, etc.). I know one person in particular who was physically ill with disgust after seeing Mulholland Dr! I'm not kidding...to this day, 4 years later, if I even mention the movie, this person nearly vomits on my shoes. So how can one person have such an intensely negative reaction while the person sitting directly next to them in the theater, watching the very same images, believe it to be the best thing since sliced bread? Doesn't matter. Because these reactions are the true power of art, culture, creativity, whatever you wanna call it...when films, music, books, television, photographs, paintings or self-expression of any kind can instill such visceral and polarized responses, something that kicks you right in the gut, that is what I'm looking for. An experience that gets inside you, for better or for worse, fucking you or stabbing you depending on your perspective. But at least you feel something! Maybe that is what I'm getting at. I'd rather watch Lost Highway (a David Lynch movie I passionately hate) over and over again than watch one single minute of Meet the Fockers. So maybe Mulholland Dr. doesn't do that for you at all. Maybe that is your "Meet the Fockers." But find out what does do it. And let me know what it is cause I wanna see it. Oh, and for those who have no idea on Mulholland Dr., here's a good article explaining one interpretation, though definitely not the only one.

The Guardian sits down with Matt, Eleanor, and their grandmother to discuss the new Fiery Furnaces album, Rehearsing My Choir, available 10/25. FF have always been a "love' em or hate 'em" type of band and if you've seen my profile, you know where I stand. And predictably, the early reviews are a bit harsh and I expect the hostility to continue in ernest. I've had a copy of Rehearsing My Choir for a few weeks now (signed by Matt and Eleanor even!), so I've had a fair amount of time to absorb the autobiographical ramblings of one Olga Sarantos. I'm fairly open-minded to musical experimentation and indulgence if it hits me just right, but even as a loyal FF fan, I am having some serious difficulties getting into this one. A fascinating concept album or a failed novelty? Pure genius or complete gibberish? I'm leaning towards the latter. It may grow on me as these things tend to do...if only it didn't feel like such a chore to listen to.
If anyone else out there has a listen, I'd be curious to hear your reaction.

---

So we had tickets to the New Pornographers show this past Saturday night. It was sure to be a fantastic set and my wife was very excited to see one of her true favorites, Neko Case. But damnit if the show wasn't canceled at the last minute!! Apparently, the same was true of the Friday night show in Madison. No idea what happened...the band's website reassures us that the shows are merely postponed. Disappointment, nonetheless.

But there's always our freaky-folky friend Devendra Banhart. He won't let us down!! I have a couple of friends who claim Mr. Banhart is a bit too keen on the subject of children, and my wife is positive he's the love child of Charlie Manson...as for me, I couldn't care less if either were true. I love the guy and I'm looking forward to seeing him tomorrow night at the Fine Line. I'll give an update on the show later this week.

In case you haven't noticed, I like lists. From time to time, I'll post one here. Granted, your typical "Best of" lists are arrogant in their elitist standards, painfully obvious by what they include, and frustrating as hell by what they exclude, but damnit if they aren't fun! And so, I offer a list as published by a little known periodical, Time Magazine's 100 Best English-language Novels since 1923.
Since I can tell you're into it, go here for more lists of varied legitmacy, all nicely organized in one site: Lists of Bests

---

You too can experience musical bliss, minus the heat stroke (see Oct 12 posting). Our friend Largehearted Boy compiles many of the 2005 ACL Music Festival performances available for downloading.

---

At risk of alienating the NASCAR fans visiting my blog, enjoy some light reading on the racial politics of one of America's most beloved sports.

---

Just about every October, I stubbornly watch every inning of every MLB playoff game, and this year I can't get enough of the A.J. Pierzynski show. For those of you who share in my odd enjoyment of a most dubious playoff hero, this is the site for you. Don't get me wrong, I honestly like the former Twins catcher...but, are you kidding me?