First, this vacation has been quite hectic. Part of it is my fault, but the other part can only be blamed on the intricacies of life. More on that later. I know...I have been pushing off Thanksgiving stories for over a month now, but I am pretty good about New Year's Resolutions and one of them is to post on this way more often.
However, I have been thinking about doing a Top Ten for 2010 for a while and so, here it goes! I took my favorite song from each month (Dec. 09 - Nov. 10) and ranked them. These are my top ten songs from the mixes in 2010!
1. Generationals - Trust (November)
2. The xx - VCR (February)
3. Cults - Oh My God (August)
4. Vampire Weekend - Giving Up The Gun (May)
5. Sun Hotel - Suburb (October)
6. Darwin Deez - Constellations (December 09)
7. Pearl and The Beard - Oh, Death! (March)
8. Stornoway - I Saw You Blink (April)
9. NazcarNation - Beeswax (September)
10. Pomplamoose - If You Think You Need Some Lovin' (July)
ALSO! Here are my top ten BANDS from 2010. These are artists that piqued my interest much more than just one song, but that I had NO IDEA EVEN EXISTED before 2010. These results are mainly based on how much outside research I did on these bands, videos I watched on youtube, people I stalked on the internets, and albums I bought. In parenthesis is when you may have first heard this group.
1. Frightened Rabbit (Winter)
2. Local Natives (June)
3. New Pornographers (May)
4. Pomplamoose (July)
5. Stornoway (February)
6. Maps & Atlases (May)
7. The Morning Benders (March)
8. Surfer Blood (December 09)
9. The xx (February)
10. Bicycle Voice (Winter)
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Autumn Honorable Mentions: Part Two
I know you are just DYING to know what's on the other AHM Album. So, wait no longer! One of my goals over break is to take a day to send out November, December, and both AHM CDs to those who qualify. That way I will be all caught up and ready for the new year!
This disc is oppositely themed ROBOT. It deals with music that could not have been possible without computer assistance.
1. Tricky - Murder Weapon
2. Seeing Suge - Breaking
3. OK Go - White Knuckles
4. LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change
5. Foxes in Fiction & Weed - Teenage Dream (Katy Perry Cover)
6. Sing Leaf - The Watch
7. Long Walks On The Beach - metaPhysical
8. Dale Earhardt Jr. Jr. - Vocal Chords
9. Wolf Gang - Lions In Cages
10. The Ting Tings - Hands
11. Anamanaguchi - Airbrushed
12. Kisses - People Can Do The Most Amazing Things
13. Au Revoir Simone - Another Likely Story (Aeroplane Remix)
14. Eels - Spectacular Girl
15. Lovers - Barnacle
16. Sufjan Stevens - Too Much
17. Psychic Powers - Brighter
18. Owen Pallett - Don't Stop
19. Deerhunter - He Would Have Laughed
Zach's Notes
1. Great choice of sample!
4. Ok...I give up. I love this song!
5. The song that inspired me to also cover this song.
10. Basically on here so David can hear them in Africa
11. My vote for new "Mario's Got A Star" Theme
14. Sort of a stripped down song...even for Eels
15. Subliminally catchy
16. Hold on tight for this one. It goes EVERYWHERE!
This disc is oppositely themed ROBOT. It deals with music that could not have been possible without computer assistance.
1. Tricky - Murder Weapon
2. Seeing Suge - Breaking
3. OK Go - White Knuckles
4. LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change
5. Foxes in Fiction & Weed - Teenage Dream (Katy Perry Cover)
6. Sing Leaf - The Watch
7. Long Walks On The Beach - metaPhysical
8. Dale Earhardt Jr. Jr. - Vocal Chords
9. Wolf Gang - Lions In Cages
10. The Ting Tings - Hands
11. Anamanaguchi - Airbrushed
12. Kisses - People Can Do The Most Amazing Things
13. Au Revoir Simone - Another Likely Story (Aeroplane Remix)
14. Eels - Spectacular Girl
15. Lovers - Barnacle
16. Sufjan Stevens - Too Much
17. Psychic Powers - Brighter
18. Owen Pallett - Don't Stop
19. Deerhunter - He Would Have Laughed
Zach's Notes
1. Great choice of sample!
4. Ok...I give up. I love this song!
5. The song that inspired me to also cover this song.
10. Basically on here so David can hear them in Africa
11. My vote for new "Mario's Got A Star" Theme
14. Sort of a stripped down song...even for Eels
15. Subliminally catchy
16. Hold on tight for this one. It goes EVERYWHERE!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Trapped in Anchorage
Hey Team!
I am writing you from the lovely Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage, AK. Currently, I have been here since about 3:30 this afternoon and my flight doesn't leave till 2:00 AM Monday morning. Here's the scoop:
My 2:00 AM flight on Saturday, December 18 was overbooked by about 15 people. I have no idea what possesses airlines to sell 15 seats they don't have, but that was the scenario. It was basically luck of the computer as my friend Laura started to check in AFTER me and got a seat. Anyway, I rushed over to the gate to get a seat and literally the guy in front of me (with the same no-seat issue) got a seat. So, we (me and the other 14 people behind me) were forced to anxiously wait for anyone to volunteer their seat for compensation (which didn't happen) and then wait for everyone present to board so the stewardesses could check for open seats. The one open seat went to a man with military preference. He was on a mission...to bang his girlfriend I bet.
In any case, my flight left without me. I was compensated $400 towards future flights and booked on the very next guaranteed seat out of Anchorage, which wasn't until 5 PM today. I know what you're thinking. I said I was on the 2AM flight out.
Well, missing my ANC flight messed up my Seattle flight to Minneapolis and because I was switching airlines (from Continental to SunCountry), I was SOL. Continental was only responsible for getting me to Seattle.
So, after calling SunCountry a bunch of times, I discovered that the only flight from SEA to MSP is at 9:00AM. So, if I had taken the 5:00 PM ANC - SEA flight, I'd have arrived in SEA at 9:30 PM and have had an almost 12 hour layover waiting for my next flight. So, I played the system. I showed up for my 5:00PM flight knowing it too would be overbooked and volunteered my seat for ANOTHER $400 payout and a ticket for the 12:40AM flight. So, I sat at the airport bar and had the airline pay for my meal while I drank beer and watched the Packers (lose). Then I sat down to catch up on school work and wait for my flight.
However, about 30 minutes ago, the GateKeeper (his name is TC) came by and asked if I'd be willing to wait till 2AM for another $300. I said sure. I'll just grab a coffee and crash on the plane.
So now, I will arrive in SEA at 6:30 AM, have a short layover in SEA, and not have to purchase a hotel/try to sleep in the SEA airport. I think it is a great deal.
Let's look at the exchange:
I lost:
- 48 hours in Minnesota with Tyler, Katie, Susan, and Andrea (all of whom I will still be seeing by the way)
- $264 for having to rebook my SEA-MSP flight (again, it's a different airline so Continental isn't liable)
- food and drink money
- a lot of sleep (I was up for about 24 hours from Friday morning to Saturday morning)
I gained:
- $1100 in airline tickets
- $38 in food
- 2 nights in a hotel
- the experience of finally knowing what happens to people when the flight is overbooked (I can now put that mystery to rest)
- a night out with friends (Mark, Nate, Adam, Rico, and Danae all came to Anchorage last night and we had dinner at the Moose's Tooth and went out for drinks at Chilkoot Charlie's)
- about half of my schoolwork done
- a dent in the December playlist
What do you think? Was it worth it? I was really frustrated for a while, but I think it will all work out in the end. I've learned often you have to roll with the punches.
-
I am writing you from the lovely Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage, AK. Currently, I have been here since about 3:30 this afternoon and my flight doesn't leave till 2:00 AM Monday morning. Here's the scoop:
My 2:00 AM flight on Saturday, December 18 was overbooked by about 15 people. I have no idea what possesses airlines to sell 15 seats they don't have, but that was the scenario. It was basically luck of the computer as my friend Laura started to check in AFTER me and got a seat. Anyway, I rushed over to the gate to get a seat and literally the guy in front of me (with the same no-seat issue) got a seat. So, we (me and the other 14 people behind me) were forced to anxiously wait for anyone to volunteer their seat for compensation (which didn't happen) and then wait for everyone present to board so the stewardesses could check for open seats. The one open seat went to a man with military preference. He was on a mission...to bang his girlfriend I bet.
In any case, my flight left without me. I was compensated $400 towards future flights and booked on the very next guaranteed seat out of Anchorage, which wasn't until 5 PM today. I know what you're thinking. I said I was on the 2AM flight out.
Well, missing my ANC flight messed up my Seattle flight to Minneapolis and because I was switching airlines (from Continental to SunCountry), I was SOL. Continental was only responsible for getting me to Seattle.
So, after calling SunCountry a bunch of times, I discovered that the only flight from SEA to MSP is at 9:00AM. So, if I had taken the 5:00 PM ANC - SEA flight, I'd have arrived in SEA at 9:30 PM and have had an almost 12 hour layover waiting for my next flight. So, I played the system. I showed up for my 5:00PM flight knowing it too would be overbooked and volunteered my seat for ANOTHER $400 payout and a ticket for the 12:40AM flight. So, I sat at the airport bar and had the airline pay for my meal while I drank beer and watched the Packers (lose). Then I sat down to catch up on school work and wait for my flight.
However, about 30 minutes ago, the GateKeeper (his name is TC) came by and asked if I'd be willing to wait till 2AM for another $300. I said sure. I'll just grab a coffee and crash on the plane.
So now, I will arrive in SEA at 6:30 AM, have a short layover in SEA, and not have to purchase a hotel/try to sleep in the SEA airport. I think it is a great deal.
Let's look at the exchange:
I lost:
- 48 hours in Minnesota with Tyler, Katie, Susan, and Andrea (all of whom I will still be seeing by the way)
- $264 for having to rebook my SEA-MSP flight (again, it's a different airline so Continental isn't liable)
- food and drink money
- a lot of sleep (I was up for about 24 hours from Friday morning to Saturday morning)
I gained:
- $1100 in airline tickets
- $38 in food
- 2 nights in a hotel
- the experience of finally knowing what happens to people when the flight is overbooked (I can now put that mystery to rest)
- a night out with friends (Mark, Nate, Adam, Rico, and Danae all came to Anchorage last night and we had dinner at the Moose's Tooth and went out for drinks at Chilkoot Charlie's)
- about half of my schoolwork done
- a dent in the December playlist
What do you think? Was it worth it? I was really frustrated for a while, but I think it will all work out in the end. I've learned often you have to roll with the punches.
-
Monday, December 6, 2010
Autumn Honorable Mentions: Part One
I've decided to split this up into 2 parts because I think it will help me get back into the swing of writing more frequently. Before I get to exciting past stories, I do want to catch you up on the music.
This disc's theme is HUMAN. This is music using (mainly) real people playing real instruments.
1. Arcade Fire - Ready To Start
2. Opus Orange - Almost There (Feat. Lauren Hillman)
3. The Lucksmiths - Get-To-Bed Birds
4. Hey Sholay - In Bed With Old Nick (Kids in Bearsuits on Drugs)
5. Fox in the Henhouse - Fears
6. Brandon Flowers - Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts
7. The Smashing Pumpkins - Freak
8. Antonio Paul - City Dreams
9. Telekinesis - Dirty Thing
10. Les Savy Fav - Let's Get Out of Here
11. Land of Talk - Quarry Hymns
12. Ben Folds & Nick Hornby - Claire's Ninth
13. Cee-Lo Green - What Part of Forever
14. Joshua Radin - The Rock And The Tide
15. Ray Lamontagne And The Pariah Dogs - Beg Steal Or Borrow
16. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & The Cairo Gang - The Sounds Are Always Begging
17. Jeremy Messersmith - Violet
18. Camera Obscura - The Sweetest Thing (Richard Hawley remix)
19. Cocoon - Owls
20. Mutual Benefit - Desert Island Feeling
21. Amanda Palmer - High And Dry
Zach's Notes
1. They've been hitting me hard lately. Very talented folks!
4. Yeah, I don't know why people name things so weirdly sometimes.
6. The Killers frontman scores another pretty good number.
7. They're Back!
10. Just a sexy song
12. He took some of Nick Hornby's poetry and set it to music for his new album. It makes for some sometimes disjointed lyrics/unusual phrasing. This is the best song I've heard yet.
13. The B-Side to the essential "Fuck You"
14. This guy just knows how to write calm, subtle acoustic pop stuff
15. A nice sort of throwback song
18. I am absolutely in love with this girl's voice
21. Pretty sure she's rocking the mandolin. And it is sweet!
This disc's theme is HUMAN. This is music using (mainly) real people playing real instruments.
1. Arcade Fire - Ready To Start
2. Opus Orange - Almost There (Feat. Lauren Hillman)
3. The Lucksmiths - Get-To-Bed Birds
4. Hey Sholay - In Bed With Old Nick (Kids in Bearsuits on Drugs)
5. Fox in the Henhouse - Fears
6. Brandon Flowers - Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts
7. The Smashing Pumpkins - Freak
8. Antonio Paul - City Dreams
9. Telekinesis - Dirty Thing
10. Les Savy Fav - Let's Get Out of Here
11. Land of Talk - Quarry Hymns
12. Ben Folds & Nick Hornby - Claire's Ninth
13. Cee-Lo Green - What Part of Forever
14. Joshua Radin - The Rock And The Tide
15. Ray Lamontagne And The Pariah Dogs - Beg Steal Or Borrow
16. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & The Cairo Gang - The Sounds Are Always Begging
17. Jeremy Messersmith - Violet
18. Camera Obscura - The Sweetest Thing (Richard Hawley remix)
19. Cocoon - Owls
20. Mutual Benefit - Desert Island Feeling
21. Amanda Palmer - High And Dry
Zach's Notes
1. They've been hitting me hard lately. Very talented folks!
4. Yeah, I don't know why people name things so weirdly sometimes.
6. The Killers frontman scores another pretty good number.
7. They're Back!
10. Just a sexy song
12. He took some of Nick Hornby's poetry and set it to music for his new album. It makes for some sometimes disjointed lyrics/unusual phrasing. This is the best song I've heard yet.
13. The B-Side to the essential "Fuck You"
14. This guy just knows how to write calm, subtle acoustic pop stuff
15. A nice sort of throwback song
18. I am absolutely in love with this girl's voice
21. Pretty sure she's rocking the mandolin. And it is sweet!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Procrastination AND November Playlist
Hey Team! It's been a long time since I've posted and I have had some pretty cool things happen since. Highlights include taking two of my students to Anchorage for the weekend for an All-State Music Festival and an absolutely beautiful weekend hanging with Jenny and Patrick down in Homer for Thanksgiving. However, each of those things are an entire post on their own.
Right now, I am delaying the process of typing lesson plans. I just hate having to write the same thing over and over for each class. For HS and JH music, we are going to get ready for the concert on the 14th or 16th (depending on the school). I mean, I have no idea how the lesson will specifically go. I know whether we are doing band or choir each day and I know which sections of which pieces I want to focus on to start, but after that everything is sort of felt out by which area I feel they need most improvement on. Lesson plans are so different for music/performance classes. I need to make that clearer in the future.
Anyway! November playlists and Autumn Honorable Mentions are done. I'm really going to try to post a little bit each week and put a little bit of work into the CDs each night. Like it's my homework...
So, without further ado, here is what I was listening to in November:
1. The Drums - When I Come Home
2. Generationals - Trust
3. Golden Bloom - 30 Lives
4. Kings of Leon - Pyro
5. International Zombies of Love - Back To The Ball
6. Matt & Kim - AM/FM Sound
7. Diamond Rings - Wait & See
8. Florence And The Machine - Heavy In Your Arms
9. Team Me - Weathervanes And Chemicals
10. Lykke Li - Get Some
11. Wise Blood - SOLO (4' CLAIRE)
12. Coma Cinema - Caroline, Please Kill Me
13. Best Coast - Crazy For You
14. Hungry Kids of Hungary - The Vacationer
15. Bedouin SoundClash - When The Night Feels My Song
16. The Meligrove Band - Bones Attack
17. Geographer - Age of Consent (New Order)
18. Dead Heart Bloom - Flash In A Bottle
19. Foals - Blue Blood
20. New Socks - House Show
21. Bright Eyes - Coyote Song
22. Pseudo Kids - Goodbye Summer
Zach's Notes
2. The bass, the swelling guitar riffs, and the cool little "Olivia" section make this a must-listen
3. Nerd Rock
4. Sort of a sultry little KoL number. Feels different than "Only By The Night" and I can't wait to hear more singles are they are released (or until the price drops enough that I'll buy it)
6. This is one of the few bands my students and I can both agree on
7. Making their return to the playlist since debuting last October
8. Try this one to counter the radio hit, "Dog Days Are Over."
10. Played this song while playing games in Homer and the crowd suddenly became quiet just as she sings, "I'm Your Prostitute." Awk-ward...
11. Love the bluesy feel to this short little tune.
14. Kind of like Ra Ra Riot with less cellos
16. If I Love You To Death Will Your Bones Attack Me?
19. These baby horses have been trying to broach the playlist for a long time and I finally found a song worthy.
20. Just fun!
21. Anyone who new me sophomore year of college may remember my huge disdain for Bright Eyes, but here is a song where he doesn't sound so awful
22. Some dream rock to ease us into the long, long winter...
Right now, I am delaying the process of typing lesson plans. I just hate having to write the same thing over and over for each class. For HS and JH music, we are going to get ready for the concert on the 14th or 16th (depending on the school). I mean, I have no idea how the lesson will specifically go. I know whether we are doing band or choir each day and I know which sections of which pieces I want to focus on to start, but after that everything is sort of felt out by which area I feel they need most improvement on. Lesson plans are so different for music/performance classes. I need to make that clearer in the future.
Anyway! November playlists and Autumn Honorable Mentions are done. I'm really going to try to post a little bit each week and put a little bit of work into the CDs each night. Like it's my homework...
So, without further ado, here is what I was listening to in November:
1. The Drums - When I Come Home
2. Generationals - Trust
3. Golden Bloom - 30 Lives
4. Kings of Leon - Pyro
5. International Zombies of Love - Back To The Ball
6. Matt & Kim - AM/FM Sound
7. Diamond Rings - Wait & See
8. Florence And The Machine - Heavy In Your Arms
9. Team Me - Weathervanes And Chemicals
10. Lykke Li - Get Some
11. Wise Blood - SOLO (4' CLAIRE)
12. Coma Cinema - Caroline, Please Kill Me
13. Best Coast - Crazy For You
14. Hungry Kids of Hungary - The Vacationer
15. Bedouin SoundClash - When The Night Feels My Song
16. The Meligrove Band - Bones Attack
17. Geographer - Age of Consent (New Order)
18. Dead Heart Bloom - Flash In A Bottle
19. Foals - Blue Blood
20. New Socks - House Show
21. Bright Eyes - Coyote Song
22. Pseudo Kids - Goodbye Summer
Zach's Notes
2. The bass, the swelling guitar riffs, and the cool little "Olivia" section make this a must-listen
3. Nerd Rock
4. Sort of a sultry little KoL number. Feels different than "Only By The Night" and I can't wait to hear more singles are they are released (or until the price drops enough that I'll buy it)
6. This is one of the few bands my students and I can both agree on
7. Making their return to the playlist since debuting last October
8. Try this one to counter the radio hit, "Dog Days Are Over."
10. Played this song while playing games in Homer and the crowd suddenly became quiet just as she sings, "I'm Your Prostitute." Awk-ward...
11. Love the bluesy feel to this short little tune.
14. Kind of like Ra Ra Riot with less cellos
16. If I Love You To Death Will Your Bones Attack Me?
19. These baby horses have been trying to broach the playlist for a long time and I finally found a song worthy.
20. Just fun!
21. Anyone who new me sophomore year of college may remember my huge disdain for Bright Eyes, but here is a song where he doesn't sound so awful
22. Some dream rock to ease us into the long, long winter...
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