According to my last.fm charts, these are my most listened to artists and songs from 2008.

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 9 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.

Categories: Music
Tags: Amazon MP3, eMusic, mp3

Every once in a while, it’s important to sit down, stop worrying, and take a breath. If that’s still not working, turn on some Blindside [wiki] and rock out for a bit.

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)

Categories: Life, Lyrics
Tags: Blindside, quit

Apparently, ukulele music is experiencing a resurgence in popularity. According to the article “Those Four Irresistible Strings” in the New York Times, the ukulele is experiencing it’s third era of popularity due in part to the a YouTube video in 2006 of Jake Shimabukuru playing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

Jake Shimabukuru – While My Guitar Gently Weeps

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

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole – Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Categories: Music, Video
Tags: ukulele

I’ve been waiting for Liam & Me to release an album for the last two years. They had one EP, but it sold out ages ago and I can’t find it for sale anywhere. Still waiting for their new album to release. In the meantime, I crank the “There’s a Difference” MP3 I grabbed from their PureVolume (or somewhere) back in ’06. Occasionally, I’ll hop onto their Myspace and listen through the playlist.

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.

Categories: Life, Music
Tags: Freakonomics, Liam & Me, networking

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.

Categories: Life, Music, Photographs
Tags: Alternative Press, guitar, Paul Reed Smith