Now that it's been a year

So ends another year. Another notch in the calendar and a time to look back and reminisce on the year and look forward to what's coming next.

This year has been one for the books. Mysterious medical conditions, family deaths, identity crises, making new friends, reconnecting with old friends, losing friends, world travels, doing what I absolutely love for a living, falling in love with the wrong person, finding out who I am, coming to terms with who I am and an assortment of other things.

But I do believe all those things, whether I liked them or not, made me stronger and forced me to grow. I am however ready to put this year behind me and make 2009 a much better year. Hopefully good things will come out of the bad from 2008.

But one of the good things about 2008 was that it was probably one of the best for music. I’d like to thank the following artists for making this year a solid one for me:

At The Stars, Plushgun, Jonathan Vassar and the Speckled Bird, Justin Nozuka, Passenger, Mark Ronson, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Jay Brannan, Ready Fire Aim, VAST, Travis, Greg Laswell, matt pond pa, Farewell Flight, The Weepies, Against Grace, The Offspring, Republic Tigers, Chris Rice, The Graduate, Kelly Clarkson, East Village Opera Company, Strangers in Wonderland, Thrice, Raine Maida, La Rocca, Air Traffic, Interpol, Marionette, Earlimart, Kings of Leon, Radiohead, The Killers and all the others I can’t remember but have made me and my ears happy.

Here’s to 2009 and everything to come.

Greg Laswell - It's Been A Year from Three Nights From Alto Nido (buy)

Swimming and Jumping

We Swim You Jump are a new indiepop band that come to us from Groningen, the Netherlands. Their sound is upbeat and catchy and I was immediately drawn to it. Take a listen.

Sharks
Sparks Fade Out
buy the We Swim You Jump EP here.

God bless us, everyone.

Happy holidays to all you lovely readers out there. Hope your day is full of happiness and cheer and all that other stuff.

My gift to you: A new track from awesome rock band Sherwood called "Snowing in Seattle." It's got a nice holiday Superdrag/Nada Surf/Beach Boys vibe to it. The band's album will be available sometime next summer.

Snowing in Seattle

Best albums of 2008: No. 5 to 1

THE OFFSPRING – RISE AND FALL, RAGE AND GRACE

Being that The Offspring were my all time favorite band in high school, I will always hold a place in my heart for this So-Cal punk band. And since this was their first release since 2003’s Splinter, I was more than happy to check this out. Good to know that the boys don’t disappoint. Every track on Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace is full of that raw, powerful punk rock energy that The Offspring is known for. This album takes me back to the days when I listened to all their albums on repeat.
Hammerhead
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AGAINST GRACE – MONROE

Against Grace has been on the Richmond music scene for the last few years, but with the release of their latest album Monroe, the guys have stepped it up a notch and cemented themselves as proficient musicians. That talent comes through on this album, which is a non-stop ride in alternative rock (do people still use that word? Alternative rock?). I was very surprised with how much I enjoyed this album, from the energetic frenzy of “Fear of Falling” to the somber “So Long.”
Monroe
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THE GRADUATE – ANHEDONIA

Anhedonia is a high intensity rollercoaster of catchy melodic pop punk that throws you up and down and doesn't let you go until the album is finished.
Anhedonia
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GREG LASWELL – THREE FLIGHTS FROM ALTO NIDO

I only discovered Greg Laswell this past year at an in-store performance and bought two of his albums right there on the spot. That’s how great he was. And Three Flights From Alto Nido is no exception. There’s so much heartfelt honesty in Laswell’s music, you just want to take it all in.
How The Day Sounds
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And coming in at Number 1...

FAREWELL FLIGHT – SOUND. COLOR. MOTION.

I fell in love with this album the minute i put it on. It's sad, melodic, upbeat, heartwrenching and takes you over the entire spectrum of emotions. I saw Farewell Flight open for another band I was seeing and ended up liking them a whole lot more than the headliner. Sound. Color. Motion. is a hidden gem in this year's album releases.
Begin Again
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Best albums of 2008: No. 10 to 6

THE STILLS – OCEANS WILL RISE

This album came completely out of left field. I hadn't even heard of The Stills before a friend loaned me Oceans Will Rise. The Canadian band pulled no punches with this album with their high intensity riffs and memorable lyrics. I've been loving this since I put it on.
Being Here
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RA RA RIOT – THE RHUMB LINE

The same friend who loaned me The Stills' Oceans Will Rise is also responsible for turning me onto Ra Ra Riot's The Rhumb Line. Get this album. So many catchy, melodic songs will keep you tapping your feet for a while.
Ghost Under Rocks
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EAST VILLAGE OPERA COMPANY – OLDE SCHOOL

Take a nine-piece band consisting of pianos, violins, guitars, bass, percussion, keytars and other assorted instruments and throw in classical opera songs that are reworked for a modern audience and you get the East Village Opera Company, a rollercoaster of sounds that make you yearn to hear more and find the original material.
The Ride [From Richard Wagner's 'Die Walkure']
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AIMEE MANN – @#%&*! SMILERS

Singer-songwriter Aimee Mann does it again with her latest album. Upbeat, catchy songs interspersed with some somber tunes. From the overly popular "Freeway" to the haunting "Strangers Into Starmen," Aimme's not slowly down anytime soon.
31 Today
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THRICE – THE ALCHEMY INDEX VOL. III & IV: AIR AND EARTH

Thrice's third and fourth volumes of The Alchemy Index focus on the elements of Air and Earth (Last year's Vol. 1 and 2 dealt with Fire and Water). I heard this 2-disc set and was stunned how very un-Thrice-like they sounded. The songs on the Air and Earth discs give the feeling of flying through the skies and crawling through the dirt. I love how Thrice took a risk and expanded their style and sound. The Alchemy Index comes up a winner.
Daedelus
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And they say his small heart grew three sizes that day

This time of year, I'm usually in the Bah Humbug spirit. I try to avoid Christmas like the plague and always end up getting blindsided and having a miserable season due to this reason or that.

So this year I decided to boycott Christmas. No decorations. No presents. No goodwill to all men and that other stuff. It worked pretty well. I've managed to avoid all the crap that usually comes with the season - traffic, annoying people, screaming kids, way too many lights than your house can handle, etc. I put the holidays in the back of my mind and treated it like any other day.

Well, now we come down to the wire. With only a few days, the Christmas spirit is out in full force. And you know what? I'm fine with it. Bring it, Christmas. I'm ready for you.

I'm not a miserable jerk this season. Maybe I've started to mellow out in my old age. I'm content with the holiday season now, so that's a good thing.

Happy Holidays to all you lovely readers.

Rosie Thomas - Why Can't It Be Christmastime All Year from A Very Rosie Christmas (buy)
Greg Laswell - Little Drummer Boy (unreleased)
Strangers In Wonderland - Flickan i fönstret (in Swedish but the title translates to "The girl in the window")

Nothing like a cold, dark city to put you in a good mood

With all the unpleasant things going on in my life lately, I needed to get out of town and escape from everything for a few days. I decided to take an impromptu vacation to the city of Chicago. An good friend of mine lives there now, so I at least have someone to hang out with while I'm there. And although I have no gameplan, I am determined to have a good time and forget everything that's been bothering me.

Even though Chicago was covered in a huge amount of snow (and continued to snow everyday), was bitterly cold (around 18 degrees Fahrenheit) and got dark around 4pm, I still had the time of my life and cannot wait to return.

I hadn't seen my friend in a good two years, but the second we saw each other, it was like no time passed at all. And honestly, I felt like we became closer friends as we caught up on each other's lives.

Chicago is the most beautiful city I've ever seen. It's like New York City without all the hectic pace. The culture is so diverse and there were a million things to see. Just walking through the city reinvigorated me and something about being there made me feel happy for the first time in a very long time.

I honestly wish I lived there. Maybe one day.

The Uglysuit - Chicago
found on Spinner.com

Best albums of 2008: Last minute contender

SAFETYSUIT - LIFE LEFT TO GO

After compiling a best album list for this year, an album makes its way to my ears and captures my attention this late in the game. That album was Safetysuit's "Life Left To Go." After seeing Safetysuit perform the other day at the Toad's Place, I fell in love with their sound and went out and got their album the next day. What I got was an onslaught of high energy rock goodness that I couldn't stop listening.
Apology
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Best EPs of 2008

JONATHAN VASSAR – THE HOURS AND THE DAYS

Richmond folk artist Jonathan Vassar's style comes from the deep roots of country music and the songs of the 60s. What we get from Vassar’s EP The Hours and The Days is an amazing collection of folk songs that range from the slow and heartfelt to the upbeat and powerful.
About A Dog
Buy the EP

PLUSHGUN – PLUSHGUN EP

The four songs on Plushgun's self-titled EP is electroacoustic synth 80s-like pop-rock at its best. Plushgun's songs are danceable. happy synth pop mixed with hard rock. I've had this EP on repeat ever since I got it.
Just Impolite
Buy the EP

COLIN HEALY AND THE JET SKIS – OR JUST DON’T GO

Pop rock group Colin Healy and the Jet Skis offer nothing less than a good time with Or Just Don’t Go, a mixture energy and catchy melodic hooks. This 5-song EP takes you through all the heartbreaks and joys of life in a short time.
The One
Buy the EP

Best songs of 2008: Denied

So it seems that Blogger has removed my post featuring the top songs of 2008 in their oppression reasonable action of "violating" the terms of DMCA. Here's the list again, minus the links.

Weezer - Heart Songs
Strangers in Wonderland - Fast Car
This one is artist approved
Cinematic Sunrise - Goodbye Friendship, Hello Heartache
doublePark - Moving To The City
The Weepies - Antarctica
Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
Black Kids - Hit The Heartbrakes
honeyhoney - Little Toy Gun
Republic Tigers - Buildings and Mountains
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart

I will probably have to stop offering downloads if this continues.

Best and worst album covers of 2008

BEST ALBUM COVER
THE KILLERS - DAY AND AGE

I can't take my eyes off this beautifully designed glass effect desert landscape.

WORST ALBUM COVER
SANTOGOLD - self-titled

I don't usually do "worst of" for anything but come on. She's vomiting glitter. That's disgusting.

Against Grace, Safety Suit, Anberlin at Toad's Place, 12/15/08

I decide to end my less than stellar day (long doctor visits and startling new job changes) by seeing a bunch of amazing bands including local band Against Grace, who are always a crowd pleaser.

I get to Toad's Place and there's a line wrapped around the building where I wait for a good half hour. I finally get inside and see that the guys in Against Grace are already on stage (Seriously? A show that actually starts on time?). I end up catching the tail end of their set. And by tail end, I mean I walked in when they said "Thank you. We're Against Grace. Goodnight!" But seeing as how I've seen Against Grace numerous times (and will continue to see them), I know that they put on a great show.

Safety Suit came up next and having never even heard of them, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised. Upbeat, hard rock sounds filled the venue as the crowd chanted "whoa-oh, oh oh, oh oh" along with the band. The band had so much energy onstage while jumping around and interacting with the crowd. They even ended their set with a hardcore rendition of "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." I'm buying their album tomorrow.

I hadn't really listened to Anberlin since maybe around 2004, but I remembered that I did enjoy their music. I easily remembered some of the old songs they played and was taken back to the day I got Blueprints for the Black Market.

I realized that I've become an old man when I had to leave the middle of the venue to stand in the back. I've never had to do that before. Plus, I was getting too tired to stay for headliner Saving Abel. I'm hanging my head in complete and utter shame. First a gray hair and now this.

Best album title of 2008

And the winner is....


ATMOSPHERE – WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, YOU PAINT THAT SHIT GOLD
I haven't even heard any of this album, but I laugh my ass off every time I think of the title.

buy album

Best albums of 2008: Honorable mention

So begins the best of 2008. We start first with the albums that were great, but were just short of making the list.

PASSENGER – WICKED MAN’S REST (US release)

Passenger made my Best of 2007 release and I have been obsessing over this album ever since. But that was only the UK version. The album was finally released to the US this year with new album artwork and a few different tracks so there was no way not to include it – at least a mention. The complex and heartwrenching melodies flood this album and make it an enjoyable listen whether it's the first or hundredth time I listen to it.

Wicked Man’s Rest
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KATHY GRIFFIN – FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

This technically isn’t a music album, but I had to include it solely because it’s amazingly funny from start to finish. The foul-mouthed comedian takes shots at everyone from Jesus to Oprah and I’m laughing the entire way through. Some of the highlights include Marie Osmond's fall on "Dancing With The Stars" and the Wizard of Woz.

The Osmonds Were Never Cool
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And now you're getting older...

Just to let all you lovely readers know, today is my birthday and I am one year closer to becoming an old man. I must say that I am glad to put this year behind me. I'm ready to move on, grow up and become an adult. Well, not that quickly. Honestly, I have grown up a lot in this past year. I actually AM becoming older and wiser. Now that's a scary thought.

I'm not afraid of getting older as many people are. In fact, I'm looking forward to seeing what the coming years bring. I learned so much about the world and myself at 25 and hopefully 26 and on will bring new challenges and excitement my way.

Thanks to all the birthday wishes I received. You all are the best.

The Beatles - Birthday from The White Album (buy)
They Might Be Giants - Older from Mink Car (buy)

Best of the best of 2008

It's coming.

Concrete Circles' Best of 2008. It's a spectacle to behold. It's so huge it can't be contained in one post.

The categories:

- Best Albums
- Best EPs
- Best Songs
- Best Cover Art
- Best Song/Album Title
- Best Richmond, Va. albums (showing love to the hometown)
- Best Albums of 2008 not released in 2008
- Artists to Watch in 2009

This will run through December so keep your eyes out throughout the month.