ITT I copy Matt
Like onyxstraten, I have joined the ranks of the Paid LJ Users, for the next 6 months at least. Can't beat $15 for that. So, to celebrate, it's meme time! Also, time for my annual "Favourite ALbums of 2008" thing. Fun times!
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Not... much, unfortunately. Probably "Had a job I liked" (Barnes & Noble, though that was end of 07 too)
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not at all. Still out of shape, horribly so.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister did.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
One of my dogs T__________________________________T
5. What countries did you visit?
Sadly, none. Really wanna go bac to Ireland this year though.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Money.
7. What date(s) from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4th, for wha should be extremely obvious reasons.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Can't say I really had any.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Way, way too many places to start. Not finishing college this year, costantly being in debt, letting ld friends slip away, never getting in shape, never moving out,Wayward Dawn (people loved it, and that's awesome, but to me it turned out as one big botch job, particularly compared to what I had planned originally), not having enough money to visit friends in Jersey....
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got pretty sick a few times, but that's about it.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Xbox 360. Rock Band 2 is a close second.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The nation's for electing Obama, my firends for being supportive of me despite my admittedly overblown and constant bitching about life, job, and everything else.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My parents, Bass Pro Shops.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Otakon and video games, paying off debts
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
THe Dark Knight, getting a 360 and ROck Band 2, Otakon
16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2008?
A Fine Frenzy - Rangers, Fall Out Boy - Disloyal Order of Water Buffalo. Damien Rice - Rootless Trees, Iron & Wine - The Trapeeze Swinger, Blue October - Hate Me
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
Definitely sadder. This year has been pathetic on all fronts.
ii. Thinner or fatter?
Probably a bit fatter. havne;t weighed in in a while
iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer. Definitely poorer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Gone out and don stuff with people, and traveled more.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sitting around the house.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
SLeeping an surfing the internet on a day that'll seem no differant from the rest of the year.
21. How many one-night stands?
Sadly no.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Hmm. I didn't watch much TV. Likely Venture Brothers and LOST.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Dislike? Oh yes. Hate? Well... there might be a person or two.
24. What was the best book you read?
New books? The Fire Kimono, the latest of Laura Joh Rowland's books.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
There were a few, but The Gaslight Anthem was by far my biggest and most loved musical discovery of the year.
26. What did you want and get?
Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. Less importantly, a 360.
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Either Dark Knight or Iron Man. Hard to choose.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
23, and nothing. I dislike birthdays.
29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Casual, but still a bit more proper than in the past. Less cargo pants and t-shirts, more regual pants and button up shirts.
30. What kept you sane?
Not much. Even the places I go, or in some palces went to, for friends and sanity had me almost breaking this year.
31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Not sure.
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
While the election was a big fuckig deal, I am still absolutely amazed and apalled by Proposition 8.
33. Who did you miss?
Lots of old friends, current friends I can't see due to living elsewhere.
34. Who was the best new person you met?
Not sure. The new people I did meet wer eall mostly at work, and they mostly sucked.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008
Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Matt put that too, and it'absolutely true.
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
I could give a few, but the best one is from a recent song:
"I'm coming apart at the seams
Pitching myself for leads in other people's dreams
Now buzz, buzz, buzz
Doc, there's a hole where something was.
Doc, there's a hole where something was..."
-Fall Out Boy, "Disloyal Order Of Water Buffalo"
And now for th Favourite Albums/Music of 08!
My favourite albums of the year, in descending order:
Honorable Mentions:
Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
The Cab - Whisper War
The Offspring - Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
Forever Slave - Tales for Bad Girls
Opeth - Watershed
10) Metallica - Death Magnetic
Tracklist:
1. "That Was Just Your Life"
2. "The End of the Line"
3. "Broken, Beat & Scarred"
4. "The Day That Never Comes"
5. "All Nightmare Long"
6. "Cyanide"
7. "The Unforgiven III"
8. "The Judas Kiss"
9. "Suicide & Redemption"
10. "My Apocalypse"
Best Tracks: The Day That Never COmes, All Nightmare Long, Suicide & Redemption
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: None yet, but apparently 11 tracks were recorded for the album, so except one before too long.
Thoughts: God damn, just when I thought Metallica was gone for ever, they put this out. Not their best ever, but a damn good return to form. Bravo.
9) Edenbridge - My Earth Dream
Tracklist:
1. "The Force Within"
2. "Shadowplay"
3. "Paramount"
4. "Undying Devotion"
5. "Adamantine"
6. "Whale Rider"
7. "Remember Me"
8. "Fallen from Grace"
9. "Place of Higher Power"
10. "MyEarthDream Suite for Guitar and Orchestra"
11. "MyEarthDream"
Best Tracks:Shadowplay, Adamantine, Remember Me
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?:None.
Thoughts: Everyone should know that I enjoy female fronted metal, and this is one of the better albums form Edenbridge I've heard. Not as good as thier previous effort, but a really nice album regardless.Sabine Edelsbacher's voice continues to be one of the best in tthe genre.
8) All-American Rejects - When The World Comes Down
Tracklist:
1. "I Wanna"
2. "Fallin' Apart"
3. "Damn Girl"
4. "Gives You Hell"
5. "Mona Lisa (When The World Comes Down)"
6. "Breakin'"
7. "Another Heart Calls"
8. "Real World"
9. "Back to Me"
10. "Believe"
11. "The Wind Blows"
12. "Sunshine"
Best Tracks: Real World,I Wanna, Another Heart Calls
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: A handleful of demos are included in the deluxe version (for I Wanna, Fallin' Apart, Damn Girl, Mona Lisa, and Real World), and the Best Buy release had a few live versions of older songs (Swing Swing, I'm Waiting, and Move Along), but what stands out are the bonuses iTunes had - two demos of songs that didn't make he final album, and will likely be fture B-Sides (On the Floor and Here I Sit). The former is only available with the purchese of the entire album from iTunes, the latter was a preorder only bonus track.
Thoughts: This is totally not a band I expected to be on this list. But, then I heard Mona Lisa on iTunes, and Real World in ROck Band and was impressed. Decided to get the album, and wa spleasently surprised.
7) Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Tracklist:
1. "Life in Technicolor"
2. "Cemeteries of London"
3. "Lost!"
4. "42"
5. "Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love"
6. "Yes"
7. "Viva la Vida"
8. "Violet Hill"
9. "Strawberry Swing"
10. "Death and All His Friends"/"The Escapist"
Best Tracks:Viva la Vida, Lost!, Lovers in Japan
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: iTunes has an Alternate version of Lost! that's quite good, as well as having had an acoustic version of Lovers in Japan as a preorder bonus. Additionally, the band recently released the Prospekt's March EP, which contains a bunch of songs that were either cut or not finished in time for the album.
Thoughts: Well, Coldplay's always been hit or miss for me, but I knew from the moment I heard Viva la Vida that this album was going to be great. I'm glad they didn't disappoint - after their last album, they needed a good one.
6) Weezer - The Red Album (Deluxe Edition)
Tracklist:
1. "Troublemaker"
2. "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)"
3. "Pork and Beans"
4. "Heart Songs"
5. "Everybody Get Dangerous"
6. "Dreamin'"
7. "Thought I Knew"
8. "Cold Dark World"
9. "Automatic"
10. "The Angel and the One"
11. "Miss Sweeney"
12. "Pig"
13. "The Spider"
14. "King"
Best Tracks: The Greatest Man That Ever Lived, Pork and Beans, Pig
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: Bunches. iTunes offers a song called "It's Easy", and had a rough cut of a song called "I Can Love" as a preorder bonus. Various international versions had covers of "The Weight" by The Band, "Life's What You Make It" by Talk Talk, and, in a bizarre move, "Meri Kuri" by BoA as bonus tracks. There's also some demos on Rivers Cuomo's "Alone" demo compilations, such as "This Is The Way". Beyond that, we have yet to see any of teh trademark Weezer b-sides.
Thoughts: Where the hell did this even come from? I had written off Weezer back during the Malardoit era as it was, so I'm pretty damn amazed they put out this experimental, but fun, album. I picked the Deluxe Edition of the album for inclusion because it is by far the definitive version of the album - it just isn't the same eithout those last four tracks.
5) Flowing Tears - Thy Kingdom Gone
Tracklist:
1. "Orchidfire"
2. "Pain Has Taken Over"
3. "Rain Of A Thousand Years"
4. "Grey"
5. "Thy Kingdom Gone"
6. "Words Before You Leave"
7. "Miss Fortune"
8. "Colossal Shaped Despair"
9. "Kismet"
10. "For My Enemies"
11. "Souls Of The Neon Reign"
12. "The War We Left Behind"
Best Tracks: Grey, Words Before You Leave, Miss Fortune
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?:None.
Thoughts: As said earlier, I love my female fronted metal, and I loved Flowing Tears' last album, Razorbliss, but I didn't even realize they'd put a new album out until a few weeks bac, so I was surprised. Helen Vogt's voice sounds oddly deeper on this album, but it works. Particualarly on songs like Grey and FOr My Enemies.
4) Shiny Toy Guns - Season of Poison
Tracklist:
1. "When Did This Storm Begin?"
2. "Money For That"
3. "I Owe You A Love Song"
4. "Ghost Town"
5. "It Became A Lie On You"
6. "Ricochet!"
7. "Season Of Love"
8. "Poison"
9. "Blown Away"
10. "Turned To Real Life"
11. "Frozen Oceans"
Best Tracks: Turned to Real Life, Ricochet!, When Did This Storm Begin?
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?:Two - "A Leading Edge" and "Free Fall Melody"
THoughts: God, I love STG's new singer. Her voice is fantastic, and it particularly shines on Turned To Real Life. I'm already looking forward to a new album with her.
3) Fall Out Boy - Folie à Deux
Tracklist:
0. "Lullabye" (pregap hidden track)
1. "Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes"
2. "I Don't Care"
3. "She's My Winona"
4. "America's Suitehearts"
5. "Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet"
6. "The (Shipped) Gold Standard"
7. "(Coffee's for Closers)"
8. "What a Catch, Donnie"
9. "27"
10. "Tiffany Blews"
11. "w.a.m.s."
12. "20 Dollar Nose Bleed"
13. "West Coast Smoker"
Best Tracks: Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes, I Don't Care, What a Catch, Donnie
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: The limited edition has a few remixes, a new track called "Pavlove", and acoustic versions of America's Suitehearts and What a Catch, Donnie. There's also an acoutic version of I Don't Care out there, off the Japanese release.
Thoughts: I've always liked Fall Out Boy, despite my intense hatred for Pete "I'm the most important person in the world!" Wentz (He's a goddamn bassist, and a pretty meh one at that. Why the fuck does he have such an ego?), but this album is head and shoulders above Infinity on High. Stuck somewhere usically between From Under The Cork Tree and Infinity on High, Folie à Deux is a really fun album with feels more in touch with classic FOB rather than the more bombastic, experimental sound of most of Infinity on High. And I love it. It's like they took Hum Hallelujah and made it an album.
2) The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
Tracklist:
1. "Great Expectations"
2. "The '59 Sound"
3. "Old White Lincoln"
4. "High Lonesome"
5. "Film Noir"
6. "Miles Davis & The Cool"
7. "The Patient Ferris Wheel"
8. "Casanova, Baby!"
9. "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues"
10. "Meet Me By the River's Edge"
11. "Here's Looking at You, Kid"
12. "The Backseat"
Best Tracks: Great Expectations. HIgh Lonesome, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: "Once Upon a Time". Not sure where it comes from.
Thoughts: I hadn't even heard of teh Gaslight Anthem until a few weeks back. Suffice to say it was a great discovery. Their unique take on a Jersey rock sound is absolutely enthralling, from start to finish.
1) Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger
Tracklist:
1. "Crashin'"
2. "Spinning"
3. "Swim"
4. "American Love"
5. "What Gets You Off"
6. "Suicide Blonde"
7. "Annie Use Your Telescope"
8. "Bloodshot"
9. "Drop Out - The So Unknown"
10. "Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby)"
11. "The Resolution"
12. "Orphans"
13. "Caves"
14. "Miss California"
Best Tracks: Crashin', The Resolution, American Love, Dooris Day (A b-side but who cares, it's awesome)
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: A few. An EP was released right before the album etitled "In Valleys" that contained three tracks that didn't make the album,two of which had been very much hyped and talked about by Andrew McMahon himself. THe songs were "Cell Phone", "In Slow Motion (Sleazy Wednesday)", and "At Full Speed". The Japanese and Amazon MP3 releases include "Doris Day (Don't Go", which is far and away one of my favourite songs of the year.
Thoughts: This album exemplifies why Andrew McMahon is likely my avourite song writer of this decade. He's come a long way from Something Corporate, and these songs are more mature in both lyrics and music, and meld together into a very cohesive whole. There isn't really anything on the album I dislike. Aside from the fact that part of "Cave" kinda drags on, everything from the opening drums and bells of "Crashin'" to the closing riffs and piano of MIss California is absolutely fantastic, and throw in four of the best b-sies of the year - particularly Doris Day - and you have an album I'll be listening to for years to come.
And that's it! ENd of year Meme AND best music of the year. Leave your thoughts after the beep, I'll get back to you as soon as I can! Provided work tonight doens't drive me to jump off a bridge, at least :D
1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Not... much, unfortunately. Probably "Had a job I liked" (Barnes & Noble, though that was end of 07 too)
2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not at all. Still out of shape, horribly so.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister did.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
One of my dogs T__________________________________T
5. What countries did you visit?
Sadly, none. Really wanna go bac to Ireland this year though.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Money.
7. What date(s) from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4th, for wha should be extremely obvious reasons.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Can't say I really had any.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Way, way too many places to start. Not finishing college this year, costantly being in debt, letting ld friends slip away, never getting in shape, never moving out,Wayward Dawn (people loved it, and that's awesome, but to me it turned out as one big botch job, particularly compared to what I had planned originally), not having enough money to visit friends in Jersey....
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got pretty sick a few times, but that's about it.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Xbox 360. Rock Band 2 is a close second.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
The nation's for electing Obama, my firends for being supportive of me despite my admittedly overblown and constant bitching about life, job, and everything else.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My parents, Bass Pro Shops.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Otakon and video games, paying off debts
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
THe Dark Knight, getting a 360 and ROck Band 2, Otakon
16. What song(s) will always remind you of 2008?
A Fine Frenzy - Rangers, Fall Out Boy - Disloyal Order of Water Buffalo. Damien Rice - Rootless Trees, Iron & Wine - The Trapeeze Swinger, Blue October - Hate Me
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
Definitely sadder. This year has been pathetic on all fronts.
ii. Thinner or fatter?
Probably a bit fatter. havne;t weighed in in a while
iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer. Definitely poorer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Gone out and don stuff with people, and traveled more.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sitting around the house.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
SLeeping an surfing the internet on a day that'll seem no differant from the rest of the year.
21. How many one-night stands?
Sadly no.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Hmm. I didn't watch much TV. Likely Venture Brothers and LOST.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Dislike? Oh yes. Hate? Well... there might be a person or two.
24. What was the best book you read?
New books? The Fire Kimono, the latest of Laura Joh Rowland's books.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
There were a few, but The Gaslight Anthem was by far my biggest and most loved musical discovery of the year.
26. What did you want and get?
Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. Less importantly, a 360.
27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Either Dark Knight or Iron Man. Hard to choose.
28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
23, and nothing. I dislike birthdays.
29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Casual, but still a bit more proper than in the past. Less cargo pants and t-shirts, more regual pants and button up shirts.
30. What kept you sane?
Not much. Even the places I go, or in some palces went to, for friends and sanity had me almost breaking this year.
31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Not sure.
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
While the election was a big fuckig deal, I am still absolutely amazed and apalled by Proposition 8.
33. Who did you miss?
Lots of old friends, current friends I can't see due to living elsewhere.
34. Who was the best new person you met?
Not sure. The new people I did meet wer eall mostly at work, and they mostly sucked.
35. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008
Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Matt put that too, and it'absolutely true.
36. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
I could give a few, but the best one is from a recent song:
"I'm coming apart at the seams
Pitching myself for leads in other people's dreams
Now buzz, buzz, buzz
Doc, there's a hole where something was.
Doc, there's a hole where something was..."
-Fall Out Boy, "Disloyal Order Of Water Buffalo"
And now for th Favourite Albums/Music of 08!
My favourite albums of the year, in descending order:
Honorable Mentions:
Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
The Cab - Whisper War
The Offspring - Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
Forever Slave - Tales for Bad Girls
Opeth - Watershed
10) Metallica - Death Magnetic
Tracklist:
1. "That Was Just Your Life"
2. "The End of the Line"
3. "Broken, Beat & Scarred"
4. "The Day That Never Comes"
5. "All Nightmare Long"
6. "Cyanide"
7. "The Unforgiven III"
8. "The Judas Kiss"
9. "Suicide & Redemption"
10. "My Apocalypse"
Best Tracks: The Day That Never COmes, All Nightmare Long, Suicide & Redemption
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: None yet, but apparently 11 tracks were recorded for the album, so except one before too long.
Thoughts: God damn, just when I thought Metallica was gone for ever, they put this out. Not their best ever, but a damn good return to form. Bravo.
9) Edenbridge - My Earth Dream
Tracklist:
1. "The Force Within"
2. "Shadowplay"
3. "Paramount"
4. "Undying Devotion"
5. "Adamantine"
6. "Whale Rider"
7. "Remember Me"
8. "Fallen from Grace"
9. "Place of Higher Power"
10. "MyEarthDream Suite for Guitar and Orchestra"
11. "MyEarthDream"
Best Tracks:Shadowplay, Adamantine, Remember Me
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?:None.
Thoughts: Everyone should know that I enjoy female fronted metal, and this is one of the better albums form Edenbridge I've heard. Not as good as thier previous effort, but a really nice album regardless.Sabine Edelsbacher's voice continues to be one of the best in tthe genre.
8) All-American Rejects - When The World Comes Down
Tracklist:
1. "I Wanna"
2. "Fallin' Apart"
3. "Damn Girl"
4. "Gives You Hell"
5. "Mona Lisa (When The World Comes Down)"
6. "Breakin'"
7. "Another Heart Calls"
8. "Real World"
9. "Back to Me"
10. "Believe"
11. "The Wind Blows"
12. "Sunshine"
Best Tracks: Real World,I Wanna, Another Heart Calls
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: A handleful of demos are included in the deluxe version (for I Wanna, Fallin' Apart, Damn Girl, Mona Lisa, and Real World), and the Best Buy release had a few live versions of older songs (Swing Swing, I'm Waiting, and Move Along), but what stands out are the bonuses iTunes had - two demos of songs that didn't make he final album, and will likely be fture B-Sides (On the Floor and Here I Sit). The former is only available with the purchese of the entire album from iTunes, the latter was a preorder only bonus track.
Thoughts: This is totally not a band I expected to be on this list. But, then I heard Mona Lisa on iTunes, and Real World in ROck Band and was impressed. Decided to get the album, and wa spleasently surprised.
7) Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Tracklist:
1. "Life in Technicolor"
2. "Cemeteries of London"
3. "Lost!"
4. "42"
5. "Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love"
6. "Yes"
7. "Viva la Vida"
8. "Violet Hill"
9. "Strawberry Swing"
10. "Death and All His Friends"/"The Escapist"
Best Tracks:Viva la Vida, Lost!, Lovers in Japan
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: iTunes has an Alternate version of Lost! that's quite good, as well as having had an acoustic version of Lovers in Japan as a preorder bonus. Additionally, the band recently released the Prospekt's March EP, which contains a bunch of songs that were either cut or not finished in time for the album.
Thoughts: Well, Coldplay's always been hit or miss for me, but I knew from the moment I heard Viva la Vida that this album was going to be great. I'm glad they didn't disappoint - after their last album, they needed a good one.
6) Weezer - The Red Album (Deluxe Edition)
Tracklist:
1. "Troublemaker"
2. "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)"
3. "Pork and Beans"
4. "Heart Songs"
5. "Everybody Get Dangerous"
6. "Dreamin'"
7. "Thought I Knew"
8. "Cold Dark World"
9. "Automatic"
10. "The Angel and the One"
11. "Miss Sweeney"
12. "Pig"
13. "The Spider"
14. "King"
Best Tracks: The Greatest Man That Ever Lived, Pork and Beans, Pig
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: Bunches. iTunes offers a song called "It's Easy", and had a rough cut of a song called "I Can Love" as a preorder bonus. Various international versions had covers of "The Weight" by The Band, "Life's What You Make It" by Talk Talk, and, in a bizarre move, "Meri Kuri" by BoA as bonus tracks. There's also some demos on Rivers Cuomo's "Alone" demo compilations, such as "This Is The Way". Beyond that, we have yet to see any of teh trademark Weezer b-sides.
Thoughts: Where the hell did this even come from? I had written off Weezer back during the Malardoit era as it was, so I'm pretty damn amazed they put out this experimental, but fun, album. I picked the Deluxe Edition of the album for inclusion because it is by far the definitive version of the album - it just isn't the same eithout those last four tracks.
5) Flowing Tears - Thy Kingdom Gone
Tracklist:
1. "Orchidfire"
2. "Pain Has Taken Over"
3. "Rain Of A Thousand Years"
4. "Grey"
5. "Thy Kingdom Gone"
6. "Words Before You Leave"
7. "Miss Fortune"
8. "Colossal Shaped Despair"
9. "Kismet"
10. "For My Enemies"
11. "Souls Of The Neon Reign"
12. "The War We Left Behind"
Best Tracks: Grey, Words Before You Leave, Miss Fortune
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?:None.
Thoughts: As said earlier, I love my female fronted metal, and I loved Flowing Tears' last album, Razorbliss, but I didn't even realize they'd put a new album out until a few weeks bac, so I was surprised. Helen Vogt's voice sounds oddly deeper on this album, but it works. Particualarly on songs like Grey and FOr My Enemies.
4) Shiny Toy Guns - Season of Poison
Tracklist:
1. "When Did This Storm Begin?"
2. "Money For That"
3. "I Owe You A Love Song"
4. "Ghost Town"
5. "It Became A Lie On You"
6. "Ricochet!"
7. "Season Of Love"
8. "Poison"
9. "Blown Away"
10. "Turned To Real Life"
11. "Frozen Oceans"
Best Tracks: Turned to Real Life, Ricochet!, When Did This Storm Begin?
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?:Two - "A Leading Edge" and "Free Fall Melody"
THoughts: God, I love STG's new singer. Her voice is fantastic, and it particularly shines on Turned To Real Life. I'm already looking forward to a new album with her.
3) Fall Out Boy - Folie à Deux
Tracklist:
0. "Lullabye" (pregap hidden track)
1. "Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes"
2. "I Don't Care"
3. "She's My Winona"
4. "America's Suitehearts"
5. "Headfirst Slide into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet"
6. "The (Shipped) Gold Standard"
7. "(Coffee's for Closers)"
8. "What a Catch, Donnie"
9. "27"
10. "Tiffany Blews"
11. "w.a.m.s."
12. "20 Dollar Nose Bleed"
13. "West Coast Smoker"
Best Tracks: Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes, I Don't Care, What a Catch, Donnie
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: The limited edition has a few remixes, a new track called "Pavlove", and acoustic versions of America's Suitehearts and What a Catch, Donnie. There's also an acoutic version of I Don't Care out there, off the Japanese release.
Thoughts: I've always liked Fall Out Boy, despite my intense hatred for Pete "I'm the most important person in the world!" Wentz (He's a goddamn bassist, and a pretty meh one at that. Why the fuck does he have such an ego?), but this album is head and shoulders above Infinity on High. Stuck somewhere usically between From Under The Cork Tree and Infinity on High, Folie à Deux is a really fun album with feels more in touch with classic FOB rather than the more bombastic, experimental sound of most of Infinity on High. And I love it. It's like they took Hum Hallelujah and made it an album.
2) The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
Tracklist:
1. "Great Expectations"
2. "The '59 Sound"
3. "Old White Lincoln"
4. "High Lonesome"
5. "Film Noir"
6. "Miles Davis & The Cool"
7. "The Patient Ferris Wheel"
8. "Casanova, Baby!"
9. "Even Cowgirls Get the Blues"
10. "Meet Me By the River's Edge"
11. "Here's Looking at You, Kid"
12. "The Backseat"
Best Tracks: Great Expectations. HIgh Lonesome, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: "Once Upon a Time". Not sure where it comes from.
Thoughts: I hadn't even heard of teh Gaslight Anthem until a few weeks back. Suffice to say it was a great discovery. Their unique take on a Jersey rock sound is absolutely enthralling, from start to finish.
1) Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger
Tracklist:
1. "Crashin'"
2. "Spinning"
3. "Swim"
4. "American Love"
5. "What Gets You Off"
6. "Suicide Blonde"
7. "Annie Use Your Telescope"
8. "Bloodshot"
9. "Drop Out - The So Unknown"
10. "Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby)"
11. "The Resolution"
12. "Orphans"
13. "Caves"
14. "Miss California"
Best Tracks: Crashin', The Resolution, American Love, Dooris Day (A b-side but who cares, it's awesome)
B-sides/Bonus Tracks?: A few. An EP was released right before the album etitled "In Valleys" that contained three tracks that didn't make the album,two of which had been very much hyped and talked about by Andrew McMahon himself. THe songs were "Cell Phone", "In Slow Motion (Sleazy Wednesday)", and "At Full Speed". The Japanese and Amazon MP3 releases include "Doris Day (Don't Go", which is far and away one of my favourite songs of the year.
Thoughts: This album exemplifies why Andrew McMahon is likely my avourite song writer of this decade. He's come a long way from Something Corporate, and these songs are more mature in both lyrics and music, and meld together into a very cohesive whole. There isn't really anything on the album I dislike. Aside from the fact that part of "Cave" kinda drags on, everything from the opening drums and bells of "Crashin'" to the closing riffs and piano of MIss California is absolutely fantastic, and throw in four of the best b-sies of the year - particularly Doris Day - and you have an album I'll be listening to for years to come.
And that's it! ENd of year Meme AND best music of the year. Leave your thoughts after the beep, I'll get back to you as soon as I can! Provided work tonight doens't drive me to jump off a bridge, at least :D