Sunday, December 21, 2008

The Year In Rock 2008

The 10th installment of my annual “Year In Rock” is complete. I probably tend to go a little overboard every year with this and over-analyze everything I want to include on this list. Narrowing this list down to just 20 songs each year becomes a difficult task, because to me it’s more than just a “mix tape” of songs that I liked. These were songs that, regardless of when or where I hear them, catapult me back to moment in time. As I have compiled these lists over the years and go back and listen to them occasionally, there is a sense of nostalgia for the music and lyrics. I can tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing the moment I first heard all of these songs. Some of the new music I heard this year came as suggestions from Rolling Stone; out of pure devotion to the artist anytime they come out with a new record; listening to Sirius, X96, Pandora, and Last.fm; and countless recommendations from family, friends, and co-workers. Regardless, this was the music that defined 2008 for me.

As always I will be naming best new artist of the year, and best album. However this year I will be adding my nominations for album of the year, which was interestingly a very difficult decision once I really started thinking about it. If you are new to this: I pick 20 albums, and then pick what I consider to be the best song on that album and compile into a list. When I first started this list, I used to burn this to a CD and was really limited on space, and thus the reason why I just do 20 songs. I’ve decided to keep the tradition going strong and make it more of an elite choosing method with only being able to showcase 20 different artists.


If you would like a copy of this music, please e-mail me though FaceBook. I have a variety of ways you can get this...


Behold, The Year In Rock, 2008:


1. Vampire Weekend “A Punk” (Vampire Weekend) [*Best New Artist of the Year/Album of the Year Nominee]

2. MGMT “Electric Feel” (Oracular Spectacular) [*Album of the Year]

3. Coldplay “Lost!” (Viva la Vida) [Album of the Year Nominee]

4. Phantom Planet “Do The Panic” (Raise The Dead) [*Album of the Year Nominee]

5. Weezer “The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations On a Shaker Hymn)” (The Red
Album) [*Album of the Year Nominee]

6. Thrice “Come All You Weary” (The Alchemy Index, Vol 3 & 4: Air & Earth)

7. Nada Surf “See These Bones” (Lucky)

8. Death Cab For Cutie “I Will Possess Your Heart” (Narrow Stairs)

9. Black Kids “’m Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You” (Partie Traumatic)

10. Joshua Radin (feat. Ingrid Michaelson) “Sky” (Unclear Sky – EP)

11. Beck “Orphans” (Modern Guilt)

12. Tokyo Police Club “Tessellate” (Elephant Shell)

13. Ben Folds “Cologne” (Way To Normal)

14. Kings Of Leon “Sex On Fire” (Only By The Night)

15. Fleet Foxes “White Winter Hymnal” (Fleet Foxes)

16. Ra Ra Riot “Can You Tell” (The Rhumb Line)

17. TV On The Radio “Dancing Choose” (Dear Science)
18. Jenny Lewis “Acid Tongue” (Acid Tongue)
19. The Killers “Dustland Fairytale” (Day & Age)

20. The Airborne Toxic Event “Sometime Around Midnight” (The Airborne Toxic Event)


Honorable Mentions: Of Montreal (Skeletal Lamping), My Morning Jacket ( Evil Urges), Panic At The Disco (Pretty. Odd.), Cold War Kids (Loyalty To Loyalty), Fall Out Boy (Folie A Deux), & CUt Copy (Ghost Colors).


http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=300823362

Monday, December 15, 2008

Christmastime is here...

...and that means not a whole lot of time to post things here.
Along with the Christmas season, we have also found a house, and should be closing on it later this week. It is right behind Cabella's, and we love it. Seriously, it's awesome. I will post more about it once everything is finalized. But needless to say, that's why there has been a lack of posts ever since I took this blog private. I hope everyone else is having a great season... Look forward to more posts from me soon.
Peas.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

To catch you up... (Version 2)

So I've noticed that blogging is a lot like trying to keep a journal. When too many significant things happen in your life and you don't write about them, you keep thinking to yourself, "Well I can't write about significant thing "B" until I write about significant thing "A" and I'm going to be absolutely lazy about it until then"

That's what has happened with me. So as I have done before, I will hit the "bullet points" of what has happened since mid-July, therefore catching me up and I can continue to blog about important things like dumb stories, weird occurrences, posting more pictures, and Utah Football.


For the 4th of July we stayed up in Park City and hung out with my family and the Back's and had a great time watching fireworks on the golf course, playing A TON of card games and just relaxing.

July 25, 2008 marked my last day at Meridian Title Company. I had worked almost 7 great years there, and I loved working with the people there every second. They were and still are my family there. In a few photos, you will see that I started a new job in a new field and industry, one that is more in the direction I want to be headed in my career.


August 2nd, 2008 Shara and I traveled to Chicago and then to Batavia, Illinois for Shara's best friends wedding. Shara and Coley played volleyball with each other at Northern Illinois University. Coley and Dan are some of the greatest people you will meet and they had a killer wedding, it was such a fun time and we were super happy for them!



Shara and I continued our trip throughout Chicago doing a TON of stuff. Such a beautiful city with a ton of history. See more pictures ONE TWO THREE FOUR.


I started my new job as a Project Coordinator with Ferrari Color on August 6, 2008.


Shara and I went to the Utah State Fair had great Corn Dogs and won prizes! We won a stuffed cow that we affectionately named Angus. I was a little excited...

Shara and I celebrated 3 great years of Marriage on September 15th. To this day deciding to marry Shara was the best decision I have ever made, and I love her more today than yesterday. I love you Shara!


The 2008 End Of Summer party was a great time this year, it's always great to get together and see everyone. If you couldn't come this year, we expect to see you next year!

One of my favorite bands of all-time Weezer came to town on August 7, 2008. Every time I see them I love this band more and more. They put on an incredible show, and I loved every second of it. This show also marked the first time I saw a guy in a wheel chair crowd surfing, which was pretty cool. Plenty more pictures here.


The group that went to Weezer, good times, great oldies.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Tolerability

As Utah fans go, I can't help but imagine there are varying degrees of acceptability. Some fans are ok with 8-wins and a bowl victory every season, some fans are not. It's interesting to note the differences here, but I think there tends be a larger number of Utah fans who do not accept mediocrity, or even play slightly above mediocre. This is a big reason why Ron McBride was eventually fired and why there is still a large number of Ute fans who have yet to fully embrace Kyle Whittingham as head coach.

So this year they begin 0-0, just as years past, yet expectations are higher. The experience, talent, coaching stability and schedule have many of us believing this team is capable of advancing to the next level. But what is the next level and if the Utes do not step it up, what will we as fans tolerate at the end of the season?

There are many scenarios, some good, some bad and some that are pretty meh, but they're all possibilities. And as last year showed Ute fans, expectations, whether made at the beginning of the season, or after a 27-0 defeat to the worst team in all of the Mountain West, have a good chance of being proven wrong. But it doesn't change the fact there is a ceiling for expectations and a floor, as well. Some may feel this team is only capable of winning 10-games, while others may feel they can go undefeated. Yet I'm willing to bet it's nearly universally accepted this team will win more than 9 games. And why not? They managed to do so last season, even with all the injuries and what many thought would be the hardest schedule in years. So why not this year, if they stay healthy?

But what if they don't.

I think there are many fans who concede the Utes may just very well lose to Michigan (myself included). So if they lose there, drop a home game to Oregon State, lose to New Mexico and TCU, but manage to defeat BYU and win their bowl game, is that a successful season? Will Ute fans tolerate it?

Friday, August 15, 2008

2008 Summer Olympics: Day 7


Phelps Medal Count: 7 Down 1 to Go.

Michael Phelps won his seventh gold medal of the Beijing Olympics on Saturday, edging Milorad Cavic by a fingernail, .01 of second in the 100m butterfly on Saturday at the Water Cube.

The Serbian federation filed a written protest to FINA, swimming's world governing body, contesting the result, but Serbian officials were shown video of the finish and agreed not to pursue it further.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

2008 Summer Olympics: Day 6

USA v. Greece 92 - 69


Phelps Medal Count 6 down, 2 to go.
Side Note:
Have you noticed when Michael Phelps stands for the National Anthem after receiving his Golds, he holds his pec, instead of putting his hand over his heart?

Liukin good! Natasia Gold, Shawn Johnson Silver

Side note: Is it possible for Tim Daggett to be any more annoying?

This annoying human just cannot keep his mouth shut.
It would be nice to know something different than what these gymnasts are being deducted every time they screw up. "That's 5 tenths of a deduction right there; that's 8 tenths of a deduction right there!" That nasally voice, that pessimistic attitude, and that "know-it-all-I-used to-be-a-gymnast-and-can't-let-go-of-my-past" personality, and commenting about everything gymnasts do is giving me a headache and heartburn before I turn of the TV and go to bed.

I'm not sure how much more of his voice I can stand...

Anyone else this annoyed with him?

2008 Summer Olympics: Day 5



This has been my favorite commercial of the Olympics...

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

2008 Summer Olympics: Day 4

U.S v. Angola 97 - 76


Phelps 2 Gold Medals in one day.
Wins the men's 200-meter butterfly Wednesday and not even an hour later helped lift the U.S. 4x200m freestyle relay team to victory, becoming the winningest athlete in Olympic history, now with 11 gold medals -- and counting.
(5 Down, 3 to go...)
Just Silver for the Women's All-Around... :(

2008 Summer Olympics: Day 3


GOLD
GOLD
GOLD
(3 Down, 5 to go...)

Sunday, August 10, 2008

2008 Summer Olympics: Day 2

United States v. China 101 - 70

Shawn Johnson is pretty cool...


President Bush is not really cool...
(He had to be informed he was holding it backwards.)

Men's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay
Take THAT France!!!
Phelps Medal Count: 2 Down, 6 to go...

Saturday, August 9, 2008

2008 Summer Olympics: Day 1


I thought I would post pictures every day that I found that highlight some of my favorite moments of the Olympics... These are Day 1.
(Editors note: Shara played Volleyball with #15 Logan Tom,
she loves watching her play in the Olympics)


Phelps Medal Count: 1 Down, 7 To go...

Olympic Opening Ceremonies


Bravo China!
These opening ceremonies were the best I have ever seen, although I am biased to the Salt Lake Olympics. The entire thing was visually stunning and incredible.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

John Mayer

Last Monday I got hooked up with tickets to see John Mayer. (Thanks Aaron & Jacque) This was the 4th time I have seen him and the 3rd time at USANA. Although I generally loathe the thought of any concert there most times (mainly because of distance, and the inconvenience of the travel out to the venue) this concert did not disappoint. Colbie Caillat opened, she did great. She is most likely the female version of Jack Johnson, laid back, chill, just very cool. There was another opening band that I really liked the bassist on, but I can't recall their name. Shara was unable to come because she had to work, so I hung out with Shara's brother and sister in-law, Aaron and Jacque & their friends. It was agreat time.

Obviously you are wowed by John's guitar playing, he is definitely one of the greatest guitarist of my time, and would be on a large list of some of the greatest guitarists of all time. But what I was most impressed with was his vocal capabilities. Check out this video with his cover of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'"

Set list:
  • Belief
  • Vultures
  • Crossroads
  • Daughters '74
  • Neon
  • Free Falling
  • Another You
  • Stitched Up
  • Waiting on the World to Change
  • Ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do
  • Good Love is On the Way
  • No Such Thing
  • Gravity
  • Say
  • Encore
  • My Sweet Lord
  • Bigger Than My Body

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Deers + Cast Iron Fences = Death


I realize that today's post title is a bit morbid, but it does not even begin to explain the tragedy I saw last night.

Let me start off by saying that as the years go on, and the higher up we build our homes into the the mountains, the wild deer have become more and more domesticated. Lately I have seen an influx of deer in my in-laws neighborhood in herds of 6 or 7 parading through the streets like a West Side Story gang. Just in the past week we have seen deer in our backyard hanging out and close to the porch of our home, seemingly undaunted by human existence.

The family that lives across the street (is actually our Bishop as a side note) has an iron cast fence around his home. I would guess it is somewhere around 6 feet or so with "spikes" atop each pole. In the past I heard there had been a problem of deer trying to clear the fence and getting stuck, but nothing like what happened last night. Because of past experiences the Bishop would leave the door to his fence open, thus letting the deer come and go as the please without harm. As you might recall last night was one of the nicer nights of the summer, so there were plenty of people outside; families, children, pets, motor scooters, etc. Next door to the Bishop's home was a Young Single Adult activity or the equivalent thereof happening. A deer appeared, and most likely startled at the number of people out and about, decided to jump over the fence. The sad part was he didn't make it. I won't go into much detail, needless to say there was a lot of blood and he was stuck on top of the fence, and he was hanging upside down with most of his insides exposed. What's more sad is that he was alive. And while we waited for Animal Control Services to arrive my neighbor and I attempted to lift the poor deer off of the fence so as to settle down the spectacle that was gathering around this scene. As we approached him to lift him off the fence, he would violently shake and attempt to free himself. We thought it would be best to wait for reinforcements. There were people there that had ammunition, but were not willing to use that force especially with small children around. Eventually 2 Sandy Police officers showed up, asked the tear soaked, traumatized children to avert their eyes, as he shot the deer.

Quite a sad story, and the poor deer spent the night on the front lawn because apparently Animal Control Services couldn't arrive until this morning.

Moral of the story: Don't feed the deer.


Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Roll Call

"Cha-cha Boo-chee, Cha--Cha-Cha Boo-Chee ROLL CALL!"

Ok, so apparently I know a lot of people. While using Google Analytics to track this blog page, I have realized that there are a slew of people form inside and outside the United States that have been visiting this blog. I'm just interested in who is really visiting this blog multiple times in a given month, or even once in a blue moon.

People in the following States have visited this blog:
Utah, Arizona, Colorado, California, Texas, Washington, Massachusetts, Illinois, Oklahoma, Virginia, Georgia, Maryland, Indiana, New York, Iowa, South Carolina, Connecticut, Oregon, Wisconsin, Alaska, Minnesota, Idaho, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and The District of Columbia.

People in the following countries have visited this blog:
United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Canada, Italy, Lithuania, Australia, Russia, France, Mexico, 7 the Philippines.

I'm just curious who some of these people are, I realize most of these visits are just people that are searching for something I've blogged about and end up on my page. Regardless, I'm just interested in who you are. Don't be bashful...Come on...

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

To Catch You Up...

So it's been a while.
Nice to see you again.
Since you always learn better with pictures, here is a bullet list of things we've been up to for the past month and a half or so...



We sold our condo! Two sets of renters, a thorough cleaning job, and three weeks or so on the market and it is done. Good riddance to the Home Owner's Association.


Don't let this picture fool you. He's not ours (although we'd gladly take him) Welcome Ethan!


A trip to St. George. Yum.


Samantha & Jeff wedded.


We took the nieces and nephews (some of them, the ones that are fans, and would be old enough to remember such a venture) to the set of High School Musical 3. My cousin Trevor (thanks again, and again dude) works for the Utah Film Commission and was able to get us in to the filming of this highly kid-anticipated movie. We saw all of the major HSM stars. One of the most memorable lines from the evening was when Zac Efron happened to be about 3-4 feet away from us and you could see his boxers for a little bit. Megan, the youngest girl who isn't scared to say anything said "Shara I can see his underwear" loud enough for everyone to hear. And Haylee who is secretly infatuated with Zac whispers the same thing to me as her face goes beet red.

The other classic line was Adam asking for a cheeseburger most of the night. Honestly I would probably be asking for the same thing at his age.


Happy Birthday Mom!!


Go see WALL•E™