Top 20 Artists 2008

1. Nuuro
2. Radiohead
3. Nightwish
4. Fall Out Boy
5. Coheed & Cambria
6. The Weakerthans
7. Sufjan Stevens
8. Good Charlotte
9. Yellowcard
10. Metric
11. Gnarls Barkley
12. The Juliana Theory
13. Matchbox Twenty
14. Anberlin
15. 宇多田ヒカル
16. Starflyer 59
17. Acid House King
18. Thom Yorke
19. New Found Glory
20. The Rolling Stones

Top 10 Songs 2008

1. Nightwish – Amaranth
2. 宇多田ヒカル – Beautiful World
3. 宇多田ヒカル – Kiss & Cry
4. 宇多田ヒカル – HEART STATION
5. 宇多田ヒカル – Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
6. Driving East - Beat It
7. Nightwish – Cadence of Her Last Breath
8. Nightwish – The Poet And The Pendulum
9. 宇多田ヒカル – Stay Gold

The obvious trend this year is my fascination with foreign artists. The top four artists this year consist of Nuuro (Venezuelan electronica), Radiohead (British alternative-rock), Nightwish (Finnish orchestra-metal), and 宇多田ヒカル/”Utada Hikaru” (Japanese pop).

Towards the end of the year I acquired a lot of music through good deals on Amazon MP3 via a partnership with AbsolutePunk.net to provide “Cheap Music” from recommended bands.

Through the deals, I got good prices and picked up albums from City & Colour, Lydia, The Graduate, Anberlin, and Fall Out Boy.

I started of 2009 by picking up Astronautalis - “Pomegranate,” and albums from Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, and Snow Patrol.

My eMusic subscription kicked back in after Christmas and I grabbed albums from Brave Saint Saturn, Nightwish, and Pinback.

What do I expect for 2009?
I’m diving back into the pop-punk/indie scene music through AbsolutePunk’s recommendations and getting exposure to a lot of music I wouldn’t otherwise have time to track down myself. I expect that to continue.

I’m also buying a lot more digital music as stores are realizing they can sell more for cheaper prices. With my 120gb iPod, I can hold A LOT of music without taking up any extra space on my bedroom shelves. I still prefer to have the case, but if the price is $3.99 on sale vs. $9.99 or $14.99, digital will win my heart.

If that doesn’t help, quit.

If that doesn’t help, the problem is you.

Blindside - All of Us Lyrics:

All of us are searching for an open arm.
Well, it’s a shame how I curl up in the dark
When it’s the same old word giving me the spark.

All of us are searching for an open arm.
Well, it’s a shame how I curl up in the dark.

(view full lyrics)

Click here to view the embedded video.
Jake Shimabukuru - While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Another popular ukulele tune recently is Israel Kamakawiwo’ole rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”

Click here to view the embedded video.
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow

If through the magic of the webs somebody finds this post and knows where I can legally acquire their music, please oh please let me know. (Liam & Me is based on Philadelphia, PA.)

I used to think networking consisted of constant pandering and ingratiating oneself to another. I’ve come to realize much networking can happen by relating with people who have common interests and goals, helping them out, and receiving favors in return. Networking doesn’t have to be shallow — people appreciate it when you ask genuine questions and provide real answers.

Through this communication and interaction, you can develop a bond and both parties benefit through the sharing of life, skills, and knowledge.

Recommendation: Freakonomics Blog (New York Times). If you enjoy reading about economics and sociology, the Freakonomics blog is a good place to find articles of interest. I find at least a few of the articles every week to be compelling and cause me to rethink my position socially, culturally, and economically.

Today’s article, Michael, Meet Curtis: Philanthropy Gets Personal, was one of these. In it, Sudhir Venkatesh, shares the story about his introduction of a multi-millionaire philanthropist to a squatter in Chicago.

Other recent articles of interest include “The Illogic of Farm Subsidies, and Other Agricultural Truths,” “How Cops Really Want to Police, and Oprah’s effect on the presidential vote.

I now own a Paul Reed Smith SE EG electric guitar. And I Rock.

I won the guitar from a contest when I signed up for a subscription to Alternative Press magazine a few months ago. I found out about winning a couple weeks ago, and the guitar arrived unexpectedly on Friday. My roommate texted me at work and I anxiously awaited being able to return home for the remainder of the day.

Yesterday, I bought some gear for it including a strap, picks, electronic tuner, and an intro book to playing guitar.

I’ve managed to learn three chords so far. C, D, and G. As soon as I’m able to transition between them with enough speed to make a cohesive song, I’ll put something on YouTube. For now though, just bask in the photographic glory.

So I don’t know about you, but Amazon MP3 is totally pwning the iTunes Store right now. The songs are cheaper and without any ridiculous copyright restrictions so it’s easy as heck to back up songs, burn them, and even use them on the iPod.

On the same topic, I like these lyrics:
“To find a queen without a king,
They say she plays guitar and cries and sings… la la la la
Ride a white mare in the footsteps of dawn
Tryin’ to find a woman who’s never, never, never been born.”

Click here to view the embedded video.
Gregorian - Stairway to Heaven (Live - Led Zeppelin cover)

Read more at the Gregorian music website and check out their discography. More of their videos available at YouTube via Gregorianfan.

Wait a second. No. No, that’s not quite right.

The countdown to three six five is nigh.

I had lunch on Thursday. Met up with a girl from work. She likes Lifehouse and Switchfoot which is always good. Didn’t know who Anberlin is though. (Seriously, who doesn’t know Anberlin?)

Lyrics:
When there is no one left to see
You feel alone but you’ll never be
You cry a bit and you wonder who
Dries your tears, well he’s right next to you

You’ve fallen one too many times
To get up by yourself
You’ve fallen one too many times
I am here to help

Now you’re walking forward
With your head held high
You’re no longer lonely
And you smile towards the sky

When there is no one next to you
You feel the strength to stand up on the two
Of your feet
And you smile, amidst the pain
Amidst the pain

You’ve fallen one too many times
To get up by yourself
You’ve fallen one too many times
I am here to help

Now you’re walking forward
With your head held high
You’re no longer lonely
And you smile towards the sky

And you walk a mile
On your own
And you walk a mile
On your own

Ground is beneath you
And the sky is above you
World is above you
And what you need is deep inside of you

You’ve fallen one too many times
To get up by yourself
You’ve fallen one too many times
I am here to help
I am here to help
I am here to help

Now you’re walking forward
With your head held high
You’re no longer lonely
And you smile towards the sky

And you walk a mile
On your own
And you walk a mile
On your own

Lyrics: (Source)
History’s made its mark in anger.
As everybody knows, it’s what we do,
It’s nothing new.

The next chords struck are fault and failure
And we both know that finger points on cue,
There’s blame for two.

Do you really want him calling, Newo?
Do you really think he’s coming back to you?
Oh, once the world stops spinning, read that writing on the wall.

Is there another, Newo?
Is there cushion just enough to break the fall.
Oh, don’t you cry.
Just lie there baby in the past, ‘cause if you want it all

Right now, hide your feathers on the back porch, baby.
He’s coming home for… you’ve… been… such… a liar.
Hide your feathers, little back porch lady.
You’re too old enough to cry your sorry eyes out over the world.

Hear me scream outside your window.
I’m only here to make my peace with you.
There’s something new.

Oh, it was our time, that day in our lives.
If I could do things different what would I choose?
Oh, don’t you cry, Mama.
Please, don’t cry Mama.
Oh, don’t you cry, no, no.

Right now, hide your feathers, on the back porch, baby.
He’s coming home for… you’ve… been… such… a liar.
Hide your feathers, little back porch lady.
You’re too old enough to cry your sorry eyes out…

No other, could wait for a lover,
To embrace, boy.
When there’s no more room for love,
You’ll sell her off to the sharks.
[x2]

Right now, hide your feathers on the back porch, baby.
He’s coming home for… you’ve… been… such… a liar.
Right now, hide your feathers on the back porch, baby.
He’s coming home for… you’ve… been… such… a liar.
(Over the world)

Hide your feathers, little back porch lady.
You’re too old enough to cry your sorry eyes out…

Wait a minute, little back porch lady.
Wait a minute, little back porch lady.
I’m in love.

Wait a minute, little back porch lady. (Such a liar.)
Oh, don’t you cry, Mama.
Oh, don’t you cry, no, no.
Wait a minute, little back porch lady.
Wait a minute, little back porch lady.
I’m in love.

Wait a minute, little back porch lady. (Such a liar.)
Oh, don’t you cry, Mama.
Oh, don’t you cry, no, no.