UPDATED FINALLY!!!
I have 29 minutes to make this post in March. Gotta hurry!
1. Heaven's on Fire - The Radio Dept.
2. Born in the '80s - The Boat People
3. Gold Mine - Showstar
4. Body - Thao
5. Fantasy Memorial - Dinosaur Feathers
6. Go Outside - Cults
7. Oh, Death! - Pearl and the Beard
8. Black - The Damn Choir
9. The Wrestle - Frightened Rabbit
10. Be Brave - The Strange Boys
11. Juliette - Hollerado
12. When You Get Home - The Still City
13. Life Coach - Fang Island
14. Go Do - Jonsi (the o has an accent)
15. Monogamy is a Type of Wood - The Darchives
16. Square Peg Round Hole - Wakey!Wakey!
17. Confetti - 1, 2, 3
18. Thieves - She & Him
19. Clementine - Sarah Jaffe
20. All is Said and Done - Broadcast 2000
21. Excuses - The Morning Benders
22. Who to Blame - Cedarwall
Zach's Notes:
4. Almost didn't make the cut, but has grown on me immensely.
5. Awesome harmonies make this song an instant favorite.
6. This band is blowing up...in a good way.
7. Possibly my favorite track on the album
9. They come to Denver in May and I hope their live shows highlight how awesome their songs are.
10. Another band high on the explosion meter.
13. Great name
14. From the makers of Sigur Ros!
15. The Mario breakdown is too good.
18. Oh, Zooey!
21. Another awesome song harmonically.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Top 5 Week 4
This week's Top 5 may take a little thought, but it is inspired by our good friend Jon "Chip" Van Oss. I would like your top 5 bands made of up only 3 people.
Time to get off the bench and into the game! Let's pick out some Top 5s!
Zach's Top 5
1. Born Ruffians
2. Run DMC
3. Eels
4. Buddy Holly and the Crickets
5. Rush
Time to get off the bench and into the game! Let's pick out some Top 5s!
Zach's Top 5
1. Born Ruffians
2. Run DMC
3. Eels
4. Buddy Holly and the Crickets
5. Rush
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The Ides of March
Let's try and recount the amazingly busy, amazingly awesome time this past week has been!
Last Monday (the 15th) Julie and I had the draft for our Spring Ultimate Frisbee League. My old mentor from last season, Oz, is the coordinator and he helped us go over the rules and such on Sunday night, which was SO helpful. Everyone ranks themselves (I'm a 12 out of 20 for comparison) and you get this huge sheet of names, ages, heights, weights, weeks missing games, and scores. Usually, the highest people get picked first (the highest was a 17 for more comparison) but that person might come with baggage (someone who is tied to them, who you also have to pick, but later). Say we pick a 15 who is baggaged with an 11. At some point, we have to use one of our picks to actually select the 11, even though they are guaranteed to be on our team, but we can't select them until after we pick anyone else higher. So in this example, we'd have to pick me (as a 12) before selecting the 11. Sounds complicated? It was...but we got it. Plus, we ended up with the 8th pick (out of 8...thanks Julie!) so we had plenty of time to see how it worked before we got to pick. In the end, it worked out very well. We grabbed some height, some experienced guys, a few athletic girls, and all our friends: Lily, Justine, and Colin. It should be an awesome season and if the snow EVER melts, I'll let you know how we do.
On Tuesday, Julie and I went to the Band of Horses concert at the Ogden in Denver. Colin was originally slated to go, but has recently changed jobs and couldn't get off of work. Anyway, the band "Co." was the opener and I was very impressed. Pronounced "company," they were a sort of jam-band version of Band of Horses. I loved them live so I bought their album, which was a disappointment. It sounds like it was recorded in a basement and the band played under blankets. Also, it highlights their jam-bandiness which I've never been too fond of.
Band of Horses rocked so hard though. I didn't realize how many of their songs I knew, so I kept being pleasantly surprised. They played a few songs off their upcoming album and had some awesome sets. The pictures don't do it a bit of justice. Also, it was a sold out show so you don't get the sense of how packed in we were. Julie and I found a great place to stand though. It was tits. Plain and simple.
Wednesday brought us to St. Patrick's Day which included climbing and heading out to the bars for a bit. It was a nice crew consisting of Me, TRISHA (yeah...she actually came out!), Julie, Colin, Lily, Justine, Tim (Justine's friend visiting on Spring Break), and Cori. It was the first time integrating Cori in the with rest of us, and I thought it went very well. We met at The Med and waited for Colin to finish his shift then went to the Sundowner for green beer and frivolity. I couldn't stay out too late though as I had a concert on Thursday.
So Thursday I had a Concert Band concert. The previous Thursday I had a Jazz Band concert. I'll start with the latter. I spent quite a bit of time with the choir teacher the previous week learning all about the auditorium and was able to set up a very pretty sound system for the jazz band, complete with solo mics, condensers, and monitors. I was told it was the most professional set-up they had ever had. Personally, I stumbled through the concert due to nerves, but had a lot of fun. The band I was solely in charge of (Jazz I) got a little lost on Manteca, but I was able to pull them through. We got some really nice recordings of the show and I will post them online soon (before the end of break at the least!). And so, I was much more relaxed for the concert band concert. My responsibility, Symphonic Winds, (sophomores and freshman) sounded really nice if you ask me. All three of the pieces we performed were based on choral songs, so I had them sit in a choral formation (bass, tenor, soprano, alto) and I even conducted a piece using only my hands. The students thought it was pretty neat to sit in different spots and hear things from a different perspective. I love that class. Next week is going to be hard because they are going to have to audition for the upper band, Wind Ensemble, and I just want them all to be happy. No one said this job would be easy.
Friday, the snow started. We got pounded with snow all day, but Lily and I decided to brave the weather and head up to Winter Park to stay with Nadine and George and go snowboarding. We met at Nadine's friend Sam's place, got a little high, got a little drunk, and most importantly, scored FREE passes to board all weekend. We continued the party back at Nadine's and crashed a little after midnight. After all, the lifts opened at 8:30 and we wanted to be right there!
We pulled into the Winter Park parking lot around 9:30 Saturday morning and proceeded to try to relearn how to snowboard. Nadine came with and tried to give us some tips, but she wimped out after a few hours...too cold she said. Lily and I stayed on and I had a roller coaster of a day. Every time I started feeling confident on the greens (the easiest runs) I would have a horrible run, fall on my ass (which is STILL bruised by the way), and lose all I had built up. I really wanted to get to a blue run, but couldn't work up the courage. We stayed till about 2:45ish (the runs close at 4), got some ice cream, and collapsed watching NCAA basketball on George's big screen. We had delicious chili and decided to stay for another day of boarding.
Sunday was MUCH better. George is learning to Telemark and he said that I should be able to handle anything on a snowboard he can handle on Tellies. So, we began the big adventure of blue runs. They were a LOT of fun. The views from the mountain are so much more spectacular when you get higher up and George knows the mountain so well that he knew which routes would be cool. I survived my first blue going nice and slow, falling a few times, and had wobbly legs at the bottom. The worst part was when the route turned into a green run and had a long catwalk (flat stretch). I couldn't feel comfortable unless I was on an edge, which slows you down. So, I would lose speed and have to crabwalk or shuffle along till I could strap back in and get some momentum. It sucked. My hardest falls were from falling on those damn catwalks. I had an absolute blast Sunday even working up the courage to do some moguls! Lily and I left around 1 to beat the rush (and she had evening plans) and made it back to Boulder.
This week is SPRING BREAK 2-AUGHT-10! It has been fun so far, but not as productive as I'd like it to be. It is too nice outside. I will let you know how break was at the end and March CDs should be going out Monday...late again I know. Sorry team!
Last Monday (the 15th) Julie and I had the draft for our Spring Ultimate Frisbee League. My old mentor from last season, Oz, is the coordinator and he helped us go over the rules and such on Sunday night, which was SO helpful. Everyone ranks themselves (I'm a 12 out of 20 for comparison) and you get this huge sheet of names, ages, heights, weights, weeks missing games, and scores. Usually, the highest people get picked first (the highest was a 17 for more comparison) but that person might come with baggage (someone who is tied to them, who you also have to pick, but later). Say we pick a 15 who is baggaged with an 11. At some point, we have to use one of our picks to actually select the 11, even though they are guaranteed to be on our team, but we can't select them until after we pick anyone else higher. So in this example, we'd have to pick me (as a 12) before selecting the 11. Sounds complicated? It was...but we got it. Plus, we ended up with the 8th pick (out of 8...thanks Julie!) so we had plenty of time to see how it worked before we got to pick. In the end, it worked out very well. We grabbed some height, some experienced guys, a few athletic girls, and all our friends: Lily, Justine, and Colin. It should be an awesome season and if the snow EVER melts, I'll let you know how we do.
On Tuesday, Julie and I went to the Band of Horses concert at the Ogden in Denver. Colin was originally slated to go, but has recently changed jobs and couldn't get off of work. Anyway, the band "Co." was the opener and I was very impressed. Pronounced "company," they were a sort of jam-band version of Band of Horses. I loved them live so I bought their album, which was a disappointment. It sounds like it was recorded in a basement and the band played under blankets. Also, it highlights their jam-bandiness which I've never been too fond of.
Band of Horses rocked so hard though. I didn't realize how many of their songs I knew, so I kept being pleasantly surprised. They played a few songs off their upcoming album and had some awesome sets. The pictures don't do it a bit of justice. Also, it was a sold out show so you don't get the sense of how packed in we were. Julie and I found a great place to stand though. It was tits. Plain and simple.
Wednesday brought us to St. Patrick's Day which included climbing and heading out to the bars for a bit. It was a nice crew consisting of Me, TRISHA (yeah...she actually came out!), Julie, Colin, Lily, Justine, Tim (Justine's friend visiting on Spring Break), and Cori. It was the first time integrating Cori in the with rest of us, and I thought it went very well. We met at The Med and waited for Colin to finish his shift then went to the Sundowner for green beer and frivolity. I couldn't stay out too late though as I had a concert on Thursday.
So Thursday I had a Concert Band concert. The previous Thursday I had a Jazz Band concert. I'll start with the latter. I spent quite a bit of time with the choir teacher the previous week learning all about the auditorium and was able to set up a very pretty sound system for the jazz band, complete with solo mics, condensers, and monitors. I was told it was the most professional set-up they had ever had. Personally, I stumbled through the concert due to nerves, but had a lot of fun. The band I was solely in charge of (Jazz I) got a little lost on Manteca, but I was able to pull them through. We got some really nice recordings of the show and I will post them online soon (before the end of break at the least!). And so, I was much more relaxed for the concert band concert. My responsibility, Symphonic Winds, (sophomores and freshman) sounded really nice if you ask me. All three of the pieces we performed were based on choral songs, so I had them sit in a choral formation (bass, tenor, soprano, alto) and I even conducted a piece using only my hands. The students thought it was pretty neat to sit in different spots and hear things from a different perspective. I love that class. Next week is going to be hard because they are going to have to audition for the upper band, Wind Ensemble, and I just want them all to be happy. No one said this job would be easy.
Friday, the snow started. We got pounded with snow all day, but Lily and I decided to brave the weather and head up to Winter Park to stay with Nadine and George and go snowboarding. We met at Nadine's friend Sam's place, got a little high, got a little drunk, and most importantly, scored FREE passes to board all weekend. We continued the party back at Nadine's and crashed a little after midnight. After all, the lifts opened at 8:30 and we wanted to be right there!
We pulled into the Winter Park parking lot around 9:30 Saturday morning and proceeded to try to relearn how to snowboard. Nadine came with and tried to give us some tips, but she wimped out after a few hours...too cold she said. Lily and I stayed on and I had a roller coaster of a day. Every time I started feeling confident on the greens (the easiest runs) I would have a horrible run, fall on my ass (which is STILL bruised by the way), and lose all I had built up. I really wanted to get to a blue run, but couldn't work up the courage. We stayed till about 2:45ish (the runs close at 4), got some ice cream, and collapsed watching NCAA basketball on George's big screen. We had delicious chili and decided to stay for another day of boarding.
Sunday was MUCH better. George is learning to Telemark and he said that I should be able to handle anything on a snowboard he can handle on Tellies. So, we began the big adventure of blue runs. They were a LOT of fun. The views from the mountain are so much more spectacular when you get higher up and George knows the mountain so well that he knew which routes would be cool. I survived my first blue going nice and slow, falling a few times, and had wobbly legs at the bottom. The worst part was when the route turned into a green run and had a long catwalk (flat stretch). I couldn't feel comfortable unless I was on an edge, which slows you down. So, I would lose speed and have to crabwalk or shuffle along till I could strap back in and get some momentum. It sucked. My hardest falls were from falling on those damn catwalks. I had an absolute blast Sunday even working up the courage to do some moguls! Lily and I left around 1 to beat the rush (and she had evening plans) and made it back to Boulder.
This week is SPRING BREAK 2-AUGHT-10! It has been fun so far, but not as productive as I'd like it to be. It is too nice outside. I will let you know how break was at the end and March CDs should be going out Monday...late again I know. Sorry team!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Top 5 Week 3
I'm going to keep this going through April at least. This way, when March CDs go out later this week and people have to check the blog to see what they're listening to, they'll discover what's going on! Zach, you're a genius!
I know, I know...
This week's Top 5 is: Top 5 Songs of YOUR 90s! I want the songs you were unabashedly belting out during your time in the 90s, not what you currently believe to be the best songs from that decade. However, the songs themselves must ALSO be from the 90s.
Also, a LOT has happened in the past week and I will be updating probably tomorrow with new pictures! Don't call it a comeback!
These are the songs that most influenced my 1990s:
1. All Star - Smash Mouth (1999)
- And still a personal favorite!
2. Tubthumping - Chumbawumba (1997)
- Yes, I bought the album and LOVED it!
3. Buddy Holly - Weezer (1994)
- One of the best songs of ALL time
4. One Week - Barenaked Ladies (1998)
- I know all the lyrics to this day.
5. Broadway - Goo Goo Dolls (1998)
- Even though it isn't my favorite song off the album, it was the song that got me hooked so I will give the nod to Broadway over Iris, Slide, or Black Balloon. This album took me a LONG time to put down.
P.S. Since there has been so much Elton John talk on here lately, I thought I'd include this link.
Till next time friends!
I know, I know...
This week's Top 5 is: Top 5 Songs of YOUR 90s! I want the songs you were unabashedly belting out during your time in the 90s, not what you currently believe to be the best songs from that decade. However, the songs themselves must ALSO be from the 90s.
Also, a LOT has happened in the past week and I will be updating probably tomorrow with new pictures! Don't call it a comeback!
These are the songs that most influenced my 1990s:
1. All Star - Smash Mouth (1999)
- And still a personal favorite!
2. Tubthumping - Chumbawumba (1997)
- Yes, I bought the album and LOVED it!
3. Buddy Holly - Weezer (1994)
- One of the best songs of ALL time
4. One Week - Barenaked Ladies (1998)
- I know all the lyrics to this day.
5. Broadway - Goo Goo Dolls (1998)
- Even though it isn't my favorite song off the album, it was the song that got me hooked so I will give the nod to Broadway over Iris, Slide, or Black Balloon. This album took me a LONG time to put down.
P.S. Since there has been so much Elton John talk on here lately, I thought I'd include this link.
Till next time friends!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Top 5 Week 2
So, here's how I have decided things are going to play out. I will name a winner tomorrow (on Tuesday) so I have the opportunity to listen to any songs I may not know. However, the new category will be named each Monday. Let's try this for a few weeks and see how it goes!
In recent news, I have had an extremely busy week and have another extremely busy week upcoming. I can't wait to tell you all about it. However, it'll probably have to wait until next week which is my spring break!
This week's Top 5: Best Driving Albums
1. Weezer - Blue Album (c'mon...you had to know that was coming).
2. Relient K - Mmhmm
3. Josh Fix - Free at Last
4. Leonard Cohen - Best of... (for the late-night crowd)
5. Blink-182 - Take off Your Pants and Jacket (say what you will, but I could drive and drive and drive to this punk)
Whatchoo gotta say about dat?
In recent news, I have had an extremely busy week and have another extremely busy week upcoming. I can't wait to tell you all about it. However, it'll probably have to wait until next week which is my spring break!
This week's Top 5: Best Driving Albums
1. Weezer - Blue Album (c'mon...you had to know that was coming).
2. Relient K - Mmhmm
3. Josh Fix - Free at Last
4. Leonard Cohen - Best of... (for the late-night crowd)
5. Blink-182 - Take off Your Pants and Jacket (say what you will, but I could drive and drive and drive to this punk)
Whatchoo gotta say about dat?
Monday, March 8, 2010
Weekly Top 5
As a college freshman, I used to post a crazy question as my "away message" on AIM each night before I went to bed. Each morning, I would go through the answers and select the best one. The winner received a nickel from me (yes, I actually paid up). Thus, Zach's Nightly Nickel Giveaway was born.
So, in an attempt to spark more music conversation on this site, I am taking a page from my old playbook, modifying it of course for my new constituents.
Welcome to the Weekly Top 5!
Each Monday, I will post a category to which you, the reader, will answer with your Top 5 songs/albums/etc... Each week I will sort through the responses (hopefully) and select the best one to receive a special CD in their next month's mailing. Each CD will be unique and guaranteed ZZIPA approved!
For the inaugural Top 5, I want to go straight to the top! Here is your scenario:
You've just been hit with the 5 Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique but instead of having only 5 steps to live, you have 5 songs. Yep, 5 songs to listen to and then you die. What are the last 5 songs to enter your ears before you're on to the afterlife?
Zach's Last 5
(not in order)
1. Weezer - Buddy Holly
2. Leonard Cohen - Bird on the Wire
3. New Order - Ceremony
4. Youngblood Brass Band - Elegy
5. Maceo Parker - Tighten' Up
What do you think of my choices? What are yours? Comment below and a CD could be in your future!
So, in an attempt to spark more music conversation on this site, I am taking a page from my old playbook, modifying it of course for my new constituents.
Welcome to the Weekly Top 5!
Each Monday, I will post a category to which you, the reader, will answer with your Top 5 songs/albums/etc... Each week I will sort through the responses (hopefully) and select the best one to receive a special CD in their next month's mailing. Each CD will be unique and guaranteed ZZIPA approved!
For the inaugural Top 5, I want to go straight to the top! Here is your scenario:
You've just been hit with the 5 Point Palm Exploding Heart Technique but instead of having only 5 steps to live, you have 5 songs. Yep, 5 songs to listen to and then you die. What are the last 5 songs to enter your ears before you're on to the afterlife?
Zach's Last 5
(not in order)
1. Weezer - Buddy Holly
2. Leonard Cohen - Bird on the Wire
3. New Order - Ceremony
4. Youngblood Brass Band - Elegy
5. Maceo Parker - Tighten' Up
What do you think of my choices? What are yours? Comment below and a CD could be in your future!
For the Long-Term(est) Time
There's big news in the teaching world! I have been hired as the long-term music sub for Monarch High School in Louisville, CO (about 10 miles from Boulder) as of last Tuesday! Let me tell you the story:
In mid-February, I awoke around 8:00 A.M. to the sound of my phone ringing. Having not received any job offers up to that point in the morning, I was just beginning to concede to a day off and had silenced my alarm. The automated voice on the other line asked if I would like to accept a position at Monarch High School for Kent Jones (who I had subbed for a few times before) beginning at 7:30 that morning. Usually when something like that happens, it is an emergency or the sub called in sick. So, I called the school to tell them the situation, got my act together, and flew out the door.
When I got to Monarch, there were no lesson plans, no schedules, no attendances, nothing. However, Mr. Jones' lunch was on the desk and there were scores open on the director's stand. It was as if he'd vanished. Turns out, one of the assistant principals had pulled him from class in the middle of first period. I did the best I could that day to teach and was asked to cover the rest of the week, which I pleasantly accepted.
At the end of the week, I was asked to sub for another week. And another week.
Rumors were flying from the kids and they had so many questions that were all answered by this article in last week's paper.
Officially, I am only hired until April 13 (his pre-trial conference date), but I doubt his return this year. The court systems are pretty slow in this country (lucky for me!). The school can't make a decision until the administration makes a decision, who can't make a decision until the courts do.
I'm pretty sure some of the seniors are ordering "Get Twapped" t-shirts.
I teach 2 band classes: Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds and 3 levels of Jazz Band, the middle one being a combo instead of a big band. The jazz concert is this Thursday and the concert band is next Thursday. I hope to get some pictures and put them up.
I am so utterly excited to be working with kids for an extended period of time again and to be able to craft lessons and musicianship. The kids are amazing and the faculty have been incredibly helpful in this process. I would really like this to turn into something full-time for next year, but the district is already cutting 5.5 teachers for next year and are debating the elimination of 5th Grade instrumental music.
Overall, I am so lucky and happy to have this opportunity. I am going to make the most of it that's for sure. It feels good to have confidence and faith bestowed upon me to step in and teach and to be told I am doing a good job. Let's just hope these performances also go well and we can move in the right direction.
In mid-February, I awoke around 8:00 A.M. to the sound of my phone ringing. Having not received any job offers up to that point in the morning, I was just beginning to concede to a day off and had silenced my alarm. The automated voice on the other line asked if I would like to accept a position at Monarch High School for Kent Jones (who I had subbed for a few times before) beginning at 7:30 that morning. Usually when something like that happens, it is an emergency or the sub called in sick. So, I called the school to tell them the situation, got my act together, and flew out the door.
When I got to Monarch, there were no lesson plans, no schedules, no attendances, nothing. However, Mr. Jones' lunch was on the desk and there were scores open on the director's stand. It was as if he'd vanished. Turns out, one of the assistant principals had pulled him from class in the middle of first period. I did the best I could that day to teach and was asked to cover the rest of the week, which I pleasantly accepted.
At the end of the week, I was asked to sub for another week. And another week.
Rumors were flying from the kids and they had so many questions that were all answered by this article in last week's paper.
Officially, I am only hired until April 13 (his pre-trial conference date), but I doubt his return this year. The court systems are pretty slow in this country (lucky for me!). The school can't make a decision until the administration makes a decision, who can't make a decision until the courts do.
I'm pretty sure some of the seniors are ordering "Get Twapped" t-shirts.
I teach 2 band classes: Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds and 3 levels of Jazz Band, the middle one being a combo instead of a big band. The jazz concert is this Thursday and the concert band is next Thursday. I hope to get some pictures and put them up.
I am so utterly excited to be working with kids for an extended period of time again and to be able to craft lessons and musicianship. The kids are amazing and the faculty have been incredibly helpful in this process. I would really like this to turn into something full-time for next year, but the district is already cutting 5.5 teachers for next year and are debating the elimination of 5th Grade instrumental music.
Overall, I am so lucky and happy to have this opportunity. I am going to make the most of it that's for sure. It feels good to have confidence and faith bestowed upon me to step in and teach and to be told I am doing a good job. Let's just hope these performances also go well and we can move in the right direction.
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