…tum-tum-tumblin away.

you all should be proud, really really proud.

im not going to make any excuses as to why i never post, nor am i gonna say that im gonna try and start posting more often. i have come to the conclusion that at least at this point in my life, i suck at blogging.
i am just posting this little note/blog on all my social mediums to try and get as much feedback as possible. soooo, read it, & then give me some ideas.
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Okay. 

For anyone who doesn’t know me that well, or just was unaware or doesn’t care…I recently celebrated my 25th birthday on Sunday, May 16th.

In honor of turning 25, I want to make a list of 25 things I want to/should do before I’m 26.

I have a few ideas…but not 25. This is where you guys come in. I’m looking for ideas & suggestions. They can be anything…big or small, something you’ve done & enjoyed and think others should try, something you’ve always wanted to do or thought would be fun, somewhere interesting/fun/special/un ique you’ve been, etc. ANYTHING!

When you guys give suggestions, if I see one I really like I will add it to my list until I have 25 things…then the fun begins.

I’m really stoked about this whole thing…about seeing what you guys suggest & about actually making the list & eventually doing & crossing things off the list.


Thanks!


Love.
Josh.

(I have to give credit where it’s due. I stole this idea from my good friend Julie Jones, I just customized it a bit. She really went for it & made a list of 100 or so. I’m gonna stick to 25.)

My Top 10 Albums of 2009: (all lists are in alphabetical order…not ranked)


1. The Avett Brothers -“I and Love and You” 

The Avett Brothers are a fairly recent discovery for me when compared to some of the other artists on this list. I was shown a video of them playing in a small book store and was instantly impressed by the musicianship and especially by how powerful yet on point the vocals were. After digging through several other random videos online, I was hooked. This new album is a little different than some of their older work in the way that several of the tracks take a more piano driven ballad(y) feel. That’s not a bad thing at all, it actually works really well, and the beautiful song writing and vocal arrangements are all still there. I and Love and You, and really just The Avett Brothers music in general is music that I think most people would enjoy no matter what type of music they normally prefer.


2. David Bazan -“Curse Your Branches”

If I had to actually put these ten albums in some sort of a ranking, there is no question this album would be somewhere at the very top, either number one or two. I have been a fan of David Bazan since I was in high school and he was in Pedro The Lion. I have always loved the simplicity of his music and how the main focal point (at least for me) are Bazan’s brutally honest and straight forward lyrics. Curse Your Branches has everything you would expect from a David Bazan record, times ten. It may be the MOST honest and straight forward record he has ever written; talking directly about himself, his daughter, his drinking, and his questioning/denying of his beliefs. This record is also the most creative record by Bazan to date in my opinion. He really branched out with the instrumentation and song writing musically on this album, all while somehow maintaining his usual simplicity.


3. Devendra Banhart –“What Will We Be” 

Devendra Banhart’s music will pretty much always put me in a good mood and make me want to be outside or on a road trip or just surrounded by people I love. His music is so care free and happy and tends to match up very well with my outlook on a bunch of things in life. The beautiful thing about What Will Be, his first major label release, is that the major label didn’t change anything about Devendra’s music, it is still as corky and eclectic as ever, the recording quality and production of the record is just way better.

4. Dignan –“Cheaters & Thieves”

A lot of the time the fact that I am good friends with a band can sway my opinion in a more positive way; this is not the case w/ Dignan. Although I consider the members of this band some of my best friends, I fell in love with their music the first time I saw them play, before we actually met. Since then I have been privilege d to really get to know them, and have had the opportunity to travel around the country and play numerous shows with them. Even after seeing them play so many times, and hearing their music night after night, I have never grown tired of it, and I always look forward to seeing them perform. Cheaters & Thieves is a powerful record, with that haunting vibe that Dignan does so well. The lyrics and melody lines will be in your head before you really have a chance to figure out what you are singing. 

5. Dirty Projectors -“Bitte Orca”

The Dirty Projectors were another new discovery for me this year, a very good discovery. I randomly went to their set at the Austin City Limits music festival to meet up with some friends. As I walked up I see a cute little “indie hippie chic” looking girl on stage busting out a vocal part that sounded like something that would come out of Mariah Carey’s mouth. The combination of the creative/smart music with the impressive vocal parts and harmonies on Bitte Orca create some sort of indie rock, gospel, R&B mix up that some how works beautifully. 

6. Gasoline Heart –“Nostalgia Aint What IT Use To Be”

When it comes to personal, blunt, brutally honest lyrics…it doesn’t get much better than Louis DeFabrizio and Gasoline Heart’s new record. Louis doesn’t have the greatest singing voice in the world, but that’s not the point, and I actually think it makes his songs on Nostalgia Aint What It Use To Be so believable and easy to relate too. This album hits on real life situations and doesn’t try to candy coat them. It’s just a good ole, straight forward, no frills rock n roll album that is easy to pop in and sing along to and sometimes feel like someone wrote the songs for/about you. This record definitely was/still is one of the records I listened to the most in 2009; it didn’t leave my cd player in my car for a good two weeks straight; which is a long time for me. 

7. Grizzly Bear –“Veckatimest”

I’ve enjoyed Grizzle Bear’s music for awhile, but I have never really gotten into them as much as a lot of my friends have in the past. That wasn’t the case with Veckatimest. There is nothing super fancy or mind blowing about this record, but it is a really solid album that is very easy to listen to and can fit a lot of different situations. Rather it be driving in your car, hanging out with your friends, or just cleaning your room, this record is a good choice.

8. Jay-Z – “The Blueprint 3”

There are currently several popular“hip hop” artists that should take the title of this record way more literally. I think there is so much garbage in popular radio hip hop these days with no substance and ignorant lyrics about silly things. Its like all it takes is a stupid hook about a cell phone or a dance move to be considered good…no substance, no verses , no originality or creativity. Jay-z is an artist who has been around for a long time and has always put out quality music. The Blueprint 3 is no exception. Loaded with several hits, including one of the best singles of the year in my opinion, an all-star group of collaborations and producers; this record is what I think/wish more of popular hip hop would sound like.

9. Langhorne Slim –“Be Set Free”

Langhorne Slim is another to add to the list of music I discovered this year. My band was playing a show at a venue here in Austin called Mohawk; Mohawk has an indoor and outdoor stage. We were scheduled to play our show inside as a sort of ‘after party show’for the show that was outside. While hanging out and waiting for our show to start Langhorne Slim took the stage and immediately caught and kept my attention throughout his whole set. His charisma and stage presence mixed with the honest songwriting was captivating. That live experience is captured well on disc as well. Be Set Free is record that is easy to relate too, it makes you feel fun and free on the more upbeat tracks and tugs at your hearts little strings when it drops it down.

10. Manchester Orchestra -“Mean Everything To Nothing”

Manchester Orchestra has been a band I have really enjoyed for awhile now. Their older album Like A Virgin Losing A Child was a record I listened to a lot (and still listen too) and could listen to from start to finish and enjoy every song. On their new record Mean Everything To Nothing they really nailed it. As much as I enjoyed their previous record, the growth and maturity level of the band as a whole from Like A Virgin to Mean Everything is very obvious. After several lineup changes I feel like the band has finally come into its own and found an identity as a group of musicians. This is an intense record with honest and witty lyrics that are super catchy and blunt without being cheesy and keeping a sense of mystery. If I were putting these records in ranking order, Mean Everything To Nothing would be up near the top giving Bazan arun for his money.


2009 Honorable Mentions: 

1. Animal Collective –“Merriweather Post Pavilion”
2. Bon Iver –“Blood Bank-EP”
3. Dark Was The Night (compilation)
4. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes –“Up From Below”
5. Fun. –“Aim & Ignite”
6. Kid Cudi –“Man On The Moon: The End Of Day”
7. Neon Indian –“Psychic Chasms
8. Phoenix – “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”
9. St. Vincent –“Actor”
10. Tegan & Sara –“Sainthood”
11. Vega –“Well Known Pleasures”
12. Wilco –“Wilco (The Album)”


Best Singles: (I know a few of these weren’t official singles, but this isn’t Rolling Stone)

1. The Avett Brothers –“I And Love And You”
2. Bon Iver –“Blood Bank”
3. David Bazan –“Hard To Be”
4. Dirty Projectors –“Stillness Is The Move”
5. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes –“Home”
6. Gasoline Heart –“Never Been Worse”
7. Grizzly Bear –“Two Weeks”
8. Jay-Z –“Empire State Of Mind” 
9. Manchester Orchestra –“I Can Feel A Hot One”
10. Phoenix –“ Liztomania”


Best Music Videos:

1. The Dead Weather –“Treat Me Like Your Mother”
2. Manchester Orchestra –“Shake It Out”
3. Matt & Kim –“Lessons Learned”


Best Radio Hits: 

1. Black Eyed Peas –“I Gotta Feeling”
2. Drake, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Eminem –“Forever”
3. Jay-Z –“Run This Town”
4. Jay-Z –“Empire State of Mind”
5. Jordan Sparks –“Battlefield”
6. Kings Of Leon –“Use Somebody”
7. Lady Gaga –“Bad Romance”
8. Lady Gaga –“Paparazzi” 
9. Lonely Island –“I’m On A Boat”
10. Miley Cyrus - “Party In The U.S.A.”
11. Taylor Swift –“Love Story”
12. Taylor Swift –“You Belong With Me”
13. T.I. –“Dead & Gon e”
14. T.I. –“Live Your Life”
15. Zac Brown Band –“Toes”


Most Overrated Songs: 

1. Black Eyed Peas –“Bom Bom Pow”
2. Green Day –“21 Guns”
3. Muse –“Uprising”
4. Owl City –“Fire Flys”
5. Sean Kingston –“Fire Burning”


Most Overrated Albums: 

1. Muse –“The Resistance” 
2. Owly City –“Ocean Eyes”
3. The XX –“XX”