I saw this trailer over the weekend and immediately wondered what happened to Harrison Ford’s career that he was in a TV movie. I mentioned it later in the day and my cousin had the exact same reaction when he had seen it earlier. Just got a txt from Evan that he had the same thought. Here’s the trailer. Not sure if you get the same feeling from YouTube that you get on an HDTV.
I guess it was one of those end of the year lists that finally got me to listen to the band fun. Immediatly I thought that it sounded just like The Format. Sure enough The Format broke up last year and fun. is the lead singer’s new band. I feel stupid for not knowing this already.
The Format showed up on my iPod this morning and decided it was a good one to post.
Air Force vs Houston, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Dec 31, 12pm, Fort Worth, TX)
Evan: I like Air Force’s fight song, it’s catchy, and so are their receivers. Hey oh! Pick: Air Force
Mike: Houston has been unpredictable all year. I haven’t heard much about Air Force but they are impressive when you look at their losses: Minnesota, Navy, TCU, Utah, BYU. Minny is the only one I can really fault them for. I lean on stars in bowl games and I’m a big fan of Casey Keenum. Pick: Houston
Ahad: Terrible joke Evan. Just for that, I’m going with Houston. Pick: Houston
Matt: Intriguing game between the Houston high flying passing attack and Air Force’s #1 ranked pass defense. The key is Houston’s defense against the Air Force option attack because Houston will get their points on offense. Air Force keeps it close, but Houston will squeak out the win. Pick: Houston
Stanford vs Oklahoma, Brut Sun Bowl (Dec 31, 2pm, El Paso, TX)
Evan: Oklahoma needs to prove they are still relevant. Spiller used his bowl game to prove he was Heisman worthy. Toby Gerhart will do the same. Pick: Stanford
Mike: Does Texas own New Years Eve bowl games? 3 of the 5 are in the state. Here Oklahoma still lingers here. The OU defense could easily show up and shut down Gerhart. However, there’s no Bradford and the disappointed giant in a bowl game theory applies here. Pick: Stanford
Ahad: The Sooners have a lot to prove in this game. The defense will take care of business. Is there any doubt who I am picking in this one? Pick: Oklahoma
Matt: No, Ahad, there was no doubt from me. You always bet on Sooner. I think Oklahoma will exploit the leaky Stanford defense and their defense will be up to the task of stopping Gerhart and Co. Pick: Oklahoma
Missouri vs Navy, Texas Bowl (Dec 31, 3:30pm, Houston, TX)
Evan: I’m sticking with my service academies, and if you don’t it means you must hate America. Pick: Navy
Mike: What did Mizzou do all year? They lost each of their ranked games plus Baylor. The only Navy game I got to see a lot of was them barely beating ND, which does not qualify as impressive. If I have to flip the coin, and I guess I do. Pick: Navy
Ahad: I don’t want anyone to say I hate America. Pick: Navy
Matt: Well, I don’t hate America in case you were wondering, and I do like what Navy brings to the table. I just don’t see it being enough in this game. I will be rooting for them, though. Pick: Missouri
Minnesota vs Iowa State, Insight Bowl (Dec 31, 6pm, Tempe, AZ)
Evan: Golden Gophers vs the Cyclones. I didn’t even know Iowa state was bowl eligible. Pick: Minnesota
Mike: No thanks. Minnesota’s only double digit wins this year were over Purdue (15) and Northwestern (11). That’s with a schedule that included Syracuse and South Dakota State (beat both by 3). Iowa State had only one bright spot, but it’s very bright. That 9-7 shootout against Nebraska (most of those shots in the shootout were Nebraska to their own feet). This bowl is so unappealing they should have held it in November. Pick: Minnesota
Ahad: I have to show the Big 10 some love. Pick: Gophers
Matt: How do these two 6-6 teams have a bowl game so late in the bowl season? Wow, where to go with this one? Minnesota hasn’t shown much on offense recently, and that worries me in this game. That tempts me to want to go with Iowa State, but then again, we are talking about Iowa State. Pick: Minnesota
Virginia Tech vs Tennessee, Chick-fil-A Bowl (Dec 31, 7:30pm, Atlanta, GA)
Evan: I really want to stick with my SEC picks, yet Va Tech scares me. I think Kiffin has something up his sleeve. Pick: Vols
Mike: Finally something, no wonder it’s in primetime. Actually, scratch that. Tennessee does not appeal to me. They did have some close losses (2 points to Bama, 10 to UF) but they were losses. I’m crossing my fingers for a tight game, but I have to Pick: Virginia Tech
Ahad: I am going to continue to go against Evan. Pick: V-Tech
Matt: I like Virginia Tech, but I don’t think they’re as good as their record and rank indicate. They have been inconsistent at times, but so have the Vols. The Volunteers got off to a rough start but have been playing better down the stretch. Should be a good, close game, but I am gonna go with the slight upset. Pick: Tennessee
I have a bit of a gadget problem. I get lots of them and always tell myself that I will write a bit about them after I spend some time with them. Of course, time gets away and I never get back to talking about my latest toy. I also get distracted because a new gadget usually come along fairly quickly.
Yesterday I logged in to check on my phone upgrade options. For some reason I’ve been doing this almost daily for the past month even though it always told me 12/31. I was shocked yesterday when I logged on to find that there was no longer a date listed and I was eligible. I thought maybe they were kind enough to build in the shipping buffer. That made me a little worried about going in to the store and getting the same deal. Luckily enough, the mall is only a few minutes away. In store I was also eligible. Upgrading was painless.
I’ve been debating what phone to get for a while now. The iPhone 3G I have is painfully slow. The processor just can’t handle the running of the phone. The keyboard seems to anger it at times. I knew that upgrading to the 3GS would give me a processor boost but not a whole lot else. The compass would be nice on occasion when trying to use the maps in a city. Video recording isn’t that important, I rarely use the camera. So essentially I wouldn’t be getting the exact same thing, only faster. A Blackberry would be something completely different. I tried the new Blackberry in the store and while it is really nice I felt like I’d wind up preferring the interaction with the iPhone.
The other problem is that AT&T is not reliable in my apartment (Verizon doesn’t work either). I debated T-Mobile because the new Blackberry supported UMA. Meaning I could use Wi-Fi for calls inside. AT&T’s Microcell will be out someday. Plus, I would have had to pay the ETF for canceling AT&T 6 months early. I also wasn’t sure about T-Mobile, I know what I have with AT&T, which is very reliable when out of my apartment.
I decided I was going to stick to the iPhone. It really does everything I need it to. People were shocked that I didn’t talk about the 3G much after I bought it. That was mostly because it was exactly what I wanted. It didn’t change my life, it just did what I had been looking for. It also plays nicely with my Mac: iTunes and Contacts most specifically.
All I was left with was the hesitation that there will be another new iPhone this summer with some unknown feature that I will drool over. But even if it comes out in June. The slowness of the 3G will continue to drive me nuts. If it’s really that groundbreaking I’ll sell one of the other iPhones and pay the full price for the new one.
Having the 3GS for about a day now, I’ve learned that this is the iPhone that should have been released in the 1st place. The 1st iPhone didn’t make any sense because it didn’t have 3G. The 2nd iPhone’s processor couldn’t keep up with itself. The 3GS feels solid and responds right away when I tell it to do something.
Nice extras: The battery % indicator is a nice plus. The Wi-Fi seems to connect a whole lot faster, which is key when using the phone when I don’t have a decent signal. The stats on the Apple site indicate that the Wi-Fi is also more power efficient. I’m hoping that it adds just a little bit more life so I don’t get stressed as often when it’s about to run out (the % indicator will help with that as well). I also get another charger and I’ve yet to try the new headphones.
As for the old 3G, I’m not sure where that will fit in just yet. I may use it around, not sure how yet. I am a little concerned that since they look exactly the same I may leave the house with the one that I can’t use as a phone. It will likely stick around until someone in the family decides they want to pay for iPhone service.
The catchiest Blink song that I always seem to forget about?
Texas A&M vs Georgia, Independence Bowl (Dec 28, 5pm, Shreveport, LA)
Ahad: I am going to go against Evan here. Pick: Texas A&M
Mike: I find it hard to support 6-6 bowl teams. However, Georgia was only a game away from that mark. Still, a non-conference loss to Ok State is a lot more appealing than anything A&M has to offer. A&M did have to play Ok State, but that’s a conference game for them. Pick: Georgia
Evan: How. Dare. You. Pick: UGA
Matt: Both teams have been very inconsistent this season but had good showings in their final regular season game, even though A&M lost. Both defenses are bad, but A&M’s is worse, so I give a slight edge to Georgia. Pick: Georgia
UCLA vs Temple, EagleBank Bowl (Dec 29, 4:30pm, Washington, DC)
Ahad: I am looking forward to this one. This is the type of game that will make Temple a legit program. Look for the Owls to bounce back after the disappointing performance in their last game. Pick: Temple
Mike: What an accomplishment to make it to the EagleBank Bowl. You get to travel to DC in late December and play on a Tuesday afternoon. Here again we have a 6-6 major conference team. Also a team with a more powerful program than Temple (but who doesn’t). The non-football factors I’m considering: UCLA may not be all that interested, they have to travel across the country, and it’s going to be just barely above freezing and breezy. Pick: Temple
Evan: I am not looking forward to this at all. Pick: UCLA
Matt: I am not looking forward to this game either. I haven’t seen Temple play really this season (I missed the PSU game), but I can’t picture them being able to beat UCLA. I do agree with Mike in that UCLA has several factors going against them and probably aren’t that motivated to play in this game. Temple will be super motivated but I don’t think it will be enough to get them the win. Pick: UCLA
Miami (FL) vs Wisconsin, Champs Sports Bowl (Dec 29, 8pm, Orlando, FL)
Ahad: Miami has too much talent and speed for the Badgers. Pick: Miami
Mike: Outside of that odd Northwestern loss, Wisconsin had a solid year. Almost identical to Penn State. Looking at the results, Miami had a nice year as well. Miami always seems to have the talent but usually will make the mistakes to beat themselves. Especially in games against solid opponents like Wisconsin. Pick: Wisconsin
Evan: Wisconsin always gets pumped for bowl games, especially when it’s in Florida and their fans get to escape the tundra. Pick: Wisconsin
Matt: Miami has more talent than Wisconsin, but the Badgers are more disciplined and don’t make the crippling mistakes Miami does. I think Wisconsin’s workman-like approach will outshine the flashiness of the U. Pick: Wisconsin
Idaho vs Bowling Green, Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl (Dec 30, 4:30pm, Boise, ID)
Ahad: Bowling Green
Mike: I’m going to have to defer to Ahad’s in-depth analysis. Even though the game is in Idaho I have no knowledge of them being any good. I don’t have much knowledge of BG being any good either. The only ranked opponent Idaho played was Boise St and they lost by 38. BG played them and only lost by 35. I think that makes things pretty crystal. Pick: Bowling Green
Evan: Bowling Green is going to rally behind their former Coach (like 7 years ago), Urban Meyer. Pick: Whatever Bowling Green’s mascot is.
Matt: Idaho has turned their program around and I think their coach was an early season coach of the year candidate before they lost a couple games in a row. I don’t know too much about Bowling Green, but I do like that Idaho will have the home crowd advantage. Pick: Idaho
Nebraska vs Arizona, Holiday Bowl (Dec 30, 8pm, San Diego, CA)
Ahad: Nebraska had a good showing against Texas, but I think that was a fluke performance by their defense. Suh is a big time player, but won’t be able to take this game over. Pick: Arizona
Mike: I like this one. Can Arizona score at all against Nebraska? I think the Nebraska D can put them in a potition to put some easy points on the board. Pick: Nebraska
Evan: I think Nebraska blew their wad against Texas. They won’t remember how to play that well again. Pick: Arizona
Matt: I can’t get the image of Nebraska’s defensive mauling of Texas out of my head. But can they put up some points? I think they force some turnovers and score enough to win. Pick: Nebraska
Ohio vs Marshall, Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Dec 26 1pm, Detroit, MI)
Evan: Hmmm, I haven’t heard anything about Marshall this year, but I did finally watch the movie. On paper, Ohio looks a lot better. Pick: Ohio
Ahad: I really didn’t like the movie. Ohio was good enough to beat Temple; they are good enough win this game. Pick: Ohio
Mike: How many people are excited to see a 6-6 Marshall team in a bowl? Pick: Ohio
Matt: Boy, I would really like to pick Ohio, but I haven’t been doing so well with the bowl picks so far. Couple that with not really liking any teams from the state of Ohio, and I will go with Marshall. Pick: Marshall
North Carolina vs Pittsburgh, Meineke Car Care Bowl (Dec 26, 4:30pm, Charlotte, NC)
Evan: This is practically a home fame for UNC, but I’m starting to come around on this Pitt team. I think Wanndstat wants to be relevant again. Winning this game will not make that happen. Pick: Pitt
Ahad: I still don’t like Pitt, but I think they will win this game. Pick: Pttt
Mike: I haven’t had a good feeling with UNC all year. They probably should have been better than 4-4 in the ACC. They lost to UVa and blew it against FSU. I’ve said multiple times this year that I’m a fan of this Pitt team. Pick: Pittsburgh
Matt: Pitt is clearly the better team in this matchup, but they will need to step up on defense. If they don’t, they could go home a loser for the 3rd game in a row. I think they get the job done, though. Pick: Pitt
Boston College vs USC, Emerald Bowl (Dec 26, 8pm, San Francisco, CA)
Evan: Everyone and their mom is thinking that USC has to finally wake up and play some defense right? I mean, they can’t be as bad as they have been playing. BC is going to come at this like its the super bowl. The question in will USC be too upset about their year, and consequently the bowl game they are in, to show up and play, or will Pete Carroll call out his players? I think with this long to get their heads right, the real USC shows up. Pick: Trojans
Ahad: Playing in this game has to be a disappointment for USC. They were expected to have a much better season. Carroll will have this team ready to go. This game could get ugly. Pick: USC
Mike: My least favorite bowl. The field just doesn’t look right at AT&T Park. USC has plenty of players disappointed by the season, looking toward the pros, or not sure if they are going to be allowed to make the trip. Still, there is a huge talent gap between them and BC. Pick: USC
Matt: Doesn’t it seem like USC ends up with essentially a home bowl game every year? To me, this game seems like no contest. I am sure BC will make a game of it, but I can’t see USC losing. Pick: USC
Kentucky vs Clemson, Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (Dec 27, 8:30pm, Nashville, TN)
Evan: Kentucky played very well at the end of the year, while Clemson did not. CJ spiller is looking to the NFL and is still smarting from not being invited to NYC for the Heisman. Pick: Kentucky
Ahad: Spiller will dominate this game. Pick: Clemson
Mike: I trust Evan’s picks for SEC conference games. Once they go out of conference I don’t trust him. It’s the finale of the CJ Spiller Show, which seems to have been running forever. After bowl season the Heisman voters will be wondering what they were thinking (especially after Ingram fails to show up). Pick: Clemson
Matt: Mike, why so anti-Ingram? Typically, the SEC team will dominate in these matchups, but I don’t see it happening here. CJ Spiller will have a big day in his final game. Pick: Clemson
Chargers @ Titans, Friday 7:30pm
Evan: No one is playing better than San Diego. They saw what can happen when they play a team that is emotionally charged up, which Tennessee will be since they are technically still alive in the playoff hunt. I like the upset scenario here. Pick: Tennessee
Ahad: I am going to ride the hot hand and stick with the Chargers. Pick: Chargers
Mike: The Chargers December streak concerns me a bit after the Cowboys seemed to turn their December struggles last week. I’d like to not have to hear about the Titans anymore. Pick: Chargers
Matt: Both teams are playing well, but Tennessee needs this game to stay in the playoff hunt. You can run the ball on the Chargers, so Chris Johnson should have a big day. The key will be if the Titans D can slow the Chargers passing game. Hard to pick against the Chargers, but I will go with the upset. Pick: Titans
Ravens @ Steelers, Sunday 1pm
Evan: Ravens are looking like they’re in good shape for the playoffs, but it’s not a done deal. Pitt is on life support. I think Baltimore puts it away. Pick: Baltimore
Ahad: Despite the last second win last week, the Steelers are still in trouble. The Ravens will take care of business. Pick: Ravens
Mike: The Steelers are making their push. They are going to need a lot of help but they need to get the wins for themselves first. Pick: Steelers
Matt: Yikes, can the Pittsburgh D stop anyone? What happened to them this year? Are they really that dependent on Polamalu? Tough call here. The Ravens barely beat the Steelers at home when they had Dennis Dixon at QB. I’ll be rooting for the Ravens, but I think the Steelers will make things interesting. Don’t count out the defending champs yet. Pick: Steelers
Jaguars @ Patriots, Sunday 1pm
Evan: Jags always play the Pats tough, but not tough enough in New England in December. Pick: Pats
Ahad: The Patriots need to start playing better before the playoffs. Pick: Pats
Mike: Patriots clinch the division. Pick: Patriots
Matt: After 3 straight home games, the Jags go on the road to a tough place to play but maybe not as tough as it used to be. The Pats have not been playing well of late, and the Jaguars need this game to stay in the playoff hunt. The Jags keep the game close, but the Pats will win it. Pick: Patriots
Raiders @ Browns, Sunday 1pm
Evan: If you lived in Cleveland and had free tickets to this game, would you go? (it will be 33 degrees at kickoff). I would not. Pick: Oakland
Ahad: The answer to Evan’s question is no. The Browns have been playing better football as of late (it couldn’t get much worse). Most of these guys are looking to make an impression on the new boss. Pick: Browns
Mike: The Raiders: The most exciting team in the final minute. Their D is keeping them close and then they keep seem to come up with miracle wins. It’s time for a convincing win. Pick: Raiders
Matt: Both teams have turned their fortunes around the past few weeks. It is crazy to think that both these teams have beaten Pittsburgh. I think the Raiders are playing better right now. Pick: Raiders
Jets @ Colts, Sunday 4:15pm
Evan: The Colts want to run the table, especially now that the Saints are out of the picture. Pick: Indy
Ahad: Colts stay perfect. Pick: Indy
Mike: One of the rare times I’ll mention fantasy. I have Manning and Addai. The Colts giving up gives me no chance at winning. Even if they do start, the Jets aren’t very good. The Colts should only need a half to take care of them. Pick: Colts
Matt: This is a hard game to predict. How long will the Colts starters play? If I were Jim Caldwell, I would let them play out the season. The Colts have had several dominating regular seasons in a row, but only one Super Bowl win and a few other playoff victories to their name. They need to keep the momentum rolling into the playoffs. The Jets defense will give the Colts trouble, but their offense doesn’t really scare anybody. The Colts squeak by, again. Pick: Colts
And now, for the top three songs of the decade.
3. The Arcade Fire – Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)
The first track off of Arcade Fire’s debut album Funeral, also the first of the four part “neighborhood” saga, is a dreamy track about a snowed-in neighborhood free of parental supervision. Tunnels kicks off one of the best, if not the best, albums of the decade, starts of with a wandering piano, painting a vivid picture of a snowbound town: “And if the snow buries my/My neighborhood/And if my parents are crying/Then I’ll dig a tunnel/From my window to yours/ Yeah, a tunnel from my window to yours”. Behind a heavy bass drum (hinting at things to come on Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) and the album closer Rebellion (Lies) later on the album) and an impressive collection of instruments (Arcade Fire is after all a band of 9-10 people), the song builds towards an impressive and frantic climax just a few seconds from the end of the song. The song works well as an opener (feeding later songs and setting the tone for some of the themes off the rest of the album), but it’s also remarkably successful as a single and is an exceptional piece of rock music.
Rarely does a song capture so much of both the rap and rock crowds, but “Hey Ya” did that better than just about any other track in my lifetime. Honestly, few songs fill a dance floor faster than this song and few songs have more memorable lines. Musically, the song is brilliant: it’s a unique beat, with superb lyrics and delivery. But really, it’s just that this song is just about the most original and most fun song that came out this decade (save for maybe Outkast’s “Bombs Over Baghdad”). Because let’s face it: If you clicked the link and watched the video, you’re going to have this song stuck in your head all day. Whether it’s “What’s cooler than being cool” or “shake it like a Polaroid picture”, this song delivers some of the most memorable lines of the decade. Plus, it gave us one of this amusing acoustic cover from Scrubs.
1. LCD Soundsystem – All My Friends
No surprise here, if you know my tastes. I’ve been hooked on this song since the first time I heard it nearly three years ago. The wobbly piano guides a song about the pre-party build up, the party, the post-party, and dealing with growing up. It’s a simple beat, that basically doesn’t really change throughout the 7:21 seconds of this song. But this song is about the lyrics: they are clever and brilliant and they drive the song from the start to finish. James Murphy’s near-spoken delivery is pensive and uplifting. Even the throwaway lines are gold: “It comes apart/The way it does in bad films/Except in parts/When the moral kicks in”. But by the end of the song, you can’t help but feel better. “And with a face like a dad and a laughable stand,/you can sleep on the plane or review what you said./When you’re drunk and the kids look impossibly tan/you think over and over, ‘hey, I’m finally dead./Oh, if the trip and the plan come apart in your hand/you look contorted on yourself your ridiculous prop./You forgot what you meant when you read what you said/And you always knew you were tired, but then/Where are your friends tonight?”
Oregon State vs BYU, Maaco Bowl Las Vegas (Dec 22, 8pm, Las Vegas, NV)
Matt: This looks to be a pretty good matchup. BYU hasn’t played that many tough teams this season, and they will certainly be tested in this one. Oregon State has lots of talent on offense and their team speed could give BYU problems. I think Quizz will prove too much to handle for the BYU defense. Pick: Oregon State
Ahad: This game will definitely test BYU. The Beavers are better prepared for this matchup since they have played more quality opponents. I agree with Matt, Quizz will be too much for BYU. Pick: Oregon State
Mike: Finally a game worth checking out. This is BYU’s 5th trip in a row to the Las Vegas Bowl? That still doesn’t make sense to me that BYU would keep going to Vegas. I need to get a sponsor for my pre-game player to watch segment. I’ve got my eye on Max Hall picking apart OSU. Pick: BYU
Evan: I think Oregon State is still upset about losing the Civil War. The Las Vegas Bowl is a far drop off from the Rose Bowl, and I think OSU has a hard time getting in gear. The Beavers will also be out partying in Vegas while BYU will be praying somewhere. Pick: BYU
Utah vs California, SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl (Dec 23, 8pm, San Diego, CA)
Matt: This game really comes down to which Cal team shows up. They got waxed in their season finale against Washington and have been inconsistent all season. Utah has been more consistent and has the winning pedigree, especially in bowl games. I’ll go with the Utes. Pick: Utah
Ahad: Utah is always looking to prove that it belongs with the schools in the big conferences. Cal has been a disappointment this year and this game will be no different. Pick: Utah
Mike: Utah had a nice year but couldn’t stack up with TCU or BYU. Best won’t be going for Cal, but that hasn’t seemed to change the unpredictability of the team this year. The numbers put this as a fairly even matchup with Utah having slightly better numbers on defense. I like Cal after matching up with the Pac 10 this year. Pick: California
Evan: Cal’s 2 faceness and the fact that Urban Meyer used to coach Utah makes this easy. Pick: Utah
Nevada vs SMU, Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (Dec 24, 8pm, Honolulu, HI)
Matt: June Jones, now the coach of SMU, returns to Hawaii where he had much success. I don’t think it will be a pleasant return. I can’t pick a team to win a bowl game that lost to Wazzu. Pick: Nevada
Ahad: I think June Jones returning is the biggest story line for this game. Because of my biased against directional schools, I will have to go with Nevada. Pick: Nevada
Mike: After reading Matt & Ahad’s picks I don’t have to do any research. I hadn’t thought about SMU in my directional school thought. They don’t have a state in their name. If they lost to Wazzu, I’m out. Pick: Nevada
Evan: I can’t argue with everything I have read here. Pick: Nevada
Note: For Part 1, see here. Part 2 here
You may not have high hopes for a song from the leading light of the coke rap genre, but it is undeniable that Grindin’ is one of the best hip hop songs of the decade. Brothers Malice and Pusha T, thanks not in the least to an absolutely brilliant beat from the Neptunes, exploded onto the mainstream hip hop radar with this hit in 2002 off their Lord Willin’ release. You can tell the duo is fully in their element on this track, from the tight lyrics and flow to the high pitched “gring-ing” that can’t help but catch your ear in the last 40 seconds of this song. Oh, and then there’s this: “And my weight, that’s just as heavy as my name/So much dough, I can’t swear I won’t change/Excuse me if my wealth got me full of myself/Cocky, something that I just can’t help/’Specially when them 20′s is spinning like windmills/And the ice 32 below minus the wind chill/Filthy, the word that best defines me/I’m just grinding man, y’all nevermind me”.
Interpol’s Turn on the Bright Lights was undoubtedly one of the most influential albums of the decade. PDA, the highlight of that album, is one of those remarkable alt-rock songs that manages to succeed despite being driven (for much of the song at least) on bass and drums rather than guitar. The dark music and nearly-spoken lyrics combine to create the image that the band recorded this song in a dank basement in Brooklyn. But while there are plenty of bands that can create that imagery, Interpol drops in some light-hearted (for their tastes anyway) about half way through, which creates such an eerie contrast that it’s brilliant.
Building on the sound of the Strokes earlier in this decade (as so many bands did), Franz Ferdinand made one of the best songs of this decade in Take Me Out. “Take Me Out” doesn’t succeed so much because it’s a perfect song…it works because it’s seemingly three different songs perfectly weaved together. From the very Strokes-esque guitar start to the damn-near-disco beat (though still paired with some solid guitar work) that backs the bridge to the climbing bass that comes in around the two minute mark, rarely does a song work so well with such a diversity of elements. Franz Ferdinand, seemingly hinting at their future direction, managed to put together one hell of a danceable song that stood well above it’s similar sounding compatriots (see: The Bravery, The Von Bondies, etc).
Every once in a while, a veteran band comes from relative obscurity with a remarkable piece of pop gold. In 2009, Phoenix did it not once, but twice with Lisztomania and 1901, both from their Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix Album (1901 could easily be on this list too). But Lisztomania gets the call here partially because the song itself seems to be about pop music (The title is a allusion to the frenzy that followed German pianist Franz Liszt’s early performance). This song is basically the perfect pop song itself, with a catchy and infectious beat, clever and playful lyrics, and flawless delivery. The fact that it all feels relatively effortless puts this song a level above.
The story behind the album is well known at this point: Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver) got dumped and retreated into the cold Wisconsin wilderness. While there, he recorded the sparse and beautiful For Emma, Forever Ago, which compares favorably to every folk album this decade save for arguably Fleet Foxes. The pseudo-title track is set as a conversation between a man trying to find meaning in breakup and a woman complaining that her knees are cold. It sounds ridiculous, but the horn section paired with Vernon’s voice (and excellent lyrics) makes this song thing of beauty. As a bonus, it makes for an amazing a cappella song as well (if you click any links, make it this one…starts at about the 1:30 mark).
