Kyle Brown’s Grand Scale of Debauchery

Logan International,

Ugh. Another 5:30am wake up call. Luckily this time, I got to bed at a decent hour and actually slept fairly well. Is it coincidence that I happened to be sleeping in a quiet hotel room in a king size bed and not a futon 3 feet from Dave and his insanely loud AC unit that rattles off and on every 10 minutes? No, it is not.

It rained all day yesterday in Boston and I was convinced that my opportunity to the inside of Fenway was going to be lost. But thanks to the power of the internet, I was able to check the beat writer for the Sox’s blog and was able to see they were going to start the game on time anyway. So after a wonderful dinner at the Boston staple, Legal Sea Foods, I went with two colleagues over the bridge to Fenway.

Our cab driver was vintage Boston, with all the ‘ah’s’ and ’sawx’ one could hope for. He gave us a few tips for keeping dry and dropped us off. We found our seats, which happened to be under the overhang, first deck along the right field line. Perfect for inclement weather. The park looked great even with the foreboding gray sky and the game did indeed start on time.

The Henry group has done a marvelous job of adding a few modern improvements to a classic, while maintaining its charm and character. Everything is freshly painted, there are digital signage at the concession stands, and yet the look and feel of the entire place screams 1920s. Every seat at Fenway is close to the action, and the size of the park makes it feel extremely intimate. It’s ballparks like this, that led to the stadium boom of the past 20 years trying to downsize baseball capacities.

The game itself was a fun, close contest with the two Red Sox I actually like playing very prominent roles. Marco Scutaro, former clutch utility IF for the A’s had 4 RBI, and Dan Nava, who I went to High School with made some good plays and scored a run. The fans were smart fans, and engaged in the game all along. Without the distractions of a lot of the modern parks, the emphasis truly was on the product on the field.

There was one massive, massive problem with the whole experience. The stadium is 98 years old, and the seats/aisle-ways are all original. Which means it was built for people 100 years ago, not Lincoln Legs Brown and his pegs. So my knees were either dug into the seat in front of me, or twisted sideways, causing me to strain my back. Economy flights have more leg room than this. And so I was forced to move, get up, and generally walk about. Still, a great park overall.

After 4 new parks in 13 days, I have some rankings. I know, shocking.

Stadiums on the trip:

1. Citizen’s Bank Park - Phillies

2. Fenway Park - Red Sox

3. Citi Field - Mets

4. Yankee Stadium - Yanks

Stadiums I have Been To:

1. Petco Park - San Diego Padres

2. Citizen’s Bank - Phillies

3. AT&T - Giants

4. Fenway Park - Red Sox

5. Dodger Stadium - Dodgers

Top 5 Moments of my recent stadium tour:

1. Tie. Watching Mo Rivera come out to ‘Enter Sandman’  as well as Jon Papelbon entering to ‘Shipping Out to Boston’. Both times the home crowd went absolutely nuts.

2. Philly fans, acting like Philly fans. You know, making inappropriate jokes about female fans, yelling at their own players, general lewd behavior. (Note: Most of this being observed at the Phils-Mets game in New York mind.)

3. The beautiful open expanses and sight lines in Citizen’s Bank. Free standing room around the concourses is the way all parks should be moving to. (Screw you Yankee Stadium. We have basically ’standing room’ seats on a bar bench in the outfield. They cost $75, with a discount.)

4. The Jackie Robinson rotunda in Citi Field. An entire memorial dedicated to the legend as you enter Citi Field. It is beautiful and a wonderful tribute to a great, great man.

5. As much as it pains me to say this: Red Sox Nation. I truly couldn’t have been more impressed with the fans that showed up to an awful weather contest last night. They were smart, respectful, and it was filled with families that you could tell were raised on basebal. As much as I LOATHE these people when they show up at the other 29 stadiums, in the confines of Boston, I rather enjoyed them. (Probably because I wish my team had that kind of loyalty and sense of community.)

And so now I am going to board a Jet Blue flight and head back to SF.

Oh yeah, I’m going to the Giants game tonight. Is that 5 stadiums in 14 days? Um, yes, it is.

Cheers,

Kyle

On a train headed to Boston,

It’s brutally early right now. 6:45 Monday morning as I type this. I am on a train to Boston, to visit a client site and attend tonight’s Sox game, rain willing. I slept terribly last night, and it was the first night I had laid down prior to 2am. So yeah, I’m a bit beat. Here’s why

Monday, I go have lunch at Brit’s apartment, and then go to watch a hip hop show with Ben and Valerie. Wale is brilliant, his mixtape is excellent. Great times all around. I end up at Dalton’s until 1am watching the end of the A’s game.

Tuesday, went to a wedding reception for Molly Mahoney, went out drinking afterward with Kate Roberts and Courtney Fry. If you know anything about those two, it should be that an early night is not expected.

Wednesday, I meet up with the Dollingers, James and Shawn, and Kate Roberts around 5 at the Subway Inn. We go to Yankee Stadium for the Yanks-Tigers game. I am underwhelmed by the stadium. It’s huge and sterile. They spent too much time trying to re-create the old stadium, which frankly besides the history, was kind of a shit hole. It’s gaudy, and unoriginal. I like Citizen’s Bank and Citi Field far more. The game ends, we go back to the Subway Inn until 3. The highlight is seeing a woman attempt to dance on top of the bar to Lady Gaga, and in an instant, disappear behind the bar after falling on some bottles and the bartender. Good times.

Thursday Brit has Dave, Kate, and I over for dinner at her apartment in Brooklyn. It’s a lovely candlelit dinner, and the conversation and company is well appreciated. Courtney Fry shows up some time around 10 and Brit takes us around her neighborhood to some bars. Most of them serve Brit’s boyfriend Mike’s beer, Peak Organic, which we imbibe until 2am.

Friday is Kate Roberts going away party. My friend Kate is moving from New York where she has lived the last few years to San Francisco. This is a big deal. Kate and Courtney have decided to conduct a crazy 2 week road trip across the country, through 25 states to bring Kate out West. (Click on the link to see their blog, which is fantastic, and updated 1,000 times more often than this one.) In classic fashion the two decided to go out with a bang, prior to leaving in a rented Yellow Penske van Saturday morning. Dave and I meet them for dinner at the Shake Shack before heading to B-Side for way too many PBRs and good vibes. There is a special going for $5, a PBR and a whiskey shot. Somewhere in this mess of an evening we end up at the Lit Lounge dancing. This is a dingy East Village bar with a basement floor that doubles as a dance party. There is little to no AC, the temp outside is around 90, and now you have 40 people dancing. Suffice to say, I was raining sweat. It was not a good look. We ended the evening waiting in line for 45 minutes at Artichoke Pizza. Dave was sober, the rest of us were very, very drunk. It was great.

Saturday Dave and I ventured to Long Island City to meet Brit and Mike at the NYC MoMA PS1. The Museum of Modern Art has taken over an old public school in Queens and converted it into an art museum. During the summer on Saturday afternoons, they bring in bands to play in the old play yard, cater the whole thing with beer, and it turns into a giant art party. The people watching was incredible, as the hispter/art elite of NYC was out in full force. Apparently the latest look for women is the cutoff sleeve t-shirt with a black lace bra underneath, boots, and daisy dukes, ala Kate Moss 1992. I like this. This is totally okay with me. After dinner I meet up again briefly with Mike Leslie and then Shawn and Antuan at Dalton’s to watch the A’s game.

Sunday means football. And with the Niners playing the NBC game against Brett Favre, we decide to head to Finnerty’s which is the new home for the NYC Niner group that I used to watch games with. I watch the game, say goodbye to some friends and return to Dave’s by midnight. Easily the shortest night of the week.

So I’m tired. As usual, I feel like I need a vacation from my vacation. It was awesome to see so many old friends and friendly faces. I’m pretty sure I don’t know how to do it any other way.

Cheers,

Kyle

Manhattan,

Dave knows me well. Dave knows me better than just about anyone. And so when Dave asked me if I wanted to go camping over the weekend in the Shenandoah Valley with Courtney Fry, Kate Roberts, and 38 of our closest friends, he knew I would say yes. He also knew that he should under no circumstances explain to me the logistics of actually making this happen.

And so Friday, after two days of working from Dave’s apartment and visiting with old friends, I journeyed over to Queens to Antuan’s house to prepare for our departure. Because of work, we weren’t able to get out of the area until at least 6pm. Antuan and I ran around getting supplies and food and around 6, Debbie, Sam, and Dave drove up and we loaded the cars. I hopped into the shotgun position in Debbie’s car and looked at the mapquest directions. And that’s when I realized what I had gotten myself into. 6 states (NY, NJ, PA, MD, WV, VA) a minimum of 7 hours travel time.

Now, I love me some crazy road trips, and I love the people we were going to see camping. But 14 hours in a car sandwiched around 32 hours of camping, not to mention sleep? Why wouldn’t we do this differently? Why wouldn’t we leave earlier, stay later, etc. But by now, I was strapped in the front seat, and cruising through the Pennsylvania turnpike. Dave is a wise man.

We arrived around 2am, and immediately set up camp. This is where it got fun. Antuan pulled out his brand new 2 person hiking tent that he had recently purchased. Antuan had never been camping in his life, and decided to buy a tent from Sports Authority for this trip. Two weeks ago Dave had asked if he could sleep in it with Antuan, as Dave has no tent. Antuan did not agree. At this time, Antaun was still unsure about his availability for the trip, and so Dave asked if he could use the tent if Antuan was not going to go on the trip. Antuan said no. Dave asked why, and Antuan stated that he wanted to be the first one to use it. Dave decided he was going to destroy Antuan’s tent.

And thus the previous two weeks, battle lines had been drawn. Heated words exchanged, and dubious plans and plots hatched. That tent was going down one way or another. Mutual friends had tried to intervene, begging Dave to not do anything that would cause drama. Dave does not make idle threats. Never has. And so at 2am, Antuan pulls his tent out of the bag and begins the process of setting it up under flashlight and campfire…and proceeds to break the damn thing himself twice, complete with nasty splinters in his hand. This could not have been any more perfect.

The following day the 38 campers put on bathing suits and water shoes and boarded buses at the local outfitters. We took a bus ride 3 miles upriver and grabbed a tube each. In addition we had 5 coolers with delicious beverages in them riding in their own separate tubes. Everyone got in the water, slowly tied to each other, and thus began the process of the slow tube down the Shenandoah River.

The mountains in the area are absolutely beautiful, and everything was lush and green. It was about 90 degrees out, which made the water feel great to the touch. The river was not moving very fast, which was fine up until the rain started a few hours in. Now it felt like we were floating in a warm shower, booze gone, hands pruned, and starting to get  a little cold. Luckily we were at the end, and this meant back to the camp, for a large fire and dinner.

Sunday morning we woke early, packed our gear and headed out. We had to make it back to the city in time to go to the Mets game at 8. And we had a few states to cruise back through. We made it back to Dave’s apartment by 6pm, and to Queens for the ballgame on time.

Citi Field was another gorgeous stadium with ample standing room and beautiful concourses to walk around. The food stands serve some of the best and most famous New York chefs and the sight lines inside are terrific. It was misting throughout the game, but luckily our seats were under an overhang and thus we were spared. The Mets lost the game, but not before Dave unveiled his latest new Mets chant. There is a catcher with the last name of Thole (toll-ee). Dave likes to get the whole section to yell out, “Tee!!!” “Hole!!” “Tee!!” “Hole!!”. It makes little sense, but it sounds funny. And thus a new baseball chant is added to the list.

Yesterday I visited Brit’s new apartment in Prospect Heights in Brooklyn. It was very adult, I was very impressed. Last night Brit and I met up with Ben and Valerie to see a hip hop show. Wale is a rapper from DC that Ben particularly likes, and he was playing a promo show in Chelsea for only $15 to promote a new mixtape he just released. I have seen him before with Ben, and his live band UCB is phenomenal. I will go see just about any hip hip show with a live band, and they are particularly good. The show was great and we all had good times.

More fun times ahead this week, including a visit to new Yankee Stadium…

Cheers,

Kyle

Somewhere in Jersey,

I’m on an Amtrak headed east, bags in the overhead compartment, earphones in, and for just a moment, I feel just as I did years ago: isolated, spontaneous, and totally invigorated. Yes, I have some work to do. Yes the luggage is larger, more cumbersome, and new. Yes, I am going back to a place I once lived in, with people I know, and situations familiar.

But something about public transportation away from home puts me in a spectacular mood, where everything feels like a new possibility.

I spent the last five days in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. My good friend, and former roommate, the legendary Mike Leslie is back in the states for a few weeks from South Africa to host a reunion of American students that have travelled through his university in Stellenbosch. As chances to visit with Mike are rare, I hopped on a plane last Friday to come kick it for a few days.

I arrived on Friday evening, after spending the day on Southwest flights from Oakland, sitting next to some women who were questionably in porn, but most definitely the types of girls brought in for parties with celebrities in Vegas. There were very nice, but the amount of makeup and gratuitous girly scents, made for a very fragrant ride. Mike and I visited with a few beers upon my arrival, and made plans the next day to drive down to Avalon, New Jersey to stay with some kids that Mike grew up with.

The drive down to the Shore was beautiful and when we reached Avalon, it quickly became apparent, that this was not the guido fest MTV had hyped for me. No, it was far more like a fancy east coast version of Newport Beach. The marshes along the ocean reminded me of what a more natural delta can look like, and there were plenty of people out on boats having fun.

One thing didn’t change, there were a lot of tans, a lot of homes with balconies filled with drunken youth, and a lot of ridiculous clothing and posturing in the bars. We of course had a pre-party with fruity hard alcohol cocktails, and plenty of trashy euro beats on the stereo. Everyone got nice and dressed up and headed to the bars down the street about midnight.

I won’t get too much into the scene inside the bar, but let’s say I say lots of exposed tan skin…and that was mostly the guys taking off their shirts, who attempted to get into fights, and were kindly escorted from the premises.

The best part of Avalon for me, was the morning when Mike took me to the legendary Wawa. Now this is a Pennsylvania legend. A super charged AM/PM with quality food. It puts all California mini marts to shame. I was able to order a hoagie from a touch screen message board, pay for it, and return with my sandwich prepared to my exact specifications. Simply beautiful.

Sunday and Monday were spent mostly driving around the towns where Mike grew up. His Mom lives in a town named Rutledge, which is a 3×4 block suburban enclave directly next to the college town of Swarthmore. We visited with some neighbors and old friends, and I couldn’t help but be struck on how down to earth and genuine everyone was. The block where Mike grew up is a beautiful tree lined street with unique homes that have been in families for generations.

We also made it out to West Chester and visited the famous Fairman’s skateshop where Mike worked in high school. The owner Dave Fairman was there, and visited with us for a while. We found out one of Mike’s buddies, who also stayed with us in our dorm at Chapman, just turned professional skateboarder this past week and has a full time sponsorship with World Industries.

West Chester was a nice town, but the heat and humidity made any walk anywhere a struggle. We also had a nice dinner with Mike’s uncle at a bar that had been in the same spot since the 1730’s. It is about .5 miles from the Chad’s Ford battleground, and local legend has it that the George Washington frequented the bar, and that the adjourning hotel is haunted by the ghosts of Revolutionary soldiers.

Tuesday the heat only ratcheted up. Add in extra humidity, and were talking 95/95 splits. Moving anywhere was a task. But we had decided to spend the day in Philadelphia, and so we manned up and drove into town. We walked along South Street and looked in some shops, headed down to Independence Hall to look at the Liberty Bell, and finally got over to Citizen’s Bank Park to catch a Phillies-Dodgers game.

The stadium is very nice and well laid out. There is standing room throughout the park, whether it’s behind the first deck, or out in the outfield next to some food stands. The decks are quite steep, and I couldn’t help but think the upper reaches of the top deck was too high to watch from, although this also caused every seat to feel as if one was directly on top of the action. We wandered around the park for some time, mainly so I could observe, but also because by the 4^th the game was already out of hand. We settled in center field, which was a standing room section, and had the perfect vantage point for three Phils homeruns into the right field bleachers.

I had been very excited to see how Philly fans were in person, and I found them to be generally involved, until the team was too far behind, in which it now became much more of a drinking affair. I can see where the town gets its reputation from though, one better have thick, thick skin to hang around for too long.

And now it’s off to New York, which is a sop off point, for a few days until I head down to Virginia for some camping. Now that we have actual news and travels, not just bar updates, there will be more to follow.

Cheers,

Kyle

88 Cumberland,

The list of things I loved as a four year old were pretty simple. My mom, my dog, My Buddy doll, He-Man, and the Oakland Athletics. Family aside, as cool as that crappy ugly stuffed friend of mine was, and as strong and kick ass as He-Man, nobody could hold a candle to the Bash Brothers.

I still remember my first game. It was spring of 1988, and my dad and I drive down to the Fremont BART station. It was a cold and overcast day, and we took the train up to the Colesium station and across the walkway. The old stadium had a large wooden fence around the outfield, painted green. As you walked along the top of the ramp, you could peek through the slats at the outfield below.

It always seems funny to me that all the baseball geeks always talk about the first time they saw a field in person and how incredible the sight of the green, fresh cut grass was. It’s funny, because it is entirely true. I can still picture looking at the magnificent green grass, panning upward to find the pennants of the 26 teams, arranged for that days standings, and thinking “Man, this is cool.”

Clemens pitched that day for the Red Sox. It was first hate from the start. Feelings haven’t changed much over the subsequent 22 years. My mom, like most mothers, has kept way too many of my early doodling and “art” for the simple fact that she can’t bear to part with them. I’d have to say 80% of all the drawings are one of three things:

1. The words Oakland Athletics

2. A rough attempt at the A’s logo

3. A makeshift box score

I first really started to learn math by calculating batting average and ERA. I’d memorize the stats of the star players and then quiz my parents on them on the way to the games. I learned all the other teams, their mascots, and what city they played in. I started “reading” the sports page, at least as much as I could muster, until I finally could understand what they were saying.

My father took me to a lot of games that year, I’m sure because I incessantly bugged him, and probably because he thought it was a “fatherly” thing to do. I didn’t make it past the 7th or 8th inning most games, and I slept on the BART train almost every time home.

The A’s were the talk of the town in those days, and the stadium was sold out most nights. The team made it all the way to the World Series, and I remember watching Kirk Gibson’s homer in Game 1 and crying into my pillow that night. My dad got us tickets for Game 5, and he shook me awake as Orel Hershiser and the rest of the Dodgers celebrated on the A’s field. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t fair, and through baseball, not even at the age of 5, I knew the world was seriously flawed.

The day I turned 6, the A’s won the World Series. My dad had taken me to Game 1 in Oakland, where being the little punk I was, I smacked talk anybody in the parking lot in Giants gear. I think my Dad must have thought it was funny, or just assumed nobody was gonna talk back to a first grader. The A’s winning just seemed right. This was about the same time I had started to follow Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, and they had won earlier in the year. Yup, my teams were awesome, because I was awesome. It only made logical sense.

Over twenty years later, some things just don’t change much. There is still that magical feeling when you see that grass for the first time each season. There is still the daily pore through the stats and box scores. There is still a newspaper column to read and analyze. There is still the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, the romanticized swill like this, and there is still baseball to be played.

The A’s are in first place.

Kyle

I know, I know. Been a while. I’ve been slacking. The truth hurts.

But today’s glorious holiday gives me an excuse to bring back one of my all time favorite stories. St. Paddy’s Day 2007 - in the grand city of Dublin, Ireland.

This was in the midst of my Epic Trip, and I had recently arrived back into Dublin after making my way through Eastern Europe, Italy, France, and finally Belgium. I had previously been in town during the month of January, staying with dear friend and then Trinity College student, Michael Redding. Now, back in town after two months on the continent, it was a reunion of sorts, not only with Michael and his friends, but also with my parents, who had decided to make the trip over with some of their friends for the holiday.

One couple traveling with my parents had backed out of the trip last second, and so my parents decided to offer me the vacant hotel room. This was terrific, as not only had I not had a room to myself in nearly 4 months, but Michael had several friends in town, and his place was going to be cramped at best.

On the day of the holiday we took in the parade through downtown, went to Croke Park to watch a hurling match and finally made our way back to the hotel, for a good old fashioned hotel party. The end goal of the night was to visit our favorite local hangout, Doyle’s, dance a bit and see how cross eyed we could get without completely embarrassing ourselves. We got to the bar around 7, any later and the place would be too crowded to get into. Dancing commenced, and before long I had found myself reacquainted with one of Michael’s classmates, a pretty girl named Liz. Things were going well.

Sometime in the very near future, things began to take a turn towards Drunktown. And it became apparent that if things were going to continue to go well with Liz, I should make the move to exit the scene now. After all I had a hotel room all to myself. We decide to leave, and holding her hand we make our way back to St. Stephen’s Green and the hotel.

We entered and began heading toward the elevator when I hear, “Kyle! Hey Kyle! Over Here!”. I turn to find my parents and two other couples eating street hot dogs. Shit faced. “Hey! How was the day! Get over here!” Liz quickly leans in and asks, “Who is that?” And I have no recourse but to say, “Those are my parents…um…yup let’s go meet them.”

I begin walking over toward the group and I can see the men discussing something under their breath. They are clearly sizing up the situation. I am the topic. More specific, she is the topic. And just when I am starting to get curious about what they’re thinking one of my Dad’s close friends looks me in the eyes and simply says, “Busted”.

Red faced, grinning, I introduce Liz to the group. They have made their way across most of the hotel bars in Dublin and managed to snag some hot dogs from a street vendor when they realized they were too late for food inside the hotel. Now I was trying to figure out an exit strategy. What to say? How to proceed?

“Liz left a sweater in the room earlier. We’re gonna go get it. Goodnight!”

“Yeah…riiiight”

We got into the elevator as quickly as possible, with a beet-red Liz giggling the whole time up.

“Yeah, so those are my parents…and um…yeah.”

And so when I think of Saint Patrick’s Day, or ‘Padraig’ for the Gaelic out there, I think about the time I got busted bringing Liz Kinsella into my hotel room. Good times.

Kyle

88 Cumberland,

Um…so there are some upcoming trips and fun times to be had. Which means this space will again be used to chronicle some debauchery (well at least the PG13 version). Mr. Travis Campbell has never been to Las Vegas, and it has been in the works for well over 2 years now to try and make a big trip with the old crew. And so we have decided upon March Madness weekend.

Yup, that’s right, Dave, Will, Michael, the Redhead, and myself in Vegas for a weekend of gambling and fun. I can’t wait. Right now we’re in the arrangement and booking process, trying to get everything on the same schedule and such. (Shout out to Kit! Help the poor kid out, he NEEDS this!)

I’m also planning a mid-April trip to Palm Springs to attend the Coachella music festival. You can check out the lineup at www.coachella.com it’s pretty ridiculous. I went several times in college, but haven’t been in a few years. This time around they are allowing In and Outs during the day, which is fantastic and will lead I’m sure to some picnics and tailgates. (Oh yeah!)

I’m also planning a DC trip with my family for some time this spring. My mother has never been to the nations capital, and wants the family to go with. (I’m sure this has nothing to do with her wanting me to use my connections. *COUGH* )

Finally, I went yesterday to watch the NFC Championship at the Voodoo Lounge, a New Orleans bar in SF, and I have to say it may have been the craziest bar experience of my life. I can only imagine what Mardi Gras would be like. Here is a clip from 2 weeks ago, and trust me this was mild compared to yesterday. My ears still hurt like I sat next to the speaker at an arena rock show.

The entire place was packed to the gills, and “Who Dat Nation” was out in force. They ran out of Abita beer by the middle of the 1st quarter and people were hanging out of the windows. During every commercial creole jazz blared, people danced, and after every big score, the bar erupted into the chant “Who Dat Say Gonna Beat Dem Saints!” Needless to say I loved every second of it. Especially the part where I turned to Ben with 20 seconds left in the 4th and said, “Come on, just give me a Brett Favre special right here!” And if you wouldn’t know it, the man came through in the clutch. I am fully on board with the Saints bandwagon, and hope they crush the Colts in two weeks.

Kyle

It’s awful weather this week in CA, which means there will be snow in the mountains. While SF doesn’t get to enjoy this too much, I did have a chance to visit the snow a few days before the New Year. It was fantastic.

As the Decade comes to a close this Friday, I sit back and realize that the 00’s were the most influential decade in my development. Let’s take a quick glance, shall we?

When 2000 began I was a 16 year old HS student, watching the ball drop on TV from Chuck’s house. I do believe I was dating a girl at the time who may not have allowed me to kiss her, frankly I don’t recall. I was around 5′8 or so, weighed in at about 200 lbs, did theater in my spare time, worked at my parents company after school, and had been driving for all of two months.

Today, I am 26, living in San Francisco, still about 200 lbs, but now 6′2. I am working again for my parents company, although in a much changed, full-time, and better compensated role, and have yet to receive a single moving violation. In the gap I also…(big breath)….

- Graduated High School

- Attended College in Orange County, actually graduated on time

- Fell in love (more than once)

- Was heartbroken and listened to sad music (more than once)

- Traveled to four other continents

- Was told time and time again that my nation sucked, my President was evil, and I was an idiot

- Lived in the center of the biggest city in the country

- Spent nearly two years overseas

- Wrote a screenplay

- Got fired

- Dated a married woman

- Spent a Christmas in Africa

- Totalled a car (95 Volvo 850)

- Danced at a Luau

- Had a beach side conversation with Jim Carrey

- Protested in the streets

- Celebrated in the streets

- Watched countless hours of CNN/MSNBC to learn more about war, terrorism, tsunamis, hurricanes, HOPE

- Got held at gunpoint by Federales in Mexico

- Spent St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin

- Watched WAY too much sports, only to have none of my teams win squat

- Went to tons of concerts

- Read far too many lists

So as you can see, it was an eventful decade, where I grew by leaps and bounds, traveled around the globe, and eventually ended up back where it all started, in the Bay.

Will and I hosted a little get together the day after Christmas for some old friends of ours. Naturally the topic of the decade came up a few times in conversation. A friend insisted I do this (David Cates, here is your own shout out sir), so without further ado, I present a series of silly lists, some with explanations, others not, based around the past decade.

Top 10 Songs that When I Hear them in 2025, Screams “00’s”

1. Kelly Clarkson - Since You’ve Been Gone

2. R. Kelly - Ignition

3. Beyone - Crazy In Love

4. Outkast - Hey Ya

5. The Strokes - Last Night

6. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy

7. Usher - Yeah!

8. Kanye West - Gold Digger

9. Lady Gaga - Pokerface

10. Gwen Stefani - Hollerback Girl

Top 9 “WTF is GOING ON!” (Both Personally and Nationally)

1. Katrina 2005 - This wins, because this was seemingly our fault. I was working at a bar during this, and had the bar TV glued to the news all day long. How could we let this happen to our own people? The wealthiest nation in the world was being exposed as woefully unprepared, while we spent billions on foreign wars, people were dying in our own streets, and it was all completely avoidable. This still gets me upset to this day.

2. September 11, 2001 - Everyone knows where they were when this happened. I was asleep in my dorm room when my roommate’s mother phoned us from Philly to wake us up. Mike answered the phone, “Don’t EVER call me this early! There’s a 3 hour time difference! Wait? What?…I’m sorry…NO, I’M SORRY..yeah, I’ll put it on. (click) Turn on the fucking TV, were getting attacked or something.” Two minutes later the second plane hit.

3. The Invasion of Iraq 2003- I watched the first footage of the “Shock and Awe” from my dorm cafeteria. It felt so removed, so far away, and yet we were at WAR. I went on a protest march in SF a week later, and everyone seemed just as confused as I was. Didn’t Al Queda live in Afghanistan? Didn’t the UN say repeatedly that Hussain had no means to acquire WMD’s? Why are my friends going overseas again?

4. Getting lost in Tangier  2007- I blogged about this at the time. Basically, I was lost in a foreign ghetto, with a random tour guide, who could very well have been leading me down an alley to my death, and I was completely stoked, curious, and on edge the entire time. This was the ultimate 3rd world experience for me.

5. Getting in a bar fight in TJ 2003 - Yup, I started a bar fight in Tijuana. Not my brightest hour, but also the winner of the “moment of clarity” award. I had a frat boy by the collar, arm cocked ready to go when I hear over the loudspeaker the DJ yell, “SECURITY! Break up the fight on the dance floor!” Suddenly images flashed rapidly through my mind: Jail, Tijuana Jail, Tijuana Jail Thugs, donkeys…etc. In about .5 seconds I brokered peace by yelling at my opponent, “TJ JAIL! TJ JAIL!” When the shoving subsided the first thought that came to me was, “WHAT THE F WAS THAT!”

6. Pacific Tsunami 2004 - Just trying to think of the magnitude of deaths (230,000) is enough to make your head spin. That’s like 75 9/11’s rolled into one massive wave. I can’t even come close to imagining the horror of something like that.

7. Bush Gets Elected in 2000 - It’s pointless revisionist history to even speculate on what would become of the world if Al Gore had been elected President, but any true look at the circumstances and politics surrounding the 2000 election should point the middle finger squarely at the state of American politics. This was a partisan, money grabbing, shocking display of events. It is truly amazing, more violence and civil unrest didn’t come of this. If anything to showed that heading into the 21st Century the idea of a two party system was completely flawed, and yet inexorable.

8. Bush Gets Re-Elected in 2004 - Are you kidding me? He steals the first election, leads the country into a war on false pretenses, is clearly a puppet ruler, and the people say ‘Sure, why not try another four.” I was in Australia when this happened, and was taking a politics course there. The class after the election was basically me trying to explain the American political climate to a group of 100 unbelieving Australians who couldn’t fathom that somebody so universally loathed still managed to keep his job. No matter how much Red/Blue ’splaining I did, I was tainted in those people’s eyes.

9. The Banking Collapse of 2008 - So wait, basically there is pretend money that keeps passing hands, that nobody actually has, that creates a bubble, that can’t ever be filled, and now people are losing their homes, and the guys pushing the fake money around are gonna get bailed out by the Feds, and nothing is going to really change? And to top it off everyone is panicking, Bernake says the sky is falling, and people are losing their jobs…all over fake money that didn’t exist to begin with…wait…what?

Top 5 Times I Thought “Why Do I Care About Sports. This is dumb”

1. The Jeter Tag 2001- Easily the worst day of my life. I witnessed this gem from 9 rows above the first base dugout. DJ, out of position makes an incredible back handed flip to get Jeremy Giambi at home plate. Yanks go on to win Game 3 1-0, Jermaine Dye shatters his tibia a day later and the inevitable collapse follows. I also got dumped that day, capping a truly horrible, horrible evening.

2. Dallas beats the Sharks in 4OT 2008 - After two extremely disappointing 2nd round defeats, the expectations were enormous on the Sharks. After battling through a 7 game series win in Round 1, they immediately went out and dropped the first 3 games to Dallas to fall in a 0-3 hole. Two victories followed, forcing a game 6 in Dallas. I watched the game at 3rd and Long, which stayed open, for only me, until the game finally ended sometime around 3am EST. A victory would have meant all the momentum going into a Game 7 at the tank, a loss like that, as devastating as they come. 6 full hours of heart wrenching tension, all ending on an opposition goal. Season over.

3. TO Sabotages the 2003 49ers - This was the man that made possible my favorite 49er moment of all time (The Catch II). He was the heir to my hero, the ceaselessly classy Jerry Rice. But in one ridiculous season, Terrell Owens became the TO we all know and loathe. Dropped passes, dogging plays, screaming matches with coaches, spreading rumors about the quarterback’s sexuality. He seemed capable of anything. And the worse his attitude got, the worse the team played. And before long what was a sure lock for the playoffs, became a 7-9 disaster, kicking off 7 straight non-winning seasons, which has continued until today. By far, the most frustrating season I have ever watched as a fan of anything.

4. Red Sox beat the A’s in 5 aka the Derek Lowe game 2003 - The A’s were up 2-0 in the ALDS…again…and again had dropped the next two to bring forth a game 5. Zito v. Pedro at the Coliseum. I spent what little money I had (which was none) to get a last second flight home to catch the game in person. Manny crushed a 5th inning homer off of Barry to put the Sox up but the A’s rallied to within 1, forcing the Sox to bring in D-Lowe for the save. It felt in the stadium like the A’s could actually make the comeback happen, unlike the previous 3 game 5’s they had lost. But in the 9th, a long fly ball out to the warning track ended it, Lowe and Miggy almost fought, and the best era of A’s baseball in 15 years ended without a playoff series win.

5. Mark McGwire Isn’t Here to Talk of the Past 2005 - Big Mac and Jerry Rice were my two favorite athletes growing up. I idolized them both. When Mark was traded from the A’s and broke Maris’ home run record I kept the next day’s paper. So when he basically admitted to being a cheat, but wouldn’t fully own up to it by avoiding the question, ruining his legacy in the process, I was distraught. “Come on Mark! Just say I’m sorry!” Never happened, still hasn’t.

Top 5 Time I Thought “THIS is why I love Sports”

1. Game 3 ALDS 2006 - “MARCO!! SCUTARO!!” Again sitting 9 rows up from the dugout, the A’s manage to knock off the Twins, completing the sweep that had alluded them three times previous in the decade. When Marco hit the game-breaking, bases-clearing double the Coliseum exploded and rocked more than I have ever seen it. Ben Peters commented that it was probably the happiest he had ever seen me. It was damn close.

2. Joe Thorton Scores with 7 seconds left Round 1 Game 4 2008  - Just listen to this call and tell me the hair on your neck doesn’t stand on end. Huge win, fantastic goal, and it made it seem like the tide was finally turning for Los Tiburones. I saw this one at 3rd and Long, and I did laps around the bar, high fiving anybody who would look at me.

3. Big Papi’s ALCS 2004 - Look, I hate the Red Sox almost as much as the Yanks, but you have to hand it to Big Papi and the series he had to help overcome the 0-3 deficit. As a huge baseball fan, that was the single most compelling series of the decade, and to overlook it based on the participants would be just plain wrong. This had it all, the underdog, the come from behind, the curse, the region. As obnoxious as the Sox have become, you couldn’t help but get swept up in the ‘04 run.

4. Fresno State wins the NCAA Baseball WS 2008 - The longest of long shots. This was like a 16 seed running the table in the BBall tourney only if that team had to win 6 do or die games just to make the tourney. I loved watching this team play. Nobody was destined to be a big time pro, this was simply 25 guys who played for each other and for the love of the game. Simply great.

5. The Warriors make the playoffs 2007 - The day that the Warriors clinched the 8 seed, I received a call from my oldest friend, and Warrior fanatic Ben Peters. He was crouched in the corner of a bar, giddy as hell, breaking down just what making the playoffs meant to him and the years of his life he had devoted to this heinous franchise. When they miraculously stunned the Mavs to win in Round 1 he reacted like a war survivor, unable to comprehend the magnitude of what he had just seen. To this day if you ask him what the greatest day of his life was, he will say Game 6, unless his fiance is around, in which case he’ll give a standard answer, but really, it was Game 6…

Top 5 Comedies (Movies)

1. Superbad

2. Wedding Crashers

3. Old School

4. 40 Year Old Virgin

5. Waiting…

Top 5 Reality Show Stars

1. Mike “The Situation” - Jersey Shore

2. Danny Bonaduce - Breaking Bonaduce

3. Issac - The Real World Sydney

4. Flava Flav - Flavor of Love

5. CT - The Real World Paris/RW RR Challenges

Top 10 Favorite Songs - Emotional Attachment Necessary

Okay, so these are songs that immediately illicit a strong emotional reaction. It was the only way I knew how to even think about compiling a best of list. Music at its best makes you feel something deep down in your gut. It becomes a sense memory exercise that puts you right back into a moment, however fleeting. This is my list for the 00’s. It may not be the best songs, but these were the songs that defined me over the past ten years. (Skip over this, if you don’t want wallow in the small amount of schmaltz I allow myself…)

1. The Format - If Work Permits (2006)

The song is not very well known, hell the band isn’t all that well known outside of a cult like devout following. But without question, my favorite album of the decade was Dog Problems, and this, the final track from that record my favorite song. It’s tough to sum up succinctly why this song means so much to me. But I will try.

In this decade I grew up, discovered myself, traveled, made mistakes, failed, got back up, searched, sought, fought, clawed, and at the end of the day it was the backing of my family and the love of my friends that got me through it all. This lyrics in this song represents to me the constant search for the betterment of oneself. “Sometimes when sailors are sailing/they think twice about where they are anchoring/I think I could make better use of my time on land” But when that journey ends, the thing that brings us back is the love and warmth of those people who were there all along. “Love is speaking in code/ it’s an inside joke/ love is coming home.”

2. Jimmy Eat World - Sweetness (2001)

“Are you listening? WHOA!” This song is one of my all time favorites, not just because its amazingly beautiful and fun as hell to sing, but because this song IS me moving to college. This song is me turning 18, this is me falling in love, this is me discovering myself on my own for the first time.

3. Against Me! - Even at Our Worst, We’re Still Better Than Most (2005)

I’m somewhat embarrassed by this one. But in 2005 I graduated, got my first “real” job, got fired, was broke, and decided to move home and travel. A great decision, but an emotional difficult one for myself, as I had promised to never move back in with my parents. This song is two minutes of frustration, anger, and resignation. And it matched perfectly with my mood.

4. Junior Senior - Take My Time (2005)

Finally a happy song. This one is pajama pants, breakfast burritos, Beavis and Butthead, silly dance moves, Manhattan, and Lonergans. This is my year living with Dave in NYC. I was more excited to move to New York on a whim than I was any of my travels abroad. It seemed like such a challenge, such an adventure, and was the single best decision of my life. I proved to myself I could make anything of my life if I chose to. And the perfect mesh to that optimism was this song. Pop bliss, at its finest. “Love is all you need/In the world to succeed!”

5. Dashboard Confessional - A Brilliant Dance (2001)

Oh come on. The title of this freaking section was “emotional attachment”. Did you really think you’d make it through the top 5 without a Dashboard song? Well I don’t think I really have to break this one down too much. It was 2001, I listened to this song a lot. You can figure it out. “Well this is incredible, starving, insatiable/yes this is love for the first time/ You’d like to think you were invincible once/yeah weren’t we all once?/before we felt loss for the first time”

6. Taking Back Sunday - Cute Without The “E” (Cut From The Team) (2002)

I hear this song, I get pumped. This song was film school for me. All the time spent with friends bands, all the time studying music videos, going to shows. This was the best song from that entire movement as far as I was concerned. Also this reminds me of one of my favorite concerts ever. Slim’s 2002, Rufio headlined, with openers Brand New and TBS…yeah…I know…

7. New Found Glory - Hit or Miss (2001)

This is my Senior year of High School, me losing 50 pounds, having girls notice me for the first time, graduating High School, and generally liking things for the first time in several years. This was the big song for me at the beginning of the decade, and fittingly I saw NFG play this December, and they played this song. “Have I waited too long?/Have I found that someone?”

8. Say Anything - Walk Through Hell (2002)

This is the song that sold me on one of my favorite singer/songwriters of the decade, Max Bemis. A simple love song, this was the anthem of many a college sing along and party. When I hear this song a flood of memories from my days living in the La Veta Grand Apartments come flooding back.

9. Bloc Party -Positive Tension (2005)

Boys Night Out. This was every Thursday night for an entire year. This was the debacle at the Glasshouse where we drank tall cans, tossed them in the air, and don’t remember them landing. This is Cow Bird, X, P Town, Irv, Fat Man, and Mary. This is dancing with 20,000 sweaty people at Coachella. This is the single greatest bridge of any rock song…ever…

10. The Format - The First Single (Cause A Scene) (2003)

I know this is the second song by The Format, but this HAD to be on here. Every one of my friends knows this song (probably because I forced them to listen to it). It is the Delta anthem, and no list would ever be complete without it.

Top 5 Most Ridiculous/Awesome R Kelly Singles

1. Pregnant

Saving his greatest for last. “Girl I want to get you pregnant” Oh yes, indeed.

2. Feeling On Your Bootie (2000)

-Please check out the 4:00 mark, for probably my favorite R moment of all time when he grabs an imaginary bottie while singing falcetto.

3. Trapped In The Closet (Chapter 1)

Only the greatest DVD of the decade.

4. Ignition

He actually brags in the behind the scenes how he turns his feet so smooth for the closeups of his braids…

5. I’m A Flirt

While the T-Pain verse might be the most ridiculous, you got to love those shades!

Top 5 Parties

1. Conception Day Party MacQuarie Uni - Sydney

The DORM provided free all you can drink booze starting at 6am.

2. Water Polo Party - Boulder, CO

Crowd surfing indoors to Flogging Molly

3. Spring Break 2004

If you were there, then you know. 4 days, 20 people at the delta…

4. Labor Day Orange Street Faire 2005

I had to list the only time I got ticketed for Disturbing The Peace…

5. The Pendelton Wedding

Two of my favorite people, one amazing venue, a bunch of old friends…

Top 5 Technological Innovations

1. ScoreCenter iPhone App - Serious? It sends texts to my phone everytime somebody scores? And I can follow plays, like all of them? On my phone? Anywhere I am? Even in church and stuff? AWESOME.

2. YouTube

3. GPS on Phones

4. Fast Wireless Internet on Buses/Airplanes

5. Facebook - simply for the photos

Things I Want To See In the 10’s

1. Asia

2. A Stanley Cup for the San Jose Sharks

3. The US Soccer Team in a World Cup Final

4. A cure for Hangovers

5. More Love

Enjoy 2010!!!

KB

88 Cumberland,

Oh boy, it’s that time once again, where I give out my list of music that made me smile in the past year regardless of whether anyone else considers it to be quality what so ever. This is not a list of “best” music, or even necessarily “good” music. This is a list that five years from now when I recall 2009, this is what stuck in my craw. So if you have ever liked my musical taste, feel free to try and give these a listen. You might find something special in there somewhere…

Album that would have killed on my 2008 list, had I heard it in time: Dr. Dog - Fate

This is a category I have every year. There is always one or two discs that slip through the cracks, but turn out to be complete gems. Fate sounds like some sort of cross between Beach Boy harmonies, old school blues, and chamber pop. The two vocalists nail the back and forth dynamic that expands their sonic intensity and makes for a wonderful listen. I had several people recommend this for quite some time, but I never got around to really diving into it until this past spring. Well worth the listen.

Dr. Dog Video for “The Ark”

Top Albums in a year with not very good selections….

1. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Up From Below

Ever wonder what would happen if Manson’s weird collective decided to keep having sex and taking drugs and just be happy instead of murdering people? Well, I think we have an answer. Alex Ebert, who fronts one of my favorite acts, Ima Robot, collected a bunch of Laurel Valley dropouts, went into the desert, dropped lots of acid, and made one of the coolest records I have heard in a long time. It sounds like the soundtrack to a Sergio Leonne spaghetti western, and yet modern and relevant at the same time. The 10 piece band play well off of each other, and the album managed to do something few albums this year did, which was keep me entertained throughout. Not only that, but they shot a crazy 12 part music video/film to go along with the madness. Here is one installment. Um…yeah…they’re out of their freaking minds, but I love it…

We’ll have more from them later…

2. Dillinger Four - C I V I L W A R

This probably got more spins on my ipod than anything else this year. Not a leap forward, not a grand statement, just 12 well crafted straight forward punk rock songs. The soundtrack to a good summer. It reminded me of why I love music in the first place. What more can you really ask…“Let’s sing it like we mean it/It feels like summer in October/I hope this day is never over”

3. Brand New - Daisy

This is the 3rd straight Brand New record to make a top 3 for my year end lists. The intensity in Jesse Lacey’s vocals is unreal. While not as black as The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me, Daisy kept the intensity level peaked. The distant, raging vocals, the wailing guitar, the haunting and thunderous bass lines…it creates a mood not equaled by many.

Honorable Mention:

Tegan and Sara - Sainthood

Silversun Pickups -Swoon

Fun - Aim and Ignite

Most Ridiculous Pop Songs

Oh man, there were a few songs this year that made my jaw drop in ways that weren’t always good, but were always entertaining. Here is a partial list of some songs I suggest you check out if you need a good laugh…

Black Eyed Peas - I Got A Feeling

I have to defer to Ben on this one. Right around the insane height of this track Ben attended a Jewish wedding in which they played this song immediately following the vows. I was shocked by this until Ben explained, “What other pop song has Jewish phrases in it?” Hmmm. “This thing is going to be the Jewish answer to Shout!” Mozoltov!

R Kelly - Pregnant

Um…I think I have spent more than enough space here discussing the genius of Robert…but wow. Just when I think he can’t outdo himself, he goes ahead and drops a song with a chorus: “Girl you make me want to get you pregnant.” And yes I saw R. Kelly live this year, and it was freaking awesome…

Jason Derulo - Whatcha Say

Okay, so first you use a completely out of context Imogen Heap sample that’s best known as the background to the most famous OC episode ever, then throw in the line, “I know I should have treated you better/but you and me were meant to last forever” Is this what Tiger played to Elin? I mean, this has to be the worst “I’m sorry/take me back” song ever written. The whole reasoning is that he’s awesome, and going to be famous, so she should take him back, even though he has no intention to change. But damn that hook…

But the winner of the single most over the top song of 2009 goes to…

Edubb - Whooty

“She’s a whooty/A white girl with a booty!” Holy cow. This is something special here. A black man’s ode to overweight white girl ass. I was crying the first time I saw this. I don’t think I can hear/watch this song without completely losing it. It’s that f-ing ridiculous.

Old School Record/Artist I Listened to WAY TO MUCH

In years past this has ranged from The Velvet Underground to The Cure to The Movielife. A wide range to be sure. This year, it was Mr. Tom Petty. From about January to April I listened to a ton of his later solo stuff and a whole lot of the Traveling Wilburys. The one track that got me most excited:

I Won’t Back Down

Got to love George Harrison…

TOP SONGS OF 2009

And now on to the Top 25 Songs. In reverse order. Video link when available…

25. Say Anything - I Hate Everyone

Max Bemis is older, married, somewhat normal, but he still can’t help but write songs about his favorite topic: himself. While he’s been playing this same note for years now, he still writes some fantastic tunes. This tongue in cheek anthem for disaffected youth includes what you’d expect from Mr. Bemis, calling himself out in the process. “I’m mired in hypocrisy/even though I’m down with JC/I that guess everyone includes me!” Max Bemis as a Christian…weird…

24. New Found Glory - Don’t Let Her Pull You Down

I saw NFG play twice this year, and they only reinforce why they are one of my all time favorite bands. They do what they do better than anybody. This is an old school NFG throwback, displaying the marks of their greatest hits. Also, the video incorporates Zombies and a Twilight reference as well! Jordan’s t-shirt says it best…Pop Punk’s Not Dead. Just listen to that guitar hook in the chorus!

23. AFI - Medicate

Okay, so they haven’t aged well over the years. And they probably will never top Sing The Sorrow. And they debuted this single on Guitar Hero of all things. But Jade knows how to SHRED. And this is the catchiest song they’ve had in years.

22. Fun. - Barlights

We will see more from them later on. Fun is the new project from Nate Ruess, the lead singer from the Format. His 2006 Album Dog Problems is my single favorite album of the decade, so you can bet I was very anxious to hear what his new project would sound like. Travis and I even made a trip out to Stockton of all places to catch a glimpse of them in person. If you’re not singing “And I feel alive!” for a good ten minutes after hearing this, you clearly hate gospel singers…and I feel bad for you…who hates Gospel Singers?!?!

21. Brand New - Sink

That propulsive bass drum, the soft/loud dynamics of the vocals, the feedback on the guitar. This song brings tension from its first note slowly builds it throughout. By the three minute mark, it feels like it may come completely unhinged, and yet it ends with the same intensity it began with. This song encapsulates the entire mood of Daisy.

20. Death Cab For Cutie - Little Bribes

This b-side from last year’s full length is a 3 minute ode to Las Vegas. There is a sadness that exists under every shiny corner of this bouncy diddy. Leave it to Ben Gibbard to bring in that undertone of longing for the perfect ending…Also, best video of the year…”They’re all wishing for a hope fulfilled in a desert for a dollar bill”

19. The Shout Out Louds - Tonight I Have To Leave It

Oh, the xylophone. Where have you been sir? This Swedish band uses percussion in amazing ways, such as the opening track from their last album. Excellent video as well. Technically I’m cheating on this one, it came out 3 years ago, but finally got a distributor in the US this year. Look, if I can only find it in the IMPORT rack for $29.99, it didn’t come out in the US. Sue me…

18. Phoenix - Lisztomania

Can we give the French a pass finally? This album was the “cool” indie album to have for everyone who aren’t big music heads. The lead singer is with Sofia Coppola, and Jason Schwartsman says they’re his favorite band. And they came out with two killer singles this year. This song also spawned a series of amazing remixes, do yourself a favor and google “phoenix remix”…trust me…

17. Conor Oberst & The Mystic Valley Band - Big Black Nothing

This song feels like the road. I am a sucker for songs that feel like the American west, and this one certainly does. Bluegrass elements, hand claps, existential crisis…yup the kind of things that feel like a road trip. I hear this song and picture the landscape blowing by as my hair flies in the wind…

16. Owl City - Fireflies

Yup, nearly 3 million digital downloads later, this was the breakout online hit of 2009. And you know what, if Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamberello decide to never do another Postal Service album, somebody had to step up and fill the void. Also on a side note, I can’t help but hear this and think of Travis Campbell dancing around our apartment with a silly grin on his face…I mean…YOU LOOK GOOOOOOD…

15. Living With Lions - A Bottle of Charades

The video is horrible. The band sounds like they really, really want to be Face to Face, heck they’re from Canada and you know what, I could care less. These kids from Vancouver know what true punk is all about. THEY MEAN IT. There is no artifice in this, it is 100% heart on sleeve. And it comes through. “Hey ya/There’s something on my mind/I’m about to explode/I can feel it!”

14. Taking Back Sunday - Sink Into Me

While the band overall hasn’t been able to carry through on the immense potential they showed with the first two albums, Adam, Eddie, and whoever they find to fill in around them, can still write a great hook. The verses pulse forward and then the atmospheric guitar climbs into the stratosphere in the chorus. “I’d like to see our roles reversed/to watch you hang on every word/I’d like to see you have your way”

13. White Rabbits - Percussion Gun

This band knows how to write one hell of a verse, as shown on their previous album Fort NIghtly (See: The Plot). They still haven’t quite figured out the chorus aspect, nor how to sound like anything but a Walkmen/Spoon hybrid, but I digress. Listen to the drums. Listen to the passion and strain in the singer’s voice. Listen to the hand claps and feet stomps. And when the rest of the band comes in with the “oooohhhs” in the bridge, you’ll feel like the world is swirling around you too.

12. Brand New - At The Bottom

The best song from Daisy, Brand New know how to make a hauntingly beautiful and complex song that will make you think. “Some men die under the mountain just looking for gold/some die looking for a hand to hold.” A song about one’s own mortality, Jesse Lacey speaks volumes about his band and his music with the line “I think something’s dark hidden down in my heart/If I wanted to die before I got old/I should have started some years ago digging that hole”

11. Silversun Pickups - There’s No Secrets This Year

10. Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch

I couldn’t decide which song I liked better. Both are driving pulsating numbers, that wouldn’t have been out of place in the mid 90s alt scene. This band is constantly compared to the Smashing Pumpkins (singer with distinct high voice. Check. Asian member. Check. Chick bass player. Check.) and that’s even without the music, which was clearly influenced by Billy Corgan and crew. I love the fuzzy base, the way the vocals build, and the pulsating bass lines. Swoon was definitely a Top 5 record for me this year, and these are the two biggest reasons why. Their breakthrough Carnavas was no fluke…

9. Dillinger Four - Like Eye Contact In An Elevator

This one has all the elements of a great punk song. The back and forth vocals, driving snare drum, awesome melody, guitar solo that mimics said melody, and lyrics that question stupidity in society. “I’m paralyzed from the neck up!” 3 minutes of bliss…

8. Julian Casablancas - 11th Dimension

Oh man, that synth! Because we have to wait one more year for another Strokes record, Julian has our dancing feet going to pass the time. This one stays with you far after the fact. What’s even more amazing, try and pick out all the individual tracks and elements, that somehow all blend seamlessly into a melodic bliss. Plus the amazing line, “I live on the frozen surface of a fireball/where cities come together to hate each other in the name of sport.”

7. Tegan & Sara - The Ocean

This is my favorite track from the Canadian sisters’ new album, because it so clearly articulates the longing that lies underneath the surface of their best work. “It’s been so long since you said/’well I know what I want/what I want’s right here with you’”

6. Das Racist (Wallpaper Remix) - Combination Pizza Hut & Taco Bell

Well, you want the formula for a good song? Take some stoned rappers from NYC, have them rap about late night munchies, give the track to two white Hipsters from Oakland, let them add some funky horns and a deep bass, and see what happens. This is the single most ridiculously stupid/awesome/catchy/WTF song I’ve heard in the last several years. I also highly recommend for dance party enthusiasts. This is guaranteed to bring the house down, although people might get really hungry afterward. And yes the lyrics really are: “I’m at the Pizza Hut/I’m at the Taco Bell/I’m at that COMBINATION Pizza Hut and Taco Bell” Ha…ha ha

5. Phoenix - 1901

Who wants to buy a car all of the sudden? Yup, this was the song that was featured in every commercial, highlight reel, montage you could find. And you know what, it’s because its a freaking awesome song. That deep fuzzy french bass, the simple guitar line, the lilty vocals. It adds up to sweetness. Not to mention the lyrics, which fit the modern era in which we live. “It’s not a miracle we needed/no I wouldn’t let you think so”

4. Fun - Benson Hedges

Damn that kid knows how to write a song. Nate Ruess has always killed me with his vocal range and lyrical depth, and this is no exception. The song starts with an epic 5 part harmony and immediately kicks into a driving guitar and bass line, letting you know it’s okay to rock out a bit with the chamber pop. And as a lot of his songs do, the lyrics eventually come back to family, with this song touching on his past, yet embracing his new band and direction. “They think I’m beautiful/for all my big mistakes”

3. Yeah Yeah Yeah’s - Zero

It’s a better hook than “Maps”, it’s more rocking than “Date with The Night” and the video is more fun than “Gold Lion”. It may be, dare I say, the best YYY’s song yet. Try listening to this just once. Nearly impossible. Bonus points for the video being shot in SF, with the band going nuts in Chinatown, North Beach, and the Trans Bay Terminal. I need to learn Karen O’s dance moves…

2. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home

It’s hard to break down the best element of this song. Is it the whistle hook? Is it the trumpets? The sweet love story? This sounds like a song that should have been made in some distant past universe, but could only have been made today. “Oh home/let me come home/home is whenever I’m with you” The fact that the band is out of their freaking minds, makes the sweet honesty of this song all the more powerful. They don’t play in our universe, and they shouldn’t. It sounds better in theirs.

1. The Paper Raincoat - It All Depends

This song came out of nowhere and knocked me on my ass.  The song builds with amazing harmonies telling the story of what could be a cute first date, or the end of the relationship based on the perspective. When the piano hits in the bridge, the song jumps another level, adding in background elements, more strings, more percussion, and finally a “ooh and ahh outro” that leaves you speechless.

Sometimes there are songs that you hear and immediately feel something. There is an uncontrollable twinge, and your neck hairs stand on end, and your heart swells, and you can’t quite figure out why, but you’ve been moved. It feels cinematic. And when that happens like that it feels like a monumental occasion, like the end or beginning of something, because you’ve attained a deeper state of human existence. You don’t know yet, because it was just one moment. But it meant something more…

“It all depends/on whether we are watching it dissolve/or fade in.”