Forked Road

So after reading your blurbs on the Best Of list (which I thoroughly enjoyed by the way) I have decided to give you a choice for your next listening. Since we have done so many tracks lately I want to make it a full album listen too.

The Wild Hunt - The Tallest Man on Earth - The Wild Hunt

Cruel - St. Vincent - Strange Mercy


Let me start by saying both of these albums deserve your full attention and I hope after the one you choose you will give the other a listen too.

The Tallest Man on Earth is often credited as being the (Norwegian) second coming of Bob Dylan and when you first listen you will notice that his voice is almost disturbingly similar. It shouldn't take long for you to see just how different these artists are. While Dylan is inherently cynical in his music there is always an upbeat tinge to Tallest Man even in his most melancholic songs. While Dylan often used his music as a means to speak his mind about real world events The Tallest Man on Earth seems more comfortable with almost sculpting his own fantasy world form his music and turning a blind eye to the real world completely. In any event you mentioned your interest in wanting to listen to more folk and unfortunately I am the wrong guy to turn to for that. Generally I abhor folk music and "I'm Losing Myself" happens to be so damn wonderful that I almost don't consider it folk in my mind. Anyways, Tallest Man certainly has some folkish elements in his music and I think you might appreciate that.

St. Vincent is a little trickier of a recommendation. I have listened The Wild Hunt into the ground since its release in 2010 but Strange Mercy just came out last September and even then I have not given it the musical attention it deserves. When I listen to this album it feels like something I have never heard (thats not to say she is starting a new musical genre just that her songs sound unique) but at the same time the whole album has this aura of familiarity. It is as if I have been waiting for this music my whole life. That might sound a little extreme but I don't know how else to put it. This album is a weirdly perfect compliment to my life and I think you might be able to find the same feeling.

So listen to the two tracks I posted above and let me know which album you want to jump on.

Best Of...

As December moves forward the season of "best of" lists is pretty much upon us. Every person wants to make their voice heard on what they thought was the cream of the crop for the year 2011. You may be thinking, "Wait! There are still things left to come out in the end of December! That is still part of 2011!" Well too bad. December releases are often subjugated to a nether realm of unappreciation due to their ill timed arrival. One of the most prevalent best of topics is music. December is often filled with the sound of thousands of people fastidiously scouring their itunes library in search of music worthy of their lists. Without further ado I shall give you my top ten songs and top ten albums of 2011.

Top 10 Songs of 2011

1.) I'm Losing Myself - Robin Pecknold 

2.) The Daily Mail - Radiohead

3.) Death Major - 13 & God

4.) This Isn't a Good Night for Walking - Arches 

5.) California - EMA

6.) You're Blessed - Iceage

7.) Glass Jar - Gang Gang Dance

8.) Wrong Feels Right - Dum Dum Girls

9.) Magic Was Ruler - Bullion

10.) Honey Bunny - Girls

Top 5 Albums of 2011

1.) David Comes to Life - Fucked Up

2.) Black Up - Shabazz Palaces 

3.) James Blake - James Blake

4.) Wounded Rhymes - Lykke Li

5.) Father, Son, and Holy Ghost - Girls

Give some of the songs a listen (especially some of the top ones) and let me know what you think. Obviously it is much more of an undertaking to swallow entire albums but if you are interested just let me know and they can be arranged too. Considering the state of your music library it may be the right time for such tasks. 

"I don't see how it could be anyone but Romney. Maybe Perry."

Making predictions in politics is not a particularly useful art, but it certainly is a difficult one. I remember saying the above quote (or a rough version of it) to you about a month ago. Now Perry has plummeted in the polls, and Gingrich has surged. Looks like the result wasn't as clear as I thought.

Photo by Markn3tel

I should note that I don't think Perry's collapse or Gingrich's surge are particularly stable trends. Either could be reversed, and quickly. Perry could rise again thanks to the huge amount of funds he has on hand, but he'd need something beyond just that. At the same time, Gingrich could collapse because he is one of the most hypocritical American politicians today (and that's saying something). Still, I think Gingrich's strong poll numbers are less transient than Cain's (that's not saying something) and it's interesting to realize, once again, that political fortunes are impossible to predict.

A little back story might be helpful. You may already know this, but in early June, all of Gingrich's paid staff in Iowa quit en masse. A lot of other major campaign figures in other states quit as well. Pretty much every pundit declared Newt's campaign dead. I disliked the suggested finality of "dead," but I agreed with the basic verdict.

Then, beginning about a week ago, he began climbing pretty rapidly. I would love to see an analysis of what triggered this, but alas I haven't found any lengthy look. What I have read, however, is Matt Bai's quick analysis. I like Bai's work, and his take on the Gingrich-rise, while pretty short, is still pretty informative. Hopefully this little blurb will provide a slightly better idea of why "presidential politics so routinely confounds us." test edit

Here it is.

P.S. Aquas de Marco is my most played on itunes. Admittedly there aren't many other contenders, but it is beating out International Players Anthem, arguably one of the greatest songs of our generation.