WORD
riposte [ri-pohst] n. 1. a quick, sharp return in speech or action; counterstroke: a brilliant riposte to an insult 2. Fencing. a quick thrust given after parrying a lunge ∞ v. (used w/o subject) 3. to make a riposte 4. to reply or retaliate
BIRTHDAY
Zebulon Pike (1778), George Reeves (1914), Jane Wyman (1917), Francis L. Kellogg (1917), Walter Mondale (1928), Robert Duvall (1931), Charlie Rose (1942), Ed Rendell (1944), Diane Keaton (1946), Ted Lange (1948), Marilyn Manson (1969), Bradley Cooper (1975)
STANDPOINT
In the spirit of reviewing 2009 (which yesterday I stated I was against but seem to be participating in anyway), I’ve compiled a list of the best music releases from last year, in no particular order. After each review, I’ll post the top track off the album.
- The Swimmers – People are Soft – Philadelphia band channeling everything great band from the 80s. You’ll have to trust me on that. “What This World Is Coming To”
- Silversun Pickups – Swoon – Sophomore album from L.A. band better than its debut, Carnavas. So good I’m taking no points away for the Grammy nomination. “Substitution”
- Phoenix – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Proof that not absolutely everything from France sucks. This band is fantastic. “Girlfriend”
- The Dodos – Time To Die – Always been a fan. This album made me a believer, playing music embodying everything I truly dig about the indie rock scene right now. “Fables”
- Throw Me The Statue – Creaturesque – Another solid sophomore effort from a band I’m predicting you’ll hear a lot more about in 2010. “Cannibal Rays”
- Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest – Been trying to get into this band for years but didn’t have it in me. This album turned me around, much to my friend Ezgi’s delight. “Two Weeks”
- Brendan Benson – My Old, Familiar Friend – As usual, I love all of this guy’s solo albums. And at least some of his work with The Raconteurs. “A Whole Lot Better”
- Andrew Bird – Noble Beast – Armchair Apocrypha, his last album, was better. But this one deserves mention as one of the better albums of the year. “Anonanimal”
- The xx – xx – The new darlings of hipsters everywhere. Good luck getting into its shows. A superb and relaxing album. “Islands”
- Jay Farrar and Ben Gibbard – One Fast Move or I’m Gone: Music From Kerouac’s Big Sur – The respective frontmen of Son Volt and Death Cab For Cutie unite to create an excellent soundtrack to the new Kerouac documentary. “California Zephyr”
- Mayer Hawthorne – A Strange Arrangement – White boy from Detroit that makes Motown blush. True story. “Make Her Mine”
- Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – Up From Below – A band of about 329 people. OK, not that many. But there’s a lot of them. “Home”
Now, obviously, there were other albums released in 2009 that some of you (mainly my buddy Joe) will undoubtedly tell me I was wrong in omitting. Green Day, Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, Wilco, among others, all released albums recently. I either didn’t like them or didn’t listen to them.
If you feel strongly about it, make a comment and tell me where I went wrong. Music is subjective, of course, and these are just my opinions. Even I can admit my judgment is occasionally subject to bias when it comes to music. But, remember, I’m usually right.
QUOTATION
The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem. → Theodore Rubin
TUNE
As much as I make fun of it, Canada seems to be putting out some decent indie rock bands recently. Arcade Fire. Broken Social Scene. The New Pornographers. The Rural Alberta Advantage. The Stills. To name only a few. And you can add Human Highway to that list. Made up of singer/songwriter Jim Guthrie and Nicholas Thorburn of the band Islands, the band released Moody Motorcycle in 2008. I’ve recently given it a re-listen and love the song “All Day.”
GALLIMAUFRY
→ After years of being tabloid fodder and keeping a nation on the edge of its seat, Vince Vaughan has entered into wedlock. Phew!
→ Christ. People. Let’s cease the vacillation. First, the Dallas Cowboys suck and Tony Romo, their quarterback, is a choke artist. Now, since beating the Philadelphia Eagles two days ago, their a Super Bowl favorite? Make up your mind, sports “gurus.”
→ What’s funnier? All the airport security talk or Spike Lee lending his heavy influence to the USA’s bid for a World Cup? Trick question. Neither are funny. Both are equally unimportant.
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